"I... I need to know more." - Said Lucas, after a long pause.
"Of course." - Said the being.
"Do I get to keep my free will? My service to Neruite? My... My freedom? Basically... What would it entail?"
The being smiled lightly.
"You did not bow before me." - There was no malice in the voice, no demand. Indeed, the being said that as if it were an amusing fact.
"Yeah, sorry, I only bow before people I plan on messing up later." - Said Lucas, carefully.
"I am aware. Lucas, free will is at the very core of what makes reality real. At the basis of the wish for something interesting to happen, my dear angel, is free will. No free will, no 'interesting'. May I take a look at your sword?"
Lucas obliged.
The being held her sword as if he/she had been its owner a long time ago.
"What do you recall from when Aphrodite took you, Lucas... To witness creation?"
"Someone wished for something interesting to happen... And... And, well, the universe was made." - Said Lucas.
"This sword was bonded to you. John holds the Earth Stone, Adam the Air Bubble, Johanna the Fire Element. Lucas, I could not remove your free will if I wanted to."
"But... But you're God! I mean... A god... Or... I... Okay, incidentally, could you please tell me which one is correct? Because I'm pretty sure some people could use the..."
"And you would enlighten them? On your word?" - Asked the being, again in a "good fun" tone.
"...oh. Fuck. Er, sorry." - Said Lucas.
"Cultures..." - Said the being - "...define right and wrong and, sometimes, make some things sins. And I will not, Lucas, tell you personally what is right and what is wrong. Because, again, free will."
"But angels don't really have free will..." - Said Lucas - "Well, the mythical ones. There was one, and that was Lucifer... I mean... REALLY not a good model. I'm afraid. I'm powerful enough as it is... Besides the corruption with power thing, where I could become a horrible threat, there's always just going Doctor Manhattan and saying fuck the mortals, I'm gonna make my own creation..."
"You are assuming such a change would give you more power to do harm. Your sword, Lucas, is already among the four most powerful things in the universe. It represents potential. Unbridled, unlimited, endless potential for unforeseen developments and consequences. You already have the mobility, as well, in the form of Wings."
"So... I mean, what are you offering me?"
"As an angel, you would have free transit through the veil. You would not be able to tell anyone what lies beyond it. You would also be able to phase like a spirit by concentrating for a moment. You would not be alive. Or dead. Or undead. You would just... be." - Said the being.
"But... My friends, my girlfriend..." - Said Lucas - "My goddess..."
"None of that would change." - Said the being.
"That sounds like a very sweet deal for me. What do you get out of it?"
"Your help. Not your unwilling help, no. I get to tell you of things that need to be changed, things that need to be protected. I get to show you where you are needed. And I know you will always accept to help... Not because anyone said anything. But because of who you are."
"So... Basically, I become an angel and have to help more around the house, so to speak?"
"There is something else as well." - Said the being - "You have to guide this world... To help shape this world as part of it. As the part of potential, of freedom, of breaking limits, of crossing boundaries, the changing of fates. You will have a job of your own. You will be a guide for this new world, Lucas, with all that entails."
"A guide? What??? Look, you do realize I nearly destroyed all of creation? Shit, in retrospect, I'd think you'd be pissed at me, and there you are, acting like I'm sensible... I'm not! I'm not worthy of this power..." - Said Lucas.
The being smiled.
"I'm sorry... You broke barriers. You did nearly destroy the Universe and then turned around and saved it. And you are free. You have power to represent some things. Freedom, the chaos, the breaking of barriers. You are, basically, the opposite of Terminus, especially for that new game world... it will be your duty to help that world with such things. As an angel. If I deemed you unworthy, Lucas, rest assured you would not be offered these terms."
"Well... How should I do that?" - Asked Lucas.
"Wings. Wings will show you how." - Said the being. Lucas's sword glowed for a moment - "There. It will open a new room in Wings... The Crucible of Potential, the Room of Fate Undone. There you will learn how to help this world. How to guide it without lording over it. Because, Lucas, yes. Wings was made for you. It was made for you to give wings to everyone."
"I... I accept." - Said Lucas, finally.
And it was the single most important thing she said in her existence.
