The Divided Guardian [Cursed Anti-Hero, Progression, Dark Fantasy]

The moon hung like a pale witness above Novaria's empty streets, casting long shadows between two orange Aurons. Their auras flickered and died as both men powered down, leaving only the distant hum of streetlights and the soft rustle of festival banners in the night breeze.

"Sleeser?!" Angelo let out in disbelief.

Sleeser released Angelo's wrist with a casual flick, his trademark smirk never wavering. Everything about him screamed confidence—the spiky orange-and-yellow hair that defied gravity, the brown fur vest that had seen too many battles, that mysterious pendant catching moonlight at his throat. Even his relaxed stance suggested he owned whatever space he occupied.

"Weren't you supposed to be watching the Inferni border?" Angelo stepped back, flexing his freed wrist while studying his former mentor's face. "And was it you who was following me this whole time?"

"Guilty as charged, kiddo." Sleeser's laugh carried genuine warmth as he fell into step beside Angelo. "Things cooled down out there, so I figured I'd check on my favorite student. What's with the cold reception? Can't an old friend drop by for a visit?"

Angelo's eyebrow climbed skeptically. "You don't exactly look heartbroken about it."

"Fair point." Sleeser's grin widened. "But seriously, where's this hostility coming from?"

Angelo glanced over his shoulder, scanning the shadows between buildings. "Red and Blue caught two people tailing us. If one wasn't you..."

"Yeah, I noticed someone too." Sleeser scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Figured they were your backup or something. Weird that they just vanished."

"Ooh, the plot thickens!" Red's voice bubbled with excitement in Angelo's mind. "Maybe we've got ourselves a real mystery here!"

"Most likely civilians seeking entertainment," Blue's measured tone cut through Red's enthusiasm.

Angelo waved dismissively and turned to walk away. "Probably just some Aurons wanting to see police work up close. Nothing worth losing sleep over."

"Whoa, hold up!" Sleeser jogged to catch up. "Where are you rushing off to? The night's still young!"

"Home." Angelo didn't slow his pace. "Some of us have actual jobs to get to in the morning."

"Come on, you're eighteen! Kids your age are out living it up, hitting clubs, making memories." Sleeser's expression softened slightly. "When's the last time you did something just for fun?"

Angelo's jaw tightened. "I'm not like other kids. Never have been. You should know that better than anyone."

"There's nothing wrong with moving past what happened when you were young," Sleeser said quietly. "Your childhood doesn't have to define you."

"Funny thing about childhoods—they tend to shape us." Angelo kicked a loose piece of concrete, sending it skittering across the pavement. "Maybe you should read up on it or watch a documentary or something."

"Right..." Sleeser let the comment slide, then brightened. "So what's with the facial hair? You look older than me now. Almost like you're trying too hard to seem intimidating."

"What?! No I'm not!" Angelo's indignation rang through the empty street.

"Called it!" Red's mocking laughter echoed in Angelo's head.

"Nobody asked for your commentary, Red!"

"Make me shut up then, tough guy!"

Angelo's muttered curses drew a strange look from Sleeser, who snapped his fingers in front of Angelo's face. "Earth to Angelo. You're having one of those internal conversations again, aren't you?"

They rounded the corner past an old bar, its weathered brick facade telling stories of better days. Angelo shook his head to clear it.

"So you've been with the police for what, two years now?" Sleeser asked casually. "In that... Special program?"

"Don't play dumb—you're the one who got me into it." Angelo shot him a look. "Why pretend you don't remember?"

"Must have slipped my mind." Sleeser's innocent expression was about as convincing as a politician's. "I'm hoping you've been taking your training seriously, at least."

Angelo stopped walking entirely. "Are you kidding me? I've been busting my ass! Aura control, energy manipulation, physical conditioning, mental discipline—I've improved across the board. Hell, I even mastered those energy tethers you mentioned once."

"Wait, what?" Sleeser's surprise seemed genuine this time. "The tethers? Really? I told you NOT to bother with those."

"What do you mean, don't bother?!" Angelo felt like he'd been sucker-punched. "You said—"

"They're fragile as hell, Angelo. You can't actually restrain anyone with them, and I've never met an energy Auron with enough focus to make them work properly." Sleeser shrugged. "I just mentioned hearing about some guy who supposedly could do it."

"Well, I can do it too." Angelo's voice carried a defensive edge.

"Prove it." Sleeser crossed his arms, skepticism written all over his face.

"You didn't see me use them during the chase?" Angelo asked, already knowing the answer.

"I was watching the fight, not the chase." Sleeser's smirk returned. "So let's see these legendary tethers in action."

"Do it, Angie! Do it or no balls!" Red's taunting voice carried just enough challenge to make Angelo's pride flare.

Angelo sighed, his orange aura sparking to life around him like controlled lightning. "Fine!"

Glowing ropes of energy shot from his body, stretching across the street to grip the opposite building's wall. With a quick pull, he launched himself forward, swinging through the air like some kind of supernatural acrobat.

Sleeser's eyebrows shot up. He whistled low, then his own orange glow flared as he bounded after Angelo in impossibly high leaps. "Damn, kid! That's actually impressive. You could grab a beer from your couch without getting up!"

"Hilarious," Angelo deadpanned, but he couldn't help smirking as he picked up speed. Time to show his old teacher what he'd really learned.

Angelo's energy tethers carried him faster between buildings, leaving Sleeser behind at a corner. He swung upward, scaling a towering glass office building covered in neon signs. Somewhere inside, a late-night worker cursed about nearly having a heart attack.

He landed on the rooftop in a perfect crouch, standing up slowly with satisfaction.

"Nice climbing. Color me impressed."

Angelo's blood went cold. There was Sleeser, casually leaning against a massive air conditioning unit like he'd been waiting all day.

"What the hell? How did he beat us here?" Red's confused voice echoed in Angelo's mind.

"I didn't even see you following us," Angelo stammered, genuinely shaken.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Still got some tricks you haven't learned yet." Sleeser chuckled. "Though I'll admit, your form's gotten better. You were swinging around like some kind of spider... person."

"What an utterly ridiculous comparison," Blue's mental voice carried the weight of scholarly disappointment. "Spiders construct webs, they don't swing in such a manner. Perhaps he truly should educate himself through documentaries."

Before anyone could respond, crimson smoke poured out of Angelo like fog from dry ice. It spiraled in front of him, stretching and taking shape until it resembled a person. The smoke solidified into flesh and bone—another Angelo, but paler, like someone had drained half the color from him.

Where Angelo stood composed and serious, this duplicate practically vibrated with manic energy. His grin spread wide and predatory, like something that enjoyed other people's pain.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in." Red stepped forward, that dangerous smile never wavering. "Did you miss us so much you had to abandon your post just for this little pissing contest?"

Sleeser clapped his hands with mock approval. "Ah, Red. There you are. I was wondering how long you could stay in there. Good to see you're still working on that patience thing I mentioned."

"Save the bullshit!" Red moved closer while Angelo pinched the bridge of his nose behind him. "Maybe golden boy here buys into your friendly mentor act," he jerked his thumb at Angelo, who shot him an irritated look, "but not me. So why don't you tell us why you're really here?"

Sleeser pushed off the air conditioning unit, crossing his arms. He rubbed his chin like he was wrestling with a difficult decision. Angelo stepped beside Red, suspicion creeping across his features. Standing side by side like that, they looked like twins—if one twin had been possessed by something violent.

"Alright. I wanted to ease into this conversation, but that's not happening now." Sleeser's tone turned ominous. His hand disappeared into his vest pocket, pulling out a rolled newspaper. He smoothed it carefully, the crinkling paper making both duplicates exchange glances.

"'The Angel of Death: Enforcer or Vigilante?'" He read the headline, watching Angelo's eyes widen in shock. "Fascinating piece, really. Talks about an officer who's stepped way outside normal procedures. Gives criminals a simple choice—surrender or face immediate execution." His gaze locked onto Angelo's with deadly seriousness. "Twenty-four confirmed kills so far."

He tossed the paper to the ground. The red headline stood out starkly against the black and white photo of a dark figure.

Angelo said nothing, just stared back and waited.

"This Angel of Death... that's you." It wasn't a question.

"Ooh, someone's in trouble," Red's mental voice carried a sing-song quality that made Angelo's jaw clench.

Angelo's expression hardened, eyes narrowing dangerously. "So what if it is?"

"So what if it is?" Sleeser's voice dropped to something low and dangerous. "Everything!" He started pacing, throwing his hands up. "Where did I go so wrong with you? Did that one kill when you were twelve mess you up so badly that you decided to become a professional killer?!"

His fist slammed against the metal air conditioning unit. The sound echoed across the rooftop, sending ravens screeching into the night sky.

When the noise died down, Sleeser stood frozen. All he could manage was a whispered, "Why?"

"Because," Angelo's voice made Sleeser look up slowly, "if staring death in the face doesn't change a man... nothing will."

The words hit Sleeser like a physical blow. He straightened up, taking in the sight of his former student. Angelo stood near Red, his face a mask of absolute conviction.

"That's what you told me," Angelo continued, "right after I took that man's life. Remember?"

Sleeser definitely remembered. The memory hit him like a punch to the gut—young Angelo's voice echoing in his ears: "I'm a killer... a murderer..." His own desperate response: "Angelo! ANGELO! LOOK AT ME!" as he held his blood-covered student. Those exact words Angelo had just thrown back at him.

Sleeser visibly tried to pull himself together. "I know what I said, but this? This is completely wrong! This isn't what I meant at all!"

"Really?" Red stroked his beard, not a care in the world. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like he's doing exactly what you taught him. Like a good little student should. Couldn't be me, but hey."

His smile widened as Sleeser glared at him.

"Nobody asked you to play devil's advocate," Sleeser said sternly, which only made Red's cackling worse. "How does any of this remotely follow what I said?"

Angelo considered the question carefully. "I thought long and hard about those words. Eventually, I realized you were right. Fear of death is the ultimate motivator for real change—nothing else comes close. It's basic human instinct, wired into our nature. Those who won't change course even when facing death? They're beyond redemption. By ending them, I'm protecting their future victims."

Sleeser's mouth opened and closed like he was trying to catch flies. He paced in circles, running his hands through his spiky hair like he couldn't find the right words. Angelo just watched while Red kept cackling at his old teacher's frustration.

Finally, Sleeser stopped moving and slowly turned to face Angelo. "Look, taking a life... it's a burden that changes you. You have no idea—"

"Actually, I do."

"NO, YOU DON'T!" Sleeser's eyes blazed orange like warning lights against the dark sky. Just his eyes—somehow making him look more dangerous than if his whole aura was active. "I get it, you think you're doing the right thing. Hell, I'll even admit your intentions are good. But Angelo, you know what they say about good intentions."

Red stroked his chin in mock recollection. "Something, something about hell, something, something about pavements."

Angelo didn't back down. His own eyes flared orange, glowing like twin embers. "If I have to burn in hell to fix what's broken in this world, I'll bring the matches myself."

Sleeser's jaw clenched so hard his teeth might crack. "Dammit, Angelo! Why can't you listen to reason for once in your goddamned life!"

"Reason?" Angelo's voice rose. "You haven't given me one solid counter-argument this whole time! You're just pissed that I'm not that scared little kid you can boss around anymore!"

"How dare you!"

Red swiveled his head back and forth like he was watching the world's most entertaining tennis match, that stupid grin plastered across his face.

Angelo had enough. "You know what? Screw this." His voice dropped to infuriating calm. "You disappear for two years, then show up and immediately start lecturing me like I'm ten again? Yeah, hard pass."

His orange aura flared to life as he casually walked to the roof's edge. Sleeser's eyes followed him in complete disbelief.

Then Angelo simply stepped off the building and dropped into the night.

"We're not done here!" Sleeser's rage exploded with his aura. He launched himself after Angelo like a human rocket, catching him mid-fall.

Instead of landing gracefully, Sleeser slammed Angelo straight into the concrete wall of the opposite building. The impact cracked the surface, leaving an Angelo-shaped dent in the stone.

Angelo grunted, then snapped at his teacher through gritted teeth. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Shit." Sleeser cursed under his breath, finally realizing what he'd done. He pulled Angelo out of the wall and jumped back to the taller building's roof where Red was casually examining his fingernails like nothing had happened.

He dropped Angelo like a sack of potatoes. "Sorry about that," His voice was carefully stripped of all emotion. "Forgot myself for a moment there."

Sleeser sighed heavily, walking toward the roof's edge. When he reached it, he turned back to Angelo, who was sitting up and rubbing his head. "I see my words can't reach you anymore." Angelo's head snapped up at those words.

Sleeser looked older than Angelo had ever seen him. "If I can't shatter that twisted sense of justice... then life will just have to do it for me."

Angelo's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

Sleeser prepared to take off, his aura beginning to glow again. "Remember my warning, kid. Someday, something will come around that'll shatter that worldview of yours." He turned away, unable to look at Angelo. "I just hope you don't shatter along with it."

And with that, he launched himself into the night sky, leaving the rooftop in crushing silence.

Angelo remained on the ground, staring at the spot where Sleeser had disappeared. His aura was still glowing faintly around him. He hesitantly turned it off as he stood up, brushing dust off his uniform with irritation and a nagging feeling gnawing at his chest.

He looked up at the moon, his mind racing. Finally, he spoke softly.

"Blue. You've been quiet this whole time. How about you come out here and share your thoughts?"

Azure smoke poured out of Angelo like morning mist, swirling into a tornado before solidifying into another pale copy of himself. Blue stood with perfect posture, hands clasped behind his back like a professor about to give a lecture. His expression was calm and collected—a stark contrast to both Red's chaos and Angelo's intensity.

"What difference would my opinion make, Angelo? Enlighten me." Blue reached up and adjusted invisible glasses on his nose. "Even if my perspective differed from yours, who determines which of us is correct?"

Angelo's eyes flared orange again, more dangerous than ever. "Enough with your cryptic bullshit!"

Blue sighed like a teacher dealing with a difficult student. His gaze locked with Angelo's, his own eyes glowing ice blue. "Angelo, the world isn't black and white. Every decision you make can be interpreted differently depending on people's perspectives. Instead of obsessing over whether you're objectively right, acknowledge that every choice has consequences. My advice? Choose the path whose consequences you're willing to face."

Angelo considered his words, his eyes slowly dimming back to their normal brown.

"Ugh, you're absolutely insufferable!" Red threw his hands up in disgust. "Did you swallow an entire library or something?"

Blue looked utterly unimpressed. "A simpleton like you could never comprehend such concepts." He crossed his arms with bored dignity.

"Very well." Angelo's words made both of them look at him. "Then I stand by my earlier conviction. If I let criminals go and they later kill innocent people, their blood is on my hands too. And that's not something I can live with. If they want to call me the Angel of Death for that..." He shook his head. "So be it."

Blue's form began to glow blue before dissolving back into smoke that streamed into Angelo. His voice echoed through their mental link: "Understand this—there will be times that put your convictions to the test."

Angelo closed his eyes, accepting the weight of those words. "I'm sure there will be."

Red also dissolved into crimson smoke, flowing back into Angelo like he was being pulled by a magnet. His voice drifted through their shared consciousness: "Meh, you're overthinking this whole thing. Do what you think is right and fuck the consequences!"

Angelo was left alone on the roof, his mind already erecting walls around that seed of doubt Sleeser has planted.