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. 

But Thrones and Cherubim? That was a sure sign of something far more profound. 

"Today is a choosing for the Powers as well, Ayira,"Falak shrugged smiling slightly, but there was something in the way the smile didn't reach her eyes, her shoulders remained stiff and her head high that had set my teeth on edge," I know they are not as frequent as those of a Virtue, but I had assumed you knew of them? They come. . ." 

She paused, a hum pulling her lips into a line," Well. I Suppose if a Virtues choosing is to come every 4 months, I think it is every 8 or maybe even a full 16 months for Powers. I honestly was never as invested with the Powers choosing as I had been Virtues or Dominos. . . but by any matter, you have been Ascended to Heaven for 5 years, so I'm sorry I assumed."

A quick flash of her normal soft self flashed to me before she turned back to the Arena, all hard edges once again. 

"I may have been here for 5 years," I replied slowly, wiping my palms discreetly on my robes," but have only been a Virtue for 3. And Lael has been a Power for. .  ." I chewed my lip blinking when I realized," Oh. . .I do believe this month may mark it being 2 years."

Falak gave a small nod, eyes darting up to the glass dome above and back down again, drawing my own attention to the dome as it began to fill with those who must be laying judgement as she hummed," 2 years would be the minimum before you could even apply to contest for Ascension."

I swallowed, unnerved by the Cherubim and Thrones that, despite being few in number to the onlooking crowed, seemed to take up so much more presence, the few Dominos and Powers that stood with them all of an unwavering support," Lael never said anything to me about. . ."

The words drifted from my lips slowly forgotten as memory surfaced, Lael with his finger under my chin, gaze locked with my own,' I am here, Ayira. I am here.'

The knot in my stomach felt as if it reached my throat, so I clamped my mouth shut before any unwanted sounds escaped it. I tore my eyes from the proctors above to Lael down below. He, and the others in line with him, stood still, each about two arms length apart from the other. They all gazed up to the glass dome, eyes unreadable and expressions vacant of any emotion other than that of determination. 

"I am not surprised," Falaks voice softened the fists my hands had become, and I fully released my robes when she set her own warm hand atop my own. Her fingers where long, pale against my own skin making the light bronze tease more prominent, making me think of my mother with her own darker bronze skin, and it made me feel something that I couldn't quite place.

"He doesn't like to cause you undue concern," she wrapped her warm hands around my own giving them a gentle squeeze and I looked up to her," He does love you Ayira."

Something behind my eyes felt like it wished to come forward, though I wouldn't allow it, and I didn't wish to bring notice to the feeling in my chest that trapped my drumming heart," I never understood why you two never courted- considering how he responded to you since day one."

Again the thought of how perfect they would be for one another echoed in my mind, and how easy it would have been not to feel the way I do about Lael if they had. Though a courtship between the two most likely would have stopped Lael from attempting to Ascend for the final time, content with his position as a Power and beginning a family in Heaven with Falak. 

She slowly slid her hands from my own, sighing with something weighted dropping her shoulders a bit though I couldn't fathom what since she had made it painfully clear how she was not attracted to Lael, before only saying," Oh Ayira. It would only be far too easy, if that were only possible. But it never could be."

"Why is that?" I hadn't meant to snap, bringing her startled gaze to meet my own again, but at her and Laels fantasy marriage and family set in my minds eye- how easy they would have had it! How lucky she was for that opportunity, while I clenched my teeth at the echo of someone's final door closing, never breaking away from the grey of the Firmament, of my mothers lessons and fathers absence. 

Of my duty , my purpose, my destiny. A task that I was created, molded, and expected-prayed upon to uphold. 

Never would I have that. And it made an anger in me that could not have been new, but only now was really being able to pin point. 

Falak still held that shocked look as she took in my harsh question, blinking before she began," I- It is not so simple Ayira. I wish I could tell you," something in her expression turned to something of great wishing, before her mouth twisted and it morphed into a pained expression," Ayira. .  . Ayira I-"

"Angels of on high!" The voice of the announcing Power caused both of us to jump, and the shock wiped away my fear," Today we are to witness a testing which will give way to those who will Ascend to serve on high outside the gates of Nirvana."

I and Falak mirrored every other in the audience across from us, a dull rhythmic clapping that held no enthusiasm. I for a moment had the sense to feel shameful for my display to Falak- what right did I have to assume her path for her? To question her decisions? It was wrong and I couldn't fully understand as to why I did so in the first place. 

But then my guilt wiped away in anxiety when my eyes landed on Lael, in line as all the other Powers with him. But unlike the others, his gaze had deviated from the glass dome above to meet directly with my own. 

He gave a small discernible grin- had I not known him for as long as I had, and had I not studied that face nearly every day the past 5 years, I most likely would have missed it due to its brief flash and the distance between us. But it was there, and I had seen it. 

 I couldn't help the flutter it sent to my heart.

"There will be 3 rounds!  With it, the test of strength, speed, agility and knowledge will be pushed to the limit! With it, the results will be given at the next choosing ceremony. Now. All be silent, and give thanks to God for the strength that he presents into the Angels that serve him today."

Without further word the arenas onlooker all stood, Falak and I in unison and I now noted a scattering of other Powers, Dominos, and now several handfuls of Principalities even. We all gave the silent movements of prayer ending with our bowed heads below our clasped hands thankful for the gifts of God. 

Upon some silent release from the prayer, we all sat in silence, and I leaned forward as I watched Lael close his eyes, taking a breath.

Then the room bathed in darkness as the lights went out and an unearthly howl echoed through the whole area.

My skin crawled as I recognized the distorted aggrieved cry. 

Images of my fathers mutilated body, its mottled skin came to mind. 

And immediately I knew without a doubt, even with my sight gone and my breath increasing as I attempted to remain unmoving and not panic, what creature could possibly give such a tortured harrowing broken melody into the air.

The long gashes in my fathers body flashed in my mind, the puncture wounds and flayed skin. In the darkness I envisioned similar on Lael's body and I swallowed, gripping onto Falak's hand which had suddenly appeared in my own. 

Had I not been sitting already I was certain I would have fallen into a faint. 

For the sound of the Agawangeh had been something I dimly recalled from my younger years on earth, and the nights I would hunker down in my room in fear of them just as all the Sheep on Earth would.

The light returned in a blinding flash, and I blinked, fear blinding me after the lights had once I took in the ferocious sight in front of us.

Never had I thought to see an Agawangeh so close- for any who ever did ended up such as my father. 

Never to walk the Earth again.