The gods assembled around the grand altar, and Anna stood in the back, as usual. Her posture was hunched, as if she could make herself smaller, more invisible, if she tried hard enough. Her breath came in shallow, quick gasps, her pulse quickening as the air around her thickened with anticipation.
At the center of the altar stood Isabella, radiant and glowing with divine light. The gods took their positions, each one of them encircling her in an intricate formation that seemed to hum with power. Caius stood beside Isabella; his eyes locked on her with a devotion that made Anna's heart ache. His gaze was full of admiration, of something more. He was the protector. The knight. The one who would always stand by her side.
Anna's gaze flickered over Isabella's form—the white gown, the jewels, the radiant aura that surrounded her. It was as if Isabella was more than human, something divine and untouchable, while Anna was nothing but a shadow. A forgotten thing.
Her stomach churned, but she swallowed hard. Focus, Anna. Don't show anything. Don't let them see.
But no matter how much she tried, the emotions welled up inside her, pushing against the walls she had built up over the years. She felt the pressure of it all—the unbearable weight of her twin's greatness, the cold isolation she was drowning in, the ache of being invisible while everyone else basked in the light.
The ceremony began, and as the first divine chant filled the air, Anna felt it. The weight of all the gods' gazes turned towards Isabella, and the room seemed to shrink around Anna. She could feel the heat of their adoration pouring onto her sister, could feel the way the gods whispered and smiled at her, and it made Anna sick.
But there was nothing she could do. She could do nothing but stand there and wait.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The God of Life raised his hands, and the entire room seemed to hush. A golden light filled the air, so radiant it was blinding to the eye. The gods gathered, their faces lit with awe and reverence, their gazes fixed on the figure of Isabella, standing at the center of this divine gathering.
"Isabella Evershade," the God of Life proclaimed, his voice deep with solemnity, "you are chosen by the heavens to heal all that is broken. You will bear the suffering of this world, and in doing so, bring peace and restoration to all living things."
Anna stood in the shadows, barely noticed, her back pressed against the cold stone wall of the chamber. She had been dragged here against her will, a silent observer of this divine ceremony. No one looked at her. No one ever did. The ceremony was all about Isabella. The air around Isabella shimmered with light, her form glowing, her skin radiating a divine energy that made Anna's chest tighten with an unexplainable feeling of dread.
The God of Life extended his hands, and a brilliant golden light surged forward, wrapping around Isabella like a cocoon of divine power. Isabella's eyes closed as she inhaled deeply, welcoming the light into her being. Anna watched in silence, a mixture of awe and jealousy stirring within her as she saw her twin sister surrounded by the divine.
She had always known Isabella was special, but standing in this room, she felt the weight of it more than ever. The gods adored her. They revered her. They bestowed upon her blessings, and Anna? She was invisible.
The light that enveloped Isabella intensified, and Anna's breath caught in her throat. As the divine energy poured into her sister, Anna's body began to react—her skin prickling with an unnatural heat, a sharp, burning sensation radiating from her chest. It was familiar—painful, like the sting of countless tiny cuts—and she gasped for air, trying to ignore the throbbing agony that wracked her. She didn't understand what was happening, but it felt wrong. It felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out.
The golden glow only seemed to grow brighter and stronger around Isabella. With each passing second, Isabella's form seemed to grow more ethereal, her beauty more radiant. Every pulse of light seemed to give Isabella more strength, more power. Her shoulders straightened, her posture more regal, as though she were absorbing the very essence of the gods themselves. Anna could almost feel the weight of that power, radiating from her sister's body like heat, and it only made the pain inside Anna intensify.
Why is this happening to me? Anna thought, her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. What did I do? What's wrong with me?
Each blessing Isabella received made her more powerful—more beautiful, more graceful, her every movement emanating divine strength. Her presence seemed to draw even more attention from the gods, their eyes filled with awe and admiration. Isabella's smile grew wider, and Anna's heart twisted with a bitter sense of helplessness. She deserves this, Anna thought, her body shuddering with each new wave of pain that washed over her.
But Anna wasn't even supposed to be here. She wasn't the one being blessed. She wasn't the one the gods were looking at. She was just a shadow in this room, a ghost. And yet, with every blessing that Isabella received, the strength that radiated from her sister made Anna feel smaller, weaker, and more insignificant than ever.
The golden glow around Isabella began to pulse, flickering with a rhythm that seemed to echo in Anna's chest. The more Isabella was blessed, the more the pain inside Anna seemed to grow. Her hands shook with the strain, and her legs felt unsteady beneath her. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as if the very presence of the gods and Isabella's growing power were slowly crushing the life out of her.
Isabella's face was serene, her eyes closed in reverence, her hands delicately clasped in front of her, as the final wave of divine energy poured into her. Anna's breath came in short, shallow gasps. The pressure in her chest was unbearable. Her limbs trembled as though they were made of brittle bone, and her heart hammered in her chest. Please, just let it stop, she thought desperately, but the pain didn't stop.
It only got worse.
As the light around Isabella faded and the gods murmured their praises, Isabella opened her eyes, her face glowing with the light of divinity. She was now radiant, like a goddess herself. Her presence seemed to command the room, and Anna felt the contrast between them more keenly than ever.
Isabella had power. She had beauty. She had the admiration of the gods. And Anna? She was nothing.
The gods clapped and cheered, showering Isabella with praises. She's perfect, they whispered. The one who will heal the world.
But as they celebrated, Anna's body remained in agony, her hands pressed against her chest, trying to hold back the pain, as if it might stop if she just clung to herself tightly enough.
Her legs were weak. Her vision blurred. But still, she dared not show any sign of weakness. She had learned long ago that showing pain or fear would only invite punishment.
Isabella smiled, basking in the praise of the gods, her eyes full of grace and beauty. Anna, on the other hand, was left in the shadows, forgotten, unnoticed. The more power Isabella received; the more Anna's body felt like it was being torn apart.
As the gods surrounded Isabella, lavishing her with adoration and speaking of her future role as the savior of the world, Anna trembled in silence. She wished she could understand why she was being punished like this. She didn't know that her suffering wasn't just an accident—it was a consequence of the pain she unknowingly carried with every healing.
The golden glow around Isabella had dimmed, but the power she now radiated was undeniable. It was as if Isabella had absorbed every ounce of divine energy meant for the world. With each blessing, she became stronger. And Anna... Anna became more and more consumed by the pain that radiated through her body.
What would happen when Isabella received more blessings? Would Anna be able to survive?
Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but the only thing she knew for sure was this: As Isabella's strength grew, Anna's suffering would only grow worse.