The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 435: The Hierophant

Chapter 435: The Hierophant

Cassiel walked quickly through the halls of the Black Tower, government workers quickly stepping out of her way to avoid her the moment they noticed she was not in the standard uniform of the Executioners, but in the purple garb of Vinam’s personal guard.

She was still an Executioner, but in her new role, she enjoyed all the authority she’d ever wanted and more; courtesy of the new leader of all angelkind.

The newly appointed Arch Seraphim Vinam Victoriam. He stood in front of the largest chair in the room, six wings arrayed behind him like a crimson sunset. The blood red of his hair lightly tinged by its lone patch of white near the center of his forehead. His intense, blue gaze bored into the eyes those who met it, as if just by being in the same room as him, all of ones secrets were laid bare for his judgement.

As he listened to a captain of the Host sputter excuses about why their forces in Retha were refusing to withdraw to Armedon, Grand Arch Seraphim Victoriam gestured for Cassiel to assume her post at his back. She noticed that there were no Elevated at the table, or even in the room. Executioner Lieutenants occupied each corner of the octagonal meeting space, their gazes fixed.

She looked around the room, noting a clear division between "local" leaders - those from Araqlun - and new staff who were meant to handle Heaven’s newer, more direct roles in Ayther’s affairs, Vinam having wrested those roles from the Choirs through sheer political might. That wasn’t to say the major Choirs no longer had a place.

Those who proved loyal now served Heaven, instead of being served by it. By all appearances, any angel regardless of Choir, House, or previous employment, could now rise in Victoriam’s new Heaven as long as they were loyal to the Grand Arch Seraphim. It was almost all the reforms Cassiel had wanted and more...

So why did it feel hollow?

Despite being in such a vaunted position, she had almost nothing to report. Vinam was still High Executioner, though much of the day-to-day now fell to his direct subordinate, a horse-faced angel man named Neloel.

Her assigned role was consolidating information on threats to Victoriam’s new orthodoxy, which emphasized loyalty to Heaven and its Grand Arch Seraph above all. However, nobody was about to openly challenge the man who had saved Heaven from the scourge of Maledict and the indolence of the Choirs.

Cassiel kept her wavering thoughts from her face as she listened stoically for hours. After a while, she noticed some angels shifting uncomfortably in their seats, but no one was about to propose a break without the Arch Seraphim’s say-so.

So it came as a surprise when the Grand Arch Seraphim clapped his hands together. "Let us break for the hour. I have some matters to attend to before we discuss local affairs." He stood, and the room stood after him. No one else left their spots as he began to walk out. Cassiel followed behind him, and his honor guard proceeded in front.

He led the way to the elevator, and after giving the guard on his left an order to take them to the prison level, he turned to Cassiel.

"I bet you’re wondering why I had you replace Stae-el for this meeting," Grand Seraph Victoriam leered at Cassiel’s chest, the way a lot of people did. But no, maybe something was off on her uniform? The Grand Seraph would never be as crass as everyone else...

"I didn’t question, Grand Arch Seraph," Cassiel replied.

"Good woman. But don’t be afraid to ask questions. After all, we can only establish ourselves on Ayther if all angels work together."

He looked like he was about to pat her on the shoulder, but he refrained at the last moment. Vinam was notoriously sparing with whom he made physical contact with—a courtesy he maintained because of his ability to see the past through physical contact. She knew he had some control over the ability, but by his own admission, he could never let his guard down lest he pry on accident. Except with family.

The last person Cassiel could remember Vinam touching directly had been her ex, his nephew Auriciel, who had sacrificed himself to give Heaven back control of its primary power source - an array of beings merged by godflesh. A memorial wall to the "gods" whose hubris had led to their undoing by Heaven - or so the narrative went.

Victoriam had revealed this truth to remind Heaven that their role wasn’t simply to ensure the world was balanced, nor did they exist merely in opposition to the demons who threatened peace by their very existence. Heaven’s role demanded that they control or destroy anyone whose power could upset the world.

That was why they had hunted the gods in ages past - mortals who had purified themselves of death through sheer magical might and understanding. That was why they culled the spirits and monsters. And that was why they would now assume control of the continent of Armedon as the first step to re-establishing their power over Ayther.

Grand Arch Seraph Victoriam vowed to turn the desert into a paradise and then undo the destruction wrought by Maledict by turning the moon of Hell into a new Heaven.

And yet, though he invited her to ask questions, Cassiel couldn’t come up with anything. She didn’t know why she’d been asked to replace her fellow Executioner. And whatever her private thoughts were about Heaven’s roles, she did not dare compare them to Victoriam’s grand design.

And if he knew how soft her opinions were on mortals and demons, she knew he would have her removed or worse.

All at once, the remembrance that they were heading to the prison level made her nervous. This couldn’t possibly be for her, could it?

She was led to a cell, inside of which she could hear the sounds of flesh against flesh.

The door opened to reveal an Elevated with only one arm beating a mortal - who looked something like a human or dwarf or maybe both.

The Elevated stopped and turned a moment after the door hissed open. He knelt a moment later, shifting slightly from trying to use an arm he didn’t have. Cassiel noted the grey strands of corruption that crept deepling from the lost arm’s socket, blending into the rest of his godflesh-covered chest and remaining arm, which were lighter shades of grey.

"I heard you had an urgent report to make, Executioner," Vinam said.

"Yes, Grand High Seraph. A demon in Aaru, one whom this roach benefited from," he gestured at the sobbing mortal. "My squad was led into a trap."

The mortal sbbed "I-I reported the demon like I was s’posed to-"

"Silent, mortal wretch!" the Elevated spat.

"Describe this demon for me," Vinam said.

"He was purple-eyed and tall, with horns, a tail, and claws. Red haired, perhaps half-demon in appearance, with black armor that was made entirely of six-sided shapes." The Elevated’s yes flickered over to the tuft of white hair over Vinam’s forehead. "In appearance, I believe he resembled... the Duke of Heresy."

"Tell us what happened, son," Vinam said, a tension rose in his voice that Cassiel couldn’t place.

"We received word of a demon in this one’s smoking parlor. We assumed it was just a half-demon or the like causing trouble, as those who were not killed on the Day of Descent have been wont to do. We arrived, and this wretch greeted us at the door. Thanked us for saving his business like the greedy worms all un-Elevated are."

"And, and?" Vinam hurried the Elevated along.

"We cornered the demon... but then he cast a spell. Wordlessly and faster than anyone could react. He left me alive, after taking my arm. He said that... Elevated would not be enough to fight him. But then he left me a message. A demand to face the Elevated known as Rainier... the traitor."

Cassiel’s heart stopped. Rainier.

Why was a random demon demanding to fight him? Unless it wasn’t a random demon...

"Did he have wings?" Cassiel blurted out.

Vinam twitched, his face straining for a moment as the Elevated looked at Cassiel in confusion. Then he relaxed. "Answer her question, son."

"No. No wings that I saw. But from manasight I could see his foul magic, black as night and pooling at his feet as it leaked from him. I would not doubt that flight is within his powers."

"I saw the traitor’s name mentioned in the written report. But hearing it now..."

The Grand Arch Seraph did something unexpected then. He reached out, planting a hand on the Elevated’s remaining shoulder, a look of disgust rising on his face before his eyes flickered closed. In manasight, Cassiel saw the flow of mana change in Vinam as his ability gathered mana from the Elevated man.

"I... see..." Victoriam kept his hand on the Elevated. His next words were laced with mana. "You will forget this demon’s appearance. You will remember only that he was a typical half-demon." The flow reversed as the compulsion set in, altering the flows of mana in the Elevated’s head.

Yet when Victoriam removed his hand and beckoned the Elevated to rise, the man met the Grand Arch Seraph’s eyes and said, "As you will it, my lord." The glaze of fanaticism burned in the Elevated’s gaze.

"We cannot risk word of this getting out and losing more Elevated. Much less risking vigilanteism. Cassiel," he turned to face her. "This demon has some connection to your former subordinate. You will pick angels to hunt this threat down. Use your connection to the traitor as an opening to drop his guard. Otherwise, feel free to use the locals as fodder, but under no circumstances is this demon allowed to live. Do you understand?"

When her answer did not come out right away, he repeated himself, spitting each word with a hatred unbecoming his usual calm, "Do. You. Understand?"

"Yes, Grand High Seraph," Cassiel said.

"Good. Afterwards, we will establish a new orthodoxy amongst the mortals. It is not enough to remove the ill-gotten gains of the demonkin. There can be no tolerance of their presence in any civilized corner of this world."

Cassiel felt her body tense. She knew... she believed because of Rainier that demonkin, at the very least, had a capacity for good. To acknowledge Victoriam’s proposal would cut at the heart of something she’d internalized and hoped to carry through. To temper Heaven’s justified wrath and keep it from harming innocents.

But what else could she say? Here, in the darkest corner of Heaven, illuminated by the man acclaimed as her people’s light.

She swallowed and replied.

"Yes, Grand High Seraph."

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