Once Maelynn and the three from Unit R had gotten a few hours of rest, Devyn called the group to gather in his office. Denzyl sat down beside his human mate as Maelynn and the three soldiers from the HDD joined the demon-human couple.

"So, what can I do for you?" Devyn began as his secretary brought in a tray of hot tea and coffee with an array of creamers and sugars. Breakfast pastries and an assortment of fruits were also provided. Having not eaten anything for quite some time, Axel's stomach immediately began to rumble at the sight of the delicious food. However, the tense atmosphere prevented the half-angel from being the first to take from the tray. Being the youngest present, Axel wanted to make a good impression on the infamous Devyn Vaumyr, so he did not want to come across as an uncultured, immature boy.

"We need to find Orion," Kilo began as Castyr leaned forward and selected a pastry with pistachio crème filling. The angel smiled softly as he watched his star hand the pastry to their hungry vernal. Kilo was glad his star was showing affection toward the hangel. Ever since Castyr had become a fallen star, his emotions had all but disappeared. But, after Castyr first laid eyes on the silver-eyed hangel, he appeared to be quite caring of the team's vernal. This put Kilo at ease.

"Orion?" Devyn inquired with a lifted brow. "Heaven's seraph?"

Orion...as in the constellation? Axel looked toward Kilo, who confirmed Devyn's inquiry with a nod of his head, before returning to enjoying his chocolate-filled pastry.

"He disappeared the night Aklys was usurped," Devyn informed. "He hasn't been seen since. No one knows what he is up to."

Axel stopped eating his pastry at the mention of the missing demon king's name. Aklys... Orion... these names feel so familiar. "Who is Orion?" Axel spoke up quietly. He felt slightly awkward asking about a man everyone else seemed to know, but he wished to learn as much as he could if it pertained to the war.

"Orion is the Seraph of Heaven — Heaven's highest-ranking angel," Devyn informed. "He is mate to Demon King Aklys and was a key factor of bringing peace between Hades and Heaven. After Star Castyr defeated the prior demon king, Aklys assumed the role as Hades' leader and entered a peace treaty with Heaven, and thus began the Age of Concord, the era of which we live in now."

"We assume it was Aklys' right hand, Demon General Hark, who usurped Aklys and caused him to disappear," Devyn continued. "Where Aklys is now, we do not know. Hark was not supportive of having peace between Hades and Heaven. He wished to see Hades' darkness cover the universe and all the worlds within it."

"Orion, whom Kilo wishes to find, also disappeared the night that Demon King Aklys was overthrown and Hark took control." After answering Axel's question, Devyn returned his attention to Kilo and asked, "So, why do you need to find Orion?"

"He knows how to find Angel's Landing," Kilo answered promptly.

"I thought Angel's Landing was a myth," Devyn commented as he leaned forward and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Star Ellessi prophesied that finding Angel's Landing would end the war," Kilo informed the human as Devyn dropped a sugar cube into his teacup.

"Let's say you find it," Devyn began as he lifted his cup to his lips. "How do you access it?"

"Axel," Kilo responded shortly.

"Pardon?" Devyn voiced as he looked toward the young hangel.

"Star Ellessi said that Axel is the key to Angel's Landing. He has the ability to unlock it."

Devyn did not question Kilo's words although it may have been a bit hard to believe that a half-angel was the one who could unlock an extremely powerful element of the heavens. Instead, he took a moment to set his teacup on the table in front of him before nodding his head and saying, "Very well. Tell me what I need to do. Let's find Orion and end this horrible massacre."

+++++++

A soft tapping on the door to Devyn's office halted the group's discussion over their plan to find Orion. Axel was in the middle of finishing his third pastry and second bowl of fruit when the door to Devyn's office opened and Mr. Vaumyr's secretary entered leading a distinguished officer of the HDD.

Seeing a high-ranking officer enter, Kilo and Castyr immediately stood to their feet. Recognizing the man, Axel was quick to set his half-eaten pastry on the plate in front of him and join his team leaders in rising from his chair.

"Grand Colonel Hendry," Devyn greeted the angelic officer as he also stood. "I was not expecting you so soon."

Hendry stopped in his steps when he saw Kilo, Castyr, and Axel standing with Devyn Vaumyr. He had come to finish his negotiations with the CEO and had not expected to see members of Rae's unit in conversation with Mr. Vaumyr. "I, uh, had decided it would not hurt to wrap things up a few hours early. I had intended to return to the embassy to prepare for the summit later tonight," Hendry explained as Kilo inclined his head in greeting.

"I did not mean to intrude. I was not aware you had guests," Hendry apologized to Devyn with a bow of his head.

"No worries," Devyn responded kindly. "Can we pick this up later?" Devyn inquired of Kilo. "It won't take long to finish negotiations with the grand colonel."

"Of course," Kilo quickly agreed with Devyn's request. He wanted to leave the presence of the grand colonel as swiftly as possible. Hendry was aware of Axel's role in ending the war, and since Rae was not present to prevent Hendry from taking Axel, Kilo wished to take the hangel away from the grand colonel's area of influence.

Silently bowing to Hendry once more, Kilo signaled for Castyr and Axel to follow him. Axel and Castyr were quick to follow Kilo, however, as Axel passed the grand colonel, Hendry held out his arm, stopping the hangel from passing by. Kilo and Castyr stopped in their tracks and turned to see their vernal being blocked by Hendry's outstretched arm.

"Please allow our vernal to pass, Grand Colonel," Kilo stated as he came to stand on the other side of Hendry's blockade.

"I find it interesting, Lt. Colonel, how you three are here while your commanding officer is at the embassy," Hendry said as he turned his head to the side to make eye contact with Kilo whilst continuing to separate the guardian angel from his vernal. "Did you get separated from your unit?"

"We are completing a mission bestowed by our commanding officer. You would do well to not hinder us, Grand Colonel," Kilo replied sternly.

"And what mission is that?" Hendry then inquired. When Kilo remained silent, Hendry added, "What mission could be so important that you would refuse to answer a grand colonel? If it pertains to the war, I would have you answer me, Lt. Colonel."

"Without permission from my commanding officer, I cannot disclose details of our mission," Kilo answered matter-of-factly.

Devyn furrowed his brows as he observed the interaction between Hendry and the three members of Unit R. Having known Kilo and Castyr for several centuries, Devyn was inclined to aid his friends. So, he approached the four and said, "Grand Colonel Hendry, let us complete our negotiations. I am sure Unit R's mission is no more important than our contract."

"I am afraid I cannot do that, Mr. Vaumyr," Hendry replied while not taking his eyes off Kilo. "I am taking the hangel with me."

Kilo's eyes slanted at the grand colonel's proclamation. "I cannot allow that."

"You do not have the authority to deny me," Hendry returned sharply. "You may have saved the Heavens from war five centuries ago, but you cannot stop me from saving my home, my people from this war. I will do whatever it takes to put a stop to Hades' darkness."

"Do we not share the same goal?" Kilo replied, causing Hendry's hard expression to falter for a moment. "Regardless of your intentions, I cannot allow you to take a member of Unit R as your own."

"That boy cannot reach his full potential if he remains with Rae," Hendry stated as he gestured toward Axel. "If I take him, we can end the war within the month!"

"Axel would be worked to death before you even came close to finding Angel's Landing," Kilo returned strongly. Axel's eyes widened when he heard Kilo's words, and Devyn released a breath as things continued to escalate.

"That does not matter!" Hendry stated. "If one life can save billions, I would not hesitate to use it."

"And that is why I cannot allow you to take him." Kilo's gaze was cold and hard as he glared at the grand colonel. "One's life should never be used, Grand Colonel."

Hendry clenched his jaw in reaction to the guardian angel's words. "Let's let the world leaders decide," he then proposed. "If we use the hangel for the greater good or let Earth continue to burn... The EDF and its allies will choose what will be done." Hendry lowered his arm as he ordered, "We shall take the hangel to the summit."