4
Uriel's voice made Eden return to reality. He noticed the little girl had gone back to the side of the room. "It seems your own sins bore you."
Eden ignored his words."You're taking votes now right? Then vote."
"Guilty." Uriel said instantly.
A beautiful woman with silver hair and fierce amethyst eyes raised her hand, "Guilty."
"Guilty." said a blond man with eyes full of disdain towards Eden.
Eden could feel his lips curling up into a soft smile.
He really couldn't wait to meet his family again.
However, his hope soon shatters after what comes next.
"I forgive him."
Eden immediately turned his head towards the sound of the voice with his mismatched eyes widened in shock and in disbelief to what he had just heard.The voice belonged to Zadkiel, the one speaking to him earlier. "What are you…"
"I, too, forgive his sins." A man with pinkish hair said.
Eden just stood there silently, his expression remained the same. His heart was pounding uncontrollably and his chest felt tight, his mind was in a state of turmoil due to their unexpecting verdicts.
He wasn't happy or relieved in the slightest by the sudden turn of events but he was anxious about it. Because if he were forgiven in this trial, it would mean he couldn't be reunited with his family and would have to continue living in this filthy world … and all by himself.
That was when Eden realized he was frightened. Frightened to be alone in this world.
"Forgiven." The Archangel that healed him before, Raphael said, this vote made Zadkiel and the pinkish-haired man turn to him in surprise.
Somehow, despite the current chaos inside his mind, Eden realized that the votes were at odds and that with one more vote, it would be the final decision of his fate and the only one left that had not voted ...
His heterochromia eyes met Mikhail's emerald ones. Mikhail's expression was stoic and made it impossible for Eden to decipher what the Archangel was thinking at the moment and he decided to provoke him. He took a deep breath to calm himself down first.
"Mikhail. I vow to bring mankind to destruction if you let me go. I will slaughter your beloved humans once more. I will bathe in their blood and you will regret the day you let me live. I swear that to you from the bottom of my heart, no, from every fiber of my being." He threatened but Mikhail didn't budge from his provocation. He just stared at the young boy, and this made Eden even more anxious so he quickly changed his approach.
Eden pushed down his pride once more and knelt down on his knees against the marble floor before the Archangels but his words were directed to Mikhail.
"Please just grant me my death." Eden pleaded, placed his hands on the floor and lowered his head until his forehead reached the cold surface. "I'm the last of my kind. I don't have anyone else in this world. I don't have anything to live for— nothing to give, offer, no one to protect or love— so just let me die. Please Mikhail, I implore you. For once, please listen to my prayer."
"You're forgiven, Eden." Mikhail said.
The court instantaneously erupted in gasps and whispers from the Angels. It only took Uriel to stand up for the court to be completely silent again.
"That concludes it. Eden's sins are found forgivable." Uriel continued, "Nonetheless, Eden had robbed many innocent lives and thus, he would still be punished but not given death. Therefore, we had decided to place Eden under the care of Lucifer. Eden, your punishment is to serve Lucifer as one of his reapers for an indefinite time until otherwise. You would also be given two restrictions; one, you can never hurt another human being and two, you're not allowed to end your life. If any of these are broken, your soul will be doomed to wander the earth for eternity. We give second chances, Nephilim and never a third one. Do remember that."
"Do you understand? If you have any inquiries, please state them now."
Eden was still on his knees, staring at the ground. He was having trouble processing what had just occured. The pounding of his heart was ringing in his ears as he started to slowly register the situation and then the ringing stopped.
The Nephilim raised his head. He roared, "I DON'T WANT YOUR MERCY, MIKHAIL!" with a look of pure rage that also contained a tiny bit of fear and desperation.
Eden got up and was about to charge towards the Archangel but he was immediately pinned down by the seraphims that were still standing guard. Eden struggled fiercely within their grasps as he continued to scream,
"MIKHAIL! JUST KILL ME! KILL ME! KILL ME!!!"
"Please escort him out." Uriel calmly said as if nothing was amiss, "Since he's a half-human, we will begin the immortality process in an hour and the bindings for his restrictions.That is all for this court session. Thank you all for your time and patience. Everyone, dismiss."
As the Seraphims removed Eden from the heavenly court. The Angels then began to scatter as well, until there were only the seven Archangels remaining.
Gabriel clicked his tongue and folded his arms, "How ungrateful."
"It's sad." Camael clasped his ears tightly and flinched as if something was hurting him,"I can hear his heart crying. W-We did the right thing, right?"
Zadkiel nodded but he was also unconvinced on whether or not they did.
"Don't blame yourselves." Jophiel said and placed both her hands on top of their heads, caressing them lovingly. "We all agreed on the votes beforehand to make the trial seem natural. At the end, it was Mikhail's choice that was the deciding factor."
"B-But …" Camael started to say.
"Gosh! Mikhail, tell your brothers it's- where did brother Mikhail go?"