The relaxing sound of running water was the first thing that he heard after God knows how many hours he spent devoid of senses. After that, he sensed clean, fresh air, with which he eagerly filled his lungs. He also sensed water. He was lying in it, floating on his back. The water wasn't cold. Instead, it was perfectly balanced between being too cold or too hot, soothing his tired body. This felt nice and relaxing, but it also evoked some old memories in him. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that it evoked in him the oldest memory of his existence, which was emerging from the Holy River.
Since the Holy Spirit hovered over the water ages ago, the water has become the birthplace of life itself. All of life came out of water, and angels were not an exception. At the main city of the angelic kingdom, a big and endless river appeared to serve as a gateway for them to come into existence. Whether they were created and sent by God himself or they were souls of mortal men who earned their place in heaven, everyone emerged from the Holy River in the body of a grown man or a woman.
Although angels look like humans, they are very different from them. They are immortal; they don't have to eat, drink, or sleep (although they do sleep after being exhausted in battle), and they have a lot more potential for power growth than humans. However, they can still feel any kind of stimulus, and they have emotions as well. Most importantly, they can also be killed, but only by a spiritual being, such as themselves or demons.
He knew he was in the Holy River without even opening his eyes. He never returned here after his emergence. There was no need. One returned here only to recover from wounds received in battle, for the Holy River had the ability to heal, and he had never been wounded before. But he still knew where he was. He could sense the familiarity of this place. He still remembered it like it was yesterday. He came out of the river, lost and confused. He had no memory of anything that had happened to him before, or if anything had happened at all. They found him wandering on the shore. They clothed him, welcomed him, and explained everything to him. That was so long ago, but he could see it in his mind so vividly. Besides the familiarity of the river, there was something or someone here that he didn't find familiar at all but could still sense his presence.
"Who are you?"
"They brought you here and called me to watch over you. That is what I do. I am a guardian for those who get wounded in battle. I watch over them while they recuperate so they don't start drowning or that the watter current doesn't take them away."
It was a woman's voice. Warm and mellow.
"What is your name?" he asked again, still not trying to get up from his lying position.
"My, you're a very straightforward one, aren't you? You haven't even told me your name, but you're asking mine. That's not really a gentleman's way of getting to know a lady. Or perhaps you aren't a gentleman?" she remarked playfully.
Though it was obvious that she was teasing him, he did feel a little ashamed. She was right that he is very direct, but maybe he would have acted a bit better if his freshest experience wasn't the one of almost dying. Still, he decided to apologise.
"I'm sorry. My name is…" he began, but was quickly interrupted by her before he could introduce himself.
"I know who you are, they told me when they left me here with you. You were badly wounded, but judging by your current behaviour, it seems that the Holy River successfully performed its healing miracle."
„So it did. I don't feel pain anymore, though I do feel a bit tired. Please tell me who are they. I mean, who are the ones you said left me here?"
"I don't know any of them personally or even by name. There were three of them. However, one did tell me that he is your master and that I should tell you to come to him after you wake up to begin the ceremony of some kind."
Ceremony? But why? Sure, he completed his mission, but he did it so sloppily that he almost got himself killed in the process, all because he was full of himself. If anything, he deserved to be reprimanded. He wasn't really sure that he earned the right to bear the title that was going to be bestowed upon him. He should really voice this concern to his master as soon as he sees him.
"Then I should get going." he said while trying to get up.
"Wait! First, let me leave." she said, stopping him in his intention.
"Why?"
"Because I'm afraid you're quite naked. You will find your clothes and a towel here on the shore. I will go now. There is no need to guard you any longer."
"Wait! Before you go, can you at least tell me your name? You know mine, so I think it's only fair if I learn yours."
She laughed.
"Well, I do suppose it is fair. My name is Rebecca. I hope you won't be seeing me often, because that would mean you will be getting wounded quite a lot in the future, and I would rather you watched over yourself. But then again… You haven't seen me anyway."
Realising that she was telling the truth, he turned his head around, but she was already gone. That was a pity. He presumed that seeing her would have been quite a pleasant experience. She was right, though. He should really take care of himself in the future. He has gotten another chance, and that's a lot more than many others ever receive.
He stood up and walked to the shore. He felt a bit unsure on his feet, which was probably an aftereffect of being saved from the brink of death, but the feeling soon disappeared. After he wiped his body with the towel, he clothed himself, and then he focused on emptying his mind, which, regretfully, meant forgetting about Rebecca. Who knows? Maybe he will see her yet.
After he emptied his mind, he fully focused on reaching his master with his thoughts. He succeeded. When he felt his thoughts, his master immediately aborted the connection, and soon the same kind of portal that led him on his first mission appeared in front of him. The only difference was that it was now showing the familiar residence of his master rather than disturbing darkness. He stepped through, and in seconds, he was in front of his master.
Seeing his master's eyes, seeing the person who unselfishly devoted his own time and talent to teach him all he knew, hoping that he would one day surpass him, filled him with such shame that he bowed down his head and felt his eyes becoming teary. He felt like a child who was forced to face his parents after doing something bad. He knelt down in front of him.
"Master... Please... Accept my apology for bringing shame to your reputation. My performance was unacceptable, and because of my foolishness and my big ego, I almost died and destroyed everything you have worked for all these years! I am truly sorry for this,and I will accept and endure any punishment you find appropriate for my wrongdoing!"
Silence. There was no response. It was worse than if the master immediately started yelling at him. Then the master moved. He walked towards him and put his hand on his shoulder, just like he did before he let him go on his first mission. Then he too kneeled down in front of him. This greatly surprised him. Why was his master kneeling in front of him?! It was inappropriate and weird, and he didn't know how to react to it.
"If someone should ask for forgiveness from somebody, then it is I and not you. I knew what you were going to face, yet I remained silent. I thought I was wise because of that. I thought you would learn to adapt that way and that you would become even stronger, and while it seems I was right in believing so, you almost lost your life because of it. I could never forgive myself if you died because of me."
"Don't talk like that, master. If I had died, it wouldn't be because of you, but because of my own mistakes... I..." he tried to talk, but his master interrupted him.
"I already lost too much. I don't want to lose you, too. You are like a son to me. Do you accept my apology?"
"I do. Please accept mine as well." he said after a few moments, deeply touched by his master's words.
The master nodded and then rose to his feet. He offered him his hand to aid him in standing up.
"Alright then. Stand up. The Council will be here in any minute. It's time for you to officially become what you've trained all these years for!"
Accepting his hand, he stood up, ready and proud, not just because he had a good master but also because he had a good father.