4 Retribution

Six celestial beings appeared before me.

One of them caught my attention the most. Its appearance was like no other. Its face I could not fathom for it was hidden under a veil, and what made this celestial being peculiar was the light that its face exudes. If it wasn't for the veil, I surely would be blinded.

Instead of wings, it sits on a fiery wheel that hovered in mid-air. The wheel had a huge eye at the top. The only resemblance it had with the other Supreme Angels is its crown that appears to be a fiery halo. There was not a clue about its gender. It is clothed in a red hooded cloak that emanates heat.

Is it an Angel?

The other celestial beings don't appear like Azraelle, Astrelle, and the one in the wheel. Instead, they came like a haze -- like me. It's as if their bodies were just a projection of their physical bodies.

Astral projection?

I could only guess, that's my best guess. Like Azraelle mentioned, not everyone could come and go to this realm -- even the Supreme Angels.

"Angel Estrelle, the council of the Supreme Angels stand before you for the deliberation."

Said the celestial being on the wheel. Its voice is like the sound of the waterfall echoing through the hills. It came out like the voice of a man and a woman in unison. It gave me chills ran down my spine.

"You had broken four covenants out of five,"

Stated Astrelle as she stood up from her throne. I felt like cold water was poured on me. What was this deliberation all about? If I died as a human -- why am I still being deliberated for my actions as an Angel.

"Can you tell us what covenants have you broke?" she continued, asking me a question.

Covenants are sacred vows that every angel is bound to. As a Terrestrial Ranking Angel, I am bound by the Terrestrial Covenants that mostly pertain to human interaction.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, as I recited the broken covenants.

"Never let your presence be known to humans -- unless it's part of the objective. Never use your powers or perform a miracle in front of a human. Never interfere with impending death, and to never touch a human."

"Estrelle, can you tell us what made you break the covenant?" Lovelle inquired.

"As an angel given dominion to the terrestrial realm, isn't our job is to make sure that justice is being served fairly? The cards dealt with him is beyond fair. I wouldn't have had interfered if he was well enough to fight death fairly 'til the end."

I answered with confidence. I know that I might've had regrets for what I did after it cost me everything I had, but I can't take it back now.

"But is it worth it?" Azraelle asked.

"I would lie if I say that I didn't regret it. I lost hundreds of years of hard work. It's like throwing everything away, and it saddens me that I could not take it back. But if I have saved at least one life, and give that man a chance to live to find justice for himself and for the people he cared about -- I couldn't be happier."

I replied back with my head bowed in grief as I remembered the things that I have just lost.

"Even if it means giving up your divinity for a mere mortal?" Asked Lovelle.

"Even the most Divine has given up his throne to save them," I responded once more.

"As the Reigning Angel of the Terrestrial Realm, I stood by the selfless acts of Estrelle. It may be that she had broken the covenant, but it was justifiable. I hereby propose to this Council that Estrelle be subjected to a Terrestrial Retribution for one hundred good deeds bound to earth until completion. Upon completing the deeds can she only ascend to heaven and restore divinity."

My heart has gone wild, and my head was left in confusion with Lovelle's proposal. She said it in a way like I am still a living being.

But I died. Did I?

The proposal put the room in silence for a moment.

"I say yes to Lovelle's proposal."

Azraelle's voice broke the silence. I saw the other celestial beings stared at each other. Trying to weight if it was just enough. Then after a few minutes of silence, Astrelle nodded as she looked at the peculiar being.

"It is then decided -- the Council has accepted the proposal," stated the one in the wheel. A sacred scroll has appeared on his left and a stone tablet on his right.

A sacred scroll is often given to Angels when they have ascended to a new rank or starting out. It inscribes every achievement, accomplishment, miracles performed, divine knowledge, new power, and skill that an angel has acquired through the years before ascending to a higher rank.

While a stone tablet is where covenants are usually engraved.

"You Estrelle, is now subjected to the retribution that will bind you to earth indefinitely until one hundred good deeds are completed. All deeds will be inscribed in this sacred scroll that will assist you in your restoration to divinity."

The celestial being in the wheel announced. I saw golden inscriptions appeared on the scroll as it speaks. It seemed to record every important detail.

"Having the roots of a celestial being, whose new objective is to restore your divinity, you are bound under a new covenant."

The peculiar being continued as the stone tablet appeared in front of me. It bears two new covenant that was different from the Terrestrial Covenants that I know of, except the last one.

- Keep your human body holy and unstained.

- Never mention your roots to anyone or anything related to the celestial beings.

- Never fall in love with a human and foster a relationship.

I couldn't help but furrow my eyebrows in confusion. At this rate, I am still unsure whether I am dead or alive. From the looks of it, I'm alive, but -- how?

If I'm alive, then what happened to Phaedon? Did he make it out alive?

"Estrelle, do you accept the new covenant before you?"

I was snapped back into reality when I heard Astrelle's voice. I took the stone tablet as I nod in affirmation. The stone tablet lit up then turned into a ring and landed in my hand.

"Remember Estrelle, you are a human now. If you break at least one of the covenants, the ring will forfeit the remaining privilege you have -- to restore your divinity. You will become a human forever. Don't let your heart go above your head like the last time."

Lovelle reminded me of the covenant and the consequences that I am now tied with. The sacred scroll appeared in front of me. Everything that transpired and discussed had been inscribed in gold. It disappeared in thin air the moment I finished reading it.

The other celestial beings disappeared too. What's left was Astrelle, Azraelle, Lovelle, and the peculiar being.

I looked at Azraelle, and caught her smiling. She came close to me and held both my hands. What she said next finally answered all my questions.

"You are not dead Estrelle. You're just sleeping -- dreaming."

"How? I thought I died drowning." Hot fluid started to flow from my eyes.

The confusion has turned into joy after hearing what Azraelle has said. I can't believe that I am alive.

"But how? Phaedon? What happened to him?"

"The Divine has heard the prayers of your heart, Estrelle. You may not have the ability to perform a miracle yet, but the Divine had sent someone who can."

Azraelle answered me. I know it was her who did the miracle -- she was the last one I saw. She was not there to fetch me or Phaedon from our death, but she was there to save us.

I threw myself into her arms once again. I cannot contain the unexplainable joy and excitement that I am feeling after the revelations.

"Do not fail us this time Estrelle. You have delayed your ascension for too long for the sake of humans. It is now time to focus on yourself -- restore your divinity, and work for your ascension." Lovelle said.

She was right, I have delayed my ascension for too long because I enjoyed my work as a Guardian Angel. I had enough sacred scrolls that were worth two ascensions.

"Lovelle, what about my sacred scrolls? Did I lose them too?"

"One broken covenant can burn down an entire scroll. You broke four, and you had three scrolls. Once you restored your divinity, I'm pretty sure it won't take that long for you to ascend if you want it. You're a talented angel Estrelle. There's nothing wrong about being selfless, but you have to balance everything out."

Lovelle was like a mother to me -- she was caring and nurturing, and always wanted the best for everyone. I felt ashamed that I have forgotten about her and what she could do. She would never let any angel under her reign fall into their demise.

"Estrelle, you have been here for long. Any longer will cause your soul to be trapped in this realm, and you may never get back to your body."

Astrelle said as she held my hand.

"While you are bound to earth indefinitely, the only way that we can communicate with you and vice versa will be through Astral Travel or Projection. It is the best way for all of us without breaking the covenant. Remember everything that we have discussed here, and forget none of it."

She continued as she lead me to another room. Azraelle embraced me for the last time, and so does Astrelle. The peculiar being raised its hand as a goodbye.

Astrelle and I entered the room. It resembled the empty room where Azraelle had fetched me awhile back.

"Let the guidance and blessing of the angels be with you."

Astrelle whispered as she opened her palms and blew a cloud of gold dust my way. As the gold dust filled the room, I felt a light breeze, the aroma of lavender filled my nose, and my eyelids started to feel heavy. I suddenly felt sleepy and gave in to a deep slumber.