The Seraphim Council sat agog as Michael and Laurence announced the
contest, convienently omitting certain details, like the fact that part
of this challenge was to gather information on Superior-level fighting
skills. It was so good to have a Malakite speaking, evading those nasty
conflicts of truth that Seraphim occassionally undergo. ~It is only
unfortunate that we cannot record this moment for future posterity~
Michael thought with amusement, looking at Dominic's bulging eyes, all
one hundred and eleven of them. Naturally, he was the first to rise from
his chair, his black robe rustling.
"Such trials smack of Pride, Archangel." The cowled Seraph's voice
hissed coldly about the chamber, giving newer Superiors like Christopher,
Litheroy, and Zadkiel a glimpse into the age-old enmity between Judgement
and War.
Novalis was next to stand, her voice trilling but firm. "I won't have my
Glades become a battlefield! These conflicts are absolutely not
necessary!"
Next to her, Christopher arose, his form as a young man taking on his
Cherubic halo in his distress. "Nor my House! There are the souls of
innocent children there Michael! Being exposed to combat would rob them
of their beautiful innocence!"
Surprisingly, Litheroy rose up, his white scales gleaming. In his quiet,
diffident voice, he said "I am not certain that it would be so,
Christopher. Is not exposure to a certain amount of violence necessary,
in order that you and yours may teach the young to channel their
aggressions more positively? Also, I believe that these trials may reveal
unto us our strengths and weaknesses. As such, I would like to propose
the first challenge, Michael." He turned to his Choirmate. "A revelation
of your strengths relative to mine in unarmed combat in celestial form,
to take place in the lake of my Abbey. I may need the practice, should it
ever come to pass that Alaemon and I confront each other. Do you accept?"
Michael was a little taken aback at the challenge from the Archangel of
Revelation, of all angels, but he nodded his acceptance. "Indeed
Litheroy, contigent upon one thing." He turned to Laurence. "Do you find
the conditions fair, Host Commander?"
Laurence considered and nodded. "I do. Litheroy proposes an honorable
trial by strength, with the added disadvantage to both parties that it
occur in the water in Celestial form. It is good."
Dominic started to sputter, and Novalis and Christopher both were
prepared to protest, when Laurence cut them off. "Of course, neither
Litheroy nor Michael will kill each other, and we will respect your
prerogratives as you deem fit, Archangels of Flowers and Children." He
turned to Dominic. "Surely, pride in one's Word and one's ability is not
wrong, unless it grows out of hand? You may watch, if you wish, to
determine that neither Archangel goes too far into the sin of Pride."
Dominic lowered himself down, but said nothing.
The Archangel of War looked around at the Council, noting the benign
smile on Yves's face, Zadkiel's approving nod, and the compression of the
lips that signified Jean's disapproval, then he looked to the Archangel
of Revelation. "Shall we go, Litheroy?" The answering nod was all he
needed.
A scant few moments later, both Archangels were in celestial form, sunk
to about mid-length in a deep, shaded lake in Litheroy's Abbey. A crowd
of angels, most of War and Revelation but many of other Words, were
gathered to watch. Laurence sat atop a high tree branch overlooking the
pool, to serve as referee, while Dominic watched from a shaded wall
nearby. Laurence looked to the two contestants. "You will duel for a
half-hour, no Songs or use of Essence in any way allowed. This is a
purely phsyical confrontation. The first to submerge his opponent for a
length of two minutes wins." He raised his gleaming sword, then lowered
it. "BEGIN!"
The two Seraphim slithered towards each other across the length of the
wide, deep lake. Michael had the advantage of size and strength coming
into this, but the Seraph with the sun-golden scales knew full well that
it was not always the big and strong that won the day. Litheroy might be
smaller, but that would give him the advantage of speed if he but used
it. Michael's mind cleared, as it always did in any fight. ~Just because
he is not a notorious warrior does not mean he is incompetent.~ That
thought was uppermost as Litheroy sought to slip around him and get
behind him. A quick lunge with his serpent-like body cut off Litheroy,
but won him a slash across the nose with one of Litheroy's horns.
Litheroy smiled, moderately pleased that he had scored that glancing
blow. A faint trickle of blood tricked from Michael's nose, winning him
applause from the audience. Michael nodded once. "First blood. You may be
tougher than we have thought, Litheroy." When Litheroy nodded in
pleasure, Michael headbutted him, knocking the white-scaled Seraph back.
"But Litheroy, the first rule of combat is that one never takes their
eyes off their opponent." With that, he lunged, catching Litheroy on the
shoulder with a bite and bringing his heavy, scaled tail up in a pounding
blow....that just missed as Litheroy ducked under it, trying to strike
Michael in the chest with his horns. Michael arched up and over, diving
under the water and up again so fast that Litheroy didn't even see
Michael's horns ram into his chest. He felt it though.
Michael jumped to follow-up his advantage as Litheroy reeled back across
the pool and fell on his back, his wings flaring out behind him. As he
lunged down, Litheroy's tail snapped out of the water behind him,
catching Michael about the neck and wrapping about his throat,
constricting in only the way that a serpent could. Michael gasped, his
wings coming up in surprise to the amazement of his Servitors in the
crowd. Litheroy smiled calmly and flipped his tail...and Michael...down
into the icy depths of the lake. There was a click as Laurence activated
a stopwatch to time the submersion.
As he drowned in the cold depths, Michael gasped, his tail snapping up
to wrap around Litheroy's torso and tug him down. Seraphim, because of
their serpentine bodies, are highly flexible. The two Archangels locked
their horns together as they struggled underwater, the bubbles of their
conflict coming up to the surface in violent geysers. They broke when
Michael headbutted Litheroy and rose. As he broke the surface with a
gasp, he got a nasty shock as Litheroy fashioned his teeth onto Michael's
chest, ripping through the scales to draw blood.
Litheroy's many eyes showed grim determination, and Michael's estimation
rose as he bit into one of Litheroy's eyeridges, causing blood to flow
into one his eyes. Blinded, Litheroy reeled back and Michael wrapped all
the way around him, dragging him down while keeping his head above the
water. Laurence reset the stopwatch and the the count resumed as Litheroy
choked and struggled underwater. Soon he went limp. At precisely two
minutes, Laurence called "Time!"
Michael immediately uncoiled himself and rose, dragging Litheroy with
him. He dragged him to the shore and applied pressure on his chest until
Litheroy coughed up water and slowly opened his eyes. Michael smiled, not
unkindly, as the Archangel of Revelation awoke. "You did quite well
Litheroy. You surprised me, and that is not easy. It has been long since
I had to exert myself so. Come see me in the Groves sometime. I think you
have it in you to be a strong warrior, with time and practice. Good
match." Litheroy nodded weakly and the two Seraphim exchanged a shake
with their tails before Michael turned and bowed to the crowd.
"If any wishes to challenge me, let Laurence know or come find me in the
Grove. I will accept any fair challenge." With that, he spread his wings
and took flight, leaving Dominic to shake his head and depart quietly as
Laurence went to congratulate Litheroy on his surprising performance
against the Champion of Heaven.
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EDG <edg@sjgames.com>
In Nomine Collection Curator