Chapter 3
1222 Words
The Gates of Heaven slowly opened.
A brilliant light poured from the ancient doors, spreading across the Celestial Realm like the first sunrise.
For the first time since the dawn of creation, the Great Consensus had been called.
The summons echoed through every realm.
From the highest heavens came lesser gods, guardians of rivers, mountains, forests, stars, and seasons.
From the spirit realm came celestial beings and ancient guardians.
Even the mortal world answered the call.
Their bodies remained asleep on Earth, but their souls appeared within the Great Hall in a dream-like state. They stood in endless rows, their eyes clouded by divine light. They had been called only to witness and vote.
When they returned to their bodies, they would remember nothing more than a strange dream.
No one would remember the face of the Moon Goddess.
No one would remember her child.
Only the verdict would remain written into the laws of the universe.
Silence settled over the gathering.
Millions stood before the Empty Throne.
The throne of the Supreme Being remained vacant.
As it had for thousands of years.
At the center of the Great Hall stood Selene.
She had once stood there as one of the Eight Great Gods.
Today, she stood alone.
She could no longer feel the comforting embrace of moonlight that had followed her since the beginning of time.
For the first time...
She felt cold.
Slowly, she rested both hands over her stomach.
A tiny heartbeat answered her touch.
Her child.
The only reason she was still standing.
A tall figure stepped into the center of the hall.
The Celestial Herald.
His silver robes shimmered like the morning sky as he unrolled an ancient scroll whose words glowed with divine light.
His voice echoed across Heaven.
"Let every realm bear witness."
"Today, the Great Consensus has been called to judge Selene, Guardian of the Night, Keeper of Dreams, Mistress of Fate, and one of the Eight Great Gods."
He looked toward Selene.
"You stand accused of abandoning your divine duties."
"You stand accused of forming a forbidden union with a mortal."
"You stand accused of carrying a child conceived against the First Law of Creation."
The hall remained silent.
The Herald lowered the scroll.
"Selene..."
"How do you answer these charges?"
Every eye turned toward her.
Selene lifted her head.
Her silver eyes were calm despite the tears threatening to fall.
"I am guilty..."
She paused.
"...of loving."
The words drifted through the hall like a gentle breeze.
Some lowered their heads.
Others looked away.
Even a few lesser gods hesitated.
Then Sol stepped forward.
The warmth of his light filled the hall, but there was no comfort in it.
Only judgment.
"You hear her own confession."
His voice rang across the gathering.
"She admits her crime without regret."
He slowly turned toward the countless souls gathered before him.
"For thousands of years, we have protected the balance between Heaven and Earth."
"The First Law was not created to punish love."
"It was created to protect creation itself."
"If one Great God breaks that law without consequence..."
He raised a glowing hand.
"What happens tomorrow?"
"Will another abandon their throne?"
"Will another choose the mortal world over Heaven?"
"Will every sacred law become nothing more than a suggestion?"
His golden eyes swept across the crowd.
"If the pillars of Heaven begin to fall..."
"The universe falls with them."
Uneasy whispers spread among the gathered spirits.
Many nodded.
Fear slowly replaced sympathy.
Before Sol could continue, another voice interrupted.
"No."
The Goddess of Life rose from her throne.
Flowers bloomed beneath every step she took.
Her gentle eyes rested on Selene before turning toward the crowd.
"Do not allow fear to erase your memories."
She faced the gathering.
"Who healed the wounded stars after the Celestial War?"
No one answered.
"Who protected sleeping children from nightmares?"
Silence.
"Who restored the balance whenever darkness threatened the mortal realm?"
She pointed toward Selene.
"She did."
"For ten thousand years..."
"She never asked for praise."
"She simply served."
Her voice cracked with emotion.
"And now..."
"The moment she needs compassion..."
"We abandon her?"
Many spirits lowered their heads.
Some who had begun agreeing with Sol now looked uncertain.
The Star Goddess stepped forward.
Her voice trembled, but she refused to remain silent.
"I have recorded every act performed by the Eight since the beginning of time."
She held up her glowing quill.
"My records cannot lie."
She looked directly at the gathering.
"In ten thousand years..."
"Selene has never once disobeyed a command from Heaven."
Not once.
The words struck the hall like thunder.
The Sea God slowly stood.
His powerful voice rolled through the chamber.
"I care little for forbidden love."
"I care about balance."
He pointed toward the skies beyond Heaven.
"The moon governs the oceans."
"It guides the tides."
"It protects the creatures of the night."
"If Selene is stripped of her power..."
"The seas will lose their guide."
"The balance of the world will suffer."
A heavy silence followed.
Then laughter echoed through the hall.
Chaos.
The God of Chaos leaned back on his throne, smiling as though he were watching the greatest play ever performed.
"Wonderful."
He clapped slowly.
"One forbidden romance..."
"And Heaven is already tearing itself apart."
His grin widened.
"I almost hope none of you agree."
"Watching you argue is far more entertaining."
Several gods glared at him.
Chaos only laughed harder.
Then...
Another voice spoke.
Quiet.
Cold.
"The child..."
The God of Death finally raised his head.
The entire hall fell silent.
Even Chaos stopped smiling.
Death looked toward Selene.
"I cannot see its death."
The words chilled every soul present.
The temperature dropped.
Frost spread across the marble floor.
Even Sol's expression changed.
The God of Time slowly opened his eyes.
White light swirled within them.
"I have searched countless futures."
His voice sounded older than the stars themselves.
"In some..."
"The child unites Heaven and Earth."
"In others..."
"The child destroys them both."
A ripple of fear spread through the gathering.
"No future is certain."
"But every future begins..."
"With the choice we make today."
He closed his eyes once more.
"The council remains divided."
"Therefore..."
"The Great Consensus shall decide."
Sol stepped forward immediately.
"Then let the vote begin."
He raised his blazing hand toward the sky.
"All who believe the Moon Goddess should be stripped of her divinity..."
"Raise your light."
One by one...
Hands began to rise.
Golden lights appeared throughout the crowd.
Then hundreds.
Then thousands.
Soon millions of lights shone throughout Heaven like countless stars.
Some spirits voted with confidence.
Others did so with tears in their eyes.
Even many mortal souls, unable to understand the full truth, chose fear over hope.
Selene watched the lights spread across the endless gathering.
The universe she had protected for thousands of years...
Had chosen against her.
She closed her eyes.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
She no longer feared losing her throne.
She no longer feared losing her power.
Only one fear remained.
She gently placed both hands over her unborn child.
"Please..."
Her whisper was so soft that only she could hear it.
"Whatever happens to me..."
"Let my child live."
Above them all, the Empty Throne remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
As Heaven prepared to condemn one of its own.
- Writer
