Not that I can really blame them, I have no doubt it is amusing from an outside perspective. However, it is not very fun from my point of view, an angry goddess is a terrifying thing. Even though I know they won't actually hurt me, their anger is something I can feel.

Seronia says "Are you listening to me?!"

Krenocia says "I think the girl's amusement distracted him."

As soon as they realize they have been spotted their heads disappear from view. To prevent the goddesses from targeting them I lean forward and pick up the naginata. My movement brings both their eyes back to me and they don't look happy about it.

"Before you go back to telling me how stupid I am, can you tell me why this became an artifact?"

Krenocia says "What? It can't be! You don't have the power to make an artifact!"

"It is though, even the metal has been changed."

Seronia says "Sister, he is right. It is a holy artifact!"

Krenocia says "But how could it be? The power required to forge an artifact is immense!"

"Wait, you mean you don't know either?"

Seronia says "Normally, not even a top rank angel can create an artifact on its own. I have no idea how you managed to pull this off with the power you have."

Krenocia says "It must have something to do with the sacred power. You said the artifact absorbed both?"

"Yes, in about equal amounts."

Seronia says "That must be it, but does sacred power really have such an effect?"

"All I know for sure is that when sacred power mixes with mana it enhances it. If I had to guess I would say it would have a similar effect on divine power."

Seronia says "No, to create an artifact with the divine power you have it would have to multiply the power."

Krenocia says "Shall we test this theory?"

"What do you have in mind?"

Krenocia says "Summon a spark of divine power into your hand, then an equal amount of sacred power."

Seronia says "Only a small spark, we don't want you blowing your arm off."

Carefully doing as I am told, I summon a tiny spark of divine power to the tip of my finger. Then I add an identical amount of sacred power to the spark and wait to see what happens. The tiny silver spark hovering above my finger grows into a golden flame when the powers merge.

Seronia says "So, it does amplify the power. Amazing!"

Krenocia says "Well, that explains how you were able to make an artifact. Even so, you should never do it again!"

"I won't, I promise!"

Seronia says "Alright, we are wasting power here. No more experimenting!"

Krenocia says "She is only mad at you because she is fond of you. It would hurt us both were you to die, and not because we need you to fight the demons."

Before I can answer, Krenocia disappears as well, not that I have any idea what I could say to that. It is only after they are both gone that I realize I still have the golden flame floating above my hand. Trying to will it away doesn't work, it doesn't obey my will no matter how hard I concentrate.

Rudy says "What's wrong?"

"I can't make it go away, I'm not sure what to do with it."

Ruby walks over and reaches out to grab the flame, only to snatch her hand back with a gasp. It is probably the first time in her long life that she has ever been burned. If Ruby can't handle it then no one here can and I just got scolded for experimenting.

"Um, Seronia? What do I do with the flame?"

Seronia says "Oh, sorry! I forgot. I will send my angel to collect it. Do not add any more power!"

"I won't! But out of curiosity, can this flame be used as a weapon?"

Seronia says "It could be, if you could control it."

A minute later her angel appears, a female form covered in golden light. She doesn't say anything, just walks over and takes the flame from my hand. Once she has taken the flame she quickly disappears, again without a word.

Isabella says "Well, that was interesting, but I am going back to bed."

"Goodnight."

The three of them go back to bed and I calm myself and enter my meditation. Oddly enough, when I appear in my meditation room the naginata is hanging on the wall. It is only when I see it that I remember I never put it down, it is laying across my legs.

Worried, I check to make sure that I feel no connection to the weapon. It would be just my luck to have unknowingly put a piece of my soul into it like Blitz. Once I am sure there is no connection between us I exit my meditation long enough to put it in my pouch.

Then I put what little sacred power I have left into my core before entering the soulscape. For the rest of the night I spend my time running around the soulscape as a beast. I enjoy it so much that I start to wonder if I could make an ability that would allow me to shapeshift.

However, that would count as experimenting so first I will need to check. I am fairly sure the goddesses don't sleep so I try inviting Seronia into my soulscape. She appears almost instantly, but then acts surprised when she sees me.

Seronia says "Ash, why are you a great cat?"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to change back."

Seronia says "Why were you a beast in the first place?"

"At first it was just a way to pass the time, but I have found I enjoy it quite a bit."

Seronia says "Is that why you called me?"

"Yes, I am curious about gaining the ability to shapeshift, but I promised not to experiment."

Seronia says "It is good that you asked first, changing your shape is not something easily done. I know of no spell that would give you such an ability. Changing into a beast is normally a curse, not a spell."

"Does that mean Krenocia would know more?"

Seronia says "She might, it is not something we have ever discussed."

"Alright, thank you."

Seronia leaves and I invite Krenocia into my soulscape, but unlike Seronia it takes her a while to show up. By the time she does I am back to running through the forest as a lion. The first I know she is there is when I hear her laughing, she showed up in time to see me fall on my face.

Krenocia says "Ash, what are you doing?"

"Ah, playing around."

Krenocia says "Were you really just chasing a bunny?"

"Yes, but it is just for practice."

Krenocia says "Practicing what?"

"How to move and hunt as a beast. For some reason I find it extremely satisfying."

Krenocia says "Is that why you called me?"

"Yes, I asked Seronia first but she doesn't know a way."

Krenocia says "A way for what?"

"For me to be able to change my shape into that of a beast."