THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"It has been a while, Maria." 

She smiles at me then walks or floats or whatever ghosts can do. When she is in front of me, she caresses my cheek and to y surprise, I can feel the warmth of her hand. This…This feels good in a lot of ways, I have to adm…

Abruptly, Maria slaps me with such brutality that I am thrown to the side, revealing Rebecca.

"What are you doing?!!" 

"It has been a while, my foot!!! You lecherous pervert!! How dare you touch my sisters!!! Even N'donkeu never kissed me no matter what I did!!" Wait, that's your problem? 

"No, no, no. Wait a minute. How do you know that in the first place?" 

"What do you think, idiot?!! I just read your memories!!" 

"Without asking me first?!"

"Why would I ask anything of a pervert who went around and defiled my innocent sister?!!" 

"Defile…No, no, no. There was no… Anyway," This discussion is going everywhere, "aren't you happy to see me? And how did I even end up here anyway?" 

"Shut up!! I don't want to hear any other words from you, pervert!!" 

Sigh…You and Farner are really alike. Does it mean I am the same as N'donkeu? Where is he anyway?

"He is not here and you aren't like him at all."

"Ah…I forgot you can read minds as well." 

"N'donkeu was never a pervert like you. His love was pure and sincere." 

"Which means that you were the pervert then." 

"W-what?" 

"You said he never kissed you no matter what you did. So then you were the-"

Maria launches herself at me and I am forced to run away while she pursues me. 

"I never said that!!"

"But you-"

"I didn't say anything!!!" Those eyes…If I continue, she will kill me before I even know why I am here. 

"Okay, I am sorry. You didn't say anything. I am the only pervert here." 

"Yes!! Exactly!!" 

We go back to the entrance of the tower and I sit on the stairs. 

"So, where is N'donkeu?" 

"Sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Ghosts can sleep?

"He went dormant after restraining the goddess. It's thanks to him that you are both here right now. Though it is thanks to you he was able to locate her so thank you." 

Maria bows to me with elegance then stands back up. Her short skirt waving around as she does. It's almost as if she is truly alive. 

"You pervert." 

"Sorry. Anyway, how is it thanks to me that you found her? What happened?"

"Well, I didn't get everything he said but basically, when you left here, we made you an anchor for our souls to monitor the outside world. Though we could only feel the auras of people around you, it was enough to discern if the goddess was there. It was a dangerous operation because we could have a lot of our power if you were to die. So when we-"

"No, wait. This is going too fast. What do you mean by anchor? And if you guys didn't know, I died. So does it mean you-"

"No, we didn't lose our power, so you didn't die. Or at least, your soul didn't leave your body. Anyway, I didn't get all the specifics either so you will ask him once you meet him at the top of the tower. For now, he only told me that we should hurry and bring this woman's body to the top." 

"What for? Can we kill her? The goddess is inside her right now, right? So if she dies, our problem is solved." 

"No, it will be the complete opposite. A world without a god to manage it will definitively perish, with or without the Longinus. Or at least, that's what N'donkeu said. And he is more clever and less pervert than you so…" What does being a pervert has to do with this?

"Okay, so what? I bring her to the top and then we kill her?" 

"Why are you so adamant about killing her?" 

"She tried to kill me first. I have to pay her back." 

"Yeah, well, mother has always been like this so I would prefer that you don't resent her too much. Also, isn't this person your mother?" 

"And?" 

"Well, I know she abandoned you and all but don't you still love her?" 

"Is that what you think?"

"That's what I found in your heart." 

"Then don't listen to it. My heart is defective and stupid. One time he kills an entire city and somebody's dad. The next moment he falls in love with the daughter of a traitor who tried to kill him."

"Yeah, emotions can be pretty hard to control."

"Anyway, I understand that bringing her to the top will help us so I will do it. Though I don't get how you guys manage to bring me back here. Also, can you bring me back?" 

"I personally can't. You will have to ask N'donkeu when we reach the top." 

"But can't we wait for him to wake up?" 

"I don't know how long it will take. We aren't living beings like before so we can't absorb Angas like before. He will have to wait for Angas to naturally replenish in the room where his body resides before he can reappear again. And like I said, the goddess is only restrained. She could break through in a few seconds or in a few years. I don't know how long they will last so it is better that we hurry." 

"Okay, okay." 

"Ah, yes. You should take my divine gear with you. You won't be able to use it since you aren't a hero but it should be useful to my sisters when we go back." 

So that Raizen is her divine gear then. Ah, yes. I remember now. Farner had it on as well once, when we were fighting that dragon at the eternal academy. It was also glowing the same wa…

"Argh!! Hey!! It hurts, dammit!!!" 

"I have never seen such a pervert in my entire life. How could my sister fall for you, I wonder." 

"I am not a pervert. I never assaulted anyone." In fact, your sister is the pervert. Could it be that…Maria's cold stare reminds me that my life is in her hands at any moment. Such a tyran.