"Well." Samael crossed his arms, watching Ayinel descend, his large wings casting a sweeping shadow over the ground as he landed.
Ayinel touched down lightly, his wings folding against his back before they vanished altogether. A faint shimmer lingered where they'd been. "My feet haven't even touched the ground."

Samael's gaze lowered to Ayinel's feet now firmly planted on the ground.

Ayinel shook his head, a small smile on his lips.

"Well?"

The smile disappeared from Ayinel's face, and he wrinkled his nose

"That bad?"

"I actually wouldn't know," Ayinel said, annoyance in his voice. "Nobody knows anything and those that know pretend they don't."

"Where's God?"

"In seclusion. She went into it just after I arrived," Ayinel told him. "Zelel mentioned there was a big commotion between Lucifer and God. Everyone involved pretends not to know anything, but there are rumours Lucifer insisted on the extinction of humanity and then had an outburst when her proposal was rejected. You know how much God loves humans, of course, she wouldn't agree to it."

"So, we don't have to worry? There's no divine punishment on a grand scale? No great flood?" Samael asked, hoping that Ayinel would answer affirmative. While he was frolicking around in the Fifth Heaven with Shadows, a grand divine calamity was approaching.

"There's a divine punishment in place, but when it will happen and on what scale are things even Zelel doesn't know. They all assume it will be revealed once God comes out of seclusion."

Samael pondered. "What you're saying is, that builder of the ark was imaging things and you have no news at all?"

"Why don't you add, 'You're of no use at all?'" Ayinel glared at him.

"Isn't that given?" Samael lifted his eyebrows.

Ayinel rolled his eyes before he frowned. "Noah might be imagining things, but there might also be a possibility he might see the future that not even we angels are aware of."

"Not God, but creations itself were speaking to him," Samael said in a soft tone as he rubbed his chin. "There were cases like that. They are quite rare, though."

"What are you going to do?"

Why was everybody asking him that? "The same thing I always do—observe and prepare for whatever I think might happen."

"Which is?"

Samael narrowed his eyes at Ayinel. "What do you think?"

"The Flood?"

"Yes." Samael's gaze drifted toward the darkening horizon. If the prophecy was true, something large was coming. He felt the weight of it pressing down. A change might be coming, and it wasn't anything good. For a moment, he thought he should have dealt with that goat-head differently—smashing his lust for power swiftly and mercilessly—so he wouldn't have to deal with the Fifth Heaven's affairs. He really didn't want to be involved in the Second Heaven's affairs, but then again... What was done is done, and returning to the Inferno now would have caused more harm to his long-term goals than good. He'll just have to suffer through whatever those inept snobs in the Second Heaven planned... Like always.

Ayinel hummed. He frowned before his gaze went to the cluster of rocks seen from the distance as a dark pile. "There's a human there."

"I know."

Ayinel lifted his eyebrows.

Samael ignored him as he walked to the camp. He thought about telling them to pack, but then on second thoughts, just as Ayinel said before, the things in the Second Heaven moved at a snail's pace. One night of rest wouldn't change anything.

"Why is a human here?" Ayinel rushed after him.

"Long story."

"Which you're not willing to share."

"You'll learn about it soon enough," Samael said. And he was right. As soon as he arrived at the camp, he noticed a commotion under one of the canopies, and since Beelzebub was there, he could guess what that commotion was about. Beelzebub told Ramus about the human and gave him the gold.

Without any words, Ayinel went there, passing the Shadows that sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, meditating.

Samael glanced at the stars that flickered to life as he waited for Beelzebub to join him. "How did it go?"

"He's crying."

"I assume Minox is at his side?" Samael's gaze shifted to the group. With the support Ramus was receiving from Minox and the other Shadows, even though he wasn't well right now, the bush would recover. Or at least, he hoped so.

"Yes."

Samael nodded before he fixed his gaze forward, frowning as his mind went to the conversation he had with Ayinel. "I learned there might be a great calamity coming. We need to make some preparations, just in case. Call me that Reformatory guy. What's his name?"

"Belial?"

"Yes, him."

"Yes, my lord," Beelzebub said before he rushed away.

Samael walked to his tent, then meditated before it while he waited for Belial, who arrived after half an hour.

As usual, Belial looked bored and annoyed as he, in the company of Gaap, appeared before his tent. He was lean with long black hair that framed an ageless face, eyes pale and piercing. His voice was love and monotone. "You called?"

Samael stopped in the tent, gesturing to Belial to follow him. "There might be a chance Reformatory will get a large influx of souls, and I want for you to be ready for it."

Belial's eyebrow twitched, a hint of annoyance crossing his features. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"I have faith you'll find a way."

Belial tilted his head, giving him a look.

"I know you're capable. But if you need suggestions, I'm always here to offer ideas." Samael's smile widened.

Belial rolled his eyes before he said. "How much time do I have?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot give you a precise time. Let's just say, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen soon."

Belial stared at him. It looked as if he was testing him, though for what, Samael had no idea.

"That's all," Samael said. "Unless there's something you want to address."

"No." Belial turned and then, without saying goodbye, left.

"No manners." Samael shook his head. He was about to walk out when Ayinel appeared at the entrance.

Ayinel gave him a chin jerk.

"What?"

Ayinel looked behind his shoulder before he stepped inside. "Is that a Shadow?"

"You're quite nosy, aren't you?"

"I haven't seen him before," Ayinel said as if he hadn't heard him.

"So nosy." Samael observed Ayinel. There was a chance in the angel's usual reserved demeanour. He was always aware of Ayinel's curiosity about the things that went around him, but until he had joined their little group, the angel had never displayed it so openly. Perhaps this was the influence of socialising with the Shadows. He seemed more at ease around them, his curiosity more open and unfiltered. Maybe their influence was rubbing off on him more than he realised. "He's in charge of Repository."

"Oh."

"How is Ramus?"

"Emotional. He wants to see that human, but Minox is trying to pursue him against it," Ayinel said. "I told them I can go with him, if he wants."

"To do what?"

Ayinel shrugged. "Provide moral support?"

"As if with he needs that."

"There's never too much moral support."

Ayinel did have a point there.

"What do you plan to do next?"

Samael narrowed his eyes at Ayinel. "So many questions."

"I'm curious. What can I say?"

Samael observed Ayinel, studying him.

"What?"

"You could help." If Ayinel was already there, he could use the angel to do something useful.

"Do what?"

"Carry Shadows to the mountain."

"I'm not a bearer."

"Not officially, but I'm certain you would be willing to make an exception for me and the Shadows, right?" Samael smiled at him.

Now it was Ayinel who narrowed his eyes at him.

"Right?" Samael's smile widened. "Me and Shadows would appreciate it."

There was reluctance on Ayinel's face, but then his shoulders slumped in defeat. "If I must."

"Thank you," Samael said, his gaze drifting toward the tent's entrance before he stepped outside. His eyes shifted to the Shadows still gathered around Ramus, then up to the dark sky.

Ayinel followed him outside.

Samael glanced at him, a brief smile crossing his face before his focus returned to the sky and its shimmering stars. A weight pressed down on him, a burden he couldn't shake. He had always disliked uncertainty.

"What is it?" Ayinel asked.

"From everything you told me, something is coming, but we don't know what or when."

"I wish I could've learned more."

Samael's gaze lingered on the horizon as if trying to see beyond the tents, canopies, and distant rocks. It was like he was searching for a glimpse of the future, for whatever the new days would bring. "Whatever it is, whenever it happens... let's hope we don't find out too late."