AngeMon

Chapter 3: The Pune Kingdom

Pune Kingdom,

Kingdom of Angels

High above a thousand clouds, and volts of thunders and lightnings, lies a kingdom of Angels named Pune. It was a kingdom full of different angels. From cute little cherubs down to the winged one, to cupid angels, to mixed breed where half-human, and half-angels resided, they all lived in peace under the jurisdiction of the king of all angels named Raphael.

He has been watching over the Kingdom of Angels for a thousand years, and there hasn't been any intruders barging in. The entire Pune Kingdom lived in harmony and peace, that some of his trusted angels were given the titles of gods and goddesses to support his advocacy of keeping the harmony and peace in the kingdom. And one of his assigned and chosen goddess was named Charmeine.

Not far from Pune Kingdom, the half-breed angels lived in Arvayarta. And while he was sitting in his throne, he saw a rare beauty he never saw in the Pune Kingdom. It was then he knew that her name was Charmeine. The lady named Charmeine was a shy one and there hasn't been any time that he saw her mingle with other angels in Arvayarta. She's a full-grown female angel and among the qualified one he wanted to bestow the title of Goddess of Harmony, Raphael has found the right one.

Charmeine was busy singing while doing gardening and watering plants and flowers from her backyard when Raphael invisibly watches her outside. Her voice was music to his ears. The way she swayed and belted out was pleasing to his ears.

My life is like a wheel of fate,

I am born without golden spoon in my plate.

How much I love thees flowers are my only escape?

Can I stand and watch you die without giving you the will to live?

I want peace and harmony,

I want love and nothing else.

I will dance and sing.

Not only that, but I will sway to and from there.

Until I'm exhausted and done with the entire day.

Those were the lyrics she sang when Raphael went outside to see her personally. Not many angels were able to see him go out whenever he pleases. That's what he wanted. He wanted to see what's happening in and out of his kingdom. And looking for the deserving one was under his control. And he always made sure that they were qualified enough to be appointed as god's and goddesses.

“Hello, Charmeine,” he greeted the female angel and showed his face in a normal angel white form with white wings and not as king of the angel.

Charmeine stops singing and dancing as well as watering the plants she was doing. She recognized the voice of the angel and immediately greeted him.

“Forgive me for staring at you, my king. Your presence amazes me. What brings you here, my king? Your humble servant greeted you.” Charmeine kneel and apologized.

“Not many of the angels under my power can recognize me, Charmeine. You are indeed special. You are qualified to be the Goddess of Harmony. I want you to go to Pune Kingdom in the next three days and I will appoint you as the Goddess of Harmony.”

Charmeine heard everything. She's supposed to answer him back, but when she raises her head, the king disappeared. And she hasn't heard her response that she doesn't want to become one of the goddesses. Not even a Goddess of Harmony. The offer is very tempting for those who wanted to become the goddess, but not for her. All she ever wanted the day she was born was to become a normal angel. Free from responsibility. Her decision is final, and her answer is even ready three days from now. She'll use the appointed day to tell the king her plan of leaving Arvayarta and live in the Indus, the northern part of the City of Angels.

Arvayarta, the City of Angels that are found on the third layer of the atmosphere called Mesosphere. Only the king of Pune Kingdom and it's trusted right and left angel warriors including the gods and goddesses he appointed can visit Arvayarta. He created that city exclusively for half-breed angels. And Charmeine, who's not part of it the mixed of angels were sent there, so he can watch.

After a quick conversation with the king of angels named Raphael, Charmeine went back to her work. Gardening, and watering the plants and flowers she dearly loved. She began singing another song she composes in her mind to keep her work lighter.

I want peace and harmony,

I want love and not agony.

I'll sing and dance,

Till I feel tired and lonely.

It's the only way I can release my plea,

And hoping that the king of the entire city,

Will accept and understand that I don't want responsibility.

Na na na na na.

La la la la la.

Da da da da da.

Hmmmmmmm.

Na na na na na.

La la la la la.

She was singing with all her hearts when two angels suddenly stop by her garden, not to greet them, but to scold them.

“What brings you here, Salomi and Raguel?” Charmeine asks after watering the last flowers and plants she had using a watering can.

“You know what brings us here, Charmeine. The king has to offer you to become the Goddess of Harmony. The three of us then will become the most powerful aide of the King of Angel,” Raguel was the first to speak up, but Charmeine just ignored her.

“Raguel is right, Charmeine. You should know how important it is for the king to maintain peace, harmony, and balance in the entire Kingdom of Angels. As the God of Peace, I was assigned to keep everything in order,” Salomi continued, but still Charmeine is not bothered.

“Charmeine, listen to us. Aren't you happy that the three of us get to see each other every day as best of friends? As the keeper and Goddess of Balance and Purity, I was tasked to watch over the Weighing Scale of Balance. And we need you as the Goddess of Harmony,” Raquel added to Salomi's words. But then again, Charmeine is not even listening to them.

She was doing an Akimbo and crossing her arms while smiling in front of them. She took a deep breath and closes her eyes before talking to them.

“The peace and order, balance, and harmony were all under the care of the king. Am I right? As his subject, we were obliged to follow the king's order and I understand your sides and sentiments. And I don't even have problem's with the king's rule. Peace and harmony, as well as balance, were indeed present both in Magnetosphere in Pune Kingdom and here in Mesosphere in Arvayarta, the City of Angels. It all thanks to our kind and just king Raphael, but I have decided to live a normal life away from responsibility, Raguel, Salomi. Please understand.”

Her answers left two of her best friends in shock. They couldn't utter for a moment. Both remained silent while trying to understand what Charmeine has said. “You heard me, right? See you in the next three days in Pune Kingdom, Salomi and Raquel.”

“You don't know what will happen if you won't accept the king's order, appointing you as his chosen Goddess of Harmony, Charmeine. Do you want to see the king's wrath?” Salomi does not want to warn her, but he was doing it for her sake.

“Please, Charmeine. Think it over. Do not lose the title the king has offering you. Not many angels has the opportunity like you. You still have three days. We'll leave you for now, Charmeine. I miss you.” Raquel kisses her cheeks and hugs her before flying back to Pune Kingdom.

“See you in three days, Charmeine. Just like what Raquel has said, do not take it for granted. Goodbye, my friend,” Salomi bid his goodbye to Charmeine then both Raquel and him left her.

…

Three days have quickly passed, and it's about time for Charmeine to fly to Pune Kingdom from Arvayarta. Before leaving her place, she closes her eyes, prayed silently, and when she opens it, her white wings appeared from her back and off she fly at a great speed.

In the gate of Pune Kingdom, several angels the king has called were walking, entering into the sea of clouds where Raphael sits atop of it far from his subjects. The moment he's been waiting for has arrived. He has been eagerly waiting for this day to come to introduce his chosen Goddess of Harmony. Salomi and Raquel, his right and left warriors, and God of Peace and Goddess of Balance at the same time were standing one hundred steps away, below his feet, from his throne. Both were also waiting for Charmeine's appearance.

“The time has finally come. Let us all greet the chosen Goddess of Harmony. Allow me to introduce Charmeine Vanti from Arvayarta, City of Angels, as the Goddess of Harmony!”

The king saw her walking towards the gate, entering his palace, and immediately announces her arrival. Charmeine, on the other hand, keeps on walking, raising her head up high without even smiling or taking a glance on other angels she passes by. But she clearly heard many negative words from some of them.

“Arvayarta? City of Angels? Isn't that a city for half-breed angels? Is she qualified?”

“She's not even pure angels if she lived in Arvayarta? Why does the king appoint her as the Goddess of Harmony?”

“This is unexpected. She doesn't deserve the title.”

“She doesn't belong here in the first place.”

King Raphael did not expect to hear what other angels thought about Charmeine while he watches her walking towards the footsteps of his throne, beside Raquel and Salomi. She never looked at her best friends happily watching her stops in between them.

“Greetings, my king. Your humble angel, Charmeine is pleased to see you today.”

“Rise, Charmeine. Are you ready to accept the title I am going to bestow to you?”

It was a moment of silence. The conversation lies only between the king and Charmeine. Every one is waiting for her response. Even Raquel and Salomi are patiently waiting for her answer.

“No, my king. I apologize”, Charmeine firmly said. All angels behind her were surprised. The king is holding his temper after hearing it.

“May I know the reason you feel it would be better not to accept this title, Vanti?” Raphael, Angel King's, questioned her. She was standing in front of the many angels waiting for her reason why she cannot accept the once-in-a-lifetime offer.

“Because this is not my calling, my king,” she replied, bowing in front of the Angel King.

“Please explain, so all of us here can understand, Vanti,” King Angel was not satisfied with her answer, and he wanted her to speak in front of the crowds of angels.

“I want to stay in the Indus,” she continued, and she heard many disappointments from them. She just ignored it and finish her statement. “The peace and harmony of this kingdom lies on your hands, my king. And as subordinates, I am not against conferring you this title to me. However, I'd rather stay in the Indus to plant trees, flowers, and live in peace alone than taking this responsibility. There are many female warriors like me who's capable of the same title, and I want you to give this to those who really wanted it, my king.”

“What if I feel it would be better not to accept your reason, Vanti?” King Angel was controlling his anger, and he would like to hear her once last answer to his question before punishing her. Salomi and Raguel's hearts were racing faster. Both know how the king's wrath would end the conversation in one snap of his finger. They don't want them to see their best friend suffer.

“You have the power to everything, my king. You can remove my name from the female angels you have in this kingdom and forget me, or kill me instantly in front of the angels here,” she said. She was firmed and brave to tell what she has in mind.

“You!” The King could no longer control his anger and stood up. “Raise your head, Vanti!”

She was standing straight, looking at the king of the angels face to face, waiting for her punishment.

“I will remove your name Charmeine Vanti from the names of the angels in Arvayarta Kingdom. You will be demoted into a commoner. I won't take away your powers, but you will be forgotten in this kingdom forever. Open the door!” He shouted. Charmeine Vanti was firmed with her decision and accepted the punishment the king ordered to her.

“All angels present here, I command you to stop mentioning Vanti's name. Whoever talk about her or mentioned her name will be punished heavily. From now on, she will no longer an angel in this kingdom. The door is open for you, Vanti. Do whatever you want in the Land of the Indus.”

“Thank you, my king. I wish you good health and longevity as I leave the Pune and Arvayarta capital forever.”

Salomi and Raguel could not move after hearing what the king has ordered. They can't do anything to help her or break the king's words. All they can only do is to stare Charmeine as she finds her way out of the gate of the Pune Kingdom, removing her name as subjects of Pune Kingdom. This is what she wanted,, and she won't regret it for the rest of her life.

As for her best friends, she only wishes them good health and longevity too as they continue to fulfill and perform their task as God of Peace and Goddess of Balance in Pune and Arvayarta.

“Goodbye, Salomi. Goodbye, Raguel. Take care of yourself. Until then.”

Raguel couldn't keep her tears, but she remained standing firmly while her head bend down trying to hide her emotion. Salomi and her heard Charmeine's last words in their mind. As the door and the gate of Pune Kingdom, King Raphael announces to Salomi and Raquel to choose the next Goddess of Harmony on his behalf. And the call for the next Goddess of Harmony to be confer by the king flocks in front of them. They are not ready to choose, but they have to do their job to choose the right one who's capable enough to do the job and harmonizing with them as God of Peace and Goddess of Balance of the Kingdom of Angels.

“Everyone, submit yourself for a long and arduous journey of becoming the next Goddess of Harmony. Salomi and Raguel will be in charge as ordered from our king. You know who you are,, and we will be waiting for you in the Selection Hall of this kingdom.”