Aysmul P.O.V.

  “I have never been here before. Be on your best behavior right hand.”

  “I am a vandruid. I’m all about delicate diplomacy.”

  ‘Don’t you dare give me the eye or I’m asking for remuneration!’

  Krigsain reached out and touched the unique barrier while holding my hand. A barrier only very special beings like the chosen ones can open. The multicolored sphere vibrated and resonated.

  Seven breaths.

  Fourteen breaths.

  Seventy-two breaths.

  We were through the barrier, standing on a hill, looking down into the distance on a once in a lifetime sight. The city of Wings, the city of Beograd. Also known as the White Fenix city. A large sprawling white wonder with many buildings and magnificent nature within and without. And at the center of the place, a living artifact tower of impossible design, the place where we were going, the tower of Angaros.

  “This is o—”

  “Halt!” “Intruders!” “Don’t make any sudden movements!”

  The thunderous shouts made my eyes trembled a little. I wanted to use my eyes for a quick glance by using my endowment but under the circumstances, it was unwise.

  Three guards descended on our position. Three double winged guards, they had their spears and swords at the ready. They were beings of great height, a little over twice Krigsain’s measurements. The weapons glowed with a strange purple hue and their wings expanded to the point of casting shadows over us.

  Even if I knew that I couldn’t be surprised, I was.

  “Angelic workmanship!”

  The guards pointed towards me. Krigsain was not happy.

  ‘Are you seeing what I’m seeing, hubby?! Awesome!”

  “Forgive our intrusion winged ones, we have urgent matters at the tower.” Krigsain made a truly proper bow in the ancient etiquette of angel temple rites. I followed suit.

  “Stay still.”

  The very tall and human looking leader of the three touched Krigsain’s forehead while the other two were in a defensive position with their glowing weapons. After several sand grains, we were beckoned to follow them.

  “The city is a no fly zone for most. You need clearance and you shouldn’t dash at high speeds either. The conflicts in the area are making things stringent.”

  A short explanation of the state of affairs was given to us. We walked down the hill and into the streets.

  “Thank you.” I tried being gentle and proactive but it produced no effect.

  Most men would throw themselves at my feet and even some empowered beings but not these angels and not in this place. The bustling place where only the elite of the elite can access, the sense of fashion of the many passersbys was proof of a life beyond our known world.

  I felt terribly inadequate with my simple white cloak.

  ‘I knew it! I should have gone on a shopping spree!’

  Going through many streets and turns we reached our destination. The protective barrier of the entry arc in the center tower dissipated. A flow of energy foreign even to someone like me.

  The magnificent structure in front of us was imposing. The double structure of two powers, fire and light. The rising flames to the left felt like the center of a volcano and the blue light to the right felt like refreshing running waters continuously moving upstream. The dark monolith seemed endless from where I was looking, it seemed to reach the skies.

  “I cannot believe it Krigs.”

  “The Tower of Angaros, let’s go in right hand.”

  He disappeared inside the tower before I could understand how.

  “Just think about going in human. The tower is a true domain, a living artifact.”

  “Phew.” I touched my own forehead with two fingers.

  ‘I want to go where Krigsain is. I want to go where Krigsain is.’

  I was sucked inside after a single breath.

  By the time I caught up with Krigs, he had finished whatever he was doing with a female attendant. She was gorgeous.

  ‘It is always women with you, even here. Lucky for you I’m not that jealous.’

  She guided us through the double magical space. We went through running water ladders, fiery floors and a constantly morphing set of walls that showed us an ever-changing picture, even our own twisted reflections full of evil and darkness.

  A decorative feast with soul altering implications. I hurriedly grabbed Krigsain’s hand. He was taking everything like a fish to water.

  “As powerful as you are my golden rabble-rouser, you have never dealt with other gods besides your own. Every floor is a soul check, one harder than the last. Speak from the heart, least the punishment is they take away your beauty and become a hag.”

  Krigsain’s voice was calm and detached. His warning was the real deal. I grabbed his hand with even more force and stopped thinking altogether. We followed the gorgeous long haired woman through the ethereal place.

  We ascended nonstop until we reached the final room, not before my mouth hit the floor several times with some of the things I saw along the way. In a small but exquisite chair a being was sitting. The type of being that should not be in Ladnahlayr, an angel, a pure uncorrupted angel. The energy the being emitted surpassed all comprehension and knowledge that I had acquired.

  I was afraid. The room seemed to bend to the angel’s will, reality manifestation. Something I had only heard as a bed time story. Krigsain moved forward and performed his salutations with so much care that I thought Krigs was being influenced by the tower.

  “Thank you for seeing me in such a manner, Lord of the Angaros.”

  The space slightly resonated, just enough to scare me some more.

  “So the annoyance has sent his chosen one.”

  A voice like many thunders made everything within the vicinity vibrate, even the walls.

  “As you can feel Lord, the Will is almost non present here. This is my doing. I want to make a deal.”

  “The guards related part of the matter to me. Let’s hear it chosen.”

  I was curious as well, very curious. I stood arms behind my back watching from behind with expectation.

  ‘Krigsain keeps many things close to the chest a lot of the time.’

  “I have helped a few gods during my existence, I have heard of the complications with the descendants living here.”

  Krigsain took out one of his flasks with an unknown concoction from his ring. The flask floated helplessly into the hands of the angel.

  “Blood of gods, three of them.” More thunderous sounds reverberated all around.

  The angel lord got up and started walking around, it was meditating and thinking. As he walked, the reality of the magnificent room changed with each step he took. It morphed from the style of ancient empire to the Kotar kingdom’s throne room and then to something else. The place kept switching and I was getting even more panicked.

  “This can heal future generations of my kind. What do you want?”

  Straightening up his pose Krigsain gave a dashing playboy smile.

  “I want your help in the coming war. Every single Angaros that takes a drop of the concoction MUST fight for me, the day I call upon them.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Many come with similar offers and want our hand. What makes you different?”

  ‘The angel is a chatter, no soul communion or mental communication.’

  The angel created a balcony with a hand wave and motioned Krigsain to explain. He was watching the great city like a king would.

  “I only require your help for one turn, this reality, this one time.”

  The angel’s energy fluctuated, he was surprised, even if his face couldn’t show any emotion.

  “There’s got to be more. Out with it.”

  “Please help my friend over here. I’ve heard that the sacred tree of the druids grows here as well.”

  ‘It does? It does??!!’

  Krigsain gave me a signal with his finger. A signal I knew well. I prostrated myself faster than a politician before his handlers. I spoke with respect and measure but also with honesty.

  “I was born on the 24th day of the current month, Lord of Angaros. It is valuable beyond words to someone like me, our calendar Omen days are upon me. Please, Angaros lord, please.”

  “Do you believe he can accomplish what he has said. To win in one round?”

  After shaking off the effects of his voice I spoke.

  “I do.”

  “Granted, tell the Arch-druid to return what was given to your kind by the fallen ones. This is the price for two branches of Abedul.”

  ‘A steep price but an acceptable one. Thank you Krigsy, you get a kiss.’

  He talked to Krigsain while I listened, in my prostrated state.

  “We will have to test this concoction of yours nevertheless. Any preferences?”

  “A bard, a fighting bard, music is big in my entourage.”

  I had no idea we were going to recruit another party member.

  The angel turned to face us and his magnanimous energy exploded. It made my godly lightning look like child’s play. The half man that was clothed in fine linen and loins girded with gold became imposing. A beryllium body and a face like lightning, eyes like torches, and his arm and feet the color of bronze.

  ‘I’ll never get over the sight.’

  A few minutes later, another angel entered the room. A female angel, a descendant of the Angaros, half angel and half blessed being. Another unforgettable sight, she was tall, taller than Krigsain by a head and a half. In other words, that made me the midget in front of her.

  Her clothes were brownish, a combination of a dress and an armor set. It was unique, closer to a fashion statement than to protective gear. She had runic tattoos all over her body, even a small one on her face and a strange flowery artifact glove on her left hand. The long white hair that matched her wings was eye catching. The long spear she was holding was menacing.

  She was pretty, not prettier than me but definitively exotic with a set of black feathers on her head and her dark eyes. I saw Krigsain giving her an approving glance with those red eyes of his.

  It made me very uncomfortable.

  “You called Lord.”

  “I have a vital mission for you.”

  “You do?!”

  “You will be leaving this place and travel the world with him in a little while.”

  “Really?! Aurshaka!! Thank you great leader! I won’t disappoint! What are your orders?”

  A small cup materialized from nothing in front of the tall beauty. The cup contained something that smelled similar to wine. A drop of liquid from the flask flew into the cup, the contents were stirred.

  “This is supposed to be the cure to the condition of all angelic descendants. You are henceforth selected to be his partner; you are to bring forth offspring in order to prove the efficacy of the alchemical wonder. The drop is a mix of godly blood from other worlds, even I cannot guarantee anything. The chosen here is the test subject. Do you understand, Deegyr?”

  ‘Progeny?! Babies?! What?!’

  The female winged one stood there. Her eyes flickered at incredible speeds, she was thinking. She kept staring at Krigsain while she did so. Devious redhead was calm as a still lake with the news.

  “Why me? There are others.”

  “We are bards, many other things too, but bards first and foremost. Let’s rock the world!”

  Krigsain gave the angel his signature pose and smile. I wasn’t handling it well even if I was applying my version of poker face.

  “He is a trotter my child.” The lord angel offered a word.

  After several more minutes of silence.

  “You better take me for a spin outside of this world, you hear?!”

  Krigsain nodded.

  “Thank you, Lord Ramiel. Aurshaka!!!”

  She drank from the floating cup and I almost fainted.

  ‘Nothing prepares a gorgeous, powerful woman for an otherworldly counterpart that can swat her like a fly.’

  In all honesty, jealousy was me.

  The reality morphed into a table with many delicacies and two golden chairs within the room. The angel and Krigsain sat down for an exchange.

  “Deegyr, take your fellow traveler to where Abelun is located and help her with the retrieval of two branches. One for her and one for the Arch druid.”

  Before I could complain, tall half dark angel Deegyr was dragging me out. I only managed to hear a snippet of Krigsain’s little talk with the angelic lord.

  “Worldwalker, let’s go over the details. Tell me everything about your plan, everything.”

  Deegyr P.O.V.

  VROOOM! VROOOM! VROOOM!

  We arrived near the small forest next to the mountains in twenty breaths. My little human co-traveler wasn’t doing too well. I laid her down gently. After several minutes of recomposure, she began a critique.

  “You could have held me with a little more care.”

  “I did not, huh?!” I have considerable problems understanding human behavior.

  “Your too bony! Don’t hold me like that again!”

  ‘Mm. Well, I do tend to be on the smaller end up top but my hips and legs are pure muscle. Whatever, she doesn’t really mean it.’

  I pointed her towards the grand tree just a few steps away. The grand birch tree, one of many incredible things you can find in our home. Little blonde forgot all about our flyby and took out several crystals from her ring.

  “Let me help you, just show me the formation you will use.” As a representative of the Lord of the Angaros, I had to be the helping hand.

  She reluctantly agreed. It was clear that she was afraid of me a little. We moved around placing the crystals according to her indications. In the middle of doing the formation and the lines with the runic writings on the grass with a dagger, we talked. I tried to talk.

  “I’m Deegyr, you are?”

  “I’m your senior.”

  “Really? In strength or wisdom? Pretty sure it cannot be both.”

  She refused to give me anything other than instructions for the ritual.

  “I could touch your forehead and forgo all of this you know. Let’s be nice.”

  When four more crystals were placed with the corresponding runic engraving she spoke.

  “We trade. I answer, you answer. Deal?”

  “Aurshaka!” I smiled for little co-traveler.

  “Your blood problem, is it fixed?”

  “Not sure but I feel different, more alive somehow.”

  “Aysmul Arazorwyn, vandruid.”

  We finished setting up everything.

  “Who is your deity?”

  “Who is yours?”

  We made a ten second rule for the reveal. I was having fun.

  “Agni!” “Dagda!”

  “How can I feel lightning coursing through your soul?

  “How can an angel worship a god that dwells with men?”

  “Don’t you know never to ask a woman her age? Same with her blessings, dark eyes. I won’t ask about those tattoos of yours that are so rare.”

  “Bygones be bygones. I never said a word.”

  “How does this place work? Fallen angels, your leader. Your Angaros lord is uncorrupted, he is the real thing. And that tower, what is that thing?”

  “You are here and you don’t know? Standards have fallen plenty then.”

  “Hey! I ‘m playing wing woman for redhead. That is until you took it literally and dragged me here!”

  We laughed.

  “I’ll tell you if you tell me all you can about the future father of my child. He is different.”

  I thought it was a fair trade of information. She staunchly refused and we went back to initiating the ritual.

  ‘I’ll never learn how to get along with humans at this pace! At least, I’ll see the world now or two.’

  Aysmul P.O.V.

  We had to wait until the moon was visible in the sky. Dusk was approaching. It was perfect minus the constant attempts at interaction from the winged one. She could have just touched me and have everything be done and dusted but she did not.

  ‘She is nice, too nice! Damn it! Damn it!

  I had no idea on how to behave. I couldn’t understand how dark fallen beings that were punished had descendants that were half decent.

  ‘This only happens because you always keep me in the dark about many things. No kiss for you!!’

  I had prepared the last step for the selection of the branches. I sat in the circle formation that surrounded the tree. Just when I was ready to begin, the shadow of the personable angel covered me. She was sitting behind me with her wings extended.

  “I’ll help you. Let’s unify our blessings.”

  ‘No, no, no! I can’t beat you and now, I can’t hate you. You are worse than hubby! Speaker of sweet nothings.’

  “Fine. We cannot waste any more time. Just follow along, watch out for the changes.” She took advantage of the ritual to force my hand.

  My ceremonial flute came from my ring. An exquisite silver harp with golden borders came from hers. I began playing the song of Awen. I played and sang within my heart.

  The druidic tongue is not to be shared with anyone outside the circle, even angels.

  “Ah-oo-en… Ah-oo-en… Ah-oo-en…”

  The music vibrated with the crystals, I infused my playing with all my cores. The annoying angel was actually helpful. Her cores exploded as well and a massive heat was felt. The call of nature began the selection process. Lightning went forth from my flute and into the crystals mixed with a thread of living fire. A golden and crimson streak of power invaded the formation.

  The crystals floated and lifted until they were at the level of my eyes. The resonance effect occurred. The moonlight descended upon the crystals and the reflection shot towards the tree. The music could be heard near the edges of the city.

  ‘The three foundations of awen are the understanding of truth, the love of truth, and the maintaining of truth. Show me the path!’

  A unified streak of materialized moonlight cut a couple branches of the living evergreen.

  CRACKLE! CRACKLE! CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

  “Aurshaka!!!”

  A couple of strings from the dark angel’s harp extended and grabbed the burning pieces before they hit the ground. The strings retracted and the two branches were placed on the floor two steps away from my sitting position.

  The ritual was over. Dagda had answered. Agni had helped.

  ‘The branches are priceless.’

  “Quite something ladies, congratulations Aysmul. Thank you, Deegyr.”

  Krigsain gave us a couple of rings. I was happy that he gave me the ring first, like a silly little girl.

  “They have plenty of things you will need for our journey. You can check the contents later. We must leave, time is short. And Deegyr please transform into something more human. That wingspan is anything but good.”

  “Yes, worldwalker.”

  Her runic tattoos shone with power.

  SWHOSH! SWHOSH! SWHOSH!

  Without any modesty, in a single motion and around five breaths of time, tall dark angel swiftly undressed and redressed on the spot while shrinking to fit just under Krigsain’s nose.

  She was wearing the fashion of the winged city, a long sleeve crimson silk shirt, wyvern white pants and rings. Her long white hair was still something else. From her ring came a cloak, a reversible dark cloak with crimson borders that she elegantly placed over her head.

  ‘I knew it! I knew it! Dark types have these tendencies, an open call for mating!’

  I was incensed beyond reason. Krigsain wasn’t smiling but those eyes told a different story.

  “How can you do such a thing? Have you no decorum?!”

  “He’ll know me, I’ll know him. You are the senior, are you not? I don’t see the problem.”

  “Of course you don’t see it. You were not the one that saw everything!”

  “It’s easy like a moon day morning, just breathe, flyby no witcho!” She spoke melodiously.

  “What?! Who you calling no witchy, witchy?! You, you flat wing!”

  “Air resistance considerations are more important than physical attraction, shall we go worldwalker?”

  The tall dark angel headed towards the barrier. Krigsain waited for me while tapping his right toe.

  I gave him a piece of my mind for several minutes. He eventually walked after the dark angel too. I stomped after them.

  “Krigsain, you better say something!”

  “Something.”