Chương 214: Chapter 197. Angela's Answers

" FINALLY!"" You've done a great job, Matthew."" I knew you could do it!" I cheered as I finally finished my scheduled work for the day. Emily, who was currently enjoying a slice of cheesecake as a mid-day snack, praised me in between her 2nd and 3rd bites. Ruby was happy for me as well, however I felt there was a part of her that was simply waiting to join Sarah and Anna in their daily training and sparring matches." With the work done, I can finally stretch my legs a bit.

Well, once I organize these papers back into their drawers first. Shall we go and meet up with Sarah and Anna after that?" I gestured to Emily and Ruby to see what they would like to do after I was finished with the work. Their responses seemed to say they'd like to join me. Sarah and Anna had actually slept in today. From what was told to me, Delcan and Charlotte decided to show Princess Alice around Paradise since they had just recently received a tour from us.

Ellie and Wendy acted as guides just in case they got lost. Because of that, the house was pretty quiet. With that kind of atmosphere, I was able to finish up around half of the paperwork I needed to do. My target for today was only a quarter of it. With all of that done, I could happily leave the office with Ruby and Emily by my side." Hard to believe we spent around 7 hours in that room today." Ruby made a passing comment as she closed the door behind us.

In no time at all, we entered the training grounds on the property and heard the snapping of metal as Sarah and Anna seemed to have broken their sparring weapons again. Sarah continued using a halberd, but Anna had changed her weapon of choice since her new Job Class had been unlocked. From her club to a quarterstaff. It seems under the instructions of her Goddesses, Anna gave very specific instructions to the Blacksmiths here in Paradise when we came back with all of that metal Gil and I found.

Now she's practicing with older quarterstaffs, so she'll be ready for her actual weapon once it's finished being made in around 2 months.

"You got the better on that exchange, Anna! Not bad! As soon as you use all of those different Auras, all of your physical abilities jump around so much. It's really jarring when I'm fighting you and you start switching between them all."" Well, I wouldn't have to if you wouldn't use those Calamity Skills that you still can't control well, Sarah. If I don't use my Skills, those attacks could really hurt to be hit by."" Yeah, but I wouldn't just use those Skills against anyone. I know you can take them.

But still, there must be a trick I haven't figured out yet. When I use those Skil-- Oh! My Love! Welcome! Are you going to spar with us?" I felt bad, it seemed they were going over their post-match thoughts and I interrupted them. And I also knew that I was going to disappoint them." Sorry, but not today, I want to go and speak to Angela now that I have some free time. You know, for the thing from yesterday." I spoke vaguely, since I didn't want to alert Emily or Ruby to anything. It didn't work really for Emily.

Ruby seemed to not even hear the last half of my sentence." Matthew! You know! If you're afraid of hurting us when sparring with a sword, I could teach you hand-to-hand combat, so you don't need to be so left out!" Grip... Grip... I smiled awkwardly as Ruby held my hands in her hands as she spoke with determination. While I think it wouldn't be bad to learn how to use Martial Arts. I needed some answers from Angela first." Ruby, let Matthew go, he needs to talk to this Angela person. Who is Angela, by the way?"

pressure...

"?" Emily wore a business-like smile as she spoke. Why do I feel some kind of pressure from her? Ruby let me go and I began to answer both questions they had." For starters, I don't mind learning Martial Arts from you, Ruby, but I really need to talk to Angela today. As for who that is, she's the Angel who granted me my Paladin abilities... Basically." Both of the girls looked at me with confusion." Well, Paladins are all gifted their abilities from an Angel.

Angela has a different name, but she said I couldn't pronounce it, so she said to just call her Angela. I even have an ability that lets me talk to Gods. It's called Divine Contact. That's how I ended up meeting the Water Goddess after we fought the Wyvern."" Even though I've been here since you've arrived, you continue to surprise me, Matthew."" It's like every time we think that's the last surprise, you pull out another one. Why did it take you so long to tell us something like this?"" It... Never came up?""

But Sarah and Anna know, right?"" Of course, I tell my Wives everything." I smiled as I spoke the truth to Ruby and Emily." Come on now, you both can't be that surprised? Emily, you've only been here for around 2 months and Ruby has had to work in the City Guard as one of the corners of its military strength until we hired you both." Sarah placed her arms around the shoulders of Emily and Ruby." You should look at this as progress... He trusts you now..." She started whispering something to them?

I decided not to pay it any heed." Well, I'm going to get going now. I'll see you guys later."" See you soon!" Anna happily wished me well as Sarah continued speaking to Emily and Ruby... What was she telling them that they were so enthralled by it? Questions for another day, I guess? I walked to the garden, which has become my Meditation spot and I sat cross-legged to begin Meditating. I began to activate Divine Contact and waited for Angela to pick up my message. In time, I felt myself drift off.

I woke up in that familiar white environment." Angela?" I looked around to find her, but saw nothing but an endless horizon in all directions. If she's not here... How did I get here? * wrap... warm..."" It'd do well for you to remember that all Angels are Blessed with wings, John. That includes Archangels." I felt hands wrapped around my neck as I felt a feeling of warmth and protection overwhelm me." So, why did you call me, John? I know you're busy at the moment. Granted... I was too until about 5 minutes ago.

I tell you, the parade of Souls never ends! Oh wait. I shouldn't be talking about that with you yet! You're a Mortal still after all." Press... pull... STOP! I tried to remove Angela's hands from being wrapped around me, but it seems that a condition to her speaking to me is to keep this position. I turn my head slightly to see half of her face and begin to speak." I need to ask you about a few things... If it wouldn't be any trouble that is?"" Ask away! Big Sis is here to help!" Enjoying this book?

Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Angela smiled warmly at me. I feel like Leonard's words may have inflicted some kind of mental damage as she continued to refer to herself as a "Big Sis", but I decided to roll with it for her sake. I began to explain everything about the dream and see what she had to say. After I was finished recounting the dream, Angela started to act different. Instead of the calm Big Sister, she began to act concerned about something. Release...

She had let me go as she placed her hand on her chin as she began to think hard about something. I turned around so we could have a face-to-face conversation finally." Angela, what's wrong?"" That's what I want to know... We should still be safe, I think..." press... Angela seemed as confused as I was. She seemed to be irritated about something. I placed my hand on her free hand and tried to speak calmy to her." Angela, does this mean something bad? Did I do something I shouldn't have?"

"!" She looked at me as I spoke. She almost seemed heartbroken before grabbing my shoulders firmly." You've done nothing wrong! I can attest to that! I've watched you every day since you were born! Not once did you consciously do something bad! That's not what I'm concerned about!" I nodded to Angela's words." John, this is important for me to know. How many people have you told about this dream?"" Only Sarah and Anna."" Okay..." Angela seemed to be going through a plan in her head."

For now, when you return, stress the importance of never bringing this up to anyone else. I'd honestly prefer them not even knowing. But since we've reached this point... As long as we hide it well... It should be fine as long as no eyes are on you... Well... Besides those Mortal eyes, but they all have no idea about you..." Angela began to mumble to herself halfway through that..." Angela. What was that dream?" press... Angela looked up at me and brought her finger up to her lips in a shushing motion.

I nodded to her to show that I understood she wanted me to be quiet. Once I had, Angela placed both of her hands out like she was attempting to stop 2 walls from closing in on her." Shift!" / Woosh! / With Angela's words, the white horizon shifted to a blue hued sky. We were pm a grassy hill that seemed to be pretty tall... There were clouds all around us when I looked down... I hope I don't fall... There was a sound that reminded me of rushing wind when we arrived, It surprised me for a second...

But it was different somehow from the regular sound you'd expect from moving fast... Almost like I was under water, but could still hear a gust of wind?" What just happened?"" I transported us to Gaia. Don't worry, your body is still where you left it in that garden. I've just brought your Soul with me. That white plane is something like my Exclusive Domain. However, it's been made in a way that if certain words are said, an alert would be put out. Because those are the rules. In this case, what I'm about to say...

It needs to stay between us. I understand you'll want to tell Sarah and Anna. That's okay. But, John, you need to understand, the more people you tell, the more danger you'll expose not only to yourself, but those people you've told. Sarah and Anna will want to know what I've had to say won't they? You'll need to swear them to secrecy. For now, you've yet to be watched by anyone. We have some wiggle room.

But you need to understand, do not speak of this unless you're absolutely sure no one is around, make Anna and her Goddesses search for presences first."" Why? What does my dream have to do with this?"" I won't be telling you that. Which is what brings me to why I brought us here. What you saw was classified information. I won't tell you because it'll make you a target."" A target of who?"" My Parents."

"?" I raise an eyebrow to Angela's words." That time and place. What happened then. My Parents have kept it hidden for millennia. They accomplished that through various means. Think of that old story... You know the one from your world, right. Noah's Ark?"" Yes?"" That happened because someone once had a similar dream as you did. My Parents thought it best if that woman died. And the whole world drowned to prove that point."" Why would they-"" Because it means that much to them!

I'm not asking you to understand, John! I'm asking you to live! I don't know what I'd do if you were taken from me!" GRIP! WRAP! TIGHTEN! tremble... Angela hugged me hard. I felt her trembling." What if I dream of it more?" Angela stopped trembling at my words. Not from surprise... Like a child who was found by their parents after breaking a vase or something." I pray you don't. If you do. I'll need to know. We need a code, so I'll know to send us away. What would work?" We thought long and hard.

Only one thing really came to me." How about... Iris? If I sneak that name into a sentence, you'll know."" Your Mother's name? I suppose that could work. Your Mother's name working to protect you even now. She'd be happy to know that if I were to tell her."" You can meet her?" Angela nodded her head to my words." But it's better if I don't. You see... Souls are tricky, if you remind them of their Loved Ones that still walk the Mortal World... They start to want to visit.

That unrest can cause them to end up back in the Mortal World. But they can't truly find their way back to their true place in My World without help. While some Mortals can offer that help. I'd say around 95% of all Souls that visit, become lost and eventually break down and become Malevolent Spirits." Grasp...

"..." Angela's hand cupped my cheek." I know you want to see them again, John. In time, you will, when its time. They don't want you to waste the life they've given you on regretting things. They want you to live it. And on the completion of it, they'll love to hear all of your stories about it. Walk forward knowing that's the truth of the matter. Big Sis guarantees it!" I nodded my head to Angela's words. She smiled lightly towards me.

It seems she knows how much it hurts, but I know I have Sarah and Anna to care about now. I know I could never truly leave them, even if the opportunity came to me." Okay, Angela."" I'm going to bring us back now. If I'm gone for too long, it could lead to people thinking something is wrong." Release... Angela let go of my cheek and put her hands out from her sides like before."" Shift!" Angela used the Spell that brought us here on this hill, and we ended back in the white plane." Say, John...

Why didn't you tell me you had a New Skill? And all of these Titles? Why haven't you looked at them?" Angela spoke to me after she got a good look at me. But I had no idea what she was talking about?" What do you mean?"" Wait, you don't know? How?... Hang on. Let me take another look." Press... Warm... Angela placed her hand on my head, I could feel her mana entering my body and traveling all around." That's odd... Why can't I turn it on?" Angela looked more and more confused." What's the matter?"

Angela took a breath and began to explain." Well, the Title of "Otherworlder" is malfunctioning with you it seems. You see, when an Otherworlder comes to Gaia, the Title gives you a permanent Skill to see your Status. Like a game from your world. But for some reason, that ability is malfunctioning in you. And I can't fix it. But I can fix it another way if you want?"" Wait, you said I had more Titles, right? I'm supposed to be alerted to that?"" Yes, it seems something is blocking that from you... So strange?

But it's okay. I can definitely fix that for you. And the best part is that it won't count as me showing any favoritism because you're supposed to have the ability anyways! / clack. / Angela placed her hand out and a tiny blood red stone appeared in her hand." I'm going to fuse this into you."" Will it hurt?"" No. You should feel an itch at first though. No idea why that is to be honest with you. But I suppose it's a small price to pay for it" Angela shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.

Since I trust her, I let Angela do as she likes." Here it goes!" A red light filled the white plane like a fire in a forest.

Spell Obtained! Appraisal Check. A simple cost-free spell! Simply say the spell name after choosing a target and see their status!

"I got a Spell?"" Good!"" What did you do, Angela?" I couldn't help but ask." That blood red stone is a drop of Angel Blood. With some Magic and Spellwork, it carries an Ability to grant multiple Skills. In this case, it's called an Appraisal Stone. Somewhat like an Appraisal Orb. Actually, you could say an Appraisal Orb is something like the child of an Appraisal Stone."" Wait, Angela! Slow down! This is too much too quickly!"" Oh sure, collect your bearings." I calmed down and began to think."

So, you just made me a walking Appraisal Orb?"" Something like that. You see, the process to make an Appraisal Orb is actually to do what I did to you. The material that makes the Appraisal Orb is now produced in your body. The same way that it produces blood or mucus. Mortals then would extract the substance to make Appraisal Orbs."" Is that dangerous?"" Yes and no. A person can survive, but it's like a major surgery. As in the survival rate can start to drop as you age or have other issues.

But if you're perfectly healthy, you'll just need bed rest for 3 days."" I'm guessing the Mortals didn't care about that?"" Let's just say there's a reason we stopped granting Mortals that stone. But if you truly wish to confirm your assumptions, the long-lived Races that kept records as soon as possible like the Elf Races should have some firsthand accounts of the making of Appraisal Orbs.

"" So, does that make me a target?" No. I'd think not. Just treat that ability the way you would telling someone about your Job Classes, and you should be fine." /GONG! / A loud sound like a clock's alarm was set off. Angela looks at me with a hint of regret as she begins to speak to me." And it seems my break time is over. One of these days I'm going to spend the whole day with you. And it will just be a nice peaceful day. Without any regret or fear that comes with being a Mortal, John.""

I'd like that too, Angela." FALL! Angela waved goodbye and I fell from the white plane. I looked around and noticed I was falling in place in the sky. I saw my mansion and knew I was arriving back to my body. /CRASH! / With the sound of me crashing into my body, I landed back safely. I took a deep breath like waking from a nightmare and said the first thing to come to my head." Holy Fuck! That is a lot to unpack!"