Extra Demon: Sacred Academy of Light

A field full of ashes, that's how the beautiful views of the abyss can be described: a completely frozen sky in a sunset between red and intact black. At the very top, there was a black sun, an eclipse, a beautiful and terrifying sunset frozen for all eternity.

The ash of the place fluttered through the air, giving the false impression that oxygen existed in this place. Even if that were the case, I simply couldn't know. From there on, there is nothing else remarkable to say about the abyss, for now.

"It's in the best area to walk peacefully." The delicate doll-like voice of the sixth seraph came from behind us. She had a big smile on her lips, so much so that pure white halos emerged from her body to vanish into nothingness. Even her mood was contagious; everything felt fine there. But her eyes, red like the sky, were serene and calm. They even seemed indifferent, the opposite of her cheerful expression. It was a little peculiar

Looking at her with suspicion:

—I don't know why, but it feels so sinister...

A chill ran down my spine. I shook my head. After they finished speaking, they decided it was time to leave. Curiously, I was almost tempted to ask, but it seemed rude, so I remained silent. Putting those words aside, I understand that the abyss is divided into layers. I have no idea how many layers there are. After all, it's a completely mysterious topic.

—Wow, you really cleaned this area well for me —Elizabeth nodded with satisfaction and gave a thumbs-up to the sixth seraph

The sixth seraph smiled and waved her hand

—It only took me a few moments.

I frowned. From what I understand from their little conversation, by "cleaning layers" they mean the fallen ones. And from what can be seen...

—We're almost past the second zone —said Seraphine while looking ahead.

Daniela approached curiously and timidly to her mother's side.

—What is it, dear? —asked Seraphine with a loving smile.

Daniela swallowed her nervousness. She had some questions. The first was about the strange feeling of this place: it was filled with divine mana and divine energy everywhere, but everything was completely black, corrupted and cursed. That feeling chilled her to the bone and made her a bit afraid. She knew this place was the abyss thanks to Arthur, but she never expected it to be so sinister and depressing. The second was about the woman who looked a lot like her mother. She didn't have the courage to ask, and her mother knew that... and teased her a little. Taking a deep breath:

—Mother, is she…

Seraphine smiled and looked at the sixth seraph, nodding her head. She stepped forward a bit and extended her hand. One of her fingers touched Daniela's forehead, and she closed her eyes slightly. After a few seconds, she opened them again and smiled adorably:

—Auntie!

But then she blushed again. The sixth seraph smiled and gently stroked her head.

—A truly complicated family —I murmured to myself.

—Hmm... hmm —Evelyn nodded, and her eyes glowed slightly.

—Familiar… —Leslie murmured a word as she watched the interaction between them. Crossing her arms, her expression became a bit complicated, and her eyes trembled.

—Are you okay? —I asked upon noticing their expressions.

—Yes, I just remembered something unpleasant —Leslie said, looking away.

—I'm fine —Evelyn also nodded.

—Complicated —the three girls didn't have a normal childhood, so to speak. Daniela was taught to believe only in God by Seraphine since she was little; her shyness comes from that, and she can barely speak normally to her mother. Leslie only received loneliness from her family since she was small. Evelyn was called a "monster" by her own mother.

All three had complicated families and problems with them. Now, literally speaking, all the women here can be considered family...

*****

—Just don't get close, and nothing will happen —Emilia frowned and gave a simple warning that wasn't hard to understand.

—Looks like a giant —Elizabeth clicked her tongue in disgust.

A fallen one. The first one I had ever seen in my life. A huge being that seemed to reach ten meters in height. It had armor that was once as bright as the sun, now battered, with large cuts and completely blackened areas. From the wounds oozed a yellowish-green liquid, disgusting just to look at. The fallen one had five wings on its back, once white, now black. Two of them were dislocated and twisted unnaturally. Three spears were embedded in its chest, and from these pus evaporated into nothingness.

—It's alive, it's conscious, it knows where it is and what is happening. It's alive… but, to what extent is it truly alive? —said Seraphine with a smile, looking at the fallen one.

—Literally worse than death —a thought crossed my mind—. Did its soul get trapped in the abyss? —I asked, curious

—Exactly. Its soul will remain trapped in its flesh for all eternity —the sixth seraph nodded.

Arthur remained silent. His gaze returned to the fallen one, who wandered dragging a massive sword on the ground, walking slowly in the opposite direction, unaware of our presence. His black hair swayed along with his rotting body.

—Is there any salvation? —asked Daniela, with pity in her voice. With her ability to sense the emotions of others, she could feel a terrible sadness and despair in that creature, almost drowning her completely. She didn't dare look into its soul; her instincts warned her it would be suicidal.

—There is none —Emilia shook her head coldly—. The worst sin of all is betrayal. There is no forgiveness for betrayal.

—Even God was unable to forgive Judas when he betrayed him to the Romans for five silver coins. Judas, because of his sin, was sent to the last layer of hell along with the greatest traitor of the heavens: Lucifer. Two traitors. Two condemned, unable to receive God's forgiveness —lost in my thoughts...

—I wonder if Judas really existed... and if he did... —I shook my head. That story was told in movies on Earth, and likewise in the Bible. But here, surely it's a completely different story.