Lairen felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as he paused in front of the Seraph Temple. The recent confirmation to all his suspicions left him off balance in a way that even his pure white wings could not help him steady from. The best friend he loved and played with all his fledgling years had turned away from God. Made to fall, he had been thrust away from heaven and sent down to earth where all the fallen angels went. Although Aym vanished many months ago—and Lairen did suspect—as the other angel’s closest friend, it seemed he alone had been left in the dark. This morning confirmed it all though, the words straight from a messenger angel itself.

Sunlight danced in the perfect paradise that was heaven, making music ring in the trees. Lairen alone stood still with his wings and lilac colored hair dancing in the pleasant warm breeze. The question he needed answered was ‘why.’ After another few seconds, he felt steady enough to approach the ivory doors where he slipped inside and went to pray by the altar with the elder angels who knew far more about this world than he. Many others already knelt at the base of the steps leading up to a golden relic, both praying and seeking advice from the elders.

“Master,” Lairen murmured as he took his own spot next to the teacher he come in search for. In his fledgling years, the six-winged seraphim had guided him on all the angelic doctrines. If perhaps there were some leeway, some exception that could be found, then maybe he could bring back Aym. Although the older angel did not turn to him, Lairen knew that he had Assiah’s attention. “Could I trouble you for advice?”

“…About your friend who has fallen?” the angel answered with no prompting. Lairen hung his head that he should be so transparent, though Assiah was a master and he just a young angel who knew far less than he had thought. After all, only he did not expect things to turn out this way. They always said Aym was different and to stay away, but Lairen believed in him. He still did. So, after a second, he nodded his head in response. “The doctrine is clear. You can never meet with Aym again, lest you wish to fall as well." Assiah turned finally, his chestnut colored locks falling across his shoulder. "God's will for us is our existence. You cannot stray."

Lairen rose to his feet, an unreasonable feeling rising in he who was always so gentle, like the breeze. "But I must know why. What wrong did such a good angel commit!" Eyes turned and Lairen flushed, ashamed of himself. Still, he did not hesitate until his teacher silenced him with a single gesture.

"That is not for you to ask!" To hear a raised voice from an elder, Lairen knew he had spoken wrong. This wasn't like him at all, but nor was this like his friend, right? "Go to the inner sanctuary and pray about your misguidance, young angel! Pray that He might forgive!"

Pulling away, Lairen rushed back out the temple doors. He did not go to the sanctuary though. As wrong as it might be, he needed at least once to meet up with his friend and ask why. It didn't matter what the elders said. If anyone deserved a proper goodbye, it was him. Spreading his wings, Lairen flew down toward earth with just that intent in mind.