That really got under the goddess's skin. I shouldn't feel as proud as I did when seeing her look so frustrated. Her wings bristled, eyebrows almost covering her own eyes as she glared daggers at me. She managed to fix it with a smile that did not reach her eyes, letting out a low laugh in an attempt to loosen her tense self.
"Alright, little angel," she said, taking a step closer, and I didn't back away. She bent down, placing a hand on her hip where her Branchie was secured. "You can fight in my arena, but I get to choose your opponents." Her smile widened. "How about that?"
I flicked my wing, glaring back up at her before I responded. "Alright, who can I fight?"
Ballona's smile widened, a genuine sense of accomplishment shining in her eyes as she turned her head to face the others. The warriors stood, their eyes filled with shock and horror at my audacity to speak to the goddess in such a way.
The goddess latched her eyes on Arden. I already knew what was going to come from that.
"How about Arden?"
The blonde warrior jumped, quickly flying down to us with worry stretched between her brows. "Apologizes for cutting in, goddess, but I am not allowed to battle any of my students in the arena, only during training-"
"This will be an exception," Ballona cut in, raising a challenging brow at the tall warrior who only reached her shoulders. "Understand?"
Arden let her shoulders fall in defeat, knowing she could not raise questions to the goddess. "Yes, goddess."
Ballona grinned harder, turning back down to me. "This little one could use some discipline either way."
I growled, disrespectfully glaring up at the goddess.
I could just feel everyone's shocked expressions. Arthur was horrified for me. Axel had his mouth open wide, and Casey was shaking his head at everything.
Casper stayed seated beside Arthur, tail tucked between his legs, with his eyes big and wide.
Looking at me..
Great, more of this guilt.
Before Arden and I could take a step in the arena where we would have to fight, a bright, glowing figure dusted before us. Ballona straightened herself along with all of the warriors who presented themselves respectfully at the entrance of the Gate Goddess Janus.
The beautiful goddess had her eyes on me, looking as peaceful as ever as she slowly stepped before me and Ballona. She turned to fit a look at the Warrior Goddess, resting a hand on my shoulder. "May I ask what is going on here?"
She turned to Ballona, fixing her with an intense stare, causing the other woman to drop her smile. With her large wings pressed tightly against her armored back, the mighty warrior forced a grin. "I was just chastising this angel for bickering with her teammates."
She shot a glare at Janus. "What brings you to my arena? You hardly ever come here."
Janus gave a sweet smile, her fingers slightly curling around my skin. "I came to get Vienna."
Ballona let out a light, barely noticeable sneer. "Of course you did…"
I let out a frustrated huff, baring my teeth at the Warrior Goddess for her behavior towards Janus. Not only was she mistreating him, but she also chose to lie about our conversation. We weren't discussing my fight with Axel at all; we were actually talking about battles in the arena.
Wait...
I tossed a glance up at Janus, and she continued to speak with Ballona, but all of that was blocked out by my own thoughts.
Did Janus not want me fighting in the arena? She showed her distaste for my fighting in general; she hated how I could feel pain, which was why she had not enjoyed me being a Warrior Angel to begin with.
So maybe.. the reason I was always skipped over by Ballona in getting chosen was because of Janus?
No... Ballona didn't like me, that's why..
And if it was Janus's doing, she was only doing it to protect me. I know she cares about me, and I know she doesn't like seeing me in pain, so that's probably why… What other reason could there be?
"Vienna?" I flinched, looking up at Janus, who had turned away from the warriors and Ballona. "Let's get going?" She placed her hand out, allowing me to accept her before we flew off.
I tightened my grip, flapping my wings to keep up with her. She slowed down, ensuring I was beside her, and then her soft gaze fell. Suddenly, she looked exhausted. It was strange to see her like that. The goddess was always so presentable, with her radiant beauty forever glowing.
But right now, she just looked defeated.
Gulping a lump down, I slowly flew beside her to where the tips of my wings touched her own. Janus blinked, turning her head to me, where a peaceful smile was laid on her expression. "Something bothers you, my angel?"
The lump was back in my throat. "I'm alright, you.. you don't look alright..."
"What do you mean?" She slowed down, allowing me to slow the stretch of my wings so I didn't have to fan myself to keep up with her.
"Can I ask if you're okay?"
She blinked, as if she hadn't heard me at first. Just as I was about to ask again, she let out a soft smile. Her hands came up to cup my face, drawing me closer to her. I allowed myself to be pulled in, resting my head against her chest, where I could feel her warmth spreading through me. "I am alright now that you are here, my dear," she said gently.
Her soothing voice and comforting words brought a smile to my face. I pulled her closer, my wings curling up as they flapped gently, buoyed by Janus's strength, which kept us aloft.
The powerful thumping of her heart, the growing heat on my own face while I let her comfort me, was powerful enough to put me to sleep.
It was probably best if we went to Angels Cove, and I could rest. The session hadn't even ended yet, and I had taken off my armor before we were dismissed. So I should go back to my cove and take this time to sleep, but I just couldn't move.
I was with Janus, so I was alright. Hugging her tightly in the sky above the clouds was much better than any bed.
I could dimly feel her move her hand down to my thigh, where she pulled me up. Before I knew it, I found myself completely lying on top of the goddess, who was stretched out on her back with her large yellow wings wide open. The air around us picked up, lifting us higher. Janus's grip on my hips and the base of my neck kept me from falling off.
My lips pulled up, and I smiled warmly at her.
I never wanted it to end…
However, nothing good lasts forever. I first sensed a disturbance when the once-soft fingers traveling through my hair became tense and motionless. I shifted, letting my legs dangle over Janus's, allowing me to look up at her face.
The goddess wore a pinched expression, her eyes closed and her head tilted slightly to the side. I moved closer, placing my hands on her shoulders so I could gaze down at her. "Janus?" I asked, bringing a hand up to her neck to feel the smooth skin beneath my fingertips.
Her eyes opened, but her iris was no longer white. Instead, the color was a very vibrant purple, startling my back for a moment.
The color flashed brown, then green, but it soon flashed back purple.
"Jan.. Janus..?" I cupped her face, leaning closer to her until the goddess snapped out of a weird trance. Her iris was white once again, the golden glow back to its normal state.
She put on a smile, easing my anxiety with a hand that traveled through my hair.
"I apologize, my angel." Her voice softened for a moment, and she tilted her head to the side as if she were deep in thought. I sensed that something was wrong; whatever it was, it had startled the goddess. Her hands tightened against my waist and the base of my neck. Before I could ask her what was troubling her, Janus moved closer, and I found myself completely in her lap. "My dear, I must take you somewhere."
I tensed up, folding my wings tightly against my back to not pair with her own flapping in the sky. "W-Why? Where exactly?"
She gave me a smile, kissing my forehead, and I immediately relaxed under her touch. "Nowhere bad, I promise." She moved away, pulling me in her arms, where I didn't fight back at being carried. "The goddesses have been informed about some bad news regarding.. you.."
I tensed, and she felt it. My thoughts went straight to what had happened in Cupid's Cove, and to what I had done to Seth. Who would have told them? Was it really such a big deal that I had done that?
It's not like they can feel pain here.
My bitter thoughts were halted by Janus's calm voice against my skin. "You do not have to fear, Vienna. I must take you to our sentencing room."
"Sentencing room?" I shivered at the name, fearing the worst.
Janus silenced my worries with another gentle kiss on my head. "Do not fear, my angel. It's not as bad as you think; you will have the opportunity to explain the problem and find a solution." She offered a reassuring smile. "My fellow goddesses will simply remind you of the rules and ensure that you don't make the same mistake again. That is all."
"I-I-" I began to stutter, feeling my hands clamp down on her shoulders.
Janus did not, but she held me tighter, drowning my worries with her soft promises: "I will be beside you the whole time, my dear. Do not worry."
I didn't worry, just as she had told me. That was until her hand held mine, and suddenly we were no longer in the air; instead, we appeared in a new room that I had never visited before. I shook slightly, reaching out for something to steady myself but found nothing. I landed on my feet and desperately looked around for Janus, who had been with me, only to see her now on her feet in front of me.
And where I was... Was strange and new.
This must be the sentencing room; it was large and very open. I quickly took in the five goddesses standing before me behind a pedestal. Surrounding me in a circle were several unfamiliar faces, along with a few I recognized. They sat in seats that overlooked my position in the center.
Below me was a substantial material with a crescent-shaped etching in golden colors. That was the only aspect of this place that felt familiar; it used the same materials as the palace. This room must be a separate chamber within the palace—the sentencing room. Alternatively, it could be a completely different location designated for this purpose.
This? I don't know what it is.
I have a good reason for being here, but I don't understand what is going to happen. I could tell that it was a trial of some kind, with me at the center of it all. The goddesses stood beside each other, so they could maintain a steady gaze towards me.
It made me feel uneasy, so I turned to the familiar faces that I could recognize.
Seth, Bridget, Rory, Rue, and Brick all stood in the stands. I missed the loss of Casper; he must have been sent to my cove by Janus before she somehow teleported me here.
I had worse things to worry about, like the intense glare directed at me from both Minerva and Ballona. I felt a lump in my throat, suffocated by their piercing gaze. To regain my composure, I turned to Janus, whose gentle look settled in my stomach and helped me breathe evenly once again.
Suddenly, a loud flutter interrupted the moment, pulling my attention away from Janus and forcing me to look up at Minerva. She opened her large wings with a deafening flap, and everyone turned their attention to her. With her hands placed behind her, the goddess regarded me and said, "Vienna, you have been placed in the center of the sentencing room for striking another angel."
I gulped, pulling at my tunic with uneasiness. I could hear the slight shock of beings alike in the room at the confession. I turned a half-hearted gaze at Seth. He looked very guilty.
Did he do this? I didn't think I hit him that hard.. I haven't.. he can't even feel pain.
The sharp gaze looked back down at me. "It is forbidden to harm angels or intentionally hurt any being, regardless of the situation. This rule has been in place for a long time, and it should never be broken. You must understand that as a Warrior Angel, the power you gain from your training does not give you the right to use it against others. If you engage in fights outside of your training, you will be expelled from the ranks of the Warrior Angels."
But I wasn't even fighting; it was an accident, so I didn't do it on purpose!
I tried to speak up, but for some reason, the clog in my throat grew, and I could do nothing but stare down numbly. I knew the rules; Arden laid them down hard on us, so of course, I wouldn't fight outside of training.
It's not like they can feel pain either way..!
Minerva shifted, the soft flutter of wings came before a low breeze tried to drown away the suffocating feeling trapped in my throat.
"I understand that, given Vienna's unique circumstances, her perceptions are different from ours, particularly when it comes to her ability to feel pain—something she experiences even without any protection. It may be difficult for her to comprehend how to move on from this burden peacefully. Although she is not immune like our other companions, that does not give us the right to engage in conflict with them. I finally lifted my gaze from the ground and locked eyes with her, my glare meeting hers as she returned it. It's not just the pain that matters; the act of violence itself is prohibited, especially coming from a trained and dangerous warrior."
Dangerous..?
"Really?" I growled, pulling away from the suffocating tension to give her a pointed glare. She had called me dangerous, but I seriously doubted she would label the other warriors in the same way. After all, Arden is one of the strongest and most skilled warriors—shouldn't she be considered hazardous as well?
I bit my lip, suppressing my anger that was about ready to burst at her words.
Minerva ignored my inner turmoil, glancing at Janus on the other end next to the Mother Goddess before she turned to address where my friends sat. "Rue, Brick. You may step forward and state your claim of the events that happened."
I kept my eyes on them, observing as Rue trembled while Bick awkwardly squeezed her shoulders. Rue was the first to speak, "Of course, A-Attendant Goddess." She gulped and turned to look at me. "It was in our cove when Vienna suddenly spaced out. I can't really explain it, but she just wasn't all there... " I dug my nails into my palm, holding back my emotions as Rue continued, her voice shaking. "When Seth touched her shoulder, it seemed like Vienna snapped back to reality. She moved away, her wing extending to hit Seth in the face. It was a hard enough blow that Seth fell back to the ground."
The faces of cupids, angels, and even some cherubs alike murmured with one another, talking and watching me like I was an unknown creature. I turned away from Rue, unable to even look at her before she spoke again.
"But the thing that really.. scared me was her face..." Now I turned back, eyes wide as she began to shake in Brick's arms. "She was so angry, her eyes almost looked red with rage." Rue let out a shaky breath, turning her head away from me to look at Minerva and the other goddesses. "She looked like she wanted to hurt someone.. to..."
"That's enough, darling," the Mother Goddess had held a hand out, sending a soft flurry of wind that had calmed the cupid down. She rested against Brick; neither of them could even look at me.
Minerva let out a response that was much more forceful than the other goddesses'. She then turned her gaze to Seth, who stood tall beside the distraught cupids. "Seth, please step forward and explain your version of the events that occurred."
"Of course," Seth replied, stepping forward and giving a sympathetic glance toward Rue before he began to speak. "I want to start by saying that Vieena acted out of accident. What Rue said is.. true... However, I know that Vienna would never do anything like that intentionally. I might suggest that she was experiencing a nightmare at the time when I startled her by touching her." He looked at me, and I could see my wings droop slightly as our eyes met.
I let out a shuddering breath, feeling highly grateful to Seth at the moment. He had my back, and I knew he did..
The voices murmured at the details Seth gave, how I was actually able to have nightmares, and sleep. Or even dazed out like it had done. Seth looked to the Attendant Goddess, who allowed him to continue his say.
"Even if Rue is correct on how things had happened, Vienna didn't mean to do it. She had even apologized about it." He gave me a calm smile, "I had already forgiven her, so I don't see why she needs to be on trial over an accident."
Minerva shook her head. "Thank you, Seth, but I have already explained why." Seth glanced down, feeling sheepish under Minerva's intense gaze. The goddess turned away from him to address me. "Regardless of whether it was an accident or if both parties have apologized and resolved the issue," her eyes brightened to an even more vivid purple, "Vienna has already gone through it; that alone is cause for concern."
"Excuse me, if I may?" Janus suddenly interjected, startling me. Minerva shot her a cold glare, her eyes becoming even brighter. However, Janus remained unfazed. The goddess then redirected her attention to her fellow goddesses and me. "Vienna is struggling. That's our responsibility; we are meant to protect and ensure the safety of our beings in Heaven. Yet... Vienna does not feel safe." Janus met my gaze, her expression softening. "That may explain her outburst." She turned back to Minerva, adopting a calmer demeanor. "So let's not be too harsh on her, alright? It's difficult enough for her to cope with pain and nightmares. Let's give her a chance."
It was silent for a moment before the burst of whispers all around happened. Everyone spoke to one another in hushed tones, looking at me and then back at the Gate Goddess like they had finally reached a conclusion.
Minerva turned away from Janus, letting out a defeated sigh before she spoke. "Very well, then I may propose a promise to you, Vienna." I looked up at her, catching the soft glint in her eyes, which were no longer blinding. "You must never strike another being again. You are only allowed to engage in combat during your training sessions and nowhere else." Her lips curled, if only slightly. "If you are found to have fought with anyone or harmed another being, you will be sentenced accordingly."
I gulped and forced my head to nod in understanding. The following moments occurred quickly; I suddenly felt very dizzy, my vision swayed, and I found myself tipping forward. I had no control over the direction I was falling, only that I landed in the arms of something—no, someone—safe.
I caught the slightest glimpse of Janus. She held me tightly as she allowed me to curl up into her chest for comfort.
"You may rest, my dear." That's all she said before I blacked out.