Luciel's Tale

"Quite the firm opinion you have, Secessus." Treyah Tuldani simply answers his smile still there, giving me shivers.

"Well, you did ask for it," I respond, trying to get to the point of this tedious conversation.

Treyah Tuldani sips from his cup of demon's rage before he responds. Seemingly thinking about how to proceed.

"Do you want to hear a tale?" Treyah Tuldani suddenly asks me.

"Do I truly have a choice?" I ask, pretty sure that I'm not meant to answer no.

"Not really."

"Make it quick."

"Where should I begin?" He asks out loud but clearly not anticipating a response.

"..."

"Once upon a time there were 2 goddesses who ruled over light. These beautiful sisters were adored by the masses and as long as they ruled peace was guaranteed. Together they were invincible, Asariel who wielded a white pure light, and Luciel who wielded a chaotic red light. On the floating city of "Iel" they lived with the angels so that everyone in Genesias could look up and feel safe, knowing they are creatures protected by the divine. But eternal peace and tranquility have never been achieved, not even by those greater than us. For there was another realm that existed, a dark realm not yet blessed with light. That realm would later be known as Appolyian, the one we currently reside in. Luciel in her grace took pity on the demons and devils who lived in darkness and wished to also grant us the blessing of light. Asariel on the other hand was not impressed with her sister's sentiment, she believed the creatures in Appolyian were already too heavily tainted and were not worthy of their blessing. The sibling's perfect harmony began to crumble because there is one thing that is the most important for the gods. Something even greater than their sisterly love, greater than their wish for harmony, and perhaps even greater than their life."Treyah Tuldani says in a passionate tone, his eyes glistening as if recalling his favorite myth. Before abruptly pausing, leaving me in suspense.

"So what is the most significant thing for the gods?" I ask, my curiosity peaked now that the tale has already begun.

"Well, what do you think Secessus?" He says, laying a firm tone on my name.

'The most significant things for gods? What would an immortal, all-powerful being truly cherish?' I think, pondering about the first sight's question.

"Their legacy perhaps?" I decide to put forward a rather straightforward guess.

"An interesting idea. But why would these greater beings be bothered about the opinion of mere ants? Besides, a god is often arrogant and their immortality considered fact."

"What is it, then?" I ask, hoping that he's not going to act like those teachers who keep letting you guess until eternity.

"Pride."

"How do you mean?"

"Every god has its pride. They are after all deities, so why wouldn't they be prideful? Ordinary people boast about their achievement and feel proud if it exceeded expectation, now imagine this pride if you're capable of deciding the fate of entire realms. It literally defines how they live, and you can bet that they would choose this pride over everything else."

"So pride broke their relationship?"

"In a way, it was at least a catalyst. How do you think Asariel felt when her sister decided to grant the blessing of light to those she considered filth. How did Luciel feel that her sister could not see the potential of those she called filth? Anyway, we will never truly know what happened between them. But what we do know is that Luciel ignored her sister's condemnation and gave Appolyian light. The fall-outs continued to worsen between them and slowly distrust began to grow. Luciel began to stay longer and longer in Appolyian whilst Asariel remained in the floating city "Iel." Whispers began to spread about their fallout and the people began looking for answers. They discover that Luciel had left for Appolyian. But the lives of men are short and their vision limited, confusion and theories began to spread."

"..."

"One of those theories stuck around. The speculation that Luciel had abandoned Genesias spread like fire in a dry forest."

'That's ironic coming from the living tree.' I think, putting on my poker face so that he doesn't notice my idle thoughts.

"Time passed, and the two sisters fought against each other in the floating city of "Iel". Asariel got blinded during the battle, and Luciel was banished from Genesias and lost her angelic appearance. The city of "Iel" was destroyed during the battle, and mortals were shaken by the battle. Both sisters became incapable of governing the light, Asariel who could no longer see created the sun for Genesias and Luciel made Appolyian a city that would illuminate light for Appolyian. That city would of course be Lucille's Light, I don't have to spell it out now, do I?" He suddenly asks in some sort of attempted humor or perhaps form of teasing.

"No, you don't," I reply dryly, not wishing to go off-topic anymore.

"That is the general myth known to all. However, Luciel's tale is not yet finished. But before I begin, all the things I'm about to tell you should stay between us." Treyah Tuldani says, giving me a dead-serious look.

"Very well."

"Whilst Luciel did care about Appolyian, she never expected to be banished there. Genesias was still her home after all. She decided that she would return no matter what. However, there were a few problems: she could not break the veil of light surrounding Genesias, and she was in need of an army to conquer it if Asariel and her followers decided to resist. Unfortunately for our goddess, time started to pass by and her resentment and rage started to poison her mind. She despised weakness, for she herself was banished because she was weaker than her sister. So she made a rule that only the strong would survive and that the weak were just a waste of space. This is something that still plagues this city to this day. The city of Lucille's Light, instead of becoming a beacon of light, became an everlasting battlefield."

"..."

"Many demons and devils lost their lives in her wish of strength and bloodshed. But alas some did survive and grew stronger. Luciel on the other hand grew more mad over the years, and thus the most powerful of the surviving demons and devils united and rebelled against Luciel. For her insanity and her banishment had taken its toll on her power, and there is no place for the weak in Lucille's light. They managed to defeat Luciel and buried her remains where the church now stands." Treyah Tuldani says, his tone softening at the tone, probably marking that the tale has come to an end.