Apexus was recovering from the shock of his life as he fluttered away as quickly as he could. ‘Hope Aclysia got away,’ he thought, but didn’t dare go against the plan. Mainly not because of the nagging he would have to deal with if he did so, no, but because he wasn’t sure if he would even get away with flying over that village again.

Of course, he had noticed that hunter cowering on the rooftop, how couldn’t he have? With his good night vision and the heightened position of that man, the slime would have turned blind to not see him. That didn’t explain what had happened though.

Throughout the entire distraction, Apexus had been shot at by numerous arrows, several spears and swords had been jabbed in his direction and a few spells had soared past him. As long as he kept moving and didn’t fly too close the ground, he had been basically unhittable. That was the logic. The veil of darkness and his own speed should have guaranteed as much.

Yet, there had suddenly been a hole inside him. Apexus hadn’t even been able to see the arrow, just felt its forked tip ravage through his body and exit again on the other side. It had hurt, immensely so, one of the sharp tips even scraping over his core. That arrow could have ripped his most important, in many ways the only important organ, right out of him.

The accuracy, the speed, the experience with which the hunter had taken aim, it hadn’t been a lucky shot, not in the slightest. ‘Someone strong is there,’ Apexus thought and continued his path through the darkness of the sky. At least he was certain enough that he was quicker on the move than the hunter, thanks to the difference between walking and flying.

Soon enough, there would be a large body of water between Apexus and the hunter. That would put Apexus at ease. Then, the only question would be if his metal fairy had survived, gotten away rather, and if the wish had been granted.

___________________________________________________________________________

Aclysia sat across from Hashahin who was rolling his head from one side to the other. “Hmmmm,” the god hummed, his masked face pointing towards the left. “That is a bit much to ask but…” He went onto the right. “…not like this is an ordinary circumstance…” Back to the left. “Making an exception seems a bit much though…” the white and black mask emanated a soft emerald glow. “And you are certain that’s what you want, yes?”

Aclysia nodded firmly, raising one hand to her chest. Now about as big as Reysha was, perhaps a bit taller, she was finally feeling like a real woman. The idea that she could now serve her awakener in all walks of life just as well as any other humanoid could was only deepening her feelings for him. Behind the soft curve of her chest, she felt the beating of magic stronger than ever. “I wish to serve him – forever if I can.”

“Mhm, young love, young love,” her divine creator leaned back, the lips of his mask, white with black lines on the one, the inverse on the other side, parting in asynchrony with his voice, like always. “Giving someone command over an angel permanently is a gift way beyond your quest, you see, Aclysia? Especially since I made you with the gift of growth. Getting messengers with free will is an arduous creation process, my good girl.”

Aclysia bowed her head, “I do beg of you, father.” A little breeze carried loose pages throughout the monochrome room. There was no open window. There were no windows at all.

“…That is one unfair word to address me with,” the god stated in a deeper voice than usual. “Yet, you seem to fail to realize the reality of your situation.” Without any movement, Hashahin suddenly stood in front of Aclysia and bowed down. “One of my angels can’t serve a mortal forever,” the mask contorted into a sinister smile. “The wish is denied.”

Looking at her creator’s face with wide eyes, spelling out her devastation, she sat there with slightly parted lips. For a felt eternity, they were just looking at each other. She drew breath to speak, only to stop herself at the sight of Hashahin’s mischievously laughing face.

Had he guided her along, encouraged her, just to take from her what she wanted at the end? Had all of this talk of self-determination been just for nothing?

“Well, is that all?” the god wanted to know. “Is that all you have to say? Your wish to serve not me but another person? Did your precious awakener not leave you with another wish in case he didn’t get his way?”

Was he jealous of Apexus? Was that the reason why the god loomed so menacingly over her, his aura almost oppressing her thoughts? It was like she was back to how she had been before she met the slime, a tool with a will, but nevertheless a tool. However, at the very surface of her existence, one question still lingered.

“Why did you give me a womb?” her lips formed that single question and some of her thoughts became unshackled. “If you truly wish for me to just be an autonomous tool… why would you give me the possibility to bear his child without even asking me?”

“Yes, why would I do that?” Hashahin asked in a neutral tone that betrayed a level of pride. “Why would I give a love-drunk woman that has barely known life the capability to make the most beautiful mistake given to the living?”

“Because you approve of him… of us… but why then won’t you grant his wish?” Aclysia saw the smile no longer as menacing but as a challenge. The god wanted her to realize something, one last lesson before they had no more reason to see each other again. What was it?

What did she really know about her creator?

He had been a man.

He wanted to be a father again.

That made her his daughter.

A daughter that finally found her own way in life.

What was it that he took issue with in her choices?

Then, she realized.

“May I ask to freely wander the Omniverse until the love for my awakener fades?” Aclysia presented her new wish. It was so obvious now that she knew it. Her father wanted not for his daughter to be defined only by her serving another person than him. To switch one master for another, despite having learned to think and act for herself, such would have been an unworthy life.

If she was to keep serving Apexus, then not because of some continued contract, but because it was her choice. A bond of feelings, not oaths of magic made by another party. What proud father would bind his daughter into a contract of slavery?

“Hmmm, we are getting there,” with the blink of an eye, the actor god was back in his seat. “Yes, I will allow this, you may be with him for as long as your love is still aflame like the summer sun,” Aclysia was taking a breath of relief, “however,” she froze again, “I will have to take things from you until you serve me again. Conveniences taken from you and powers that an angel gets to have naturally, but you will have to work to learn. Most importantly, I am removing all divine authority from you, no Priest anywhere will have to listen to you, do you understand?”

“I hear and agree, divine creator,” Aclysia bowed her head and the room around her began to blur into grey.

Hashahin raised a hand to his mask and lifted it just enough for a pair of oddly sultry lips to appear, painted in a bright emerald colour. “Please, call me father.”