New Beneville

I find immense delight in the exhilarating experience of flight alongside my companions. Together, we glide gracefully above the billowing clouds, painting the sky with shimmering stardust. Amidst our journey, the atmosphere resonates with contagious laughter, blending harmoniously with the jubilant chatter of our voices. Though I must admit, my skill in flying is not the most refined; often, my wing falters, veering me off course and sending me spiraling downwards. In those moments, a sense of trepidation washes over me, fearing I might plummet towards the earthly realm below. Yet, each time, my wings navigate me back to the heavens, propelling me upwards with an unwavering resilience.

As the sun descends, its radiance yields to the emergence of the luminous, speckled moon. In a field awash with white, my brothers gather, their landings punctuated by rhythmic thumps. We spread our wings together, drawing close in a huddle where flesh and feathers intertwine in a gentle heap. With a serene sigh, I shut my eyes, attuned to the soft breaths of my kin and the caress of the passing wind enveloping us.

I stir from slumber to the gentle thrum of a distant hum, its vibrations coursing through me, stirring me from within. Unsettling and insistent, it compels my eyes to flutter open. Slowly disentangling myself from the huddled group, I rise and take tentative steps across the field. As I move, the persistent hum begins to wane, transforming into a melodic symphony of strings and flutes, its soothing strains guiding my path. The music swells in intensity with each stride, leading me deeper into the mist-laden expanse. Gradually, the air thickens, enveloping me in a dense cloak of fog as I press on.

The soft, cushioned tread of my steps upon the clouds transforms into a gentle, moist rustle akin to silk brushing against grass. As the fog dissipates, delicate droplets of dew kiss my skin, leaving a refreshing sensation in their wake. Before me unfolds an expansive garden, stretching endlessly into the horizon. Towering trees laden with fruits of myriad hues and sizes loom overhead, their branches gracefully bowing towards me as if in silent invitation. The sight stirs a hunger within me, my stomach voicing its protest as I linger, captivated by the bountiful display before me.

Abruptly, I stumble upon the origin of the alluring sound. Slowly, palm leaves part to unveil a radiant, golden fruit, its luminosity fading to reveal patches of vibrant hues adorning its skin. A voracious hunger consumes me, irresistible in its intensity. Yielding to its call, I seize the fruit, tearing into its flesh with my teeth. Juices cascade down my face, leaving glistening trails tracing down my neck. Initially sweet, the taste swiftly transitions to sour, yet the experience is far from monotonous. It unfolds into a banquet of distinct and boundless flavors, melting upon my tongue in a tantalizing array.

As I withdraw from the fruit, my hunger sated, I realize I’ve barely nibbled at it, yet a sense of indulgence washes over me. I decide to carry the fruit along, but as I venture out of the garden, I notice it gradually deteriorating, becoming mushy and tainted with decay. With a furrowed brow, I gaze down at the once-lustrous fruit, now rendered brown and sickly in my grasp. Instinctively, I recoil, taking a step back in dismay, observing as the fruit miraculously renews itself, returning to its fresh state upon reentry into the garden’s embrace.

Clutching the fruit tightly between my palms, I glared at the garden’s exit, a sense of unease gnawing at my insides.

Suddenly, a figure materializes out of the ether, radiating a phenomenal glow. The persistent drone that tormented me resonates again. Trembling, I shrink back as the entity emits a piercing shriek, its intensity causing me to cover my ears.

The being beckons me with an outstretched hand crackling with luminance. “Come,” it booms in a voice that reverberates through the air. “Follow me back into the garden. There, we shall partake in the fruit of the vine and revel in its sweet, succulent flesh together.”

I tentatively grasp its hand, succumbing to its beckoning call and obediently trailing behind.

“Who... are you?” I muster the courage to inquire.

The being hovers before me, radiant and buzzing with a curious resonance.

“I am the Great Star,” it intones solemnly. “Bearer of light, harbinger of truth, and architect of the future.”

With a gesture, the Great Star presents another offering of fruit. “Partake once more, and all that you seek shall be unveiled to you, Saint Benedictus.”

“Saint?” I recoil, a tremor of disbelief coursing through me. “You must be mistaken. I am but a humble angel.”

The Great Star’s arm extends, morphing into a branch adorned with delicate, fragrant blossoms that unfurl instantly, revealing a small, crimson berry with a black seed nestled within. A surge of recognition washes over me as I behold the fruit, a variety I once nurtured eons ago, cultivating it for one of the grand celestial feasts of an archangel.

With a deft pluck, the Great Star retrieves one of the berries and presents it to me. “Do not underestimate your capabilities, dear saint,” it declares solemnly. “For you have tended to this garden, even if only within the realm of dreams.” Its gaze lingers on the berry, contemplative. “Just as this modest fruit bears life, so too have you fostered growth without conscious effort.”

As the Great Star offers the berry to my lips, I hesitate, anticipating a jolt of energy or some spiritual force. Yet, to my surprise, its touch is gentle and tender as it caresses my lips. With a gentle tug, it feeds the fruit to me.

Each bite of the berry floods me with knowledge, an overwhelming deluge of the world’s history, from the first stone cast to the parting of waves. Yet, with each revelation, the weight upon my shoulders grows, the burden of newfound wisdom pressing down upon me like a pile of heavy stones.

Our embrace ignites the very essence of the heavens, passion surging like wildfire. Yet, as the fervor wanes, a tumultuous clash between love and anger ensues within me, an unfamiliar emotion piercing my core.

Gazing upon the Great Star, reverence is replaced by a seething jealousy and resentment. The desire to inflict pain, to claim Him as my own, consumes me. With gritted teeth, I clench my fists, unleashing a torrent of blows upon the celestial figure before me. Each strike reverberates with agony, fueled by a primal urge to retaliate for the perceived wrongs inflicted upon me.

A different kind of hunger is sated in the frenzy of violence, though the haze of fury clouds my vision. With each heavy thud of my heart, a sinking realization takes hold. Raising my bloodied fists, I behold not the fading form of a celestial being but the lifeless remnants of my brethren.

No mercy graces the gaze of God. Enraged, His divine wrath descends upon me like a swarm of vengeful bees, tearing at my wings, shattering my halo into stars, and stripping me bare of my garments. Insults and curses rain down upon me, a relentless barrage that strips away my divine essence, leaving me abandoned to the abyss.

As the last vestiges of divinity drain from my battered form, I plummet through the dense clouds, suffocated by their weighty embrace. Gravity pulls me inexorably towards the Earth, the weight of my sins and mortality dragging me down. Desperately, my wings beat against the air in a futile bid for salvation. Though I plead for mercy, I know I am unworthy deep down. And as the Earth looms closer, I resign myself to the fate that awaits below, a reckoning earned through deeds stained with darkness.