Chapter 48: Vol. 1 Epilogue

As usual, the Angelic Dominion had a different feel in the early morning.

Grace wandered the empty halls, her footsteps echoing softly against the marble floors. No one was around at this hour – no Love Sisters trying to kiss her, no Bravery Sisters challenging her to sparring matches, no fans asking for details about how she killed a Primal Demon.

Just peace. Just quiet.

She needed this. A moment to breathe, to think.

The events of the past few weeks whirled through her mind like leaves caught in a storm. Dying. Becoming an angel. Learning she could permanently kill demons. The Saintess System. Oakridge Village. The Primal Demon.

It was too much, too fast.

Grace paused at a large window overlooking the clouds below. Somewhere down there was the mortal realm – Linaria. Full of people living their lives, unaware that their fate apparently rested on the shoulders of a former turnip farmer who couldn’t even figure out proper irrigation systems.

[Why me?]

The question had plagued her since her conversation with Eternia. Why create Grace specifically for this task? Why not someone stronger, smarter, more qualified?

She sighed, leaning her forehead against the cool glass. The pinks and golds of dawn were just beginning to streak across the sky.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she whispered to no one.

But maybe that was the point. Celestia had said something similar – how those who sought power were often the least suited to wield it. Grace certainly hadn’t sought this.

Yet here she was. The only angel who could permanently kill demons. Eternia’s chosen one. The hope of the Angelic Dominion.

[No pressure or anything.]

Grace pushed away from the window and continued her aimless walk. She wanted to help, of course she did. Seeing what happened to Oakridge, to those corrupted villagers – she didn’t want that fate for anyone else.

But the weight of it all…

Her wandering brought her to the Arena – a large, open space where Bravery Sisters typically trained. At this hour, she expected it to be empty.

It wasn’t.

A wooden sword smacked against her chest, nearly knocking the wind out of her.

“Oof!” Grace stumbled backward, clutching the weapon that had been tossed at her. “What the—”

“Finally decided to show up, huh?”

Diana stood in the center of the Arena, her wings folded neatly against her back. She held a wooden sword of her own, twirling it casually between her fingers. And she was… well…

“Can’t you put a shirt on or something!?” Grace squeaked, her face immediately burning.

Diana glanced down at her bare torso as if just noticing it. Her breasts were fully exposed, gleaming with sweat under the early morning light. The only thing she wore above her waist was a necklace with a small golden pendant.

“Why? Does it bother you?” Diana smirked, clearly enjoying Grace’s discomfort.

“N-no! I mean, yes! I mean…” Grace fumbled for words, trying to look anywhere but at Diana’s chest and failing miserably.

“Calm down, farm girl. It’s just training. We all have the same parts.” Diana raised her wooden sword. “Now, show me your stance.”

Grace blinked.

“Wait, what? Training? Now?”

“Yes, now. Celestia wants me to step up your combat instruction after what happened at Oakridge.” Diana gestured impatiently with her sword. “Stance. Now.”

“But I was just taking a walk! I wasn’t prepared for—”

“Demons won’t politely wait until you’re prepared,” Diana interrupted. “Now show me your damn stance before I knock you on your ass.”

Grace sighed and raised her wooden sword, positioning her feet the way Seraph had taught her.

“Wider,” Diana instructed. “And lower. You’re too rigid.”

Grace adjusted, feeling slightly ridiculous.

“Like this?”

“Better.” Diana began circling her slowly. “Your grip is still wrong. Hold it like you mean it, not like it’s going to bite you.”

Grace tightened her fingers around the wooden hilt, trying to mimic the confidence Diana radiated even half-naked. Or maybe especially half-naked.

Without warning, Diana lunged, her wooden sword arcing toward Grace’s head. Grace yelped and raised her own weapon, barely blocking the strike. The impact jarred her arms, nearly making her drop the sword.

“Too slow,” Diana said. “Again.”

She attacked once more, this time aiming lower. Grace parried, stepping to the side as Diana had taught her weeks ago. The taller angel nodded in approval.

“Good. You remembered something at least.”

For the next several minutes, they moved around the Arena in a dance of strikes, blocks, and counter-attacks. Grace missed more than she blocked, and landed exactly zero hits on Diana, but with each exchange, she felt herself falling into a rhythm.

Her earlier thoughts – the doubts, the questions, the weight of responsibility – faded to the background. There was only the next move, the next block, the next attempt to land a hit on her frustratingly quick opponent.

“You’re thinking too much,” Diana said, easily sidestepping Grace’s clumsy thrust. “Stop trying to anticipate three moves ahead. Focus on now.”

“Easy for you to say,” Grace panted. “You’ve been doing this for centuries!”

“And yet a certain farm girl managed to kill a Primal Demon on her first try.” Diana lunged again, this time sweeping Grace’s legs out from under her.

Grace landed hard on her back, the wooden sword clattering beside her. She lay there, staring up at the ceiling, trying to catch her breath.

Diana’s face appeared above her, that familiar smirk in place.

“You know what your problem is?”

“I have many problems,” Grace groaned. “Please, enlighten me about which one you’re referring to.”

“You’re so busy worrying about whether you’re good enough that you forget to just act.” Diana extended a hand to help her up. “The universe doesn’t care if you feel ready, Grace. It only cares what you do when the moment comes.”

Grace took the offered hand, allowing Diana to pull her to her feet.

“That’s… surprisingly profound coming from you.”

“Fuck you.” Diana picked up Grace’s fallen sword and tossed it back to her. “Now, again. And this time, stop thinking about saving the world and just focus on trying to hit me.”

Grace raised her sword, adjusting her stance without being told. Maybe Diana was right. Maybe she was overthinking everything. Whatever was coming – whatever Eternia had prepared her for – worrying about it wouldn’t change anything.

All she could do was try her best, one moment at a time.

“Ready?” Diana asked, raising her sword.

Grace nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.

“Ready.”

And for once, she actually meant it.

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