The Rebellious Redeemer

Out of all the angels of her flight, it was Regna who by far felt the closest bond to the ethos of the plane of Kylem. There was nothing more that Regna loved than to dabble in martial magics; there were very little hours in a day that one could not find the angel training her divine powers with one of her few like-minded sisters. Though many in the flight frowned upon this – believing that feeling the same adoration for competition and battle as the mortals of the plane made them lesser beings. However, none dared to stop Regna from halting her passion, mainly because she was a favourite of their leader, Lucariel.

It was on a stormy day that when one turned their eyes to the sky, they could potentially witness the duel between two angels. The sound of thunder rolling and the odd lightning flash did not cover the noise that was created as divine blade clashed with divine blade, the darkened sky alight with silver-blue light and yellow-golden arcs that turned into white birds. Such was the passion of Regna and her closest friend Araela that not even a storm could stand in the way of their training.

Araela's two handed sword clashed against Regna's shield as the latter parried yet another of the former's attacks. Regna chuckled.

"Come on, Araela! There is no way that the crowd would have given you any style points for that attack," Regna taunted lightly as she deftly dodged another of her friend's attacks.

"I would like to see any of those flightless mortals try to hit you mid-air, Madam Four-Wings," Araela shot back, mock-scowling at her sparring partner. "I have said it more than one million times, but I will say it again – it just isn't fair you're one of the few with four wings and the rest of us were created with two!"

Regna shrugged nonchalantly, grinning mischievously. "I was made with four wings; you with hair more fiery than the Sun. It's just the way it is, my friend."

"Indeed. I am stuck with being the future of our flight, while you get to frolic and battle to your heart's content until the time comes you are called upon to be someone's Redeemer," Araela huffed as they circled one another.

"If you really do not want the duty, I am pretty sure that Casta or Haiyan would love to take over," Regna smirked.

Once more, two-handed blade met scimitar, sending more magic flying into the sky. "You have promptly reminded me why I can never give up my duty!" Araela shouted over the din caused by the new lightning bolts being spat from the sky. "Like I would ever allow those two to ever attain the helm of our flight. They would ruin us in less than a week!"

Regna laughed heartily. Seeing an opening in her friend's defences, she conjured strands of light and sent them flying towards Araela's wings. Araela's eyes widened as she was forced to make several evasive manoeuvres in order to escape the bonds that were honing in dangerously close to her wings. She tried to cut into the bonds with slashes of light magic, but they kept reforming like the heads of Hydras.

She and Regna had seen one once, used during a competition at Valor's Reach, the pinnacle of martial entertainment on Kylem, and both angels had been in sheer awe at the terrifying power of the creatures.

"Then I suggest you resign to your fate!" Regna taunted. "Much like now!"

"I do not so easily yield to anyone, as you know!" Araela shouted.

The angel turned and headed straight back towards her sparring partner, still pursued by the bonds Regna had conjured. Regna's eyes widened when she realised what Araela was up to and promptly began flying in several different confusing directions in an attempt to shake off her friend and her own bonds, who were in hot pursuit of them both. Araela tried to stay as close to Regna as she could in order to try and trick the bonds into targeting their creator.

Eventually, the bonds did catch up – to both of them. The chains of light wrapped themselves around Regna's legs and the other bonds managed to capture one of Araela's wings and her leg, forcing the pair to land momentarily on the top of a nearby mountain in order to untangle themselves.

"Slightly dirty trick there, Regna," Araela commented.

"Hey, it could work when it comes to restraining beasts," Regna grinned lopsidedly. "Flying opponents – maybe not. I had to try it out."

Araela rolled her eyes, shaking her head at her friend. The angel sobered a little. "You really want to go to Valor's Reach, don't you?"

"Don't you?" Regna countered easily, her blue eyes blazing with righteous fire. "Valor's Reach is the aim for any self-respecting martial magician. It is where the best of the best come to meet on the arena. You once said it should be us on that arena. Araela and Regna – the Battle-Angels of Kylem! Don't you still want that?"

"More than you know," Araela answered demurely. "But Lucariel and the others … they will never let me. You know this. It was just a stupid dream."

"Well, it may be a stupid dream to you," Regna's eyes continued to blaze. "But I will get there. I want to be part of the spectacle instead of watching from the stands. One way or the other, I will be the one down in the arena."

"How? Remember, these are doubles battles," Araela reminded her. "You need a partner, and I doubt that any of the others will be allowed to join you either."

"Then the answer is simple: I will simply need to find one," Regna stated with determination, a small smile carving its way on her countenance.

"Well, I wish you luck with that," Araela countered grimly. "Because the competition is less than a week away."

"That gives me more than enough time," Regna reassured. "Especially if I leave tonight."

Little that the angels knew, they had an eavesdropper who reported everything she had heard to the leader of their flight. Lucariel was the first angel created for their flight – she had an impressive six wings, skin as dark as obsidian and eyes that rarely held any anger or malice for anyone. She also stood at an impressive six foot and was also one of the best in combat magics in their flight, which was why she had a soft spot for Regna.

However, that soft-spot took a bit of a backseat when it came to the matter of Regna threatening to leave without so much as saying goodbye. Later that day, the rebellious Redeemer was summoned to see Lucariel and her second-in-command, the angel Zareal. Lucariel's second-in-command was an angel with short black hair, striking green eyes and was by far the fastest flier in the flight. Zareal had been Regna's mentor for a good number of years, hoping that she would one day take over Zareal's duties.

But Regna's destiny seemed to lie somewhere else.

Both angels were awaiting Regna's presence in the Council Chamber of the grand castle that belonged to their flight. As for the summonee, she already had an inkling as to why she had been called to see her elders; her electric blue eyes already held a look of defiance that Lucariel and Zareal were accustomed to see.

"I heard you had a good day's training again, Regna," Zareal commented lightly.

"It was the perfect weather condition. It would be a shame to waste it," Regna replied readily.

"Indeed. And while we are all glad that you are taking your martial prowess as seriously as ever, we are a … little concerned about something that has been told to us," Lucariel informed silkily.

Regna's brow furrowed. "Concerned? About what?"

"Your desire to compete in the up and coming doubles battles at Valor's Reach," Zareal responded bluntly, making Lucariel grimace a little. She had wanted to bring the topic a little bit more gently.

"What about it?" Regna's arms folded.

Lucariel turned to her, looking quite regretful. "Your martial knowledge is well-known and well-proven. There is no need for you to travel to Valor's Reach, when everyone-"

"Not everyone knows," Regna cut across lightly. "The flight knows. That is not everyone!"

"Regna, you trounced every competitor at the local arenas!" Zareal huffed. "You came first at the Annual Martial Spectacle at the Ruvel and Yvena Stadium-"

"The Ruvel and Yvena barely get five thousand spectators in!" Regna countered, her eyes flashing. "I can consider myself lucky if I reach Valor's Reach that someone at least recognises my name!"

"Is that what you hope to achieve there? Fame and glory?" Lucariel frowned a little. "Regna, may I remind you that you are an angel? Your first priority is not to selfish ends; it is to serve your flight as best as you can, and to be the best Redeemer you can be."

Regna could feel her blood begin to boil but she kept her countenance composed. "Have you ever considered for one single moment that I can't serve the flight to the best of my ability right now because I am not the best version of myself yet?" she demanded. "How can I ever hope to be a decent Redeemer if I don't have the strength to fight their sins, however many there are?"

Lucariel and Zareal blinked for a moment and then exchanged a look. Regna wasn't finished. "I am not going to fly around, waiting for someone to call to us to help them. I am not going to waste my time when I know another way that I can be useful. I know that I have frustrated everyone around me, but I can't help it! I feel the passion of the land and people when it comes to combat and magic, and I like it. I want to be a full part of it." She grinned. "Besides, if people see the power of what a Redeemer can do, don't you think more would turn to us for help?"

There was a moment of contemplative silence as Lucariel and Zareal seemed to consider her words very carefully. Lucariel paced back and forth while Zareal spent her time gazing over the heavens, as though it would give her the answer to her conundrum. Eventually Lucariel halted and turned to Regna.

"Very well. You may go to Valor's Reach," she stated, causing Regna to light up. Zareal's eyes widened a little. "But Araela is not allowed to join you, nor any other member of this flight. If you do this, you will have to find yourself a different partner amongst the mortals."

"Don't worry, I will," Regna answered jovially. She then leapt forth and tackled her chief into a warm hug. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

Lucariel laughed heartily while Zareal rolled her eyes and pinched her nose. Regna let go of the chief and zoomed out of the Council Chamber shouting, "VALOR'S REACH, HERE I COME!" as she did so.

Lucariel chuckled; Zareal still remained rather solemn, even after the doors slammed shut. "Do you really think it is wise to send Regna out there on her own?" she wanted to know. "I have always been surprised that she was not born from red mana during her Making – she can be impetuous-"

"Regna needs more than we can give her right now. And she is right: she can not do her best for the flight when she isn't at her best," Lucariel answered calmly. "Her destiny lies at Valor's Reach; plus, we can always pop in now and again to check on her."

Zareal nodded in agreement.

Regna packed her weapons happily that evening, singing tunes that she had heard the mortals sing as she did so. She took the skies just as the Sun was beginning to set, Araela and several members of her flight watching her leave in contemplative silence.

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For those of you who are unaware, Krav and Regna are characters from the Magic: the Gathering set Battlebond. I spent ages trying to find some lore surrounding their unique relationship – as lovers – but there is barely anything extant, apart from odd flavour text on spell cards. So I decided to write the story of my favourite forbidden lovers; I even have a theme deck around these two called Forbidden Love, which is a deck with angels and demons paired in couples and triads.

The world and characters thus belong to Wizards of the Coast, and Hasbro. I am just having fun here.

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