Eternal moonlight shone down on the walls of Grandheart, illuminating everything in its path. Each minute the moon shifted, casting its eye directly upon me, the one I was set to meet was swiftly approaching.
Eventually, six pale blue and sapphire wings flew into the eye of the moon. His beautiful features glistening in the light, he softly touched down on the edge of the towering walls.
We briefly stared at each other, and his sapphire eyes hid a small inkling of sorrow; his smile almost looked pained.
Just as I opened my mouth, I was stopped by a newfound wet feeling raining down from the sky. I looked up into the rain, letting the water coat my uniform and face. I'd always enjoyed the rain, but this didn't bring me any bliss; I didn't feel anything.
Nothing, the rain no longer excited me.
"It's nice to see you again, Lucius. Have you been well?" I said.
"Evernight, I didn't expect you to call for me this late at night."
"It's not like we can speak freely at any other time, Ickni's pawns for always listening when the sun is roaring."
"I suppose that's true. But what is it that you wish to speak about?"
"Why are you still here, Lucius? You aren't a native of this land. Why do you still stand on soil you detest?" I asked.
I spread a portion of my hostility onto Lucius, my eyes gleaming as they locked with Lucius'. Lucius' body stiffened slightly, his wings shivered before recovering and matching my hostility.
"I don't take kindly to threats, Evernight. But if you must know, I'm still under assignment to watch and survey Ickni's movements. I haven't been permitted to leave yet, nor would I leave innocents alone with Ickni."
"Do you follow the common line of reverence with Ickni, or do you think differently?"
"Evernight… Do you know the consequences of my answering that question? If I spoke my true feelings on Ickni and someone overheard me, I'd have to accept the noose around my neck. I'm not in my own Dominion; this one is vastly different from the others."
"You say that, but you still answered my question. Your hesitation to speak Ickni's praises tells me everything I need to know. Tell me something, Lucius von Snow, are the other Dominions of Kathoros as corrupted as this one?"
"Kathoros. Isn't the correct term to put all the Dominions under? You are an anomaly, Evernight. You hold power but know nothing of this world. What exactly are you?"
"What makes you think I'd answer such a question without the proper exchange?"
Lucius' smile completely faded, being replaced by a wary frown. Unlike the last time we met, he wasn't enjoying our conversation. He averted his eyes towards the moon, no longer meeting my sharp gaze.
"The land that the Dominions sit on is called Kathoros. But that isn't the name of the ruling body that oversees the Dominions. The Seraphic Choir of Everlasting Harmony is the true name that all angels fall under, ruled by the omnipotent Seraphim."
The Seraphic Choir of Everlasting Harmony, what a truly repulsive name. The name only invited the deepest seeds of fury to bloom in my heart; this world wasn't under the loving gaze of Harmony. Only terror and death existed in the holy lands of angels.
I audibly scoffed at the name.
"Harmony… Harmony? Harmony doesn't exist here, or anywhere in this world, I know just from the couple of months I've been here that fear is the only thing festering in the light and dark."
"The other Dominions aren't as savage as this one. Most do live in harmony and peace."
"It's been five hundred years since Artoria Luminous' fall from the Dominion of Conquest. She lives in perpetual torment, yet this choir does nothing to stop the terror and mass executions in this Dominion. How can you sit there and speak of others living in peace and harmony?"
"..."
Lucius didn't respond, the grip on the wall below him growing oppressive.
"I suppose you think this holy Moon Dominion to be one of those that live in harmony?"
"The Moon Dominion is a peaceful land, not a single drop of blood has been spilled on its land for seven hundred years."
"Tsk. While you live in peace, the ones across your border suffer horrific acts of unfounded cruelty. Even though you know of their treatment, you do nothing, you just watch and pray that Ickni doesn't cast her gaze towards the Moon." I sneered.
"Ickni is a Dominion! We can't just march into her lands and dethrone her. It doesn't work like that, no matter how unfairly the people of this land are treated. Ickni holds full control of this land; we aren't permitted to interfere!" exclaimed Lucius.
His face twisted with burning anger, but it wasn't all directed at me. There was a certain longing in his eyes. I couldn't make out what the feeling was, but I doubted he'd be able to contain himself if I pushed more.
"So by your logic, you should have aided Artoria when she was dethroned. If a Dominion holds ultimate power, then why didn't you aid her? Why!" I shouted. "Tell me, Lucius! Or are you so weak that you couldn't stomach opposing another angel!"