Guardians of the Elements: The Lightning Guardian

GotE Story: Gloom

There would be no place more inhospitable than Limb, a pseudo-plane that separated the dimensions of Light and Darkness, a portion of reality that was not destined to be occupied by anything or anyone. And yet there she was. With her black eyes and porcelain skin, and her greyish hair that blended in with the place. She had been alone for so long, that time no longer mattered to her.

Suddenly something caught her attention, an object that appeared and disappeared in the distance. She had wandered aimlessly through that endless wasteland for so long that she had already lost all hope of ever seeing anything from the other dimensions again.

- Hello, is anyone there? - she said as she approached the strange object. She got no reply. She had almost forgotten the sound of her own voice.

She kept getting closer until she was in the last place where the object of her curiosity had disappeared. She sat down to wait for it to come back; don't know how much, until it reappeared. Without thinking, she grabbed hold of him, of a piece of cloth that she managed to grab.

With her eyes closed, she could feel herself being pulled out of Limb. When she opened them again, a mowing light made her eyes ache They took a few seconds to adjust. She looked around. She saw trees, buildings, a blue sky as only could have fantasized, and a boy. A young man with raven hair and pale complexion looking back at her. He looked down at her hand; she was clinging to his black jacket, she dropped it suddenly and took a couple of steps away. Standing in full sunlight, she felt her skin burn. Sore, she ran into the shade, where the cold made her sneeze. The young man approached and handed her his coat, which she took a little distrustful.

- My name is Frank - said the stranger. He carried a saber that was somewhat familiar to her. Dread invaded her face when she remembered the former owner of that katana.

- Aqliva(8), aqliva... - said the girl in a language that the Dark Guardian could not understand.

- It seems that she speaks the language of the ancient architects. Maybe I can help - suggested Filo. A chill went through Frank's body, coming from the height of his holster.

- Stay away, I said - the young woman's words made sense before the guardian's ears.

- Easy, I won't hurt you - he tried to calm her by taking her by the arms. Their gazes met. A black blush invaded the white cheeks of the girl, who stopped struggling - What's your name?

The question puzzled her. Name, did she have a name? Of course she had, she remembered her father having told her once... before she ended up in Limb. Yes, she had one. Her name was...

- Gloom - she finished saying with a small voice. What else did she not remember? She couldn't remember what she didn't remember.

- Well, Gloom, where are you from?

That question generated another tangle in her mind, although it surprised her that this was not as big as knowing her own name.

- It's complicated to explain - she ended up apologizing when she saw that not even she could put the pieces together completely.

- Well, try, I have time - Frank led her to a nearby bench, under the shade of a lime tree.

Gloom sorted things out a bit in her head and began.

- I live in the Limb that exists between the dimensions of Light and Darkness. I ended up there after their separation occurred because of my father... - she stopped.

- The separation? Your father? Are you not talking about...? - Frank's already white face paled even more as his interlocutor nodded with shame fixed in her gaze.

- That's right, my father is Darkness - she said after a tense silence -, and my mother was Light - these last words carried an enormous sorrow.

- Easy - Frank calmed her when he saw the sadness reflected in her deep black eyes - You are not the only one that your father has hurt - he added, showing him his saber again - Currently I can control it, but it is a weight that I carry on me - A pang in the chest reminded him of the deaths he caused - Many lives I have claimed when I was under your father's command, but no more - He forced a smile for his companion.

The gray-haired girl smiled back. Her beautiful and full lips were black just like the night. After that, they continued talking for a long time. Laughter and crying erupted, but both continued to enjoy each other's company. Suddenly, Penumbra fell exhausted. Frank stopped her before she hit the ground. Her breathing was weak, and her skin was cold, despite wearing the guardian's coat.

- Filo, what's happening? - the latter demanded a response from the voice of his sword.

- She has been out of Limb for a long time - argued the voice of the saber - It seems that living there so many years has linked her to that plane in a very deep way.

- And what should I have to do? - Frank's concern only increased with the passing of the seconds.

- You have to take her back to Limb.

- How do I do that?

- The same way she was dragged here in the first place, your Shadow Travel.

The guardian accepted without being entirely convinced. He took the girl in his arms and plunged into the shadows. Once in Limb, a stumble caused him to fall, causing him to drop Gloom before hitting the ground. He got up quickly and approached the young woman, who was already beginning to recover.

- Are you okay? - he asked with a hint of concern.

- Yes, I'm fine - answered the other, who had managed to straighten up.

- Good - the guardian's gaze took on a tinge of relief, which faded as a strange pain grew in his chest - Well, I gess I've gotta go. I don't think I can stay here much longer, so... - Frank stood up and took a couple of steps away so he could use his Shadow Travel again.

- Wait! - Penumbra shouted, drawing his attention, while running towards him.

A kiss. A kiss full of happiness and sadness, of desire and guilt, of passion and innocence. A kiss loaded with the love that nobody had given her, and that she could never give. All the love that she had accumulated during the millennia in which she had been isolated there. All that love now only corresponded to one person, to that person, to that young man who rescued her from her desolate prison, who showed her the world outside of Limb, the one who was the only being who was concerned about her. Now she was kissing him, they were kissing. A kiss that she could never forget. Frank broke away after the kiss was over. The sparkle in his eyes was the only evidence she needed to know that her love was reciprocated.

- I promise I'll see you again - said the guardian, beginning his teleportation.

- I'll be waiting for you - replied his lover. A special glow illuminated her eyes, like a pair of stars in the dark of night.

- I love you - added the raven haired boy before disappearing.

- Goodbye, Frank - the guardian had already left. A tear crossed the still smiling face of Gloom. She felt a pain in her chest that she did not know was capable of feeling. She had once again been left alone in that desolate wasteland, but with a hint of hope tied to her "heart."

(8) Aqliva: Stay away.