Once, it is said, there was a reliever who came into being. (And none,
not even the reliever, knew how, for relievers often appear simply when
the essence and wonder of Heaven is made manifest somehow.) She chose to
serve Judgment, and fledged into the most beautiful and gentle Seraph in
the celestial realms. (Though not the most peaceful; that distinction belongs
to one of Flowers.)
It is said that her devotion and dutifulness made Cherubim gaze after her
in admiration. It is said that her sense of honor and justice made Malakim
kneel as she passed. It is said that her balance and unswerving clear-
headedness made Elohim smile, if only to themselves. It is even said that
her pure and encompassing love for every being she met caused Mercurians to
flutter their wings in awe and send her presents or invite her to social
occasions.
But because of her unfailing loyalty to the Word of Judgment, she sent
all the invitations and presents back (politely), and though she cared
deeply for all beings, she did not let that sway her personal judgment.
(For the Love of Heaven is not a compromising Love, and can be awesome
and terrible as well as gentle and compassionate.) And she served well,
and fearlessly, ever without guilt in her heart.
And it is said that she rose high in the Most Just's ranks, gaining all
manner of atunements and Distinctions, and that she was the most trusted
of all his Servitors. That sometimes, he would even take his cloak off
entirely in her presence, that she might taste the Truth of something
without its cloaking influence.
Then one day, the rumors tell, in their duties on Earth, she and her triad
came face to face with the Lightbringer. And as is his way (for Temptation
is a tool of evil), he offered the triad each a boon. Further, he wrapped
each member of them in a silence so that they could not hear each other's
answer. (For mistrust can be a tool of evil as well.)
But the Cherub turned his face away from the First Fallen and shook his
head. And the Elohite lowered its head politely and murmured that though
it was a generous offer, it could not accept. And the Seraph...
The Seraph spoke to the First Balseraph, her triad reported. Spoke with him,
and frowned, and spoke again with impatience and emotion in her motions.
And he replied. And she nodded. And he stepped forward and smiled, as she
raised her face to him, and then he kissed her for a long moment.
After he had stepped away and vanished, the Seraph and her triad returned
to Heaven, and she would not say what had passed between herself and the
Lightbringer. Nor could the Truth in her refusals be sensed, nor her memories
searched, for the First Liar had clouded the encounter totally.
And so, because she would not speak, she was placed on trial. For consorting
with the Lightbringer. For obstructing Judgment. For betraying Heaven. And
she was found guilty of the first two, by the testimony of her triad and
her own silence, though when she pleaded not guilty to the third, she did
indeed believe it firmly.
Yet she still would not speak. So the Most Just gave judgment, that she would
be stripped of all Distinctions. That she would be stripped of all attunements
save the one his Seraphim had for Truth (for Truth might yet save her soul).
That she would be stripped of her vessel and her Corporeal Forces that she
might never wander upon Earth again. That she would be confined to a room in
the Celestial Tribunal, with a window to gaze upon Heaven's glory and as many
books to read as she might wish -- but that she would never again speak to
any but an Archangel, lest a hidden seed of taint spread to infect others in
Heaven.
And though she had held herself straight, and met the eyes of the Most Just
as the trial had proceeded and as he pronounced sentence, she closed all her
own eyes and bowed her head and furled her wings about her body as she wept.
And she whispered, "So, it was True. I had told him nay, when he said that
you did not Truly trust anyone, not even me. But it is indeed True." And she
turned her face away as she whispered, "I repent."
It is said that she lives yet, a Seraph of the Sword, who ever and always
requests a Role that will let her watch and guard the Commander of the Host's
churches: that of a nun with a vow of silence.
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