1 Entwined Fates

When you encounter the concept of Heaven, it often evokes images of a realm free from suffering and dilemmas—a place of ultimate peace. But what if all these notions turned out to be nothing more than imaginative fabrications?

Despite being the first son of the Supreme Angel, Michael, Requaniel never tasted the warmth of love. His early life was marked by his mother's exile from The Land Of Honour, also known as Heaven.

Branded a "Traitor" for her association with demons, she was exiled, and her literal death followed, as banishment from heaven was no different than dying for angels.

She left Requaniel without the warmth of familial bonds. It wouldn't take much longer for Michael to find a new love, worsening Requaniel's already difficult life and transforming it into a more hellish experience.

His stepmother, as expected, always disregarded Requaniel's existence and only cared about her children—the three step-siblings of Requaniel.

Since Requniel's mother was branded as a traitor, people in heaven always treated him with contempt. However, there were still some people who showed their genuine kindness to Requaniel, but it didn't last long before their attitudes shifted after the Blood War in Heaven, leaving Requaniel without sustained support.

"This is so sickening." Requaniel couldn't help but find his own life sickening—a chaotic mess where he felt trapped in unending torment.

Due to people's loathing towards him, Requaniel almost became an introvert and never considered caring about anyone since his principle was like—If others cared for him, he reciprocated; If ignored, he would erase their existence from his concerns.

Despite enduring hatred, Requaniel persevered through his angelic training. Regardless of the disdain from his father and others, he pressed on, acknowledging that, as the son of a Supreme Angel, he still held a place in the celestial hierarchy.

Through his angelic training, a new path unfolded for Requaniel, leading him to express gratitude for his existence. The journey provided a transformative experience that reshaped his perspective.

It was during this period that he encountered the Goddess of Mystery, a pivotal meeting that would alter the course of his life forever.

The encounter transpired during his angelic sword training. As usual, Requaniel found himself alone, diligently practicing the instructed sword swings under his mentor's guidance.

"Damn, how many more?" Requaniel muttered to himself, fatigue evident as he surpassed the previous record of one thousand swings. Undeterred, he persisted, the blade slicing through the air while completely drenched in sweat.

*Creak*

Shortly, the training chamber's gate opened, and someone entered, but Requaniel paid no attention, continuing his blade swings without bothering to glimpse at the newcomer.

"Hmm? Are you alone here?" An angelic voice emanated from the left, and a person slowly approached Requaniel.

"Yeah," Requaniel replied, maintaining his usual reticence in social situations and still not bothering to cast a glance at the person.

"Hmm~" The person, intrigued by Requaniel's unwavering focus on training, leaned in and questioned, "Is this training so important that you didn't even bother to look at me while talking?"

"Of course it is." Requaniel responded by continuously swinging the blade, adding, "If you're looking for the mentor, then unfortunately, he's not here."

He commented, although he knew that he only got targeted for bullying in these types of situations. He slowly cast a glance at the person. However, as he noticed the unexpected presence of someone else standing there, observing him with curiosity, he was left jaw-dropped.

He was captivated by the stunning presence of a young girl, seemingly around the age of sixteen, physically. Her golden locks flowed gracefully, reaching down to her waist, and her eyes gleamed like the radiant sun. Her fair skin seemed as if it had been touched by the gentle glow of moonlight. Adorned in a celestial brown gown, the enchanting figure before him was unmistakably none other than the cherished daughter of the Divine Existence—the Goddess of Mystery, Celestia.

Instantly, Requaniel bowed before her, expressing, "Forgive me for disregarding your divine presence, her ladyship."

Then he gradually raised his gaze, asking, "Is there something I can help you with?"

Witnessing Requaniel's sudden change in demeanour, Goddess Celestia smiled gently, locking her golden gaze with him. She asked, "Why are you so formal, all of a sudden?"

"Well, I wouldn't dare to be impolite, especially in the presence of someone as divine as you, far greater than a mere angel like me," Requaniel responded, his gaze momentarily avoiding hers. As the goddess engaged him in conversation for the first time, a sense of unease tinged his thoughts, pondering the intentions behind the goddess's interest.

"Is that so?" Goddess Celestia tilted her head, her golden gaze fixed on him. "Hmm... If memory serves me right, your name is Requaniel, isn't it?"

Her mysterious smile suggested there might be some hidden intention behind her inquiry.

"...Yeah, it's me," Requaniel nodded, lowering his gaze, and couldn't help but wonder, 'Now what? Am I going to get bullied again or something?'

Requaniel's thoughts were plausible, given his past experiences. He knew that whenever a deity or an angel asked about his name, the usual follow-up was often taunting or bullying.

"I see, it's nice meeting you, Requaniel."

However, instead of taunting or bullying, Goddess Celestia beamed, asking, "It appears that you love sword practicing. Are you a specialist in swords, Requaniel?"

"....." Requaniel was left in a daze for some moments since it was the first time someone had spoken to him normally in hundreds of years.

"Yeah, that's right." Nonetheless, it didn't take him long to snap back to his senses as he gazed at his blade, continuing, "I'm at the intermediate level now. There's still a long way for me to go."

Although Requaniel got bullied a lot in the past, he didn't want to continue suffering, so he decided to focus on becoming stronger.

"I see, that's nice." Goddess Celestia nodded as she began circling Requaniel, observing his physique.

"Uhh…Goddess Celestia? What are you doing?" Requaniel asked, perplexed by her unusual behavior.

"Hmm…well, I'm observing you, of course. You know, I came here to look for an angel attendant for me, but it seems like I've already found one."

Goddess Celestia commented and stood in front of Requaniel, adding, "You, Requaniel. I think you'll be a suitable candidate to be my angel aide."

"...What?" Her testimony stunned Requaniel, and as a bewildered look shaped on his face, he asked, "Are you serious?"

"Yep, I'm serious here."

The goddess Celestia replied with a mysterious smile and turned around as her golden, shining hair floated in the air. She commented, "I'm looking forward to it~"

Whether it was a fateful encounter orchestrated by Requaniel's aunt, Fate, or a mere coincidence, the goddess had decided to choose him as her aide.

As she left, Requaniel stared at the door, muttering, "This is rather suspicious..."

Her actions raised suspicions. In his two hundred years of existence, no angel or deity had shown any interest in Requaniel.

Suddenly, a supreme goddess taking an interest in him piqued his suspicion.

Sigh!

Sighing shortly, he pushed aside these thoughts and resumed training. Some time had passed, yet his curiosity got the better of him.

He made an annoyed expression and sheathed his blade, mumbling to himself, "I believe... I do need to speak with her ladyship."

Completing his words, Requaniel closed his eyes and vanished into thin air.

*Swish*

Soon enough, he found himself standing in front of a flower garden.

"Hmm? Where am I?" he muttered, looking around in confusion. Despite his intention to meet Goddess Celestia, it seemed he had been teleported to the wrong place.

"Hm?" Suddenly, he shifted his gaze to the left as he heard someone's giggle.

He realized that he had unwittingly intruded into some deity's realm, so he cast a spell to become invisible so he wouldn't get caught. Stealthily, he stepped forward towards his left.

Upon arriving in front of a towering tree, he noticed Goddess Celestia sitting there, giggling and enjoying the company of birds and small animals.

Lady Celestia extended her hand towards the birds, who fluttered around her, creating a mesmerizing dance in the air.

With a gentle touch, she communicated with them, exchanging melodies that resonated through the divine realm.

Lady Celestia, with a twinkle in her eyes, responded, "Ah, the glade of silver riddles! It sounds enchanting. I wonder, dear friend, did you uncover the secret behind those mystic puzzles?"

The birds, seemingly understanding every word, gestured with swift fluttering. Lady Celestia's laughter echoed through the divine garden.

"A puzzle yet unsolved? Fear not, little one. These mysteries are the heartbeat of the divine realm. We shall together uncover the magic hidden within those silver leaves!"

Then, some little bunnies hopped closer to her, and as Lady Celestia chuckled at the playful antics of the small bunnies, her eyes sparkled with a divine light.

The connection between her and the creatures seemed magical, each responding to her gestures and whispers as if they shared an unspoken language.

Requaniel, on the other side, was left baffled by the inexplicable bond Lady Celestia shared with the creatures around her.

Lowering his face, Requaniel found himself grappling with the mystery unfolding before his eyes.

"This is beyond comprehension," he whispered, unable to fathom the depth of her connection.

"How does she converse with them so effortlessly? It's as if the language of the mystical world is woven into her very being."

Although he lived for two hundred years, it was the first time he had witnessed something like that.

"My, why not reveal yourself?" Lady Celestia's melodious voice echoed, gently coaxing Requaniel from the shadows.

"?!" His eyes widened in astonishment as he realized that Lady Celestia had already sensed his presence.

Gradually, he lifted his eyes and found Lady Celestia smiling at him, seemingly unaffected by his attempt to remain invisible.

Realizing that he couldn't escape her notice, he sighed and took a step forward, bowing respectfully. "My apologies for the sudden intrusion, her ladyship."

"It's fine since it's you, the one who is going to be my angel attendant; I don't mind," Lady Celestia smiled, patting the bunny's head which was resting on her lap.

"So, if I'm not mistaken, then you're here to know why I chose you as my angel attendant, correct?" She added, smiling mysteriously at him.

Although Requaniel wanted to reply 'Obviously, now hurry up and shoot what you're plotting on,' however, he knew being disrespectful to a Supreme God was nothing more than a death wish. So he nodded, replying, "Yes, her ladyship."

"Well," Lady Celestia snapped her fingers as the animals and birds around her moved away, and she got up, replying, "I choose you as my angel attendant because…"

She paused and shifted her gaze at him, adding, "...because I sense a genuine strength and compassion within you that can serve as a beacon of hope in challenging times."

Lady Celestia explained as her eyes gleamed. She continued,

"Your journey, with its hardships and resilience, has shaped you into someone capable of understanding and navigating the complexities of existence."

Then she got up and stepped towards Requaniel, adding,

"I believe that together, we can unravel the threads of destiny and bring about a harmony yet unseen in the celestial realms," Lady Celestia explained, her words carrying sincerity. Requaniel found her words plausible, but a lingering suspicion still tugged at the edges of his thoughts.

"Oh…I see," Requaniel replied, though an unsatisfied curiosity lingered within him as he silently mused, 'I'm not that remarkable, though.'

Lady Celestia, detecting the skepticism in Requaniel's expression, chuckled and gestured with her right arm, proposing, "How about giving it a try? Stay here in my realm for a few years, and you can get to know me better. It might also help to dispel any doubts you have."

"Hmm? Wait, but I'm not allowed to. I'm just an angel, not your aide yet."

Requaniel replied with a perplexed look on his face.

Lady Celestia tilted her head, smiling mysteriously, and responded, "Who said you're not allowed? I am the Goddess of Mystery, after all. I can make exceptions. Consider it a unique training opportunity, Requaniel."

Turning around with a warm golden aura enveloping her, she smiled and said, "Now then, get ready to serve alongside me, alright? It's going to be quite an adventure."

Requaniel initially found Lady Celestia's behavior suspicious, given her title as the Goddess of Mystery. However, as he spent more time with her, his initial suspicions gradually faded away.

As the years passed within the confines of Lady Celestia's realm, Requaniel seamlessly transitioned into the role of her devoted aide, even before officially assuming the title of her angelic attendant.

During these years, Lady Celestia and Requaniel forged a unique alliance that surpassed the conventional boundaries of goddess and angel.

Their days were filled with shared laughter, profound conversations, and an unspoken understanding that bound their souls together.

In the serene moments of dawn, Lady Celestia and Requaniel often wandered through celestial gardens.

The blooming flowers seemed to mirror the blossoming of their connection, painting the ethereal landscape with hues of divine resonance.

As their bond deepened, so did the understanding between them.

Lady Celestia, once a mysterious enigma, unfolded her true self before Requaniel, sharing the vulnerabilities hidden beneath her divine exterior. In return, Requaniel reciprocated with fragments of his arduous journey.

The cosmic realm became a canvas for the evolving masterpiece of their connection, an intricate tapestry woven with threads of trust, companionship, and an undeniable sense of belonging.

Finally, the time had come for Requaniel to officially be her angel aide.

"My lady," Requaniel sighed, placing the documents on the desk.

Gently shaking Lady Celestia, he remarked, "Wake up; you need to complete these documents, you know."

"Muh…I'm so tired," Lady Celestia replied wearily, her head resting on the desk.

"Come on, I understand that it's tiresome. But if you don't do it, it'll only increase the burden," Requaniel tried to encourage her while organizing the stack of documents.

"Seriously…?" Lady Celestia sighed and gradually lifted her head, gently rubbing her eyes. She replied, "Can I just do it tomorrow?"

"No, my lady, you know these matters can't be postponed. The celestial council expects these reports soon," Requaniel insisted, his tone soft but firm. Even though he started caring for her, he didn't compromise when it came to work.

"Fine…" Lady Celestia let out a deep sigh, but it wouldn't take long for a playful smile to shape on her face as she extended her arms towards Requaniel, commanding, "Give me a hug first."

"Aye, aye." Requaniel gave her a faint smile and gently wrapped his arms around her. These hundreds of years have refined their bonds a lot, as explained before.

While gently caressing her head, Requaniel called out, "It's already time for me to be your official aide, right, my lady?"

"...Yes," While nestling her head in Requaniel's chest, Lady Celestia replied.

Their behavior already indicated that they had moved beyond the typical dynamic of a goddess and her angel aide, taking a step closer to becoming lovers.

Requaniel, who had never experienced love before, found himself infatuated with Lady Celestia after spending time in her presence. Before he knew it, she had secured a special place in his heart.

As for Lady Celestia, while she cared deeply for Requaniel, whether she reciprocated his romantic feelings or not remained a mystery.

"Well," Requaniel stepped backward, smiling at Lady Celestia as he commented, "I still have classes today, so I better go, or else Mentor Arionious might rebuke me."

"Alright," Lady Celestia giggled as she leaned closer to Requaniel, commenting, "But please don't skip your classes just to have a glimpse of me like you've been doing, okay?"

Because of Requaniel's infatuation for his lady, he occasionally skipped his classes just to catch a glimpse of Goddess Celestia, and he never felt embarrassed or tired of doing so.

"I can't help it, my lady." Requaniel laughed and turned around, adding, "Well, I'll be going then."

"Sure, and be prepared, too, okay? Tomorrow is the big day, after all," Lady Celestia stated, referring to the day of his official induction as her angel aide.

"Absolutely, my lady. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly," Requaniel assured her with a sense of anticipation for the upcoming significant day, and shortly after, he left.

Sigh! Lady Celestia let out a sigh and gazed towards the ceiling, murmuring, "I hope…I'm doing it right, Lady Elysia."