1 Prologue - The Cleansing

Brilliant and mystical lights flickered in and out existence encompassing the entirety of a vast open space which was reminiscent of a town square. The light was at times as bright as the sun and at other times as dark as the deepest abyss. The two interchanging lights seemed wholly unaffected by the weather of the outside world.

Around the outskirts of the paved square, the flickering lights revealed rows upon rows of black hooded figures. These hooded figures all wore exactly the same clothes and had their bodies synchronised in the same motions. At times the figures would remain absolutely still, not moving a single muscle. During these times the sole thing revealing them to still be alive, would be low sounding hymn. At other seemingly specific times, the figures would suddenly break into seemingly sporadic and twitching movements.

The only thing breaking up these rows of frantically praying believers were 5 figures clad in white robes and hoods, which sported incredible gold tinted ornaments. However, what really made these individuals stand out from the crowd was not their white dresses, but broad set of white feathered wings which rested upon each of their backs. Their faces underneath their hoods were oddly covered in impenetrable darkness. The only feature which was visible from their faces was the glaring lights coming from their eyes. All of these features gave any ordinary being who would dare look upon these creatures the feeling of looking at something ethereal. These angelic beings clearly believed themselves to be above any other being present in the square, as such they would not even spare a second glance at any of the thousand worshipping figures.

What they were looking at however, was in the middle of the square. The middle of the square consisted of a massive area in which a black and white fire vigorously burned. This fire seemingly required no fuel and left no scorch marks anywhere it touched. The fire covered most of the middle of the square but ceded a narrow area around the absolute middle of the square untouched.

It was in this little spot where the eyes of the white clothed figures looked. For in this spot stood a radiant woman. She was dressed in only the most ragged clothes, only fit for the most dreadful prisoners. Throughout her body were many scratches and cuts of varying sizes. However, all of this could not break the graceful and innate beauty of the woman.

What was the most surprising, was the large pair of wings which rested on the woman's back. However, unlike the majestic white feathered wings which the white clothed individuals sported, the woman's feathers were tinted a pale grey.

The almost inhuman movements and praying of the black hooded individuals had started out considerably lowly but had gradually built up in both volume and effect. Their praying had seemingly reached its finale. The centremost white clothed figure raised its hand and the movements and hymn stopped in an instant. As one being the thousands of people on the square turned towards the angelic creatures and prostrated on the ground. Not one sound could be heard in the square. No breathing, no movements. Not even the burning fire emitted any sound. Everyone was waiting for the higher being to talk. After a few seconds the centremost white figure began speaking with an ethereal voice, which felt as though it originated from every corner of the square.

"Fallen Angel Lynera. You have been found guilty of the act of being sacrilegious towards your fellow angels and the Holy Angelic Church. The evidence is conclusive. In the name of the Supreme Angel Kuremus, I, Archangel Actera, will hereby enforce our ancient laws. You, Fallen Angel Lynera, have been sentenced to Purgatory. Do you accept your punishment?"

The Archangel Actera slightly lifted its white hood revealing a delicate face. Her eyes, which were now directly focusing on the Fallen Angel were surprisingly not filled with hatred as one would assume of someone who would punish their own kin. Her eyes were instead filled with an immense sadness, while simultaneously conveying a plead towards Lynera.

Although she answered Actera's sorrowful and pleading eyes with a sad almost mournful look of her own, Lynera simply replied to Actera's question with a defiant humph.

"Blasphemy! She clearly does not value neither the Sacred Angelic Community nor The Angelic Church! Her punishment is clearly too mild! She should be sentenced to eternity in hell for her transgressions!"

Lynera's defiant humph had clearly antagonised the leftmost angel from Actera's party of angels. He had drawn back his own hood revealing another delicate face, but this one with features clearly leaning towards the masculine gender. His anger further betrayed his angelic features, as veins were protruding on his forehead.

"Seramas! Conduct yourself with decency! Do not forget that I am still your superior, and that I was the one tasked with conducting this judgement." After sending one last sharp glare towards the male angel Seramas, Actera once again turned towards Lynera. "Sigh. Very well. Lynera, your silence has been understood as acceptance of your punishment. I will now commence the judgement."

Actera once again lifted her hands, causing the tremendous mass of hooded figures to once once more enter into a frantic praying. Actera gradually took a couple of steps forwards, edging closer towards the middle of the square and Lynera. As she advanced forwards, she took out a small glowing crystal from within her clothes. As she took the crystal out, the flames surrounding Lynera visually became more turbulent.

"Decree: Cleansing."

Actera had whispered these words onto the crystal, however the words still resounded within the whole square. As she voiced those words the flames rose several meters into the air, seemingly creating a blazing inferno of black and white flames. As the flames rose, they bridged the gap which was left in the middle for Lynera.

As the flames engulfed Lynera, she became the centre of the raging firestorm. Even as the flames licked up and down her body, they left no scorches or marks. Contrary to this, Lynera still let out heart wrenching screams whenever the flames licked a spot.

As Actera walked increasingly closer to engulfing flame ocean, the flames became increasingly violent. As the flame's intensity increased, the screams became more and more intense as well. The screams soon attained an intensity which one could only describe as screams which could pierce directly into one's soul. The scream seemingly expanded into the skies and sounded for kilometres upon kilometres in all directions. The screams, however, could not provoke any reaction from those present. Be it the angels or those praying, no one reacted to the grim sounds.

The distance between the archangel and the fallen angel decreased, and the flames burned ever brighter. Before long, the flames had seemingly reached its crescendo. The flames had turned almost exclusively white, and the firestorm had risen to a height of 20 meters. Actera soon reached the final ten meters of the stretch between the two. As she breached this point, the firestorm gave of one final burst of energy. Finishing the last stretch of the distance Actera stopped two meters from Lynera, and just out of distance from the flames.

As she stopped, the flames seemingly disappeared into thin air, leaving only a silent Lynera who had forfeited all life in her eyes. A silent tear gradually crept down her cheeks. As Actera bridged the last distance, narrow cracks began to appear around Lynera's body. Actera reached out her hand to touch Lynera's cheek. As she did that, she slowly mouthed out a small "I'm sorry", as if to not alert the other angelic beings. Soon after the cracks had spread to cover every inch of Lynera's body. As Actera noticed the full coverage, her palm which she had placed on Lynera's chin began glowing a subtle blue glow. This blue glow effortlessly flowed through the cracks on Lynera's skin, entering her body. As the glow spread throughout her body, she seemingly began to disintegrate. Soon all that was left of Lynera was floating pieces of dust which were quickly being blown away by the sparse wind. One other thing was left behind, however. It was a brightly glowing floating orb.

Actera took out another crystal. This one had no glow or any other kind of activity. She slowly inserted the crystal into the glowing orb. Watching as the orb dimmed and the crystal lit up. She sighed.

"The cleansing has been completed. Judgement has been passed. Acolytes disperse!"

As she declared these words, the humanoid creatures in the black hoods slowly gave a deep prostate, after which they silently left. As the believers left, she turned to her fellow angels.

"We should leave as well. Prepare the transfer."

As she said so, the angel which had stood to her left took out a hefty book and began a small chant. After the angel completed the spell and closed the book, an enormous circle had appeared before the group. The angels obediently entered the magic circle and disappeared. The only other angel besides Actera who remained behind was the angel Seramas.

"Very well. I take it I can return to preparing for 'the work' like I was doing before this interlude."

Seramas spoke the sentence without a drop of emotion. However, he himself could not hide the excitement he felt when he mentioned 'the work'. Actera, who was quite preoccupied, could seemingly not muster up enough will to discuss with Seramas and simply sent him off with a nod. He did not disappear into the large circle, but rather set off for some place within the city they were in. As he left, one could hear him mutter a sentence.

"What an intriguing hunt this will be…"

As the last angel disappeared Actera looked in sadness at the slowly pulsing magic crystal in her hands.

"Dear friend… Was it really worth it?"

With these words she entered the magic circle. But before she transferred, she quickly jerked her head, starring at an out-of-the-way corner of the square. Although it seemed as though she had perceived something, she seemingly soon relaxed herself as her face entered a more natural state. As she left, her eyes were still reddened.