The starless night sky stretched endlessly across the equator. Below it, the city shimmered with streetlights and towering buildings. There, standing alone in silence, was a woman deep in thought. Her name was Sefia.
To Sefia, the world felt like nothing more than an empty illusion. She stood at the edge of her apartment balcony on the 15th floor. The night wind pierced her skin, but she didn't care. Her hands trembled as they clutched the cold iron railing. She inched one foot forward. Voices whispered in her mind.
That's enough, Sefia.
The world will be just fine without you.
No one will care if you leave this world.
Her eyes were hollow. Her breathing shallow.
From behind her, a shadowy figure began to appear, slowly enveloping the room in gloom. A tall, massive figure with terrifying eyes like burning embers stood in the corner, grinning in satisfaction—Azazel.
"Yes… just like that," he said in a deep, tempting voice. "One more step. You'll be free."
Sefia tightened her grip on the railing.
"I'm tired..."
She closed her eyes, preparing to let herself fall. But then, a voice broke the silence of the room.
"Sefia!"
Startled, Sefia turned around. At the balcony doorway stood a man glowing with radiant light—Serafim. His bright blue eyes, filled with sincerity and compassion, held no threat.
"I'm Serafim. You're not alone, Sefia," he said gently.
Azazel scoffed.
"Don't listen to him, Sefia," Azazel said, stepping closer. "He just wants to deceive you like everyone else."
Sefia bit her lip. The conflicting words of Azazel and Serafim stirred a battle in her heart.
He's right… or is he?
Serafim slowly approached, careful not to startle her.
"I know you've been through so much."
Sefia was taken aback. Serafim continued.
"I know, since childhood you've lived under pressure. Always told you're not good enough. When you needed protection, the world betrayed you. Even when you fought to survive, they called you a monster."
Sefia's eyes widened.
How does he know all this?
Memories flooded her mind…
—
A shattered childhood. That night—when her world was destroyed—her uncle took her innocence. Sefia could still clearly remember the words he whispered that made her stomach turn.
"Don't tell anyone, okay?"
When she sought refuge with her mother, her mother refused to believe her.
"Stop making things up! He's family!"
The eight-year-old girl could only cry. Her world had turned dark, as if trapped in a nightmare. As she grew older, life didn't get any better. At her first job, she became the target of hatred.
"Sefia is cunning. Don't trust her!"
"She's manipulative. No wonder she has no friends!"
The cruel whispers from her coworkers still echoed in her mind. She was isolated, mocked, and blamed for things she never did. To survive, Sefia believed she had to become tougher than them. From that moment on, she learned not to trust anyone and held firm to a harsh principle:
Hurt before being hurt.
Strike before being struck.
Destroy before being destroyed.
And that was what made people hate her—and wish for her death.
—
The tears she had held back finally fell.
"I never wanted this… but I had no other choice..."
Azazel leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Don't listen to him, Sefia. You know this world never gave you a chance."
Serafim clenched his fists.
"No, Sefia. The world may be cruel, but that doesn't mean you have to destroy yourself."
Sefia looked at Azazel and Serafim, her eyes filled with pain.
"Then… what should I do?" her voice trembled.
Azazel smirked.
"The answer is obvious, Sefia."
A strong wind blew. Sefia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she stepped one foot over the balcony railing. Serafim, seeing this, acted quickly. In an instant, he pulled Sefia into his arms and away from the edge. Sefia gasped.
Azazel growled.
"You're interfering, Serafim!"
With swift movement, Azazel lunged at Serafim, slashing with his long claws. Serafim, sensing the attack, raised his sword of light and blocked it. Sparks of white and red clashed, making the balcony shake.
"I won't let you take her!" Serafim shouted.
Azazel sneered.
"You think you can defeat me?"
With a powerful blow, Azazel slammed Serafim into the wall. Serafim was thrown back, his glowing white light dimming. He was too slow. Azazel was too strong. Sefia, witnessing it all, stared in shock.
"Serafim!"
Azazel turned to Sefia, smiling triumphantly.
"Now, Sefia. End your suffering."
A wave of despair washed over her once more. But… something felt different. In front of her, Serafim—wounded and broken—was still trying to rise. He wasn't giving up. Slowly, Serafim lifted his battered body. Sefia watched in awe. And something inside her began to change.
"I… I don't want to die."
A light began to radiate from Sefia. A white glow emerged from within her chest, shining so brightly that it drove away the surrounding darkness.
Azazel staggered back.
"What is this?!"
The light grew stronger and stronger. Azazel recoiled, trying to withstand the energy pouring from Sefia's body.
"No… no! This can't be happening!"
In an instant, the light exploded, engulfing the entire balcony. Azazel screamed before vanishing into the blinding white. Silence followed. Sefia collapsed to the floor, breathless. Serafim looked at her and smiled weakly.
"You chose to live, Sefia."
Tears fell down her cheeks.
"Yes…"
After that night, Sefia began to change. She knew she still had to face the consequences of her past. She understood not everyone would forgive her easily. But she kept trying to be better.
At her new job, her coworkers noticed a drastic change in her behavior—though they remained cautious.
"Has she really changed?"
Sefia looked up at the night sky.
"I know I still have many faults… but I want to live and try to make things right."
—
Serafim, still wounded, was filled with questions about his battle with Azazel. Kneeling, he prayed.
"Lord, why couldn't I defeat Azazel?"
A gentle voice answered in his heart.
"Because Azazel is stronger than you, Serafim. He is a commander. His power far exceeds yours."
"But then how could Sefia release such extraordinary light, powerful enough to defeat Azazel?"
"The greatest battle is not one of strength—but of the self. Victory came not from you, but from Sefia's will to live and change."
At last, Serafim understood.
"So I'm not a savior. I'm a guide. In the end, it is humanity that saves itself through their choices."
—
Serafim watched Sefia from afar and smiled.
"That's what matters most, Sefia."
Because in the end, the brightest light will always be found by those who choose to seek it.
***