"The remarkable thing about life quite often is meeting people you feel you were destined to meet." -Ray Bradbury
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ROLAND|
My eyes can't believe what it's seeing right now. A blinding light struck directly towards the girl I was talking to.
I don't know what's happening, I'm worried about her. I quickly stand and was about to take her hand but I was blown away by the light.
When the light started to calm down a bit, there I saw it. The most divine and majestic person in my entire life, with a brilliance much greater than the King himself.
Her supposedly black hair turns white as a huge pair of wings as pure as the water in the well of life takes her up in the sky.
I can't take my eyes off of her, her beauty's cannot be compared to anyone in this world.
"I am the seventh archangel of the High Heavens, Azrael, the Archangel of Death." She stated as she slowly descends from the sky gracefully.
My heart won't stop beating fast. This is the first time I'm feeling this strange emotion inside me.
I bow my head and kneel to pay my respects. I just can't believe that one of my God's archangel is right infront of my very eyes.
"Raise your head Hero Roland, for I am a mortal too right now." She said with her gentle voice.
I slowly look up to her and she's now back from her form earlier before unleashing her divine powers.
"As you can see, I am the Archangel of Death, Azrael, but it doesn't matter, I'm a human right now so please treat me like how you treat other humans." She said with a smile as she tilts her head a bit which makes her even more beautiful.
"I understand, Lady Azrael." I said as I bow my head once more.
"Please stop using honorific, it makes me feel uncomfortable." She said while scratching her face with her pointer finger as her uneasiness is visible on her face.
I guess I really should avoid using honorific when saying her name.
"I would keep that in mind, in exchange, please just call me Roland." I stated as we sit again infront of the fire.
"Yes sure, I'll keep that in mind too, Roland."
"Anyway, why are you hear in midgard, Azrael?" I asked as while adding a few twigs in the fire.
"Brother Michael sends me here to learn about the humans and understand them by being a human myself." She answered as she hugged her legs and look at me.
"To be honest, I still don't understand why he sends me here but I trust God that me being here happens for a reason." She added.
I took a deep breathe and look up at the sky. It's night now and the stars are shining like diamonds.
"Maybe God wants you to learn something." I uttered and lay myself on the grass.
"I think of that too." She said and lay next to me. "I guess it's my job to find out what it is." She added as she reaches up the sky with her hands.
"Say, Azrael. What do you think happiness is?" I asked out of nowhere while still continuing to enjoy the wonderful sight infront of me.
"I don't actually know. I don't even know what it feels like to be happy nor sad." She says and turn her body to face me. "How about you? What is happiness for you, hero?"
I took a deep breathe and sit. "Happiness is where you find your purpose in life through your own hardwork and effort." I said while throwing stones in the river.
I can feel her gaze at me but I continue to look straight. In my mind right now, is that what happiness truly is all about? I kept on questioning myself about that for a long time, I still don't understand what happiness truly is and maybe I won't be able to answer it, but right now, that is what I truly believe in.
"I see, and have you been able to find your life's purpose now?" I looked at her and she's also sitting now while hugging her knees as she looks at me as if she's examining my soul.
"Yes, and that is to protect the peace of the Kingdom and its people that I swore to protect with my life and end this unnecessary war between humans and demons." I said with a straight face.
That is true, I think this war isn't necessary, both humans and demons think that one race is superior compare to the other but in reality, this war only brings everyone pain and suffering that may lead to the world's demise.
"You're an interesting one, aren't you?" She uttered. But I just looked at her and smiled.
"It's just, I have something to protect." I stand up and dusted myself, and lay my hands at her. "Let me show you something interesting."
She willingly took my hands and stand, so I started chanting my flight spell.
"Oh glorious zephyr of thy south, carry thee with the wings of your winds and let me fly-
Fouyu Suru."
I held her hand and carried her in my arms. I seemed to take her by surprise but this is the most efficient way to get there faster.
I can only use my flight spell for no longer than thirty minutes. I fly her to a cliff where a large Wisteria tree were standing, and below you can see the lights coming from the Kingdom of Enthopia.
I put her down and sat over the cliff as I look at the Kingdom of Enthopia and it's people who's living their life in peace.
"This is what I've been fighting for all these years of being a Hero. Seeing the town's people smile freely is my greatest reward." I uttered while peacefully enjoying the sight of the peaceful Kingdom infront of me.
Azrael sit next to me and gave me a small branch from the Wisteria Tree.
"You have a sense of justice in you, a kind person worthy of being called a hero." She said.
I felt a strong emotions inside me, so this is what it feels like to be appreciated by one of the most divine being. I can't help but to feel thankful, but embarrassed at the same time.
"Do you know what symbolizes the Wisteria Tree?" She asked and I shook my head in response.
She stands then walk towards the tree and gently touch it.
"It symbolizes success, peace, and honor." She uttered and lean towards the tree while looking at me. "You're like a Wisteria tree in my eyes. Full of justice, honor, and always seeking for peace." She added.
She slowly walk towards me again and I decided to stand. She gently touches my face as I stood here and let her warm hands touch my cheeks.
"I don't understand what love is, but I think I'll be able to answer all of my questions." She said and showed me her bright smile.
I still can't comprehend what I'm feeling right now. I'm having a shortness of breathe as if I'm suffocating but it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all.
"It's true that I don't understand what love is, yet I'm attracted to your kindness. From here on out, will you give me the privilege of being protected by you too, hero?" I quickly kneel and kissed the back of her right hand.
"I'm at your service, Milady Azrael."
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AZRAEL|
After kissing my hand, Roland quickly stand and face the Kingdom. I tightly hold the part of my hand that she kissed and smile.
So this is the warmth and kindness of the human's heart. Though it may seem fast but I think, I'll understand what it means to become a human by simply being on his side.
"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" I uttered as I stare at the beauty of the full moon infront of us.
I feel his gaze at me but I continue to stare at the moon. I heard him took a deep breathe and said. "I can die happy."
I looked at him because of his weird response but he's just staring at me while smiling genuinely. My heart started to race and I decided to look away first.
"It's getting late, let's take a rest here and return to the Kingdom in the morning." He said and sit under the Wisteria Tree and lean his back at it. "Anyway, you can use this-" he added and uttered "storage."
He pulled out a blanket from his storage spell and lend it to me. I gladly took it and wrap it around my body.
The night is cold, I wonder if he can endure this cold weather just like that. I actually feel guilty being the only one to use the blanket so I sit next to him and use half of the blanket to cover his body.
"This is yours, I would love to share it with you." I said as I cover my body using the other half of the blanket.
"It's an honor, Milady." He uttered and then smile.
To be honest, I'm seriously pissed at him earlier because of what he said towards my clothes, but right now, I can say he's a kind person.
He seeks peace, full of honor, respectful, polite, and most importantly, he has a dream that he wished to fulfill. Maybe being with him, is the right decision to make.
His head dropped on my shoulder so I took a peek at him and he's sleeping peacefully. This man, does he trust me that much to the point that he can sleep soundly beside me?
I shook my head to erase the thoughts, he might be really tired that's why he doesn't care even if he's with a stranger. Yeah, that might be it.
I looked around and it seems quiet, I think I can rest well here too, but first I must check my status. "Status."
My status popped infront of me and it seems like my age here is registered as seventeen years old just like what brother told me earlier, and my race is human and not an Angel.
I feel a bit sleepy so I decided to close my eyes and take some rest. I think I can sleep in peace with him beside me.
*****
By the time I woke up, it was morning already. I rubbed my eye and stretch my body. Having a mortal body is kinda pain, my back hurts because of our position last night, not to mention I'm also hungry right now.
I looked around to see where is Roland and I saw him carrying two horned rabbit so I run towards him.
"I caught this horned rabbits in the forest earlier, let's eat before we head to the kingdom." He said and started processing the rabbit.
I watched how he process it from removing it's organs to separating its meat to the furry skin.
I do feel bad for the rabbit but Roland says it was a good source of protein and we need it to make our body function effectively.
After he's done processing the meat, he grilled it fast and after a few hours, it was ready to eat and we finished it fast.
He and I decided to take a break after eating before we head to the Kingdom of Enthopia.
"Are you good to go now, Milady?" He asked after we took a break for an hour. I nod as a response and he carried me again and started to chant. "Fouyu Suru."
He's carrying me in his arms again and it's making me really nervous! My heart is pumping real hard as if someone is crushing heart! What is this feeling!?
But I still don't get why must I be the one being carried? I have wings and I too can fly! But I guess it would be to risky revealing my wings infront of the city.
"Hold on tight!" I was so shocked when he increases the speed of his flight spell! I unconsciously wrapped my arms around him! This is humiliating!
I can feel my heart beats faster for an unexplainable reason, might be because of shock. That's right, this is because of shock. I'll make sure to punish this impudent mortal once we're back on the land again.
I will definitely cast my strongest lightning spell at him, he really pisses me off again!
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End of chapter 2