The holy sanctum was silent except for the sound of water dripping somewhere deep within the halls.
Laliya knelt alone beneath the silver lanterns, her hands resting carefully in her lap as strands of glowing light moved slowly around the chamber.
The light brushed against her white robes like flowing silk, warm against her skin.
Most people found the sanctums peaceful.
Laliya found them exhausting.
She lowered her gaze toward the reflecting pool before her.
Its surface was perfectly still, shining with pale silver light.
A pure Lumen creates calm waters.
That was what the Luminars always said.
She stared at her own reflection quietly.
The image that stared back at her was the perfect picture of control, balance and purity.
The word made her chest feel strangely hollow.
She was raised to believe that being perfectly sinless was the only way to ascend to heaven.
The Luminars trained her in the way of life.
They taught her day and night how to preserve the purity of her Lumen.
“Laliya.”
The voice echoed softly through the chamber.
She immediately straightened.
A Luminar stood near the entrance, veils of silver cloth draped over her shoulders.
“You have remained in meditation for six hours,” the older woman said gently.
“You should rest.”
“I’m fine,” Laliya replied automatically.
The Luminar studied her for a moment before stepping closer.
“You push yourself too hard lately.”
Laliya lowered her eyes again.
“I simply wish to remain worthy.”
The woman’s expression softened with approval.
Laliya was the best holy maiden shed seen in years and among her peers, she stood out for her excellent practice of the way of life.
“As expected of a future Luminar,” the old woman praised.
Laliya smiled politely.
Her smile was practised, small and far from real.
The Luminar soon left her alone again, footsteps disappearing into silence.
The moment the chamber doors closed, Laliya’s smile faded.
She exhaled slowly.
Then, she finally leaned forward, letting her shoulders loosen for the first time all night.
‘Tired,’ she thought.
She was so tired.
Every day felt the same now.
Prayers, meditation, balance lessons, emotional restraint and endless reminders that attachment was corruption.
That desire weakened the soul and eternity belonged only to those capable of surrendering themselves completely to the Radiance.
Laliya understood all of it.
She had accepted it years ago.
So, why?
Her fingers tightened slightly against her robes.
Why did she still feel empty?
The silver pool rippled suddenly.
Laliya froze.
A small frown crossed her face.
That should not happen.
The chamber had no wind and she hadn’t sinned which meant that the water should remain calm and unmoved.
Slowly, she looked up.
A black feather drifted onto the water.
The silver glow beneath it dimmed instantly.
Laliya’s heartbeat stumbled.
‘A Seren.’
Before she could stand, another voice filled the chamber.
It was smooth and low, far too close for comfort.
“So this is heaven’s precious little maiden?”
Laliya turned sharply and for a minute, forgot how to breathe.
A woman sat lazily atop the sacred altar behind her, one leg crossed over the other.
Long silver hair spilled over black fabric like moonlight drowning in darkness.
Ruined wings rested behind her, feathers blackened toward the edges.
‘Beautiful,’ that’s the first thought that crossed Laliya’s mind.
‘Terrifyingly beautiful,’ her inner voice sounded again.
Laliya immediately rose to her feet.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she said.
The woman tilted her head slightly, amused.
“No greeting?” she asked softly.
“How cold.”
Laliya’s pulse quickened.
A fallen Seren, inside the sanctum.
It was beyond impossible.
The protective sigils should have kept her out as it did with ghosts, demons, and possessed humans.
The woman jumped down from the altar with effortless grace.
Black feathers drifted through the air around her.
Laliya stepped back instinctively.
Her fingers clutching her prayer beads.
Hard.
She made a silent prayer in her heart.
Anaqielle noticed her panic and smiled.
She heard Laliya’s prayer.
‘Oh holy Radiance, protect my soul from all evil.’
“Ah,” she breathed out.
There it was, the fear she’d learnt to bring out of humans.
She walked slowly around the chamber, gloved fingers trailing carelessly across sacred silver carvings.
“You sanctum people never change,” she murmured coldly.
“Still obsessed with silence. It’s depressing.”
“Spoken like a fallen who doesn’t understand heaven’s will.”
“Laliya Lancrest.”
Her name in that voice felt strangely intimate.
Laliya stiffened.
“How do you know my name?”
Anaqielle glanced over her shoulder.
“Everyone in heaven knows your name.”
The words chilled her more than they should have.
Laliya forced herself to remain calm.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
The rejection was simple and casual like refusal meant nothing.
Anaqielle’s gaze drifted toward the glowing pool.
Then toward Laliya again.
Studying her carefully.
“So pure,” she whispered.
“It almost feels cruel.”
Laliya frowned.
“What do you want?”
At that, Anaqielle smiled slowly.
Her hungry smile was neither mocking nor kind.
It was just that, hungry.
She stepped closer.
Laliya immediately retreated again.
Another step provoked another retreat.
Until her back nearly touched the edge of the silver pool.
Anaqielle stopped directly in front of her.
Close enough for Laliya to notice faint glowing fractures beneath her pale skin.
Close enough to smell rain and ash, and feel warmth radiating from her body despite what she was.
Their eyes met.
Gold against blue-grey.
Then Anaqielle asked quietly, “Tell me, Laliya… have you ever wanted something badly enough to destroy your balance for it?”
The question hit harder than it should have.
Laliya opened her mouth and realized she had no answer.
Anaqielle noticed the hesitation immediately.
Her smile deepened dangerously as her interest in Laliya piqued.
“Oh,” she whispered softly.
“There’s something hidden inside you after all.”
Laliya tensed up.
Getting confronted by the Seren who not only managed to infiltrate the sanctum without raising any alarms was terrifying.
Serens, as she had been taught were fallen angels who were cast down from heaven.
And judging by Anaqielle’s blacked wings, she could tell the fallen was close to becoming a demon.
“What do you want?”
Eternity in the light?
To go home?
To corrupt you and claim your spot in the promised paradise?
The list was endless for Anaqielle.
However, it all orbitted around heaven and that was her sole reason for seeking out Laliya.
“To get to know heaven’s precious holy maiden. And find out what makes her so pure,” Anaqielle smiled.
“I’m curious, Laliya… what would make a saint like you commit sin?”