CHAPTER 553: SON AND DAUGHTER

Through the entrances the bride and groom stepped in. Beside each walked the eldest couple of their group, Agnes and Damien.

The bride wore a bewitching golden dress, which was made of hundreds of layers, yet stuck close to her almost perfect form. However, while most of the dress was golden, her corset was blood-red, the same as the veil, which covered her face.

Beside Lilith, with his arm gently holding hers, walked Damien, wearing a blood-red suit of the same cut as everyone other groomsmen.

The groom’s suit wasn’t like the previous men’s. Its dominant color was still blood-red, but below the jacket, his shirt and vest were golden. His was also covered, but with a golden veil.

At Adam’s side walked Agnes, her arm holding the groom’s. She wore the usual beautiful golden dress, as every other bridesmaid.

Through the choir’s gentle singing, they walked to their carpet. Before Lilith, a darker, blood-red carpet stretched towards the podium, while the carpet before Adam glowed with golden colors.

At some point, the flower petals also separated. The golden ones remained on the blood-red side, while the red ones remained on the golden side, creating an aesthetic contrast.

The guests stayed absolutely silent as the groom and bride took tiny steps in perfect tandem. They all watched in awe as the fiery butterflies gathered behind Adam and the electric birds flew behind Lilith.

A gentle wind stirred the clouds above and caused the flower fields’ petals to dance in the air.

With each step taken, the choir’s voices became quieter, and the atmosphere turned more serene.

As they approached the podium, the choir died down, and the wind also stopped blowing. The entire flower field became silent and peaceful.

The mosaic’s fractured sunlight joined into a single picture as Lilith and Adam stopped near the podium.

The groom and bride stood beside each other, as Agnes and Damien handed them over. Their hands gently grasped the other’s as all four turned towards Sera and Bea, bowing their heads.

Agnes and Damien moved to their sides, to the other bridesmaids and groomsmen. They then watched with wide smiles as the ceremony finally began.

The guests all sat down as Lilith and Adam kneeled before Sera and Bea. The bride’s long dress spread out like a river of molten gold, while the groom gracefully sat beside her. Adam’s right hand cradled Lilith’s left, and soon all the shuffling turned into silence.

Sera waited a second, making sure everyone took their place. A wide, genuine smile stretched across her face as she gazed down upon the couple.

Bea stood beside the Angel nervously. Her hand trembled even as Sera firmly grasped it. However, even through all her anxiety, a smile somehow found its way to her face.

She grinned throughout the entire ceremony leading up to this moment. Her imagination played with different scenarios, which made her very excited for the future...

This festive, elaborate wedding made Bea wonder about how hers and Sera’s would look.

It probably wouldn’t be so exciting, since neither liked such complex and gigantic plans, but the moment itself. To stand by Sera at a church altar, wearing their intricate, handmade dresses... That’s what really brought out Bea’s joy and passion!

However, this moment wasn’t about her and Sera, so upon focusing back on the ceremony, her anxiety returned. She stood beside her lover, trembling, as Sera opened her mouth and began her speech...

"Before I begin the actual ceremony, I’d like to share a personal story known only by me and the betrothed couple..."

Lilith and Adam glanced at each other curiously. Sera didn’t tell anyone about her plan to make the ceremony more personal, so the soon-to-be-wed couple felt surprised but also excited to hear Sera’s story.

"Years ago, when I first arrived and took over New Athens, the entire city was a mess. After defeating the warlord who ruled the city, crime ran rampant, people starved and gangs took over parts of New Athens...

"I was emotionless and didn’t care about the citizens, so I left all the menial work to Bran..." she choked on her words for a moment, as her past lover’s memory sent a wave of shock and guilt across Sera’s body.

She struggled to recenter her mind when suddenly she felt a gentle squeeze. Her sad eyes glanced to the side and met Bea’s smiling expression.

The magnificent woman gave a single nod of approval and, after taking a deep breath, Sera continued her speech with a wide, yet somewhat fake smile.

"...I left the menial work to Bran and Melinda. They nurtured the city back to health and prosperity by spreading the Angelic Order’s influence. However, they were overworked and had little time to preach, so for months the crime and starvation persisted...

"One day I took on civilian clothes and walked into a poor part of New Athens. I don’t have a clue why I decided to venture in there. Maybe it was fate or luck..."

Sera tried not to grimace as she mentioned Fate. She hated that bitch, but didn’t want to spoil the joyful occasion’s mood.

"Either way, I ventured into the slums. There were lots of beggars, scammers and other, worse criminals, but my blank expression forced them all to stay away, at least until I met a fourteen-year-old boy with black, dirty hair...

"He stopped me and in a trembling voice asked for food. I didn’t have any, so I lifted my hand to transfer some money from my watch, but it wasn’t on my wrist. I turned around in confusion and saw a small girl, of similar age and hair color as the boy, sprint into a thick crowd."

Most of the gathered guests giggled and snickered between themselves as they clearly guessed both the boy and girl’s real identities.

"The boy also disappeared as they completed their heist and stole my watch. Sadly for them, I found their hideout a few minutes later. However, upon entering, an unexpected sight appeared before my eyes...

"Instead of the teenage thieves, I found dozens of young kids, some only three or four-years-old. They all looked sick and malnourished, a truly horrible sight. A few older boys and girls tried feeding them some soup, which was closer to warm sewage than actually nutritious food."

All the giggling stopped as everyone glanced towards the bride and groom with admiration.

"I found the boy and girl there. They already sold my watch to buy a few slices of bread. I didn’t much care though, since I didn’t care about anything back then. My sympathy also didn’t exist, so I actually wanted them to pay back the watch’s cost..."

Heavy shame appeared on Sera’s face. The Rational Sera wasn’t an awful person, but her morality was questionable at the beginning.

"What truly surprised me was the way the boy and girl bartered. They asked to be my slaves and work off their debt, but only if I helped all the dying kids. I immediately declined the slave part and instead made them work at the Angelic Order...

"I quickly grew close to the pair as they diligently worked off their debt in a few days. However, they stayed at the church and even began preaching. A month later, I appointed each as the High-Priest and Priestess of the Angelic Order!"

Sera became silent for a moment as she stared down at Lilith and Adam with a wide grin. The betrothed also glanced up as they felt the Angel’s gaze.

"I might never have shown or said anything about my feelings, but you’re both very special to my heart. That moment, seeing you care for those young children, was the first time I felt some emotion. I felt hopeful and sad, but most of all, I felt the love you showed to those kids...

"I’ve never said this, but in the past years you grew close to me. I watched and helped nurture both of you grow into strong adults... While I never said this, I’ve always considered you as my son and daughter..."

Tears welled in everyone’s eyes, while a few people, like Sarah and Cass, were already sobbing.

"It’s an honor to let me lead this beautiful ceremony, as the proud head of this giant family who gathered to celebrate your wedding!"

As Sera’s voice spread through the infinite flower field, they all took a few seconds to wipe their tears away. Lilith and Adam bowed their heads towards the ground again, as Sera began the actual ceremony.

"A wedding is the occasion when two people join their hearts and souls into a singular being! They let go of their independence and accept loving their partner ’till the bitter end!"

She left a momentary silence, so her words would carry more meaning as she continued...

"Today, we gather here to celebrate the unification of Lilith and Adam! You could describe them with many words, but for me they represent something simple... true, unconditional, eternal, perfect love!"

Sera and Bea both reached down and placed their free hands on the betrothed pair’s heads.

"I, Seraphine, the leader of the Angelic Order!" said Sera. "I, Bea, the pair of Seraphine!" said Bea. "We hereby make this unification official! Let the pair live long happy lives, and let their love remain eternal!" they said together.

Their hands moved away from the couple’s heads and gently grabbed their hands. Both Lilith and Adam rose to their feet and faced each other. Sera and Bea took a step back, then they shouted together, the guests echoing soon after...

"Now consummate the marriage with a kiss!"

Lilith and Adam didn’t wait. They grinned at each other with loving eyes, then pressed their lips together, creating an invisible bond between their souls, which could never be broken... The bond of true love!

The gathered crowd screamed and clapped in joy as the choir’s loud, merry singing took over the flower field... The afterparty soon began as the sun finally settled below the horizon!