Corruption

(Gabe POV)

URG! I feel as though I’ve swept this shop for the millionth time today! Azz still hasn’t told me squat on anything! I rely on Ralph for most of, if not all, the information! Not only that, but they have me working day and night to clean the shop, so I’ve got nothing done on finding a way back home!

I sighed; it has been two weeks now since I came here. I have hardly interacted with anyone besides Ralph and Azz. I see Arthur occasionally, but he’s too scared to share a word with me. Azz has basically put a ban on me leaving the building because of some unknown reason. How much boring can It get?

That’s when I felt it: anger. I felt more anger than I ever felt before in my lifetime. That’s when I threw the broom harshly against the wall. It crashed against a shelf, affectively breaking it down and making it collapse.

With a gasp, I snapped out of it immediately, ‘W-What have I done?”

Before I could go even near it, Azz appeared from the other room, “What’s going on!?”

Looking at me then the shelf, he came to his conclusion. I expected him to yell, scream, or anything! But he just stood there staring at me in shock.

I fell to my knees in total shock, for some reason I could no longer understand my own emotion. I usually have great control over them. Having been trained as a knight and all.

He was immediately at my side. The blacksmith was saying something but all I could hear was static. Soon my body felt heavy and fell to the ground.

(Grover POV)

I suddenly felt a chill go down my spine. Looking around, I quickly dashed over to the map. I hovered my hand over it.

With a gasp, I pulled back.

“How can this be? It’s only been over two weeks!”

Giles and Greg came over to me in haste, “What’s wrong?!”

 “Gabe’s corruption has started.”

(Gabe’s p.o.v)

…..

….

What happened…?

My head hurts….

That’s when I remembered what happened as I snapped my eyes opened.

“He’s awake!”

My eyes were blurry as I could barely make out the silhouette of Arthur as he called out to the others. Soon my vision cleared as I noticed Azz walk in. He had a bowl of broth in his hands. It smelled mouth watering.

I slowly sat up and said with a raspy voice, “W-What happened?”

For once, Azz explained, “You passed out after you lost control of your emotions and went into shock.”

“R-Really?”

“Here.” he handed me the soup. “It should help.”

I took the bowl from his hands gracefully.

“Just eat up. I’ll explain after. Remember, it’s hot.”

Feeling famished I carefully sipped the contents of the bowl, “Wow! This is good!”

Azz motioned to the doorway where Arthur was peaking into the room shyly, “Arthur made the soup. I merely added a few ingredients.”

“Thank you, Arthur.” I called out.

The young boy gulped before he slowly came towards me, “y-your w-welcome….”

I smiled at him, “Is that what you want to be when your older? A cook?”

“A-Actually, I w-want to c-care for the s-sick and injured…. Cooking I-Is a part of c-caring for them, I-I think….”

“So you want to be a doctor?”

He nodded.

“That’s great!”

“I’ve a-actually gotten some experience w-with the people that come here a-after a fight or w-whatever happened to them…” Arthur explained shyly.

My eyes widened, “But aren’t you a little young? Your only like eleven right?”

Azz popped into the conservation, “In The Dark World, because of our harsh ways, our life spam is fairly short. As a result, many young demons are in job training or have started working by age twelve.”

“I-I’m almost twelve… my master, Fayda, says I’ll be r-ready to start w-working In the field with her by then.”

“F-Fayda?” I questioned.

That’s when Ralph walked in, “Fayda is a healer in the capital. She also works secretly for us. Right now, she is out on a mission to gather some ingredients. She left right before you came here. So… she should be here in about…”

Slam!

“Now.”

Suddenly an older woman dashed into the room. She had her hair in a long ponytail and had a rough appearance. Nothing you would expect from a healer. From the look in her eyes, you could tell she had to be around Azz’s age.

“OK! WHO BROKE-!?” She suddenly noticed me and her eyes widened, “it?”

Azz introduced, “Fayda, this is Gabe. He is a fallen angel. Gabriel came here not long after you left.”

I started to panic a little. Was she talking about the shelf that I broke? Now that I think about it.... How did I break the shelf like that?

She suddenly got this calculating look as she stared at me, “Never mind.”

The healer then came towards me, “Jeez, Azz, can’t you send me a letter about these things…”

“I could’ve but you probably wouldn’t get it anyways.” He then added, “Besides you’re the one that said you did not want to be disturbed, remember?”

Fayda quickly turned to glare at him before turning back to me, “Let me give you an examination. I’m just making sure your healthy.”

I nodded, then she started to pat me down. Next, she checked my pulse and heartbeat. Now that is what I expect from a doctor. Once she was done with her physical inspection, she asked a question:

"Where are your wings?"

I sighed, "They were torn from my body for I was sent here...."

Her eyes widened, "really???

"Yeah.." I bowed my head in shame.

She then started to think out loud as she put her thoughts together, “Hmmm, your change from an angel to a demon seems to have started early. Looks like it’s going to be much faster for you.”

“What do you mean?!” I gasped.

“Your corruption is speeding up.”

I suddenly felt a little nauseous as my head swayed. She placed a hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner before pulling away.

“Get some sleep. You should be fine come morning. I’ll give you some medicine when you wake up to help slow down the process, ok?”

I nodded, “Ok…”

With that, they all took their leave. Ultimately leaving me to my thoughts… alone….