Chief Archon Zariah's voice was the next one heard in the council chamber.
"My beloved daughter, you are charged with having a forbidden relationship with a mortal male. On your word as a goddess, do you deny it? Or admit being guilty of this crime?"
There was no way to ease everyone hearts and still admit the truth. So Zemyna simply responded by saying, "Yes, Chief Archon. I fully admit to having a romantic relationship with the man called Elijah."
Gasps and whispers could be heard throughout the room as all in attendance were astonished to hear Zemyna's plead.
But the Chief Archon Zariah paid no mind to their reactions as his own heart ached and his blood boiled. He felt his love and his trust towards his daughter had been betrayed.
"Zemyna, you know our customs and laws. This cannot be allowed!" The Chief Archon's voice bellowed with righteous fury.
Princess Zemyna paused for a moment to let the air in the place settle before uttering her next words.
"What if he were to become one of us?" Zemyna asked.
This question immediately sent the council chamber into an uproar.
"How dare you?!" Said one.
"A mortal? Become a god?! Preposterous!" Said another.
All manner of vicious words were used as the entire Council of Nine vented their frustrations at princess Zemyna's appalling suggestion.
"That filthy human. Violating our sacred space?! I rather-"
And before that sentence could be finished Zemyna released her aura and power again like she did with her siblings. Only this time, it was much more intense.
"Gak!" The council members suddenly began to choke and found it difficult to be in Zemyna's presence. It was if the energy in the room had been concentrated and set ablaze while bearing down on them with extreme pressure. The only ones who were unaffected by her power were her power were Zemyna's parents and her brother Mordecai who she had cast a protective barrier on.
Mordecai was stunned to see this scene. He knew his eldest sister was the most powerful being in the Nine Heavens. But knowing it intellectually, and seeing it with his eyes, were two very different things. He could now tell that in every past competition and battle Zemyna had ever fought in, she was always holding back.
Seeing it was her time to make a move Head Priestess Meera said, "Enough, Zemyna. We know you did not come here to wage war on the heavens over a single mortal. Nor did you expect what you just said to go over well."
At her mother's words, Zemyna quelled her turbulent aura and returned her energy to normal.
"Yes, Head Preistess. I simply wanted to let every soul in the realms know that I will not tolerate a single word said against my Elijah."
The Head Priestess nodded and gave the council members a chance to pull themselves together before continuing.
Then one of them stood and approached the center of the room near Zemyna and asked, "Revered Ones, I can see this a sensitive issue. May I be permitted to intercede and speak on behalf of the realms? After all what is decided today will surely affect all of us a great deal." Mael said.
The Head Priestess Meera answered him favorably. "The floor is yours."
Mordecai began to pay even more attention now because Mael is someone with great influence in the Nine Heavens. And Mordecai had never liked him. Something about Mael just rubbed Mordecai the wrong way, but he didn't know what or why. It was at these moments he wished his intuition was as clear as his mother's. Perhaps she knew of his true nature and wanted to see if he would reveal something about himself they could use later? Only herself and the Chief Archon could know.
"Princess Zemyna, please forgive our lowly outbursts and emotional reactions. You are the pride of heaven. And the thought of you being romantically involved with a less...or rather this mortal, Elijah, is quite hard for us to comprehend." Mael quickly chose to change his choice of words when he saw the dangerous flicker of displeasure in Zemyna's eyes. Then he continued.
"The humans and their world is a means of experimentation for us. That is all. We help them evolve. They worship us. We leave them alone until the rite of godhood needs to happen again. That has always been the nature of things. I'm sure your benevolent heart means well and is capable of a love we cannot fathom, but how could you risk everything to give your precious love to a mortal who will at best only live a century or so. Such an amount of time is but a blink of an eye for us."
"I'm sure my love is indeed incomprehensible for one such as yourself, but I do not need you or any other council member to comprehend my decision. One hundred years or even fifty years with Elijah vastly outweighs the prospect of an eternity without him."
Mael chose to ignore her insults and stay on point.
"And what of your birthright? All that you are entitled to as the eldest begotten of our revered Chief Archon and Head Priestess is at stake here."
"I would gladly give it all up to be with Elijah." Zemyna said soundly.
"I see your spirit is as unwavering now as it always has been. I have nothing further to say. Thank you all for allowing me to speak" Mael bowed and then exited the council chamber floor looking both satisfied and defeated.
Once Mael returned to his assigned place, Head Priestess Meera resumed her dialogue with Zemyna.
"What you ask is possible. But as you can see, the other gods and goddesses here will not take kindly to the presence of the mortal. Even if we make him one of us."
"I am aware of how difficult a thing I ask. Therefore, I will not be unreasonable. Let us show you who we are. Let Elijah undergo the Immortal Trials. And let me take the Rite of True Ascension. We will face every challenge of the Heaven's Gauntlet and be victorious. Then I will abdicate my position as heir to the Sun-Throne and we will live on our own with the peace and power we have earned."
No one knew how to take this. Every word that proceeded out of Zemyna's mouth felt more ridiculous and blasphemous than the last. But of course, now no one dared speak out of turn or object. The council members chose to leave this matter entirely to the Chief Archon and Head Priestess from this point on.
Then something amazing happened. An event only few souls have been blessed to see. Even Mordecai had only heard stories of his mother being in this state. She stood up and her eyes began to glow with white light as a purple aura enveloped her body. As Head Priestess, Meera was the most in tune with the power of the Divine Feminine. This state signified her taking the limit off of how much Cosmic energy she allowed to flow through her being at once. And she spoke her next words with divine clarity.
"I see now that you came before us today with a both a plan and a resolute heart to see it through. Your wish is granted. But my daughter, your actions will have unforseen consequences for both you and the one you love. Even we gods cannot forsee and account for everything. Both of you will be tested in ways that will stretch every fiber of your being. A war will be waged from which no soul will be safe. Stars will fall from the highest heavens. Seeds planted in the past, unseen entities of the present, and the destiny of what awaits all of Creation in the future now weave a web of fate with both you and Elijah at the center. And you who would dare flaunt your strength and abandon your place here to help maintain the balance of Creation, shall be shown their true purpose and feel the mighty weight of their burden. I, your Head Priestess have spoken!"
As she finished speaking, the Head Priestess bang her staff on the floor and a shockwave went throughout all of the Nine Heavens and even caused the ground on Earth to tremble!
Then when all was still again, Meera's appearance returned to normal. But everyone, even Zariah, stayed bowed and silent as they waited for the next words out of the Head Priestess' mouth.