Draiks and Angels: Survivor

1 - Archangel

Dear Journal

Five years ago, the Archangel died. We knew it was coming. He had stopped eating and was wasting away. Those of us in the Aerie who were thirteen waited anxiously as our birthdays neared, in case ours was the day he finally passed. It was May 4th, my birthday, when word came that he was gone. They took me to the Oracles and both of them confirmed I was the new Archangel.

I immediately went into the higher level of magical training. There were only a few other Angels in that class, all older than me. It was easy. Being Realized had increased my magic immensely, and I flew past the others. But there was no one else to teach me. So, I started studying in the library on my own. I missed being with the other Angels in class, especially a bronze-skinned Angel named Husani, but it was too boring to stay. I am nearing the end of my training, and I wonder what I am supposed to do next?

They still haven't found the new Primary Archangel, and people are getting antsy. The Oracles' visions tell them is it a Draik for certain, but they still can't tell where the person is, male or female. Maybe I can help find them after I am done training. One of the Oracles was the Archangels' daughter, and she has become the de facto leader of the Aerie, until I am ready, I guess. She has also been heading up the search for the Primary Archangel. I should talk to her.

Ava chewed on her pen, trying to think of more to write. The empty notebook was crisp and clean, and she almost regretted filling it with her nonsense. And what if she wrote something embarrassing and someone found it? She shook her head. It had seemed like such a good idea when the elder Oracle had suggested it to her. A way to organize her thoughts when she didn't feel like she had anyone she could talk to about being the Archangel.

The library door opened, and Ava looked up from the table where she sat. Her heart skipped a beat as Husani, the bronze-skinned Angel from her magic class entered the room. He wore a capped-sleeve tee-shirt the color of forget-me-nots, with a hole in the back for his wings. His long jeans were the color of blackcurrants, and he wore plain sandals. His hair was black and cropped short. His wings were white and well-kept. His eyes were like amber gems. Around his left arm was a gold band which was engraved with angel wings. Ava always wondered how he got it on, as it looked smaller than the bicep below it.

"Oh, hey Ava," Husani waved, then turned back to the doorway.

Through the door, the younger Oracle entered. She wore a white halter-top and long, light blue jeans. Her hair was wavy auburn, cut in an angled bob. Her eyes were teal, and her feathered wings were black. She reached her left hand out to Husani, and he took it. Ava noticed she also had a gold band on her arm, the right arm this time. They walked over to one of the other tables and sat down next to each other, talking quietly.

Ava turned back to her journal, but still couldn't think of anything more to write. Why were they holding hands? She watched the Oracle and Husani get up and start perusing the shelves from the corner of her eye, and wondered what they were looking for. The Oracle pulled a couple notebooks from one shelf, Husani grabbed a leather-bound book from elsewhere, and they reconvened at the table.

The Oracle noticed Ava watching them, "As the Archangel, maybe you can help us?"

"Uh, sure?" Ava closed her journal and carried it with her to the table where the other Angels were waiting. "What are you doing?"

"We are perpetually searching for the Primary Archangel," Husani said, putting his hands behind his head and stretching his legs.

The Oracle shoved Husani gently, "Today, we are looking for any records that would help us find them with a spell or with my Oracle powers. My parents did a lot of research into magic, and they might have left something in one of these notebooks that is less... well documented."