Dawn of a Thousand Suns, Book I: Arch De Angels

Chapter XI

As the first job finished so early, they had a lot of time to kill. So before heading towards the tavern, they went sightseeing in Mondelay. Michael couldn't even imagine the city could rebuild this quickly. Same places which were burned a few weeks earlier now looked attractive, with theaters, temples, and houses. The mysterious attacks had strengthened the citizens' religious beliefs and those people, who did not even have proper houses, were building the temples to Rahail now. Newly built houses belonged to those nobles who had escaped from other cities and had come to Mondelay.

"Come, I want to show you something," the characteristic smile appeared on Uriel's face and he could hear adventure in his voice. Intrigued, Michael agreed with no hesitation. Uriel took him to the newly built Rahail temple, which was encircled by the fence. Near the fence, there was a three-story house. Uriel suggested climbing over the wall of that house, Michael had no other way than to agree so that he would not be a coward, however, when he passed by the second floor and looked down, out of fear, he closed his eyes and leaned closer to the corner of the building. Seeing Michael's face, Blondy, who had almost finished climbing, laughed out loud.

"Come up, don't worry!" he said. The wall was easy to climb over as the bricks were broken here and there, you could easily hold on to them with your feet and hands, but Michael was terrified of heights, and if not Uriel's ironic words, he would have decided not to move at all. But Blondy's mocking remarks made him overcome his fears, and he finally climbed up the wall. Uriel praised him once again as he was walking on the edge of the roof, dexterously and calm. Michael went as far as possible from the edge, scared to look down.

"Come here," asked Uriel and Michael strode towards him... Blondy was standing at the edge of the roof, which was quite dangerous. Michael's knees were shivering...

Blondy patted him on the back as if to encourage him, but he hit him so hard that the boy almost fell from the roof. He got so scared; he fell on his knees and shivering violently, did not dare to stand up on his own.

"Get rid of the fear and let the wind take it away," whispered Uriel. Michael glanced at the domes glittering under the cold sun and slowed down his breathing. He could not really recall when emptiness filled him up and how long it took him to become completely devoid of any feeling, but he was sure of his state now. Looking at Uriel, he noticed his astonished look.

"You have made it!" Uriel shouted happily, then he turned around and walked toward the further edge of the roof; Michael followed him swiftly as if he was walking on the ground. They soon stopped simultaneously. Uriel pointed at the plane tree standing in the temple yard.

"I will jump and follow me with no hesitation!" he said, then he stepped back so that he could gather some speed for jumping off the roof towards the plane tree in the yard. Michael, now empty from every emotion, jumped off the roof; however, he lost his confidence in the air and started screaming when he felt he was falling. Somehow, he grabbed the branches of the tree. He looked down and saw that he was hanging from the branch about six or seven meters up from the ground. He heard Blondy shout, 'Don't worry, I will lift you!'.

Michael looked up and saw Uriel jump towards him, still clinging to the branch; then he grabbed him with his empty hand and lifted him.

When Michael came round, he was already hugging the tree. He was now aware of the meaning of the phrase- blood curdled in his veins.

"Why did you shout that much, it gathered the entire city under the tree," said Blond playfully, with a hint of a rebuke.

"I jumped from the three-story building and you are asking me why I was shouting?" answered Michael angrily.

"I am not in a mood of fighting," gave in Uriel and started climbing up the tree.

"What are you doing?" asked Michael, dumbfounded.