Natalie fought back the tears, but they betrayed her. She tried to leave, but Nephtali held her arm, stopping her.
"Do you not want me to leave?" Nephtali asked softly.
"You have to fulfill your duty to the Guardians," Natalie whispered. "You can't stay just because your sister is too sentimental. I've become too dependent on you, too used to you always being by my side. Forget what I said, Brother. Don't worry about me; Ram and Shin are here with me."
"I won't leave if you truly don't want me to."
Natalie met his gaze, then forced a smile and gently pulled her arm away. "I was just joking, Brother. Don't think about it. Go and do what you must. I'll go now."
Natalie hurried away, leaving Nephtali watching her retreat.
In Nephtali's office, he was with Red, sorting through some papers.
"I will also bring some of the Ministers so the trainees won't be too intimidated," Nephtali instructed. "Don't let anyone cause trouble here, and make sure you and Caius monitor the remaining Grandmasters."
"What about Natalie's tasks?" Red asked.
Nephtali paused, his mind going back to the previous night. He sat down, worried about the sister he was leaving behind.
"When I told Natalie I would be gone for a few weeks, I didn't expect her to be sad about my departure."
"She's sad about you leaving now? You're only going to be gone for a few weeks, then you'll return quickly. Is she remembering the time when you didn't even go down to Earth together?" Red suggested.
"She said she's too dependent on me, and that's why she feels sad about me leaving. What do you think I should do?"
"You know your sister best. You should know what to do when your sister is sad."
At a training ground, Natalie sat quietly alone, pondering her brother's departure. Shin and Ram found her, noticing her deep contemplation.
"Natalie, where were you?" Ram asked, concerned. "We still have tasks to do, and you just disappeared without telling us."
"I was just tired. Where are we going now?"
"Is something wrong?" Shin asked.
"No, what problem would I have?"
The two Ministers sat down beside her, seeing her sadness.
"Don't lie to us," Shin urged. "We know when something is bothering you. You go quiet, and you stop eating."
"Did you fight with Superior Nephtali?" Ram asked.
"No, we didn't fight. We haven't even spoken today. Just stop talking about what I'm thinking, and let's just do our tasks so we can finish them."
"Let it out," Shin insisted. "You'll only make it harder on yourself if you hold it in."
"I don't want to. Because if I do, I'll sound like a child being left by her older brother, and that's ridiculous," Natalie admitted, frustrated. "He's only leaving for a few weeks, so why am I so sad? Isn't that childish?"
Ram and Shin fell silent, watching her.
"It's not wrong to be sad when your brother leaves." Ram offered gently.
"Ram is right," Shin added. "You're close to Superior Nephtali and always together, so it's natural you feel this way."
"Brother Nephtali is doing his duty for the Guardians, and here I am, acting like this, not even helping him," Natalie cried, tears streaming down her face. "I'm angry at myself. I'm still so childish."
Ram noticed Superior Nephtali standing nearby, listening. Shin saw him too.
"You are not childish, Natalie," Ram said, his voice firm. "You love your brother, and you don't want him far away from you. We understand how you feel."
"Superior Nephtali will return quickly," Shin assured her. "He won't leave his sister here for long while she's causing trouble."
"We'll wait for you outside." The two Ministers turned to leave.
Natalie was still crying when Nephtali stepped in front of her, gently wiping away her tears.
"Don't cry, I will return quickly."
Natalie sobbed harder into her brother's arms as he embraced her.
"I know you'll return quickly, but I can't stop my tears," she confessed. "It's like what happened before, when you didn't join me when I went down to Earth. I was so lonely, alone, and I had no one to talk to. I wanted so badly to talk to you then, Brother. I wanted to beg you to join me on Earth because I was suffering."
Nephtali was shocked by the confession. "I didn't even know you were suffering then. Forgive me, Sariel."
"You are not to blame, Brother. I don't hold a grudge against you; I knew we would meet again."
"You know we will never be separated again. Always remember that I will always be with you, no matter where you are. I'm always here for you, Sister."
Nephtali held her tight, and Natalie suddenly went limp and passed out in his arms.
In the quarters, Natalie slept soundly. Nephtali sat beside her while Red examined her.
"She just needs rest; she doesn't have a fever," Red reported. "She was just emotionally exhausted."
"Keep a close watch on her while I'm gone," Nephtali warned, his voice low and dangerous. "If anything happens to my sister, I might lose control and cause chaos."
"They are too afraid to hurt Natalie," Red assured him.
Nephtali looked at his sister. He didn't want to leave her, but he had to reclaim the Guardians from Remiel.
"Sariel, what I'm doing is for you too. I will take back the Guardians for your sake. I will restore everything to the way you started it." Nephtali gripped her hand tightly.
Natalie woke up and looked around. No one was there. She sighed and started her day. She left the quarters and saw Superior Nephtali waiting outside.
"Why are you still here, Brother Neph? I thought you left earlier."
"I waited for you to wake up so I could say goodbye."
"Why don't you tell me the truth, Brother?" Natalie demanded. "I know you are planning something for your meeting."
Their Chains glowed. Nephtali walked closer to Natalie.
"I told you to forget your true identity for now and follow my lead. You will not interfere this time, because I am the one who will make them pay."
"Even if I get hurt by what you do?"
Nephtali flinched. Natalie looked at him, hurt and angry.
"Don't succumb to your anger, Brother. I'm begging you, think carefully about what you're doing. I don't want to see ashes and blood in front of me again! I can't stand seeing everyone beg me for mercy!" Natalie cried, tears flowing freely.
"Now, they will beg me for mercy. I will take everything from them and restore the Guardians to the way you started it. They made a grave mistake hurting you. I have waited hundreds of years for this. I hope you understand, Sariel."
Nephtali walked away, and Natalie could not bring herself to stop him.
At a training ground, Mia and Lyra were practicing. They both stopped when they saw Minister Shin talking to some Headmasters. Fairah and Dmitry approached, noticing the two girls staring at Shin.
"My day is complete just seeing Minister Shin's smile," Fairah sighed.
The two girls quickly resumed their practice.
"Shin still doesn't have a girlfriend, does he?" Dmitry said to Fairah. "I even told him once that he should pick a girlfriend so the women chasing him would leave him alone."
"Really? What did Minister Shin say?"
"He has unusual requirements for a woman: must be an excellent fighter, beautiful, have a high rank in the Guardians, and be known as the best Guardian."
"Headmaster Dmitry," Mia asked tentatively, "are you saying the qualities Minister Shin wants are Minister Natalie's qualities?"
"I don't believe he likes Minister Natalie," Lyra insisted, shaking her head. "You must be joking, right? Minister Natalie would never stoop to someone like Minister Shin."
Fairah and Dmitry laughed at the two girls, who were clearly heartbroken by the information.
Meanwhile, Natalie sat alone at a different training ground, sadly thinking about her conversation with Nephtali. A muscular man approached her.
"May I ask you something?"
"If you are looking for the office, it's in the fourth building."
"I don't know the way there. Can you accompany me? I am Grandmaster Drandreb, one of the instructors here."
Natalie looked at the man—handsome, tall, and smiling. She felt an odd sensation around him. She stood up and led the way.
"I apologize for bothering you. I wouldn't have approached you, but there was no one else around to ask."
"It's alright. Everyone else is in the dining hall, or at the training grounds for practice."
"I don't know your name yet. May I know your name so I can thank you for your help?"
Suddenly, an explosion occurred at a nearby training ground, indicating a fight. They rushed over.
"Stop that!" Drandreb yelled.
The two fighting trainees fired energy blasts at Drandreb. He quickly dodged, and the blast headed straight for Natalie, but it exploded harmlessly, blocked by an energy shield from Ram. The two frightened trainees immediately bowed. Drandreb looked at Ram, who hurried to Natalie's side.
"Forgive us, Minister Natalie! Minister Ram!" the first Junior Master pleaded.
"We won't do it again."
"You won't, because you are both going to be locked in the Cursed Chamber for what you've done!" Ram ordered. "Headmasters! Lock these two up for one night!"
Ram's Headmasters took the two Junior Masters away. Drandreb looked at the two powerful Ministers.
"I apologize, Minister Natalie. I didn't recognize you."
"Go to the office, Master Drandreb. Minister Ram, you will give him his assignment here."
"Understood, Minister Natalie."
Drandreb watched the young woman leave, still deep in thought.
In the Council's Grand Hall, Nephtali (Raziel) stared at the banner that held the Codes of the Guardians. Andrel entered, still disoriented, and also looked at the banner.
"We are not to blame for what happened to you! We are not to blame! No! We are not the ones you should punish! We are not at fault for what happened to you!" Andrel cried out, delusional.
Nephtali approached the terrified Andrel, who was talking to the banner. Nephtali used his Chains to restore Andrel's sanity. Andrel regained his senses and knelt before Nephtali.
"Raziel?"
"Why should you not be punished, Andrel? Tell me the truth. Is there something I should know about what happened, especially the burning of Sariel?"
Andrel looked up at Nephtali, silent for a moment. "Azrael secretly joined us to go down to Earth. He told Herus and me that we had to gain Remiel's trust to eliminate Sariel and seize her Chains. Azrael is the one who should be punished, not us!"
"Azrael wants Sariel's Chains?"
"He has long coveted Sariel's Chains because they are the only thing that can grant him immense power! He will do anything to get them, even if Sariel is destroyed!"
"Azrael is nearby, watching us all."
"He has been on Earth for a long time, and I fear what he can do. In his rage, he poisoned me, causing me to lose my mind. Raziel, you must protect Sariel. I know this is Sariel's second vessel, and it is weak. She cannot use extreme power. Do not leave her, because Azrael knows everything that is happening to us."
"It cannot be. Sariel is alone right now."
"Go back to her! This is Azrael's chance to seize Sariel's Chains, and I'm sure he won't let her live."
Andrel began to turn to ash from the poison in his body. He looked at Nephtali and slowly stood.
"Ask her forgiveness for me, Raziel. My loyalty is still with her."
Andrel turned completely to stone right in front of Nephtali. Nephtali's eyes turned crimson, his fury directed at their brother, Azrael.
"Azrael!!"
Natalie was walking toward her quarters when she sensed a disturbance. A hooded figure appeared, throwing blades at her. Natalie dodged, but one blade grazed her side. The figure was about to attack again when Shin and Ram arrived, firing powerful energy blasts that instantly vaporized the creature.
"Natalie?!" Shin cried out.
"Her wound is poisoned," Ram noted grimly.
"Brother Nephtali." Natalie whispered her brother's name before losing consciousness.