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Palan cleared his throat. “Anyways, now that the talking object is gone, we can—”
“I’m the Creator,” a voice said. This time, it came from Raphael’s body which was still in the midst of being repaired. The blind angel’s body had fully reformed except for his head. It had been replaced by a featureless face of golden light. The Creator took a step backwards as Palan furrowed his brow. “Wait. I know what you’re thinking. Hear me out?”
“That’s really, really creepy,” Andrea said and bit her lower lip.
“You too,” the Creator said to Andrea. “Hear me out as well.”
“Y-you’re really the Creator?” Raea asked, eyes wide. Her voice lowered as her hands trembled. “You’re just like the one from the dream I had a long time ago about Palan.”
“That was me,” the Creator said with a nod. “I’ve come to propose a deal to the three of you. Everything you could ever want—”
“I’ve heard this spiel before,” Palan said and snorted. “And I’ve already turned you down once. I’ll turn you down again.”
The Creator glanced at Raea who frowned at Palan. “Let him speak, please,” Raea said and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Thank you,” the Creator said and nodded at Raea. “As I was saying, I will grant you everything you’ve ever wanted in exchange for—”
“What if everything I’ve ever wanted is for Raea to not get what she wants? Then what happens?” Andrea asked, raising her hand. She retreated and hid behind Palan’s back when Raea glared at her. “Not that I’d do that.”
If the Creator had lips, he would’ve frowned. But he didn’t, so instead, he said, “I already know your desires, and they do not conflict with each other’s. To you, Andrea, I will give you as many angel seeds, or eggfruits as you like to call them, as you want to eat at any time. You can live in this room in luxury for as long as you want. I can even extend your lifespan indefinitely. And if your brother agrees, you’ll be with him too. What do you say?”
Andrea bit her lower lip and glanced up at Palan. He stroked her head. “If you want to say something, then say it,” he said. Was that really all that Andrea desired? Food and eternal life?
“I don’t want it,” Andrea said and shook her head.
“What?” the Creator asked. His face remained featureless, but his voice implied surprise. “But aren’t those your heart’s greatest desires?”
“Palan won’t agree, so he won’t be here, so I won’t do it,” Andrea said and stuck her tongue out at the Creator. She hugged Danger Noodle and patted the snake’s head.
“So it’s your fault once again,” the Creator mumbled, glancing at Palan. He shook his head and faced Raea. She stiffened. “I can bring back Selena Caelum. I can tame your wrath, dispel your envy, bring back your patience and kindness.” Raea opened her mouth to speak, but the Creator raised his hand into the air. “But! There are two conditions: you must stay in this room, and you have to convince Palan to accept my agreement as well.” He lowered his hand so his palm faced the ceiling. A wisp of golden smoke rose up and took on a feminine figure.
Raea gasped as features began to develop in the smoke. Her eyes turned purple as a miniature Selena was reconstructed in the Creator’s palm. The smoky Selena groaned as her eyes opened. “Wha—? Where am I? Raea?”
“Sely,” Raea said, taking a step forward, her voice trembling. “Sely.”
“Ray? What’s going on?” Selena asked, looking around the room. “Am I … didn’t I die? Why are you so big? And whose hand am I—”
Selena’s words were cut off as the Creator closed his hand, dispersing the golden smoke. “The deal, Raea,” he said. “I can bring her back, but you have to follow the deal.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Convince Palan.”
Raea’s body trembled as the smoke rose into the air and merged into the Creator’s face. “You…,” she said, her flames flaring and creating a pillar that rose towards the sky. She dashed forwards and seized the Creator’s neck, piercing it with her claws, and raised him into the air. “Bring her back! Bring her back, right now!”
The Creator struggled as black fire ate away at Raphael’s body. The fleshy bits were replaced by a golden smoke. Raea was preventing Raphael’s body from being able to speak, but the Creator talked anyways, “I already told you how I can bring her back. Convince Palan to accept the deal. Selena’s wellbeing, your wrath and envy, your patience and kindness, all of them hinge on Palan’s decision.”
“It’s your fault!” Raea shouted at the Creator and tightened her grip. “Where were you when I needed you the most? How dare you appear in front of me when everything’s already over? I trusted you, believed in you, and you did nothing!”
Palan frowned and took a step back to shield Andrea from Raea’s flames. He formed miniature black holes to prevent them from getting too close.
“Isn’t the most important thing that I’m here now?” the Creator asked.
“What would the angels and halflings who died during this conflict think if they heard you say that?” Raea asked. “How many prayers remained unanswered because of your indifference? You’re the Creator; you can resolve everything, but you choose not to.”
“People cannot grow without strife,” the Creator said.
“They can’t grow if they’re dead too,” Andrea said from behind Palan’s back.
“You’re attacking the wrong person if you want to bring your sister back to life, Raea,” the Creator said. “This rage should be directed at Palan, not me. He’s the one stopping me from returning your life back to normal. If only he agreed, then Selena would be standing right here next to you.” He sighed. “Besides, why are you angry at me for the deaths of the halflings and angels? I didn’t tell them to kill each other.”
The golden light dispersed, leaving Raea holding onto Raphael’s charred corpse. The wardrobe in the corner sprouted eyes and a mouth. “You can’t truly kill me, but what you can do is convince Palan. I’ll give you a day. The choice is yours.”