So, someone pointed out to me that at the beginning I had chosen "the one above all", the "god" of the marvel universe at the beginning. Yes, but that would have made this story a crossover and I'm trying to hit as many people as possible. So I chose instead the "true" god, "The One Who Is" to be able to stay among the general stories.

-O-

THE DAY OF ARRIVAL

Laurel pondered her future.

When Hardy had given her orders, at the time, the idea of going to the Emperor in Sadera had intimidated her, however, after a few hours, she had now overcome her apprehensions. She was LAUREL, Apostle of the Goddess Hardy, the messenger of death !

She was now as far above mortals as they were from the prey her people used to hunt. That didn't make her a predator though, but now she decided who can live or die.

But she didn't let pride and euphoria blind her. She hadn't forgotten what had happened to Giselle, just as she didn't think she was allowed to do whatever she wanted. She was an Apostle, not a goddess. At least not yet. There were limits and she was well aware of them.

She could kill anyone who offended her without hesitation. However, killing anyone for fun was out of the question. One of the tenets of Hardy's religion was that while death comes for all, it must be earned, not given to just anyone for no reason.

Perhaps Giselle had become too arrogant because of her status as an Apostle and forgot her place?

She wouldn't make that mistake.

Laurel beamed with strength. Since she had passed her ordination, she was overflowing with pride. Despite her suffering, she had passed the test and her goddess had made her official as an Apostle and had given her her first mission.

She would assume her role with diligence and gratitude, with efficiency but without taking any unfortunate initiative. With this mindset, she flew with all her might towards Sadera. Her first mission would be a resounding success that would be talked about in the captions. She would do anything to do it perfectly. Showing to her peers, the other Apostles, that although new, she was worthy of her rank and to be respected while serving as an example and reference for future Apostles.

Being an Apostle wasn't enough for her anymore, she now wanted to be the greatest there ever was. There was even a supremacist aspect to her mind. She didn't despise the other races of Falmart, but she wanted to prove that the dragon people were superior to all others. Members of her race could fly, were stronger, had more senses and lived longer than most others, except the Elves.

These changes were not entirely her doing. When Hardy consecrated Laurel as her new Apostle, she also made some changes to the girl's mind. Not much because she had taken a liking to Laurel's personality and didn't want to destroy what she loved. However, she needed someone with the "right mentality" to serve her.

Someone who would be confident in their own abilities and not easily intimidated.

Someone who would obey without hesitation.

Someone…. ready to kill.

The goddess had therefore carried out some subtle manipulations. Enough for Laurel to fulfill her role while leaving a maximum of her personality intact. What a pity to have had to take away her shyness. It was a "cute" quality in a way. Unfortunately, it was incompatible with self-confidence and the will to accomplish a mission at all costs. A choice had to be made, although there was really no choice. It was necessary for Laurel to fulfill her duty.

It was like that for all the Apostles. Emroy had to remove the fear of blood from Rory's mind and fear and replace it with a love of slaughter, murder, war and a little madness when he chose her.

Sadera was relatively far from Bellnahgo and Laurel was eager to arrive. Strengthened by her new condition, her wings were more powerful and carried her faster. Unfortunately for her, the wind was blowing in her direction and with force, a storm was rising and according to the mass of cloud that she saw on the horizon, things were not going to get better anytime soon. The weather was her enemy today.

No matter, it was not the rain and the wind that was going to stop her, or even delay her.

She was now sinking into the storm, her scythe raised forward, as if to face the elements in single combat.

-O-

Giselle pondered her past.

The flight to Sadera was fine. The sky was completely blue and the wind was blowing at her back. As if all the bad weather, which is very common in this region at this time of year, had suddenly gone elsewhere. In fact, Giselle couldn't remember ever flying so serenely, as if the sky itself was welcoming her and taking her where she wanted to go.

The real clouds were in her heart.

When "The One Who Is" ordained her to do her work, her new consciousness began to think back to her past.

As she flew toward Sadera, her wings of feathers and light spread but not beating, memories came flooding back to her mind.

The first person she had killed in the name of her mistress…. and all the others. Her status which she had abused on several occasions. The fear she liked to see in the eyes of others, from the simple peasant, to the Emperors themselves, and, above all, her unforgivable arrogance which made her believe that she "had the right".

It had never bothered her before.

She could have taken some comfort in looking for excuses such as "life is unfair but death is always fair", "I was just following orders…. Most of the time", "in death they joined their loved ones", "Hardy manipulated me" etc…

But with her new clairvoyance, she understood better and couldn't, or didn't want to, lie to herself. It wasn't that she had killed for fun. Rather, it was that she killed with the same indifference that a human killed an insect. Killing to defend one's own life, or, if need be, to feed oneself, still had some justifications, but killing for a "yes" or a "no" was abominable.

The only consolation she had was to know now that death was only the threshold of eternal life.

But these crimes now had another meaning in her eyes. A number of people she had killed would have had children if she had let them live. These children would in turn have had other children. It wouldn't happen now. All these….murders, had in fact killed an infinite number of people. Those she had sent to death and those who would never come to life.

Repentance had begun. Could she achieve redemption?

"The One Who Is" could forgive her. Those she had killed might be able to forgive her. And those whom she had prevented from being born, could they forgive her? Could she forgive herself?

She would seek the answers to her questions. For now she had to help the living, the dead would have to wait but she wouldn't forget them.

The sky was perfectly clear. She was now flying above her village, too high to be seen. She did not want to disturb the tranquility of the inhabitants. They would learn what they needed to know in due time.

There is a time for all things under heaven. There is a time for everything.

-O-

Three days later, Laurel had arrived in Sadera. Three days of storms, but her stubbornness had prevailed. She would remember this as a victory where she triumphed over the fury of the elements. Neither the rain, nor the cold, nor the headwinds, not even the lightning which constantly struck her through her scythe (a well-known phenomenon of physics: lightning generally strikes the highest place, in this case, Laurel), stopped her.

Arrival at Sadera…. It hadn't been easy either, for although Hardy's priestesses had informed the Imperials of the changes in their clergy, namely Laurel's appointment, the guards had never seen her yet.

In order to avoid any misunderstanding (and above all a bloodbath), the priestesses had informed the Emperor and the Senate of the replacement of Giselle by the new Apostle Laurel and that she would present herself with the scythe of the elected. Thereafter, anxious not to displease Hardy by disrespecting her Apostle, all the generals and, by extensions, the soldiers and the peoples, had been well warned.

Laurel wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived in Sadera. No doubt things would happen much the same way as at Bellnahgo. The High Priestess had given her credentials letters to prove her identity, just in case.

As she arrived at the gates of the city, a guard mounted on a Wyvern came to find her. As some beings could fly, Sadera therefore had an air guard. The sense of smell of the Wyverns was strong enough to intercept any intruder.

The guard had pulled out some kind of metal "speaker". It was difficult to understand each other at this height otherwise, because of the wind and the noise caused by the beats of the Wyvern's wings.

"YOU ARE APPROACHING THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL OF SADERA. ANY ENTRY BY AIR IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. PLEASE GO DOWN TO THE GROUND WHERE YOU CAN STATE YOUR IDENTITY. »

"I AM LAUREL! APOSTLE OF THE GODDESS HARDY! I AM ON A MISSION FOR MY MISTRESS, SO LET ME PASS! » Laurel said with all the authority she was capable of.

Perhaps the guard would have obeyed if he had heard. Unfortunately, that was not possible. Yelling didn't change that.

"I CANNOT HEAR YOU. THERE IS TOO MUCH NOISE. YOU NEED TO GET DOWN TO THE GROUND FOR US TO CHECK. IF YOU REFUSE OR ATTEMPT TO FLEE, I HAVE ORDERS TO GIVE CHASE AND ELIMINATE ANY THREAT. »

Even with One Wyvern, the guard wouldn't have achieved much. Although new as Apostle, Laurel was fully capable of killing him and his mount.

Laurel was angry. The ordeal she had just undergone for 3 days had exhausted her, physically and psychologically. Her patience was at an end…. But she had a mission to accomplish and that mission was not « to kill the Emperor's soldiers » she came to see and even if the changes Hardy had made had destroyed her shyness, she had not become a savage for as much.

She began her descent on the ground, closely followed by the guard.

Moments later, the guard began his interrogation.

"State your identity and the reason for your coming to Sadera. »

Laurel simply repeated what she had said moments earlier. Her answer hadn't changed.

"I AM LAUREL! APOSTLE OF THE GODDESS HARDY! I AM ON A MISSION FOR MY MISTRESS, SO LET ME PASS! »

It was only then that the guard noticed the dragon girl's scythe.

He immediately bowed down.

"Please accept my apologies, your holiness. I'm only doing my duty to guard the capital. We thought you wouldn't arrive for several days. »

"Apologies accepted. I carry a message for the Emperor. Please lead me to him. »

"I do not have the authority your holiness. I will take you to my superior who will escort you, or have you escorted to the palace. If you will bother to follow me…. »

The guard's obedience helped the Apostle calm her anger.

"Very well, I follow you".

The guard…. Had mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was immensely honored to be able to help, however modestly, Hardy's new Apostle. On the other hand, he felt the legitimate fear he was entitled to feel in the presence of the messenger of death. It was not excluded that he would die soon for a "yes" or for a "no".

Shortly after, Laurel was brought before the captain of the guard.

Caius Aerobus owed his position as much to the favors he had been able to do through his connections as through his personal accomplishments. He was reasonably competent in his role and deserved his position. He carried out his duties diligently and met the expectations of his superiors while maintaining discipline among his men without bullying them.

Normally, he was not confronted with the Apostles. The messengers of the gods came and went as they pleased. This posed no problem as they entered with the normal flow of merchants, priests, commoners and other travellers.

Where it was problematic was with the Apostles being able to fly. He had only met 2 in his life. Laurel was the third.

His orders were clear: Obey Hardy's new Apostle in every way when she presented herself. For another dignitary, he would simply draft a letter but for an Apostle. He would personally escort her to the palace.

Laurel wasn't very keen on this whole protocol. Of course, being respected, even feared, was pleasant, but what a waste of time. Couldn't she just go to the palace after asking for directions?

"No. It is not possible. Don't see any disrespect there, but if we did that, we would have a major security breach, which would put the state at risk. We cannot take this risk. All my excuses. »

Laurel didn't know what a "major security breach" was, but it had to be really big to be able to delay her like this. She would take advantage of this time to regain her composure. She would soon appear before the Emperor, and although she considered him an inferior, due to the fact that he already had no wings, she was still well educated.

She wouldn't shame the goddess, but she wouldn't hesitate to kill if she thought it appropriate.

This is how Laurel entered Sadera escorted by the captain of the guard and some of his men with full honors.

-O-

Sadera was in sight now, so Giselle decided to descend on the ground. She would finish her journey on foot and enter the city, humbly like any other traveler. These three days of travel had been very relaxing and allowed her to meditate deeply on the revelations that had taken place in her mind. It would take a lifetime to properly meditate on each of them.

It was not the first time that she had come to Sadera to convey a message to the Emperor. That was…. Bad memories.

Each time she had come, it was as the messenger of death. She had been careful to be as terrifying as possible and treat everyone as subordinate to her good pleasure. She saw humans as doubly inferior. First because of his status as an Apostle and then out of sheer contempt for any flightless race.

Honestly speaking, in many ways, the dragon people had a lot of natural advantages that, from the perspective of the races in Falmart, were superior to others.

First, they could fly. This was their most obvious "advantage".

Second, they lived longer than most species. At least three times longer than humans and some cases even exceeded 500 years. Few races had superior longevity. The Elves was the best example…. But they couldn't fly.

Finally, their sense of sight was much more developed. He could spot prey the size of a rabbit several hundred feet up.

Therefore, the idea of humans being the dominant race was to Giselle an absurdity she had never understood. Just as she did not understand why several gods chose their Apostles among this race, such as Rory Mercury and Mabel Forn. It would have made a lot more sense to choose among her people.

At least, that's what she thought before.

Now that her mind and her soul had been uplifted, she understood some truths that she had never thought of. For example, that this arrogance that she, like many members of her race, displayed, was a burden that had to be rid of.

There were other reasons but now was not the time to think about that. The notion of a "master race" was the door open to the worst horrors and it was the best reason to banish it. Giselle was well aware of that now.

However, her repentance did not exempt her from repairing her sins as best as possible, on the contrary. It was because she was repenting that she had to try to fix what could be fixed…. And to hope that those she had hurt had still found peace and happiness afterwards. She couldn't do anything for them, for now at least, though some wrongs could be righted.

She would ask forgiveness from the Emperor, for her past attitude towards him. She should have at least treated him as an equal and not just as "a common lower-race mortal." Molt Sol Augustus was not the most honorable being in the world, but given the level of the civilization in which he evolved, he was competent at the task that fate had placed on him. He did not live to enjoy privileges but to fulfill his duties to the state.

Do not do to others what you do not want done to you and treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated yourself.

This rule of the Old Testament was perhaps the wisest in the world. An obviousness that she had never thought of until "The One Who Is" enlighted her mind.

Now all sorts of things were continually surging through Giselle's mind. Places, people and things she did not know. Philosophical truths, scientific progress, past and present facts and future possibilities. Her mind was organizing itself to become the heart of the universe. "The One Who Will Become" as "The One Who Is" had said. It was as much a privilege as a duty.

"May she who has sinned the most, receive the greatest forgiveness."

Entering Sadera was not as easy as entering any village. The guards carefully checked who could enter and who could not. The walls were there to protect the city and the guards had to check everyone's reason for coming here. Merchants, pilgrims, workers etc…. People could not enter the city "just because they wanted to enter inside". You had to have a "good reason".

So you had to queue to get into town. It was quite long today. Whatever. Giselle would be patient and use this time to continue her meditations.

Finally it was her turn.

"Why are you coming in Sadera? » asked the guard as the routine said.

"I come to offer a choice to the Saderans and the others," answered Giselle without lying.

"Eh ? »

"I came here to see the Emperor, ask his forgiveness, show him his mistakes and warn him of a danger that threatens his people".

The guard wasn't as surprised as one might think. As part of his job he came across a madman or a crazy girl, from time to time. The procedure to be followed in this case was clear.

"If you don't have any money to show me, then you'll be considered a vagrant and I couldn't let you in. Do you have any money on you? »

The guard's request was sincere, it was not a request for a bribe.

"I have only what is necessary, but what I have, I give to you Claudius Dun Armisurplus. »

Hearing his name, the guard suddenly took the "crazy girl" a little more seriously.

"HEY ! WHO TOLD YOU MY NAME? WHO ARE YOU ?! Why ARE YOU REALLY COMING HERE IN SADERA? »

"I come to do as I say, but before that let me help you. »

Giselle then bowed to the guard and put her hands on his knees.

The truth is that the guard suffered from osteoarthritis in his knees and struggled to stand. He had to deal with it as best he could or he would have lost his job. It was not abnormal. In a world where labor was generally physical and strenuous, medical care basic at best, and unions non-existent, almost everyone suffered from some form of physical affliction.

The pain he was feeling went away as Giselle performed a miracle healing his legs.

" You…. Are you a magician? »

" No. I'm just a messenger."

"Whose messenger? »

"The messenger of 'The One Who Is'".

The guard moved aside and let Giselle pass who, after politely thanking him, began to make her way to the palace.

Another guard had witnessed the scene and was dumbfounded. He would have gladly chased Giselle to bring her back, but she had already disappeared into the crowd, so he came back to Claudius.

"Why did you let her in? It's not like you to let anyone like this pass. »

" I…. I do not know. I had a strange feeling. »

" A feeling ? »

" Yes. At any time I knew I could send her back where she came from but at the same time I knew she would have entered anyway. Something was screaming at me "you have a choice" but at the same time I felt, I can't say why, that letting her pass was the right thing to do. It's very strange…. But in the end, I think I did well."

The second guard stared at Claudius for a moment, stunned, then finally walked away. After all, it was none of his business and if this girl caused trouble, Claudius would be solely responsible.

In 400 years, Giselle had never visited Sadera in this way. Each time she came, it was by flying and each time she was escorted directly to the palace. Oh sure, she had already visited towns and villages "normally" but curiously, never the Capital. Now that she thought about it every time she came, once her mission was accomplished, Hardy had assigned her another task. Apparently the Goddess did not like this city and did not want her Apostle to stay there any longer than necessary.

She had no proof but…. She had suspicions. Hardy did not like the city of the Emperor and the senate populated by sexist MEN who considered women inferior only to be married for their interests.

It was therefore by carefully observing the streets of the capital for the first time that Giselle walked towards the Emperor's palace with humility.

-O-

As you will have noticed, this fanfic parallels the two Apostles and their opposite way of doing things and the nature of their missions.

Well, waiting for the next chapter.