Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 33

“Everyone would be scared if they were in our shoes. No one was that strong as to just accept everything. We just need to trust Him and His plan. He believed in us that we could do this. The least we can do was to prove to him that we are worthy of that trust.”

Janus put my head on his stomach and hugged me. My free arm circled around his waist tightly. He was patting my head at a comforting pace.

“I know He will not let Josiah be in danger. I believe that the Archangels will keep him safe. Let's just patiently wait for that time to come.”

I nodded at him. I knew that. I understand that, everything. But there’s still a small part of me that was scared. I still feel worried about Josiah. About his future and what lies ahead beyond for him. Janus hugged me for a while and consoled me.

I know he thought about it too. I know he cares more than any father in this world for Josiah. I know he had worries too, but he would not say them to me. He would rather keep it to himself. I fist my hand on Janus’ shirt and gently release my frustration, our frustration.

We stayed like that for a moment before Janus reminded me to change my clothes. I stood up and let him take Josiah. I entered the bedroom with a heavy shoulder. It was as if something heavy was weighing on it.

+++

“Josiah is his name!” Gabriel giddily exclaimed.

The Archangels were gathered around a table in the conference room of the Cosmos’ castle. The seven of them were complete. Michael was seated in the middle as the leader, Gabriel was seated on his right, followed by Raphael and Samuel. On Michael’s left were Jophiel, Zadkiel, and Uriel, in order. They have arranged a meeting which only happens five times a decade.

“We all know that, Gabriel. You have been announcing that since Xandriel first muttered his name.” Uriel answered him with a shadow of a smile appearing on the side of his lips.

“Twenty times. That is the exact count,” Zadkiel added.

“What? That’s not true! I only said it five times!” Gabriel defended himself. He was holding his hands up to emphasize his point.

Raphael could only shake his head. Zadkiel might not know this, but Gabriel mentioned Josiah’s name thirty times now. He was counting it. He looked at Gabriel. He was originally like that but he thought that Gabriel only worsened when he went and stayed on earth.

“Right, before Gabriel cried, why did you call us?” Uriel tried to change the topic.

Gabriel was about to protest but everyone fell silent and looked at Michael with serious faces. Michael's face was also serious. It was just like how his expression was during battles. He looked like a soldier indeed. The seven of them were already used to seeing him with that serious expression, so it didn’t faze them at all.

“The Holy Spirit appeared before Josiah,” Michael started.

Tronus entered with a crystal ball in hand. They all know what that is. It was just like the planet, but without land and water. There, you can see the exact happening on the earth and in real-time. Tronus whispers something and the crystal ball shines before it shows a scene.

It was Janus and Xandriel, in their new bodies, with their son, Josiah. The crystal ball showed how Josiah got separated from his parents until he arrived at the forest. Even the interaction he had with a dove who had the whitest and purest feather of all. Its wings were white like those of Guardians. They watched Josiah as he happily spent a moment playing with the Holy Spirit. While on the other hand, Janus and Xandriel were frantically looking for their son. They watched until the two of them entered the forest and eventually found Josiah and the Holy Spirit.

“Because of this incident, we can now confirm that Josiah had the gift,” Michael said. They'd been in a debate before whether Josiah had the gift to save the universe or none and now, they had confirmed it. “He can see the Holy Spirit clearly and so are his parents. I know, there will be no question about both of them. But, because of that, their life will not be as easy as before. Josiah's gift would only develop as he grew old. Janus and Xandriel needed to protect him the best they could during this time. Problems will arise before them. Problems that no other human can experience,” he continued.

Everyone was silent as they all fell into deep thoughts. Samuel was the first to break the silence and asked.

“What should we do now?”

Michael looked at Samuel with seriousness, much more than earlier. They were silent as they waited for Michael to talk. Michael opened his mouth and ever so slowly released the words he had been wanting to say.

“He had an order.”

+++

“Lola Isma?” I peeked inside her room and called for her.

The room was dark and I saw her sitting at the edge of her bed and facing the wall with a rosary in her hands. She's been praying. I felt a little embarrassed knowing that I must’ve interrupted her prayer. I was about to excuse myself and go out when Lola Isma raised her hand. Her palm was facing me in a wait gesture. And so, I did, waiting for her, standing at the door.

I watched as Lola Isma neared the last part of her prayer until she totally ended it. With a whisper of amen and a sign of the cross. Lola Isma put down the rosary at the altar and looked at me. She gestured for me to get inside and come closer and sat beside her.

“What is it, Rachele?”

I fidgeted with my hands. I was carefully thinking of the words that I’m going to say. It had been bothering me since earlier and I felt like Lola Isma had some answers for me. It was my last option. The only problem is, I don’t know where to start.

“What is it, dear?” Lola Isma reached for my hand. I sighed.

“It’s about Josiah, Lola.” I started.

“What about him? Is something wrong?” Lola Isma looked alarmed and I was quick to appease her worry by shaking my hands in front of her.

“No, nothing’s wrong with him. Not yet.” I whispered the last word but Lola Isma still heard it.

“What do you mean?”

I sighed to release the accumulated tension building up on me. I looked at Lola Isma with all seriousness. I gulped many times, but it didn’t appease me anyway. My hands were still fumbling and I couldn’t stop. I could sense that my delay was causing some panic in Lola Isma, so I just opened my mouth. Lord, give me strength.

“Josiah, he... uhm, hejustsawtheHoly Spirit.” I sped the words out of my mouth. I was a little bit breathless when I looked up at Lola Isma. Will I say it again? I asked my mind. But I soon knew the answer to that.

“Josiah saw the Holy Spirit? Where? When?” Lola Isma asked in alarm.

I sigh when she catches my words. I straightened my back and looked at her. She was waiting for what I was about to say.

“Earlier, when we saw him in the forest. The Holy Spirit was flying around him. I don’t know what the meaning of it is. There's no one I can ask. Even Cleo hasn’t had the faintest idea.”

Lola Isma was put in deep thought. I watched her every move, hoping that maybe she might have some answer. Not the whole answer, but anything to just calm me down. I might take anything even if it’s a lie. I thought.

“It may be related to your mission and his. I don’t know. I can’t say for sure, but when the Holy Spirit shows itself to you, it can be two things; you are being blessed or a warning there,” Lola Isma said in a serious tone.

“Warning?” That didn’t appease me at all. If anything, it only made me feel worse.

“Yes, that something might happen. A change of course in one's life or a storm,” Lola Isma continued.

“And there’s no way for us to know which one of those is the meaning behind it.”

My shoulder sagged at that truth. I know Josiah will save the universe. I know he will do great deeds for all mankind. But just the thought of not knowing what I can do to help him made me feel like I'm a useless mother.

“Rachele, I know what you’re worried about, but let’s just trust Him, okay?” Lola Isma held my hands. “He will not leave our side and I know He will not put Josiah on something he cannot do. All we can do now is wait and pray. All will be well.”

Lola Isma put her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I savored the moment. Lola Isma is not blood-related to me but she is the closest to the mother I have now. I returned her hug equally and we stayed like that for a moment.