ANGEL'S LANDING | BL ✔

CHAPTER 41 | THE INTRUDER

The man was veiled in a black cloak that hooded the upper half of his face and covered his entire body. Rae tightened his hold around Genyr as the foreign man stepped closer toward the unit.

"What is your identity? Reveal yourself," Rae commanded sternly as he prepared to release Genyr.

"Fear not; I am not your enemy," the man said as he stopped in his tracks and lifted his hands to remove the hood covering his face. Upon seeing the man's face, Kilo immediately lowered his sword and dropped to one knee.

"Seraph," the guardian angel said as he balled his right fist and set it over his heart in a sign of respect.

Rae furrowed his brows at the guardian's action. He did not recognize the man. Even though Kilo addressed him as "Seraph", Rae remained wary. He did not wish to lower his guard for even a second. His unit and Axel could be harmed should he unknowingly allow the enemy past his defenses.

"As cautious as ever, I see," the man said as he turned his golden-honey eyes to Unit R's commander. "You do not remember, Rae, but I fought alongside you five hundred years ago when Castyr defeated the demon king."

There it was. Another person from his past whom Rae had no recollection of. Rae's eyes slanted as he observed the man. He had amber eyes that seemed to glow in the night and silver-blue hair that hung just above his eyes. He was not exceptionally tall, but he had a sturdy build and a strong chest.

The man's gaze suddenly shifted to the sword in Rae's hand before landing on Axel who had come to stand beside the colonel. A curious tint entered the man's eyes as he moved his gaze back to Rae's sword. "Although he is no longer white, I would recognize Genyr without fail. You wield a powerful blade, Rae."

Eyes falling back on Axel, the man furrowed his brows and said, "Interesting. I did not expect you to be a perfect replica. You are only half-angel after all."

Now that the man's attention had turned to Axel, Rae stepped to the right to block the hangel from the man's view. Noticing Rae's remaining wariness, Kilo rose to his feet and assured Rae that the man would not harm them. "He is Orion — Actaeon Class and *Seraph of the Heavens. He is a good friend."

Seraph Orion... The name did ring a bell, but since Rae did not have a single memory of the man, he wanted to remain guarded around the intruder. However, Kilo did not speak up for others lightly. After fighting alongside Kilo for a few centuries, Rae had learned to trust the guardian's word. So, he lowered Genyr and did not stop the man from advancing toward the unit.

Although he had lowered his weapon and allowed the man to approach his unit, Rae refused to step away from Axel, so the man walked around him to reach Axel. Sensing no ill will from the strange angel, Axel did not back away as the man came to him.

"What is your name, hangel?" Orion inquired as he locked eyes with the hangel's silver orbs. The seraph's gaze softened as he looked into Axel's eyes.

"Axel," the hangel answered confidently.

Hearing the hangel's reply, Orion leaned down toward Axel to be just a few inches away as he closely observed the hangel's eyes. "They are the same...but different."

What is he talking about? What did he mean when he said I am a perfect replica and that my eyes are different but the same? Is the man senile? Axel did not stop the man from observing him from such a close distance, but he was relieved when Rae spoke up, breaking the man's interaction with him.

"What brings you to Unit R, Seraph?"

"Axel, of course," Orion answered as he stood up straight. "Ellessi said I can find him if I find you," he said, turning to face Rae. "I am here to help him unlock Angel's Landing."