The gusts from a multitude of low flying crafts sent ripples across the golden fields of wheat surrounding the beautiful city of gleaming white, encircling the city stood 20 heaven reaching obelisks which overlooked the city in a regal manner made from a shimmering marble like material. The first outer ring of buildings held various manners of low standing residential buildings made from the same material as the obelisks. Adorned in all manners of golden embellishments and various murals made in a multitude of bright colors depicting a figure made of light giving wheat, light and water to the people. Following the main road made from a clear crystal lead into the second ring held vertical buildings that just barely touched the clouds covered in mirror like windows that reflected the clear blue sky for those below, holographic roadways that snaked through the city’s airspace made way for flying crafts to traverse freely around metropolis. Finally in the center of this great empire was a great cathedral that stretched into the sky, higher than any other structure in the entire city, the image of various men and women sculpted at the bottom of the cathedral carried the cathedral’s impressive weight atop their backs. The windows housed stained glass art of their god bathed in light accepting the prayers of “His” reverent believers. At the tip of the cathedral lay a floating “star” of a glowing golden crystal, the heart of the world given to the people by their god.

Throughout the city the scent of peace,safety, and prosperity spread freely, this was the planet Quies “The World That Never Went Hungry”. It was a decently sized planet with its residents numbering just over 3 billion. It was far from the usual conflicts of deep space. This planet was in a safe zone under the watch of their god Pax, he had been known as a god of peace allowing those within “His” care to be free from such “trivialities”. The whole plant revered this god for it was by his will that they could live in such a state, they would do anything to please their god and “He” knew it. However the lenient god did not ask for much of his subjects. First to Revere “Him” and only “Him”, Second to “offer” themselves to him should they pass, and Finally to follow “His” word should he pass it to them. The residents of Quies took these Commandments within their hearts not that they were hard to follow in the first place. The words of their god came through the mouths of “His” Blessed they wielded great powers, Invulnerability, Eternal youth, The ability to heal others, but most importantly they could hear the voice of their god. These Blessed were not eternal however, every 500 years the Blessed who numbered 22 in total would pass on their powers to chosen descendants so they may join their god up above.

Year 3000

First day of the new year

The morning of the first new year various priests and priestesses scramble around the Grand Cathedral corridors carrying, decorations and food into the main hall for it was the day of passing, the day when the new generation would gain the blessings of the old, succeeding their powers and taking their place as the new leaders of the world. Flowing from the “star” atop the Grand Cathedral was a stream of thick viscous golden liquid which shimmered in the sunlight, it gathered into a black 3 tiered fountain like altar that stood behind a black and gold Balanchine adorned in white lily like flowers. Those same beautiful white flowers were strung from the massive gold embedded columns creating a massive crisscross patterns along the ceiling, standing below was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman with pale skin, adorned in a white dress which covered her neck and shoulders while still cinched at the waist, the ends of the cloth were golden embellishments which slithered up the arms and dress as though they were vines on a wall. The young woman had golden eyes and matching long flowing golden hair that was tied in a half braided manner, she had low cheekbones and a round face giving her a look of innocence and purity, this was Lael also known to many as the Smiling Saintess. Leal had always been a special child going above and beyond to give assistance, even before she had been chosen as a Blessed candidate, but when she was chosen she saw it as an opportunity to spread her love even farther,to reaches she could never before. During her 10 years of training she never once forgot to go back into the city from the monastery to look for those in need, saving people from fires when authorities couldn't make it on time, assisting animals down from trees, creating more funding so that rescue services could travel more freely, those were just a small a some of the things that she had done in the past 10 years and all of them with a heart melting smile on her face, these were the actions which earned her the title of Smiling Saintess.

Standing behind the Saintess was an old bishop with graying hairs and a receding hairline, although it had been covered with a zucchetto.

“Leal what are you doing in the main hall, you don’t need to be in here for another hour. In fact you should be resting until the masses arrive.” He said with a questioning look in his eyes.

The young Saintess jumped a little before turning around to face the bishop and answering.”Ummm…nothing? I’m just getting a look at the decorations before the people come.” she replied in a slightly guilty look.

The bishop looked at Leal before inhaling and letting out a loud sigh. “You were looking for someone to help out again weren't you.”

Before Leal could reply he gave her a light hand chop on her forehead.”Oh lord above what shall we do with this young one.” he exclaimed with a slight smile on his face

“ Just the other day you broke your arm while helping a cat from a tree. What must I do to keep you in one place, if not for Lord Oscar being close by and healing you on the spot we may have had to delay this wonderful occasion.” he said while shaking his head.

Leal stuck out her tongue and let out a small laugh.

“What can I do, it's just who I am.” she said while shrugging her shoulders.

From behind them a man who looked to be in his early 30s came and gave a hearty laugh. It was none other than Lord Oscar, one of the 22 current Blessed, he had bronze skin which contrasted with sheer white crewcut hair and a full beard. The white hair being characteristic of all Blessed, as well as pale white blood, proof of their half transformation into godhood.

“Why don’t you let her off with just this for now, it’s a truly joyous and wonderful day.”

The bishop exhaled through his nose and shook his head with a smile.” My lord you are much too lenient with her. Scurry off now, Leal we shall see you in an hour.” He said while waving her off.

.

.

.

The 22 of the new generation knelt under the massive Balanchine with Leal all the way to the right, the last to receive her blessing. The ritual for the old generation to pass on their abilities to the new generation went as followed, each of the Old would slit their wrist allowing their pale blood to flow into a crystal chalice filling it halfway, the blood filled chalice would be then be placed under the flowing stream of golden liquid until the chalice was full. This process was repeated for each person until all 22 of the blessed had their powers passed on. Being the last to go Leal was rather bored and allowed her mind to wander, she revered their god Pax, but also did not care for these long drawn out ceremonies, she would much rather them all go at the same time since the actual chalice did not matter. However she also understood that this ceremony was not only for her but for the people seated in the pews behind her, for this was something that they would relay to their descendants, the day they got to see the new Blessed be born anew.

Suddenly Leal was elbowed by her fellow Blessed to her left Millia, in front of her Lord Oscar held out the filled crystal chalice, he had called out to her but she hadn't responded, behind her the crowd chuckled.

“Oops’

She gracefully took the chalice while ignoring the burning gaze of the bishop behind it.

In one swoop the viscous liquid flowed down her throat.

“Huh I thought it would taste worse than that, it's like a thick broth.” she mumbled.

Before she could finish her thoughts her head shot back and light erupted from her mouth and eyes.

“AHHHHHHH”

Her throat burned and she felt as thought her eyes would melt in their sockets. The surrounding residents hurried to her side, for nothing like this had ever happened throughout their history.

She scratched her neck begging for it to stop but no voice escaped her throat until the entire world was enveloped in a bright light.

…

…

…

After an unknown amount of time Leal awoke in a sea of light.

“Oh you’re up my lesser half.”

Leal swung around only to find no one.

“Up”

Leal cast her eyes above

There sat a young child no older than 15, dressed in robes made of light and sat on a multicolored patch pillow larger than him.

“What happened to me?” Leal asked, still shaking as she remembered the searing pain she had felt just moments ago.

“Did you like it? My gift to you.” he said while pointing to her.

“Wha-”

“Ah shut up actually I want to finish watching this first I’ll answer you later.” Finishing his thought the young boy turned his attention to a screen made from clouds.

The scenes depicted were of a world set ablaze. Beings of light descended from a beam of light originating from a burning center cathedral destroying the land and its people indiscriminately. The young boy laughed and jeered at this scene, people ran through the street trying to find safety, children cried in front of their parents' charred corpses, among these young men and women with white hair attempted to fight off these creatures and lead people to safety to no avail.

Leal recognized these scenes, it was Quies her world.

Horrified, leapt several meters in the air at the figure screaming for answers.

The young boy caught Leal with ease and held her suspended in the air by her neck.

“ahhhh shut uppppppppp, didn’t I tell you people to listen and obey my words when I say them.” he said in an indignant tone not even sparing her a glance.

Only then did Leal realize who she was talking to, Pax the god of Quies.

This only made Leal struggle more and more. Through bated breaths she asked why again and again.

“Why? Why would someone need a reason to get rid of a toy that bores them?” Pax replied, truly confused.

“It’s not like it matters much to you anyways, afterall you are the cause of this.”

With that, Leal's struggles stopped.

“What?”

“Where do you think that beam of light came from my wife?” Pax said while pointing to the beam of light coming from the Grand Cathedral.

Leal’s face lost all color as she went limp.

“No no i-i d-didnt do this.” she exclaimed, cradling her head in her hands.

“Of course not all by yourself I wanted to have a ceremony for our wedding.”

“Ceremony? Wedding?”

“Well as a half-god born from those dolls down there I decided to grace you with the privilege of being my wife, as such I am scrubbing the world clean so we have a fresh slate to work with. Of course if you prefer we can always go find another planet to take so we don't have to wait for them to build anew.”

Leal was in shock the world was spinning, she covered her mouth as puke escaped from her body and tears streamed from her eyes.

Pax was taken aback as he lifted his pillow and stepped back as to not be touched by her bile.

“ewwwww that's gross why did you do that.” Pax looked at her with a sense of disgust.

With a wave of his hand Leal’s vomit was gone.

“Much better. You should be thanking me now that those dolls down there are gone. You can be with me forever, had I not done this you would have to spend the rest of your life down there succumbing to that human nature as you call it.” Pax said in intermittent chuckles.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said you should thank me. Why aren’t you responding.”

Leal’s head hung down as she mumbled under her breath.

“What? You have to speak up so I can hear you.”

Leal again mumbled so quietly that Pax could not hear.

Pax sighed as he took strides to Leal.”Just this once I’ll come to you, just make sure it doesn't happen again.”

Pax bent over and put his ear close to her face.

Leal looked at Pax with flames alight in her eyes.

“I’ll murder you.”

Before Pax could respond Leal jammed her eyes into the False gods eye socket ripping out his right eye and crushing it.

The False God screeched an unholy sound and sent Leal flying into the void. Her body slammed and skid across the floor yet she did not break.

She stood ignoring the pain and lunged for him again. Amidst his pain Pax grabbed Leal with an invisible force. And screamed at her.

“YOU WENCH I’LL GRIND YOUR WORLD TO DUST FORGET THE MARRIAGE ILL FIND SOMEONE MORE DESERVING.”

With that Pax with his right hand let go of his bleeding eye socket and swiped over Leal.

The next thing she knew Leal was in Quies’ outer orbit watching her planet ablaze, she flailed as the vacuum of space squeezed at her lungs and boiled her blood, yet she could not die. After that a bright light appeared next to her.

“Watch as I destroy all remnants of your filthy trash heap as the being made from light closes its hand.”

“Suffer in agony” It said with a wicked smile made from black ooze

The planet instantly condensed to the size of a soccer ball before exploding into a red fireball, the shock-wave knocked the half-god unconscious sending Leal soaring through deep space.

“Leal! Leal! Wake up, are you ok?” The young half-god jolted awake hoping everything was a dream, but all that surrounded her was a deep darkness.

Tears welled in her eyes and instantly vaporized into crystallized mist, she screamed but no sound came out. Everything was gone, the Smiling Saint would never smile again.