by A. Joseph
“Are all these books and scrolls yours?” William asked. “They seem to be really ancient.”
“No, all the books and scrolls belong to all the people here,” John replied looking at the vast library. “Some of the scrolls and tablets here date even from the start of civilization.
“Knowledge should always be shared and taken care properly especially those from the past. Knowledge from the past does not serve only as a history but also a guide to the future. We must take good care of them,” John said looking at him seriously.” Always remember that.”
“I will,” William replied.
“Good, let"s start your lesson then,” John said as they arrive on a circular mosaic glass in the floor surrounded by shelves of scrolls. William now noticed that the room was actually circular and the mosaic is actually a picture of various angels in the sky with a big circular window above it letting the sun shine on the mosaic making the glass sparkle.
“Remember everything that I will teach you today,” John said. “You will pass this on to your child or relatives in the future, it is a responsibility you must uphold,” he continued.
“I will,” William replied seriously, knowing this is a serious lesson.
John asked William to stand at the center of the circular mosaic.
“Before we start you must know that there are different kinds of angels as you can see in this mosaic. Cherubs who are childlike angels are companions of humans from the day they are born. They would stay with you till death but they can choose not to help if you violate virtues” pointing at the childlike angels in the mosaic.
“Angels are adult-like angels who can be acquired by humans through virtues. They can also walk away once the humans who acquired them violate the virtues associated to them,” pointing at the adult like angels at the inner circle of the mosaic.
“Archangels on the other hand can only be acquired once you have acquired truly their virtues. Once you have acquired truly the seven cardinal virtues then you can have the seven major archangels. Like the angels they can leave as well once you violate the virtues. But once you acquire all seven major archangels of heaven then you will be immediately granted The God Wish,” pointing at the inner circle where seven archangels encircle a bright star.
“God himself will grant the wish?” William asked.
“God himself will appear before you to grant you any wish you want, even become God himself,” John replied smiling. “But only one wish, you cannot ask for more wishes.”
“What happens if after you wish you disobey one of the cardinal virtues and lose any of the major archangels?” William asked.
“The wish would still remain. It"s written that what God has granted, God will never take away.” John replied.
“Can a person be granted again a God wish after gaining again the major archangels?” William asked.
“No, it is written that The God Wish is only granted once to any human.” John replied pointing to the source speech written around the outer circle.
“This translates to „God grants one wish to anyone who acquires the seven major archangels of heaven."”
“And I am supposed to be the first human to achieve The God Wish?” William asked looking at the seven major archangels.
“You have a great chance by the gift of your lineage especially from your mom and dad but anyone can achieve it as well. We just hope and wish you would be able to achieve it. Your mom and dad have faith in you,” John said smiling.
“I hope to,” William said touching the bright star of the mosaic. How he wished his parents are here to teach him.
“Now, don"t worry about the future. Wishes are like goals it is achieved one step at a time and this would be your first step,” John said seeing the sadness in his face.
“A cherub is your life partner who would be your loyal friend and will be with you always to help you always even to achieve The God Wish. Unlike the angels and archangels, there are no virtue requirements in summoning a cherub. You just have to acknowledge them.”
“What would my cherub be like?” William asked.
“Since a cherub is destined for each person, they are often a reflection of our true character,” John replied. “Sometimes, they are even passed down to the same bloodline whenever the one who has them passed away.”
“So I can have my parent"s cherub?” William asked excited about the idea.
Somehow he would be able to know more about his parents if he can get their cherub.
“No you cannot, since they are still alive by the time you are born,” John replied and he saw the sadness in William"s face. “I know you would have wanted to have your mom or your dad"s cherub. It"s like having them as well but don"t worry your cherub will know your parents as well.”
“Your cherub has been with you from the start and has observed your parents since you were a baby. I know you have a lot of questions, but patience William. Maybe you"ll find your answers once we summoned your cherub,” John continued.
“Sorry uncle. Let"s begin then,” William said. He can"t wait to ask his cherub already about his parents.
“First there are seven rules in summoning angels. This applies to a cherub, angel or archangels. However, for major archangels there is another condition. As you know you can only have the major archangels if you truly imbibe their cardinal virtues,” John said looking intently at William who nods his head to show that he understands them.
“You can summon only one cherub and that is your own cherub. But you can always ask the help of other angels or acquire archangels so know these rules by heart,” John continued as William nodded again.
“How many summoning rules are there?” John asked to see if William was really listening.
“Seven and they apply to any angel except to the major archangels that have an additional condition,” William replied immediately.
“Good, now keep these rules in mind,” John said.
Rule 1: Angels requires the right state of mind and heart. “You must be of clean mind and heart before summoning. Extreme focus and concentration is necessary to be one with the angel you are summoning. Your mind and heart should always be fixed on summoning the angel as a friend, an ally and a companion. Summoning angels for wrong reasons would cause the summoning to fail especially when what you want violates any virtue.”
Rule 2: Angels follow virtues. “Angels embody a specific virtue especially archangels. Even cherubs exhibit strongly a specific virtue. They follow only people who have these virtues and would immediately leave the person who violates virtues especially the virtue that they embody. Although, cherubs will remain with you even if you violate virtues but you will not be able to summon them unless you return to being a person with virtues.”
Rule 3: Angels are loyal beings. “You cannot summon the cherub or archangel of other people and summoning the cherub or archangel of others may cost you your stamina and the summoning will just fail. Trying to summon the cherub or archangel of others may even forbid you from summoning again. You can however summon regular angels but you cannot summon a regular angel that is already summoned during your summoning. Summoning an angel you know is already summoned forbids you from summoning again.”
Rule 4: Angels answer to their sign and name. “Angels are proud beings who help only for the right reasons. They give first their sign before they give their name and you must recognize their sign first before they will give their name. You must both draw their sign and say their name in order to summon them. Angels would not appear and the summoning will fail if you only draw their sign or say only their name.”
Rule 5: Angels grant abilities through requirements. “Angels believe that you should only ask what you can give. Abilities are given once you meet the necessary requirements. The abilities they can give and the requirements vary and would be made known to you by the angels themselves. Like how flying would require your stamina, lifting things your strength, visions your knowledge and other things. Some angels only have specifi
c abilities and gifts that it can give. You cannot ask or force an angel for an ability it cannot give; otherwise the angel will leave you. ”
Rule 6: Angels remain for as long as you want them. “You can always unsummon an angel by just speaking to the angel to leave but they can remain with you for as long as you like. There are no requirements in keeping the angels by your side but angels disappear immediately if you disobey their virtues, when you do not have enough stamina even for yourself and also when you die.”
Rule 7: Angels are friends. “The angel summoned has all the rights and abilities to disobey an order, especially when it goes against their nature or their virtues. They may even leave you immediately once they are forced to do something bad. But they are great friends who would remain with you for as long as you need them and would protect you with all their abilities and powers.”
“Do you remember now all the seven rules?” John asked. “Yes, I do. Have the right state of mind; have the virtues; angels are loyal beings; angels answer to their sign and name; abilities have requirements; they can remain for as long as I want them; and they are friends not servants,” William replied quickly.
“That will do,” John said. “Now you must find the name of your cherub and its sign. To do this you would have to look deep within yourself to feel your cherub and hear its voice,” John continued as he asks William to sit at the center of the round mosaic and to close his eyes.
“Will my eyes change color just as when you summon your archangel when I have my cherub?” William asked.
“Nope, the change of the eye color happens only when you summon archangels. When you summon cherubs and angels your eye color would remain the same but you can still see what your cherub or angel sees you just have to ask them,” John replied.
“Now, you must get in touch with your feelings, your experiences, and see the friend who has been with you guarding you, taking care of you all throughout your life,”
“Ask for its sign and name and once you do, draw the sign and say aloud the name,” John said touching the head of William and giving him his blessings.
“How long would it take?” William asked feeling uneasy with his eyes closed. He"s not used to sitting still with his eyes closed.
“Patience William, do not get concerned with things that have yet to happen. Cherish every moment instead for that is what is important. Look and feel your relationship with your cherub - your friend all throughout your life until this very moment. Acknowledge its help, recognize its presence and be grateful for its love.” John whispered silently to William.
He then left him on the circle as he pulled out a book from one of the shelves and sat on a chair facing William.
„This will be a long process," John said to himself.
William found it hard to be silent. He"s not used to just sitting down for a long time especially with his eyes closed. The only time he knows he keeps his eyes closed for a long time was whenever he goes to sleep. It was extremely silent now and he feels uneasy. He wished to open his eyes and look at his uncle for he cannot hear him but he knows he is just around and he kept it closed so as not to disappoint him.
„I must have patience, I must be patient," William said to himself.
He tried to remember what he can about his life starting from the time his father taught him how to ride the bicycle, then his different schools whenever they transfer from one place to another. There were also their vacation days going to hiking trips, swimming in beaches and rivers, picnics in parks and fishing in lakes. Those were happy days with his mom and dad and he missed them so much that tears just fall down even with his eyes closed. He wished to stand now but he heard his uncle speak.
“Just cry it out William,” John said. “Look beyond the happiness, the sorrows and the pains and see that through it all there has been a companion with you through it all - your friend… your guardian angel.”
It was reassuring that John is still around to help him. Without his uncle around he might have given up already. He tried to remember it all again but this time looking at the companion John was speaking about - his guardian angel.
He remembered how when he was riding his first bicycle that he was almost hit by a car but suddenly he was able to move to the side and the car missed him by just a few inches.
How he was able to escape the bullies in his different schools during the first days as a transferee hiding in places like vacant classrooms, lockers and even trash cans that are miraculously open and clean. There was also this time he was saved from drowning during their beach vacation that somehow even as the waves engulfed him he was pulled instead to shallow waters.
“Be grateful to your angel, recognize its presence, look for its sign and ask its name,” William heard John say.
He thanked his guardian angel for all those times he was guarded, protected and saved and wished deeply in his heart to know more about the angel. As he express his gratitude and desire to know and see the angel a sign suddenly appeared in his mind. He never saw it before but seeing it for the first time gave him a sense of security and comfort. This might be the sign of his cherub and he continued to say his gratitude while trying to remember the image of the sign in his mind. He expressed his desire even more to know more about his cherub and to know its name. He didn"t notice how long it was that he became weary trying to be still but he knew he must hold on.
Hours passed by and he was able overcame his weariness while continuing to say his gratitude and desire to know more his cherub. The silence now is comforting and he is grateful for his experiences in life. Suddenly, as everything was just serene and calm a name appeared in his mind. A name he has not heard before but it was a name that he seems to know deep in his heart and as it became clearer in his mind he said out the name… Aleph.
„Aleph," John heard William suddenly say the name and he was surprised for he knew the cherub.
“Now that you have its name, draw the sign you have seen earlier then call out its name aloud,” John said.
William drew the sign in the air with his hands then called out… Aleph!”
ALEPH As soon as he called out the name, a being came out of the light and as he opened his eyes he saw the appearance of the cherub. It looks like a young girl with bright golden colored hair. Its skin was as bright as snow and is chubby and cute like a small kindergarten student. It was wearing green robes like leaves and had the usual small white wings like other cherubs.
“Hello William!” Aleph said with its tiny voice like a small girl.
“Hi…” William replied nervously.
“Hello Aleph! Good to see you again,” John said walking towards them.
“Hello John! Glad to see you as the guardian of Inchora now,” Aleph replied.
“You know each other?” William asked.
“Aleph, was my father"s cherub,” John said.
“And now I am passed on to you to be your cherub,” Aleph said looking at William.
“Did father made the request when he died believing that Peter and Sarah will be the parents of a child who can achieve The God"s wish?” John asked.
“Yes he did. He had faith in them, and faith in you,” Aleph said looking at William.
“It is a privilege to have you as William"s cherub,” John said bowing in front of Aleph.
“Aleph is the firstborn of the cherubs,” John said looking at William.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” William said. “Please do continue to help me especially in the days to come and the challenges that I will face trying to achieve The God"s Wish.”
“I will William. I have faith in you as well and would always be by your side always,” Aleph said smiling at William.
“Can I ask some questions?” William asked.
“I know you have a lot of questions about your mom and dad and even about your grandparents and I will be happy to answer them. We have all the time together to talk about it but for now we must complete the first summoning process with a union,” re
aching out for his hand.
William reached out and as their hands touched Aleph disappeared and William felt wings growing at his back. This time they seem to be lighter than when he used John"s cherub.
“Well, you can have a test flight. You can even talk to each other while you"re trying your wings,” John said
“Yes we can,” William heard Aleph in his mind.
“I believe this time it would be easier and more natural for you to fly since this is your own cherub.” John said pointing to the ceiling window above them that is now open.
“Thank you uncle,” William said as he spread his wings and happily flew out of window.
CHAPTER 12
DAMNED BEINGS
“Damned one! Face us! You have tarnished the generosity Lunasul has given you… that we have given you!” An Ardan shouted in front of the cave of Paul.
“Such insults Ardan, and who might you be?” Paul asked coming out of the cave.
“I am Nimrod, head of the cave hunters and we come here to make you pay for taking the Aqua we conserve,” he replied.
“Very well, let"s begin then,” Paul said , but I believe you mock me Nimrod, do you believe the five of you can defeat me?” looking at him and the other four Ardans smirking.
Paul can see that these are the best desert hunters of Arda seeing the red paint on their spears. Only those who have survived the grueling desert trials are given the red spear as a sign of the highest desert hunter rank – demon hunter.
“We are more than what you see demon,” Nimrod said, as they summoned their soul companions.
He had four while the four other Ardans had two each. The souls then merged with them entering their body and increasing their strength and speed.
“Amazing! I never knew your soul summoning has progressed to more than one and now to even four,” Paul said mocking them. “You truly are worthy of the name demon hunters!”
