She stood proudly in the Light.

Pure white wings stretch out behind her, her platinum hair curled around her shoulders. Snowy robes cover her body, her feet bare. She does not carry a weapon, and she does not wear a single piece of armour.

She stood proudly in the Light.

She is the Angel of Daos, resplendent in His Benediction. She knows no purpose, only purpose is to Defend the Light, to Protect the Light. Only purpose is to spread the Light, to expose all that is Dark. She does not remember yesterday. She does not care of tomorrow. To her, today is an endless ray of Light.

She stood proudly in the Light.

Another stands in her way of the Light. For a fleeting moment, Darkness befell her. He does not move from the Light, nor does he look like he will. He has stolen the Light from her. He has taken what should be rightfully hers, what she exists for. The Light. Such arrogance, he must be punished.

He stood proudly in the Light.

They fought for a century and a half, but he would not be defeated. She is the Angel of Daos, but then, so was he.Mountains moved, seas displaced. She was the beloved of Daos and was never reproached. He was the beloved of Daos and was protected.

He stood proudly in the Light.

Jealousy clouded her Light, and they fought for another century. Till at last, pure white wings were torn, platinum hair was matted. Snowy robes were bloody, feet were calloused. Weapons clenched in hand, she slumped on the floor and sobbed for half a century.

He stood proudly in the Light.

Such arrogance, he must be punished! She might not best him in battle, but she will punish him with temptation.

Bright red wings stretch out behind her, her scarlet hair curled around her shoulders. Crimson robes cover her body, her feet bare. She does not carry a weapon, and she does not wear a single piece of armour.

A dense fog enveloped him, obscuring the Light, her voice whispered in his ear, 'Listen to me : The one you seek also seeks you.'

He did not move, nor did he flinch. He was strong in the Light. But she was now the Temptress, the Siren. She wrapped her body around his, raised her flawless face to his, and she kissed him.

He stood proudly in the Light.

But she would not be stopped. Dropping her crimson robe, she wrapped her body around his, raised her flawless face to his, and she kissed him.

His eyes flashed for a second, she could have missed it. But in Darkness, she did not. Smiling, she whispered in his ear, 'Walk with me, for I know where you long to go.' She took his hand, he did not resist.

Away from the Light, they made love. She gave him her body, and with it, her soul. He took her soul, and in return he gave his love. In the morning, they awoke to Daos' summons of sunlight.

Such arrogance, they must be punished. She had sought to tempt him into Darkness, but she did not realise she must first be in Darkness to lure him there. Falling into the trappings of mortality, they fell in love. They must be punished.

Cast down to the mortal world, they fell together, still entwined in each other's embrace, never to bask in the glory of the Light again.

Ebony black wings stretch out behind her, her midnight black hair curled around her shoulders. She carries unholy weapons, and she is clad in pitch black armour.

They stood proudly in the Dark.

A thousand years ago, a Japanese lady-in-waiting kept a journal. Incredibly, it's still with us. It's called The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, and in it she describes not only life in a tenth-century Japanese court, but also her personal thoughts and attitudes, many of which, remarkably, still ring true these many centuries later. While large chunks of the book detail goings-on in the court, other parts are composed of fascinating lists: Things that Give an Unclean Feeling, Adorable Things, Presumptuous Things, People Who Seem to Suffer, and so on.

Now its time for our Pillow Book.