Meeting day

 

Lidia opened her eyes. She was lying on the bed. The sun was shining through the window. It was an ordinary summer day.

Lidia didn't remember how she'd gotten here. "Mom must have brought me here," she thought. But when she tried to get up, she noticed her hands were tied to the bed. This surprised her. "Who did this to me? If this is supposed to be a joke, it's not funny."

She looked around the room. It wasn't hers; she was in an elegant little room. The furniture was made of a beautiful wood she didn't recognize, and the curtains were made of a delicate material, so delicate that silk looked faint against it.

"How did I get here?" she asked herself. She tried to remember what she'd been doing a few hours ago, but everything seemed to be enveloped in fog.

Suddenly, the door across from her opened. A smiling old man stood there.

"You're finally awake, Lidia."

"Who are you?"

The old man sat down by her bed.

"My name is Armisael. You are in my house.

" "Why am I tied to the bed?" Lidka asked, surprised by this answer.

"You're not tied," Armisael replied. "Raise both hands, and you will see that you are free."

Lidka obediently raised both hands and—to her surprise—saw that the old man was telling the truth. There was no trace of the rope left.

"But I was tied," she managed to choke out.

Armisael smiled again.

"The rope that tied you to the bed was my work. I did it so that you wouldn't jump out of bed in fear, because you are still very weak."

Lidka stared at him, uncomprehending.

"What happened to me? "

The old man grew serious. "

Three days ago, I found you in the middle of the forest and brought you here. You were unconscious.

" "You brought me? I think I'm too heavy."

Armisael looked at her with a playful twinkle in his eye.

"Don't judge a book by its cover. Contrary to appearances, I am very strong."

As if to reinforce these words, Armisael grabbed the table in the middle of the room and lifted it easily up to the ceiling. Lidia was astonished.

"Who are you?

" "You've already asked that question, my dear. But since you insist, I'll show you who I am.

" "Really?

" "Yes, but not now. Now rest. You're not yet ready to see what I have to show you," Armisael cut the discussion short.

Lidia sighed.

"If so, then I agree."

"Promise me one thing," Armisael continued.

"What?

" "That you won't move from here. You can walk around the room, but you're not allowed to leave."

"Why?" Lidia repeated like a broken record.

"It's for your own good," Armisael said with a smile and left.

Lidia was left alone. "This is a strange place," she thought. "But this old man is kind, though a bit of a geek. I wonder why I'm not allowed to leave? What secrets does he have that I can't learn about? And why can't I see his house?"

She went to the window. It overlooked the forest.

"I wonder where I am," she thought. "In the forest, I see, but how far from home? I hope Mom won't worry."

Since Armisael had forbidden her to leave, Lidka walked around the room, carefully examining all the furniture. It was so intricately crafted that even the greatest carpenter couldn't have carved such beautiful designs into it. Lidka was captivated by the sideboard, on top of which sat two angels holding swords. They were completely different from each other, yet rendered with such precision that one could even see the creases and folds in their robes.

As she stared at the sideboard and the angels on it, she suddenly realized she wasn't alone. She turned and saw Armisael standing in the doorway.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Lidka looked at the angels.

"Who made them? " "

I did."

"That's impossible!" she exclaimed. "No one can carve wood so beautifully!"

"Never say never, my dear. The angel on the left is Zeruel, and the one on the right is Michael himself."

Lidka looked at him in surprise.

"I've heard of Michael, but not of Zeruel. Who is he?

" Armisael sat down.

"Zeruel is one of the most powerful angels. In fact, there is no angel more powerful than him.

" "And Michael?

" "Michael is the Archangel. Besides, as you know, there is probably no more powerful angel in all of Heaven.

" "Why did you introduce them together?"

"Because I like them."

Lidka looked at the sideboard. The angels stood with drawn swords, as if ready for battle.

"And you? Who are you?"

"I can't tell you now, because you wouldn't be able to bear it, and even if you did, you wouldn't believe me.

" "Please tell me," she asked as politely as she could.

"No, my dear. Unfortunately, that maneuver won't work on me. It might have worked on your mother, but not on me."

"How do you know I played such tricks on my mother? And how do you know my name?"

"How do I know? I've known you since childhood, my little one, just like I know your mother."

Lidka was surprised, but didn't show it.

"That's impossible, you've never seen my mother." "

She's tall, has raven-black hair, wears a blue dress, though she prefers trousers, her favorite color is black... Need I say more?"

Lidka was stunned.

"How do you know all this?"

Armisael turned serious.

"My dear, do you believe in God?"

"Yes.

" "And in angels?"

-Why do you ask?

"Because I am an Angel. My name, Armisael, means the Angel who protects pregnant women. I was summoned when you were born."

Lidka was stunned, then burst out laughing. Armisael frowned.

"I told you you wouldn't believe me," he said in a saddened voice. "

You know what? No madman would be ashamed of such a story!" Lidka neighed like a horse, barely able to keep herself on her feet with laughter.

Armisael turned serious.

"If you don't believe me, look now!" he shouted.

There was a flash, a bang, and in the old man's place stood a young man dressed in a white robe. In his hand was a sword.

Lidka was frozen in astonishment. She looked Armisael over from head to toe. He wore a white robe woven from a material Lidka had never seen. The sword was short, but it looked very sharp. There were strange markings on it.

And Armisael stood, beautiful, powerful, and menacing. His gaze seemed to penetrate Lidka's soul. Silence fell around, as if the world wanted to honor the mighty Messenger of Heaven. "

Now you believe me, Lidka, but I won't forget that you laughed at me."

Lidka fell flat on her face.

"Don't hurt me! How was I supposed to know I was speaking to an Angel?"

"If I hadn't shown you my true form, you wouldn't have believed me, would you?"

Lidka was shaking as if with a fever.

"Yes... I admit, I misjudged you."

"Raise your head," Armisael's voice sounded calmer.

Lidka obeyed. And then she saw a smile on Armisael's face. "

You'll soon return to yourself, but you will remember this meeting. Just know that a great war is raging for humanity, and Satan and his angels want all of humanity to go to hell. We fight at your sides, but you don't see us." Therefore, I give you a gift from God: you will see us, our brothers, and our enemies. Do not be afraid. You will be a messenger of God, just like me.

Lidka grabbed his hand.

"Don't leave me, Armisael."

And suddenly everything disappeared in a bright flash...