Life and Death!

Maya's eyes locked onto Lucifer's, her gaze burning with determination. "I want to go home," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.

Lucifer's expression remained unreadable, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "That's not possible, Maya," he said, his voice low and husky. "You have to stay here, at the Last Oracle. We have a lot of training to do."

Maya's face twisted in frustration. "I don't want to stay here with you," she spat, her anger boiling over.

Lucifer's eyes flashed with amusement, and he leaned forward, his voice taking on a teasing tone. "Oh, Maya, you're so contradictory. Just moments ago, you were clinging to me, desperate for my touch. And now, you can't stand the thought of being near me?"

Maya's face flushed with embarrassment, and she looked away, her eyes stinging with tears. "That was different," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Lucifer's laughter was low and husky, sending shivers down Maya's spine. "I think you're just afraid of your own feelings, Maya," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But don't worry, I'll give you all the space you need. You can have another room, if that's what you want."

Maya's eyes snapped back to Lucifer's, her gaze burning with anger. "I want to go home," she repeated, her voice firm.

Lucifer's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a warning. "I said no, Maya. And that's final."

Maya's face twisted in frustration, and she stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. "Fine," she spat, turning on her heel and storming out of the room.

She found herself in a beautiful garden, the sun shining down on her, casting a warm glow over the lush greenery. Maya took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs, and began to walk along the winding path.

As she turned a corner, she came across Dominic, sitting on a bench, cradling a small pigeon in his hands. Maya's eyes widened in surprise as she approached him.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Dominic looked up, his eyes locking onto Maya's, and smiled. "I'm trying to heal this little guy," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "He was injured when I found him."

Maya's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the pigeon. "Is it...dead?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic nodded, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Yes, it was lifeless when I found it."

Maya felt a pang of sorrow, and she reached out, touching the pigeon's soft feathers. As she did, Dominic's eyes locked onto hers, and he smiled.

"Watch," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

Maya's eyes widened in amazement as Dominic's hands began to glow with a soft, white light. The light enveloped the pigeon, and Maya felt a strange energy emanating from Dominic's hands.

Suddenly, the pigeon's eyes flickered open, and it let out a soft coo. Maya's eyes widened in shock as the pigeon began to stir, its wings fluttering weakly.

Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with joy. "It's alive," he whispered, his voice filled with wonder.

Maya felt a lump form in her throat as she watched the pigeon struggle to its feet, its eyes blinking slowly. Dominic gently stroked its feathers, his touch soothing and gentle.

"How did you do that?" Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic looked up, his eyes locking onto Maya's. "I'm the God of Life," he said, his voice filled with a deep sadness. "I can give life, but I can also take it away."

Maya felt a shiver run down her spine as she looked at Dominic, her eyes filled with a deep respect. "You're amazing," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with joy. "It's not amazing, Maya," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "It's just what I am."

Maya nodded, her eyes never leaving Dominic's face. "Can you...can you give life to everyone?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Dominic's expression turned somber, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "No, Maya," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wish I could, but it's not possible. The mortal realm requires balance. If there's only life and no death, there will be chaos."

Maya felt a pang of disappointment, but she nodded, understanding. "I see," she said, her voice soft. "So, it's like...a delicate balance."

Dominic nodded, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Exactly. And it's not just about life and death. There are so many other factors at play. If I were to bring back every person who ever died, the world would be overwhelmed. Resources would be scarce, and the environment would suffer."

Maya's eyes widened as she thought about the implications. "I never thought about it that way," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with joy. "That's because you're a compassionate person, Maya. You care about others, and you want to help them. But sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to let go."

Maya felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at Dominic. She realized that he was not just talking about the balance of life and death, but also about his own personal struggles.

"Why did you and Lucifer have a crisis?" Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic's expression turned somber, and he looked away, his eyes clouding over. "That's a long story, Maya," he said, his voice soft. "But let's just say that we have...different views on how to maintain the balance."

Maya nodded, her eyes never leaving Dominic's face. She sensed that there was more to the story, but she didn't press him.

Instead, she reached out and touched the pigeon's soft feathers. "What will you do with him now?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with joy. "I'll set him free," he said, his voice soft. "He deserves to fly again."

Maya watched as Dominic gently lifted the pigeon and released it into the air. The bird soared above them, its wings beating rapidly as it disappeared into the distance.

As they watched the pigeon fly away, Maya felt a sense of peace wash over her. She realized that sometimes, the hardest thing to do was to let go, but it was also the most liberating.

Dominic turned to her, his eyes shining with a deep sadness. "I have to go, Maya," he said, his voice soft. "But remember, you're not alone here. There are those who care about you, and who want to help you."

Maya nodded, her eyes never leaving Dominic's face. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with joy. "Anytime, Maya," he said, his voice soft. "Anytime."

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the garden. Maya watched him go, feeling a sense of wonder and awe. She realized that she had so much to learn about this world and its inhabitants, but she was determined to uncover its secrets.

As she turned to leave, Maya felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around, her heart racing, and found Lucifer standing behind her, his eyes gleaming with intensity.

"What did Dominic say to you?" he asked, his voice low and husky.