Heartfield is a fairly calm city. Low crime rates, big, green surfaces, good security, affordable education, high employment rate. At a normal university in that calm city; Skyline University, every mortal student is unwillingly and unknowingly assigned under the care of an angel and a devil.
Everyone has heard of angels. They are these holy white-winged beings, spreading love, kindness, and justice everywhere they go. Whether one believes in them or not, they exist. From whispering enlightening advice into the ears of powerful leaders to planting a ten-dollar bill on the ground to make someone's day or making flowers bloom in the spring.
Another thing ordinary mortals don't realize is that being a divine creature like that comes with a lot of homework. Especially at Skyline University. Young angels strive to graduate in hopes of eventually moving up the angelic hierarchy by either leading their assigned humans towards the right path and to eventually becoming Guardian Angels or by specializing in nature revival, animal care, or collecting souls. Angels are known to be hardworking, while devils; their main rivals, are supposed to lead the humans down the wrong path, teach them how to destroy, and confuse them if they want to become classified Tempters. Each Eternal wants to win over the fable hearts of their mortals, swinging them in a direction of good or bad, depending on how capable their opponent is at convincing their human otherwise.
Angels follow the seven heavenly virtues, while Devils live by the seven deadly sins.
Every day, while the mortals are living their normal lives, this game the devils and angels play defines one's status in the Eternal society. With every good decision a mortal makes, their Guardian Angel or Guardian Angel in training gets a point. Every time they make a wrong one, the point goes to their assigned devil. Mere mortals aren't able to see the Eternals, who watch over them. But if they decide to transform into their human form, the Eternals can become visible to the eyes of the lowly humans and can interact with them for a limited period of 24 hours. The fact that every mortal has one angel and one devil is what makes them human. It is a well-known fact that light cannot exist without darkness, so neither can good without evil. The constant battle between the two sides results in a perfect balance, reminding each of its importance. Pushing boundaries is allowed, but breaking them is unforgivable.
Even for devils.
***
Mei-Lin is an angel, one of the best students there is.
Mei-Lin strives to graduate as a Guardian Angel, even if she is just an average, rankles, 3rd sphere angel. Though just having been admitted to Heaven less than a year ago and had started her education about a month after that, she has shown to be extremely capable in the field of guarding mortals by having top marks in every literal class, was prepared for numerous scenarios, and even had some experience on Earth by helping lost children and pets in the park find their parents and owners.
Thus, Mei-Lin has just been assigned to watch over her first mortal, Brandon Clifford.
.
.
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Contrary to what it seemed at first, having to follow around a lively teenager everywhere he went was proving to be quite exhausting. While angels might be immortal, they're still fond of peace and quiet, both of which Mei Lin seemed to become robbed of as a loud, cocky, and rude devil was allocated to Brandon's side as well.
"Nice to meet you, angel."
"I take it that you're my partner then?"
"Partner? Uhh, no. This isn't some kind of a science project," he laughed, pearly-white fangs emphasizing his arrogant smile. "This, right here in front of you, is a human. An ignorant human, who we, as his Eternal Guardians get to play with. We are the ones that get to decide his future. Does that answer your question? We're not partners, sugar cube. We're enemies."
