By late afternoon, the streets surrounding the grand veiled sanctum had become crowded.
Word traveled quickly whenever the holy maidens left the sanctum grounds.
It wasn’t because they were celebrities or nobility but because, to the people, they represented something far greater.
They were a symbol of hope and purity.
Proof that the Radiance still watched over humanity.
The city seemed to brighten wherever holy maidens walked around.
Laliya moved through the streets alongside six other maidens, her white robes flowing gracefully around her ankles while silver embroidery caught the sunlight.
The younger maidens remained slightly behind her, following the pace she set.
As always, her posture was flawless.
Her back straight.
Her movements measured and every gesture elegant without appearing forced.
Years of training had shaped her into the image the sanctum desired.
The perfect holy maiden that drew affection wherever she goes.
The people noticed her immediately.
A woman carrying a basket of flowers stopped walking.
Then another vendor stopped, and other.
Soon entire groups were gathering along the roadside.
They didn’t push to get close to them or shout for their attention, they simply watching with admiration.
“Lady Laliya.” The voice came from an elderly man.
He bowed deeply and the others followed.
Laliya immediately paused.
Without hesitation, she returned the gesture.
A graceful bow that was both respectful and humble.
The crowd visibly brightened at her gesture.
Children waved enthusiastically.
Laliya smiled and waved back.
The reaction was immediate with no hesitation.
Several people looked moments away from crying.
Others clasped their hands over their hearts, moved by her acknowledgement and touched they caught a glimpse of her.
A little girl ran forward holding a bundle of handpicked flowers.
One of the wardens accompanying the procession immediately moved to intercept her.
Laliya gently raised a hand.
The warden stopped on her tracks and didn’t stop the girl’s approach.
The little girl reached her.
She was breathless and nervous.
Holding out the flowers with trembling fingers.
“They’re for you.”
Laliya accepted them carefully as though receiving a priceless treasure.
“Thank you.”
The child’s face lit up.
Laliya crouched slightly so they stood at eye level.
The little girl nearly exploded from happiness.
One old woman asked for a prayer from Laliya.
Laliya happily granted the request and prayed together with her.
A merchant requested a blessing for his newborn son.
Laliya and the other maiden offered prayers and provided sacred threads for the merchant to tie ono his child’s wrist to wade off harm and bring good fortune.
Several children simply wanted to speak with her and somehow Laliya found time for all of them.
She was patient, gentle and present to hear them out even after the exhausting purification rituals of the morning, barely sleeping a wink the previous night, and while carrying a heart full of confusion.
She never showed it, not once.
To the people surrounding her, she appeared almost radiant like a living extension of the heavens itself.
Across the street, Anaqielle stood beneath the awning of a bookstore.
Her eyes locked onto every move that Laliya made.
Isa leaned beside her, eating candied fruit.
The two women had been watching for nearly twenty minutes.
Isa smiled.
“She’s popular.”
Anaqielle said nothing.
She was starting to see the reason she was brought in to test Laliya.
And knew instantly that had she refused, heaven would’ve picked another fallen to tempt Laliya.
She was one foot in the promised paradise and they needed to prove her faith was unbreakable.
A child nearly tripped trying to reach Laliya.
The holy maiden immediately steadied him before he could fall.
The child grinned from ear to ear.
Laliya smiled back and the crowd collectively looked ready to ascend to the heavens on the spot.
Isa laughed softly.
“I think half the city is in love with her.”
Anaqielle’s jaw tightened.
She couldn’t explain why.
Something about the scene irritated her.
The feeling crawled beneath her skin.
Every bow, smile and expression of admiration directed toward Laliya felt wrong to her.
She didn’t like it one bit.
The holy maiden moved through the crowd like a celestial figure descended from the heavens with imaginary white wings at her back and looking every bit untouchable, beloved and pure in the midst of the crowd.
Anaqielle’s gaze narrowed.
For a brief moment she imagined a halo above Laliya’s head.
It wasn’t real, just Anaqielle’s mind being difficult and cooking up stories.
But once the image appeared, she couldn’t stop seeing it.
A perfect silver halo, floating above Laliya’s dark hair and marking her as Heaven’s chosen.
The symbol of everything Anaqielle had lost, everything standing between her and home.
Her fingers curled slowly.
The phantom halo remained above Laliya’s head.
An old dark instinct.
The same instinct that had once made her one of Heaven’s most feared keepers.
She wanted to destroy it, the halo, Laliya and the purity the maiden carried on her.
She was determined to tear down the impossible perfection everyone worshipped.
She wanted to tear it apart and watch the fragments scatter, to prove it wasn’t real.
And finally show the world that nobody could remain that pure forever.
To prove heaven had chosen the wrong girl.
Her gaze followed Laliya through the crowd.
She watched her bow again, saw another child run up to her and witnessed that infuriatingly gentle smile appear over and over again.
The itching worsened.
Anaqielle folded her arms tightly.
Isa noticed immediately.
“Oh no, Ana!”
“What?”
“You have the look on your face.”
Anaqielle frowned.
“What look?” She asked like she didn’t know but based on her feelings, she had a rough idea about the look on her face
Isa pointed toward Laliya.
“The one where you’re planning something evil and malicious.”
“I assure you, I am not.”
“You absolutely are,” had it been before, she would’ve believed Anaqielle but over time, earth had corrupted Anaqielle and the angelic parts of her that never knew how to lie slowly vanished.
Anaqielle learnt mundane skills that angels weren’t allowed to have.
Became heartless at some point down the line and used her ability to numb herself after commiting a sin to get away with it.
Anaqielle remained silent which was answer enough more powerful than a written confession.
Isa groaned dramatically.
“Anaqielle.” She called, the fallen angel continued staring paying her no heed.
“Anaqielle!”
When she still received no response, she sighed.
“What are you thinking about?
Slowly, very slowly, a smile appeared on Anaqielle’s face.
The smile was beautiful, dangerous and predatory.
The kind of smile that had once sent entire kingdoms into panic.
Her eyes never left Laliya.
“Just imagining…”
Isa immediately regretted asking.
“Imagining what?”
Anaqielle watched as another blessing was requested, another prayer offered by Laliya in complete sincerity and another display of impossible faith.
Then she spoke quietly.
“So much devotion.” Her smile widened slightly.
“Imagine how spectacular her fall will be.”
For the first time since receiving heaven’s mission, Anaqielle felt genuinely motivated because standing there, watching the city adore Laliya as though she already belonged among the stars, she suddenly wanted to be the reason heaven lost her.
“How do you think she’ll look ruined?”