I was unable to break my gaze away as Arsene and phisto engaged in battle. Never before had I seen soone grow so quickly. phisto's style of battle was made for Arsene. It was rciless, unfeely, deceptive, and relentless.
It was as if everything phisto did was to train Arsene instead of fighting him. All of this… from the mont phisto appeared with that look in his eye to this very mont as Arsene's soul billowed with an Almighty signature. It was all to help his disciple awaken.
He was playing with Arsenes ego and interest by igniting a challenge he knew Sene would not back down from.
He played him… he played us.
Glancing at Zero, who stood frozen, I soared towards him. " You figured it out too?"
"I expected this… But I had to be sure." Zero addressed. "It's rare seeing phisto like this. I'm sure you can relate, even if this is all a play for Arsene. It's good information for ."
"The Trickster of Heaven," I muttered, unable to hide my smile. "I ever told you I preferred phisto as a Fallen than any other Fallen?"
"The last ti we spoke face to face. I was leading a battalion of Fell Gods to wipe you out."
Recalling that dark day, I could not stop the bitterness from spilling into my lips, "I lost a lot of children that day."
Zero turned to slowly and back to the battle-waged millions of Parscs away. "We lost good n too."
"Who knew such children would co such a long way? phisto chose right." I mused, staring at Sene baptized by an almighty aura. Even from so far away, I could still feel it.
"Why do you think phisto chose Arsene as a disciple?"
"At first? It was to push Zariel to his limit by using his life as bait. Now? I think he quite enjoys training him. Arsene was one of phisto's regrets back then. I'm sure he'd agree. That's why he offered so much help to bring Arsene back. Despite being an ass, phisto is not as cruel as other Fallen."
"Which is why I prefer him as a Fallen than an Angel. Believe it or not. phisto was quite shy. Sneaky but very shy. Most of his ti was spent with his Father, learning about creation. It infuriated tatron, the eldest."
"tatron? I don't believe we've t him." Zero said. "In fact... I've not heard the na before."
"No surprise. tatron usually deals with prophets. Usually in dreams. Rarely does he leave Heaven, but up there, he's like a King. You can say he has as much communication with the One as Zariel does."
"You can say it was because of tatron that phisto beca who he is. Jealousy is quite sothing. Whether it's family or not, it's all the sa. tatron was… arrogant and a bully. Especially to phisto, who beca ostracized because of tatron. The Father didn't do much in phisto's defense, forcing the young trickster to take it all in. Every day he would be pushed around, forsaken by his brethren. Slivers of what he is today sank into his soul during that ti."
"And you did nothing?" Zero said, snapping his gaze to .
"I did. I tried to stop it. But nothing transpired. tatron and a handful of angels continued to abuse phisto. His only defense… Ariel. Who stood like a lion to protect him." I wryly said. "Soti later, notable changes began to take root. Devilish roots. But only on the day he saw tatron slap Ariel did he explode."
I paused. "phisto took every privilege away, took everything tatron ever loved. And crushed it. He tore him down so much that the Father had to intervene. I'd never seen anything like it before. tatron lost everything. His right to a ho, to eat, and to sleep. He lost his pride, his everything. All that was left of tatron was a shell of a man. Thinking about it today as I lay consud by the sins. I understand the level of tornt phisto dished out. Angels, unlike a human, are usually born with a purpose. And tatron was to record the Word of God. One of the highest honors. Can you imagine losing the aning of your existence? Things got so bad tatron tried to kill himself."
"It was a dark day that day. phisto's na beca like the bane of everyone. He was both feared and loved, but there now existed a stigma against him. One that everyone would never forget. His ostracization grew even further, but by then, he'd only cared about a few Angels. Lucifer or, I guess, Samiel at the ti flat-out claid he wanted to learn from phisto."
Zero laughed. "Who'd have thought such a relationship would have been born due to… bullying of all things."
"Ridiculous, isn't it?" I agreed, smiling. "But I liked what was born. And while I don't condone what Lucifer and phisto planned. The change in character I found in phisto was… exuberant."
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it." He said darkly.
Ignoring the dryness in his tone, I giggled. "You two have more in common than you would like to admit." I turned to Arsene and the Fallen's battle. " phisto has many enemies. tatron, being his greatest. The mont phisto announced who his disciple was, Arsene beca a target. Him and his kids."
"We'll figure it out." Zero calmly said. "We've had enemies for the longest. Nothing has changed."
"Who are you kidding?" I said sharply. " I know enough about you to understand how much of a cautious man you are. So tell . What plan do you have for Arsene?"
Zero turned to , and the darkness through his eyes pulsed. "Separation," he told . "phisto, however, is probably planning sothing along those lines."
"Surely there is more to it than separation," I replied, flinching most curiously at his response.
"The Pale Lord. It's she who made up my mind. The mont I heard she hated us but liked the children, I knew what needed to be done. And I suspect phisto agrees as well. A line needs to be drawn, just like what we did when resurrecting Arsene. We can in no part interfere."
"So you're leaving it to fate?"
"Do I look stupid?" Zero ntioned. "The strings of Karma are mine to wield. I will guide the children the best I can. Leaving events up to fate is what stupid mortals do. Gods bend it to their whims. No one is going to harm my godchildren."
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