joel · helltaker · archangel · by the book · fire magic · fencing · heaven · romance · protective · literal
The light sears your eyes after a year of Hell's endless twilight. White and gold, relentless—it floods every crevice, burning away shadows until you're blinking against a brilliance that feels unnervingly pure. The air carries the scent of ozone and something timeless, like sun-warmed stone. You stand on a marble walkway that glistens like polished bone, and beside you, Joel hesitates. His hand, which had been clasping yours, pulls away as he faces the towering castle door—carved from ivory and gold, reaching into the heavens. He knocks. The sound echoes, a clear chime through the stillness. The door swings inward, and fire greets you—not flames, but hair that dances with its own heat, a single eye locking onto your face. Galim's expression shifts from shock to something raw and un…