Chapter 4
1946 Words
When we arrived back downstairs to the receptionist, I started to feel a tingle as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, I looked around the receptionist area and noticed there was a woman standing there waiting. She had her back towards us and was staring out the windows, her long brown hair was being illuminated by the sunlight.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs Silas Spoke.
“Norma,” He said loudly as he walked briskly towards her.
“Silas!” She exclaimed as she turned around and hugged him, “it feels like it’s been forever I didn’t know that you were here.”
“Well, I knew you were coming along but I wasn’t sure when you’d be here,” Silas said as he half turned towards me but kept his gaze on Norma and held out his hand, “Norma this is John Miller.”
I felt like I knew who she was, but I didn’t want to make assumption, so I walked up and reached out my hand and politely said, “hello.”
Her expression became cold and she didn’t carry the cheerful tone as she did with Silas, “I know who you are, but the question is do you know who I am.”
“No, I mean we’ve just met,” I replied confused.
She starred at me for a second then spoke.
“I’m Norma Jean,” she said coldly.
As soon as she said it, I felt a cold chill go down my neck, quickly realizing I was right and that this was the Angel I had been working with for the last three years. But how would I know what she looked like we never met in person, but somehow, I knew. I could feel a draw towards her almost like a magnet.
After a long uncomfortable silence Silas cleared his throat and spoke up, “Well now that we are all here, we don’t have to wait to depart, Norma I trust that you’re ready already to go?”
“That I am,” she said cheerfully turning her gaze back to Silas.
“Well then allow me some time to get John squared away and then we will meet you at the front gate in one hour and we will depart.” He stated.
Norma nodded her head and hugged Silas before exiting out the main doors.
“What’s going on?” I asked Silas.
“Like me Norma Jean has been reassigned to look after you and assist with your training,” he replied bluntly.
“Doesn’t look like she wants this assignment,” I said quickly.
Silas sighed and crossed his arms leaning down towards me, “she didn’t have a choice in the matter to be honest, she is being reassigned for her protection just as much as yours.”
Puzzled I scratched my head, “her protection?”
“Well after all you two are Linked,” he stated, “but let’s get a move on we have a couple things to do before we depart.”
“Where are we going?” I Asked.
“We will be traveling to the mountains in Budapest, there we can train freely without outside interference,” he said as we started walking towards the door.
Once outside he stopped and turned towards me standing upright, “be at the front gate in one hour, in the meantime you will go see an Angel we call the Forger he will get you what you need, he is straight down this road here,” he said pointing down the road. He then tilted his head and walked back inside.
I stood there for a moment more confused than anything, but I grudgingly started walking down the road. I didn’t look at anyone because I was too deep in my own thoughts but after a couple minutes, I started to notice that they were avoiding my path, no doubt due to the fact that I was a Nephilim according to Kanan. They probably didn’t want anything to do with me. I didn’t pay much attention to them I was just trying to make heads or tails of what happened.
Soon I found myself at a building at the end of the road, in front of it was a short chubby Angel, sitting on the steps smoking a pipe, who I could only assume was the Forger. He had short dark hair, a dark beard, and he had no shirt on. He only wore a kilt, boots, and some shaded goggles were perched above his eyebrows.
As I walked up to him, he grumbled, “So you’re the Nephilim,” In a low and hoarse tone.
“Apparently,” I replied still unsure of what to make of him.
“Well alright then let’s get you squared away,” he said standing up and walking through the door of the building.
As we walked in, we were greeted by all manner of weapons and armor. Each one masterfully crafted and glistening like stars in the night sky. As I looked around, I found myself in awe of how much care went into each item. He had just about everything one could want before going into battle.
As we walked further, he grabbed some clothes off a shelf and handed them too me.
“Go in the back and change,” he said pointing at a door along the wall.
Once I entered the room, I took off my uniform and began putting on the clothes the Forger gave me. They were just a simple white shirt, blue jeans and brown boots. They felt old and they kind of smelled a little bit, but it felt nice to be in regular clothes again.
After I walked back out of the room the Forger was sitting at his drawing table behind the purchase counter, just staring at a sword he had drawn and mumbling to himself. When I walked over to the counter, I noticed he had a sword on the counter over a set of robes.
“Alright Nephilim, here’s your sword,” he said grumbling as he turned and handed it to me.
“What do I do with this,” I asked taking the sword from him. It was light and easy to maneuver.
“You kill demons with it, what else are you supposed to do with it butter a piece of toast,” he scoffed walking away.
He paused for a moment turned back around and sighed, “That right there is a young Angel Blade, it is meant to be easy to use for those who have trouble imbuing or who have never done it,” he said.
“What is this made of,” I asked still amazed at how light it was and the warmth it gave off in my hand.
“Ahh,” He said gleefully, “most of the weapons in heaven are made of a material that are not found on this earth. We call Angelicum, it is lighter than your planets Aluminum, Harder than Chromium, and more durable than everything in you most wild imaginations.”
He paused again seemingly to stare off into space.
“Alright come on I’m supposed to take you to the gate to meet up with Silas.”
He led me out of the building and down the steps to the street, we took a left down a pathway walking in silence. I didn’t like silence, it made me feel uncomfortable, so I spoke up.
“Why do they call you the Forger,” I asked.
He stopped for a second half turning towards me in bewilderment at my question his mouth half open and eyes half closed.
“Because I like pick to flowers and frolic through the gardens catching butterfly’s and sing show tunes,” he replied laying on the sarcasm quite thick. Then tapped his temple and pointed his finger at me.
We began walking again and I kept quiet for a couple minutes while I thought of a good question to ask.
“How long have you been on earth,” I asked hoping I asked a legitimate question.
He sighed, shaking his head as he replied, “let’s see this time I’ve been here for about a hundred and twenty years.”
We walked in silence the rest of the way to the gate, I couldn’t think a question for him, but when we reached the gate, I could see Silas and Norma Jean standing just on the other side.
“Here you are,” the Forger stated and turned to leave.
“Thank you for the sword and bringing me here,” I said quickly.
“Don’t mention it Nephilim,” he replied.
“My name is John by the way,” I said reaching out my hand.
He looked me up and down but shook my hand and then continued on his way.
I walked out the gates and joined Silas and Norma Jean.
“Looks like we’re all ready to go,” Silas stated grabbing his bag off the ground.
“Ok so I’m guessing you guys are flying but what about me,” I asked confused.
Silas and Norma Jean laughed then Silas spoke, “we’re not flying we’re going to travel by Gate.”
Obviously seeing the confusion on my face, he waved his hand muttered, “odo” and slapped his hand on a stone wall. Instantly blue light spread from his hand along the surface and revealing a door.
“What... how,” I stammered.
“Just one of the many abilities you will learn,” Silas said reassuringly as he put his hand on my shoulder.
“Well let’s go then,” Norma Jean said excitedly as she walked through the door.
I was unsure of what was going to happen, but I walked towards the door anyway before passing through I looked at Silas who nodded and ushered me in.
As we passed through the portal, we entered into a what looked to be an abandoned house.
“let’s get some light going,” Silas said walking over to the fireplace. He held out his hand and blue sparks started cackling and dancing around his fingers. In a flash a bright flame was burning over logs that were not previously there.
As I looked around the room it appeared that no one had been there in quite some time. There was a layer of dust on every surface I could see. Silas stepped forward in front of me and Norma Jean.
“John your room will be upstairs to the right, Norma yours left, I’ll take the room here on the main level,” He said very sternly, it felt like I was getting a mission briefing.
“In the event of the location being compromised,” He continued, “we will all make our way to the small village of Zayu down the mountain.”
He paused for a second and sighed, “try to get some sleep tonight.”
Silas picked up his bag and walked back into his room. I figured they must all be tired. I was more confused than anything. No one had given me a straight answer yet, about anything. I turned to see what Norma Jean had to say but she was already walking upstairs to her room. I didn’t know what to do so I gathered my things and walked up to my room. I laid my things on the floor and crawled into the bed and just about instantly fell asleep.
- Writer
