Chapter 3:

Belldandy looked confused at the older woman, not quite fully comprehending her meaning when she said 'it's Celestin'. Akin to meaningless words and thoughtless banter, she let the words slip through one ear and out the other. Looking in the far distance, her eyes were lost in the thoughts of her past mentor and his final moments.

"Should I continue? Or is too much for you to bear at this current moment?" Mythalia asked Belldandy, who had been wringing her hands. "I probably should not. It would only complicate the situation. I'm sorry to have bothered you Belldandy, but Peorth thought I should ask you…" she walked back towards the forest, but stopped when Belldandy spoke up.

"I'm listening. If Peorth is involved, it must be a very serious matter. What is it about Celestin? He's passed away hasn't he, so there isn't much left to deal with him if any at all?" she asked looking in Mythalia's eyes.

"I know. It's complicated, and almost silly and selfish when you think about it ultimately. It might be better if I discussed it with everyone, but first I'd like to see Urd's reaction."

"She wouldn't be too pleased if you mentioned his name. If you feel it necessary to get her reaction and allow her to blow off some steam before explaining your thoughts to the entire group, that's fine by me. Urd isn't exactly all that warm towards him."

"If I knew Celestin the way she did, I'm sure I wouldn't be too trusting either." Mythalia said a serious expression falling on her face, as she walked back to the temple, where she saw Urd waiting outside a pensive air surrounding her. "Urd…" She called to the silver-haired goddess, as Belldandy nodded at Mythalia with a reassuring glance walking back inside to find Skuld waiting on her.

"What is this important news Mythalia?" Urd looked up at her friend and confidante hovering in the air.

"It's not going to be pleasant news." Mythalia joined Urd watching as the snow continued to fall, "Originally I was supposed to ask Belldandy's permission in a way, but you would become involved in it and so would Skuld."

"Whom does this concern?" Urd inquired, her eyes expressing a desire to find out about this important information.

"…Celestin…" she whispered in response, causing Urd to retreat a dark aura surrounding her in response to that name.

"You will not mention him…"

"Urd please understand."

"I understand who he is. The never-ending pain he inflicted upon Belldandy. His cruel nature and intentions…"

"You don't understand who he is Urd. Who he was before all of that! Please I beg of you…" Mythalia turned to face Urd with her vibrant gray eyes shining.

"…I refuse to understand, because I know enough of his caricature to make a decent judgment." Urd clenched her fists which began to emit sparks of electricity energizing her as her angel appeared before Mythalia. "And if you try to change my judgment, you're…!"

"I do not wish to get in a dispute about this Urd. Perhaps if you'd listen to the story I have to tell then you'd get a feel for my emotions towards Celestin. I'm not trying to change your opinion of him." Mythalia placed her hand on Urd's arm, causing her to be slightly startled with her eyes wide open in shock. "Listen to my story and then make any judgment against Celestin as you see fit."

"…" Urd sighed, resting her feet on the ground, "Fine then. Let's see what you've got to tell everyone…" The two of them entered the house, where Belldandy and Skuld had been speaking, but stopped when Urd and Mythalia entered the room.

"Shall we begin?" Belldandy asked looking at Urd, and then glancing over at Mythalia, who nodded softly watching as the three goddesses walked into Belldandy's room. The door sealed shut, and everyone sat down waiting for the first words to be spoken. A tension remained in the air fraying everyone's nerves, and contributed to an increase in suspense as Mythalia refused to speak the first words.

"What's this all about Celestin?" Skuld asked looking at Belldandy, then redirecting her gaze over at Mythalia who had the attention of all three goddesses. "Something about you and Celestin…Belldandy told me."

"I…" Mythalia looked at her hands, which remained clenched in her lap, "You'll hate me for this."

"Belldandy wouldn't and I might…" Urd said, receiving a distasteful look from Belldandy, "You know my position on matters dealing with Celestin…especially after what happened before."

"What is it you want concerning Celestin, Mythalia?" Skuld asked ignoring Urd's babbling, "What is this urgency in wanting to discuss it with Belldandy?"

"I…I would like to…"

"Yes, we are listening." Belldandy said anxious to find out the heart of the matter.

"…to tell you a bit about my history with Celestin. He was a very accomplished student in my years of learning the trade of the heavens and doing the work that I do. His skill was beyond anything one could imagine. I remember it vividly; it had been raining the day we met. At that time I helped out in the infirmary, and studied the field of magic in the heavens. He was very dignified and well respected; everyone looked up to him, and so did I in a sense. It was late evening, and although it had been raining, I sat by the calm river near my place of residence with a fairy that had become my friend in my lonely years of life. She was a large support and a true confidante to the point at which I'd confide in her all my secrets and thoughts. Her family had all perished, and so she came here to the heavens to remain with us goddesses and learn our ways. Her name is Aurora; about that time, she was my age and we had been talking…" Mythalia said closing her eyes entering that memory in her mind.

Her dark eyes concealed very little in the presence of Mythalia, and showed much of her emotions. In her eyes, one could see that her spirit remained troubled and confused at that moment. Mythalia looked at the young fairy with great concern and worry.

"What is troubling you Aurora?" Mythalia asked, "Usually it is I who is looking so solemn and grave."

"The law is so cruel…but it must be followed." She said standing up, spreading her wings, "I'm a fairy, and for my fate to bring me here it must have had cruel aspirations for my future. To love another from another world or dimension with the god's blessing requires going through the Judgment Gate, which no one has passed since it's been made."

"Do you fear that chance? Of losing him?"

"More than anything…I should not like to lose him at all." Aurora said watching her hand and clenching it into a fist.

"It would only fail if there was any doubt in your heart about your love, as well as in his heart. Trakin would only want you to do what your heart feels, and not feel pressured into testing your love for each other."

"You're right. That's Trakin's nature. Your words are quite wise for someone who has never been in love before…or have you?" Aurora inquired of Mythalia, who blushed slightly, "Who is it?"

"He has a heart of gold and a pure soul. He has captured my heart and my soul with naught the use of a spoken word. Although we have spoken on more than one occasion, his mere glance has the power to…" Mythalia stopped when a splash in the river was heard twice, "What was that?" she inquired as the fairy floated over to the river to inspect what had been going on.

"Just two spies it seems, and you wouldn't believe who…" Aurora landed softly placing her hands upon her hips and shaking her head.

"Who?"

"Trakin and Celestin…" she said causing Mythalia to gasp in surprise thoughts racing through her mind on whether he knew or not. As most kind-hearted fairies and goddesses would, the two assisted the drenched young men inside for something warm. Once all was better, Trakin and Aurora left the room to talk of important matters leaving Mythalia and Celestin alone. Looking outside not a single cloud yielded to the illuminating sun. Long moments of silence passed between the both of them, not a single word spoken until…

"Excuse me…" Mythalia spoke slightly frantic, as he nodded her approval watching as she exited the room. Walking through the hallways, a shaken Mythalia sighed bringing herself at ease, as she looked beyond the darkness of her eyelids to the small rays of sunshine that found themselves peering out of small openings in the clouds. A song found its way beyond her lips, a musical harmony floating in the air.

"Are you alright Mythalia?" Celestin asked watching her jump in surprise, "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"That's okay…"

"You have a beautiful voice." He said joining Mythalia outside seeing that the rain had stopped.

"Thank you…I…" she said not truly yielding a smile, "Celestin, may I ask you a question or two…?"

"Yes you may…"

"Did you hear anything I spoke of to Aurora?" she inquired building up the courage to look him in the eye and ask the question fixating her gaze upon him.

"I heard nothing…except the part about Trakin and the part after that." He said with a smile.

"You're kidding right?"

"Does it look as if I am?" his eyes held a strange glow that illuminated his face capturing one's soul.

"So you heard…"

"Heard what?" he asked watching her eyes glance to his side, "About 'him'…whoever 'he' is…"

"You mean you don't know who the person was?" Mythalia raised an eyebrow at his obliviousness.

"Not a clue…" Celestin said, smiling as he glanced down at the young goddess. "Except the fact that he must be insane to let the feelings of such a beautiful young lady…" Quickly he was halted by Mythalia's hand, which rose in objection to his words. Such a far distance of objection had a distinct effect on him, which he recognized.

"I thank you for your compliment. Before you speak badly of this person, don't you think that you ought to know of whom I speak?" she raise her eyes to met with his, which desired to know the answer to this preposterous question that she proposed before him.

"Is it someone I know?" he tried to contain a laugh.

"Yes…very well might I add. It's…" Mythalia answered with a serious expression on her face, "…it's Celestin…"

"Celestin?" he laughed not absorbing a single word she spoke with heart, "That incompetent…huh? Wait a minute…run that past me again."

"See what I meant? Too quick to judge." Mythalia grinned, a smirk forming on her face, as she watched his countenance change from light-hearted to serious.

"That's me. Do I have such a profound effect on you?" his serious expression growing grim.

"Sometimes I wish I would keep my mouth shut instead of following my heart all the time." Mythalia whispered, as she looked down returning to her secluded being once more as she walked away. "I knew it was a mistake mentioning it; I'm sorry." She said rushed.

"Mythalia…"Celestin called to the fair goddess in his eyes, her partially loose deep auburn hair covering her solemn face, "I had no idea. I never meant to hurt you if it is so I have done." He reached out to touch her shoulder, as she turned to face him, "It was not a mistake you made in mentioning it. I'm glad you spoke what your heart felt." He pulled her close to his heart, as she blushed deeply from this show of emotion.

"Celestin…" she whispered his name as she buried her face in his chest, only to find it lifted up to reach inches away from his face.

"I am glad you feel the same as I do." His vibrant gray eyes met hers and their lips met in an innocent kiss with much promise for the present, and very little hope for the future.

Mythalia looked up at Belldandy with tear streaked eyes, and a sad expression crossing her face. Skuld sympathized with the young woman touching her hand softly and nodding to continue, while Urd remained away from the commotion waiting to hear the purpose of the situation and the explanation of a past forgotten. Wiping away the tears, Belldandy watched as her companion continued her story.