An angel

Sunder wakes up to the warmth of the sun trickling in from the window.

There’s a suffocating heat coming from the right side of the bed.

When he takes a look, he about gasps out a piece of lung. There’s some man over the covers of his bed.

“Man, what the hell?”

“Sunder! Buddy!” Furian jumps up from the bed. “I’m sorry I had to come get you,” he pats the bed. “Your bed is so comfortable, though. I didn’t sleep right last night. You know, when I was helping you with the cursed cats you provoked.” Furian slurs out, successfully firing up rage in the hero's gut.

“Right. Why was I being called?” Sunder prompts, calmly.

“Ah, yes, the one man I told you about… He’s probably coming here soon, you know. He’s the head of Church. I’m about to drop a lot of info on you, so please listen.” He starts, reminding him of some kind of teacher.

He seems to get distracted.

His eyes shooting up and down, checking down the hero in his entirety.

“You're kind of ugly, but even so! With those narrow shoulders and chubby face…”

“Hey.”

“Your dry skin and greasy hair…”

“Hey.”

“Even someone as musty as you could still be the target of attraction for someone with such an appetite...”

“Hey!” Sunder lifts his hand, not sure on how much violence he'll inflict.

“I’m not even trying to be mean. Please, listen to me, friend. The men at the Cathedral are rumored to be on the lookout to take in people like you,” Furian says, like he wasn’t just in a younger man’s bed. “They’re all so scary! Mr. Chase is the creepiest. He has a trace on the most powerful mages, and he will definitely have his eye on you.”

“I’m a D rank mage, though. That’s bottom of the rank, no?” The hero looks away.

“Sunder, I’m being genuine. These people are serious business.” Furian shakes his head. “I’m almost sure it’ll be Mr. Chase himself coming. Just keep your head down and try not to stick out at all.”

The hero is deadly curious about why is Furian helping him so much. There are so many things he could ask about. The hero cowers, “tell me more about this man.”

“Mmm. He’s the something something head honcho of the church. I don’t know his actual title. I know that he’s the one who oversees the building of the Tower. I do know that he works close with the adventurer's guild though!” Furian paces in a circle around the room. “You remember Hope and Grace, right? They work with him in some capacity. I think it might be because some missions come from people going to church?” Furian might be completely useless.

“So, he’s our higher up and you know near nothing about him. Got it.”

“I usually go on my Main Quest whenever he’s around! He’s creepy!” Furian shivers all over and pretends to hug himself. “I’m a hot guy, but I used to be a cute boy too, you know!”

“I can’t stand you.” The hero didn’t mean to say out loud.

“I get it. It’s easy to be jealous.” Sunder really can not stand him. “He’s creepy about any small adventurer. Also mages,” he adds. “Also travelers from other worlds!”

Sunder’s eyes widen.

“They’re dangerous, you know. He’s the pioneer in awareness about the danger those travelers are. The church calls them Angels.” Furian adds, rubbing his chin in thought. “You know, now that I think about it. Even though not everyone is religious in that way, most people in the city call them angels, anyway.”

The word Angels fires up something in his memories. However, the neighing of horses distracts him.

“He’s here, go with Hope.” Furian peers outside from the side of the window. “Be careful, Sunder.” Sunder can make out the mentioned tower out the window, stretching ominously towards the sky.

The trip through the hallway and down the stairs feels like he’s seeing someone else doing it for him. Every bad kept secret threatens to escape his mouth through the beating in his chest. Somehow he’s already at the hall and he feels not a bit more ready. The hero can’t muster up the courage to face a sweet girl and an old man waiting for him a few steps ahead.

“Hope, I was told someone was waiting for me?”, he says, guts churning.

“Sunder! Yes, I’m glad I didn’t have to get someone else. This is Mr. Chase. He heard we have a new mage on board. He has a few questions for you.” Hope looks as radiant as ever today.

“I’ll take it from here, child.” The man moves past the other two. “Come walk with me, boy.”

Sunder shudders, the old man stinks like something familiarly sour and dried herbs.

“I’m a good man. No need to be afraid.” He’s walking towards the gardens. “We, the church, only want what’s best for everyone.” He puts his hand on the hero’s shoulder. “We could use another mage around. Tell me, boy, what is your rank?”

“D rank, I’m just a D rank,” he replies quickly. “I’m really not that strong as a mage.”

“Well, let’s check again with your instructor, yes?” He puts a foot in the grass. "Frank, come over here. Remind me, what rank is this boy?"

“I’m in the middle of something.” Frank sounds just as blunt as he did the day before, and he looks as alive as he had, too. “He’s a D rank, Furian vouched for him.” He doesn’t even spare him a glance.

“Would you mind doing another evaluation? I have reason to believe there’s more to him than meets the eye.” Mr. Chase explains calmly.

“I would mind.” Frank turns around, his face bare of scars or butchery. “I’ll do it though.”

The hero can hear Frank say the same spiel of last time. The staff feels heavy on his hands. He’s struggling to breathe. He can feel cold sweat down his spine. His mind is racing.

His strategy was not refined, but he had no time to ponder on it.

He aims just a few centimeters off.

If he fails, he will butcher this man beyond recognition. He will be thrown in jail as a criminal. This creepy guy will be the one taking him. The blast just has to be weaker. He can do this, he can pretend.

Nothing happens.

“See? A puny D rank. I didn’t even feel his stinging spell.” Frank is already taking away his staff. “Gross, you got sweat all on my business.” He goes back to his plants, muttering curses.

After a hum of deliberation, the other man nods. “Yes, I see. Bad aim too.”

Sunder is not sure what happened, but he will take this victory.

“Boy, don’t be disheartened about not being able to join the church.” Mr. Chase smiles serenely. “For underperforming little boys like you, we have a common Main Quest.” His honeyed words like a delicately wrapped present. “Ask any of the children of the church for it. I’ve wasted too much time of my day already.”

The man walks past him.

Sunder lets out a sigh of relief.

“Sunder, my boy.” The man says, without turning around. “You’re welcome to visit me in The Tower. Anytime.”