Amelia: The Level Zero [Hero]

Angels.

They were the sentinels of the World System. They were harbingers of peace. It was said that when Vacuos had been enslaved by the Great Evil, it was the angels who descended from the heavens to liberate them from their shackles.

There were many Choirs of angels. Noele was no [Priest], so she didn’t quite understand the theology behind it all. She just knew that there were distinct types of angels ranging from the Guardian Angels to the Thrones, and that they were all divine beings.

They were supposedly even more powerful than the greatest of Elder Dragons to ever take the skies.

But they were a myth. Just like the stories of an empire of Elder Dragons that once ruled the world. It was all tales muddled by history that happened long before even the Valeri Empire existed. 

Noele wasn’t well-educated— she never went to an academy to study ancient texts or the theology of the World System. Everything she knew about angels was what almost everyone in Vacuos knew about angels. They had wings like swans, and they used magic that was incomprehensible. She never thought that she’d ever encounter one in real life.

Yet right now, an angel was standing before her. Not only that, it wanted to speak with her.

But the blonde hesitated before she accepted its offer. For whatever reason, something in the back of her head screamed at her to think this through first. Because angels were agents of the World System, and that meant—

…she wasn’t sure what that meant. Noele found it puzzling. But it was a little niggling feeling that stopped her from blindly following the angel. And before the angel could press her, Amelia intervened.

Noele blinked, watching as her mentor stepped in front of the angel.

“Now tell me— what do you want with my apprentice?” Amelia held the angel’s gaze.

It stared at her with all twelve of its eyes. There was a hint of confusion in its expressionless face. The angel wore no mouth, no nose— nothing. But it tilted its head as it peered at the brown-haired woman. 

I am Guardian Angel Z357, it replied. Its tinny voice resounded in Noele’s head. It had to be transmitting its thoughts into the minds of those standing close by as Amelia’s eyes narrowed. I require answers from the Noble Spellsword. Please do not interfere.

“Why not?” Amelia asked, frowning. “Why can’t I listen in to your conversation? Explain yourself— what’s going on?”

She didn’t let go of the angel’s arm. Even as it tried to pull its hand back, she didn’t budge. The angel’s twelve eyes darted warily towards her. 

And Noele broke out of her stupor. 

“W-wait, Amelia!” the blonde girl sputtered, drawing her mentor’s attention. “You shouldn’t start a fight with the angel— you just can’t!”

Amelia shook her head. “I’m not going to start anything as long as Guardian Angel Z-whatever answers the question.” 

Guardian Angel Z357 blinked all twelve of its eyes one after another. It peered at the brown-haired woman, not responding for what felt like an eternity. Noele held her breath as she shifted back uncomfortably.

And the angel finally answered, I need to speak with your apprentice about the safety and sanctity of all of Vacuos. Now please do not interfere.

Noele shrank back as it took a step forward. Amelia refused to shy away from Guardian Angel Z357’s glare. Her brows just snapped together as it spread its wings wide. Finally, she acquiesced.

“Fine,” she said, stepping to the side. 

Noele let out a sigh of relief. Her shoulders sagged as she placed a hand on her chest. But she tensed once more when she realized that her mentor hadn’t let go of the angel’s arm just yet. 

“Amelia…?” She raised a nervous hand. 

“I will let you speak to Noele,” Amelia continued as she glanced back at the blonde girl. “But only on one condition.”

Noele stared in confusion as Guardian Angel Z357 slowly nodded. 

What is it? the angel asked.

And Amelia grinned.

 

—--

 

“Uh, what?” Noele was at a loss for words. 

There was nothing for her to say. She never expected this. Honestly, she had doubted it from the very beginning. But the fact was— the restaurant’s grand opening was a success.

She scanned her surroundings, watching as the room bustled with a large crowd. There had to be dozens of customers inside of the small building, and there were even more seated in the tables and chairs prepared outside. 

Harlan had his work cut out for him— he rushed in and out of the restaurant as he struggled to serve everyone on his own. Noele would’ve felt more sympathy for him if she wasn’t so completely distracted.

No, she wasn’t busy chatting with her parents, checking up on their wellbeing after the kretus boar’s attack. And no, she wasn’t busy flirting with Garron either. 

Nolan, Nicole, Garron, and Dorien had their own table across the room from where Noele sat. The blonde girl would’ve loved to be sitting with them right now, but she couldn’t. Instead, she sat at the bar, given a wide berth by everyone else in the restaurant.

It was odd. Normally, the seats at the bar would be used for additional customer seating. But the entire counter had been reserved. And for good reason— because of the second most surprising thing Noele had seen today.

Guardian Angel Z357 sat on a tall stool next to her. She blinked a few times as she stared at this scene. An angel— a being with twelve eyes and a pair of feathered wings— was sitting inside of a restaurant.

It made no sense to her. It almost seemed nonsensical. The events leading up to this moment seemed too surreal to be true. But it had happened— Amelia had invited the angel to have its little chat with the blonde girl in the restaurant, and for whatever reason, it said yes.

Noele knew the reasoning behind her mentor’s actions. By bringing an angel in here, she’d garner more attention for her restaurant, thereby attracting more customers for the grand opening as well.

It was a genius strategy. And the blonde girl could respect it. What she couldn’t understand was why Guardian Angel Z357 had accepted this condition. She raised her head apprehensively, glancing at the angel from the corner of her eye.

It hadn’t said a word since they entered the restaurant. It simply sat still like a statue as its twelve eyes wandered around its face. Noele couldn’t lie and say that that sight didn’t creep her out a little bit. She was just glad that it was facing its back towards the rest of the room, otherwise Amelia’s customers would immediately flee the restaurant screaming.

Noele could only speculate as to why it hadn’t spoken after they’d entered this crowded place. She believed that it was because Guardian Angel Z357 wanted to speak with her privately, and the attention focused on the two of them made it difficult to carry out this important conversation. Or maybe it was entirely possible that the angel had planned to have this quiet meeting with her… for whatever reason.

It didn’t make sense, but nothing ever made sense anymore. Noele took in a deep breath and finally decided that she was going to be the one to break the silence.

“So…” she started, turning to Guardian Angel Z357 with a forced smile. “What did you want to, uh, talk about?”

Its twelves eyes stopped dancing on its face, focusing back on her. It mechanically craned its neck to face her, and she barely managed to suppress a squeak. The blonde girl waited for the angel to speak, but no thoughts invaded her mind. 

“You know, I have never seen an angel before,” Noele continued.

Again, no response. Her smile slipped from her face as the Guardian Angel Z357 continued staring at her with a blank expression.

“I, uh, always imagined angels to look more like… humans?” she said, and it didn’t bat an eye. She scratched the back of her head uncomfortably, correcting herself. “Well, not just humans— but like dwarves or gnomes or… people… not that I’m saying you’re not a person!”

Noele waved her hands frantically as she got to her feet, and the nearby onlookers jerked back from her sudden movement. But Guardian Angel Z357 didn’t react. She pursed her lips. She had been quite nervous at the start of the conversation. And even now, she was a little bit anxious about why the angel wanted to speak with her. But now, she was just confused.

She slowly sat back down as she cleared her throat. The Noble Spellsword sighed and shook her head.

“Guardian Angel Z357,” she said in a low voice. “I can’t help you if you don’t—” 

How did you learn those Techniques? the angel suddenly asked, cutting her off. She blinked as it glanced out the window. You fought beyond the capabilities of your level. How did you do that?

Noele paused. She saw Guardian Angel Z357’s studious gaze. She raised a hand as she began to answer, then she paused. She placed a hand on her chin as she furrowed her brow.

“I got stronger?” the blonde girl said uncertainly.

Guardian Angel Z357 cocked its head. Explain, it demanded.

“I mean— I did what I had to do to survive and get stronger?” Noele wasn’t sure if this was the answer the angel wanted. But she couldn’t elaborate. She didn’t want to elaborate. If she explained that she actively worked to attain a power beyond the World System’s blessings, she was certain that she would… she would…

She was certain she would upset the angel? But that wasn’t right. Why would an angel be upset that she fought beyond the scope of her Class? Sure, angels were sentinels of the World System, but the World System was benevolent! Right?

…right?

Noele shook her head, dismissing those conflicted thoughts for now. She would tell Guardian Angel Z357 the truth, while skirting around potentially contentious topics. Especially since it had plenty more questions for her.

That does not explain anything, the angel said. How did you learn your Techniques?

“My… techniques?” Noele asked, blinking.

Your Techniques, it corrected her. Who taught you how to cast magic without your Skills?

The blonde girl just stared at the angel, slightly confused. It took her a moment to realize what Guardian Angel Z357 was talking about. And when it clicked, she snapped her fingers with wide eyes.

“Oh, you mean Glorious Noble Slash and Elegant Noble Slash? I learned it from—” Noele started.

“She learned it from herself,” a voice cut her off. 

Guardian Angel Z357’s eyes darted to the side, and Noele looked back. Amelia emerged from the kitchen, carrying a pair of steaming dishes in each hand. She laid the plates down before the blonde girl and the angel with a smile.

“If you’re wondering how Noele got as strong as she is right now, she earned it through her own strength. But I did offer her a little bit of guidance along the way.”

Noele watched as her mentor took a step back. Amelia had her usual cloak on her back, but she wore a chef’s apron over her clothes. She gestured at the pair of dishes, speaking casually.

“Eat up.  Don’t worry about paying— it’s on the house.”

I cannot eat, Guardian Angel Z357 said simply. I do not require sustenance to survive.

“Weird.” Amelia drew back, eyeing him up and down. “So you really are a robot, aren’t you?”

Noele just raised a brow. “What’s a robot?”

“I’ll explain it to you later. Anyways, what’s this about Techniques and Skills? I thought you guys were supposed to be talking about saving the world.” Amelia leaned on the bar as she peered at the angel.

Guardian Angel Z357 didn’t give an immediate response. Instead, it craned its neck to look between both women for a moment. Finally, it looked back at Amelia.

You are the Noble Spellsword’s mentor. You are the one who taught her to fight without the World System.

It was a straightforward statement. Amelia just nodded lazily in return. “Yeah, and?”

Are you a follower of the Void? Guardian Angel Z357 pressed her as Noele bit her lower lip.

Oh no… The blonde girl could almost anticipate what was going to happen next. She still remembered the whole debacle with the Elder Dragon. She really wanted to pipe— defuse the potential crisis before it had a chance to escalate. But she was too slow.

“Nope,” Amelia replied instantly. “I’m just a restaurant-owner, man.”

It was an obvious lie. Noele knew that the angel saw through this lie in an instant. 

And Guardian Angel Z357 immediately shot to its feet as its twelve eyes focused on the cloak at Amelia’s back. Noele tensed as heads turned to face this scene. Nervous whispers swept over the restaurant. Harlan, Garron, Nolan, Nicole, and even Xakor looked on as Amelia just held the angel’s gaze.

A lance appeared in Guardian Angel Z357’s right hand as it posed another question to the brown-haired woman.

If you are not a follower of the Void, why do I sense the Void’s essence on you?

And Noele wasn’t sure how she was going to defuse this situation now.

 

MelasD

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