Eternal moonlight shone down on the walls of Grandheart, illuminating everything in its path. Each minute the moon shifted, casting its eye directly upon me, the one I was set to meet was swiftly approaching.
Eventually, six pale blue and sapphire wings flew into the eye of the moon. His beautiful features glistening in the light, he softly touched down on the edge of the towering walls.
We briefly stared at each other, and his sapphire eyes hid a small inkling of sorrow; his smile almost looked pained.
Just as I opened my mouth, I was stopped by a newfound wet feeling raining down from the sky. I looked up into the rain, letting the water coat my uniform and face. I'd always enjoyed the rain, but this didn't bring me any bliss; I didn't feel anything.
Nothing, the rain no longer excited me.
"It's nice to see you again, Lucius. Have you been well?" I said.
"Evernight, I didn't expect you to call for me this late at night."
"It's not like we can speak freely at any other time, Ickni's pawns for always listening when the sun is roaring."
"I suppose that's true. But what is it that you wish to speak about?"
"Why are you still here, Lucius? You aren't a native of this land. Why do you still stand on soil you detest?" I asked.
I spread a portion of my hostility onto Lucius, my eyes gleaming as they locked with Lucius'. Lucius' body stiffened slightly, his wings shivered before recovering and matching my hostility.
"I don't take kindly to threats, Evernight. But if you must know, I'm still under assignment to watch and survey Ickni's movements. I haven't been permitted to leave yet, nor would I leave innocents alone with Ickni."
"Do you follow the common line of reverence with Ickni, or do you think differently?"
"Evernight… Do you know the consequences of my answering that question? If I spoke my true feelings on Ickni and someone overheard me, I'd have to accept the noose around my neck. I'm not in my own Dominion; this one is vastly different from the others."
"You say that, but you still answered my question. Your hesitation to speak Ickni's praises tells me everything I need to know. Tell me something, Lucius von Snow, are the other Dominions of Kathoros as corrupted as this one?"
"Kathoros. Isn't the correct term to put all the Dominions under? You are an anomaly, Evernight. You hold power but know nothing of this world. What exactly are you?"
"What makes you think I'd answer such a question without the proper exchange?"
Lucius' smile completely faded, being replaced by a wary frown. Unlike the last time we met, he wasn't enjoying our conversation. He averted his eyes towards the moon, no longer meeting my sharp gaze.
"The land that the Dominions sit on is called Kathoros. But that isn't the name of the ruling body that oversees the Dominions. The Seraphic Choir of Everlasting Harmony is the true name that all angels fall under, ruled by the omnipotent Seraphim."
The Seraphic Choir of Everlasting Harmony, what a truly repulsive name. The name only invited the deepest seeds of fury to bloom in my heart; this world wasn't under the loving gaze of Harmony. Only terror and death existed in the holy lands of angels.
I audibly scoffed at the name.
"Harmony… Harmony? Harmony doesn't exist here, or anywhere in this world, I know just from the couple of months I've been here that fear is the only thing festering in the light and dark."
"The other Dominions aren't as savage as this one. Most do live in harmony and peace."
"It's been five hundred years since Artoria Luminous' fall from the Dominion of Conquest. She lives in perpetual torment, yet this choir does nothing to stop the terror and mass executions in this Dominion. How can you sit there and speak of others living in peace and harmony?"
"..."
Lucius didn't respond, the grip on the wall below him growing oppressive.
"I suppose you think this holy Moon Dominion to be one of those that live in harmony?"
"The Moon Dominion is a peaceful land, not a single drop of blood has been spilled on its land for seven hundred years."
"Tsk. While you live in peace, the ones across your border suffer horrific acts of unfounded cruelty. Even though you know of their treatment, you do nothing, you just watch and pray that Ickni doesn't cast her gaze towards the Moon." I sneered.
"Ickni is a Dominion! We can't just march into her lands and dethrone her. It doesn't work like that, no matter how unfairly the people of this land are treated. Ickni holds full control of this land; we aren't permitted to interfere!" exclaimed Lucius.
His face twisted with burning anger, but it wasn't all directed at me. There was a certain longing in his eyes. I couldn't make out what the feeling was, but I doubted he'd be able to contain himself if I pushed more.
"So by your logic, you should have aided Artoria when she was dethroned. If a Dominion holds ultimate power, then why didn't you aid her? Why!" I shouted. "Tell me, Lucius! Or are you so weak that you couldn't stomach opposing another angel!"
"Yes! We are weak, nothing but sacred ants unable to act when an angel's mind is twisted into darkness. The everlasting war with devils makes us sacred little girls; our worst fear is fighting a war on two fronts. Ickni holds the keys to every angel's mind in the Order Dominion. Why would we invite such discord into our land if it can be avoided?"
"Because it's the right thing to do. You and all the other Dominions are nothing but weaklings. How could you call yourselves proud and pure angels of the holy light when you are nothing more than ants?"
"We aren't ants! We've been fighting bravely on the frontlines against devils since the dawn of time. How can you call us weak knowing we still stand here despite our aeonic war?"
The section of wall in Lucius' grasp crumbled into dust, his palms bleeding under his own force.
"Yet you still fight…"
"If you were truly strong, then you would have ended the war the moment it started, but instead you allowed yourselves to become mere playthings of devils. The only reason angels aren't wiped out is that devils permit your survival."
I wasn't entirely sure if my words were fully true, but I knew it would anger Lucius greatly to be compared to a toy for the beings he loathes so much. My words were born out of the memories of Seraphina's words about angels and devils.
She appeared to have lost all hope in an angelic victory; I was just twisting those feelings to my benefit.
"How dare you! We aren't playthings for devils, someone who hasn't been in this land for a mere year can't judge us about anything! I don't know what you are, but you're seriously pissing me off."
"How long have you been alive?"
"1500 years."
"And how long has it been since the dawn of time?"
"Around 12,000 years."
"As I thought, Seraphina was right, angels are a disgrace. Despite 12,000 years of constant war, death, bloodshed, and misery. Angels still haven't discovered what a spine is. How can you permit such violence to continue? If these almighty Seraphim exist , why haven't you gathered all of your forces and crushed the devils under your heel?"
Although angels vastly outnumbered devils, I knew it wasn't so simple as to just invade their lands and crush them with numbers. Such a strategy would never be efficient, I knew this, yet I still spoke those words.
My mind had been festering with an unbridled rage and sorrow at everything on this land; I couldn't bear to look at Ickni's revolting face any longer. The angels of this land were no different. If you know of evil yet choose not to interfere, then you must be purged alongside the root of the infection.
"It's not that simple, and you know that! The Horsemen aren't the only threats in Faravos. Who do you think commands these horrors made flesh? You don't know, do you!? That's because nobody knows how we could just charge into the pit of hell without proper intelligence!"
"Your shouts fall on deaf ears. I still don't see why the devils are still breathing. You blame your weakness on fear, but if intelligence were such a massive problem. Then why don't you just burn Faravos to the ground, cause the fall of Faravos, and that intelligence you wish for will come straight to you."
"You speak of genocide so plainly as if it's something you see on the regular."
"So that's it. You won't fight with everything you have because it may cause innocent casualties. How can you still hold such a twisted mindset when you turn a blind eye to Order's crimes?"
"Killing everyone under the blind thought that they are your enemies isn't right, nor is turning a blind eye to Ickni's crimes."
"So you finally understand that you are the same as Ickni. If you wish for redemption, then aid me in my efforts to dethrone Ickni."
"What? That's a suicide mission. Ickni holds the life and power of everyone in this Dominion. Without the backing of the other, you can't hope to scratch her even if you are something else."
"I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't asking, you will help me, and if you don't, I'll ensure the destruction of the Moon and all those who live in peace and harmony."
Lucius snapped his head around to me, his eyes glaring into my heart. He most definitely hadn't expected a string of cruel words to escape my mouth, although Lucius most likely thought my words were hollow; they weren't. I had every intention of following through with my plan.
I don't know exactly when it was, but ever since I'd awakened, my mind had shifted into a cold acceptance of what had to be done. I blamed the feeling on Seraphina's soul bleeding into mine, inputting her own feelings into my mind.
"What has happened to you, Evernight? How can your eyes hold such insurmountable malice?"
"Nothing has happened to me; I've always been this way, even if I didn't want to admit it. I've just had a push into the darkness in my mind."
"No, I refuse to believe that you are truly this apathetic. How can you threaten my Dominion and me so easily when fighting for this one?"
"Order, Moon, Sun, Nature, and Stars. All are diseases on this land; turning a blind eye is no better than committing the act yourself. You see why I threaten your Dominion so easily? I view all Dominion as the same as the Order Dominion, infections."
"No. This is just an act; no angel or devil can hold such a twisted mindset. You called my mindset twisted, but you're no better."
"Perhaps, but you said it yourself. I'm an anomaly, I'm not a devil or an angel, so can you truly hold me to the same principles?"
Whether I was being truthful didn't matter at the moment; I just needed to make Lucius think that I'd do anything if my mind dictated it. I needed his aid if I was to defeat Ickni; I couldn't just ask, he'd say no, hence why I opted for a more forceful, malicious-filled approach.
"I don't know what you mean, Evernight. But I see you've changed, your eyes aren't just the ones of a killer's anymore. They hold the presence of something darker."
"I'll ask once again, do you wish to help me or be swallowed by light, oh, gracious pale moon, Lucius von Snow?"
Lucius bit down on his lip, more blood pouring from his clenched fists.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I? Just know, Evernight, your threats won't go unpunished. I'll aid in Ickni's downfall, but don't mistake my aid for friendship. I now see the error of my ways. I should have killed you that day instead of letting you win."
"Hehe. Yes, you should have, but I'm afraid you would have only met the sweet embrace of Helios. Once, I engaged Ickni, you are to aid in the battle and the freeing of Artoria and Julius. You know the cost if you refuse."
"Helios? That weapon you used against Morgrave, the Sixth Primordial Terror."
"Yes. I won't give you a demonstration, but you are more than welcome to try your luck at killing me. Although that'd mean a refusal of my orders and we both don't want that, do we?"
"Tsk. Evernight, you're a true bastard. No devil I've encountered in 1500 years has been close to the level of malice you're emitting. How does a person end up like you?"
"It's a secret, I couldn't tell you my secret, now could I? So, Lucius, will you follow my orders?"
"I will. But—"
I raised my hand, silencing Lucius's next words, his face twisted with mounting fury, but he contained his incoming outburst. My efforts in subjecting the Pale Moon seemed to be successful; angels really are a disgrace, just as Seraphina said.
"Then we are done here. Ickni's downfall will happen on the day of Lilia's execution, three days from now. Don't be late."
Lucius said nothing to me as I walked off the edge of the wall, heading back towards the Spire, Ickni's palace. My steps glided through the air; I still felt Lucius gaze on my back. But it was no longer of any concern.