A long silence fell after Huriel's words.
Not an ordinary silence…
A heavy one, almost tangible.
The Seraphim exchanged glances.
The Thrones remained motionless.
The Cherubim were visibly tense about what was to come.
Sera, always standing tall, observed Huriel and Mikhael with an unreadable expression.
Her aura, usually sharp and severe, softened slightly.
After several long seconds, she drew a breath.
Her wings unfolded just a little.
Sera:
"Your words are not empty. I have listened to them, and…"
She turned her head slightly toward the assemblies:
"Huriel, Mikhael…
You have indeed faltered.
Yes.
You abandoned your duties, cast the Heavens into uncertainty… and you contributed, though unintentionally, to the existence of beings far too powerful for humankind."
The angels concerned lowered their heads.
But then…
Sera's eyes softened.
Sera:
"Yet…
your love was neither corruption
nor rebellion.
It did not give birth to evil within you.
You have shown us that the case of Lucifer and Lilith was not an isolated phenomenon…
and that angels can fall in love."
A murmur rippled across the gathered angels.
Sera:
"And I am forced to admit… that I myself have forgotten what the Father once taught us."
She lowered her gaze slightly—a gesture almost unthinkable for her.
Sera:
"To understand humanity.
Not by judging them from above…
but by seeing what is most extraordinary within them:
their ability to change,
to grow,
to become better."
Then, in a firm voice:
Sera:
"Therefore… your sanctions shall be minimal.
You will return to your duties.
But you will be assigned a mission:
to repair what you yourselves have set into motion—after determining how it must be done."
Sera:
"Take your seats. The council is not yet over."
Uriel and Mikhael, who stood in the center of the assembly, returned to their respective seats.
Sera:
"Gabriel."
Gabriel:
"The next part of the council will address the following question: How can we lessen the corruption on Earth, which has been amplified by the Nephilim?
Each Choir is asked to consult among themselves, and then a representative will present their proposal."
The various Choirs debated intensely among themselves until the moment came to present their suggestions.
The Dominions were the first to send their representative.
Domiel proposed a military solution:
Domiel:
"We must reclaim the Earth by force.
Deploy our legions,
strike down the violent Nephilim,
restore order through discipline."
A Power, Uriham, intervened immediately:
Uriham:
"If we reveal ourselves too openly,
humans will mistake us for gods.
We will become idols,
and only worsen the sin of idolatry.
And even if every Nephilim is slain, humans themselves—their kingdoms and their armies—will continue committing evil."
Next came the Virtues.
Hamaliel spoke gently:
Hamaliel:
"Let us attempt redemption.
Offer the wayward Nephilim a path to repentance,
a chance to turn from sin.
Not all of them are lost."
A Cherub, Zophiel, intervened:
Zophiel:
"Redemption is a choice.
And many have already chosen evil—
despite being born into abundance.
Their power drives them endlessly toward domination.
Words alone will not be enough."
The Virtues lowered their heads.
Then it was the turn of the Powers.
Velram struck his breastplate:
Velram:
"Then strip them of their gifts!
We can remove the heavenly power from the Nephilim—
make them human.
Without their strength, they will be nothing but tales,
and perhaps they will grow gentler."
A Throne immediately objected.
Rhashiel:
"Heaven's gift cannot be torn away without breaking the soul itself.
In trying to save them,
you would destroy them."
Next came the Archangels.
Farniel:
"We could send a messenger.
Warn humanity.
Offer them a choice:
to turn away from violence."
A Dominion rebuked sharply:
Domiel:
"We have already sent signs.
They did not listen.
Even our miracles are ignored or twisted."
Farniel stepped back, defeated.
The council continued in this manner until all proposals were exhausted.
Hamiel:
"Recap of the propositions:
Nine proposals.
Nine counterarguments.
All rejected."
Silence filled the chamber.
Finally, Sera rose.
Sera:
"Partial solutions will fail.
The corruption has surpassed all limits.
The Earth must be cleansed.
Purified.
Reset.
Thus, I declare that the entirety of living beings shall be slain."
Gabriel:
"SERA! What are you saying?!"
All angelic entities recoiled in horror.
Such an act would be a grave disrespect to God Himself—
destroying His creation,
and admitting total failure of their celestial mission.
Sera:
"You did not let me finish.
The entirety of living beings will die…
well—let us say ninety-nine percent.
The remainder shall consist of selected animals…
and one man upon the Earth.
One man with his family.
From him—and them—humanity will be reborn.
To destroy the remaining ninety-nine percent,
we will unleash a Flood that will submerge all…
and its destructive force shall even slay the creatures of the deep."
The assembly calmed after her explanation.
But the angels who had joined with humans still bore a deep worry.
Sera saw it in their faces.
She looked directly at Mikhael, Huriel, and the others concerned.
Sera:
"You will descend to Earth before the waters rise.
You will take with you your human wives or husbands…
and your children who are righteous."
Huriel felt warmth blossom in his chest.
Mikhael finally breathed again.
But then Sera's voice hardened:
Sera:
"But the violent Nephilim…
those who sowed death…
will perish beneath the waters.
Their era ends now."
Sera:
"Now… let us find the man who will restart the world from nothing."
She extended her power, and her vision spread toward the Earth, projected for all the assembly to see.
The constellations shifted, revealing a clearing on Earth.
Amid corruption, a man was building a wooden enclosure to protect his family.
His hands trembled at times, but he kept working.
He was upright, faithful, incapable of corruption despite the chaos around him.
Noah.
A man without title.
Without power.
But without compromise.
They saw his actions, his heart, his unwavering will to do good—
and many in the assembly were moved.
A Seraph spoke:
"It is him. The one who does not refuse to listen."
Another angel said:
"He does not deserve death."
A Dominion confirmed:
"From his lineage, a renewed people can arise."
The nine Choirs were unanimous.
They opened a passage between Heaven and Earth.
Light descended upon Noah.
He fell to his knees, thinking he would be struck down,
but the voice did not crush him—
it wrapped around him.
It was Gabriel:
> "Noah, son of Lamech.
I am the angel of the ETERNAL.
The Earth is filled with violence and bloodshed.
Its cry has reached the threshold of Heaven.
We have decreed that this world shall be washed clean.
But you… you have been chosen.
Build an ark.
Gather your sons, your wife, any member of your family who is worthy,
and a pair of every living creature.
When the gates of Heaven open,
water will fall without measure.
You will walk upon a dying world—
but you will emerge upon a new one.
You will be the witness of judgment,
and the father of a future that does not yet exist."
Trembling, Noah answered simply:
> "I will obey you…
O angel of the ETERNAL."
---
On Earth
In the days before the catastrophe, Noah worked tirelessly on the Ark.
His family helped him, but no one else believed.
The town below mocked him.
Artisans laughed as he hauled massive beams up the hill.
Clan leaders whispered that he had gone mad.
But Noah did not give up.
He had received the order to build the Ark…
But a troubling thought gnawed at him,
a constant ache in his heart.
Every day he walked through the town.
He looked upon the people he knew:
neighbors, families, children playing in the dust,
the elderly resting in the shade of fig trees.
And he thought:
"If I am to live, then they should live as well.
Even if I was not commanded to save them."
So one day, he descended to the square.
He stood there under a heavy sun and cried out:
"Listen to me!
The sky will open!
The Earth will be swept away by water!
Soon—too soon!
Do not stay here!
Come with us! Come to the Ark!
There is room for anyone who wishes to live!"
People gathered around him.
At first, there was only silence.
Then… laughter erupted.
A merchant shouted:
"Noah, are you trying to save the world or open a floating tavern?"
Another said:
"Water? What water? The sky is clear!"
A young warrior added:
"Old man, if a flood comes, my strength will be enough to save me."
Insults began to rain down.
"Fanatic!"
"Go build your ridiculous boat!"
A stone was thrown.
Then another.
Noah returned to the Ark, covered in dust—
but not broken.
His sons asked:
"Father… why insist?
You were not given this order from Heaven."
Noah replied:
"Because life is too precious
for me to watch people die
without warning them."