Hearing the school bell that indicated the end of another school day, Celestia stretched her arms and legs after getting out of her seat. She trailed out the room, dodging a hand from the student who attempted to shove her to entertain him and his fellow friends.
The way people would act sometimes to make another laugh even if it hurt someone,
It disgusted her.
She gripped onto the handle of her bag and escaped from the mockery the students sent in her direction, with her head hanging low as she refused to look anyone in the eye.
"Celestia."
The sound of her name drew her attention, and she glanced to her side to find Zerro, his sudden appearance causing her pulse to quicken. His narrowed pupils hinted at the presence of danger nearby, and her instincts went on high alert, her body tensing in anticipation of the unknown threat.
"Go behind the school building," the command from the demon was delivered and Celestia wasted no time in acknowledging it with a brisk nod before darting towards the designated location.
As she rounded the corner, her gaze fell upon a pair of menacing demons, their filthy forms sniffing the air hungrily, drawn by the energy they had detected in the vicinity.
The sight of demons always stirred a mix of fear and adrenaline within Celestia, a reminder of her first encounter with them at the tender age of seven.
Back then, she had been paralyzed by terror, unable to defend herself when Zerro had ordered her to fight, nearly costing her life in the process. Though Zerro had swiftly dispatched the demons, his harsh reprimand for her perceived weakness had left a lasting impression.
Over the years, Celestia had honed her skills, gradually learning to fend off the demonic threats on her own.
Yet, the question lingered in her mind: why were these creatures appearing with increasing frequency?
When she had mustered the courage to ask Zerro, his vague explanation about his presence in the human world inadvertently facilitating the passage of weaker demons between realms provided little comfort or clarity.
The boundary between the demon realm and the human world had become porous, a consequence of Zerro's actions that left Celestia grappling with the unsettling reality of their intertwined fates.
"Make sure to end it quick." Zerro ordered.
Celestia glanced back at Zerro to give her response but he had already disappeared from the scene, leaving her with the evil beings.
They trembled in excitement as they soon realised the energy was coming from Celestia herself.
Taking a deep breath, Celestia centered herself, her mind focused solely on the task at hand.
With a fluid motion, she brought her hands together, channeling her energy into a concentrated force. A faint glow emanated from the narrow gap between her palms, growing brighter with each passing moment.
With deliberate care, she slowly separated her hands, revealing the gleaming blade that materialized from the energy she had summoned.
The once-prominent sword tattoo on the inside of her hand was now absent, replaced by the physical manifestation of her power.
Clasping the hilt of the sword tightly, Celestia vanished from sight, reappearing in front of the startled demons in an instant.
With lightning speed, she drove the blade through the heart of one of the creatures, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she felt the resistance give way beneath her strength.
With practiced efficiency, she withdrew the sword, her gaze shifting to the remaining demon who cowered in fear at the sight of her.
But before she could deliver the final blow, her concentration was shattered by an abrupt call, freezing her in place as uncertainty clouded her mind.
"Celestia!"
Peering over her shoulder, Celestia's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of Han sprinting towards her, his outstretched hand reaching for her wrist.
As his fingers closed around her, a surge of energy enveloped them both, casting a pale blue barrier that shielded them from harm. To her disbelief, an exact replica of her sword materialized in his grasp, mirroring the one she wielded.
"How?" Her voice emerged as a breathless whisper, her mind struggling to comprehend the unexpected turn of events.
Han spared her a brief glance, a mischievous grin playing across his lips before his focus snapped back to the looming threat before them.
"The contract between us," he replied cryptically, his words hanging in the air as they faced their adversaries together, bound by a pact that transcended mere mortal understanding.
The mention of a contract sent a ripple of confusion through Celestia's mind, her thoughts swirling with questions she couldn't find answers to. Yet, before she could voice her concerns, Han's urgent words snapped her back to the present moment.
"I'll talk about that later! Let's finish this creep off and then I'll explain everything," Han's decisive tone brooked no argument, propelling Celestia into action.
With a determined nod, Celestia squared her shoulders, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword as she prepared to face their common foe. As they lunged forward in unison, their movements synchronized in a dance of deadly precision, Celestia felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins, her senses sharpening with the thrill of battle.
Executing a swift series of maneuvers, Celestia and Han worked in perfect harmony, their combined efforts confounding the demon's defenses. With a decisive swipe of her sword, Celestia severed the creature's legs, rendering it helpless, while Han delivered the final blow, piercing its heart with a calculated thrust. The demon's agonized shriek echoed through the air before dissipating into silence, its form disintegrating into ash.
As the remnants of the battle faded away, so too did the protective shield and the borrowed sword, leaving Celestia standing face to face with Han. The mask of stoicism she often wore wavered, revealing the concern etched in her features as she stepped closer to him, a silent question lingering in her gaze.
"I never did--" Celestia began, her voice trailing off as Han interjected, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"When we met, did you feel your tattoo warm up?" Han's inquiry halted Celestia's protest, prompting her to recall the sensation she had experienced during their initial encounter.
With a hesitant nod, Celestia affirmed the memory, her curiosity piqued by Han's sudden change in demeanor. As he straightened his posture, he lifted his shirt, revealing a glimpse of his toned abdomen. Caught off guard by the unexpected exposure, Celestia averted her gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment color her cheeks.
"Look here," Han urged, amusement evident in his voice as he noticed her discomfort.
Shaking her head in response, Celestia's cheeks flushed even deeper as Han chuckled softly, finding her reaction endearing.
"Don't be shy. I just wanted to show my tattoo," he reassured her, his tone gentle as he guided her attention to the marking on his hip.
Intrigued, Celestia set aside her embarrassment and focused on the intricate design etched into Han's skin. Blinking in surprise, she recognized the shape immediately.
It resembled a paper windmill.
"This is a tattoo that only members of my angel clan have. My clan is called Protegir," Han explained, a proud smile gracing his features as he revealed the significance of the marking on his skin before covering his abdomen and awaiting Celestia's reaction.
"Doesn't that mean 'protect' in Catalan?" Celestia questioned, her curiosity piqued as she recalled a word she had encountered in one of her language classes.
Han's expression shifted, his features registering surprise at the revelation.
"Humans have used our clan name as a word?" he echoed, his disbelief evident.
Upon receiving a confirming nod from Celestia, a sense of pride washed over him, his demeanor visibly changing.
"I have to tell mom when I get home," Celestia noted Han's excitement, raising an eyebrow at his enthusiastic tone before clearing her throat to redirect his attention.
"My tattoo reacted in the same way, which meant that the contract between us was automatically made. You and I are now partners!" Han celebrated, but Celestia's response was subdued.
Unbeknownst to Han, a haunting realization had begun to gnaw at Celestia's mind.
The memory of Zerro's warning echoed ominously within her thoughts: 'Two contracts will kill you.'
Despite the joyous revelation of their newfound partnership, the weight of that foreboding statement lingered heavily upon her conscience.
Attempting to conceal her inner turmoil, Celestia turned on her heel, intent on retreating from the conversation in silence.
"Don't just leave me like that! That's mean..."
Ignoring Han's protests and pleas for her attention, she disappeared around the corner, leaving him behind.
"Damn..." As Han's disappointed sigh escaped him, he eventually turned to depart in the opposite direction, unaware of the looming presence of Zerro, whose angered expression betrayed his eavesdropping on their entire conversation.
With a heavy heart and a scowl etched upon his face, Zerro vanished from the scene, his thoughts consumed by the implications of Celestia's unwitting entanglement in dangerous contracts.
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Celestia winced as Zerro's harsh grip tugged at her hair, forcing her to the ground in a state of defeat. She remained silent, her lower lip swollen from the force of her bite as she suppressed any cries of pain.
"You stupid brat! How dare you make a contract with that pathetic angel," Zerro's voice seethed with anger and disappointment, his words cutting through the air like a whip.
"I-It was done without me knowing," Celestia attempted to reason, her voice trembling with fear and desperation, but Zerro refused to entertain her excuses.
"If you end up dying, then my plans will be ruined," his words were laced with a chilling warning, underscoring the gravity of Celestia's predicament and the potential consequences of her unwitting actions.
She didn't care for his plans.
She just wished to be out of it.
With Zerro's departure, Celestia was left alone with her thoughts, her body wracked with pain from both physical wounds and the weight of her circumstances.
Despite the agony coursing through her, a glimmer of hope flickered within her heart at the possibility of escaping Zerro's grasp and forging a new life with Han by her side.
However, any semblance of optimism was swiftly overshadowed by the harsh reality of her injuries, as she coughed up blood, a stark reminder of the perilous path she walked.
Standing outside Celestia's room, Zerro's features twisted into a mask of disdain as he closed his eyes, allowing the image of the angelic figure he despised to materialize in his mind's eye. Each detail etched into his memory with a clarity that bordered on obsession, from the curve of Han's wings to the unwavering determination reflected in his gaze.
With a low growl rumbling in the depths of his chest, Zerro harnessed the power of his teleportation, channeling his focused intent into the fabric of reality itself. The air crackled with energy as he willed himself to transcend space and time, his determination fueling his ability to traverse vast distances in the blink of an eye.
A surge of power coursed through him as the world blurred around him, the sensation of displacement momentarily disorienting before he emerged in a new location. Opening his eyes, Zerro found himself standing in an unfamiliar setting, his senses attuned to the task at hand as he sought out the presence of his adversary.
With a predatory gleam in his eyes, Zerro prepared himself for the confrontation ahead, his resolve unyielding as he embarked on a mission to confront the obstacle standing in the way of his ambitions.
Taking in his new surroundings with a cold detachment, Zerro's gaze settled upon the dilapidated apartment building towering before him. Its weather-beaten façade spoke of neglect and decay, a stark contrast to the opulence he was accustomed to.
Focusing his senses, Zerro honed in on the presence of the angelic figure he sought, his heightened perception guiding him towards the top floor of the building. With a calculated ease, he channeled his power, seamlessly traversing the barriers of space and time until he materialized within the confines of the designated apartment.
The air crackled with latent energy as Zerro's crimson eyes swept across the room, their piercing gaze settling upon the figure of Han, who lay sleeping peacefully upon his bed. Despite the serenity of his slumber, an air of tension hung palpably in the room as Zerro's presence loomed over him like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over the angel's dreams.
As Zerro's resolve solidified into a single-minded determination, his breaths grew shallow and erratic, each inhale fueling the fervor of his intent. With each step towards Han's slumbering form, his features contorted into a mask of frenzied determination, his eyes ablaze with a primal hunger for vengeance.
Closing the distance between them, Zerro's hand reached out, his sharpened nails poised to deliver the fatal blow that would shatter Han's peaceful repose and secure his own twisted agenda. However, his assault was met with unexpected resistance as a shimmering blue barrier materialized, causing his nails to sizzle and burn upon contact.
"You know you shouldn't have done that," Han's voice, calm and composed, shattered the silence of the room as he rose from his bed to reveal he had in fact been awake this whole time, his gaze steady and unwavering as he approached Zerro with an air of confidence.
Frustration gnawed at Zerro's resolve as he found himself forced to take a step back, instinctively recoiling from the barrier that stood between him and his prey. Each retreat felt like a concession, a testament to his perceived weakness in the face of Han's unwavering resolve.
"Why did you hide away at that time?" Han's question hung in the air, laced with a quiet intensity that demanded answers, the weight of his gaze piercing through Zerro's facade and laying bare the vulnerabilities he sought to conceal.
As Han's words cut through the tension-filled silence, Zerro's expression twisted into disbelief. His attempts to question Han were swiftly cut off as the angel revealed his keen perception and formidable combat experience.
"How the hell did you—" Zerro began, only to be interrupted by Han's calm assertion of his abilities.
"I'm not stupid. I've fought demons all my life, and I can sense any type, even when they are hiding," Han declared, his steady gaze never wavering as he took another deliberate step forward.
Zerro's retreat came to an abrupt halt as his back collided with the unyielding surface of the wall, eliciting a muttered curse of frustration under his breath. Trapped, he seethed with indignation at his own folly, realizing too late the precarious position he had placed himself in.
"If you think you can harm my friend, then you have no chance. I can kill you easily with my barrier," Han's words carried a quiet confidence, a stark reminder of the power he wielded.
With the barrier looming perilously close, its searing energy threatening to reduce him to ashes, Zerro felt a surge of panic grip his chest. Every instinct screamed at him to fight, to lash out in defiance against the inevitable, but reason prevailed as he grappled with the reality of his situation.
In a moment of clarity, Zerro swallowed his pride, setting aside his burning anger in favor of self-preservation. With a begrudging acceptance of defeat, he acknowledged that escape was his only option.
Suppressing the raging torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm him, Zerro focused his remaining strength on the task at hand. With a swift movement, he invoked his teleportation abilities, vanishing from the confines of Han's apartment in a flash of darkness.
As the echoes of his departure faded into silence, Zerro was left to grapple with the bitter taste of defeat, his pride wounded but his resolve unbroken.
Zerro's rage boiled over as he materialized back in the familiar confines of the town's lone forest. With clenched fists, he unleashed a barrage of blows upon the nearest tree, each strike fueled by a potent mix of frustration and anger.
"I'm going to kill him…" he seethed through gritted teeth, his voice a low growl as his eyes blazed with an intensity that mirrored the inferno of his fury.
His pupils narrowed to thin slits as his irises flickered with a darker shade of crimson, a visual manifestation of the seething hatred that consumed him. In that moment, all thoughts of strategy and restraint were cast aside, replaced by a singular focus: vengeance.
With every fiber of his being aflame with righteous fury, Zerro vowed to exact his revenge upon the one who dared to stand in his way, his determination unwavering despite the odds stacked against him. In the depths of the forest, his anguished cries echoed into the night, a chilling harbinger of the storm to come.
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Celestia's morning routine was disrupted by the unexpected presence of Zerro, whose neutral expression belied the underlying tension in the air.
"Celestia," Zerro's voice halted her in her tracks, causing her to pivot slightly to face him.
"I'm leaving for a while," he informed her, his expression neutral.
Surprise flickered in Celestia's eyes at the unexpected news, but she quickly composed herself.
"Do the usual while I'm gone and also, don't reveal our contract to that angel," he ordered, his tone firm.
Confusion tinged her thoughts, but Celestia nodded in agreement, deciding to comply with his request despite her uncertainties.
Without another word exchanged between them, they turned their backs and went their separate ways. Unseen by Celestia, a cruel smile played on Zerro's lips as he walked towards his undisclosed destination, leaving her to ponder the implications of his departure.