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IT'S A SHAME I WASN't there for Mikayla's passing, but my duties as an Archangel always come first. That's not to say demon-slaying is more important to me than Mikey, but if you're asked to participate in a battle, you must attend, or risk getting a scathing letter from Archangel Michael.
I'm unable to visit Mikey until the next day, after she's moved in with her grandmother. Her grandmother, Gracie, died some years ago, but Mikey looks happy to be reunited with her—assuming the smile on her face is an accurate representation of how she feels on the inside. I'm sure she misses her grandfather, but her expression doesn't show it.
Mikey looks much healthier now. There's significantly more color in her cheeks, and her shoulder-grazing brown hair is thick with a lustrous shine. Best of all, she's walking again, and all of her pain is gone.
So far, I've only seen her from afar, and I know she hasn't noticed me. I should probably introduce myself, but for some reason, I can't summon the courage to walk over and say hello. What would I tell her, anyway? Do I admit that I'm an Archangel with a crush on her? I doubt she would be impressed. Getting rejected by Kaylene was yet another knock to my dwindling confidence. I'm sure it will be a long time before I'm brave enough to ask another girl for a date.
I wonder if Mikey has started school yet. If so, I envy the man or woman who ends up as her instructor. If I was her instructor, it would be a fantastic excuse to spend several hours in her company. Unfortunately, Archangel instructors are extremely rare. The only recent exception was Jophiel.
The more I think about this, the more I'm intrigued by the idea. Could I be Mikey's instructor? I doubt Archangel Michael would allow it, but what if I could go over his head? I'm sure Amber owes me a few favors, and she is, more or less, the headmaster of spirit school. Maybe I could get her on my side?
After some contemplation, I invite Amber to Archangel Tower for tea. I'm sure she's puzzled by the sudden invitation, but her smile doesn't show it.
When she arrives, I manifest cups, a teapot, and some crumbly shortbread biscuits with a strawberry center. Between bites of a biscuit, I tell her, “So... I asked your daughter on a date yesterday. It didn't go well.”
“Oh dear.” Amber winces at my confession. “Is that why you've invited me here?”
“No. I just thought I'd mention it,” I reply. “It definitely wasn't one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Shaking her head, Amber says, “Kaylene has nothing against you, I'm sure. She refuses to date anyone until she's finished her training. I doubt she has the time for it. She's also an instructor, you know. She teaches troublesome students who fail their first missions.”
I say, “I think that would be a difficult job. Most students either love spirit school or they hate it. I think it would be almost impossible to motivate someone who has little interest in helping others.” Now that we're discussing Kaylene's instructor duties, perhaps it's a good time to bring up my own ambitions? “So, um... when Kaylene officially becomes an Archangel, will she no longer be a teacher?”
“That depends entirely on her,” Amber says. “If she thinks she can juggle both jobs, she's welcome to continue.”
“So... someone being an Archangel and an instructor isn't entirely unprecedented?” I ask.
“It's not unprecedented, but it is very rare. Jophiel, as you probably recall, was doing both jobs simultaneously.”
“As a punishment, yes.” I pause to take a sip from my cup. If I'm going to make this happen, I need to choose my words carefully. I don't want to give her any reason to think my request is strange. “What if an Archangel wanted to be an instructor? Would it be allowed?”
“I don't see why it would be disallowed, but... as I said, it would be highly unusual. And that Archangel's student would have to be an extraordinary human being to qualify for such an exceptional teacher.” Amber's eyes narrow. I think she's on to me. “Are you asking these questions because you would like to be an instructor, Sandalphon?”
“Maybe.” I'm reluctant to say too much. What if she thinks I have some sort of obsession with Mikey? I wouldn't say I'm obsessed, I'm just eager to know her better. “Actually, um... there's a specific student I would like to teach. Would I be assigned to someone random, or...?”
“Normally, yes. As an Archangel, your student would need to be hand-selected. Unless...”
Suddenly, my sliver of hope is renewed. “Unless... what?”
“Unless no one knew you were teaching,” Amber says. “You would have to apply as an instructor under an alias. And, of course, I would have to lie for you.”
How do you ask someone to lie for you? Beg? Promise them a favor? Amber doesn't seem like the lying sort, so I have that working against me.
“I imagine you would need some sort of disguise,” Amber continues. “You wouldn't want anyone to recognize you, of course.”
She seems to be conspiring with me. That's a good sign, right? “I doubt I'll need a disguise,” I tell her. “No one recognizes Sandalphon.”
“Regardless, you should consider changing your hair or growing a beard. If you're recognized, and everyone finds out I lied for you, there could be repercussions for me as well.”
“I'll be careful.”
Somehow, my short reply manages to convince her. Amber must like me more than I realize. “Very well. Give me the name of the girl you would like to teach, and I'll make it happen for you.”
“How'd you know it was a girl?” I ask.
Amber removes her glasses, presumably to give me an unobstructed view of her epic eye roll. “Is that a serious question? Of course this is about a girl. It's obvious.”
I give her the name—Mikayla Frost—and try to convince myself I'm not doing anything wrong. Amber is a stickler for rules, so if I was doing a bad thing, I doubt she would allow it. Still, the fact that I'll be hiding my identity seems a bit duplicitous.
Amber leaves after tea and promises to grant my request. After she's gone, I manifest a hand mirror and stare at myself for a moment. As one of the least popular Archangels, I don't think I need a disguise, but what if I'm wrong?
While I'm looking at my reflection, I decide to manifest a beard. Less than thirty seconds later, I un-manifest it. Beards look hideous on me, and my hair is so pale, you can barely see the fur on my face. I try to change my hairstyle, replacing my usual curls for a more slicked-back look. Remarkably, that's even worse than the beard. I try dark hair, a mustache, a new nose, and even a few moles, but it all looks ridiculous. Really ridiculous.
I think I'll take a chance and skip the disguise. It's not that I think my current style is perfect, but when you've looked a certain way for a century or so, it's hard to make a change.
Besides, no matter how much I alter myself, I'll never be a match for Mikey. She's so lovely, after all.