Simple Preparations

'Why is there a bed?' Leo asked.

Now, there were many, many questions plaguing Leo's mind, all of which probably had very big parts to play in this world or the trials he was about to face. However, he was a simple man, with simple needs for amusement. Why was there a bed in heaven? The last time he'd slept was likely thousands of Earth years ago.

'You'll need a place to sleep.' Raphael sat on that very same bed, letting its apparently excessively plush mattress pull him into its embrace.

Silence took them as Leo tried to strike Raphael with a scowl. Raphael wasn't looking, sadly, so Leo checked his scowl in the massive mirror at the end of the wardrobe. It looked more like he was struggling with eating a lemon than anything. Something wasn't quite right, though. Something about his face had changed and he couldn't quite work it out.

'To elaborate, humans living in this space experience the same body cycles as back on Earth. This is due to there being a sort of fake day and night here, and less influence from, well, the Creator.' Raphael sat up and began working at a little golden length of twine wrapped around the scroll still in his hand. 'You'll need to sleep, drink, eat, po–Leo?'

Leo barely caught what Raphael was saying, as he walked into the impossibly long corridor full of clothing pieces. He tried to nod like he was listening, but really there was little point. He came to that big mirror at the back and stared at his face.

'Leo, what's the matter–oh.' Raphael's reflection moved into the wardrobe.

Leo deducted that it was his eyes, but what was so strange about them? Then, he saw it, an occasional blue streak running through the veins in their corners, like lightning was in his very blood. It struck the sides of his golden iris each time, and outlined it in blue before fading.

'Does the covenant between us make physical changes to me?' Leo asked, already knowing the answer.

'Yes, and it will grow more apparent as you get better or are using stronger abilities.'

'Does this happen with any sponsor I get? Will there be more changes with more sponsors?' Leo turned away from his reflection before the urge to try and straighten his short-cropped hair took him again. He realised that even that was something that hadn't crossed his mind in years.

'Yes.' Raphael played with the scroll, eyes averted for a second like answering was an uncomfortable thing. Leo wanted to pry, but the archangel moved on too quickly. 'So, we should get you ready to go. You'll need to pick an outfit, then we'll talk contracts and a weapon.'

'Weapon?' Leo gripped the air like he was picking up a polearm. 'Don't I already have the bident? It worked pretty well.'

'That was my own weapon,' Raphael said flatly. 'We'll manifest one for you when we get to that.'

Leo understood and took in the sheer amount of clothing around him, still unable to comprehend why the wardrobe had to be so big. Surely he would have seen an extended piece of the stone jutting from the outside just to contain it. That aside, he picked through the clothing to find himself something functional. All of it had rather thick cloth, and many of the pieces made clattering noises, like they had metal plates sown into them. Eventually, he decided upon some comfortable white trousers, short black boots, and a nice heavy black shirt with a white outlined crucifix in the center. He had to keep up the holy themes, of course.

It felt strange, changing out of those white robes he'd been wearing since the day he arrived, and only now realised how terrible of a fashion choice they were. He spent millennia looking like some Greek citizen. Why did God pick such weird clothes?

When he presented himself to Raphael, the archangel shook his head, saying, 'it's a bit bland, if I'm honest.' He made for the wardrobe and pulled out two more items. One was a black belt with multiple loops and buckles on it, and the other was a yellow and gold jacket that was only as long as half Leo's torso.

Leo tried them on for the sake of it, and found it all surprisingly comfortable. Even though the belt looped a second time around him on a lower angle, it didn't feel out of place.

'All the buckles seem kind of edgy, if you ask me.' Leo smiled at Raphael thinly.

'Oh, don't worry about it. You look good, and that's an important factor in the colosseum. Sponsors rarely take interest in a fighter if they're all power and no flair.' Raphael seemed to be busying himself by training his hair over his ear. 'Now, we should talk about that weapon.'

Leo's chest immediately burned with excitement. Was this one of those situations where the weapon was chosen based on his personality or something? He loved personality quizzes, and just hoped he could get something cool like an axe or broadsword.

'I'd like a massive weapon! Something I can cleave foes with!'

Raphael's response was swift and cold.

'No.'