With the last vestige of her angelic essence, Zariel was accepted by the Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia once more. Every gaze settled on her as she stood with her sword in hand.
Watching Zariel, Aaron could not help wondering how sin was calculated. Why could Zariel gain the forgiveness of the Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia after committing countless sins following her fall, while the former Solar Malkizid had been exiled without committing any major offense?
Perhaps it was precisely because, even after falling, Zariel had still devoted all her energy to the Abyssal Blood War.
It was also possible that Eleanor had worked hard to preserve the last trace of Zariel's angelic essence and divine spark. Viewed dialectically, the essence of Zariel in the hair Eleanor had preserved was the true Zariel. The Zariel in that hair had already firmly disavowed any association with the fallen Archdevil Zariel and everything she had subsequently done. Her return to holiness now was simply Zariel's hair reclaiming control of Zariel's body.
What do Archdevil Zariel's deeds have to do with me, the righteous Zariel?
"That was so cool, Aaron!" Big Dragon Aegir, the Harbor District Dragon Maid, excitedly hugged Aaron's arm. "You actually persuaded an Archdevil to return to holiness! Why didn't the Dawn Gods bring you along when they signed their contract with Asmodeus?"
Aaron's methods had truly taught Aegir a lesson. He had combined threats of force with manipulative tactics, appeals to emotion and reason with promises of benefits, then finally summoned old acquaintances of Zariel's to persuade her together. At last, he had convinced this Fallen Angel, whose resolve was harder than adamantine, to attempt to reclaim her place as a Solar.
Why doesn't our Force Dragon bloodline knowledge contain any of this?
Aegir pouted as she thought