Midnight arrived. A bell-ringer stood on the tower, dozing as he clutched the night bell. His blurred strikes melted into the lingering night. In the courtyard, tall lamps flickered, their trembling light speckling dreams like scattered stars. Below, I caught sight of two figures embraced in happiness. The sight moved me deeply. Metatron and Raphael, entangled for thousands of Berduth, had finally opened their hearts to each other. A conclusion more touching than any fairytale.
Before long, Metatron returned to his usual self, cracking absurd and unfunny jokes. Raphael burst into laughter through his tears, and hand in hand, they walked into the forest. Starlight wove silver dreams through trees and brooks, composing moonlight’s melody across their backs.
And so, in the courtyard below, only two swings remained. They were larger than the one I once had. The wind stirred, and they swayed softly in the night, gazing at each other under the crescent moon like old lovers. I laughed, then let out a quiet sigh and lowered my head—only to find the water’s surface full of stars. In the reflection, countless divine eyes of the stars gazed tenderly, returning the night sky’s smile with shimmering light across the river.
So many years. So many events. The war between the divine and demon races had ended. Those around me lived in happiness. I now knew everything that ever happened between us, and held all the memories we shared. He died. I lived. Every day, I think of him. Every day. I know I love him deeply. And to have made it this far… is already enough.
But, had he truly disappeared? I could no longer touch him.
Again and again, I asked:
Lucifer, where are you?
Are you still by my side?
At last, I received my answer. The stars in the water shimmer faintly, looking back at me. The Milky Way burst silently like fireworks, unfurling in the sky and falling across the world. I smiled at the stars and whispered,
“They say the stars in the sky appear densely packed, but in truth, they’re far apart.”
I stretched out my arms, unable to embrace the sky. The stars exist in every corner of the world.
“Lucifer, that fool. He really thinks he can escape me this way? Impossible.”
I watched the reflection in the water begin to blur, everything began to blur.
“No matter how far apart we are, no one can take him away. As long as I think of him, he’ll always live on.”
My eyes, open too long, finally blinked. Perhaps the harp solo of some lonely angel was too sorrowful, for a tear fell quickly from my eye. Embarrassed, I wiped it away, hoping no one noticed. Yet behind me, someone called out:
“Lord Michael.”
I composed myself and turned to see a group of young angels. Leading them was a Dominion, youthful and pale-faced, four wings shining beneath the lantern’s glow. He held a staff and waved it at me, smiling. “Your Highness, would you like to play a game of magic?”
I shook my head. “Let me be alone. Have fun.”
The other angels obediently left, but that Dominion lingered. I remained still for a while and, seeing he hadn’t gone, cast him a puzzled glance. Unlike the others, he showed no fear. On the contrary, he boldly stepped forward.
“Don’t stay gloomy by yourself, Your Highness. Come play the transformation game with me. I can turn into anyone.”
He waved his wand and transformed into a flamboyant demon lady. The angels indoors gasped, then whistled, because this woman was a famous, deceased actress from the Demon Realm, a legend of the earliest classic stage plays. Despite the long-standing rivalry between our realms, I knew many young angels privately fantasized about her.
I glanced at the wand in the youth’s hand and sighed. I’m too old to keep up with their trends. What strange products are merchants selling these days, even wands like this. Fortunately, a swirling warning hovered above his head: “Melt Illusions™ Product,” reminding bystanders this is a prank spell. Otherwise, such magic could easily lead to crimes.
Judging by the wand’s quality, it wasn’t cheap. This kid wasn’t very old but already wasted money… No surprise, given the type of nobles Metatron associated with.
Seeing I hadn’t reacted, the youth waved the wand again and turned into Gabriel. More whistles from the angels. The real Gabriel looked over in surprise and applauded.
The illusion resembled Gabriel in outline, but upon closer look, it was like a wax figure, off in subtle ways. The youth tried transforming into several other celebrities of Heaven. Finally, he transformed into me, standing beside me like a twin.
“Isn’t this game fun, Your Highness? Want to try it once?”
Sensing the crowd nearby, I intended to decline, but he childishly grabbed my hand, spreading his wings and pulling me skyward.
“Come on, come on! Let’s play upstairs, they won’t be able to see us there.”
With nothing better to do, I let him pull me up. As we landed, he transformed into Metatron. The likeness was decent, but the face was too thin, and the body lacked Metatron’s solidity.
He handed me the wand. “Think about who you want to transform into, then swing it like this…”
He even gave me a mirror, saying it would display the person’s true likeness for us to compare ours with.
I immediately pictured Metatron, swung the wand, and checked the mirror. The result was far better than his attempt. I smiled. “This is how Metatron should look. You imagined him too scrawny.”
“Impressive. Let’s have a contest, see who gets it more right. Next one: Randekiel.”
We transformed into many angels, archangels, ordinary angels, and I won every round. The boy grumbled, “Your Highness just has a better memory than me. I don’t buy it. Let’s try demons next.”
What a scatterbrained kid. I’ve been on the battlefield countless times, I wouldn’t lose even with famous demons.
He thought, then said, “Azazel.”
This one yielded odd results. Neither of us got very close to the real Azazel in the mirror. But while my version looked absolutely nothing like him, the boy’s was at least fairly accurate. He won.
“Lilith,” he said next.
He won again. Pointing at my illusion’s chest, then at the real Lilith in the mirror, he exclaimed,
“Wow, Your Highness, you perv! You gave her bust a three-cup-size upgrade!”
“Men have imagination. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
“Don’t talk like I’m not a man…” he pouted. “Okay, let’s try Mammon.”
This time was fascinating. I transformed into an adolescent Mammon; he transformed into adult Mammon. Comparing the mirror, I laughed,
“Doesn’t count. Not even the same era. Call the next one.”
“All right. Lucifer.”
That name nearly stopped my heart. “…What?”
“The Sovereign of Demons Lucifer, okay? Not Ruthfel.”
I snapped out of it. Of course, he meant for us to transform into Lucifer. How ridiculous. Since when did hearing Lucifer’s name make me react so strongly?
I forced a smile. “You won’t beat me on this one. I know Lucifer too well.”
“Really? Let’s find out. You first, Your Highness.”
I closed my eyes and pictured Lucifer. Though he had been gone for so long, I remembered every furrow of his brow in thought, every sly smile he wore when raising his eyebrows, every cold stare, every weary half-lidded gaze, every rare, genuine smile…
All these countless moments that pierced my heart with pain came together, naturally forming the image of Lucifer.
As the wand finished its swing, I saw the boy’s lips part in mild surprise. I smiled confidently.
“Well, think you can beat that? No peeking while I transform, or it’s cheating.”
“It’s not that,” he replied, taking the wand and flipping the mirror back to its regular side. “I just find it strange… is this really how you see Lucifer?”
He handed me the mirror to look at my reflection.
I furrowed my brows, studying the image. “It doesn’t quite look right… feels a little unfamiliar. But that can’t be. I remember his face perfectly. What’s off?”
“Look again. What exactly isn’t right?”
That voice—something in me jolted. I turned sharply, heart racing.
“Lucifer?!”
I shook my head with my eyes squeezed shut, then looked again. The figure before me… was still Lucifer, except above his head shimmered the words: Melt Illusions™ Product.
I knew it was just a spell, just a trick the boy had conjured—but still, no dream in this world could be more perfect.
I clenched my fists and forced out the words.
“How… how can this be? How can you capture him better than I can?”
That familiar face. Those familiar eyes. The person standing before me was practically Lucifer.
“Is it really that similar?” The voice had changed. The tone had changed. He took my hand, placed it against his cheek, his lips holding a smile.
“Say my name.”
“Lu…cifer.”
Author: Tav Tav
Translating
The Right Wing of God, the one seated at the right hand of the Most High.
