Got to take a quick sip of the Coke. Much better.
Anyway, I decided to dedicate an entry in honor of everybody's favorite archangel Gabriel. You know... God's messenger who told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus? Totally reminds me Hermes/Mercury in mythology. Damn crossovers.
Now if you have read a little bit of my series Angelic Guardians, you know that Gabriel plays a mentor-like role to Tamashii and her team. In this case, he is known as Gaburieru (or Geiburieru in my earlier drafts... I just recently decided to stick with the Hebrew phonetics instead of the common English error (Gah-bree-el, not Gei-bree-el)), and he is responsible for the safety of the Five (Tamashii, Medetai, Iinaka, Shi, and Inochi) as well as Tamashii's former team in Roganu (which included On'ai before Mikaeru (Michael, which will be translated accordingly to his Hebrew pronunciation Mee-ka-el) took him under his wings (literally) and trained him and Waraku prior to their transfer to Oukan University in Angelic Guardians: The Memory).
But being a mentor seems to be Gaburieru's favorite job. He likes to spend time on earth and assimilate into mankind, and he loves to tease Rizu and the others nonstop.
(excerpt from The Memory, using Gaburieru's original name Geiburieru)
“I see you’ve already had quite a reunion tonight,” [Geiburieru] continued as he led [Rizu and her friends] toward his office on the other side of the circulation desk.
“Not much of a one,” sighed Rizu. “We haven’t had much time to talk about business.”
“Oh?”
“I invited my cousin Ami for dinner, and we kept the whole demon-fighting thing out of the picture,” explained Megu.
“Wise decision, Megu. And just how is Ami doing now that’s she back in Oukan?” asked Geiburieru.
“You know her?” asked Megu.
“I’m an angel! I know everything about everybody on this planet! And just for the record, you really ought to stop putting words in people’s mouths where they don’t belong. You thoroughly embarrassed Ami tonight, no?”
Megu’s face turned red with embarrassment as her friends laughed softly to themselves. “You just love to make my life miserable, don’t you?” she grumbled.
“Angel, Megu, not a demon. I don’t make lives miserable just for fun.”And let's not forget that even angels can pick up a vice or two. For Gaburieru, it's tea.
(another excerpt from The Memory)
Rizu frowned and felt her shoulders slump from the great weight of disappointment that had fallen on her. “He’s not here,” she mumbled.
“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you,” called a voice near the restrooms.
Sitting in front of the new library café by the metal detectors was Geiburieru with a plastic cup of freshly brewed tea in his hands. “Although I was starting to believe you five would wait until the last second to visit me,” he added.
“Already becoming a patron to the café, are we?” jested Jeison.
“It’s not as good as the tea I make in my office,” admitted Geiburieru dryly, “but it wouldn’t look good if a librarian didn’t support the newest annex. And, really, I ought to stop resorting to tea as my one and only drink here on earth. I find it as addicting as coffee is to you young ones.”
He took a quick sip, which earned him a few chuckles from the quintet, and rose to his feet.But even underneath his humorous personality, he knows when it's time to be serious and put Rizu and her friends back on the right track.
(excerpt from The Awakening)
“Rizu, it’s not that I don’t want you to live a normal life when a demon isn’t around, but you can’t go off and show your abilities to every friend you make! You never know who is on your side or who your enemy is until you’ve seen their true colors!”
“I had no other choice! Robu wanted Deibiddo and me to go with him just in case something happened to him while we were looking for those missing children! He was going to find out my secret sooner or later!”
Geiburieru sighed heavily and shook his head. “I’ve just been a bit concerned about your priorities as of now. I don’t know if telling Robu the truth was a good idea just because he’s your best friend.”
“I’m fine. I’ll be okay. As Rizu Hikarino, I have a plan. I’ll graduate from Oukan University, get a job, and get away from this hellhole. That’s it.”
“Whatever happened about getting married? Isn’t having a family of your own part of your lifelong dream?”
“I don’t see that happening any time soon,” said Rizu sadly. “It seems like I’m destined to end my family line with just me, myself, and I.”
I seriously doubt that will ever happen, thought Geiburieru. “And what about your priorities as Tamashii?”
“To destroy every demon that crosses my path, defeat Myoujou, and fulfill the last of the prophecies,” muttered Rizu. “You’ve pretty much drilled that one into my head from the start.”
“That I did,” admitted Geiburieru. “Unfortunately, what you want in one life might not be the right thing for you in the other. I never told you when you accepted this destiny that there would be choices that you have to make that would be pleasing to both you and Tamashii, but I’m afraid you had to learn the hard way through your pursuits with Jeison and Deibiddo.”
“They didn’t want me, Geiburieru.”
“They didn’t want you when they were Shi and Inochi either. They knew better.”
“But what about Robu? It seems like I can’t be with any Angelic Guardian as it is, but are you trying to not let me be with a mortal too?”
“I never said you couldn’t!” argued Geiburieru. “But I do think that it would be wise not to get yourself involved with someone with such a secret like yours! Think about the stories in mythology about the kami fawning over a mortal maiden. Most of those kami hid their secrets from their lovers, but when those truths were revealed, the maidens took their lives out of fear.
“Angels, Rizu, are no exception to this rule. If an angel came down to earth, dwelled among men in disguise for quite some time, and then revealed his or her true identity, tragedy would be inevitable because the fearful man associates angels with death and Shinmei. He fears that his time would soon be over in a matter of days, perhaps minutes.”
“But isn’t Shi the one who usually scares the shit out of man?” joked Rizu lightly.
“Only when man isn’t sure of his eternal fate. No, Rizu, Shi isn’t the only angel to scare man to death. Any angel can wield the ability to create a life-changing moment for a mortal, and mankind is generally scared of change,” replied Geiburieru with a sigh. “You’re no different yourself. I’m afraid that you’re incapable to—what was that phrase again?—roll with the punches. You’re scared about so many things as if you’re worried that your world is going to come crashing around you! I don’t want you think of it like that, but there are going to be changes happening from here on out. I just hope that these changes are for the best, depending on the choices you make in either life.
“So, let me ask you this: with your two different sets of priorities, one as Rizu and one as Tamashii, where does Robu stand in the picture?”
Rizu could feel the blood in her veins turned cold, and she became paralyzed with fear like a child being caught with a hand in the cookie jar. “I… I don’t know,” she choked. “He means so much to me now matter who I am, Geiburieru, but I don’t know where to put him.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” said Geibuieru. “Rizu, I’m not telling you to give up on Robu. I know deep down he means good to you, but right now, we’ve got a war on our hands that will take years to finish. You need to focus on what’s going on around you and not too much on the matters of the heart. You also have a mission that needs to be completed before the summer is over. Seijitsu is still on the run, and time is short.”
“What about Robu?” asked Rizu. “Where is he in Shinmei’s blueprint for me?”
Geiburieru bit his lower lip. “I’m sorry, Rizu. You know that I can’t tell you your future. But if there is one thing I know about your situation, it’s that you have to trust your instincts. You’ll find the answers to your questions about Robu or any other man within them.”
Wiping away the few teardrops that were falling from the corner of her eyes, Rizu asked, “How will I know, though, Geiburieru?”
“Listen to your heart, Rizu. If you believe what you feel is right inside, then don’t stray from that path. Your faith will get stronger, and you will soon come to know it was exactly what Shinmei had planned for you."And he also knows when it's time to take charge and fight.
(excerpt from The Gathering)
As she turned the corner of the west wing, Tamashii looked over her shoulder and saw the she-demon flying reaching out for her. She suddenly felt herself being pushed against the wall, and she was soon trapped by the she-demon’s massive weight. “You should have never done that, you stupid Angelic Guardian!” hissed the she-demon as her nails extended out into razor-sharp claws. “Now it’s time to pay the consequences!”
Expecting to be slit at her throat, Tamashii turned her head to the side as she silently prayed for help, but when the alleged slash did not touch her, she opened one eye to see the she-demon being assaulted by a flaming sword at her neck. “Ouch! That burns!” cried out the she-demon in pain.
“Let her go!” growled Geiburieru from behind as he placed the sword closer to the monster’s skin and tightened his grip on her.
The she-demon dropped Tamashii and took a step back with her fearful eyes still glued on Geiburieru’s sword. “I let the brat go! What more do you want?” she asked.
“Give back the souls to those from whom you have stolen!” ordered Geiburieru.
“Never!”
“Suit yourself!” said the archangel as he raised his sword to slice off the she-demon’s head.
And, yes, even angels can love and mourn for the loss of a loved one.
(excerpt from The Awakening)
“I think the same can be said about you,” said Geiburieru knowingly, “but we all know that it’s human nature to not act like ourselves when something as deep as love touches the heart. We do irrational things without thinking about the circumstances, and we find ourselves in over our heads.”
“And how would you know this? You’re an angel!” cried Rizu. “You’re not supposed to fall in love!”
“Where did you get such notion?” asked Geiburieru.
“Well, it was never mentioned in the seisho that Shinmei had his angels go to earth to find a mate!”
“And it was never mentioned that Shinmei had his angels search all through Heaven to find a mate either,” added Geiburieru. “How would man know a thing or two about Heaven? It’s more than just worshipping Shinmei! It’s paradise after death! It’s also a reunion with your loved ones!
“Contrary to popular belief, angels have the capability to love. It might be a different kind of love, but it still has the same message. Now, I had in my existence a few female angels that I loved dearly, one of whom was my eternal best friend. She was what you would call a girlfriend, and I felt more connected to her than my brothers and sisters. We had both given our loyalty to Shinmei, and we were very much devoted to our King.
“Then, the war between Shinmei and Myoujou changed everything. We had lost many on both sides despite of our victory, but Myoujou took several of our best angels down with him as prisoners of war when he was cast our of Heaven. Sadly, my love was one of those victims, and word got to me that she had been destroyed in one of the lower rings of Hell. The demons raped her and tortured her for hours until she had her wings ripped off and a dagger was driven into her body.
“My surviving brothers and sisters heard about her death, but it was I who took it the hardest. After I received the news, I dedicated myself solely to my purpose. I could have loved another again, but with this war quickly approaching us, I don’t want to take another risk until I know that there is no more evil left in this world to destroy the goodness of Shinmei.”
Last but not least, my favorite side of Gaburieru: the gentle sympathizer.
(excerpt from The Memory)
“I just wish there was a way we can all work together,” said Rizu. “We’re all Angelic Guardians; we’re one of the same! There shouldn’t be a need to separate ourselves just because we think differently!”
Geiburieru cracked a small smile and said softly, “You’re a sweet girl, Rizu. If only the others could be more like you.”
Oh, Gaburieru, you never cease to amaze me with your many personalities. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's nothing more than angelic version of a certain Muggle-candy loving wizard. You know, the more that I think about it (and the more I write this character), Gaburieru could possibly be Dumbledore's newest rival in fantasy literature.
Lemon drops... err, I mean tea, anybody?
All characters and plots from Angelic Guardians belong to L.D. Smith ©2011.
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