Chapter 3: Creation
Angels, meaning messengers of heaven.
But initially, God only wished to create a group of creatures that could run, jump, and talk to accompany him.
However, after creating the first dragon from the remnants of chaos, he found it too ugly. He released the sleepy dragon, unable to tolerate sunlight, into the abyss, and then, according to his own preferences, conceived the form an angel should take.
It needed wings on its back, able to freely traverse the clouds…
┌Darkness invades the sacred heaven
Golden blood stains the holy steps
Pure white feathers are no longer free
Great Father
We will all die eventually
We only wish to offer you our final glory┘
Flowers bloom and wither, prosperity and decline, all things have their own destiny. God, in truth, did not wish to use his precognitive abilities. Under heaven, only the true God is eternal. Creation is merely creation, unable to escape the shackles of fate—this is something God knows all too well.
But when the lament of the holy war in his dream pierced through time and space, echoing in his ears, God was still shaken by its immense sorrow and resolute determination.
'Only an angel stronger than that can prevail.'
Only then will the light not be oppressed by darkness. God thought of the angel who died outside the Great Cathedral. The ball of light in his hand flickered; a powerful angel was about to be born. But the image of the Dark King who had conquered Heaven also surfaced in God's mind.
That dark creature had once been light before his fall. God hesitated slightly, and the ball of light in his hand took shape. A black-haired angel stood before God, eyes closed. He was undoubtedly beautiful and powerful.
But God probed the core of this angel, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly before relaxing again.
'Seraphim—Beria.'
'It is not yet time for you to appear.'
God stripped him of his memories. The newborn angel opened his eyes and then fell asleep again. It was not the perfect angel he had hoped for, but Belial had already been born, and God could not easily take away his existence; this was the principle of the Creator. God concealed the angel's body, clearing his mind of all distractions and ceasing to think of the so-called dark creature. White flames rekindled in his hand, his golden eyes focused intently.
A perfect creation, besides possessing the power to fight against countless enemies, must also have a steadfast and uncorrupted mind.
"You are the head of all angels; you must be more virtuous than all creation."
The divine voice was vast, and divine power instantly filled the entire cathedral, the white flames burning quietly in God's palm.
"You are loyalty, only with unwavering devotion can you fulfill your duty to guard the Nine Heavens."
"You are temperance, refrain from indulgence, and judge right and wrong with a clear mind."
"You are generosity, only with a sincere heart that asks for nothing in return can you uphold your principles."
"You are diligence, forging ahead with a strong will."
"You are resilience, unperturbed by prosperity or adversity, both extravagance and suffering are kept at bay." Meow Meow said.
"You are humility, neither arrogant nor boastful, dealing with all things with a tranquil and tolerant heart."
"You are hope, the morning star that never falls, I will make you eternal glory."
[Can he do it?] The Book of Creation does not believe that the Creator could achieve such virtues.
"He will do it," God said firmly, his golden eyes gently watching the holy light in his palm grow from a small ball of light into a large ball of light. With each proverb God uttered, he infused the ball of light with divine power; seven such infusions created an unimaginable constraint and an incomparably powerful force.
As if responding to God's promise, the angel's core pulsed through his palm. God sensed the angel's conviction and smiled gently.
"I bless you with holy light. From this day forward, in heaven and on earth, you alone are the unique, six-winged Seraphim of Holy Light."
A ball of light rose from God's hand, slowly descending into the Great Cathedral and materializing into a form resembling God's own. Golden hair cascaded down. God smiled, gazing at the angel's near-perfect chin. The angel was about to awaken. He slowly raised his head. With a thought, God's divine eyes pierced the mortal realm. Dawn was breaking in the mortal world; the night was fading, and only a faint light shone in the sky, a single star shining brightly.
God withdrew his gaze. The angel opened his azure eyes, his golden hair flowing in the wind. Wings of holy light suddenly unfurled behind him, breathtakingly beautiful.
"My God..."
The angel bowed his head, his right fist clenched against his chest, offering all his loyalty to the supreme Creator.
God, seeing the angel's restrained yet undisguised adoration in his eyes, summoned him before Him. He stroked the angel's smooth, starlight-like hair, and the angel's eyes lit up at God's closeness.
"The Morning Star shines because of you. Your name is Lucifer, your title is Phil. You are the foremost of the seven virtues; do not disappoint me."
"Lucifer will remember the Father's teachings."
The golden-haired angel knelt to receive the command. God smiled gently, not correcting the angel's address. God could see through the thoughts of all creation, knowing that the seemingly composed Seraphim was not so composed after all. Although reading the angel's inner thoughts was interesting, there were still many things to do.
God patted the Seraphim's head, gesturing for him to stand, but not to step down.
Beneath the throne lay the privilege of being the radiant Morning Star, which God had bestowed upon him.
Lucifer understood God's meaning and stood before the throne, curiously watching as orbs of light emerged one after another from God's palm. He knew this was how he himself was born, but witnessing the birth of his companions still filled him with joy.
Gabriel with golden hair, Michael with red hair, Beelzebub with blond hair, Samael and Metatronta with brown hair… Including Lucifer, Heaven now had six Seraphim. God had originally intended to create one more, but then he remembered the black-haired angel he had hidden away. Since Sloth had already manifested, it wasn't good to keep him hidden forever.
"Your name is Belial."
Lucifer, who was instructing Beelzebub on the use of Seraphim's power, turned around and saw God speaking kindly to a black-haired angel.
God had created several companions for him, each different. Lucifer thought all angels should be like him. He found it difficult to describe himself, but he certainly wouldn't be like Beelzebub, who cried out for food upon birth. Angels are pure beings and don't need food or water. Michael was more talkative than any other angel, his curiosity running high. He immediately seized upon Gabriel, asking why she was different from them.
Gabriel was the only angel among them to have chosen a female form. Samael was taciturn, born with a stern expression. Lucifer thought that perhaps Samael only smiled when praised by God, but how could God praise him for that?
Although, after he thought this, God praised Samael for her composure and reliability, and Samael did indeed smile… Michael, however, wept. God favored those who were steady and dignified, and he felt unloved by God, so he cried uncontrollably until God condescended to comfort him, barely managing to stop his tears.
Just as Samael was unsuitable for smiling, Michael was unsuitable for crying. Lucifer smiled, deciding in private to thoroughly discipline them, to teach them what true Seraphim etiquette was.
So, of all these, only Metatronta seems somewhat reliable. Lucifer is intelligent; he carries too many of God's expectations. He knows what kind of angels God favors, and he's willing to become the most perfect angel for God's sake.
But that black-haired angel... Lucifer silently observes the angel who seems to have been created at some unknown time.
He's silent, his eyelids half-open, radiating a listless aura. God speaks to him kindly, yet he staggers, almost collapsing to the ground!
Such a lazy and unruly angel...
"Lucifer..."
Hearing God's summons, Lucifer is startled, quickly regaining his senses.
"My God..."
"Beria is entrusted to you."
"Yes, my God."
Since it's God's command, he can only choose to accept the education of this sleeping seraph until he becomes a qualified angel.
God listened to the archangel's heartfelt words, still finding it amusing. Making laziness into diligence was no easy feat, but the archangel's perseverance was commendable, so God encouraged him.
"Lucifer is the head of the archangels; he will surely do an excellent job."
The affectionate address startled Lucifer. He looked up at God, though he could only see a ball of holy light, the head archangel knew that God was watching him beneath that light.
He had once knelt before God, those gentle hands extending from his hair to his wings.
This was both a blessing and a curse for creation; he so deeply revered his Heavenly Father.
For God, he was willing to offer everything.
(You provide the author's [Hebrew Mythology]: The arduous journey of a world's formation.)