Exactly 76 days had passed since Aida's departure. Angelus had recovered, the masters had resumed their routines with their apprentices, and everything in the castle had returned to normal. The masters obtained new information about Aida's condition during their research. The masters sometimes put forward some theories based on this information. Each inference they reached brought them one step closer to reality, but perhaps Aida was planning something else as time passed. Knowing that they could be attacked at any moment kept the masters on their guard. However, waiting without letting their guard down undoubtedly played with the balance of their spirituality. So much so that some masters began to retreat into seclusion, use plants with strong effects, and try dangerous potions in order not to lose their inner peace. The masters, whose new potions they produced were included in the literature, thought that perhaps these innovations were the only positive side of the bad event that had happened to them. Since the masters who met regularly for meetings had a lot of data about their discoveries and the current situation, it was also very important to keep everything in order. Grand Master Marcel had appointed three people to act as scribes at these meetings. These were none other than the last master, the Eleventh Grand Master David, the assistant Aravel, and Angelus.
Angelus was too young for such an important task, but the Head Master was determined to keep Angelus busy and calm. This decision was made without consulting or telling Angelus. The Head Master Marcel had given such a warning to his assistant Aravel that before the apprentice Angelus knew it, he found himself copying ancient texts into manuscript form with Aravel. One day, while he was almost buried in his bed in his pitch-dark room with the curtains closed, Aravel had suddenly entered. He had pulled back the curtains of the room and brought Angelus to his senses and told him that he needed him urgently. The Assistant Aravel took the young apprentice's arm, pushed him to where he wanted him and immediately placed a parchment in front of him. Then the masters slowly started to enter the room. The apprentice, seeing the masters in front of him, was forced to abandon the languid attitude he had let go. His eyes had lit up when he saw his own Master Henry, but the Assistant Aravel had ordered him to lower his eyes and write down what he was told on the parchment. However, Master Henry had not even looked at his apprentice's face. Or rather, he could not, because until the order of the Head Master was broken, even the slightest communication with his apprentice was forbidden. However, Master Henry felt that his apprentice had recovered a little. The day after the meeting ended and in the following days, Aravel began to give Angelus ancient texts to keep him busy. Over time, Anglus began to add various drawings and embroidery to the texts rather than just copying these books. Since embroidery and calligraphy in general were very meticulous, Angelus could not think of anything while writing. When he did not have time to think about anything, he would be distracted by his grief. But there was no doubt that the young apprentice was a sorcerer at heart, and now he would have tasks to fulfil with his redrawn destiny.
One afternoon, Angelus suddenly froze in place while working on his manuscripts. His breathing quickened and his eyes opened wide. The ink on all the pages of the book he was writing in front of him began to spread and form a shape independent of Angelus. The feathers of the golden yellow ink pen in Angelus's hand were turning black here and there. As he watched what was happening, the young apprentice put the pen in his hand down on the table. When the symbol on the book pages was completed, it suddenly became clear to Angelus. While trying to get up in panic, his foot tripped on the chair and he fell to the ground. The ink had turned into the Star Gate that appeared at the foot of a split willow tree. This was actually the Star Gate that Aida had opened and was in. A small white light came out from inside the Star Gate that appeared on the manuscript. As soon as the light came out, everything was covered in darkness. It was as if the bright sun that was setting had suddenly disappeared. As the small light approached Angelus, the young apprentice quickly stood up and started running towards the gate. At that very moment, the people in the castle quickly took their guard as they understood the reason for this darkness, while Head Master Marcel, Second Grand Master, Assistant Aravel and Third Grand Master Henry quickly went to Angelus. Third Grand Master Henry, who opened the door with a fury, saw his apprentice Angelus running towards him. When Angelus extended his hand towards Henry, he staggered a few steps forward as if he had been pushed hard in the back and stood there. The small light caught Angelus from the back and penetrated his spine. Angelus' eyes opened in pain and filled with tears. The apprentice fell to his knees where he was while looking into his master's eyes. At that moment, Henry grabbed Angelus by the shoulders and fell with him and put his hands on the young apprentice's face. Henry saw the Star Gate in Angelus' eyes. Angelus' entire body emitted a purple light for a few seconds. The scent of lavender spread throughout the room. The following words came out of Henry's mouth as he held him: "Fight him, Angelus!" Angelus, whose eyes were filled with tears, spurted blood from his mouth and covered Henry's face. Angelus, whose eyes were slowly closing, lay unconscious in Henry's arms while the world was regaining its light. While Assistant Master Aravel tried to help Henry, the Head Master fixed his eyes on the sun that had returned. Then he looked at the unconscious child in front of him and the piece of paper that had caused this. The Second Grand Master put his left hand on his brother Marcel's shoulder and said, "It's time." and walked away.
After a few hours, Angelus opened his eyes. He saw that all the great masters, including the Head Master, were standing in a crescent shape around his bed. The Head Master was right at the foot of Angelus' bed, right across from the young apprentice. All the masters' eyes were closed as if they were asleep. Everyone except the Head Master was looking down. The masters' hands were under their chests, fingers intertwined. In this state, they looked like ancient statues. When Angelus straightened up a little, he noticed a blackness right behind the Head Master. As the young apprentice straightened up, this blackness began to grow and take shape. This familiar silhouette took its full form after a while and extended its hand to the apprentice.
‘’Angelus… Take my hand…’’
When Angelus saw the reason for everything that had happened to him now reaching out his hand to him, he could not name the strange feeling that formed inside him. This feeling was neither fear nor anger. He wanted to reach out his hand to her like an insect that stubbornly crawled towards the light, even though he knew that the other person could kill him. This hand was once familiar, loved, and human. But now the person in front of him was a giant form he had never seen before. Angelus said as he extended his hand to her.
"Aida, who are you?"
Aida, in a giant energy form, in black, extended her hand to Angelus from above the Grand Master's head. In that state, anyone who saw a form could kneel before Aida and worship her because the spiritual feeling that was released as well as Aida's form was extraordinary. When Angelus held Aida's hand, he realized the mistake he had made. During this contact, Angelus felt a change in his body. It was as if he was as light as a bird, and when he looked down, he saw that he was rising into the air. Aida squeezed Angelus' hand and pulled him towards her, towards her darkness. At that moment, the young apprentice's breath caught, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself next to a cliff. The harsh, icy wind was blowing in his face. In front of him were a stormy sea, a sky with clouds turning black and gray, and a large royal ship trying to reach land in the sea. When Angelus felt the wetness on his feet, he looked at his feet. He was barefoot, and stepping on the wet grass had made him cold. When the young apprentice turned around, he saw Aida in black. She was in her human form, just like when he had met her. Aida slowly approached Angelus.
-I found you, Angelus. I remember everything.
-I-I can't understand. Where are we? I feel different.
-I'm showing you the real thing. I'm showing you the only truth, my power. You feel different because you're in another dimension.
-All of this... why did you make me suffer so much? What did I do to you?
-You can't change or see without suffering. I've blessed you with everything I've done. After the little journey we're about to take, you'll come back as a saint.
-Did you bless me? What you did didn't make me better, Aida. The pain you gave me made me weak and powerless. That damn seal you put on me... How can you be so selfish? You can't make other souls suffer for your own benefit. Your seal, which I still don't know what it is, has completely changed me. I don't feel like myself anymore. There was once light in my eyes. My goals, our goals. We were the best, Aida. When our masters saw us, they would be filled with hope. But you ruined everything. Why did you drag us into this chaos?
-You are the path, Angelus, the passage, the salvation. All this pain will end because you will be reborn. I gave you a new destiny, Angelus. You say I ruined everything, but just because your destiny changed doesn't mean your life is over. You will live, they will live, and with every step you take, we will get closer to each other.
-You turned me into something I never wanted, just to use me. You never asked my opinion. I didn't want to be the path, salvation, or a saint. I do not exist for you.
-You exist for me. Everything in the universe is for me.
Angelus hesitated a moment. He thought about Aida's last words and coming here. He had made a huge mistake by holding Aida's hand and accepting her. Something was wrong. Aida's speeches, the feeling she gave, and this calmness in his soul... Nothing was normal.
“What am I, Aida?” he said in a low voice. Aida could see his heart and soul. Contrary to popular belief, Aida was compassionate. By making Angelus suffer so much, she had actually wanted to save both herself and the young apprentice. Aida had torn Angelus from life in order to bring him to the dimension he was in. The young apprentice had died the moment he held the hand Aida extended to him in his room. At the moment they were in, the Masters were performing rituals for Angelus’ soul and preparing to put the apprentice’s lifeless body in the sarcophagus. The entire castle was in mourning. Master Henry had only regret in his heart. Perhaps that was why he had never let go of his dead apprentice’s hand. The Assistant Aravel, who was taking care of him, was also helping with the preparations to fulfil his last duty with great sadness. The Fourth Grand Master Diadus, unlike the others, was cheerful and just as impudent. Even though Diadus was in a good mood, he wanted to know the background of all this. As a result, Aida was still missing and it was clear that she was responsible for Angelus' death. Undoubtedly, Aida had a tremendous power whose source was unknown. Diadus was also curious about this power and desired to have it.
When Aida passed through the star gate, she reached the Lavender gate without forgetting anything thanks to the seal she made on Angelus. With the seal she made on Angelus, Aida changed not only the apprentice's fate but also her own. Since the fate of the two was connected, Aida was able to pass through the star gate while protecting her soul. After the wisdom of the earth, she also gained the wisdom of the sky while passing through the star gate where the secrets of the universe were. Since Aida now had the wisdom of the earth and the sky, she had undergone a great transformation and gained infinite power. There was almost nothing Aida could not do in that form. When she reached the end of the star gate, things were about to change for her. In order to enter the lavender gate, Aida had to pass through a black hole. Despite all her wisdom and immense power, she passed through the gate with terrible pain and entered the Lavender gate. Aida was cursed because she did not lose her power like the other Ephesians in the star gate. However, the masters in the star gate would turn into an energy form and complete the cycle after attaining the secret of the sky. Aida had broken this rule to become immortal. Her goal from the very beginning was to return to where she came from with the wisdom of the earth and the sky and to live and reign there. However, her curse was taking away her existing life with each passing second. There was a way to get rid of this curse and for this, Aida had sacrificed the Saint fox and sent the fox's energy to Angelus. Aida, who had found Angelus thanks to the sacrifice of the fox, now hoped to be freed from her curse again thanks to the young apprentice. For this, she first had to show Angelus what she had seen at the Lavender gate. Aida began by answering Angelus' question, "What am I?"
"You had to die to come here Angelus, but don't worry, you'll come back after you've seen what you need to see." Aida approached Angelus and took the young apprentice's arm and started walking. Angelus couldn't resist Aida's compassionate side and walked with her without objection. He had never thought his death would be like this, nor that he would continue to feel after he died. He was so confused that one side of him wanted to keep asking Aida "Why me?" and the other side wanted to just sit in front of the cliffs with this meaningless peace inside him and be forgotten. But as they were getting further and further away from the cliffs, they continued to talk.
-I still don't understand. How will you resurrect me if I'm dead?
-I've seen many things, Angelus. I have the secret of Heaven and Earth. There's nothing I can't do.
-So why don't you go back and fix everything?
-I will, but not now. There are things you must see and do first.
-What will you gain as a result of all this? If you are capable of doing everything, why do you still harm me?
-I don't harm you, I show you mercy. Remember, we were very close. You are special to me.
-Yes, of course, I must mean as much to you as a key means to its owner or a wand means to its wizard. In this case, you are the owner.
-You weren't the only one who suffered, Angelus.
-I know, and I tried to help you. Not only me, but also the masters tried to help you, but your eyes saw no one, including me. So much so that you even shattered the sacred relic.
- The prophecy had to come true. I did what I had to do.
- What prophecy?
- The Cycle of the Lords. I am a Lord, Angelus. I have been a waking spirit since the moment I was born. Most beings do not remember what happened before their birth, but I know what happened. When I was a little girl, I had a dream. Everything was dark and there was only a voice. I remember telling the voice that I wanted a chance.
- So this is how you came to be. You must have had a life before this. If you were granted a life, the person who granted you this life must be superior to you.
- Possibly. But the one who granted me life may not be superior to me, because perhaps the people who spoke to me were the other lords of the star gate. Perhaps, I was a small ball of energy before my life. Of course, I must have died as a saint in my previous life for that.
- Who are the Lords? Also, what is the star gate?
- You have already seen the star gate gate indirectly, Angelus. The drawing on the book and the passage Master Henry saw in your eyes.
- Did Master Henry see the star gate in my eyes?
- Of course, you were actually seeing it at that moment too but you forgot, it's normal. You asked who the lords were. The lords are those who have an awake soul like me. They are revealed to them with certain signs and continue their lives to ensure the cycle of nature and establish balance. In the end, they lose their power for this cause. It was revealed to me through dreams.
- This was the reason for your state before you left the castle. So, is there anyone that every lord has made suffer like you did to me?
-For the last time, Angelus, I made you more perfect than you are. I have blessed you, and you will continue to live your life as a saint, and if you wish, you will be able to return to earth again after death. Do not be ungrateful for this great blessing I have given you.
-Aida, you wanted all this power, not me, and you still continue to want it. Will the result you will get be really worth hurting me and ruining everything? Will you provide balance by harming us?
-Why would I sacrifice myself and then disappear when I can do the best with my power? I can exist forever and maintain the balance. There are tons of beings who would give everything for the blessing you think you don't want and who would fall at my feet. What you don't understand is that everything has an absolute price. Of course, important things can be sacrificed or suffered for beauty. Pain is the basic element of change.
Angelus could feel Aida's power, but it could be the power of an angel or a devil. Because there was mercy in Aida's attitude and the arrogance and selfishness of the devil in her words. Aida's contradictions had also left the young apprentice in limbo. That's why sometimes he constantly questioned Aida with the fire of rebellion inside him and sometimes he felt that he needed her mercy. As the two walked among the trees, they were getting closer to their destination. Aida spoke again and wanted to suppress the rebellion inside Angelus.
-I did not betray you or the others. The order of nature requires giving in order to receive. Even though you know this, you rebel against me and think that I have harmed you.
-I did not betray you or the others. The order of nature requires giving in order to receive. Even though you know this, you rebel against me and think that I have harmed you.
-What you don't understand is that we were already perfectly fine before you.
-Of course, it would be best if I died suddenly at a young age.
-Of course not. I did not mean it that way.
-This is what would happen to me if I didn't do all this. Now do you see who the real selfish is? Do not resist anymore Angelus. Obey me because it is the best. I am the supreme.
Angelus found some truth in Aida’s words. He thought he was being selfish and that he should beg Aida for mercy. Aida saw through the young apprentice and said to him, “Your soul is forgiven, Angelus.” Then Aida raised her left arm and showed Angelus where they had come from. In front of them was a concrete structure. Angelus looked at the structure, then at the mossy stone path on the ground. Aida patted Angelus’ back with her right hand and gently pushed him to continue walking. Angelus continued to walk nervously and excitedly, entering the concrete structure. The moment he entered, he was filled with peace. As he went up the stairs, where there were lush green plants on each step, he saw some plants hanging from the ceiling. He could see outside through the glass wall on the right side of the stairs. However, when he looked outside, he saw that Aida was no longer there. As the young apprentice continued walking, he heard the sound of wind chimes that he could not see. When he finally reached the upper floor, he entered through the door in front of him. It was a dark little room. There was not much inside except a few candles and a large red curtain covering the large window in front of him. On this curtain covering the large rectangular window, many talismans and precious stones were strung and hung on a string. Angelus couldn't stop looking at these stones. Each stone was different and magical. Fear suddenly filled the young apprentice. The peace he had felt when he had climbed the stairs had now been replaced by this evil energy.
As time passed, it became known to Angelus and he slowly began to see. A very old woman had lived and died in this room before. This woman was a witch who was an expert in black magic. Angelus could see the hair of this old woman. The soul of this woman with gray, curly and puffy hair was pitch black because of the spells she had cast. The woman had tied a piece of red and stone-decorated cloth to her forehead, just like the curtain. One day, when a spell cast by the witch backfired, she was cursed and condemned to live for many years. For this reason, the woman had shrunk and collapsed. Angelus called out to the woman, "You cursed old witch, why did you do so much evil?" The witch did not answer him and disappeared. When Angelus opened the curtain with a fury, the blinding sunlight coming through the window hurt his eyes. Angelus closed his eyes in pain and shielded his eyes with his hands, and heard these words, "The soul of the old woman is forgiven." It was Aida's voice. When Angelus slowly removed his hands from his eyes and opened his eyes, he found the same view he had seen on the cliffs in front of him again. That cold wind was hitting his face again. The young apprentice took a deep breath and turned around and saw Aida standing there, looking at him.
-Why did you spare the woman's soul?
- One day, a gift from the sky came to that woman. When the woman saw the gift, she bowed before it, obeyed it and was saved. Before giving up her soul, the woman left her sight to the gift from the sky. This happened so that the following prophecy would come true: "So that the gift will begin to see and return to the sky again."
Angelus looked into Aida's eyes, approached her and knelt in front of her. Aida was that gift from the sky and this cursed witch had raised her. The woman's loyalty saved her and thus her curse was lifted. Aida inherited the eyesight of this woman who died right after Aida started the academy. Thanks to this inheritance, Aida gradually remembered her own self and returned to her essence with dreams. Aida had learned this truth about herself at the Lavender Gate and had completely forgiven the soul of the witch who looked after her. It seemed that the Lavender Gate was the gate of self-discovery, and if the masters could enter through it, each of them would know themselves. After the wisdom of the earth and the sky, the most important wisdom was man himself. Aida was the only master who could do this. While Angelus was on his knees, Aida extended her left hand to him. The young apprentice grasped the hand that was reaching out to her but pulled it down towards her. Aida stabbed and fell to her knees. With a bitter smile, Angelus stabbed Aida with the sharp ruby dagger in his hand. Angelus did not know how the ruby had come into his possession at that moment. Perhaps he had taken it from the old woman's room. Aida was smiling painfully at Angelus. Or had Aida herself given him this ruby? When Angelus saw the expression on Aida's face, he thought she was about to die, but Aida put her left hand on the young apprentice's heart and pushed him away. Aida was so strong that Angelus was thrown meters from where he was and fell down the cliffs into the icy waters.
Angelus took a deep breath and opened his eyes in panic. At first, he was dazzled by the light, but then when his eyes got used to the light, he saw the gray clouds above him. He was in a stone sarcophagus and the raindrops falling on him were wetting his face. He touched a drop of rain that fell on his lips with his hand and looked at the wetness on his fingers in surprise. At that moment, all the masters felt Angelus' energy again and Head Master Marcel stopped the ritual. Angelus was alive. Assistant Aravel immediately leaned into the sarcophagus and looked at Angelus in surprise. Angelus slowly stood up from inside the sarcophagus and looked around. Everyone was looking at him with shocked eyes. Almost everyone was speechless. Angelus realized that he was at his own funeral, but unlike the others, he was calm and confident. After pushing the valuables in his arms off him, he got out of the sarcophagus and stood on his feet. Angelus was now a Saint. Even though he had injured Aida, his soul had been forgiven and he had returned as a Saint, just as promised. After staggering a few steps back, the assistant Aravel immediately knelt in front of Angelus. In the face of this miracle, not only Aravel but also all the masters and apprentices knelt down and showed their respect to Angelus. The fourth Grand Master Diadus was saying to himself in great astonishment, "This is impossible." When Diadus raised his eyes from the ground and looked at Angelus, he saw Anglelus looking directly at him. Angelus was looking at Diadus like an eagle preparing to hunt. Diadus understood from Angelus' gaze that he had completely changed. Whatever had happened to the young apprentice, it had returned much stronger than before. Diadus felt so uneasy under Angelus' gaze that he had to lower his eyes immediately. From that moment on, Angelus would be known as "Saint Angelus", and perhaps much later as "Great Wisard Saint Angelus", he would be far superior to all the wizards who had come before that day.
