In the stillness before time, God stood at the edge of eternity, His light filling the void. Beside Him was Lucifer, radiant and perfect, the brightest of His creations.

“Lucifer,” God began, His voice a soft resonance of all that was and would be, “soon, creation will unfold. From it will emerge beings with the power of choice, even if that choice leads them away from My light.”

He looked at Lucifer, searching the archangel’s brilliant eyes. “What do you make of this, My beloved?”