i-el _ inquisition

8/14/2019 I-EL _ Inquisition

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Chapt er 1 The Dead Wi nged - B1

The hardest par t about l ooki ng f or somet hi ng i s knowi ng where t o

st ar t .

Even t hen t hi ngs wi l l not be al ways what t hey seem.

I st ar t ed wi t h a name. Some cal l hi m Yannel , ot her s know

hi m as Yanyel , and most are sayi ng hi s name i s Hanyel . Not

everyone i s sure t hough. No one seems t o know hi m wel l enough t o

be cer t ai n how t o pr onounce hi s name. There were rare i nst ances

of a br ot her sayi ng t hat t he cl osest t hey had come t o t al k wi t h

hi m was dur i ng hi s i ni t i at i on, whi ch we cal l t he Nami ng Ri t e,

hel d ever y Sunday of t he week. At t hi s t i me, we are al l

encour aged t o hel p usher t he new ones i nt o our wor l d. I am I

don t r emember hi m at hi s nami ng, not t hat I r emember anyone

bet t er . Recor ds t el l me i t was at t he ei ght day of t he ei ghtmont h t wo t housand f i ve days af t er t he Ascensi on. I t hi nk I

mi ght have been pr esent at t hat r i t e, but was not payi ng

at t ent i on. Never was I keen about t hose t hi ngs, t her e ar e al ways

ot her t hi ngs t o t hi nk about . I shoul d have known. Now i t i s

maki ng t hi s i nf or mat i on mi ssi on har der .

Bapt i zed. He i s wr i t t en as Guar di an Hanni el t he Passi onat e

of t he Fi f t h Fami l y i n t he Fi r st Legi on of t he Twent i et h

Gener at i on of Angel s. Ci t i zen Number 3876975, whi ch i s al so t he

exact number of r egi st ered angel s t he t i me he was named, al l

l ost ones account ed f or .


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Thi ngs about hi m are as sneaky as a man i n hi di ng.

Rel at i vel y unhear d of dur i ng t hose of f i ve year s l i vi ng agai n,

he i s a Guar di an by def aul t , but r ar el y, i f not onl y once,

seei ng act i on even at t he saf est of mi ssi ons. Maybe because t he

l ast mi ssi ons i ssued by t he Ci r cl e, even t he l east cruci al ones,

are al r eady get t i ng harder and harder f or t he new ones t o cope.

Lest survi ve. Or maybe i t was because of hi s bui l d, t hough t al l

was t hi n l ooki ng bar el y abl e t o wi t hst and a bat t l e, or even a

si ngl e f i ght . One r epor t l ast year sai d t hat he was par t of t he

pur gi ng cont i ngent sent t o f i nal l y put an end t o f al l en

pr ot ect i on of a t er r or i st l eader hi di ng deep i n Paki st an. I t was

a successf ul mi ssi on, al most a f l awl ess one at t hat , i f not hi m

bei ng t he onl y one mor t al l y wounded. To be f ai r i t was a bi t t oo

much f or f or a young one l i ke hi m. That was hi s l ast r epor t ed

mi ssi on. Nothi ng was wr i t t en about hi m si nce t hen. Maki ng me

know not hi ng el se.

Yet .

Why I car e you ask?

The t hi ng i s he i s dead. To our eyes he i s. He was i n bed

st i f f , wear i ng t hat j et bl ack t i di ed hai r over hi s br own pal e

f ace, mi ndl ess and at peace. He was al one i n one of t he bi ggest

r ooms i nsi de t he Cl eansi ng Hal l , a huge r eposi t or y of mul t i -

bedded rooms wher e al l wounded angel s go t o heal t hemsel ves. At

t he wor st of days any of t hese hal l s ar e f i l l ed wi t h angel s

wounded and hur t i n di f f erent ways. But si nce he came al l t hi s


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r oom i s hi s. I t made i t l ook l i ke a monument f or hi m, hi s bed

ver y vi si bl e at t he cent er opposi t e t he door at t he ot her si de

of t he hal l . Four gl owi ng l i ght bal l s wher e f l oat i ng at t he

r oom s f our cor ner s, i l l umi nat i ng ever yt hi ng br i ght dayl i ght and

i nt ensi f yi ng t he br i ght ness of t he whi t e col or ed cement wal l s.

Sunl i ght i s pi er ci ng t o one of t he openi ngs at t he r oof and

hi t t i ng t he area wher e Guardi an Hanni el s bed was pl aced. I have

never seen someone so r evered wi t hout any cl ear r eason. Hi s hal o

i s nowher e t o be seen now, or even any f ai nt gl ow hi nt i ng of

exi st ence. Hi s wi ngs ar e f ol ded on hi s back pr essed on t he whi t e

wool en bed sheet , wi t h bot h hi s hands hol di ng each other j ust

above hi s bel l y , gi vi ng t hat eer i e f eel i ng t hat he was r eal l y

onl y sl eepi ng. But he coul d not be.

We, angel s, do not sl eep. We can onl y cl ose our eyes and

medi t at e t o r egai n wi l l . Then we can t hel p i t but wake up

sooner or l at er . Lazi ness i s never a t hi ng i n our ci t y.

I s he a her o? We ar e not sure yet .

My f el l ow Seeker s f ound hi m l yi ng beneat h a bundl e of l ogs

st uck i n an i sl and, whi l e we wer e on a r escue mi ssi on f ol l owi ng

t he unpr ecedent ed event s t hat deci mat ed a ci t y s r i ver banks. I t

was at Cagayan De Or o, a ci t y ki ssed bot h by t he mountai ns and

t he sea at sout her n par t of t he Phi l i ppi ne I sl ands. A t yphoon

r avaged acr oss t he ci t yscape l i ke never bef or e, r avagi ng t he

unknowi ng mor t al s at dawn. I t t ur ned t he pi ct ur esque r i ver si de

of ci t y i nt o an apocal ypt i c wast el and. Thousands wer e l ef t


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homel ess at i t s wake, and t housands more ei t her di ed or r emai n

t o be r escued. Or at l east be f ound. To t he l ocal s t hat was

sheer bad l uck. Or gl obal warmi ng per haps.

To me t hat l ook mor e l i ke i t was i nt ended.

I hope I am wr ong.

We f ound hi m t hat way. someone says. I f eel a hand

heavi ng on my shoul der , br i ngi ng me t o my senses. I l ook back

and saw i t was a f r i end, my mi ssi on par t ner , Seeker Sayt i el t he

Meek. He st ands t al l er t han me, cr owned wi t h a st r ai ght bl ack

hai r sl i ced at ear hei ght by a gl ass vi sor he never seem t o

r emove. He wear s t hat whi t e sat i n sui t over hi s pai r of same

col ored pant s and shi ny bl ack shoes, pr i med and very neat . When

not t al ki ng he st ood wi t h ar ms at hi s back l i st eni ng i nt ent l y,

observant and specul at i ve. He i s one of t he most t al ent ed

seeker s I have ever known, consi der i ng hi s age, t hough he

pr ef er s t o f i ght l ess and sneak more. Because of t hat , He never

f al t er s when i t comes t o get t i ng t he j ui ci est of i nf or mat i on

wi t h t he l east col l at er al cost. Sadl y, he f al l s f l at i n soci al

ski l l s. Good thi ng we ve been hel pi ng each ot her out t hese past

f ew decades. I do the t al ki ng and he does ever ythi ng el se, wi t h

st i l l a hel p f r om me of cour se. Especi al l y t he f i ght i ng par t .

You sai d i n your r epor t t hat hi s wound was st i l l gl owi ng

I sai d. Beneat h Hanni el s cl eansi ng gown, t here was a wound more

t han an i nch t hi ck, so deep i t pi er ced acr oss hi s hear t and i nt o


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hi s back, wher e a cut sl i ght l y smal l er was f ound. I t was

possi bl y st abbed by a dagger , a sl ender one at t hat . I t l ooked

f r esh st i l l , swol l en but not bl eedi ng.

Li ght i s our l i f ebl ood. The Sacr ed Li ght mol ded by the

Fat her t o gi ve us hi s l i keness. What s dust t o mor t al s i s l i ght

t o us. I t f uel s our ver y own exi st ence. When we ar e cr i t i cal l y

wounded t hat l i ght i s shed l i ke sand i n an hour gl ass. Taki ng out

t i me and wi l l wi t h i t . And us. Fi r st we became pal e as i ce, as

l i ght i s sucked out wi t hout cease. Then our hal os dr y out , and

t he wi ngs wi l t . Our body di si nt egr at es i n t he ai r whi l e we ar e

st i l l consci ous. Wi t hout pai n t hough, but sl ow enough t o be

di sconcer t i ng. Al l t hat unt i l not hi ng i s l ef t . Even t he memor i es

go.

Yes. I t hought he was st i l l al i ve. He was wr i t hi ng i n pai n

f ace down. But managed t o r ol l and l ai d hi msel f t hat way when I

was near i ng hi m, l i ght al l gone. Sayt i el answer ed.

Qui t e St r ange.

We r e not even sur e what t o do wi t h hi m.

I coul dn t bl ame you, i t s not ever y day t hat somet hi ng

l i ke t hi s happens. I say. I t ur ned t o hi m t o gi ve hi m my hand

of sympathy. He nods bef ore smi l i ng.

I s t he Counci l on t o thi s i ssue al r eady? He asks.

Yes t hey ar e. I heard t hey ar e t o assembl e a t eam of

seeker s t o i nvest i gat e deep i nt o t hi s mat t er . But t hen agai n

t hey ar e sendi ng us f i r st t o i nvest i gat e mor e. J ust t o be sur e.


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Hmmm Cl assi c Counci l . Bot h hi s arms are now cr ossed on

hi s chest , as he wal ked t o t he ot her si de of t he bed besi de

Guar di an Hanni el . Then he reaches t o hi s bag, br i ngi ng out hi s

j ournal bef or e handi ng i t t o me.

Thi s i s bet t er because I m wor r i ed whoever di d t hi s mi ght

go r ogue i f t hi ngs get a l i t t l e t oo hot . I was st ar t i ng t o

br owse hi s j our nal , car ef ul l y compr ehendi ng al l t he dr awi ngs,

t he maps and t he quot ed st at ement s f r om al l peopl e he had

i nt er r ogat ed as of r epor t t i me. For al l we know, he coul d be

er asi ng any t r ai l he have l ef t as we speak.

You have a poi nt . He says. He t ur ns hi s head si de t o

si de, l ooki ng wor r i ed at my wor ds. I f t her e i s any l ef t . Thi s

one i s r eal l y shady i f not l ucky.

You t hi nk so?

No weapon l ef t . No t r ai l l ef t on wound. No l i ght

f oot pr i nt . The ot her guar di ans st at i oned at t he ci t y di dn t even

f eel any di st ur bance or anyone t r yi ng t o. But t hat coul d be

because t he st or m swept i t al l . But st i l l t he Sacred wi nd wi l l

be al ways l eave somet hi ng. My wi nd t est t el l s us ot her wi se. Hi s

hands ar e movi ng t o and f r o as he expl ai ns more, somet i mes

poi nt i ng at hi s j our nal , wi nci ng and l ooki ng a bi t f r ust r at ed

wi t h t he l ack of i nf or mat i on. Knowi ng Sayt i el , he i s one who

never want s t o be i nnocent of t hi ngs. He wi l l r i sk hi s l i f e t o

go beyond enemy l i nes j ust t o have somet hi ng t o repor t t o me.

Last year , t he l ast mi ssi on we had have us penet r at i ng deep i nt o


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J apanese soi l af t er a massi ve quake hi t t he r egi on causi ng

di sar r ay among t he J apanese. Cl ues al l ar ound ar e t el l i ng us

t hat ever ythi ng was a nat ur al i nci dent , but he was not

cont ent ed. Had he not i nsi st ed on goi ng deeper we woul d not had

di scover ed a f al l en pl an t o cause nucl ear f al l out al l ar ound t he

count r y, t he most massi ve on ear t h not caused by war . That coul d

have resul t ed i n i ncr eased t ensi on among nat i ons who l ove t o

bl ame each and everyone f or everyone s f aul t . We bot h got val or

medal s f or t hat , but more t han t he medal s and t he publ i c

announcement s i t s t he r i ght t o get more pr essi ng mi ssi ons t hat

r eal l y gi ve us t he mot i vat i on t o st r i ve t o excel .

The exci t i ng mi ssi ons, t o be exact .

I n f act , not even a si ngl e mot i ve i s i mmi nent . Guar di an

Hanni el was not sent f or a mi ssi on t her e or has not been sent t o

any maj or mi ssi on t he past year . I coul dn t f i nd anyone el se t o

quest i on, f al l en and br et hr en al i ke. I add, as i r et ur n t o hi m

hi s j ournal .

There i s a pause. The r oom s si l ence i s st ar t i ng t o

i nt oxi cat e us, maki ng us f al l i nt o deep f ocus, at t empt i ng t o

cl ear our mi nds of sad and di st ur bi ng t hought s. Thi s i s not

cal l ed Cl eansi ng Hal l f or not hi ng.

He r eal l y caused a st i r t hr oughout t he ci t y, di dn t he?

Sayt i el f i nal l y ut t ers .

Our br ot her s and si st er s are not so sur e what t o t hi nk of

hi m yet . I can onl y say, t aki ng a br eat h deep. Honest l y, I


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don t know what t o do next about t hi s. Have you got any mor e

l eads?

Seeker Sayt i el was not answer i ng. I guess t her e was none. i

f eel i t get t i ng t o hi s senses.

I must go now br ot her . Thank you. He di sappears i n f r ont

of me. War pi ng out . The l i ght s f l i cker as he went on, bef or e

shi ni ng st r ongl y back agai n.

I am l ef t al l al one, star i ng bl ankl y at t hi s l i f el ess angel

i n f r ont of me. What r eal l y happened t o you? I desper at el y

say, speaki ng t o a dead angel .

I s he a her o? I s he a menace? I don t know yet . Nothi ng i s

r eal l y cl ear except f or t wo t hi ngs. One i s t hat somet hi ng i s

not normal about hi m. The ot her i s t hat t hi s has made hi m one of

t he most f amous among my br et hr en.

Why?

Wel l , t echni cal l y speaki ng angel s cannot di e. A mor t al way

t hat i s. You know, we don t br eathe our l ast and wake up ei t her

i n heaven or hel l . We don t have bodi es i n t he f i r st pl ace. How

can t he dead di e? We can t . We onl y di sappear .

Because of t hat . Guardi an Hanni el has become what t hey cal l

t he Dead Wi nged.

The ver y f i r st i n memor y.

I pul l out my j our nal t o begi n wr i t i ng about t he si xt eent h

day of my i nvest i gat i on.

The f our t h day of t he f i r st mont h, Two thousand and Twel ve


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year s si nce Ascensi on.

Seeker Gel enni el t he Keen I X XI X i n i nk. . .


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Chapt er 2 Pur gat ory

Each one of us angel s i s named and wi nged r oughl y f or t y days

af t er passi ng away f r om bei ng mor t al . Dur i ng t hi s t i me,

everyt hi ng t hat made us human, asi de f r om t he body we l ef t

behi nd, ar e sucked out away, r el i evi ng al l i mpur i t i es t hat deem

us unwor t hy of t he new wor l d we ar e about t o l i ve on. Thought s,

opi ni ons, f eel i ngs, f r i ends, enemi es, i dent i t y, gui l t , l ove and

memor i es, happy or sad, ar e made to f l ow out wi t h t he wi nd,

becomi ng dreams we never have t o see agai n. That has al ways been

t he case si nce t he day of Ascensi on, when t he Fat her f i nal l y

opened t he gat es t o the ci t y wher e al l soul s go t o bef or e bei ng

ent i r el y pur e f or heaven.

The ci t y of Purgat or y. The ci t y of angel s.

I t dr i f t s acr oss t he ski es, wal l ed and enor mous, aboveunwary mort al s who l ook at i t and onl y see t he t hi ckest of

cl ouds. Out si de t he 2 met er t hi ck 10 met er hi gh br ut e l i mest one

wal l s i s a vast span of ver dant gr ass f i el ds, danci ng as t he

wi nd passes by. I t st r et ches beyond one can see i f not f l yi ng,

br oken onl y by a boundary of shi ni ng puf f of cl ouds wr appi ng

i t sel f at t he meadow s cr evi ces. I t speaks of ser eni t y and

peace, and mel anchol i c t hought s, hence t he name Tr anqui l i t y

Meadows. But i t i s r eal l y not hi ng mor e but a gr aveyar d. A

gr aveyar d of soul s t o be exact . Thousands of soul s l i e bel ow

t hese f i el ds, get t i ng l esser and l esser t hese year s, l osi ng


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t hemsel ves wi t h each passi ng t i me and f orget t i ng ever yt hi ng.

Each day some of t hese soul s wake up, and t he Keeper brot her s of

mi ne wi l l r ound t hem up t o be har vest ed, escor t i ng t hem t o t he

onl y one connect i ng t he meadows t o t he bust l i ng ci t y wai t i ng f or

t hem, t he Gr eat Gat e.

Al l t hat f or wor t hy mor t al s.

I nsi de t he unbr eakabl e wal l s i s a t hr i vi ng communi t y of

wi nged men and women t r yi ng to l i ve l i f e agai n, doi ng what s

uni que of t hem wi t hout br eaki ng any more of t he Fat her s

commandment s. Si x gr and hi ghways, we cal l t he Avenues, conver ge

i nt o a hi l l wher e t he gr andest of al l bui l di ngs i n t he ci t y

st ood. We cal l i t t he Gr and Cat hedr al . I t i s f or bi dden t o f l y

over t he Cat hedr al , and one has t o wal k up t he hundr ed st eps t o

get i nsi de t he maj est i c yet si mpl e whi t e bui l di ng st andi ng 20

met er s at i t s hi ghest poi nt . The l ar gest pi l l ar of gol den l i ght

f r om t he ski es above shoot s down at i t , hi ghl i ght i ng t he

ot her wi se bar e f our cor ner s of t he mai n bui l di ng. El der s say

t hat l i ght i s f r om heaven i t sel f , symbol i zi ng t he hand of t he

Fat her car essi ng hi s cr eat i on wi t hout cease. The wal l s are sol i d

masses of l i mest one pl ast er ed t o per f ect i on sl i ght l y i ncl i ned as

i t r uns up t o meet each other , cr eat i ng a gr and at r i um out of

i t sel f . The onl y t hi ng dar k i n al l t hat whi t eness i s t he 5 met er

hi gh wooden door way, r ust i c and seemi ngl y br eathi ng, whi ch i s

al ways cl ose but ver y easy t o open, mol ded f r om t he best of t he

cel est i al t r ees. I t i s a monument beyond any ot her . Legends t el l


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i t was t he onl y bui l di ng st andi ng when t he gat es t o Pur gat ory

opened, i mpl yi ng t hat i t was mol ded by t he gr eatest archi t ect

hi msel f .

I st ar e at i t bl ank wi t h t hought s f r om t he ent r ance of t he

Cl eansi ng hal l , whi ch st ood hal f way at t he whol e expanse of t he

2nd avenue. Fr om t her e I can see how t he Cathedr al pul sat es wi t h

br i ght l i ght as t he ci t y moves on wi t h t he sun, i nci t i ng agai n

t hat sense of r el i ef t hat t he Fat her i s al ways t her e wher e ever

we ar e.

To t he Last Ni ght , We l l f i ght , Wi t h Mi ght f or t he Li ght .

i s our credo, i nspi r ed by that same l i ght . We wi l l di e agai n i f

we can. Lose everyt hi ng so t hat we can. Choose t o be gone so

t hat we can.

For t hat l i ght we can.

Br ot her Edi el . I cal l af t er not i ci ng a f ami l i ar br ot her

wal ki ng f ast across me away f r om t he Hal l . He l ooked l i ke he was

i n a hur r y, cl ut chi ng hi s swor d by t he hi l t t o pr event i t f r om

swayi ng t oo much. I t was not so cr owded t hat t i me. I pass by a

keeper t hat was t our i ng a gr oup of i ni t i at es, wi ngl ess, ar ound

t he ci t y. He poi nt s at t he hal l and began expl ai ni ng what i t was

f or , a br i ef hi st or y of i t s i ncept i on and t he par t s t hat makes

i t oper ate. I see t he amazed f aces of t he young ones as t hey

pul l ed t hei r head up t o mar vel at t he t ower i ng spi r es of t he

st r uct ur e. I was once l i ke t hese young ones, eni gmat i c and

hast y. Doves f l ew out f r om t he hol es i n t he spi r e i n uni son,


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whi zzi ng gr acef ul l y al l around t he pl ace. Some f l ew down t o t he

r ef l ect i ng pool i n f r ont of t he bui l di ng and began dr i nki ng t he

wat er i n i t . Behi nd t hem a Mi nst r el was dr aggi ng hi s equi pment ,

st r uggl i ng because he kept sl i ppi ng and t hr owi ng some part s of

i t of f t he gr ound. A coupl e of i ni t i at es wer e di st r act ed and

began r ushi ng t o hel p t he poor mi nst r el col l ect t he scat t er ed

par t s. He smi l es and gi ves each of t hem a t ap i n t he head. A

si gn of t hank you el der s gi ve t o younger ones. An i nt er cessor

dr i f t s not f r om af ar , si l ent .

We dr ess not because we ar e gr ouped when named but because

i t makes any of our wor k easi er . Guar di ans, wi t h t hei r heavy

j oi nt ed wi ngs wi t h deep seeded t hi ck f eat hers pref er t o cl ad

t hemsel ves i n l eather armors handcr af t ed t o have an openi ng i n

t he back. Rarel y wi l l you see a guardi an not pr i med up f or

bat t l e anywher e t hey ar e, whatever t hey do. Ther e ar e f ew

except i ons t hough, l i ke t hose who had denounced t here

compet i t i ve nat ur es t o be t r ai ner s i nst ead, not accept i ng

mi ssi ons asi de f r om past oral ones. Never t hel ess, a r ugged wi nged

i s most pr obabl y a Guardi an one. Puns asi de.

We seeker s, on t he ot her hand, woul d rat her not be havi ng

t hose pesky ar mors dr aggi ng us t o a sl ow submi ss i on. We ar e t he

best sneaker s of t he r eal m, havi ng t he smal l est wi ngs but

genet i cal l y capabl e of warpi ng i n and out anywher e l i ke an

assassi n but bounded by t he Codes of Moral i t y. Our best def ense

i s not be hi t at al l . So who t hen needs ar mors? A l ong shroud


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and a vi sor , i f handy, wi l l do f or me. Most set t l e f or a sui t .

Keeper s are t he gent l emen of t he wi nged wor l d. Proper l y

draped and cl ot hed, t hey are t he onl y ones among my br et hren who

dr ess l i ke al l mor t al s do. Of t en t hey don coat and t i es,

cockt ai l dr esses bel ow knees and a l ot of sneaker s and even

j eans f or t he mor e advent urous one. But even wi t hout al l t hat

keeper s ar e best known f or t hei r i mposi ng sl ender wi ngs, dart ed

wi t h t hi n f eat her s t hey l ove t o br ush t o keep i t i n i t s pr i me

st at e. They al so have t he shar pest hal os, t hi n and emanat i ng

f ast , especi al l y i f t hey want i t t o. I f at hom t hat i s because

t hey ar e al ways t he f i r st t hat i ni t i at es meet , and no one want s

t o scar e of f conf used soul s at har vest i ng.

I nt er cessor s ar e t he si mpl est , i f not t he sweet est of al l

my br et hren. Thei r oat h of meekness makes t hem t he most passi ve

amongst al l cl ust er s, bar el y speaki ng unl ess i t i s mat t er s of

ext r eme concer n. Most are of t en seen donni ng a whi t e t oga over

si mpl e shi r t and and a pai r pant s, wi t h onl y thei r hal os showi ng

gi vi ng t he col or t hat t hey l acked. They can wr ap themsel ves al l

around i n thi ck garment s wi t hout bei ng bot her ed because t hei r

wi ngs resembl e cl ot h i n i t s pl ast i ci t y, l i ke t ent acl es cl i ngi ng

t o t hei r backs t hat gl i de wi t h t he passi ng wi nd. That makes t hem

bul ky and sl ow, but i nt er cessors never r eal l y ar e t he t ype t o

r ush i n pai nst aki ngl y wi t hout a si gn.

The Mi nst r el s, however , f ol l ows no r ul es at al l . They ar e

t he most ar t i st i c of al l t he angel s, wear i ng ever yt hi ng f r om


16/42

shor t s t o sl i pper s or even t hei r own cr eat i ons. They t ake pr i de,

t he good way, i n showi ng of f al l concept i ons t hey ve managed t o

creat e so f ar , i n what ever f or m i t can be. No t wo mi nst r el s wi l l

ever be al i ke i n our l and, and somehow t hat makes t hem t he most

i nt er est i ng of al l t he cl uster s.

Ahh, Gel enni el , br other how ar e you? Edi el says,

spreadi ng hi s hands wi t h gl ee bef ore rushi ng back to gi ve me a

gr eet i ng hug. Guar di an Edi el t he Ser i ous was a st out man, bi g

bui l t but not f at . He had t hat t hi ck br ow above hi s deep bagged

eyes, l ooki ng t i r ed and gl oomy. Edi el i s a happy man t hough,

eager even. He had t hat cur l y gi nger hai r he pul l s back ever y

t i me he becomes ver y ser i ous, especi al l y i n t i mes of need.

Asi de f r om cl ust er s, angel s ar e named accor di ng t o t he t i me

of t hei r i ncept i on, as or der ed by t he Code of Taxonomy agr eed

on by al l angel s r i sen at t he Ascensi on. I t was t he f i r st of al l

t he maj or codes i n Pur gat or y, l ower i n aut hor i t y t han t he

Commandment s but i nf l uent i al st i l l . I t st i pul at es t hat each

cent ur y a new Gener at i on i s t o be est abl i shed, char t er ed and

or gani zed f or bet t er r ecogni t i on among t he br et hr en. Legi ons are

t o be cr eat ed among t hese Generat i ons, once every decade. Fr om

t hese l egi ons, al l wi nged wi l l t hen bel ong t o a f ami l y, count ed

ever y year . As of pr esent t her e are t wo thousand el even of t hese

f ami l y of angel s i n Pur gat or y, di f f er i ng i n si zes. Al l ser vi ng,

none f adi ng except t hose t hat had per i shed.

Edi el and I bel ong t o t he same f ami l y. The same l egi on and


17/42

Gener at i on.

I m f i ne br ot her , l ooks l i ke you r e i n a hur r y. I ask.

Yi kes, you f or got di dn t you? he sai d, f r i ski ng hi s hands

i n f r ont of me wi t h a puzzl ed l ook i n hi s f ace. He muses at t he

si ght of of me gr i maci ng a bi t t r yi ng t o t hi nk what ever t hat i s

I f orgot .

I had been so bent and spent on my dead wi nged case I have

no t i me t hi nki ng of ot her t hi ngs.

Edi el t hr ows hi s hand over my shoul der , bar el y abl e wi t h

hi s hei ght . I t s t hr ee mont hs due Ascensi on Fest i val my f r i end.

he st ar t s. And you know what t hat means do you?

Oh my, I f or got about t he Ascensi on Fest i val . Ever y thi r d

mont h of every even number endi ng year , at t he t hi r d week, at

t he t hi r d day of t hat week, exact l y 3 at dayst ar t , al l of t he

wi nged commemor at es t he f oundi ng of Pur gator y, mor e f amousl y

known as t he Ascensi on Fest i val . Thi s i s t he day al l t he wor t hy

soul s have been r edeemed f r om a mi l l enni a of wal ki ng because of

t he cur se of t he Or i gi nal Si n. The wi ngl ess wer e wi nged, hal o s

est eemed agai n and t hose t hat r emai ned i n t he l i ght r egardl ess

of per secut i on wer e made to ri se i n gl or y. Thi s t ur ni ng poi nt i n

cel est i al hi st or y i s now t he gr eat est r emi nder of t he Al mi ght y

Fat her s gr eat l ove f or hi s cr eat i on, a t est ament of hi s undyi ng

dedi cat i on t o f ul f i l l i ng hi s pr omi se despi t e of cont i nuous

i nf i del i t y and gr acel essness.

Thi s means t hree mont hs of cel ebrat i on f or us, st ar t i ng


18/42

wi t h t he Day of Announcement by Ar changel Gabr i el and

cul mi nat i ng wi t h the Day of Ascensi on sponsored by Ar changel

Mi chael hi msel f .

But al l Gener at i ons ar e engr ossed on somet hi ng el se asi de

f rom t he cel ebrat i on i t sel f .

Oh you mean t he t eam dr af t i ng f or t he Ascensi on Cup? I

sai d. I m sor r y I t ot al l y f or got . But haven t we dr af t ed

t eammat es f or t hi s year al r eady?

Edi el wasn t answer i ng. I f el t hi m t i ght eni ng hi s gr i p on

my shoul der , hi s eyebrows meet i ng. Hmmmm, Ar e you okay my

br ot her ? he says, soundi ng wor r i ed.

I gave hi m a bl unt t i mi d smi l e. Nahh, J ust a case t he

Ci r cl e has had me worki ng on.

He pul l s me down and whi spers I s i t about t he dead wi nged

ever yone s been t al ki ng about ?.

Yes. Pr obabl y t he har dest t hi ng I had t o cr ack.

Nonsense. He excl ai ms, spr eadi ng hi s ar ms wi de. You? a

Val or Awardee, havi ng a hard t i me? Nonsense!

Oh st op i t you. I say whi l e r eachi ng out .

Why? you know, I m al ways proud t o be your f r i end because

of t hat . So cheer up br o, Al l wi l l f al l i nt o pl ace. He says,

t appi ng my back wear i ng t hat cont agi ous smi l es of hi s.

Thanks f or t hat br ot her . I answer , smi l i ng now. I r ai sed

my cl enched hand up to hi m f or a f i st bump, whi ch he al ways

comi cal l y recei ves. By t he way, why the r ush agai n?


19/42

He moves away f r om me and sl aps hi s hand on hi s head,

r emember i ng what i t was he i nt endi ng t o do bef ore I i nt er r upt ed

hi m. Oh yes! We have a probl em. Guardi an Ar ck- l i el had t o back

out f r om our t eam, pendi ng pr obl ems i n hi s ar ea. Now I need t o

go to Keeper I sadi el s home a bl ock f r om her e t o pl an a new

draf t i ng.

Ar ck- l i el i s havi ng pr obl ems? I i nt er r upt .

Yes, heard Si ngapore i s r ed now.

I was surpr i sed t o hear Si ngapor e bei ng r ed. Bei ng r ed

meant f al l en act i vi t y i s i mmi nent . Or happeni ng al r eady. Take

Nor t h Korea. Whi ch as f ar as I can remember has al ways been r ed.

The f al l en has al ways l oved at t acki ng di ct at or i al count r i es

because i t was easi er t o mani pul at e. You def i l e the head and al l

wi l l bow down.

But not a democr at i c t i ger l i ke Si ngapor e.

How r ed? I coul d onl y ask.

Let s j ust say i t s so r ed Ar ck- l i el had t o send me a

messenger j ust t o t el l me he s out t hi s year . He expl ai ns.

Even t hough he s j ust r ound t he Ci r cl e mi ngl i ng wi t h our Guys

t her e. You get t he poi nt , r i ght ?

Real l y? That i s a r eal l y sad news. Maybe I shoul d go t her e

t o hear mor e about t hi s.

Ri ght . Edi el says, t hi nki ng of somet hi ng. So, t i l l we

meet agai n?

Yes. I have t o go br ot her . I say. I r ai sed up my hand


20/42

agai n f or a f ar ewel l f i st bump, as we al ways do, t hi nki ng of

war pi ng out t o go t o t he Ci r cl e Bui l di ng.

Edi el st ops me by grabbi ng me by t he el bow. He becomes as

ser i ous as he wi l l ever be when he i s i n need, l osi ng al l

j ol l i ness he had. You r e not t hi nki ng of backi ng out t oo

because of t he dead wi nged i ssue r i ght ? he whi sper s.

I gi ggl e a bi t , amused because i t hought he was worr i ed of

Si ngapor e. Of course not brot her , not me. You know how much we

want t o wi n t hi s t hi ng si nce we both came i n.

He si ghs wi t h r el i ef .

Yeaahhhh, t hat s my man. We wi l l get i t t hi s t i me f or

sur e. he bl ur t s out . He poi nt s at me wi t h bot h hands i n

appr oval , ent hr al l ed, hi s smi l e now t he bi ggest he coul d have.

Now of you go. he adds, cl ut chi ng my hand to gi ve me a f i st

bump hi msel f .

Al l Gener at i ons are engr ossed on somethi ng el se asi de f r om

t he cel ebr at i on i t sel f . Al l of us ar e vyi ng t o wi n t he Ascensi on

Cup and get t i ng t hat pr i ze f r om Ar changel Mi chael , i n a

ceremoni al pl ay t hat depi ct s how t he Gat e was opened. The

Generat i on t hat wi ns wi l l pi ck a huge chunk among t hem t o become

act or s, ant agoni st i n a t heat r i cal bat t l e bet ween t he wal ki ng

f al l en and t he wi nged. Those who par t i ci pated i n t he cup

t hemsel ves wi l l be t he one r eachi ng t he gates t o open i t i n t he

f i nal scene. Wher e Ar changel Mi chael wi l l appear t o gi ve t hem a

pr i ze t r ophy, al l wi t h t he pr i vi l ege t o di spl ay i t on t hei r


21/42


22/42

Chapter 3 The Ci r cl e of Recommendat i on

I r emember t he f i r st t i me I ever succeeded i n warpi ng.

Tr anqui l i t y Meadows, I r emember sayi ng t o mysel f . Come on,

Gel enni el , Thi nk of Tr anqui l i t y Meadows.

But t he gr een f i el ds el udes me.

Remember , i t i s al l about t hi nki ng i n st eps. Not wher e you

want t o appear . But t hat you want t o di sappear f i r st . Seeker

Mar t i ni el t he Pr i nci pl ed, my ment or , sai d. I sense hi m ci r cl i ng

me, hi s sandal s t appi ng l i ght l y on t he cer ami c f l oor i ng of t he

War pi ng Tr ai ni ng Cent er . Then r est your mi nd, vi sual i zi ng t hat

pl ace, as i f you r e al r eady t her e, over and over agai n.

He kept whi sper i ng ot her t hi ngs t o my ear , whi ch I wasn t

absor bi ng anymore because I was al r eady i n a dr eamy st at e. I was

begi nni ng t o l ose al l ot her sensat i ons i n my body, f r om t he t i psof my t oes t o t he l ast i nch of my hai r . Heat t hen sur ged up i n

al l of me, l i ke I was bur ni ng i nsi de out , onl y l ess pai nf ul . I t

was onl y a whi l e bef or e I f el t l i ke I had been r ol l ed many

t i mes, st r et ched on some poi nt , mol ded agai n, t hen r ol l ed agai n.

I coul d f eel ever ythi ng around me cr ashi ng, shaki ng, and

r evol vi ng. Ver y nauseat i ng. Then t her e was a pause, wi t h onl y a

st at i c sound audi bl e, r i ngi ng const ant l y t o my ear s. I hear d a

zi p, l i ke a beam of l i ght passi ng so f ast t hr ough me I coul d

onl y hear i t whi z past . I f el l down on my knees, bar el y abl e t o

hol d on. Ever yt hi ng was si l ent af t er t hat . Sl owl y t her e wher e


23/42

voi ces. Peopl e whi sper i ng. Some sur pr i sed. What bl asphemy i s

t hi s?! They scr eamed.

I opened my eyes but coul dn t see wel l , my vi si on cl ouded

wi t h a bl i ndi ng l i ght t hat seemed t o come f r om ever ywher e.

Sweat dr i pped acr oss my f ace, scat t er i ng al l over as I t r i ed t o

wi pe some of f my eyes. Peopl e were wal ki ng t owards me, wi t h

hal os i n t hei r si l houet t es showi ng t hey ar e br ot her s of mi ne.

Must er i ng t he l ast of my st r engt h, I pul l ed my body up. But t o

no avai l . I f el t I was l osi ng consci ousness as f ast as I was

r egai ni ng si ght . Bar el y even abl e t o to rai se my head up wel l .

Hal f way t hr ough my knees f ai l ed, wi t h me f al l i ng back f i r st

r eachi ng out . The l ast t hi ng I saw wer e t he f aces of t hose

wi nged br ot hers who rushed hel p me up. Behi nd them I coul d

f at hom t he r i bs suppor t i ng t he ent i r e wei ght of t he r oof of t he

bui l di ng. I was cer t ai n I was at t he Gr and Cat hedr al .

That s t oo bad. I t was mor e f or bi dden t o war p i nt o t he

Cat hedr al t han t o f l y t o i t .

I woke up t he next day i n t he Cl eansi ng hal l , head achi ng

st i l l , wi t h Seeker Mar t i ni el st andi ng besi de me.

That cer t ai nl y was a f i r st f or me. he coul d onl y say. I

t hought I was t o goi ng t o recei ve some word of r epr oach. But hi s

smi l e showed me other wi se. I have t o admi t t hat was one some

good war pi ng f or a f i r st t i mer . The f ast est f or someone l i ke

you.

I di dn t answer . But he was r i ght . I was t he f i r st who


24/42

managed t o t el epor t at f i r st day of t r ai ni ng, a r ecor d I hel d

unt i l a decade l at er when somebody di d i t even bef ore bei ng

t r ai ned. Seeker Sayt i el .

Tel l me. What pl ace wer e you r eal l y t hi nki ng? He asked.

I want ed t o say Tr anqui l i t y Meadows. But I coul dn t say i t

because I know i t was somet hi ng el se. My young mi nd, f i l l ed wi t h

l essons of t he Hi st or y of Pur gat or y, of beaut i f ul anecdot es of

aged Mi nst r el s, of t he dr awi ngs of t he vi si ons of t he

I nt er cessors and wr i t t en l i t er at ur e put t hi ngs i nt o my t hought s

t hat r ei t er at ed onl y one t hi ng.

Heaven. Or what I i magi ne of i t .

I knew I had t o keep my mout h shut t hen.

Br ot her s and Si st er s, We need t o r ei nf or ce Si ngapor e. I

hear someone f r om bel ow say. I open my eyes and gaze down at

t he f ul l y f i l l ed seat s of t he Ci r cl e of Recommendat i on,

cyl i ndr i cal i n f or m, wi t h r ai sed pul pi t s l ai d on t he st epped

pl at f or ms connect ed t o t he bui l di ng wal l s. I n each one of t hese

pul pi t s sat one member of t he ci r cl e f or t hat day, wi t h t hr ee

banner s col ored r ed, bl ue and yel l ow hangi ng i n f r ont of t hem.

At t he top most por t i on where I appear , open bl eacher s hang

al most f r eel y f or t hose spect at or s who woul d rat her wat ch t han

vot e. I r ecogni ze t he one speaki ng at t he st age as Guar di an

Ar ck- Li el t he Tol er ant , t he same Legi on and Gener at i on as me. He

i s f r om t he f i f t h f ami l y t hough.

I t was dur i ng t he ear l y days of t he Ci t y t hat t he new


25/42

i nhabi t ant s deci ded t hat t hey needed a syst em t o pr oper l y

addr ess i ssues t hat r equi r e i mmedi at e at t ent i on. Ther e was

al r eady a syst em of i nqui r y bef or e, i nvol vi ng wai t i ng f or t he

Ar changel s t o appear and pr esi de over t he part i es concer ned.

They act l i ke j udges who woul d di sh out t hei r t hought s on t he

i ssues, engagi ng ever yone i n a heal t hy debate. Af t er much

del i ber at i on, a deci si on i s t o be made, wr i t t en i n a paper t o be

si gned and seal ed by the One pr esi di ng t he i ssue. I t was an

ef f i ci ent and st r ai ght f or war d syst em. But as t he ci t y gr ew bot h

i n si ze and i nf l uence, more and more i ssues pop up ever yday,

maki ng i t pai nst aki ng f or t he Ar changel s who have t o si t t hr ough

a l ong l i st of pendi ng i ssues pi l ed up t hr ough t i me.

Thus t he Ci r cl e of Recommendat i on was born. Four t housand

t went y t wo seat s arr anged ar ound a gr and ci r cul ar st age ar e open

t o ever yone, dependi ng on who goes f i r st , t o par t i ci pat e i n

vot i ng f or what ever day t o day i ssue t hat needs r esol ut i on.

Ever y year t wo seats ar e added, goi ng around unt i l another l ayer

have to be pl aced t o accommodat e new posi t i ons.

Ar e you t el l i ng us t hat t hi ngs are al r eady out of hand?

One br ot her say, br i ngi ng hi s head cl oser t o a f l oat i ng

spher i cal obj ect , we cal l a woof er , i n f r ont of hi m above t he

pul pi t . Hi s voi ce r esounds al l over t he open bui l di ng, cl ear

even t o me who was f ar away opposi t e f r om wher e he sat .

The speaker at t he cent er st age cl ear s hi s t hroat , br i ngi ng

hi s own woof er cl oser t o hi m. I t mi ght be.


26/42

Ther e an audi bl e r esponse. We can not set t l e f or what

mi ght be br ot her . One f r om at op say.

How are we sur e that t hese ar e not i sol ated cases, you

know how vol at i l e r ogue f al l en can be. Another one say.

Guardi an r eserves ar e get t i ng t hi nner each day, we need t o

be st r ategi cal l y cor r ect bef or e we deci de t o r educe once

pr esence on one pl ace t o put i t t o another one. Lest we br eak

t he bal ance.

We need evi dences f i r st ! another one shout ed.

The ent i r e bui l di ng become f i l l ed wi t h t he r esoundi ng

voi ces of everyone who want s t o ext end t hei r opi ni on. Some st ood

up t o gai n at t ent i on and put emphasi s t o t hei r poi nt s. Wi t h al l

t hat bust l e, and wi t h woof er s si mul t aneousl y r i ngi ng t o ever yone

ears, nothi ng can be underst ood.

SI LENCE! one angel f r om t he st age commands. He st ands up

and r ai ses bot h hi s hands, hi s hal o shi ni ng i t s br i ght est . Hi s

voi ce t hunder s above ever yone el se, t aki ng ever yone aghast . I

swear I f el t t he whol e st r uct ur e shake. I have never hear d a

gr unt more power i ng t han t he Gat ekeeper hi msel f , Keeper Pet r i el

t he Mar t yr . Even those pesky Gr unt er s, mi ni ons cr eat ed f r om

soul s t he si nf ul l y r ebel l i ous, pr ove l ess i nt i mi dat i ng t han hi m.

When he speaks he demands r espect , maki ng hi m per f ect t o be one

of t he over seer s of t he Ci r cl e.

The onl y overseer I am cl ose t o.

At l east Thr ee over seer s sat al ways at t he cent er of t he


27/42

Ci r cl e s st age, r otated annual l y among t he t went y unani mousl y

chosen by the Ar changel s af t er t hey saw t he f ai l ur e of t he

Ci r cl e dur i ng t he Second Gr eat Mort al War . They ar e not l eader s,

i n a sense, but mor e of organi zer s, t he one wei ghi ng t he l east

i mport ant i ssues t o t he more ur gent ones. They repr esent t he

Ar changel s convi ct i on, al ways t o t he Wi l l of t he Fat her , and i s

t he onl y one aut hor i zed t o f or m r esponse t eams of angel s t o ai d

i n t he cause of t he l i ght . That st i l l means so much aut hor i t y i n

t hr ee mi nds at a t i me. Good t hi ng t hey are one of t he best mi nds

i n our br et hr en.

Unl i ke some mort al l eader s t oday. Most .

My br et hr en of t he l i ght , Br ot her Ar ck- l i el has onl y sai d

hi s t hought s her e. He di dn t i nst r uct , di d he?. So why woul d we?

The - Keeper Pet r i el says, pausi ng when hi s woof er r an out of

l i ght and cut t i ng of f what he was about t o say. He cast ed hi s

bearded, st uf f ed f ace t o t he one seat ed next hi m, another

over seer named I nt er cessor Ther esi el t he Ki nd, smi l i ng hi s best .

Everyone i s st i l l s i l ent .

Agai n? Seems we have t o i nvent speci al ones f or you

Br ot her Pet r i el . I nt er cessor Ther esi el says, gi ggl i ng a bi t as

she was passi ng on her woof er t o Pet r i el .

He nods, sheepi shl y smi l i ng, bef or e cl ear i ng hi s t hr oat .

Ehem, Sor r y bout t hat He st ar t s. The quest i on her e i s

whet her we woul d al l ow Pur gatory t o rei nf orce Si ngapore wi t h

more Guar di ans. That s t hat , not hi ng el se. Now we have t o hear


28/42

our br ot her Ar ck- l i el s poi nt s of ar gument her e f i r st . Then we

vot e. How s t hat ?

There i s no answer . Pet r i el al ways t akes t hat as a yes and

waves hi s hand t o Ar ck- l i el , si gnal l i ng hi m t o go on.

Thank you, Keeper Pet r i el . Ar ck- l i el says. Ever yone, I

have shown you al l t he dat a of t he cur r ent si t uat i on we are on.

Now I go t o t he det ai l s. He r ai ses f r om hi s bag a ser i es of

r epor t paper s, shovi ng i t ar ound t he ai r f or ever yone t o see.

What we f aced l ast week were di f f erent f r om t he ones we had

been put t i ng at bay t he past decade i n our area. Not even

r emot el y cl ose.

Everyone i s mum, but I coul d sense t he want t o speak up, or

go near t o di scuss per sonal l y. I t i s a r ul e not t o l eave t he

pul pi t i n bet ween di scussi ons. I nt er cessor Ther esi el r eaches out

t o t he woof er Pet r i el bor r owed f r om her bef or e she st ands up.

She t hen f i xes her r obe t hat was t oo bi g f or her smal l body,

coi l i ng her ver y l ong bl ack hai r i n her ar m l i ke a br acer . Her

unbl emi shed f ace l ooked t oo young f or her st at ur e, t oo i nnocent .

But what she l acked i n physi que she has i n i nt el l ect , and an

exper t i se i n one of t he har dest of Cel est i al Di sci pl i nes, Li ght

Moul di ng.

How di f f er ent ? She asks, as she near s Ar ck- l i el .

Ar ck- l i el spr eads hi s not es i n one hand sear chi ng f or

somet hi ng. He then passes Ther esi el a pi ece of paper , whi ch she

st udi es t her e on.


29/42

That i s r oughl y f i f t y me i n hei ght . He adds.

Theresi el i s cl ear l y not l i st eni ng, she i s so bent on

anal yzi ng what was i nsi de t he r epor t . She l i f t ed her l ef t hand

at chest l engt h and began movi ng her f i ngers ar ound her pal m, as

i f r ol l i ng a bal l on her hands. Gr een l i ght began t o f or m at i t ,

r evol vi ng as f ast as her f i nger s moved. From wher e I am I coul d

see the l i ght gr owi ng more and more each second, event ual l y

eat i ng up her whol e hand.

Fi f t y, you say? She says, eyes f i xed st i l l on t he r epor t .

Arck- l i el nods, i ndi f f erent .

Wi t h a sl i ght f l i ck of her hand, I see Ther esi el s bal l of

l i ght gr ow i nt o ast oundi ng pr opor t i ons. I t r eaches beyond t he

Over seer s seat s and even t he edges of t he ci r cul ar st age of t he

st r uct ur e, al most as hi gh up as wal l s hei ght . Li t t l e bal l s of

l i ght s, f l i cker on and of f , f or mi ng what l ook l i ke a creat ur e

wi t h the way they are connect ed t o each ot her . The monochr omat i c

model st ood up l i ke a scul pt ur e, wi t h t he l i ght bal l s bul gi ng

i n and out t o show t he craggy ski n of t he l ong and sl ender body

of t he cr eatur e. I t was not a snake but a huge worm at a gl ance,

coi l i ng on i t s own, i t s head r ai sed up scr eami ng out , showi ng

of f huge bar bs of t eet h cover i ng al l of i t s mout h. Ther esi el

waves her arm, ast ounded at t he sheer si ze of what she made,

swi pi ng t o r ot at e i t on i t s base whi l e st udyi ng ever y det ai l .

Ever ybody st ands up on t hei r f eet t r yi ng t o see cl ear l y what

seemed t o be very new t o t hei r si ght . Even t o me.


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Not even t he most hor r i d of the f al l en i n t he Second Gr eat

Mor t al War , al ong wi t h t hei r cr i t t er s and mi ni ons, wher e t hi s

bi g.

What mont r osi t y i s t hi s?! one guar di an at t he t op says,

br eaki ng t he si l ence. A l ot of t he other Ci r cl e member s hums

t hei r i deas t o t he one besi de t hem. Specul at i ons ar i se.

Your guesses ar e as good as mi ne. I t s hi de i s ver y st r ong

at t he sol i d par t s, i mpenet r abl e even by t he st r ongest i n my

area. We f ound sof t er area on i t s body but any weapon t hat hi t s

i t get s sucked i nsi de i t . I t i s ver y aggr essi ve but not so

smar t . I t even hi t s one hi s own i n one of i t s r ampages. Ar ck-

l i el r epl i es.

Wai t ? There was more?! I ask mysel f .

I t coul d be Dust Moul di ng. Guar di an J oani el t he Br ave,

anot her over seer , ut t er s. She was si t t i ng at her chai r t he whol e

t i me, arms cr ossed wi t h a si ngl e l eg at op the ot her . Her swor d,

br oad, gi gant i c and sheat hed i n r ed vevl et , l eans on t he l ong

whi t e cl ot h t abl e pl aced on st age f or t he over seer s. She i s a

keen but si l ent obser vant , not even r eact i ng t o anyt hi ng unt i l

she wi shes t o. Out of al l t he ot her over seer s, I see her as t he

most passi ve, sur passi ng even i nt er cessor Ther esi el her sel f . But

t hat can be because she has t hat manl y di sposi t i on, shor t gol den

hai r wi t h a hi nt of r uggedness i n t he way she speaks. Her bl ue

eyes gi ves away t hat sof t er par t t hough.

And why do you say Si st er ? Keeper Pet r i el l eans over t o


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l ook at J oani el .

J oani el poi nt s at t he head of t he model , whi ch Ther esi el

zooms i n i ni t i at i vel y. Ther e i s no eyes i n t hi s t hi ng, no ear s,

j ust a mout h, and t hat s hardl y ever a mout h. I t hi nk i t s

i nani mat e, unt hi nki ng, seei ng how Br ot her Ar ck- l i el say i t s not

t oo smar t . To my vi ewpoi nt , t hi s l ooks more l i ke an equi pment , a

weapon perhaps.

Theresi el l ooks on. Pet r i el sl umps hi s back on t he r est of

hi s chai r , t hi nki ng deep.

Dust Moul di ng i s one of t he For bi dden Di sci pl i nes. Because

of t hat i t i s not t aught i n any of t he t r ai ni ng school s


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Chapt er 4 The Si ngaporean I nci dent


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Chapt er 5 Angel s t hat Dr eam


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Chapt er 6 Keeper Pet r i el


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Chapt er 7 Cal a - Cal a


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Chapt er 8 Ar changel Gabr i el


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Chapt er 9 The Li br ar y of Tr ut hs


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Chapt er 10 The Paci f i c I nci dent


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Chapt er 11 House of t he Ni net een Hundred


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Chapt er 12 The Pear l of t he Or i ent


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Chapt er 13 Hundr ed Hi l l s i n a Pl ai n


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i-el _ inquisition

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