The golden-white door opened without a sound, and Neo stepped through and was shocked at the sight.
The Empyrean Pantheon.
The space beyond wasn't a council chamber, nor a throne hall like he expected. It was a vast, radiant dining hall, its vaulted canopy opening up to the heavens with distant starsconstellations of living stars. A long table stretched across the center, carved from a fusion of crystal and wood that shimmered like both dream and reality. Exactly eight chairs surrounded it, though only seven were filled — one for each Paladin.
Above the table floated a luminous white orb emitting a soft serene glow, as though sunlight and moonlight intertwined, casting warmth without heat. The air smelled faintly of blossoms and spiced wine.
Neo blinked once, then let a smirk slip. "A dining hall for world saviors. Guess even the heavens know introductions go better with food."
Celeste hovered at his side, still in her glowing gown, arms folded as though daring anyone to comment on her divine look. "Behave," she muttered. "You're in holy company."
Neo grinned over his shoulder. "I'm always in holy company. I've got you, don't I?"
She flushed, scowling.
As Neo approached, the others glanced his way.
Closest to the head of the table sat a boy that could easily be recognized as the Pure-Protagonist-Hero type, golden hair falling neatly, white armor gleaming with a faint radiance even though it wasn't battle gear. He rose as Neo came into view, extending a hand with a warm smile that looked rehearsed yet genuine. "Adonis Starvein, Paladin of Light. I believe we're comrades now."
Behind him stood a pair of angels — one tall and knightly, with a sword of light across his back, and one robed in serene radiance. Both regarded Neo with polite smiles, but the warmth in their gazes dimmed when Celeste floated into view.
"Chaos," the sword-bearing angel muttered under his breath.
Celeste narrowed her eyes, wings twitching, but Neo stepped in smoothly, shaking Adonis's hand. "Neo Castreed. Chaos and Soul. Don't worry, I'm tame, although can't say the same about your Angel over there." His smirk never wavered.
Adonis chuckled nervously, but the Sword Angel's frown only deepened.
Further down the table lounged a girl with long dark hair woven in braids of silver thread. Vere Sepheris. Her sharp eyes sparkled with quiet amusement as she stirred her wine glass lazily, lips curved in a knowing smirk.
"Vere Sepheris," she purred. "Paladin of Fate." She leaned back in her chair, gaze sliding to Celeste with predatory curiosity. "I've heard of Avon's little 'game' with you. Fascinating how he managed to slip you through the cracks, Neo Castreed. Truly fascinating."
Behind her, an Angel of Fate stood, draped in threads of golden silk that shimmered like shifting sands. Her expression was cold, and her eyes narrowed at Neo as though he were an offense to cosmic law.
Neo met that gaze with a shrug, smiling softly, but there was a cold edge beneath his tone. "Guess Fate and I have history. But don't worry, I don't keep grudges... mostly."
Celeste leaned over with a smirk. "Oho, Moirael's gonna be pissed."
Vere laughed softly. "I like you already."
A few seats down sat a girl that seemed completely detached from the meeting entirely, white hair cascading like snow, dressed in silver-blue robes that radiated a quiet chill. Her eyes, pale and sharp, barely flicked toward Neo as she introduced herself. "Nora Frostbane. Ice." She turned her gaze away just as quickly, as if conversation were a waste of breath.
Her guardian angel, encased in crystalline armor of frost, didn't bother to look at Neo at all.
"Friendly bunch." Neo muttered under his breath as he sat across from her.
Beside Nora was a breezy-looking young man, blond hair windswept as though a storm constantly ruffled it. He gave Neo a wide grin and a careless wave. "Rey Rinblade. Wind. Guess we'll be stuck together a while, huh? Try not to drag me down."
His guardian angel — cloaked in green-blue mist — chuckled warmly, unlike most others so far.
"Noted," Neo said with a small smirk. "Just don't blow away when things get rough."
Rey barked a laugh.
In the shadow of the corner sat a broody looking boy with jet black hair that nearly fell into his eyes. His black tunic blended with the shadows at the table's edge, his presence quiet but heavy. He gave no introduction, only a short nod as if talking was a bother.
"What's his deal?"
"Oh, that's just Roner Noiris, doesn't talk much. You can ignore him."Rey casually replied on Roner's behalf.
Roner's guardian angel, cloaked in shadow and faceless, stood completely still. The room itself seemed dimmer around them.
Celeste leaned to Neo's ear. "Moody much? What's his power again, brooding?"
Neo quickly sneaked a peak using [Empathy] to probe Roner's soul. "Shadow. Figures."
At the far side sat Leroy Ashburn, already leaning forward with a wolfish grin, his fiery-red cloak smoking faintly at the edges. "Leroy. Fire. Pops says you took down your rival with a flick. Nice. But when we fight, don't hold back — I want to see you burn at full power."
His guardian angel — wings of flame and eyes like molten iron — actually grinned too, like he was just as battle-hungry as his charge.
"Sure," Neo replied coolly, swirling a crystalline chalice containing a sparkling golden nectar. "If you survive three flicks, I'll consider it."
Leroy barked out a laugh, pounding the table. "I like you already!"
Last was a girl who seemed the personification of vibrant energy, glowing faintly like sunlight in human form. Her blonde hair glowed faintly, her green-and-gold dress blooming with life itself. She smiled warmly. "Aurora Thorne, Paladin of Life and nature. Nice to meet you."
Her guardian angel radiated gentle brilliance, like spring incarnate, offering Neo a soft smile even as the others glared.
Neo inclined his head politely. "Neo. Chaos. Soul. Don't worry, I'm less trouble than I sound."
Celeste snorted. "Liar."
Aurora giggled softly.
As everyone settled, tension hummed beneath the introductions. The other guardian angels — Light, Sword, Fate, and even Ice — cast hard looks at Celeste. One muttered under their breath: "Avon's brat, that fool wasn't even supposed to have a paladin in the first place."
Neo leaned back, one arm on his chair, smile cool but voice edged. "If you've got something to say about Avon, don't whisper, I can hear you anyway, say it to me straight. Don't glare at her like cowards." He replied coolly without even gazing up at them, taking a sip of the heavenly wine.
The table quieted. The angels' glares sharpened, but none spoke aloud.
Celeste smirked proudly, folding her arms although her gaze softened a fraction at Neo. "Damn right."
Neo's golden-red eyes swept the room, calm but firm. "We're supposed to be Paladins. Heroes, saviors — or whatever title they're giving us. I don't care if you hate Chaos, or me, or Avon. But there's a boundary: cross it, and you'll regret it."
The hall quieted again. Leroy chuckled, Rey grinned, Vere smirked with intrigue, Aurora smiled with approval, Nora said nothing, Roner gave the faintest nod, and Adonis gave a diplomatic, and slightly uneasy, smile.
For the first time, Neo felt it. The team, fragile and strange, bound by destiny.
The ornate doors at the far end of the hall rumbled faintly, light spilling from their edges.
Celeste nudged him with a grin. "Well, boy. Time to meet the Pillar Angels. Please try not to flip them off too."
Neo smirked, his grin as mischievous as ever. "No promises."
The dining hall fell into silence as the doors slowly began to open.
The Paladin's first meeting with the celestial entities that revived them was about to begin.