"Shall we begin?"
I didn't know what was supposed to start, so I simply went with the flow and watched the Archangel do her thing.
She walked past me, moving forward in a dignified manner.
Her wings fluttered and her hips swayed with each movement.
Even though she still donned her silver and white armor, it didn't diminish her feminine aspects.
'Focus, Jeremy!'
"Sacred Hall Protocol: Archangel Sariel Access." Sariel spoke, causing my thoughts to instantly focus in her direction.
>BZZZTTTTZZZZZ<
A sudden buzz emanated out of nowhere, causing me to look around in meaningless observation. After all, everything I saw was still blank.
The silence was stifling, and I wasn't completely sure if this was the desired effect or not.
"How exactly do you intend to gain access to the truth?" After waiting for a while, I finally spoke up.
Sariel, who was standing in front of me, didn't say anything. I couldn't see her face since I was behind, but something didn't seem right.
'Is this supposed to happen? Or...?'
"Sacred Hall Protocol: Archangel Sariel Access." The Angel repeated, clearly indicating that the stuff didn't work last time.
Once again, a buzz echoed across the vast room and nothing else happened.
I wasn't sure before, but it would be stupidity on my part if I didn't get the hint at this point.
"Um, Sariel... I'm not sure if your protocol stuff is working..." I blurted out.
"Tch!" A sharp sound of dissatisfaction emerged from her, causing me to instantly shrink back.
As much as I wanted to say the honest truth, it was still pretty much established that Sariel knew more than I did.
Perhaps this was all part of the process--though I somewhat doubted it.
'Let's just trust her...'
"What now, Sariel?" I mumbled, looking at the Angel hopefully.
"....I don't... I don't know."
For a moment, my brain froze.
"Eh?"
The same Sariel who was so confident about providing me with answers currently 'didn't know' about how to get them?
"The fuck...?"
"Language!" She sharply replied, causing me to also explode within.
"Shouldn't you be more concerned about more important things? Like finding out the truth?"
"Hey!" Sariel turned at me, revealing her lovely face.
Unlike before, it was clouded with surprise and confusion.
"I honestly don't know! It should have worked!" She snapped.
"Don't take out your failure on me, then!" I replied instantly.
Something about her current state, even though she seemed quote angry, made it easier for me to talk back.
"What did you just say to me?" Her voice was seething, but I was determined to speak my mind.
"I mean, the whole point of releasing you was so I could get answers. What happened to 'I never tell a lie' and all that junk?"
"You would dare speak that way to an Archangel?"
"Hmph! Big talk for someone who can't even figure out how to find answers. What makes you different from me?"
At this point, Sariel was speechless.
She heaved a sigh and shook her head while holding her head. It almost appeared as though she was having a headache.
"I..." Her eyes seemed to be slowly losing the confidence and luster they once had.
Her dignified persona was breaking apart.
"I don't know what to do, okay? I've tried accessing the Sacred Hall Interface to get the information I require, but I can't..."
"Why can't that 'God' guy do it instead?"
Once I said this, the Angel's face seemed to fall for some reason. Before I could understand why, she spoke.
"I suppose you don't know... he is no more."
"No more?" Sariel's words were a bombshell to me.
I had no idea that God could die. Was that even possible?
'With the existence of other Gods, then maybe. Still...'
"I don't know the details, so it is best if we find out the truth. But, how...?" Sariel's eyes rested on me, and then her gaze intensified.
I suddenly felt naked and uncomfortable. What could be worse? The fact that such a beauty was staring at me with her clear eyes, or that I was also feeling some new emotion swirling within me.
'Shit. I wish I had that [Merciless] Title right now.'
Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of dulling my teenage, hormonal emotions.
"Jeremy. Why don't you try gaining access?" Sariel finally spoke up after a moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Eh? Me?"
"Yes. I somehow don't have any access to the interface. You, however, could be different. I want to know just how well you are able to influence the sacred Hall."
What she said indeed made sense.
If [Subspace] was the Sacred Hall all along, then I had to have some form of authority within it, didn't I? If that was the case, then...
"Um, so... what should I say?"
"I am unsure. Just try anything." She said.
Her words were a bit irresponsible, but what choice did we have at this point?
"Okay then..." Deciding to copy her, I continued.
"Sacred Hall Protocol: Jeremy Access."
>BRRRZZZZZZZZZZZZ<
A different kind of buzz burst forth--this time, followed by yet another spectacular sign.
In a flash, something familiar popped up, spreading wide so both the Angel and I could clearly see.
"The Golden Screen!" I exclaimed.
It had been quite some time. I clearly remembered how much fun I had with it back when the Sacred Hall was my home.
And then--
"Looks like things turned out just as expected."
--A voice boomed.
The moment the sound emerged, Sariel knelt and bowed her head.
Her movement was so sudden and robotic that it seemed instinctive. Even though I remained standing, the voice also had an effect on me.
I felt a sense of nostalgia, yet warmth while listening to the tone. Also, it was very familiar to me.
After all...
"Jeremy, and Sariel no doubt. Both of you must have made it this far. Well done."
... The person who was appearing on the Golden Screen was none other than the Supreme Being known as God.
"You've overcome the initial hurdles and made it here on your own. This was kept as a failsafe, just in case you encountered a danger higher than your current condition can handle."
'Hold on... this is progressing too fast.' My mind raced as I was assailed with several thoughts.
"As expected, you couldn't win against them on your own, could you?"
'Why...? I don't understand anything...' My thoughts tried to comprehend why such a being was speaking in such a way.
Was I supposed to relate with his words?
"Yeah, I know you must be confused about a lot of things, Jeremy Lewis. The major question on your mind must be 'why?'"
Yes! He was finally getting it.
"You must have been going crazy with those altered memories of yours, and the limited things you remembered. All the crazy stuff about your Stats and the crazy adventures you went through. A lot of them didn't make sense, did they?"
'Just spit it out already!'
"The obvious answer, as you've come to realize, is that I took a special interest in you and made you an exception among the other Gifteds."
I figured out that much already. The only issue was why!
Why go so far for a human like me?!
"The reason is quite simple, Jeremy Lewis..."
I braced myself to hear the truth, and even Sariel's eyes sparked with curiosity as she continued her position of reverence.
It was finally the moment I had been waiting for--an explanation that would finally end my ignorance.
As the white being in the screen spoke, I readied my ears and strained my eyes to catch on to his every word.
"I ... was bored."
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