THE NEXT MORNING
MICHAEL
Peace lasted four hours. A new record, honestly. The sun had barely risen when I was woken by the unmistakable sound of chaos, shouting, hurried footsteps, and what sounded like soone tripping over the hallway rug for the third ti. Then ca the door. SLAM.
"BROTHER MICHAEL!"I heard Charlie’s voice.
Zavier groaned beside , instantly burying his head under a pillow.
"If I stay still, maybe he’ll think I’m a pillow too." He muttered.
I didn’t get the luxury. The door burst open and there was Charlie drenched in morning dew, clutching a stack of crumpled papers, hair sticking up in seventeen different directions like divine lightning had struck him personally. His eyes were wide, pupils the size of moons. He looked like he hadn’t slept since the invention of calendars.
"BROTHER." He gasped dramatically, stumbling inside. "I-I think I’ve been chosen!"
I blinked.
"...For what? Breakfast?"I asked.
"NO!" He threw the papers in the air, half of them hit Zavier’s face. "THE PROPHECY!"
Zavier groaned, brushing paper off his chest.
"What prophecy, no, actually, I’m afraid to ask."He asked.
Charlie leaned in, whispering like a conspirator.
"The one Princess Wanessa ntioned last night! The one about a ’convergence of divine and mortal bloodlines!’ I heard servants whispering! I think no, I know the Goddess ant !"Charlie nearly scread again.
I stared at him for a good ten seconds before deadpanning a bit.
"Charlie, you tripped into a koi pond last week. The only thing converging around you is bad luck and pond water."I said.
Zavier snorted into his coffee. Charlie ignored entirely, pacing in frantic circles.
"No, no, think about it! I’ve been through trials, tribulations, temptations-" He dramatically gestured toward the window. -"Princess Wanessa herself! Surely the Goddess wouldn’t waste such tornt unless it was all divine preparation!"
"Or divine cody." Zavier muttered.
I covered my face with both hands.
"Charlie, Wanessa literally moved into a house next door just so she can ’accidentally’ visit us every morning. You’re not being tested, you’re being stalked."I said.
"Details!" He cried, pointing skyward. "Divine signs are always disguised as mortal inconveniences!"
There was a pause. Then, from the hallway, a familiar voice purred,
"Oh, Sir Charles~ are you in there?"I heard Wanessa’s voice.
Charlie froze like a deer in celestial headlights.
"NO!" He squeaked. "I-I an, NOT NOW, YOUR HIGHNESS!"
Wanessa appeared in the doorway, looking effortlessly radiant and, sohow, completely awake. Her silver gown shimred like moonlight incarnate.
"Good morning, everyone. I brought breakfast... and paperwork."Wanessa said.
Charlie nearly fainted.
"Paperwork?"He asked.
She smiled sweetly.
"A marriage proposal isn’t valid without docuntation, is it?"Wanessa grinned.
Zavier choked.
"She’s kidding, right?"He asked.
"She’s not kidding." I said flatly.
Charlie turned to , eyes wild.
"BROTHER. HELP. ."Charlie said.
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"You dragged into this ss, you deal with it-"I begun. Then the baby kicked. Hard. I winced and grabbed my stomach, grimacing. Zavier was instantly alert, worry flickering in his eyes.
"Hey. You okay?" He murmured, voice soft.
"Yeah." I breathed. "Just baby’s probably protesting the noise."
Wanessa’s expression softened imdiately.
"Oh, the little one’s awake?" She set the papers aside and knelt gracefully beside . "May I?"
I hesitated, but nodded. She placed a cool hand over my belly, her eyes brightening with so unreadable emotion.
"Strong spirit." She murmured.""I can feel the Goddess’s echo."
Charlie froze mid panic, suddenly serious.
".Wait. The baby’s the one from the prophecy?"He asked.
The room went quiet. Zavier’s expression sharpened.
"What did you just say?"He asked.
Charlie swallowed, voice smaller now.
"If... if the prophecy says a divine and mortal convergence will awaken... and Michael’s carrying life blessed by the Goddess herself..." He glanced at , then the faint glow around Wanessa’s fingertips. "Then Michael’s child is the convergence."
Wanessa didn’t confirm, but she didn’t deny either. Her smile turned faint, almost reverent.
"Perhaps the Goddess has plans even we cannot see."Wnaessa said.
Zavier’s arm slipped protectively around .
"Then she can send a written notice next ti." He muttered.
Charlie blinked rapidly, torn between awe and pure anxiety.
"So, so I’m not the chosen one?"Charie asked.
Wanessa turned her serene smile on him.
"No, dear saint. You’re the comic relief."She said.
Zavier nearly spit his drink out. I couldn’t help it I laughed so hard tears burned my eyes. Charlie gawked, betrayed.
"Comic relief!? I faced divine harassnt for WEEKS!"He groaned.
"Exactly." I said, gasping between laughs. "And you’re nailing the role!"
Wanessa winked.
"Don’t worry, Sir Charles. Every play needs a star and a fool. You just happen to be both."She said.
"WHY DO I HEAR BOSS MUSIC EVERY TI YOU SPEAK!?" Charlie yelled.
Zavier leaned closer, lips brushing my ear.
"Remind to install extra locks on every door." He whispered.
"Just make sure they’re Goddess proof." I whispered back.
Down below, Wanessa and Charlie had already resud their dance of chaos him spluttering, her laughing like the moon co to life. And sowhere, I could’ve sworn I heard that faint, familiar laughter again. The Moon Goddess’s voice, soft and amused. ’My theatre... is far from over.’
The morning sun cast long, lazy shadows over the palace halls, yet there was no calm today. I sat on the balcony, stomach protesting with persistent kicks, coffee cooling beside , while Zavier surveyed the scene below like a general preparing for a battle he didn’t sign up for. Charlie, predictably, was already mid panic in the main hall, pacing so fast it looked like he might take off as a projectile.
’Brother Michael! Help! It’s happening again!’ He shrieked, waving a hand toward the front doors.
Zavier groaned, pressing a hand to his face.
"I thought we agreed on a no catastrophe mornings policy."Zavier said.
"I thought wrong." I muttered, hand rubbing my stomach as the baby reminded of its presence.
Before I could comnt further, the double doors burst open with all the subtlety of a cannon. Wanessa swept in, her silver gown shimring like liquid moonlight. Behind her strode a tall man, regal and confident, with piercing eyes that seed to assess everyone in the room in a single glance. Charlie froze mid panic. Zavier stiffened. I instinctively pressed a hand to my stomach as if the baby needed protection from... whatever aura this man radiated.
"Everyone." Wanessa announced, voice lodious but commanding. "et my brother."
The man inclined his head slightly.
"Richard." He said, calm but imposing. "I am here to observe... and, if necessary, ensure proper conduct."
Charlie’s mouth dropped open.
"Observe? Conduct? W-Wait. Is this... another prophecy? Am I going to die?"Charlie said.
Richard’s gaze swept over him like a hawk circling prey.
"No. I am... here to assist in monitoring chaos."Richard said.
"Chaos, he says! I live in chaos!" Charlie wailed. "I am chaos incarnate! You cannot just-" Zavier groaned audibly.
"He’s being polite, Charles. Take notes."Zavier said.I pressed my hand to my stomach again as the baby kicked hard, like it was trying to escape the mounting tension. Richard’s eyes flicked to briefly, then back to Charlie, and I felt an odd weight in the room, as if the air itself had grown heavier, thicker.
"Brother Richard." I whispered to Zavier. "Does he... scare you?"
"Every instinct is screaming yes." Zavier muttered, but his hand found mine, grounding both of us.
Charlie, however, was not yet done. He clutched at Zavier’s arm.
"Brother! Strategy! We need a plan! He’s... he’s... he’s... a judge, a threat, a... a-"Charlie whined.
Richard raised a brow.
"I assure you, I am not a threat to mortals. Yet."Richard said.
"Yet! There’s a yet!" Charlie shrieked, pointing dramatically toward the silver haired guest.
Wanessa giggled softly.
"Oh, Sir Charles. You’ve survived worse. Think of Richard as... divine reinforcent."Wanessa said.
Richard’s lips twitched slightly in amusent, though his posture remained perfect, unyielding.
"Divine reinforcent." He echoed, voice low and controlled. "I will ensure... minimal collateral damage. Including this one." He gestured to Charlie, who was now crouched behind the nearest table like a small, frantic animal.
Charlie squeaked.
"Collateral? I am not collateral!"He said angrily.
"At least soone’s being rational."Zavier said.
I groaned.
"This baby is going to be born already trained in panic responses."I said.
Richard’s gaze finally settled on , and for a brief heartbeat, I felt as though he could see the child inside . A strange warmth flickered in the air, like a calm pulse of power.
"Michael." He said softly. "Your child... is significant. The convergence... it is beginning to take form."
I swallowed, hand instinctively pressing to my stomach.
"Yes. The... the prophecy... the Goddess... everything..."I said.
Wanessa’s smile widened.
"Richard, my dear brother, you always take these matters so seriously. Must you scare my guests?"
Richard’s eyes softened just a fraction.
"I do not wish to scare. Only... ensure preparedness."Richard said.
Charlie, anwhile, had thrown himself onto the floor dramatically.
"I knew it! Another judge! Another sentinel! I am dood! I am chaos’s favorite victim!"Charlie said.
Zavier pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I hate every second of this already."Zavier said.
Wanessa chuckled, leaning closer to Richard.
"Observe, my brother. This is the entertainnt we endure daily. And yes, he’s quite the comic relief."Wanessa said.
Richard inclined his head slightly, expression unreadable.
"Indeed." His eyes flicked to again, and for a mont, the air seed to hum. "And you... must guard this life with utmost care. It is... precious."
I nodded, swallowing hard, feeling the baby flutter in agreent. Charlie groaned audibly from the floor.
"I, my comic relief is being overshadowed! I demand acknowledgnt!"Charlie scread.
Wanessa laughed, a sound like silver bells.
"Sir Charles, your theatrics are unmatched. But Richard is... a new variable. Treat him with caution, or he may declare you a hazard to divine order."Wanessa grinned.
Richard’s eyes swept the room again, landing on each of us in turn, Zavier, Michael, Charlie. His presence alone seed to make the air heavier, more charged.
"I am not here to punish." He said. "But I will... correct where necessary."
Charlie yelped, curling into a tighter ball on the floor. "Correct? No! I am not ready! I... I-"Charlie said.
Zavier muttered darkly.
"We should have locked the doors. We should have... everything."He said.
I rubbed my eyes and pressed a hand to my stomach again.
"We’re living in a divine sitcom now. I can feel it."I said.
Wanessa’s laughter chid again, lighter, teasing.
"Oh, my dear saints. The play continues... and now with a new actor on stage."Wanessa grinned.
Richard stepped back slightly, arms crossed, surveying the room with asured patience.
"I will be watching. Learning. Observing. And... yes... intervening if the chaos threatens the unborn or the chosen."He said.
Charlie whimpered, curling further.
"Why does everyone get to be divine and scary, and I get... wet towels and panic?"Charlie said.
"Because chaos needs an audience."Zavier muttered.
The baby inside fluttered again, as if in agreent. And thus, the chaos escalated further, now with Richard in the mix, Charlie panicking more than ever, and the Moon Goddess watching, amused, from beyond.
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