"Precisely, but you still haven't answered my question. How was the encounter?" The officer questioned in curiousity, dropping the cup of water on an empty table.
Levi planted his feet on the ground, pressing the sheets he laid on in his palms.
"He said his name was Astrael," he replied, standing up from the bed.
"I guess I have to get going now, I need a lot of rest for the physical test when it's announced."
He walked out of the room, silently opening the door to avoid any unnecessary attention from security officers who were patrolling.
"Levi wait," the officer called him from inside the house. Levi immediately looked back, peeping through the door. "The physical test is in 3 days. I just thought I would let you know early."
Levi smiled calmly, as his face eased. He closed the door and exited the premises, the voice of Astrael reverberating in his mind.
'At least I passed the written exam but was my agreement with Astrael really as plain as it seems?' Levi pondered, making his way into his house.
He spent the rest of his time awake on his old bed, his head rested on his pillow with both his palms as cushions. Something about his deal with Astrael didn't sit right.
Was assimilating just as essential as eating? Or is there a deeper meaning behind it all? Levi was know for overthinking most things, but most times it gave him an edge during crucial moments.
"I can't really do anything about it. I guess I'll use his power till something goes wrong," he muttered, moving to his side.
As expected, his family clock — a reminder of his former home above the surface — struck 12, which marked the beginning of a new day for him.
Most people except organizations and businesses had abandoned the idea of clocks but Levi kept one as a way his parents would recognize him if he ever found them.
"I need to start working out if I want to become part of the top-ranking in the Attack Division," he said to himself, a hint of joy slowly filling his expression.
"I heard they get paid a lot," he continued.
He dropped to his dusty floors which he rarely cleaned, and started doing pushups. The wooden floors creaked with each pushup but none of it mattered to him. The AD was his ticket to earning more money.
"20 pushups, 30 squats and about the same reps of situps. Nothing overboard, I need to train my magic next." Levi was mildly muscular, already having visible symmetrical abdominals and a good physique besides that.
A few drops of sweat dripped down his face as he completed the last few exercises. He sprung up from the floor and grabbed a bottle of fresh water which he immediately gulped down.
He wiped his sweat and took off his shirt, throwing it into a small pile of old shirts at a corner.
"Time for magic training!"
He sat down to meditate, believing it would calm his senses and help him communicate fluently with Astrael. With his index finger and thumb on both hands folded and his other fingers spread out, he closed his eyes and breathed in regular intervals.
'How did he say I should ask him for his powers again? What even are his powers?' he thought, still calmly breathing.
Suddenly, an idea sparked into existence as he recalled his agreement with Astrael.
"What if I just ask him?" Levi exhaled heavily as if preparing for an intense moment. "Astrael, lend me your powers."
Nothing happened, in fact everywhere grew more silent than ever. He stood up from the floor and reached out to his shirt. He planned on going out to revisit the officer for advice.
"I don't think visiting him for training aligns with the rules, especially since he's the one grading us."
He removed his shirt but noticed a strange blue flame surrounding his wrists. Raising his arms to his face, his eyes widened with awe.
He suddenly started feeling a strange aura welling up within him, as though it would erupt at any moment.
"What is this? I feel like I'm being torn apart from my insides," Levi uttered, at the verge of screaming out of the excruciating pain that grew with ever agonizing second.
In a flashy bang, his entire room was filled with a strange blinding white light that resembled an explosion, yet his house stood completely unscathed.
His hair slowly alternated between the usual black color and silver before it settled at a beautiful silver tone. The flame rings on his wrists grew larger, emanating an even more intense blue light.
"Woww! This is so cool!" Levi leaped in excitement, thanking Astrael for granting him his powers, although he was unaware if he could hear him in that state.
He sat on his bed, placing his hands on it to see if it would burn.
"What should I call this form? I look like a blazing phoenix but with white hair." He paused, taking some time to conjur up a befitting name.
"I can't really think of anything now. It's probably because I know nothing about the powers I've been granted." He raised his palms, looking at both of them with his eyes brimming with joy.
"But this fire looks so cool. If I had a mirror, I would be able to compliment my good looks."
He stood up from the bed and walked up to the door. He quietly walked to the back of his house which was awfully close to a dead end.
"No one will see me training here. So what do you have to offer Astrael?" Levi whispered as he jumped a few times, exercising his body.
'I instantly lost all my fatigue. Previouly, when he would switch with me, I would always end up being the one robbed of energy but I'm guessing it will be the other way around now,' he thought, gracefully pulling his hair back, simultaneously massaging his head; a practice that helped him concentrate more.
"Astrael? At least teach me about your powers," Levi continued but unfortunately got no response from him.