"You can turn anything or anyone into whatever you want. But since you're still a beginner, you can practice by turning things into other things. It's easier and less messy. Or you can shape-shift one of your limbs. It'll work too. And the effects will wear off in less than two hours," Eve had said.

With Eve's words in my head, I walked up to Baba and placed my right hand on his shoulder. As a soul, he was more of a "thing" than a living being. Esther stared at me with narrowed eyes. She had fallen into comfortability, believing the only outcome would be my death because my father's soul was tied to hers. There was a way to untie them.

I activated my transmutation magic—pain coursed through my right hand—and clenched my jaw. I kept training after meeting Eve, getting used to the magic and discomfort.

Baba started changing.

"What are you doing?" Esther asked with widened eyes. Even though she didn't know what was happening, the fear in her eyes showed she suspected it wasn't good. She tried to intervene, but I had erected a forcefield. No matter what she did, she wouldn't break it.

Looking at Baba, he smiled at me. Tears streamed down my face. I didn't want to do it, but I had no choice. It was the only way to free him from Esther and Remiel. "Sorry," I said.

"Don't be." He rubbed the tears from my eyes.

"I wish I could save you."

"It's healthy to let go of the things you love."

"You're a therapist now."

He chuckled. "Maybe."

"I know what happened to you. I know about The Fellowship."

"I wanted to tell you, your brothers, and your mother, but The Fellowship would've killed you if I did. You traveled that night, that's how I knew you knew. I'm sad you had to see me die."

"Time travel sucks."

He laughed. "It does."

"I promise I'll take them—"

Baba had transformed into a revenant—a corrupted soul that hadn't faced divine judgment. Standing at ten feet, he had a slender body, decayed flesh, a bald head, and no eyes. I hadn't gotten it right—he was deformed.

The only way I could ensure Baba didn't end up in Hell was by turning him into a revenant. Since I wasn't a soul reaper, he would be stuck in Limbo for eternity after killing him. It was better than Hell, but not by much.

"I love you, Binti."

"I love you, Baba."

Baba fell to his knees, opened his mouth, and revealed his tongue which had three hearts in it. I covered my right hand with fire and burned his body, earning a screech from him as he disintegrated.

I stood with clenched hands and jaw for nearly a minute before wailing, my voice echoing in the night. With tears on my face, I turned to Esther. Her eyes wide, her mouth agape, and her face pale—the look of absolute horror.

"This shouldn't be possible." She shook her head repeatedly. "Remiel assured me you wouldn't have transmutation." Trying to run, she moved backward and tripped, hitting the ground hard.

Summoning earth magic, I opened the ground and dropped her body inside, leaving her head visible. I placed my palm on her forehead and sucked every inch of magic she had left. Esther screamed through the pain before I withdrew my hand.

"I'm done with you." I raised my hand, and hundreds of lunar arrows materialized above me, ready to kill her.

A bright light covered the stadium. "Wait!" a voice said.

I recognized the voice. Looking at the moon, its shape had transformed into Mawu's face. Even though I was the only one who could see it, it was still trippy. "What is it?" I asked the moon goddess.

"Don't kill her."

"Huh?"

"She could be useful to us."

I curled my lip. "Useful?"

"She knows more about The Fellowship than you. You need her help in fighting them and The Supreme Leaders."

I balled my hands. Anger boiled inside me. With gritted teeth, I asked, "Why are you telling me now?"

"Because she has nothing left. No friends or family. No magic. You won. If you offer her a chance at an alliance, she'll take it."

Mawu had lost her mind. An absolute mindless request.

I scoffed. "I don't need her help."

"You do. No one on your team is stronger than her."

"They are now."

Mawu frowned.

"What? It's the truth."

"You'll return her magic."

"Are you insane? Don't answer. Of course, you are. What do you think will happen when I do that?" I pointed at Esther. "She'll try to kill me."

"Yes, I will," Esther said.

Mawu and I turned to her.

"You can see Mawu?" I asked.

"Yes."

"And you can hear her?"

"That's what ears are for."

"How?"

"I know you can't see my shoulders, but I'm shrugging right now."

"Just say you don't know."

"I don't know." She smiled.

I rolled my eyes before turning to Mawu. "It must be the moon's light. It connected her to us somehow."

"Yes. Somehow," Mawu said.

I narrowed my eyes. "What did you do?"

"Fine. I connected her to us. I wanted her to hear us and decide if she wanted to live or die before you asked her for help."

"Me? Ask for her help?" I kissed my teeth. "You're the one in need of it."

Mawu thought she was clever, but I had learned her tricks over the years. She couldn't fool me that easily. I knew she had a deeper reason why she wanted Esther alive, and it had nothing to do with my fight against The Fellowship or The Supreme Leaders. She was up to something.

"Let her live," the goddess said.

I crossed my arms on my chest. "And if I refuse?"

"Then I'll never speak to you again. And without my help, you'll never master the remaining abilities."

My mouth was open from shock. I couldn't believe I was being blackmailed by Mawu. We had always been on the same page. Mostly, anyway. For it to reach this point meant she was worried—afraid?—of something.

"Be honest with me: Why do you want her alive?"

Mawu sighed. "The Gods are on the brink of war. They know the upcoming battle between moon magic and sun magic users will force them to choose between backing the moon goddess (me) or the sun goddess. Esther is a demi-god—"

"What!" the necromancer and I exclaimed at the same time.

"—and her father asked me to make sure she lives in exchange for standing with me. Now, I could've helped her attain moon magic, but I like you, Binti. You're annoying but tolerable. So, this was the only option."

Hearing that, I had little objection. Whether sorcerer or non-sorcerer, human or god, angel or demon, they all dealt with politics. It was the way of life. We only differed in implementation.

I turned to Esther. "What do you say?"

"I'm a demi-god?" She looked at her hands as if they had the answer. Gazing at me and Mawu, she said, "What about Remiel?"

"Even though she holds grudges, she won't come for you until when the heavenly war starts. You have time to discover more about yourself and your heritage," Mawu answered.

"Let's do it."

"When I return your magic, I'll make it so you can't use it to harm me," I told Esther.

"I can still harm you in other ways, right?"

I frowned.

She laughed. "I'm joking. You're so serious with me. Calm down, moon girl. The reason I wanted moon magic was so I could kill the people who killed my family. If you promise to help me catch them, then I promise to be a loyal teammate." She raised her pinky finger. "Pinky promise."

"I don't kill humans."

"They're necromancers—former teammates who got mad at me for leaving the group."

"Why did you leave?"

"They started working for the New Righteousness and Peace Commercial and Industrial Guild. And I don't do triads."

"So you want us to go against the triad?" I raised my brow.

"No, just my former teammates."

"Fine."

"Yes!" Mawu cheered.

"Don't die, Mawu. Not before teaching me all the abilities," I said.

"I won't. Best of luck you two. I'll be cheering for you."

The bright light disappeared, returning the stadium and moon to normal. I turned to Esther and stomped the ground, sending her flying out of the hole. She landed on her feet, then raised her brow.

"What?" I asked.

"My magic."

"Right." I moved closer to her, and she leaned back.

"Sorry, old habits." She stood straight.

I touched her forehead, returning her magic—with a mental lock of her not using it against me or my team. I smiled when she groaned in pain, earning a glare from her. It was worth it.

"What now?" she asked.

"Can you teach me how to make a pocket dimension?"

"Now?"

I scoffed. "Not now. Tomorrow."

Esther smiled. "Sure."

"You'll be staying at my place."

"Whatever you say, boss." She saluted me.

I rolled my eyes.

A portal opened beside me. Preacher Boy, Zainab, and Aisha walked out, with Preacher Boy carrying Joni's dead body in his arms. Zainab and Aisha stood in a fighting stance upon seeing Esther, ready to attack her. Preacher Boy stepped back, hiding Joni's body.

"Stand down. She's on our side now," I said.

I explained everything that happened, from finding them unconscious to the potential godly war.

"Mawu up to her tricks again," Aisha said. "She could've saved us time by telling you her plans from the start."

"That's how Gods are. They think they're above us, so they don't have to tell us anything until it's time for us to know," I said.

"Are Gods aliens with powers who pretend to be Gods?" Zainab asked. Everyone turned to her. "What? Just thinking out loud."

"Good question. I've always wondered the same thing," Esther said.

"Does that mean you're an alien?" Zainab asked her.

Everyone turned to Esther.

"Maybe," the necromancer said.

"Anyway, we're going to bury Joni, right?" Preacher Boy asked.

"Yes, but after we inform her mother what happened. She thinks he came back to life." I turned to Esther.

"Wait, you're not planning on me being there, are you?"

"It's the only way she'll believe us."

"Dammit. I hate speaking to crying moms. It makes me sad."

"That's the job."

"When are you leaving for China?" Aisha asked.

"In two weeks," I said.

"Two weeks?" Esther looked at me like I was crazy.

"I need to learn how to open a pocket dimension. I should master it in two weeks."

"It took me years, and you think you can do it in two? What happens if you can't?"

"We'll still go to China."

"I'm cool with that."

"What about The Fellowship and The Supreme Leaders?" Zainab asked.

"We'll deal with them when I return?" I said.

"I?" Esther raised her brow.

"We." I sighed. Jeezus!

"Alright, team. You heard Captain Moon Girl. Now, come on, let's go comfort Mama Joni." Esther clapped twice, then headed towards the exit.

"Who died and made her the boss?" Zainab asked.

"That's the problem, nobody died," I said.

The End.