Rimuru the sin of love

What drives you archangel?

Sariel's POV

Her words stopped me in my tracks, cutting through the silence with a sharpness I hadn't anticipated.

"So, Sariel," Rimuru said, her tone light but carrying an unmistakable edge of challenge, "might you also talk about yourself? Since you made me talk about something that's clearly personal, it's only fair, don't you think?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, unsure whether she was serious or just trying to turn the conversation back on me for her own amusement. She had a way of doing that—twisting the focus so effortlessly that it was almost impossible to stay ahead of her.

"I wasn't aware this was a game of fairness," I said dryly, keeping my tone neutral.

She smirked, tilting her head slightly as she waited for my response. "Oh, come on. You can't pry into someone's personal life and then expect to keep your own locked up tight. It's only fair that you share a little, don't you think?"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I didn't ask you to share something so personal. That was your choice."

"Was it?" she countered, raising an eyebrow. "You're the one who kept pushing about the necklace. I figured if you were so curious, you'd at least have the decency to reciprocate."

She had a point, infuriatingly enough. Still, I wasn't accustomed to discussing myself—especially not with someone like Rimuru, who seemed to delight in making every interaction unpredictable.

"Fine," I said at last, crossing my arms as I met her gaze. "What exactly do you want to know?"

Her smile widened, though there was a genuine curiosity in her eyes that surprised me. "Why don't we start with something simple? What drives you, Sariel? Why do you do what you do?"

I hesitated, her question catching me off guard. It wasn't the kind of thing I was used to answering. My purpose had always been clear: to maintain balance, to uphold the will of the Supreme Deity, to serve the greater good of the realm. But how often did I stop to think about the reasons behind those duties?

"Duty," I said finally, my voice steady. "I am a celestial. My purpose is to maintain balance and enforce order. That is why I do what I do."

Rimuru's expression shifted, her gaze sharpening as she studied me. "Duty, huh? Sounds noble enough. But that's not really an answer, is it? I'm asking what drives you—not what you're supposed to do, but why you care about doing it."

Her words struck a chord, and for a moment, I wasn't sure how to respond. Why did I care? What was it that drove me to uphold my duties so fiercely?

I glanced away, my thoughts swirling. "Perhaps it's because I've seen what happens when balance is lost. Chaos spreads, lives are destroyed, and everything we've worked to build crumbles. I've seen it happen before, and I refuse to let it happen again."

There was a flicker of understanding in Rimuru's expression, though she didn't press further. Instead, she nodded slightly, her tone softer as she spoke. "Fair enough. I can respect that."

We walked in silence for a moment, the tension between us easing slightly. It was strange—sharing even this small piece of myself with her felt oddly natural, as if she had a way of peeling back the layers without me even realizing it.

"And what about you?" I asked, turning the question back on her. "What drives you, Rimuru? What keeps you moving forward?"

She laughed softly, her smile tinged with both mischief and something deeper. "Oh, Sariel, that's a Wouldn't you like to know."

I frowned, her evasiveness only adding to the mystery that surrounded her. But as frustrating as she was, I couldn't deny that there was something compelling about her.