"Good morning, Ulcinin!"

I stopped walking. Auriel was in his usual position in front of Metatron.

I was still practically half-asleep. Mikha'el had allowed me to sleep in, and it had to have been mid-afternoon already. I was still reeling from the previous day, brain overloaded with everything I learned, everything I had seen, everyone I had met. My head felt like a burlap sack overstuffed with hay. My eyes were raw and red, and I had to breathe through my mouth, having wept myself to sleep.

As such, I was not prepared for such a warm and enthusiastic greeting from Auriel.

"Huh?"

Auriel smiled. "I said, good morning, Ulcinin. Although, it is not really morning, but you appear to have just awoken, so."

I blinked. Slowly the fog began to thaw, and I smiled. "Oh. Er, good morning, Auriel."

"Mikha'el is already awaiting your arrival. Don't worry–he is not upset with your late arrival."

I nodded and started to walk further into the library. "Thank you, Auriel."

"Of course. Let me know if you need anything!"

I smirked and shook my head as I made my way back to the seated area. When I found Mikha'el, I didn't even attempt to conceal my displeasure; Mihka'el sat at a table, a huge mound of books piled up. I moaned loudly, not looking forward to the day's lessons.

"Sleep well?" Mikha'el asked, bemused, as I slumped into the chair across from him.

I grunted and glared at him.

"Today," Mikha'el said, ignoring my disposition, "you are going to learn about Jesus Christ, son of God."

"Do I have to meet him?" I asked, grabbing at a random book.

"Eventually."

"Good. I don't think I have the capacity to meet anyone today."

To my alarm Mikha'el got to his feet. I looked up at him, hating the broad grin on his face. He plucked the book out of my hands, put it down, and said, "Metatron–conceal."

"Wha–what? Why did–"

Mikha'el came around and lifted me to my feet, hand around my bicep.

"--what are you–where are we going?"

"To meet Jesus."

"No. No no no no no," I protested, trying to pull backward, but Mikha'el simply pulled me harder.

"Leaving so soon?" Auriel asked as Mikha'el dragged me past.

"Auriel! Tell Mikha'el–"

Auriel cut me off with a laugh. "Tell Mikha'el? Dear boy, I cannot tell Mikha'el anything."

"Auriel! Help me!"

Auriel merely laughed and shook his head, looking back down at his scrolls.

Once we were outside and down the steps, I yanked my arm out of his grasp and glared.

"Your training does not just include studying and making you sound of body," Mikha'el explained, leading the way. "There are going to be times that you don't want to do things. There will be times where you think you are too tired to carry on. But you must. Especially in your position; you must learn to be strong, even when you think you cannot."

"Might I intrude?" a pleasant, female voice spoke behind us.

I was shocked when Mikha'el turned around and immediately fell to one knee. I was equally shocked when he grabbed my hand and roughly yanked me to the ground. Nearly toppling over, I went on my knees painfully, but then drew one up to kneel as he was.

Before us was a beautiful woman. Words really cannot describe the beauty of her, and I'm not just saying that. Her skin was strange, looking to be made from the lightest shade of jade gemstone you could imagine. Shiny, straight, black hair was pulled back into a bun, which was wrapped with golden decorative chains kissed with rubies. From her ears dangled matching earrings, so weighed down from the gold and rubies it made her earlobes slightly elongated. She wore silk white cloth over her chest, with matching billowing pants. Her feet were bare, delicate strings of gold accenting her ankles. Her arms were equally adorned, all with the same aesthetic of gold and red. Her lips were supple, a deep raspberry in color, enticing, just like the rest of her voluptuous figure. Her eyes were accented with blue eyeshadow, her thick black lashes accenting her strangely orange eyes.

"Arise, arise," she told us, and she sounded amused.

Mikha'el scrambled to his feet, and I got to mine. He still was respectfully looking at his feet.

"It is so good to see you, Indrajala," Mikha'el greeted, and when I glanced at him he was blushing. "To what do I owe this great honor?"

Though I kept my head lowered, curiosity was gnawing at me, and I kept glancing at this woman. As such, I saw her swivel her head to face me; I dropped my eyes immediately again.

"Is there a situation you must make haste towards, or might I beg the company of my littlest Destroyer?"

I flushed immediately. Nervously I glanced at Mikha'el as he answered. "No–whatever you wish, Greatest Indrajala."

"I thank thee, kindest Mikha'el." Indrajala extended both arms to me, hands out. "I behest your company, Ulcinin."

I had no idea what was happening, but based on Mikha'el's disposition, I knew I didn't really have a say in the matter. As such, I took a step forward and clasped her hands. They felt downright gross, cold and clammy. I know now that she is omnipresent, but at the time the fact that she held my hands tighter and smiled wider disturbed me. I worried she knew my repulsion, and I downright shivered in fear.

I blinked and suddenly found myself someplace entirely different. The jolt of being transported was frightening; my new surroundings were anything but. I found myself in a lovely garden. There was a white square gazebo, interlaced with white lotus. In the middle was a grand table of gold, overflowing with food, plates, bowls, cups, and pitchers. Indrajala was seated already; I stood a good yard away. Not knowing what else to do I approached her.

She was sprawled out on a chez lounge, gold, of course. She smiled at me, with perfectly white straight teeth. From her hand dangled a clump of green grapes, which she ate languidly.

"Come. Sit. Eat."

I did as I was told, pulling out a wooden chair with a comfortable fluffy purple pillow on the seat.

"Do you prefer wine? Mead? Beer? Water?"

I fidgeted with my hands beneath the table. "Oh. Um. Water will do for now."

"Then drink."

She gestured to the only silver pitcher on the table. I poured the contents into a cup; it was, indeed, water. I took a sip, and it was delightfully cool and refreshing.

"Eat," she commanded merrily, still smiling. "My wish is to please you, make you comfortable and put your mind at ease. There is cheese; it is very good."

"Thank you," I replied, shivering again.

I scrambled to put food on my plate; grapes, cheese, and figs. I grabbed an apple for good measure. I didn't know what it was about her, but I feared her immensely.

"You must be curious as to who I am."

I popped some of my cheese into my mouth. She wasn't kidding; it was absolutely delectable. It wasn't too sharp, nor musky, and it gave undertones of nuts. I didn't know what kind of cheese it was, but it melted in my mouth. I nearly moaned in delight, and my wings twitched.

"It is I, Indrajala. I am an extension of the God Indra."

When she didn't continue, I swallowed nervously. "Please forgive me, but I don't know who that is."

She laughed, and with it came a sudden breeze. On its gust came the sound of wind chimes, even though there was none.

"He hails from the religion of Hinduism. He was one of the creators. One of the first. His wishes were what spawned me into being. From nothing he created something, using his mind. Everything around us, this, is formed from his mind."

She leaned forward on her elbow, orange eyes boring into me.

"So that begs the question, dearest Ulcinin. If reality exists from the mind of a God, it is just a thought, yes?"

I didn't want to answer. I feared this was some sort of riddle, and I would be punished for the wrong answer. I sat, trying to figure out different angles, possible redirection or tricks in her words.

Indrajala raised her eyebrows. "Well?"

"Yes," I stammered hesitantly.

"So then, if reality is just a living dream, what is reality? Is it you? Is it me? Are we mere hallucinations of a greedy God?"

I blinked and began to sweat. "I don't—I don't know."

She laughed again, her chimed laugh. "Please do not fear me, dearest child. I do not wish to frighten you so."

I blinked profusely.

"What I speak is not that of a trickster. I do not intentionally try to confuse you. I am merely speaking my truth, explaining my truth as one of the Primordial Entities of the universe."

Oh. That explained both my intrinsic fear and Mikha'el's behavior around her. Archangels are powerful, but even they must obey the pecking order of the cosmos. Simply put, she far, far outranked even him, and she deserved the respect he showed.

"Indra thinks, and therefore it is. I am the embodiment of those thoughts. I am the embodiment of his more, shall we say, fickle whims. I am the controller of dreams. I am that which makes people hallucinate. I am the spinner of illusions. I am that whom travels and is the astral planes."

Once again I was at a complete loss of words, so I said nothing.

"I do have regrets of not letting my presence be known to you sooner," she continued. "For you are a plane walker. You are that which destroys the very fabric of reality. I am the spinner of realities. I am that which brings all thoughts into being. I am the bender of mortal minds, making them see things and hear things that aren't there."

This was all very intriguing, and I found myself quickly becoming less afraid and more enraptured by the Goddess before me.

"I am the one who is a mirage," she explained and, with a wave of her hand, a shimmering wavy mirage appeared, the optical illusion of water like is seen in deserts. "I am that which makes mortals and deities jump at shadows. I am, succinctly, the Goddess of Illusion. I birthed Khaos, another primordial entity. I am the holder of many realities; as such, I oversee many things. So you understand why I was unable to greet my newest Destroyer sooner, yes?"

"Yes," I breathed, any residual fear leaving me with my exhale.

"Good, for I do not wish to offend thee."

I wasn't sure how I could be offended by the lack of presence of someone who I didn't even know existed, but I let it be.

"I do hope you and I will become fast friends, Ulcinin."

"Really?" I asked, my wings fluttering.

She smiled, and I momentarily got caught up in how beautiful she was. "Yes. I try to hold some report with all Destroyers. I especially like you."

I cocked my head to the side. "Why?"

"You are straightforward. Most Destroyers have tried to hide their fear of me once the weight of what I am is revealed to them. But you? You were so innocent and honest with your trepidation. I admire that."

"Oh."

Her smile shifted, and it was almost mischievous. "You should hold onto that, my child. It will make you go far, being true to yourself."

I had never really considered that. I knew I was headstrong. I knew I sometimes spoke when I knew I shouldn't. I rarely allowed my displeasure over something be hidden. But, to use that to my advantage? To have that further my studies, my growing ambition? That thought had never occurred to me.

"Now," Indrajala said, leaning back once more. "Let us eat. Be merry."

For the first time since meeting Indrajala, I smiled.

Fear was no longer part of the equation.