The Sacrificial Bride

In Thaloran Realm...

The wedding was being held in a floating mountain island in Thaloran Realm. An eternal altar between light and shadow. Beneath it, the entire universe rippled like a quiet sea of stars and galaxy. It was breathtaking.

The sky was painted in colors no brush could capture, rose gold clouds curled like silk beside streaks of twilight purple and morning peach. Light dripped like liquid honey from the heavens, pooling softly on the mountaintop where the wedding altar stood.

The sacred bells of Thaloran rang once : gentle, celestial, echoing across realms.

From the sky, beings of pure light descended on clouds spun of divine wind. Archons wrapped in white flame, celestial maidens in silver robes, and winged guardians bearing swords that hummed with holy resonance took their place.

From portals bathed in blood-red mist, the Lords of Hell emerged in dignified silence. Hell's warlords arrived in quiet awe, halos of red fire flickering behind them. Even the stars seemed to lean closer.

Then...

Esther stepped onto a bridge made of floating petals, her hand gently held by Nathan. Each petal beneath her foot shimmered like fragments of dreamlight, blooming as she passed.

Her gown was made of midnight blue silk that glimmered like the surface of the cosmos. Fine golden embroidery traced star-maps across the fabric, tiny celestial lights glowing faintly at her hem. The flare of the dress trailed behind her like a ribbon of night sky.

Her golden-blonde hair flowed in soft curls, decorated with pearls that glowed faintly and delicate flowers that looked like they had been plucked from the gardens of creation itself. A light veil floated from a crystalline circlet that sat gently on her head.

Esther's eyes were wide not with fear, but wonder. She looked every inch the celestial bride, though her human heart still beat inside her chest.

At the altar, Luxion waited.

His black ceremonial robes were layered and elegant, adorned with subtle crimson runes and silver embellishments. Jewels like fragments of the night sky decorated his shoulders. His posture was regal undeniably the King of Hell but his eyes… they betrayed something softer... In that moment, he looked like a man simply in awe of the girl walking toward him. Esther's steps were light, but each one echoed in the cosmos. 

Nathan, ever dramatic, placed Esther's hand into his with a mock-serious expression. "Treat my sister like a queen," he said gravely. "Or I'll burn you in hell."

Luxion raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Are you okay?" he replied flatly. "Or did you just forget that I rule hell?"

Esther stifled a laugh, while Nathan scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin. "Right. Right. Still… you get the point." He wiped at his eyes with mock tears. "Feels like I'm giving away my daughter... and I'm not even married."

"I'll take care of her," Luxion said sincerely. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Esther's hand. His lips were cool. "Always."

From behind them, Arbiter Lord Veyraon stepped forth. He was cloaked in celestial fabric darker than space itself, with golden rings of energy orbiting slowly around his form. His voice, when he spoke, echoed in every soul present - calm, ancient, eternal.

"In the presence of the divine, we gather today for a union not only of love, but of souls. The bond between devil and mortal. Between realm and rebirth. Between flame... and light."

Esther's heart fluttered. Her fingers curled slightly around his.

From behind them, Arbiter Lord Veyraon stepped forward.

The crowd silenced instantly.

He wore robes that defied reality - black as space itself, interwoven with strands of golden light. Energy rings orbited his figure like orbiting planets. His face remained mostly concealed beneath the hood, only his mouth and the soft glow of his eyes visible.

His voice resonated in the air, calm and layered with ancient power.

"In the presence of the divine, we gather today for a union not only of love, but of souls. The bond between devil and mortal. Between realm and rebirth. Between flame... and light."

Golden threads appeared from thin air - twisting, glowing, alive. As Veyraon chanted in an ancient celestial tongue, the threads wrapped delicately around their fingers, binding them slowly, lovingly. When they met at the center, they fused into bands of pure gold celestial rings, etched with moving stars.

Then, a flame rose between them.

It burned no one, yet its heat filled the realm with warmth. A sacred flame, summoned from the core of the realm by the Supreme Mother herself.

Lord Veyraon nodded.

"Now, speak your vows. Let the stars carry your words for all eternity."

Luxion extended his hand first, palm open to the fire. His voice was low, deep, and trembling with truth.

"Esther... My wife, my light, my peace. I, who have known only shadows, now vow to protect the one who illuminated my soul. From this moment forward, your pain is mine to carry. Your joy is mine to protect. Your soul is my eternity."

Esther inhaled shakily. Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she mirrored his gesture, palm facing his over the flame.

" Luxion.. I... You are so kind and gentle with me. It's all too sudden for me so my vows may not be perfect as yours. I'm not sure how our future life will be but I know one thing I will never be disappointed with you. Thank you so much for everything you did. And I vow to never walk away from you. And I will try to be a good wife."

Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she finished. She bit her lip, a little embarrassed by the simplicity of her vow. It sounded childish compared to his. But it was honest. And honesty mattered to her more than perfection.

Luxion's lips curved into a gentle smile. His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles. He said nothing, but the look in his eyes told her she had said everything right.

The flame pulsed.

It rose upward like a pillar of living gold then gently descended, burning into a soft glowing mark on both their chests. The universe had witnessed their vows.

Two crystalline goblets floated down, filled with silver-gold liquid that rippled like the essence of stars. As they drank, Esther's body warmed. Her veins shimmered under her skin. Her breath felt lighter. Her skin glowed faintly. The divine energy slowly courses through her body.

Then came the essence exchange.

Luxion stepped forward, and from his chest, a small flame lifted, his soul's core. It did not burn but it shimmered. From Esther's heart, a shard of light, clear and soft, like moonlight rose to meet it.

They merged mid-air.

And the moment they fused, a crown of stardust appeared on Esther's head, radiating with their combined essence, announcing Queen Of Hell has appeared.

At the same time, a sigil, like a blooming constellation flared into being on Luxion's wrist, glowing with a soft silver hue.

Above them, in the velvet sky, stars shifted.

A new constellation was born. Their souls etched into the cosmos, two stars entwined, one of flame, the other of light.

Then... the sky wept.

Petals of gold, pink, lilac and silver fell like soft rain. Feathers drifted down, some angelic white, others shadow-black: both pure in their own essence. From the skies, every being bowed. Every realm rejoiced.

And finally, she appeared.

Supreme Mother.

The creator of everything. She radiated warmth and command, power and gentleness.

"By the stars and silence... I bless this union," she spoke, her voice voice sweet but powerful.

She raised her hand. A shimmering veil of protective energy wrapped around them both, sealing the bond.

The ceremony ended with quiet gasps and tears, awe and reverence. Every celestial being bowed once more. Luxion and Esther smiled at each other.

The music echoed through the realm. He pulled her into his arms, his touch gentle and steady. Slowly, they began to move, dancing under the starlit sky while petals and feathers continued to fall around them. Every eye watched them. Every heart, even the coldest one in hell, felt a pulse of warmth.