The Hero Series: Novel Edition

Chapter 23 - The Guardian

     Shawn, Rosela and Exodus walked into a huge room with a pedestal in the centre of the room.

     "This must be the place where the Guardian keeps the element. But, no sign of the Guardian nor the element." Said Rosela as she inspects the room.

     "The only thing I can see... Is that sword on the pedestal." Said Exodus as he pointed towards the sword.

     Bravely, Shawn walked up towards the sword om the pedestal.

     "Why would that be here?" Questioned Exodus.

     "We're not here for the sword, are we?" Said Rosela, puzzled. 

     "Strange, no sight of the Guar-" Exodus didn't finish his line when a white beam stabbed him making him hard to breathe.

     "Exodus!" Shouted Rosela before getting stabbed as well.

     "What?!" Said Shawn surprised seeing Rosela and Exodus shot by a white beam.

     "You young travellers have made a huge mistake entering here! How did you find this place?" Said an entity in white armour, who was known as the Guardian.

     "G- Guardian, w- we've heard about your stories!" Answered Exodus.

     "There are no stories! No myth, no tales, they were all forgotten! You should not know about this sacred place, and you all will now die!" Said the Guardian mercilessly.

     "No! Guardian, please... Let us go. W- we really need your help, we all are in danger!" Said Rosela.

     "I cannot offer what you are looking for, I have once failed myself, and I won't fail again!" Said the Guardian.

      "NO! STOP! Let my friends go!" Shouted Shawn.

     "Perhaps you want to join your friends over here? My pleasure!" Said the Guardian.

     "Guardian, I don't want to fight you! We just need your help! There is an evil being who has my friends captured!" Explained Shawn.

     "Nonsense! I will not fall for your deceiving lies, I will not let any of you take anything from me!" Said the Guardian.

     "Guardian, he's speaking the truth! Our whole world could be in danger!" Said Rosela, while struggling to breathe. 

      "I don't care about anything you say! I will end all of you!" Said the Guardian as he summoned his axe a walked towards Shawn.

     "Guardian please!" Begs Shawn.

     "How can we defeat Dark Control?!" Shouted Shawn.

     The Guardian stopped. The Guardian stood still, stared at Shawn.

     "K- Kylian Jestar. I- I have not remembered that name, in years..." Said The Guardian.

     The Guardian released Exodus and Rosela. Both of them dropped onto the ground gasping for air.

     "I am terribly sorry about your friends... Who are you?" Asked The Guardian.

     "I- my name is Shawn Nyston." Said, Shawn.

     "The myth was true. You're Shawn. The one said to defeat him..." Said The Guardian.

     "Him? Dark Control?" Asked Shawn.

     "Yes, how do you know him?" Asked The Guardian.

     "For many years, he's been looking for these elements to open this, Nightmare Realm Portal. He's been in my way countless times, how do we defeat him?" Explained Shawn.

     The Guardian sighed.

     "It has been many years since I have recalled about this story. 1,000 years ago, there was a strong fighter that rose, his name... Kyllian Jestar. He fought countless days and weeks, making his way and earning the position to become the next ruler of his realm. The one who will be able to possess and keep the Harmonyian Piece, a strong, combined stone of multiple elements. His greatest rival, Ares Perseus. They competed with each other along with many other strong fighters. In the end, they fought for the final decision. Ares lost... Kyllian prevailed. Kyllian was about to be crowned as the next ruler and possess the Heart of Harmony. However, the queen sensed a dark essence in him. Hesitant, the queen frightened, quickly decided not to give the title, and Kyllian was rejected. Kyllian was furious, and Ares was crowned. One evening, Kyllian found something truly evil. A corrupted element in the middle of a forest. He picked up the element and saw it's horrific powers. Kyllian became corrupted. Using the power of the element, he destroyed and started tumultuous destruction. Ares saw what Kyllian was doing, and was forced to fight him. It was a battle that no one won. Ares, almost defeated, struggled and used the Heart of Harmony to extract the soul contained in Kyllian's body, and banished him. Kyllian was trapped. This energy, so powerful, Ares died. For many years, Kyllian has waited for his revenge and return. He finally managed to get a body, when a traveller entered the realm he was trapped in and took over his body." Explained the guardian.

     "That's our friend, Damien. And we're hoping we can get him back." Asked Rosela.

     The Guardian sighed.

     "I'm sorry, but... your friend will sadly not return." Said The Guardian.

     "Wh- What?! No, NO!" Shouted Exodus Sadly.

     "When Dark Control manages to find a body, that spirit or soul who was contained in the original body dies. There is no returning for someone afterwards unless one specific element is used." Explained The Guardian. 

     Silence filled the air.

     "I cannot help you fight him, unfortunately. But, there is a way you can defeat him. I'm sure you guys are after the 7th element, the most powerful one." Said The Guardian.

     The Guardian hovered towards the centre pedestal and revealed an element.

     "The 7th element. The ability to alter and control time." Said The Guardian.

     The Guardian then floated towards Shawn.

     "Because Dark Control knows that he can be defeated with this element. He's trying to prevent you from finding and using it on him. Shawn, that sword you grabbed. You will need it. Keep it with you... With this element, you must go 1,000 years to the past in the Harmonyian Realm, the event where Ares and Kyllian had their battle. You need to retrieve the Heart of Harmony and bring it back to this reality. This is the only way you are able to defeat him. You must place the Heart of Harmony into that slot on the sword. However, it's not that simple. There will be a chance that a sacrifice will be made." Explained The Guardian.

     "Shawn, you know if you take this risk, there's no coming back, right? What if you can't retrieve it? What if you're too late?!" Said Rosela in fear.

     "Rosela, we have no other choice, do we?" Said Shawn.

     Rosela became silent.

     "Shawn, be safe. Promise that you'll make it alive." Said Exodus.

     "I'll try." Said Shawn. 

     Shawn turned towards The Guardian.

     "Thank you, Guardian." Said Shawn.

     "Shawn, I wish you the best of luck. Defeat Dark Control, and please, avenge me for what he did." Said The Guardian.

     "I promise."

     Shawn raised the element high in the air. It started to spin, shifting and changing. Shawn stared at it. Shawn looked towards Rosela and Exodus they smiled, he smiled back towards them. He looked back up, and then. He's gone. The white screen fades and then blacked out.