Chapter 5. The Oppressed Angel

Before losing consciousness, Valorth felt the world stirring around him. At first, he suspected he might have died and was about to undergo the process of entering heaven.

However, as his consciousness travelled through what seemed an endless void, he found the journey familiar. Eventually, he glimpsed a golden light in the distance, piercing the darkness from above like a spotlight. Where the light shone, Valorth spotted a large silver wheel with a figure chained to it, its arms and legs splayed like a star. As he drew closer, he could make out the features of the being.

It was a naked woman with skin so pale it surely contained no blood. Her long purple hair flowed over a malnourished, bony body, reaching her feet. From chest to abdomen was a giant gash, no longer leaking blood but still revealing the figure’s insides. Her face was shadowed by darkness, yet Valorth could somehow sense that, despite her terrible state, the woman possessed unimaginable beauty.

Most importantly, despite her condition, Valorth could feel power seeping from her presence. It wasn’t quite equal to Angel Armaneus, but it was awfully close. Eventually, his consciousness was brought before her, yet he felt too nervous to utter any words.

The figure lifted her head, causing her hair to dance as if blown by the wind. Beneath her shadowed face, Valorth believed she was staring at him.

“Oh, young one, what situation must you be in to call upon the name of the Oppressed Angel?”

The figure’s feminine voice was melodic, catching Valorth by pleasant surprise. He found himself calming, as though his spirit was relaxing. Remembering his time with the Angel of Swords, he thought aloud.

“Are you Angel Kacel?”

Valorth thought he heard the figure chuckle before she spoke. “That isn’t an answer to my question, but yes. I am Kacel. Kacel is I.”

A thousand thoughts and questions surged into Valorth’s spirit at once. Why was Kacel so much kinder than Armaneus? What was she the angel of? Why was she enslaved? What was the Blade of Kacel?

However, he knew better than to push his luck with an angel. It was already a grand surprise that he had been granted her attention, so he needed to make use of every second.

“Great Angel Kacel,” he began, “my name is Valorth, and I’m a servant of the Uradesh Palace. I’m currently being killed by a demon known as the Lurker and can’t do anything about it. Is there any way you can grant me your strength to stay alive?”

After offering his plea to the angel, the spotlighted space remained silent for a few moments. Valorth wondered whether he would receive the same response as he had from Armaneus. Then, Angel Kacel spoke.

“I’m sorry, human, but I know nothing of the current state of the world. I’ve never heard of a place called Uradesh and have not received a prayer in centuries. There is little I can do for you but draw you into my domain.”

Any remaining hope was snatched from Valorth’s spirit. He felt lost and wondered whether he would be forced to accept his fate at the hands of the first demon he encountered. He looked up at Kacel’s figure, where chains bound her bony wrists to the wheel, and entrails threatened to spill from the wound in her stomach. Above all else, he pitied her.

“Why have you been enslaved?” he asked suddenly. “Who enslaved you?”

Now, he was certain Kacel laughed. It was a sound akin to a perfect chord played on a piano.

“Will you free me if I tell you, human?” she teased. Valorth hadn’t known angels could have a sense of humour.

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“If I am able, then of course. But you’ll need to help me first,” he replied, making Kacel laugh again. Valorth felt he would have been smiling if he currently controlled a physical body.

“It’s pleasing to know that human ambition still exists. You remind me of a certain Pharaoh who used to pray to me centuries ago,” the angel said with glee.

Valorth was taken aback.

A Pharaoh? Was Angel Kacel once worshipped in the Sunblessed Empire to the south?

Before he could think further, the angel’s beautiful voice came again. “Young Valorth, this is the first time in years that I have laughed, and it is thanks to you. As I said, I cannot help you physically, or I would. However, what I can do is enlighten you.”

“Enlighten me?” Valorth echoed with confusion, prompting the angel to nod.

“Yes. Enlighten you about your heart. You have consumed the Rememberer heart, the seventh heart type. I can sense it, even though it is still weak.”

At that moment, Valorth felt overwhelmed. Suddenly, everything began to fall into place. Previously, he had been aware of only two heart types, neither of which matched what he had experienced since eating the heart. Hearing the name of the seventh heart enlightened him. He felt like a baby who had finally learned to speak.

“The Rememberer… it all makes sense. The visions,” Valorth thought aloud.

Kacel nodded again. “With this, you will now be able to gradually awaken your powers, progressing towards the second vein.”

So that’s why I haven’t learned any powers yet. It was because I hadn’t yet learned my heart type. Now, everything will be different!

Valorth planned to ask Kacel another question, but before he could, the Oppressed Angel shook her head gently, sending her purple hair dancing once more.

“No more questions, young Valorth. Return to your physical body now and ensure your life isn’t lost,” she said with finality. Valorth felt overwhelmed with gratitude. If he had a physical body, he would have prostrated himself before her and offered whatever he could.

Instead, he made her a promise.

“I swear to pray to you again and offer my thanks once I’ve defeated this demon,” he said simply. For one last time, Angel Kacel let out a melodic laugh that filled Valorth’s spirit with satisfaction.

“Silly human, do you not know you should abstain from making promises to an angel?” she asked playfully. Then, before he could say another word, Valorth watched the scene before him darken, and in an instant, he travelled through the void, heading back towards his destination.

———

“Corruption. Must destroy corruption!”

Valorth snapped back into his body, only to find a great weight resting on him. Not only was he unable to move, but he also struggled to speak. He felt as though something was forcing its way into his body, trying to take control, yet it struggled to do so.

He opened his eyes and saw the black demon atop him, attempting to enter his body through his mouth. His instincts urged him to curse and scream, and if not for the sudden stir in his corrupted heart, he would have done just that.

Instead, he felt his heartbeat slow and become more controlled. Each beat seemed to signify something, as if the heart were pumping knowledge into his brain.

And then, it struck him. The understanding of a new power entered his mind almost miraculously, as if he had read the contents of a page in a single second. At that moment, Valorth became something more than human.

He opened his tear-filled eyes and activated his powers. The demon heart in his chest pumped blood through his veins, directly into his eyes. The sound of glass shattering echoed around the room, power surged from his body, and his gaze fell upon the demon.

In an instant, it let out a shriek. Its body went limp, and Valorth pushed the demon off him. As he did, he choked violently but managed to rise to his feet. He looked at the demon and found it on its knees, hands grasping its head as its shrieks grew louder.

Valorth had no idea what was happening, but he knew he had to capitalise on the situation. With all the strength he could muster, he dashed towards the beast just as it emerged from its daze. Valorth swung his fist in an upward motion, crashing it into the demon’s chin. Paint splattered about the room, staining the furniture in an array of colours.

The demon landed on its back with a splash, its head gone. Before it could react, Valorth stomped heavily on its chest, feeling its heart squish beneath his shoe. Unable to sustain itself, the demon’s form began to melt, leaving a puddle of paint on the ground that slowly evaporated, leaving no trace of its existence.

Valorth stood alone in the room, out of breath and drained of energy. In the silence, he glanced at the full-length mirror on the other side of the room. In his eyes, he saw a faint golden glow that slowly began to fade.

It was the Eye of the Rememberer, the catalyst of his Rememberer heart powers.