After the Verdict
(A completely unauthorized peek into what the heavens look like when the cameras aren't rolling.)
The Realm of Radiance was quiet for approximately three seconds after Argus obliterated Exanimus. Then the heavenly tea lounge exploded into chaos.
"—He DID it!" Sylphae yelled, leaping over the golden table, her vine-like hair literally sparking with excitement. "He actually did the line! The 'I, the Jury who beholds the true desire of your soul' line! Ugh, that delivery was SO hot."
Aurelia's quill snapped in half. "Control yourself, Sylphae! You're drooling on my scripture!"
"I do not drool!" Sylphae protested, wiping her mouth anyway. "I perspire appreciation!"
Lunara, half asleep on a crescent-shaped chair made of starlight, lazily flicked a page of her dream tome. "Mmm… he was magnificent… in a catastrophic way. The way he walked through those beasts... deliciously ominous. I could use that scene in a nightmare or two."
"Lunara," Aurelia sighed, "please refrain from romanticizing a demon god's execution spree. We are meant to monitor him, not… admire his cinematics."
"Don't act innocent, sunshine," Sylphae teased. "You were blushing when he said 'I shall now commence your execution.'"
"I— I was not!" Aurelia stammered, face glowing brighter than her halo. "That was… merely an appreciation of judicial precision!"
Maris, ever serene, poured tea that rippled like moonlit water. "Precision, hm? I call it overkill with a side of theatrics. Did he have to make the chains talk?"
"They don't talk," Lunara murmured dreamily. "They sing."
Sylphae pointed at her. "SEE? At least someone gets the art of it!"
Aurelia exhaled sharply, feathers rustling. "This is not art! This is divine paperwork waiting to happen! Do you know how many realms' equilibrium he just destabilized?!"
Maris sipped her tea. "Seventeen."
Aurelia froze. "…Seventeen?"
"Yes. I already filled out the reports."
Sylphae blinked. "You did it while it was happening?"
"Multitasking," Maris said calmly. "Also, I scheduled therapy sessions for the Guild Masters next week."
Lunara chuckled softly. "You're too kind. They'll need decades, not weeks."
Then Sylphae leaned back, twirling her teacup. "Still, you gotta admit, our little Demon Judge really knows how to make an entrance. Or… exit, in Exanimus's case."
"That pun was unholy," Aurelia muttered.
Sylphae grinned. "So is he."
At that, all four goddesses fell silent for a moment—remembering that ancient being they had once summoned. The voidwalker turned mortal, now carving justice through the realms like a living verdict.
Then Lunara spoke, her voice soft, dreamy. "Do you think he remembers us?"
Sylphae smirked. "If he does, I hope he remembers my offer."
Aurelia facepalmed so hard a small earthquake rippled through a few prayer shrines below. "You are impossible."
Maris chuckled, her laughter as gentle as tide foam. "Relax, Aurelia. Even if he does remember, Lilith would never allow it."
The table collectively shuddered.
"Ah yes," Sylphae groaned, slumping in her chair. "Lilith. The sword with anger issues."
"Correction," Lunara said. "The sword with possessive anger issues."
"She threatened to 'sharpen me' last time I winked at Valerius," Sylphae muttered. "And she wasn't joking."
Aurelia crossed her arms. "Frankly, I sympathize with her. You flirt with everything that casts a shadow."
"That's called charisma," Sylphae retorted.
"That's called harassment," Maris said gently.
The chaos paused as a bell chimed—divine notification.
Aurelia checked the glowing sigil hovering over her palm. "…Report from the mortal plane. The First Verdict has caused mass hysteria. Over three thousand clerics fainted."
Lunara smiled faintly. "Their dreams must be exquisite right now."
Sylphae leaned forward, mischief glinting in her eyes. "So what now, boss lady? He's awake, he's judging, he's terrifying—"
"—and strangely attractive," Maris added without looking up.
"—and we're not supposed to interfere."
Aurelia sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We observe. We do not interfere. Those were the terms of the Gamble."
Sylphae smirked. "Observe, huh? Then I call dibs on watching his bath scenes."
Lunara's silver eyes fluttered open, dreamlike. "I already have the rights to his nightmares."
Maris smiled, serene and unbothered. "And I shall ensure he at least drinks enough water."
Aurelia stood up, wings flaring in exasperation. "By the light, I am surrounded by lunatics."
Sylphae leaned her chin on her hand. "You mean goddesses."
"Lunatics."
Lunara yawned, curling back into her starlit chair. "Mmm… let's reconvene when he judges someone else. Preferably someone dramatic. It makes for good evening entertainment."
Maris nodded. "I'll bring snacks."
Aurelia groaned into her hands. "This is divine mockery."
Sylphae grinned, sipping tea with absolute satisfaction. "No, Aurelia. This—" she gestured grandly toward the heavens, where ripples of crimson and gold still echoed through the sky "—is divine comedy."
---
Guild Log Fragment [Unauthorized Transmission – Realm: Celestial Court]
> Sylphae Arvane: "Bet you ten halos he does a Second Decree next chapter."
Aurelia Solen: "I will smite you if you're right."
Lunara Veiss: "I dreamt it already. You're both wrong."
Maris Enara: "I'll prepare the tea."
"And so, as the mortal realm tried to process the trauma of watching an immortal get legally unmade, the heavens did what heavens do best—
held a tea party, gossiped about the apocalypse, and collectively decided that the Demon God had better hair than all of them.
Somewhere far below, Argus simply sighed.
He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt deeply judged.
By the judges."