Lessons in Communication

Lawrence Harding

            “Carefully,” replied Zethael, after the class had pondered the question.

            “Hmm. I suppose that is technically correct,” mused Master Aristophanius as he floated at the front of the room. He drifted forward between the rows of desks, propelling his spherical body of one set of wings, tucking the other sets behind himself in an authoritative manner. His manifold eyes roamed across the faces staring back at him. “When speaking to mortals, it does pay to be careful. But when I ask, ‘how do we speak to mortals?’, I meant more the practicalities. Can anyone tell me about those?”

            Hundreds of sets of eyes crossed in thought. Eventually, Chryaltiel tentatively raised a fiery tendril. “Visions?”

            “Good,” rumbled Master Aristophanius. “Although, visions should only be wrought in extremis – and what else must we always do when speaking to mortals directly?”

            “Transform,” chorused twenty mouthless voices.

            “Very good. Can anyone demonstrate?”

            There were a series of popping sounds, and six of the twenty students stood on two legs. Two legs, two arms, and only one set of eyes. They all kept one set of wings, however. Angels needed something to set them apart from mankind. Aristophanius swivelled his wings approvingly.

            “Very good,” he rumbled. “Mortals are generally less afraid when presented with something that looks like them. But remember, class,” he added as his students returned to their true ethereal forms, “mortals respond best to suggestion. We are the little voice that guides and prods them back to the correct path, and if they think it is themselves holding themselves to account then so much the better.”

            Somewhere in the distance, a celestial bell chimed. Master Aristophanius clapped two fiery appendages together. “That’s all for today. Class dismissed.”

            He watched his students float out of the classroom. He was proud of each and every one of them. They’d do well. Humans could do some truly monstrous things then they had a mind to. That was why they needed guardian angels – to keep them safe from each other, and themselves.

Author’s Note

This story was part of the 2021 #MonstrousMayChallenge. The prompt was “How to Talk to Your Monster”.

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