The fate of two Hybrids: Demian and Alice

Above the mortal world, in the realm of celestial light, the heavenly bodies gathered. A grand hall of glowing white stone stretched endlessly, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of battles past and victories won. The air shimmered with divine energy, and at the center of it all sat the Elders, their forms radiant and commanding.

The meeting was one of urgency, called for the first time in centuries. The Elders, along with the Archangels, had gathered to discuss the unthinkable: the Gate of Baal was stirring once more.

Gabriel stood apart from the others, his silver armor gleaming and his wings folded tightly behind him. His mind was elsewhere, though his heart felt heavy with the weight of the discussion.

"This is no mere coincidence," said Uriel, his fiery red wings fanning out as he paced before the assembly. "The gate's seal has held for a millennium, but now its power wanes. Kael will return, and with him, the chaos we fought to seal away."

A murmur rippled through the assembly. Kael, the demon who had nearly brought the realms to ruin, was a name none of them wished to hear again.

"We must strengthen the seal," Michael, the Archangel of War, declared. "If Kael escapes, he will be more powerful than ever. We cannot let history repeat itself."

"And how do you propose we do that?" another Elder asked, his voice calm but edged with tension. "The seal was forged with the life force of hundreds. To repair it would require a sacrifice none of us are prepared to make."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling heavily on them all.

---

Gabriel, however, wasn't listening. His thoughts had drifted to the earthly realm, to memories of a life he had left behind long ago.

She had been unlike any being he had ever encountered. Her laughter had been like music, her touch like the gentle caress of the ocean tide. Luna. A mermaid with eyes that held the mysteries of the deep.

He had loved her more than anything, but when the time came, he had been forced to choose. To stay with her and abandon his duty to Heaven, or to return to his people and leave her behind. He had chosen Heaven, but not without regret.

And now, as he stood in the celestial hall, he couldn't stop thinking about her. If Kael's return was imminent, what did that mean for the mortal world? What did it mean for Luna... and the child she had been carrying when he left?

---

"Gabriel," Michael's voice broke through his thoughts. "You've been quiet."

Gabriel straightened, meeting Michael's gaze. "I've been listening."

Michael raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"It is not only the seal we must worry about," said Raphael, the healer. "The Gate of Baal connects to the Unforbidden Lands, a place of great imbalance. If Kael escapes, it will disrupt more than just Heaven and Earth—it will ripple through all realms."

"Then we must act swiftly," Uriel said, his tone firm. "Gabriel, you are our swiftest and most trusted messenger. Will you lead the charge to investigate the seal?"

Gabriel hesitated. The thought of returning to the mortal world, even for a mission, stirred something deep within him. But he couldn't let his personal desires cloud his judgment.

"I will do as Heaven commands," he said, his voice steady.

"Good," Uriel replied. "We must ensure Kael remains sealed. If we fail..." He didn't finish the sentence, but the silence that followed spoke volumes.

---

As the meeting adjourned, Gabriel lingered behind, his thoughts heavy. He stared out one of the hall's massive windows, the mortal world glimmering far below.

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?"

Gabriel turned to see Raphael standing beside him, his golden wings catching the light.

"It's been a thousand years," Gabriel said quietly. "But it feels like yesterday."

Raphael placed a hand on his shoulder. "You made the choice that was best for everyone, Gabriel. You couldn't have stayed with her. Your place is here."

"I know," Gabriel said, though his heart ached at the memory. "But I can't help wondering what became of her. What became of... them."

Raphael's expression softened. "If you return to the mortal realm, you may find your answers. But remember, your duty comes first. Don't let the past cloud your mission."

Gabriel nodded, though his resolve was already wavering. He couldn't deny the pull he felt—the need to know if Luna was still alive, if their child had survived.

---

As the angels prepared for their descent to the mortal world, Gabriel stood at the edge of the celestial plane, staring down at the Earth.

"Luna," he whispered, his voice carried away by the wind.

The last time he had seen her, she had begged him to stay. She had been so radiant, even as tears streamed down her face. And she had been so certain that their child would be strong, a symbol of their love.

Gabriel had wanted to believe her, but he had known the dangers their child would face—a hybrid, born of Heaven and the sea.

He closed his eyes, his resolve hardening. If Kael's return truly was imminent, then the mortal world would need all the help it could get.

And maybe, just maybe, he would find Luna again.

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