Reluctantly, I realized I had no other choice but to involve Michael in this unfortunate situation. My hope was that he would empathize with my predicament, rather than harbor resentment.

Before proceeding, I cast a glance over my shoulder to ensure my other self was still trailing behind me. With no other direction to turn, he followed, utterly lost in this unfamiliar realm. A human facsimile of myself who had recently suffered a gruesome demise. Despite possessing wings like the rest of us in this place, he lacked the knowledge of how to use them. There was simply no time to teach him the art of flight, so we were relegated to journeying on foot to Michael's residence. Michael, who was likely immersed in his usual activities, devising plans and scanning the earth for any signs of danger or supernatural occurrences.

In under an hour, we arrived at the heart of heaven. The guards, recognizing me, greeted us warmly, though their faces betrayed their confusion at the sight of my unexpected guest. I explained that he was, in essence, a version of myself, albeit quite distinct. Wisely, they refrained from making any humorous remarks or comments. They knew better than to risk offending either me or Michael.

Michael resided at the center of heaven's most beautiful gardens, encircled by hills where each of us maintained our own opulent residences, a testament to our status. He was known for welcoming visitors, particularly those he hadn't seen in some time. I was confident he would be pleased to see me, although I was uncertain about his reaction to my tethered anomaly.

Upon reaching the gates of Michael’s home, the guards announced our arrival. Shortly thereafter, Michael emerged to greet us, inviting us in without asking any questions about the second soul.

I wondered if he detected something amiss or if he was merely extending his usual courtesy. Regardless, I was relieved to be in his company once again.

Eschewing any preamble, I relayed the entirety of the surreal events that had transpired. I explained how I had found myself like this after death, and how this seemed to be a glitch in the system.

When he attempted to steer the conversation towards my earthly experiences, I firmly brought the focus back to the issue at hand. I insisted that we couldn't afford to involve Gabriel just yet. I didn't want to inconvenience them both simultaneously.

"I appreciate your interest in my life, but we have a bigger problem here, as you can see," I said, gesturing towards my other self.

"I see," Michael said. "That does look quite peculiar."

"Can you help me with it? I tried to merge back with him, like one of my shadows or fragments, but it didn’t work. He doesn’t seem to be just a fragment of me. He seems to have a mind of his own," I said.

Michael nodded, asking me to wait while he addressed Raphael. “So, you’re Raphael, right?” he asked.

Raphael nodded, answering respectfully, “Yes, sir.” Despite not knowing who Michael was, he responded with politeness and deference.

As their conversation progressed, Michael asked about Raphael's life on earth. Raphael recalled it vividly and seemed eager to share more. I remained silent, allowing him the opportunity to establish a sort of friendship with Michael. I was unsure of what lay ahead, or whether this would result in some form of termination or separation.

As they continued their discussion, I felt a peculiar sensation within me. It was as if Raphael was absorbing some of my emotions and powers, becoming increasingly similar to me. This was a disconcerting development.

Michael must have sensed it as well. We had the ability to detect when a being had powers, especially divine ones. Not many had their own powers, with the exception of us and a few soldiers who borrowed ours when on duty, until their fall.

After a lengthy conversation, Michael had gleaned everything about my earth’s life in less than two hours.

He suggested that Raphael had to go outside and familiarize himself with the guards, who would show him around and keep him company. Although it may seem peculiar, the guards in heaven's core were no ordinary guards. They were benevolent souls who had previously served as Guardians of the Greenfields of Heaven, where typical souls journeyed after death, crossing the formidable barrier separating the virtuous from the wicked.

Michael pulled me aside, leading me to the room of silence, a space where no sound could penetrate or escape. "He seems like a decent individual, but there's something unsettling about him. He’s more like you than you realize," he said. I responded, “I never claimed he wasn’t like me, but since you brought it up, what exactly feels off about him?” “I think you're already aware of what I'm referring to. I saw your reaction when his wings began to glow randomly." Indeed, I had noticed. "So, the other me has inherited some fragments of my powers, hasn't he?"

"Yes, and I've also noticed something different about you." I feigned surprise, replying, "Really? It's just me. I remain unchanged." He looked at me sternly and suggested, "Let’s see, how about we head to the arena, you know, like old times?” I understood his underlying intention: “Are you challenging me to a friendly duel? Oh, you cunning rogue. You know I never back down from one.”

And so, we made our way to the arena, while Raphael spent his time getting acquainted with the guards and exploring the celestial landscape of heaven.