11. Hayliel

11

I sit next to Theo in history class, with Castiel sitting in his usual spot at his desk.

It’s nice to have him back, for more than just my fear for his safety. Selfishly, I’m happy to have him as an ally, someone I know won’t put up with any bullshit from the other students. That, mixed with having Theo next to me and an interest in the subject matter, makes this one of my favorite classes.

Castiel checks the clock on the wall, then presses a button on his slate and stands. Mine pings immediately, and I open up the attachment he’d sent to everyone. A packet that contains information about our final assignment, along with example articles for reference.

“The end of term will be here before you know it. I never liked big weighted exams when I was a student and that hasn’t changed, so I’m giving you all an assignment instead. During class, we’ll go through several articles highlighting extraordinary angels. Ones who have made a significant change for our society. Today, we’re focusing on a piece written about the Archangels. Take a few moments to read through and then we’ll discuss.”

I open the attachment and immediately start reading, curious to learn more. The Archangels are kind of legends for us. They’re the saviors of our entire city, if the stories are true.

The article is old, dated a month or two after they overthrew God and saved angel kind from a fate worse than death. It starts off a little cheesy, setting all four Archangels on a pedestal. Still, I’m intrigued. Reading on a little further, the author dives into Mikhael, the unofficial ruler of the Archangels and possibly the strongest of them.

Archangel Mikhael leads with a kind heart and strong will. He had been the closest adviser to God, something our other three leaders never held against him. In fact, he rarely ever made a decision without consulting the others first, signifying a true partnership among the four of them. Even now, as we move into a time of peace and prosperity, Mikhael is the face of our rulers. With him, he offers us strength and warrior energy, instilling confidence and courage into every one of his subjects. For this article, I tried to learn the truth of his abilities, hoping to find out if there is any merit to the rumors of his healing aura, but he would not comment on such a thing.

The article holds me completely captivated, and as much as I try to reflect on what I’ve just read, I can’t stop from moving onto the next paragraph. This one is about Auriel, the Archangel I’m most familiar with, as he’s who my family has made every single feast offering to since I was little.

Archangel Auriel uses his powers to ignite faith into the hearts of all angel kind. With his flame-topped staff, he draws out the wicked thoughts and evil acts from our minds, leaving only joy and serenity. It is said that our new-found peace is greatly in thanks to him, for even sitting so high above us in the Archangels’ Sanctuary, his power can reach all of Silver City.

It’s no wonder my parents have always favored him. They were the living, breathing embodiment of optimism, seldom letting any dark thoughts enter their mind. Perhaps it’s their faith in him that allows them to be so positive. Hopefully, he doesn’t take it as a slight that we switched it up this year. But after what Raphael, Theo, and I did in Remiel’s prayer tent, I had to gift him something. A little zing of excitement courses through me as I realize he’s the next focus.

Archangel Remiel is the epitome of hope. Thanks to his ability to glimpse the future, he’s highly intuitive, but it also means he keeps himself more secluded than the others. If you’re ever lucky enough to meet him, you’ll find he carries a book with him at all times. This is where he draws the visions that come to him. I asked if he’d show me a page but he shyly refused, explaining that the visions he sketches are too sensitive to share, and that if anyone but him got hold of that book it would be a catastrophe.

I would love to see his sketches, if only to witness his talent. They would have to be good enough to clearly depict what he sees, which makes me think his ability to draw must be a sight to behold. But it’s not like I’ll ever meet them. You won’t catch me racing for the chance to win a meet and greet with our great rulers, and given how much shit the other students have caused me lately, I don’t even know how much longer I’ll be allowed to stay here. Shit. I need the Archangel Auriel to come ignite a little faith in me right now.

The article moves on to the Archangel I know the least about. Shubael.

Archangel Shubael is known as the ruler of treasures. He sorts through the items received during the Feast and helps disperse them to angels in need. Thanks to the nature of our offerings, Shubael can determine who made what offering, and even which Archangel it was submitted to, which helps them decide as a group who might be a suitable candidate for commissioner or other high-ranking titles. Earning his favor can be beneficial.

I read the last line again, wondering if maybe my parents made a mistake in choosing Auriel. Had we and all the other Fallen given our offerings to Shubael, would we still be in this mess? I ponder on that thought for a moment before Castiel clears his throat.

“You should all have had a chance to read through the article, but if you haven’t, I encourage you to finish it after class. For now, I want to hear your thoughts. What did you think?”

The quiet girl who sits at the front of the class raises her hand. “It sucked me in. Even though I already knew some of what they wrote, it still felt new and exciting.”

Castiel smiles, nodding in agreement. A long-haired guy in the third row speaks, his voice low but audible enough to be heard from where I sit next to Theo. “I wonder if Archangel Auriel can purge our school of a certain parasite who can’t seem to take a hint.”

Theo looks like he wants to jump up and pummel the guy, but Castiel silences the entire class when he points to the door and says one word. “Out.”

“W-what?” the boy asks, incredulously. “But why? I’m only saying what we’re all thinking.”

“I was clear about my stance on bullying from the beginning, and I will not tolerate your baseless comments in my classroom. You’re dismissed. If you want a passing grade, I expect you to fix your attitude before coming back.”

The rest of us are silent as he packs up his belongings, shoving them into his bag while his whole body trembles. More than once, he looks back toward me, glaring daggers in my direction, and I don’t miss a few grumbles from the other students around him, either. Oh boy.

When he’s gone, Castiel claps his hands. “Now, where were we? Right. The author was able to discover something captivating about all four of these beings that make them stand out from the rest. Do you know why that is?”

“Because they’re the Archangels?” a guy from the second row asks, his manbun looking far nicer than anything I’ve ever been able to manage with my own hair.

“Good guess, but no. It’s because every one of us has something that makes us unique, and that isn’t a bad thing. Each of us has a talent or quirk that makes us different and sets us apart from others. It’s what this report focuses on, as well as the others we’ll go over in class, and it’s what will determine your final grade.”

The girl from earlier raises her hand again, her voice trembling a little when she says, “We have to write about ourselves?”

“Not this year, though that will come. For now, I want you to pick an angel from history. It can be anyone except for a parental figure. Then, you’ll need to research them and write an article that focuses on who they are and what distinguishes them from all others. You have two weeks to select your angel and email it to me, along with your reasons for picking them. Choose wisely.”