Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

In the heavenly realm, amidst the rolling sea of white clouds, there was a particular floating island so massive it was like a world of its own, eclipsing the vast sky.

It was a land of nature, with lakes and rivers, marshes and forests, all thriving with vitality. The scenery of divine beings in white robes, angels singing praises, some even playing musical instruments, was a welcome addition to the perfect harmony of the island.

On this paradise blanketed by immortal mist lay the most breathtaking as well as the most important palace of the heavens, the high temple where the ruler of the three realms resides.

Sitting on the large throne within the grand hall of the temple was a powerful being shrouded in blinding radiance, his very existence giving out heavy pressure even without making a single movement. It was as if he was the reincarnation of the sun, and each and every living being could only prostrate in front of him in reverence.

A figure of a man in pure white clothes could be vaguely seen behind the shroud of brilliance, but aside from his long silvery white hair, nothing of his appearance was visible.

This powerful deity was none other than Grianor, the King of Heavens and the Lord of Light.

At this moment, Grianor had sensed something familiar yet strange, causing his divine gaze to briefly sweep across the mortal realm below his domain.

The heavy gaze of the King of Heavens then landed at the deity standing at the step below his throne.

"Solon," he spoke towards the minor god, his normal voice like thunder to the ears, "did you feel that power?"

The incident in the mortal realm, about how the power of hellfire appeared and grew out of control, as well as the awakening of the sealed Primordial, the Deity of Fire -- such a large commotion wouldn't be possibly hidden from the gods of the pantheon, not to mention the King of Heavens himself.

The worry that Sierra had came true. The existence of her daughter, Seren, and her dear friend, the Deity of Fire, had caught the attention of the entire heavenly realm.

"Indeed, Supreme Lord. No matter how long, existences like us cannot forget such a  familiar power," the God of Knowledge, Solon, replied.

As a god, Solon had a rather ordinary appearance, resembling a youth with a rather scholarly figure. He appeared both young and old at the same time, giving a sense of dizzying dissonance. However, his eyes were his most peculiar trait--they were as dark and as deep as the abyss, and each of them seemed to hold a universe within.

The King's eyes narrowed at his confirmation. "The essence of hellfire..."

Solon had a rather curious expression as he voiced out his confusion, "Supreme Lord, it should not be possible for hellfire to appear in the mortal realm. Isn't it preserved in the underworld after it was taken away from the Deity of Fire? Could it be that someone entered the underworld and disturbed that dangerous power?"

The expression on the King's face turned grave. "Send someone to the guardians in the underworld."

"Yes, Supreme Lord."

Solon respectfully withdrew from the grand hall, and upon his return, he brought bad news for the King.

He faced Grianor with a worried face. "Supreme Lord,, something worrisome has happened!"

Grianor's silence prompted him to continue,  "The hellfire locked in the underworld, it's no longer there!"

The King of Heavens stood up from his throne in shock, and this gesture caused the temple to shake. "What are you saying, Solon?"

"It is gone! No one knows where it is, or how long it has gone missing. The two divine guardians in charge of watching over it are missing as well."

No one could see the expression of the King of Heavens, but the suffocating aura his body emitted were telltale signs of his anger.

"Summon the pantheon! How come no one knows about this? Investigate it and find where the hellfire is!"

"I heed your orders. I will arrange for this matter to be investigated, Supreme Lord." Solon assured. "However, for the meantime, shall we send down angels--no, a Celestial to the mortal realm? I worry about this being who currently wields the power of hellfire."

If the most destructive divine power  fell to the wrong hands, all the three realms would be in danger.

Solon patiently waited for the King to speak.

'There is only one person who can wield the power of hellfire...,' the KIng sighed, 'its one true master.'

Solon looked at the King as he had the same thought as the king, "Supreme Lord," he could not help but say, "do you think the Deity of Fire is back?"

"Seems like it, Solon. We all know, no one among the gods or demons is capable of wielding that power. Only she, as the first being birthed by fire, can control that destructive fire."

Though Solon was worried about the hellfire falling in the wrong hands, the possibility of the Deity of Fire getting her power back brought him comfort.

'It is only fair and just for that hellfire to return to its real owner. Such is fate. However, for her to get a new lease of life, I hope the future that awaits her will be bright. The unfairness she had once suffered, she must not go through that again.'

"Solon?" the King called for him.

The minor god looked at the King, who was known for his righteousness.

"Supreme Lord, I will send some of my people to descend on the mortal realm. I seek your permission to do so. However, I believe that if it is truly the Deity of Fire who comes to possess that dreaded hellfire, then the pantheon has nothing to worry about. You know as well as I, she might not have the best temper, but she has the purest of heart. The past, when she... alas!"

Solon no longer mentioned it, and changed the subject.

"Besides, that power is a hidden danger we merely temporarily suppressed with the help of the underworld. Once it comes out again, it will threaten all three realms. No one but her can truly control it."

The King of Heavens sat back on his throne as the radiance surrounding him fluctuated along with his emotions. He remembered a certain deity as dear to him as a younger sister, but nothing was the same now.

"Though it belongs to her, if she cannot control herself from being affected by the corruption of that hellfire, then the past will repeat itself. Sacrificing a deity, keeping that absurd power suppressed in the underworld, such a cruel choice I will make over and over again for the safety of all living beings in the three realms."

"Maybe we can give her another chance," Solon suggested.

"She left with a vow of revenge for what happened to her, Solon. An oath of a deity cannot be taken lightly. If she returns, her revenge will bring harm and destroy the peace. Even if she has the ability to control that hellfire, the pantheon can no longer trust her. You know she was punished, her powers taken away from her, because her actions threatened the heavenly realm."

"Supreme Lord, things may not always be what it seems," Solon sighed.

As the Lord of Light, Grianor was a being of principles, a god who upholds righteousness and morality, that was why he understood the good sentiments of the God of Knowledge.

However, regarding the crime of the Deity of Fire, he could not remain impartial.

"Does the truth matter in the face of danger?" he spoke solemnly. "As one of the Primordial Gods, the Deity of Fire would not be judged and punished so harshly if not for her giving into the darkness. She had been corrupted by that hellfire. The gods exist to safeguard all the realms, and we cannot allow anyone to harm the living beings, whatever the circumstances are."

Solon lowered his head. "With her sins punished, her reincarnation should be now free of guilt."

The King of Heavens agreed. "However, if she returns seeking revenge for the past, then she will have to face the wrath of the pantheon. Heavens won't spare her."

"I understand, Supreme Lord," Solon bowed to the King. "I will look into the situation personally."

The King nodded and Solon left. The radiant being sitting on the throne appeared particularly lonely in the middle of the massive temple.

'I have no wish to go through the pain of punishing you once more. I hope your soul finds peace in this lifetime, and that we each go our separate ways.

'I wish you to never return to heaven ever again.'