Personal Log — Elowen
The Heavens were silent, save for a voice like rolling thunder that echoed through the Ivory Halls.
I stood tall, my shimmering white wings tucked neatly behind me. Before me, a massive celestial screen flickered to life, displaying a photo of a boy with messy hair and tired, kind eyes.
"Elowen," the Great Voice boomed. "Five centuries of service have led to this. Your next task is Ren Kurogane. He is a soul of rare kindness, but the world has been heavy on him. Go. Heal his heart. Give him a reason to smile. Become his friend.
I nodded once, my expression stoic. "Understood."
In a flash of light, my silk gown dissolved into a simple coat and skirt. My wings vanished, and my halo faded into the ether. Suddenly, a leather satchel dropped from the void above. I caught it mid-air before it could hit the marble floor.
"This bag contains the data reports you will need for this mission," the Voice added.
I slung the strap over my shoulder and stepped toward a door pulsing with yellow light. One second, I was in the halls of the infinite; the next, the soles of my shoes met the cracked pavement of a dark mortal street.
The transition wasn't new to me. I had been healing humans for centuries, but the air here always felt... heavier. I watched the golden doorway vanish into the shadows and began to walk.
I was barely three blocks into the city, my eyes glued to the report in my hands.
Okay, so he's a human with a soul worth protecting, I noted, flipping a page. But he's buried under guilt and walls. He has a silent kindness he doesn't even realize exists…
Before I could finish the thought, I felt a solid thud.
Someone had stepped intentionally into my path, causing me to bump right into them. I looked up. Three shadows blocked the way.
"Hey, hey," the first one said, a greasy smirk twisting his lips. "Where are you going in such a hurry, gorgeous?"
The second one leaned in, the stench of cheap cigarettes hitting me like a physical wall. "Give us your number. We just want to talk. Don't be shy."
I stopped. I didn't feel fear—just the weary patience of someone watching toddlers misbehave.
"I have somewhere to be," I said, my voice flat. "Move."
They laughed, a harsh, grating sound. The leader reached out, his fingers tightening around my wrist. "Relax. Don't be like—"
I sighed. It was a soft, tired sound. I had watched empires crumble for less than this.
"Very well," I murmured. "You chose the difficult path."
Before he could blink, my body blurred. This wasn't a brawl; it was surgery. With the reports still clutched in one hand, I tapped his solar plexus.
Thud. He hit the ground like a sack of flour.
"Brax!" the second guy shouted, his face reddening with shock. "You bastard!"
He swung a wild punch at my head. I pivoted, dodging the blow with a fraction of an inch to spare. With a flick of my wrist, I struck a pressure point on his shoulder.
Thud. The third guy lunged, swinging blindly. I caught his wrist, twisted it just enough to make his knees buckle, and tapped his forehead.
Thud. Three men now littered the sidewalk, unconscious and dreaming. I adjusted my sleeve, making sure not a single hair was out of place.
"Humans," I muttered, looking down at them. "Some things never change in five hundred years."
I kept walking, scanning the area with a growing sense of frustration. "Ren... where are you?"
I walked past a small park, then stopped. I took three steps backward and looked again. There, under the orange glow of the setting sun, sat a lone bench.
There he was. Ren.
He sat with his head down and shoulders slumped. He looked fragile—as if a strong wind might break him. I unzipped my bag, pulled out his photo, and looked back and forth between the paper and the boy. Confirmed.
My "warrior mode" vanished instantly. My eyes softened, and my heart gave a strange little twitch.
Aww... poor thing. You look so lonely.
I took a deep breath, smoothing my skirt and practicing a "normal human smile" in my head. Don't worry, I told myself. I'm a professional at healing people. Just be as friendly as the records say, Ren.
I stepped onto the grass, my footsteps silent. He didn't even look up. As I got closer, I noticed a pen poking out of his jeans pocket. A mischievous thought flashed through my mind.
I pointed a finger subtly toward the pocket. Come on... The pen wiggled, then stopped. I frowned, closing my eyes to lock in my focus. I pointed again, putting a bit more celestial weight behind it. Finally, the pen slid out and clattered onto the grass.
"Yes!" I whispered to myself, excitement bubbling up.
I leaned down, picked it up, and cleared my throat. "Hey... you dropped this."
Ren looked up, blinking. He looked caught off guard, his eyes searching mine. "I... didn't..."
I shrugged, offering a faint smile. "Are you sure it isn't yours?"
He checked his pocket, his eyes widening in realization. As he reached out to take it, our fingers brushed. For a fleeting second, I felt a spark of connection pass between us.
"Thank you," he muttered.
"No problem," I said. Then, I gestured to the empty space beside him. "Um... is anyone sitting here?"
Ren glanced up. "...No."
"Okay." I sat down, making sure to leave a respectful gap between us.
Silence followed. A few seconds felt like minutes. I had to keep the momentum going.
"You come here often?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Ren frowned slightly. "Not really."
"Ah... same," I lied quickly. "I just... needed some quiet."
He didn't respond, but he didn't get up to leave either. I looked at a small bird hopping on the pavement in front of us. It tilted its head, looking back at us.
I leaned forward slightly. "Look at that," I murmured. "Even that bird looks like it's judging us for being so quiet."
Ren paused. Then, to my surprise, a small laugh escaped him. "Heh... that's my joke."
I turned to him, feigning shock. "Oh? You know this one too?"
"Yeah," he said, a faint smirk finally forming. "I was about to say it."
I crossed my arms, pretending to be deep in thought. "Hmm... then we have a problem."
"A problem?"
"Yeah," I nodded seriously. "Because that means it's actually my joke. I'm going to patent it. No copyright allowed."
Ren stared at me for a moment, then he really laughed. Not a polite chuckle, but a real, genuine sound that reached his eyes.
"...You're weird," he said, shaking his head.
I smiled. A small, genuine one this time. It's working…
Ren looked at me again, but this time he didn't look away. "By the way... what's your name?"
My eyes widened for a split second. I hadn't expected him to ask so soon. A faint warmth stirred as I softened my expression.
Step one… complete. I thought.
"Elowen," I said gently, before adding after a brief pause, "Elowen Shirogane."
"...Elowen Shirogane," Ren repeated quietly, careful not to get it wrong.
I watched him for a moment—the way his shoulders eased just a little, the way that small smile appeared… and faded almost instantly. So fragile.
My gaze lowered slightly. Five hundred years. Countless people. This should have been no different.
…And yet—
Something about this one felt different. I couldn't quite explain it.
For now… I would simply observe.