Chapter 10: He's changing
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Samuel stood before the mirror in his small apartment, adjusting the collar of his shirt. His reflection was still a strange sight to him—no longer the weak, fragile human he had once been, but an angel with four wings, two of which were still growing and adjusting to his newfound strength.
His thoughts were a whirlwind, but the most pressing of all was the moment that was about to come. The job interview. Despite the absurdity of his situation—of being an angel in a mortal world—he had to continue as though life was normal. After all, there was only so much he could change.
A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," Samuel called, turning toward the sound.
The door creaked open, revealing Ramiel, her golden armor gleaming even in the dim light of the apartment. She looked as imposing as ever, but her gaze was softer now, a touch of concern hidden beneath her calm demeanor.
"You're ready?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with the familiar weight of responsibility.
Samuel nodded, forcing a small smile. "Ready as I'll ever be."
Ramiel stepped closer, her eyes studying him carefully. "You have a few more days on Earth. Do not waste them. This is your last chance to gather information, tie up any loose ends, and—" She paused, looking at him with a certain understanding. "Say goodbye to the life you knew."
Samuel hesitated. There was so much he still didn't understand. So much that seemed so fleeting, so out of reach. But there was one thing he knew for sure: he couldn't keep dwelling on the past.
"Alright," he said softly. "I'll make the most of it."
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The day came, and Samuel made his way to the company for the job interview. He could feel the nerves and excitement of the typical process, but his mind kept drifting. The glowing halo around him, the wings itching to stretch out—he was far from the ordinary applicant. The office building felt like another world, a stark reminder of his human life, something he was starting to outgrow.
The interview began like any other, with small talk and questions about his qualifications. The panel asked about his experience in data analysis, and Samuel, despite his otherworldly nature, had learned to hold his own in these situations. His sharp mind easily impressed them, but deep down, Samuel knew this was a life he wasn't going to return to.
Finally, after the interview, the hiring manager extended an offer, offering him an advance on the salary. "Congratulations, Samuel. You've got the job. We're offering you an advance on your salary to get you started. Consider it a gesture of good faith."
The words should have sounded like a victory, but instead, they sat heavily in his chest. He had done well, yes, but there was a bigger, more pressing call he could hear deep within him.
"Thank you, but I'll have to decline," Samuel said firmly, a calmness in his voice that surprised even him. "I'm looking for something more. Something… different. I'm sure there are better opportunities out there."
The hiring manager blinked, clearly thrown off by the rejection. "Are you sure? This is a solid offer. It's rare for us to find someone with your skills."
Samuel gave a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm sure. I'll find something better."
With that, he turned and walked away, his mind already distant from the mortal world. He had no time to waste on a life that was slipping away from him, no matter how comfortable it might seem.
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The day was spent in the hustle and bustle of the city. Samuel rejected the normal path, the one he had expected to follow. Instead, he spent the day finalizing his living arrangements, picking up the keys to his new apartment—modest but in a great location. The apartment would be his temporary sanctuary, the last vestige of his human life before everything changed.
The view from the top floor was spectacular. It overlooked the city, its lights twinkling like stars, but Samuel couldn't enjoy it. Not really. His wings twitched beneath the fabric of his shirt, a constant reminder of the being he had become.
Later that evening, his parents came over. Their concern was palpable, though they didn't understand why he was leaving so suddenly. The weight of their words, of their attempts to hold onto him, gnawed at him, but he couldn't stay. Not when the world he was entering demanded his full attention.
"I just… don't want you to leave like this, Sam," his mother said, her voice shaky with emotion. "We don't know what's going on with you. You're not telling us everything."
"I'll be fine, Mom," Samuel said softly, his gaze filled with regret. "It's just… time for me to go. I'll be back. Maybe not in the way you expect, but I'll always be your son."
His father, who had been silent for most of the conversation, placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder. "Just promise us you'll be safe."
Samuel nodded, though the promise felt hollow. He didn't know what safety even meant anymore.
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That night, Samuel met up with a few friends at a bar. They were happy for him, to a point. The new job, the apartment—it was a celebration. But Samuel felt distant from it all. Their laughter, their jokes, the fleeting pleasures of mortal life—it was all so… ordinary.
Still, he joined in, raising a glass and clinking it with his friends. They didn't know how much had changed for him. They didn't know the divine weight that pressed down on his soul. So he laughed, pretending for a night that everything was normal.
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The following morning, Samuel stood by his apartment door once more. The life he had known—his parents, his friends, his human existence—was slipping away, but he had no choice. There was a higher calling now, one that would take him far beyond the mortal world.
Ramiel stood nearby, her form as regal as ever. "Are you ready?" she asked, her voice calm but expectant.
Samuel turned to her, his expression steady, but beneath it was a storm of uncertainty. "Ready as I'll ever be."
Without another word, Ramiel raised her hand, and the air around them shimmered. The city, the apartment, the world—everything began to fade into nothingness, replaced by an overwhelming pull. Samuel felt the familiar sensation of being drawn through space, his body stretching and bending as he was taken to a place beyond comprehension.
When the light cleared, Samuel stood on solid ground once more, but this time, it was unlike anything he had ever seen. The sky above was a swirling blend of violet and gold, the air alive with divine energy. Vast mountains rose in the distance, their peaks lost in clouds of mist, and the ground beneath him hummed with power.
"This is the Training Dimension," Ramiel's voice echoed, filled with purpose. "This is where you will prepare. This is where you will learn to control the power inside of you."
Samuel gazed at the vast, surreal landscape before him, overwhelmed by its majesty. "The Training Dimension," he whispered. "This is where everything changes, isn't it?"
Ramiel nodded. "Yes. But it is also where your true journey begins."
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