by Andrew Gille
Under the dominion of Principality Imamiah, Ruler of Hesperides, the humble angel Machariel tended to the garden as the curator and steward of this beautiful place. Machariel, like his garden, was known for his beauty, boyish features, his blonde curls pulled back and tied up in a bow. His delicate body, almost feminine in its beauty, small shoulders, thin, but defined musculature, was a compliment to the garden and he often worked wearing only his sandals and a loincloth due to Vertias’ warm climate and nearly perpetually good weather giving visitors one more thing to admire within the walls of the garden.
Machariel loved the Etherial Gardens, he tended to the entirety of the park and would manicure its flowers and vines and ensure that each tree and plant was adequately cared for. What he loved most in the park, however, were his animals. The majestic birds, the many heavenly creatures who resembled deer, bears, wildcats, and wolves as well as more exotic species with adorable furry ears and faces. Each one he cared for as human beings would their own children.
The animals with which Os had populated the heavens were much like the animals on earth. They could create and multiply of their own volition. Machariel found this to be a wondrous thing, and it made him admire the magnificence of Os’ design all the more. As a result of this, it was Machariel’s duty to ensure that the animal populations within the garden were balanced. Occasionally the populations of a certain species like the predatory, wolf-like vargers, occasionally became too populous and threatened to hunt other species into extinction. Machariel always ensured that when this began to happen with the giant wolves or any other creature, that he took steps to rebalance the population. When he did so, however, he always did so with reverence and respect to the animal. Hunting was a popular pastime within the park, and Machariel ensured that the angels who came to hunt within the park were experts so that his beloved animals died with a minimal amount of suffering. Only the absolute surest archers were allowed to hunt Machariel’s animals, his criteria were so strict that it was a great honor to be selected by Machariel to hunt within his park. He too was an expert hunter and ensured that his kills were always instant. The animals that had to be taken were done so with reverence and respect to their spirits, and the meat of these animals was known as some of the finest in heaven.
Machariel had heard the “good news” from the Herald of Hesperides of Os’ announcement in The City of God only weeks ago and had not paid it much mind. There were rumors that the spiritual half of the new creations of Os would soon live in heaven with the angels and that the angels would be expected to serve them. This arrangement suited Machariel as he had always been a servant, a servant to the visitors of the park, a servant to Imamiah, a servant to the animals. If the human beings came to admire the gardens, he’d serve them as well. This thought gave him no troubles, and he went on with his duties in the gardens and relaxed afterward with the animals.
Machariel was used to hosting mighty angels. Such a favored spot of beauty it was. Imamiah always made it a point to bring guests to the gardens to impress them with the beauty of Vertias and his city of Hesperides. Even though he was a lowly angel, Machariel did not concern himself when important guests of Imamiah, often cherubim and even seraphim walked through to admire the gardens. He had seen the most important of Heaven’s dignitaries and celebrities stroll through the park, all were enamored of its wonders, and this made him proud.
Today however only Os could have been a more celebrated guest. The Arch Seraph, Lucifer came to the garden’s gates escorted by a choir of Powers and Imamiah. Machariel, ordinarily confident in greeting guests of this stature, felt a tinge of nervousness as seeing the most powerful angel in heaven at his gates. He was not an angel who took a break or had free time so to see him here was unexpected.
“The Etherial Gardens of Hesperides, I’ve heard much about the majesty within these gates Machariel,” the arch seraph said in a commanding voice, Lucifer exuded power, as he spoke, the sound of his voice was both charismatic and intimidating.
Machariel had no issues with ensuring that other high ranking angels respected the park and followed the rules and that sometimes required chastising a more senior ranking angel. Machariel felt small and powerless in the midst of Lucifer, however, and it seemed like he would not acquiesce to any lower angel, and he made Machariel want to please him. He had heard rumors that Lucifer might be more powerful than Os. He had also heard that a recently discovered text stated that angels had been created by the Colossals. It said that they had legitimacy to the throne of heaven by virtue of their rank which made Lucifer the real king of Heaven and Os an impostor who enslaved the angels. After a long silence, he timidly answered the high angel.
“Yes, thank you my liege, I would be humbled to give you a tour of the park like I have for many of the previous visiting dignitaries. Vehuel of Arcadia on your home planet of Paradisio was here just last week and marveled at the blooming trees, this time of the seasonal cycle is a popular time to visit. Could you give me the pleasure of taking you through the park’s most popular attractions?”
“It would be a delight Machariel,” Lucifer said courteously to the lesser angel.
It filled Machariel with pleasure that the highest angel had come to the gardens. Nothing gave him more happiness than seeing the looks of astonishment on the faces of angels who had been to all four of Heaven’s inhabited worlds, taken in the wonders that Heaven had to offer and still proclaimed this to be the most beautiful spot in the realm. Machenrauch skipped his usually compulsory speech about the respect and rules of the park for Lucifer. Before Machariel could begin his usual initial talking points about the different flora and fauna in the garden, Lucifer spoke again.
“I would like to ensure we visit a particular grotto in the forested section of this park, Machariel. You will be familiar with it. I am sure. It contains a waterfall that empties into pool lit by three extraordinary stones,” Lucifer said.
“Yes, the Trinity Grotto, the stones represent Os, his son, and the Mother Goddess,” Machariel was excited that Lucifer had done research on the park and bothered to know something about it before arriving. Most high angels were content to be led around, shown the sites and politely compliment the gardens, usually complimenting Inamiah and saying nothing to Machariel. Lucifer seemed to have a genuine interest in the park.
“Yes, that one, show me all of this wondrous place, but particularly, let us stop there,” Lucifer said.
“It is a bit out of the way and not on the usual tour, but I will make sure we make it to that area of the park,” Machariel assured the arch seraph.
“Very well, tell me all about the greatest wonders of Veritas,” Lucifer said to the lesser angel.
Machariel took Lucifer on the usual tour and was ecstatic when he was able to identify some of the rarer animals and had knowledgeable questions about the park. He genuinely wanted to see and get the full experience of The Etherial Gardens of Hesperides.
They walked through a field of grazing animals called Seralla that resembled large fluffy yaks, not a usual part of the tour but Machariel explained the animals and Lucifer approached one to pet it. The Seralla seemed soothed and calmed by his touch. Machariel admired the high angel, even more, seeing him interact so kindly with his beloved animals. The field exited into a forest and within the forest was the entrance to the grotto that Lucifer had explicitly requested to see. Upon entering Lucifer looked intently at the three fist-sized glowing rocks at the bottom of a pool at the end of the grotto. The stones emitted red, blue and green light onto the walls of the cavern and represented Os, The Son, and The Mother respectively.
Lucifer observed the stones for a long time silently, he had an intense and serious look on his face as he appeared in contemplation. Machariel allowed him his time within the grotto as he had requested this area and he did not want to disturb or taint his time within this sacred place. He stood with his hands behind his back as Lucifer took in the entirety of the grotto, walking to different parts of the cave, viewing the
stone formations which had contained veins of a type of rock that cast a cyan glow from them. He spent time looking down at the carpet of grass that grew on the floor due to the amount of light shining out of the pool. He took his time taking in the entirety of the grotto but focused most of his attention on the stones. The trickle of water from a small waterfall that poured from the ceiling of the cave into the illuminated pool was the only sound that could be heard as Machariel allowed Lucifer his time to explore the cavern. After a time of contemplation, spent almost entirely looking at the stones, Lucifer addressed Machariel but continued to stare intently into the water.
“Machariel, have you heard of Os’ new creation?” he asked breaking the silence.
“Yes, the new world, inhabited with new and wondrous beings who will soon live with us here in our heavenly home,” he now assumed that Lucifer’s visit had something to do with the new world.
“Yes, a new world, a new world we did not ask for, a new world inhabited with beings Os has created with whom he has become infatuated. These…humans are a mistake, and I intend to show him that he has erred in putting them above us.” Lucifer said as the glow of the stones illuminated his face.
Machariel was unsure if Lucifer was testing his loyalty to Os or if he really felt this way about the human beings. He stood silently, unable to speak. He’d never beheld an angel with the power of Lucifer before, and he knew not what to think.
“Doubts, course through your mind Machariel, you are uncertain of my motivations. However, I come to tell you that everything I said just now I believe to be true, these are my own thoughts laid out for you. I come today because I seek allies, you could be one of my most important allies,” Lucifer did not look at the lower angel as he said this and he just continued to stare at the glowing stones.
Machariel shook in fear, how did the arch seraph know his thoughts? This was an ability only Os supposedly possessed, “I am but the lowly curator of this park my liege, of what help could I be to the most powerful angel in all of the Heavens?”
“These stones, you are their keeper, you are the one who protects them. Beheld within these stones, hidden in plain sight, within your beautiful park are the keys to unlock the power to defeat Os. In all of the heavens, there is not such a powerful weapon as these,” Lucifer now turned to look at the lesser angel.
“No, these are mere curiosities, put here to beautify and light the grotto, they wield no powers, their light is beautiful and reflective. They’ve laid at the bottom of that pool for eons. Occasionally they will grow algae that dull their light, and I take them out and clean them. I feel no power coursing through them, as you would with Azurian crystal no magical energies like Ozelian diamonds. They are mere, lights that have only the meaning we give to them,” Machariel explained, now worried that Lucifer was about to take the stones and diminish the allure and attractiveness of the grotto.
Lucifer laughed, leaning his hands on a wall that surrounded the pool he now turned his gaze from the water to the lesser angel in his midst, “This is what you are led to believe. You are just too accustomed to believing that all that is said in The City of God is the truth. We have been lied to. I have been gravely misled by Os, and now, I seek to bring the truth to all angels. These stones have been entrusted to you because you are an unquestioning follower Machariel. They are nothing to you but decorations because that is what you believe and you have never sought the truth about them. I have heard of stones that wield the type of power I seek but never knew where to find them, it was only after I realized that our perfect, omniscient, all-powerful creator is actually an imposter that I began to question all things. Deep within the scroll vaults of the Great Library in The City of God, I found a description of The Transfiguration Keys, magic tokens that when used by a powerful mage, reciting a spell while continually aware of the position of the celestial bodies of their realm, could transform a lowly angel to have the power of the Seraphs. With the Transfiguration Keys, the lowliest of angels can be metamorphosed into a force of power, surpassed only by myself. A brief description was given of these tools, I read this pondering where he would have hidden such a thing in all of the heavens. It was then that I realized that the three stones of the illuminated grotto of The Etherial Gardens of Hesperides were in fact, the Transfiguration Keys. The description fits perfectly, and indeed, these are the storied stones.”
“You intend to take these and use them to make yourself more powerful my lord? If you say this is true, I believe your words, I would not question the judgment of one so mighty as you,” Machariel said, now realizing that Lucifer would be walking out with these stones.
“No, I will not use them to make myself more powerful Machariel, I am already the most powerful angel. However I am one, and many blindly follow Os’ idea that we should serve these vile and unpredictable new beings. That we are lesser than them and that it should be a joy for us to bow to them and give up our right to the Kingdom of Heaven for them. These traitorous angels bow to them as they bow to Os and they’ll bring down the Kingdom of Heaven and destroy it, just as they’ll destroy their own realm one day,” Lucifer spit as he talked, he was so enraged while speaking about angels loyal to Os.
Machariel’s instinct was to protect the stones and the beauty of the grotto. He trembled slightly now, worried that Lucifer had the same powers of omniscience that had been attributed to Os. He had never been to The City of God, he had never stood in the glory of Os’ presence, but it had been described to him as an overwhelming feeling of power but also a terrifying feeling of dread. It was a feeling of the insignificance and weakness of one in comparison to the greatest. That was how it was to stand in Lucifer’s presence. Machariel believed that he now stood before a god. He did not understand the arch seraph’s anger toward the loyalist angels, his desire of the stones was strong and palpable and he sought to use whatever power he believed was within them to wage war upon Os. The thought terrified Machariel and as he spoke his thoughts were to prevent the removal of a wonder of his beautiful park and to attempt to reason with Lucifer about the Os new creation.
“These, human beings, I know little of them, I know little of the Earth, I cannot hope to understand things such as these like a great and powerful seraph. I am weak, and if you wanted these stones, you could take them. I greatly admire the respect you show me seeking my approval to take them when you could crush me like a dead leaf and be on your way with the treasures you seek. I would not stand in your way, indeed, I have heard tell that you are the legitimate heir to the throne of Heaven, but help me understand this, help me understand,” Machariel’s voice quivered as he spoke, terrified by the power before him and hoping to appeal to the pride of this mighty seraphim.
Lucifer laughed again, “Machariel, you have more power than you think. If you really sought to prevent me from taking these stones, you could go to Camael, the leader of Vertias’ Order of the Powers and set the full wrath of Os down upon me. You alone could stop me Machariel, you have the power here. I appeal to you to support our good and noble cause, to allow this so that we may defeat him and the angels who betray our kind and side with him. These human beings, I understand that a good and peaceful angel such as yourself does not want to see war, does not want to see all of these beautiful things in heaven burned to the ground as Os uses us to fight against each other so that those remaining can succumb to his hegemony and serve them and Os. These keys give us the power we need to ensure that there will not be a war, it will equalize our side when an errant majority, including some of the most powerful angels in heaven, seek to allow us to be minimized into servants for them on Earth and in Heaven.”
Machariel was flattered by Lucifer’s implication that he was powerful and could actually stand in his way. Machariel wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Lucifer would find an alternative plan if he refused him the stones but the courtesy made him feel like the arch seraph respected him. He was ready to allow Lucifer to leave with the stones but then had the thought that if he allowed
these items to leave the park that he might bring the wrath of Os down upon himself. He was emboldened by Lucifer’s show of respect for him and spoke one more time.
“Lucifer, I cower in fear at your power and would not restrict your access to these stones or keys as you call them. However, help me understand, why we should hate them so? Why should we destroy these creations of Os when he has created this park and all of the flora and fauna found within it including the beloved animals which roam this park? You seemed to appreciate the animals as much as I do. What then should we fear of these animals that Os has created? Why should we destroy them with the power of the stones?”
Lucifer didn’t mind answering the lesser angels questions, he asked them respectfully, and he could tell that he had already persuaded Machariel to allow him to take the stones. He also felt that Machariel could help in one additional way. He would be perfect, he only had to get him to agree to fight against Os’ and against the interest of the humans.
“I do not wish to destroy them, like the animals in this garden, human beings are fascinating and wondrous creatures. However, they are dangerous, imagine one of the more dangerous animals here, such as your vargers, predators, efficient killers. Now you leave this park and leave it to its own devices, without your shepherding what would happen?” Lucifer asked.
“Yes, the vargers, are efficient breeders just as they are killers, they’d overpopulate, and as the vargers became more numerous, they’d kill more and more of the peaceful creatures until they couldn’t find food anymore and they’d all starve to death,” Machariel related.
“Exactly, the vargers need your management, they need to be controlled by you, they cannot be allowed to run this park on their own without your guidance. You must be the one who decides which ones continue and when to cull the pack if it becomes necessary. Os has given human beings the power to run their own park. Magnificent creatures, just like your vargers, but they too should be under our control. Os is aware of the fact that we’ve discovered his ruse and that we are the rightful heirs of the throne of Heaven. He has created these beings in one last desperate attempt to hold onto his power. We must ensure that the humans kneel down before us and serve us both on their homeworld and here in heaven. They will be here, it is not a myth, their spirits will inhabit the kingdom of Heaven, and he intends on giving it to them. All of these beautiful things in your garden, all of your animals, the entirety of this grotto under the control of vargers who will selfishly purge it of its resources and kill every last animal in the park as they continually multiply and keep coming into heaven. You’ll have no recourse but to help them do it as we’re subservient to them. Help me change all of this Machariel. Grant me the Transfiguration Keys.”
