Darksiders: With war comes faith (War x oc)

Chapter XX

Faith's pov

As we managed to escape the falling Tower, I was both stunned and lost for words. Why did War do that? Why did he kiss my head? There's no chance for it to mean anything, right? Unless...could he actually...

"We have made it." Said Azrael while shaping me out of my daydream. I then looked at my surroundings, only to find that we are standing in a very familiar place.

"Eden."

What was once a beautiful land that would offer shelter and protection, a land that should have belonged to humanity, but instead, fells into ruin after the Nephilim attacked; all out of anger and jealousy. Simply because the humans were given something that they could never have, a home to call their own. After the battle was over the birth of the Four Horseman had begun, and while the Nephilim lost the battle, Eden itself was lost as well.

It became both not appropriate or safe for mankind to live in. Thus it was left abandoned with the shadows of war left behind. No form of life can be found here, other than some plant life and the large tree in the centre. Standing here now, while looking at everything before me... It immediately brought back something that brother Azrael has told me, something that one would consider amazing. But to me, it was very concerning.

"Azrael, about that thing that you told me. When War was fighting Straga...Is it really true," I asked him while catching War's attention.

"Yes...He came to me after his death. Abaddon. Alive, and I wanted so much to believe...I was such a fool..."

"You were no fool brother Azrael. I think anyone wanted to believe as well, just as much as you did." I say to him as I gently held and stroke his hands. At some point in time, Abaddon was more than a holy leader to him, but as a friend. Still... It's so hard to believe that after all this time, after everything that happened, he's still alive. And to make it worse; no one else knows about it.

"Azrael -- you saw Abaddon after he fell?" War asked.

"Saw him? I brought him here -- to Eden."

"What treachery is this Azrael? Eden doesn't exist. Not anymore..." The Watcher replied, clearly not believing anything that was being said. And of course, Azrael did not take his words very lightly.

"Ignorant sprite! I bore witness as the First Ones were cast out and the Garden fell to ruin! I could not let Heaven's first gift...and greatest weapon, simply rot, or worse, fall to darkness."

"I see. So, where is this greatest weapon you speak of."

"I... hide it away," he said while not turning his attention to us. But instead, his eyes remain on Eden's famous tree. And that was when everything was slowly coming together.

"The Tree of Knowledge. Then... Abaddon has been to the tree?!"

"I can't believe this...Is there anything we can do brother Azrael?"

"You both must draw upon its gifts now. If someway exists to stop the Destroyer, the tree will show it to you. I never dared to use it myself. Perhaps if I had, things would have been... different."

"And Abaddon? What of his gift?" War asked.

"That was not for me to know. Each who comes before the tree receives a different gift. Some receive nothing. Others are driven mad by visions, or simply destroyed."

"That's very reassuring to hear... Are we likely to receive awful?" I asked.

"No, I cannot say for certain. Come." He said before falling silent. Nothing else was said as Azrael lead us through the ruins of Eden, however, we come across a broken bridge that could take us to the Tree.

"There's no way across." Says War.

"There is, for those who are worthy," said Azrael.

"Or those who can fly."

"Horseman, you and Faith have fought against the darkness so long that it has marked you both. Creatures of the light will sense it, as I have. In this place, you are worse than a demon. Conquer the shadow! Then, you may pass."

"Is the same said for me brother Azrael."

"No Faith, you are completely different from War. While you may have never been here before, you however are still considered worthy to cross. Thus you will be staying on the sideline with me." He explained to me before turning his attention back to War. I was against the idea of him fighting alone, but it is for the best.

"Are you ready to face yourself in the light? Not all are prepared for what they see." He said while holding something in his hand for War to take.

"The Mask of Shadows."

"Yes. You will see into the Shadow Realm for as long as you wear the mask. Fight well."

Nothing else was said as we watched War putting on the mask and triggering the area to change and was separated from his own shadow to battle, while I and Azrael are protected by a ring barrier. The battle was brutal as both of them were equally powerful. But eventually, War got the upper hand as he sliced off the shadow's arm and chopped off its head.

"Heaven's first gift awaits you."

"You not going to join us?" I asked.

"I will remain here, with the Watcher."

"I'm not letting the Horseman out of my sight! Where he goes, I go!" Says the Watcher as he wasn't pleased with what Azrael has said. But it is the truth, he is unable to come with us into Eden.

"Indeed? Go then darkling -- make for the Tree. You will never reach the other side."

I think Azrael's words affected Watcher as he doesn't say anything to get on anyone's nerves or even talked back. I guess he knows that it is the truth, he wouldn't make it, even if he were to try, who knows what could happen. But instead of doing nothing he just used his power on him!

"War!" I say as I keeled beside him in worry.

"Hurry up! And don't forget who holds the leash."

"This is completely unreasonable! Just because the Charred Council gave you this mission, doesn't mean that you can abuse its power! You are nothing special to them! You can no right to be doing this, you vile parasite!" I yelled as I put my hand on the weapon at the ready. When all of this is over, I hope that I'll be able to kill this waste of space from the Council. Meanwhile, during the whole thing, brother Azrael watched everything before him with an unreadable expression. But he know that something was wrong.

📢I DON'T OWN DARKSIDERS AND I'M NOT COPYING FROM ANYONE!📢