by A. Joseph
William saw Matthew and the others now merging with their cherubs and as soon as they held the cherub it disappeared and wings emerged at their back. As soon as their wings unfolded they shot up like a rocket and started flying around the field. He saw Matthew flying towards him and dropped his shoes.
“That"s my lucky shoes, take good care of it!” Matthew shouted as he flew up higher to the sky.
“How do I merge with Clemens?” William asked wearing the shoes.
“Just hold his hand and you"ll merge instantly,” John said.
Clemens held out his hand and as William held it the cherub slowly disappeared and William felt the wings growing at his back. It was awkward but warm as the wings grew at his back.
“How do I move these wings?” William asked.
“Through your imagination of course,” John said. “Just as how you think and act when you move it would come as natural as that. Humans are born to fly William. You"d be surprised it is in our nature to soar the skies.”
William imagined the wings moving just as a bird flaps its wings.
He even tried flapping his hands and as soon as the image formed in his mind the wings started to move and as it flapped it gathered wind and William started to rise. Upon seeing himself rise he got nervous and the wings stopped moving and he landed instantly.
“Don"t be afraid. No need to flap your hands too,” John said laughing. “Fear can cost you your life the more you fear the more you would stay grounded. Just think of it as a natural part of your body.”
William took a deep breath and imagined again the wings flapping. He rose up again higher and higher.
“You"re doing great!” He heard Matthew shouting and saw him circling above him.
“Just imagine how you want to fly and the wings will do the rest,” Matthew shouted as he flew to the goal post.
William imagined himself gliding through the air and soon enough the wings spread wider and he started to glide through the air feeling the wind on his face. When he was quite low he flapped the wings again and higher he went. He flew around the field flying high flapping the wings and then gliding back down again. He never felt such an exhilarating feeling. He never imagined flying to be this great. He saw ahead standing at the goal post Matthew holding a ball and upon seeing William he kicked the ball towards his direction. William caught the ball and heard Matthew shouting
“Now make sure to practice. You have to make a goal later!” he shouted.
William saw one of his teammates waving at him at the ground asking for the ball and he kicked it to him and as soon as he received it he kicked it immediately to one of their teammates. He saw them kicking and passing the ball at an unbelievable speed to each other from the ground to the air as they continuously fly around the field.
„So this is how they improve football," he said to himself, “I"ll give it a try then.”
It was difficult to kick the ball first in mid-air missing some of the passes. At times he kicked the ball too weak or too strong but soon enough he got the hang of it.
“I knew you could be part of the team. Your uncle is a great player too,” Matthew said. “Our opponents are coming now.”
William saw a group of girls arriving with varying ages from their looks and height. He has seen some of them in Laurus as well.
“They"re all girls?” He asked.
“Yes, they are, but do not underestimate them, they beat us last year taking away the championship from us. It was supposed to be a back to back championship but they beat us by a point,” Matthew replied.
“Is this a championship game?” William asked nervously.
“Nope, just some preliminary practice match before the real season starts,” Matthew replied. “Just enjoy the game and you"ll be fine,” smiling back at William.
William was assigned at the left wing. He has played the same position before but he knows this will be a different game. Even as everyone is positioned on the ground before the start he knows how everyone would be flying once the whistle blows. As soon as he heard the whistle, the other team kicked the ball up in the air passing from one team mate to another as it wiz through the air like a bullet with his teammates trying to intercept it as it goes near their goal.
Before he could even move with the speed of how they are playing he saw the ball kicked towards their goalpost but was caught easily by Matthew. Upon seeing William still on the ground, he kicked the balls towards him and shouted, “Make a goal for me William!”
Surprised upon receiving the ball William dribbled it straight to the goal without flying like the rest. Without any opponents on the field he was able to run freely towards the goal post. The opponents were surprised of the move and were late in going down to the ground that before one of the defenders was able to go down William had already kicked the ball rolling towards the goalpost. But the keeper although surprised easily caught it.
Matthew was laughing at the other end but was very happy of the effort. “Way the go William! Just keep on trying!” he shouted laughing at how their opponents were surprised.
However, their opponents scored immediately after their goal keeper passed it to their strikers. Although Matthew was able to block the kick above the left wing another player was able to follow up as the ball flew to the right.
The game continued with both teams scoring with the same striker who scored earlier from the women"s team and Dave who was the midfielder and captain of their team. William now manages to keep up with the speed of the game but most of the time he would just be flying low that whenever he receives the ball he would just dribble it on the ground than passing and juggling in midair. But the opponents are now used to defending on the ground whenever he would receive it and as soon as they steal it from him it would be sent flying in the air again. As the first half ended both teams have two goals each.
“Nice try earlier William,” Matthew said as they sit down for the halftime break.
“Thanks,” said William. “You really are a good keeper.”
“Failed to get the ball though twice,” Matthew said.
“Their striker Diana is a really wise player and she can see the ball better than anyone here. Since, she already has an archangel,” pointing to a blonde girl about the same age as them. She was simple yet beautiful. Like a younger version of his mom with her fair skin and grace.
“You"re good too. I don"t know anyone who can save the ball with kicks as fast as the ones they make here. Besides, you"d really have difficulty defending the follow up kick after blocking the first one” William said. “Is she the same age as us?” He asks.
“Yes she is,” Matthew replied, “One of the brilliant students also. She"s from Sylva. I believe that"s your mom"s city as well, right?”
“Yes it is,” William replied. „That"s why they almost act and look the same," he said to himself.
“How did she get to play so well?” He asked.
“She can see the balls in slow motion since the gift of sight from archangels are permanent,” Matthew replied.
“That sure is some disadvantage for us,” William said.
“Well, it"s a privilege for those who acquired archangels,” Matthew said “It"s not an easy task to get an archangel as well and since only wings of cherubs are allowed it"s already a handicap for her. Archangel wings make you fly way faster.”
“How can we even win?” William asked.
“Just remember, as they keep passing the ball in midair the ball gets faster,” Matthew replied.
“Our teammates will help you. After you pass the ball just fly to the position you want to receive it and our teammates will make sure to kick it there. Just imagine you"re playing pinball but this time the ball will go where you want it,” demonstrating it with his hands to William.
“I"ll keep that in mind,” William replied.
“You can surprise them this second half, since they are used to seeing you dribbling in the ground,” Matthew said as they stand up to go back to the field.
“We can beat them. I believe in you,” he continued tapping William"s shoulder.
“Thanks,” William said. “I will try and do my best.”
“Let"s win this team!” Dave shouted raising his fist in the air, as all of them raised their hand shouting as well.
The game continued to be tight with both teams defending well but their captain Dave was able to score through a follow up on the penalty kick.
This time William spent more time flying but still near the ground trying to get a hang of just receiving and passing the ball in midair. The bell rang for the last few minutes of the game and both teams are still tied at two goals each. As Matthew caught the ball again William signaled him for the pass as he flies higher and as he receives the ball, he clipped it in his feet as he keeps on flying higher towards the goalpost.
„If they were shocked with me playing on the ground they might get shocked as well with me flying too high," William said to himself as he kept on flying higher and higher.
Nobody tried it before since the goal posts are still on the ground but William thought this might give him the same opportunity to strike by surprising them again. Two opponents followed him on both sides with Diana on his right but as soon as he reached about a few meters in front of the goal he dived downwards as fast as he could. Clipping the ball tighter between his feet he flew past the two opponents following him. He could see the goal post now past the clouds, as it gets bigger and bigger he kept on getting faster and faster.
“Not yet,” he said to himself still diving fast. Fifty…forty meters.
“Not yet,” and he saw that only Diana now is near him diving at the same speed.
As he reached about twenty meters from the ground he spread his wings and released the ball from his feet letting it fall to the ground like a meteor. Diana was able to spread her wings just in time followed by her teammate so as not to hit William but they keep on falling with the speed of their dive.
As they descend lower, the pressure of the air from their free fall is felt on the wings. William never thought it would hurt that much but gritting and bearing the pain he tightened even more the spread of his wings as he continues to descend. Once the ball reached the ground its strong impact made it bounced back up just as he predicted. Once the ball was in front of him he kicked it as hard as it could with the two defenders still above him unable to block it.
It went flying straight to the right corner of the goal with the keeper diving for it but missing it for just a few inches. And he dropped to the ground rolling over from the fall. He heard Diana and her teammate dropped to the floor as well but he immediately heard the sound of his teammate"s footsteps and wings as they lifted him up celebrating his goal. The other team tried to make another goal but was unable to do so with the remaining few minutes.
“Nice move there,” Diana said as she held out her hand to congratulate William on their win.
“I got lucky,” William replied smiling as he shakes her hand. “You"re really a great player,” he added.
“You too,” Diana said smiling back as she went back to her teammates.
“I knew you could do it!” William heard Matthew screaming running from the back.
“It was your assist and help!” William said back at him.
“She sure is a beauty,” Matthew said looking at Diana and smiling at William.
“She is,” William said.
And their teammates gathered around them as they lifted William up throwing him to the air to celebrate their win. He noticed how beautiful the bright and blue sky was. He was happy for this was the best game ever!
CHAPTER 11
DIVINE BEINGS
“Good morning! Did you have a good sleep?” William heard his uncle as he opened his eyes and saw him opening the curtains as his regular habit every morning to wake him up.
The bright sunny day reflects its light on the colored windows splashing beautiful colorful rays of light to his room.
“Yes I did, I was very tired after the game. I didn"t know playing football can be so tiresome,” William said.
“It"s more tiring since it"s not your cherub. Since, angels also get energy from you it can make you tired and if it"s not your cherub it gets more energy. The more physical strength you have the more you can use a cherub,” John replied as he placed his clothes at the foot of his bed.
“It"s amazing how you played the whole game considering it"s your first time. You might have inherited the strength of your father,” John continued smiling at him.
“What happens if I keep on using the wings even when I"m already weak?” William asked.
“That you will know today,” John replied. “So get up you"ll have your lesson with me today.”
William took a shower and the refreshing water is healing his body pains just like his shower last night before sleeping. It energizes his body giving him strength for the day just like the past days.
“Does the water here have healing effects?” William asked John as he got an apple on the table.
“Yes it does, but it cannot heal you from grave wounds nor can it make you younger,” John replied eating a bunch of grapes while reading a newspaper.
“Is the water here like the fountain of youth?” William asked.
“They got the story here but again it cannot make you younger or immortal. It"s just that Aqua being pure water energizes our body. Everything that is pure is good for the body,” John said smiling.
William seemed to get the idea. The fruits after all seemed to have healing properties as well being pure fruits taking nourishment from the Aqua in the land.
“Do you also have newspapers here?” William asked seeing the newspaper to resemble like the ones in the visual world.
“Nope we don"t, all news here travels through word of mouth. This one came from the visual world. It is my duty to be in touch with the outside world as the guardian,” John replied as he continues to read.
“How did you get that?” William asked curiously.
“We have people assigned to go regularly to the visual world to get these. Inchorans are assigned important tasks. Some have dangerous or more difficult tasks than others but everyone does them faithfully without the desire for recognition or compensation. To be in Inchora is a privilege they are grateful forever.” John replied showing William news about an armed conflict.
“People here are really nice,” William said. “Unlike some people in the visual world,” embarrassed at the truth.
“People are naturally good William. Some just get corrupted by their desires,” John said looking at him. “Never forget that allowing your desires to overcome your life is a path to damnation.”
“I will remember uncle,” William said.
„I just want to achieve The God Wish," he said to himself.
“Do the things that happen in the outside world affect Inchora?” William asked as he gets a bunch of grapes.
“Yes it does, we have the same earth after all even if we are hidden. In the same way the things we do here affects your world as well,” John said showing the news about the ice melting in the North Pole. “This for example increases the Aqua here and in turn we try to plant more trees so as to contribute in fighting global warming.”
“The world is still getting warmer though,” William said as he gets another apple. “The visual world cuts trees and produce pollution faster than you planting trees here.”
“Indeed, but even though our efforts might be small compared to the pollution the outside world is making, we still have to do our part no matter how small it may seem,” John said pointing to a news about a feeding program in Africa.
“Collectively, small things can make a big difference. And that"s what you will learn today.” He continued smiling at him.
“Are you finished with your breakfast?” He asked.
“Yes!” As William swallowed the last bite of his apple.
“Follow me then,” John said leaving the newspaper at the table as they went
out past the hallway towards the library.
“Would I have my own cherub?” William asked keeping up with the large steps of his uncle.
“Yes you will, as I said every person has their own cherub,” John replied. “You have them with you from the day you were born.”
“Then why do people in the outside world do not have them?” William asked.
“They do have them, it"s just that they don"t recognize their presence,” John replied.
“It does not mean that if you don"t see something it"s not there,” he said smiling. “Sometimes you just have to recognize things.”
“Why are you my teacher in summoning a cherub?” William asked.
“Because I"m the closest relative you have right now,” John replied.
“What has that got to do with it? Were my parents supposed to teach me this in the mountains?” William asked sadly remembering his parents.
“A lot of things, since, your cherub will be your companion for life and they know your life story being your companion since birth,” he replied stopping in front of the library door and facing William.
“Yes, your parents were supposed to teach you this on your birthday in the mountains, they were supposed to show you their cherub as well,” holding his head.
“Don"t worry I"ll take it easy on you,” he said tapping his cheeks.
William knows his uncle sees that he always get sad whenever he remembers his parents and he tries his best to cheer him up.
“I"d surprise you then,” William replied cheerfully. “You won"t be disappointed on your student.”
“That"s the spirit,” John said as he opened the door.
This is the first time he will enter the library. When he first arrived his uncle just pointed this door and even though he wanted to see what is inside in the past days, his uncle would only tell him he is only allowed to go inside the library on the proper time.
“Is this the proper time to enter now?” he asked. “Yes it is,” John said smiling “now come inside.”
William was amazed at how big the library was. The books at the entrance are too many already that it would take him several lifetimes to read them all. As they go past the shelves, he saw that the book in the shelves seems to be getting much older and then some of the shelves had scrolls instead of books. There are even some shelves where there are stone and wooden tablets.
