Memory 7: The smell of hope around us

Asmaria smiled. The silver light was wonderfully warm and radiated a pure, bright power that brought her angelic wings back. She couldn't see anything yet, but she didn't mind, she knew that she would soon be able to see. That was how long she could feel Angelsgrey.
Her hand closed on a piece of the shiny silver metal without her knowing where she got it from. Somehow she didn't remember having picked it up, she no longer realized what she was doing, had already forgotten the previous thought.
What did it do She was happy here! It was so beautiful, so pure, so clear ... she never wanted to leave here to see this cold, cruel world ...
So beautiful.....
& # 8222; Asmaria? W-where are you? & # 8220;
The girl couldn't help giggling.
Chrno looked for her, but while the glaring light couldn’t harm her, he was still completely blinded and, with his eyes closed, slowly felt his way forward to where there was no obstacle.& # 8222; Here I am, Chrno. & # 8220; she explained and took his hand.
& # 8222; Is that what shines here ... & # 8220;
& # 8222; & # 8211; Angelsgrey ... right! & # 8220;
& # 8222; We finally found it ?! Let's grab some of this quickly and get out of here !! & # 8220;
& # 8222; No, Chrno. & # 8220;
& # 8222; N-no !! ?? & # 8220;
& # 8222; I will stay here. In this wonderful, pure world of light ... you see? My wings are back, I never want to be without them again! & # 8220; she explained, fascinated and almost awestruck.
& # 8222; D-you can't stay here! We won't leave you alone !! & # 8220;
He tightened his fist around her wrist and tried to pull her with him.
& # 8222; Let go of Chrno !! Let me!! You can't force me & # 8211; & # 8220;
& # 8222; Have you gone crazy ?! What's that supposed to mean? You see, Asmaria, none of us can stay here !! Where should we get something to eat?We would starve to death, but this price doesn't seem too high to you ... & # 8220;
& # 8222; I belong here !! & # 8220; she called hysterically, so that her voice almost cracked.
& # 8222; ASMARIA !!! I can't see anything at all, I hardly know where up and down is !! I can't hold out here much longer! We're running out of time! Rosette will die if you don't help us !! & # 8220;
& # 8222; She will ..... die .. die ..... & # 8220;
& # 8222; Yes, DIE !!! & # 8220; Chrno sobbed angrily.
& # 8222; Don't you understand what that means ?! Rosette has done so much for you, now you have to save her! You are their last hope & # 8211; let's go!!!!! & # 8220;
Now Asmaria let him maneuver her out of the bright glow without saying another word.

Chrno stopped.
Rosette lay on the ice-cold stone floor, her brother knelt beside her crying and called her name, but she did not respond.
She would never react again.She was dead.

& # 8222; Rosette !! & # 8220; he called, ran to her, shook her, tried to warm her already cold hand; he didn't want to admit that she was dead, that he would never hear her voice again, that he would never see her happy face again .....
& # 8222; No, rosette .... please not ... & # 8220;
He hugged her limp body and let his tears soak her robe.
When he looked up, Joshua was standing in front of him, anger and despair written on his face.
& # 8222; It's all your fault ... & # 8220; he whispered, the anger literally constricting his throat.
& # 8222; W-how? Joshua ... I ... & # 8220;
& # 8222; Silence! It was through your fault that my sister died !! Because you misjudged the situation and came too late !! & # 8220;
& # 8222; Don't, Joshua! & # 8220;
Chrno could barely avoid the devastating blow that completely shattered the rock face behind him.& # 8222; Stop it !! & # 8220; he shouted and took on his true form again.
Joshua didn't listen to him, he was mad and hit his old friend like a man possessed.
° Basically he is right ... °, Chrno thought sadly as he tried to escape the boy, whose horns were now visible.
° I am to blame for everything this little family had to go through. It is my horns that have destroyed their brotherly bond ... °
Chrno suddenly stopped and stood upright and proud in front of the boy who was about to kill him.
& # 8222; I am ready to clear up my guilt with death. & # 8220;
& # 8222; Do you finally see it? & # 8220; Joshua asked softly and took the very last blow.
His eyes radiated raging madness and ice-cold cruelty.
Chrno closed his eyes.
It was over.

Rosette's brother suddenly stopped.

Chrno immediately sensed why, but he couldn't believe she had returned to this world.The ones he once loved ...
She had only recently spoken to him through Rosette, but even then he couldn't believe she had awakened.
But now he had to face the painful truth.
Then he saw her figure wrapped in warm light and remembered feelings and vows that were meant for eternity and that almost tore his heart apart.
& # 8222; Is ... it really you ..... Maria Magdalena ...? & # 8220;
& # 8222; Yes, Chrno, it's me ... & # 8220; she smiled and snuggled up against him.
Joshua and Asmaria stood petrified next to Rosette's corpse, while Fiole, completely indifferent, began to bandage Joshua's hands, which were covered with cuts and scratches.
& # 8222; W-who are you ?! & # 8220; the boy hissed at the stranger.
& # 8222; Don't you recognize me, my boy? & # 8220;
& # 8222; No, I've never seen them before. & # 8220;& # 8222; You are wrong. & # 8220; said Chrno seriously.
& # 8222; In a sense, she is your mother. & # 8220;
Joshua shook his head in disbelief, lacking the words to express his contradicting feelings.
& # 8222; This is Maris Magdalena, the messenger of God. We met many decades ago on a battlefield during the great battle between heaven and hell. I don't know why ... but ... I couldn't kill them, not even when thousands of their people lay at my feet, murdered by me. When we realized that we couldn't get our respective peoples to a truce, we fled together and hid in the cave in which Rosette and you found me many years later.
Do you remember? There was a coffin in the sealed cave ... God took her power so that she fell into a seemingly eternal sleep and I guarded her body because I couldn't believe that she would never wake up again.Rosette and you ... you ... you were only born to do one job, the job of freeing me .... Maria made sure that you were born with the soul that you have, came to the orphanage and fled into the forest when Father Remington wanted to get Joshua ..... she protected you all the years before, Joshua probably would have died of his illness as a baby ... Do you understand? You have been her children, so to speak, Maria has herself
Understood as your mother from the start ... & # 8220; explained Chrno as calmly as possible.
Pictures and words from the past flooded her, a battlefield, his blood-covered hands, Maria, who held her arms protectively in front of her body and implored him to end the massacre, her secret escape and how she lay crying in his arms when God was her with one eternal sleep, which could not withstand the care for him and their children .....Joshua's body trembled with anger:
& # 8222; Then ... our real parents had to die ... so that Chrno could get free .....? & # 8220;
& # 8222; I'm sorry ... I just wanted ... please forgive me ... & # 8220; stammered Maria in complete dismay.
Joshua knew they were telling the truth, everything had come out as Mary Magdalene wanted it to be and she was really sorry that she had to pay such a high price for Chrno's freedom, but he couldn't forgive her. He would rather have died then, as fate had predestined it ...
Meanwhile Maria went up to Asmaria, put her hand on her head and said:
& # 8222; You are also my child, Asmaria, because you received your heavenly power through me. & # 8220;
The girl couldn't utter a word in confusion, astonishment, and awe, but she knew what to do; Mary Magdalene would give her some part of her returned power toWith a bit of luck, rosette can be revived through it.
She sat down next to the old woman, lovingly brushed a few tears from her pale face and began to quietly sing the song that Rosette had sung many years ago with her brother and Chrno:

None sing so wildly well as thas the angel Israfel.
And the giddy stars (so legends tell)
ceasing their hymns, attend the spell,
of his voice, all mute.
Tottering above
in her highest noon.
The enaored moon
blushes with love.
Yes, heaven is thine, but this
is a world of sweets and sours;
Our flowers are merely- flowers,
and the shadow of this perfect bliss
is the sunshine of ours.

Rosette's shape changed noticeably, the wrinkles smoothed out, the white hair turned blond again and muscle parts that had long since disappeared formed anew.
An ancient, frail woman became a strong, young girl again.
She opened her eyes and yawned as if she had just taken a nap.Her gaze fell on the completely exhausted Asmaria, who lowered her head against the shoulder of the revived nun.
& # 8222; What ... where ... oh god ... I was & # 8211; dead & # 8211; or?! & # 8220;
Chrno had tears in his eyes, but he bravely suppressed them. Rosette would rant and
him 'weakling' or 'wimp' when she saw that he was crying again. Then he noticed that Joshua was gone. Now that the boy could no longer attack him, he resumed his smaller form so as not to burden Rosette's restored lifespan.
& # 8222; I uh ... how should I say ... I heard what you said even though I was ... dead ...
I think because my soul wasn't in a new body yet and wasn't completely gone into the astralline ... uh ... where did Joshua go? & # 8220;& # 8222; I don't know. He disappeared. He probably left as soon as he saw that you were alive. & # 8220; Chrno mumbled, relieved.
& # 8222; It was all a bit much for him ... & # 8220; he said when Maria gently put her slender, white arms around him.
& # 8222; That was it for both of us