Chapter 791: Eden receives visitors.
In the heart of Eden, where white marble columns pierced golden clouds and rivers of light flowed through eternally blooming gardens, the great hall of the Celestial Council was far from peaceful. The atmosphere, normally marked by absolute order and divine serenity, had become a field of growing tension. Open scrolls covered immense tables, sacred mirrors displayed images of dozens of worlds at once, and observation circles gleamed on the floor like constellations set in stone. Yet, despite all the celestial trappings, no one seemed to understand what was happening.
Uriel paced back and forth before a huge window that revealed the outer firmament. Her golden wings fluttered with growing irritation, each feather emitting tiny sparks of light as she clenched her fists. Her flaming hair swayed like living fire, betraying an increasingly worse mood. She had spent centuries resolving demonic crises, invasions, bloody pacts, mass possessions, and wars between planes. Now, for the first time in ages, there was nothing left to crush.
Gabriel, seated at the main table, was in a similar state. Unlike Uriel, her anger came in a sharp silence. Her blue eyes scanned stacked reports while her fingers tapped the arm of the throne with irritated precision. She read the same numbers repeatedly, as if at some point they would become absurd enough to justify her indignation.
"This makes no sense," Uriel said for the tenth time that hour, turning abruptly. "It simply makes no sense. Where are the outbreaks of spiritual corruption? Where are the cults opening forbidden portals? Where are the infernal massacres?"
Gabriel raised a scroll and threw it onto the table with restrained contempt. "Closed. All closed. Ninety-eight percent drop in violent summons. Total drop in external demonic wars. Contracts registered within dimensional legality. Legality." She pronounced the last word as if it were an insult.
Uriel’s eyes widened. "Demons shouldn’t understand bureaucracy."
"Well, apparently they do now."
Another stack of documents was thrown onto the table. Reports from observers scattered across dozens of kingdoms indicated the same thing: the former centers of destruction had disappeared. Cities once ravaged by infernal attacks now reported demonic merchants trading rare metals, architects offering impossible constructions, and mages closing formal contracts for knowledge acquisition without hidden clauses.
Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to maintain his composure. "I received a complaint from a human kingdom yesterday."
Uriel crossed his arms. "Finally."
"They said a demon fulfilled exactly everything promised in the contract, and now the local market is unbalanced."
Uriel was silent for three seconds.
"I hate this," she declared.
Gabriel nodded coldly. "Me too."
The two exchanged a look filled with disbelief. For ages, Eden had stood as a bastion against infernal chaos. The role of the celestial hosts was clear, objective, and morally comfortable. There were monsters, and they fought them. There was corruption, and they purified it. There were invasions, and they retaliated. Now the demons were... running businesses, respecting borders, and upholding agreements.
It was offensive.
"It’s as if we’re the problem now," Uriel murmured, horrified by her own words.
Gabriel slowly closed her eyes. "Don’t say that out loud."
"But it feels like it!"
"I know."
Uriel slammed her hands on the central table. The impact scattered light throughout the hall. "They stopped kidnapping souls, Gabriel. They stopped. We have reports of incubi opening legally licensed entertainment establishments with local permits and paying taxes!"
Gabriel placed a hand on her chest. "Please. Don’t make me hear that again."
"And the succubi now offer emotional therapy before any pact!" Uriel continued, increasingly offended. "THERAPY."
Gabriel stood up suddenly. "Enough."
Her wings spread to their full extent, covering half the hall with celestial brilliance. Several scribe angels in the background automatically flinched.
"I will not accept," Gabriel said sternly, "that Hell solves its internal problems before we solve ours."
Uriel pointed immediately. "Exactly! That’s what I was trying to say."
A long pause hung between the two as they both realized the absurdity of the situation. They weren’t celebrating peace. They were angry because the enemy had organized itself.
In the corner of the hall, three lower angels pretended to rearrange books so as not to reveal that they were listening to everything.
Gabriel sat back down with rigid dignity. "Perhaps it’s temporary. Perhaps they’re preparing something bigger."
"We’ve been saying this for six months," Uriel replied. "Meanwhile, they’re building cities, opening trade routes, and apparently creating schools."
Gabriel’s gaze hardened. "Schools?"
Uriel threw another report onto the table. "Technical education. Portal engineering. Mana management. Interdimensional etiquette."
Gabriel stood motionless.
"They have etiquette," she whispered, devastated.
Before Uriel could continue his fiery speech, the hall’s monumental doors flung open with a controlled bang. A subordinate angel entered, almost tripping over her own robes. Young, nervous, and clearly regretting being the bearer of the news, she knelt in the center of the hall, unable to control her breathing.
"Ladies!"
Gabriel stared at her immediately. "If this is another report about demons paying taxes, I’ll exile you."
"No, madam!"
Uriel took a step forward. "Then speak quickly."
The subordinate swallowed hard, glancing alternately at both of them as if trying to decide which seemed less dangerous. She found no answer.
"There is... there is a visitor at the upper gates."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
The angel hesitated for a fatal second.
"A demon."
The entire hall froze.
Several scribes dropped their quills. A celestial guard dropped his spear. Uriel smiled predatorily for the first time that day.
"Finally."
Gabriel was already standing. "Name."
The subordinate clenched her fingers tightly. "He didn’t formally inform you, madam. He only said he came to speak directly to you."
Uriel was already walking towards the exit. "Excellent. Let’s get answers out of him."
"There’s one more thing," the subordinate said hurriedly.
The two stopped.
"He... didn’t come alone."
Gabriel turned slowly. "Explain."
The young woman took a deep breath. "He brought a strange child."
The silence that followed was so absolute that one could hear the flow of rivers of light in the distance.
Uriel blinked twice. "A child?"
"Yes, ma’am."
Gabriel crossed his arms. "Strange how?"
The subordinate looked like she was about to cry. "We... couldn’t classify it."
Now they truly looked at each other.
In Eden, everything was classified. Spirits, entities, hybrids, aberrations, corrupted saints, temporal echoes, conceptual manifestations, and cosmic anomalies. There were protocols for everything. The term "we couldn’t classify it" was practically an administrative insult.
Uriel slowly approached his subordinate. "Are you telling me that Eden’s sensors failed?"
"They... fluctuated."
Gabriel frowned. "Fluctuated how?"
"First they registered demonic essence. Then human. Then celestial. Then none. Then all at once."
Uriel took a step back.
Gabriel gripped the arm of the throne so hard that the stone cracked.
"Take them to the outer chamber?" asked the subordinate, uncertainly.
"No," Gabriel replied immediately.
"Yes," Uriel replied at the same time.
The two stared at each other.
Gabriel spoke first. "If it’s a trap, it won’t enter the heart of Eden."
Uriel retorted. "If it’s important enough to challenge our gates, I want to see it up close."
"You want to punch someone."
"Also."
Gabriel sighed deeply. "Intermediate chamber. Maximum containment. No attacks without my order."
Uriel smiled. "No promises."
The subordinate stood up so quickly she almost ran out.
As she disappeared through the doors, Uriel spread her wings and began walking alongside Gabriel through the luminous corridors. The glow of the walls reflected on them, but their moods remained stormy.
"Who do you think it is?" Uriel asked.
Gabriel thought for a few moments. "Someone too confident. Or someone too powerful."
"And the child?"
"That worries me more."
Uriel snapped her fingers, causing a sword of light to appear in her hand. "Great. I was bored."
Gabriel materialized her own celestial spear. "Control yourself."
"If it’s a messenger, I’ll control myself."
"And if it’s insulting?"
Uriel smiled humorlessly.
"Then we’ll see just how much the demons have really changed."
The large doors of the middle chamber began to slowly open before them. Heavenly light met a dark presence on the other side, and the entire air seemed to hold its breath.
Finally, after months without worthy crises, Eden would have something new to hate.
