In the Clinic, Caius was examining Natalie, using his Chains to try and contain the poison that was spreading from her side wound. Red arrived, having learned what happened.
"Why did you leave Natalie alone?!" Red demanded. "You know how angry Superior Nephtali will be when he finds out Natalie was harmed."
"I've stopped the poison from spreading in her body, but she won't heal easily because of her body's condition," Caius explained.
"Find out who did this to Natalie. Shin, Ram, do not leave her side until Superior Nephtali arrives," Red instructed.
"Yes, Master Red," Ram responded.
In the Council, Nephtali stood before Remiel and Hector, who had been informed of Andrel's fate.
"Since both the Knights and Healer Sectors are now without administrators, I will place Red and Caius in charge of the two Sectors," Nephtali announced.
"Are you stripping us of our rights to the Guardians?" Remiel challenged.
"I am simply finishing what I started before," Nephtali clarified. "I am not taking away your duties in the Sectors you command. I only wish to restore my leadership in the Council. Do your duties, and we will have no problems. Do we understand each other, Superiors?"
Neither answered the Grandminister.
Nephtali immediately rushed back to the Division, consumed with worry for his sister.
"Red, where is Natalie?"
Red could only look at Nephtali without answering. Nephtali rushed to the quarters and found Natalie standing, reading something.
"Brother Neph? You returned quickly."
Nephtali immediately hugged his sister, anxiety flooding him.
"Brother, are you alright?" Natalie asked.
"I feared something terrible had happened to you, so I came back immediately."
"I think I should be the one worried about you, given what you're thinking," Natalie said, hiding her side wound so Nephtali wouldn't see it. "Nothing happened to me. I have two Ministers guarding things here now."
"Did nothing truly happen to you? What did you do while I was gone?" Nephtali pressed.
"Do I really have to tell you everything I do when you're not around?"
"Will you answer my question or not?"
Shin, who had entered, quickly intervened. "Superior, Minister Natalie didn't do much. We were just monitoring the trainees in the training grounds, just in case a fight broke out without our knowledge."
"Yes, Superior," Natalie agreed smoothly. "That's all we did while you were away. Nothing new here, except for some Grandmasters arriving to teach."
"Leave Natalie and me alone. The two of you should rest."
Shin and Ram bowed and left. Natalie smiled at them. Nephtali cast a powerful Oration around them to ensure their conversation was private. The intensity of the Oration made Natalie clutch her hidden wound.
"Does something hurt?" Nephtali asked, noticing her movement.
"No, it's just itchy. Is something wrong, Brother?"
"I restored Andrel's sanity. He was poisoned by Azrael so we wouldn't find out what he's been doing. Andrel confessed that he and Herus kept Azrael's presence a secret when you returned to Earth. Azrael also commanded them to gain Remiel and Hector's trust to turn them against you. Azrael has long desired your Chains, leading him to do this. Andrel also said Azrael has been watching us, and he will do everything to eliminate you and take your Chains. Andrel asked for your forgiveness, saying his loyalty is still with you."
Natalie was stunned, tears silently falling.
"Azrael wouldn't do this to me."
"I know you trusted him, but power can make him betray you. Your life is in danger now. He is waiting for the perfect opportunity to take the Chains from you."
Natalie's Chains glowed, and she sensed a presence. Before Nephtali could react, she spun around, shielding him, and was struck in the shoulder by a strange blade. Nephtali unleashed a massive energy blast, throwing the hooded attacker toward the training ground. The figure quickly retreated into the shadows.
"Natalie!" Nephtali cried.
Natalie collapsed, bleeding heavily. Nephtali cast a powerful Oration to keep the attacker away, then rushed to her. He pulled the strange blade from her shoulder.
"I will never forgive you, Azrael!"
Nephtali's eyes turned crimson with rage and grief.
Caius and Red treated Natalie, working to stop the poison. Nephtali held his sister's hand, channeling his strength into her.
"She needs long rest, Superior Nephtali," Caius advised.
"We stopped the poison, but her wounds will take time to heal," Red added. "If possible, don't let her leave here for now."
"I don't understand what Natalie was thinking. Why did she save me instead of herself?" Nephtali lamented, despair clear in his voice. "Her body is weak for her spirit, yet she still protected me. I won't stop until I catch Azrael. He will pay for what he did to my sister."
"Azrael did this?" Caius and Red exchanged confused glances.
Nephtali told them the full truth about their identities: that he was Raziel and Natalie was Sariel, the original Grandminister.
"Does Azrael know that Natalie is Sariel?" Red asked, startled. "Natalie is always careful not to reveal herself as Sariel or the Grandminister. It seems the creature was targeting you, not Natalie. Everyone knows you as the Grandminister, so Azrael must have mistaken you for Sariel, not Natalie."
"It's possible other beings are involved, given their hostility towards Natalie," Caius mused. "It seems both of you need to be careful. Many are attempting to take your lives."
"This will not happen again. I control the Guardians now. I will not allow Natalie to be hurt again. If anyone harms my sister, I will not hesitate to kill them," Nephtali declared, his resolve absolute.
Natalie woke up the next morning, touching the bandaged wounds on her shoulder and side.
"I'm still alive? I thought I was a goner."
Fairah entered with Caius, who was giving the Headmaster instructions.
"Do not leave her until Superior Nephtali returns," Caius emphasized.
"Yes, Superior Caius."
"Why are you calling him Superior, Caius?" Natalie asked, sitting up, confused. She realized what Nephtali must have done in the Council.
"I want to talk to my brother, now." Natalie's tone was all authority.
The two bowed and immediately complied.
At a training ground, Master Drandreb organized equipment. Kalmin arrived, dropping a stack of books. Drandreb helped him gather them.
"There are so many. Can you really study all of these?"
"Yes, I need to prepare for the training next year," Kalmin replied. "If I fail, all my hard work will be for nothing, and I'll be punished."
"That's a severe consequence for failing. You know, some of these books have the same content. You can just read these four. They'll help you with studying attack forms."
"Thank you, Master?"
"Master Drandreb. I only arrived the other day, but I'm just starting now."
"I am Junior Master Kalmin. These books will really help me. To be honest, I'm not a great fighter. But all my friends, especially Minister Natalie, are powerful. It's embarrassing to be the weakest among them."
"You are friends with Minister Natalie?"
"It's up to you if you believe me."
"Why wouldn't I believe you? You don't seem like a liar. If you're friends with Minister Natalie, why aren't you always together?"
"Something happened to her the other day, and she still hasn't woken up. They say she saved Superior Nephtali from an unknown creature. Many people want to kill Superior Nephtali, as he is known as the Grandminister."
Drandreb pondered this information.
"I heard Minister Natalie is very important to Superior Nephtali. Is it because she's his best Minister in the Sector, his most loyal warrior?"
"They are like siblings, so Superior Nephtali is always worried about Minister Natalie. Minister Natalie even said once that Superior Nephtali is the only one who can match her."
Drandreb was stunned by this revelation.
Drandreb stood alone in the forest. Several hooded warriors appeared before him. Drandreb transformed into Azrael, and the warriors bowed.
"Superior Nephtali is Sariel, and Minister Natalie is Raziel. I once heard Raziel say that only Sariel can match him. They cannot be together. Raziel must be eliminated so I can easily defeat Sariel and take the Chains of Guardians from his hands."
"What about the other Chains?" one warrior asked.
"Sariel still hasn't summoned his Chains. Perhaps he will reveal them once he controls the Guardians. I also learned that their lives were threatened the other day. We are not the only ones fighting them now, so we must be careful. We cannot let anyone else get the Chains of Guardians!"
"We can execute our plan now while one of them is weak."
"Not yet. Even with wounds, Raziel is still powerful, and his ability is formidable. My brother's weakness is Sariel; he is precious to him. And that is what I will use to destroy Raziel."
In the quarters, Natalie stroked the Chains on her left hand, gaining knowledge of the situation. She was so weakened by the revelation that she nearly collapsed, but Nephtali caught her instantly.
"Brother?"
"You're not healed yet. Why did you stand up?" Nephtali placed his weakened sister back in bed.
"Everyone thinks I am Raziel and you are Sariel. Has the world flipped, that their assumptions are backwards?" Natalie observed.
"Both our lives are in danger, but I worry about you the most. Your body is weak, and you can't use strong energy. Azrael is not our only enemy; there are other unknown creatures."
"Should I just surrender? I'm tired of the fighting among our warriors. They only need these Chains, and they are worthless if I lose my life."
"If you do that, I will never speak to you again."
"Can you really stand not talking to your sister?" Natalie smiled.
Nephtali looked at her, his eyes filled with love and fear. Natalie held her brother's hand, and Nephtali held hers back. Natalie then cast an Oraton around them.
"Natalie, promise me you will never leave my side. You won't surrender, and you won't leave. Stay right here with me until our mission is complete. We will leave and return to where we came from, together. Can you promise me?"
"Even if I die and leave this world again, I will still return, and we will still meet. Unlike you, who cannot return to Earth until centuries pass. That's why you don't need to protect me; I should be the one protecting you. You are important to our warriors because you are the only one with a clear purpose, and you fulfill your duty."
Nephtali stared at Natalie, horrified by her words.
"I won't allow you to disappear again! Don't say that in front of me, Sariel."
Natalie smiled at her worried brother, then suddenly coughed up blood. Nephtali gasped in shock.
"You took back the Guardians and restored it, I am happy with what you did. What else can I ask of you, Brother? I know. When I return to the world, you shouldn't lecture me anymore—but then again, my day won't be complete if I don't hear your lectures."
"Why are you telling me this, Sariel? Don't scare me like this!"
"I started this, so I should be the one to end it. I know you'll understand, Raziel."
A blade materialized in Nephtali's hand as Natalie held it, and she guided it into her own heart. The Chains of Guardians immediately transferred from Natalie's body to Nephtali's hand. Natalie died in her brother's arms, an unexpected sacrifice. Nephtali stared blankly at his lifeless sister. Red and Caius tried to enter the room, but Nephtali's power, fueled by grief and rage, kept them out.
"Sariel!!!!"