The temperature rose again as the icy plains of Despair melted into a new landscape. The air carried an almost metallic tang, and the ground beneath them shimmered as though embedded with molten veins of gold and crimson. Towering spires of black stone reached skyward, crackling with arcs of ethereal energy.

Selene stopped at the edge of an enormous chasm, its depths glowing with an otherworldly light. “Behold the Crucible,” she said. “Here, the transformation of souls begins. It is where demons and angels are forged.”

Jack stared into the chasm, captivated and unsettled. “I thought demons were born evil and angels were created perfect. Is that not true?”

Selene’s lips curled into a faint smile. “A common misconception. Neither demons nor angels are born. They are made. Every being that serves the higher planes or the infernal realms was once a mortal soul.”

Tom’s eyes widened. “Wait. Are you saying angels and demons were people? Like us?”

“Precisely,” Selene replied. “Mortals are unique in their capacity for choice, for growth, and for destruction. It is this complexity that makes them the raw material for greater beings.”

Claire adjusted her glasses, her curiosity piqued. “How does the process work? What determines if a soul becomes an angel or a demon?”

Selene gestured toward the Crucible. “The process begins here. Souls that have fulfilled their time in either Heaven or Hell—or have transcended both—are brought to this place of transformation. Their essence is refined, their memories and identities stripped away, leaving behind the core of who they are.”

Emma shivered. “That sounds terrifying. Losing your identity… does it hurt?”

Selene’s expression darkened. “Pain is inevitable, but it is also necessary. To become something greater, one must relinquish the past. For some, this process is a blessing; for others, a curse.”

The group watched as a shimmering orb of light emerged from the chasm, floating gently upward. It radiated warmth and purity, filling the air with a calming presence.

“That,” Selene said, “is a soul ascending to become an angel. Such souls have demonstrated unwavering virtue, compassion, and sacrifice. They are refined into beings of light, serving as protectors and messengers of the higher planes.”

As the orb disappeared into the sky, the Crucible released another form—a dark, writhing mass that crackled with crimson energy. It twisted and shifted until it took the shape of a humanoid figure with jagged wings and glowing eyes. The figure let out an unearthly roar before vanishing into the shadows.

“And that,” Selene continued, “is a soul descending into demonhood. These souls have embraced their darker nature—pride, wrath, envy, and ambition. They are remade into beings of immense power, serving the Infernal Court.”

Tom frowned. “But if angels and demons come from the same place, what makes them so different?”

“It is not their origin but their choices that define them,” Selene explained. “An angel is a soul that has let go of its flaws, becoming a vessel of virtue. A demon, on the other hand, embraces its flaws, using them as a source of strength.”

Jack’s brow furrowed. “So, it’s not about good versus evil? It’s about what you choose to hold onto?”

Selene nodded approvingly. “Exactly. Angels and demons are reflections of humanity’s dual nature. They are not opposites, but counterparts. One cannot exist without the other.”

Claire asked, “What happens to souls that don’t become angels or demons?”

Selene’s gaze turned to the Crucible, her tone somber. “Some souls remain in their respective realms, continuing their penance or service. Others are scattered into the ether, their essence dissipating into the fabric of existence. Not every soul is destined for transformation.”

Emma tilted her head. “Have any angels ever fallen? Or demons risen?”

A shadow crossed Selene’s face. “It is rare, but it happens. An angel that succumbs to pride or temptation may fall, becoming a demon. Likewise, a demon that seeks redemption and proves its worth may ascend, though the path is far more treacherous.”

Jack stared into the depths of the Crucible, the swirling energies reflecting in his eyes. “And what about you, Selene? Were you ever human?”

Selene’s smile was enigmatic. “That is a story for another time. But know this—every being you encounter, whether angel, demon, or mortal, carries the echoes of their choices. And so will you.”

As the group turned to leave, Jack felt a strange mixture of hope and fear. The idea that even angels and demons were born from the struggles of humanity made them seem both more relatable and more terrifying.

Walking beside Selene, he asked quietly, “Do you think… I could become one of them someday?”

Selene’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “That depends, Jack. What will you choose to hold onto? And what will you be willing to let go?”

Her words lingered in Jack’s mind as they stepped away from the Crucible, the light and shadow of the Forge of Souls fading into the distance. Ahead of them lay the unknown, and Jack couldn’t help but wonder what other truths Hell had yet to reveal.