27

AFTER A MILLION YEARS...

"I most certainly do not need to give long speeches today since you already know what must be done. This competition will lead to the strengthening of our ranks so it should be taken seriously. You know the rules as well, no use of any weapons other than the ones meant for this tournament or else you will be eliminated and also face severe punishment. No form of cheating is allowed whatsoever, I personally would drag you out of the arena myself and finally, under no circumstance will you raise your holy hands to kill another. I believe you already no the repercussions of that act".

"YES MASTER!"

Beth gave a stiff nod and sighed. She was thoroughly exhausted. She was put in charge of the whole process that led to the tournament since she was a high ranking warrior in heaven and even though the task was honorable, she would be lying if she said she didn't wish to have a break once in a while. Beth stared at the competitors before her, a little pride swelled within her. With the maker's grace, she had been able to train the warriors in the best way possible. She knew that the tournament would be extremely competitive and finding a winner would be tough.

That's how it's meant to be after all.

She started to walk past each of them slowly, they all had helmets on their heads so only their eyes and a bit of their hair was visible. As she passed, the angels would bow slightly and face ahead again. There were no smiles on their faces and Beth knew they were only putting up that stone cold persona to hide what they were truly feeling: fear. She knew that skill very well, she was the one that taught them after all.

After she passed by nine of the contestants, she got to the last one. The angel also bowed and faced forward but unlike with the others, Beth did not move away. She came closer and narrowed her eyes at the angel. The warrior was taller than she was but he or she did not have the figure of a warrior or carry any aura of power. Instead, Beth sensed innocence in the highest level. She came a bit closer that her head was close to the angel's chest. Even though she was not staring the angel in the eye, she sensed fear. The warrior was not masking her feelings like the others and was visibly struggling to keep herself together.

Beth stared at the hands of the angel, it was slender. Without touching it, she knew it was going to be extremely soft. Then finally she peeped at the hair of the angel and it had golden streaks intricately designed on it. Beth's eyes widened, only one angel had golden streaks on her hair like that.

You have got to be kidding me!

"AZALIAH!" That name needed no introduction. Beth and the other nine contestants turned to face the last angel on the line. The visible shake had already given her away so Beth did not hesitate to pull the helmet from her head with her sword. The gasps of the angels only confirmed what they had thought.

A female angel stood right in front of them, and not just any female angel. The very angel that fell from the temple of God millions of years ago. There was no mistaken her for anyone else, she had a special look and a special aura that she eluded. Her eyes were golden like that of the higher ranked angels but there was still a distinction. She had a unique thing about her face that just made any angel in heaven stare for more than five minutes and her skin was brown but still looked as clear as glass. She was extremely divine.

Unfortunately for her, she was also under the care of the highest female ranked angel in the heavens.

"AZALIAH!" A voice yelled again. The angel widened her eyes and looked at Beth for the first time. Beth pointed her fingers at her accusingly.

"What in God's special grace are you doi--"

"Master Beth, you must hide me immediately. I cannot let my mother find me". She spoke out. Her voice came out so clear and yet so different, for a moment Beth forgot what she wanted to say.

"Azaliah! Goodness little one, you cannot just run out of the temple whenever you please and how dare you come here of all places. Do you want my head to be hanging on the air for display?"

The angel shook her head.

"No, of course not!" She exclaimed. "I just wanted to participate in the tournament and mother would not let me".

"Of course she would not let you, you have never trained in your life".

"That does not mean I cannot be capable on the battle ground".

"It's not a battle ground Azaliah, this is not a war no need to be so dramatic". Beth murmured while rubbing her temples.

She was so dead.

"All the more reason for me to participate". Azaliah argued. Occasionally she would rub her neck to ease it of the pain caused by her constant bending to meet Beth's eyes. It annoyed the warrior a bit.

"Azaliah?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever wielded a sword?"

"Uhm no".

"A spear?"

"Well... no".

"An arrow?"

"No..."

"A dagger then?"

Azaliah's silence was answer enough. The angels giggled among themselves and she frowned. Her squeezed face still did not look intimidating at all and it brought a smile to Beth's face.

She just had to make her smile in front of the students.

She tapped the heartbroken Azaliah on her shoulder.

"If you had trained earlier with us, you probably would have participated but you will only get hurt now and I will lose my head". Beth said with a straight face.

Azaliah laughed slightly.

"Maybe next time?" She asked innocently. Beth stared at her for a few seconds before nodding slowly.

"Yes...maybe". Beth knew it was never going to happen, as long as Nahamani was living.

"I should have known". An all too familiar voice called out. "The only person that she would ignore me for is you, especially when she is surrounded by knifes and spears!"

Beth slowly turned to face a fuming cherub that had her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in irritation. She slowly smiled at her, trying so hard to look innocent.

"Hi".

Nahamani's face showed that she did not fall for it one bit.