LEVI

Identity

The ceremony was short-lived. No one said anything, but I was escorted to a waiting area, and the others dispersed. The Archangels pooled into Marmaroth's office, raising their voices in a heated debate. Azazel was there too. He was queried about his work- whether he made a mistake while extracting me from the heavenly crates. 

I was not supposed to hear that, yet their voices invaded my head. 

"This has never happened before." One elder said. 

"In our line of work, one has to bear in mind; that there is a first time for everything." Another responded.

"Not this! This is sending an ignorant babe to the battlefield." The third was rather screechy.

"It is not our place to question that." They went on and on.

"Be still, all of you!" That voice, I knew it well. It was Marmaroth's. "I see why this new development has us in a frenzy, but we do not make the rules. Our purpose is to lead the angels to their destiny, so that balance will be maintained. If Heaven has a different role for Angel 5923M, we will not be the ones to stop it." 

The noises in my head stopped. Not a second later, Azazel came out. He wore a smile, but it was devoid of his natural glow. He was forcing it. "The Archangels will see you now," his arm was up before I reached him, patting half his tension away on my head. 

The elders turned as I was presented. Marmaroth had shrunk in size, yet she was terrifyingly taller than me. 

"Kneel Levickamon," Azazel said as he went on one knee, a hand crossed over his chest. 

"You may rise," Marmaroth clapped her beak. There were six others in the room, each directly under her leadership. "Do not be dismayed. You are here because your purpose is out of the ordinary...none of which is your fault. Angel 5923M, the Arch has spoken. As of now, you have been elevated to an active Guardian."

"..." It was wild. Becoming an active Guardian was an honour bestowed on those who learn and pass their trials. Who graduates from Harvard without attending a single lecture or exam? I was going to skip all that part.

"Seven days from now, the timelines will align, and your human will be born. We understand the implications of putting you out there. We will make arrangements to get you acquainted with your divine abilities." The Principal explained. For a Chaperon, an underling getting posted called for celebration. Mine could not hold his head high, for I was an abomination.

**

Later that day...

"What!" A metallic pillar contorted at the sound of Newt's voice. 

"Keep it down, Sir," Azazel said between clenched teeth, embarrassed by the attention being drawn to them. "This is not the place to discuss this," he added. 

Newt flapped his wings ahead, giving Azazel ten nanoseconds to get to his bunker. He shut the door and forged a force field to keep their conversation soundless. He turned to Azazel, bearing a purple glow in his eye. Newt had just one, which made it a little freaky for Azazel to stare at. 

"They cannot send an underling to earth. It's too dangerous. Talk of the demons and the unholy principalities. Your pupil will get eaten alive by the fallen ones!" 

"Levi has been made Guardian without a rank. I know that is drastic and unethical, but that is the wish of the Arch." 

"That Arch is growing old! The Creator must change it. It's leaving ashes everywhere." 

"The Arch is bigger than us- it's bigger than Marmaroth! The best we can do is obey."

"How's that peanut going to train properly? There are qualifications to this, you know!"

"Marmaroth has come up with a solution. Levi will have three more chaperons guiding and coaching him until the course is complete," Azazel had a hard time getting Newt to understand.

"That's bloody nuts! And what about the others? You will need more powers to execute that task."

"He'll be watching a baby, Newt. Babies don't make decisions or move around," Azazel massaged his temple.

"Babies are easy prey! That is a very vulnerable time for Guardians and humans."

"Levi and that human will not be alone." 

"Mamaroth better know what she's doing. We've lost too many of our kind to take chances like these." Newt broke the spell, fed up with the conversation.

"Levi will be fine. Have faith." Azazel said. 

That evening, I walked into the room, clueless about how the news would be projected to others. Everyone was staring at me like a statue made for the Holy Church. Cahethal came to my bed, along with another brother, Boel.

Cahethal: "Is it true that you're leaving Constantine for Earth?"

Levi: "Yes. That's what I've been told." 

"Will you be alright on your own? Being a Guardian is similar to serving in the army of heavenly hosts. You'll need to be mentally and physically skilled." Cahethal touched my head and my chest. 

Boel: "Have you been assigned a weapon?" 

Cahethal: "He has not completed his course; I doubt he'll be allowed to carry one."

Boel: "Then how will he defend his human from the fallen?"

Cahethal: "The elders are wise. They will know what to do."

Levi: "Azazel says that I won't be alone."

Cahethal: "Do not be disheartened. If the Creator is sending you out like this then you must be special."

"You think so?" I said. Somehow that made me more uneasy.

"I believe so." Cahethal continued to bless me with her hand. 

The next morning, I was transferred. Seven days began near Halelock, the terminal where Angels are teleported to other realms. There were many things to cram in my head. 

An angel has no free will. He must abide only by the Creator's will.

An angel may persuade his human, not force them. 

Thou shall not attack a natural earth dweller or covet them for carnal gains. 

Thou shall not mix or form an acquaintance with the fallen.

These principles were basics I had to understand before swearing an oath. If I should flaunt these, my purpose would become void, and I, an outcast. Cahethal was right; I was not given a weapon, only a shield that makes me unapproachable to low-class demons. 

Not to forget, I became popular. The square peg in a round hole. It was impossible to have my daily manna without comments flooding my ears. 

'That's Levi, the Underling.'

'He's so doomed.'

'I can't believe they let him in. What a cheat.' 

'He won't last a day.'

I could hear them whispering about me. What can I say? I was no titan or Archangel, just an oversized kid given a heavy task. I was happy when the seven days were up. Earth couldn't be worse than this, I believed at the time. Azazel fetched me from my station after I put on the uniform. 

"Take this whistle. You will see me now and then. But if you ever fall in trouble, use it." The tone of his voice said it all; my chaperone was worried. I bowed in salute and followed the queue to the end of the hall. 

What awaits me, I cannot tell. But I wasn't the only miracle stepping into a thick fog of divine mist. I met my destiny at the end of the light. She was crying, marking a victorious entrance into the world of mortals...