"Azazel."

  A soft voice, almost melancholic, drifted through the air.

  He turned.

  From the distance stood a translucent figure.Unusual — but the moment he recognized her, the thought faded.

  It was the person he loved most.

  He had been busy preparing for their grand union — meeting with elders, informing their kin, arranging the ceremony.

  So much had to be done that he barely had time to see her.

  There had also been a strange unrest in the air lately.

  Something about the humans.

  Ah. Humans.

  He still could not fully understand them as a race. He never paid them much attention before, but Ilya and her people spoke fondly of them.

  They called humans creatures of possibility, praising their unpredictable nature.

  Because of her, he had tried to understand them.

  He had even sent one of his aides to study them.

  Earlier, that same aide had brought troubling news.

  "Master, this is not very good. There are unusual movements among the humans. It may affect the coming union with the Miss."

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  So, he came to find her.

  And now, she had come to him.

  A smile slowly formed on his face as he approached the ancient altar where their union would soon be held.

  But as he drew closer, the smile began to fade.

  Something was wrong.

  Her form flickered.

  Her vision wavered.

  And as the distance between them shortened, he saw the tears in her eyes.

  Alarmed, he moved faster than light to reach her.

  But just as he raised his hand to touch her, she whispered softly:

  "Don't hate them too much, Azazel... and don't blame yourself."

  Her voice sounded distant, almost breaking.

  "There are things that must happen within the span of cosmic time."

  She looked toward the altar behind him.

  "I am only sad that I will no longer fulfill my promise in this place."

  Her voice faded into a whisper.

  "Always remember... I will always love you."

  If he had been any farther away, he might not have heard those final words.

  Her body dissolved before him into countless fluttering lights.

  Then—

  Something snapped.

  A feeling of emptiness swept across continents.

  The skies darkened.

  Thunder rumbled.

  Lightning tore across the heavens.

  And then, slowly...

  The sky returned to normal.

  But something was wrong.

  Something was missing.

  Then it dawned on him.

  She was gone.

  How?

  How could that be?

  The void deepened.

  Grief followed.

  Then frustration.

  He reached out with his senses, searching desperately for her presence.

  Nothing.

  "Ilya—"

  Her name finally escaped his lips.

  But the universe did not answer.

  The Empyrians were gone.

  The sky had healed, the planes had stabilized...

  Yet inside Azazel, something had shattered beyond repair.

  And in the place where love once lived, rage took root.