The afternoon sun filtered through a cracked window, illuminating motes of dust that danced lazily in the air. The scent of air freshener and reheated noodles hung in the room, mingling with the faint buzz of a fan struggling against the summer heat. Caelus sighed, kneeling beside a laundry basket stacked high with socks that had long since lost their partners.
"Left sock, left sock… where are you hiding, traitor?" he muttered, digging through the pile like a war veteran scavenging through memories. A kettle clicked off in the kitchen. A distant delivery truck honked outside.Everything was normal.
Until it wasn't.
A low chime, like wind whispering across chimes strung between stars, echoed through the apartment. Caelus froze. A golden light pooled beneath his feet, etching radiant lines across the floor like some divine circuitry. The glyphs pulsed, faster and faster, encircling him. "Wh—what the hell?!" he yelled, but before his fingers could even reach his phone, the light flared—And the world vanished.
Caelus landed on smooth white marble with a dull thud, arms splayed, the scent of roses and lightning clinging to his skin. The sky above shimmered in twilight hues, with constellations that didn't belong to Earth. Floating islands drifted across the horizon. Enchanted runes spun lazily through the air like living stars. Then, the light bent.
A searing beam descended like a lance, and from it stepped a figure—glowing, radiant, divine. She strode forward in robes of white and indigo, stitched with golden sunbursts. Her golden armour gleamed, catching the twilight in deadly reflections. Her bronze-gold hair flowed like sacred fire, held in place by intricate braids. Behind her, a translucent cape shimmered with starlight.Her golden eyes—piercing, regal—narrowed on him.
Althea Luxaria, Celestial Warcaster.
Goddess of Judgment. Flame of the Aether.
And she was scowling.
She raised her radiant staff, its tip glowing with swirling celestial glyphs, and addressed him in a voice that echoed with command. "Mortal. You now stand in the Interstice—between your world and the celestial dominion. I am Althea Luxaria. I have summoned you."
Caelus blinked at the goddess standing before him—regal, radiant, terrifyingly overdressed—and scratched the back of his head with a tired smile. "Man… my sleep schedule is catching up. I must go to sleep," he muttered, half-laughing, as if this was some fever dream, he could still opt out of.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then— Althea 's eye twitched. Her expression, carved from divine authority, cracked just slightly at the edge. Her staff lowered. Her cape fluttered as she stepped closer, golden eyes narrowing dangerously. "What?"
She sounded offended. Not confused—offended, like royalty being told the peasants preferred nap time to her grand decree. "You stand at the boundary of existence," she said slowly, voice dripping with disbelief. "Summoned by divine decree to prevent the unravelling of an entire realm—and you think this is... a dream brought on by poor mortal time management?!" She stopped just in front of him, looking down at Caelus like she couldn't believe the fate of Elaria now rested in his hands. Caelus gave her a thumbs-up. "Look, lady, no offense—cool costume, great lighting effects—but this definitely feels like the kind of dream where I wake up with my face in a cereal bowl."
Her face went red—not with embarrassment, but that specific divine shade of furious fluster. "A costume?!" she barked, fire sparking from the runes along her staff. "You dare reduce the sacred vestments of the Celestial Warcaster to—ugh—you insolent little snoring worm!"
She looked like she was about to smite him. And she would have, too, if she hadn't realized halfway through her dramatic flourish that she had grabbed her staff upside down.The divine end was pointing at her.There was a brief moment of awkward silence as Caelus blinked and pointed. "…You're holding that the wrong way."
Althea froze.
Her ears went pink.
She hurriedly flipped the staff, cleared her throat with the elegance of someone pretending that absolutely nothing had happened, and raised her chin with renewed haughtiness.
"As I was saying," she huffed, "you were chosen by fate to serve me. Not to nap, not to snack, and certainly not to offer fashion critiques." She turned dramatically, the folds of her robe sweeping behind her like waves of starlight. "And whether you believe this is a dream or not, your soul is now bound to the Aetheric Flame. Your journey begins now, mortal."
She paused, glancing over her shoulder, golden eyes flickering.
"…Unless, of course, you'd prefer I send you back half-baked into your world. Mid-teleportation. You'd probably wake up with half your arm fused to a toaster."
Caelus's face paled slightly.
"…You can do that?"
Althea smiled sweetly, all divinity and danger.
"I'm a goddess, darling. I can do anything." Althea narrowed her eyes, golden irises glowing like suns behind storm clouds. "You still doubt me," she said, her voice low and commanding, laced with celestial energy. "Then allow me to offer a gentle reminder…" She raised her staff. The celestial glyphs along its shaft lit up, spinning in the air with radiant precision. Caelus raised a hand. "Okay, wait, let's not—"
Z-ZZZZAP!
A crackling arc of golden lightning snapped through the air and tagged him in the chest like a divine taser. It wasn't lethal—not even strong enough to knock him off his feet—but it lit up his nervous system like a Christmas tree and made his hair stand on end.
"GAH—!" Caelus flailed, stumbling backward and nearly tripping over the edge of the floating platform. "Wh-what the hell was that?!" He clutched his chest, blinking rapidly, the faint scent of ozone now clinging to his hoodie. A few threads on the front were even a little singed.
Althea twirled her staff with a dramatic flourish and let it rest against her shoulder, smugness curling on her lips like a satisfied flame. "Still think you're dreaming?" she asked, one brow raised in divine superiority.
Caelus's eyes were wide, his voice rising an octave. "Okay—note to self—don't sass the glowing woman with lightning hands! "He pointed at her, exasperated. "Don't ever do that again! I need my heart! I like my heart! It keeps me alive!"
Althea turned her head slightly, feigning innocence, though the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her satisfaction. "Consider it... divine affirmation." "You call that affirmation?! I call that attempted assault!"
She tilted her head, a golden braid sliding over her shoulder. "Hmph. You're still standing, aren't you? Clearly, I showed restraint." Caelus groaned, running a hand down his face. "Restraint? Lady, if that's your version of restraint, I'd hate to see you when you're actually mad."
Althea looked away quickly, her voice quieter, more composed. "Then do not make a habit of provoking me." But even then—her ears were faintly pink.
Caelus let out a shaky breath and slowly lowered his hands, his voice softening despite the lingering static in his hoodie.
"…What will happen to my world if I help you?" he asked, eyes searching hers. "If I'm gone for too long… my friends will miss me. My life wasn't epic or anything, but it was mine."
The question lingered in the air, heavier than the lightning had been.The sky above them seemed to dim slightly, as if responding to his doubt. Stars flickered behind drifting clouds, silent witnesses to the choice hanging between worlds.
Althea's expression shifted. Her stance remained regal—chin high, eyes sharp—but her lips parted, words momentarily caught in her throat. She hadn't expected concern for others. Not from a mortal who moments ago thought this was all a dream.
She looked away first.
Her voice, when it came, was quieter than before, but still carried that divine edge. "Your world will continue, for now. Time flows… differently between realms. It will not pass here as it does there." She turned slightly, her silhouette outlined by the starlight of the realm. "To them, it may be a moment… or a week. No more."
Then she hesitated—and that hesitation cracked her mask just slightly. "…You care for them. Your friends." Caelus nodded. "Yeah. They might not be much, but they're my people. I've got… people I play games with, coworkers who pretend not to like me, a barista who spells my name wrong on purpose... That's home."
Althea crossed her arms, gaze hardening again—not with malice, but protection.
"You will return to it. That is my word." She looked at him, and this time her voice lost its flare of thunder and dropped to something earnest. "But if the realm I summoned you to falls… yours may be next."
Caelus blinked. "…Wait, what?"
"I did not summon you on a whim, mortal," she said, stepping closer, cloak billowing behind her like celestial smoke. "The corruption consuming Elaria is not contained. It seeps. If left unchecked, it will breach the veil between worlds."
She met his eyes fully now, golden irises pulsing with celestial heat."Your world is not safe. Not anymore." Caelus frowned, still rubbing the faint sting in his chest from the thunder shock."…What do you mean by 'not safe'?" he asked, wary now. "You said something about the corruption spreading to my world?"
Althea's expression shifted. The smugness faded, replaced by a distant, heavy gaze—as if she were staring not at him, but through time itself. She turned, raising her staff. With a motion like painting the sky, she carved glowing arcs in the air. The space shimmered, and an ethereal vision appeared: a grand, verdant world with floating continents, golden rivers, and a massive crystal heart pulsing at the center.
"Long ago," she began, her voice deepening with the weight of ancient memory, "the gods came together and created the realm of Elaria. It was our first masterpiece—wild and beautiful, yet balanced. To shape and sustain it, we forged the Seven Shards—each a divine force, each essential."
She extended a hand, and seven glowing sigils floated before them in a circle:
Creation – the spark of life and beginnings
Destruction – the force of endings and renewal
Order – the structure that defines reality
Chaos – the wild force of change and freedom
Light – the essence of truth, clarity, and guidance
Darkness – the depth of mystery, rest, and the unseen
Will – the force of choice, drive, and self-determination
"These shards were placed in harmony. Nature flourished. Magic bloomed. Mortals rose and built cities of glass, song, and flame. Elaria thrived." Her tone darkened, and so did the glowing vision, now showing one figure cloaked in darkness, standing above worshippers.
"But one among us… desired more."
Caelus leaned in. "More than… godhood?"
Althea nodded grimly. "He wanted it all. One name. One face. One God worshipped across all Elaria. So, he turned his divinity inward—twisting his shard, trying to consume the others." The vision showed a divine war. Gods clashing in skies of fire and storms. One God fell beneath a dozen divine spears, and his form crumbled like ash."But he failed," she said. "The others united. He was defeated… and vanished. Since then, the Council of the First Flame—the gods who first lit creation—swore an oath."
Althea's eyes locked with his. "No god may ever interfere in the realm of mortals again. "Caelus's brow furrowed. "…Okay, but what if one does?"She lowered her staff. "Then that god loses their divinity. Stripped of power. Banished. Forgotten."
He stared at her. "…But you summoned me."
Her lips curled faintly into a smirk, though it held no humour. "We are forbidden from stepping directly into mortal realms—but there is a loophole. We may summon a mortal from another world… if it is to restore peace, not disrupt it."She took a step closer, her divine aura dimming just slightly, making her look… tired. Not weak—but burdened.
"That's why I brought you here. I can still channel some of my power through the veil, but I'm bound by the same oaths. I cannot cast the great spells. I cannot strike the heart of the corruption myself."
Her voice softened. "But you can."
The stars above them shimmered. The runes circling the platform spun slowly, humming with divine tension. Caelus looked at his hands—ordinary, human hands. "So… you're telling me, you broke a divine law… just to bring me here?" Althea looked away, cape swaying behind her. "I didn't break the law," she said quickly. "I bent it." Then, quieter: "Because I believe this world is worth saving. And… because I believe you might be the one to help me do it."
She didn't meet his eyes. Her pride wouldn't let her. Caelus crossed his arms and leaned in slightly, a smug grin spreading across his face. His confidence had returned now that lightning wasn't actively roasting his ribs. "Well, well… sneaky one, aren't you?" he said, cocking an eyebrow. "Does the Council know their beloved goddess is summoning mortals from other realms and going on a world-saving adventure behind their backs?" The moment the words left his mouth, he saw it. Althea 's entire face flushed—not just her cheeks, but the tips of her ears, and even the glow around her faltered like a candle in a gust.
Her mouth opened for a full two seconds before actual words managed to tumble out.
"E-Excuse me?!"
She stomped forward, her sandals clacking against the marble with divine authority—and a hint of flustered chaos. Her staff flared with solar light, as if even it was offended on her behalf.
"Of course they know! Obviously! What do you think I am—some sort of rogue enchantress breaking celestial law for kicks?!"
Caelus held up both hands, grinning. "I mean… you do have that rebellious glint in your eye. And you're out here casting lightning on laundry guys. "She gasped, clutching her chest like he'd just accused her of tax fraud. "They are the ones who ordered me to save Elaria in the first place!" she barked, spinning on her heel, cape whipping behind her. "I never break the rules!"
Caelus laughed softly, clearly enjoying every second of this.
"And yet you summoned a mortal, dragged him out mid-laundry, and zapped him to prove you're real."
She whirled on him, flustered and fuming, the divine braid over her shoulder now visibly unravelling from all her angry gestures."I did not 'zap' you! That was a controlled, low-level divine charge calibrated for minimal mortal damage!"
"So… you do go around zapping people."
"Only when they deserve it!" she snapped.
There was a pause.
Caelus tilted his head. "You okay? You're getting kinda pink."
"I AM NOT PINK!"
She spun away again with a huff, composing herself, then added in a quieter, grumbling tone, "I summoned you because it was my duty. Nothing more. The Council granted the ritual. I'm simply fulfilling my role. Like a professional." She straightened her robe, trying to will away the heat in her cheeks.
Caelus chuckled. "You always act like this when you get flustered?"
Her staff lit up again.
"Say one more word, mortal. One."
He wisely shut his mouth—though the smirk never left his face.
Caelus exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. The golden skies above shimmered faintly, the stars waiting, the runes pulsing like a heartbeat beneath his feet.
"…Alright," he said at last, his voice calm, but with that familiar smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Okay. I'll help you." Althea turned to face him fully, posture straight, her cape fluttering in the celestial wind like a banner of fire and starlight. Her golden eyes searched him—serious now, almost... reverent.
"Then you accept the Call of the Flame?" she asked softly.
"Sure. I mean, you did hit me with divine lightning. Kind of rude not to say yes after that."
A pause.
Then he leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. "Sooo... do I get any powers? Like… flying? Laser eyes? Punching holes through mountains? You know, superhero stuff?"
Althea blinked.
Then snorted.
Then quickly masked it with a scoff, turning her head sharply away.
"Hmph. Typical mortal. The fate of two worlds rests on your shoulders and you're already fantasizing about wearing a cape and playing sky-knight." Caelus grinned. "Hey, you can't blame me. If I'm getting dragged into divine war, I'd like to at least look cool doing it."
She sighed—deep, elegant, and just slightly overdramatic—then raised her staff again. The glyphs spun into a fiery circle before her. "Your body will not survive in Elaria as it is," she said. "Our magic, our air, even time itself—it bends differently. You'd be torn apart in seconds."
Caelus's smile disappeared. "...That's... horrifying."
"But," she continued, "you will be granted a blessing. A transference of celestial energy—refined through the Aetheric Flame and bound to your soul."
The swirling glyphs took the shape of a burning crest. It hovered over his chest, pulsing.
"It will grow with you. Strengthen as you grow stronger. It may grant abilities in time: resilience, speed, elemental shaping... and perhaps more, depending on your will."She stepped closer and gently placed her hand over the crest. For a moment, divine warmth rushed into Caelus's body like a breath of fire and sunrise.
His heart skipped.
"You won't start off able to fly," she said, voice softer now, "but you will not be helpless."
He looked down at the mark glowing faintly beneath his shirt.
"Okay. That's... actually pretty awesome." He paused. "Wait, do I get a sword?"
Althea pulled back immediately, her proud composure snapping back into place.
"You earn your weapon," she snapped. "You're not being handed some shiny toy because you said yes. This isn't some child's fairy tale. You must prove yourself."
Caelus raised both hands again. "Alright, alright, sheesh. Goddess of sass, noted."
Her eyes sparked. "I am the Goddess of Divine Flame, you insufferable—!"
He grinned. "That too."
The divine glyphs spun faster, weaving into a radiant spiral of light and flame before Althea. With a single sweep of her staff, she drew a glowing circle in the air—the space within shimmered like liquid glass, revealing a glimpse of the world beyond.
On the other side: a vast open field under a stormy sky, with jagged stone ruins and scorched earth scattered as far as the eye could see.
She turned toward Caelus, ready to give the final briefing.
"Before we step through," she began in her usual commanding tone, "there are key details you must know about the region. The leyline activity is unstable, and—"
"YOLOOOOOOOO!"
Caelus sprinted past her with zero hesitation, diving headfirst into the glowing portal like a kid cannonballing into a pool.
"Caelus—!" Althea shouted, reaching out too late.
The portal pulsed once—blinked—and swallowed him whole.
Althea's eye twitched.
"He didn't even let me finish explaining the leyline compression matrix…"
She sighed deeply, muttering under her breath, "He's going to get himself vaporized in the first five minutes."
Then she straightened, took one proud step forward—and walked calmly into the portal after him, her cape fluttering like a banner of fire and stars.The moment they landed, Caelus hit the ground with a loud thud, rolling over cracked earth, dead grass, and broken weaponry half-buried in the dirt.
He groaned. "Oof… okay. That was not as soft as I thought it'd be."
Althea appeared in a beam of light moments later, descending with grace befitting her divine nature—only to immediately stumble as her sandal caught a buried spearhead.
Clink—WHUMP.
She fell forward with a startled gasp, landing on top of Caelus with an undignified "oomph!"
They both froze.
His eyes widened. Her face turned crimson.
"…Uh," Caelus muttered, staring up at her, "if this is part of the power-up sequence, I'm very okay with it."
She jolted upright immediately.
"I-It's not!" she snapped, leaping to her feet and brushing herself off furiously. "And if you ever mention this moment again, I will lightning you so hard your soul will have static cling!"
She turned away quickly, flustered, and raised her staff.
Caelus stood too, dusting himself off. "Okay , no more sudden portal dives. Lesson learned."
The wind howled through the battlefield. Dark clouds churned overhead. Around them, the remains of ancient armor, shattered banners, and twisted weapons littered the land. Craters glowed faintly with corrupted energy.
A distant growl echoed from the far ridge.
Althea's expression hardened.
"We're not alone."