CHAPTER 11

Date: May 15th, 110 P.A. / 2114 C.E.

In the world that had been formulated after the Apocalypse, many holidays had been abolished due to their links to dying religions. New ones took their place, some marking the solstices and equinoxes, while others shifted the purpose of previous ones two steps to the left. February 14th became dedicated to the lost souls of one's loved ones, while October 31st to November 2nd because the Festival for Reborn Souls. August 16th marked the final day of the Apocalypse, while May 15th marked the Life Celebration, containing sweets, flowers, parades. It was a lesser version of the Festival in autumn, which was larger and possessed one of the few things the Life Celebration missed, fireworks. For the most part, it was a festival for the children.

However, it was also a day many deemed fit to give offerings to their God, as in their minds, it encouraged him to do deem them fit to take into the afterlife. They believed they could buy themselves more time in this world, and Abaddon had never seen fit to deter them from that view. So instead, he and Arei sat in the grand hall, watching the process leave them vast bundles of flowers and sweets. The air quickly become heavy with the sugary perfumes, and still the tributes continued. For two weeks the flowers would not wild, and so for two weeks the Temple would be littered with flowers. Arei did not mind the idea. Her favorite one was the orange aster, a beautiful, exotic flower with six petals that curled back, a long pale stem, a blackish center, and speckles of crimson among the flares of yellow and orange. Indeed, she now held a bundle which she had picked out during the early hours of the day for her own room. There were plenty to go around, and the asters of this one dozen would not be missed.

She had Marie place it in her room, and watched with growing interest as the procession did not all leave, my dispersing among the grand hall to speak with friends. Shops themselves were scarcely open today, though many booths were in rows along the streets. She enjoyed the sounds of pleasant chatter, laughter, warm in comparison to the bored God behind her who was feigning pleasure. As the processed ended, the conversations began to dwell in various serious matters such as trade and stock, her god began to take an active part in the conversation, but like numerous others she spotted in the crowd, she found the subjects rather dull. Mostly, the others like herself were children, who fidgeted, antsy beside their parents, awed into silence by their God's presence.

An idea how to get them all out of there formulated in her mind, and she rose to her feet, ignoring the stares, and whispered the concept into Abaddon's ear. Glancing at her, he alone saw her silent plea, her childish begging to depart from matters that aroused no interest in her and went over her head. He asked her privately if she was certain she could handle such a thing. She nodded, hope gleaming in her gaze.

For some reason, he could not deny her wish. Besides, it might make matters easier than if the adults had to deal with the children. He gave his approval, and allowed her to take the lead in this.

She smiled and announced, "Dear people, if you will allow such, I would like to steal your children away for a few hours to the gardens outside. After you have settled your affairs, they will be returned to you speedily. It is your decision of course, however, I think they would find it preferable to dwelling through such business conversations. So, may I?"

She appealed to the people by not ordering them to hand over their offspring, easing their distrust and nervousness about the idea. There was no reason for them to believe her intentions were not honest, and as soon as an out was offered, many of the children pleaded their parents or guardians for the chance to go. Combined with those that were happy to give up their kids if it might earn them divine favor, only a few of the older ones did not follow Arei down the halls and outside. The weather outside was mild, with fluffy clouds floating in the sky. The group of forty-some went out on a hill that overlooked the sea, the gardens to their sides and backs. Several children fawned over the flowers and view, chasing butterflies and common birds, giggling, enjoying their freedom with their friends, gazing up at the sky at the clouds, depicting shapes within them in a game as old a playtime. Arei smiled as she watched them, a group clustered around her, one weary little girl napping in her lap. Feeling strangely sad, Arei stroked the feathery locks of the girl's sandy hair, sighing.

Children generally are very empathetic creatures, though they may not understand complicated concepts. If someone is sad, they are sad. If someone is happy, they are happy. They can be imps, or angels. Though they might torment, when encountering someone truly upset, they seek to comfort in any matter one can. The little green-haired boy beside her tugged on her robes, and said, "High Priestess Arei, why are you sad?"

Arei smiled, albeit with sorrow in her eyes, touched by his concern. "I…do not know, little one. One would think on a beautiful day like this, surrounded by you sweet children, that I'd be happy. It's very odd…."

"Is it God Abaddon?"

The question startled the young woman. "Now whatever gives you that idea?"

He shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. "I don't know…but people say that you're friends. And friends can make each other sad…."

She just shook her head. "I don't know if we can be considered friends…though I guess I'd like to be. But you know, I was serious before—I'm not sure why I feel down. It's not Abaddon, though…he doesn't really make me feel sad. Quite the opposite, actually."

By now, the conversation had engaged the interest of many of the other children, and they sat around her, curious, listening. "Do you like him, Priestess Arei?"

She flushed faintly. "Well, yes…he…he's been a guide to me these past few months…someone I can trust and lean on. He's cared for me, taught me…I admire him quite a bit. I just wish I could make him honestly smile is all…make him happy."

"He's not happy?"

Arei gazed off into where the sky met sea. "…I don't think so. I think he's content, satisfied…but not happy."

"Maybe it's because he's a Shinigami. He regulates souls according to my mum…helps them be reborn."

This was news to Arei. "Does he? I never heard that."

They gazed at her in disbelief. "But you're our Priestess! You're supposed to know that!"

She scratched the back of her head. "Cut me some slack…I haven't been around that long. Besides, Abaddon doesn't tell me about his personal occupations…he keeps to himself when he isn't dealing with some fussy human or myself."

This earned some laughter, though in honestly, what was funny about it escaped her. The group continued to chatter, trading questions, answers. In this manner, Arei's view of the land she now headed continued to broaden…she learned of the hardships of the citizens had to deal with through a lack of medication, the searches for resources to fire ovens for cooking and other needs. She learned that one in every five children die within the first several years of life due to food poisoning. She learned that some considered the world a grimy, gritty place of merciless sand and sun…and for Arei, that simply would not do! She was their empress…she would show them there was more to the world than the city life.

She lay back in the grass, gazing up at the sky. "You know, though it may not seem like it, things aren't so bad. You have the sky and the sea…you have the magic the holy children possess. There is much wonder in this world, little ones. Trust me, I'm more inclined to know it than most. This world is a wondrous one…I see it every day. No matter how hard it can get, this world still contains such beauty…remember that."

A representative of the God of Sky deemed in that moment to appear before them, floating over their heads. The blue serpentine body of the Dragonair lazily swam through the air, its twin wing-like ears fluttering, its tail leaving behind a trail of sparkles. The children stared in awe, the dragon pokémon leaving them stunned. Many only knew those creatures who volunteered to help humankind…the horses, the cattle, the silk-weavers. For humans could not legally own pokémon any longer…it was a deep offense to the gods if they did so, punishable by death. So, this exotic creature was a rare treat…suffusing them with wonder.

Rayquaza would have been pleased…after his missionary had left them, going back to his to duty to guard the gardens, a young girl asked, "Priestess Arei, did God Abaddon give you his amulet."

"Yes, he did. On my first day awake."

"Can we see it?"

And so Arei reached for the thread around her neck, pulling the circular disk from her robes. Abaddon's sacred sign was etched into its jewel-like dark surface. The feet of it had always been cool to her chest, and it gave Arei some comfort, that gift. For she wished he would care for her, in some small way. She did not want to be a simple tool to him…she wanted to mean something. To be someone. To make her lonely companion feel joy.

She could not be close to others. But to him…to him….

She might mean something more.

In later days, Arei would begun to be called "The Children's Empress," for those children she had taken away had indeed been touched by her heart. In later years, they would be the conflicted ones, they would be the wise. But that was years to come, and a legacy Arei might never know she had.

However, that was another story entirely.