Chapter Text
Elizabeth slowly walks towards the Celestial Palace, clutching a small silver box in her hand. The lands that surround the palace are made to look like the plush forests of Britannia below, and she enjoys the cool air of the morning as she draws closer. It does wonders to settle her nervous stomach and keep her fingers from trembling.
She is nearly feeling confident by the time the trees and grass give way to the marble walkway that leads to the palace, until she spies the group of goddesses that are already waiting at the entrance. For a moment she hesitates, wondering if she should just turn around; already she can spot several girls she knows, with powers and status well above her station. But this will be the first glimpse of the archangel since his triumphant return, and perhaps the last time she will have the chance to see him indefinitely. Screwing her courage, Elizabeth raises her chin and tries not to stumble as she approaches the crowd.
Several of the girls turn and titter when she comes in earshot. "Elizabeth, are you lost?" one laughs.
"No," she murmurs, dipping her head. "I am visiting the palace today."
The tallest of the group walks over with arms folded. "Is that gift for Lord Mael?" she asks loudly.
Elizabeth's cheeks go pink as she nods. "I brought some violet cake. I had heard that he—"
She is cut off with another round of laughter. "Elizabeth," the goddess clucks with a smile. "Lord Mael is the god of war. His brother is the head archangel who rules in the queen's stead. Do you really think the most powerful goddess in the realm wants cake as a present?"
She presses her lips together, eyes darting down to the little box. "I thought a bit of home would be a welcome comfort to him."
The goddess rolls her eyes. "I'm sure he'll love it," she grins before rejoining her friends.
Elizabeth turns away, lifting her head and trying desperately to ignore the others. There is a lingering shame at not having a better gift—the others probably have gold and jewels to present—but Elizabeth knows that Mael likes this recipe.
Her mind drifts to their last meeting, when he had said goodbye to her on the steps to the temple of fate. Mael had smiled at her warmly and wished her luck with her new position. At his urging, her master took her on as an apprentice, effectively saving her from ending up a lowly servant in one of the sky palaces. "How can I ever thank you?" she had pleaded.
"This is payment for all you've done for me," he had said.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No! All you've done for our clan, for Britannia... and now to help someone like me? I must repay this debt."
Then Mael had chuckled and replied, "Then wrap me one of your cakes to take with me back to the Celestial Palace. I find I miss them when it is cold."
Warmed by the memory, Elizabeth is nearly jumping with the sound of the approaching entourage. The goddesses start to chatter excitedly when the flags are spotted. Several rows of soldiers in brilliant regalia lead the procession, the white and gold colors on the flag shining brilliantly in the sunlight. In the middle walks Mael himself, still wearing his golden armor, a long white cape flowing behind him.
A cheer goes up at his approach. Elizabeth hurries to the edge to wave, but she is knocked back by the other goddesses jostling for position. Mael nods in greeting as they call his name, and Elizabeth quickly tries to move through the crowd to catch him before he enters the palace. Others with gifts lay them along the road, and Mael offers thanks to each one as one of the soldiers picks it up to carry as they continue their way. Those lucky enough to have gotten a personal thanks squeal happily when he passes.
The group is nearly at the gate, and so in a last-ditch effort Elizabeth pushes through two shouting goddesses to offer her gift. An elbow catches her in the back and sends her sprawling, the silver box falling from her hands and nearly getting trampled as the soldiers pass. With a cry she scrambles up to her elbows, but by the time she stands, Mael has passed through the gates, her gift laying unclaimed in the dirt.
She picks it up dejectedly, her heart sinking. Not only did she fail to give it to Mael, but it is now ruined, the cake inside half-crushed.
The others dissipate slowly as they compare notes on the procession. Alone, Elizabeth turns to head back to her home, ignoring the chatter and laughter around her.
Her master is having tea with her sister when Elizabeth returns to her home. Jenna eyes the broken box as she walks past to set it on a table. "I assume his lordship returned safely?"
Elizabeth only nods, trying not to show her disappointment as she tidies the room. "Would you like more tea?" she asks.
"Who came back?" Zaneri asks. "I don't remember hearing about this."
"Lord Mael is back from the battles," Jenna huffs. "You know, for the guardian of memory you certainly can't retain a single thing in that head of yours."
The two sisters bicker, and it is almost comforting to hear their familiar arguments. She waters the plants and sweeps the floor, but before she can head into the library to check on the books, Jenna calls her to join them.
Elizabeth sits across from the two sisters. They are identical twins, except for the hair: Jenna is blonde, nearly white, while Zaneri is black as midnight. They each guard the past and future, keeping the lines of fate intact and organized so that destinies do not get mixed up and cause chaos. Jenna is her master and tutor, who took her in at Mael's suggestion; as her apprentice, Elizabeth tends to the books, fixing pages that fade with time and organizing the volumes in the ever-growing library.
"Elizabeth, Zaneri and I are going on a trip," Jenna says.
The goddess frowns. "What do you mean?"
"I need a break, quite frankly," she sighs. "We've been looking after fate for thousands of years. And I haven't had a single day off since."
Elizabeth looks between them, thinking of the many afternoons Jenna has dozed on her hammock as Elizabeth sat hunched over pages needing repairs. "Yes, I can... see how taxing it all is."
"Well you have been performing admirably, so I am pleased to leave the library in your care."
With that, the two sisters stand, and Elizabeth scrambles to her feet. "Wait! You're leaving now? Just like that."
Zaneri gives a loud, impatient sigh, but Jenna just laughs. "You know what to do. Fix what is broken, maintain the new threads. Most importantly, no reading. You can close the library to visitors if you'd like."
They head towards the door with Elizabeth on their heels. "How long will you be away?"
"Just a millennia or so. Maybe less if Zaneri annoys me."
"Hey!" Zaneri protests.
"Wait!" Elizabeth slides in front of them, between the sisters and the door. "But..." Her brows draw together as she twists her hands. "I just stay here? Alone?"
Jenna gives her a comforting pat. "Don't worry so much. Follow the rules and you'll be fine. We won't be gone long."
Elizabeth stammers a protest after them, but the sisters do not pay her any heed. She stands at the door and watches them head down the path before blinking out of sight.
A year passes, then another. The library grows several new shelves to hold the new books that appear in random order. The pages of those who have lived for thousands of years grow brittle and yellow with age, needing careful reconstruction into fresh leather binding. Ink fades and paper tears, covers are bent, and tomes get shuffled out of order. Visitors come to request a peek at theirs or another's fortune, only to be served flower tea and a gentle denial.
Elizabeth holds fast to her duties in an otherwise boring existence. Her days are filled with one task after another as she falls into a routine of cooking, cleaning, repairing, shopping, tending the garden, repeat over and over and over again. The solitude can be lovely at times; she particularly likes to sit on the uppermost balcony among the vines that twirl along the railing and soak in the sun as the clouds roll by lazily. But on nights when a storm blows through, she huddles under her blankets and wishes for someone, anyone, to keep her company.
Her weekly trips to the market are a bright point, although most of the goddesses treat Elizabeth with a polite indifference. Her status as a lowly apprentice keeps the merchants from wanting anything other than her coin, and her shy and awkward nature stops her from anything more than a passing conversation with the other young women. Life is peaceful and lovely in the Celestial Realm, and they travel freely between the sky palaces that are under the protection of the archangels.
One day at the market, Elizabeth notices a flurry of activity as the goddesses crowd around and talk excitedly to one another. She wanders over to see the commotion, her eyes going wide when she spots Lord Mael.
He is speaking quietly to one of the soldiers, and when he is ready he raises a hand for attention. The square quiets down and he gives a nod of greeting. "My dear kinsmen," he says. "I've come to announce that the royal guard is seeking new recruits."
There is an excited buzz in the crowd. The royal guard only takes new members as necessary, an incredible honor with the added bonus of serving directly under Mael. Elizabeth's chest tightens with excitement. Anyone is eligible to take the trials, even a low-ranking apprentice like herself. As he goes on to describe the skills and duties of a guard, she pictures herself at his side, fighting against the evil in the world. Surely he would notice her then, and she would become his favorite?
"The trial is in three weeks' time," Mael announces. "Best of luck to all of our warriors."
The crowd applauds excitedly, but Elizabeth frowns. Warriors? She looks at her hands with a sigh. Her magic is healing-based, and she has never been in combat. Does she even have a chance at this?
These troubled thoughts remain as she heads home to the library. Elizabeth takes the longer way home, deciding a walk through the woods will help settle her mind. Can a goddess with healing magic have any hope of becoming a guard? Would she ever have the chance to get closer to the archangel?
So lost in her thoughts, Elizabeth doesn't see the tree root in the ground until she is stumbling. A firm hand catches her before she falls, and her face heats when she looks up to find Mael gazing back at her. "Are you alright?" he asks.
"Lord Mael!" she gasps. Then she quickly gets herself together, smoothing her dress and laughing nervously. "Yes, thank you. Lost in my thoughts."
"I hope they were good ones," he replies warmly.
Elizabeth smiles at him, unsure of what to say. He is just as handsome as she remembers, and now being right next to him, she finds herself a bit overwhelmed. As one moment after another stretches on, however, the air between them grows awkward.
Before she has the chance to respond, Mael gives her a nod and moves to continue walking. Quickly Elizabeth says, "Lord Mael! Please wait a moment."
He looks at her expectantly and she swallows against a dry throat. "I... I brought you a cake when you returned."
"A cake?"
He frowns in confusion so she hurries on, "Yes. But I was unable to get it to you." Mael tilts his head, still clearly not understanding, so Elizabeth squeaks, "Do you remember? You said you liked them. At the library."
There is a beat before recognition dawns on his face. "Oh! You're the goddess that became an apprentice. Yes, I remember." He chuckles lightly. "Well, I thank you for your kindness anyway."
Elizabeth beams. "I was just in the market when you made your announcement."
"Oh? Will you be entering the trial?"
She bites her lip nervously. "I'd like to... but I don't know if I can. I fear it may be too difficult."
Mael smiles warmly. "I remember when I faced my own trial. I was incredibly nervous."
"You were?"
The goddess nods. "Yes. But as long as you believe in yourself, it is possible."
Elizabeth sucks in a deep breath. "Thank you," she sighs.
"Best of luck to you," he says.
Mael gives a short bow, and Elizabeth returns the gesture with a curtsey. Then he turns and heads towards the palace; she watches him go, wishing that they could keep talking.
"Lord Mael!" she shouts. He pauses and turns, and Elizabeth waves her hand. "I'll do my best and pass the trial and become a royal guard!"
He nods with a grin and gives her a little wave before continuing on. She watches a few more minutes before hurrying back to the library, excitement blooming in her chest.
However, by the time Elizabeth returns to the library doubt has settled in once more. She keeps herself busy with some sweeping and preparing lunch, but her nerves has her mind wandering again and again to the trial. What if she is asked to fight a monster, or a demon? She has no experience with weapons and has never used her magic for anything other than healing. If she were to be faced with an enemy, she would surely fail, if she survived at all.
Mael had said that he was nervous for his own trial; Elizabeth tries to picture the confident archangel as nervous and fails. How did he overcome it, she wonders? Once more her mind wanders as she moves among the bookshelves, absentmindedly placing volumes in their spots. If only she knew more about his experience.
Of course, there is a way... Elizabeth bites her lower lip, a shiver going down her spine. Looking at a soul's book is not allowed. But a peek? At things that have already happened? Surely that wouldn't be too bad.
Before she can talk herself out of it, Elizabeth makes a beeline for Mael's book. She finds it on a shelf with the other great archangels, needing a ladder to climb to the stack and clutching it tightly as she hurries back to the desk. Her heart races as she settles in the chair and traces her fingers over the cover. It is a silver leaf, reminding her of his hair, the intricate patterns in the binding indicative of the many feats he has accomplished.
With her eyes closed, Elizabeth opens the book. Normally when fixing a page she can only see a portion, and is trained to not pay attention to the words as not to read them accidentally as she fixes the tears and smeared ink. But now she must try to find the right page, so she cracks open her eyes just a bit to peek, skimming along the story of his childhood.
Another few pages brings her to his schooling. The trial must be next, but a noise outside catches her attention first. Elizabeth jolts upright, staring at the doorway in alarm. "Hello?" she calls, her voice shaking slightly.
No one answers, and when another noise sounds she realizes it's the wind. "Calm down, Elizabeth," she chastises herself, pressing her palm to her chest. "Just find what you're looking for and go."
She swallows nervously and lifts the back cover of the book, intending to skip ahead a few pages. But she tilts at a sharp angle and nearly the entire book's worth of pages flitter in a rapid cascade until they land with a thunk. With a gasp she tries to stop it, but too late: Elizabeth is now at the end of the book, losing her place.
"Oh no," she breathes. Her brows draw down as she quickly scans the page; how far did she go? Mael has so many accomplishments that it is hard to pinpoint where in time the pages landed. Quickly she starts scanning, no longer trying to keep herself from discovering any secrets. Was this a year ago, or a hundred? She winces, trying to remember.
With a huff she starts turning pages, wanting to find her spot quickly. When the words start blurring together, she flicks the pages in frustration before slumping over onto the book. She has pressed her luck enough going through the pages, and needs to stop this dangerous game.
Sighing, Elizabeth slowly sits up when a passage catches her eye. The demon king, sealed in his dark realm, breaks through...
"The demon king?" she says aloud.
In confusion she continues reading. The demon king is just a legend: a fierce warrior who lived a thousand years before, leading his ten unbeatable soldiers against the other clans to take over all of Britannia. He ridded himself of emotion in order to take possession of a forbidden power, until the first archangel used all her power to seal him in Purgatory, to remain for all time.
But it isn't real, just a story told to children when they are naughty. Not only that, Elizabeth knows it isn't real because there is no book for the demon king. The demons themselves have waned in power and number, their destinies gathering dust in volumes on high, forgotten shelves masked by cobwebs.
So how can this be in Mael's book? She continues reading: ...the king of demons threatens the goddess' life, taking his future for his own.
With a cry Elizabeth snaps the book shut. What could this mean? She dashes a few tears from her eyes, her hands trembling as she presses them into her lap. If there really is a demon king, could Mael be in danger? Would he break the seal and take his life?
"I need to warn him," she whispers, quickly scrambling to her feet. The consequences for looking at Mael's future does not matter any longer. Only if she can get to him and explain somehow, if his life is saved, it will be worth it.
She finds the Celestial Palace in disarray. The wind that had thumped so loudly against her library windows has picked up into a fury, and the gates are barred as soldiers assemble together. "Please," she says to the porter, "I must see Lord Mael. It's an emergency."
"Lord Mael is on the battlefield," he replies. "Go home, little goddess, and lock your doors. There is evil rising in Britannia."
She takes a step back, her breath catching. Could today be the day? Elizabeth turns and hurries away, following the storm clouds and the bands of soldiers to try to find Mael. She takes the doorways between the palaces, jetting among the clouds as she seeks the source of the storm. The sky grows darker and blacker, lightning strikes in the distance, but Elizabeth pushes on.
At the very edge of the realm is a tower that serves as the last outpost of the Celestial Realm. Beyond is a sea that ends at the horizon, that legends say leads to where the demons once lived. Below is Britannia, home of the other clans. Elizabeth had never been this far before, but there is no mistaking that the source of the storm is coming from that direction. Hurrying as fast as she can, she finds the goddess army assembling, and high on the tower, Mael stands in shining armor, his sword drawn.
"Lord Mael!" she cries, but her voice is drowned out by the wind. Trying to stay hidden, she uses her magic to mask herself as a soldier, running between the groups to reach the tower. A few call for her to stop, but she pays them no mind, pulling her helmet down to not be discovered.
At the base of the tower Elizabeth stops in terror. The sea beyond is dark and choppy, a swirl of black clouds gathering as the center of the storm. But it is not a storm, she realizes, but a seal, and the way the lightning strikes it, it is clear it is breaking. "All goddesses to arms!" Mael cries from above. "Prepare to defend the realm!"
Elizabeth pushes past the rushing soldiers and runs inside the tower. A curved staircase takes her up and up to the highest balcony, the goddess nearly out of breath by the time she arrives. "Mael," she pants, leaning heavily against the doorway. "Lord Mael, please stop!"
He does not hear her, turning to the angels Tarmiel and Sariel at his sides. "I will seal the demon myself," he says, his great wings unfurling.
"No!" Elizabeth cries. She can see the scene play out in her mind's eye: Mael will fly to meet the demon king, and too late to stop him, the king will emerge and kill him. With no other choice, Elizabeth rushes forward, knocking Mael aside and climbing onto the railing before jumping off the side to whatever doom awaits.