LXX - The Solution

With Edward leaving him alone to discuss the new weaponry with his master, the Archangel decided to explore the UnderKingdom on his own. He found the Hall that Zerachiel had first brought him to, and the pile of weaponry he had abandoned to show that he was not a threat. He found the blade that Chamuel and Sandalphon had gifted him, turning the dagger over in his hands. Regret threatened to creep into his chest, but he knew he had made the right choice. 

The Arch left the Hall, finding his way to the outside of the Palace. The UnderKingdom was a stark contrast to the Kingdom that he was used to; the dark spires that reached for the sky, the sense of power that the land emanated. He descended the long stairs to the ground below, coming to a fork in the path. The left path wound deeper into the realm, and the right path seemed to take the traveller into what seemed to be settlements. Orion did not want to know what kind of creatures lived in the cities; Lucifer had mentioned the Lost to him once, but he was not going to find out what that meant alone. 

Choosing the left path, Orion began to hear voices, sounding almost sympathetic. He hesitated, unsure of whether to intrude on whatever conversation the others were having. –I wonder if these are the demons that Zerachiel told me of, the ones that are more guarding of their home.– He worried for a moment, knowing that Lucifer was not there to call the demons off if they decided to attack. 

–No. I am here to be better. This is my first opportunity to prove myself. Stand up tall. Wings back. Earn your respect here.–

His resolve strengthened, the Archangel continued toward the voices. He found himself among a familiar sight - a training ground separated by twisted iron fencing. Two figures stood together, and one sat next to a shield. One of the creatures who was standing was shrouded partially by a hooded robe, and seemed to be gesturing intensely. The other was tall and slim, carrying an air of authority about him.

Orion approached the demons, who seemed apprehensive of an angel in their midst. The three figures all appeared to be male, and he wondered if Lucifer only converted male souls to be demons. The third man rose to his feet, and all three drew their weapons. 

"Stop where you are!" Upon the command of the slender demon, Orion halted, holding his hands out in front of him with his palms up. 

"You don't have to do this, sir. This is my new home," the Archangel began. "I have abandoned the Kingdom and Lucifer has agreed to take me in."

The commanding demon did not retreat, but the other man stood back, gesturing toward the hooded man. The shrouded demon gave a curt nod, and shifted his javelin away from a ready stance. The man that appeared to be in charge narrowed his red eyes - Orion knew that look. It was a warrior's quick assessment of their opponent, the determination of whether or not there was a threat. "That may be who you are, but who are you?"

Orion pressed his lips together, confused by the question. Once he had a second to think about it, he realized the man was asking his name, and he clenched his jaw, irritable at his own ignorance. "Archangel Orion, but just 'Orion' is fine." He flipped his right hand over, offering a handshake to the demon. 

Shifting the sword back into its sheath, the demon moved forward to grasp Orion's hand. "Vincent. I act as the commander of the rest of us. William is our newest convert here on my right, and Adam stands here on my left. He is deaf and mute; we will speak to him for you. If you are indeed as you claim to be, you will be taught his language. But I want to know how you came to know of us in the first place? How was our security breached? Our realm is supposed to be safe."

"It still is, I swear on my blades. The Fallen Seraphim Michael, his Brothers found out I wanted a way out of the Kingdom, a way out from under the Ruler's control. One of his older Brothers Traced him, tried to see if he knew anywhere that would be safe for me, and accidentally discovered your realm."

"Ah, yes, the silver-haired one. I remember the way he trembled when we attacked. His Brother was very protective of him, but we do not obey anyone but our Master." The demon named Vincent spoke with such dignity, as if he was very certain of his place in his world. Orion envied him in a way; he wished to have such confidence in his life as well. 

"That would be the Seraphim Zerachiel. He was one of the Brothers that offered me the way out, once he was sure that your master was willing to accept me. Lucifer seemed almost excited to take in a refugee?"

The demon named William stepped toward Vincent and Orion, having waited for his commander to deal with the formalities. He noticed that the demon's ruby eyes seemed puffed and swollen, as if he had been upset about something, but decided not to question it. "Pleasure to meet you, Orion. We're sorry for the hostility - it's just that this is our home, and it is supposed to be safe for us. Safe from the reach of the Ruler and His failings of our lives. But from the little you've said, He has failed you as well, and you will find yourself at home here among the rest of us."

Orion gave a small half-smile, feeling considerably more understood by the demons since William had taken over speaking for them. "Thank you, William. I do look forward to getting to know you all and training with you all. Lucifer tried to get your demon blades to accept me, but they rejected me and crumbled apart. He kicked me and Edward out of the weapons room, but Edward went back with my proposal to find a new blacksmith to forge new demon blades with my blood, his blood, and Seraphim Michael's blood…"

Vincent's eyes lit up at the mention of new demon blades. "...because new blades will accept you, the Master, the Fallen ally, all of us, and all of the new demons to come, whether they are given their life from the Master or the Ally. You truly are a warrior to think of this…the problem we're going to run into is finding a blacksmith to do the work. The one that made the original demon blades was one of the Lost, and he's decayed far beyond usefulness."

William looked at his feet, deep in thought. "But, Vincent…what about a living blacksmith?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lucifer angrily tossed blade after blade to the ground. Every weapon, a betrayal of his own blood. 

"I was an angel too! How dare you reject the Arch?!"

He threw a sword against the door, listening to it clatter to the ground, echoing back throughout the weapons room.

"I sacrifice so much to keep this realm safe! So much to keep it pure! Blood is the one thing that does not lie! And the blade just crumbled!"

A mace flew across the room, landing in a pile of abandoned weaponry.

"How am I supposed to fix this?!"

He cracked one of Adam's spare javelins over his knee, feeling a small twinge of remorse - Adam almost exclusively used those light spears, and he had ruined it.

"Sire?" Edward's cool voice cut through his master's rage, and Lucifer turned, seeing that his right-hand demon had appeared behind him in the weaponry room.

"Not now, Edward."

"Master Lucifer, please. The Archangel Orion believes he has a solution to our problem."

"You may go on."