Do you want to become a Magi?

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

There was a profound silence for several minutes. Smoke hovered in the air as the child contemplated her options.

A wish was on offer. Extracurricular to the company. An opportunity to get or do whatever she wanted. With this, she could bathe in as much blood as she pleased, break her contract, she could even see that child again...

Anything at all...? Tch. You drive a hard bargain.

Yet, there was hesitation. The child knew the stipulations of her contract. She knew something like this wouldn't fly. And besides...

Who would look after Sinclair, Dante- Don Quixote? With an all-too-casual flick of ash, she declared her answer to the little animal's offer.

I'll decline for now. S.T.D.

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

Oh hey, you're that cat that was staring at me in the yard earlier, right? You can talk. Huh.

.... I get the feeling you're the reason Yuri and Heathcliff got those weird outfits, so you're probably not pulling my leg.

.......

Hey. Everyone who's hurt me in the past. Everyone who'll hurt me in the future, who's hurting me currently.

You feel a sharp pain in your chest, like your ribs are being crushed. You see a light rise up from where your heart would be, which gives way to a cobalt blue gem in silver casing, with a lightning bolt symbol atop it.

As it falls into your hands, you take note of how cold it is. Like it's taking the heat from the surrounding air to fuel its glow.

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

Oh hey, you're that cat that was staring at me in the yard earlier, right? You can talk. Huh.

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

- @make-a-contract-pjm

You feel a strong pain in your chest, as if something threatens to burst forth from it. As you fall to the floor, you see a light rise up from where your heart would be, giving way to a jade gem in gold casing, with a petal symbol atop it.

Next to the Gem is a small jade. You feel compelled to look into it.

(Vague Canto 8 spoilers below)

[Even as Hong Lu is in pain he is quite graceful with his stumbling. There's small gasps drawn from him as his balance wavers. The man's hands moves to claw at his chest as his knees weaken.]

[A process more painful than any physical wound Hong Lu has received. The Sinner slowly opens his eyes to find himself on his hands and knees, hair cascading around him.]

[When had he fallen on the ground?]

{references to canto 8 but not direct spoilers to any events. under read more to be safe}

Kyubey walks closer to Hong Lu, sitting down next to one of his hands.

[Hong Lu offers his hand to Kyubey to show off the ring displayed on his middle finger. There is a petal design on that finger to signify the soul gem's camouflage.]

Kuybey leans his head into Hong Lu's hand, nuzzling it as a cat would.

Think of it as your potential, drawn out and made solid. You can use it to sense when a Witch is nearby, as well as transform into a form more suitable for fighting. It has to be on your person at all times, however; you can't access your magic once it's too far away.

Kyubey lets out a small "hmm."

[There's a tugging feeling, and all of the sudden Hong Lu feels weightless. The world around him shifts as a coldness travels across his body-- it feels as if he's been plunged in lukewarm water. And when the coldness dissipates, Hong Lu feels as if he's hyper aware of the world around him. Something brushes his fingers and he reflexively grabs it, pulling it close.]

[And then Hong Lu opens his eyes, gasping for air as if he just had an intense exercise. The Sinner finds himself standing. In his hands is a weapon he's never seen before, a polearm with a flat spade on one end and a crescent blade on the other. As if to test it, the man twirls the weapon. It balances well in his hands.]

What... What was that?

[Hong Lu feels much colder than before, looking down he very quickly realizes why. His clothing has drastically changed. What Hong Lu could only describe as a butchered hanfu decorates his body. It's almost as if someone explained to a clothing designer some core features of a hanfu yet somehow the designer completely misunderstood the assignment and styled the outfit based on an ideal of feminine cuteness. The entire garb is cut much too short with an excess of frills and fluff. There is a blue and white color scheme as if to display an image of purity. That jade with a red cord decorates the belt of the hanfu, and Hong Lu can't help but be thankful that his new possession hasn't strayed far even after transforming.]

[Hong Lu raises a hand up to his head. His hair is fully tied up into a ponytail, and by feeling... It seems to be decorated by flowers. How curious. He keeps feeling around to see if anything has drastically changed. Ears? Completely fine. Neck? Nothing clamped around it. Cheeks? There's something smooth under Hong Lu's jade eye. The edges feel metallic, yet Hong Lu finds himself unable to slip a fingernail under the item to pull it away. By the shape, it almost feels like a teardrop, yet... The memory of the petal outline returns to Hong Lu's mind. Is this that petal that was on that gem?]

[Ah... This is such a unique experience Hong Lu has been blessed with.]

[Hong Lu seems to focus on it a bit before pointing in a direction, they are in his room so he's likely pointing at a random wall instead of anything substantial.]

Kyubey goes to leave the room, gesturing with his tail for Hong Lu to follow.

[Hong Lu confidently follows the alien, seeming uncaring that another Sinner could possibly see him in such garb.]

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

- @make-a-contract-pjm

You feel a strong pain in your chest, as if something threatens to burst forth from it. As you fall to the floor, you see a light rise up from where your heart would be, giving way to a jade gem in gold casing, with a petal symbol atop it.

Next to the Gem is a small jade. You feel compelled to look into it.

(Vague Canto 8 spoilers below)

[Even as Hong Lu is in pain he is quite graceful with his stumbling. There's small gasps drawn from him as his balance wavers. The man's hands moves to claw at his chest as his knees weaken.]

[A process more painful than any physical wound Hong Lu has received. The Sinner slowly opens his eyes to find himself on his hands and knees, hair cascading around him.]

[When had he fallen on the ground?]

{references to canto 8 but not direct spoilers to any events. under read more to be safe}

Kyubey walks closer to Hong Lu, sitting down next to one of his hands.

[Hong Lu offers his hand to Kyubey to show off the ring displayed on his middle finger. There is a petal design on that finger to signify the soul gem's camouflage.]

Kuybey leans his head into Hong Lu's hand, nuzzling it as a cat would.

Think of it as your potential, drawn out and made solid. You can use it to sense when a Witch is nearby, as well as transform into a form more suitable for fighting. It has to be on your person at all times, however; you can't access your magic once it's too far away.

Kyubey lets out a small "hmm."

[There's a tugging feeling, and all of the sudden Hong Lu feels weightless. The world around him shifts as a coldness travels across his body-- it feels as if he's been plunged in lukewarm water. And when the coldness dissipates, Hong Lu feels as if he's hyper aware of the world around him. Something brushes his fingers and he reflexively grabs it, pulling it close.]

[And then Hong Lu opens his eyes, gasping for air as if he just had an intense exercise. The Sinner finds himself standing. In his hands is a weapon he's never seen before, a polearm with a flat spade on one end and a crescent blade on the other. As if to test it, the man twirls the weapon. It balances well in his hands.]

What... What was that?

[Hong Lu feels much colder than before, looking down he very quickly realizes why. His clothing has drastically changed. What Hong Lu could only describe as a butchered hanfu decorates his body. It's almost as if someone explained to a clothing designer some core features of a hanfu yet somehow the designer completely misunderstood the assignment and styled the outfit based on an ideal of feminine cuteness. The entire garb is cut much too short with an excess of frills and fluff. There is a blue and white color scheme as if to display an image of purity. That jade with a red cord decorates the belt of the hanfu, and Hong Lu can't help but be thankful that his new possession hasn't strayed far even after transforming.]

[Hong Lu raises a hand up to his head. His hair is fully tied up into a ponytail, and by feeling... It seems to be decorated by flowers. How curious. He keeps feeling around to see if anything has drastically changed. Ears? Completely fine. Neck? Nothing clamped around it. Cheeks? There's something smooth under Hong Lu's jade eye. The edges feel metallic, yet Hong Lu finds himself unable to slip a fingernail under the item to pull it away. By the shape, it almost feels like a teardrop, yet... The memory of the petal outline returns to Hong Lu's mind. Is this that petal that was on that gem?]

[Ah... This is such a unique experience Hong Lu has been blessed with.]

[Hong Lu seems to focus on it a bit before pointing in a direction, they are in his room so he's likely pointing at a random wall instead of anything substantial.]

Kyubey goes to leave the room, gesturing with his tail for Hong Lu to follow.

If you could make one wish, anything at all, in exchange for fighting against those who would bring despair to humanity.... would you?

- @make-a-contract-pjm

You feel a strong pain in your chest, as if something threatens to burst forth from it. As you fall to the floor, you see a light rise up from where your heart would be, giving way to a jade gem in gold casing, with a petal symbol atop it.

Next to the Gem is a small jade. You feel compelled to look into it.

(Vague Canto 8 spoilers below)

[Even as Hong Lu is in pain he is quite graceful with his stumbling. There's small gasps drawn from him as his balance wavers. The man's hands moves to claw at his chest as his knees weaken.]

[A process more painful than any physical wound Hong Lu has received. The Sinner slowly opens his eyes to find himself on his hands and knees, hair cascading around him.]

[When had he fallen on the ground?]

{references to canto 8 but not direct spoilers to any events. under read more to be safe}

Kyubey walks closer to Hong Lu, sitting down next to one of his hands.

[Hong Lu offers his hand to Kyubey to show off the ring displayed on his middle finger. There is a petal design on that finger to signify the soul gem's camouflage.]

Kuybey leans his head into Hong Lu's hand, nuzzling it as a cat would.

Think of it as your potential, drawn out and made solid. You can use it to sense when a Witch is nearby, as well as transform into a form more suitable for fighting. It has to be on your person at all times, however; you can't access your magic once it's too far away.

Kyubey lets out a small "hmm."

[There's a tugging feeling, and all of the sudden Hong Lu feels weightless. The world around him shifts as a coldness travels across his body-- it feels as if he's been plunged in lukewarm water. And when the coldness dissipates, Hong Lu feels as if he's hyper aware of the world around him. Something brushes his fingers and he reflexively grabs it, pulling it close.]

[And then Hong Lu opens his eyes, gasping for air as if he just had an intense exercise. The Sinner finds himself standing. In his hands is a weapon he's never seen before, a polearm with a flat spade on one end and a crescent blade on the other. As if to test it, the man twirls the weapon. It balances well in his hands.]

What... What was that?

[Hong Lu feels much colder than before, looking down he very quickly realizes why. His clothing has drastically changed. What Hong Lu could only describe as a butchered hanfu decorates his body. It's almost as if someone explained to a clothing designer some core features of a hanfu yet somehow the designer completely misunderstood the assignment and styled the outfit based on an ideal of feminine cuteness. The entire garb is cut much too short with an excess of frills and fluff. There is a blue and white color scheme as if to display an image of purity. That jade with a red cord decorates the belt of the hanfu, and Hong Lu can't help but be thankful that his new possession hasn't strayed far even after transforming.]

[Hong Lu raises a hand up to his head. His hair is fully tied up into a ponytail, and by feeling... It seems to be decorated by flowers. How curious. He keeps feeling around to see if anything has drastically changed. Ears? Completely fine. Neck? Nothing clamped around it. Cheeks? There's something smooth under Hong Lu's jade eye. The edges feel metallic, yet Hong Lu finds himself unable to slip a fingernail under the item to pull it away. By the shape, it almost feels like a teardrop, yet... The memory of the petal outline returns to Hong Lu's mind. Is this that petal that was on that gem?]

[Ah... This is such a unique experience Hong Lu has been blessed with.]

- @voice-of-ego-a