Infinity: Rising of the Soul Weavers

"Now, now," Michael's voice was like a hot bath on a winter night. Warm and refreshing. "Don't cry, little Raphael."

Looking up from within his embrace, Raphael could see his gentle smile and beautiful golden eyes looking at her like a father looking at his baby daughter.

'No… what's with this look?' Raphael's heart was still beating widely and inconsistently. 'Why is he acting like this? There's no way this is the same Michael I know…

'Why does he sound so sincere? Something must be wrong!'

"Hm, are you feeling better now, little Raphael?" She could hear his soft voice again.

"Huh?" She realised that she had stopped crying, but she could not reply. Her heart was still beating as if she was a powerless human kid running from a deadly wild animal.

"Hm, it's alright. Take your time to calm down. I can still feel your heart beating like a rabbit that's trying to break its cage," he chuckled gracefully at his own analogy. But Raphael knew.

'He is not making fun of me, he is only trying to make me feel better…'

Wiping away her tears and taking a few seconds to calm down, she shook her head as if to force her eyes to clear up their fuzziness.

"I am better now," she said quietly. "Thank you."

"Uhm," he simply nodded. "Little Raphael, please tell me, what's wrong? This has a lot more to do than a home you lived in for some years, especially for someone who has lived countless years.

"I tried to ask Uriel but she seemed to be hiding something from me, will you please tell me? I can't help you if I don't know."

She could not help but look at him in disbelief. 'Uriel did not rat me out? And Michael is trying to act like a good older brother or father? Am I dreaming?'

"Little Raphael?" He asked again with a tilted head. "If you're not feeling good, I can d-"

"No!" She subconsciously shouted, before quickly covering her mouth with both hands.

"Oh dear, please tell me what's wrong, you're not acting like normal at all," he truly seemed concerned. 

She knew that he could simply ask Uriel again. Heck, he could ask her again or rather order her to tell him everything, yet he wasn't doing that.

"I- On that planet, I-" she frowned as she realised that her voice was still shaky. 

Taking a deep breath, she continued. "On that planet- *sigh*" she shook her head before adopting a serious expression and asking Michael a question.

"Michael, do you really think that killing a good person is equivalent to granting them salvation?" She asked planely.

"Taking into account the alternative options, yes. It is definitely salvation. " He answered without an ounce of hesitation.

"Even if they're a really good person that tries to defend the weak? Even if they risk their own life to protect the oppressed?

"Isn't a person like that doing what we believe in, as Angels of Judgement? Isn't what we want is a good world where everyone lives happily? What if that person is doing that?"

"Hm, I guess that you met someone like that on this planet?" Michael asked with a hand under his chin.

"Uhm, I did," Raphael simply answered. "Don't you think that we should give that person a try, or rather, a chance? 

"Would it not be easier if she, err that person, was able to change the world into the best, instead of us destroying everything and calling our actions 'salvation' for the weak?"

*Sigh*

"Please describe this girl to me," he said. "Or better yet, show me. Show me what this girl made and accomplished. Show me who is that girl that is worthy of your precious tears, little Raphael."

"Really?" She exclaimed in disbelief. Seeing her reaction made Michael chuckle. 

"Uhm, please show me," he nodded.

***

"Hm, I see," Michael said calmly after having Raphael share some memories with him. "I can definitely see why you'd try to save someone like her."

"Uhm," Raphael nodded happily. "That's right!" She was so happy and excited.

"That's absolutely right! She saved me. She made me her family. And not just that, but she helps whoever needs help! 

"She is definitely walking a path of angelic deeds! Right? You must agree with me after seeing all of that, right, Michael?"

Her voice sounded so refreshed and happy that it was hard to believe that she was a seraph, and angel of judgement and destruction.

"Michael," she called out again, without waiting for him to answer. "Doesn't she deserve a chance? It is obvious that the planet was simply unlucky since our tests came before this girl, Raven, had a chance to fix it!

"You must agree with me, right? Is it not obvious that, given time, she'd be able to fix everything and let that planet pass the test? We can simply repeat one last test after she's made those changes! 

"It will most definitely pass the test! I promise! I know her, I know Raven, she will fix the planet so that it'll pass our judgement! What do you say Michael?" After she finished she was breathing heavily as she had talked without giving her lungs a chance to suck in some air.

Michael looked at her weird since he knew that seraphim and angels in general needed no air, nor oxygen. 

They breathe in energy, not air. And they don't use lungs for that. 

'Hm, it must be her memory,' Michael silently thought to himself. All the while, Raphael was holding his hands and throwing them up and down.

Her excitement was akin to a child visiting a chocolate factory and getting an intense sugar rush while begging her father for some more chocolate and sweets.

"Hm, I see…" Michael suddenly said.

Those words instantly weighed heavily on Raphael's shoulders, making her almost lose balance. 'Huh?' she was confused, to say the least.

'Michael?' she tried to speak, but her lips won't move. In fact, her entire body seemed so heavy to move. She slowly fell down on the lush green grass. 'Huh?'

She was not unconscious. No, her eyes were wide open. 'What is happening?'

"I see where the problem is," Michael's voice sounded just like before, however, it was devoid of any trace of kindness or gentleness. 

It was cold. Colder than a harsh winter night.

Raphael's heart started beating widely again. It was beating so hard that blood threatened to leak out of her ears and nose. 

Her body wanted to shake in order to compensate for the coldness it felt, but alas, she could barely keep her eyelids open. Shivering was out of question.

"I see…" Michael repeated calmly.

This person that was treating Raphael like his young daughter just a second ago was suddenly looking at her as if she was a defective tool that he needed to throw out.

"Everything makes sense now…" he muttered, quietly. "Hm, let me ask you a question, young girl." 

He didn't call her seraph or little Raphael. 

Raphael's heart sank.

"What is your name? No-

"Actually, let me ask you this… Who are you?"