A statement of a soul | Raphael x Reader

9. Opening eyes

Void. Darkness. Floating in an endless, empty space, without a feeling of his body. He doesn't feel his horns, doesn't feel the wings on his back. Did Mephistopheles take them away? Was his torture finally over? Was he granted a relief of death, a relief of finally being devoured by his sadistic father?

'What do you mean, something is blocking you?' he suddenly hears a soft, worried female voice.

Curious. It sounds oddly familiar, but so distant. It feels as if it's been millennia since he heard it. Yet, it fills him with something. A sensation... How to quite put it.

Suddenly, another voice echoes through the endless abyss he seems to be drifting in. It's much deeper, with the same kind of hint of concern.

'In my opinion, this has all the symptoms of a curse. I am sorry, I won't be able to help. It's nothing quite like I witnessed before, my usual magic will not lift it.'

The voices are now a bit clearer.

'I could heal his cracked skull, but it took a lot more of my energy than it should. I think the healing is delayed because of the curse. I might come back to treat the wings later.'

'If it's outside of your power, then there is no need for you to be sorry. You shouldn't focus on something you can't affect,' the same female voice says. He wants to frown, but he doesn't feel like he owns a physical body. 'Besides, I think Raphael might have some knowledge of that curse.'

Raphael? How familiar his name sounds when rolling off that woman's mouth. He tries to look around the dark void, but there is no light or image in sight.

'It wouldn't surprise me. And it seems that he might awake soon,' the man notices. 'Have you received the invitation from Withers?'

'I did, will you come to the meeting?'

'Of course! I can't wait to catch up with everyone.'

'Same, I want to hear everyone's stories. It is so crazy, isn't it? How we all met, bound by the threads of fate and how we all just continued our personal adventures, separately, but not lonely.'

'Have you ever felt it?

Raphael listens in carefully, the voices finally sounding like they are right next to him. The void is still there, but the darkness gradually disparses and he gains awareness of lying on some sort of a disgustingly cheap bed in a dimmed room.

'The fate threads?'

'Yes.'

'I might sound like a lunatic,' said the woman. 'But yes. You know how shugenja monks take vows, undergo training and then lead a lifestyle of a wanderer, helping wherever they can? I was only a year after starting my lonely journey and then all of that happened. I am beyond grateful for every single one of you. I hold you all so very close to my heart.' There is a rustle of fabric and a small happy sigh leaving the woman's mouth. The man chuckles. 'I've grown so much from having the honor of sharing each and every one of your experiences.'

'You always sound like you owe us, well... everything,' the man responds softly.

'Do I not?'

'We owe you just as much, if not more. You were put in a life threatening situation and did everything to pursue the cure for yourself and the team, while still finding time to help me, help us out with our own goals. You are a born leader.'

'I always preferred to be on receiving end of orders.'

'A one cannot lead if one doesn't know how to follow.'

There is a moment of silence and the woman chuckles softly.

'Thanks, Halsin. You are such a big teddy bear.'