"Three thousand four hundred thirty years since the night of slaughter… yet the echoes cling to me still. They gnaw at my soul, reopening wounds I had thought long scarred."
The Heavenly Realm shone with its eternal radiance, but even its light could not banish the shadows within me. Memories — sharp as shattered glass — pierced my silence.
If I had been stronger then… would they still walk beside me? Or should I have perished with them, as I once longed to? This solitude—what purpose does it serve? My hand clenched, knuckles paling as a bitter breath escaped my lips.
A stir of sound pulled me back. My gaze lowered, drifting past clouds of silver toward the mortal realm. There, Earth gleamed — a blue-green jewel alive with fleeting life. Markets brimming with chatter, parks echoing with laughter, children scattering pigeons in delight. Fragile creatures, yet vibrant in their brevity.
"Strange little beings," I murmured. "So bound to their small struggles… and yet, there is beauty in it. Almost enviable."
A faint smile brushed across my face. To walk among them… to share their joys and sorrows, even for a moment… would it not be refreshing?
Then, I saw him. A boy, scarcely thirteen, hunched over a swing, scribbling with fierce intent into a notepad. My chest warmed at the sight.
"There you are…" I whispered, voice softening. "Always so diligent. You remind me of someone… someone dear."
For an instant, I imagined descending — reaching out, speaking with him. The thought filled me with warmth, until—
"Lord Endymion! So this is where you've been hiding."
I jolted upright. "A–Aaliyah! Must you always appear without warning?" Hastily I smoothed my robes, heat creeping up my cheeks.
My attendant floated beside me, wings glowing against her dark hair, eyes bright with mischief. Hands on her hips, she leaned forward with a smirk.
"My, my… watching mortals again? If anyone else saw you, they might think you were a stalker."
I groaned. "A stalker? Truly, Aaliyah, is that the best your imagination can conjure? I am observing as befits a Guardian Deity."
"Observing? Hm. And why only that boy?" she asked, her tone playful but her eyes sharp with curiosity.
I looked back toward Earth, lips curving into a faint smile. "…Because he is not just any mortal. He reminds me of—" I stopped, shaking my head. "Never mind."
Her smirk softened into a knowing grin, but she changed the subject. "Well, keep your secrets. In any case, Father Arcanus has summoned you. He demands your presence in the prayer hall." Her eyes sparkled. "What mischief have you caused now, my lord? Perhaps he's finally stripping you of your title."
I chuckled, lips twitching. "Mischief? Always so quick to assume the worst. No, this is… different. At last, Father has answered my prayers."
Excitement surged in me, though I kept my composure. "Come, Aaliyah. Let us not keep him waiting."
A shimmer of light, and we descended to the temple courtyard. White marble paths gleamed under divine essence as incense curled through the air.
At the great doors, carved with ancient prophecies, I turned to her. "Wait here for me."
"Yes, my lord," she said softly. Still, worry lingered in her gaze.
The doors parted, and I stepped into the chamber's dim glow. Divine power pulsed through the air, heavy with the weight of ages. The doors closed behind me with a whisper, leaving Aaliyah outside, murmuring a prayer for my safe return.
**********
The prayer hall's vastness dwarfed me, silence echoing like the hush of eternity. Golden light streamed through towering windows, glinting across painted nebulae on the domed ceiling. Every carving shimmered faintly with celestial energy, as though ancient prophecies themselves were watching.
At the centre of this radiance sat Lord Arcanus. Long white hair and beard cascaded down his shoulders like rivers of silver, a crown of celestial blue resting upon his brow. His trident pulsed faintly with reality itself, each breath of its aura making the very marble floor hum. To stand before him was to feel the weight of eternity pressing down.
I steadied myself, bowed deeply. "O mighty Lord Arcanus, Supreme God of Reality, Creator of the Omniverse… I bow before you in reverence."
His voice, when it came, was as vast as the void. "Rise, Endymion. My son, I have heard the stirrings of your prayers. Tell me… what is it you seek?"
I looked up, my heart pounding against my ribs. "Father… I wish to walk among mortals. To understand them — their joys, their struggles. I believe only then can I fulfill my duty as Guardian with true purpose."
A pause. His ancient eyes, once kind, now sharpened, calculating. He stroked his beard slowly, as though weighing not my words, but my soul itself.
"The mortal world?" he murmured. "They are fragile things, Endymion. Puny, desperate, clinging to sparks of life that fade too quickly. Why tether your spirit to such fleeting shadows?"
I held my ground, though a tremor quivered in my chest. "Because, Father… those fleeting sparks shine brighter than stars. Their passion, their will to endure… I envy it. And I wish to learn from it."
Arcanus leaned forward, eyes narrowing. The hall darkened with his shadow. "Curiosity is a dangerous seed. Left unchecked, it grows into rebellion. I have seen gods fall to lesser temptations than this."
His words struck me cold — not just warning, but judgment. Yet still, I pleaded, "I will not falter. You raised me well, Father. I swear upon your name — I will never stray."
For a long breath, silence crushed the chamber. Then, with a gesture of his hand, the weight lifted. "Very well. You may go." His voice was even, but beneath it lingered a thread of warning, like the rumble before a storm.
"Two conditions bind this gift. First — you will never reveal your true identity to mortals. Not a whisper. Not a hint. Second — should Heaven call, you will return without question. And you will not walk alone. Aaliyah shall accompany you."
He struck his trident to the floor, the thunder echoing through the chamber as though sealing an unspoken pact.
Relief poured into me, loosening the tightness in my chest. I bowed low, joy sparking behind my composure. "I accept, Father. Your will shall be done."
As I turned to leave, I felt his gaze burn into my back — sharp, lingering, unreadable.
And for a moment… I wondered. Did he grant my request out of kindness? Or was I merely playing into a design he had already foreseen?
But my heart, reckless and eager, drowned the doubt. For the first time in centuries, I allowed a smile to spread. "At last… the mortal world awaits."
**********
Outside the prayer hall, Aaliyah was pacing back and forth, her wings twitching with every step. The celestial light glinting off the pearly gates caught the worry etched across her face.
Hah… so impatient. I wasn't gone that long, was I?
The golden doors behind me boomed shut as I stepped out, a smile tugging at my lips. Her head shot up the instant she saw me.
"Lord Endymion!" She flew at me, voice sharp with worry. "What happened in there? Why did Father summon you? Don't tell me he stripped you of your Guardian title!"
I couldn't help but chuckle. Her panic was almost… adorable.
"My, my… always such a worrywart. Do you really think you can be rid of me so easily? I'm afraid you're stuck with me for another millennium at least."
She puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, her irritation almost theatrical. "This isn't funny, my lord. Stop dodging the question. What truly happened?"
The concern in her eyes softened me, but teasing her was simply too tempting. I leaned closer, lowering my voice as though sharing a delicious secret.
"Relax, little dove. Everything went better than expected. In fact, I have news. Guess who's going on a trip?"
Her brows knit. "A trip? Who's going where?"
I let out a dramatic sigh, tilting my head toward the clouds.
"Father has granted me leave to descend to the mortal world. To walk among them, to understand their lives. And naturally, you're coming with me."
Her wings froze mid-beat. The look on her face was priceless.
"What?! We? Without even asking me? You always drag me into your reckless whims! What about my duties here? Honestly, sometimes you—" She stamped her foot, cheeks glowing faint pink. "You really annoy me."
I grinned. "So you don't want to come? You'd rather stay here while I enjoy the mortal world alone?"
She faltered. A blush betrayed her irritation. She turned her face away, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.
"I didn't say that… I just… next time, at least ask me first. So I can prepare myself."
A chuckle slipped from me. She really is too easy to fluster.
"Duly noted. But truth be told, I'd be lost without someone to keep me out of trouble. So pack your celestial bags. We leave immediately."
She let out a long, resigned sigh, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Babysitting a deity in the mortal realm… what an honour. Fine. But if things go wrong, I'll be blaming it all on you."
I raised my hands in mock surrender, laughing. "Blame away. I promise you, you'll enjoy this more than you think."
Her gaze lingered on me a moment longer, and when I reached for her hand, I felt her still. Warmth bloomed between us, soft but undeniable. She quickly looked away, cheeks blooming red.
"…Yes, my lord," she murmured, barely above a whisper.
I turned my eyes downward, back to Earth. To him.
My dear friend… at last, our paths will cross. Wait for me.
With a flick of my hand, divine runes spiralled to life beneath our feet. Light wrapped around us, swallowing the courtyard whole. And in the blink of an eye, the heavens vanished.
**********