‘….Oh, my dear Ursula, Ursula, Ursula, Oh, my dear Ursula, Everything's gone!

Papa is gone, Mama is gone, Brother and Sister are gone, Everything's gone, Ursula!

Oh, my dear Ursula. Everything's dead!’

Queen Averill and her bodyguard Sara Lightborne had come to what she had called the Orphanage of Brightness and Wellbeing. She was crouched down in front of a young woman barely older than eighteen who was sitting on a luxurious carpeted floor surrounded by various wooden children’s toys and books.

Despite the fact that both of them are entered the room and were clearly visible the woman sat on a patch of carpet and continued to rock back and forth staring into space as she continued to sing the children’s song. Queen Ferberg knew it from her youth when the plague of corruption had hit the countryside and the capital city before the power of the Goddess Aliza rose to its full peak.

More than her own noble parents had died in the final revenge of the Dark Lord as corruption magic had been unleashed and soldiers, baggage handlers and other support was killed. They had been difficult times for all of them but thankfully over the last fifteen years she had been able to largely recover her kingdom from its previously desperate and dying state.

Bless the Goddess Aliza. Bless me as well as long as I’m not a heretic. The Head of the Church as a heretic. A shame the Goddess doesn’t talk much. Or a blessing.

She was dressed in a dirty robe which hadn’t been cleaned for a few days and there was a smell from her which told the Queen that she needed bathing as soon as possible. Signs of damage to the robe were evident as bare patches of her skin was visible, light magic crackled and her feet were entirely bare. She wore no socks, no slippers on her feet as she continued her rocking motion back and forwards.

Queen Averill gave a look at her bodyguard Sara but the woman, as usual was expressionless except for a single tear which ran down her face. Doubtless she was experiencing her own heartbreak or her own terrible memories deep within her were flooding her mind.

The Queen considered whether it had been a mistake to bring her along but she knew that her bodyguard would not leave her side no matter what orders she gave. In a way she was more like a younger sister or a daughter who both protected and needed comfort from an older sister figure.

The appearance of the young woman caused the Queen’s lips to purse tightly. She was the sole ruler of both the Kingdom and the Church of Light and Purity and she fully expected her orders carried out. The present state of the young woman was a cause for concern as she examined her physical form.

Not from an overuse of power. Accidental but I gave clear instructions to take care of her immediate needs as necessary. Questions are necessary. She isn’t thin though but a little wan in her cheeks. A distraction could snap her out of it.

An ornate box had been placed next to her with script unfamiliar to those living in her Kingdom of Nurburg but would have been immediately recognised by Ren and Maxton Ge. They had given it to her as a small diplomatic gift after all in her role as Queen and Head of the Church.

I have little use for gifts but I know who would appreciate it more. My beautiful Fallen Angels, my lost sons and daughters betrayed by a religion which was meant to protect them from the evils of corruption.

Stained glass windows high up on the walls allowed the sunshine and air to flow into the large room. There was sufficient space for dozens of people and the room had been especially chosen by Queen Ferberg for its position within her palace. Close enough for her to frequently visit and high enough to be protected from external threats.

No cultist or corrupted would be able to climb the outside walls and even if they did breach the room they would be destroyed by a Fallen Angel.

Once we had more than this. Far more. The process which created them is failing them. I’m not going to make more, not even improved ones. The children of the kingdom have suffered enough. Do you hear me Goddess? Do you even understand me? They were made in your image. No more.

The room was beautifully decorated with paintings of images of the Goddess Aliza, various animals, the clouds, sun and stars. Small trees resplendent with fruit inside green pots were scattered around the room.

There were guards stationed on the door but they kept their distance and held their position. Both of them were armed with nets and thick gloves and small wooden cudgels.

‘Ursula. Do you know me? Do you remember Sara? We’ve come to visit, you don’t have to work today. I promise you, today is a special holiday. Look, we’ve even brought you a present, a special toy from a far away land. I think you’ll enjoy it!’ said Queen Averill.

The young woman had pure white hair and skin that remained youthful except for her hands, they were worn and the skin was stretched.

‘…...Oh, my dear Ursula. Everything’s gone! Gone….all gone. Papa is….mama is…

Gone. Gone Wrong. All gone wrong. Where is he….where is he..’ said the young woman.

The Queen was angry. She been had occupied with her duties she knew but she should have been informed immediately once one of the orphaned children who had been experimented on in private by the Church of Light and Purity and those who survived the process and become known as Fallen Angels had reached this state.

Punishment and truth are necessary. Even if she could create a human bonfire she deserves support. Poor thing.

The smell of freshly baked goods, fruit and spiced buttermilk wafted from the room. On the side of the room there was a large table covered in various food and drinks which were freshly prepared three times a day and delivered hot and fresh from the kitchens of the palace.

Queen Averill turned her gaze to her bodyguard, who was stood silently with an expressionless face directly next to her in her silver armour with one hand on the hilt of her sword.

‘Sara. Go and bring one of the guards by the door next to me, do it with haste and no need to be gentle. I’m not in a mood. Please.’ said the Queen as she crouched down and gently stroked one pale cheek of the young woman’s face.

‘Ursula. Who are you looking for? Would you like your gift? A present for you alone to share with your friends if you like. Remember, today is a holiday. A special holiday. Do you want to see what I bought you?’ Asked the Queen softly.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The young woman shook her head as her face showed signs of pain but she stopped rocking for a moment and clarity filled her eyes once more as she sat back and crossed her legs.

‘A toy? A special toy?’ she said.

The Queen pulled out a box which had been next to her and opened it to reveal a shining bright bird made entirely of different types of metal. She took it out of the box and set it on the floor before she pressed on its wing and the bird hopped once and began to sing.

The bright chirps of the bird echoed around the large room drawing the attention of the two guards who stood to attention as they realised that the Queen’s personal bodyguard, Lady Lightborne was approaching both of them.

‘A special toy, I have been told that it’s alive in it’s own way. If it breaks it dies but you won’t hurt it will you? If you drop something hard on it then the poor bird can no longer sing or jump or be happy anymore. Promise me you’ll take good care of it, after all this bird belongs to you now.’ said Queen Averill.

A sound rang out from the back of the room by the main door which was guarded by the two soldiers as it was quickly silenced. Then an armoured body clattered to the floor along with a pair of swords as a muffled shout rang out.

Good. The guards have been too lax in their protection of my Fallen Angels. A little shock will do them some good.

The young woman gazed up at the Queen as she knelt on both her knees before picking up the metal bird gingerly in both hands and admiring it. The skin of both her hands flickered and sparks shifted onto the bird but it continued to sing in birdsong before it stopped and settled down in the palms of the young woman.

For a second the haze from her eyes cleared as she looked at the Queen, recognition clear in her eyes and her age and maturity caught up to her. Her tone of voice changed as she became less confused and more focused.

‘Your Majesty. I am thankful for your gift. I’m sorry, some days are harder than others. I think...I think I haven’t eaten any food today. My stomach is painful. The bird is so beautiful, High Priest Kant would love it. May I show it to him?’ said Ursula.

Behind her a scrape of metal on stone before it hit the red carpet that was spread over most of the cold stone floors of the room indicated to the Queen that her bodyguard had done her duty. She raised a hand in the air, halting her before crooking a finger at a side of the room, underneath one of the stained glass windows. Lady Lightborne recognised the gesture and picked up the guard in one hand, lifting him high above the ground before she marched over to the side and roughly dumped him off the floor before placing one armoured boot on the leg of the man. Then she shook her head and put a single gloved finger to her lips before she pointed at the young woman.

The guard was shaking, his body nervous and uncertain before he nodded repeatedly and pushed himself backwards until his back was against the wall and wrapped his arms around himself.

Out of the corner of her eye Queen Averill saw the trembling guard. Sara had that effect on people she knew, those that hadn’t been in close proximity with her for a long time. She was one of the only true successes that had come out of the insane projects which had killed hundreds of young children.

Her body was in essence filled with and stored the power of the Goddess but was unable to release it, it made her faster, stronger and she was able to heal from most physical wounds. Emotionally she was lacking but she was always aware of where she was and what she was.

Forcing the rising anger in her stomach at the priests and priestesses who thought that trying to turn parent-less children into angels of a Goddess she made a genuine smile appear on her face.

What kind of goddess allows children to be warped into such a fashion? None of them considered the consequences of when they grew up. Poor girl.

‘Ursula. High Priest Kant is dead. I killed him personally. He was one of those who authorised the experiments on you and all the others from the orphanages in the city without my permission. Do you remember being rescued? I was younger then and naive and I will not forgive myself for not paying closer attention but he’s dead. Thankfully, him and the others. I’m sorry sweetheart. Why don’t you show it to Haraldr when he returns? He’s working at the moment but he’ll be back and delighted to see it. Just keep it close to you, I have another present for him. A special one he’ll enjoy but it’s a surprise. I think that you should try to eat and drink something. Can you please excuse me for a moment? I need to talk to one of the guards who keeps you safe, then we can arrange for some servants to help you eat, drink and give you a thorough hot bath. Oh, and your little bird can learn tricks. You can even try and feed him crumbs if you like.’ said Queen Averill.

Ursula had ceased to pay attention to her words or even her presence as she swiftly rose up to the tips of her toes with surprisingly strength and agility as light magic boosted up upright. Her hands remained clutching the bird as she half-skipped, half-floating across to the table full of fresh food and drink.

Queen Averill was pleased to see the young woman take sips of a mug of buttermilk and take a bite of freshly baked bread before she dropped crumbs into the small bouncing metal bird held in her hands.

Both the esteemed diplomatic visitors from the Celestial Kingdom had promised her that the metal construct would operate similar to a real bird and adapt to an individuals needs and desire to the limit of its capacity. Queen Averill considered that despite all of the authority at her fingertips and the sheer amount of energy she could channel from the Goddess Aliza she still failed to ensure the happiness of a young, broken woman whom she needed to continue working until she burnt out.

Pushing her own armoured glove to the floor, she refused to access her own near-unlimited reserves of Light and Purity magic, letting her body do the work as her knees creaked a little.

Be happy Ursula. Even for another day. We’ll need you soon. I’m sorry for that but we need your power.

Her bodyguard had remained by the side of the room watching over the remaining guard. Queen Averill noticed that the other was splayed on the floor, her own enhanced senses told her in less time than she blinked that he was alive and unhurt but had knocked unconscious with a pulse of energy.

He would recover in a few hours. Those on his shift would immediately recognise his absence and dispatch additional solders to guard the room of Fallen Angels. If not then they would have another visit from their Queen and her bodyguard to ensure obedience.

When the young woman was occupied Queen Averill looked at the guard sitting on the floor with his back to the wall and decided that a display of raw power was in order. She didn’t need to physically threaten him though, she knew that most men excluding her husband would resort to physical violence to prove a point.

All I need is a little presence and a little flare. Sara did a decent job of not hurting him but neither did she show weakness. I could crush his bones into dust, turn his limbs to ash but what for?

Judging the distance between them, the Queen vanished in a burst of light and reappeared immediately in front of the guard as Lady Lightborne pushed down harder with her armoured boot on his leg to stop his sudden movement.

‘Hello soldier. I need an explanation of why one of my Fallen Angels has become so neglected today. She hasn’t eaten or drunk anything, nobody has given a bath and her robe is visibly damaged. I don’t care if you think it’s the job of the servants. Your role is to protect and inform. There are two of you stationed here for good reason. I’m going to ask nicely this time. Will you obey your Queen and the Chosen of the Goddess Aliza?’ said the Queen as the man trembled before her.

She would have answers regarding the care of her precious Fallen Angels.