Chapter 129: SS47 – Ezme – Just Another Day As A Glorious Goddess, Part 2

Entering the throne room, a shiver ran up Ezme’s spine. Even at a distance, her Father’s dormant presence made it feel like she had stepped from a seat by a warm hearth out into the biting winter wind. 

Not that the cold winds were any actual issue for an angel like herself. 

As she approached the throne, Ezme’s footsteps rang clear in the complete silence. With each step she felt increasingly smaller, despite being an angel - a being that stood at the top of creation, after the gods. During the solitary walk, she realized this was the third time she was about to be in an audience with her Father and the Firstborn. 

The first time had been when she was created. Eons ago, Ezme had woken up on the floor before the throne with her physical vessel completed; her eldest sister welcoming her into the fold as the newest sibling. With no understanding of who or what she was yet, nor any of her divine senses properly developed, the significance of that moment had completely passed her by. 

The second time had been after selecting Amara as a champion. Once she had made her choice, Ezme had been ordered to come to the throne room when they were ready to wake Amara up. But even then, she had been acting under orders, and the attention hadn't really been on her. 

This time it was different. She had come to make a request. It was insolent, no matter how one looked about it. 

Ezme swallowed as her throat suddenly felt dry. Raising her gaze, she saw her Father resting with his cheek against his fist upon the throne. And next to him stood Sophelia - a warm, gentle smile on her face as she silently welcomed her. 

A welcome that seemed to be her only consolation and hope that Ezme’s request would be granted. 

“Welcome, sister.” Sophelia greeted in a gentle tone as Ezme finally reached the throne. Tilting her head, the seraph gave Ezme an appraising look. “You wished to speak with me.”

Ezme swallowed again and glanced at their Father. With amusement tugging on his lips and with his eyes closed, he looked as if he was pleasantly dreaming. 

“Greetings, Sister Sophelia, Father. I…uhm…” Ezme had been hesitant to pursue her request after Sophelia had told her to meet her in the throne room, and now her doubts were resurfacing. She didn’t know why Sophelia wanted her to make her request in their Father’s presence. A part of her felt like it was meant to discourage her to make private requests, and to remind her of her place. 

Ezme was an angel, and with that fact came both power and responsibilities. And their foremost responsibility had always been to keep the mortals safe. And the request Ezme wanted to make could be considered a double edged knife. 

“Sister.” Sophelia’s admonishing voice interrupted Ezme’s despairing thoughts. “As you well know, we are in the middle of a war.”

A shudder went through Ezme’s being as she lowered her gaze. …It’s as I feared. They don’t want me to waste their time with something like this. I’m not meant to make any selfish requests-

Ezme cut off her train of thought. No. I have to make this request. Even if Sophelia and Father refuse-

No. I have to convince them. I will convince them. 

Ahrina is our greatest hope. Even if she isn’t allowed to keep the forbidden knowledge, she needs to be allowed to continue living. She can’t simply be…replaced!!

Clenching her fists as her determination grew, Ezme raised her gaze to meet Sophleia’s gentle gaze. “Sister Sophelia, I came to make a request. It may partly be selfish in nature, but I must make it nonetheless.” 

You are reading story Ascended Pawn: Destined as Sacrifice at novel35.com

A warm smile spread on Sophelia’s face as she repeated. “We are in the middle of a war.”

Ezme nodded as she clenched her fists tighter. “I know that, but-”

“And for us to have the courage to continue in this war…” Sophelia continued before closing her eyes. “...we must stay true to our hearts. One could say, it is from where our courage arises.” 

Ezme blinked as she looked at Sophelia, dumbfounded as the words sank in. The Firstborn’s eyes slowly reopened as she looked at Ezme. “A lesson you have learned well after choosing to follow your own path.”

Ezme’s eyes widened in surprise after her initial confusion settled. “This…this was a test?”

“Indeed.” Sophelia’s gentle smile grew higher as she closed her eyes again. When she spoke again, Sophelia’s voice was laced with the authority she held as the eldest and wisest of the angels. “Your request has been approved. So have all your future requests, until you are told otherwise.”

“...Approved?” Ezme blinked as she stared at Sophelia in confusion. “I didn’t even say what the request was?”

“Sister.” Sophelia’s warm tone held faint amusement as she opened her eyes. “You are an angel. We all strive to fulfill our duty, whether we act united or independently, by the norm or unorthodox means. You do not need to make requests to fulfill your duty. Whether it has selfish benefits for yourself as well or not is of no consequence.”

“I…” Ezme lowered her gaze as she considered. I still need to inform them that Ahrina possesses forbidden knowledge. It seems…too important to ignore, if I don’t get actual confirmation for it now I’m just asking for trouble.

Ezme nodded to herself as she again raised her gaze to meet Sophelia’s. “What about if it relates to forbidden knowledge? What if someone that is one of our allies, learns about it?”

Sophelia was silent for a moment as looked at Ezme with a gentle gaze. “There is no need to concern yourself with that. That duty is mine.”

Ezme frowned. “But…”

The Firstborn averted her eyes as she seemed to look into the distance. “The champion is exempted from the rule, and is allowed to learn what she can about it if she chooses to, in order to make up for her otherwise lack of strength to compete with the Devourer’s champion. And since that is the case, some leaks related to forbidden knowledge are inevitable.” Sophelia returned her gentle gaze to Ezme. “But those leaks are being carefully monitored when they happen and dealt with depending on the circumstances of each case.”

Ezme’s frown deepened. Monitored? But she hasn’t come to Amara’s chambers at all. “I don’t think that you understand, sister Sophelia. There is someone specific that has learnt forbidden knowledge, and I need to make sure whether or not she is allowed...”

A sudden stream of information entered Ezme’s mind. The stream was so short that the bell rang in Ezme’s mind almost instantly.

[Ding!]