Spending My Retirement In A Game

Eisen walked down the old, dirty stone steps. The air was musty and dust floated through the air in front of him. In the distance, echoing through the mostly empty space, was the sound of singing, like it was supposed to accompany an orchestra or an opera.

Soon, Eisen approached the single, occupied cell in this space. Behind the magically reinforced metal bars stood Ambriel, the young guide angel that had led Eisen through the heavens during his visit there. They were sitting on a wooden stool, painting something that the old man couldn't see onto a canvas illuminated by the light of a crystal lamp.

Their stool and easel was set up in the center of the room. In one corner was the bed, and in the other, two bookshelves filled with a number of different novels and historical accounts meant to teach Ambriel more about the history of this world.

The floor was clean, they had fresh fruit to eat whenever they wanted to, and really lacked of very little here. Except, of course, freedom. They could read, they could paint, they could even accept visitors, but only to a degree. Ambriel had to request new items for their cell, and they had to be aproved.

And the visitors they would receive would always stand on the other side of the cell's metal bars. Of course, they were a prisoner, but Eisen didn't feel any need to be needlessly inhumane to them. While Ambriel was a xenophobic, violent maniac, that was also a personality basically forced onto them by the ways that the heavens worked. All angels were like Ambriel, really.

But of course, after losing in battle against Eisen, they were banished and there was little they could now do about it. They would never be able to return to their former home, and while they violently fought against this before, it seemed that they accepted their fate at this point. And if even Satel, a literal devil, vouched for them, there must be something worth looking for in Ambriel.

Of course, if possible, Eisen didn't want to keep them locked up down here forever either, though if he had to, that was what was going to happen. He wouldn't just let Ambriel run around freely without any bounds until he knew that they could be trusted.

As soon as Eisen came into view, Ambriel abruptly stopped singing, halting the movements of their paintbrush.

"...Eisen," Ambriel muttered nervously, "What a surprise... so you returned already? How was your trip?"

Eisen looked back at the angel, locking eyes with them. He wasn't sure if they were genuinely asking, or if they were aware of how horrendous that trip ended up being. The old man replied bluntly, "It was the worst trip of my life."

Ambriel awkwardly looked down at the ground, and Eisen didn't know what to say. They were acting completely differently to the last time that Eisen had seen them. Then, they were full of energy, completely rebelling against Eisen and practically wanting to cut off his head where he stood. How could that have been the same person as the meek figure stood before Eisen right now?

With a sigh, the old man placed his hand onto the doorhandle of the cell's door. Being unlocked with his mana, the door opened up without further ado, and the old man stepped into the cell. As the metal door creeked open, Ambriel nearly flinched. Over the past two months... they must have been building up some kind of weird idea of what Eisen was going to once he came back.

That was the worst part of this sort of punishment. Ambriel was completely alone, left to their own thoughts. They were allowed visitors, sure, but the only one that would actually come down here was Satel, who would surely do nothing but mock them at least in the beginning of their imprisonment. And they surely didn't visit Ambriel every day either.

Food and necessities were delivered in a matter of not even a minute at a time, leaving Ambriel more than enough time to get lost in their own thoughts.

"What... what's happening?" Ambriel asked nervously, but Eisen just rolled his eyes. He walked over toward the desk set up next to the bookshelves and placed the bundle of items he was carrying on top of it.

"Just bringing you a little something."

As Eisen stepped to the side to make space, Ambriel nervously walked to the desk. They unwrapped the bundle, seeing basically the opposite of what they expected. Of course, they didn't know what they were expecting exactly, but it definitely couldn't be further from this. It was clothes.

A silvery white suit with golden lining and details. Down to the dress shoes, it was made by Eisen himself down to Ambriel's exact measurements. Their name was even stitched onto the handkerchief tucked away into the chest pocket on the front of the jacket.

Confused, Ambriel turned toward Eisen, who nudged his head a bit toward the outfit, "That's the kind of direction you were leaning toward in heaven, right? If you want something more casual, or something more feminine, just let me know."

With a nervous smile, Ambriel's grip tightened on the fabric, "Is... is this what I am to wear to my execution..?"

"Exe- Fucking hell Ambriel, I'm not going to kill you," Eisen sighed, "The only reason you're even down here is because you wouldn't stop trying to kill me and literally everyone you laid your eyes on. This is a peace-offering. Something you can wear once you get out of here, because I'm sure you're a bit sick of... all this," the old man motioned toward Ambriel's body.

They were wearing the same simple rags that they had been wearing for the past two months.

Ambriel swallowed, not sure what was going on, "You're letting me go?"

"Not just yet," Eisen replied, "First, we need to really talk. Alright? It seems like you're a lot more open to that now than you were before. If it seems like you won't try to kill everyone you see anymore, you can go. Of course... right now, no matter what, I don't think I can just let you leave to wherever you want.

Not just because I don't trust you quite yet, but also because a world like this isn't safe for you. I want to make sure you get used to being around others; specifically, all sorts of beings that you would consider 'lesser' before."

Without a moment's hesitation, Ambriel nodded their head. They moved forward so suddenly and awkardly that if their grip hadn't been as tight as it was, the clothes in their hand would have already fallen onto the ground, "Yes, of course! Anything, just- I just can't-"

"Calm down, there isn't a time-limit on this. First, get changed. I'll grab us something to eat and then we can talk over dinner. That sound like a plan?"

"Yes! Definitely!" excitedly, almost ecstatically, Ambriel agreed. They were clearly extremely desperate. Being like this, they would say and do whatever they needed to to be able to get out of here, but Eisen wanted to make sure that they were going to be honest with him.

As he left the cell again, locking it behind him, he made his way back up the stairs and toward the kitchen, where Ambriel's dinner had already been prepared. Eisen had ordered a second portion for himself to be prepared, and quickly picked up both. Together with that, he grabbed two cups and carried everything back downstairs.

By the time he got back to the cells, Ambriel had already changed, their other clothes neatly folded up and placed onto their desk in stead of the suit. They were currently putting on the jacket over the white vest, and looked at Eisen as he was carrying the food.

"This... is incredibly made... thank you," Ambriel said. It seemed genuine, at least. freёwebnovel.com

Eisen stepped back into the cell, placing the plates of food onto the small table. Ambriel pulled their stool to the table, and since there was nothing else to sit on, the old man created a quick block of stone through magic. He grabbed a bottle from his item storage, quickly pouring the contents into cups for himself and Ambriel.

It was a low-alcoholic wine made using calming herbs and fruit. What Eisen was trying to do was make sure Ambriel wasn't acting on their excitement, letting them be more clear-headed instead. Though that did seem counter-intuitive considering this effect was delivered through alcohol, but as long as it stayed at one or two cups, it was extremely effective at what it was supposed to do.

Nervously, Ambriel drank the wine, and Eisen could immediately see their demeanor change. They let out a deep sigh, relaxing more and more as they did so.

"Feeling a bit better?" Eisen asked, and Ambriel slowly nodded their head, "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."

Seeming more calm and collected like the first time Eisen met Ambriel, the old man felt confident to continue, "So. How have these past two months been for you?"

Ambriel thought about it for a while. Though it didn't seem like they were thinking about the answer itself, but rather just how to best word it.

"I... despaired. The first week, or maybe even two, were utter hell. I kicked, I screamed, I didn't even eat. I refused to sleep because I didn't trust that I wouldn't be killed by those 'lesser' beings that obviously had to be out for me due to their jealousy. I..." Ambriel looked down at their food, "I tried to do anything I could to stay awake.

And at some point, I picked up one of the books you had prepared for me. 'The History of the Pantheon over the Millenia, from an elderly Elf's perspective'. Everything I read was... wrong. It just didn't make any sense to me. It was all different from what I had been taught.

So, I read more books. Though by the time I finished even that first one, I already fell asleep. Defending myself against a danger I didn't even know was real wasn't the priority anymore."

Eisen listened to Ambriel recount their experience, "When I woke up, I started relaxing. I ate my breakfast, and I kept reading. The next time Satel came around, I asked them about it. About what they had been taught. And for the first time, they didn't laugh at me, or make jokes, or anything of the sort... they explained things to me in detail, and answered my questions, and...

their perspective made a lot more sense, all things considered. They started recommending me new books whenever they came, and I requested them and got them brought to me. I think I've read most of the books on theology and history around the area by now."

Eisen took a sip of his own drink, before asking Ambriel, "And did you come to some kind of conclusion?"

"...I don't know," Ambriel replied, "I still love the gods... they are the ones who birthed and raised me, and their greatness is something I still find hard to refute, but... I realize that even they may not be the infallible beings I thought they were.

Instead of blindly following the words they told me, now that I have been banished, I should take it as an opportunity to do what I should have done long, long ago. I want to see what this world, that I considered to be lesser than me for so, so long... I want to see what this world and its people have to offer."

Eisen smiled lightly. Ambriel's calm demeanor, and their voice filled with nothing but genuine curiosity nad sincerity, convinced the old man once and for all that they were deserving of another chance.

"Eat up. This is going to be your last meal down here for now."

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