Angel: One Million (Volume 1)

Stratosphere

STRATOSPHERE
ANGEL: ONE MILLION

...

One million years ago, history was written by a force outside of human understanding. Three deities watched over humanity from its very birth to its many ends, and though they had sought to fight for its salvation, the tranquility of these deities rang truer than their actions ever could.

The Silent Zen, they were once called. Ruling over all creation with both a gentle hand and an iron fist, they watched over humanity's peaks and lowest lows all the same in a hush of neutrality. But their rule was a lie. Their benevolent silence was nothing but a front for what a man named Vietro Garmedia described as the closest they had ever come to achieving perfection.

These gods amongst men were put down by their subjects, all in the name of regaining the free will that they didn't even realize had been passed on to their overseers. But that was a hundred years ago, when Vietro and his allies slew these false prophets. They were heralded as the Six Heroes of Winged Varsity, and their deeds in the name of human perseverance stood to bring about a new age for all humanity. But they couldn't do it in the time they had.

Maybe, one hundred years later, there would be those who could follow in Vietro's footsteps and realize his dream for all creation. Those who would carry on his celebration of humanity. A new generation of Angels, helmed by the brave few who were capable of leading them to the future.

...

| 4 Hours Before Briefing.
| 9:26 AM.
| A Winged Varsity Angels Recreation Center. Built In Phantomhive, Rhode Island.

Seconds became minutes. Minutes became seconds. Time was ebbing and flowing in a way that was completely indiscernible, and for a woman like Pearl, the level that understood her wouldn't be getting any further from the ground. She couldn't bear the thoughts that intruded her mind. A constant whirring of pain and confusion that staked its claim from the deepest reaches of her memories. It was like a ringing in her ears that was nigh inexplicable, and no matter how much she tried to mentally pull the plug on such a feeling, all that struggle did was make her feel more awful.

Pearl had come to this rec center in Rhode Island because her butler, Corallo, was stationed there for caregiving. The Winged Varsity built this place for the sake of getting those who needed it away from the hustle and bustle of their headquarters in Las Vegas, but here, when the Acting Captain of the WVA needed it to drown out her own thoughts, it was practically impossible. She couldn't focus on anything.

Every singer and dancer on that stage were doing nothing but what they were told to do, and despite them having been brought out to entertain, all they did in the moment was constrain Pearl's thoughts further. The lights, sounds, activity and volume were giving her a headache, and she couldn't find a source for the plight she felt at all.

Magic, she thought. Maybe magic could help her understand this aching feeling if she turned on Clouds and sifted through the energy of the room. So she did—but it came up hopeless. No matter where she looked, it was all just noise. Baseless, empty noise, made up by a looming shadow. This shadow carried enough of a presence to force her back into reality, and have her acknowledge that it was carrying a saucer of tea within its otherwise cold visage. And it had four arms. And a suit. This was her butler.

Corallo had a habit of showing up when Pearl was at her worst, and for a time like this—especially on a time limit—she felt it a blessing to be given the chance to actually talk to someone who understood her.

"Are you spacing out or is it something more serious, my lady?" He'd ask her with a tilt of his head. "...Nothing for you to worry about, Rallo. Thank you." Pearl responded in kind. A part of her was being honest, and another part of her was just making sure he wouldn't worry.