Chapter 10 "Fractures Of The Divine"
## **Chapter 10**
### *Scene 1 — The Betrayal Revealed*
The hallway outside the orphanage's chapel was quiet, but Avile stood frozen, as if the world had stopped spinning around him.
**Obil.**
The name rang in his head like a cursed echo.
The slaughters. The bar. The power.
There was no doubt anymore.
His brother… had fallen.
"Avile?" a soft voice stirred him from the spiral.
He turned, startled, to find **Amelia** watching him. Her brows were knit in worry.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, stepping closer. "What happened in there?"
Before he could speak, **Evelin** peeked around Amelia, her small hand tugging the hem of her guardian's sweater. "Is something wrong, Avile?"
His lips parted, but for a moment, he couldn't speak. The weight of the truth pressed against his ribs like a collapsing ceiling.
Then—he lied.
"No. Just... I thought i saw someone there. It shook me up more than I expected," he forced a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes.
Amelia's gaze sharpened. "It's not just that, is it?"
"I'm fine," he said, more firmly this time, placing a hand on Evelin's shoulder. "Let's go back. It's late."
They didn't argue, but Amelia glanced back as they walked, eyes lingering on him like she was reading the silence between his words.
—
Avile's room was dimly lit by the small lamp near the desk. He shut the door behind him, and as the tension returned to his shoulders, he turned to find **Vale** sitting cross-legged on the bed, waiting in silence.
"What happened?" Vale asked
Avile didn't answer. He didn't need to. The look in his eyes said everything.
"It's him," he whispered. "It's Obil."
The room seemed to darken around them.
For a moment, Vale didn't move. Then he stood—slowly, stiffly, like fury was rising through his veins.
"He was *with us*. He *swore*—promised he was with us. After everything. After…" His hands clenched into fists, trembling. "How long has he known? How long has he lied to us?"
Avile shook his head, his own voice barely holding together. "I don't know. But he has his powers back. He killed that man at the bar. With divine force."
Vale's jaw tightened. "Then we confront him. Now."
Avile hesitated. "He won't answer."
"I don't care."
Vale reached out—and through the **soul mark**, the ancient tether all Archons still bore despite the seal, he *called*. His voice was fire and betrayal and heartbreak all woven into one.
**"Obil."**
No response at first.
"Obil, you *bastard*, answer me!"
Silence.
And then—his voice came, distant yet piercing, as if echoing through a canyon of time.
**"You shouldn't have called me."**
Vale gritted his teeth. "Why?" he demanded. "Why did you stray from your path? Why did you kill those men like they were *nothing*? *How* did you get your powers back? What the hell did you do?!"
Obil's voice came calmly, but with a weight that chilled the air.
**"You wouldn't understand."**
"*Try me,*" Vale snapped. "We are your brothers! You owe us the truth!"
Obil was quiet for a beat. Then:
**"If you see me again… don't stand in my way."**
Avile's breath caught.
Obil's voice darkened.
**"Because next time, I won't hesitate. Not even for you."**
The connection snapped.
Vale stood there, eyes wide, hands shaking.
"He's gone," he said bitterly. "Not just physically. He's… gone."
Avile closed his eyes. "Then we have to tell the others."
Vale nodded once, solemn.
And just like that, the war had begun—not between good and evil, but between brothers who once walked in the light together.
---
## *Scene 1.5 — The Gathering Storm*
The night deepened over Haven's Rise, but inside the orphanage, the ancient thread that bound divinity stirred.
One by one, the **Archons** felt it—the pull of their shared mark, tingling like a memory trying to resurface.
Avile stood at the center of the dormitory's hidden chapel, the door locked behind him. Vale paced to the side, still simmering.
Avile raised his hand and touched the **soulmark**.
"Kael. Elyen. Mael. Tovar. We need to talk. Now."
The connection sparked alive like an old engine sputtering to life.
**Kael** responded first—his voice a coarse whisper like steel being sharpened.
**"It's late, Avile. What is it?"**
"Obil," Avile said quietly. "It's him."
A pause.
Then: **"...what do you mean?"**
Vale cut in. ""He betrayed us. Slaughtered innocent humans without mercy."
Mael: "That's not possible…"
— Maybe: "That can't be. The seal… it was supposed to bind us all."
**Elyen**'s voice followed, softer, more sorrowful.
**"No… Not Obil. He was the kindest of us. The first to protect the weak."**
Vale let out a sharp breath. "That Obil is gone."
A beat of silence.
Then **Tovar**, cold and methodical, spoke:
**"Did he confirm it?"**
Avile nodded, even though they couldn't see it. "He warned us. If we stand in his way… he won't spare us."
The words settled over them like ash.
Kael finally spoke again, and his tone was different now—hardened.
**"Then it's war."**
Mael protested, "We don't even know why he did it! There must be something else—"
Vale snapped, "He made a choice, Mael! You didn't hear his voice—he *meant* it!"
Avile stepped between them, voice steady.
"We're not rushing to kill him. But we can't deny what he's become. We have to act."
Tovar's voice echoed last.
**"Then we find him. Before it's too late."**
The connection faded one by one.
Vale looked to Avile. "Do you think they'll really help when it comes to it?"
Avile stared at the flickering candlelight before him, the shadows dancing like memories across the chapel wall.
"I think they're scared," he said. "But they'll come. Because if we don't stop him…"
He didn't finish.
Because they both knew the truth—
**If they didn't stop Obil… no one would.**:
The room was cloaked in a heavy silence. Avile sat, fingers steepled beneath his chin, eyes distant. Vale paced nearby, the echo of his footsteps a metronome of tension.
"We have to try reasoning with him," Avile said, breaking the silence. "Obil's actions are alarming, but perhaps they're rooted in pain. Maybe we can reach him."
Vale stopped, turning sharply. "Did you not hear him? He said he'd kill us if we stood in his way. There's no reasoning with that."
Avile's gaze remained steady. "I don't want a war among godsplits. If there's a chance to avoid bloodshed, we must take it."
Vale sighed, the weight of responsibility pressing down. "Fine. We try to talk. But if that fails?"
Avile was silent.
Vale continued, "I have a contingency. We approach Gabriel, the Archangel of Haven. Perhaps he can help us break or weaken the seal, just in case."
Avile's eyes widened. "The seal was set by God. Do you think an angel can override it? And even if he could, how would we contact them? They don't exactly take our calls."
Vale's expression hardened. "We have to try. This isn't just about us. Obil's actions threaten the balance. If you have a better plan, I'm all ears. Otherwise, we need the power to stop him. We need to be Archons again."
Reluctantly, Avile nodded. They both touched their soulmarks, focusing their intent. A blinding light enveloped them, and in an instant, they stood in Haven.
*Location: Haven*
Haven stretched infinitely, a realm of ethereal beauty. Golden light bathed crystalline structures, and the air hummed with divine energy. Avile was speechless, while Vale's eyes sparkled with hope.
Before them stood Gabriel and Michael, their forms radiant.
Gabriel stepped forward, his voice resonating with warmth. "Welcome, Archons. It has been long since your presence graced these halls."
Michael's gaze was steady, his tone solemn. "I am aware of your purpose here. I'm afraid your visit is in vain."
Vale's brow furrowed. "We seek assistance. Obil's actions endanger the balance. We need to break or weaken the seal to stop him."
Michael shook his head. "The seal was set by the Divine. We cannot interfere. Our hands are bound."
Avile stepped forward. "Is there truly nothing you can do?"
Michael's eyes narrowed. "Im afraid no we can't. It's better to attempt reconciliation."
Vale's frustration boiled over. "He slaughtered innocents and threatens us. How can we believe he'll listen?"
Mikhael remained silent, then said, "I'm sorry."
With that, they found themselves back in their room, hope dwindling.The weight of uncertainty pressing heavily upon Vale and Avile. Vale sat on the edge of his bed, his hand reaching inside his coat. From a concealed inner holster, he drew a compact handgun, its cold metal glinting under the dim light.
"I have this," he murmured, lifting the weapon slightly. "It might not stop him, but it could serve as a distraction if things go south."
Avile, seated across from him, stared blankly at the floor. The failed plea to the archangel had left him despondent.
Vale sighed, placing the gun on the bedside table. He looked at Avile, noting the exhaustion etched into his features. "You're drained. Get some rest. We'll figure something out tomorrow. I'll try to contact the other Archons, see if they have any ideas."
Avile nodded, rising to his feet. As they prepared for sleep, neither mentioned the peculiar fact "why was obil here or following avile in the first place". It was overshadowed by their immediate concerns.
*Location: The Infernal Realm – Azazil's Observation Chamber*
Azazil lounged in his obsidian throne, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed the scene unfolding above.
"They didn't even consider the obvious," he chuckled, swirling a goblet of dark liquid.
Beside him, Belphegor (One of the princes hell and a close friend of azazil) reclined lazily, his eyes half-closed. "They should have just gone through the same process as obil"
Azazil laughed, the sound echoing through the chamber. "Ah, but they're bound by righteousness. Such thoughts would never cross their minds."
Belphegor smirked, his gaze drifting back to the scrying mirror. "Their virtue blinds them. This will be interesting."
*End of Chapter*