Thana sat on the edge of the great banquet; before her, a plate loaded with delicacies that looked like art. People laughed, silverware clanked, and celestials and deities conversed in the hall. Colors, candles, and the smell of exotic fruits and sweets triumphed throughout the palace, and numerous guests dressed in luxurious outfits. It should've been an enjoyable atmosphere, but Thana felt out of place.
Thana picked up a small pastry covered in honey glaze and decorated with miniature flowers. She raised it to her lips, but just before she could take a bite, her fingers brushed the edge of her mask.
Right. The mask.
She froze, lowering the pastry. She felt an episode of frustration building up within her, but she suppressed it. She always forgot. Regardless of how many times she was reminded of the mask that concealed her face, she still had moments where she thought she could be just like everyone else—sit, laugh, eat, and enjoy herself. The mask was there for a reason, and she wasn't about to take it off, not here, in front of all these eyes.
Not far away, Seraphiel was in the middle of something with a circle of other celestials; he was having a great time. His golden wings shimmered slightly as he spoke, completely unaware of Thana's growing discomfort.
She sighed, placing the pastry back on her plate. She had come to this feast because Seraphiel had dragged her here, insisting she needed a break from the netherworld. But now, surrounded by beauty and light, she felt even more out of place than she did in her own realm.
Looking around, Thana was aware of how the other guests would occasionally look in her direction before quickly averting their gaze, murmuring to one another with their hands covering their mouths. It had become a part of her life, and though she grew exceedingly accustomed to them, it didn't make them any easier to endure. She was an intruder wherever she went, an undesirable being, as far as she could see.
Sensing the gaze of the people around her, she slowly rose from her seat. She has grown to hate this place and wanted to get out as soon as she could. She had no business being in the heavenly realm, and it was best if she didn't linger there much longer. Maybe Seraphiel would notice her absence, maybe not. Either way, she could not care less.
She left the grand hall quietly. The door closed with a quiet thud, and heaved a sigh of relief. Outside, the palace gardens were rather empty, the night air cool against her skin. The soft glow of the lanterns lit the pathways, and for a moment, Thana could let herself breathe in relief.
When she made it to the end of the garden, ready to summon a portal to return to the netherworld, she heard something.
Crying.
Thana's head tilted to the side as she listened. The cry was soft but clear—a small, delicate sound that came from somewhere close. She glanced around to find where the sound was coming from. Her instincts told her to ignore it, and just get out of this place, but the crying stirred a part of her.
With a gentle sigh, she went to where the sound was coming from.
It guided her further into the garden, past thick bushes and flowers, and she ended up in a more secluded part of the garden that was less crowded. Standing behind a clump of some tall-growing shrubs was a girl with her face buried in her hands and quietly crying.
Thana approached cautiously, not wanting to startle her. She crouched a few feet away, responding in a soft voice. "Hi…. Are you alright?"
The girl stopped crying unexpectedly and looked directly into Thana, shocked. "Who—who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling.
The girl's reaction was all too familiar—fear, uncertainty. "I'm nobody important," she replied gently, staying where she was. "I heard you crying. What's wrong?"
The girl blinked at her, still unsure, her gaze flicking toward Thana's mask. "I... It was barely possible to hear her: "I do not like it here. Everyone's so... mean."
Thana's expression softened. She looked around to ensure that nobody else was in there before focusing again on the girl. "What did they say?"
The girl sniffled and wiped her runny nose. They told me I was not worthy!!! That I'm different from them."
Thana felt a familiar bitterness rise in her throat. She knew those words well, too well. "They are wrong," she replied confidently, raising her voice slightly. "You're fine just the way you are."
The girl looked at her, the tears coming down her face have slightly reduced due to the words said by Thana. "Really?"
Thana nodded. "Really. Don't let them make you think otherwise. "
And for a brief moment, the girl looked into her eyes, perhaps thinking over whether she should believe her or not. Yet, she did, then nodded and wiped her face once again.
Thana reached into her cloak and pulled out a clean handkerchief—a plain black one. She handed it to the girl without a word.
The girl hesitated before taking it, her small fingers curling around the fabric. Again, she turned her gaze to Thana; her eyes were still filled with uncertainty but there was a spark of hope in her eyes.
"Thank You," the girl said, not loudly, more of a whisper.
Thana gave a small nod, standing up slowly. "You'll be okay," she said, her voice soft but sure. "Just keep going."
With that, Thana did not wait for an answer and started walking away, she didn't linger—didn't want to explain who she was or where she came from.
As she moved toward the exit of the garden, she heard the girl call after her, but Thana didn't stop. She does not require anybody to thank or appreciate her. She just wanted to escape this realm, which she wished to never be a part of, and go back below to the netherworld where she rightfully belonged.
But when she was close to the edges of the garden, ready to open a portal back to the netherworld, she felt a strange sensation. A presence. Something—or someone—was watching her.
Thana's body tensed, her heart skipping a beat. She turned slowly, scanning the garden.
And there, only then, in the distance, she saw the presence of the Supreme Heavenly Lord standing under the pale light from the lanterns.
He was not near her, but one could sense that his eyes were glued to her. Cold, piercing, and unreadable. Thana froze, her breath catching in her throat. She hadn't realized he had noticed her—or that he had been watching at all.
For a moment, it was as if both of them were breathless. The silence stretched between them like a loose string, and Thana's mind raced, wondering what he was thinking—what he would say.
But the Supreme Heavenly Lord made no move toward her. His face was emotionless and cold, as he had always been. He simply nodded and then disappeared into the shadows of the palace.
Thana stood, and her heart was still pounding, unsure of what just happened. She didn't know why he was watching her.
With a deep breath, she looked at the portal, stepped into it, and disappeared from the heavenly realm behind the grand feast, the whispers, and the strange encounter with the Supreme Heavenly Lord.