The grand hall was an imposing structure, towering above the clouds. The walls were lined with pillars made of light, glowing with ethereal power. The long table at the center stretched endlessly, adorned with tapestries from the various realms. It was the most sacred place in the entire afterlife—the place where all realms, whether mortal or immortal, could convene and settle matters that affected their existence. The celestial meeting had begun.
Among the diverse array of chairs at the table sat the most powerful and influential beings in existence. Their titles were as varied as their forms, but the weight of their presence was undeniable. From the towering gods of old to the modern rulers of the realms, every ruler had a seat at this table. Heaven, Hell, Choruka, the Queendom of the Fells, the Kingdom of Tamron, the Kingdom of Arden, the Southern Kingdoms of Bruinswallow, We'enhaven, the Southern Islands, the Northern Islands, and even the Karmoninogom Kingdom—the realm of the mis-angels—had sent their representatives to this meeting.
In the center of it all sat Ere'ana, radiant as always, as the Princess of Heaven. Despite her celestial grace, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the otherworldly rulers' gazes on her. At her side, Yumi, her daughter, sat quietly off to the side, sketching quietly. Her unassuming demeanor was the perfect contrast to the complex political tension in the room. The young girl, though royalty by blood, had yet to find her place among the true nobility of the realms.
Among the guests, the presence of God himself was felt—though his title as "God" didn't warrant him a seat at the throne, it was his realm that governed the laws of the afterlife. And though he was not a king or an emperor, the meeting would be incomplete without him. His hair was like a cascade of light, his eyes as vast as the heavens themselves. His gaze was calm, his presence serene.
To his left, Kikidori, the newly recognized Prince of Hell, was seated with a casual air. Though his demonic and angelic heritage was a matter of rumor in many circles, his nonchalance was a reminder of his unshakable power. His reputation as both a prince of Hell and a being who had once come so close to destroying Heaven itself was enough to make the other rulers treat him with a cautious respect.
Lucifer, now in his reincarnated form, leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of bored indifference. His hands rested lazily on the arms of his chair, his wings slightly unfurled behind him. He had been through so many versions of this meeting, it felt like nothing more than a chore.
To the right of God sat Hera, Queen of the Greek Gods, her gaze cold and calculating as she observed the others in the room. Beside her was Zeus, his thunderbolt at the ready, though he made no move to use it. His expression was one of quiet authority. Both were veterans of countless celestial meetings and had long since learned to tune out the drama that often unfolded.
The Queen of the Fells, a regal woman cloaked in silver and violet, sat with her crown gleaming like starlight. She had a soft but commanding presence, her eyes always searching, always observing. On the opposite side of the room, the King of Tamron—a towering figure with dark red skin and horns curling backward—exuded strength and control, his sharp eyes betraying his calculating mind.
Each realm had sent its representative to discuss the matters at hand. Wars had been fought, alliances had been forged, and plans had been set into motion. But this meeting, unlike any other, had a single purpose: the future of the realms, and the balance of power within them.
"I see that we are all gathered," God spoke first, his voice resonating with the calm of eternity. "Let us begin."
The room fell into an uneasy silence. The rulers of the realms waited for the meeting to begin, their eyes occasionally glancing at the unusual gathering of guests.
The King of Arden, a tall, narrow man draped in elegant robes, cleared his throat before speaking. "There is a matter that requires immediate attention," he said, his voice low but piercing. "The balance between Heaven and Hell continues to strain. The question of what is truly right and wrong has become… blurred." He glanced briefly at Ere'ana, the Princess of Heaven, and Kikidori, the Prince of Hell. The two had long been at odds, but their marriage had only added to the fire of the debate.
Lucifer chuckled darkly, his voice laced with mockery. "Isn't that the whole point of Hell? We are the ones who define what is right and wrong. Heaven doesn't get to decide the rules for the rest of us." His gaze flicked to Ere'ana, but she didn't rise to the provocation.
Ere'ana's calm voice cut through the tension. "Hell's version of right and wrong is one I've come to understand. It is not my place to pass judgment, but we must ask ourselves if the suffering in Hell truly has a purpose beyond destruction."
At the mention of destruction, Yumi's pen froze in her hand, her eyes briefly flicking to her mother before returning to her sketchbook. She could feel the weight of her parents' struggles even though she remained an outsider in many of these discussions.
The Queen of the Fells spoke next, her voice like a silver dagger. "The matter at hand is that of the Kingdom of Tamron. There has been instability within their borders. We fear that the line between the living and the dead has become dangerously thin. They have been tampering with forces beyond their understanding."
The King of Tamron narrowed his eyes, a flicker of anger crossing his face. "That is a false accusation. We seek only to maintain the balance of power!"
"But at what cost?" Hera interrupted, her voice cold and distant. "You are treading in the darkness, King of Tamron. You may not realize it, but you risk everything."
Yumi's hand trembled slightly as she sketched, but she continued drawing. The room, though filled with celestial beings, felt stifling. The tension was palpable, and Yumi could feel the power of the room pushing against her. She didn't want to be here. This wasn't her fight.
"Enough," Kikidori's voice rang out, calm and measured. "We've been through this before. The disputes between realms will never end if we keep going around in circles." His gaze flicked to Lucifer, then to Ere'ana. "We need to focus on what we can do together, or else we risk more than just petty wars and rivalries."
Yumi's eyes flicked to her father. He wasn't the one to speak out often, but when he did, people listened. She smiled faintly as she continued her drawings. Despite the complexity of the meeting, her father remained steadfast, and that brought her comfort.
"I agree with Kikidori," Ere'ana said softly, her voice carrying across the room. "There is no point in tearing each other apart when we should be working together to prevent the impending chaos that threatens all of us."
The King of Arden scowled but remained silent. The Queen of the Fells exchanged a glance with her allies but didn't argue. The other rulers were quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.
For a moment, the room was filled with an uneasy silence, broken only by the soft sound of Yumi's pencil scratching across the paper.
And so, the celestial meeting continued, each ruler vying for control, each realm struggling to maintain its influence. But through it all, one thing was certain: the future of the afterlife, and of all existence, would be shaped by those in this room. And whether it was Heaven or Hell, the realms would never be the same again.
The End of Chapter 30