Odyssey of the Guardian Emperor

Alaric had heard Brett and Finn's take on the Hurricane Oaks, and yet his expression remained unchanged, his dark emerald orbs unyielding. "What does all of that have to do with me going to visit Sariah?"

Brett opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and turned away with a long sigh, taking a bite out of another piece of meat—it would take more than that to ruin his appetite. Finn chuckled softly, "Nothing, actually. What Brett didn't want to say is that we don't know where it is—Sariah's home. She comes and goes as she pleases, just like everyone else who lives with her."

"And you've never thought to ask her?" Alaric raised a brow at his friend.

"We have," Finn rubbed the back of his head, a slight shade of pink creeping up his cheeks, "We just remember to ask when she's already left."

"Every. Damn. Time," Brett added, still chewing, "I sh-wear it hash to be sh-ome sh-ort of sh-pell."

Alaric snickered. "That's funny." He stood up and beckoned for them to follow. "Follow me."

"You know where it is?" Finn rushed up to him while Brett fumbled to cram the rest of the meat on their plate into his Storage Ring—he briefly debated stealing the plate, only for him to lock eyes with the restaurant owner and smile widely. Finn was at Alaric's side in a bubbly, "That solves everything. Fun unrelated fact! The treatment you're getting from the city is a known custom of gratitude in Valeria. They call it Gratiam, which means 'To have gratitude.'"

"Really?" Alaric mused, "Is there an opposite version of this treatment?"

"I've never really thought about that. Perhaps 'Exile'?" Finn's lips twisted in thought as he followed the green-eyed boy on their way to Sariah's, "Anyway, we haven't spoken about the elephant in the room yet."

"What elephant?" Alaric furrowed his eyebrows, clearly confused.

"Not an actual elephant."

"I know what the phrase means, Finn," Alaric smiled, pulling his friend into a casual sideways hug. In a quieter tone, he continued, "I just don't know what you're implying."

Brett finally caught up to them, wiping grease off his mouth and hands, eager to get in on the conversation. "He speaks of that power you used to question the Dark Mage before, you know, ending his life. It's been puzzling all of us since we saw it a week ago, except for the Matriarch, of course. She's like your biggest fan now. The whole city is."

'Power?' Alaric blinked, staring at his friends for a few moments, unsure of what they were talking about.

"Hold on. Let me think." He looked up and pondered their words. His memories were still unravelling after his long slumber, and this was one of those things he hadn't gotten to yet.

So far, he'd remembered bits and pieces about what they were doing in Melbourne in the first place. He was on the run from bad people he'd never met, and as it turned out, the Dark Mage and the Red Cloaks were working for those people.

Because of that, it was important that he stayed away and remained hidden. As a matter of fact, he wasn't supposed to return from their trip to the Barren Mountains. Unfortunately, that option was taken from him when Byron kidnapped Lucy. Long story short, he returned to save Lucy and ended up being forced to save an entire city.

These events flashed through Alaric's mind, flowing faster than he'd like—absorbing the power of one Aether Cataclyst, the explosive force of eight of them and his feverish attempt to keep them from demolishing the city below, the fast-paced battle against the evil Mage who was out to kill him, the pain from having his shoulder crushed into a pulp, the burning sensation of an entire forest lit ablaze by black fire, the number '4413' flashing through his head, which would have been the kill count had he failed to stop the eight cataclysts and the Dark Mage, for that matter.

Alaric's heart quickened, thundering in his chest, and his breath deepened before his eyes flashed neon green for a second…

"There, it happened again. Your eyes went bright." Brett was all over the place, only to stop when Alaric covered his ears. "Sorry," he whispered.

The boy's voice rang louder than anything Alaric had ever heard, like the first time he woke up to an enhanced body after his first Tempering Ritual. Was this what happened when his eyes glowed, or was there something else he was missing? Alaric felt his senses go back to normal just moments after this happened.

[ Alia. ] He called.

The guardian emerged from his shadow as soon as he called, towering over them at seven feet tall—her shortest achievable height. She walked beside them casually, her helmet covering the upper half of her grey face, leaving her soft, dark lips which were twisted in a familiar smirk, "That power is a manifestation of your Authority. You're the Guardian Emperor, so you have Authority over Guardians. That Authority can also extend to all who you consider your subjects and affect those who threaten you, so be careful how you use it."

Alaric was about to speak when a girl ran out in front of them, holding in her hands what looked like a necklace made of wild flowers. The boy was stunned for a bit before gently kneeling and accepting the gift. He ruffled her hair and gave her a peck on her forehead. His body moved on instinct, asking the girl for her name and thanking her for the necklace all in one breath. The interaction was brief, and the girl was gone even faster, blushing red as Alaric stood to continue their walk.

"That doesn't explain what it does, Alia." Alaric continued their conversation without batting an eyelash.

"Well," the guardian chuckled, "I don't know how else to explain it except that it embodies the meaning of the word 'authority.' Guardians lack the power to disobey you, and you can use your Will to set rules when tapping into this power. It's powerful, and that threatens those who oppose you."

"That must be why most Dark Mages don't have guardians," Finn pondered.

"Well, Avaros had a guardian, just like Darth," Alaric answered. He still remembered Avaros's guardian. It had been the first time to approach a guardian in the In-Between while still being able to control his body in this world. Whether that was a perk of his 'Authority' or simply something he could do all along, he didn't know, but the memory cast a dark cloud over him.

Just like Sabre, Avaros' guardian had endured endless amounts of torture. The only difference was that this torture was enough to break the guardian, dulling his will to live to the point where death was his only release. Alaric had been late to help, and instead was subjected to watching the guardian fade and the destruction of the Dark Mage's realm in the In-Between.

"Well, they either enslave the guardians with Dark Magic or sever their connections to them," Brett explained.

"And yet Alaric could still use his Authority on that man," Finn noted.

"Avaros had assaulted his guardian to the point of death. Guardians fall under the protection of the Guardian Emperor," Alia responded, then vanished into his shadow again.

[ My protection, huh. ] Alaric wanted to laugh. The irony made him question the way the world worked. Guardians were powerful creatures to the point that entire systems were affected by how they were ranked, and yet, they needed protection. Alaric understood this after seeing Sabre and Avaros' guardian, but those were two out of thousands. [ Some Guardian Emperor I am. ]

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[ Don't beat yourself up. You saved Sabre from Darth. What happened to Avaros's guardian was not your fault. ] Alia tried.

[ I know. ] The boy sighed, [ We grew up knowing guardians to be these powerful creatures everyone wanted to have. A protector who could watch over you no matter how bad things got. Never the other way around. ]

As he spoke to his guardian, a group of three children approached him, these filled with questions like 'Is it true you fought off a Dark Mage?' and 'Tell us how you survived the Demon Stampede all on your own.' It took Alaric's ability to multitask to pay attention to both the children and his guardian.

[ I know. You'd think that humans would be afraid of guardians, given how powerful they are. Or that they'd at least love them. ] Alia wondered, [ But then again, Soren had enemies even at the Divine Rank. Humans are dangerous that way. ]

Alaric's radar went on full alert. Alia rarely spoke of Soren, so obviously, he wanted to know what she could tell him. He took a deep breath. [ Did he grow negligent? Is that why his enemies were able to kill him? ]

The guardian stayed silent for a bit before answering, [ No, there was nothing he could do when the time for his death came around. He just… didn't see it coming. ]

Alaric didn't need his guardian to tell him this was the end of the conversation. It was becoming obvious to him just how much she didn't like replaying scenes related to Soren's death, so he let the matter slide… for now.

They passed through the market, took turns and walked down streets Finn was familiar with. Brett and Finn did their best to familiarise themselves with the path, but kept only raising eyebrows at each other the further they walked.

"Alaric, we've already been through here," Finn mentioned.

"I know," the boy responded. Eventually, they made a turn onto a quieter street. Trees lined the side of the road and houses were more spaced. The rising slope of the Barren Mountains shot up to one side, clearly marking the point where plants were no longer allowed to thrive.

The casual walk eventually brought them to an isolated home at the end of the street. It was a humble abode made of wood and cobblestone. A vegetable patch at the front, a front porch with a chair and table set with tea; nothing out of the ordinary.

Except when Alaric looked at it, Finn knew they'd reached their destination. Brett broke the silence first, "We've… never seen this house before. It must be protected by a very powerful cloaking device. It's probably not lower than Four-Star."

Alaric did not doubt that, but all of that didn't matter to him. He'd been asleep for a week, which meant the people inside that house hadn't spoken to him for that long. 'Last they saw me, I was unconscious.'

[ Yes… and they wondered when you'd wake up. I remember Scarlett and Lucy crying alone at separate times. Neither of them would admit it, but I see a lot through the shadows. ] Alia responded.

"This is where I've been living since the attack on the Tower of Seekers," Alaric announced, allowing his friends to take it all in. "It's not much, but Sariah treated me well. She's nothing like Sister Marla, though. There are little freckles on her face; they bother her whenever she looks in the mirror."

"Freckles… Wood Rank?" Finn asked.

Alaric turned to his friend, "How does that work?"

"Well, normal people lose freckles when they get to Stone or Steel Rank," Finn replied.

"And by normal, you mean…"

"People who are not you… Or Darla," Brett cut in with a high-pitched laugh.

Alaric's face turned a light shade of red, but he maintained his composure as they stepped onto the paved path to the front door. He was the first through the door, not bothering to knock. In the living room, a man with golden and white hair was standing there in a fighting stance, his hand sparkling with magic, ready to destroy whatever stepped through the door.

On the large plush chair in the living room, a female version of him was reclining with a hand covering her face, "Grun'am! I already told you it was the Protector. Not even your senses are this dull."

"State your name and business," Grun'am growled at Alaric, not letting down his sparkling ball of magic.

Alaric looked between Kair'ak and her brother, Grun'am. His heart didn't even speed up at the sight of Grun'am trying to attack him. "You're still here?"

"We thought we'd stay and see to it that the Protector recovered from his slumber. Dara'k is not a Higher One, so we sent him back to the Barren Mountains," Kair'ak answered. Alaric knew the woman's abilities when it came to healing and had no doubt she was a part of the reason he'd recovered.

Grun'am, on the other hand, reached forward and grabbed Alaric by the collar, pulling him closer to the sparkling ball of magic, "I asked… for your name."

Alaric put a hand on Grun'am's and pushed it further from his face, "Alaric. Is there a reason you're asking that?"

"Yes! Security reasons," Grun'am growled, "You have something against my thorough methods?"

By this time, the male demihuman's face was an inch away from Alaric's. His golden eyes were burning with passion, but Alaric could tell the emotion in them was completely out of place. Despite his frightening expression, there wasn't an ounce of malice in those bright golden eyes.

"What if I do?" Alaric smirked.

Grun'am's sparking hand went out like a candle in the rain. He blinked, then let the boy drop to the ground, "I don't fight the weak. Challenge me when you're Stone Rank. I heard you're speeding up the Ranks like a warthog on wheels."

"Warthog on…"

"Sariah is in the kitchen, Scarlett is training with the big guy in the backyard, and no one's slept in your room all week." Grun'am didn't wait for his analogy to make sense. He just turned away and returned to the living room without another word.

'No one's slept in my…' Alaric shook his head, ignored the red flags going off in his mind and went into the kitchen where Sariah was waiting with a big hug.

The demihuman dropped into his seat and assumed a bored posture, only for Kair'ak to turn to her brother with a smirk, "Happy now that you touched him?"

"His aether is purer than the High Sentinel's." Grun'am held his hand in front of his face, marvelling at the ghost feeling of Alaric's chest as he held him by the collar, "I'm never washing this hand!"

"You're such a weirdo."

"He challenged me to a duel," Grun'am grinned widely, "I mean I'd clean the floor with him even at the Stone Rank, but that bravado is infectious."

"The sandy-haired one heard you," Kair'ak answered.

By the time Grun'am turned to look at Finn, the boy was walking into the kitchen, Brett way ahead of him. The male Higher One shrugged, "Meh! I don't understand what the Protector sees in weak scrubs like them. They are the weakest of the company I've seen him keep."

"Humans evolve faster than Aether Beasts or Higher Ones," Kair'ak responded, "At least, that's what I've heard the High Sentinel say. They might surprise you."

……………………………

Alaric hugged Sariah for a long minute. She smelled of burned bread and delicious soup. Behind her, he saw her mess in the kitchen and chuckled softly.

"Stop it, boy. You'll make me burn the food." She pulled away and returned to the stew she was brewing. "Hungry?"

"Gratiam, apparently, is a name for…"

"A Custom of Gratitude," Sariah completed, "Apologies for asking. I hope you're not too full, then."

"I'm fine. Brett did all the heavy lifting," Alaric responded with a chuckle, "Do you need any help? I'm good with a knife."

Sariah covered her lips, but her smile shone through as she shook her head, "No, I'll finish up here. You go out to the back and talk to Scarlett while I compose myself. That girl's been worried sick. We had to cast multiple sleeping spells on her… and Lucy."

Alaric chuckled, but before he could turn to leave, Sariah called back, "Alaric. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You saved my home."

"You're welcome," the boy nodded, looking away just as Sariah started tearing up, 'She's going to make me cry.'

[ Be ready to receive similar gratitude from the 4413 people you saved. ] His guardian answered. [ Much like the children you met on the way here. ]

Brett and Finn greeted the woman briefly before they left to greet Scarlett and LionHeart. At the door leading to the backyard, Alaric paused to listen. He brought his ear to the door and listened to what was happening outside. There, he closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of heavy footwork and the familiar sound of reinforced wood slamming against wood.

The heavy footwork was in rhythm with the Dance of the Sword variation that LionHeart had taken to, refined to a melodic level. Scarlett's lighter steps were there too, darting from one place to the other.

Silently, he opened the door and tiptoed outside to stand under the shade. The training was intense, and based on the energy in the air, these two were heavily invested in the duel.

Finn and Brett followed Alaric's example and were greeted by the sight of a large man holding a great wooden sword against a girl wielding a pair of wooden knives. The pair was covered in sweat from head to toe, breathing heavily as they came at each other with full force.

The clouds hid the sun above, leaving a bright, humid day that was neither too cold nor too hot. The weather was perfect.

Scarlett dashed forward, vanishing in a blur of speed. At the same time, LionHeart took a step forward and let his blade fall to the side just in time to meet Scarlett's knives. He stepped around the blade and out of her range, only to close the gap and sweep his greatsword upwards.

The copper-haired girl put her blades out to block the attack. LionHeart's physique, however, was nothing to scoff at. The herculean momentum of the blade sent the girl's body flying upwards, much to Alaric's surprise.

'Was Lionheart always that strong?'

[ He's gotten better at the Dance of the Sentinel. Also, he went another Level, as did Miss Scarlett. ] Alia explained.

'That would put them on Level Eight and Five,' Alaric observed. LionHeart stepped in, not allowing the girl to land as his blade came down on her. It was a brutal tactic, but training was never about taking it easy.

Before the blade could fall, though, a wooden blade sailed through the air for LionHeart's eye. The man caught it just in time, but he'd hesitated and that hesitation allowed Scarlett to land and dive right back into the duel. With one blade, she was weaker, but she had thrown her opponent off-balance, and she wasn't about to let that opportunity slip by.

'Smart!' Alaric smiled.

[ She's gotten better, too. ]