Myths Reawakened

Wayne cursed and ignored Hestia. The Throne only had her Śār in mind. She stared at the object of her admiration from behind, pursing her lips as tears fell from her eyes, her shoulders shaking. She was like an abandoned puppy put in a paper box.

The fragile, pitiful pet just wanted her master back. An unnamed good Windsorian called Wayne passed by and offered help, but she rejected him as she swung her clawed paws.

“What took you so long, Mikhael?”

Auriel took a couple of steps back, getting away from Mikhael’s halo. He silently praised the angel’s mighty form.

He wanted to be like Mikhael.

“I should be the one to ask you that, Auriel. Why did the four of you return? Have you found the Anointed One?” Mikhael’s booming voice echoed in the sky. He opened the eyes on his body and looked at Hesione. “Why did you suddenly return to Heaven, Hesione?”

“Watch yourself, Mikhael. You’ve overstepped your station.” Hesione bowed slightly by Wayne’s side. “This is Wayne Lando, the Anointed One.”

“What?!”

After a pause, the massive, bloated body started shaking, and following quick flashes, it shrank and transformed into a handsome young man. Dressed in a white robe, he had long, radiant blonde hair, each strand imbued with great vitality. Like a concentration of light, he continued to glow and radiate heat.

A golden ray shone down on his humble smile, emphasizing the sculpted features of his face. He was another man with top-tier looks.

In the mortal realm, he had a different name: Saint George, the Dragonslayer.

He had a straight nose and deep, bright blue eyes. The easy smile on his face made him seem approachable. With his radiant hair, he could be compared to a sun that dispersed darkness, with an air of optimism and kindness. His very existence inspired warmth and trust. While he shone, he cast everything in his vicinity in his warm, pleasant radiance.

The abominable beings praised Mikhael’s grace from the bottom of their heart. Reza had bowed down like the professional actor he was.

If he hadn’t taken Wayne’s side already, he would’ve gotten on his knees.

The four Sacred Virtues, however, didn’t react the same way. Hesione looked on coldly, Auriel suppressed his jealousy, Gerar looked up at the sky, and Vilkul kept his eyes shut. They had little goodwill for Mikhael. His actions after their reincarnation, especially, had disappointed them.

“Hesione, you called this man the Anointed One...” Mikhael nodded at Wayne. “This is a sensitive matter, so allow me to offer a proper greeting after I’ve figured things out.”

“He’s not the Anointed One, Mikhael,” Auriel snapped. “He’s a demon, the Lord of Deceit and a new addition to the Seven Deadly Sins!”

“Huh?!” Mikhael paused. “Since when is Deceit part of the Seven Deadly Sins? What are you talking about, Auriel?”

“I’m telling the truth,” Auriel said, clenching his fists. “He killed Gluttony and Wrath. Hell isn’t the same Hell we knew!”

Mikhael’s pupils contracted. He thought of Pride. If Pride was like him, he would be able to replace the Seven Deadly Sins. Why hadn’t Pride shown that ability before? Had he only become qualified recently?

“Shut up, Auriel!” Hesione shifted her icy gaze to him. “This isn’t the mortal realm. The Anointed One has returned to a Heaven that is loyal to him. How much longer are you going to stay stubborn? Put aside your pride and prejudice. You’re too narrow-minded to understand the greatness of the Anointed One...”

“You carry so much sin that you see nothing but the Seven Deadly Sins in the Anointed One. Put your biases aside, and you’ll see the corresponding Seven Sacred Virtues!”

“Nonsense!” Auriel shot back. “You, embodiment of filth that’s been tainted by a demon, you have no right to talk about the Seven Sacred Virtues!”

The two Śārim started another argument.

Mikhael broke out of his reverie and frowned at Hesione. “Are you sure this man is the Anointed One, Hesione?”

“I swear on my pu—” Hesione paused, raising the Sword of Judgment. “I swear on the Sword of Judgment that I have found the Anointed One!”

Mikhael stared at her for a silent moment. “...The prophecy lists three criteria for the Anointed One: resurrection after death, humanoid but not human, and a god in the mortal realm. Are you certain that he met those?”

“I’m certain.”

“Is that so...” Mikhael pondered for a moment before getting on one knee in front of Wayne, lowering his head and putting one hand on his chest. “Anointed One, Mikhael, your servant, has been waiting for your return. All of Heaven has been waiting.”

“Are you out of your mind, Mikhael?!” Auriel was about to die from anger. “You’d believe Hesione over me? She’s been deceived by the Lord of Deceit. Have I not made that clear enough?!”

“Shut—”

Hesione was about to snap when another voice did it first, in an even more hardened tone.

“Silence,” Mikhael said with a frown. “You’re a Śār. You should keep your temper and pride in check in front of the Anointed One!”

Auriel staggered back, stunned. He muttered about Heaven changing beyond recognition as he wondered: if everyone was wrong, and he was right... was he or the world wrong?

What do you think?

Auriel’s eyes widened. Was Wayne truly... the Anointed One?!

“Impossible. Absolutely impossible!” he shouted hysterically, looking rather pitiful.

Reza sympathized with him. Auriel was yet another example of someone with no way to go because of high sunk cost. It got Reza thinking.

If—and he did mean if—Auriel had committed the great sin of disrespect, while Reza had earned the Anointed One’s favor through remarkable contribution, wouldn’t he replace Auriel as a Śār?

That was unlikely. He would at most become a Cherub. It would be wrong to appoint Śārim based on nepotism. The Anointed One couldn’t afford to be that reckless!

Meanwhile, Gerar and Vilkul began to sense something wrong, their brows furrowed. Mikhael’s attitude was strange. The fact that he had so easily agreed that Wayne was the Anointed One based on Hesione’s testament alone was at odds with what they knew about Mikhael. Even if Mikhael was to believe someone, he should be taking Auriel’s side.

Could it be...

They exchanged a glance. Could it be that Mikhael and Hesione were right about Wayne being the Anointed One, while Auriel was the fool?

The two Cherubim panicked a little, caught off guard.

Hesione found Mikhael strange, too. Usually, Mikhael would insist on his own beliefs, and he might as well have the word ‘pride’ written on his face whenever the Seven Sacred Virtues held a meeting. Why would he be this agreeable today...

Right, the Anointed One was here. He had to be compliant even if he didn’t want to!

Hesione answered her own question.

On the other hand, Wayne looked at the angel on his knees and said, “Śār Mikhael, if I tell you that I’m not the Anointed One, and it’s all in Hesione’s head, what would you say?”

Mikhael looked up with a humble smile. “That won’t be possible. You fit the prophecy. Hesione would never have made an oath for a lie. You must be the Anointed One.”

You’re so fake! Wayne grumbled inwardly, but didn’t show his dissent. He nodded and said, “You’re right. Hesione won’t lie. I, Wayne, am the Anointed One!!”

Mikhael bowed, and Hesione got on one knee. The bizarre angels nearby either lay down, lay prostrate, or did a handstand, each giving their own interpretation of ‘kneeling’.

They weren’t being funny on purpose, but earnestly kneeling in respect. Half of them didn’t even have legs, so they were simply going into the most deferential postures they could manage.

“Anointed One, please head to the Ninth Heaven, the High Heaven of Crystals, for a brief rest,” Mikhael said with his head bowed. “I’ll gather the Seven Sacred Virtues and all other angels to receive your divine words.”

“Of course. I am a little tired.” Wayne narrowed his eyes, cursing at his situation. The Viceroy of Heaven wasn’t hostile, but he meant Wayne no good, either. Wayne was pretty sure that there was already something in place in the Ninth Heaven.

“Hesione, accompany the Anointed One and keep him safe, in case...” Mikhael rose to his feet and glanced at Auriel. “In case some ignorant, reckless angel offends the Anointed One, subjecting us to punishment by association.”

Hesione nodded, flapping her three wings to lead Wayne to the restricted area in Heaven.

Hestia carefully followed. Reza raised his hand to volunteer himself, but was sadly ignored by Wayne. The other angels were leaving as well.

A one-eyed angel covered in tentacles floated up to Reza. “Newbie, follow me to register.”

“Sir Angel, the Anointed One and I—”

“Fill in the form first!”

“...”

Is that necessary for entering Heaven?

When Reza looked up, Wayne and Hesione were already gone. He had no choice but to follow the tentacled monster.

Meanwhile, Auriel was confronting Mikhael furiously. “Bastard, what are you doing? Hesione’s out of his mind. Are you mad, too?”

Gerar and Vilkul were also with them. Just like Auriel, the two Cherubim asked for an explanation, their eyes wide.

Surrounded by the three anxious faces, Mikhael smiled and said, “I’m not mad. I know that man isn’t the Anointed One. Hesione is the one out of her mind.”

“Then why would you—”

Mikhael glared at Auriel. “Fool, Hesione is a Śār, in charge of one quarter of the angels in Heaven. What do you think I should do? Confront her?”

Since Mikhael was on the petty side, he returned the insult immediately.

“Mikhael, if you know he isn’t the Anointed One, why would you have Hesione lead him to the Heaven of Crystals?” Gerar asked with a frown. “That’s Father’s residence.”

In the hierarchical Heaven, not even Seraphim could easily step into the Ninth Heaven.

“That’s the only place Hesione’s legion cannot enter,” Mikhael said calmly.

“What are you doing?” Vilkul said warily. “She’s still a Śār at the end of the day!”

“I’m not going to do anything, but Hesione has crossed a line...” Mikhael didn’t go into it. “Explain, Auriel. Why did you call that man a demon? What’s with the Lord of Deceit?”

“I’ll ask you something, too. Do you know who the Anointed One is already, Mikhael? Have you found them?” Auriel said in a solemn voice. “Also, have you locked up the traitor Lahr? That bastard has colluded with Hell and hidden the real prophecy about the Anointed One from us. He’s a sinner in Heaven!”

“...”