Chapter 17: Gold!

As Emory squared off against his eight adversaries, the air crackled with anticipation. With fists clenched, he assessed his opponents, each one towering over him with daunting speed and size, he was not afraid, neither was he overly cautious, he had done this dance before and it should not be different this time….or so he thought.

The first of the fallen lunged forward with a lightning-fast jab, but Emory smoothly sidestepped, delivering a swift counterpunch to the side of the assailant's head, the blow should've cracked the fallen's head open but for some reason it did not. As the first fallen stumbled back, two more rushed in from either side, their movements synchronized with uncanny precision.

Emory struggled to knockout talk less of killing the fallen as easily as he did previously, they felt different, more durable, stronger and faster. And soon Emory began to inevitably get overwhelmed by the constant attack and incredible durability the fallen displayed but Emory was not having it, he too was not the same person he once was, he had grown stronger and he was going to prove it. With a single thought, Emory concentrated his aether to his fists.

This was a skill Emory developed as a result of him failing so many times whenever he tried to multitask between aether circulation and everyday activities. With a swift blurry motion, Emory landed a direct hit on the face of one of his opponents. Sensing a change in his aura, the other fallen to stopped their attack for a brief moment.

"Let's run it back but I'm warning you, results may vary " Emory quipped, as a huge grin appeared on his face. The other adversaries soon recovered and began their assault again

Undeterred, Emory ducked under a sweeping kick from one fallen, simultaneously deflecting a flurry of blows from another with expertly timed blocks. With a lightning-quick spin, he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick reinforced with concentrated aether that sent both opponents crashing to the ground, unmoving and bloodied. Emory didn't get away with it unscathed, one of the fallen had stabbed him with its unnaturally sharp claw before falling victim to his kick.

Emory's new found ability had a downside, he could not circulate his aether around his entire body whilst concentrating his arther on a particular spot, thus leaving his body defenseless, so he had to occasionally switch between circulating his aether around his body and focusing it on a specific part, which he wasn't too good at and caused him the injury he now sustained.

Before he could catch his breath, the remaining five fallen closed in, their movements a blur of speed and aggression. Dodging and weaving through their attacks, Emory fought with unparalleled agility and determination, not letting his weaknesses take the lead over him.

With each fallen angel he dispatched, the remaining ones grew more ferocious, their attacks escalating in intensity. Yet, fueled by adrenaline and sheer willpower, Emory pressed on, his fists a blur as he struck with precision and force and soon the previously white training room was now painted with blood and guts, littered with corpse of the fallen and Emory stood in the midst of it, huffing and breathing heavily yet unfazed and unmoved his eyes filled with resolve.

"Decent I suppose. You certainly did better than I expected" Michael said as he appeared from nowhere as usual, inspecting the room and Emory too.

"This…this is…lightweight" Emory said between breaths

Michael looked around once again "Lightweight, of course" Michael said sarcastically

"Give me some credit, I don't know what you did to them but they were stronger than the last time and yet I defeated them" Emory said with his nose in the air

"I did nothing. They weren't stronger, they have always been at that level of strength" Michael said

"That's not right, even I can tell the difference" Emory insisted

"Angels do not…cannot grow stronger or evolve, it is a fact that is so factual it could be called a law. At the dawn of their creation, each angel strength and limitations are set, most angels are envious of humans in that regard." Michael clarified

"That's interesting but still I know what I felt. They felt stronger" Emory said

"That's Correct" Michael affirmed

"Huh? But yo-"

"The reason they felt stronger was because the last time you fought them, they weren't at full strength. If you would remember correctly, I would beat them up and you would deliver the final blow." Michael explained

"So that's how it was, but you can't deny that I did get stronger" Emory said

"Yes you did, but not strong enough. Perhaps you should try to commune with record again" Michael suggested

"No!" Emory exclaimed. The memory of their last meeting was still fresh in his head, he wasn't ready just yet, he knew he would have to be sooner or later but right now he didn't want to experience that again.

"I see, well since you passed the test and I am not one to go back on my words, I'll assign you to the location of the next clean up. Don't make me regret it" Michael said "It will be on saturday, teh time should fall between 11:30am and 12:00pm. The location is 'Joy Park'"

"Noted, I won't disappoint you. Trust me" Emory assured Michael. Still Emory felt like he was forgetting something

Huh? The weekend? 11:30am? Wasn't that the same time period he was supposed to meet Athena at Rose's diner.

"I knee I shouldn't have accepted her offer…but it was free money, it would be disrespectful to turn it down" Emory muttered to himself

"Any problem?" Asked Michael

"N-No it's all good. Saturday, Joy Park. Got it" Emory said nervously.

He had no choice but to accept it, turning Michael down was out of question as it would cause him to lose credibility in Michael's eyes and cancelling on Athena didn't feel right too, free money or not. Emory was in a deep predicament and he had to figure out a way around it or he'll find himself in deeper trouble.

"Circulate your aether, it'll speed up your healing significantly and here's a change of clothes" Michael said as he handed him a new and clean uniform, Emory did not bother to ask him how or why he had a spare uniform on standby, he had decided that questioning Michael's action would just lead to further confusion.

Emory began circulating his aether and almost immediately his wound began to close up, this was the second time Emory had experience such and it was still a strange feeling. Michael waved and the scenery changed instantly back to the bookstore.

***

Emory had healed up, cleaned himself completely and had a change of clothes and it was time to close up shop. Emory did his routine check around the store, swept the store and all that was left was for him to lock up.

"Emory" Michael called for Emory from the backroom

"Yes?" Emory answered while walking to the backroom to see Michael. Michael was sitting on the couch, taking his usual spot.

"You called?" Emory said in anticipation of whatever Michael called him for

"I am aware. You've been working st the bookstore for a month now, and it is only right that i pay you as your employer so it is time for your first payment" Michael announced

Emory's eyes widened and lit up in excitement at thought of getting paid. He had not discussed the terms of payment with Michael so he hoped whatever Michael was about to pay him was decent at the least.

Michael stood up and walked over to Emory, he stretched out his hand offering Emory a small fist-sized pouch "Here's your payment for the month. Thank you for your hardwork" Michael said nonchalantly. Emory eyed the pouch suspiciously inspecting it, this was his salary? In that small pouch? Emory decided not to judge and just take the money.

As Emory took the pouch from Michael, he could immediately tell that the content of the pouch was definitely not cash, the pouch felt weighty and it felt like something metallic was inside it. He seriously hoped that the blunt archangel had not paid him in coins, he opened the pouch as was greeted by the inviting glow of gold.

"Gold? You're paying me in gold?" Emory asked in surprise

"Yes, is there something wrong. It is all I have, it was made known to me by Gabriel that it is of immense value to humans" Michael said innocently

"It's all you have, how have you been surviving then, what about food, clothes, and everything else?"

"I do not need to eat, I am an angel and I have all I need" Michael answered

"How am I supposed to sell this without raising suspicion?" Emory said

"You do not want it? Return it to me, I am sure I can get Gabriel to arrange some cash if it troubles you so much" Michael said with indifference

"No! I'll take it, I'm sure I can find something to do to it. Thank you very much Michael I appreciate it" Emory said sincerely and Michael nodded before vanishing.

Emory locked up the store before heading home, thoughts of how to sell the gold and how his mother would be happy to have some burden shifted off her flooded his mind. He just couldn't wait to make that woman genuinely happy.