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It made sense, now, seeing Lael's hesitation, his nervous energy.

Rare was it that any more than a few Powers watched the proceedings with sharp eyes, and hardened features. 

This was not an average presentation. 

This was some sort of exhibition, or test.

The presentation arena of the training facility was long as the building was in nature, the center a depression where students would descend the steps to the smooth shining white floors, far below the glass sphere that housed those who would judge the Powers being tested. 

Encasing the arena on raising levels with encircling curves that spanned all walls bar the one with the large double door entrance we came through where smooth white benches. 

I had seen these benches in various numbers of occupation, but never full. 

Today they did brim with more Angels than I was accustomed to seeing, many powers more than I was personally aware we had, and  a larger congregation of  Dominos.

 I shuddered involuntarily, a brief crazed wish for Holy Water making my mouth dry and my palms sweaty.

Falak settled a comforting hand on my back, silently nodding me over to some empty seats along the far wall where none had sat with most of the crowd remaining seated near the entrance, creating an effect of white wings flared from the doorway with purple and green adorning feathers.

"Today, is more than a general presentation" Falak,  more knowledgeable in the happenings and plans in Heaven and Earth than myself due to her status as a Principality, and as someone born of Heaven, she was at ease, but a sharpness had done something to the smooth round of her cheeks and put a steel behind the soft blue,"  Do not be shocked- there will be Thrones and Cherubim observing today."

I fought to keep a steady gait as we approached our desired seated area, making a conscious effort to keep my breath steady and my  movements smooth. 

While I smoothed my robes upon sitting next to Falak, I noted Lael stood in a line closest to our end of the arena, joined by perhaps a dozen other Powers, about half of whom I recognized and the other half varying levels of dim recognition and complete strangers. 

They ranged in age, a young girl at the end seeming only some years into puberty and probably the youngest-I assumed Heaven born. Her eyes were upgraded, the irises unnaturally bight green and I could dare to assume I saw the barest hint of silver embedded in the skin about them. No crows feet for her as she aged- the glinting metal would permanently mar her face even if she went a lifetime devoid of smiles. 

I forced my gaze away, back to Lael pondering his own upgrades. None on his face, I couldn't fully word with complete innocents as to why I was glad for this, and why he took his natural build and strength to his advantage. 

He seemed so still, so calm, for so many eyes to be on him. I glanced up above to the glass dome that oversaw the arena, but saw none in it as of yet. 

"Thrones and Cherubim?" I cleared my throat a bit, realizing it had gone dry, swallowed hard a none existent gulp of saliva, tried again," You-you mean they will be 'here'? Why are they here, not just the Powers?"

I had been a bit unnerved by the Dominos, but wasn't fully surprised. They, after all, ensured judgement delt and was delt in all fairness. I didn't question them being at a presentation of the Powers, I always assumed they had done so for honesty's sake- though I realize today I was sure there were double the number I normally spied, and they stood all the more vigilant with their rapt gaze upon the Powers in the arena. 

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