21         AWAKEN THOSE WHO SLEPT AWAY (5)  

"They are here, Reuben…!! Hurry!!"

Azalel teleported himself several times crazily after he felt a surge of spiritual energy from the one that he familiarized with. Unfortunately, we can't do anything when we're inside the portal dimension. There is a bridge between the human realm and the spiritual world. In some terminologies, we call it an altered dimension. Another universe that is beyond their knowledge but they do exist. Heaven and hell are part of this dimension. Earth and its beauty, in our definition, is just a speck of dust for us.

Reuben and Azalel were inside the portal when he felt an unusual burst energy. It takes more or less ten minutes from heaven until they reach Earth. It was fast for human, but for spiritual creatures like them, it felt like ages. So, that's what he's feeling now.

Once they come out, both of them tracked it down. And finally arrived right after, all demons have been eliminated and Iliya was carried in semi-conscious state in the arms of a war angel.

"Miss Iliya…."

Azalel's face turned pale as white when he saw her condition. Last time he remembered her in this state was when she forgot to bring her air bud and all the minds and voices that she felt were flooding and rushed inside her head.

"She's okay, Azalel…"

"She only needs to get some rest and then, she would be fine…"

Once Raphael brought her into his arms, Iliya passed out.

"Please bring her somewhere safe, Azalel. Or you can put something to conceal her whereabouts…"

Raphael instructed him gently while he raised his palm and funneled a small amount of his energy to her body. After a while, her breath becomes normal and steady.

"And, what are you doing here, Raphael?"

"Don't you suppose to guard the South Gate of Heaven Realm?"

"Yes, I supposed to, but I had just been assigned by Mikail to protect her and leave my post…"

"And who is in charge to replace you now?"

Raphael tilted his head and answered his question solemnly.

"Barachiel…"

.......................................….

Monav Mokshit's penthouse….

"This is not good, Monav!!" Eva paced back and forth anxiously while Monav just making his expresso casually with the coffee machine that he just bought this morning.

"Hmmm…. This is good. Something that I love the most from this realm is their coffee. It's incomparable with anything that I have tasted so far…"

"MONAV!!" Eva finally yelled at him frustratedly.

"I heard you, sweetheart…" He replied to her nonchalantly.

"And it's good to know about how far they would do something to keep that girl under their custody…"

"Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer. Have you heard that quote, Eva?"

"It means we're on the upper hands. Instructed a supreme war angel to guard a human was telling us one thing for sure…."

"That heaven was no longer as powerful as they were…."

"In the end, the light will fade out and the darkness will rise up. The East Fallen will return and continue his legacy. Overthrow the Lord from His throne…"

"So? It was true? The last one who protected her was Raphael? One of the Supreme War Angel under Mikail?"

"Yes…" Monav answered her shortly with a cunning smirk on his face.

"What happened with her previous guardian angels?" Eva asked him again with a deep furrow between her eyes.

"Deceased…"

"I killed them all.."

.............................................…

Iliya's house

It only takes a while for her to rest well. But it seems like forever for Azalel when he stays beside her bed and holds her hands inside his palm. For hiding her, Reuben also had put a force field as their protection so she would be untraceable while she's recovering herself. Reuben also sitting in the same room as well while Raphael decided to go back and report the incident directly to Mikail.

Azalel knew that Raphael would be her guardian temporarily and not every human was granted to have a war angel as their protector. Moreover, Raphael is not only a high-rank angel. He's one of the Supreme War Angel under Mikail's order.

This girl…

Who is she exactly?

Why Mikail even have to give a direct command for his own subordinate to guard her?

Reuben sighed a long breath heavily. The questions that lingered inside Azalel's mind also twirled inside his head. At first, he thought that girl was another indigo who was just able to see things. Nothing more. But now, things have been more complicated than it looks on the surface. They both never expected to get involved as deep as this before.

Iliya Nara…

Who are you really?

"Hhmmm…." Iliya's eyes fluttered and saw Azalel was sitting on her bedside and staring at her worriedly.

"Mr Angel?"

"How do you feel, little girl?" He asked her while caressing her rosy cheek.

"A bit tired but I'm fine…"

"Sorry…"

Azalel utterly said the word with guilt in his eyes. Holding himself so hard so his unshed tears won't fall down.

"I was wrong…"

"I taught you how to defend yourself but I didn't teach you how to strike back…"

"It doesn't matter…" She sighed with a grateful tone and managed to sit properly on her bed. Azalel put a pile of pillows behind her back so she was able to lean in comfort.

"If it wasn't because of what you have taught, I probably have been dead by now. All thanks to you…" She said those words in pure sincerity and lifted a small weight on Azalel's shoulder. He's no longer stressed like he was before.

"I have no idea why those creatures were drawn at me. Do you have any idea why?"

She spilled it out confusedly. A question that neither of them was able to answer either.

"I don't know. Raphael is taking care of this issue right now. He's heading to heaven and will be returning as soon as possible…"

"For your own safety, starting from tomorrow, Reuben and I will take a turn to guard you. I also will teach you how to counter the strikes from spiritual creatures. So, next time, you'll be able to protect yourself. Okay?"

Iliya nodded her head obediently. "Alright…"

Azalel strokes her hair gently with soft eyes.

"Get back to sleep. Your body needs it…"

.............................................…

Mikail checked the list inside his hand with a troubled expression. It has been, he doesn't even recall the numbers, how many he had lost his men in this mission. And those who had lost in this battle were remarkable war angels that he chose for this role. And all of them deceased without leaving any clue of whom that had killed them all. One thing that he was so sure about…

It must be a demon. A high-rank one. At least, a par with a Supreme Level.

But, who is it?

Who holds the deep-rooted grudge against this young lady?

Mikail has been searching for this answer for hundred years, but still, he ended up with a failure. There was no single hint and he was left clueless. Moreover, he was losing more than he expected before. This time, with a heavy heart, he assigned Raphael. One of his Supreme General to guard the girl. Same with Azalel, he felt the same surge of energy, and right away, he knew that her life was in grave danger.

"Mikail…"

A familiar voice called his name from behind. Mikail turned his head and saw Raphael standing firmly on his spot.

"Yes…."

"Those who attacked her were Vengeful Cravers…"

"She has been targeted…"

"What should we do now, Mikail?"

"I don't know either, Raphael. For now, just keep an eye on her…"