Eldritch

What the heck am I dealing with here?
What is this being?
How could it cause my whole abominable body to tremble in terror?
And why is she still grinning like that?!

"Oh well, I said order. Though, essentially, that's not entirely correct. You know, 'balance' would be a far more fitting term. It's just that somehow most associate us with some kind of police force that takes care of unruly elements, even though that isn't even our main focus. So yeah, balance it is." (V)

An agent of order?
But... didn't Zika mention something like this once?
Now I get why she's gone.
I, I thought I could handle this if the time comes.
Or rather, I simply ignored it.

I tremble.
Everything trembles.
The whole campus around me trembles.

"Grmbl"

The worst is that they need to have at least a hunch about what I am if they could find me and seek me out.
Do I have a chance?

"Hey, hey! No reason to freak out. I already said, we aren't that bad. That's a misconception. We mostly serve to solve conflicts and disagreements. Also, please, follow me for a moment, so I can show you something." (V)

What could she possibly want?
She beckons me to follow her around a corner.
It seems like she at least doesn't want witnesses, which means she isn't the kind to just brute-force through the mortals.
This indicates at least a degree of sensibility.
As I don't think that any present bystanders would manage to come to my help if a fight were to break out, I decide to follow her.

"Alright. Here we can already talk much more freely. But also, as I promised... Smash!" (V)

Huh!?!
She's punching at me!

With my improved senses, I manage just in time to dodge out of the way, so she hits the wall behind me instead.

Oh damn!
What happens if such a being impacts our school?!

"Splash"

...

Huh?
Why am I drenched?

"Hahahah! Should've seen your face! I wanted to tell you this, but water angels are frickin' weak!" (V)

Now I'm seeing that this girl's, Veo's, arm, completely disintegrated into a cascade of water.
At least, I think that's what it is.

"Water-, what?!" (I)

"A water angel! To be real, we got many names and functions, but this is what we are." (V)

"But... why water?" (I)

"You see, as I already told you, our domain is balance, well, balance and souls. We keep the stuff that matters in order, so to speak. However, a domain alone doesn't quite grant proper grounds to actually act, so we got this little extra." (V)

I'm not quite sure if I understand.
Why would a supposedly ultra-powerful being rely on water?

The wall attests that it's not impressed.

"But why water?" (I)

"You seem awfully fixated on this, don't you? It's more like we don't exactly control the water, but the hydrogen atoms within. You know, as one of the simplest forms of manifestation on the material plane in existence, this was kinda agreed upon at the start. Yeah, I know there are more basic things, but I mean, try manifesting in quarks, I tell ya! So, hydrogen atoms. Yet, as we'd constantly explode if we'd remain pure, we use the next most stable molecular alternative. Though, to be honest, I actually have a sister who goes with just the former." (V)

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Well, I guess it makes sense from a chemical point of view.

"However, we were having some business. Mum told me to get your signature on that ledger, so I don't have much of a choice on that matter." (V)

Mum!?
I feel like I don't want to meet her mother.

"Hey, relax! This is merely a formal visit. You don't need to worry. We've got some official complaints and therefore need to act as if we'd look into those." (V)

Complaints?!
Who the hell complains about me?!

"I-is there an issue?" (I)

...Ehm, officer?

"Nah, as I said, that's basically just a formality. Some 'Thanostra' wasn't quite happy that you entered their world, messed around in their sphere, and left lingering influence behind." (V)

Thanostra?
But I thought that was just some mage?

"I, I only prevented some sacrifice. Who'd complain about such a thing?" (I)

"Hm, 'Thanostra', god of life and death of Sendria. According to our intel, you passed effortlessly through the dimensional barrier, went about to revive a mortal from the dead, and left a powerful servant, as well as a lot of growth recess, which got the capability to spread on its own, and if left alone, may eventually completely take over the planet. Oh, also, it seems to act as some kind of anchor to your hemisphere." (V)

Said like this, it might be mildly problematic.

"But don't you worry. This kind of quarrel doesn't even account for an official offense. To be honest, it's mostly 'might makes right' out there. Yet we still have to handle this kind of thing, so people may think we're working. Afterwards, we'll handle the rest on our end, and then everything is settled." (V)

Sure, because 'agent of order' sounds totally like the definition of leisure and compromising.
Though, she seems kinda easygoing, yet she's also quite-

"However, I still need to insist that you sign the ledger." (V)

Yeah, "insistent" seems like the right word here.
She still wants to hand me this book, but regarding what happened just before, I got quite wary.
Nonetheless, I still touch it again.

"Well, if you want to flip through it first, I'd suggest you directly access the content. If you were to read it, we might keep standing here for quite some time. Especially, the special circumstances section is a pain to skim through." (V)

What does she mean?
Still, I get the concept she's talking about.
Just send out my tendrils to do the reading for me.
If I apply indefinitely many to the task, it should proceed that much faster.
So I do.

Instantly, my nose starts gushing blood.
Also, I think something just liquified in my brain and got instantly replaced.
There are so many more pages than the optic shows.
Some kind of dimensional blend.
All the while, the overwhelming feeling of wrongness and dread overwhelms me.
Am I sweating?
What even am I sweating?!

"Plomp"

"If you keep dropping it, we will never get done with this." (V)

"What even is this? Something inside me definitely tells me it wouldn't be fine to just sign it." (I)

"Urgh, that might become a pain. You see, it's nothing too great. Just the cosmic accord. Or whatever else one would call it. First Order, Eternal Contract? Basically, only a written down version of all the laws and guidelines beings of a certain cosmic scale should abide by, as otherwise everyone would do as they please and the grand multiverse collapses in a grand clash of powers. Otherwise, worlds like this one would already have experienced a number of conquering events. Gods, systems, eldritch tentacle abominations, you name it. By signing this, we ensure that you stay contained and limited to unprotected worlds. Don't you worry, there are still more than enough of those around." (V)

While I possibly fall into the third category, I understand this feeling of wrongness a lot better now.
This thing is a binding.
A true chain that can even seal me.

"I won't leave this world! I was born here! I have family!" (I)

"Yeah, that should theoretically be a non-issue. Okay, stuff like what you did to this school is a hefty grey area, but I tell you what, you sign the papers, and I'll directly be gone again." (V)

How can I even believe she's being truthful?!
This thing feels so bad to me, and she ambushed me here at my school.
Who can tell that I won't condemn myself for eternity if I sign this?
Why would she come here if it wouldn't hold any significance?
I...

"I don't want to!" (I)

Alright, Iori, you did it.
You chose to stand up to some cosmic police officer.
Why do I suddenly feel like that was a very bad idea?
What is she going to do now?
Oh my, her face contorts.
She's displeased.

"I need to insist." (V)

"I, I can't. Can't I make something like a formal promise that I won't do anything bad? I am seriously not evil or ruthless. But this, this accord, makes me feel terrible about signing it. Can't you tell you dealt with me accordingly?" (I)

"No, this unfortunately isn't optional. If I don't do this, they'll just send one of the others, so there's no real point to avoid this now that you showed up on the radar. Also, you really don't want to have Io to show up here. Mum can be a real pain." (V)

Again, her mum.
Urgh, what am I to do?
Can I fight her?

"If you don't concede, you don't leave me any other choice. Please, I don't really want to do this. Can't you reconsider? It certainly won't end pretty if you keep being stubborn." (V)

"No, I can't!" (I)

I should've just ported away.
Now I don't know anymore if this will help, if she could find me here.

"Last chance. You certainly won't like what comes next. Don't blame me for it." (V)

"I, I can't." (I)

I need to brace myself for the response.
Oh no!
Is it going to harm those around me?

"Sigh. As you please." (V)

There it comes!

"Ahem, I need to ask you to sign the contract!" (V)

Huh!?

"You need to sign the contract, now!" (V)

Is she trying to mind magic me?
But I don't perceive any form of influence.

"Don't miss out on signing the ledger." (V)

What!?

"Would you please sign now?" (V)

Is she for real?

"Please, sign it." (V)

"Ehm, do you really think I will..." (I)

"Sign the contract, please!" (V)

This is unfair!