Sylia, the Dark & Light Saint

Sylia was satisfied with the outcome of her earlier performance—but not nearly as much as the Magic Fish, who now zipped through the waves, proudly flaunting their new bodies like adolescents fresh from a makeover Spell.

Reclining upon her beach lounge chair in a pose of effortless grace and indulgence, Sylia sampled thin slices of sashimi and perfectly rolled sushi. A second cocktail now glistened in her hand—a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri once again, though this time garnished with a single ripe strawberry 🍓 rather than assorted fruit slices.

Suddenly, she found herself desiring something more substantial.

"Grilled Magical Salmon with Teriyaki sauce… and some Sake-soaked rice," she murmured to herself. "Yes, that should do very nicely indeed."

Perhaps even a side of chilled Maximus Magicus Sake. Or a warm one—just hot enough to hum. She disliked it scalding in this heat. She preferred it warm…like the first embrace of sunrise.

And naturally, she knew exactly whom to ask.

Fitcherald.

Her trusty servant—a Minor Fish God with a natural talent for Creation. He could conjure the finest Magical Salmon with ease. His Fish creations were plump, rich in omega, and infused with divine flavor.

As for the rice and the grilling?

That task belonged to Chimbo.

Her eternally loyal Chipmuck Mascot servant. No one prepared Teriyaki Grilled Fish like him—or like his tiny, hyperactive army of sous-chefs.

Clapping her hands with delight at the mere thought of the meal, she decided this would also be the perfect moment to make the long-delayed announcement. It would no doubt please the Magic Fish even more.

Without delay, she sent a message to her servants to join her with the required ingredients.

Not far from her, her son Danielu appeared unsettled by the sight of her uncharacteristic happiness. Sylia's smile deepened, and the boy instinctively flinched. He immediately moved closer to his brother, who mirrored the same expression of apprehension.

Her two children, both blessed by Lord Chester's House, had every reason to be wary of that particular smile. It was likely Chester's influence.

Her Source and she tended to wear that exact expression whenever they were about to torture a wicked Soul…or bring about the end of a World or two. Such acts were, of course, entirely acceptable for Chester. He often joined in.

However, that expression also happened to be the one her Source wore when she was about to hide some of Chester's toys or report his misdeeds to their parent—the Dark Lord.

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Naturally, she would never dare to hide food from that one. Many of her children—and even fragments of herself—could end up becoming food if she ever tried…and all with their Greatest Father's Benediction.

It was considered the highest of crimes to hide Chester's food…even when it was not technically his, and he merely happened to fancy it.

Sylia knew that their Greatest Father had been attempting, with little success, to explain this particular point to the Master of Blood Lords, who still refused to yield any portion of his Dragon Red Blood stock to the Chipmuck Fanatic.

The Master of Blood Lords had repeated his position countless times to both Chester and the Dark Lord…yet their Greatest Father remained just as deaf to his protests as Chester was to reason.

Still, there was a chance they might both prevail in the end. After all, they had debts yet to be collected from the Master of Blood Lords. And he knew it all too well.

***

Sylia rose in a single, fluid motion and floated toward the shore.

A crowd of Magic Fish had gathered there, splashing, gossiping, and performing underwater acrobatics.

She smiled.

"Everyone, may I have your attention?"

The Fish stilled at once and drew nearer, their luminous eyes fixed upon their Lady with reverent anticipation.

"Of course they would obey immediately," Sylia thought with quiet glee.

She was in truth their Higher Goddess. Even the currents bowed to her presence.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed with mild amusement that her children were approaching. Danielu was tiptoeing across the sand, dragging a nervous Jimmy behind him. The two boys had grown close of late, and she found it increasingly difficult to separate them.

She was well aware that Jimmy's circumstances were…complicated. She would have to speak to her son about it soon. The Knight currently inhabiting Jimmy's body had a destiny to fulfill, and Sylia had no intention of allowing him to escape it.

Before she could speak, she saw Chimbo teleport onto the sand nearby, just as Fitcherald emerged from the water with a net full of Magical Salmon and other varieties of Magic seafood.

A fortunate move, as her appetite had begun to shift again. She now craved something else—perhaps octopus. Whether served as sashimi, grilled, marinated, stewed, or tossed into a salad, it all sounded marvelous.

And yes, definitely with a glass of chilled white wine.

She was about to inform her divine servant when she spotted the wine crates already being carried ashore by Fitcherald's Fish Servants.

Clever boy…or Fish. Well, he was both. And he was about to evolve, although he remained vastly unaware of it.

He had stayed far too long a Minor God. It was time for advancement.

Her Source would most certainly approve.

Even Chimbo deserved an upgrade. And if Sylia did not grant it soon, their Greatest Father—the Dark Lord—undoubtedly would. She had already been warned.

Sylia gave a small nod to both her servants, silently thanking them for arriving so swiftly after her message.

She then turned her attention to the Magic Fish, who were doing a poor job of concealing their excitement. Many had noticed the arrival of Fitcherald, one of their Protection Gods, and were eagerly anticipated the possibility of receiving a Blessing—or perhaps some of the special Fish Food he frequently brought with him.

Sylia smiled.

"Everyone…I have a grand announcement to make. No more sashimi for today. Fitcherald has brought me enough to last for weeks. However…you may find yourselves with an even greater opportunity."

The Fish swam closer, their fins trembling with anticipation.

"Some of you," she continued, "will now have the chance to evolve into higher Magical Races…or even into Celestial Beings."

The sea erupted with radiance as fish burst into celebratory spirals of glowing light. Fins slapped against fins. Telepathic squeals resonated through the area. One of the Fish even fainted from sheer excitement.

Sylia observed it all with supreme satisfaction.

Of course she knew her Fish well.

And today, the sea would shimmer brighter than ever—awash in the promise of evolution.