Odyssey of the Guardian Emperor

Silence washed through the group as they looked down at the boy. LionHeart's shoulders slumped, 'Again? How many times will this boy blow through the Temper Ranks?'

It was clear to all that the boy had blown through a whole Level. Maple raised her finger to say something, then caught herself before whining, "This can't be fair."

Alistair wasn't a Level Two anymore. Scarlett confirmed that. Even more than that, he shone a colour that was coming close to white. He was at the same level as she was… but one problem still remained.

The colour was still changing. Slowly but subtly, Alaric's level rose, and he grew stronger and stronger from inside the water mixed with portions.

The water was now coming down to a simmer, then the colour of his spirit vessel turned completely white, defeating all reasoning.

White was the only colour one saw from a Spiritual Vessel of a higher Temper Rank. Alaric was officially a Level above Scarlet…

'Just like that…' she scoffed. She'd spent time with him and confirmed that he'd trained in most aspects of battle, making him a master of many. Because of his Temper Rank, though, he was slower than Scarlett, who honed her speed and agility to lethal levels.

Did this mean he was now faster and better than her in all aspects of combat? Was she… afraid of him now? No. That wasn't it. But her fingers twitched like they remembered the times she outpaced him—and now, she might never catch up.

Before her thoughts could proceed, the boy floated to the surface and took a deep breath, rising out of the water with a heavy gasp like someone coming out of a nightmare.

As soon as he was out, a wave of aether shot outward, bathing his surroundings with the aether that had been swirling around him.

Cracks ran up the earthen bowl, forcing everyone away before it shattered completely, letting out the water that flowed back into the Shimmering Creek.

The boy's pristine white boots touched the ground as he shook the water out of his hair and combed more out of it before wiping his face and opening his eyes.

Drops of water splashed everywhere, hitting Maple, Bumi, Scarlett and everyone else watching… but none of them budged as they watched the boy gracefully attempt to dry himself off.

When his eyes opened, he recoiled, eyes wide in shock, "Why… are you all staring at me like that?!"

Silence…

Lucy spoke in their place as the only person who wasn't mesmerised, "Alistair, the Naiad wants to see you."

'Naiad?' Alaric looked around, but before he could even spot the Naiad, he saw the wet soil around him. Something was wrong with his surroundings. The ground around him was wet with remnants of a shattered earthen tub surrounding him.

He had no recollection of this.

He stared at the others with a weird look as he got out of the mess of earth and water. He whispered to his guardian, [ Alia, what's happening? ]

[ Ah, just the usual suspects: Jealousy, Adoration, Disbelief, Envy, Shock, ] the guardian said, counting them off on her fingers. [ Take your pick. ]

Alaric squinted. [ Wait… JADES? ]

The guardian gave a slow, impressed blink. [ Look at you, gemstone-brained and everything. ]

Alaric frowned. [ Is that a compliment? ]

[ Only if you sparkle under pressure. ]

The boy drew a sharp breath and didn't bother responding to the guardian. She was being weird again… and Alaric didn't even know how to deal with it. His mind was like a broken record, trying to piece together what was happening.

His memories were there, but they came in random fragments. He remembered a demon with kaleidoscopic eyes that held every colour of the rainbow as well as its red flower-like maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, all tainted with black drool.

Now that was a memory that was going to stick with him for a while.

Then there was a Naiad… Right, a naiad who let a desperate man cross her bridge for five gold marks. He looked forward at the creature called for him and smiled, 'That Naiad.'

Reaching the Naiad, he saw Lucy lower her hands, which had been humming with aether just recently.

She looked pale and frail. Her silver hair was dishevelled and her ponytail was a mess, the elastic band having let go of more than a few wild strands.

He brought his hand to her forehead and felt her temperature, stunning the girl by his intrusion.

Her eyes went wide like saucers, but that only made the boy feel giddy inside. He chuckled before gently sending aether through his hand into her body.

"You can ask me for aether any time you feel drained. I have more than enough to spare," Alaric said gently.

"I… I told you before," the girl whispered, "People don't just go handing out aether like candy."

Alaric furrowed his eyebrows… 'What is she talking about?'

It was only then that a vague memory of the first time they met flashed through his mind. It was also the time he'd come to learn that aether is not normally transferred from one person to another.

The boy nodded, "Fair enough."

After a short moment, Lucy's lips parted again, "You are… Alistair… right?"

"Same person, different name… Should I put the Face Mask back on?" he asked.

The girl nodded feverishly, seeming to squirm under his touch. Her cheeks went redder than he was used to.

"You're still burning up. I can cast a basic Healing…"

"I'm fine!" The girl swatted away his hand and took several steps away.

The boy shrugged, "If you say so."

Lucy nodded and tucked her messy hair behind her ears, looking forward at the water, "Thank you… for the aether."

Alaric smiled, "You're welcome."

The majestic Water Spirit had seen all this but remained quiet, waiting for him to turn his attention to her. While she waited, she brought up her healed hand and made a fist a few times.

The gesture made Alaric frown

"Are you okay, Water Spirit? You seem different," Alaric spoke in the Old Tongue.

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"You can speak to me in the Human Tongue, Favoured One," the Naiad spoke gently, having lost all the sharpness with which it had spoken to Taran.

This was one of those moments where Alaric had more questions… but the party had spent too much time here. It was time to get moving.

"What is your name then?" the boy asked the Naiad.

The Naiad looked at the boy with a warm smile, "The humans called me the Guardian of the Shimmering Creek and sometimes the Shimmering Lady… but I prefer Rayana."

"Rayana," Alaric repeated, satisfied by the name.

In the Old Tongue, simply saying the name Rayana made him feel one with the water. It was a name approved by the Constellation of Water, Liquidium herself and it was a name that inhabited the very meaning of a smooth river—of the gentle flow that never turned bitter or cruel, "Thank you, Rayana, for everything."

"I thought you didn't remember what happened."

Alaric was quiet for a bit before answering in a hoarse tone, remembering the last things he felt before going unconscious, "I remember hungering for aether. But the aether was so thin, it felt like I was suffocating. Then I remember being thrown into so much of it, yet still hungering for more. After that… nothing."

After a short pause, he added, "You saved my life."

The water in the creek bubbled and simmered, "Oh my! You're a smooth one. Nothing like what I've heard of the Great Protector."

"I know little of the Great Protector… and I would like to know more, but our time together draws to a close. I'm afraid we can't stay long. Still, before I leave, I must ask what I can do to repay you for your kindness."

"A life is priceless…" Rayana's voice swooned with the mischief of someone haggling.

Alaric's brows widened, 'This woman! Doesn't she respect the creativity that comes with crafting praise?'

He was both impressed and astounded by her audacity. Even after everything he'd said, she still honed in on what she wanted without getting flustered… perhaps she did both.

The boy nodded, "Yes, a life is priceless…"

"And yours is infinitely so," she added. Alaric wouldn't go as far as to say that, but the naiad wasn't having a discussion, "I ask that you keep my name in your heart and mind. Heed my call when I ask."

The boy raised his eyebrows, "So… I owe you a favour?"

The Water Spirit chuckled, "Yes, Favoured One. A Favour."

Alaric wanted to say the creature was being too cheap with the payment, but he didn't want to offend her either. She was older, so perhaps she was onto something… in her own twisted sort of way.

He bowed respectfully, "Very well. When the time comes that you ask a favour of me, I will do everything in my power to see it through."

The Naiad nodded in content and descended into the water, her presence vanishing completely.

[ Naiads don't usually manifest outside of the water for that long. She'll be asleep for a while. Count yourself lucky. ]

[ I know… I really do owe her my life. ]

Alaric turned back to the rest, "I'm ready when you are."

Sariah nodded, "Let's move. It's a good thing we set off early in the morning. Now let's focus on making it out of these Mountains alive. Heaven-Crested Eagles aren't known to be particularly friendly and even the weakest of them can wound a Stone Rank."

"Their strength varies? How can we tell which one's weaker?"

"As with all creatures, the strength of those Eagles varies. They are white but I've heard they've got a bit of gold in their feathers. The more gold you see, the stronger they are," the woman explained, "You'll know to run when they start raising tempests strong enough to demolish brick houses."

Alaric pulled his Face Mask from his storage ring and placed it back on his face. His armour turned black and his cloak vanished. His face changed as well, returning him to the calm and unassuming Alistair everyone had come to know. His influence on the world disappeared as well, as though it didn't recognise him anymore.

There were many questions boiling underneath the tense silence… but it wasn't the time for them to come out. The mission came first. With that, the party was on their way, turning their eyes to the steep slopes bordering the flowing river.

The Shimmering Creek flowed out of the Barren Mountains, humming with the light slosh of water against the barren gray rock and shimmering with sparks of aether. The shimmers were nothing like what happened when the Naiad, Rayana, emerged but they still remained—a reminder of the spirit that resided in it.

The wind blowing out from the creek's valley was what made it a strategic entrance. This way, the Heaven-Crested Eagles wouldn't see them coming.

It was time to get what they came for.

Further in, the mountains rose high into the air, like the undulating spikes of a great slumbering dragon, their barren gray colour pale as the dry skin of a lizard.

A cold breeze blew outward, spreading goosebumps all over the members of this party of adventurers. Alaric watched between Scarlett and LionHeart, glancing at the Shimmering Creek every now and then. He wondered whether the Rayana ever ventured this deep into the mountains.

"What are Storm Orbs anyway?" Scarlett's voice suddenly spoke up.

Alaric hadn't heard her speak since revealing his identity to the group. With his Face Mask back on, everyone returned to calling him Alistair… and while the atmosphere wasn't the same anymore, it was less… suffocating.

Take Scarlett for example. Alaric thought he imagined it but it was almost like she was more comfortable with his Face Mask on than she was when it was off. Then there was Lucy. It was only after he put back the Face Mask that she started to look him in the eyes again.

Byron was talking to him, though this much didn't bother Alaric. While the rest remained more or less the same as they had been before, with Bumi and Maple shocking Alaric on their indifference towards his secret.

Alaric didn't know how to feel about all the reactions. At most, he could say he was on edge. It was like he was constantly waiting for everyone to scream at him, 'Who the hell are you?' and everything would end with his explanation.

But it wouldn't end there. They would go on to try and piece together his entire story until they came to the conclusion that he was the one the Emperor's Men were looking for.

Before he could continue overthinking, a monotonous voice rattled through his head.

{ Subject: Storm Orbs

Description: Storm Orbs are a type of wind aether crystal found in the nests of Heaven-Crested Eagles, predominantly found in the steepest parts of the Barren Mountains. However, smaller colonies have been found to reside in the Cold North.

Storm Orbs are great for remedies that involve opening pathways, aether channels and powerful wind elixirs. They are especially known for powering robust wind barriers and taming storms when sailing. For their various uses, rarity and immense versatility, Storm Orbs have come to be quite valuable.

It is not advised to engage a Heaven-Crested Eagle when faced by one. Fleeing is the best option, as a single Storm Orb is not worth a human's life.

}

Alaric turned to Scarlett to speak his findings when a voice interrupted them.

"Psst! Stay quiet, you two," Sariah whispered from the front, "We might have managed to hide our scents with the wind but those are still Aether Beasts. Their hearing is third only to their eyesight and sense of smell."

Alaric nodded as they forged on. At some point, they came to a stop. The path forked at this point, one side feeding the Shimmering Creek with water while the other remained dry and barren.

Alaric remembered this in the briefing. This was where they would turn inward and venture into Eagle Territory. He shrugged and took a step forward, only to bump into LionHeart. The man shifted to the side so Alaric could take a look at what had caught everyone's attention.

Their eyes were pinned to a single large feather slowly drifting to the ground. It was white as snow with golden flecks that danced vividly like flames in the white pattern as the feather glided slowly to the ground.

Upon landing, a gale of wind shot outward, splashing water out of the Shimmering Creek with unnatural force. The adventurers all flinched at the sight.

Even from a distance, Alaric could feel the aether pulsing from this single feather. Bumi's voice came as a whisper, "It's said even their feathers have the power to create powerful twisters. Some messed-up mages and alchemists love them. Try not to touch them though, or we'll give ourselves away."

Alaric gulped, "How powerful are these things exactly?"

LionHeart pressed the boy's shoulder, "Powerful enough to make you wish you didn't come. We didn't come to fight them… Our mission is to get the Storm Orbs, not to kill the Heaven-Crested Eagles. Killing them puts an end to the supply, and no one wants that. So, only kill one as a last resort."

Alaric paled… "They fly! How do you outrun something like that?"

"Bah! The bastards never leave the Barren Mountains. It's like they are afraid of what's out there. As long as you make it out of the mountains, you'll be safe," Bumi informed.

The party continued, passing by more feathers as they traversed the narrow path. Alaric furrowed his brows, [ Is it just me… or are these feathers still… fresh? ]

[ I am no Eagle expert, Alaric, ] his guardian replied.

On both sides of the party of slayers, steep walls of grey stone rose up so high that it was next to useless to climb. Alaric was feeling less and less confident about this… but they pressed on.

That was when he saw it.

A torn leather satchel half-buried beneath loose gravel, its strap shredded and stained. Nearby, long claw marks were gouged into the stone—deep enough to fit a hand.

No one had said anything yet, but everyone saw it.

A little farther ahead, another sign: a snapped javelin, its shaft broken cleanly in two, lying beside a discarded boot, the heel crushed flat. Dust coated everything except for the scratches, which were clean—fresh.

And then, as if summoned by the realisation, a cry echoed through the cliffs.

It wasn't loud… but it was far. A shriek, whistling and shrill, like wind tearing through bone.

Everyone froze.

Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Sariah raised her hand to keep them all still whilst Alaric was summoned forward. Byron rolled his eyes at the boy as he walked past him, still bothered by the boy's presence.

At the front, Sariah showed Alaric around the bend, pointing to something in the air. At first, Alaric spent time scanning… but then, he saw it.

A Heaven-Crested Eagle.