Riding through the countryside, Alpha Crucis was the driver, and Delta Crucis was riding shotgun, looking up at sunset.

While driving, she spotted something awkward with Delta, “Did one of the kids give you that doll?”

Delta Crucis woke up from her daydream and checked what was in her pocket, “a little girl gave this to me. It was one of the critical that were taken away. Said to keep it safe for her.” She explained with a smile.

Then, there was a painful silence as they drove down the countryside.

“Selena,” Delta using Alpha Crucis’ real name, “Do you honestly think they are the enemy of the state? Or are we just too secular and contemporary in our own lives?”

“When I first became a Crucis Sentinel, I started making rules for myself, and it was what you just saw back there; I don’t let anyone’s religion or creed affect my judgment. No matter who or what we run into, we have to compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand, Glenda, because it’s dangerous when the lines are blurred.” Alpha Crucis explained, leaving Delta Crucis to dwell on it.

Going to their castle with the bodies was out of the question because they needed to identify them first and give them the proper burials they deserved.

But something was eating Alpha Crucis. She spotted a lot of things omitted and incorrect. Following her intuition, the Sentinels drove out one of their branches in the area.

She spoke with the Aethereal Queen directly, who made her way back from the Seventh Heavens. The two spoke not in her throne room but at a coffee shop in the area.

The young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman sat with them with confidence and elegance. She only stood under five feet tall and had to be at least in her late teens. Yet her grace carried the same maturity that commanded everyone’s attention. The little girl who happens to be the Aethereal Queen. Despite her small size and baby-faced looks, she is much older than you think.

The Aethereal Queen cannot force any female to take the call; the Aethereal Queen is not allowed to appoint a replacement since she has no vote, and the Aethereal Queen is prohibited from fighting battles in no way, shape, or form. The Aethereal Queen is more of a messenger of the Seven Heavens and takes care of the members of the Crux. However, the Aethereal Queen does have many perks during her tenure.

The Aethereal Queen has an extended lifespan and gets to keep her youthful looks. Also, the Aethereal Queen can shape her body into what she would like to be only once every ten years. The Crux is extraordinarily wealthy and has an indisputable income to which the Aethereal Queen can handsomely have access.

And when you have 100 years to live or even less than that, how can you dictate it into a story? As many others are lucky enough to live for 100 years, Lycka Benibara—the current Aethereal Queen --has lived more than that and is still strong in her prime. Both figuratively and literally. Starting at a young age as a nurse in the 1900s, she always wanted to help the sick and help others achieve greatness. To her, that was her calling.

In a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, she had seen many of her friends become overwhelmed by the vices and illnesses that were crippling the world. At age 18, the heavens anointed her as the new Aethereal Queen, to everyone's shock, without even being a part of the Crux. She can finally help others who can’t help themselves using her position.

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Even though she is a Queen in the eyes of the heavens, Lycka Benibara is not from royalty and is not afraid to show it with her bratty and childish attitude at times. Lycka always wanted to help the everyday people, even at the ire of her former colleagues and many monarchs who have real royal blood in their veins in their point of view. During her time as the Aethereal Queen, she had learned from many others how to govern and rule as a monarch while keeping herself grounded.

Alpha Crucis felt awkward talking about such manners in an unfit setting, but her Queen didn’t like to use the big throne room because she felt like a douchebag using it. So, Lycka made a compromise by using a closed booth at a coffee shop. To make things more awkward, a bunch of their members drank coffee and ate food in their uniforms. And to top it all off, Lycka wore a Gothic Lolita maid dress instead of royal garments.

Still, Alpha Crucis had to manage this awkward meeting, “we... we have ascertained the remains of the Shining Stars, your Majesty.”

Drinking her mochaccino, Lycka was a pit peeved of Alpha Crucis’ uptightness, “you can say the words ‘dead body,’ you know. Nobody is going to flip out. You found the dead bodies!” Lycka simplified. “Now, anything out of the ordinary?”

“The fire melted some of their uniforms. Plus, they weren’t bulletproof. They were fakes!” Alpha Crucis detected.

Lycka blinked a bit, “you spot a fake that quickly. Did you at least get their faces?”

“No, their faces were badly burned, so I asked our coroner to do a dental scan.

Lycka nodded, “How was the commute there? I heard it was brutal...”

“It was, to an extent. Many first responders around the area helped with water and medical aid.”

“That’s good because Lizzie and the boy toy won’t do it because they are still butthurt about Maria fucking them over,” Lycka gossiped. “I told the old bird not to trust them.”

“Does she care about her image?” Alpha Crucis asked.

“Yes, Ole Lizzie Lizard taking a picture with Maria has hurt the royal crown severely. That is why she is doing this.” Lycka informed. “So, how is she?” she changed the subject.

“Oh, the Shining Star Blossom? I like her a lot. A bit out there, but she’s great.” Alpha Crucis said.

“Yes, I know it can be morbid and unsettling with her hobbies--”

“All the time!” Alpha Crucis corrected.

Lycka rolled her eyes, “Okay, little miss professor! Sometimes the best people are strange!” Lycka said. “And Delta wasn’t there either, I assume.”

“No, she was with me. She insisted.” Alpha Crucis informed.

Lycka paused while sitting back in her chair. “How did she feel about being there, Selena?” she asked.

This line of questioning threw Alpha Crucis into a loop, “I’m sorry?”

“How did she feel about being there, Selena?” Lycka repeated with a smile.

It took Alpha Crucis to answer, “I... it was a tragic event. She felt empathy for these people.”

“Really, and not the innocent nephalems set on fire in south London by the Third Rev a week ago? She looked like she found humor in it,” Lycka challenged.

She couldn’t defend Delta Crucis’ disregards since she could have prevented that from happening.

Alpha Crucis grew nervous but handled herself, “I asked her so many times why she didn’t step in, your Majesty. Whatever lies inside the mind is anyone’s guess.”

“A forgivable lapse, as I call it...” Lycka said. “I just hope that’s the last one from her...”

While Lycka finished her coffee, Alpha Crucis couldn’t help but wonder.

After their meeting, Alpha Crucis received a text message on her phone. The sender was named ‘Blossom’ with an important message. More like a picture of a double strawberry with the message, “Strawberries! Fruit from the heart.”

Anyone who saw this might think the person who received this message liked strawberries. But on the bottom left-hand side, Alpha Crucis has seen a handwritten message, “M x G.”

“It looked like the picture was already edited with these messages,” Alpha Crucis said to herself.

Using her knowledge of symbolism and occultism, strawberries symbolize spring and rebirth, righteousness, and love. And knowing her history, Alpha Crucis hoped this was not an omen to the heavens.