Angel

“It’s a trap…”

Sunflower’s mind buzzed, searching for an escape.
The religion, the “wish,” the soft voice of the Angel—none of it had anything to do with them. This was a lure.

She forced herself to speak first, hoping to signal Lance and Ruby not to accept.

“We are honored,” Sunflower said carefully. “But surely there is someone more deserving than us. You will cross paths with him soon, Your Grace.”

Lance caught her serious expression and understood at once: follow her lead, say nothing.

But the Angel wasn’t stupid. She didn’t need to trap the whole group—only one heart.

And the seed she had planted finally spoke.

“Can you really… fulfil any wish?” Ruby whispered.

“Shut up, Ru—” Sunflower’s warning was cut short.
A violent gust hurled her forward. She hit the ground several meters away, alive but far enough that her voice could no longer reach Ruby.

Lance’s fingers twitched. He wanted to enter the Void, to strike back—but Sunflower’s warning rang in his head. He held still.

Ruby stared at the place where Sunflower had vanished. Fear crept up his spine.

Then the Angel descended. She passed Lance as though he were invisible and stopped directly before the boy.

“Yes, my dear child,” the Angel murmured, voice warm as silk. “Anything you desire shall come before you. I stand to witness it.”

Lance’s heart hammered. She was faster than his eyes could track.
Up close she looked almost human: a white dress, golden hair dancing in the high wind, irises like molten light, pale skin over a delicate face.
But the power radiating from her was anything but human.

Sunflower was already sprinting back, using hand signs only Lance could see.
“Attack her.”

Lance’s stomach knotted. Attack her? How? She had just crossed the field in an instant. His magic was unstable. He had no weapon.

Sunflower’s fingers formed a shape: Rock.

She wants me to use the meteor again.
He closed his eyes. I should trust her judgement.

Meanwhile Ruby stood trembling under the Angel’s smile.

“No matter how absurd the wish,” she said softly, “it shall be granted.”

Ruby’s eyes widened.

“C-can you bring back the dead?”

The holy being inclined her head in a slow, deliberate nod.

“Then… can you bring back my friend Mi—”

The sky darkened.

Everything around Ruby began to drop. Shadows swallowed the field as Lance’s meteor took shape above them.

He and Sunflower had already moved outside the impact zone. Ruby was still inside it—Sunflower’s orders had been clear: do not pull him out.

The Angel had closed her eyes when Ruby began his wish. She could not grant it with her eyes shut. During those few seconds she sensed Ruby stop speaking. She opened her eyes—and the heavens were black.

A burning mass roared down from above.

Why didn’t my body warn me? How did this get so close?

She calmed herself.

The meteor struck.
Winds ripped across the plain. Dust rose in a choking wall.

Lance and Sunflower braced outside the range, staring at the smoke.

“What about Ruby?” Lance asked.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine,” Sunflower replied, though her own eyes stayed fixed on the impact.

As the haze thinned, a golden glow pulsed from the crater.

The Angel stood at its center, unhurt. Ruby was beside her.
They had carved straight through the falling rock as if it were water.

“A funny trick,” she said, voice still gentle. “I can’t even lie—I was scared for a second. No wonder my body didn’t warn me.”

Lance’s fists clenched. Why didn’t it work?

Bits of the meteor were being shredded by the swirling wind, dissolving piece by piece. Moments later it was gone. Even the ground beneath it was smooth, untouched.

“No crater…” Lance whispered.

Sunflower said nothing. She could no longer tell if the meteor was weak or the Angel simply too strong.

The holy being turned to Ruby as though nothing had happened.

“Speak what you desire, child of the sky.”

Ruby’s lips trembled. A moment ago the offer had sounded tempting. Now, after almost dying, it felt hollow.

“What are the conditions?” he asked, edging backwards. “What do I have to do for you to grant my wish?”

“Conditions?” Her smile widened. “There are no conditions. It is a gift. For remembrance.”

Sunflower didn’t move. If she tried to interfere again the Angel might kill her outright.
Lance stared, still in denial. Reality was harsher than any warning.

Ruby dropped his gaze.

“I… I cannot ask for a wish I do not deserve.”

In his heart a single name echoed—Ming.
He had wanted her back. But now he understood: this was impossible.

Sunflower let out a slow breath. It’s over.

The Angel’s smile curved higher, almost too wide for her face.

“Oh, ignorant child. An Angel accepts two kinds of wishes.”

Her voice grew honeyed, dangerous.

“A wish spoken by honest words…”

A pause.

“…and a wish spoken by the heart.”