The Council Hall was never empty, but it was rarely full.
Seven thrones floated in a wide crescent above a floor of slow-moving light, each throne shaped not from stone or metal, but from the nature of its owner.
Lumiel arrived first.
Her seat hovered at the center, a simple ring of flowing silver light endlessly cycling inward and outward, like breath.
She sat straight-backed upon the central throne, hands folded loosely in her lap as pale-gold ribbons of balance flowed lazily behind her like quiet breathing. Her expression remained calm, perfectly balancing her presence.
One by one, the others arrived.
Golden light spilled across the floor. A vertical seam of sunlight split open in midair, not bursting but unfolding, as Solara stepped through. It sealed shut behind her without a trace.
She lifted a hand to adjust the mantle resting on her shoulder, and the light settled with the motion, warm rather than bright, like the late afternoon sun. "Still early," she muttered.
A second ripple passed through the hall, and Atena was there, already seated as if she had always been. Legs crossed, chin resting lightly against one knuckle, hazel-gold eyes quietly reading the room.
Solara was already seated upon her throne, a soft halo of warm radiance surrounding her, not blinding, merely gentle. She leaned slightly forward instead of reclining, hands folded neatly, her expression calm but far from relaxed.
Michaela descended next, wings folding neatly behind her as she landed upon a tall white throne edged with faint golden script. She inclined her head toward Lumiel first. Michaela never sat casually. She assumed the position.
Then the air vibrated.
One of the thrones trembled slightly as Thori arrived with weight, lightning still crawling faintly over her armored form before fading away. She remained standing for a moment before finally sitting down, rolling her shoulders like a warrior loosening armor, her sharp eyes immediately sweeping across the room. "Everyone alive?" she muttered with a grin.
A ripple of darkness thickened near one throne. Helith emerged from a vertical shadow behind her throne, stepping forward as if she had climbed out from a deeper world. She did not greet anyone. Her eyes were already on Lumiel.
Solara exhaled slowly. "Thank you for coming so quic-"
"Wait!!" A few turned their heads toward the voice. "Where is that arrogant witch?" It was none other than Thori.
Hearing that, Michaela, the goddess surrounded by a soft golden radiance that exuded authority and justice, spoke calmly, "Thori-sama, calling another goddess like that is inappropriate."
Lumiel remained quiet, watching them while focusing on keeping her flow balanced. Thori replied immediately, her voice full of annoyance, "Then bring her already. Wasting the time of Thori, Daughter of Odin, is unacceptable."
Solara's gaze landed on Thori. "Thori." Her gentle voice echoed twice through the ceremonial hall. Thori remained quiet for a few seconds before finally speaking, "Ok, ok." Solara gave a sweet smile, as if praising a child for behaving properly.
A soft chuckle escaped Atena. "We are fortunate to have Solara." Before Atena could return to her usual polite smile, laughter spread lightly through the ceremonial hall.
"You sound like her mother."
A sharp crack split the air as lightning folded inward and became Zephyra, she dropped into her throne mid-stride, cape fluttering. One boot rested casually against her throne's armrest as she leaned sideways into it, chin resting on her knuckles, eyes filled with amusement.
"You're early, huh!" Thori said, leaning her head back with a grin, while Lumiel's lips curved slightly. "You're late."
"I know." Zephyra's smile widened. Her posture, even her attitude itself was openly disrespectful, yet no one said anything. Still, Michaela's gaze shifted briefly toward her. "Must you sit like that during council?"
"Solaraa~~, can you hurry up and start the meeting before certain stuck-up goddesses start crying about manners?"
Michaela's eyes lingered briefly on the boot resting against the throne before she exhaled quietly through her nose.
Solara closed her eyes. "Well, well, it's alright." Her soft voice naturally calmed the atmosphere as her gaze swept across everyone once before she exhaled slowly again. "Thank you for coming so quickly." Her gentle voice carried an indescribable weight.
She stood up. "I called this session," Solara continued, "because the Dark Tide is no longer behaving like an enemy." That earned the full attention of everyone sitting there, even Helith, who had remained quiet until now. She leaned back, chin resting lightly against one bare joint, her skeletal hands contrasting against the rest of her body.
Zephyra's lazy posture shifted just a fraction, Michaela's eyes sharpened, Lumiel turned her gaze fully toward Solara. Even Atena's calm demeanor shifted for a second, while Thori grinned as she leaned forward.
"Explain," Lumiel said seriously.
Solara nodded. "As the Goddess of Balance and Flow, you should have noticed something strange, yet even Lumiel wasn't able to sense it. I'm sure all of you understand the gravity of this situation."
"For centuries, whenever the Dark Tide grew, it was… reactive. Demons rose. Corruption formed around will. Conscious intent." With a brief pause, she continued, "…but this time, it isn't doing that." After another pause, she said, "All demons died in the past without a single exception." Her gaze shifted toward Helith.
Helith finally spoke, her voice deep and mature, layered with heavy darkness. "Yeah, no lower demon soul remains in Hell. Every single one was destroyed in the past, and the stronger demons are still sealed deep within Hell with no sign of movement." She lifted one hand slightly. "I can assure you of that."
Atena spoke quietly, "So it's growing without a center."
"Yes," Solara said. "It's expanding… passively. Like a shadow cast by a light source no one can see." Hearing that, Michaela frowned, the very idea conflicting with the order of the world. "Demons were beings with will. Without them, darkness should decay."
Helith spoke again, her voice low. "But it isn't." Solara shook her head slowly. "No. It's… fermenting."
Thori scowled. "So it's not an army of demons." Solara seemed to think through several possibilities before replying, "No. It's unknown."
Lumiel's fingers tightened slightly. "A condition that can't be explained," she murmured, and Solara met her eyes. "Yes."
Michaela turned toward Lumiel. "You deployed the extermination units, right? I was at the border." In reply, Lumiel simply nodded. "They found no demons. No intelligent entities. Nothing."
Zephyra clicked her tongue. "That's annoying."
"Which means," Atena said, "there is no one to strike." With a brief pause, she added, "At the current moment."
Atena's focus shifted toward Lumiel. "Lumiel, I have a question, if you don't mind." Lumiel nodded once. "Please ask." Hearing that, Atena gave her usual polite smile. "Earlier, when Solara started talking about the Dark Tide, you looked like you knew something."
Lumiel paused, as if her thoughts had stilled for a brief moment. 'I knew she would notice me trying to balance my flow.' Still, she replied calmly, "Yes. I will explain soon."
Atena continued, "Of course, but I must say, earlier Solara mentioned even you didn't realize it, yet you had already sent angels to exterminate the Dark Tide. I assume it must be related to what you want to say."
Lumiel's expression grew serious. "The guards stationed outside my chamber a few days ago…" Lumiel raised one hand, and a faint projection formed in the air, the image of two angelic guards with blank eyes. "Their memories remain fragmented. They were not harmed, no seals were broken, no intrusions were detected, yet they lost six hours of memory. They are still confused. Something must have disturbed them, and it could become dangerous if the same occurs again."
Michaela frowned lightly, tapping her chin. "Memory loss is not trivial. Could someone have tried to reach the chamber? Or… interfere with divine flow?" Her gaze lingered on Lumiel slightly longer than necessary. "I assumed nothing happened."
Hearing that, Lumiel let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
Zephyra's smirk faded into seriousness. "If that's true, then whoever did it is reckless. No being should touch this realm so boldly."
Helith's shadows rippled faintly around her throne. "We must consider underworld involvement. Not everything of interest remains above."
Solara's voice remained soft, yet firm. "Precaution is necessary. Lumiel is the one who balances the flow of Heaven itself. This may endanger Heaven as a whole."
Thori clenched her fists. "We can't leave such vulnerability unchecked. Assign protective wards immediately."
Lumiel remembered what had happened earlier to her. "I will prepare them after returning to my temple."
Atena adjusted her posture slightly. "Strategic deployment of angels and surveillance is required. And… investigation. Though if something has already passed through once unnoticed, it may not help much. Still… we cannot ignore what may already be brewing."
"It leads to the second matter," Lumiel said as her gaze shifted toward Solara. "After that incident, I sensed the Dark Tide growing stronger, but unlike Solara, who can perceive the true nature of things, I did not realize the Dark Tide itself was behaving differently."
Thori leaned forward. "So what's the plan?"
Atena spoke first. "We cannot attack what we cannot define." Michaela nodded. "We cannot judge what has no intent." Thori exhaled sharply. "So we wait?" Solara looked toward Lumiel. "No," she said calmly. "We observe." Zephyra smiled again, slower this time. "Finally."
Lumiel closed her eyes briefly before opening them once more. "Then the council's decision is this: we trace the cause." Her gaze swept across everyone present. "While waiting, I assume you all know what must be done."
Solara stood up, and everyone else rose as well, except Zephyra. "I trust you all. Please be well."
The council was dismissed, but none of them felt finished.