Azra-El Series Arc 2 Ch. 00

It made her wish that she could one day make others feel the same towards her. She did not particularly care about the revelation that Blaze was a princess, but she was happy that it allowed her to keep the Quetzal.

Finally, after watching Elyssa's match, Arethusa was finally ready to head back home, glad and nostalgic over everything that she had witnessed during her journey. She was preparing to leave D'Warka, when she heard about Elyssa and Blaze's kidnapping.

Worried and curious about the fate of her favorite angel, she delayed leaving D'Warka. Even when she heard about their safe return, she stayed, in the hope of hearing about her endeavor from her own mouth.

So, on the day when Blaze addressed the crowd of angels in front of Anastasia Marigold's estate, Arethusa was present in the audience. Her words on that day proved to be a life-changing experience that would affect the fates of many mers, all over Azra-El.

Arethusa had always been proud of her ideals. However, when she heard Blaze, an angel, claim the undine of D'Warka to be her people, it shook her. When she said that she would come to offer a hand to anyone regardless of their race, as long as they needed it, it almost brought her to tears.

She decided that her thinking had been too narrow. This angel, who was almost half her age, thought on a scale far wider than she did. During her travels, she had not just witnessed the suffering of the mers, but of many others. However, she had never considered it her responsibility to help everyone. Blaze's words changed that. Why can't I strive to ease the suffering of all?

Thus, on that day, Arethusa's feelings for Blaze changed from fondness to deep respect. Her goal changed from uniting all the mers of Azra-El to uniting all the sentients of Azra-El, so that they could all live in harmony. For that to happen, she felt that she should first try to change her brethren from being isolationists to accepting everyone, regardless of their race.

Thus, she left D'Warka with a changed worldview, and a brand new mission.

oOo

LE 636, Bianca. Grey Mother Mansion, Cockaigne.

"Your assignment over the next month is to learn and understand astrology," the Grey Mother said to Astrid, in her unnervingly dulcet voice.

Her voice, which would've been sweet on any angel, was somewhat discordant to hear from her lips.

Astrid had accompanied and been taught by the Grey Mother for the past five months. Contrary to her fears, her "education" had consisted of nothing out of the ordinary. There was no torturous training, no overt test of her ideals and morality, no assassinations, or anything else that could be deemed extreme or immoral. The Grey Mother only imparted her perspective of how the world worked, and Astrid found herself having trouble in contradicting her views, especially when faced with the "evidence" that was often presented along with the explanations.

Currently, the two angels were in the Grey Mother's dusty and musty study. The Grey Mother sat behind her walnut desk, on her intricately carved, yet uncomfortable, chair. Astrid sat on the only clean sofa in the room; clean because the Grey Mother had allowed her to clean it for her personal use. Astrid had once attempted to clean the entire place, but the Grey Mother stopped her.

"I like it the way it is," she had said, "It is a constant reminder of my effect on this room. If you clean it, how will I know?"

"Astrology? Not astronomy?" Astrid asked.

"Yes."

"But why? I do not believe in such things. If the future can be foretold, what is the p-"

"Neither do I, obviously," the Grey Mother cut her off. "However, do you know how many angels believe in such things?"

"Most of the poorly educated, I would believe. But is that relevant?"

"You would be surprised how many well-educated angels believe in such things, at least subconsciously," she replied, browsing through an official-looking piece of parchment, marked with the insignia of the Caledonian crown.

"Really?" Astrid asked in disbelief. She only knew of one angel that believed in astrology, and as an extremely social person, Astrid knew many angels.

"Yes. You must really get to know angels below your station, Ms. Marigold. Do not let my tendency to not leave my manor fool you. I am quite aware of what goes on outside my walls.

"Regardless, I think the reason many believe in astrology is because most are not exactly aware of what the scientific process is. Even if they are, they tend to forget, if they do not use it regularly. So, when they see that astrology uses things like planets, angles, and degrees, and makes logical deductions based on their alignments and such, they mistake it for science," she said, a sliver of irritation sprouting on her usually stoic face.

If there was one thing that annoyed the Grey Mother, it was the "foolishness" of people. However, she was always supportive of asking questions, even if they were stupid.

"I do not understand," Astrid said.

"But it is not science. Not if their assumptions are wrong and if they have no real predictive value. However, astrologers think they have predictive value, because their set of equations and propositions are so convoluted, that they can predict almost anything. So, when they see a correlation with something that has already happened, they believe their science to be true."

"That makes sense. Correlation is not causation," Astrid nodded. "But I still do not see why I need to learn it."

"So, you can understand what methods you can use to make people believe in your logic."

"Is that not just deception?"

"Not if you are making them believe in the right things, using logic that they understand. If they are going to make bad decisions using bad logic, why not guide them into making the right decisions using the same logic?"

Astrid once again found herself facing moral disorientation, something that had been the highlight of her stay with the Grey Mother. Nothing she taught her could be described as inherently evil, though Astrid intuitively recognized that it was bad. However, she could not dismiss the practicality of the Grey Mother's ideas. Thus, she was glad that her time with the Grey Mother would end in a month, and she would get to go back and discuss the issues with her mother, before she needed to return to the mansion in another six months.

oOo

LE 637, 10th Liber

Blaze watched his workers toil away at the sewing machines, from the scaffolding on the second floor. Beside him, stood Medina and Azalea. It was a tense day for them all, for the next day would be the true beginning of a venture that they had poured all their resources into: Blaze— his name, wealth, and power; Agatha and Medina— their entire time and wealth; and Azalea— the hopes and trust of her people.

Moreover, it was not just their own wealth on the line. The merchant guilds of Aranya and Xian, and many other angels, had invested in their company, partly because of Blaze's position as a prince of Xian, and partly because they felt that his fame gave the venture a high chance of success.

"The Practical Fury", the mass-producing arm of The Blazing Fury Co. was about to launch for the first time in six different countries: The Caledonian Empire, Aranya, Xian, Anjalhebo, Lanoan, and Vaikunheim. Six stores were to be opened in six large cities of each nation, and a few more in other cities of Aranya and Xian.

Large shipments of a variety of clothing designs in ten different sizes, four for adults and six for those aged below a hundred, had already reached every TPF store, and there was very little Blaze, Medina, or Azalea could do at the moment. They were simply waiting for the grand opening at Caledonia's TPF, where Blaze was going to open, while the Aranyan Princess, CG, and Ragna were helping him open in their own respective countries.

The three angels in the factory were only there because they were a little restless before the big day. They had stretched their resources a little too thin in production and advertising, and for their venture to stay alive, they had to keep selling and not stop producing. Hence, the workers had to keep working, though Blaze had given them the next day off to celebrate.

"I think it is time we picked some workers to perform managerial tasks," Blaze said, watching over the two-hundred-odd workers in the factory. There were three more TPF factories in D'Warka, which had become the center of production for TPF. The workers were mostly merangels, but there were a few angels too, who had been a little destitute, before being picked up by Azalea.

The past couple of years, they had mostly focused on training the workers by hiring temporary teaching and managerial staff. However, now that the enterprise was about to kick-off, Blaze felt that the managers should come from within the workers. The merangels already had a sort of camaraderie amongst themselves, and Azalea had worked hard to make them as invested in the venture as they were.

Blaze understood that it may be more profitable to hire people with actual experience and without any attachment to the workers, but his main goal was not to make money. Besides, his idea was currently a monopoly, so he wasn't too worried about cutting costs. Moreover, at their quality, TPF's clothing was already the cheapest available on the market.

"I have already compiled a few names. They are all nice people and well-liked, and the workers won't mind following their orders," Azalea said, pulling out a notebook from her space-ring. Over the course of the past two years, Blaze had come to realize that Azalea was always thinking ahead. She also had a knack for numbers, though her organizational skills needed improvement.

"We can categorize our workers into three types," Medina spoke, before Blaze could praise Az. "First, are the ones who are happy to simply work away and earn a decent wage, without putting much thought into what they are doing.

"Second, are the ones who like to be seen as busy and are only working because they want to appear useful.

"Third, are the ones who want to be seen as busy because they crave recognition and want more. These are the ones we should make managers, though I believe some of the names will match Miss Azalea's list."

Blaze did not miss the little frown that sprouted on Az's face. She had complained to him once that Medina viewed everything in a very unsympathetic manner. Blaze understood Medina's viewpoint, and had tried to convince Azalea that Medina was just a practical businesswoman.

"I think we should have a healthy mixture of both. Nice and caring angels who wish to support one another, and angels whose main goal is to improve their own standard in life."

Az gave a hesitant nod, while Medina smiled, as if that had been her plan all along. Medina scared Blaze, a little, but in the end, he was happy that she was there with them. He knew that neither he nor Azalea had the traits necessary to be CEOs. The plan had always been that Azalea would lead the workers, Agatha and Medina would manage the company, and he would drive it.

oOo

LE 638, 15th Bianca

Aahna Maitreya sat behind the desk in her study, half-reading the papers in front of her, and half-reflecting over how far they had come in the last three years.

Her mind went back to the day she had suggested that Blaze should form a group of her own, and had playfully coerced Bi into drawing their insignia, an angel flying on a pale-blue Quetzal, surrounded by an orange sphere of raging fire.

It had been a playful suggestion, and Aahna would've never dreamt that it would lead to what the Blazing Furies had become. Even when Blaze had formed her secretive inner group, after the tournament, she had not considered it to be much more than the whimsy of an over-enthusiastic princess.

However, within a year, Blaze had shown her, through her actions, the depth of her vision. Though there were times when she felt that Blaze's ideas were too far-reaching and naive, she couldn't deny the ingenuity and novelty of some of the things she came up with, and eventually managed to accomplish.

The success of the TPF stores alone was enough to convince Aahna and her mother that Blaze might actually achieve what she wished to do— make a society on par with the other primary societies, yet completely different from them. Within a month of opening the TPF, it seemed that the income that would flow through it would be more than enough to make the Blazing Furies entirely independent, which, to Aahna and Tara, was the most important factor in sustaining their organization.

However, procuring wealth and income was not the only thing they had accomplished. A few months after the tournament, Blaze had invited her friends from Tir— Ahna, Bi, Rachel, and Kida— to accompany her to Vaikunheim.

It was supposed to be a diplomatic trip as a princess of Xian, and outreach as the Righteous Fury and the First Angelic-Quetzal Rider (FAQR). They had even taken Sky with them and showed him off to flocking crowds.

Yet, the primary purpose for the trip became apparent when Blaze began to visit the local academies. While she toured the campuses, the rest of her friends were asked to go around and invite young students to join the Blazing Furies. With both Blaze and Sky present in-person, it was hard for the excited young angels to not join the group. Moreover, since it was only supposed to be a "fun" student organization, not many thought twice before joining.

Even Aahna had failed to see the point of making them join, without an ideal or an apparent purpose behind the group. She had asked Blaze the same.

"In-group versus out-group," Blaze had said cryptically, before elaborating. "People are more inclined to accept your ideas and go along with something you say or ask them to do, if they consider themselves as a part of the group. Let's say a Malakim meets two strangers, one of whom is a Malakim, and the other is from some other society. Who is she more likely to trust?"

"I guess that makes sense, but is it necessary to do it this way? Can we not invite people after we have concrete goals set for our group? Those angels will be more likely to support you whole-heartedly," Aahna asked.

"That may be so, but this way has its own benefits. You will see soon enough. Besides, our goal is not just to bring in those who already think like us and share our values."

The benefits of Blaze's recruitment method became apparent when the TPF stores opened. Even the snobbiest of the Blazing Furies, who would never bat an eye at such cheap clothing, bought a set from the stores, just to show off their membership.

After the outreach, Blaze had stayed back at Vaikunheim for a training session with Freja Nerthusdottir, mother of Fulla Frejadottir, but she had asked her friends to continue recruiting whenever and wherever they could.

Since then, Blaze had made similar trips to Xian, Aranya, Anjalhebo, Caledonia, and Lanoan, and always took her friends with him to help him out with her schemes. They went along readily enough, not only because they wished to help her out, but because of the benefits of traveling with a princess. Now that the TPF stores were finally open and the business was booming, Blaze planned to widen her outreach. In fact, they were scheduled to travel to Zara'ard, later that year.

Smiling, Aahna tried to go back to the task at hand, but her eyes fell on the small booklet on her desk. It was the very first edition of "The Inquisitive Ivka", a monthly journal, written and published by Clio Elen Mousa, and currently wholly financed by Blaze. It was mostly geared towards young angels, discussing a wide range of issues in an educational manner.

It also featured a couple of accomplishments of young angels in recent times. One was about an ivka who had solved a previously unsolved mathematical problem in Energy Physics, while the other was about a young nereid princess, who was fighting for the rights of sirens in the refugee camps of the Sea Nymph Isles.

There was also an article about "Unnaturals", talking about how they were an essential feature of evolution, and how some of them may even be better equipped for certain tasks. This article had been a source of contention between Blaze and Clio, and Aahna only came to know about it because she happened to drop by towards the end of that conversation. Ultimately, Clio had been able to get her way and publish the article.

The journal contained nothing about Blaze or their organization, and Blaze had insisted that it remain that way, unless absolutely necessary, but Aahna could easily see its potential.

Aahna finally shook her head and picked up a sheet from the pile of papers in front of her. They contained various pieces of logistical information regarding their ever-growing society, currently with more than three thousand members all around the Heavenly Union. It was a small number compared to the population of the nations that they were present in, but Aahna was sure that they would keep growing exponentially in the coming years.

Since she had finally come to terms with her role as the Chief Financial Officer/manager of the Blazing Furies, Aahna was now faced with the task of bringing much-needed structure to the chaotic mess that Blaze had created for himself. She planned to take her mother's help in the task, as she was still young and inexperienced, but she wished to take a gander at it on her own.

However, before she could begin reading, there was a knock on her door.

***

Priscilla Ainsworth was conflicted as she stood in front of the Blazing Furies' HQ at Cali. It was located at the Maitreya Mansion and was managed by Aahna Maitreya, an angel half her age.

The Blazing Furies "society" was growing at a rapid pace. Princess Fenghuang Shandgi, a.k.a. Blaze Er Lokra's fame had skyrocketed after her performance at D'Warka, and since then, she had continued to garner more attention. Flocks of young angels, not only from Tir and Aranya, but also from the neighboring countries, had been joining the society, and the opening and success of TPF had only spurred more to do the same.

A fortnight ago, Priscilla had been summoned by Cardinal Tudor. She had wanted Priscilla to join the BF society as a spy, offering her an unofficial reinstatement as the Houri of the Malakim, which would be made official if she managed to extract any vital information.

Subsequently, Priscilla found herself at Aahna's doorstep. However, she was very conflicted. Though she had always supported the "grey" aspect of the Malakim, she had viewed herself as belonging to the "light" side.

Though she started out absolutely despising the Fury, the boisterous yet well-meaning angel had grown on her a little. The memory of Blaze picking her up and carrying her away from the nefarious apparition, despite being as terrified of it as she had been, repeatedly played in her mind. Therein lay the conundrum.

How could she willingly deceive and betray such a kind-hearted angel, even if said angel was misguided? She was fine with deceiving Blaze as a known enemy, but she did not wish to pretend to be her friend and then betray her. That was unangelic.

In addition, at D'Warka, though she was inclined to believe that Blaze had come to support her as a joke, she had appreciated the sentiment. And, during that fateful match against Nikolett Lovag, she had found herself secretly supporting Blaze.

Thus, with such a moral crisis plaguing her heart, Priscilla hesitantly rapped the large bronze knocker, styled after a cerafent's head, attached to the arched and polished teakwood doors. Soon, a middle-aged angel in butler attire opened the doors.