inhabited by humans, had been given previous copious instruction from God through a myriad of prophets, including himself, with mixed results. Most messages had spun off different religions, each creating versions of itself wherein a few became more militant and divisive. No human entity able to combine the messages into a singular work of God, and the consequences were being measured annually in Heaven.
Walking under the arch, marking the northern most city boundary, Gabriel continued to review, in limited detail, the past influences on Earth.
Himinbjorg was the highest point of a range of hills bordering the northern edge of the city. A single trail transversed the range face to the precipice of Himinbjorg. At the peak of the mountain lay an un-named solitary boulder used for prayer and reflection by Angels and Archangels. On the other side of the summit, the trail wound around the opposite side from the city. Dozens of paces below the peak, lie a flat circle, five hundred paces across and covered in the same smooth white stone used for construction in Heaven's only physical city, was carved into the mountain. This flat circle of stone was the Field of Dominion.
When Gabriel was near the crest of Himinbjorg, he noted the deafening silence in the air and in the mental ether surrounding him. The silence made him slow, like a sahara cat approaching prey. At the crest Gabriel was shocked to find the entire mountain top covered in white. Angels were everywhere. At first, as Gabriel glanced around, his thoughts were of him interrupting another event, then questioning if he were in the right place at the correct time. He backed away not wanting to be embarrassed. But when he looked down upon he Field, he knew all of this was for him.
At the field's center, Gabriel saw all members of the Principle, dressed in traditional transplacement sleeveless tunics of light diaphanous white. Together, they formed a semicircle Gabriel would enter once he walked onto the center of the field. Sophrael, dressed in a nontraditional overly ornate robe, was standing alone. Gabriel noted her stance and imagined her suffering, but after recalling her waterfall of love and joy, he felt no pity for her. Sophrael didn't need Gabriel's pity when she had the equivalent love of a populous.
"There is only the now,” Gabriel thought.
Regrets, second thoughts, and imagined fears, meant nothing in this now. Gabriel repeated an ancient mantra he had used during times of doubt and uncertainty before: "Be here now. In this now there is only Love. In this now and with this love, I am God".
Gabriel walked to the lone boulder and knelt, cupping hands to ears, invoking his thoughts, "Father, hear me.” Pausing, he continued, "I am your grace, your instrument, your Herald. Hear me.” Bowing his head and clasping his hands together Gabriel felt enabled and humbled to begin his request: "Father, I accept this journey and thank you for selecting me to represent your message. Father, grant me wisdom, purpose, and excellence of character to perform your will. Father, grant me your judgment that I may execute your design. Father, after I have delivered thy charge, I beg of thee, let this vessel live.” Closing Gabriel said aloud, "All is your purpose, Amen.”
Still shirtless, Gabriel rose from the boulder and walked onto the Field of Dominion.
"Be here now,” Gabriel mentally repeated his mantra, "In this now there is only Love.”
Gabriel passed the first of the Dominion Angels, nearly as tall of Gabriel's Archangel class, and massively wide shouldered and thickly muscled head to toe. Their uncovered arms of layered muscle for seemingly no function.
Not much was know of the Dominion Angels. Word of their deeds seldom reached even the Archangel class. The circle of Dominions closed around Gabriel and he began to make out the background static of their minds. He put their thoughts aside, too. Gabriel had learned on other trans-placements there was no use