Chapter 8: 06 – Basic Necessities

Amara was tempted to tease her but decided against it. She watched as Ezme attempted to get her face under control for a moment before she asked “Hey, is it possible for me to get a bed in here?”

 

Ezme turned back to face Amara beamingly. “Certainly! I suppose the idea is that you’re meant to get the things you want yourself; but since you’re new and all, I’ll lower myself to do such mundane tasks just this once.” Ezme’s tone became condescending towards the end.

 

Ezme closed her eyes and hummed for a moment before she snapped her fingers and it seemed like the space folded out of itself. Amara’s eyes couldn’t register in detail what was happening before a series of catalogues began pouring out of the thin air. With the sound of pages flapping, they fell down from the rift in the air and landed on the floor. After a few seconds the torrent of paperbacks stopped; a small pile that reached her thighs was left behind.

 

Amara stood up and went to the pile and started looking at the catalogues, many of which came from brands she recognized from Earth. She also noticed that mixed in, there were several that looked completely unfamiliar; different kinds of paper she wasn’t familiar with, some inside leather folders and some only a bundle of drawings.

 

And they weren’t limited to only beds either, there were catalogues for everything – all kinds of furniture, clothes and other things.

 

“You can pick anything you want from here. But first, we need to change your outfit!”(Ezme)

Amara frowned. “Why?”

 

“I told you, we’re short on time! The time when the armistice will be put in place is soon; as such you need to meet with your opponent and the overseer!” Ezme happily explained.

“Why do I need to meet with them then?”(Amara)

 

“What do you mean why? It was one of the clauses! Once everything is agreed upon, the representatives – in other words, the champions – will meet upon the mortal world, where the overseer will stand witness as the champions swear to adhere to the rules!” Ezme conjured another rift and a series of clothes were flying out – most of which were dresses.

 

“How can I swear to adhere to the rules if I don’t know them?! That clause definitely wasn’t in that pamphlet!” Amara retorted angrily. Is she really insane, or purposefully pulling my leg when these situations occur? I can't tell.

 

“Oh, right. Those weren’t all the clauses, just the ones I thought important.” Ezme hummed as she went to the newly arrived pile of clothes and pulled out a frilly maid outfit. She held it in her hands and tilted her head as she let the dress cover her line of sight of Amara’s body.

I’m definitely not wearing that. You can sue me if you want. But fortunately Ezme threw it away and turned back to the rest of the clothes before she needed to say it out loud.

Amara let out a despondent sigh. “Meeting with a god and a demon lord isn’t considered important?”

 

“Hmm. I suppose it is.” Another dress was pulled out of the pile, and similarly got discarded. “But stop sweating it so much! It’s not like it’s the first time you’re pulled along into someone else’s whims!” (Ezme)

 

“...Is that supposed to make me feel better?” (Amara)

 

“Well, maybe not. But maybe it would help you find the right mindset moving forward?” (Ezme)

 

Amara watched as Ezme progressively went through the clothes as she thought. She understood where Ezme was coming from, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Getting pulled into someone else’s war. It sucked. 

 

But like Ezme said, she was better off just accepting her situation. She already thought she had, but it was probably more accurate that she had understood it. If she wanted to move forward, she’d need to come to terms with it eventually. But right now, no part of her wanted to. Even if everything indeed felt very real, she felt like she was dreaming.

 

“Perfect!” Ezme chirped as she looked up from the pile of clothes. It was a long, ¾ sleeve black dress. Although Amara had never been into long dresses, she felt it suited her style.

 

“Why the dress up anyway?” Amara asked as the dress came flying at her.

 

“What do you mean why? You’re meeting with the enemy! And you’re representing heaven at an official meeting! You need to look strong, graceful, confident! Never show weakness!” Ezme raised her closed fist next to her face, raising a finger for each adjective she exclaimed, before pointing at Amara and continued in a joking tone. “Even if you could only be said to embody one of those properties.”

 

Ouch. You bitch. 

 

Amara smiled and shook her head before she walked towards the alcove with dress in hand, but heard Ezme calling out from behind her. “Forget something?”

 

Confused, Amara turned and looked at Ezme, who with a wry smile, held out a set of matching black undergarments.

 

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Once Amara returned, Ezme had found a pair of boots as well and looked at Amara as she clapped her hands enthusiastically. “It suits you! Here, take a look!”

Ezme waved at a large full length mirror by the wall that wasn't there before, which looked antique with it’s adorned gold. Probably very expensive. 

 

Curiously, every reflective surface Amara had seen in the silver city was curved, aside from the floor. Neither of the two cases served well for getting a good look at her full appearance.

 

Amara walked to the mirror and looked at the slender figure it showed her. A dress with modest cleavage over an average bosom that fell freely from her waist to her ankles. She raised her gaze to her reflected face.

 

Straight eyebrows above her green eyes. Followed by a small nose and thin lips. And as she had suspected, all her birthmarks were gone. 

 

The look felt very unnatural compared to what she was used to. 

 

Amara's eyes turned and looked at Ezme through the mirror. “You said it’s possible to change my body?”

 

Ezme tilted her head and raised her fist to her cheek and tapped the corner of her eye with a finger. “It’s possible. Difficult though. Depends on what you want to do. It’s easy for us angels, as we’re more spiritual in nature. Someone just figured out it was convenient to have a physical body at some point.”

 

Amara frowned. “You don’t have bodies unless you create them for yourselves?”

 

Ezme smiled and returned Amara’s gaze in the mirror. “Yup. It’s pretty handy, can’t die from something silly like tripping out into the street and face-trucking.” 

 

Amara turned and looked Ezme straight in the eyes. “I didn’t trip now, did I?”

 

Ezme's smile grew higher. “Who said I was talking about you? Damn human arrogance.”

 

Amara sighed. Well played.

 

Amara gestured towards Ezme’s wings. “Think I could change my body so I have wings like yours?”

 

Ezme’s eyes grew wide. “It should be possible, but I’m not sure how it would work exactly. Nor do I know if the end result would work as intended.” The angel let out a depressed sigh. “But you would earn the scorn of pretty much all the angels if you succeeded. They’d call you a cheap imitation, if they were feeling kind.” 

 

Ezme’s voice turned haughty as she smiled. “Besides, it’d be impossible for you to have wings like mine. My wings are beautiful.”

 

“Yeah they are.” Amara smiled. Step one, get to the appropriate distance to your prey.

 

Ezme’s face flushed faintly at the unexpected praise and didn’t respond. Her wings twitched gently.

 

Nawh, she’s self-conscious now. Too easy. Step two.

 

“Can I touch them?” Amara asked with a gentle smile.

 

Ezme’s face flushed more and turned to look away as she crossed her arms. Eventually her internal struggle had it’s conclusion. “Fine.”

 

Step three. Victory.