Into Hellfire

Pilot

A month had passed since the Nether Horde was pushed out of the overworld, and the celebration had just begun. A monthlong festival had been planned, and just set up. Even though it had just begun, citizens from villages and kingdoms all over had come to the city. It was a festival after all, and since the undead reign, they were rare.

However, in the Dreadfort, the air had a much subdued feel. The Frostbourne gathered around an empty grave that lay in their graveyard, a tribute to Gabriel's sacrifice. It was discovered after the fight that Naeus planned to send multiple giant Wither Skeletons into battle, but that Gabriel had engaged and killed multiple before Azrael attacked him.

The three leaders stood front and center- Ceris, Patrick, and Abigail. Patrick was the first to speak. "Our comrade was braver than all of us together. He traversed the hellfires of the Nether alone, bringing down two giants alone. He won the battle for us in secret, never expecting to be recognized for what he did. So we stand here today, saluting his sacrifice."

Ceris stepped forward. "Gabriel went above and beyond in what he did. When he was sent to the End, he rescued me without hesitation, going as far as to risk harm to himself in order to protect me. For that, I forever will owe him."

Then, Abigail. "Gabriel was called the Angel of Death among my forces, but he was no demon. He was a saint if I've ever met one. He would've laid down his life in an instant to protect me. He cared more for those around him than he ever did for himself. We have lost a good man."

Aside from the group, Phantom spoke with his team. Swan was the first to speak, her white armor gleaming in the sunlight. "He's not really dead, is he?"

"The old him is dead, that is for certain. Whether the new him is dead or not... that is to be determined," Phantom replied.

"We control fate itself, Phantom. Isn't it our decision?" Mantis asked.

"No, it's not. If he's dead, he's dead. We don't know where his body is, and even if we did, there's no guarantee I could bring him back. We'll just have to wait and see."

"Phantom, what about the dragon girl?" Wolf looked at their leader.

"What about her? She's an excellent fighter, and her magic is on par with my own."

"Couldn't she do it?"

"Possibly. But we still have no idea where he is."

Wolf nodded sadly. Phantom was right, if he was dead, there was no way of knowing where he was.

"Hey! Everyone! Over here!" Cora called out.

"What is it?" Patrick walked over.

"A charred suit of armor. Came out of nowhere," Allison explained.

Ceris gasped. "It's... that's Gabriel's."

"I thought you said he was dead," Patrick turned to the Ex-Matriarch.

"I thought he was. Azrael was so sure that she'd killed him. She cast him into the lava," Ceris replied, her voice choked.

"His armor is resistant to lava, Ceris," Azura explained. Ceris went silent.

Phantom walked over to join the group. "We'll look into it. Go enjoy the festival, everyone."

Patrick and Azura nodded as the group broke and walked towards the village. Ceris took one last look at the armor before walking to join them.

"There's your answer, Swan."