by A. Joseph
The next scenes he saw filled him more with anger as he saw Paul consumed by his hatred became a damned being as he walked through the desert tormented by demons and as his image changed he recognize the face of the person who was there the night his parents died, the person who attacked them at the cabin and burned his mother as he watched helplessly. He can never forget that person. He can still remember that face who looked at him as the current carried him that day. He knows how much this person wanted to kill him that day.
Now he knows him, his great grandfather who was never proud of his mother, who cast her away and killed her that night. He hated him and as the image of Paul stood before him he vowed to take vengeance against him. He does not care even if they are related. He will kill him for killing his mother. As his hatred grew the image of Paul disappeared and he was left all alone in the darkness.
He did not know how long it was but as his anger subsided and his tears dried up in the darkness. He tried walking looking for the next place in the darkness. As he grew tired of walking in circles without knowing which way to go in the dark he just sat there in silence, tired and grieving for a long time. Then a small light appeared in the horizon. He stood up and followed it to what seemed to be a light emanating from a door. He walked for hours that his throat dried up and he was already thirsty but he kept walking and as the light grew bigger and the door became nearer he saw himself standing in front of an opening filled with plants and vines, similar to the one where he entered. He stepped inside and felt the grass on his feet.
It was actually raining as water poured down on him. As the bright light faded he saw a number of Inchorans lying on the grass unconscious covered in what seemed to be dark oil and as he looked forward he saw the rest of the Inchorans fighting dark red skinned people and they are being slaughtered. He recognized this place as he sees in front of him the grass and the sand. He is at the Border of Dreams and the trial has ended and he does not have any archangel… he failed.
CHAPTER 21
THE BORDER OF DREAMS
Inchorans continue to sprinkle small amounts of Aqua from their mosaic glass bottles to the plants they pass by. They have been walking for days already and the trees are now getting smaller but they know someday with the help of Aqua these plants will soon be trees just like the ones near Inchora. Darkness starts to fall as the paths they walk now are filled only by small plants and grass. They removed the cover of their lamps now as it shines with white light illuminating their path. The lamps contain small crystals of Aqua than can be found at the bank of the lake that they collect for the festival which they return again afterwards. The crystals also keep them cool as it gets hotter towards The Border of Dreams.
The Festival of Hope for the past years reaches the Border of Dreams in just a week and they spend the last night at the border camping and singing songs of prayer and worship to prepare for the ritual of pouring out Aqua in the sands. They just don"t pour the Aqua on the sands but together with it are their prayers, hopes and wishes for a better world.
John can see clearly the horizon now and even if it is already night time the clouds are unusually darker. He knew that what he sees is not an ordinary cloud and he wished for all the Inchorans to go back instead but he knows the light that they carry have been seen by anyone already under those dark clouds. They would just guide these people back to Inchora if they go back now.
THE BORDER OF DREAMS
“Danger is waiting for us at the border,” John said to Sella “should we go back?” he asked.
“But we will just guide them back to Inchora with our
light and we cannot find the way back in darkness,” Sella
replied.
“As I thought too, but what should we do?” John
asked his voice filled with fear and sorrow but he must make
the decision now.
“We must move forward, the children who took the
Trial of Self would arrive at the border as well and we should
be there before them to save them from whatever darkness is
under that cloud,” Sella said holding John"s hand.
“I would never leave and the Inchorans will not leave
the children even if it means their death.”
John knew the Inchorans know that something dark
awaits them at the border as most of them already stopped
singing seeing the dark cloud that is getting bigger as they go
nearer the Border of Dreams. He looked at them and saw fear
in their eyes but also the will to move forward. They all knew
that those who took the Trial of Self will be at the border and
they must save them first before fleeing back to Inchora. He asked them to stop, to rest and addressed them. “I know you can see and feel what awaits us in the
border so I ask that the children and women to wait here
instead as I go ahead with the men and those with angels to
see what"s ahead,” John said as he looked at Sella asking her
to stay to look out for the women and children.
Sella touched his face and kissed him as she gathered
the women and children. John then called out the men and
those with angels. Picking up their wooden sticks and lamps
they proceeded to walk towards the border while the women
and children stayed behind with only a few lamps that they
may not be seen from afar.
As they reached the border John saw men numbering
around a hundred walking towards them. The men with him
number to almost only half of these - they are surely
outnumbered. Leading them was a familiar face - the traitor
banished a long time ago is now a powerful damned one and
he knows his power would not be enough to fight him. As they
drew nearer raindrops started to fall as the dark cloud
enveloped the skies.
„This is no ordinary rainfall," John said to himself as
he feels some of his strength draining as the raindrops touch
his skin.
“Why do you seem surprised John?” Paul asked
“Didn"t you know I killed your brother and his wife?” “I heard it was all the damned ones together,” John
replied.
He looked at the men behind Paul and he can see that
they are all battle prepared and the Inchorans he has with him
are not fighters. He knows they have no chance but they must
hold on until those who took the Trial of Self arrives. “But I gave the final blow to my granddaughter, I do
not know about your brother he might have suffered terribly in
the hands of the other damned ones,” Paul said smirking. “I came for the boy John, he escaped me before but
he won"t do so again today.”
“He is not here as you can see,” John said.
“Oh, but I know he will be. I"ve been told of the
festival and I know the trial,” Paul said looking at the
Inchorans behind John.
“You cast me out before, but I"m not as merciful and
this place will no longer be a place of dreams but a
graveyard,” as he gave the order for the Ardans to attack.
CHAPTER 22
LIGHT BROTHER
William touched the dark oil covering the bodies of Inchorans and felt that it was not actually oil but rather sticky water that seems to attach itself on the skin draining out life as he felt some of his energy being taken away from just touching it. The rain pouring down is almost the same as this water but a bit weaker but he knew the longer he stays in this downpour the more his energy gets depleted.
He walked further now seeing some of the dark skinned people also unconscious. It seems a number of Inchorans team up to hit them with wooden sticks and knock them unconscious. He starts to smell smoke even in the downpou
r. As he looked further he saw fire burning in patches even with the rain the fires kept burning.
He saw a ball of fire come down from the sky and looking up he saw two people flying at high speed hurling balls of fire and light at each other. One had an archangel and the other one had a creature he remembered - he can never forget that person and his archdemon and that ball of fire that killed his mother.
He saw Paul with wings like that of a bat in his back and his archdemon chasing after his Uncle John and his archangel. It was the first time he saw his uncle with the wings of an archangel at his back flying so fast. Haziel was shooting rays of light at Paul and his archdemon but they evade it easily while Hismael hurls balls of fire at them while Paul with a spear in his hand is ready to throw it.
A number of Inchorans are fighting the dark skinned people and they are losing as one by one they drop to the ground once they are hit by the dark water from the round clay jars being thrown at them. A number of them were able to knock down unconscious some of the dark skinned men by flying and hitting them with their wooden sticks but their numbers are dwindling as they get weaker with the rain. The dark skinned men can hit them when they fly low for they move fast. Even without flying they can jump high to reach the flying Inchorans as William saw beside the unconscious dark skinned men what seemed to be souls.
John saw William standing alone as he flew past across him. He knew Paul would see him too and asked Haziel to instead explode a ball of light to blind Paul and Hismael. As the ball of light exploded blinding the whole area William felt a hand grab him.
“Did you succeed William? Do you have an archangel?” He heard John yelling as he carried him away.
“No I don"t uncle,” William answered “I failed,” as he looked at John"s desperate face looking at him like he was their last hope to win the battle.
“It"s alright William,” John said as he hugged him.
This might be the last time they can be together and it"s no use blaming William for not acquiring an archangel in the Trial of Self. As he continued to fly looking around if Paul is already near.
“It"s alright. You must escape this place at once. Summon Aleph and fly as far away as possible,” John continued.
“I won"t leave you behind uncle,” William said crying “I won"t lose you as well to him! I won"t let him kill you too!”
“You must not let hatred cloud your mind William,” John said looking at him wiping his tears.
“If you let anger get the best of you then you would be just like him. Do net let the sacrifices of your parents go in vain. Vengeance is not the answer…” and a ball of fire hit them sending them flying. Haziel was able to block the ball of fire but was not able to contain the damage as John was burned at the back and Haziel disappeared.
“Vengeance is the answer!” William heard Paul shouting landing in front of them.
“It is the only answer! Come boy show me what you got with your archangel!”
William looked at Paul as he stood up slowly seeing his uncle on the ground writhing in pain looking back at him telling him not to do it.
“Well summon your archangel,” Paul said.
William called out Aleph and the cherub merged with him immediately as wings grew at his back.
“Hahahahaha! You failed!” Paul mocked him. “The chosen one failed!”
William felt his anger. He wanted so bad to punish Paul but he knows he does not have the power to do so. How he wished to just even punch him in the face, to let him feel all the sorrow and pain that he has caused. But he saw John looking at him - begging him not to let his anger get the best of him.
“You"re worthless chosen one! See your uncle die in front of you just like your mother and father!” As Hismael threw a ball of fire at John.
But William flew to John carrying him and evading the ball of fire.
“Oh so you"re a savior now,” Paul laughed. “Do you think you can save your uncle with your cherub now? Do you think being able to fly can save you both? You were just lucky that drowning in the river saved you that time!” mocking him.
William tried to carry John farther but his strength cannot carry them both as he flies lower and John"s feet touched the ground.
“Go on, drag your uncle,” Paul said walking towards them as Hismael hurled another ball of fire at them scorching John"s feet.
“Oops, I missed, but I do not miss twice,” as Hismael created in front of him a bigger ball of fire and threw it at them.
William tried to fly away carrying John as the ball of fire drew nearer but they just fell at the ground.
“I"m sorry uncle I couldn"t save you,” William said closing his eyes for he knew this is the end just like how his mother turned to ashes as she was hit by the same ball of fire.
“It"s alright William, you did well,” as John hugged him one last time to protect him from the fire.
As soon as the ball hit them it dissipated and scattered around them leaving them unharmed. As William opened his eyes he saw a ball of light enveloping him and his uncle.
“Neat isn"t it?” He heard Matthew landing behind him with an archangel at his back.
“Meet Adelphos my archangel.”
“You acquired an archangel after the test?” William asked.
He can see Matthew"s eyes are now bright blue just like the color of the robes of the archangel who looked like a warrior.
“Yup! Not a major one but a good brother and protector nevertheless,” Matthew said smiling at William as another ball of fire hit them but it was just broken down and scattered around them like the first one.
“Best defender just like me.”
William was happy for Matthew for passing the test. “Thank you for helping us,” he said to Matthew.
“We are more than friends William, I will be your brother of light till the end,” Matthew said holding out his hand.
“A promise,” he smiled.
“And I will be to you as well,” as William held firmly his hand.
Another ball of fire hit them again and just like the previous one, it had no effect
“Your fire cannot hurt us!” Matthew shouted.
“Surrender Paul!” William shouted, “it is over you cannot hurt us.”
“Proud of you powers boy,” Paul said.
The archdemon Hismael threw more balls of fire at them but it kept breaking as it hit the light protecting them.
“You cannot hurt us anymore, and I won"t kill you!” William shouted “I won"t be like you!”
“Weak people should just die!” Paul said angrily as Hismael stopped throwing fireballs.
It stretched out its hands and the dark cloud suddenly came down and was absorbed by the archdemon. It grew even bigger and its claws became dark red like burning metal. Paul"s weary body suddenly had life in it like some of his strength returned.
“You don"t have the power to defeat me!”Paul shouted as both he and Hismael in a flash are already in front of them burying their spear and claws at the ball of light covering them.
“You"re weak just like your mother,” Paul said facing William. “You both don"t have the courage to do what is necessary!” As he thrusts his spear pointing directly at William"s heart slowly creating tiny cracks on the circle of light. While Hismael"s claws are pointed at Matthew"s face.
“She is not weak, she loved you even for what you did and I know she wants me to forgive you! “ William shouted.
“I have seen what you"ve been through, I know what you"re feeling,” William continued looking directly at Paul"s burning eye even with the spear going closer to his heart.
“Don"t think you even know me boy,” Paul said angrily.
“Weak people should just die!” as Hismael pushed even harder its claws making even larger cracks at the ball of light. Matthew is starting to panic as Hismael"s claws are almost near his face and the cracks are getting larger.
Suddenly a streak of light hit both Paul and Hismael throwing them away.
“That"s the
last of my strength,” John said as the archangel Haziel disappeared as soon as it appeared.
Matthew immediately repaired the cracks on the circle of light.
“Thank you uncle,” William said as John lost consciousness.
“Your power is useless!” William shouted.
“Power is never useless!” Paul shouted.
He picked up his spear and walking towards them he spoke an order and Hismael immediately shot a continuous scorch of fire at the circle of light enveloping them.
“I hate to say this to you brother, but I think he"s right,” Matthew said as William saw him starting to get weak.
His archangel is starting to lose power maintaining the circle of light and it is starting to fade. Matthew would not be able to keep his archangel much longer and Paul is walking towards them with his spear ready to pierce them.
CHAPTER 23
THE ARCHANGEL JOPHIEL
“Would we just stay here while they fight for us?” Diana asked Sella looking at the smoke and fire at the Border of Dreams.
“No brave child, we are going to help them,” Sella replied.
“Gather the women and children who are able and all the Aqua we have as I appoint women who would take care of those who would stay.”
“Thank you,” Diana said leaving with a smile.
„I"m sorry John," Sella said to herself.
“Someone must disobey your orders sometimes…” as she readies the Inchorans to help.
“What"s your plan now?” Matthew asked William.
He is getting weaker keeping the circle of light to protect them from the fires of Hismael. As Paul thrusts again his spear pointed at William"s heart creating cracks.
“We have to save uncle John and escape. We cannot fight him for he will surely kill us,” William replied looking for a way to escape.
“Let"s try running away, can you keep the circle while we"re moving?” He asked.
“Yes, Adelphos can, but it would take more of my strength,” Matthew said as sweat started to build up on his face.
