Chapter 142: Mountains and Munchings

Grace followed the faction leaders back into the council chamber, her mind still reeling from watching Celestia casually dismantle thirty angels like she was sorting mail.

“So,” Seraph said, dropping back into her chair with zero grace whatsoever, “we’re really doing this? Picking the next Pillar while the Veil’s getting frisky?”

“We don’t have a choice.” Mara’s voice, as usual, carried that mom energy that made you want to sit up straight. “Every day we wait is another day for corruption to spread. Besides, handling the Pillars will allow for clarity in dealing with the Veil.”

[I think that makes sense… Though leaving the Veil alone makes me uneasy.]

Venus had already gone back to examining her nails.

“I still vote Bloom.”

“And I still think that’s dumb,” Seraph shot back.

“Ladies.” Celestia’s single word shut them both up. She moved to the center of the room, wings folding with a whisper of feathers. “The Mountain. It’s the farthest from Veil territory, isolated in the northern ranges. Defensible, in case any Veil angels decide to show up and cause trouble.”

Grace raised her hand like she was in school.

“Uh, quick question. What exactly is the Mountain’s deal? Like, the Root had plants, the Tide had water, the Flame had… anger management issues. What’s this one do?”

“Well, it is said Eternia gave the Mountain her feelings of stagnation,” Celestia explained. “Her stubbornness. Her resistance to change. Reports suggest entire villages frozen in time, people turned to stone mid-action.”

[Great. Another Pillar with an extremely vague path to success. Awesome.]

“I can take Diana,” Grace offered. “Maybe Petriel for healing—”

“No.” Celestia’s interruption was gentle but firm. “Diana stays here. After today’s incident, I need experienced fighters on guard. You’ll take Valkyrie.”

Grace internally groaned. Valkyrie, who’d barely acknowledged her existence during the Flame mission. Valkyrie, who looked at her like she was a bug on her shoe. Even if she kinda, sorta ended up respecting Grace, Grace would rather not deal with her.

“Fine. When do we leave?”

“Three days. Enough time to prepare and let things settle after…” Celestia gestured vaguely toward the plaza.

That was that.

The meeting dissolved pretty quickly afterwards. Seraph muttered about doubling patrol rotations. Mara floated off to check on angels injured in the scuffle. Venus just vanished, probably to go turn someone’s brain to mush with her tongue.

Which left Grace alone with Celestia.

“You okay?” Grace asked, surprising herself with the question.

Celestia turned, and for a second her mask slipped. She looked tired. Not physically, but the kind of tired that came from carrying too much for too long.

“I’m fine, Grace. Thank you for asking.”

“Bullshit.”

The word popped out before Grace could stop it. She immediately covered her mouth, but Celestia actually laughed.

“Perhaps you’re right.” The archangel moved to the window, gazing out at the plaza where maintenance angels were already at work. “Azrael and I have… history.”

Grace waited. Sometimes the best thing was to shut up and let people talk.

“You know she was Eternia’s lover, yes? Her greatest creation, her most passionate partner?”

Grace nodded.

[Kinda funny how Eternia basically created her own perfect girlfriend. Talk about wish fulfillment.]

“After Azrael left, after the schism…” Celestia’s wings drooped slightly. “I took that position. Eternia needed someone who understood her, who could share her burdens. For centuries, I was her closest companion.”

“And Azrael knows this,” Grace said, understanding dawning.

“She knows.” Celestia’s smile was sad. “We were never enemies, not truly. For the brief time we spent together with Eternia, we were just two angels who loved the same goddess in different ways. But then Azrael left.”

She didn’t finish. She didn’t need to.

“That’s rough,” Grace said, because what else could you say to ’hey I’m in a love triangle with God’?

“It will be fine.” Celestia straightened, the mask sliding back into place. “These are old wounds. You should rest, Grace. The Mountain won’t defeat itself.”

Grace recognized a dismissal when she heard one. She stood, hesitated, then impulsively hugged Celestia from behind. The archangel stiffened in surprise.

“Well… Just wanted to say, uh, thanks for being badass out there,” Grace mumbled into rainbow feathers. “Made me remember why you’re in charge, hehe.”

Before Celestia could respond, Grace fled.

Naturally.

—

The next morning found Grace in the training grounds, but not for combat practice. No, this was far more challenging.

“Higher!” Alia chirped from her perch on Grace’s shoulders, thighs squeezing around Grace’s head. “We need to build that stamina!”

Grace jogged around the track, trying very hard not to think about how Alia’s combat skirt kept riding up, or how every bounce pressed certain parts closer to her neck.

[This is training. Definitely training. Not at all sexual. Venus would be so proud of my self-control.]

“You’re slowing down,” Alia observed, grinding down slightly. Whether it was for balance or just to mess with Grace was anyone’s guess.

“Hard to… breathe… with you…” Grace wheezed.

“With me what?” Alia’s voice dripped innocence. “I hardly weigh anything.”

Grace looked off to the side.

“Nothing. Shutting up. Running now.”

Zephyr lounged on a bench nearby, ostensibly keeping time but mostly just enjoying the show.

“Two more laps! Really work those legs, Grace!”

[I’m going to die. Death by thigh-based strangulation. What a way to go.]

Just as Grace rounded the track’s final turn, legs burning and extremely aware of every shift of Alia’s weight, something popped up in front of her.

[QUEST RECEIVED: Relic Recovery – The Earthshaker Gauntlets]

Objective: Retrieve the divine relic from the Mountain’s domain

Reward: +15 Bravery, New Equipment

Note: You’re going there anyway, might as well multitask!

Grace stumbled to a stop, nearly sending Alia tumbling.

“Whoa! Warn a girl before—mmph!”

Grace had grabbed Alia’s legs to steady her. Alia nearly fell, spinning around, which resulted in a face full of Love Sister.

“Grace!” Alia giggled, not making any effort to adjust her position. Now, Grace’s front was to… “If you wanted a taste, you could’ve just asked!”

“Quest,” Grace mumbled against skin. “Got a quest. Relic. Mountain.”

Zephyr sauntered over.

“A what now?”

[Right.]

Grace gently lowered Alia from her shoulders, trying to ignore the pout she received.

“Uh, I… think there might be something I can get at the place we’re heading to.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” Zephyr noted.

“So I’ll head up there, deal with the Mountain, grab the stuff, save the day.” Grace pumped her fist with forced enthusiasm. “Easy!”

Alia studied her for a moment, then grabbed Grace’s collar and yanked her down.

“UWAH!?” Grace yelped as Alia crashed their lips together in a kiss that definitely wasn’t training-appropriate.

“Okay but first,” Alia said when they parted, Grace’s brain thoroughly scrambled, “you’re finishing what you started.”

“What I started? I didn’t—”

Alia pulled her down again, and this time Grace found herself on her back on the training ground floor. Alia straddled her waist, combat skirt riding up to reveal—

“A-Alia, we’re on the training grounds,” Grace squeaked. “Public. People watching.”

That was the main issue here. If Alia wanted to distract her for a bit, Grace, at this point, didn’t have much of a problem with it. It was the location that felt a bit stifling.

“So?” Alia ground down, making Grace’s thoughts scatter. “You think Bravery Sisters haven’t seen worse? Besides…” She leaned down, breath hot against Grace’s ear. “That just makes it hotter.”

Zephyr had produced a blanket from nowhere and was setting up like this was a picnic.

“Don’t mind me. Just enjoying the show.”

“Alia, I really should—oh fuck.”

Alia had started moving in earnest, and Grace’s protests died in her throat. Around them, a few passing angels glanced over with mild interest before continuing on. Just another day in the Dominion.

“That’s better,” Alia purred. “Now be a good girl and—”

“GRACE LIGHTSINGER!”

The voice boomed across the training grounds. Grace looked up to see Valkyrie standing there, silver hair practically bristling with indignation.

“We have mission prep in ten minutes,” Valkyrie said coldly. “Unless you’d prefer to explain to Archangel Celestia why you were late because you couldn’t keep your hands off a Love Sister?”

Alia didn’t budge.

“She’s not using her hands though. More like her—”

“ALIA.” Grace’s voice cracked. “Please. I need to go.”

“Fine.” Alia climbed off with obvious reluctance. “But you owe me. With interest.”

Grace scrambled to her feet, face burning, extremely aware that her workout clothes were now very disheveled. Valkyrie’s expression could’ve frozen hell.

“I’ll just… go clean up,” Grace mumbled.

“You do that.” Valkyrie turned on her heel. “Training room three. Don’t be late.”

As she stalked off, Zephyr wandered over with a towel.

“She’s fun.”

“She hates me.” Grace accepted the towel gratefully. “This mission is going to suck.”

“Probably,” Alia agreed cheerfully. “But hey, at least you’ll have all that sexual frustration to work out on some rock monsters!”

[Why are all my friends like this?]

Regardless, Grace dusted herself off.

She did need to prep carefully for this.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep