2 Chapter 2

PARADISO

Angels singing and dancing. Warriors improving their stamina to strongly defend the majestic place. Food and drinks flooding every banquet. Clouds beautifying all the parts of the kingdom. It was a sight to behold! For Mergalio, this scenario has always been there to comfort him. This is paradise. No pain. No hunger. No war. He is indeed one lucky angel to be given such privilege.

Yet sometimes he feels like he has always been enclosed in this comfort zone. And being a warrior always looking for a challenge, he needed something that will make his blood pulse with intense anticipation again.

“This is crazy. I’m in this great place now. Why am I looking for something less than everything that I have now?”, he thought.

This push and pull of wants and needs have been Mergalio’s deepest secret for so long now. Not even one of his friends knew about this. Why would he tell them? They will never understand.

Unknown to him, the Divine Power has been aware of his thoughts and feelings. He is All knowing and All-seeing. Nothing escapes from the Master’s senses. Not even a single insect in the world. Every time Mergalio would look below the paradise and try to observe the people living on land, the Master would know what this warrior wants. He wants a pure and passionate mission in his life. He, a mighty warrior, was designed for this kind of game. The Divine Power knew that it was the perfect time for Him to trigger Mergalio’s sleeping warrior inside of him.

“Mergalio, go to the hidden garden of the paradise. You will find me there.” It was the Divine Power.

Nobody heard His voice for it was only meant for Mergalio. In the most unexpected moment, when Mergalio was having a great time with the other angels, laughing and carrying so many angels in his strong arms as much as he can, there came that voice.

Mergalio quickly stepped out of the fun to the dismay of the other angels. With questioning looks, they just watched Mergalio walk away from them.

The poor angel was so confused if he heard the voice or it was just a product of his imagination. Could it be the Divine Power?

He has not heard His voice for his entire existence in Paradiso. Ordinary angels like him only know of His messages through their superiors which are tasked to cascade each word that was given by the Divine Power as their guidance.

“Mergalio…”, the Divine Power called out to him again.

“W-who are you?”, asked Mergalio in a startled voice.

“I’m the Divine Power. I am the Master of All. Do what I tell you. Go now to the hidden garden of Paradiso.”, ordered the Master.

With trembling hands and pale face, Mergalio rushed to go to the hidden garden. Unknown to many, this garden doesn’t always appear in Paradiso. All of them knew where it is hidden but it is not shown to everybody. Only the angels who have a personal conversation with the Divine Power are given the chance to see the magnificent place.

Mergalio was astounded with the rare flowers glistening in the garden. They are vast and alive. The flowers are dancing and murmuring sweet words to one another. Mergalio didn’t know where the entrance is. For a couple of minutes, he walked round the immense garden of flowers. When he cannot find it, he spread his wings and flew on top of it. He was right. The only way to enter is from above.

Mergalio quickly entered the garden and found a tall golden man waiting for him. The Divine Power is covered with gold and white armor and clothing. His head is covered with a golden mask that radiates white light almost blinding him in the process. But as Mergalio lingered his eyes on the Divine Power’s face, his eyes began to adjust to the blinding light.

“You must be wondering why I called you. I know what you want and I know what you need, Mergalio. I have been watching you and listening to the voice of your heart for such a long time now.”, the Divine Power said.

“M-master. It is my privilege to be here with you.”, Mergalio answered as he knelt down and showed respect to Him. “But I cannot understand what you are trying to tell me, Master.”, he continued.

“I know that you are not happy staying in Paradiso anymore. You want something else. And I need you to be in a new place. Am I right? Is that what you really want?”, asked the Divine Power.

“I’m sorry, Master if I offended you in any way. I love Paradiso but my heart has been disturbing me for years now.”, said Mergalio.

“That disturbance came from My desire. Come, follow me”, said the Divine Power.

With just one wave of hand, the garden disappeared and they are now surrounded with clouds. Mergalio looked down and he noticed that they are riding a moving cloud off to somewhere only Master knew. The Divine Power blew and the moving cloud sped off, scaring Mergalio in the process.

Just before Mergalio lose his sanity, the cloud stopped moving and the Divine Power told him something that he never expected to hear.

“Mergalio, I have chosen you to fight for My people.”, said the Divine Power.

The Master moved His hands and cleared all of the clouds that are covering their vision of Sklavois. Mergalio saw the people living in the forsaken place and all he could do was cry. The children were dirty, hungry, and unsheltered. The women were treated in a bad way, disrespecting their bodies by men who use money just to satisfy their incompleteness. Men, who were supposed to be the leader of the society were the ones spreading crime and danger to everybody- robbery, murder, rape, and vices. All of those are found in this forsaken place.

“They are My people even if they seem to forget it now. I have been watching over them and trying to enter their hearts whenever there is an opportunity but they don’t seem to listen to me. I make them feel My love in so many ways you could ever imagine. They remain hard headed and killed the goodness in their hearts.”, the Divine Power stated.

Though in control, the Master’s voice show loneliness and longing for the people’s love.

“I have chosen you to redeem My people. Bring them back to Me. They need me. I long for them.”

“What should I do, Master? How will I save them?”, asked Mergalio.

“I will create seven powerful puffins to be your aid in this mission. Each of them has their own power. You will discover their power as you get to know them deeper. And do not be afraid, you will know what you are supposed to do. I will guide you.”, the Divine Power explained.

“Is that all, Master?”, asked the mighty warrior.

“This will be a make or break mission, Mergalio. I will give you immense power. You will have eternal strength for a year. Within that time, all my people should have chosen good over the evil. They must seek Me and ask for redemption. If that will not happen, you need to return to Paradiso. We cannot do anything anymore if your mission fails. That would mean the end of Sklavois.”, said the Master.

With that, the Divine Power held the palms of Mergalio and put seven colorful eggs.

“They will hatch once you are already in the city of Sklavois,” explained the Master.

And in just a blink of an eye, the Master disappeared and left Mergalio alone in the cloud. The mighty warrior held the eggs close to his chest to protect it as he descended to the forsaken city.