Lucifer's palace had been in constant motion for the past few days. Demon servants ran from one side to another preparing everything for what would be one of the most important events in millennia: the official presentation of Alexander as Prince of Hell and future King.
But before that, there were more serious matters to attend to.
"Are you ready, Alexander?" asked Voren, adjusting the collar of Alexander's ceremonial tunic. It was made of a fabric that seemed to be made of liquid light, with golden embroidery that moved subtly as if alive and a pair of brooches that were placed on his head on the sides that looked like silver wings. Everyone was enchanted by how beautiful their prince looked, even his uncle told him that maybe he should take better care of him from the alphas.
Alexander smiled at the comment and looked at himself in the full-length mirror, barely recognizing the young man who looked back at him. His violet eyes shone with an intensity they hadn't had before, his golden hair fell in soft waves to his shoulders, the brooches and wings he now carried folded against his back gave him a presence that seemed like just speaking would give a sensation of respect.
"Nervous," he admitted. "It's going to be strange testifying against people I once considered my people."
Lucifer entered the room, dressed in robes that radiated royal authority—black and gold, with a cloak that seemed to be made of the starry night itself. His wings were fully spread, creating an imposing silhouette.
"Remember," he said, placing his hands on Alexander's shoulders, "you're not going to make anything up, it's just that you won't stay quiet anymore. The gods need to understand exactly what they have allowed to happen and how many bonds have been broken because of it."
"Your grandfather filed the official charges this morning," added Voren. "Interference with the sacred law of alphas, omegas and betas. It's one of the most serious transgressions that can be committed since you're messing directly with the goddess of life and love."
Alexander nodded. He had heard about the sacred law from his uncle Michael when he asked about it—it was one of the fundamental forces of the universe, as basic as gravity or time. Pantheons could interpret many things in different ways, but they couldn't interfere with destined souls or create systems that denied free will based on someone's fundamental nature.
"The Egyptians are in serious trouble," he murmured.
"As they should be," said a new voice. Set—now Sethriel—appeared in the doorway, his new golden wings with black tips elegantly folded. Sekhmet—now Metheriel—was at his side, her red wings that faded to gold moving slightly with her breathing.
"I love your new names!" exclaimed Alexander, hugging both. "Sethriel and Metheriel. They sound better."
"Well, that's what we wanted," said Metheriel with a fierce smile. "Now we have full authority to protect you without political interference."
"Besides," added Sethriel, "it's going to be satisfying to see our former family's faces when they realize we were alive."
His uncle Kael turned back where a white light was opening in a portal. "I think that's our signal."
The Trial Clearing was exactly what its name suggested—a space between dimensions where the most serious matters between pantheons were carried out. It was a massive circular amphitheater made of what appeared to be pure crystal, with elevated sections for each main pantheon and a central area where evidence was presented.
Alexander felt small as he walked through the corridors leading to the main area, despite his family surrounding him like a protective guard. He could feel the weight of the gaze of literally hundreds of gods from dozens of different pantheons.
It was then when he bumped into someone—a woman with long hair and dresses that radiated maternal authority, but with an expression that distilled contempt.
"Sorry," he said automatically, reaching out to help her stabilize. "I wasn't looking."
She pushed him away brusquely. "Maybe it's because you don't deserve to be here."
Alexander felt familiar magic surrounding him—the same maternal but powerful energy he had always felt around Sara. His eyes widened.
"Isis," he murmured.
"That's right, boy," she said, raising her hand and beginning to invoke some kind of attack spell. "And I'm going to—"
His wings deployed automatically, creating a barrier of golden light, and Isis's spell bounced back at her, sending her flying backward several meters.
Isis got up, clearly hurt and furious. "You're going to pay for that in the trial, arrogant boy."
Alexander smiled, and there was something both sad and dangerous in the expression. "Really. Maybe you'll be surprised who gets judged first."
He walked away, leaving Isis with an expression of confusion and fury.
Meanwhile, at the main entrance to the Clearing, Asmodeus was having problems with the guards.
"You can't enter," one of them told him, a being who seemed to be made of pure light. "You no longer have a faction. Only official representatives of pantheons can—"
"I come with Bearers," interrupted Asmodeus, pointing back where Adrian, Sara, Cali and Kaius were waiting nervously. "As their escort."
"That doesn't change anything, not even they—"
"What's happening here?" Isis's voice resonated as she approached, clearly still upset by her encounter with Alexander.
When she saw Sara, her expression changed immediately. "My bearer. What are you doing here?"
Sara stepped forward, with tears in her eyes. "Isis, please. We have to talk to you. About Alexander, about what's really been happening."
Isis pushed the guards aside with a gesture. "Explain. Quickly."
Among all of them—Sara, Adrian, Cali, Kaius and even Asmodeus—they told her the complete story. How they had treated Alexander, how he had been forced to hide his omega nature, how he had died saving them, how he had awakened with memories of a previous life.
"And Set and Sekhmet," added Sara with a trembling voice, "aren't dead. They're with him, he's their bearer of both."
Isis paled completely. Without saying a word, she quickly led them to the Egyptian podium, where the other gods looked at them strangely and the Bearers with curiosity.
There was no time for more detailed explanations. A bell that sounded like the beginning of the world resonated throughout the amphitheater, and the trial began.
God rose from his throne in the central area, radiating an authority that made all the other gods seem like children in comparison.
"We are here," he began, his voice resonating without amplification, "to judge the Egyptian pantheon for transgressions against the sacred law of alphas, omegas and betas."
A murmur spread throughout the amphitheater. This was a serious accusation, even the most serious gods showed a grimace of surprise. They knew that such a system shouldn't even exist with bearers, that only existed where gods ruled directly, for example Poseidon ruled Atlantis and there the system did exist and was considered sacred, that's why normal humans aren't subject to that, or they are but weaker—they call it love at first sight but since it was very weak their bonds were changeable.
"The main testimony," continued God, Ningal the Sumerian moon god who keeps record of all trials, "will be provided by someone who experienced these transgressions directly."
Alexander rose from his seat on the Christian podium and walked to the central stand. He could feel thousands of eyes on him, but strangely, he no longer felt nervous. He felt... powerful.
"State your name for the record," said Ningal formally.
"Alexander, son of Lucifer and Voren, Prince of Hell," he replied, and his voice resonated clearly throughout the amphitheater.
The murmurs intensified. Many gods didn't know that Lucifer had a son.
"And before that I'll explain why not many knew of my existence—I died once and was reborn," continued Alexander, "I was reborn as Alexander Rasis, Egyptian Bearer."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Alexander began his testimony, describing in detail what he had experienced and observed. The caste system, the restrictions on omegas, the way they were denied education and training, the forced marriages.
But when he got to the binding and control runes—the spells that literally stole the temporary free will of omegas who "misbehaved"—the entire amphitheater erupted in indignation.
"SILENCE!" roared God, and immediately everyone fell quiet.
The Bearers on the Egyptian podium looked completely lost. It was clear that many of them had no idea these practices existed, or didn't completely understand what they meant.
The Egyptian gods, on the other hand, looked terrified.
"Is this true?" demanded God, looking directly at Ra.
It was then that the Egyptian pantheon noticed something that left them even more shocked. Set and Sekhmet were standing on the stand next to Alexander, but they looked different. They had wings, and radiated an energy that was definitely not Egyptian.
"Set! Sekhmet!" screamed Isis from the Egyptian podium. "What are you doing? Why are you with—?"
"I'll explain although I shouldn't have to," said Alexander. "Remember I told you I'm a bearer? Well, they were my gods."
"Besides," interrupted God, his voice cutting, "why so much interest in someone from my family? Now they are my children. Sethriel and Metheriel, Angels of Constructive Chaos and Creation through Destruction. And I suggest you concentrate on preparing a good defense for your charges instead of worrying about what is no longer your problem."
The terror on the Egyptian gods' faces was palpable now. Powerful gods they thought and assumed dead were now on the side of those judging them, and worse was that it wasn't one or half like before—it was the whole place.
Everyone looked at Ra, expecting their leader to say something, anything, to defend or explain their actions.
Ra rose slowly, and for the first time since Alexander had seen him, he looked old. Tired. He had seen Ra as a happy and energetic man just from what he saw of him when entering there—he thought you should never judge someone like that.
"I taught my children about the alpha-omega-beta system," he said, his voice resonating with centuries of regret. "But I think they never explained it correctly to those they called Bearers."
He paused, looking directly at the younger gods of his pantheon.
"That's why I never got involved in those matters. I never agreed."
The impact of his words hit all the Bearers like lightning. There they realized why the guards had treated them that way and everyone looked at them badly. Even Ra, the sun god himself, disapproved of their existence.
The Egyptian gods began to scream then—about how unfair the situation was, about how they had been trying to protect humanity, about how the other pantheons didn't understand the complexity of their situation.
But their arguments sounded weak even to themselves and even like a children's tantrum.
After what seemed like an hour of deliberation among all the pantheons present, the verdict came: the Egyptian pantheon should be destroyed with all its members except Ra.
It was then that Alexander stood up again.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice cutting above the noise. "If you dissolve them, all the Bearers will die too. Their magic comes directly from the Egyptian gods."
A cold and elegant voice resonated from the Greek podium. "They shouldn't exist in the first place, boy. Besides, they've already caused too many problems thinking they're better than other creatures."
Alexander turned to see a tall, thin man with black hair and a presence that radiated authority over death itself. Hades.
"With respect, Lord Hades," said Alexander, bowing his head appropriately, "although it's true that the Bearers have done terrible things like those, they have also preserved balance in the mortal world—that wasn't a lie. They have eliminated innocent creatures and demons, it's true, but also rebel demons and creatures that refused to follow the laws established by the pantheons. If you don't believe me, you can verify my memories."
The gods looked at each other, considering his words.
"It's a valid point," murmured someone from the Nordic podium.
"Mortals need protection from supernatural creatures," added a voice from the Hindu area.
After another heated discussion, they reached a compromise.
The Egyptian gods would continue to exist, but under strict surveillance. The Bearers would also continue to exist, but would no longer be considered victims—they would be watched as potential enemies, just like their gods.
Alexander bowed deeply before the entire council. "Thank you for your wisdom and mercy."
"BESIDES," said a god from the Aztec pantheon, a warrior with a serpent suit and his crown looked like beautiful feathers, "I want to propose something—that the most affected boy be the one to impose punishment separately on the bearers. I feel that only someone who was like them can do it."
All the gods thought about it. They had chosen not to punish the bearers more, but it was true—if they didn't set an example, they would never learn. Everyone accepted the Aztec pantheon's proposal except Alexander, thinking what punishment he could impose that would be fair, because he also had a time limit of 15 days.
As he walked away from the stand, he could see the faces of the Bearers on the Egyptian podium. Sara had tears running down her cheeks. Adrian looked like he had aged ten years. Cali looked completely lost.
Kaius simply looked at him with an expression he couldn't read—between fear, anger and sadness.
Alexander felt a pang of sadness for them, but pushed it aside. He had done what he could to save them. Now they had to live with the consequences of their pantheon's actions and theirs, plus the punishment he had to impose.
As he walked back toward his family, Lucifer wrapped him in a hug.
"I'm proud of you," he murmured in his ear. "You did the right thing."
"Even saving the people who hurt me? I wonder if I did the right thing?"
"It'll sound very fairy tale-like, but trust your heart, Alex," said Voren, joining the hug.
As they prepared to return to Hell—where that very night his presentation as Prince and future King would be officially celebrated—Alexander felt at peace.
The trial was over. Justice had been served, and sealed with mercy and their own punishment toward them.