A Brotherhood’s Discourse

The sentries performed their duties flawlessly, returning with the anticipated news of Michael and Gabriel's arrival in less than a day. This brief interlude allowed me to delve into the notes of Gabriel and Michael. They revealed their endeavors to reunite Gabriel's fragmented souls, a concept which led me down the rabbit hole to another book—a tale that appeared fantastical yet might be grounded in reality.

This narrative shed light on the delayed response from Gabriel and Michael following their liberation during the Archangel Battles. They had been occupied with formulating a solution for Gabriel before initiating their search for me. Initially, I had assumed their delayed search was due to their ignorance of self-created universes. However, I was mistaken. They were not only aware of such universes but had utilized one to assign a mission to both of Gabriel's souls.

This revelation sparked a question in my mind: Was I destined for a similar fate? Would they banish me to a mission designed to unify my split selves, a mission that could keep me away from this place and them for many years? This seemed a far more daunting prospect than my recent rebirth experience. Yet, I couldn't discern an alternative solution, and it seemed logical to adhere to a strategy that had previously proven successful. Consequently, I began to voraciously consume the same books that Michael had read, some of which seemed oddly out of character for him. Why had these whimsical tales found a place in his library? I knew he had read them because he always left a distinctive mark on the books he had "reviewed," and the marks appeared authentic, not the handiwork of another who had somehow gained access to his collection.

Upon their arrival, I was thrilled to see them, although they appeared concerned due to my lack of explanation for summoning them back. Their concern soon morphed into curiosity when Michael noticed Gabriel's return and immediately began questioning him about his extended absence. Gabriel explained that he had been conducting personal research on mythological creatures, one of which I had observed through Heaven’s Eye. The mission for Gabriel, when he was split in two, had taken place in a fantastical universe where magic was prevalent, and a plethora of creatures existed. Gabriel desired to introduce these creatures into our universe, albeit constrained to the third realm to prevent them from causing chaos in our peaceful realm.

Once their conversation concluded, the attention shifted back to me, and they noticed Perx. They quickly deduced one of the reasons for my summoning them. As Gabriel was unaware of my return, Michael and I recounted the entire series of events and the new challenges we faced. Gabriel wasn't sure how he could assist, except to confirm the conclusions. Once again, he narrated his experiences, emphasizing the long duration and the profound impact they had on him, details that need not be repeated here.

When our discussion concluded, they addressed Perx directly, questioning his sudden reappearance. He responded with a half-truth, and I found myself doubting whether his previous explanation was any more plausible. He claimed to have returned because he had suddenly detected two links instead of one, prompting him to investigate their source in heaven. This led to a heated debate about his disobedience and his existence solely because he was my pawn. I intervened when the argument escalated, defending Perx who, despite his fears, displayed a strong willingness to assist us. Had I known that he would become a formidable threat in a few centuries, I would have severed the links and terminated him, as they had previously agreed to do.

Subsequently, I informed them about my discoveries and my unusual decision to engage in thorough reading, particularly of our own creations, which I typically avoided. They didn't express appreciation for my efforts but inquired about my findings and whether I had devised a solution. I expressed my willingness to undertake a mission similar to Gabriel's to assist the glitched soul in self-discovery and possibly catalyze the merging process.

Their expressions oscillated between surprise and near pride to something so despondent it seemed they were on the verge of tears, and certainly not tears of joy. I was perplexed by their reaction. Eventually, Gabriel warned, "It will be akin to dying again, you know? I want you to understand that from my personal experience." I assured him that I was aware of the risks and prepared to take them, suggesting that perhaps my time had come. Michael interjected, "Are you truly sure of this decision? How can we even begin if the other Raphael is still dormant? It is still dormant, isn't it?" I confirmed that it was, but I was sure in my decision. "I will awaken it by force, if necessary, even if that implies the potential lost of its memories." Gabriel clarified, "They won't be erased, merely temporarily suspended. I was able to recall everything within a few days." I queried, "Are we referring to the second soul or the main one?" He responded, "The one that underwent the ordeal and lived the tale. The one that is me now, perhaps." I refrained from pressing further, and they, too, avoided prolonging the discussion. Instead, we relocated to the Eye of Heaven to deliberate this matter more thoroughly, to strategize about employing a new or existing universe for this mission, and to determine the optimal moment to introduce the human Raphael into it, ensuring he wouldn't perish shortly after his arrival. Meanwhile, Perx fell to a sad secondary priority.