The air was still, holding its breath for what was to come. Beneath the sprawling boughs of an ancient oak tree, Eliam sat with his back pressed against the rough bark, his eyes fixed on Seraphine. She moved like a dream, her bare feet brushing against the soft grass as she twirled in the golden glow of the setting sun. Her laughter echoed, light and free, a sound so pure it seemed to defy the weight of the world around them.
"Stay with me," she whispered, her voice breaking the stillness as she turned to face him. The smile on her lips was gentle, but her eyes carried a flicker of desperation she couldn't hide.
Eliam's heart ached. He wanted nothing more than to give her the world, to promise her forever. But forever was a fragile thing in a world ruled by the divine.
"You know I would give everything to stay," Eliam said, rising to his feet. He closed the distance between them, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. "But it's not that simple. The gods have plans, and we've already defied them by being together."
Seraphine flinched at his words. "The gods? The gods do not love us as we love each other. They don't understand what we have, Eliam." Her voice cracked. "I would fight them all for you."
Eliam pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he could shield her from the cruel world beyond. "And I would tear apart the heavens for you, Seraphine. But we must be careful. They're watching us now, waiting for a reason to strike."
The day the gods struck was one Eliam would never forget.
They came with the fury of the heavens, their messengers cloaked in divine light that burned the mortal eye. Eliam and Seraphine were torn apart before they could even scream.
Eliam found himself bound by chains of celestial gold, kneeling before the Council of the Divine. The gods sat in a circle, their faces shrouded in a blinding glow, their voices thundering in unison.
"You have defied us, mortal," they declared. "Your love for the girl is a blasphemy. Mortals were not meant to touch the eternal flame of passion. It threatens the order of all creation."
Eliam's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "My love for her is no blasphemy," he spat. "It's the purest thing in this cursed world of yours. If that threatens your order, then perhaps your order deserves to fall."
A ripple of anger passed through the council. "You dare defy us even now? You will suffer for your insolence."
When Eliam was cast down, he fell for what felt like an eternity. The heavens above grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely, leaving him surrounded by endless darkness. His body ached, his heart shattered, but it was the thought of Seraphine that tore him apart the most.
She was gone. Taken from him by forces he couldn't defeat—yet.
But even in the void, Eliam's resolve burned like a star.
"I will find her," he whispered into the abyss. His voice was low, a growl of determination. "Even if I have to break the chains of this universe, I will find her."
In the distance, a faint light flickered. It was small, weak, but it pulsed with a familiar warmth. Seraphine.
Eliam's heart surged with hope. He forced himself to his feet, his body trembling with the effort. The light was faint, almost unreachable, but he didn't care. He began to walk, then run, chasing the only thing that mattered.
The gods may have separated them, but they had underestimated one thing: Eliam's love was boundless, and he would tear apart the heavens and earth to be with Seraphine once more.
As he ran, the darkness around him began to change. Shadows twisted and morphed, taking the shape of trials that he would have to face. Each step forward felt like a battle, but he welcomed it.
Eliam's journey had begun. And no force in existence would stop him.