Love at First Sight

Whatever happened above, Aziel wouldn't be able to know.

Below where he was cast out, was a land unfamiliar to the sons of God.

A place that no one remembered...

"...Yet here I am, able to remember."

—Arcadia, a special place belonging to the seven forsaken mortal lands, each having its own malignant fate.

In here, all creatures bound by its soil are unable to leave. The natives born in this land had their souls and body forever restricted.

This island is once a part of a mountainous, landlocked region—The Land of Paradise.

Not until the forefathers of that land sinned against the Moon Deity!

Frankly, Just based on what I learned here, I can say that I detest the Heavens.

It was oppressive and tyrannical.

'For even the slightest mistake is a land, cursed.'

"Well, soon enough, I'll be able to remember why..."

"...guess, I just need to shake my head more."

I am still unable to tell why this scourge of a damn entity wants to know my dreams. But I am starting to wonder if my dreams are really just dreams...

Well, I'll just have to continue...

.

.

.

...

Thereafter, Aziel wandered the coastal shore.

Unsure where to go to, or what should he do.

He looked at himself in the reflection of the seaside and confirmed that his powers are restricted.

The eyes of his three heads are a testament to his conclusion: they did not burn bright, his hands and feet are shriveled like a broken twig.

Whenever he called out to his divinity...

...He could not feel any connection towards the Heavenly God.

"Strange... this had never happened before."

Crunching his gums against his teeth, he was bewildered.

It's been such a long time since he turned into an ordinary spirit. Usually, his size was enormous—doubled or tripled from the average size of the humans.

Maybe, about as high as the length of four arms joined together. And by saying four arms, it meant that the distance from fingers to elbow included.

In ancient terms, well I am not pretty sure, but perhaps it's four or more than four cubits.

He went on running to walking for a while as he grazed some grains of sand before he got accustomed to his new size.

Occasionally, he halted at times or in between to admire the ocean—Appreciating the rich hues of lemon and tangerine clouds reflected upon the salty waters.

Every transition of vibrant colors he saw ever since landing in this place are things that Aziel yearned to witness, when he was still above the clouds, observing the earth.

Now, it is neatly close to him.

If he wanted, he could also embrace the dust settling aside.

Those woods, the birds, the crabs—every hue of pastel that brings joy to life.

But suddenly, something interrupted his bliss.

*Whoosh!*

He heard the waters splashing.

From a distance, a canoe can be seen approaching the shore.

Floating near the horizon with a glimmer, its planks are flanked as it showed colors of yesteryears.

They seem dancing above the ocean waves.

He watched it make a steady approach like that blot is calling out to him, slowly revealing its outline, the colorful sail of the canoe becoming more clear every moment.

As the canoe gently docked on the sands, Aziel's attention was captured by the most beautiful sight he would see in his millennia of existence.

Captivated by a mortal.

A woman, who turned the simple act of examining a mango into a graceful one.

She stood there at arm's reach—just there, close to him, tracing the skins of mango with the softest finger in the world.

Aziel was stopped in his tracks, drawn speechless by her beauty.

The Head Seraph felt like the first time he was granted an audience with the Heavenly God—light and wind flurries turned to small ice pellets, basking from a fluttery feeling.

When he saw her, it's as if space and time had become the finest point imaginable, as if time collapses into one tiny speck and explodes at light speed.

Whatever thought he initially had, vanished!

It was full of warmth.

Like a hand made from light, gold, and white, extending in and he felt a feeling that most mortals would describe as...

'Fondness?'

'Affection?'

'Admiration?'

"No... It cannot be!"

Realizing what a grave sin he is committing, he kept denying what he felt. But was helpless and could not help but admit it.

"I... to a mortal?"

He knew he felt it!

—Passion!

'It was Love at first sight?'

Aziel prolonged his stare, then saw her looking and he felt his knees give out and nearly fell. If his fall from heaven did not affect him much, this spectacle...

...It beat his nerves.

...weakened him so much!

However, the woman in front of him could not see him. But that did not mean she never felt his presence.

To her, it just felt like a hot mist was there: quietly floating.

Aziel could not believe himself! When he snapped back to reality, he ascertained that he has sinned and he grew ashamed of himself.

'An Angel, charmed by a mortal?'

It is a taboo that he despised! His followers and those that are below him in ranks are severely punished because of this, how could he have this kind of thought?

The Celestial beings called Angels are the sons of the Heavenly God. They were created perfectly from the day they were made.

And they have no need to adore anyone besides God.

He had seen a woman before, but not as beautiful as the woman in front of him. Her elegant temperament, and her lovely appearance.

Her long brown hair cascading like rivers freely flowing matched the curves of her figure which looked supple, along with her crescent eyelashes.

Her eyes sparkled grace, mirroring the kind of woman she is.

Is that the reason why he found this creature alluring, very tempting?

Just as the woman went down from the canoe, Aziel is determined to ignore her.

He opened his six wings and tried to flee, but forgot that at this place, he is restricted! Right away, Aziel's feet slanted, he stumbled, then his face was planted at the sand.

"Ahh!"

Letting out a cry, Aziel awkwardly slumped to the ground. He is embarrassed to even glance back and decided to just crawl his way out.

Hiding near a thorny bush, the trees that surrounded it provided comfort from his troubled heart.

As if the trees are his stoic guardian, a sentry to the island's landscape and him being tightly guarded.

Since that day, Aziel became a stalker.

Every slightest move she made, lesser spirits will know, he'll be watching her.