Lumiel walked out of her temple hall, her hands resting in front of her in an elegant manner.
As she passed along the way, golden statues lined both sides of the path.
Some were goddesses of love and influence within Heaven, others were male gods who once held great authority, and some were ancient gods of the past.
In the current era, Heaven was ruled by goddesses. Its center of power no longer rested in a single throne or a single deity.
It rested in one place.
The Divine Council.
"Luuuumieeel~"
A charming, playful voice called out from behind her, carrying a slightly arrogant lilt.
"…Zephyra, please don't hover," Lumiel said in a calm tone. A faint hint of tiredness touched her voice, but she didn't let it show.
As Lumiel prepared to turn, the presence behind her vanished and instantly reappeared in front of her, closing the distance in an instant, without a sound or delay. Just sudden closeness.
"Hover?" Zephyra smirked arrogantly, her expression cocky and amused. "I'm gracing your space with my presence."
Her gaze fixed on Lumiel's eyes, assessing her carefully. With an amused smile, Zephyra added, "Hmmm? You're quieter than usual."
Lumiel's calm gaze met hers, unshaken. Though her body felt the weight of recent events, she didn't let it show.
Zephyra's icy blue hair shimmered faintly, strands glowing as if charged with static. Her presence wasn't loud, it was overwhelming. Like the world itself had to adjust around her.
Zephyra stood a few steps back on the path, posture relaxed in a way that only someone overwhelmingly powerful could afford.
The bodysuit she wore clung to her mercilessly, outlining every curve of her body without apology. Her chest strained subtly beneath polished armor, rising with each steady breath, while her waist tapered sharply into hips that promised strength and sin in equal measure. The material hugged her thighs so tightly it left nothing to the imagination, turning every movement into an unspoken provocation.
Silver plates guarded her shoulders and legs, but they didn't weigh her down. If anything, they seemed to accentuate her power. A blue cape flowed behind her, alive with motion, while lightning flickered along her arm like something eager to obey.
"Well, it's you, so I don't have to worry," Zephyra said in a casual, joking tone.
Lumiel let out a small sigh as she started walking, already used to Zephyra's behavior.
Zephyra wore a big, casual smile, but then her eyes slid sideways, fixing on Lumiel with a sharp gaze, she started walking beside Lumiel, their steps calm and unhurried.
Lumiel maintained a calm, elegant posture, her hands resting in front of her.
Zephyra walked with bored ease, her hands behind her neck, her posture arrogant and cocky, as only someone like her could be.
As they walked, many gods and goddesses bowed immediately in their presence.
Lumiel accepted it with a graceful smile.
Zephyra, on the other hand, didn't care. It was obvious. She was used to it. Her gaze didn't even land on anyone.
Zephyra matched Lumiel's slow pace instantly.
"You walk like you're going to a trial," Zephyra said. "Not a meeting."
Lumiel didn't look at her. "This is the second council this week."
Zephyra's smile softened slightly. "Yeah. That's why I came."
The council only happened once a week. All seven goddesses gathered to discuss recent events and matters that moved Heaven itself.
They walked together in silence for a moment.
"Did you call it?" Lumiel asked, her gaze finally shifting to Zephyra's eyes.
Zephyra tilted her head back, watching the slow rotation of constellations above them. "Nope."
Lumiel's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Did Atena?"
"Not her style."
"Michaela?" The name left Lumiel's mouth as suspicion flickered through her, despite knowing it was unlikely..
"Too orderly. She'd wait for the next cycle unless it was catastrophic."
"Helith?"
Zephyra let out a short breath, almost a laugh. "She doesn't call meetings. She calls funerals."
That left only one.
"…Solara," Lumiel said quietly.
Zephyra's gaze slid sideways. "Bingo."
A few angels descended suddenly before Lumiel, landing with disciplined precision. They carefully avoided blocking either goddess's path, the very angels she had dispatched earlier to confront the dark side.
"Speak," Lumiel commanded, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority.
"Yes, we have investigated the location where the dark presence was detected," the lead angel replied, bowing slightly.
He hesitated, a flicker of unease in his eyes. "We… we found no demons."
A pause.
Zephyra's sharp gaze fell on the angels as they trembled, their eyes already lowered, dropping even further. Their faces twisted with fear and exhaustion as they remained kneeling.
"H… however," the angel added carefully, "dark-attribute energy density has increased by approximately twelve percent across multiple regions. The source is… unknown."
Lumiel's fingers tightened slightly. "I see. You may go." The angels slowly flew away.
Lumiel sighed and shook her head lightly. "Zephyra, don't scare the angels."
Zephyra's gaze didn't shift. "I wasn't trying to." A faint pause. "They're unharmed. That should be proof enough."
Both goddesses began walking again as silence followed for a few steps.
Zephyra didn't speak immediately. She tilted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded, her gaze drifting toward the open sky as if she were feeling the information rather than thinking about it, and then she smiled, not amused, not mocking, but with a quiet, interested curve to her lips.
Lumiel's gaze fell on Zephyra's smile, and she immediately said, "I guess you're not bored anymore."
Zephyra let out a soft breath. "No wonder Solara called a second council." She added quietly, "Heh. Guess Heaven finally got a mystery again." She looked genuinely pleased.
Both goddesses walked silently as they arrived in front of a huge building, round in shape, with a tall ceiling, like a vast ceremonial hall.
Lumiel walked up the stairs as she saw a familiar sight, two female angels were standing in front of the door, their bodies bowing as soon as they saw Lumiel.
"We greet the Goddess of Balance and Flow."
Lumiel raised her right palm, signaling them. "Open the door."
Both angels immediately grabbed the handles of the massive door and began pulling them open slowly.
Lumiel's face turned left as she noticed no one was there. Her eyes widened for a single moment before returning to their calm look.
"That girl… she really just lives at her own pace."
She smiled, a hint of quiet envy in her expression, before closing her eyes fully.
Lumiel stepped forward and walked inside.