"I do not mind eating anything," Arella answered in the voice that was not her own.
Haniel gave her a look, but did not speak further. He walked out the room, leaving Arella to her thoughts.
Within a few minutes, before Arella could collect her thoughts, Haniel was back. He took a seat on the chair that was opposite Arella, and looked down at the balcony for a long mont, his expression unreadable. "I have sent soone to bring us breakfast."
Arella gave him a nod.
The golden light of the Celestial Spire and the sunlight cast a soft glow over his features, making him seem almost ethereal, as if he belonged more to the light itself than to the world of flesh and blood. His pure white wings, partially unfurled behind him, shifted slightly, the faintest rustle which was the only thing that broke the silence between them.
Arella forced herself to sit still, although she was dying of nervousness on the inside. She could feel that the air around them was not exactly right, although she could not exactly put a finger on sothing that she might have done wrong. Did he already suspect her for not being the real Kratel?
A soft knock interrupted the silence before Arella could think of sothing to say that would break the silence. The door creaked open just enough for a slender figure to slip inside, their head bowed and their wings laying flat on their back.
It was a low ranked angel. From what Arella could see she looked like a low rank two angel. Her wings bore a soft downiness in places where they had yet to fully harden, and she carried a silver tray with a polished teapot, two tea cups and so snacks Arella did not recognize on the top. The rims of the cup were adorned with beautiful golden patterns that shimred under the light of the sun.
The angel walked to the balcony, and bowed deeply, her eyes kept lowered. "Forgive my intrusion, Lord Kratel, Lord Haniel. I have brought the morning tea."
Haniel nodded, his expression cooled down, "Good, set it down and you may go."
Arella remained still, watching as the young angel moved with grace, carefully setting the tray on the small round table that lay between her and the male angel. She poured the tea with steady hands, and the sweet aroma was both unfamiliar yet comforting.
The attendant bowed once more, before stepping back. She gave another bow before being dismissed with a casual wave of Haniel’s hand. The young angel did not hesitate before bowing one last ti and retreating, closing the door softly behind her.
Arella released the breath she had not realized she was holding. Having another angel in the room was more nerve wracking than only having Haniel in the room with her. It made Arella uneasy. Did Kratel usually have so distinct mannerism that would sell her out as a fake?
Arella unclenched the fists she had unconsciously clenched, and picked up the tea cup that the attendant had filled before leaving. She cradled the warm cub as she forced herself to appear at ease. Her thoughts raced, but she refused to let them show.
Haniel, seemingly obvious to her turmoil, lifted his own cup and took a small sip. He sighed in satisfaction at the taste, then looked down at the view through his halo covered eyes. Arella was sure that just like she, he could also see the world without any obstructions.
"It is good to have monts of peace like this," He mused, as he leaned back on his chair slightly, "After everything, I soemtis wonder if we have forgotten the value of simply sitting and enjoying the day."
Arella could not relate to that. Although she was in Kratel’s body, and had so of his mories, and had a painfully odd attachnt to the Celestial Spire, she was still Arella, and she had not been raised in a world full of war and death like this one.
Instead of answering his question directly, she humd noncommittally, taking a careful sip of the tea. The tea was smooth its taste subtly sweet, without a hint of the slight bitterness she had gotten used to from tea in the demon realm. She set the cup down, focusing on Haniel as he continued.
"You have been asleep for almost three full moon cycles. We all thought you would awaken sooner, but your soul must have been more drained than we imagined. I ca imdiately I heard you stirring."
Arella’s fingers tightened around the cup once more. Three full moon cycles? Did that an three weeks? If it was three weeks, then this Kratel had been unconscious for quite a while.
Haniel’s gaze softened, and he continued to speak although Arella did not answer him. His tone took a turn, and it sounded more personal as he spoke this ti, "You worried , you know," He let out a quiet chuckle as he shook his head, "Not that you would ever admit to needing my concern."
Arella thought quickly, working her mind at full capacity as she tried to figure out in what way the true Kratel would have answered Haniel. However, in her mind, she could not see anything that related to Haniel. It was as if sothing was blocking her from seeing those mories. Therefore, she forced a smirk, "Of course not." Her voice was careful, mimicking the casual confidence that Kratel had when speaking to others in the mories she had. "I am hardly that fragile."
Haniel was silent for a few seconds, then he let out a laugh, "No, you are not. Still, you should be more careful." His tone turned back to being professional, "What was it this ti? What is it that you were so adamant to see that you put you entire life force in danger."
For a mont, Arella stayed still, maintaining a straight back, the posture that Kratel usually had, and one that had been ingrained to her as an angel. It was the easiest part about being in Kratel’s body.
She could feel Haniel’s eyes studying her, weighing her every reaction. He was obviously no fool, and if she slipped even once, he would notice. She could not afford that, at least until she figured out why she had been brought here.
She swirled the tea in her cup, allowing the gentle ripples to calm her. How much of Kratel’s part would Haniel expect her to rember? The mories were fragnted, and though she had glimspes of battles, of the vast halls of the celestial spire, of standing in Haniel’s presence before, there were no personal mories between her and Haniel.
Nothing that would tell her how to Kratel would answer a question like this.
"What is it you saw in your dreams, Kratel. Is it really that bad that you cannot tell about it?"
Arella did not even know what dream it was this angel was speaking of.
Would Kratel lie? Would he deflect? Or would he et Haniel’s gaze and tell him exactly what he wanted to hear.
Arella decided to take a risk
"The vision," she murmured at last, her voice steady despite the uncertainty that swirled inside her, "You know as well as I do that I had to see it through."
Haniel exhaled sharply, setting his cup down with a faint clink, "Of course," he said, more to himself than to her. His gaze darkened, "And, did you find what it is you were looking for?"
Arella hesitated, only for a fraction of a second. Haniel’s fingers twitched against the rim of his cup. He had caught that hesitation. She had to be more careful.
"There was sothing," she began, speaking carefully, "It was hazy, unfinished. But I..." she closed her eyes, recalling the mory she had seen, of her, Haniel and a demon, standing side by side in front of a huge door. She was stalling for ti too, trying to find the right words, ’It was important. I would not have risked so much otherwise.’
Haniel’s wings flexed slightly, the movent tense, "You always do this," he muttered, "Throwing yourself into reckless and dangerous situations, not caring about those who worry for you. No one asked you to take all the burdens onto yourself."
Although Arella was not part or parcel of this conversation, she found herself answering, "I know that no one has tasked with taking all the burdens onto myself, but that does not an there are no expectations placed upon ."
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