"Again!" Michael's voice echoed throughout the training room, Emory stood bent over huffing and puffing as tried to catch his breath. Michael had been Emory training for hours on end trying to make him learn the move he showed him the last time, but alas Emory's progress was nothing to write home about. Now that Emory had spent a good amount of time trying to learn Michael's move, he realised that the shaping exercise in the book he studied were nothing compared to what Michael wanted him to do. He not only had to shape, restrict the output area and expell his aether but he also had maintain the shape as the aether left his body, a truly arduous task.
"Time's ticking Emory. Get up and try it again" Michael instructed
Emory strained himself as he stood up and assumed a stance; his right leg in front and his left behind, he extended his right hand forward and began to restrict his aether to his arm, then he limited it to his forearm and then his fist, now this was were the main problem was, getting the area of output to shrink smaller than his fist.
No matter how much Emory tried, he just couldn't manage to reduce the area of output further and as he struggled to reduce the output, his arm began to shake violently under the force of the concentrated aether that was threatening to go berserk and explode. He supported his right arm with his left, to gain more stability and control
Emory squeezed his brows in determination, his focus entirely on refusing to let the aether misfire and finally the area of output began to shrink albeit slightly smaller than his fist but this was a huge progress for Emory.
"Michael Look!, I'm doing it. It's getting smaller!" Emory said excitedly, calling Michael's attention to his progress. Emory's excitement caused a brief lapse in his concentration causing the highly concentrated aether to go haywire and explode, swallowing Emory's right arm and part of his chest in a cloud of blue dust and flames.
Michael raised his eyes off the book he was reading, and glanced at Emory who laid on the floor groaning and moaning as he clutched his bruised right arm.
"That's enough for today, we will continue tomorrow" Michael commanded as he closed the book he was reading.
"No" Emory said, struggling to get on his feet " I can continue. I have to be strong enough to face Zalos….and Heilel too." he continued as he finally stood up to his full height
"Lucifer? What makes you think you would have to fight him?" Michael inquired, as he closer to Emory
"It's just a feeling…a very strong feeling" Emory replied as he remembered Heilel's parting words, Lucifer may not have specifically said them to him, but he felt those words were meant for him.
"I see. But know this, even if you were to learn and make your own the skill I showed you, it would not be enough to allow you to stand against Lucifer" Michael said
"Is he really that strong?" Emory asked worriedly
"After experiencing just his aura, what do you think?" Michael asked rhetorically "He is strong, just leave him to me and focus on dealing with the traitorous angels" Michael said as he rested his palm on Emory's shoulder
"Okay I will" Emory concurred
"Now go home and get some rest, you have been constantly expelling your aether. I know youre determined to learn, but you need to recover lest you want to die of aether exhaustion" Michael instructed
"That's a thing? Aether exhaustion?" Emory asked wearily
"Yes it is, you are made of aether of afterall. If your aether gets exhausted and you still forcefully try to expell it, you would end up drawing from the aether that makes up your being and meet a slow and painful end as a result" Michael explained.
"On second thought I really need to rest," Emory said, chuckling nervously.
"If you're that eager to train, you should try to commune with the Heavenly Record, with that you have a real fighting chance against Heilel and Zalos would not even be a problem" Michael said as he instantly transported them back to the backroom with a wave of his hand
"The record huh? I see that's what all this revolves around" Emory said with a pondering look on his face
"Now that Heilel knows I am somehow connected to the records, best believe that he won't keep that information to himself, and as soon as those with power geta whiff of it, the would all be coming for me and those around me. It's a good thing and an advantage to us that Heilel does not know the record is tethered to you, but make sure to keep a close watch on everyone close to you as Heilel knows of your existence, he would not hesitate to use those around you to torment you" Michael explained before disappearing as usual, leaving Emory alone to reflect on his thoughts and what lies ahead.
***
Emory was about leaving the store when he spots Gabriel hunched over a book, intensely reading it, he was so absorbed in the pages of the book that he didn't notice Emory standing behind behind him. Emory did not get a good look at the book before Gabriel noticed him and abruptly closed the book but Emory was chanced enough to get a rough idea of what the book was about, the book Gabriel was reading was about angels and their physiology.
"Are you good Gabriel? You seem—" Emory asked, an expression of concern on his face
"I'm fine, just doing a little reading. Reading a few books can't hurt, it's a good way to release some stress while learning" Gabriel interrupted as he awkwardly flashed Emory an obviously forced smile.
"Are you sure?" Emory pressed
"Yes I am. Goodbye Emory, see you tomorrow" Gabriel said before walking briskly towards the backroom.
Emory could tell omething was definitely up with Gabriel, he was obviously shaken up, Emory deducted that it was probably due to their earlier meeting with the Devil,but who can blame him, he was face to face with the devil and was rendered helpless and powerless, waiting to be saved.....they both were, Emory dared not think what would have happened had Michael not shown up the moment he did.
Emory made his way to his house, he opened the door and made his way inside. Mirianne, his mother was not home yet and strangely there was no note left and dinner made for Emory, perhaps she had no time to make dinner.
Emory made instant noodles and ate in the silence as usual, after eating he made his way to his room, his bathroom to be specific.
Emory stared at his reflection, he pulled off his shirt and stared at his mildy built body. He turned around and had traced his fingers over his back as he inspected his markings; the beginning of it all and the brand that tied him to the record.
He turned on the shower and let it run, using the sound of the shower as a static, he had read somewhere that static sounds help with focus and meditation.
Emory closed his eyes, reached within himself and began visualising the colossal book that was the physical form of the record, and after a few minutes of static Emory's body flopped to the ground and he soon found himself in the space of nothingness again face to face with the record and he felt like things would be different and he would actually succeed this time.