Seiichi, Lumine, Seraphina, Iris, Dómvalka, and Azariel stood before the colossal red and purple gate. The air hummed with latent energy, and the intricate patterns carved into the gate seemed to pulse with a faint, inner light.
"Well, let's enter this realm for the fourth time now," Seraphina said, a small, nostalgic smile gracing her lips.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on the immense structure. With a gentle push, the gate began to swing inward, its movement accompanied by a deep, resonant creak that echoed in the timeless void.
Beyond the threshold was a blinding, pure white light that obscured everything on the other side. Then, a staircase materialized before them, its steps seemingly forged from solidified light, glowing with a soft, welcoming warmth. Seraphina moved first, her footsteps silent on the luminous stairs as she ascended and vanished into the radiance.
Dómvalka followed, then Azariel, and then Lumine. Finally, only Seiichi and Iris remained. Seiichi placed his foot on the first step, and a wave of comforting warmth spread through him, soothing his nerves. He climbed steadily, with Iris a silent, dutiful presence behind him. He paused at the threshold, took a final breath, and stepped through the blinding light. Iris followed without hesitation.
On the other side, Seiichi blinked as his eyes adjusted. When his vision cleared, they widened in awe. They stood at the edge of a reality straight out of a storybook, draped in a thick, romantic fog.
The architecture was distinctly Victorian; townhouses of dark brick rose like sentinels, their chimneys puffing black smoke into the hazy sky. Bells hung from every doorway, and the clatter of hooves and wheels on cobblestone filled the air as people moved about in horse-drawn carriages and carts.
Dominating the city center was a giant clocktower, constructed from the same somber brick and stone, crowned with a triangular red-tiled roof. Its massive, pale face looked down upon the city like a stoic guardian.
"No matter how many times I come here, I always get that nostalgic feeling from my first visit," Seraphina murmured, her smile gentle as she absorbed the familiar sight.
"You're right," Dómvalka agreed, standing beside her and sharing the sentiment.
"So, what do you think of this realm, Seiichi?" Lumine asked, her usual cheerful smile brightening her face.
Seiichi glanced at her. "Well, it's good," he said, offering a small smile in return. "By the way, what is this realm called?"
"Why, just good? I thought you'd say something more, since it's your first time anywhere but our own realm!" Lumine complained, puffing out her cheeks in a pout. "This is called the Realm of Fate. It's where the God of Fate, one of the seven almighty gods, was born."
"I see," Seiichi said flatly. He turned to his mother. "Mom, where is the ceremony going to be held?"
"Well, it's being held tomorrow," Seraphina replied, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
"Tomorrow?" Seiichi asked, confusion knitting his brows. "I thought it was today. We left two days early."
"Well, you see, I intentionally left early. Even if you could have withstood the Pathway, I wanted you to have time to explore this realm," Seraphina explained.
Seiichi studied her for a silent moment. "So, how did you figure out exactly when we needed to leave to arrive at this specific time?"
"Come on, you can at least study some things on your own," Azariel interjected, his voice dripping with a sarcastic confidence only Seiichi seemed to detect. "Must I always explain everything to you?"
"I didn't ask you," Seiichi retorted, his annoyance clear. "You don't need to bother yourself."
"Still, I can't let an idiot like you go around asking basic questions. It makes you look unprofessional and uneducated," Azariel mocked. "You should be grateful I'm explaining general knowledge to you." He folded his arms, looking down at Seiichi.
"You see, among the endless realms, some share the same flow of time and space, even the same fundamental rules. This doesn't apply to all realms, but it does to some—like ours and this one. Their time is synchronized with ours." He finished with a superior smirk, as if addressing a lesser being.
"My head hurts," Lumine groaned dramatically. She stumbled forward like a mindless creature, bumping squarely into Seiichi and shoving him a step forward.
"Oi, watch yourself! You'll be the death of me one day," Seiichi grumbled, shooting her a look.
Seraphina let out a gentle laugh and moved to ruffle both Seiichi's and Lumine's hair. "I'm glad to see the two of you getting along. I just wish all three of you could." She reached out and affectionately mussed Azariel's hair as well.
"You don't need to do that. I'm not a child anymore," Azariel complained, though his tone lacked any real annoyance.
"Let's put that aside for now," Seraphina said, clapping her hands together. "Seiichi, why don't you go and explore? Lumine, go with him so he doesn't get lost. Both of you, be back before nightfall at our usual lodgings."
"Yes, ma'am!" Lumine chirped, slamming her foot down in a playful, soldier-like stance.
"I think I'll wander and see if I can find anything interesting," Azariel declared, already turning to stride purposefully in the direction of the clocktower.
Lumine immediately grabbed Seiichi's hand, her fingers intertwining tightly with his. "Let's go! There are so many places I want to show you!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a run before he could protest.
"Oh, Seiichi!" Seraphina called out just as they were about to disappear into the fog. "I almost forgot to tell you, you might meet her here!"
Seiichi turned back, confusion evident on his face, but Lumine's relentless pull gave him no time to stop and ask.
"Now," Seraphina said, turning to Dómvalka with a gleam in her eye, "why don't we go and get something to eat?"
"I think I know what you're talking about. I promise you, you'll ruin your teeth and get diabetes," Dómvalka teased, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Come now, you know us angels are immune to human illnesses. And even if I somehow got diabetes, I could just heal it away. It's not a problem!" Seraphina retorted, grabbing Dómvalka's hand. "Let's go, before that place closes!" And with the energy of a child, she pulled her companion into a run, their laughter fading into the misty street.
---
Near the base of the great clocktower, two figures sat at a small, ornate table. The elder woman was the picture of regality, dressed in a court gown of silk, satin, and velvet, heavily embroidered with gold thread, pearls, and intricate lace.
A breathtaking necklace adorned her throat, set with a constellation of diamonds in red, green, and purple. On her ring finger rested a rainbow diamond ring. A stone of such rarity and expense that it eluded even most kings and queens.
Her hair was long and silky, a cascade of pure white that flowed freely over her shoulders. Her skin was porcelain fair, and her eyes were striking; the irises a pure, ethereal white, contrasting with gray pupils.
Beside her sat a young girl who shared the woman's majestic white hair and pale, graceful features. Her eyes mirrored the woman's, with white irises and light gray pupils. She wore a celestine gown of silken ivory, its long bell sleeves and flowing skirt embroidered with silver thread and tiny stars. A lace collar brushed her jawline.
She, too, wore a magnificent necklace, though hers featured more white and red diamonds, and a rainbow diamond ring graced her middle finger. A beautiful white bonnet shaded her face from view.
They sat with perfect, unhurried poise, like the royals they appeared to be, sipping tea and eating delicate pastries as the foggy life of the Realm of Fate bustled around them.