Angel - End

Sulfur, a scent of burning that rose through his nose. Rousing both from their sleep. Yet when he rose, looking through the hole in the curtains.

There was nothing, naught a single fire, nor residue. Only the quiet sounds of those going about their days, walking to and from stores. Peddling goods and bartering for better deals.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. A seemingly normal day… normal… absolutely normal.

A sharp pain tore through his head. He groaned in response, taking comfort in the pair of hands that rose to rub at his temple.

Only for the pain to come back with a searing vengeance, targeted. 

A flicker of black then of a whitish-gold. He tore his gaze from the curtains and with a pounding headache opened the door.

Silent steps took him out of the inn and further into the town. A sort of siren's song that called for him.

Yet with each step the headache grew, growing from bearable to a migraine.

And even further beyond.

A sort of sensory issue where nothing was in focus yet everything was. As if his brain took in every signal and amplified it a hundred- no- a thousand times.

It didn't even hurt, the pain had ended a while ago. It was disorienting, focusing on everything and nothing at the same time.

Then it happened, he rose from his pain, matted hair sticking to his face. Sweat pouring down his forehead.

A familiar voice, yet only to him.

"The rumored angel… The goddess's executioner… and the hope of the common folk." 

She closed her book, her curly red hair dropping over her face as she leaned down and faced Gabriel. Golden eyes piercing his own.

A gaze only a predator could have. Yet by himself, he was no prey.

Gabriel rose once more, straightening his posture and holding closely to his sword.

"Gabriel." An introduction, one that the judge had forgotten about. Even if he had known of her, there was no doubt that she had no knowledge of him nor of his.

"Ha- Erin, commander of this here company."

She raised her arms out, gesturing to those behind her. Of the injured men and women, of their prowess that even half-dead was prominently displayed. 

"Something bring you here?" Her voice, once so vibrant, turned dead. A complete change.

"A feeling." Gabriel responded, it wasn't even conscious of him. Merely the first thing that he could think of.

"A feeling huh?" 

Erin looked to the sky, her golden eye shining brightly before she turned and said something. Gabriel couldn't hear it, so consumed by the intense smell of sulfur.

It was something that just wouldn't go away.

Yet when he composed himself once more, looking back to Erin, the Golden Judge, he was alone with her.

No longer was the place filled with the others, it was only Erin and him. Completely empty.

The smell of sulfur was insufferable, it grated on his nose. Erin grew closer to him, closing the small distance between them.

Until they were practically face to face, that with another step they would practically be touching noses.

"An angel, saving this town from those -she spat- nobles." 

"They deserved it, the bastards." Gabriel spat out just as she had. Images of what they had done, the horror they had placed upon those that were unfortunate enough to cross their path.

And above all, the lonely funerals. Of hundreds of corpses that none could identify, and even more that none cared about.

Of kneeling before their graves, the pain in his chest as Gabriel cursed himself. For not being strong enough to heal them, nor fast enough in his response.

It hurt… genuinely hurt, more than any wound he had felt.

So yes, they did deserve it, and even if he did not voice those thoughts. It was clear what his thoughts on the matter were.

Erin frowned, her lips thinning before she retreated, seemingly finding whatever it was that she had been searching for.

"Do your business, I will neither support nor oppose you." And with that she left Gabriel, her heels tapping against the wood, echoing as she went about her day.

The issue of his senses was gone, as if some weight had been lifted from his head.

…

…

…

"You are sure that this is accurate." 

"Yes, your grace, I have verified it with my own eyes." Vahn responded, kneeling against the ground. His eyes set the same way.

"Mmm"

"I grant you permission, it seems as though the goddess has grown weary of this treachery."

Vahn rose, bowing once more before he left the king to his duties. 

Out through the doors and back to the room that he had been assigned. As it was such a rush, Vahn had been placed among the guest palace. A place that the king had even said was only adequate.

Vahn begged to differ, it was as opulent as his own home, maybe even better. But that was the difference between them was it not.

"Vahn Knight. I see that father is done with you." A voice rang true, a feminine one that he could only assume to be the princess.

"Yes, Sophia, his grace has finished with me." Vahn bowed, casting his gaze to the floor once more.

"Tell me more about this… angel of yours." She imperiously ordered, sitting amongst his chairs, sipping tea that she had obtained from god knows where.

"Then allow me." Vahn merely responded. From the gleam in her eyes as he regaled her the tales of the angel, as he told her of the magnificent glow of his voice. 

It was clear that she was already enamored by him. Buzzing in her seat and with a want for more, to see the angel in person.

"This Gabriel, you wouldn't happen to know his… hm… preferences."

"I am sorry to say that I do not, however if it is any consolation then I will say that I have seen no women close to him."

"Very well, dismissed." And with one last imperious wave she let him go, her own body rising as she left the guest palace and departed to her own.

'Things are heating up, aren't they, Gabriel?' And for once a smile graced his features, all as he looked to the sky. Where he knew that the ashes of the criminals were spreading.

All at the effort of the Angel of retribution. Or was it justice.

Mmm… they were calling him many things now. A sensation.