(Part III – The Celestial Gowns)The Gathering of RealmsThe year of the twin weddings arrived with omens of calm skies and twin moons. Every realm, the seas of Civax, the fires of Shill, even the high mirrors of Kovu, sent emissaries to Cellok. The Tree Goddess herself had blessed the unions: Bright Wrought to the lord of Kiria’s house, Bright Wrath to the demigod Shiwa of Shine.Word of Kiria’s old vision still lingered like a half-remembered song, and some gods watched the preparations with uneasy fascination. Could these brides be the beginning of what he saw?Evilside only smiled. “Let the lilies bloom,” she said. “What is planted in light cannot hide forever.”Arrival of the GownsOn the eve of the ceremony, a soft wind swept through the valley. From its heart emerged Moon, the first priestess, mother of Blood, great-grandmother of the brides. She came bearing two chests of lightwood wrapped in silver thread.“These were sewn not by hands alone,” she said, opening the lids, “but

The Morning AfterDawn broke over Cellok in a hush of pale gold. The lilies still glowed faintly from the night’s blessings, their petals heavy with dew and memory. The valley smelled of incense and new beginnings.The feast fires had gone out, leaving the air warm with peace. The guests, gods, mortals, and shadows alike, had begun to depart. Only the newlyweds and their kin remained beneath the vast tree that crowned the valley.Bright Wrought sat quietly beside her cousin, their gowns spread like pools of light and flame across the grass. For the first time in years, there was no ceremony, no demand, only the stillness after purpose fulfilled.Bright Wrath’s ChoiceWhen the silence stretched, Bright Wrath spoke first. “I will not leave,” she said simply. “Shiwa returns to Shine tomorrow, but my heart tells me to stay. The lilies have called my name too long for me to turn away.”Hate looked at her daughter in surprise. “Stay? Why?”“To learn what I am,” Wrath said. “To train as thos