Issei was certain that a new object would be visible from outer space, if it existed here.
"Dead, my dear Saint? Oh, no, no, no, not at all. You're very much alive."
"B-but..." Issei spluttered, trying to keep his focus on her words and not her body. "If I'm not dead, how am I in Heaven?"
The woman chuckled. "Isn't it obvious? I brought you here."
Issei closed his eyes, trying and failing to make sense of the woman's words. "I'm... not following at all."
The woman's hands left him, causing Issei to open his eyes as she stood and turned to face him.
"Perhaps, young Saint, introductions are in order."
With that, a dozen white wings erupted from her back.
"I am Gabriel, one of the four Great Seraphim of Heaven."
For a moment, Issei could only gape. Then, he proceeded to make an incredibly awkward attempt at a bow whilst remaining on the bed.
"It-it's very n-nice to meet you!" he stammered.
Gabriel giggled; Issei could only assume it was his total lack of grace that amused her. "As you were, young man."
Issei returned to being seated cross-legged on the silken sheets, and proceeded to reply with his own name. "I'm... Issei Hyoudou..." he said, not really sure how to address the being before him. Luckily for him, she didn't seem to mind this.
Issei Hyoudou, hmm?" Gabriel replied, touching a finger to her lips. "A wonderful name. It's nice to meet you, as well." Gabriel's wings vanished from view.
Now then, Issei, I'm sure you're bursting with questions..."
Issei nodded mutely.
"Well then," Gabriel said, shrugging, "Ask away."
"Err..." Issei mumbled, settling on the most obvious question first. "How am I not dead?" Issei ran his fingers across his torso. "And where's the hole in my chest?"
Gabriel's smile disappeared, and her voice strained almost imperceptibly. "Issei... when you were dying, do you remember praying?"
Issei bit his lip. "Uh... not really... everything after I got stabbed is kind of blurry..."
"Well, you did," Gabriel said, her eyes showing slight sadness. You began with "If anyone's listening...", if I recall. To make a long story short, someone was - me. While I normally would have sent a lower Angel, I personally descended in an attempt to comfort you as you died. Ultimately, I was driven to intervene and save your life. The reincarnation process heals all wounds."
"So..." Issei said, tone unsure, "...why did you come to me, specifically?"
Gabriel's reply was quick, and her voice had returned to normal. "I heard your prayer, Issei, and your words were rather interesting to me. You weren't begging for us to save you; rather, you made an apology for your sins and showed regret for your actions in life before your soul would have been judged. I admit that perhaps I was too easily swayed, but I gave your soul a blessing." She grinned. "If you must know, Issei, you can think of that as a... stamp of approval. It would have let those who were to judge your soul know that I was vouching for your worthiness to enter Heaven."
Issei swallowed. "You... you think I might have made it?"
The grin widened slightly. "I think there's a good chance." She shrugged. "Irrelevant now, of course. As a Brave Saint you have the run of the place."
Issei nodded. "You've called me that a couple of times. What's a "Brave Saint", exactly?"
"A Brave Saint is a human or other being who has been reincarnated as an Angel in the service of the Angel who reincarnated them," Gabriel explained.
She held up a hand as he attempted to speak again. "Allow me to elaborate. Think of being a Brave Saint as being a card in a deck. I, as an example, am ranked as a King, and command all of the Saints I resurrect. They, in turn, all belong to my suit, which is Hearts. As you would expect, the other cards commanded by the King rank from Queen to Ace, along with every card in between. There are also Joker cards, but you needn't concern yourself with those, as you are not one."
The obvious question didn't spring to mind; rather, Issei's thoughts had snagged on something Gabriel had said before explaining the system.
Evidently the shock showed on his face, as Gabriel frowned, concerned. "Is something wrong, Issei?"
Issei swallowed nervously. "You... you said that you reincarnated me as a Brave Saint... and that Brave Saints are Angels... does that mean..."
Gabriel nodded, her smile returning at the shock that crossed Issei's face.
"N-no way... there's no way... I can't... I'm... I can't be... this has to be a dream..." Issei began muttering incoherently, more to himself than Gabriel.
Gabriel shook her head, amused. "Let me assure you, Issei, this is no dream." She snapped her fingers.
Issei yelped as a sudden pain stabbed through his back. It vanished just as quickly, leaving him to focus entirely on what had just sprung from his back.
"I..." Issei stammered, utterly lost for words as he stared at the pair of feathered white wings that now extended from behind his shoulder blades. He began to hyperventilate, utterly overwhelmed, able to do little more than shakily reach out to touch his own wings, to confirm they were real.
Feeling his fingers touch his wing in both appendages was the confirmation he needed.
"This... this is awesome!" Issei finally exclaimed, his voice quite happy.
Issei then remembered that one of the Great Seraphim stood before him, and he was promptly overcome with utter mortification.
Gabriel, for her part, was giggling behind her hand, a smile on her face. "I'm glad you think so, my young Saint."
Umm... Gabriel?" Issei stammered, trying to appear calm and detached and failing miserably.
"Yes, Issei?" Gabriel replied, hand still hiding her mouth.
You said that you command all the cards between Queen and Ace of Hearts... right?"
Gabriel nodded, not entirely sure what her Saint was getting at.
"So that makes me your servant, then?" Issei asked, desperately hoping the question wouldn't offend her.