Hello, Morningstar!

"My name is Archangel Uriel," Uriel announced. He wore a black jacket over a white shirt, gray jeans, and brown boots. He wouldn't stand out without his twelve golden flaming wings and golden halo. Sam was catatonic! His mind was about to explode.

"Sam, are you good?"

"Nononono," Sam crouched on the grassy ground and held his head. "This can't be happening! This can't be real!" He began hyperventilating, at which point Uriel rushed to him.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Uriel crouched down to Sam, wrapped his wings around him, and touched his shoulder while casting a heavenly light. "It's alright; everything will be okay; you're in heaven so that no harm will come to you."

Uriel's words of comfort and the relaxing light crossing through Sam were taking effect; Sam's breathing steadied and he lowered his arms from his head.

"Calm, now?" Sam just nodded, "good. Do you want me to fill you in now or do you want to relax some more?"

"I...I-I think I'll feel much better if I make sense of things," Sam said as Uriel furled his wings and sat beside him.

"First off, you've been out for two days," Sam was about to be worried, then he remembered that he was talking to an angel in Eden after his bat-winged teacher molested him and a hobo-looking man stabbed him with an animal jaw, "Second, the woman who attacked you, Leilah, she's a devil. Now, I don't know much myself, but I'm sure she was targeting you specifically. At first, I concluded that she wanted to kill you because I thought a culprit of hers did so, but if that were the case, she would've just assassinated you from afar or poisoned you. So, if it's not much, who did attack you?"

"It was a man with a long white hair and a short black beard. He emerged from a black magic circle, lunged at me, and then stabbed me with a jawbone."

Uriel's eyes widened at the last statement, "Sam, answer me this with as much clarity as you can: did the blade have symbols on it?"

"Now that you mentioned it, yes, it had some ruins carved on. I also remember that it emanated a red hue before the man attacked me."

"The first blade...It couldn't be. Why now? He hasn't shown himself for ages..."

"Who?"

Uriel turned to Sam with a serious expression, unbefitting of his relaxed attitude from before, and uttered three words, "Cain, the first murderer."

"As in Cain and Abel?"

"Precisely."

"This is honestly confusing. Can you tell me about this whole supernatural thing?"

Uriel proceeded to tell Sam everything. About the angels, fallen angels, and devils, the three-way war they had, and how it arrived at a stalemate after the original Satans died. He told him about the sacred gears. He also told him of the devil civil war, how the underworld is under a new rule, and 'the evil piece system' they're using. The second to last one made him interrupt Uriel.

"Wait, wait, wait, Sirzechs GREMORY?! Is Rias Gremory related to him?" Sam was always fascinated by Christian and Jewish theology, demonology, and angelology. He had considerable knowledge about demons and angels. This is why the name Gremory awakened his knowledge of 'The Lesser Key Of Solomon'. He knew Rias of course; the perverted trio wouldn't let him forget.

"He goes by 'Lucifer' now, but yes; she's his little sister. Her family owns the school. Kuoh town is a shared territory between Gremory and the Sitri family, which Sona is a part of."

"Are you saying that I'm a student in a school owned by devils?" Sam asked with a shaky voice.

"Not only that, but other devils study there too; Sona's peerage consists of the entire student council, and Rias' peerage consists of the occult research club," Uriel informed, ignoring Sam's distress until he took a good look at the boy, "don't worry, they're harmless. They wouldn't attack unless you do first. That, and I can shish kebab them if they did."

"Goody," Sam said sarcastically. "Wait! Earlier, you said I was not dead. Yet here I am, in Eden, which to my knowledge, is in heaven. I was also targeted by two people who, for all I know, did that for different reasons. So, where do I fall into this whole wacko biblical crap?"

"All will be answered my child," a soft calming male voice announced from above. They looked up to see a figure descending with twelve golden wings that shined brightly with the same color. He landed in front of them. "Greetings."

The man had the same golden halo as Uriel. He had a long blonde hair and green eyes. He wears a red robe with a gold cross on the front of his white alb. He has golden shoulder plates with a white sash.

"MICHY!" Uriel greeted. The blond did not seem amused, which is evident by the look of annoyance he showed when he shot Uriel. "Sigh...Archangel Michael, prince of the seraphim, protector of heaven, and God's finest champion. There, you happy?"

"'Archangel Michael' would suffice, or even 'brother' if you felt sentimental," Michael explained before he looked at Sam, "Leave the nicknames for when we haven't a special guest. Have you informed him about the matters of the supernatural?" Uriel nodded.

"I-i-it's no bother Michael...I-i-mean archangel Michael, sir."

Uriel chuckled while Michael gave a reassuring smile. Sam had no issue stuttering in front of Uriel because Uriel had already established himself as a relaxed carefree individual. But this is Archangel Michael, described not only as the chief of angels but also a fierce ruthless warrior and protector, who was able to fend off the armies of the devil. It doesn't help that Michael was radiating an aura of authority.

"Please, Sam, call me Michael," Uriel looked at Michael with a visible 'Are you kidding me?!' look. Michael shrugged it off. "Sam, Uriel has told me of your tragic encounter."

"A new piece of information," Uriel interjected, "The one who attacked him was Cain."

Michael seemed surprised at first but then quickly composed himself, "I see, many familiar faces peeked their heads lately."

"Si-ahem, Michael, I was wondering: why was I targeted?" Sam asked.

"Sam, do you know the story of how Lucifer fell?" Michael abruptly answered with a question of his own.

"Yes, he was God's favorite and he let it get into his head. He decided to rebel, but you banished him to hell. But what does this have to do with me?"

"You see; some of us, angels, have special abilities to help us in our tasks. For example, Uriel has his flames," Uriel opened his palm and materialized a large ball of fire, "However, the abilities bestowed upon Lucifer and I were different; they were essential for stabilizing the universe. I was granted the power of the 'Demiurge' and Lucifer was gifted with the 'Morningstar' power."

"Still, how does this involve me?"

"Patience, young one," Michael lectured "Anyway, since the loss of our powers would upset the balance of the universe, God made both of them operate in the same way as sacred gears; in which if we die, my powers would be inherited by an angel and Lucifer's by a human. Do you comprehend the meaning of this?"

Sam took a slight offense at the angel's question, but he slowly understood what Michael insinuated, "You must be kidding me!"

"I do not jest; you are indeed the first human Morningstar."

"Aw, for fuck' sake! Is that why those devils attacked me?"

"Maybe Cain. But Leilah was probably there to kidnap and experiment on or use you. Which means she wasn't working alone."

"O-ok, what now?" Sam asked.

"Sam, you must understand that we can't always be there for you, but you are important to us and our existence."

"My brother means that we have turned you into an angel," Uriel interjected, much to Michael's irritation.

"W-WHAT?! FOR REAL?!" Sam screamed, "D-does this mean I'm like you, now?!"

"Indeed, it will make manifesting your Morningstar powers easier." Michael flicked his fingers and a tiny golden diamond appeared in his hand. "My brothers in the fifth heaven with the collaboration of the seraphim have developed these crystals that allow other creatures, say for devils, to reincarnate into angels."

"You're the first creature to be reincarnated into an angel. Even though it was to save your life." Uriel commented.

"Wait a sec! Are you saying this is the first time you tried this?"

"As I told you: this was for your sake. When I was healing you, half your soul was already up here by that point. So, all I ended up doing was tearing your soul apart by keeping half of it in your body. If I had not used the holy piece to revive the entirety of your soul, you would've been brought back as a half-dead maniac, lashing out against your loved ones by your confusion of the simplest concepts." Uriel explained. Gradually, his expression softened and he appeared regretful. "I'm sorry. I sensed the Morningstar's power through you. I was so excited by that, I didn't even notice that half your soul was missing."

"And as the commander of the angels, I also bear the responsibility." Michael and Uriel bowed their heads, "Our deepest apologies."

Sam was initially perplexed, but then, "Are you kidding me? I should be thanking you!"

"HUH?!"

"I don't grasp your meaning?"

"Yeah sure, I died. But now, I have the chance to see beyond the veil. I am in heaven for Pete's sake! I got to be an angel, I got to meet one of the most important creations of capital G God, and-" Sam closed his eyes and concentrated a bit, and out of his back, sprouted a pair of glowing silver wings made of light, and a silver halo above his head. "-I can fly." 

The two archangels blinked a few times.

"Hahaha, well, I'll be damned. It worked!" Uriel laughed, "This is the first time in history I was baffled by a human."

"Heh, regardless, an apology is in order. Once again, our deepest apologies."

"It's alright, I forgive you."

═════ ◈ ═════

It was morning, and the students of Kuoh Academy were in their classes. Most of them anyway. The ORC and the student council were gathering in the council room.

"Found anything yet?" Sona and Rias asked their peerages.

"Nothing, Buchou," Akeno said.

"We didn't find a single clue," a girl with long black hair, wearing glasses said.

Rias grew agitated, "Two days, two days! And there's no trace of him."

"The Satans, with all the men serving under them, did not find anything. Do you think two amateur peerages would? And when we inquired about his whereabouts from his family, the three of them said that he was visiting his grandparents for a month," Sona explained.

Rias grew more visibly annoyed, "I already know that Sona. But guess what? He wasn't at his grandparents' place. Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm not trying to make fun of you. What I'm saying is: if the Satans, with all the resources they have, cannot find a single trace, what if he wasn't on Earth to begin with? An angel took him away, after all."

"But why would they take a soul deliberately? Does he have a sacred gear so special that it was the only one heaven had to have?"

"I don't know, but I think we will see Sam again in a month." Rias gave Sona a confused look, to which Sona continued, "If the angels manipulated his family's minds to think he would be away for a month, then they would expect him to see him then. Which means the angels would bring him back at that time."

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"ALRIGHT, YOU CAN COME DOWN NOW," Michael instructed.

Getting wings got the teenager excited for some experimentation. Although they didn't show it, Michael and Uriel were also excited by Sam's impressive grasp on his wings.

Sam slowed the movement of his wings as he descended. "Wow, that was fun!"

"Flying came to you, naturally." Uriel seemed satisfied. "However, in a fight, you should move much faster. Furthermore, you have to learn some basic combat and light-based attacks. Don't worry, though; Angels are designed to use their abilities like their limbs, so your new physiology will allow you to get going in a matter of a month. But on account of the Morningstar's near resurgence, you must spend a year here for the system to lock into it."

"Excuse me?! What about my parents? And Issei? Wouldn't they be worried sick about me?"

"Do not fret, I sent Adiel and Abdiel to alter their memories so they would think you're at your grandparents' house for a visit," Michael reassured.

"For a year?! I will be expelled from school!"

"We can make a year here a month on earth."

"I don't know how to feel about this."

Michael put a hand on Sam's shoulder, "Sam, I know that this seems a bit questionable, but know that this is for the sake of the world, including your family. Don't you want to be able to protect them?"

Sam suddenly froze, his mind emptied of all his surroundings. He didn't seem to be paying attention, as he was contemplating deeply.

"...am...Sam?...Sam?!" the sound of Uriel snapped him out of it.

"Oh, sorry; I spaced out." A look of sudden determination appeared on Sam. It was so sudden that it surprised the two archangels. "I accept, let's do this."

And so, it began.

═════ ◈ ═════

Green blurs, that's all he saw. No, it's what he would've seen at his sides if not for the speed he's going at. Sam was running his heart out in a valley beside a river. Uriel thought that training close to a source of water was best.

Despite being called that, Eden was not just a garden. It was a whole ecosystem, filled with all fauna and flora known and unknown to man. Species that have been long extinct on Earth are also here.

"Thirty-five miles per hour, phenomenal!" Uriel remarked as Sam got on his knees and breathed heavily.

"pant pant...I...pant...I thought we...pant...we had wings?" Sam uttered, still facing the ground.

"Lay down on your back first, you'll find it most comfortable." Sam did so. "Wings are cool and all, but like any body part, they can be injured to the point of immobility. Such a case requires other means of maneuver during combat."

"Man! Is training this tasking for pure angels as well?"

"Hardly." Uriel gave Sam a water bottle, "You are indeed an angel, but being an angel does not just mean pretty wings and sparkling lights. An angel has a direct connection to heaven, a conduit from which a host member derives and uses their power. That's why you get exhausted faster than the OGs; as a turned angel, you lack that connection."

"And busting my ass here for an entire year will give me that connection?" Sam took the bottle and drank from it.

"Precisely. Now, while we rest, how about a meal?" With a gesture, Uriel made a magic circle. A table filled with chicken, fish, and some fruit emerged.

═════ ◈ ═════

In a meeting room, four figures were seated around a large round table

"I think we should give up the search, Serafall. It's been twenty-five days already," a man said with a tone laced with boredom.

"No way! Those feathered goody two-shoes transgressed on So-Tan's territory," a woman with long black twin tails said.

"Serafall, they have as much hold on humanity as us; that means even humans within our territories. In fact, they have more of a right than us, given the fact that God created both angels and humans."

"Shut up, Ajuka. You agree with me, right, Sirzechs?"

"No, Falbuim and Ajuka are right. We should cease the search." Serafall showed a face of bewilderment. "Your sister could be right; maybe he will appear after a day or two. The angels' number one priority was always the protection of humanity; they can't hurt a mortal. Besides, you've been exhausting our resources, Serafall."

Serafall slumped in her seat with a pout.

"Well, Now that matter is settled, we should discuss the reintroduction of the...what?" Ajuka's words were cut when a golden magic circle appeared on the table. A hologram of a figure appeared on it. Everyone seemed surprised at the presence.

"Greetings, rulers of the underworld."

"Greetings to you too, Michael of the seraphim," Sirzechs replied.

"I believe we should talk."

═════ ◈ ═════

Uriel came at Sam with a light sword, however, it wasn't hard for Sam to block it with his own. Sam then pushed Uriel's sword forward before he leaped backward to make a distance.

Uriel dashed with only a blur to reappear at Sam's side with another swing. Sam parried it before Uriel built up the necessary momentum. It took only another swing for the two swords to clash and lock, with each trying to get the upper hand.

Uriel tripped Sam with his leg, letting the young angel fall. Before he could stand up, he found a sword on his way to stab his chest, only for it to shatter on impact.

"Cheap shot," Sam complained.

"Your opponents would take a cheap shot. If my sword was concentrated as it should be, you would be history."

"I know."

"You do know your way with the sword though. Better than an average sword fighter, I'd say. Keeping up with me as long as you did is not an average Joe's feat. Besides, this does not look like the average swordsmanship you can learn from a class either. What gives?"

"Guess I'm a natural."

"Were you drilling behind my back? You are no good to me overworked." 

Sam wore a smug, "Maybe you've grown a bit rusty."

Uriel cocked a brow at the jab. It didn't sound all that genuine to him. It felt forced. He decided to humor Sam nonetheless.

"Being cocky now, aren't we?"

"I'm just saying." 

Uriel looked surprised before he looked up "Michael?"

"What?" Sam looked up before his senses flared up.

"You sneaky bastard!"

Sam found himself evading a swing from Uriel.

═════ ◈ ═════

From then on, and for the rest of the year, Sam's training was smooth sailing. He made sure to break his back training to the fullest. However, both Michael and Uriel were surprised at Sam's capabilities, more so by his resolve.

═════ ◈ ═════

She didn't expect to see this when the summoning circle in the clubroom glowed in calling. A teenage boy was lying on the ground beside a fountain, bleeding profusely from his stomach. And not any teen, it was Issei, the leader of the perverted trio.

Rias was horrified. No matter how many times she witnesses this scene, the reality of an innocent life lost will always be horrifying for her.

Her open palms chined crimson before red chess pieces appeared. She fumbled with shaky hands through them and picked a pawn piece; she put it on Issei's chest. The piece got absorbed into his chest but the wound healed just a little, so she put another. The wound progressively closed with a total of eight pawn pieces and the boy's breath returned to him.

Rias sighed in relief before taking her phone out and calling a number, "Sona, give me Issei Hyoudou's address, now."

"Rias, what happened?"

"I found Issei dead and then reincarnated him. Now, give me his address before he wakes up."

"Oh..."

═════ ◈ ═════

"I can safely say that you passed your basic training with flying colors," Michael congratulated.

"Yeah, never thought that you'd make it," Uriel joked...hopefully.

It was as if parents expressed their pride in their kids. Sam felt that he truly connected with these two, which made him comfortable asking a question he was afraid to ask this whole time. "Thank you, but let me ask a question without you getting mad."

"We won't get mad at you; you can ask anything," Michael said in a comforting tone.

"With all this crazy biblical stuff that I became involved with, I want to know: where's God in all this?" The two angels froze. "You said that you, specifically, passed your responsibilities to Gabriel. Shouldn't God assign responsibilities to angels?"

Uriel turned to Michael with a questioning look, before Michael nodded and said: "He's gonna be of our rank someday. We better tell him the truth now before he possesses the power to do something dangerously reckless."

"Tell me what?" Sam asked warily.

Michael looked at Sam with a serious expression, "Sam, you are not to mention this to anyone, not your family, not your brother, and not a supernatural creature you'll meet, absolutely no one."

"Yes," Sam answered without hesitation, unaware of the gravity of what was about to be revealed to him.