It's very quiet here.

It's a certain kind of quiet, the one where you know something is out there beyond the silence. The board sits there, completely still, pieces paused in the middle of their war.

It's infuriating for everyone. The Devil wants it to move his way, the angels want it to go their way. They're both antsy by nature, but as much as they love to act as though it's their place to step in, it is not and has never been their game to play. They cheat all the time, with the Devil's red-wrapped presents and the angel's prayers. Back and forth, push and pull for all eternity. It creates a natural balance that has only recently been tossed one way. Some would call it the wrong way, others would just say it's one of two possible ways.

This board, with its desolate calm and quiet, is too unnerving to ignore by either party. It sits just the way it was left, dust gathering on the crown of the dead queen, the pawns reaching out to come back to life. Everything is completely still, waiting for the next move.

The rook is becoming restless, attempting its own moves. Once in a while, it wriggles slightly, even hops a square or two over. Without the rest of the players, though, it's nothing but a rook.

You understand why the board is still, of course—anyone who knows anything about chess would. The second white moves, black will begin bringing those pawns back. Sure, black can't move if white doesn't first, but it cannot go on like this forever, everything frozen and motionless except the spiralling dust.

There is an old oath, a simple unspoken rule of morality to not interfere when you possess more power than any of the players. You are to leave them to the game, let natural order go on. It's a matter of honour that one is supposed to uphold, one that is about to be broken by an invisible third party. Not by the Devil—although it is inspired by his previous meddling—and not by any angel.

It's my turn.

The silence must end, the balance must prevail, and this is my solution. It's the true embodiment of balance at its finest: a little bit of the Devil, a little bit of the angels. Something in between. This is a work of art, crafted of sky and stars. It's my answer to this chaos.

It's Celestial.