Vol 1 Chapter 1 : Prologue
The waves of the sea are chanting a tone of peace and freedom. The squawks of the seagulls tell a melodious tale. This moment, is absolutely mesmerizing. But then a peculiar sound is heard throughout the languid sea. Its not the sound of a bird or sea creature. Its... Its the sound of an alarm... An alarm clock?
*Beep-beep-beep beep-beep-beep*
*Thunk*
Julie is awake from her deep slumber. She had a beautiful dream about the peaceful sounds of the sea, but got interrupted by an alarm clock. She was furious. She shut the alarm off with a bang.
"Julieee, breakfast time dear!"
"Coming, mom!"
. . .
She sits at the dining table. She lives with her mother in a cozy appartment. Her father was in the military, and unfortunately he passed away in battle, before he could even see his child.
"Mom, what's for breakfast today?"
"Bread and butter."
"Awww c'mon, make something different sometimes... We've been eating bread for breakfast every single day!"
"Now now Julie. You're no longer a kid, you're in college. Be mature and be satisfied with what you have." She eats her breakfast quietly while she thinks to herself. [Why does mom always treat me like someone of her age... Sure I'm in college now, but I'm still not that old! No teenager can look at bread and be like "Oh bread! Im so damn satisfied eating this peasant's meal!!!" Whatever.] She is sulking a bit.
. . .
After breakfast she heads back into her room and dresses up for college. She makes sure her hair looks charming as ever, for her special person. The person she loves the most. The person thats cares for her the most(according to her). The person would never anything that can hurt her feelings-
"Why is your hair so fancy? It looks absolutely ridiculous."
"Huh?" Julie recieves a terrible shock. It looks like she is about to cry now. She didn't expect him to say that. She was very cheerful, thinking of fake scenarios where he would compliment her hair and show her affection. But that dream shattered like glass. Her expression went cold.
"But... But... I did it for you, Luke..."
"You don't have to. I like the way you usually are. I like your usual hairstyle. There's no need to look more pretty than this, you're already perfect!" Luke's smile melted her heart. She was about to sulk the entire day and be moody but now... Now she feels very affectionate towards him. She is blushing like a tomato. She wants to hug him so badly.
*Ding-dong ding-dong*
"Awww c'mon.... Well, I guess we meet after school?"
"Sounds good." Luke walked off to his classroom. Julie and Luke are in different classrooms. Luke is a year senior to her and they actually met on Instagram. Luke was the one who suggested her to come to this college. Luke is an intelligent guy and is quite popular on social media. He is a kind-hearted and calm guy, and isn't particularly interested in girls but he couldn't say no to Julie who had confessed to him in such a cute way. Now they've been dating for fourteen months and are still in a healthy relationship.
. . .
After school Julie and Luke walk home together. Julie keeps trying to hold his hand but he doesn't let her. Julie is very very angy now >:( .
"What's wrong? You're fuming."
"Hmph~ >:(" Julie looks away.
"Is it 'cuz I'm not holding your hand?"
...
"That's a yes." Luke holds her hand and continues walking. Julie blushes a little but still acts a little moody, but Luke knows well that she is actually pretty happy right now.
"Hey umm, Luke.."
"Mm?"
"You do love me right?"
"Of course I do. And?" Luke answered in his usual calm and emotionless tone of voice. Julie was a bit disappointed as she was expecting something romantic.
"Will you ever leave me?"
"Depends on circumstances. But I'll tell you one thing... You are as precious to me as gold. If I were the Deity of Love, I'd treasure you in my Heaven of Gold."
"Eh?" Julie blushed. Heaven of Gold... It's a pretty popular myth that has been passed down through the generations. As the legend goes, Aurelius, a chief deity, created a realm entirely of gold. He brought the purest souls from heaven into this Golden realm. Love, peace and harmony flourished in this majestic realm. Soon, Aurelius's realm of gold was recognised as the "Heaven of Gold" or the "Realm of Love". Aurelius created this land of pure joy just for his dear wife, whom he treasured in that Heaven of Gold. In other words, Luke indirectly proposed marriage to her? Julie was about to pass out with all those butterflies in her stomach. She squealed with delight and ran inside her home after waving goodbye at him.
The waves of the sea are chanting a tone of peace and freedom. The squawks of the seagulls tell a melodious tale. This moment, is absolutely mesmerizing. But then a peculiar sound is heard throughout the languid sea. Its not the sound of a bird or sea creature. Its... Its the sound of an alarm... An alarm clock?
*Beep-beep-beep beep-beep-beep*
*Thunk*
Julie is awake from her deep slumber. She had a beautiful dream about the peaceful sounds of the sea, but got interrupted by an alarm clock. She was furious. She shut the alarm off with a bang.
"Julieee, breakfast time dear!"
"Coming, mom!"
. . .
She sits at the dining table. She lives with her mother in a cozy appartment. Her father was in the military, and he ended up dying in action, before he could even see his child. Julie too has never seen him. Her mother refuses to show her pictures of her father as she thinks it'll be a distraction for Julie.
"Mom, what's for breakfast today?"
"Bread and butter."
"Awww c'mon, make something different sometimes... We've been eating bread for breakfast every single day!"
"Now now Julie. You're no longer a kid, you're in college. Be mature and be satisfied with what you have." She eats her breakfast quietly while she thinks to herself. [Why does mom always treat me like someone of her age... Sure I'm in college now, but I'm still not that old! No teenager can look at bread and be like "Oh bread! Im so damn satisfied eating this peasant's meal!!!" Whatever.] She is sulking a bit.
. . .
After breakfast she heads back into her room and dresses up for college. She makes sure her hair looks charming as ever, for her special person. The person she loves the most. The person thats cares for her the most(according to her). The person would never do anything that can hurt her feelings-
"Why is your hair so fancy? It looks absolutely ridiculous."
"Huh?" Julie recieves a terrible shock. It looks like she is about to cry now. She didn't expect him to say that. She was very cheerful, thinking of fake scenarios where he would compliment her hair and show her affection. But that dream shattered like glass. Her expression went cold.
"But... But... I did it for you, Luke..."
"You don't have to. I like the way you usually are. I like your usual hairstyle. There's no need to look more pretty than this, you're already perfect!" Luke's smile melted her heart. Luke is very good with his words. She was about to sulk the entire day and be moody but now... Now she feels very affectionate towards him. She is blushing like a tomato. She wants to hug him so badly.
*Ding-dong ding-dong*
The school bell rings.
"Awww c'mon.... Well, I guess we meet after school?"
"Sounds good." Luke walked off to his classroom. Julie and Luke are in different classrooms. Luke is a year senior to her and they actually met on Instagram. Luke was the one who suggested her to come to this college. He is an intelligent guy and is quite popular on social media. He is a kind-hearted and calm guy, and isn't particularly interested in girls. But he couldn't say no to Julie who had confessed to him in such a cute way. Now they've been dating for fourteen months and are still in a healthy relationship.
. . .
After school Julie and Luke walk home together. Julie keeps trying to hold his hand but he doesn't let her. Julie is very very angy now >:( .
"What's wrong? You're fuming."
"Hmph~ >:(" Julie looks away.
"Is it 'cuz I'm not holding your hand?"
... She remains silent.
"I'll take that as a yes." Luke holds her hand and continues walking. Julie blushes a little but still acts a little moody, but Luke knows well that she is actually pretty happy right now.
"Hey umm, Luke.."
"Mm?"
"You do love me right?"
"Of course I do. And?" Luke answered in his usual calm and emotionless tone of voice. Julie was a bit disappointed as she was expecting something romantic.
"Will you ever leave me?"
"Depends on circumstances. But I'll tell you one thing... You are as precious to me as gold. If I were the Deity of Love, I'd treasure you in my Heaven of Gold."
"Eh?" Julie blushed. Heaven of Gold... It's a pretty popular myth that has been passed down through the generations. As the legend goes, Aurelius, a chief deity, created a realm entirely of gold. He brought the purest souls from heaven into this Golden realm. Love, peace and harmony flourished in this majestic realm. Soon, Aurelius's realm of gold was recognised as the "Heaven of Gold" or the "Realm of Love". Aurelius created this land of pure joy just for his dear wife, whom he treasured in that Heaven of Gold. Luke is a smart guy and knows the perfect words for these scenarios. But to his surprise, Julie was mad at him.
"Don't say such crap. I don't like being treated like an object..."
"Eh?!? No that's not what i meant..."
"Still, do not say that stuff. And you know how much I hate ancient literature... Its such a pain in the butt..."
"Okay... I'm sorry."
"Its okay, I understand that you didn't mean it that way. I like how clever you are with your words."
Luke smiles at her. They reach the gate to Julie's home. Luke gives her a quick kiss on her forehead before they bid their farewells to each other.
[Luke is such a nice guy] Julie thinks to herself.
. . .
After dinner, Julie heads back to her room. She studies a few more topics of ancient literature. Ancient Literature is one of the subjects they learn in school. Its about the various myths and legends of ancient times. Julie just completed the chapter about the Heaven of Gold. To her, it seemed like Aurelius was a jerk who treated his wife like an object. She thinks that he trapped his wife in his inescapable "heaven". Julie hated this myth the most. She thinks Aurelius wasn't a Deity, but a Devil. After studying for an hour she heads to the washroom and brushes her teeth before sleeping. Julie changes into her nightgown and goes to sleep. She couldn't sleep for a while cuz she kept thinking about Luke.
[But I'll tell you one thing... You are as precious to me as gold. If I were the Deity of Love, I'd treasure you in my Heaven of Gold.]
These words seemed to have impacted her a lot. She blushed a lot. It was sooo romantic. But then, she suddenly started feeling guilty. Luke told her something so romantic and cute, and she just told him to not say that "crap". Her heart sank. She realised how rude she was, yet Luke didn't show any resentment.
"I should apologise to him..." She said to herself. She thought about Luke for a little more time and finally went to sleep. But she didn't know that her life was going to take a sharp turn soon. She will probably not be able to apologise to Luke... No, she wouldn't even get the chance to meet Luke, let alone apologise to him. She was about to break ties with the real world. She, is now no longer a human on earth. Because she.... Is now in the "Heaven of Gold."
. . .
"Hm? Where am I? Its so bright, did mom turn on the lights?"
She opens her eyes and finds herself in a field of paddy. Except... The paddy was made of Gold. Even the leaves, the husk, and the soil itself, were all made of Gold.
"What the heck? Its... Gold?"
She gets up and takes a gaze at her surroundings. EVERYTHING... IS... MADE OF GOLD. The trees, the roads, the clouds, the grass... Everything is Gold. Is this perhaps... A dream? She pinches herself to find out.
"Ouch... Noo.... This... Isn't a dream... IS THIS THE HEAVEN OF GOLD!?!?"
"Indubitably, my beloved." A hoarse but affectionate voice said. Julie turns around to see a tall handsome man with a single horn on his forehead. His hair, clothes, jewels and even his eyes were made of Gold.
"W-w-who... Are you?"
"Im the creator of this Realm of Love, this Heaven of Gold...
I am Aurelius, the DEVIL of Love."
"A-aurelius? Y-you're real? Wait.... Devil? Of Love?.."
"Indeed, my darling."
"Darling?!?!? What are you on about?!"
"You see, my love, I brought you here in my precious Heaven of Gold, to treasure you, and make you MINE... There's no escape dear, you shall now become my wife for eternity."
Julie finds herself in the Heaven of Gold, where she is trapped by the supposed Deity of Love, who turned out to be a Devil... What will she do now?