That idiot, on the other hand, believed Azazel’s innocent attempt. It was a stupid move, but curiosity did indeed kill the cat. Nobody knows how they did it, how they persuaded one of Mariat’s troops to allow them to enter her soul path. They started from the beginning of her life.

“Look how beautiful their world is,” Azazel said, pointing to where they were. A large house in the middle of a garden yard. An enchanting palace that defied beauty’s laws. It beckoned with its warm colors and whimsical nature.

Kiya’s soul path revealed itself to them in flashes of memory throughout her life. Azazel and Osir were present in her first memory. When they chose the first core memory, a tall dark door appeared in their realm, transporting them to her world, right into her life.

They were transported to the vivid and mystical human world, walking freely, after entering that door. Young children ran around the palace, laughing and aiming for the back. A courtyard filled with massive trees bloomed with a variety of colorful flowers and roses. The divines followed the tiny humans to the courtyard filled with humans dressed in distinctive styles and colorful fabrics.

Each was holding a drink and talking with the other. They came to a halt and gaped when a man greeted them from the palace’s back door followed by a beautiful woman carrying a baby. “Such a beautiful girl,” one of the women said, stroking the baby’s golden hair. “What will you call her?”

“This is our beautiful golden princess, Kiya,” the mother said as she touched over her child’s hair. As Osir approached the mother and gazed over Kiya, an intense and profound feeling invaded his slow-beating heart.

She was snuggled between her mother’s arms, wrapped in a soft blanket with a shining golden pectoral pinned to it.

As her mother stroked her hair, the baby smiled, her eyes fixed on her mother’s warm smile. His clear eyes locked on her ocean-blue ones. When the baby noticed him, she smiled wider and reached out her tiny hand to him. Osir was astonished; he knew they were invisible to humans, but her reaction shocked him.

Can’t believe he actually felt something towards her. Weird, their existence is far from human, they can’t process human emotions, and any contact with humanity wrecks their system.

Osir believed humans couldn’t see him, but her mother was aware of his presence. When her baby smiled at something beside her, she noticed the pectoral shining, but she didn’t react because the pectoral protected her child from evil spirits.

Kiya’s eyes captured Osir’s attention. He led them back to the soul path, where they could choose another door. That one transported them to Kiya’s childhood when she was eight years old. The door opened into a small room with a single bed and a few chairs. On the left was a large oval bay window, a golden table with seven blue lotuses on it, and a small golden chair. Several flowers and plants hung from the window, blending in with the room.

“Kiya, where are you?” her mother asked as she entered the room. She sat on the bed, after grabbing a wooden comb from the golden vanity to the right. “Kiya,” the mother called out once more. The eight-year-old girl dashed into the room with a bouquet of white and pink flowers in her arms. Kiya sat on the floor between her mother’s open legs.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Could I wear flowers in my hair?” Kiya said with a wide grin. “I wanted to look nice today.” Her mother agreed and started combing her long hair.

Kiya wore her hair in a long braid with a white ribbon. Kiya’s mother took the flowers from her grasp and began humming a melody as she carefully placed the small flowers between the braid. Kiya was happily humming with her mother.

Her smile seeped deeper into his soul. He couldn’t stop himself from walking to the next door. This one led them to a slightly hotter location where the wind carried a strong lotus scent. People were walking around Osir and Azazel in a large hypostyle hall, talking loudly.

Everyone appeared to be happy and beautiful. Osir’s gaze was drawn to her as she walked with her father, admiring the engraved writing on the wall. “Such a beautiful kingdom,” Kiya said as she touched the engraved inscription on the right wall. “I’m glad to be here, and I can’t wait to learn more.”

“You will meet the rest of the council today; the coronation ceremony is such a magnificent event that all kingdoms must attend. School here is such a delightful experience,” his father said, “make as many memories as you can.” She smiled and moved her gaze to the left, where Osir stood in the shadows. With her smile still on her face, she locked her gaze on him and smiled even more.

An older priest approached them at the end of the hall. “Shuttarna! My dear friend!” exclaimed the elder priest, opening his arm to embrace her father. “Last time I saw you, your parents threw you a welcome party.”

Kiya smiled at him and said, “Glad to see you, Master Hori, I’m looking forward to learning more from you.”

“I know your father didn’t teach you well, kid, he was always a player and never mastered a spell.” Shuttarna laughed and lightly hit him on the stomach.

They came and went in and out of her life. The more they see, the more affected Osir becomes. At first, it was just a glimpse into her life, but Osir was hooked.

Before opening another door, Azazel grabbed Osir’s hand and said, “We need to stop, Mariat will notice that we used the soul path, we don’t want to disturb its nature.” Osir felt a wave of guilt wash over him, and he simply nodded as they returned to their realm.

As the other divine waited for them to return, he looked at Osir and asked if they really needed to return. “We got the information we needed, our only goal is to keep the balance, and your assistance was critical. I will recommend that Mariat promote you to a higher position.” The divine thanked him cheerfully.

Osir and Azazel exited Mariat’s hall and returned to their realm’s main palace. Osir's huge smile had vanished. He was reminiscing about all the memories they had seen.

Osir discovered humanity to be beautiful and captivating with each passing moment spent observing Kiya’s life. As he stood there watching, his admiration turned to affection, and Osir found himself falling in love.

It frightened him. Another emotion alien to his solemn heart.

“You know, I’m very interested to find out more,” Azazel stated. “I want to live their lives, walk in their shoes, and understand how they feel.” Osir understood what he meant. “We are Divines, stronger creatures, but we have an oath to protect, help, and sometimes guide Humans. It makes perfect sense for us to live with them to understand what they truly face in their lives. To comprehend their happiness, pain, and love.” Azazel said the final word while staring at him intently. “Don’t you agree?”

“But... we can’t, it’s against our Oath,” Osir thought for a moment.

“No, our oath didn’t forbid us from being in their world. Think out it.” He approached him and whispered. “Don’t you want to know more about her, and not just about humans?” Osir’s eyes darted around them, and he nodded nervously. “I think I have an idea.”

What a malicious Divine.