Lumeria POV
It’s that familiar sight again. She’s looking up at the marble steps to his golden sandals. The Angels in the throne room he completely replaced with his loyalists at this point,
“Do you intend to infuriate me to this extend?” and out of habit, she drops on a knee. Lowers her head to him,
“Father.”
“I forgave your first mass murder because you did it out of good intentions. I forgave your second mass murder because you were manipulated. I thought taking away the daring shepherd who’s attempting to lead you astray will wake you up to your duties and purpose. Instead, you fall deeper into depravity. I can no longer forgive you for this third mass murder and heedless sadism. As punishment, relinquish all your powers. It is too dangerous to be in the hands of the likes of you.”
“So, it was you. You did play a part in Soril’s death.”
“The Divine Abilities granted to you are not meant to be used to exact revenge and commit genocide.”
“How did you kill him? Was it the well-timed explosion to let Rakgar stab Soril whilst we’re all off guard? Or did you take your precautions beforehand and make the black bottle easier to obtain for the Wascalds?”
“You are not a mortal, Archangel Lumeria. You do not get entangled in their disputes and their dramas.”
“Then what did you expect me to do?”
“I expected you to forgive and make peace with the Estelians.”
“Forgive?” she scoffs, “You expect me to go and peacefully talk to the enemies after they gelded and mutilated the corpse of the man I love? After they endlessly defiled me for their own amusement?”
“They are not your enemies, my foolish child. You will do as you’re told and not as you wish.”
“What was I told? All you did was show me a prophecy with absolutely no context.”
“I showed you what needs to happen to end the war.”
she can’t help but to laugh at the irony, “Was that what it was?”
“It was my mistake that I did not realize you have misinterpreted me until it is too late. Out of all the interweaving threads of fate, that is the one I foresee to bring the most peaceful outcome in the distant future of Astoran.”
“But what about the present? About the atrocities and genocide that Estelis is committing against Astia? About the countless innocent Astian lives that will be lost. The pitiful women and children that have been raped and will be raped when Estelis invades. Do their suffering mean nothing to you then?”
“Some evils are necessary to achieve the greater good. You do not join them in said atrocities. The sinner’s punishments will be delivered after death and not by you.”
“Punishment after death will not change the fact that they ruin countless lives with the heinous deeds they do alive! I cannot turn a blind eye to the horrible things that happened to people I cared about.”
“And that’s why the people you cared about must be taken away from you. It makes you blind to everything else.”
Something boils over inside her, she takes a deep shuddering breath and calms herself best as she can,
“No, Father. No. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. The Elders were right about you this whole time. You do not care about the mortal realms. You do not even watch the day-to-day interactions of mortals. All you care about is keeping your Heavenly Throne that you have usurped with the Divine War. All you care about is making sure I do not steal your seat by constantly finding ways to demote me, guilt me, and forcing me into giving up my rightful powers and Messiahship that was granted to me by the Old Gods. You are right, I have been blind, I have been blind to you, to your hypocrisy and your lies.”
“The Elders are warmongers who can’t relinquish the bygone days of past. The Old Gods are bloodlusted overlords that horribly abused their powers on the powerless. You too, are but a bud of chaos left behind even in their deaths to cause conflict and division. Your only talent is destruction. You turn to subjugation and sadism the moment your patience is tested. You have proven yourself to be every bit violent and cruel as the Old Gods with your hedonistic indulgences. You have already thrown Astoran into war with your own incompetence and you will only spiral this realm into ruination too. This is why you should have never received the right to rule.”
“Then neither should you, with your willful negligence and double standards. Your heart is black as mine.”
“You are too prideful, Archangel Lumeria. You do not show even the slightest semblance of repentance and regret. Perhaps you ought to spend another century in solitary to reflect.”
“Let me show you what pride is.” she stands up, finally looking at him in the eyes. Beautiful as he is narcissistic. A false porcelain perfection carved in all his facades that’s only now obvious to her. He knows she can’t beat him in a fight; thus, she can only relent to his threat,
“I have never wanted to rule Heaven. I accept my punishment. I revoke my right to my powers. However, I will not repent, regret or reflect. I cannot forgive the Estelians for defiling me. I cannot forgive you for getting Soril killed. And I will not sit and let the Kingdom he sworn to protect fall.” She reaches behind her back, biting her lips, with a sharp tug, she rips her wings out one after the other and drops them onto the clouds,
“I revoke my post as an immortal. I will be gone from your eyes. In exchange, you will grant me my freedom. You will no longer interfere with my life. You do not take those that I love from me any longer.” But that does not placate him,
“A sinner does not demand, Lumeria. You shall revoke your right as Messiah to the Heavenly Throne to me too. You have no more need for it.”
“The Old Gods gave the right to me. It is for me to pass on. You are not worthy.” He binds her down with chains at that, insistent on driving her to a dead end to get what he wants,
“Make her revoke it.” Sending the Angels after her with whips at his behest. She hollers to the skies,
“I beseech the Seven Holy Factions to bear judgement and witness the sheer hypocrisy in these power-hungry dogs you are serving!”
God withdraws his command, “Stop.” There’s finally a note of discomfort in all his haughtiness. He had full conviction that she wouldn’t do this. But now, she’s sick of it, she’s sick of it all. If she’s a bud of chaos, then she shall let it bloom. The Angels crane their heads up to the golden sigil eyes that are lighting up one by one like a dome around them. She continues, addressing the countless blinking lights,
“His rules are but a convenience to benefit himself and not the realms of mortals and immortals. His real purpose is to get rid of the threat to his throne. He is currently demonstrating a horrible abuse of power upon a mortal contradictory to his own rules that he has set. As Messiah chosen by the Old Gods, I invoke my right to renounce this false God!” It immediately makes the loyalists tense up. Anyak looks the most unsatisfied,
“Let me send her to her next life. Don’t let her walk out of here alive. She can’t start a war if she’s dead.” but God has calmed again, ever the pretentious, ever the rational, he knows how this game works,
“No, my child. She has already started the war. All the Factions are watching. If we attack her, we will only prove her right. We will immediately lose all support to the Elders. She can no longer ascend the Heavenly Throne regardless. Our real contender, will be the new Messiah she chooses.”
“Know that you pushed me into this, Father. You could’ve let me go when I stepped down.” He graciously snaps the chains binding her away, he’s composing himself in indifference, but she’s seen his ticks, the scrunch of fingers into the armrest. He’s furious, despite his voice is eerily tepid to deliver his judgement,
“You are free to go. I forgive you for your petty slaughter. Astoran was your responsibility, as equitable repentance, you will live the rest of your days there. A violent realm like that is perfect for you. Let’s see how long you’d last without your powers. And once you die, you have Hell to look forward to.”
She scoffs bitterly, swallowing her indignation and retorts civilly as she can,
“It’s high time you pay penance for your sins of usurpation and unjust slaughter too. If you truly don’t want to throw Heaven into chaos, then you ought to peacefully accept your abdication. Your coming actions, will only reflect upon you.”
