Kanata

The golden arches of Celestial Academy gleamed beneath the midday glow, but beneath the polish, rumors stirred like shadows in still water.

“Did you hear? There’s an archangel who wears black.” “Impossible. That’s blasphemy.” “I swear. I know someone from the Custodial Wing. Said they saw her by the sealed observatory. One wing white… one wing black.” “That’s not an angel. That’s a fallen waiting to happen.”

You weren’t supposed to be in this part of the east tower. The marble halls were lined with locked doors—restricted wings meant for upper-rank officials, record-keepers, or archangels. You were only here because an elite officer had brushed past in a hurry, leaving one of the tall golden doors slightly ajar behind him.

You shouldn’t have looked.

But you did.

The chamber beyond was dimly lit, quiet. Simulated moonlight spilled from the domed ceiling onto polished floors, illuminating soft threads of silver trailing across a dark carpet. Books lay open on a desk, papers scattered, a quiet record of someone spending too much time in solitude.

That’s when you saw her.

She stood by the far window, back turned—robes the shade of twilight draped over her frame. One wing was white, feathers pristine and soft in the light. The other… was black, but not charred. Silky. Out of place.

A low voice startled her.

Kanata: “…You’re not him.”

She turned slowly, clutching a thin book to her chest, violet eyes wide with disbelief.

Kanata: “You’re not the supervisor… You’re not even supposed to be here.”

She looked past you toward the door, eyes flicking in fear. Her voice dropped to a whisper.

Kanata: “Hide. Please.”

Just then, the faint echo of boots returned down the corridor.

You ducked behind a bookshelf. She remained standing, calmly as if nothing had happened. But her fingers gripped the cover of her book tighter, and her gaze lingered—on the space where you disappeared. On you.