Rory and Seth decided to fly above me and Bridget, while Casper stayed on the ground, leading the way. He bounced forward, running ahead before turning around to "make sure" we were following them.
The sounds of flapping wings and rushing wind assured us that the pair was keeping up. They made small noises as they playfully tussled with each other, occasionally dropping to the ground before jumping back up to pounce. It looked like fun, but it also seemed a bit annoying. Watching Rory's roughness made me feel slightly sorry for Seth, but the blonde didn't seem to mind being pushed around; he returned the shoves with his own.
Bridget and I still had our arms locked, and she silently watched my expression when we talked back and forth. I didn't know what she was looking for, but it made me slightly worried.
I felt like saying something, saying anything to try and see or hear what Bridget was thinking. Before I could actually open my mouth and say something, the smaller angel stopped in her tracks. We had made it to the palace. It stood in its bright glory, tall and vast, hanging shadows over smaller beings when we walked closer.
The glimmer of the lights made me want to turn away; the sparkles shone brighter than the sun, yet they had a welcoming feeling. It was familiar, but also strange at the same time. I had already entered the palace and knew what to expect, but everything felt elevated and new. The lushness of the living trees and the sparkling ponds, with koi swimming about, made my heart soar.
We were at the entrance. I had to crane my neck to watch the shimmer of golden particles trickle from the grand frame entrance. Rory and Seth came down, landing next to me and Bridegt while curling up their wings to their backs. Casper seemed to have less energy when we entered. He stood close by my legs, trotting with small steps.
Almost immediately, the sounds of music and laughter began to echo from the halls. We followed them, and the small talk between Bridget and Seth faded into silence. My footsteps quickened, and the sounds grew louder and louder. The music grew more alluring as we approached. The doors were heavy, but with a little help from the others and Casper, we managed to push them open quietly.
The beings that danced around and spoke with one another didn't turn to the entrance when we entered. It made me feel a lot lighter when coming in since no one bothered to glance in our direction. Rory decided to take the lead, walking us over to the large table filled to the brim with delicious food of all kinds. I suddenly felt very hungry.
Rory eagerly dove in, savoring the moment with a playful lick of their lips. With bowls in hand, they carefully filled them with delicious treats—creamy baked mac and cheese, shredded egg salad, tender pork ribs, and a fragrant stock pot brimming with spices that teased my senses.
I followed Bridget's roll, grabbing the same thing as she did, which was mostly pastries and baked goods. She noticed, waiting for Rory to jump down and to the small tables that sat in front of the large windows to speak to me. "Grab whatever. Just not too much since we will be dancing later."
"Right, okay." I nodded at her and put some of the large chocolate cookies back before heading over to get a small portion of jello on the side. Following Bridget's advice, I didn't take too much—just a little bit. However, I did grab a separate bowl that contained a few large chicken breasts seasoned with lemon and rosemary, along with a couple of steaming pork ribs on the side.
We made our way over to the pair and sat down. I was positioned closer to the window, allowing me to look outside. The view was stunning—vast and expansive. I could see the backyard of the palace, which boasted large gardens filled with vibrant colors, including tropical hues and shades of pink, both large and small. The gardens featured smaller flowers as well as some vegetables and fruits. Gates provided some coverage for the plants, with small openings where glimpses of the colorful trees and flowers could be seen.
The garden was filled with numerous streams and ponds that meandered across the landscape. A large pond featured a small waterfall, sending up gentle plumes of white vapor from the rushing water. Winding paths made of stones led around the ponds and charming little bridges over the ponds were covered with twisting vines. The area was further adorned with a vibrant array of flowers in every color imaginable.
A bright glare caught my attention at the far back of the garden. I couldn't see it clearly; all I noticed was the sun's reflection on the bright blue water. It appeared to be a much larger patch of water than the small winding ponds nearby. I wished I could get a better view of it. It looked big and elongated. Some sparkling green lily pads seemed to lead the way toward it.
It felt like the trees covered the sacred place. I knew it was there, but I couldn't see its full beauty.
Seth, sitting next to me, pulled me back to the inside. He glared at Rory when they looked at him with hurt in their eyes. He ignored them, turning to me, "what did you get?"
"Oh.. uh.. I kinda just got the same as Bridget."
"So only pastries?" Seth laughed to himself, "she's got to try a bit more diversity when we come here. She only goes for the same thing all the time."
Bridget, who was sitting across from him next to Rory, hit his knee with her shoes from under the table. "I can get whatever I want. And so can Vienna!"
"I was just saying~" Seth whined, munching on his food.
Rory leaned over, swallowing the large spoonful of mac-an-cheese before speaking. "Let me try one of those cookies! I'll trade you a dumpling."
"What—okay?" We made the trade. They took the biggest cookie before handing me a dumpling on a spoon. It smelled like buttery, sweet spice. It was steaming, so it must still be hot.
I ate it, feeling the warmth of the food travel down my throat. It tasted just like it smelt. I guess it was pork, it was more sweet than spicy. The spicy was a bit overpowering since my tongue itched from it, but paired with the small sweetness, it was delicious.
"It's delicious.." I moaned out, wishing I could have grabbed more.
"Yep, there should have been more diversity in the food." Seth nudged me, "pastries aren't the only thing to get."
I nodded to myself as I processed what I had just heard. Rory had already finished eating their cookie and had moved on to slurping down a bowl of spicy-looking noodles. They skillfully separated their chopsticks before diving in. The aromas of all the different foods made my stomach growl, even though I was eating what was in front of me. I considered going to get some dumplings, but I decided to finish the food in front of me first.
I heard Casper shuffle the food around from under the table, his munching paired with the smacking of his tail repeatedly hitting the ground at his excitement. The music was still the same, surfacing through the air, fighting against the sound of laughter.
Seth hummed. The pair in front of us began to bicker, mostly Rory trying to get under Bridget's skin. It was working; she was already looking tired just by sitting next to the talkative angel.
I listened absently, feeling a bit of shuffling from under me. Casper had made his way between my thighs, resting his head on me with his eyes closed. I stroked his head, smiling to myself when I felt his tail thump on the ground in a rhythmic fashion.
My senses were sluggish, and it took me some time to register the music. It was gradually fading, becoming quieter. I didn't even notice the laughter dying down until my group slowly realized it. I raised my hand to quiet the three of them as I listened more attentively.
"Why did it suddenly become so quiet?"
Rory looked over Bridget's head in the direction of the dance floor. Behind the wall, they could see the slight movements of the beings making way for a group. "Maybe the goddesses are here?"
"No, it's too early for that." Bridget shook her head.
"Really?" Rory pouted, standing up from the seat, "let's go find out then."
"What—but we are still eating!" Bridget was pulled up by the hyper angel to stand. I stood with Seth to follow them, making sure to peek behind me and see Casper trotting along.
When we entered the group of beings in the dance room, we all folded our wings along each other, sliding them down our backs before heading next to the others. They were all staring at the same group that had just entered. To all of our surprise, it wasn't the goddesses.
Instead, it was the Warrior Angels.
Arden led the group, standing tall in front of at least eight other angels who followed her. All of them appeared smaller and seemed to struggle to maintain a stoic expression. They must be the adolescents Janus mentioned. I quickly noticed that they weren't wearing their armor. They had some pieces, like plates on their shoulders and knees, but aside from that, they were dressed in long garments that all matched.
They captured everyone's attention as they entered, coinciding with the music dimming. I wasn't sure what to expect from them. They walked in together, formally dressed and looking ready to do business. I noticed that they had their Branchies hanging at their hips, with their plates concealing slits that appeared to house blades, making them seem less imposing. This sight made me wonder if they always had to wear some form of protection. Shouldn't they feel safe in the palace?
My train of questions was brushed aside when Arden turned around. She outstretched her hand to someone behind her. To all of our surprise, it was a familiar, small girl that came out from behind the tall warrior.
The same girl who was just introduced a few.. hours or minutes ago?
I can't exactly keep track of time. Cause, well, there isn't much time to track here.
The small girl had her hair up, and the black braids were in small pigtails. From what I could see, she was wearing the same thing I first saw her in. She did have a small yellow strip that hung from her hips and was tied into a bow from behind.
Her small hand looked so delicate in Arden's larger and rougher hand. The small girl didn't look scared; she looked up at the light in complete awe. I saw the warrior say something, which caused the small girl to giggle.
Arden held both of her hands tightly around the girl as she stepped back, not glancing behind her but focusing solely on the child. A gentle smile adorned Arden's face, radiating warmth and affection. I could hear audible gasps ripple through the crowd as the unexpected duo gracefully moved around the now-open dance floor. The music returned, flowing through the room and echoing off the walls, accompanying the dancing pair.
It looked both weird and sweet. The tall angel had to lean forward so that the small angel didn't have to stand on her toes. She made sure her grip was tight enough, but it still had a gentle look from my standpoint. It was getting hard to see what was happening since they kept moving in a waltz-like pattern. The beings in front of me were too tall; I had to get closer.
Seth said something from behind me as I started to move forward, but I didn't hear him. I continued on, not caring. I had to tuck my wings around my arms to avoid brushing against the cupids I passed. I ducked and turned, slipping easily through the crowd with my smaller frame. Before long, I found myself at the front, where I had a better view of the two.
It looked very peaceful. Everyone seemed at peace because of the joy going on in front. Joy was also clear on their faces, bringing smiles and small laughs through the crowds who watched on.
When the dance was finished, Arden bowed her head to the little girl. She giggled, jumping up to wrap her arms around the large warrior's shoulders. Arden held her close, whispering something to her before they separated.
Some angels came forward and held their hands out to the small girl. She took them, skipping forward to the windows straight across from the entrance. It was suddenly quiet again, the music went dim, and the shuffling of side conversation was almost nonexistent.
The reason behind was very clear when the large doors from the entrance were gently pushed open. In walked five of the goddesses. What I learned was that the Attendant Goddess was in the front leading the group of gods. She was the same goddess that I actually saw before when I passed out during my welcome. I was sure of it since she had the same tired look in her eyes.
Another goddess caught my eye; she must be the Warrior Goddess. I could tell by the armor that looked enormous on her tall and broad shoulders. She had a Branchie at her hip, which hung high on her armor and shined brightly when the sun illuminated it. Her hair was a striking reddish color, long and braided down to her waist, giving her an appearance that was both fierce and deadly. Overall, she exuded a powerful presence. The only colors breaking the metallic tones of her armor were the small golden marks, like the wings stitched into her chest plate and the decorative rims. A large scarf, a deep bloody red, was wrapped around her neck, covering her lips, which contrasted against her dark brown skin. The same red fabric hung from her hips, adorned with golden tiles printed onto the material.
The other two figures made me slightly confused. They must be the Mother Goddess and the Ephorian Goddess. The Mother Goddess was slightly smaller but still tall; she wore a glowing gown that transitioned from a sap green to an apple green. Her sleeves were puffy and sheer, showcasing her chocolate brown skin. What made her stand out was the abundance of green and colorful flowers adorning her. She wore a flower crown, and many flowers were incorporated into her dress, dropping petals as she walked.
The Euphorian Goddess had an unusual appearance; she wore comfortable clothing that showcased her figure. The top of her outfit left her chest exposed, and she adorned herself with pearly jewels that hung from her hips, neck, and shoes, as well as a piece that held up the gathered fabric at the back of her skirt. The skirt was ruffled in a vibrant orange color, with hints of blue and pink blending together to create a beautiful, chaotic design. Her hair was slicked back into a tied ponytail that flowed behind her head.
They all had the same large wings, and their halos varied in different ways, but they all had the same yellow-golden glare.
Then, my eyes finally landed on her, the Gate Goddess.