6 - Heavenly Realm

PORT

Nine years since I was re-classed. I was happy and contented with my life as a Herald. Meeting terrenes daily to deliver messages to and from different realms, meeting higher hierarchangelical beings and angels from other classes.

The task for a Herald was simple: to deliver important messages. We could transport to different places and times through the blessings we received as a Herald. I still remember my blessings as a Keeper and how it's different from being a Herald. No one could know that I still remembered being a Keeper. No one.

Why would I need super-strength and agility in sending letters? I asked myself in front of a mirror. I combed my hair using my hands and fixed the yellow-green suit. This looked better now with my black hair--I used to have gray one when I was a Keeper.

I heard a knock from outside of my room, so I rushed right away. This will be the set of messages I need to deliver today. As I opened the door, I saw a basket of letters outside my doorsteps.

Upon retrieving the letters, I noticed the two black envelopes. The last time I received black envelopes to be delivered was when I was still a neophyte as a Herald. Receiving a black envelope meant I needed to send an important letter to a Reaper. Reapers are also a class of angels who reap souls and bring them to either heaven or hell.

I'm not too fond of the idea of visiting the Reaper's Lair because of its dark façade to other angels, including me. According to the books I had read during my training days as a Keeper and a Herald, Reaper's Lair looks bleak and sad to other angels except to Reapers themselves.

When I had visited the Reaper's Lair, I couldn't sleep for two straight nights because of the terror and bleakness of the lair. I had to cleanse my mind with the help of my superior, Archangel Memo. He let me drink a swig of Jordan's water to ease my dilemma.

As I read the names of the receiver of the letters, one is for an Archangel named Morn, the Head of the Host of Reaper's Lair, and the other one is for an Angel named Doom. I entered my room, arranged the letters from the basket, compiled and sorted them based on their color, importance, and destination.

Luckily, I don't need to go to any higher hierarchangelical beings except for one Archangel of Reaper's Lair. The last time I was sent to deliver a letter to an Elder, I received a scolding. I was humiliated in front of a cascade of Archangels.

I got ready and packed all the letters at once. I opened a portal and started my delivery in the Terrene Realm. Terrene Realm, the land of humans—mortals. For me, terrenes are the most adorable creatures among the different realms in this universe.

I always looked at terrenes as gullible creatures. Believing in false Gods and idols. Offering their whole life to the people they love—who doesn't even love them. I loved visiting the terrene world. I loved seeing terrenes fail and succeed, seeing growth and changes. There's something about them that drew me closer to them.

The message was for an older woman who lived in the Philippines. When I got there, I saw the terrene on her knees facing the altar of their so-called Jesus. I opened the message; then, the letter flew, and it spoke to the lady.

As a Herald, I don't have any idea about the contents of the letters. We are not allowed to read them; we are tasked to open them and let the message speak for the receiver. However, if the letter is addressed to an angel or higher hierarchangelical rank, we are prohibited from opening it. 

Our task was to deliver the message in the very hands of the receiver.

"Salamat, Panginoon. Salamat!" ("Thank you, Lord. Thank you!") the old terrene cried and kissed the floor of the church. As an Angel, I understood different languages and could also speak them. One of the characteristics of an angel; we only differ in our respective roles and blessings.

There are four classes of Angels in Heavenly Realm: each has different roles and blessings. In my case, the Herald's task is to deliver messages; our blessings are teleportation and can produce portals. We are the only class of angels who are granted to travel to and from different realms without written permission. However, our blessings have limitations too, and we can only use them during a mission. If we use it beyond our work, we will face danger.

I opened a portal, moving to another realm, a golden circular frame of light beamed in front of me. On its center, a blurry whirl-like plasma showed a faint, distorted glimpse of what was on the other side. This time, it displayed a muzzy scarlet view—which is one of the realms I disliked so much—The Fiery Realm or hell. Upon entering, a devil blocked me—devils were once an angel but chose to be under Satan's ruling.

"Another message, Herald?" the devil whispered, then licked my earlobes.

"I am not here for flirting, the devil," I responded. "Let me enter. I have a message for Lilith," I said sternly.

"Why did you stay in the Heavenly Realm? Life there is boring. Look at you sending messages every day. Here, we use Social Media to send a message." said the devil as if it didn't hear me. It was smirking at me while tracing my face down to my neck with its grimy fingers with sharp, jagged nails—sending shivers to my spine.

"I am not here to talk about unrelated businesses. I have more messages to deliver today. I am in a rush, devil." I raised my voice.

"Oh, the attitude in that scrawny body," the devil squinted. "Okay, you can enter, but once you are in, you can never get out." the devil teased.

"By the blessings of Archangels, I can," I said firmly. I love this mantra; it gave me the confidence to battle evil entities. It was widely used by angels all over the Heavenly Realm.

I have been to Fiery Realm many times already. It was always like this; a devil will pursue and talk to you, then convince you to be with them. Sadly, most of our Heralds were now in hell as they preferred to be here; after being persuaded by other devils.

The stench smell and the high temperature made me want to jump from space, but as a foreigner to this realm, I couldn't just teleport of my own will. I slowly walked and searched for the Queen of Hell, Lilith. Passing the labyrinth-like passages, rocky turns, and muddy walkways.

This is not the first time I delivered a message to Lilith. She was in her terrene form—a beautiful lady, the one who seduced the first terrene, Adam. Not for me—she doesn't seem interesting to me at all.

"Lilith, Queen of Hell, this is your letter." I opened the letter and let it fly toward her. The message talked to Lilith, and after seconds, Lilith laughed.

"Filthy Angels!" Lilith shouted, her nostrils flaring, releasing clouds of steam. Her beautiful facade slowly deteriorates, her inner scaly image begins to creep into her wearing skin.

"I should go by now," I said as I bowed.

"Wait, Herald…" Lilith said, walking toward me.

"What?"

"I know a secret,"

"I don't care about your secret," I answered sternly.

I knew how the devil and demons work; they would tell you something that could shake your stand, and it will crumble you until you lose your faith and join them. By the blessings of Archangels, I am fortified enough not to be affected by this.

"Oh, really?" Lilith plays with her jet-black hair. "I know someone you know,"

I shook in response, then opened a portal and was ready to move to another realm. "I also know someone you know, Lilith. There's nothing to talk about."

"Okay, goodbye then, but in case you'd like to know...I know what happened to Val..."

Val.

I turned to Lilith, and she grinned as I entered the portal. Damn. She got me this time.