I have just come from meeting with my seniors. Danit, Kuya, and Zezette were all there, as well as Jariel, a Power under the jurisdiction of Shemida.
“I have been wanting to speak with this promising young brother of ours,” he said on greeting me. “Your work is well-known and much praised, Asa’el.”
I was much honored by his words and said so. He waved that away with a smile. “Do not allow me to distract you from the business of this day,” he said, glancing at Zezette and drawing back his wings in a bow of respect. “Zezette was kind enough to allow me to join the discussions of your seniors. It would seem that you deserve the distinctions you have been given.”
“You do me too much honor, brother.”
“Not at all, Asa’el,” Zezette said. “Anteros would never have given you your third wing if you did not deserve it. He sends his greetings, though duty keeps him from being present.”
I was astonished that he would even wish it, and deeply gratified. Of course, it also made me rather uncomfortable to be so much the object of their regard. I asked if we should begin.
“We wait for one more,” Kuya said.
Almost as soon as she had finished speaking, we were joined by that one more, an Archangel who arrived in a flurry, her aura colored with shame and embarrassment. “Forgive me,” she stammered, “I was—” She broke off, staring at Zezette with dismay.
“Welcome, Nozomi,” Zezette said, her voice warm. “We are glad that you are here.”
The name startled me, for I recognize it. Nozomi is older than myself, a Cupid who began her work several seasons before I did. Hers is a strange case, for not long after she received her second wing, something happened that caused her to be recalled to heaven and kept there. I remember her cases being reassigned, though no one would tell me why, and the seniors all looked rather grim.
Nozomi glanced around the respected group, seeming to shrink into herself. I have never seen an angel look so timid, and something about it hurt my heart.
“Jariel and Danit you know, Nozomi,” Kuya said, lifting her wings to indicate the others. “And Zezette, of course, requires no introduction. This is Asa’el, a talented brother whose cases have been under review.” She turned to me, and all the others turned their eyes away from Nozomi, as well. “Asa’el, we have decided to remove you from three of your six cases, and assign you two more.”
Three. It was not much of a surprise, but it still hurt.
“Don Collins and Charlotte Enderby have been judged secure enough to stand without angelic support from now on,” Kuya explained. “You are of course welcome to check with them when you have leisure time, but we are confident that they will have no further need of you.”
I reminded myself that this was good news.
“Lamarr Woods and Tammy Jones are also safe,” Kuya went on. I took a moment to wonder why it was she telling me the results, rather than Danit with whom I have worked since the beginning, but then returned my attention to her. “You will, however, not be given your new charges right away, so that you may be free to watch over them until their wedding, and that you may attend that ceremony.”
My chest lightened at that, and I bowed, grateful for their consideration.
“As for Jesse Blanchard and Ramona Bishop,” Kuya said, “their case still requires some watching, but as your talents are required elsewhere, we have chosen to pass their case on to another. To Nozomi, in fact.”
Nozomi blinked, bright fear appearing all through her aura. “Then this is the case you mentioned to me, Kuya? But I cannot!”
Kuya turned calm eyes onto Nozomi. “You told me that you enjoyed reading Asa’el’s communications on the Repository, Nozomi. Since that is so, you already know Jesse and Ramona well.”
This surprised me. I have met many who have read my blog and enjoyed it, but it has never been mentioned by my seniors.
Nozomi’s wings closed tight around her, so that she nearly disappeared from sight. “That is so, but—I could never care for them as well as Asa’el,” she said, gazing at me miserably through a narrow gap. “He is so talented—”
“And you have learned from his talent,” Kuya replied.
Danit caught my eye then. In her aura I could read that she wanted me to say something.
“If I may, Kuya?” I asked, glancing at her before meeting Nozomi’s gaze. “Sister, I thank you for your praise, but it seems to me that you are wrong to doubt yourself. I offer no particular skill but a deep love for my charges. Do you feel that same love?”
It was a question that did not need answering—no angel becomes a Cupid but feels love deeply, sometimes overwhelmingly. Nozomi is no exception. Her eyes softened, and she nodded.
“Then I would be honored and grateful to have you follow in my footsteps.”
Her gaze flicked over my aura, looking for something. I kept myself calm, and slowly she calmed, as well. “You are sure?” she asked me.
“I am,” I said, though certainly she could see that in me.
Nozomi lowered her wings, looking anxiously from me to Kuya to Zezette and back. “Very well,” she said at last. “I will take the case.”
All of our seniors sighed, and their faces lit with gladness and relief. Nozomi’s wings came up around her again.
“Then all is settled,” Zezette said. She smiled at both of us young ones. “Now, Asa’el, there is something more we wish to discuss with Nozomi. You may be dismissed now, with our thanks.”
I inclined my head and went on my way, though not before catching Danit’s gaze. She nodded to me, and I feel sure that I will hear from her soon.
There is something important going on here. I do not know what is Nozomi’s history, or why the seniors have chosen to put her in my shadow. Am I meant to learn from her, or she from me? Or is their goal something else entirely?
Either way, the course of my coming days is decided. I am to lose Don and Charlotte, and then Tammy and Lamarr. That will cause me grief, but at least I am losing them to happiness and peace. To be needed is a good thing, but not to be needed is also good, and better because it is to their good.
And then I am to have new charges! That does bring me joy. New people, new lives, new things to learn about the humans and their world. I will write again soon, I hope with new stories to tell.