Like an old hag, Celine rested on a rocking chair as a new morning dawned with a newspaper and coffee in hand. "It seems the tower won't appear for one more day," she looked at the date of the newspaper. "I wonder which one of my human friends I could meet. I'm not particularly special so would they even like me? Oh, there is one guy," a wry smile appeared on her face and she departed her home.
She stepped outside and inhaled the cool air. She reluctantly activated her sigil that glowed light violet in response and began to levitate. "I'd rather not fly but that guy lives too far to get there any other way." Celine wanted to keep her identity as the 73rd god a secret. After all, peace would be hard to find if she was a coveted power but she risked it this time.
A normal person would scream in shock as they saw a flying woman whir past them while soaring above buildings. Flying was normal for Celine. In fact, almost everybody from her time knew how to fly but not everybody had sigils at this time so Celine was special.
It didn't take long before a single log house in the woods appeared in Celine's sight. She gracefully landed and knocked on the door. "Is there a Ray Amber living here?" She questioned softly.
To Celine's surprise, an old elderly man opened the door. His eyes were far too squinted and he spent several minutes looking at Celine before responding. "What a nice and beautiful young lady. But why would you need to meet my son?" He croaked out.
"Ah-" Celine paused. Originally, Ray was an outcast like her. He lived alone in the middle of nowhere and that made him perfect to travel with. He had no home to return to and no family to stop him from adventuring. "Did he lie about being an orphan? It's not too far from his character," she mused.
The old man looked at her in confusion. His gaze suggested he was questioning why she hadn't responded yet. Celine snapped back to reality "I would just like to meet your son and tell him something," she smiled.
"Come in then, I'll go get him," the old man hobbled with a permanently curved back and sat Celine down on a chair.
Moments passed and Celine saw a handsome young man with the brightest blue hair and careful gaze. "Now why would a random princess come meet a man like me?" He sounded casual but there was a lingering danger in his voice. Ray probably had a gun on him right now, not that Celine feared it.
"Your carefulness never changes. It's a good trait," Celine tried to seize control of the conversation.
"If you know I'm careful then you better leave before your brain ends up on the floor," Ray hissed. He immediately abandoned his calm after Celine seemed familiar with him. She could be a stalker or something worse.
"But aren't you curious as to why I'm here. If I was malicious wouldn't it be better to sneak in? Why would I request an audience with a nobody?"
Ray tensed at those words. He sprang into action and easily pressed a revolver against Celine's forehead. "I'm not listening to games. Why are you here?"
"Rough times are ahead of you and your sigil proves useful in certain circumstances. I'm here because I want to help you and I want your help." Although there was a hint of truth in that statement it was more a lie to gain Ray's favor. Celine truly wanted to save her friend from the tragedies he had told her about.
"Who said I wanted your help?" He questioned but wasn't prepared for an answer. Ray was straightforward and right now he only thought of Celine as an enemy, so he pulled the trigger without hesitation. It would be his first time killing another but he was fine with that. This woman was too mysterious and had a mysterious aura that made him fear her.
The revolver clicked and a loud bang of the exploding round sounded throughout the house but Ray saw the woman crack a wicked smile. The bullet hadn't gone through her skull. The object didn't even move despite the explosive round.
"They say experience is the best teacher," Celine grinned and stood from the chair she sat upon. Ray tried to shoot but only found himself shaking and not able to move a muscle. It wasn't because he was afraid, he felt a force so mysterious and strong that he was forced to step back.
Celine fully unleashed her sigil. Her raw power against a normal human pushed him and his father against the nearest wall. She stepped closer and closer, increasing the pressure and her words permeated throughout his skull. "The world you know is small, Ray. There are bigger things and they will come for you because you have potential. Funnily enough, I don't want to hurt you despite how it appears. I only want you to know how strong I am. People will come for you, you will lose your family, and you will be left alone in this world, forced to make new friends to try to remember your family."
Ray's brows furrowed at those lines. They weren't words of what was predicted to happen, Ray could feel that those moments would happen no matter what. Something about Celine's tone and conviction made it impossible to distrust her. "What enemies are coming?" He barely found the air to ask.
"Humans," Celine said with no intentions on saying more. The pressure began to reduce on the two against the wall nonetheless.
"You said you'll help me if I help you? Elaborate," he coughed out after the force completely nullified itself.
"I promise to keep you and one other person safe. But, you have to travel with me. Don't ask where I'm going, I'm not saying anything."
He scoffed at those words. "Only one other person? You were just boasting about being strong enough to help me. Now what? Who's to say I can't protect myself and you aren't bluffing?" He clearly wasn't afraid of offending her again.
"I'm strong but there are others like me. I fear garnering their attention," Celine ushered the truth upon him without hesitation. "If I were to fight in the upcoming war and become the brightest flame, I will be snuffed out the fastest out of everyone else."
The duo paused as they both thought of their argument. However, seeing that Celine had nothing left to add, Ray made a final statement. "I refuse your offer.