TOUCHING THE SWORD!

"Everyone GET OUT!"

Everyone was disappointed with God's order. And as soon as they stepped out of that room, they began glaring at Artemio because if it wasn't for him, then their father wouldn't have been so angry and threw them out before completing the tour to his special room.

"Wow, Artemio! Every time I wonder how can you ruin a moment, you always take me by surprise with your innovative ways!" Emory's condescending voice irritated the four siblings.

"Say another word and you will find your front teeth at your feet!" Caelan hissed, taking a threatening step towards Emory, but Azalea was quick to stop him before he went overboard.

Emory scoffed. "Aren't you four tired of living in a delusion? I mean, everyone knows that father doesn't like you at all! If Artemio had kept his mouth shut, then father might have let one of us touch that sword.

Because you all ruined that chance for us! Am I wrong here, brothers and sisters?" Emory asked, glancing back at the crowd behind him.

"No, Emory. You are right"

"They always ruin our chances of getting closer to father."

"I think they are just jealous of us because father loves us more than them!"

Their brothers and sisters began supporting Emory as he stood with a smirk on his face.

"Shut up! Father loves us too! He just... he just have his different ways of showing his love." Theseus rose his voice, but with the end of his words, his confidence wavered.

"Enough of this." Azalea finally stepped in. "Come on let's go brothers." She held Artemio and Caelan's hands and signalled Theseus to follow her.

As they walked in the opposite direction from the group, they heard boos and chuckles from behind them. They locked themselves in Artemio's room, where he paced back and forth with a deep frown etched on his face.

"Sometimes I want to smash that fool's face with my bare hands!" Caelan lamented.

"We are God's children, Caelan. We cannot do the 'wrongs'!" Theseus made quoting sign in the air with his fingers. "Only humans are allowed to do the wrong and yet get the entry into the heaven by repenting." He scoffed in sarcasm.

He didn't understand how could humans commit the wrong things intentionally or unintentionally, and after praying to God and asking him for forgiveness, all their sins were washed away.

Why couldn't their father show such kindness towards his own children?

Azalea ignored her two brothers and observed their elder brother.

"You are planning something, aren't you?" She said after five minutes.

Artemio stilled, turning to his sister. He sighed. There was no way he could hide anything from her.

"Hmm."

"What is it Artemio? Tell us too!" Theseus sounded excited because Artemio's plans meant adventure!

Artemio was silent at first, then he said, "I am going to touch that sword."

His siblings sprang up from their places in pure shock.

"WHAT?!!"

"Artemio! Are you mad or what?"

"That is too risky, Artemio!"

"Oh, I am so ready for the plan! Let's go!"

Azalea and Caelan glared at Theseus. He was the one who always encouraged Artemio in his risky plans.

"Shut up, Theseus!" Caelan chided him.

"Artemio, please! Think twice before you dare to do so." Azalea though the youngest, was the most mature and rational one amongst them.

"So does that mean you are not coming with me, Azalea?" Artemio asked, raising his brows at her.

She pursed her lips with a scowl. "You know I didn't mean that. Of course, I will walk to hell by your side!"

"Then it is only one of the rooms in our house, baby sister." Artemio smiled.

She hated when he smiled like that. He didn't usually smile, and when he did, it meant only trouble. Artemio tilted his head towards Caelan and see him nodding his head with a disapproved look.

And Theseus was already giving him a thumbs up and was ready to run in front of them.

"Today afternoon when father will be in his chamber for his afternoon nap," Artemio told, and everyone agreed.

They waited until the right time, and when they were sure that everyone was either busy with their task or were leisurely enjoying their lazy afternoons, they slipped out of their room and marched straight to the room where they were in the morning.

They were alert and ready to face any obstacle that would come in their path. Not long after, they finally stood outside that room behind which was a precious treasure that the whole universe could never have.

Artemio glanced back at his siblings to see them nodding their heads in encouragement. With a long exhale of breath, he pushed open the door.

The pin-drop silence inside was chilling, and it only intensified even more as Theseus closed the door behind them.

They could feel the heat of the hot sun through the invisible roof above their head. But the ground underneath them was cold and calming.

They ventured further into the room with only one aim. Artemio stopped at the place where their father had put the chest securely. With anticipation and nervousness, he opened it to reveal the shining gold sword studded with exquisite gems and beautifully engraved calligraphy on its blade.

"Woah! I can never get tired of just looking at it!" Caelan blurted out in amazement.

"This is indeed the most beautiful sword I have ever seen in my life!" Azalea agreed.

"Come on, Artemio. What are you waiting for? Just get it because I want to hold it in my hands too!" Theseus was jumping in excitement and impatience.

Artemio shook his head at his brother. He gulped down in nervousness, but he was also sure of his strength. He dreamed of inheriting his father's legacy, and thus he had been working hard to be capable of that.

With a thudding heart, he finally touched the sword and took it out of the chest.

"This one is very heavy!" He said. He had not expected it to be so heavy given the victories it had brought to their father. But given the strength of God, it was only obvious that it would be so heavy.

Artemio realised how he underestimated things. He needed to work more and be able to use this sword just like his father.

He tried to move it around, slashing the air with swift motions. But within a minute, he was tired.

"Come on, brother, now it is my turn!" Theseus stepped in front of Artemio to get the sword.

But Caelan stopped him.

"Have you forgotten that I am older than you, Theseus."

"No?!" Theseus made a face.

"Then it is my right to use that sword before you." Caelan raised his brows.

"What? No! You were not even with Artemio's idea. I was the one who supported him instantly so I will touch that sword before you."

"Theseus!" Caelan warned, feeling the anger surging inside him. Theseus was a little taken aback by the warning, yet he stood his ground.

"Let them fight Artemio. I will use it in the meanwhile." Azalea chirped, but her brothers glared at her.

"No ways! I am going to use it now."

"No it is my turn!"

They began fighting amongst each other, but Artemio ignored them as he was still trying to figure out how much more effort he needed to take to be worthy of that sword.

He was taken aback when Caelan snatched the sword out of his hands. "I said I am going to use it now

!"

"Caelan!" Artemio warned.

Before he could do anything, Theseus began snatching it from Caelan. Azalea, who was the most understanding person amongst them, also jumped into the fight. Artemio was alarmed.

He tried to pull the sword from them, but they were all angry and adamant.

"Listen. This is heavy. Stop it! Sto...."

Artemio's words got lost in his chest when the sword slipped from their hands. As if happening in slow motion, they watched with wide eyes and paled faces as the sword began its journey from their hands and to the ground.

"Nooooo...."

Artemio tried to catch it, but it was too late. The sword pointed head collided with the ground, and before they could comprehend anything, a bizarre quake shook the whole heaven.

The ground cracked right where that sword fell as everything around them shook violently. They somehow managed their balance, but Theseus was quick to save their father's old crown as it would have fallen in the crack in the ground.

The things placed securely and delicately around the room fell on the ground. Some broke, while some just added more vibrations to the already shaking ground.

The chaos erupted outside, and the warning bell began hitting their eardrums- a bell that always alerted God and the people of heaven when something bad happened on the Earth.

They all looked at each other with frightened faces.

"Let's go!" Artemio yelled at them. He wanted to pick up the sword, but they had no time in their hands.

They all somehow managed to run to the door, which was ready to break loose out of its hinges. As soon as Caelan and Theseus pushed open the door, their souls froze right then and there.

The darkened eyes of God glared back at them, and behind him, they saw the destruction they had caused.