"Excuse me?" Emory said, befuddled by Athena's sudden and out of the blue declaration, Emory shifted in his seat unsure of how to react or reply.
"I want to study you" She repeated, looking at Emory, as if he was supposed to understand what she meant with her statement "you suddenly had a crazy and nigh impossible growth, the past you wouldn't be able to have this conversation with me without using your inhaler at least twice and now you're capable playing a stamina intensive sport like basketball without stressing so much. Anyone would be interested in that….or so I thought, our other classmates seem to be completely uninterested in the matter. So I decided to take it into my own hands and observe you, I'm interested in whatever made you change so much. I just decided to tell you beforehand for consent, I'll be watching you so be free and do what you do normally." Athena continued, as she stood up and returned the chair she pulled out of place earlier.
The girl did like to talk…a lot.
Emory was baffled by Athena's rantings but decided to control his emotions, he pushed his chair backwards and stood up. Emory opened his mouth to reply Athena but was interrupted by Athena "It was nice talking to you Em, I hope our relationship works out well for both of us. Ill be watching you" she said as she stood up and walked out of the classroom cheerily. Emory once again tried to say something but was interrupted again but by the bell which signaled the start of another class.
***
"That's it for today.Training continues tomorrow, and remember if one of you is late you're all running suicides" Coach Roland declared after blowing on his whistle to signify the end of the day's training.
"Yes coach!" The basketball team replied in unison and they soon began dispersing after coach Roland left the school gym. Emory shuffled up to Liam who was on his way out, he was chatting with Brian. The two boys were laughing aloud, Emory was suprised to see Brian laughing heartily, he was used to the constant scowl the boy always had on.
"Hey Liam, hey Brian.Um….Liam if you're free I want to talk to you about something" Emory said interrupting the discussion between the two boys, Brian saw Emory and soon his usual scowl returned to his face.
"That's the face I'm used to" Emory thought to himself
"Yoo Emory. You want to talk to me? Is everything alright?" Liam asked, curiousity and slight concern woven into his voice
"Nothing too serious, I want your opinion on a…matter" Emory said
"Okay let's hear it" Liam said, turning his body fully towards Emory, implying his interest in whatever Emory was about to reveal to him.
Emory cleared his throat "I would appreciate it if it was just you" he said in a lowered tone, glancing at Brian in the process indicating that he need not Brian around to hear what he was about to say. Taking the hint, Brian walked away after giving a goodbye handshake to Liam, Emory watched as Brian left the gym for the locker room and wondered if he and Brian would ever get along.
"Go ahead then" Liam said, gesturing with his arm for Emory to talk, his face was wearing a serious expression in anticipation of what Emory was about to say.
"Um…This may seem random and weird but take it as it is. Do you know what it means when a girl says she wants to 'study' you?" Emory asked earnestly
Liam was taken aback by Emory's question and his once serious expression slowly melted away and his mouth soon curved into a smile and the red-haired boy unable to control himself burst into laughter.
Emory looked at Liam who was now holding his belly, laughing uncontrollably with a bemused expression slapped on his face. The red haired youth soon stopped his laughter and finally faced the slightly annoyed Emory.
"I'm sorry, it was just so funny I couldn't resist laughing. It's been a while I laughed so hard" Liam said whilst resting his palm om Emory's shoulder and cleaning the tears from his eye.
"Are you done? Now are you going to help me or what?" Emory said slight annoyance traceable in his voice
"Yeah, I'm done. So this girl says she wants to study you and thus would require her to be around you a whole lot"
"Yeah that's basically it" Emory said
"That's simple. She's into you my guy" Liam said, nodding his head in agreement to his own conclusion to the matter
"She's…into me? me?! No way" Emory scoffed at the idea
"Yeah, why else would a girl want to hang out with you at every opportunity? I bet the 'study' is just an excuse to be around you" Liam said with certainty, Liam liked to see and potray himself as sort of an expert in the affairs of love, lust and anything related.
"You think so?" Emory asked innocently
"I know so my guy" Liam assured Emory with confidence "Quick question, is she hot?"
Emory shot Liam a look that made it obvious that he was irritated by his remark.
"Jeez, I was just asking. If she isn't hot it doesn't meant much you know, I've been with my fair share of odd ones" Liam said as he shot Emory a wink "Now if you'll excuse me, I stink so I have to hit the showers. Later Carson" Liam said
***
School was over and Emory was on his way to the bookstore for his unordinary part-time job, he spent most of his journey thinking about Athena and what Liam told him. He had never had a girl like him, the feeling was nice and he felt seen but he had a feeling that Liam was not entirely right.
Emory pushed the store's door open and as always the bell jingled, signifying his arrival. He took a deep breath, soaking in the smell of book and wood that filled the store.
"Leave some for the rest of us" Gabriel quipped from behind the counter, his face buried in a sports magazine. Since Emory was only a part-time employee someone had to fill in for him whenever he was absent, that was Michael's role but apparently now Gabriel's too.
Emory hung up his bag, greeted Gabriel and, replaced him behind the counter. Emory expected things to be a bit awkward after their last meeting but Gabriel acted like it didn't even happen and Emory decided to go along with it since there was no use talking about it. Contrary to Michael, Gabriel was much more talkative and willing start casual conversation. The two spoke for a while, Emory talked about school, life before and after his encounter with the book and Gabriel spoke about his travels around the world.
Gabriel unlike Michael from what Emory could tell was fond of humans and their diversity, he loved being around them and he especially loved human food, he loved eating even though his existence as an angel didn't require him to. The two talked at length, but for reasons only know to Gabriel he avoided and changed the topic whenever Emory tried to talk about heaven, hell, fallen and any other supernatural yarns but Emory didn't bother to push further, afterall he had secrets of his own.
Michael soon walked in or rather appeared suddenly in his usual fashion Emory was not startled or surprised, he was used to it at this point.
"Close up the store, we need to have a discussion" Michael said frankly, the angel was not one to waste time, he always got to the point and it was something Emory had come to appreciate.
Emory did as told and met up with Michael and Gabriel at backroom of the store. The backroom was a spacious room with two couches, a center table and new mini fridge, courtesy of Gabriel.
"So what's the reason we had to close this early" asked Emory
"Have a seat" Michael gestured for Emory to seat on the couch opposite the one he was currently sitting on "I wanted to delay this as much as possible until you were ready but it seems we have no time for such luxury, the barrier of time and space is constantly getting infiltrated by the fallen and thus causing it to weakn and they are already beginning to awaken" he continued
"They?" Emory inquired
"Gabriel" Michael called to Gabriel whose face was buried in the mini fridge
"Oh yeah, it's my turn" Gabriel said as he turned around with a can of soda in hand a bag of chips in the other.
"So you see, before meeting up with you and Michael I was keeping tabs on the 'gods' as they call themselves now, they have been in slumber for almost a millennium after the chaos in heaven. They took pieces of the throne but they could not handle it's great power immediately, and consequently had no choice but to go into a deep slumber while assimilating the power of the throne. But they have suddenly begun to awaken for some reason, and we think that reason is you" Gabriel explained.
"Me?" Emory asked
"Yes you, the beacon you lit up with your aether and all is a part of it but it was mainly because they sensed the records you have or rather put simply, they ensed a power similar to that of their father; the Creator." Michael piped in
"And how long till they are fully awake?" Emory questioned
"A year. Two years max" Gabriel said "And we have to make sure you're ready before then."
"A year, that's still a lot of time right? And besides if you are as strong as Michael they shouldn't be that much of a problem right?" asked Emory
"Not nearly enough time" Michael said with a stoic expression "By our prediction, the first one among the gods to rise would be the gods that are in control of the elements and amongst them,Zalos would rise first. Zalos has the piece of the throne that controls the wind. He is an unpredictable fellow, so it's hard to imagine what he would do and how he would use his power but one thing is sure, he will definitely come for you because the one thing they all want is to stop the creator from returning because they fear his wrath"
"And also, not every angel is as strong as Michael, for example I am an angel, but my purpose is not to fight but to be a message bearer for the creator." Gabriel added, and forced a handful of chips into his mouth
"Emory" Michael called
"Yeah Michael"
"I wish this fate not upon you or anyone else but as it seems, you have been handed a responsibility of utmost inportance. Are you ready for what lies ahead, are you ready to stand between the enemy who brings destruction to the world and the ones you wish to protect?" Michael asked calmly
Emory suddenly felt his shoulders grow heavier as the reality of what he has been thrust into became clearer. But he soon strengthened his resolve, he had made up his mind since that fateful night and he wasn't planning to back out now, the stakes have been set too high.
"Yes, I am ready" Emory answered, his eyes burning blue with resolve as a huge surge of Aether began to well up from his core