Chapter 10: "The Divine Shining: Lilith's Ultimate Sacrifice".

The town was plunged into heart-rending chaos. Azrael, from high in the heavens, let out a thunderous cry that echoed in every corner, piercing the hearts of the inhabitants. "Lilith, show yourself and bring your bastard with you," he cried in a mournful and merciless voice. The force of her words shook the foundations of tranquility, plunging everyone into an abyss of fear.

Lilith, with her eyes fixed on her fainting son, turned her gaze skyward. A mixture of determination and anguish flooded her being, forcing her to make a decision of unknown consequences. With a firm step and an inwardly crumbling courage, she made her way towards the place where Azrael awaited.

Words escaped Lilith's lips, tinged with confusion and pain. "Why are you here, and why does Michael seek us if we only live in peace in this mortal world?" Lilith's voice trembled, but her resolve did not waver.

Azrael let out a merciless laugh, taunting Lilith with cruelty. "Lilith, you're still as haughty and proud as ever, even though you've always been a despicable fall," he whispered with contempt. Then her laughter ceased and her tone grew darker. "I have come for your lives, heaven will find no peace as long as you and your bastard are still alive."

While this disturbing conversation was taking place, Roland, hanging on every word, hurriedly searched through his desk drawers for something. Finding a blank sheet of paper, a stamp and a dagger, his face darkened. Without missing a beat, he began to write a letter, his hands moving with speed and determination. Once finished, he sealed the letter with the imperial emblem and, taking the dagger, rushed to where Lilith and Azrael were facing each other.

Roland, with a last glance at Lilith, his eyes full of concern, whispered, "Go with Luzbel, I'll stall him." He handed her the sealed letter and the dagger, adding, "These objects may be of help. Seek refuge in the location written on the back of the letter." Lilith understood the futility of the gesture, but took advantage of Azrael's distraction to flee to where her son and Alistair were.

Upon reaching Luzbel and Alistair, Lilith watched as her son regained consciousness. His eyes, framed by torment and anguish, met those of his mother. He was about to speak, but Lilith, plunged in despair, interrupted him with a heart-rending sob. "Why, why didn't you listen to me?" she whispered through her tears.

Lilith's trembling voice pierced the air, mingling with the sobs and anguish that consumed her. "Why did you train your mana, even though I begged you not to?" Tears streamed down her face as her voice cracked on every word.

Alistair, engulfed in a storm of guilt and confusion, listened to Lilith's words with a lump in his throat. He knew that his actions had led to this tragedy, and the weight of responsibility loomed over him.

Luzbel, confused and stunned by what he was witnessing, sought answers in his mother's eyes. "What's going on, Mom?" he asked with disbelief in his voice, unable to comprehend the magnitude of the danger that surrounded them.

Lilith, her face drenched with tears, made an effort to control her voice as she explained to her son. "Someone extremely powerful is coming for us, Luzbel. Someone no one in this world can stop," she whispered in desperation.

Luzbel, overwhelmed and bewildered, stammered in shock, "But why is he here?" The question hung in the air, with no clear answer, as tragedy unfolded around him.

Lily sighed, "Because of your wings, Luzbel. That's the reason I forbade you to train your mana," she replied with sadness in her voice, knowing that her deepest fears were coming true.

The world seemed to collapse before Luzbel's eyes. Before he could articulate another word, the deafening noises that plagued the outside abruptly died away. Lilith sank back into a sea of disconsolate tears, aware that this implied the death of the elderly knight who had been her protector for over a decade.

Suddenly, Azrael's voice echoed through the air, full of malice. "Lilith, so you're in that old house," he vociferated angrily. Lilith exchanged a quick glance with Alistair, and without wasting a second, handed Luzbel the letter and dagger Roland had entrusted to her. "These items will help you find shelter in Arx Regni. And take this," Lilith said as her body began to glow with a divine light. A broken ring on her hand fused together, transforming into a ring adorned with two wings. "This ring contains all the information you do not now understand, about your father, about me and all that concerns you. But, Luzbel, I would like you, if you can, to go on with your life without paying attention to me or your father. This ring can only be unlocked when you reach the rank of Grand Wizard or Grand Master."

Luzbel picked up the three objects with trembling hands, unable to fully comprehend their meaning. Lilith's words echoed in his mind as he tried to unravel the riddle before him. Confusion and despair gripped him, but there was no time to pause and ponder. Lilith, with determination in her eyes, looked at Alistair and ordered him to take Luzbel to Arx Regni. "I will entertain him," she said with a mixture of determination and anguish in her voice.

Luzbel awoke from his stupor, feeling the urgency and fear that plagued him. He cried out desperately, "Mom, you have to come with us!" His eyes sought comfort and reassurance from his mother, but Lilith smiled sadly at him and shook her head. "That's not possible," she replied in a tone laden with resignation.

Before Luzbel could say anything else, Lilith, enveloped in a burst of energy, flew outward, determined to confront Azrael. Luzbel's heart broke into a thousand pieces as he witnessed his mother's departure. "No, mamaaa!" he cried desperately, his voice laden with pain and pleading.

Alistair, watching the scene with grief and with no other options, approached Luzbel. "We have to go," he told him, trying to contain his own anguish. But Luzbel, clinging to the hope that his mother would accompany them, resisted with all his might. "No, not without Mom!" he protested with tears in his eyes, his voice full of despair and denial.

Alistair, aware that time was running out and that they must escape to survive, had no choice but to use his magic. He summoned a spell and locked Luzbel in chains of ice, leaving the young man trapped in his despair and pain. With tears in his eyes, Alistair sped away, heading deeper into the dark forest.

As Luzbel and Alistair fled, they turned to look back and the sight that presented itself was bleak. The town was engulfed in flames and destruction, the streets stained with blood and covered with corpses. In the sky, Lilith hovered in front of Azrael, her figure ethereal and sad.

Suddenly, Lilith generated a huge explosion of black light that engulfed both her and Azrael. The town was devoured by shadows and a deafening roar was heard that shook the very earth. Alistair, unable to bear to witness the tragedy unfolding, closed his eyes tightly, letting tears well up from his closed eyelids.

Luzbel, trapped in his ice prison and heartbroken, wept.