High School DXD : Amen

The door to his chamber opened with a soft creak, and Arishem's senses immediately heightened. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who had entered. The familiar warmth of her presence, full of purity and wonder, signaled the arrival of Asia Argento.

Asia had changed significantly since her ascension. She was no longer the timid, lost girl who once wandered through the world as an excommunicated nun. Now, as an angel of the high class, she bore six wings, each a symbol of her elevated status in Heaven. Yet, despite her newfound grace, there was an air of uncertainty about her—an uncertainty that Arishem understood all too well.

Without opening his eyes, Arishem spoke.

"You seek answers, Asia. Come, sit with me."

Asia hesitated for a moment, her wings fluttering gently in the air as she took a cautious step forward. Then, slowly, she seated herself across from him, folding her hands nervously in her lap.

"I... I don't know what to do now. Everything feels so different. I'm... I'm an angel now, but it feels like the world hasn't changed for me. My role... my purpose... What should I do with this?"

Arishem opened his eyes, locking them onto Asia's. His gaze was steady, yet there was a warmth in his expression, a quiet understanding.

"You believe this title, this new form, defines you, but it does not. You are still the same, Asia. The role of an angel does not change who you are at your core. Your purpose remains the same—just now, you are able to fulfill it with a greater strength, a greater responsibility."

Asia bit her lip, her expression still conflicted.

"But... I've been excommunicated before. I wasn't always meant to be here. Will I be accepted? What do I do now that I have this power?"

Arishem's eyes softened. He understood her doubts. Her journey had been difficult, and she had been cast out before, but now she had been welcomed back into Heaven's fold—not just as a servant, but as a high-class angel. This was her reward for her unwavering faith and her willingness to serve Heaven, even when she had been abandoned.

"Do not worry about the past. It is no longer of consequence. You were excommunicated once, yes, but you have proven yourself time and again. This is your reward for your faithfulness to Heaven, for your service in a time when most would have faltered. You were not chosen by chance, Asia. Your heart has always been aligned with Heaven's will."

Asia's wings fluttered gently, her eyes wide with emotion. She had never truly thought of it that way—her past, her trials, and all the times she had been lost were not failures, but stepping stones to this moment.

"You really think so...?"

Arishem nodded, his gaze unwavering.

"I know so. And now, with your new gift, you will aid us in rooting out the corruption that festers within the Church. There are still many among us who cling to darkness, to greed and ambition. Your presence will be a force for cleansing, Asia. You will help us ensure that Heaven's will is not diluted by the desires of those who have strayed."

Asia's eyes glimmered with determination, but there was also fear. She had always been kind-hearted, perhaps too trusting at times, and the thought of confronting those who had fallen from the righteous path made her anxious.

"But... what if I fail? What if I can't do it? I'm not like you... I'm not strong enough to fight the evil that's in the world."

Arishem gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. It wasn't condescending, but rather reassuring.

"Strength is not solely defined by power, Asia. It is defined by resolve. Your heart is your greatest weapon, and you have already proven that it is strong enough to overcome many trials. Trust in it, and trust in Heaven's plan for you."

Asia took a deep breath, her nervousness slowly giving way to a new sense of purpose. Her hands, once trembling, now rested firmly on her lap. She had been given a gift—a power far beyond what she could have imagined—and it was time to use it.

"I will help, Arishem. I will do whatever I can to cleanse the Church and serve Heaven."

Arishem gave a slow nod of approval.

"You have more strength within you than you realize, Asia. You are already fulfilling your role—don't let fear cloud your judgment. Heaven has chosen you, and that is enough."

With a quiet exhale, Asia stood, her six wings unfurling in the soft light of Heaven's chamber. Her posture was still unsure, but there was a new spark in her eyes—a spark of faith in herself.

"Thank you, Lord Arishem. I... I feel better now. I'll live up to this new role, I promise."

Arishem nodded, his gaze shifting to the vast expanse outside the chamber. The path ahead was uncertain, and the coming days would be filled with trials for both Heaven and the world below. But for now, he was at peace, knowing that Asia had found her place in Heaven's plan.

"You are never alone in this, Asia. Remember that. And as you walk this path, know that Heaven walks with you."

Asia smiled, her wings fluttering as she turned to leave.

"I'll make sure Heaven is proud of me."

As she departed, Arishem closed his eyes once more, his mind drifting into deep thought. The world was about to change, and his role would soon become clearer. But for now, he found solace in knowing that Asia—the once-forgotten girl—was ready to fulfill her divine calling.

----

The High Chamber of Heaven. The golden light shines through massive stained-glass windows, casting a sacred glow over the walls. The room is vast, filled with celestial relics and artifacts, yet it holds a quiet stillness that reflects the weight of the conversation. Arishem stands near the window, his back to it, gazing out over Heaven. Michael enters, his presence commanding and filled with quiet strength.

Arishem didn't turn to face Michael as he entered. He could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the sense of turmoil that followed his brother's every step. It had been days since Michael had taken his place at the helm of Heaven's Host, but the weight of leadership clearly still pressed heavily on him.

"You've returned to the seat of command, Michael. But I can see the burdens you carry. Your gaze betrays the struggles within you."

Michael paused for a moment, his strong hands clasped behind his back as he looked up to meet Arishem's steady gaze. His wings—once radiant with unshakable purpose—now fluttered softly, almost imperceptibly, as though weighed down by invisible chains.

"The loss… it's been more difficult than I anticipated. Father's absence… it has left a wound in the very heart of Heaven. His passing has caused a ripple effect, and I fear it's led many of us astray. The grief has become a poison, Arishem, one that has allowed ambition and corruption to take root."

Arishem nodded, his face stoic but filled with understanding. Michael's pain was evident, but it was something that both of them shared. Heaven had lost its guiding light, and in its place, shadows had begun to grow, taking advantage of the vulnerability left in the wake of God's passing.

"I have seen the same. I was once an agent of the Church, Michael, so I know the inner workings of its fall. The dissonance between its teachings and actions has grown so wide that many have forgotten what Heaven stands for. Many have turned to ambition, and in their hunger for power, they've disregarded the sacred calling they were given."

Michael's brow furrowed in silent contemplation. He could feel the truth of Arishem's words like a sting, but it was a sting that he needed to face. His wings fluttered slightly, like the beating of a heavy heart.

"I failed them… I failed the Host. I should have been stronger, should have acted sooner. The grief we all feel—it clouds judgment. I thought my grief over Father's passing would pass, but it's still here. And it makes me feel like I'm slipping further from the angel I once was."

Arishem turned from the window to face Michael fully now, his gaze unwavering. There was no pity in his eyes, only the calm certainty of a being who had long transcended the emotional turmoil Michael still struggled with.

"Michael, the grief does not define you. What defines you is your faith. What defines you is your strength to move forward. You are the leader of the Host. You are the sword of God, the one who stands for justice and faith. Your brothers and sisters in Heaven look to you—not in weakness, but in strength. They will follow you, as they always have, because you are the example they need. If you remain lost in the shadows of grief, then Heaven itself will continue to flounder. But if you stand tall, Michael, your light will cut through the darkness."

Michael closed his eyes, taking a long, deep breath. The words of his brother cut through his heart like a blade of truth. He had been weighed down by grief for so long that he had almost forgotten who he was. But now, facing Arishem, a flicker of something long dormant began to stir within him—a familiar fire of purpose that had once burned so brightly.

"I am the sword of God. I am the one who must stand as the shield against the darkness. I must lead by example, for my siblings and for Heaven."

Arishem's eyes glinted with approval as he stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Michael's shoulder, grounding him.

"That is the truth you've known all along, Michael. The loss we feel, the grief we bear—it does not diminish the mission set before us. It only sharpens our resolve. And you, Michael, have been given this power, this place, not to wallow in sorrow but to stand tall and restore Heaven's strength."

For a moment, there was silence between them. Michael, once the stoic and powerful leader of the Host, stood still, contemplating the weight of his brother's words. Then, slowly, the light in his eyes began to brighten again. The darkness that had clouded his vision for so long began to clear, and his posture straightened. His wings unfolded fully, radiant once more, as the power of Heaven's Host surged within him.

"You are right, Arishem. I have allowed grief to cloud my judgment for too long. No more. I will be the leader that Heaven needs. I will cleanse the Church. I will show them what it truly means to serve God. And I will not falter."

Arishem gave a single nod of approval, stepping back. There was a quiet strength in Michael now, a force that had long been buried beneath layers of doubt and grief. The air in the room seemed to shift—an unseen pressure, as though Heaven itself were awakening from a long slumber.

"Then let us walk forward together, Michael. The work ahead will be difficult, but it is the path we were always meant to take. Heaven has called upon us to be its light, and we shall answer."

Michael's wings beat with a mighty power, his whole being now aligned with the strength of his true purpose. He was no longer lost in the shadows of his grief, but instead, he stood in the light of his duty, ready to lead the Host with the clarity and courage that Heaven had once known.

 "The Sword of God has returned, Arishem. And it will strike down those who have sullied the name of Heaven."

And as Michael spoke, his presence rippled through Heaven, a surge of power and purpose that stirred every corner of the celestial realm. All of Heaven felt it—the return of the Commander of the Heavenly Host, the leader who would guide them forward into a new era, one where Heaven would rise above its grief and reclaim its divine purpose.