The Sun was shining brightly in New Athens. The city was packed with people who enjoyed the Mediterranean Ocean's mild autumn.
There were a few who would've even liked to go down to the beach for a quick swim in the Aegean Sea, but of course that was strictly forbidden.
As people walked up and down the Main Avenue their heads suddenly snapped to a specific person.
She wore nothing special, just civilian clothes. A leather jacket that was zipped up fully, dark pants that stuck close to her alluring legs, and a pair of combat boots. Her waist length golden hair was placed in a neat bun on the back of her head. Her golden eyes beautiful, but empty of light.
The woman walked down the street without much care for the people staring at her. She wore a constantly bored expression, which brought a mystical aura to her. People believed that she could control her emotions that well. They had no idea of the real reason for her hollowness...
She simply didn't have any...
Everyone only looked at her for a few seconds, then quickly turned their heads down. Between a few of them whispering conversations could be heard.
"When did our Lady get back?" Asked a curious girl from her friend.
"Haven't you heard? She has been back since the november 4th!"
"What? Three days ago? And how did the capturing of Sofira went?" Said another of their group.
The news of the capture hadn't spread that wide yet. The city leadership also haven't made any actual statement about the state of the last operation. It wouldn't last long though, within the next couple of days probably all 12 million of the New Athens's citizens will know about it.
"Well, my friend in the military told me that the fight was fairly easy. The Federal Alliance only had to send another two cohorts to help our Lady." The boy leaned in and said in an even smaller whisper. "It is said She had killed about a dozen ascended alone."
The girl who asked the first question said in a proud and haughty voice, "Why do you sound so surprised? Do you think Lady Seraphine couldn't accomplish such feat? I could bet She had killed a lot more!"
It would seem like a crazy idea, but non of her friends laughed. Instead they looked towards the leader of the city, who was already becoming a living legend in most places around the continent.
Some talked about her current achievements, but others had more interest discussing the legend's past campaigns.
"I still can't believe that our Lady is this amazing." Said an older man to presumably his wife.
The couple laughed joyfully, but the young man still didn't fully understand what happened. They quickly noticed and spelled it out for him.
"Lady Seraphine has the power of a Phoenix. When She dies, She resurrects in a giant explosion! In the tyrant's bed She killed herself and destroyed the whole, previously emptied out mansion with ease. Since the tyrant was right next to her, he disintegrated from Her holy flames!"
They looked towards a specific direction where a large smokescreen was making its way towards the sky. The young man looked there as well, then he seemed to understand a few things.
"So that's why there is a large bonfire burning there all day long! It is memorial!" The couple nodded with somber, but also thankful expressions.
"Yes... The fire burning there was made by Lady Seraphine herself and the Angelic Order keeps it alive. It is said that if the fire ever goes out, a great calamity is approaches the city..."
The young man had the same expression as the couple and he began walking towards the Everlasting Bonfire.
Many similar conversations went on. They talked about every accomplishment and exploit Sera had made. Some after seeing her went to the Angelic Order's Cathedral, they weren't praying to her like some sort of goddess. It was just a comforting place where they payed their respect to Lady Seraphine.
No one knows where the Angelic Order had come from. After Sera had took over the city's leadership, they just kind of appeared. Their order was made up of the Angelic Sisters and the Phoenix Brothers, representing both sides of their Lady's power.
It might seem strange making a religion to a person who was most definitely not a god. But throughout the years every god humanity had made failed to defend their fold, so it was time to pray to someone who was real!
The religion was lead by a couple called the High Angel and High Phoenix. At first people thought that the religious heads should be married to signify union, but Lady Seraphine herself quickly shut that down. She went straight into the temple and told everyone to only get married for love, not for other people.
This phrase, such as many of her other sayings could be found in their bible. With just that small saying, at least a quarter of the marriages in New Athens divorced. The reason? If they didn't love each other they shouldn't be together.
Other changes happened because of said religion, like increased education, better healthcare, less public disorder, and many others. The whole city was part of the religion at this point, except maybe the leader herself.
She just walked down the street without much care for anything. Her empty expression not even hinting the existence of any emotion within her soul.
Strangely enough She actually makes facial expression at interviews and public speeches, but it all feels weird for everyone. Something is always off about it, a smile that is a bit too wide, an eyebrow raise at a fraction of a second too late. Its like she just pretends to have emotions to make people more comfortable around her.
Sera walked through the city until she finally reached her destination. In front of her was a large, about twenty meter tall wall. She was standing right in front of its gate, which had a large sign written above it – 'Military Encampment'...
Her home...