Sunday, 29th March,
11:39pm
(No One's Pov)
Mangle stepped into the light of the bright street lamps, dressed in fine temple white and silver dressing.
Tonight was the official opening ceremony of the Heavenly Light festival in Lykros, a city within Heaven's Peace Region, and tonight will be broadcasted across all realms but the Human Realm. And as asked weeks ago, Mangle is accompanying the Royals and God along with Mother Zoraida, High Priestess Candace, archangels; Michael, Remiel and Amenadiel, and Heaven's current visitors from Hell; Satan, Jackal Reaper and Queen Aristomache Eclipse.
The group slowly made their way down the streets lined with people and stalls. Mangle couldn't help but look around in pure excitement and awe yet stayed behind Ashunti and Jackal who were walking happily, holding hands. The group eventually made their way over to the city square, the royals taking their places on the platform, Mangle standing by Ashunti's side as the archangels, Mother Zoraida and High Priestess Candace stood by the two pillars displayed below the platform. One held a white gemstone, the Light Stone, whilst the other held a redish-orange gemstone, the Sunstone. As in tradition, both displayed for all to see yet still held protectively in display cases of angelsilver. Soon, angels started to gather early around the edge of the city square as Ianthe stepped forward on the platform "Welcome all to this year's Heavenly Light festival" the queen of Heaven's voice boomed, receiving loud cheers from the audience. "Today, we mark the enteral anniversary of the birth of our dear heavenly divine, the Light Spirit of Heaven" Ianthe started "And with that, I am joined by my dear queen of Hell, Queen Aristomache Eclipse, to honour our next Light Spirit with a total solar eclipse of early sun and late moon" she continued, earning louder cheers from the crowd as Aristomache stepped forward, joining Ianthe's side. The ancestral stones hang around both queens' necks glowed their beautiful colour as Ianthe's hands glowed a silvery blue and Aristomache's glowed a dark shimmering midnight blue. Both slowly raised their hands, both the sun and moon rising up and following the action before settling in place as a beautiful perfect eclipse. Twilight fell upon not only Heaven, but all the known realms. Stars glimmered brightly in the blues and purples that now consumed the sky. "May our light guide our divine home" "And may they forever glow" Aristomache finished Ianthe's sentence.
Whilst a few angels started setting up small lanterns around the edges of the square, a boy walked over to the platform.He was tall and solidly-built with tan skin, dark shadowed brown eyes and coal black hair that had a few grey streaks through it thanks to the slight stress he had throughout last year. He bowed his head to the royals "Jaylen Buckner, lord heir of the Buckner family- what a pleasure to see you again" Ianthe smiled as Jaylen stood straight once again, smiling back "The pleasure's all mine, your majesty" he replied. Mangle has heard of him, his father is currently the Lord of the family... one of the many noble angels of Heaven. The family were angels under the Peace Wing rule. Jaylen should be nineteen this year. "Forgive me for the intrusion, but I'd like to ask the sister you've brought from the temple a question" Jaylen stated as Mangle froze up, now looking down at the boy gazing up at her, as if she were the most beautiful think he's ever seen "May I ask you to join me the rest of the evening?" he asked as Mangle stood there, unable to answer... she felt awkward- this is the first time someone's given her this type of attention. "No" the angel flinched a bit, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Michael who glared daggers at the boy "The temple sister is currently standing a post" the archangel stated, folding his arms "And is also not looking to be courted" he said coldly as Jaylen stepped back a bit "O-of course, I'm sorry dear sister... forgive me and my rudeness" the boy said, bowing his head again be walking off back to his parents. "You didn't have to be rude, brother-" "He deserved it" Michael cut Amenadiel off as two other angels walked over to the royals, the woman of the pair carrying her daughter. The father had pale skin, burnt bark brown hair and dulled blue eyes whilst the woman had pale skin, sky blue eyes and blonde hair, her daughter seeming as though a much younger version of her. "Lady Eliora Lights and Jasper Lights, great to finally see you after so long" Ianthe smiled, kneeling down by the edge of the platform to better talk to the pair "And this must be little Seraphina, your heir" the angel queen stated as the small four-year-old cling to her mother.
Mangle recognised the family name, Lights... one of the strongest and most feared noble families in Heaven, not to mention that they are the direct line of descendants of the very first Light Spirit and the four divine spirits after her, that line now drawing on Eliora and Seraphina.The spirit is only born from the Lights family... yet now, there's a new Light Spirit- everyone knows that, but they're rumoured to be the first not born from the noble family. For a while, a lot of people assumed Seraphina was the new divine, but that 'theory' was quickly killed on the spot by her parents and Michael, their reasoning? although holding most of the description of the prophecy of the next Light Spirit, Seraphina is only a Lysdon angel already destined to be the next Lord of the Lights family, second... according to most rumours, the new Light was born many years before Seraphina. Although the reassurance and truth was good to unblind people of these stupid rumours and theories, it killed almost everyone's hope for the new Light's appearance and announcement to the world. All of Heaven's hope now days rides on the myth or fairytale of a divine 'reborn' and protecting Heaven and its angels... and now any word spoken of such thing is just but a mere word, no real proof given otherwise.
"And she'll soon have a sibling soon as well" Eliora smiled, her free hand resting on her stomach "Oh- congratulations!" Aristomache smiled as Ianthe's smile brightened even more, whilst angels of the Peace and Morning wings started to gather in the center of the city square. Mangle froze a bit, watching the angels gather in the center for the 'Light Summoning' dance.
For years, Mangle stayed within the temple walls, just trying to imagine what the festival would be like. Hearing word of the festival and its wonders from other sisters and priestesses of the temple who attend the festival. Hearing and wondering about the mythical 'Light Summoning' dance, how amazing it would be to dance side by side with the other angels and not be considered the 'weird' outcasted angel of Heaven. To be just like all the others, even just for a minute or two.
Now, Mangle stood almost on her toes, holding herself back from just running over and joining those gathering in the square, the begging question yanking on her tongue, a question she knew would make both Michael and High Priestess Candace immediately drag her back to the Light Temple.No... they can't. Mangle had been personally asked by Princess Ashunti Morning herself to act as an 'angel-in-waiting' for the entire duration of the Heavenly Light Festival, to be by her side for an entire week, a week away from a forever tomb of prayers and lessons, a week of freedom and exploration of the world outside the temple she was forced to call home. Now, she was on royal duty and neither of those two can stop her or drag her away... so, she went for it. "P-Princess Ashunti..." Mangle hesitantly spoke as the princess turned her head towards her "Yes Mangle?" "M-may I um.... can I join the other angels f-for the Light Summoning dance?" the angel asked as Ashunti brightly smiled back at her, both Michael and Candace catching the question just asked. "Of course you can-" "My princess" Candace interrupted for a second "Forgive me, but sister Mangle is currently standing a post right now, she must stay by your side for the duration of the festival" the High Priestess stated as Ashunti got this unpleased look on her face and now at this point, even Ianthe was listening in on this conversation. "High Priestess, Mangle is a dear Creation angel under my Wing rule and has mastered all courage to ask me for permission to dance for only a few minutes" Ashunti stated "She is but a teenager who has been stuck behind the stone walls of a temple for years, so if she wants to and asks me if she can experience being a normal angel for a few minutes, then I'm agreeing and letting her do so" she continued as Eliora joined the conversation. "I can walk her over and back" the woman offered, her husband nodding his head in agreement "Of course, thank you" Ianthe thanked the Lights' before turning her head to Mangle "You can join the dance, sweetheart" the queen stated as a smile immediately appeared on Mangle's face "Thank you" the angel excitedly smiled, hurrying down the platform and joining Eliora and Jasper's sides, walking over to the other angels.
"That was nice of you" Aristomache whispered to Ianthe who smiled a bit "Believe it or not, everything said was true... this is the first time in years she's been allowed out of that temple" the Heaven queen stated, watching all the angels form several circles spiralling out from the center of the city square "It's best if she knows normal life before it's taken away from her" Ianthe said.Mangle joined part of the outer circle of angels with Eliora, Seraphina and Jasper "Just copy us and you should be fine" Jasper told Mangle as the angel smiled brightly back at him as the beautiful lullaby-like music started to echo throughout the city and its square, and the angels started to dance.
(Continued in next chapter...)
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