Crystal Keep, The Royal Citadel
The Aviary, Ceciderunt Dea
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In the midst of halls carved from a single mass of diamond, lined with statues of the many Seraphim that have lived and some who are still among the living kneels a young woman, her skin as white as alabaster, and her hair the blue of tempered steel, upon a carpet of red that led from the inner-sanctuary and to the gateways of the Royal Citadel. Her enchanted bronze armor reflected magnificently in its brownish color in stark contrast to the prevailing white light that flowed through the gem structure. Before her stood an aging man in golden robes, from his back extended 4 feathered wings of golden luster. "Please young Seraphina, I am not deserving of such a gesture from you."

She shook her head, but her eyes remained averted. "My lord, you are my king and deserve a formal greeting."

The Archangel strode towards the statuesque youth. "Your father was as a brother to me. He remained at my side in even the darkest times, gave to me his strength when I had exhausted my own." He pulled her chin up to bid her to stand. "I am a man who owes a great debt, and the only chance I can ever repay it would be through you."

Shaking her head, she remained as adamant as the walls about her. "I must go through this in the manner prescribed, if I am to prove myself in full to the Lady of the Light and receive her blessings through the Featherkeeper," she said sternly. "Just as my father before!" A tear started to well up in her eye.

The old man shut his eyes. "You have not changed one bit in all the time I have known you." A smile crept across his face, "You obsess over proving yourself to the people of this nation... to me. But you do not need to. We all know the kindness in your heart." He looked up towards the vaulted ceiling high above. "You retain that stubborn devotion to tradition... and law." He turned towards one statue in particular. His six wings unfurled, and holding a scale before him in his right hand, and a book, its pages torn in his off hand. "I suppose it is an opportunity for you to learn the difference between what is law... and what is 'right.'"

He then turned around and faced the young woman. "Very well then, you do what your heart dictates, but please promise me this much; that you will continue to listen to your heart in even the darkest times."

She straightened up an smiled at the fatherly figure, "I will my lord." She turned around and marched out the door leaving the King alone to his thoughts.

He turned back to the statue from before. "She's stubborn like you were old friend. The Lady knows I want to protect that child with all my heart, but I could not in good conscience deny her what she has dreamed to do for all her life." He stood there silently hoping in vain for the statue to agree with him, to assure him that his decision was the correct one. He let out a sigh when no answer came. "I just hope she does not have to carry the weight of regret you once did." He turned back towards the gate as Seraphina vanished from sight. "Because no amount of healing power could ever heal such grief."

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Seraphina stepped out from the Citadel gates and was immediately basked in the pure morning sun. The wind whipped her hair off to the side as she looked down upon the golden maple planked bridge built upon an enormous steel chain. Several such chains hooked to loops carefully carved into the diamond structure and lead to the ground, anchoring it solidly to the countryside far below. In the distance another diamond floated effortlessly in the sky, and was anchored to the ground in similar fashion. Far below, a city constructed predominantly of marble flourished, stretching for miles in all directions. This was the capital of the Caelestine, the center of the universe for all she knew. And soon, she would find herself leaving this wondrous city to become greater than she is now. As a pair of angels swooped by the gateway, she found herself imagining what it must feel like to have such freedom. She then began to make her way down the bridge and to the surface far below. "Soon" she thought quietly to her self, "I too shall become an angel."