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An hour later, Celeste had managed to make her way to the elevator that led from her father's office to the mysterious top floor of the palace, using the access codes Runa had given her. When the elevator stopped, she felt her stomach turn over. A feeling of pure anxiety resonated throughout her entire body. What secret lies beyond these doors? she thought.
The elevator door slid open. Celeste stepped slowly, with nervous anticipation, into the pitch-black room. Suddenly, light illuminated from a giant crystal chandelier, lighting the entire 5,000 square foot room. Celeste looked around. There were no windows. The walls were painted a bright white, brighter than any white Celeste had ever seen, which reflected the light and made the room even more dazzling. Celeste blinked to adjust her eyesight. Once her eyes were focused, she began to walk along the maroon carpet to the only items in the room.
In the center of the room was a black metal square pad that seemed to have a perimeter of about five feet by five feet. She looked at it with curiosity and wondered what its purpose was. She then looked at the other item in the room.
About ten feet from the metal pad was a ten-foot gold statue of the goddess of light. She made her way to the statue and walked around it. She continued to scan the room for any more clues or items, but nothing.
She took a deep breath and in frustration began to walk toward the elevator. As she walked, she stepped onto the metal pad. The moment her foot touched the pad, the lights from the chandelier went out. She stopped and listened for anyone else in the darkness.
Unexpectedly, another light illuminated the room, but this light was different. This light seemed whiter than any light Celeste had ever seen. The light source emanated from behind her. With her guard up, she slowly and cautiously turned around.
She nearly passed out with shock with what she saw. There, floating about ten feet in midair, above the statue, were two bare feet. She slowly moved her eyes upward and saw a free flowing white robe, covering the body of the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
The woman was real. Only this woman seemed to be thirty feet tall. She had long flowing blond hair that emitted a light of its own. Celeste locked eyes with the woman, and as she peered into the most beautiful blue eyes she ever looked upon, the woman spoke to her.
"Celeste, my child, it is so good to finally speak to you in person."
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 83