The next day, Aivilo drove his mother to the airport. They sat in the car in silence, the weight of recent events hanging heavily between them. His mother occasionally glanced at him, as if wanting to say something, but she remained quiet.
When they arrived at the airport, they walked toward the departure area. Finally, his mother broke the silence. "Aivilo, are you sure you want to stay here alone?"
Aivilo nodded. "I have to stay, Mom. Benedictus' grave is here... and I need to get back to work."
His mother sighed and gently took his hand, squeezing it. "Take care of yourself. Don't overthink things alone. If you need anything, call me."
Aivilo gave a small, tired smile. They embraced before his mother finally walked toward the boarding gate. He watched her until she disappeared into the crowd of passengers.
As he turned around, he felt an unsettling sensation—like someone was watching him. He glanced toward the corner of the airport but saw no one suspicious. A slight unease crept up his spine, but he shook it off and headed back to his car.
On the way home, he glanced down at the bracelet Benedictus had given him, clenching it lightly in his palm. He took a deep breath. "What is really happening?" he murmured to himself.
Just then, his phone vibrated. It was Father Paulus calling.
Aivilo's phone vibrated, pulling him from his thoughts. The screen displayed Father Paulus' name.
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
"Aivilo, I need your help," Father Paulus' voice was urgent. "I'm alone at the church dormitory. A nun just called me—someone is possessed. I can't handle this alone."
Aivilo exhaled deeply, gripping the steering wheel. He had just dropped his mother off, and he was supposed to return to work soon. If he took more time off, his position at the office might be at risk.
Still, something inside him—perhaps his brother's memory, or the weight of the bracelet on his wrist—pushed him to respond.
"…Alright. I'm coming."
He turned the car around, heading toward the church, unsure of what awaited him next.
Aivilo arrived at the church dormitory, parking his car near the entrance. The night air was heavy with an eerie silence. As he stepped inside, he saw Father Paulus waiting for him near the hallway, holding a small vial of holy water and a Bible.
"You actually came," Father Paulus said, relieved.
Aivilo crossed his arms. "I said I would."
Without wasting time, the priest led Aivilo down a dimly lit corridor. The wooden floors creaked beneath their footsteps. The air felt dense, as if something unseen was pressing down on them.
"Who is it?" Aivilo asked in a low voice.
"A young girl," Father Paulus replied. "Her name is Lucia. She's been acting strangely for days. The nuns thought it was just exhaustion, but tonight… something else took over."
Aivilo clenched his fists. "And you're sure this is a real possession?"
Father Paulus nodded grimly. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."
As they reached the door to Lucia's room, a deep, guttural growl echoed from inside. Aivilo felt a shiver run down his spine.
Father Paulus turned to him. "Are you ready?"
Aivilo swallowed hard and gave a small nod.
With that, Father Paulus pushed the door open.
Pastor Paulus stood firm before the possessed girl, his expression unwavering. With a commanding voice, he demanded, "Who are you? State your name!"
The girl's eyes widened, her pupils turning pitch black. Her voice became deep and guttural, unnatural. "I am the one who has dwelled in darkness… You cannot cast me out!"
Suddenly, the demon inside her turned its gaze toward Aivilo, grinning in a grotesque manner. "You still follow this man?" It sneered, referring to Pastor Paulus. "Even after your brother Benedictus died?"
Those words struck Aivilo like a dagger to the heart. A wave of pain and doubt washed over him. His fists clenched, his breath hitched.
"Aivilo! Focus!" Pastor Paulus' voice snapped him out of it.
Without hesitation, Aivilo grabbed the sacred oil and stepped forward. His voice was firm, filled with righteous anger. "How dare you utter my brother's name? I will not allow a filthy demon to speak of Benedictus, a righteous man!"
As the holy oil touched the girl's forehead, her skin seared as if burned by an invisible fire. A bloodcurdling scream filled the room, echoing through the dormitory halls. The girl convulsed violently before finally collapsing, unconscious.
Pastor Paulus exhaled deeply. "It is done."
Aivilo stood still, his breaths ragged, his mind clouded with thoughts. This battle was won, but he knew the war was far from over.
After ensuring the girl was safe, Aivilo and Pastor Paulus walked through the long hallway, the air now feeling lighter—as if the darkness that once lingered had been lifted.
Then, at the far end of the corridor, two figures awaited them. Leahkim and Leirbag stood silently, their expressions unreadable.
Pastor Paulus came to a halt, eyeing the two men with suspicion. "Who are they?" he asked Aivilo.
Leahkim and Leirbag offered a respectful bow.
"We are Aivilo's companions," Leahkim said casually.
Leirbag smirked. "And we're here to make sure he stays on the right path."
Pastor Paulus studied them for a moment before turning back to Aivilo. "You are truly surrounded by... interesting individuals," he muttered.
Aivilo sighed, unsure whether this was a blessing or just another burden. One thing was clear—this was only the beginning of a much greater journey.
As Aivilo bid farewell to Pastor Paulus, he turned to Leahkim and Leirbag. "Alright, let's go," he said, walking toward his car.
The two angels, now in their human disguises, followed closely behind, their expressions unreadable.
When they reached the car, Leahkim and Leirbag hesitated.
"Uh... how do we get in?" Leahkim asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Aivilo sighed. "You open the door, genius."
Leahkim awkwardly tugged at the door handle before finally managing to open it. Leirbag, following his lead, did the same. The two slid into the seats, their movements stiff and unnatural.
Once inside, they just sat there—completely motionless, backs straight, hands resting unnaturally on their laps. Their eyes darted around, scanning the unfamiliar interior.
Aivilo raised an eyebrow. "You guys good?"
Leahkim blinked. "Are we supposed to... do something?"
"Yeah, put on your seatbelts."
Leirbag looked around in confusion. "What's a seatbelt?"
Aivilo groaned, reaching over to grab Leahkim's belt. He yanked it across Leahkim's chest and clicked it in place. "Like this."
Leahkim flinched at the sudden movement, staring down at the belt as if it was a foreign object. "Oh... restraint system. Understood."
Leirbag, still confused, grabbed the seatbelt and started wrapping it around his arms like a rope.
Aivilo smacked his forehead. "Not like that, idiot!"
Leahkim snickered as Aivilo leaned over to properly buckle Leirbag in. Once everything was finally settled, Aivilo started the car.
As the engine roared to life, Leahkim and Leirbag visibly tensed, gripping the seats tightly.
Leirbag whispered, "Are we under attack?"
Aivilo groaned. "I swear, you two are impossible..."
And with that, he stepped on the gas, the car speeding away as the two 'new humans' experienced their first-ever car ride—much to Aivilo's growing frustration.
As the car stopped at the red light, Leahkim and Leirbag turned to Aivilo with puzzled expressions.
"Why are we stopping? Is the vehicle broken?" Leahkim asked seriously.
Aivilo sighed. "No, this is a red light. It means we have to stop for a moment."
Leirbag frowned. "Why stop? Wouldn't it be more efficient to keep moving?"
Aivilo rolled his eyes. "Because if we don't, we could crash into another car. It's called traffic rules."
Before they could respond, a loud noise caught their attention.
Ahead of them, a large truck had stopped at the side of the road, and a small crowd had gathered around something. The sound of sirens was already approaching in the distance.
Leahkim watched with curiosity. "What's happening?"
Aivilo examined the scene and replied, "Looks like an accident."
"An accident?" Leirbag glanced at Aivilo. "What does that mean?"
Aivilo took a deep breath. "Someone died because of that big vehicle."
Leahkim and Leirbag's eyes widened. Without warning, they opened the car doors and stepped onto the street.
"Hey?! What are you doing?!" Aivilo shouted in panic.
Leahkim and Leirbag walked toward the crowd, their faces serious. They stood over the lifeless body lying on the pavement.
People around them murmured, wondering who these two men in white were.
Aivilo quickly got out of the car and ran after them. "You can't just walk out like that! Get back in the car!"
Leirbag ignored him and whispered to Leahkim, "His soul hasn't fully departed yet."
Leahkim nodded. "We can see it… he's hesitating to leave."
Aivilo overheard and tensed up. "What do you mean?"
Leahkim turned to Aivilo. "This person doesn't realize he's already dead."
Aivilo was stunned, but before he could ask more questions, the sirens grew louder. Police and paramedics arrived on the scene.
Leahkim looked at Aivilo. "We need to leave."
Though his mind was filled with questions, Aivilo knew this wasn't the right time. Reluctantly, he pulled the two angels back to the car.
As they drove away, Aivilo gripped the steering wheel tightly, his thoughts swirling with even more unanswered mysteries.
Aivilo tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his thoughts racing. "If he hasn't completely left yet, why can't you just help him? Heal him?"
Leahkim let out a sigh. "Aivilo, listen carefully. We are angels, not God."
Leirbag nodded. "Exactly. Guardian angels act when someone calls for help in prayer. We intervene to prevent things like this—if it's not their destined time. But if it is their fate to leave, there is nothing we can do."
Aivilo fell silent, absorbing their words.
For the first time, he realized something—God hadn't abandoned Benedictus. Instead, He had reached out His hand, calling Benedictus back. It wasn't a cruel punishment; it was the path that had been laid out for him.
Aivilo exhaled slowly. He wasn't sure if he was ready to fully accept that truth, but deep down, a part of him understood.
On the other side, Pastor Paulus sat in his study, surrounded by theology books and exorcism records. The night grew late, but he remained engrossed in reading an ancient text that contained stories about guardian angels.
As he flipped through the pages, his eyes suddenly locked onto an illustration. He squinted, making sure he was seeing correctly.
There, depicted in the old manuscript, were two angelic figures with silver-white wings, dressed in radiant robes, their expressions filled with authority.
Leahkim and Leirbag.
Pastor Paulus felt a jolt of recognition. He stared at the image, comparing it to the two individuals he had met earlier with Aivilo.
"Their faces… they look exactly the same," he murmured.
Leaning back in his chair, he processed the realization. "No wonder I felt like I had seen them before…"
His heart pounded faster. If his suspicions were correct, then Aivilo was being accompanied by real guardian angels—not just ordinary humans.
Pastor Paulus clasped his hands together, whispering a silent prayer.
"If this is Your plan, Lord, then guide them."
In the midst of the bustling city, televisions in various homes flashed urgent news reports.
"Breaking News: A massive flash flood has devastated the city of Burgie in Acirema!"
Images of submerged streets, collapsed buildings, and desperate citizens struggling to escape the rising waters filled the screens. The anchor's voice was grave as he continued.
"Authorities confirm heavy casualties and thousands displaced. Rescue teams are working tirelessly, but the situation remains critical."
Before the shock could settle, another report interrupted the broadcast.
"Tsunami Alert! A neighboring country has been struck by a massive tidal wave following a powerful earthquake in the ocean. Entire coastal areas have been swept away!"
Aivilo, watching from his apartment, felt a chill run down his spine. Leahkim and Leirbag stood silently beside him, their expressions unreadable.
"This… this is beyond natural disasters," Aivilo muttered.
Leirbag folded his arms. "The world is in chaos, and humanity's sins are piling up."
Leahkim nodded. "These are warnings. When darkness grows, balance is disrupted. The corruption of human hearts invites destruction upon the earth."
Aivilo clenched his fists. "So, you're saying this is happening because of people's sins?"
Leahkim sighed. "Not all disasters are punishments. Some are consequences—of greed, of arrogance, of forgetting to care for one another. When the world turns its back on light, shadows take over."
Aivilo swallowed hard. His mind raced.
Could this be connected to the supernatural battles he had been drawn into? Was there something—someone—behind these catastrophes?
Suddenly, the phone rang, breaking the silence. Aivilo reached into his pocket and saw the name on the screen—it was his coworker from the office.
Quickly, he answered, "Hello?"
The voice on the other end sounded both annoyed and concerned. "Aivilo, where have you been? You haven't shown up for a while! The boss is starting to question whether you even want this job anymore!"
Aivilo sighed. He had completely forgotten about work after everything that had happened recently. "Sorry, I've been dealing with personal matters."
"Personal matters or... a crisis of faith?" the voice asked suspiciously.
Aivilo fell silent. Since when had his coworker started noticing changes in him?
"Look, if you still care about this job, show up tomorrow. If not, you might lose your position."
The call ended.
Leahkim and Leirbag watched Aivilo, who was still holding his phone, lost in thought.
Leirbag blurted out, "You have to go to work, right? Don't humans need money to survive?"
Leahkim added, "Or… is this part of your plan to abandon the human world and focus only on the spiritual?"
Aivilo ran a hand down his face, feeling frustrated. On one hand, he knew he had to work to keep his life going. But on the other hand, it felt like the world was calling him toward something greater—something beyond just an ordinary job.