The air around here was pure. Not in the normal sense of clean air or whatever, but in a heavenly way. There was four figures locked in heated discussion in a plane of just pure white.
It wasn't Hell since it was for the damned. It wasn't Purgatory either as that was for those who could still be redeemed and it wasn't Heaven because it lacked the warmth.
It was Limbo. A realm for people to be judged then put in their place accordingly or in rare cases, when they didn't belong anywhere, remained as anomalies.
At the center was the Being.She had her usual teacup. Then there was Lysandra, Celestia, the protector of purgatory and finally, Kylien's mother, Lily.
A woman whose features remained as warm as they had been in her old life. She wore a robe of pure white, with a halo above her head and a single wing that folded neatly behind her. She got her wing due to her sacrifice long ago and by being one of Heaven's finest cooks.
"You cannot send him to Hell!" Lily said firmly, "He is my son. My flesh and blood."
"He deserves Hell." Being replied, "His actions condemned countless souls to suffering and therefore, deserves Hell."
"I have two favours owed to me by you, do I not?"
Celestia crossed her arms, "Even if we grant leniency, he must face judgment. Maybe you can visit him in Hell occasionally."
Lily balled up her fists on the table, "No! I want to use my favours. I want my son to be able to join me someday in Heaven!"
The Being sighed and set her teacup down, "So, what exactly do you wish to use your favours for?"
"As his mother, I want him to learn from his mistakes and serve the appropriate punishment. I am willing to let him suffer if it means he can redeem himself."
"He said he 'hated' humanity but in his final moments, he saved Kayla. Doesn't that count for something? Doesn't that show some shred of goodness left in him?"
Lysandra hummed in thought, "Go on then Lily. What do you suggest?"
Lily raised two fingers, "The first is to allow my son enter Purgatory instead of Hell. Let him serve his time until he earns the right to join me in Heaven someday."
"And the second?"
"To accompany him in Purgatory."
"Absolutely not!" the Being said bluntly,
"Purgatory is no place for a heavenly soul like yours. You'd be subjected to tortures meant to break lesser beings."
"I don't care!" Lily argued back, "If it means staying with my son, I'll endure anything. Don't you understand? I've already lost him once and I refuse to lose him again."
Lysandra sighed, "Lily, think about what you're asking. Your privileges in Heaven will be revoked until Kylien completes his sentence. Are you truly prepared to give up everything for him? To give up Heaven for your child?"
"Yes! Every moment apart from him has been agony. If I can help him become the person I know he's capable of being, then yes."
Being clasped her hand together, "And what of your role in Heaven? Your cooking brings joy to countless souls. Would you abandon them too?"
Lily thought about it for a good minute, "They'll manage. I'm not the only one who makes a good beef stew. My duty as a mother outweighs my duties elsewhere. Please…just...let me do this."
Being sighed as if she knew that would be her answer,
"Fine. I'll grant your favour. It's the least I can do for someone who has served us great meals."
Lily smiled faintly, "Thank you."
***
Kylien wandered aimlessly in Limbo like a lost child.
I'm guessing I'm dead but if this is heaven, why is it empty? Where even am I?
He kept wandering around for another minute before he saw her.
"Mom…" he said while tears welled up in his eyes.
Without hesitation, he ran towards her and throw his arms around her tightly.
"Mom…Mom! I'm so sorry...For everything. I never wanted to disappoint you…I'm so—"
Lily hugged him back, "Shh, my baby. It's alright. You're here now."
"Uwahhh! I'm so sorry...hik! I did so many bad things and I—I...fucked up so many times...and I—I—I am so sorry...I failed you..."
Kylien kept hugging her while his knees began sank, "I'm so...sorry..."
Lily knelt down to level with her son, "It's okay baby. It's okay... Kylien, are you...sorry for all the things you have done?"
Kylien was ugly crying now and his voice was mixed with drool and snot,
"Hik...Yes...I am...I don't know why I...did that...I—I—just...miss you so much and—and...I...hated humanity so much but...I—I just...."
"I know my boy..." she said while rubbing his head, "You were angry at the people that killed me and there was nobody to guide you anymore. Your father couldn't care less about us either. It's okay baby."
"You saved that girl in your last moment didn't you? Why did you do that?"
"I—I… I don't know. I just thought… Kayla didn't...deserve to die. She's innocent...as far as I know… I coerced her into joining my group for my revenge. I used her. But she didn't deserve to die like that."
He buried his face in her chest. "I'm a terrible son, aren't I? I should've just died alongside you that day… That way, nobody would've had to suffer because of me…"
Lily looked over her shoulder at the three gods silently watching in the distance, giving them space for their moment.
Lysandra spoke into Lily's mind,Perhaps you should comfort him. He already knows what he did was horrible. Maybe what he needs now… is to hear something else.
He misses you, Lily. I'm sure you know that.
Lily then hold Kylien by his shoulder and make him look at her,
"Hmm. Well, you're definitely a horrible human being...but not a terrible son. I remember all the nights you talked to me and the prayers you said for me. It was nice to hear your prayers you know?"
"Even though you caused so much suffering and honestly that can't be undone. But you still help orphans when you could. I know it doesn't erase the harm you caused but every time you helped a child, I cheered for you."
Kylien was in disbelief, "B-B-B-But… how can you say that? After everything I've done…"
"Because you're still my boy." Lily replied while cupping his face in her hands.
"You made mistakes, well terrible ones but you're not beyond redemption. Deep down, I know you regret what you've done. That matters more than anything else."
Lysandra cleared her throat, "Just so we're clear, Lily...your privileges in Heaven are revoked until Kylien finishes serving his time. Are you truly okay with that?"
Lily nodded, "Yes."
Kylien quickly realised what that meant, "N-No...No! No! Mom, you don't deserve this! Go back, please! I can do this alone! I'm the bad person you know! Please don't let her—"
Lysandra stepped forth to meet Kylien, "You may not know me, Kylien, but I am the God of Narxuia. I'm here to tell you that you would've been sentenced to Hell if not for your mother's intervention. So please… do this for her."
"She has given up Heaven just to be with you. You will be going Purgatory as per her request. She still believes in you, Kylien. She loves you so much and I'm sure you can see that."
"So please...don't disappoint her again."
Kylien stared at Lysandra for a good while before looking back at his mother,
"Mom...why would you do that? I am a terrible son! Please don't—"
Lily ruffled his hair as she stood up, "You can be better. Don't you want to prove yourself that?"
"I...I...."
Kylien looked around and realised that his mom was dead serious about this,
"I—Okay...I'll...be better. I'll serve my time and be worthy enough to be with you, mom. I solemnly swear on that. I won't disappoint you..."
Lily gave a big smile, "Good. I will be holding you to that!"
Celestia now approached them, "Are you ready?"
Kylien wiped away his tears and straightened up, "Yes…"
Lily placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder as they walked toward the gates of Purgatory. Her halo and single wing remained intact.
Once the trio disappeared from sight, Lysandra turned to the Being,
"Must you be so hard on literally the best cook we've ever had?"
The Being rolled her eyes, "Oh, spare me. What exactly did I do wrong? She got what she wanted in the end, didn't she?"
"For starters, you nearly denied Lily's request outright! Do you realize how rare it is for someone to love another so deeply that they'd willingly give up paradise for them?"
"It's dumb."
"It's love." Lysandra corrected her.
The Being sighed, "Fine. Fine. What do you want me to do?"
"Visit them three times a week"
"Three times?! That's absurd. Do you have any idea how busy I am?"
"Oh, don't give me that." Lysandra rolled her eyes in annoyance,
"You literally exist outside time. 'Busy' is a state of mind, not a reality for you. Besides, she deserves it after everything she's giving up."
"And while we're at it, you need to exempt her from Purgatory's tortures entirely. She's not there for punishment—she's there to support her son. Torturing her would be counterproductive and cruel."
"And we are not cruel."
The Being stared at her dumbfoundedly, "Are you the leader now or something?"
Lysandra had a smug smile, "Want me to call Ivy?"
"Erk. No, never mind. I rather not. I'll visit them three visits a week and I'll exempt her from all the tortures. She'll just… be there. Happy?"
"Ecstatic."
As they began to walk back to their own realm, the Being said,
"I've always been fascinated by humanity. It's one of the reasons I placed Aric in your world—to restore balance. But… how could someone love their child that much?"
Lysandra considered the question carefully with a finger on her chin,
"Well...love has always been complex especially between parents and children. A parent doesn't see their child as they are, but as who they could become. Even when the child strays far from the path, the parent clings to the belief that redemption is possible, that love can heal wounds no matter how deep."
"To Lily, Kylien will always be her sweet little boy. Losing him would mean losing a part of herself. If he were sent to hell, she'd likely lose herself."
"Lily loves her son more than she loves herself... and there's a certain beauty in that. Even when he did so many bad things, she still believes and loves him unconditionally."
"Humans may be cruel but they're also capable of loving more deeply than us gods. And maybe that's why you've always found them so fascinating, isn't it?"
The Being sighed in disbelief, "Huh. No wonder you're the Goddess of Love."
"Don't be so surprised. It's the same reason Ivy gave up her role for Aric, isn't it?"
Lysandra then placed her on the Being's shoulder.
"But you knew Lily was going to do this from the start, didn't you?"
"Whatever do you mean, love?"
Lysandra patted her back, "Hahaha. I get it now. You were testing her, weren't you? Seeing if she'd sacrifice herself again for her son. Deep down, you knew exactly what she'd choose—you just wanted to witness it first-hand."
"I always thought it was strange how you gave her those favours all those years ago. You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
The Being shrugged nonchalantly, "Meh. No idea what you mean."