On the first day, God created himself.
On the second day, God created the world.
On the third day, God created the concepts that govern the world.
On the fourth day, God divided the world into nine realms.
On the fifth day, God filled the world with man.
On the sixth day, God was killed by his own creation.
On the seventh day, God was—
***
The boy shrieked and recoiled as soon as he stepped into the main plaza. Stands and bright lights filled the streets well past late hours. Even if it weren't a large-scale festival with totems and loud music, the people of the Active district would make sure something was going on in town.
Today was no different.
Akuma wiped the tears building in his eyes, blinking hard. Then with a quick pull of his hood, he covered his face. He spent a few seconds adjusting the hood, angling it to best guard against the deadly rays. It did little in that regard, but little was still better than nothing.
"Dammit. Dammit!Dammit!"
It wasn't the festivities he was cursing from the bottom of his chest. In this case, the pure concentrated light had been produced by the thing above his head.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, asshole?! Don't you have any social awareness?! Turn that shit off for once!"
Nothing.
Only the sound of laughter, joy and the usual movement that belonged to a town of this size.
In spite of that, Akuma didn't so much as stutter while mouthing off. His body language suggested that he was conversing with someone slightly above him.
"Here I was trying to take it easy today! Yet for some reason you're obsessed with these childish games! Pulling me out of class? For that? A half-assed mission like that?! Seriously, when are you gonna grow up?!"
Even as the words left him, they had a strange taste about them.
Grow up.
Was he even capable of such a thing? If anything, in the three years Akuma had known him, his maturity seemed to plummet by the day. His juvenile appearance was punctuated by the tattered prisoner's onesie he wore—the white and blue striped fabric was damaged by what looked like repeated beatings. And a heavy, metal shackle was cuffed around the entity's left wrist. It was the kind that reeked of labor and violent struggles.
Sometimes, Akuma would wonder if the thing used to be a slave. But then he'd glance over his other qualities and reject the thought.
Akuma sighed. "I mean seriously. Dumping all these mindless errands on me? Why not just do them yourself, dude? I can't imagine someone like you would have any trouble taking out a few scrubs like them."
The entity above him cackled in that same mischievous manner that never failed to grind Akuma's gears. He'd say that he was expecting a response from a brick wall, but comparing him to a brick wall would be tantamount to spitting on a good man. Brick walls usually didn't mock you when you tried to converse with them.
Following a sharp exhale, Akuma buried his hands in his pockets and pushed past the entity. Despite completing yet another of its pointless requests, Akuma was offered no sense of relief.
This time he had to fight a couple of crooks way out of the Active District. About two hours actually. Before that, it was stopping a frivolous man from committing suicide. And before that, giving all his money and prized possessions away to a homeless man in need.
He dared not think what the entity would have him do next.
"Hello, sir! Could I get just a little bit of your time?"
The voice of a cute tan girl pounced on him through the assault of blinding festival lights. She waved a stack of paper in his face. But to Akuma, they might as well have been weapons.
"You look quite exhausted, sir! If I may, I'd recommend you get a Karma reading ASAP!" she said. "Luckily for you, our booth happens to be the best around when it comes to readings! Shall I interest you in one?"
Without so much as waiting for Akuma's response, she proceeded to go on a lengthy rant about all the services her booth provided, insisting that Akuma had to try it. It wasn't just embellishment either. Her words were backed by the dozens of people standing outside her booth.
But seriously. Did she expect him to stand in that line?
"If it's alright with you, what sect order are you currently in?" she asked, snapping Akuma back to reality.
Akuma seemed to think about the answer. "...What if I don't have one?"
Her eyes widened. For a moment, they looked deranged, twisted. "Seriously?! At your age?!" The girl practically shoved the stack of papers in Akuma's nose. "Then it's even more imperative that you get a reading now! Wait too long and the great Angel Sovereigns will smite you for sure!"
Akuma pursed his lips to the side. What she said was technically true; the longer one waited to join a sect, the more they risked losing Karma. Reach zero and calamity was most certain to strike you. In fact, it wasn't uncommon for parents to have their children anointed as early as six years old.
Nonetheless, Akuma waved her off, coldly stepping past her while ensuring that his hood was properly covering his face.
Many more of these so-called "sect recruiters" jumped at the sight of him, eager to get a new face in their churches. If it wasn't a stack of paper being shoved in his face, then it was some kind of "game" or "puzzle" that he rather not trust. The boy navigated the Active District with the elegance of a seasoned vet. The heat of the crowd pressed against him from every angle.
The only thing on his mind was going home and getting some well earned rest. Maybe read some of that manga that's been collecting dust on his shelves for weeks now.
Yeah, that sounded nice.
On cue, childish, almost witch-like cackling could be heard from his side.
"The hell are you laughing about?"
A question he'd never get the answer to. Though, if the entity was laughing like that, then that could only mean Akuma's evening plans of taking it easy weren't going to be so… well… easy.
Soon, the festival ruckus sounded like a distant memory. He had made it to the outskirts of the main plaza of the Active District, where only a few desperate booth owners made shop.
"You there, young man who insists on hiding his pretty little face!" an old and delicate voice called out to Akuma from his flank.
Standing behind the dark entrance of what looked like a large tent, Akuma saw an elderly lady with long grey hair. Her hair had a nice shine to it despite her age, and she walked about without the assistance of a cane of any kind.
"Y–You mean me?" Akuma asked, pointing a finger to himself.
"Why yes, of course. Do you see any other handsome young boys?"
Akuma's eyes narrowed behind the protection of his hood. He wondered if she'd still be saying that if she actually saw his face. Akuma tried not to think too much about it. She'd have said that to anyone if it meant garnering their interest.
Just another booth owner attempting to gain a new customer.
Under normal circumstances, he'd have ignored any attempt made by one of these cultist bastards. But suddenly a terrible headache befell Akuma. He instinctively reached for his temple, messaging it.
"Not this shit again…"
Akuma spent a few seconds easing the hot sensation running through his head. When it finally settled, he took a deep breath.
"Are you serious?" he breathed. "Someone like her?"
His gaze moved over to the entity above him. There was no point in arguing. Even less of a point in thinking too much about it. The thing had never lied before. Surely it had no reason to start now.
It was that certainty that lulled Akuma's feet into the hut.
The entity followed suit, grinning eagerly.
Immediately after ducking into the curtain doors, the sight of various items and antiques decorating the walls didn't hesitate to make their presence known. It was a jarring range of items:
On his right were products you'd usually find in your grandmother's home like doilies and mugs and porcelain cats. On the other side were a mix of cartoonish backpacks and plush keychains. The adjacent wall had the worst kinds of items—relics, icons, sacraments, the likes reserved for the followers of the Sovereigns.
In particular, there was a large statue of one of the 12 Sovereigns sitting atop a wooden shelf. The Faith Sovereign, Michael.
"Why don't you have a seat?" the old lady instructed after reaching the wide table at the back of the hut.
She marched around the counter, taking the seat facing the entrance. Then she retrieved a dome container type of contraption from beneath the table and hauled it atop of the counter.
While motioning for the brass chair propped across from her, Akuma scrutinized the contraption. It had to be something of a gacha roll. From his guess, one of those dispensers that shoot out a prize after twisting the hinge.
After taking a seat, the old lady slid Akuma a sign-in clipboard—24 out of its 30 rows already filled out. Were these the victims that came before him?
"I'll ask that you sign the sheet before we begin," said the old lady.
Akuma shifted in his seat until he was comfortable. "I just got myself situated and you're already telling me to sign some paper? Do you even know if I want a Karma reading yet?"
"I imagine that you naturally abstain from these things, yes? People like you tend to go years, decades even, before joining a sect."
"Oh? So you can tell all that from a glance, huh? Even without seeing my face? You must've been in this business for a long ass time."
The old lady chuckled. "Yes, you can say that."
"That still doesn't change the fact that I'm not interested in your little reading. That kind of thing doesn't benefit me."
"But on the contrary, it does, young man. Without a sect, you won't receive a blessing from any of the Sovereigns. And without a blessing, your Karma is sure to decline rapidly. And we both know what'll happen then… If you won't join a sect, then I recommend you get a Karma reading sooner rather than later. Then you'll at least know how long you have until calamity strikes."
"Is that right…" Akuma leaned back, crossing his arms. "Lemme guess, you happen to give the best Karma readings in town?"
"Oh no, no!" the old lady waved her hands and shook her head. "I don't believe in that. Anyone who says they can give accurate Karma readings is just a con. Why, they're no different from those fake psychics who claim to know your problems and past and ways they can fix them. Even the best prophets are only about 70-75% accurate."
Akuma's brow raised unexpectedly. "So then, you didn't bring me here to give me a reading?"
"Heaven's no! What I offer is a standard practice. Just a little fortune telling is all. But with a twist."
"A twist…?"
"Yes. A game, if you will."
The old lady brought her hand to the large dome object on the counter, caressing its surface.
"This device is something of a sweepstake wheel. As you can see around, there is a long list of potential prizes you can win. I am offering all of them."
"Well now, aren't you a Saint," Akuma whistled. "I'll have to admit, I saw a few items on my way in that's probably worth more than my whole bloodline."
"It's no trouble for me. The good karma I'll receive from this will be more than adequate."
"I see. Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Akuma said. "So then, what kind of game is this exactly? You said 'sweepstake' just now, but what does that entail?"
"Basically, I spin this hinge right here, and a small ticket will come out with the name of the prize written on it. Whichever it says, you keep. If you get something of value, then it means your fortune is good. And vise-verse."
Akuma could sense no lies in her words. She really had intended for this to be a normal, fun and most importantly free activity.
"That's pretty cool and all but I'm not really interested in any of this stuff. Honestly, I'm not really sure why you thought a 17 year old would care about antiques and mascots. Maybe the Sovereign of Faith stuff, but it looks like you already know I couldn't care less about that either."
"Oh no, what's on display aren't the only prizes you can win," the old lady clarified. "There are other things in the back like clothes, cool sneakers and even two tickets at a popular beach resort."
Beach resorts, huh…
What an odd thing to throw into the pile…
From the look of her satisfied smirk, she must've thought that would be the hook that reeled Akuma in. However, he remained visibly uninterested.
"You don't necessarily have to hold on to these items," she continued, her voice shaky. "Many people sell the items they win here for profit. Even you were able to tell of their value, right? Surely a boy like you has things he wants to buy?"
Akuma paused for a moment. "Nah, I'm not really interested in that kind of thing. Is that all?"
The old lady dragged her voice, scrambling for something else. "T–There's also, uhm… limited-edition anime merch and manga."
"Did you say manga?!" Akuma's hands slammed against the counter, his face zipping closer. "You mean I could win something like that here? What kind? What genre? Which mangaka? Is it mainstream? Or underground? What year was it published?"
The old lady jerked her head back reflexively, a bead of sweat creeping across her wrinkles. "Y–Yes… I mean, of course you can! I have all kinds of manga! Quite enticing, yes?"
"You're telling me!" Akuma said with newly found eager eyes. "Where do I sign?!"
The old lady grinned. She now had the same air about her as a fisherman whose line tugged dangerously. All that was left was to reel that baby in.
While tapping against the sign-in sheet, she answered, "Right. Here."
Before thought came to mind, Akuma grabbed a pen from the cup nestled on the edge of the table. He filled out his name and phone number, then moved over to the final row. But his body froze.
The final row demanded for the sect he was currently in.
For a long while, Akuma gazed at the sheet. He'd stared so long that he was starting to remember all the names written down on it.
"Is there an issue, young man?" Her grin curled to her eyes. "Oh, it nearly slipped my mind. You aren't in a sect now are you?" her finger traced the creases of her chin. "I'm so very sorry, but the Faith sect forbids me from enabling the act of atheism. If you wish for a prize, then you'll have to join a sect. Will that be alright?"
Akuma slowly lifted his head to face the woman. She gestured at the large statue of the Faith Sovereign, Michael, behind her.
"I just so happen to have the perfect ceremony tool. If you want, we could begin your baptism now?"
Her grin was like a devil's contract.
"N–No… That's alright…" Akuma said weakly, placing a palm on his temple and gently massaging it. "So that's why you brought me here…"
"What was that, young man?"
"No, not you… Ah, before that, is it alright if I asked about those prizes?"
"Of course. What do you need?"
"Earlier, you said something about being able to win mascots, yeah? Is that still up for grabs? Please say it is."
The old lady was taken back by his sudden change in request. "Uhm… yes it is. Why?"
Akuma's gaze wandered around the hut once more. More accurately, to the side of the hut that displayed various mascot prizes. He was familiar with the Pandota avatar at the center of it. He'd seen it from time to time in the underground mall and a few online streams.
He also happened to know someone absolutely obsessed with the thing. If she had seen this booth, she'd be no different from a gift wrapped up beneath a christmas tree for the old lady.
Given how nice she was, it hurt to write her off as that kind of idiot. But she really was that kind of idiot.
"Perfect. Then I'd like it if you gave me that big one right there," said Akuma, pointing at a child-size panda themed plushie.
The old lady was momentarily speechless. Akuma had the same demeanour as someone carefully picking out an earring at the jewelry store. It was the kind of composure that didn't at all belong to someone "gambling" their fortune.
"Uhm, you do understand how this game works, right?"
"Why wouldn't I? It's not like it's complicated. Or did I miss something?"
Akuma quickly filled out the remaining information on the sheet.
"Akuma Tiryns."
"xxx-xxx-xxxx"
"Faith Sect."
"Ah! So you are in a sect! The same one as me, no less!"
Akuma shrugged. "Yeah, I guess it's something like that. A guy's got his secrets though, y'know."
"I understand. Believe me, I have plenty of secrets myself. But still, a boy like you should do well not to lie. Keep that up and the Sovereign Michael might smite you."
"...I suppose."
The old lady filed away the clipboard without giving it a decent look. With that, the old lady grabbed the wheel's rotating handle and then spun it clockwise a couple times. An old, clockwork kind of sound could be heard. You could tell the inside was spinning from the sound of a few dozen dense balls bouncing inside the frame.
Akuma's eyes were closed and his arms were crossed. He waited patiently until finally, a ticket fell from the dispenser. It read…
"Would you look at that? Looks like lady luck is on my side today. Again."
The old lady's jaw fell agape as her head slowly lifted to face Akuma.
Akuma cast his gaze down at his palm with an empty smile. With that hand, he could cast a certain power that by all standards shouldn't exist in an ordinary and mundane world like this one.
"Yep, this is about as much as it can accomplish in an ordinary world. It's a pretty useless power, all things considered," he sighed. "Now just comes the curse of using it…"
In a forced triumphant manner, Akuma rose from his seat and approached the Pandota plushie pinned on the wall.
"It's not an issue if I just take it, right?"
The old lady did not respond. Or rather, she couldn't respond. Akuma did not let that stop him from retrieving what was rightfully his.
"Sweet. I just know Alice is gonna love this. Pandas might be the one thing that girl loves the most… I just hope she doesn't already have one of these."
Luck so absolute it bordered on fact.
It was no different from how he trusted that if he were to jump, he would surely fall back down. Or that if he were to fall off a 20-story building, he would die without question.
Akuma could feel the old lady's shocked gaze even while walking to the exit of the hut. Glancing back, he saw her reaching for the sign-in sheet that she had stashed earlier, taking a second look at Akuma's name. It was obvious that he was from the Faith sect, but that kind of luck, his Karma had to be absurdly high. If that was the case, then as a fellow high standing member of the Faith sect, she'd be able to recognize his name.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the paper. The clipboard hit the floor with a resonating clink.
"Akuma Tiryns."
"xxx-xxx-xxxx"
"No Sect."
"But that doesn't make any sense…" she murmured. "I know I saw you write it. The Faith sect. I know I saw it! So how? How…?"
Akuma was almost out of the exit when he stopped.
"Chloe White," he said, causing the booth owner to jolt back. "Four accounts of theft. Six accounts of fraud. And three accounts of indoctrination; on your own kids no less. Not at all to mention the scam booth you're running here."
"How do you…"
"You entice desperate and ignorant teens who look like they haven't joined a sect and then give them 'free' gifts. There's just one condition: They have to join the Faith sect. After which, you use the information you collect to harass them into buying more products, this time for real money. All under the guise that it'll increase their Karma."
The old lady—or rather, Chloe White—was rendered immobile. Her pupils dilated and her heart drummed in her chest.
"A–Are you with the police?" her voice came out weaker than intended. "Please, hear me out. I–I didn't mean to… I just… Please don't arrest me–"
"Breathe, Chloe. Breathe. The cops? Me?" Akuma laughed softly. "I couldn't care less about that 'enacting justice' stuff. If anything, I'm on your side. I mean, you're the one playing a dangerous game here, Chloe. Keep doing what you're doing and I'm afraid it'll mess up that good karma you're so desperate to build. And we both know what'll happen then… Ah, who am I kidding."
He turned his head to say one last thing to Chloe White.
"In your case, I guess that warning's a couple years too late, huh…"
Crack!
The sound of the shelf rack behind her snapping rang in her ears. In a blur of motion, the large statue of Michael dropped onto her head and smashed it against the counter. Her Blood splashed across the hut.
Akuma winced, shutting an eye. "Of all the things you could've used, you chose that statue. I swear… Sometimes I feel like you hate these karma-obsessed bastards more than I do."
His gaze turned to the entity. In a perfect mirror, the entity stared back and both of their crimson eyes flashed ominously.
Two pure white wings protruded out of his back and flapped against the air with the dignity of a divine being. Golden light that rivaled the sun's brilliance radiated above his snow white hair. The shine reached even the shackle on his wrist. Its wings cradled around its small body, as if it were trying to conceal the bruises beneath.
Even now, he was wearing that trademark grin that showed all his teeth.
"So much for an angel."