Sapience, a blessing and a curse.

Sapience is what distinguishes animals from rulers. Ever since time began its eternal venture forward, creatures of all kinds roamed. They struggled and survived amongst each other, where the strong and adapted would trudge forward, and the weak would perish, thus, the game of life is claimed by the survivors.

The survivors continue to survive, they thrive, and they begin to expand. They lead their pointless lives until a stronger, more powerful force ends their feeble existence. One comes to realize, it is not enough to survive, it is not enough to thrive, you must evolve, you must conquer, you must be able to punish those who oppose you.

Perhaps that is not completely true. What, then, is the true key to survival? Unity. The answer is simple, no?

Nothing is ever so simple.

You see it, time and time again, you watch them. These sapient creatures, they start from nothing, but build themselves empires. Communities are built upon unity, and united, cities form, countries are founded, and worlds are established. But who governs them? Who are the leaders of these united colonies? It is the creatures of sapience, they rule over one another. This begs the question: does it matter how a colony is ruled?

“Democracy!” calls the creature of independence.

“Socialism!” shouts the creature of equality.

“Communism! With an iron fist!” cries the creature of great power.

Perhaps another choice? Which answer is correct? None of them, of course.

You see it, time and time again, you watch them.

At last, the creatures of sapience have finished their kingdoms, they have survived, they have thrived, they have evolved. These creatures seek to evolve even more now. They seek to expand their borders, strengthen their militaries, and spread their ways. Inherently, this is not an evil goal, but as everything, it depends on who you ask. You see now, every community, every colony, every kingdom, they all wish to expand, to strengthen, to spread. It is in the nature of these creatures to have conflicting paths. Words may solve these conflicts, but what happens when they do not? What occurs when the sword is stronger than the pen?

You see it, time and time again, you watch them.

Thriving communities and established colonies all succumb to an inevitable end, destruction. Kings, dictators, presidents and the like, unity fails. The key to survival falters. Conflicting ideals and opinions push unity away, causing the pillar of survival to crumble. This cycle has, and will, continue for as long as time will move forward. No one can change it, it is simply the condition of existence.

You see it, time and time again, you watch them.

Nuclear fallout and the elemental corruption of the poor, beautiful world these creatures of sapience invade. Chemical warfare, the death of every innocent plant and animal once taking residence in these now forsaken lands. Tech weaponry, using the very minerals from the ground to destroy and leave barren the blameless earth that once gave them life. These creatures all fall to the same fate. In their arrogance, they destroy everything that was beautiful, they destroy everything that was good.

Rise now, rise to the Weave with me. Behold, this is the place between places, the space that exists nowhere, but everywhere at the same time, the place where even time dares not to tick. Look, look with your eyes. You see them, do you not? Those glimmering lines that expand infinitely forward? An infinite number of timelines, an infinite number of worlds and creatures.

Every single string is attached to the same beginning, called the root, but branch off to vast, innumerable universes. Now see, sets of strings are massed together to form clusters. Each cluster in the Weave contains up to thousands, even millions of timelines. They are all different from each other, but only marginally. The further you move away from a single string, you will see many more alterations in the path neighboring strings have taken. Every single string leads their own path as they all separate from one another, hoping that their unique direction will continue to stretch forever.

Ah, I see your string. … Can you see it?

When the root of a string stands on the border of destruction, any potential lives and future existences are destroyed. For every ruined string, an entire cluster can potentially snap. It would not take long for creatures of sapience to drive an entire cluster of universes into extinction.

Creatures are born, creatures survive, creatures thrive, creatures evolve, creatures destroy. This is the circle of life. Does this mean that existence is futile? Every walk of life is born only to die, and fade into the void? In essence, yes, but in practice, no. This is due to the guardians who watch from afar, that exist in and outside of time itself. I speak of beings made of light, of soul, and of essence, The Arch Angels.

Created by the Watcher, these beings from ancient times serve to protect the Weave. Arch Angels are born in special families, passed down through generations, purposed to defend their worlds with all that they can give. Angels come in every form; they may come as quick, cunning, flying creatures. They may come as delicate, slow, loving creatures. They may even come as large, lumbering, strong creatures. Some on two legs, others on four legs, even six or eight.

Despite all of these differences, they are of the same essence, Arch, which flows through the blood and soul of every angel. An immaterial gift that functions physically and metaphysically, its capabilities are endless. An angel may choose to harness the energy of light to create a weapon, others may stare into the soul of another creature, revealing their true nature and character. Some angels may tend to wounds, using themselves as a sacrifice, other angels may convert a fistful of sand into golden flakes.

Arch functions at the molecular level, modifying and codifying the very building-blocks of the life to perform everything and anything that can be imagined. Through nuclear fission and fusion, the imagination runs free, and the only limit to Arch is the Arch Angel wielding it, where their patience, discipline, and fortitude is truly tested. Not all angels are the same, and some are bound to use their gift more efficiently than others, where even some may never realize their gift at all.

Delving further into the essence these angels come with, we find attunements that dictate what their Arch will be capable of performing best. There are two categories: the attunement of Body, and the attunement of Soul.

You will find many Arch Angels with their attunement of Body fighting battles. Angels of Body are commonly taller, faster, and stronger than their own kind, and their physical prowess is customarily unmatched. These powerful spirit-warriors stand at the front-line to keep their worlds safe from tangible and intangible threats, they stand against the corruption around them with their shields raised.

You will find Arch Angels with their attunement of Soul standing beside you, and many a-time, you will hardly distinguish them from other people. They can be your neighbor, your friend, or maybe even your cousin. Their physical catalyst, their Body, does not display any overt clue that they are beings of supernatural ability, but one would be wise not to take this unassuming nature so lightly. These types of angels often stand alongside their people, living by them and protecting them from behind the curtain.

The task of saving a world is not a light one, no, even a seasoned Arch Angel will falter against the potency of evil if they are not cautious. It is not enough for an angel to be strong as an individual, but to be strong together with those that surround them.

And now you wonder why I told you all of this; a fair question which requires a fair answer. Simple: now you understand, or were reminded, that the world requires balance, and the omniverse has tied upon itself peacekeepers to fulfill such as task. That is not to say that said peacekeepers are themselves perfect. Far beneath perfection.

There is such a thing as too much strength. No one being should be gifted so much potential, for it is a root cause of imbalance. Arch Angels are no exception. There are many reasons why a kingdom may fall, but I, just as my ancestors, will prevent such a catastrophe by gently tugging a the strings that need attention.

Keep in mind these words you've heard - they will prepare you for what is to come. The gaze from above falls upon the pawn on the stage.

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