With laughter ripe as summer wine,
Young Thalia danced in mischief’s line.
A crown of daisies, wild and bright,
Adorned her curls in morning light.

“Come now,” said Antioch with a grin,
His silver tongue a blade within.
“The world is dull, too tight, too grim—
Let’s give dear Soter cause to swim.”

She giggled low, her dimples deep,
And tiptoed past the shrine of sleep,
Where Soter knelt in prayerful peace,
His hands outstretched for love’s release.

A whisper here, a mirror there,
She filled the air with scented flair—
His robe turned pink, his voice a squeak,
His polished sandals danced and squeaked.

The temple bells rang out too fast,
The incense burst in colored blast.
And lo! his sacred scrolls now bore
Riddles, jokes, and tales of yore.

The priests all gasped, the novices fled,
But Soter simply bowed his head.
He smiled—a soft, serene affair—
And brushed a rose from off his hair.

“Oh Thalia,” he gently sighed,
“You chase delight where truth must hide.
But joy, though wild, will someday weep
When deeper wisdom wakes from sleep.”

Antioch howled with prideful cheer,
But Thalia paused, then lent an ear.
She saw no rage in Soter’s gaze—
Just patience shaped by kinder days.

So still she plays, with wit and jest,
A thorn of laughter in the blessed.
But sometimes, when the stars align,
She dreams of calm, of hands divine.

For even muses, bright and free,
May one day seek serenity.

Under the shadow of the crumbling temple, the gang of young thieves huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames of a fire they had kindled in the heart of their hideout. They were a ragged, mischievous group—always scheming, always planning the next heist. Flickering torchlight cast long shadows across the room, where the gang had gathered around a makeshift table scattered with maps and old scrolls.

"Mailys, the tall and lean girl with fierce eyes and a mind as agile as her fingers, leaned over the plans. Her black hair fell in messy curls around her face, and her keen gaze flicked back and forth between the maps and the wiry boy beside her, Judec."

Judec was smaller, with a wiry frame and a nervous energy that kept him constantly shifting on his feet. His dark eyes, quick and observant, were always darting around, searching for the slightest hint of trouble. But when he looked at Mailys, there was an intensity in his gaze, a shared hunger for the thrill of the heist.

“We’ll hit the merchant’s house on the west side,” Mailys murmured, tracing the route with her finger. "It’s the perfect time. The guards change shifts at midnight, and that’s when we make our move. We’ll slip in through the back, take what we need, and be gone before anyone even notices."

Judec nodded, a grin pulling at the corner of his lips. "Think we can make it clean this time? No screw-ups?"

Mailys smirked, a touch of mischief dancing in her eyes. "When have we ever had a screw-up? You just follow my lead, and we’ll be in and out. Easy."

Just as they were about to finish the meeting, the air grew still, and the sound of distant music floated into the room, soft and ethereal, like the whispered melody of a faraway dream.

They froze.

The thieves’ eyes widened as a figure appeared in the doorway, cloaked in ethereal light. She was a woman, but not just any woman—she glowed with an otherworldly radiance, her golden hair cascading like a river of light, her gown shimmering with celestial symbols. It was Thalia. Gone was the mischievous, carefree spirit; in her place stood someone transformed—poised, regal, and filled with an aura of divine purpose.

The gang stared in shock as she stepped forward, her presence almost overwhelming. Thalia’s eyes, once filled with playful mischief, now gleamed with purpose and authority. The thieves exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether they were in the presence of an illusion, a goddess, or something far more dangerous.

Judec, never one to be easily intimidated, was the first to speak. “What do you want, lady?” he sneered, trying to mask the unease in his voice.

Thalia’s smile was serene, almost knowing. She tilted her head slightly, regarding the gang with a curious gaze. "I’ve come for something far more valuable than your ill-gotten treasures,” she said, her voice melodic and commanding. “I’ve come to offer you something far beyond the fleeting pleasures of your petty thievery."

Mailys, more cautious than Judec, narrowed her eyes. “Who are you really? What game are you playing?”

“I play no game,” Thalia replied, her gaze unwavering. “I’ve been sent by Soter. I offer you a chance to rise above the shadows.”

The gang’s collective skepticism hung in the air, but something about her presence made them hesitate. The warmth in the room shifted as if they had stepped into a realm far removed from the cold, gritty streets they knew.

“Like we told your missionary today,”. Judec said “We’re not in the business of worshipping gods,”

Thalia’s expression softened, but her voice grew stronger, more assured. “My children you are lost, seeking something to fill the emptiness inside. I offer you something that will fill that void—not with riches or fleeting power, but with purpose."

Mailys, intrigued despite herself, stepped forward. “What’s the catch?”

Thalia's smile was gentle but resolute. “There is no catch, only the chance to transcend who you are now. Join me, and you will be part of something greater than you could imagine.”

Thalia’s radiant gaze locked onto Mailys as she stepped closer, her hand extending gracefully toward the young thief. The room was heavy with silence, the flickering torchlight casting strange shadows across the walls, now seeming almost distant in the presence of the divine.

Judec, his dark eyes filled with suspicion, took a step back. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to reach for his knife, to ward off whatever magic she was weaving. “Don’t be a fool, Mailys,” he warned, his voice low but sharp. “She’s not real. This is some kind of trick.”

Mailys didn’t flinch at his words. She was watching Thalia intently, her eyes narrowing, weighing the offer. There was something compelling about the muse’s presence, something in her steady, calm authority that tugged at the thief's restless heart.

The young thief hesitated for a moment longer, feeling the weight of the decision bearing down on her. Her fingers twitched, as if reaching for something inside her—a spark of hope, of curiosity, something that told her this could be the chance she had been waiting for.

Finally, Mailys took a breath, a soft exhale, before reaching out and grasping Thalia’s extended hand.

A rush of warmth flooded through her, an energy far different from anything she had ever felt—stronger than the adrenaline of a successful heist, deeper than any thrill. It was like standing at the edge of a great precipice, feeling the weight of something ancient, something powerful, calling her to it.

Judec stared at her, his mouth agape. “Mailys! No—don’t do it!”

But Mailys didn’t look back. The moment her hand touched Thalia’s, everything around her seemed to shimmer, the air thick with possibility. She felt as though she had stepped into a new world.

“Bless you, Mailys,” Thalia whispered, her voice like a melody. “You’ve made the right choice.”

For a moment, it was as if time had frozen. The rest of the gang could only watch in stunned silence. Mailys’s gaze softened, and she turned toward Judec, her eyes filled with serene peace.

“Soter has saved me, Judec,” she said quietly. “He can redeem you too, if you let him.”

Judec’s face darkened, anger and confusion battling in his eyes. “You’ve gone mad!” He reached for Mailys’s arm, but Thalia’s gaze shifted to him, and he stopped dead in his tracks, a chill running down his spine. The warmth of the room, the vibrant pulse of energy around Mailys, felt like a stark contrast to the cold emptiness in his chest.

Judec stood frozen, his fingers hovering just inches from Mailys’s arm. His heart raced, a cocktail of confusion, anger, and disbelief swirling within him. The warm light that now enveloped Mailys seemed to stretch toward him, an invisible force drawing him in. It was as though the room itself was alive, the air thick with the weight of a decision he didn’t want to make.

“You’re making a mistake,” Judec muttered, his voice wavering more than he would have liked. “This... this isn’t real. This is a trick.” His words were forced, but the tremor in his voice betrayed the fear creeping into his chest.

But Thalia’s eyes—those unblinking, divine eyes—turned to him. They were calm, steady, yet filled with a quiet power that made him feel small, insignificant. For a fleeting moment, the light in the room dimmed, and Judec felt the weight of something ancient pressing down on him, something that made his skin tingle and his heart beat faster.

“Don’t be afraid, Judec,” Thalia said softly, her voice like a soothing breeze, gentle yet firm. “You, too, can find peace. All you need to do is trust in Soter.”

Judec’s breath hitched, and before he could stop himself, his hand reached out—just a slight motion at first, but as if the very warmth around Mailys was pulling him, urging him to come closer. The instant his fingers brushed against Thalia’s outstretched hand, the sensation was like nothing he had ever felt. It was as if the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders, his fear and uncertainty dissolving into the quiet pulse of pure peace.

The anger that had flared inside him began to ebb away, replaced by a strange calm. It was as if the fire that had burned within him—his anger at the world, at his past, at Mailys’s decision—was being extinguished by a gentle tide of understanding. He blinked, staring at his own hand now wrapped around Thalia’s, and for the first time in what felt like years, he didn’t feel alone.

His thoughts were muddled, but a flicker of something deeper—something brighter—stirred within him. It was as if the shadow that had always hovered over him, the void he’d spent his life trying to fill with stolen goods and empty thrills, was now fading away, replaced by something far more solid, far more real.

Mailys turned to face him fully, her expression softening. “Soter’s path is the true path, Judec.

Judec swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. All his defiance, all the pride that had fueled him for so long, now seemed so... small.

For a long moment, Judec simply stood there, his hand still clasped around Thalia’s, feeling the quiet surge of warmth through his veins. His heart, once a fortress of distrust and bitterness, now beat in sync with something far older, far wiser.

Suddenly, the light in the room seemed to brighten, more radiant and alive than ever before. The gang of thieves, once hardened by years of survival in the shadows, now stood at the edge of something far beyond what they could have ever dreamed of. In that moment, there were no more doubts, no more hesitation.

Judec closed his eyes, letting the warmth and peace fill every corner of his heart. The path ahead was unclear, but with Soter as his guide, for the first time, he felt as if he could walk it without fear.

And maybe, just maybe, redemption was within his reach.