《High-School Angels [GRIMDARK ISEKAI]》


 Prologue

    Yana had lived a fairly short life as a human, died, was reborn as an Angel, cast off his wings to live as a man only to be killed again in ritual sacrifice by the mortal servants of Dark Lords.


    However, in spite of all of that, he had risen yet again, clad in amour forged from brilliant shards of the dimensional Seal of all Heavens, as the commander of a force that numbered in billions of the faithful and his remaining Angelic kin, beings of Light that were clad in luminous armor wrought in the seventh dimension.


    This host of steel, gold and light stood before the trillions who were the legions of the damned, clad in Infernal iron and fire that perpetually burnt their souls.


    This most final of battles took place in the highest of dimensions, a realm where all of existence unfolded at once in a bright white expanse that never dimmed, and each clash sent out ripples across all of time.


    Now it was almost over, and a bloodied Yana found himself barely able to stand as he was surrounded by three of the Divine Errors who stood atop mountains of corpses of both their enemies and allies.


    Chief among them was H''erev, the Black Beast that Prowled the Abyss. The darkest among them, standing at ten thousand meters tall and clad in thick plates of ever cascading Malice. Jutting from the back of his helmet, which was fashioned to resemble the maw of a rabid dog, were dreadlocks that nearly touched the surface of the expanse. He brandished a monolith of a longsword that gnawed at reality, tearing at it with every moment of its unholy existence.


    To his left was his sister, who stood only eight thousand meters tall. Her head had been replaced with a stone temple that she nailed onto her neck, and her black blood poured forth from its doors.


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    Zemer of the Repugnant Whoresong, like H''erev, was clad in a gown of Malice, that which ate away at creation, and she let out muffled, pained groans that undid the flesh of the corpses at her bare feet.


    To H¡¯erev''s right was the most damned soul and it belonged to Romach the Reviled who, while only marginally shorter than H¡¯erev, wore armor that was equally caustic to life and was a slimmer fit, lined with elongated streaks of malice that screamed back and forth when he moved at great speeds. Atop his helm was a plume made from the sundered feathers of an Angel, and he wielded a Spear that emitted so much power, it threatened to pierce even the final dimension.


    Yana stood dwarfed before these primeval terrors without the protection of his Angelic Crown or the might of his long-gone wings.


    He stood as a man, brandishing a sword made from the heart of the firstborn star and a resilience that was unflinching even as his skin burnt.


    [So, tell me, Yana, Angel of Faith, he who rose time and time again, did your god finally reply?]


    Yana bit his teeth, and this was answer enough for the darkest lor,d who let out a mocking chuckle through his Blackened helmet that dripped with the blood of millions.


    [Will you finally admit your folly? Confess so that all may hear that your false faith was a failure without even without eventually a shred of proof, that it was you and the rest of our cruel creators that damned this universe to an eternity of suffering!]


    Yana¡¯s bones creaked under H¡¯erev''s voice, but he stood fast.


    ¡°That was always your problem, child. So eager to blame others for your own faults and transgressions.¡± Yana sighed through bloodied teeth.


    He then took a deep breath and pointed his sword at the Darkest of Lords.


    ¡°I have never needed a reply to keep my faith! The beauty of all things is testimony enough, and you, my son, are a foul exception.¡±


    Five of the remaining Angels stood by Yana''s side, and, with wings that reached the farthest ends of existence, they embraced him with their light.


    ¡°The day of your judgment has finally come, and the stain of your accursed soul will finally be wiped clean from the face of creation!¡±


    H¡¯erev let out a disgusted growl before rushing towards his creators to strike, but while this battle would decide the fates of all who were present, the final threat to all things had hidden herself somewhere far below, in a dark and quiet place.

 1. And So It Was, Once Again

    ¡°Today¡¯s topic is compassion, and we¡¯re taking it a step further by figuring out not only how much you are willing to give but how much of yourself you are willing to divest for the sake of another.¡± Miss Thabit¡¯s voice barely reached Gwayana as he slouched on his chair near the back of the class. He was a lanky young man whose brows seemed permanently furrowed. His dark skin seemingly glowed with how smooth it was, and his dark brown eyes lazily hung to the side as the seconds of the afternoon ticked by.


    ¡°Hey, Yana?¡± Came a chirp from the table to the right. The small voice belonged to a short boy who had messy, long, golden hair and a smile that rivalled the sun in its brightness. He had pale skin, bright blue eyes and a missing front tooth.


    ¡°Mmm?¡± Yana grunted, although not even his moody self couldn¡¯t help but soften when facing Kiln, who leaned over.


    ¡°What are your plans for the holidays?¡±


    ¡°Quiet, both of you. The teacher is speaking.¡± Nozh whispered from behind the two. She had long auburn hair that was bound in a neat bun and eyes that were a dull green. Her skin was fair and littered with freckles.


    ¡°If you really wanted to hear her, then you¡¯d have sat in the front.¡± Yana scoffed.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Kiln chimed in, which made Nozh¡¯s eyes flare with anger.


    ¡°We don¡¯t get to pick where we sit!¡±


    ¡°Oh- forgot about that.¡± Yana lazily yawned.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, could you remind those three that classes are still in session?¡± K¨­ritsu, a prefect and class representative, spoke up without turning to face the trio behind him. All Yana could see was his dark, neatly trimmed hair and pale skin.


    ¡°Keep it down, alright. The day¡¯s almost over anyway, so just keep your stories to yourselves a little longer, okay?¡± Miss Thabit asked in her usual patient manner. Her small frame stood in front of the relatively massive whiteboard, and her voice was as delicate as the petals of a blooming flower. Her silky brown hair hung in a ponytail, and her bronze-coloured skin was littered with little dark spots.


    Yana didn¡¯t care for what she had to say, though.


    He just wanted to hurry home and procrastinate the rest of his day away.


    That¡¯s how it was every day as of late.


    Wake up, trudge through school, fill in the time until sleep and repeat.


    Motivation was a rare feeling and he desired less with each passing day.


    He had tried a few things to light a spark in his heart but sports, academia and socializing only served to drain him even more.


    Part of him knew he was just being lazy and that he¡¯d live to regret some of what he was doing but he really didn¡¯t care.


    Well¡­ there was one exception in the monotony.


    ¡°So¡­ what are you gonna do? Where are you gonna go?¡± Kiln whispered while keeping a comically narrowed eye on Miss Thabit, who was writing something on the board.


    ¡°No idea. Probably gonna rot away in my bed or something.¡±


    ¡°Aww¡­ I¡¯d come over but we¡¯re going to the sports camp next week.¡± Kiln pouted, only to start grinning again soon after.


    ¡°We should still have a few days to hang out when I come back, so hang in there, alright?¡±


    Yana once found the short blondie annoying, what with his ceaseless chattering and dopey expression, but those things quickly became parts of his day he cherished, although he didn¡¯t have much of a choice since Kiln was made to sit next to him.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Yana only ever smiled at school when he was in Kiln¡¯s presence. Almost as if, for a moment, he¡¯d forget just how miserable he made himself, circumstances aside.


    ¡°Heck- if you can¡¯t wait a couple of weeks, you could always come with us¡ª¡° Kiln stopped as the ground violently shook.


    ¡°Earthquake?¡± K¨­ritsu jumped to his feet, his dark eyes scanning the visibly shaking room.


    ¡°Everyone, please get under your tables!¡± Miss Thabit cried and all of her students complied, as they had practiced.


    In this moment, Yana turned to Kiln and watched as dread filled his friend¡¯s eyes but even in this moment, the fool put on a nervous smile even as the entire school shook and as the sky darkened.


    ¡°Well, this is one way to start the holidays, right?¡±


    Yana, who had been clenching his jaws with fear, shook his head and smiled back at his friend.


    ¡°Yeah¡ª¡± Yana wasn¡¯t sure if his voice reached his friend, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a large chunk of the ceiling collapsed, crushing Kiln and several other students.


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    Yana¡¯s mind rattled with horror as he looked for even the slightest hint of his friend within the rubble, but he couldn¡¯t see anything, not even a bit of blood.


    The school continued to shake as the air filled the dust, dust that lined Yana¡¯s tears as they welled in his quivering eyes. Each panicking breath only served to stretch his aching chest.


    He then heard the sounds of something loudly cracking above him but before he could even think of looking up, his body was crushed as another chunk of the school fell.


    .


    ..


    That brief moment of agonizing pain, the last thing he felt before he died, followed him across an ink black eternity.


    The feeling of his head being pressed onto the floor and his brain being forced out of his skull rang like a million headaches.


    Then came a relief unlike any other.


    All was quiet and at rest.


    After this second, brief eternity came a gentle drifting motion.


    Yana felt something pull him into a terribly cold place but he felt no pain nor discomfort.


    He then took a breath and felt as though something now occupied the empty expanse.


    Then came vision.


    He opened his eyes to find himself in a place that was so bright, all he could see was white light everywhere.


    He looked himself over and saw that his body was different.


    He was taller and muscular, and his skin was pearlescent in colour and texture.


    He squeezed his hands and felt a great strength that was both new and yet felt natural. As if it was always his.


    He could also see himself and the space around him from a third person perspective, allowing him to see that, while his facial features remained mostly the same, he now had bright golden irises, a brilliant white halo and a pair of wings that reached out to the edges of the expanse, allowing him to perceive all that was.


    Including a few other winged beings who drifted in the bright white space.


    He tried to move towards them, and by the simple thought of it, his form shifted through space until he was before several of them.


    [Yana?] One of them called shakingly, and he immediately recognized her as Miss Thabit.


    [Ma¡¯am?] He gasped, and his teacher, now a pale winged being, moved closer to wrap her arms around him.


    [I am so¡­ so sorry!] She wept and it looked like she had been crying for some time. Something he felt in his chest as a deep ache.


    Yana gently tapped her shoulder while looking at the others, who wore various expressions, most of which were grim.


    [W- what happened?] He asked, his voice filling all of existence.


    Miss Thabit looked like she was having trouble finding the words to say as she let him go, so it was K¨­ritsu who answered.


    [Unless I am personally hallucinating all of this, or if this is some sort of shared delusion, it¡¯s possible that we died in that earthquake and were somehow brought to this place afterwards but¡­ I don¡¯t know for sure.]


    Yana¡¯s classmates muttered among each other and it was here that the new, powerful heart in Yana¡¯s chest fell.


    [Ma¡¯am?] He called out with a fear that resonated in the hearts of the others, their feelings seemingly seeping into each other.


    [Yes, Yana?] Miss Thabit whimpered, and at this point, she already knew what her student was going to say.


    [Where¡¯s Kiln?]


    Miss Thabit¡¯s eyes lowered, forcing Yana to turn to K¨­ritsu, whose brows furrowed a little.


    Yana clicked his tongue and as despair pooled within him, he closed his eyes and searched as far as his wings could reach, feeling out for anything that resembled his friend.


    He searched for a brief eternity until he felt a massive pulse that tore across all of space, prompting Yana to return his focus to his body, where he joined the others in watching as an incalculable amount of matter flew out from a single point in the endless space.


    Stretching out from this point were the primordial seeds that went on to form the stars and galaxies.


    Weaving in and out of all things was also a network of reddish gold tendrils that were teeming with the power of creation.


    But it also felt¡­ familiar. Like the warmth of a hug or the assuring words of one most dear.


    Yana reached out and touched on of the tendrils, and he immediately began weeping as he saw visions of his friend, nestled in the heart of all things, his form bled into all that was as his essence fed all of existence. Each tendril was like one of his veins and they stretched out to the edge of the newly born universe.


    [Kiln!] Yana called out but his friend was in a place was in a place his voice could not reach.


    Sorrow followed.


    A deep ache that permeated through all things as Yana cried.


    All his classmates could do was watch as he futilely clung to one of the primordial veins, as if trying to hold something that wasn¡¯t quite there.


    [Well, that answers some of my concerns. We have indeed been reborn. Why and by whose hand have we been brought here? I don¡¯t know but it would be best if we stuck together. That¡¯s the least we can do in this bizarre situation.] K¨­ritsu said, prompting the others to nod as the universe formed around them. With each second that passed, Kiln gave more of himself to fuel the persistence of all things.


    All while he slept curled up in that distant, inaccessible place.


    Yana let go of the Vein and floated over to the others as they watched reality unfold before them. Great clouds of dust gathered to form the stars which cradled little worlds as they spun around nascent galaxies.


    [Fogo. See if you can land on one of those planets.] K¨­ritsu instructed one of his classmates who always had a buzzcut and a pair of bushy eyebrows. His rounded head betrayed his once chubby appearance. One he had long shed, even before his rebirth.


    [Huh? Why me?] Everyone felt Fogo¡¯s hesitance and frustration in their own brows.


    [Because, of everyone here, you were the most athletic when we were alive. I just think you¡¯ll have the easiest time manoeuvring the terrain.]


    Everyone could feel that K¨­ritsu was appealing to Fogo¡¯s pride, and Fogo knew this as well.


    That said¡­


    [Tsk! Fine, but you owe me one, especially if I get burnt.]


    Everyone held their breath as Fogo descended onto a world of fire and rock. It was incredibly close to its star, but even in these extreme environs, Fogo stood unfazed.


    If anything, his light and presence were pushing at the star and planet a little.


    Fogo landed on the little rocky work,d and just as his bare feet touched the ground, the contact sent out a massive shockwave that pushed away the lava and fire.


    [If we can survive this, then I''m pretty sure we can survive underwater too!] Fogo reported from below.


    [I reasoned as much, given the fact that we are floating in space without suits.] K¨­ritsu muttered, although his thoughts were clear for the others to feel.


    Tears had also started falling from all of their eyes and it was from the combined sorrow and grief they felt.


    They all mourned their now evident departure from the Earth, the fact that they¡¯d never be able to see their loved ones again and they even mourned their own deaths.


    Yana hadn¡¯t stopped crying from earlier either, his every conscious thought being dedicated to his friend who, whether willingly or not, gave of himself to all that was.


    Without wiping his tears, K¨­ritsu turned to the stars.


    [We¡¯ll need to find a place to rest and gather our thoughts. That¡¯s the first step.]

 2. Becoming

    The class of fourteen and their teacher had finally found a singular point they could rest, and it was one that even they struggled to comprehend initially.


    The nature of their existence allowed them to exist and perceive all dimensions, meaning they didn¡¯t need to limit themselves to the three commonly known ones.


    That¡¯s how their wings were able to stretch out to the outer boundaries of the universe. They were free to reach beyond the three axes.


    The place the class had chosen was in one of the higher and relatively uneventful dimensions, the seventh. A seemingly empty white space.


    They chose this place because being present in the third dimension was too tedious as they had to physically shift their near omnipresent forms across the limited space within which all things in the universe existed, which led to many high-speed collisions.


    Ever since they had awoken, Fogo, their scout, had broken several planets and shattered a few stars.


    They also couldn¡¯t go into dimensions that were too far high because the mechanics of time and space were so erratic, it made it hard to exist at all.


    And so, the seventh dimension was in the Goldilocks zone for them.


    The class was now experimenting to see just what their new bodies could do under the patient guidance of Miss Thabit.


    Their newfound strength and speed were easy enough to understand, something Fogo had demonstrated they had plenty of and so they tested the stranger parts of themselves, like how they could perceive everything across the universe, including themselves.


    Yana stared at himself. while he felt a little dizzy at first, but he quickly got used to it.


    It was also hard to say how tall any of them were since they were in a place where meters were absolute so, as they had done before, they sent Fogo down to the third dimension, where he landed on a planet as gently as he could, destroying only half of its barren rocky surface.


    There, he looked himself over and nodded.


    [Nine thousand meters.] Fogo reported making the entire class gasp.


    [Also, I think I''m actually smaller down here since my form is being compressed, so keep that in mind.]


    Next came their halos.


    Grand crowns of light that floated around their heads.


    Strangely enough, Yana felt as though it was his true centre of being, but he couldn¡¯t quite figure out why, a query that resonated in the others.


    [Should I try and take mine off?] Fogo asked, making everyone¡¯s throats tighten, including his own.


    [Let''s... not do that¡­ yet, at least.] K¨­ritsu swallowed.


    Thabit was next.


    She gathered some of the reddish gold energy that had a source which they couldn¡¯t see but feel.


    It came from the heart of all things.


    Kiln¡¯s heart.


    She instinctively knew that it was the very essence of creation, and so, after closing her eyes, she willed it to become an apple.


    Well, that¡¯s what she wanted by all that appeared was a vaguely spherical grey blob.


    [Damn¡­ your imagination must suck, ma¡¯am.] Fogo scoffed, only for Nazh to lightly smack the back of his head, something they all felt.


    [Don¡¯t be mean!]


    [What was that for?] Fogo whined, although everyone could feel that he didn¡¯t really mind.


    [Miss Thabit is trying her best and your comments aren¡¯t helpful.]


    This exchange got a soft laugh from everyone because it was a common occurrence back on Earth.


    Nazh was always nagging people for one reason or another.


    She wasn¡¯t even a prefect.


    She just liked bossing people around.


    But, while this scene may have brought feelings of warmth to most, it only reminded Yana of what was missing and everyone felt tears well in their eyes because of his sadness.


    They all turned to him, prompting him to messily wipe the tears away.


    [S-sorry.] He sniffled, and it was K¨­ritsu who patted his shoulder.


    [Look on the bright side. We know he¡¯s out there somewhere. Turn your sadness into motivation and try to think of a way to reach him. We¡¯ve already explored most of the higher dimensions, so maybe he¡¯s in a lower one. Either way, you can¡¯t sulk forever.] K¨­ritsu genuinely wanted Yana to feel better, although he also didn¡¯t like being interrupted by a wave of sadness every other moment.


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    Yana nodded and K¨­ritsu gave him another pat on the shoulder before turning to the ethereal vein.


    [Alright, I guess we should all give it a shot. Let¡¯s follow Ma¡¯am¡¯s lead and try and make some food.]


    Everyone nodded before gathering palmfuls of the primordial essence


    What followed was an unknown amount of time and countless failures.


    [RAAAAHHH! What even is this stupid stuff?] Fogo growled as he held a lump of greyish matter that was somehow both organic and metallic.


    [M- May I suggest that we call it Kilnessence?] Everyone turned to Vidente, who no longer had her glasses, not that she needed them anymore. She had a head of curly hair which was now a pale grey like most of her. She had a fairly long nose and short chin which made her face very pointy.


    Yana felt his heart melt at Vidente¡¯s suggestion, which made him want to cry again, but he stopped before everyone turned their annoyed glares at him.


    He knew they weren¡¯t really annoyed, but it was tiresome having to cry all the time.


    Yana himself barely understood why he was so emotional now.


    He barely ever cried back on earth but, thanks in part to K¨­ritsu¡¯s words, he was determined to be just as steadfast.


    [I think that¡¯s a wonderful name.] Thabit praised, and no one spoke a word in opposition.


    [Yeah, well this Kin essence stuff sucks!] Fogo threw his lump of matter into the expanse below.


    [I think we¡¯ll just need to practice some more, but since that will take some time, how about just build things to fill our new home instead of trying to create matter from scratch?] K¨­ritsu suggested.


    [And we have a whole universe of resources.] Vidente nodded.


    [But don¡¯t take too much. Only what we need.] Miss Thabit cautioned as he students all stood ready to descend to the third dimension.


    Yana stood alongside them.


    In order to find his friend, he was going to need a space where he could gather knowledge, resources and tools.


    And with that in mind, they set off.


    .


    ..


    What would you call a gargantuan structure that floated in a vast white space?


    A city held atop monolithic pillars of marble and lined with carvings so precisely intricate, they seemed impossible. Each white marble slab was lined with gold, silver and every precious gem in existence.


    Above this ornate base stood a tower that reached up and out into the upper limits of the expanse, the Diamond Needle.


    Yana wasn¡¯t sure how long it had taken them to build this place.


    What he knew for certain was that it was a lot of work.


    They carved entire planets open as they harvested the resources they wanted, and getting those three-dimensional objects to their new home would have been impossible if it wasn¡¯t for Kilnessence which allowed them to open gateways between dimensions.


    It was Vidente who was actively figuring out the near limitless potential of Kilnessence and she was now located in her laboratory on the northern edge of the city they had decided to call the Hereafter.


    She supposed that the reason they couldn¡¯t use Kilnessence to create stuff on their own was because they didn¡¯t fully understand the innermost machinations of existence.


    She supported Yana in his quest to find Kiln because it seemed as though he was in a place where they¡¯d most likely get answers.


    And so, Yana spent the time that followed in his chamber beneath the mostly empty streets of the Hereafter, where he studied Vidente¡¯s findings while meditating deeply, searching the very edges of existence for clues.


    Thabit continued her role as teacher and counsel for her students in the first floor of the Diamond Needle, atop which stood Fogo, who scanned the universe over and over for anything of note.


    K¨­ritsu often led the rest of the class into the third dimension, where they gathered resources and knowledge.


    None of them needed to eat or sleep, so it was all mostly to keep themselves occupied since they were the only sentient beings in existence.


    [Haa¡­] Yana sighed as he found nothing, even beyond the boundary of all that existed, in the void where only the infinite expanse of space remained.


    Things were depressingly empty over there, so he returned to his body where he turned, instead, inwards.


    He looked within himself for clues and, although it had been learnt that, coursing within them was Kilnessence, there was not much else he could discern at a glance because of how out of reach the truth seemed to always be.


    His constant running into dead ends led to Yana eventually getting onto his knees and clasping his hands as he lowered his head.


    [Kiln¡­] He softly whispered, but his voice clearly reached the edges of the seventh dimension.


    [Please¡­ say something¡­ tell me that you¡¯re still there.]


    Miss Thabit and all of Yana¡¯s classmates heard his plea, and they too could see Kiln as he slept in that distant place


    Yana¡¯s plead. His prayer would go on to become a daily occurrence as his classmate went about completing their tasks.


    .


    ..


    K¨­ritsu had led four of his classmates, clad in gowns of light,  across the cosmos a few times and, unlike Fogo, they didn¡¯t break everything they came across simply because they knew how to slow down.


    It was this group that eventually discovered something that sent the feeling of awe into all the others.


    Floating in pools of hot water and near the still hot ocean floor of a fairly sized planet were tiny microbes that multiplied near exponentially.


    [Guys¡­] K¨­ritsu called out while keeping a safe distance from the infant world.


    The others all hurried down and watched as life struggled through the steadily cooling waters.


    [My goodness¡­]


    [Wow¡­ is that¡­?]


    [Genesis¡­]


    Such things were said, and each amazed word seemingly reached the life below, making it push and shove even more furiously as it grew in number and form.


    K¨­ritsu was beyond amazed.


    He couldn¡¯t wait to see what new forms this version of life would take and this reminded him of the ant farm his father had once gotten for him.


    An ant farm he destroyed.


    K¨­ritsu quickly shook those memories aside but Miss Thabit had already felt that which came before the pause.


    While they couldn¡¯t strictly read each other¡¯s minds, as beings that weren¡¯t bound to their own forms and permeated throughout existence, their emotions and voices clearly reached others and it seemed as though Thabit had been the only one who felt the odd emotion amidst all the awe and wonder.


    She gave K¨­ritsu a questioning smile and he replied with a polite one, making her nod before she returned her gaze to the world below as life burgeoned.


    The oceans vibrated with activity as the planet¡¯s surface continued to cool, giving way for a thick atmosphere to form.


    Some of the more complex life forms began to cling to the rocks outside the water and formed great planes of dense. Spongey life spread across the planet¡¯s surface, breathing carbon dioxide in and letting out oxygen, which went on to bolster the atmosphere.


    Some of the life began to crawl across the greenish, spongey surface but just as this new life began to grow its first legs, Fogo noticed something approaching the planet¡¯s star system.


    [Uh-oh.]


    Everyone followed Fogo¡¯s gaze and they all watched with horror as the star system drifted towards a gas cloud that was lined with asteroids and broken planets.


    [Someone, please do something quickly!] Nozh cried and it was Fogo who acted first, standing in front of the cloud and manifesting his presence but before he could destroy the gas cloud, K¨­ritsu shoved him to the side.


    [Do not interfere!] He snapped at a now infuriated Fogo.


    [Why not? They are going to die!]


    [That is the natural course.]

 3. The Initial Schism

    [They would have died if we weren¡¯t here, so let them die.]


    Everyone winced as Fogo¡¯s anger bubbled at K¨­ritsu¡¯s words.


    [What kind of backwards ass thinking is that? What if this is the last and only chance life gets in this universe?] Fogo barked while absorbing nearby residual Kilnessence, which made his eyes burn terribly red.


    [That is improbable. If it happened once, it may very well happen again, and besides, who¡¯s to say that everything down there will die- some may survive. All I''m saying is that we shouldn¡¯t interfere.] K¨­ritsu tried his best to keep calm, but he felt too strongly about what was at stake.


    Back on earth, life had to evolve without much aid or divine intervention, and whenever someone tampered with the natural order, there was disaster.


    K¨­ritsu didn¡¯t mean to drop his ant farm.


    He didn¡¯t mean to engulf their prison of a world in chaos and destruction.


    And so, he concluded that nature was at its best when untouched by meddlesome hands.


    [You know, my mom taught me that you should help whenever you can. I guess you¡¯re the type who just walks past those in need because that¡¯s just the natural course, right? Well, fuck that.] Fogo squeezed his fist and punched at the gas cloud, vaporising it in an instant, but the resulting shockwave was so powerful, it pushed the planet behind them into a wider orbit.


    The others rushed towards the planet to see if it was alright, and while global temperatures were dropping significantly, life persevered.


    [You will live to regret your short-sightedness.] K¨­ritsu scowled, making Fogo scoff.


    [Any loss I make on behalf of another is not a loss at all. Maybe you should¡ª]


    [Enough! Both of you!] Thabit cried, finally silencing the two.


    [K¨­ritsu, there¡¯s nothing wrong with helping when you can and Fogo, please think before you act so recklessly¡ª]


    [But, Ma¡¯am¡ª]


    [No buts! Your haste could have destroyed the planet or the life on it, so both of you, go back to Hereafter and stay there for a while.] Thabit firmly instructed. This was the first time she had ever yelled at her students, and they all felt how much it pained her.


    [Yes, ma¡¯am.] K¨­ritsu sighed deeply before ascending.


    Fogo begrudgingly followed him up, and it wasn¡¯t long before they were gone.


    [The rest of you, please look around for other worlds with liquid water and favourable conditions. Then take some of the life there so that we avoid a situation where all of the life in the universe can so easily be snuffed.] Thabit firmly instructed.


    [Yes, ma¡¯am!]


    Her students then all flew off in different directions, leaving her with Vidente, who keenly eyed the world below.


    [Do you think I did the right thing? Sending those two back, I mean.]  She asked her most studious of learners.


    [I can¡¯t say. Only time will tell what comes of this, but that¡¯s my cautious side talking. My more¡­ human side is saying you did the right thing and that those two knuckleheads need to cool down.] Vidente smiled, and for the briefest moment, Thabit saw the big glasses that once adorned the girl¡¯s face.


    [I miss them.]


    [My glasses?]


    [Yeah, a little.]


    Vidente rolled her eyes.


    [Everyone keeps saying that. Might as well make myself a pair of fake ones at this point.]


    [I mean¡­ if it isn¡¯t too much trouble¡ª]


    [You¡¯re supposed to fight peer pressure, not add to it, you useless teacher!] Vidente pulled at Thabit¡¯s right wing a little.


    [Oh no!] She whined, making Vidente roll her eyes again.


    [That aside, can you see them?] She pointed down and, after gently rubbing her massive ethereal wing, Miss Thibet turned her gaze to the planet¡¯s surface where she saw tiny reddish gold sparks appearing only to disappear shortly after.


    [The souls of the dead. This is where it begins, it seems¡­ the Cycle of life and death.] Vidente breathed.


    Thabit¡¯s eyes widened at the revelation.


    [You know, when we first appeared here, I always thought that we would end up looking for a way back home, but now I see that the only path we have is ahead and, for a reason I have yet to understand, I am willing to tread the path to its end.]


    .


    ..


    Without prompt, the class divided the universe into fourteen sectors, which they each scoured in search of suitable planets.


    The problem was that the universe was still a very young and violent place, so Miss Thabit instructed that they watch over the worlds they favoured until they were safe enough to hold life.


    Nozh was the first to report that her planet was safe, and she subsequently seeded it with life by grabbing a palmful from the Genesis World and gently placing it into hers.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The others followed suit, and it wasn¡¯t long before each of them had at least one planet under their protection.


    Even K¨­ritsu had one whereon life developed.


    The oceans were filled and then the lands of their worlds until they were lush and green. Winters came and went in some places. Some experienced decades-long summers, and some planets had gravities that were marginally stronger than that of the Genesis World, but even in the face of all these factors, life persevered.


    Yana found it inspiring.


    How desperately life clung to existence.


    It made his own limbs twitch with the desire to actuate, to live.


    He already had a reason for living and, thanks to the life under his wings, he was more motivated than ever.


    When he wasn¡¯t watching over the trillions of little bugs that crawled over his world, one he decided to call Caesia, due to the fact that it had days that were the same length as those on the earth down to the second, he was in his chambers in Hereafter meditating on the integral parts of the cosmos.


    Mathematics, physics, biology, the physical and ethereal planes.


    All of it was laid bare before him as a being who could perceive it all, but seeing was only part of the battle. It was something entirely different to understand it all.


    After all, you could show a caveman a wheel, and he wouldn¡¯t know where to begin to understand what its near limitless uses were.


    So, Yana pondered.


    On everything.


    All while calling out to his friend in the distant place.


    His longing permeated throughout all that was, and eventually, he was joined by Thabit, who knelt by his side in his messy, dimly lit chamber.


    [May I?] She warmly smiled, and he nodded.


    [Go ahead. I¡¯ve tried everything from whispering to shouting, but my voice doesn¡¯t seem to reach him, so maybe both of our voices will.]


    Thabit nodded before closing her eyes and tapping into Yana¡¯s feelings.


    A single tear then fell from her left eye as she called out to her sleeping student.


    An eternity had passed since they had been reborn, and she too missed him.


    She missed their simple, seemingly insignificant lives on earth, but it was those moments which gave their new lives meaning.


    And so, she prayed.


    To Kiln.


    That he may one day awaken and join them in this new universe.


    Thabit and Yana eventually opened their eyes, and they sat for a silent moment.


    [Did I¡­ did I ever tell you why I became a teacher?]


    [No, ma¡¯am.] Yana¡¯s wings fluttered curiously; their ethereal spans harmlessly passed through the walls of his chamber.


    [My friend and I thought it¡¯d be easy.] She softly laughed, making Yana smile in turn.


    [We thought we¡¯d go to our classes, yell at our students, mark their tests and go home, but those five years were anything but.] Thabit rested her hands on her lap.


    [Sometimes I felt more like a parent to you all even though I was a childless Bachelorette, but through all the hardships, every fallen tear, every broken heart, every triumph and graduation, I found meaning. So, walk the path that you would for his sake and yours just as I did for myself and my friend who would go on to be a principal in her own school.]


    Thabit stood up and gave Yana a polite bow.


    [Thank you, Yana.]


    [For what?] He tilted his head as she turned to leave.


    [For being a good student and a good friend.]


    Yana was confused.


    All he ever did was slack off, and he rarely ever handed his assignments in time.


    But he felt the truth in her words.


    She appreciated him.


    And so, Yana silently swore to appreciate her as well and how patient she had been with him in the brief time they had on earth.


    .


    ..


    Fogo stood atop the Diamond Needle, and he peered at K¨­ritsu, who was in the third dimension, watching over his worlds.


    Back on earth, people like K¨­ritsu were dangerous.


    That¡¯s what Fogo believed.


    That the idle hand, the complicit hand, the callous hand was just as guilty.


    The universe needed protection from those who were willing to let harm befall others, and Fogo was willing to take that role.


    He knew the others felt his feelings, but he couldn¡¯t deny them in any capacity.


    He descended to Vidente¡¯s laboratory where he found her desperately pouring Kilnessence into a small, brown slug that was rapidly shrivelling.


    [Come on!] She yelled as she stood at the centre of a pile of carcasses and machinery.


    While her lab was as big as an entire university campus, she spent most of her time in the main Hall, with the rest of the space being used as storage for archival reasons.


    Adamantly, Vidente had learnt to completely manipulate her wings, which meant that while she was busy in the Main Hall, her wings were doing at least a thousand other things elsewhere.


    Fogo watched as she tried to keep the slug alive, but it quickly succumbed to the stress of being in a plane of existence it was never meant to be in and died.


    Its soul, however, a small thread of reddish golden light, persisted for a moment before fading away.


    [Tough luck?] He asked from above.


    [You have no idea.] Vidente sighed before leaning against the operating table.


    [What¡¯s up? I can tell you want something.]


    [The universe will soon change greatly with the advent of life, and while we will be more than enough to protect all that is at macro level threats, we¡¯ll¡ª]


    [You want an army.] Vidente droned, making Fogo clench his teeth a little.


    [Surely you understand my feelings.]


    Vidente sighed at his words and nodded.


    [Of course, I do. We all have our own ideas for how we want this universe to be like, and it will be absolutely necessary to have a moderation force, but if I do this, if I help you create an army, you will not be the one to command it.]


    [Then who?] Fogo frowned.


    [Ma¡¯am, of course.]


    Fogo felt a strange relief wash over him.


    He had half expected her to say K¨­ritsu.


    [I can live with that. Now¡­ where to begin.]


    [Golems seem like the obvious answer. It¡¯ll be a good long time before sentient life comes around and who knows if they¡¯ll be able to help defend anything at our scale.]


    [I agree. What will you need from me?] Fogo asked, his eyes burning with determination.


    [I¡¯ve been looking for a way to store Kilnessence and it seems as though the clue lies in our bodies and crowns so¡­] Fogo shivered as a dangerous glint appeared in Vidente¡¯s eyes.


    [I¡¯ll need a volunteer to help me see just what we are and what makes us tick.]


    Fogo suddenly wanted to run away but it was too late.


    Vidente grabbed him and slammed him onto the table as her wings closed in on him.


    His cries reached the highest dimensions, and all K¨­ritsu could do was shake his head as he sat on the moon of the world he had been assigned to watch over.


    He profusely protested this but Miss Thibet insisted that he do it so that he may learn something from the experience.


    K¨­ritsu assured her that he was completely willing to watch over life, he just wasn¡¯t sure it was right to interfere in its development or ultimate demise.


    They were originally humans themselves, so what right did they have over the lives of this universe?


    A terrible thought then surfaced in K¨­ritsu¡¯s mind.


    It was they who were the anomalies.


    He knew for certain that the cataclysms and apocalypses of the future were going to be at the hands of one of them.


    Miss Thibet, Fogo, K¨­ritsu himself or any of the others had the power to obliterate large swathes of existence, meaning that they were the disasters.


    K¨­ritsu took deep breaths and calmed himself, taking care not to alarm the others.


    He kept his mind clear and his emotions levelled.


    What he was feeling was caution.


    Yes, caution and worry, which were natural emotions for one to have from time to time.


    He guided his thoughts along those lines and eventually concluded that the only way this universe would be safe was if none of them were present or able to access it, but where could they go? What could they do?


    K¨­ritsu didn¡¯t know, but he planned to find a way.


    An optimal outcome that came to mind was one where they were sealed in the seventh dimension.


    He¡¯d have to ask Vidente about how to develop such a seal.


    Forever separating the physical and ethereal planes.


    Allowing the universe true autonomy over itself.


    A brief flash of Kiln appeared in K¨­ritsu¡¯s mind.


    Yes. Surely this is what he¡¯d want too.


    As he was the new father of all things.

 4. Not of the Truly Divine

    Thabit felt it all.


    Their thoughts came as waves of emotion that were at times clearer than their words. Words which could be heard across all of creation.


    She finally got upset at her students, a moment which was exacerbated by their feelings.


    Both of them wanted to be right, but the courses of action they wanted to take were too extreme.


    That¡¯s why she ended up assigning K¨­ritsu to a life-bearing planet of his own and Fogo to the top of the Diamond Needle, which, she hoped, would teach them temperance.


    Thibet sat in the lobby of the tower at the centre of the Hereafter, where she deeply sighed.


    Unlike when she was human, her thoughts and feelings rang like ever-echoing bells. Her sigh was an attempt to distract herself.


    This moment in eternity, where she stretched her wings, was followed by a wave of excitement and wonder as Vidente experienced the aforementioned emotions at incredible levels.


    A wave of extreme pain came next, and it came from Fogo, which would have made Thibet jump to action, but she had since learnt that Vidente was experimenting on him and subjecting him to all kinds of pain as she cut him open only to heal him using Kilnessence.


    Over in her auditorium, Vidente finally returned the last of Fogo¡¯s bones into his body before promptly healing him.


    Her wings inscribed her findings onto countless sheets of paper as she helped a wide-eyed Fogo sit upright.


    After receiving a stern word of caution from Thibet, the two had used each other as guinea pigs to test various things, which led to the discovery that they couldn¡¯t fully heal, even with the help of Kilnessence.


    This was tied to the fact that none of them had even begun to master the art of creation.


    The best they could do was combine or mend what was, but the more complex the entity, the harder it was, and they were the most complex.


    It was Vidente who eventually dubbed them all Angels, a name that had been on everyone¡¯s mind until then.


    Due to their ceaseless self-mutilation, Fogo and Vidente were covered in scars that would never heal. Golden seams that lined their once perfect skin.


    The two also discovered that the essence of all living things was held in an ethereal crown or halo that floated above their heads. The Angels were no exception, and since an organism faded from existence after its crown was removed or destroyed, Vidente and Fogo didn¡¯t touch theirs.


    That didn¡¯t stop Vidente from experimenting with the halos of lesser life forms, however.


    [Phew¡­ so I won¡¯t die until something happens to my Halo, huh?] Fogo stretched his arms lazily.


    [Apparently, and we know that death is assured if it¡¯s broken, as seen by the countless dead globs around us. Now let¡¯s see what happens if we take some Kilnessence, create another blob and then give it one of the many Halos I¡­ borrowed from some of the life in the third dimension.] Vidente cracked her fingers before stepping away from the operation table where Fogo idly sat.


    The floor was lined with the blood of countless dead organisms mixed with that of Fogo and Vidente.


    Angel blood was a brilliant gold in colour and as thick as honey; however, it had no taste. Any organism that came into contact with it was healed immediately, although any damage a Halo took couldn¡¯t be undone due to the complexity of its design.


    Which is why Vidente was using the now dull grey Halos she¡¯d pilfered from the corpses of dead organisms.


    She took a glob of fleshy matter and poured into it Kilnessence, which she linked to the second-hand halo above its head.


    The halo flickered a little before glowing a pure white as the flesh it actualized writhed below.


    Fogo watched apprehensively as the grey thing in Vidente¡¯s hands squirmed.


    It was roughly the shape of a pear, had two pathetic tentacles jutting from its sides and had three eyes on what vaguely resembled a face. The third eye, which sat slightly above the others, had a dull golden hue.


    The thing didn¡¯t have a mouth, but it seemingly expressed all manner of emotions as it looked up and beheld its creators, who could feel the faint waves of emotion its soul was releasing.


    It was in pain.


    Agonizing pain that was a result of the haphazard way Vidente put its body together, jamming as many organs and nerves into it so that it may better survive in Hereafter.


    She took into account that it wouldn¡¯t be able to breathe, so she didn¡¯t bother giving it a mouth or note and instead made it feed off of residual Kilnessence, which was potent enough to keep it alive for years if need be.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    The part that amazed Vidente the most was the fact that the Halo actively changed to better suit its new wearer. Meaning that the universe had recognized it as a denizen of the seventh dimension.


    [Aww¡­ what in all worlds is that?] Lilium, who had droopy eyes and the longest hair among the Angels, asked after being drawn into the auditorium by Vidente¡¯s awe at her creation.


    [It is¡­ my final failure.] Vidente sighed deeply as she motioned to crumple the thing like a piece of paper, but Lilium stopped her.


    [Wait! You don¡¯t feel disappointed, so why are you killing it?] Fogo rolled his eyes at Lilium¡¯s typical and smothering response as she gently snatched the grey thing from Vidente.


    [I have succeeded in making or, at the very least, assembling life in a form that can persist in the Hereafter. With this knowledge, I can make as many as I like.]


    [How can you be so cruel?] Lilium gasped while gently petting the thing.


    [It will be the first step in what will ultimately be a grand design of our own making, which I see as an honour for something as ugly as it is. And besides, it¡¯s in lots of pain, so it¡¯d be best to put it out of its misery.]


    Lilium stuck her tongue out at Vidente.


    [Ignore those two. I¡¯ll take care of you in their stead, okay?] She spoke to the thing as she left the auditorium. Her adoration for it mixed with the joy and excitement felt by the two she was leaving behind to fill the Hereafter with a positive air.


    [Well, see ya later.] Fogo waved while ascending towards the exit.


    [Training?] Vidente asked, even though she knew the answer.


    [Yep.]


    [Don¡¯t push yourself too hard, okay?]


    Fogo turned back with a raised brow.


    [Huh¡­ I didn¡¯t think you cared that much.]


    [I don¡¯t. I just need you in tip-top condition for when I cut you open next.] Vidente winked, making Fogo roll his eyes.


    [Yeah, yeah.] He scoffed before flying to an empty part of the seventh dimension, where he tested his strength by lifting entire planets and he tested his speed by flying from the first to last reachable dimensions as fast as possible, getting impossibly faster each time.


    [Knucklehead.] Vidente softly smiled.


    She never spent much time with Fogo back when they were on earth, and that was simply because they were of two worlds.


    She read her days away, getting lost in old encyclopaedias and the occasional romance novel after she studied, and he barely passed his test after having spent most of his time playing sports.


    They rarely ever talked, let alone acknowledged each other, now they were transcended beings who were coated in each other¡¯s blood.


    She bit her lower lip at the absurdity of it all.


    Yes, she missed her parents, her friends and the vague concept of normalcy, but she couldn¡¯t deny how much fun she had been having since she was reborn.


    She was bearing witness to the unravelling of the cosmos, and like the ever-keen botanist to a flower, she was determined to bear witness and archive it all.


    Which is why she was delighted when a uncharacteristically nervous K¨­ritsu entered her halls.


    [What do you want?] She asked as the light of her wings probed her peer, searching him up and down for insight.


    [No need to be so brash. I- I¡¯ve just come to see how far your work is coming along.] K¨­ritsu¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t meet hers as he walked up to her.


    [Uh-huh. We created a lifeform capable of persisting in this realm, but I''m more curious about what you want, class rep.] Vidente smirked, making him finally face her.


    [Is there was way you could develop some kind of wall or a barrier to¡­ maybe keep us here.]


    Vidente¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    She then let out a deep sigh.


    [Did you think about how hard such a feat would be before you stumbled here?] She crossed her arms but K¨­ritsu furiously shook his head, transferring some of his anxieties into her.


    [You don¡¯t have to do it immediately or even anytime soon! I¡­ just want a failsafe in the case that any one of us tramples on that oh-so-delicate garden.] His sincerity reached Vidente clearly, and she knew why he felt so strongly about what he wanted, unfortunately, her own desires were directly opposed.


    [I¡¯ll see what I can do but I can¡¯t say what form it¡¯ll come in yet.]


    K¨­ritsu nodded before turning to leave.


    [Oh- and could you please keep it a secret?]


    Vidente felt his sincerity again.


    He genuinely wished they would stop interfering with life but the new universe was far too exciting to lock away.


    [Alright.]


    K¨­ritsu nodded before leaving the auditorium, leaving Vidente in a deep silence.


    One which she immediately broke by resurrecting several fleshy blobs which screamed out in pain.


    .


    ..


    Nozh disliked the silence of the Hereafter.


    In this unchanging, eternal place, there was no noise, no banter and no arguments since everyone either agreed with each other or settled things peacefully with the occasional help from Thibet.


    This was because they each deeply understood how each other felt on a level that was deeper than she could have ever imagined back on earth in the small home she''d grown up in.


    The lastborn in a quintuplet of sisters, by a matter of seconds, she always had to fight for attention, affection and even time.


    It was always loud, chaotic and unstable.


    But it was home.


    She loved each of her sisters and hoped that they loved her just as much.


    But now they were gone.


    Or maybe it was she who left them.


    Did they mourn her passing?


    Did they even care?


    These questions gnawed at Nozh as she floated far above the Hereafter.


    She chose to consult someone who had been, in what seemed like self-inflicted torture, pursued his grief and pain while others tried their best to move on.


    Beneath the Diamond Needle and the streets of the city was his modest chapel where he prayed as he knelt, with closed eyes, before a stone sphere which sat atop of plain wood and cloth.


    [To thee I pray, oh Kiln. Oh, all of all.


    So yond I may come close to thee.


    In thee, I¡¯ll find content and grace;


    From the first to the last of mine days.]


    Nozh felt her chest both swell and ache with longing and grief.


    A single tear almost fell from her eye, but she was used to the feeling she got when she was near Yana at this point.


    She knelt by his side in the dimly lit chamber, as was custom and joined him in a moment of silent prayer.


    Calling out to her family before scoffing at how ridiculous Yana¡¯s routine was.


    [I swear, sometimes l think you forget he was once just a kid, like the rest of us.]


    [What else would you have me believe?] There it was again. That endless sorrow anyone who heard him speak felt.


    Nozh bit her teeth as she fought it back. That which only deepened her own sadness.


    [I mean¡­ anything else? Have you found anything yet in all your meditating and prayer?] Nozh knew she was being needlessly harsh, but she needed this.


    She needed him to argue, to open his eyes and glare at her, anything.


    [No. I have not heard even a breath from his sleeping self.]


    [So¡­] Nozh pressed, but all Yana did was take a deep breath and sigh.


    [So, I will continue to pray and search until I reach him or until he awakens, however long that may take.]


    Nozh gnashed her teeth.


    He wasn¡¯t being aggressive enough, and so she turned her eyes to someone who might have had what she was looking for.


    Fogo.