Chapter 47: The Banquet of Immortals

Today, she didn't conquer kingdoms; she conquered the esteem of the gods, and tonight, even the stars bow for her.

The morning rises gently over the blue tower, bathing the corridors in golden light the air is calm, almost singing wisps of mist float in the suspended staircase, while the guardian dolls awaken one by one in the main hall, a scent of celestial lavender floats. Saphira, still wrapped in a sleep cloak, rubs her eyes and sits on a midnight blue cushion it is then that a golden glow crosses the room; a letter, floating like a leaf carried by the cosmic wind, slowly descends, surrounded by a ribbon woven of cloud and gold. It lands on the table in front of Saphira, who, intrigued, reaches out. Unrolling the parchment, she reads aloud.

—"To the sovereign of the lightning tower, to the queen of fragments, to the little sister of Infinity, we invite you to a banquet at the pade palace, in honor of your actions in the invisible realms."

The signatures shine like aligned constellations:The Jade emperor, Hera, Zeus, The Queen Mother of the West.

Saphira freezes, her eyes wide her breath shortens. —"They… invite me? me?"

The blue tower vibrates softly beneath her, as if to whisper, "You are loved."

The blue door opens in the sky of Universe 6. A floating jade staircase unfolds, each step singing at her touch. Saphira, dressed in a flowing gown of celestial silk with lightning reflections, descends slowly, head held high, cheeks slightly flushed with nervousness by her side walks Élya, who has taken human form for the occasion, elegant, sober, armed with a vigilant gentleness celestial servants, with diaphanous wings and hands full of light, bow respectfully as they pass.

At the foot of the stairs, the Jade Emperor waits he is tall, dressed in deep green and embroidered clouds his voice is calm, like an ancient river. Jade Emperor: "You do not need to bow, primordial child it is we who must rise to welcome you."

The reception hall is an open sky, floating among the stars around an immense table of translucent stone, gods, queens, immortals, but all fall silent at Saphira's arrival, as if her silence had the power to stop the cosmos she takes her place between Hera, with her royal presence, and Zeus, who smiles at her, mischievous.

Zeus, pouring her celestial nectar: "Few can sleep less than I and smile more." Hera, running a hand through her hair: "Little blue goddess, you remind us why we loved this world."

Across from her, the Queen Mother of the West, dressed in a gown with cosmic peony reflections, offers her a cup. Queen Mother: "You gave homes to nightmares we never dared you did it." Saphira, moved, murmurs: "I just wanted for no one to feel alone."

The meal is punctuated by unknown flavors and tender silences solar fruits are served, cloud pastries, constellation tea they don't speak of wars; they speak of memories. Zeus evokes his legendary battles, voluntarily forgetting to say how he truly won them. Hera recounts, smiling, how she burned a celestial kitchen trying a recipe for spiced ambrosia. The Queen Mother hands Saphira a small, ornate box containing an enchanted jade pin. Queen Mother: "It can invoke a rain of protective dreams use it when the world sleeps poorly." Saphira, touched, pins it in her hair without a word.

End of the meal the celestial sun slowly descends in the west of the dimensions the gods rise, one by one, but none leave the hall without passing by Saphira.

The Jade Emperor, placing a hand on her shoulder: "You are a light that darkness will never erase." The Queen Mother, kissing her on the forehead: "When you sleep, our world breathes better." Hera, taking her hands: "Remain a child, but remain a queen."

The blue door opens again in the sky of the interior the world of Azure or blue lightning. Saphira returns, barefoot on the celestial carpet she removes her gown, places the pin on a cushion, and gently leaps onto her throne of soft cushions before the open window, she watches the stars blink like a thousand benevolent eyes. Saphira, in a low voice. —"I may be small, but today, I believe I am great in their hearts." Élya, sitting beside her: "And in ours, forever."

End of Chapter 47 – The Banquet of Immortals