Celestia was once a land of harmony—a sanctuary where humans, ghouls, and divine beings coexisted in peace. It was a realm untouched by corruption, where balance was maintained under the rule of three powerful brothers—the Law, the Time Keeper, and the Punisher.
At the heart of Celestia stood its most revered ruler, Michael, the Law. He was adored by his people, a figure of justice and wisdom. It was said that the sky above Celestia mirrored the depth of his blue eyes, while the clouds were as white as his hair. Benevolent yet firm, Michael upheld the law with unwavering conviction, ensuring that Celestia remained a haven for all.
Raphael, the Time Keeper, was a mystery even to those who served him. He never revealed his face to the public, never attended celebrations, and never spoke of himself. His ability to see past, present, and future made him an enigmatic presence, feared and respected in equal measure. Because of his secrecy, people whispered about him, calling him the 'Faceless Brother'. Some believed he was a mere spirit, while others speculated that he carried a burden too great for the world to know.
Then there was Gabriel, the Punisher, the youngest of the three. Unlike his brothers, he was not known for kindness or wisdom. He was a figure of terror, a shadow that loomed over those who dared to break the law. With hair blacker than the void and eyes as red as fresh blood, he was the very image of wrath. He was short-tempered, ruthless, and showed no mercy to the wicked. Many feared him, whispering that he was more monster than ruler.
Despite their differences, the three brothers ruled Celestia together, keeping it at peace for countless years.
But everything changed when Michael fell in love with a human—a mortal woman.
Against all divine laws, he chose love over duty. From their forbidden union, a daughter was born named Vida.
Vida was unlike any being Celestia had ever seen. She possessed both mortal fragility and divine beauty. Her presence radiated warmth, and her laughter was like music that even ghouls found irresistible. She was called the Princess of Celestia, cherished by all who met her. Even the ghouls, who normally lurked in the shadows, spoke of her beauty with admiration.
But among them was one who desired her above all others.
A powerful ghoul, one who had long abandoned his true form, disguised himself as a human. Slowly, he weaved his way into Vida's life, gaining her trust, earning her love. His deception was flawless. And when she turned seventeen, he took her.
His name was Satan.
The loss of their beloved princess shattered Celestia's peace. Ghouls, emboldened by Satan's actions, realized how easily they could deceive and prey upon humans. Violence erupted, and chaos spread like wildfire.
The people cried out to their rulers for protection, but Michael—grief-stricken and desperate—was consumed by a single goal—to find his beloved daughter.
His obsession to find his daughter drove a wedge between him and Raphael. In his desperation, Michael assaulted his own brother, demanding to know why he didn't tell him what the future held. But Raphael, bound by the sacred laws of time, refused to answer.
Fifteen years passed.
Then, against all odds, a human—a lone warrior—brought Vida back.
He claimed to have defeated Satan and rescued the lost princess. However, Vida's return came with a cruel truth—she had not been alone in captivity.
She bore four children, born from Satan's bloodline.
Upon learning this, Michael's grief turned to fury. The thought of Satan's offspring existing in Celestia was unthinkable. In his rage, he placed a curse upon the four children, condemning them to lives of suffering and misery.
He created Inferno to cast out the ghouls and sinners from Celestia, ensuring they would never return. He also created the Human Realm to separate weak and fragile mortals from the divine.
His actions divided the people. Some believed he had done what was necessary to cleanse Celestia of Satan's taint. Others whispered that the great Law himself had fallen to vengeance.
In the end, despite everything, Vida found solace in the one who had saved her. She fell in love with her savior, the human who had risked his life for hers.
And this time, Michael gave his blessing.
Vida and the mysterious warrior were wed, and after everything happened in many years, Celestia saw a moment of peace, again.
But the fate of the cursed children remained unknown.
~~~
"That was actually sad."
Rahiya stared at the notes she had written, the weight of the story sinking in. As Andrei finished his lecture, she found herself unable to shake the sorrow creeping into her heart.
She had expected a simple history lesson—something dry, something forgettable. Instead, she was left devastated.
She clenched her fists, trying to push away the lump forming in her throat. Crying in front of Andrei? Not a chance.
"Ohh, that made you sad, Miss?"
She looked up to see Dylan watching her with concern. Without hesitation, he held out a handkerchief.
"You can cry, y'know?" he said, with a gentle voice.
Rahiya smiled at him and took the handkerchief, though she didn't use it. She simply held it in her hands, fighting back the emotions welling inside her.
Andrei, as always, was indifferent. He closed his book and turned to the class.
"That's enough for today. Class is over."
Rahiya barely heard him. Her mind was spinning with questions.
What happened after Vida and the mysterious man got married? What happened to the four cursed children? Did they ever break free from Michael's wrath?
A part of her felt bad for them. They were innocent, yet they had been cast into misery because of the sins of their father.
But at the same time…Vida deserved happiness.
She was still deep in thought when Andrei's annoyed voice snapped her back to reality.
"Hey! Why did you give her my handkerchief?"
Rahiya blinked as Dylan turned to face his brother.
"That's mine though!" Dylan said stubbornly. "I brought it! Therefore, it's mine."
"You little brat, why do you keep claiming everything you touch—"
Andrei's words were cut off as Rahiya suddenly threw the handkerchief at his face.
"Eat it, you jerk. Maybe that'll finally shut your mouth."
She grabbed her things, ready to leave. But before she could go, she noticed Dylan's pout. His eyes looked sad as if he didn't want her to leave just yet.
With a soft smile, she walked up to him, cupped his face, and pressed a light kiss to his forehead.
"See you tomorrow, little angel," she said.
Dylan's eyes sparkled as he nodded enthusiastically. "See you tomorrow, Miss!"
As she turned to go, she met Andrei's glare with one of her own.
"Please don't come back," he muttered.
She barely resisted the urge to flip him off—Dylan was still in the room, after all. Instead, she rolled her eyes and ignored him.
Just as she reached the door, she hesitated.
There was something she had meant to ask Andrei.
But on second thought…Maybe she'd just ask Zandro instead. He was far more tolerable than this idiot.
The only reason she had survived an entire hour in Andrei's presence was Dylan. And, of course, her sheer determination to learn for her knight.
At first, she had complained about why they were discussing history—after all, it was tackled in school, right?
But Andrei had shut her down.
"If you don't know the past, you won't survive the future," he had said. "It's too early for you to start training. You won't last if you don't even understand the basics."
And so, she listened.
Because if there was one thing Rahiya hated more than Andrei…
It was losing.