Fogo stood at the summit of all existence.

  A realm where time and space were vague occurrences, a white expanse where maintaining one’s own form was arduous.

  He had trained here for what could be imagined as an eternity, but it was hard to tell just how much time was passing in the highest dimension.

  Whenever he returned to the Hereafter, it seemed as though only minutes would have ticked by, not that Fogo was complaining.

  An eternity of training was more than he could ask for, and since the body of an Angel was already perfect, he instead mastered his control over his strength and speed.

  It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that he was the strongest of the angels by the sheer fact that each of his feathers could break entire planets, and he had countless ethereal feathers.

  It had gotten to the point that he could visit the third dimension and fly around without breaking things.

  [Fogo?]

  He looked down to see that Nozh was calling him from the Seventh Dimension, and so he descended.

  [Yes?] He asked as he landed on the patch of space just outside the city.

  [Hope I didn’t interrupt anything important.] Fogo could feel her anxiety and restlessness, so he warmly smiled, but while this would have been enough to invoke positive feelings, Nozh only grew more frustrated.

  [Nah- I was just wrapping things up. What did you want to talk about?]

  [Umm… so- how are things going with you and Vi?]

  Fogo’s heart began racing a little, sending out adorable waves of joy across the realm.

  [Ahem! Good. Things are going good, why do you ask? Did she say anything?] He hid his mouth behind his hand as he tried his best not to smile.

  [No. And although I think that it’s cute watching you two, I can’t help but wonder what the point is if we are going to live forever. Why even pursue such things if not driven by instinct? Heck- we can’t even… you know.] Nozh probed, which made Fogo’s eyes narrow a little.

  [Mmm… is that all you really wanted to talk about? Because if it is, then you already know the answers to those questions.] Fogo spoke with the authority of one who had mastered himself in the realm of unbecoming. So assured and certain that it made Nozh fold into herself.

  [I…] Her voice shook.

  Fogo watched as she struggled through anxiety, frustration, restlessness and unresolved grief.

  He knew those feelings all too well but had decided to work through them while also keeping himself occupied.

  Which gave him an idea.

  [You don’t know what to do with yourself, huh?]

  Nozh shrunk even further at his words.

  [Mmm… well, as you know, Vidente’s building an army for me, so if you like, you could help by being one of my generals.]

  [But I'm not cut out for fighting.] Nozh whimpered.

  [True. Not yet, at least and while I know you think my concerns are the paranoid ramblings of a mad angel, I want you to join me, and even if I end up being wrong and nothing happens, we’d have had fun, right?]

  Nozh looked up to see that Fogo was still smiling.

  [Fun?]

  [Yep. We’ll do all kinds of training together, and we can help Vidente create all sorts of things. So, what do you say?]

  Nozh’s eyes widened, and Fogo felt a strong surge of affection rising within her.

  He didn’t know if he had helped with whatever she was going through, but she was emitting a positive wave of emotions, and that was good enough for him.

  [Alright-]

  With that, Fogo grabbed Nozh’s hand and dragged her to the auditorium where Vidente was trying to make some humanoid lifeforms. Crawling along the campus and doing their best to help Vidente with her work were the Oracles, small grey and ugly things with three eyes that resembled the first one she’d made fairly recently.

  They were helpful due to the fact that they could exist in most dimensions, so Vidente often sent them on expeditions to the third dimension where they gathered materials, other lifeforms and knowledge.

  While the Oracles were far weaker than their angelic creators, no living organism in the third dimension stood a chance in the face of their control over Kilnessence, however insignificant it may have seemed to the Angels.

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  [Hey, Vidente! Someone finally decided to join the cause!] he bellowed while storming into the chamber, only to be stopped by one of Vidente’s wings as she carefully sowed various pieces of flesh together in a shape that vaguely resembled a human.

  She then placed a Halo on its head, but as soon as it came alive, it collapsed in on itself while screaming in agonizing pain in the brief moment leading to its death.

  Vidente let out a disappointed sigh before looking up at Fogo with weary eyes.

  [I really need one of our worlds to host something other than simplistic life.] She tossed the heap of flesh on the table to the floor before making her way up to where Fogo and Nozh stood, walking past the two and finding a spot outside where she sat.

  [You okay?] Fogo asked after following her out with Nozh in tow, both of them feeling her bubbling frustration.

  [I… cannot create anything. All I can do is throw stuff together and hope for the best.] It sounded like she wanted to cry, and so the two sat at her side and wrapped her in the light of their wings.

  [Hey, think of it like this: You are currently finding ways to tweak and tune life to all kinds of forms and environs. You may not be the inventor, but you’re one hell of a technician.] Fogo smiled, and it immediately reached Vidente, who looked at him with appreciating eyes.

  [Y- Yeah! You’ve done so many amazing things so far, like the Oracles-]

  [I hate those things! Don’t bring them up when I'm in such a downed state!] Vidente spat, frightening Nozh a little with a wave of pure chagrin.

  [But thank you. Both of you. I think I just needed to leave that place for a bit. What were you two up to again?]

  [Nozh has decided to join my cause!] Fogo cheered with a raised fist.

  [Oh? I never took you for the heroic type.] Vidente smirked.

  [I- I'm not trying to be a hero. I just… don’t want to feel so stuck.]

  Vidente nodded at Nozh’s words before turning a curious, dangerous eye to Fogo’s wings.

  [Huh… I won’t be able to make your army for a bit, but… we can make their weapons in the meantime.]

  Fogo felt a wave of fear wash over him.

  [Heh?] He sounded as Vidente got up and stood over him.

  [How much are you willing to give for your dream, Fogo?] She whispered, making him swallow.

  She then reached out to grab him, but he was several times faster than her, so he quickly flew out of reach.

  However, just as he prepared to flee from the Hereafter, Vidente crossed her arms.

  [If you come willingly, we can watch a few sunsets together after we’re done!]

  Fogo stopped dead in his tracks.

  He then turned his glaring eyes down to Vidente, who was smirking.

  Normally, he wouldn’t mind being subjected to her studious torture, but for some reason, he felt as though what was coming next was going to be worse than anything he’d experienced before.

  His instincts had kicked in before he could even think about what was happening.

  And as for Vidente’s offer…

  Well, he’d have to see if it was worth it.

  And so, he descended.

  [Go inside.] Fogo bit his teeth at her instruction as that oh so familiar smile appeared on her face.

  He did as she said and sat on the operating table like always, but he was more apprehensive than ever.

  [Now, we never got around to testing this, but there is a chance that our wings are what give us the ability to travel between dimensions, so be prepared for the worst if this goes wrong.] Vidente warned as Nozh helplessly watched.

  Fogo bit his teeth as Vidente gently held one of his smaller feathers.

  She then unceremoniously pulled it out, and this resulted in a wave of pain stronger than any he had ever felt since being reborn. It felt like a million burns all concentrated at one point. Not only that, it also felt like someone was pressing ice-cold needles into those burns repeatedly.

  Fogo’s Angelic body was able to withstand the hardest of bludgeoning forces and the sharpest of blades, but his wings, as strong as they were, were also the most sensitive part of his body, seeing as they helped him perceive the universe in its totality.

  However, even with all this pain, he held his screams in as tears welled in his eyes.

  The same couldn’t be said for Nozh, who fell to her knees and screamed as all of Fogo’s pain seeped into her and everyone else, prompting them to all descend on the auditorium.

  [Uh-oh.] Vidente sounded as the light of eleven angels filled their surroundings.

  She couldn’t even think of an excuse and so slowly stepped away from Fogo as the others entered.

  .

  ..

  Vidente had been made to sit in the centre of the courtyard just outside the Diamond Needle, where she received all manner of stares from those who encircled her.

  Thibet, naturally, was disappointed, while the others were a mix of worried and angry.

  This was because while the pain Fogo and Vidente inflicted on each other usually came as a dull or sharp ache, this time, it was the full thing.

  They all felt it, like a hammer and chisel striking at a tooth a million times over.

  [I allowed far too much to pass by, and I know that a lot of damage has been done, but the least I can do is punish you for this, no?] Thibet asked with a quiet rage.

  [Yes, ma’am.] Vidente’s head hung low.

  She genuinely didn’t mean to let the pain reach the others but also couldn’t hide her ever-burning curiosity. Something which Thibet saw all too clearly.

  [You are to cease any and all experiments on your fellow angels indefinitely, is that understood?]

  [Yes, ma’am.]

  [Good. Now, please take a moment to rest. Especially you, Fogo.]

  Fogo nodded before watching as everyone dispersed, leaving just him and Vidente.

  He walked up to the kneeling angel and offered her a hand.

  [You still up for seeing a few sunsets together?]

  Vidente looked up and felt his warmth wash over her.

  She who had cut and torn him open repeatedly.

  It was here that she realized the absurdity of what she had been doing.

  The madness and callousness behind it all.

  However, through all of it, he remained.

  With that big, stupid smile.

  Vidente took his hand and stood up.

  [Yeah. Let’s go to Yana’s world. It’s the closest to the earth in appearance and situation.]

  Fogo nodded before joining her in descending onto the little world.

  They landed as gently as they could on the side of its surface, which was experiencing a sunset as they arrived.

  Sitting side by side and, by suppressing their power and light, they limited the impact they had on the lush green forests and oceans that were teeming with life.

  [You… you don’t hate me, right?] Vidente whispered.

  [You know I don’t.] Fogo replied just as softly as the light of the setting sun bathed their brilliant forms.

  [I want to hear you say it-]

  [I like you, Vidente.]

  The tears she had been holding back began to well as Fogo wrapped his arm around her waist.

  [You don’t think I'm a monster for everything I’ve done… and all the things I’ll do?]

  [Oh- you’re definitely a monster-]

  Vidente lightly punched him in the chest.

  [But the knowledge you seek and the lengths you’re willing to go through will be worth it so long as it benefits us and life in the long term.] Fogo assured as he wiped the single tear that had fallen from her left eye.

  [Idiot.]