Thousands of Years Ago
From the highest peak of Heaven's citadel, cloaked in golden rays of eternal sunlight, stood a girl whose beauty rivaled the cosmos. Her hair fell in cascades of shimmering silver—ethereal strands that seemed spun from the moon's glow itself. Her eyes, startling sapphires that carried oceans of wonder and innocence, gazed out at the endless horizon, dreaming of worlds she'd never seen.
She was Isabella, beloved princess of the gods and daughter of the tyrannical King, a ruler whose cruelty eclipsed even his immense power. Yet Isabella was different—she was kindness wrapped in silk, purity carried upon whispers. Her heart was gentle, her soul full of light.
But beneath her beauty lay a shadow that haunted the divine realm—the prophecy.
From the moment of her birth, seers had seen visions of ruin. It was foretold Isabella would become the strongest deity of all time, the one who would bring the downfall of every god upon reaching her nineteenth year. Terrified, the King silenced the seers, forbidding any to speak the future, hiding this dark truth from his innocent daughter.
Only a single person was permitted constant presence beside her—the gentle, wise, yet powerful god of present time, Elijah.
Elijah had guarded Isabella faithfully from childhood. He was her protector, her friend, her anchor. Beneath his quiet strength and gentle amber eyes, his love grew secretly, carefully hidden. Every day spent at Isabella's side was both paradise and quiet agony, but he endured it gladly. For Isabella's smile alone, Elijah would endure eternity's torment.
On Isabella's sixteenth birthday, the sky blazed with color, stars streaking across heaven as if blessing her day. In her favorite garden, beneath the white blossoms that never withered, she approached Elijah shyly, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Elijah," she said softly, touching his arm gently, "can I ask something special of you?"
He turned to her, captivated as always by her radiant smile. "You know you can ask me anything, Isabella."
She bit her lip, hesitating before her enthusiasm spilled forth. "I want to see Earth. Just once. I've read so much, and my heart aches to feel the warmth of sunlight there, to breathe mortal air. Please, Eli?"
He froze, the request taking him aback. Taking the princess to Earth without permission was forbidden—a crime that could earn punishment far worse than death. Yet, as he saw her hopeful eyes looking into his soul, all caution dissolved. He could deny her nothing.
A gentle smile graced his lips. "How could I ever deny you?"
Joy illuminated Isabella's entire being. She threw her arms around him, laughing in sheer delight. Elijah held her softly, his heart aching sweetly at the embrace.
When they descended upon Earth, Isabella marveled at everything—the colors, the scents, the noise of humanity. Her excitement warmed Elijah's heart, convincing him he had made the right decision.
He brought Isabella to meet his closest friend, Eiden, a mortal who possessed charm, charisma, and a warm heart Elijah deeply admired and trusted completely.
Eiden's eyes widened upon seeing Isabella. Bowing low, he flashed a playful grin. "You must be the angel Elijah always speaks of. You're even more stunning than he described."
Isabella laughed softly, blushing at the compliment. Elijah smiled warmly, unaware of the seeds fate had begun to sow in that single instant.
As days passed, the trio shared adventures, laughter, and late-night stories around crackling campfires. The lines between immortal and mortal faded—bonds formed, friendships deepened. Elijah often found himself smiling as he watched Isabella's delight, oblivious to the subtle change within her.
Months went by, and Elijah realized he wanted more—more than friendship, more than quiet smiles. Isabella had filled every corner of his heart, and he decided it was time to tell her everything.
One golden afternoon, his heart heavy with nervous anticipation, Elijah searched everywhere for Isabella, finally spotting her in a secluded clearing by the sparkling lake where sunlight played softly upon the waters.
He paused behind a tree, his pulse quickening. But before he could step forward, his heart stopped cold.
Isabella stood close to Eiden. Too close. Elijah's world shattered as he watched helplessly. Eiden's hand caressed her silver hair gently, his eyes filled with affection. Isabella's lips parted softly in a shy smile as she leaned in, brushing her lips gently against Eiden's.
Elijah's soul fractured, agony splintering every fiber of his being. Silent tears blurred his vision as his heart crumbled painfully, the promise ring he held falling forgotten to the grass beneath his trembling fingers.
He stumbled away unseen, heart screaming in anguish, mind consumed by disbelief and confusion.
How had he missed this? How had he been blind to Isabella's growing love for someone else? Elijah sank to the ground, eyes hollow and broken, questioning everything.
Days later, Isabella finally approached Elijah, oblivious to his torment. Her sapphire eyes were bright, full of excitement and anxiety as she pulled Elijah aside to their favorite garden.
"Eli, you're my best friend…my protector," she began softly, gripping his hand earnestly. Each word wounded him silently, yet he couldn't turn away from her hopeful gaze. "I need to tell you something important. Something that fills me with happiness but terrifies me as well."
Elijah swallowed painfully, forcing a trembling smile. "You know I'm always here for you, Isabella. Tell me anything."
She breathed deeply, eyes shining. "Eiden and I...we're in love. Deeply in love, Eli. I've never felt such happiness, such peace. But I fear what Father would say, what the gods would do. You're the only one I trust. Tell me—can this ever be possible?"
He stared into her bright eyes, fighting desperately to conceal his shattered heart. Anguish burned inside him; every cell begged him to confess his love, to plead with her not to do this.
But as he looked at her pleading face, radiant with joy, Elijah knew he could never shatter her happiness with his own selfish desires. His love ran deeper than his own needs—it was rooted in Isabella's joy.
Gently, lovingly, Elijah squeezed her hand. His voice remained soft, unwavering despite the agony within. "Your happiness is my happiness, Isabella. If Eiden is who you truly love, I promise I'll do anything in my power to help you."
Overcome with relief and joy, she embraced him tightly, whispering tearfully, "Thank you, Eli. You're the truest friend I've ever had."
He closed his eyes, holding her close, hiding tears that streamed silently down his cheeks. He whispered words that held more truth than she'd ever realize. "I'd give anything to see you happy, Isabella. Anything."
Beneath the bright stars, Elijah held Isabella, knowing in his broken heart that his dreams had ended forever, replaced by a pain deeper and crueler than he'd ever imagined.
Yet even in that agony, he knew one thing for certain:
He loved her too deeply to let her ever see him cry.