White Wing

The Final Letter

Haruka sent me my next song, and this time I wrote the lyrics for it. She wasn't wrong—her song did somehow reflect me, but thinking of her description, I believe I'd still like to deny it.

The president and I fixed the number of songs for my new album—a total of seven. Seven was a good number. We had seven archangels, seven sisters and the like.

The recordings went smoothly as well, which only served to feed to the image of a quiet life we were living. But I knew there was something else that was stirring, when I spun the letters in my hand.

I didn't get it, who would target an angel? A demon perhaps, but there was no way demons could enter the Celestial realm, and they wouldn't want to either. Despite the hatred an angel may bear for a demon, we stayed well out of each other's way.

The next option would be a human. And considering the number of serial killer stories I've heard, I wouldn't put it past them either. I remember when Hanael would point at random humans from heaven and murmur words like 'psychopath,' 'sociopath,' 'narcissist,' and a hundred other words humans used to categorize themselves with.

"Estelle?" came a voice accompanied with gentle knocking on my door.

I put down the letters and called back, "Yes?"

Kai walked in, worry on his face, with Haruka following.

"Is something wrong?"

Haruka handed me a letter too, the same ichor staining the pages.

Estriel, I will kill you too.

I found it very annoying that the letters were all placed in random places, and the poor kids were already traumatized. Whoever it is doesn't need to make it difficult for them.

"Haruka, was your room ransacked?"

Haruka shook her head and I felt relief. "This was on my table. 'Estriel' sounds very similar to 'Estelle,' so I thought you might know something."

"Thanks for coming all this way."

Haruka nodded and walked out, as Kai stepped forward. "Would this have something to do with you being an angel?"

"I'm not sure. I'm a fallen, an angel no longer," I sighed. "I don't understand how I got roped into this."

And I couldn't let this continue.

There were three letters; three that indicated that I knew who it was. I decided to search through history, meaning a museum.

There weren't many people I knew who weren't angels. The number of mortals I've met could probably be counted on my fingers.

I stared at a painting by the one named Vincent Van Gogh. I won't deny he was talented; he was just born in the wrong time. Imagine working all your life and becoming famous after your death.

"Hello, peasant."

"Hey, mortal," I said, not even needing to turn back and check who it was. Camus stopped next to me, and looked at the painting too. "Why are you here?"

"Is what I would demand of you. You have no interest in history, I believe," he said, looking at me.

"I daresay you don't either."

We both glared at each other, until he looked away. "I'm researching for my next movie."

"Ah, I'd forgotten you were also an actor."

A girl came by and stood in front of Camus, while I ignored them and turned away.

"Are you Camus?"

Camus immediately slipped on his Mask, and bowed. "Yes, my lady. It is pleasing that you know me."

"You're famous after all," she giggled and blushed as she walked away.

I, on the other hand, stared at Camus. "What?" he asked.

"That's amazing. Scary, but amazing." Not only his demeanor, his voice changed along with it.

"One must keep up an act when they need too."

I nodded, and then shook my head. "Or you could have a genuine personality instead."

"The pot's calling the kettle black."

I sighed and walked away, as Camus walked with me. "What are you searching for?"

"I don't know. I came here hoping something might jog my memory."

"Memory of what?"

"People I've met, I guess?"

Camus nodded, and then looked away, staring at someone's portrait. Someone who looked awfully familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place it.

"Do you know him?" I asked.

"He was an alchemist. Studied immortality. They say he was insane." Camus regarded me coldly. "I must leave today, and while today was pleasant, it was not pleasant enough to hope for another meeting."

"Really? I might enjoy bantering with you again, Sir Camus."

He smiled, and I watched him walk away, while I stared at the portrait, feeling like there was something I was missing.

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I headed home and decided to leave the chaos to another time, as I played the piano, hoping and wishing well. Rui joined me as well, as we played a song together. As our notes faded out, I let out a small sigh, which went unnoticed.

"You've improved," said Shun from the couch.

Haru nodded in agreement, as Hajime walked in, holding a chess board.

"Would you like to play a game?" he asked, seeing my interested glance.

"What's in it for me?" I asked, standing up and leaning against the wall.

"If you win, you ask me a question and I answer truthfully, and vice versa."

That piqued my interest.

"Sure," I said, as Shun laughed. I looked over to him, "What is it?'

"You might want to double think that. Are you sure you want to challenge him to a game of chess?"

"Is there any reason not to?"

Shun's eyes twinkled mysteriously. "I suppose not. I might enjoy this."

"How?" I said, almost 10 minutes later. "How is this possible?"

I stared with disbelief at the gameboard which screamed at me 'Checkmate.'

Shun laughed. "That's why I asked you to think twice."

I sighed and put my head in my hands as Hajime took a sip of coffee. "It was a close match, so you should be proud."

I'm starting to see us angels can lose to mortals too.

"So, what did you want to ask me?" I asked, deciding to keep my promise.

"Are you human?"

Shun smiled and Haru simply looked amused.

"No. What gave it away?"

Haru now looked surprised, while Shun started laughing.

"The way you talk, the letters, and I overheard Shun and Kai talking one night."

I flashed Shun an irritated smile, to which he simply continued laughing.

I looked back to the chessboard, and then to Hajime. "If you and Shun were to have a game, who would win?"

"Would you like to find out?" Shun asked, turning to Hajime.

"I'm game," Hajime said, setting up the board as I got up.

I watched their match, standing beside Shun with my elbow on his shoulder, and that day I witnessed a mortal defeating both an angel and a demon in one go.

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