#personal indulgence

Everything looked so strange! Something had to have gone wrong... right?

She blinked in the unfamiliar light. Very unsure of how she even appeared there on the breezeway. The sky was hazy in perpetual dusk so it made it even harder to discern time.

A loud crash broke the stillness. That shook her out of her confusion. Panicked she looked for a spot to hide. This place was huge! Thankfully there were plenty of places. Jumping down to the ground she moved behind a column as a youth rounded the corner at full speed.

He had to have seen her as his pace had slowed a bit. “What are you doing there?” Quickly he shook his head and glanced back over his shoulder considering. “Come with me!” He held out his hand.

She hesitated and then reached back. But her fingers brushed through his hand. She pulled back holding it to her chest frowning. “What are you?” He was curious now. Instead of answering she jumped back up onto the breezeway.

“C’mon. We need to get out of here before he finds me.” Both headed around the building towards the back.

The place was immense. After many minutes they finally stop now surrounded in a garden with more places to hide should this mysterious pursuer show up.

“What are you? Do you have a name?” The kid bounced from one foot to the other curiosity written all over. He didn’t appear more than 7-8 standard years, but appearances are deceptive.

“I don’t have one.”

“Really? Everyone has a name!”

She shook her head. She really didn’t. He frowned. “I can’t go calling you ‘Hey you’ either. I’m gonna call you Fairy for now, ok?” “Ok.”

And that was how it was. For days that followed they ran around together, playing and getting into mischief. Somethings were difficult as her hands passed through things when trying to play so the kid had to help move pieces around when playing games like chess.

She got to see who was chasing them. The kid’s pursuer ended up being a nanny of sorts. He claimed that the person was actually his butler, but really they seemed to act more like a nanny or companion of sorts. He didn’t see her at all. There were times where it was uncanny how he looked directly at her, but no recognition.

It was also confirmed of the three realms that she had ended up in Devildom. And it wasn’t as scary as previously described.

Every so often she would disappear- recalled for her actual duty. Disappearing for decades at a time. In between showing up back at the castle seeking out the youth who she considered a friend now. And always when he seemed to need her the most.

“Hey Fairy, what do you do? When you disappear like you do? You leave for a long time.” His voice held no accusation, merely loneliness.

“I have an actual job you know. I don’t look like this either.” She gestured to her form. Somehow she looked smaller when she visited.

“What do you know about the Nameless in the Celestial Realm, Dia?”

Diavolo blinked in surprise. Fairy’s sudden disappearances had led him to believe she wasn’t human, but he wouldn’t have expected her to be from there.

“I’m vaguely familiar with the hierarchy, but I don’t recall ever hearing about Nameless.” He looked thoughtful.

“Nameless are a small number of us who participate in having our spirits enter the Human realm. Our physical forms are still in the Celestial realm. We live a life and report back to our Creator. Our experiences are records and shared with them.”

“Do you remember any of your previous lives?”

“No...once we report back it is like a clean slate. I remember things from being in the Celestial realm, but not my human selves. I suppose I could read up on them. Most of the experiences are available to others. I usually do not.”

Diavolo nodded. “That’s kind of sad actually. So have you figured out why you keep showing up here? It’s not like you were given a guardian angel position or something.” A sad smile crossed his face that she almost missed. Demons had no need for such things huh?

One evening, he begged her for a story. Any story. Something was changing, they both could sense that. So she spun a tale- not feeling confident about her storytelling skills. A prince awaiting saving. Unimaginable sadness. Friendship and joy.

“He really didn’t need saving... he just wanted his friend there the whole way. Unconditional support. Which he had, whether he knew it or not.”

She reached down reflexively to brush his hair out of his face pausing due to how often her hands had passed through. This time though, she felt him. Diavolo was already asleep his upper body resting right were her lap would be if they could interact. Yet her hand brushed his hair.

A soft sound from the room doorway where they had been hiding caused her to look up quickly. Barbatos, Dia’s loyal companion was there with a shocked expression. Fairy gave a small wave. Their time was ending sooner than anticipated.

Leaning down and inhaling slowly Fairy blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry. I have to leave sooner than we’d like. You will be alright. Take care of yourself and your people.” Slowly she stood. It was still disconcerting to move through her friend. She waved again to the other demon and faded away.

Diavolo never saw her again after that. But life seemed to pick up. Fairy’s visits were like a pleasant childhood memory. Barbatos for all of his composure had previously assumed his young master had only described his companion was imaginary. Until he actually saw her right there. He had watched most of their last interaction afraid to intrude. And he never mentioned it to Diavolo, not wanting him to sink back into sadness over her departure.

Millennia has passed. The realms changed and evolved. History moved forward.

Today he was bouncing in his seat. Months of preparation and planning were now coming to fruition. Hopefully this partnership will strengthen bonds between the realms.

“Welcome to Devildom!” His greeting was enthusiastic, a wide grin on his face.”

“Mc, please enjoy your time here!”