ANGEL'S LANDING | BL ✔

CHAPTER 35 | NEW ENEMIES

"Hey, Axel... Axel." Eryx's soft voice guided the hangel back to the realm of consciousness. Opening his eyes, Axel found himself back on his daybed in the experience room with Eryx leaning over him with a concerned expression on his face. "How you feeling?" The angel asked when he saw Axel's eyes flutter open.

"Fine," Axel returned as he sat up. Other than a dull throb in his head, Axel felt perfectly fine. "What happened?"

Eryx released a sigh and turned to sit beside the hangel on the daybed before explaining, "Detrius tried to enter your unconsciousness, but he was blocked by something, so he withdrew prematurely. He should have guided you back to your consciousness, but he chickened out." Eryx shook his head in disbelief as he mumbled, "I can't believe he left you like that."

Realizing now that Eryx had spent what felt like hours trying to rescue Axel from being stuck in his unconsciousness, Axel placed a hand on the angel's shoulder and said, "Thanks for getting me out."

Eryx made a soft scoff as he returned, "It wasn't as easy as you'd think it'd be. You fought me the whole way back. It took hours to get you out."

"What?" Axel crinkled his brows. "I did? Why?"

"Who knows?" Eryx shrugged his shoulders before adding, "You kept wanting to stay with whatever was blocking Detrius from entering your unconsciousness. Apparently, there was something you wanted to ask it."

Axel became intrigued when he heard Eryx's words. He did not recall anything that had happened during the delve session, and he certainly did not remember whatever it was that kept Detrius from diving deeper into his mind. "This thing that blocked Detrius, did he describe it?"

Eryx fell silent for a moment as he thought back. "All he said was that a voice spoke to him telling him to turn back. I don't think he actually saw what, or who, it was. He seemed pretty terrified. Needless to say, I don't think he'll be entering your mind again."

"How long was I out?" Axel asked once Eryx had finished explaining Detrius' description.

"All day," Eryx replied. "The sun's about to set."

Axel raised his brows in reaction. All day?! Eryx spent the entire day trying to get me out... It was then that Axel saw the dark bags resting under the angel's eyes. Looking closer at the ambassador-class angel, Axel quickly realized how exhausted Eryx was. "You should go rest," Axel suggested to the tired angel kindly.

"Mm, I will," Eryx smiled up at the hangel before standing from the daybed. "Your head may feel a bit sore for a few hours. But you should heal pretty quickly," Eryx said as he began walking toward the experience room's door.

"Thank you, Eryx," Axel bid as the angel exited the room. Axel released a long breath as he continued to sit on the daybed and thought back to Eryx's description of the being that had blocked Detrius. What could it be? 

Axel was not able to ponder the topic for long as the door to the experience room opened suddenly as Major Eyrik entered. Seeing Axel sitting up, the major gave a nod while saying, "Good, you're awake. Let's go, then."

Aware that he was scheduled to accompany Team K-5 on one of their operations during the night, Axel assumed he was being collected to get ready for the mission. Following the major into the wide hallway, the two soon met up with the rest of the team and joined them in gearing up for the dangerous night ahead.

"What's the mission tonight, V-Cap?" One of the team members asked as he strapped on his impact-proof vest.

"We've spotted a band of demons northwest of here. We're ordered to eliminate them," Joi, vice-captain of the team, responded as Eyrik provided Axel with a bundle of equipment. Accepting the equipment from the major, Axel quickly began outfitting himself with shin and forearm guards, an impact-proof vest, two pistols and daggers, a few explosives in the form of small disks, and a mask.