EARLY Morning 3 of the Moonlight Festival
I hate him.
I hate him SO much...
I HATE LIBERTY BELLE.
It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, every cell SCREAMING in pain, as his annoying casual voice reassured me, "It should only be a few more moments." But it was never just a few more moments!
Imagine getting a tattoo... on your eyeballs. That was the level of sensitivity searing across my entire body. Also I think I might have been given a tattoo on my eyeballs! Each magic molecule within me was being torn away, replaced by the celestial energy Liberty was forcing into me.
"Since I'm giving your body an overhaul, any special requests?" he asked, far too smugly. "Maybe some... enhanced assets?"
I couldn't even scream. My body was frozen in twisted agony. "AHCHHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHHHHHHHHH!" was the closest thing to a sound I managed to make.
"Yeah... maybe I should've asked this in advance," he murmured. "Eh, no worries~ I'm sure you'll end up with the body you want."
I clawed at my throat, gasping for air as a wave of dark thoughts crashed over me. Imagining revenge was the only sweet thing keeping me sane. My body wanted to reject the magic, as my bones started to twist. My soul was ready to transform into something monstrous! There's a part of me that wishes to give in...
But I couldn't....
I had to endure this, so I could kill this man in cold hard blood later.
After what felt like hours, the torture finally faded.
My ideal body and soul fused into one being. Burn marks pulsed across my skin, symbols of holy magic imprinted on every inch. I felt my cells vibrating with a power I didn't understand... This wasn't just my magic anymore... it was celestial magic, pure and holy...
Liberty's voice cut through my daze. "Just remember, Shiori," he said, his tone low and edged with warning. "Power has a price. You're stronger now, but don't mistake that strength for invincibility. You may be a demi-angel, but you're still human."
My body still felt sore everywhere, "Aren't angels supposed to be immortal?"
"You have the ability to live forever, but if you run out of celestial magic in a fight, your human will be fully exposed."
"Good to know... Anything else?"
"I've actually prepared you a list." He said pulling out a folded piece of paper, "You may get attacked by random angels, but that's the celestial life, Baby~!"
The Laws of All Angels:
All angels are bounded by these rules:
1. Angels cannot lie.
2. Angles cannot swear.
3. Every angel is tied with a curse, related to their God/Godess.
4. Each angel has a celestial medium known as a Halo.
5. If a Halo is destroyed, the angel will die.
6. An angels eyes will glow in the dark
7. White hair often indicates an angel that is tied to a Goddess.
"I didn't sign up for any of this, Liberty..." I snapped, glaring at him through the lingering pain.
He smiled, "You don't get to sign up for anything once you make a deal with the gods, Shiori. But hey, don't sweat it. The chances of you getting attacked are pretty slim. Not every angel will be out to get you."
"Glad to know my suffering is just optional trauma."
He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh, you'll get used to it. Besides, it's not all bad. The rules are manageable."
"Okay then, what happens if I break rule one?" I asked, bracing myself for the worst. Losing my ability to lie felt like losing an arm.
"Oh, nothing too dramatic," Liberty said casually. "You'll just get a painful migraine. Like, really painful. But hey, it's just a headache, right? No biggie~"
I rolled my eyes. "What about the rest? The curse... the halo...?"
Liberty raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. He was clearly enjoying the power trip. "Ah, the curse. It's personal. Painful. A reflection of your connection to your god, me. And yours...? Let's just say it's a surprise. But don't worry too much. Spend enough time in my library, and that pesky curse will fade (temporarily). As for the halo..." He paused, his tone growing almost whimsical. "Just don't let anyone destroy it~ It's not that hard~"
I bit back the urge to scream at him. My body felt like it was barely holding together, but I wasn't about to let him see me crack.
"Aw, are you already having second thoughts?" he teased.
I crossed my arms and shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Oh no, I'm all in, Liberty Belle. You said I was free to do whatever I wanted, but let me guess~ this curse of yours just happens to go away if I come running to your precious library like a good little lapdog, huh?"
His laugh echoed in the room, loud and carefree, "That's a crude way of putting it," he said, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. "But sure, if it helps you sleep at night. I'm sure one day you'll come around and see me as a... father figure."
"Thanks for the trauma, Dad~"
Liberty grinned, unbothered. "Well, at least we're making progress..."
"Enjoy your life while you can, because when I come back, it won't be for a chat."
His grin didn't falter, though there was a smile in his eyes, as if he was reliving an old memory. "Oh, I'm counting on it. Now, off you go, Shiori. The real world is waiting for your debut~" He waved a hand lazily, as if dismissing me.
Before I could fire off a snarky retort, the room started to spin, I felt the pull of gravity, the heavy weight of the mundane world reeling me back in.