El Mugaro D'Arc drank deeply from his chalice, and glanced around him: the large hall was made full with angels, all contending heatedly.
The reason for the current despondency was that once again the rainfall still had not arrived - the crops had not succeeded the previous year. To make things worse, the army of demons led by the fallen angels, observing the fragility of Vanaheimr (the home of the Gods and Angels), was assembling close by, holding back for the right time to attack.
That time would arrive when the humans, as soon as their stored grains get used up, would rise up against El Mugaro, who replaced Gabriel as the leader of the Angels. El enjoyed close to divine status, revered and praised when the humans prospered, but, as he well knew from what the humans had done before under the leadership of Charioce XVII , he was in peril of being dethroned, and worse, if bad fortune came upon them.
The young king of the angels exhaled - he had offered prayers everyday, following the priests deep into the huge temple, carrying out the prescribed rituals, all to no use. The only message from the supreme beings that they received were the from signs and omens. However, the interpretation that the wise scholars derived from them was an interpretation that they themselves could not believe.
The revelation was that there was only one single way to satisfy the wrath of the supreme beings. However, the demand of the supreme beings required El to commit an act that would have been considered taboo and forbidden in all other circumstances. When the shocking interpretation of the signs was revealed to the angels, the entire race of winged beings had gone into a state of unrest and uncertainty.
El knew that he was the only one who could end this chaos. He had to make the choice to obey the supreme beings for the sake of the world, but obeying them meant…
"Enough!" He raised up his hand, and quietness fell instantaneously, all eyes fixed on him, waiting apprehensively for his decision.
"I have made the decision to go through with the demand of the Supreme Ones!" El declared.
The announcement was met with cheers and great relief for avoiding another war by almost every angel present in the hall except his chief official, Sofiel. The expression on her face was one of horror.
"Clear the chamber!" El ordered, and at once the horde started to leave, bowing obsequiously as they departed, leaving only his chief official, Sofiel, to whom the king of the angels beckoned.
"Is there no way you can reconsider this decision, my king?" asked Sofiel with her head bowed.
"Do you think I have not attempted to search for an alternative?!" He asked back with anger, "The moment the Supreme Ones delivered the command, it was no longer my choice to make. I have to do it whether you or I like it or not."
"But you would have to...and that too with your own-"
"I know!" He cut her off, "I have already prepared my mind and soul for it. There is no turning back now, Sofiel. This is for the sake of the angels, the humans, and yes, even the demons. This is the only way we can satisfy the fury of the Supreme Ones."
El recalled the demand of the Supreme Beings in his mind, "The former vessel and saint, the 'Maiden of Orleans', must produce an offspring with the blood of the 'Holy Child of the Angels and Humans' running through its veins."
It was very clear what this meant. El, the Holy Child of the angels and humans, had to procreate an offspring with the Maiden of Orleans. Given who its parents are, the offspring created would certainly be an entity possessing great divine powers so it made perfect sense for the Supreme Ones to desire this. However, there was one bizarre fact within all this.
'Bring my mo- Bring the Maiden of Orleans to me!' he grunted, and once again lifted his chalice to his lips as Sofiel dipped her head and proceeded out of the hall.
The Maiden of Orleans was none other than his own mother, Jeanne D'Arc.
To be continued...
