Granted

Manuel Kagura's P.O.V

I slowly opened my eyes as I sense that I'm lying on the ground...

When I completely opened my eyes, I could only see red color in surroundings, as in red ground, red atmosphere and red sky. "Where am I? What place is this?" I asked myself while in shocked. Suddenly I heard a noise coming from behind me so I turned around, then I saw that there were so many people lined up in the distance so I went there ...

When I got close to the queue, I backed away a bit because I saw the people in the queue were floating in the air and their bodies seemed to be transparent. So they were ghost shocked! But when I looked at my feet, they were also floating like the people lined up in line. Do you think I'm dead? Am I a soul too? Suddenly I felt a pain in my head, then I saw some scene that happened before, so I remember what happened before I was being like this... 

Mama was calling when suddenly a very fast truck was approaching as if it was losing its brakes, so it went straight at me. The truck hit me and dragged me. So my tears suddenly dripped... Who will take care of mama if I die too? I hope I will be given another chance to be with Mommy. She will surely mourn again and blame herself, like how she blames herself for the loss of Papa, but if I come back, it seems impossible for the dead to live again, right?

I'm so very sad right now, but I need to be strong. I could do nothing if I didn't keep up with the line of souls. Hays, I have no idea where is this line going? So when I saw a girl in front of me, I touched her and I was shocked on what happened. Shocks! The fact that my hand didn't get through of her body, even though her while body was just like the ray of light, I still can touch her without infiltrating his body, I mean, from what I see on my foot, it also looks like a ray of light, so it means my whole body is also like this. So this means, when you touched your fellow soul, your like touching an alive person. " Ahm, what place is this and where are we going? Where are we? Why are we queuing? " I asked the woman in front of me. "Hey! O mg gosh! It's good thing that you've been awaken after seven days. You know, I've been watching you and waiting for you to wake up from your sleep for seven days now." Woman said, so my eyes literally pop-out in shocked, "What?! Seven days? " I shouted at the woman because of shocked and that made for other souls to look at our placs. "Yes, I'm bored, so I decided to told Supreme Dea Justo to give me another days before the trial of yours, as you are still in sleep a while ago." She said, so I calmed myself down.

"The answer to your questions are... You are here in a place called purgatory – the place where souls from different worlds were judge whether they go to Paradiso or Impyerno, which is why we are now lined up here to face your fate. Also, Supreme Dea Justo – the Dea or Goddess that reign in Purgatory, the one that judge you first and then you will climb that giant scale and that will be the final one who will judge you and decide whether you will go to paradise or hell, understood? " She said. Gosh it was a long explanation for me, so I nodded even though I was still confused by what he was saying. Sorry for being slow.

Wait, I just forgot to introduce myself to this woman. Who is she? So I decided to asked her, "Hey by the way, I'm Manuel Kagura Anastacio and who are you? Wait, why is there a scale? Sorry to say this but, we are just a pig that being sold in that market " I said in the tone of joking, but I could see that his face was serious, so I immediately fix my self. Gosh I'm so embarrassed. But while I felt embarrassed, she spoke suddenly, "Do you see the sharpened sword on the other plate of the scales?" The woman suddenly asked, gosh, we really lost in introducing each other. Wrong timing. I looked at what she was saying and there I saw a huge scale that was almost the size of a big tree. It had two pans (the plate on the scales) hanging, of course, on the string that connects the beam (the long stick that holds the pan or plate). If you still can't imagine it's as simple as this, you probably know the statue of a woman holding a sword and scales that symbolizes justice, right? The scales she was holding is like that, but in bigger size.

"Ah, is that so? What's that? " I asked the woman that until now I didn’t know her name, "Yeah, that's right, do you know the rules for riding there?" Woman asked me again, "No, who is it? I mean what? " I simply answered the woman with another question, "These are the rules... First, as I said a while back, the Supreme Dea Justo will judge you first, and of course, you have to be defended by your assigned Guardian angel. Then, when the Supreme Dea Justo's trial is over, she will take you to the empty pan or plate of scales of tge weighing sacle." She said then stopped for a while and pointing the empty pan or plate of weighing scale. I have a serious curiosity as who she was referring to as that Supreme Dea Justo. I can't ask because he is still seriously explaining. "When you get on there, the scales will move up and down, like a sex bomb spaghetti dance, then when the scales pan or plate rises, a sword that called the sword of justice, goes down and the plate where you're rode on, that just means you've committed a lot of sins while you're alive, like that. " The woman explained. Gosh! She knew a lot about purgatory uh. Then when I looked at where she poinying at, ther I saw a man riding on the other plate of the scales. Suddenly, the other plate of the scales rose where the so-called Sword of Justice was placed. The ground suddenly opened and some creepy hands pulled the man untill he was dragged down. 

After that, the woman continue to spoke, "And when the sword of justice is heavier on you and you are on the top, it means that you have done a lot of right or good things when you were alive, like that." Woman said to me while pointing to the woman who was veiled and wearing a habit (the dress worn by nuns), the scales began to rise and fall over and over again and again until they stopped and left the nun still on top, while the sword of justice is in the bottom. Suddenly, an angel with four faces appeared –The human face was in front, the lion's face was on the left side, the cow's face was on the right side, the eagle face was on the back, if I'm not mistaken, this creature was called Cherubim. For pete's sake! I have to ask who is! She knows too much about this place that made her mysterious, so I decided to aked her again... "Wait, I just noticed that, you have so much knowledge about this place and until now, I didn't know your name, who are you?" I asked the woman curiously, but she just smile, " I forgot to formally introduce myself to you. By the way, I'm Guardian Toki, your guardian angel And I'll be your lawyer here in purgatory. I'm sorry, because whenever I told a story, I forgot things so bad, like what happen today." She said, the introduce herself, which surprised me. He turned out to be my guardian angel?! Uh wait...

 "Wait, is in it an angel have wings and a halo, But why don't you have wings and a halo? Are you really an angel? " I asked Guardian Toki curiously, "You know, you're so inquisitive, gosh! You also noticed that, but I go ahead and answer those questions of yours. You know, whenever a guardian is assigned to watch over a baby, the wing and its halo will be removed and returned only if you have succeeded in guarding and being able to ascend to Paradiso the one you are guarding." Guardian Toki explained it to me, but I didn't realize that we were in front of the scales of justice that were said to be my last trial. Suddenly nervous aroused in me. But the majestic sword of justice caught my attention. It seemed like it was fun to use in war, but I noticed something like a very beautiful woman with a very beautiful face and body holding what looked like a miniature version of the scales of justice and carrying a sword of justice. Her eyes were also blindfolded. Wait! This is exactly what the statue of the woman who symbolizes justice looks like, doesn't it? Suddenly, Guardian Toki walked towards the woman who looked like the symbolic statue of justice and they talked togetger. After they talked, Guardian Toki bowed to the blindfolded woman then faced my direction...

"Manuel Kagura Anastacio! Come here, Supreme Dea Justo will begin to judge you!" She shouted, which I immediately obeyed and ran there, "Why Guardian Toki? Who is the blindfolded woman who looks like a statue symbolizing justice? And why are you bowing to her? " I asked Guardian Toki, then I saw his eyes widen at the questions I asked to her, "Shhh, don't make any noise and just bow." Se said. Then she grabbed my and forced my head to bow – but it was just amazing that the soul and the angel could still hold each other.. "I'm the one asking for forgiveness for what he did to you, Supreme Dea Justo." The Guardian Toki apologized to the woman in front of us that named Dea Justo. Oh, shock! He was the one that Guardian Toki was referring earlier. I already have minus points for what I did. "That's okay Guardian Toki, for your question. I am Supreme Dea Justo, the ruler of purgatory, and I will be the first to judge you." Supreme Dea Just said. Oh my almighty lord, she spoke very softly like a queen or a goddess.

"It's okay, by the way, I'm really a Goddess because the meaning of Dea attached to my name is female God or Goddess. Guardian Toki, you can now start defending Manuel Kagura Anastacio." Supreme Dea Justo said, who clarified my mind. I was nervous about Dea's order to Guardian Toki. Huhuhu, Lord, I know I am a sinful creature. I hope you will forgive me. 

But, what is defense? So I decided to asked, since there's something bothering in my mind, "How is the defense done?" I asked the Supreme Dea, but Guardian Toki interrupt, "Please allow me to answer his question, So Kagu the defense seems to be just like this, the trial of a person's case in the world of mortals where I must fight you so that you will not be convicted of going to Hell, understood? " Guarduan Toki explained. "Ah okay," I simply replied to Guardian Toki.

"Our almighty Supreme Dea, he is Manuel Kagura Anastacio, an obedient child, loving family, friends, and most of all, he is kind and understanding, just as much as his sins, such as jealousy, lying, cutting classes, abd stole five pesos in his mother's pocke, but if you add it up, he still did a lot more good deeds. He was hit by a truck that caused his death. He still had many dreams in life. We'll add that he prayed almost every night, asking for forgiveness from the highest Deus, asking for guidance, and, above all, he was one of those who saved many souls who should have gone to hell but were forgiven by paradise because of those who prayed for the salvation of the dead here in purgatory. That's all and thank you very much, almighty Supreme Dea Justo for listening. " Guardian Toki's long narration amazed me. He knew all the events in my life. So, for my whole life I didn't have privacy then? "Good Guardian Toki, and because of what you said, I condemn you, Manuel Kagura Anastacio, that you deserve to go to Paradiso." Supreme Dea said. The Judgment on me by the dear Supreme Dea made me happy and at the same time made me sad because there was no chance for me to see mama again. I really miss mama.

"Climb up on the scales of justice, sit on its empty pan for your final redemption." Almighty Supreme Dea said and commanded me that I immediately obeyed.

I went up and the scales started to move. They went up and down, so I closed my eyes so that my nervousness would disappear a bit and when the scales stopped, I was surprised by the result. I could not believe the result. cutting five pesos from his mother's pocket, and swearing, but if you add it up, he still did more good. He was hit by a truck that caused his death. He still had many dreams in life. We will add that he prayed almost every night, apologizing to the highest Deus, asking for guidance, and most of all, he was one of those who could save many souls. He should go to hell but be forgiven by paradise because of those who prayed for the salvation of the dead here in purgatory. That's all and thank you very much Dear Supreme Dea Justo for listening. "Toki's long narration amazed me. He knew all the events in my life. It was serious. I didn't have privacy then. Hahaha. "Good Guardian Toki, and because of what you said, I condemn you, Manuel Kagura Anastacio, that you deserve to go to paradise." The Judgment on me by the dear Supreme Dea who made me happy and at the same time made me sad because there was no chance for me to see mama again. I really miss mama. "Climb up on the scales of justice, sit on its empty pan for your final redemption." Dear Supreme Dea commanded me and I immediately obeyed. I went up and the scales started to move. They went up and down, so I closed my eyes so that my nervousness would disappear a bit and when the scales stopped, I was surprised by the result. I could not believe the result...

"Gosh! Toki and Almighty Supreme Dea Justo, what does this mean? Why am I equal to the sword of Justice? Why didn't anyone come out heavier than the two of us? " I asked Guardian Toki and Dear Dea in confusion. "Oh my gosh!" Guia screamed, then she just touched his forehead, "I'm sorry Kagu, I forgot to say that whenever the scale of the judgment and the sword of justice are equal, which means you have a request to Dea Justo that needed to be fulfilled. O think you made that request, or should I say wish when you were still alive in your world." Guardian Toki explained that made me so happy, but wait, what did I ask of the mortal world then? I tried to remember what request she was saying when the Supreme Dea suddenly spoke... 

"Manuel, didn't you ask at the well of request or in your own prayers?" Dea asked gently, and there I remembered the day we went to the Minalin, where I saw the statue of Justice also standing in the middle of wishing well, "Ah, I remember what I requested before! 

When my mother and I went to a well that located at the back of Minalin's Church, there we wish together." I said while remembering that scene, "What did you ask for, Manuel?" The Supreme Dea asked me, "I wished that mama could find a new lover so that she wouldn't get hurt and move on. I also tried to wish that I could reincarnate and be given even the weakest power so that I could somehow be like the ones I watch in the isekai anime, I'm sorry if my last wish is too impossible. " I explained to Dea that I was embarrassed by my last request.

"Your wish is my command." Dea suddenly said that surprised me...

....