Guardian's Amulet: Tanwen's End✓

Chapter 5 - Where it All began✓

"It all started 15 years ago, The people of this island were given the basic elements. Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, by the guardian Rye. The first person to get their elements was a Kola, fire. Next was Ano, water. Then there was Aysto, air. Lastly was Kono, earth. They were considered the elders of their element groups. They all lived together in one village altogether, called The United.

They would have everyone in the village put a small amount of their powers into an amulet. To preserve ‌power just in case anything went wrong. It was kept in the village hall, which was the only time the amulet was open to the people of the village. There were years of peace until the elders passed away, and the people were without guidance. The village started arguing about which element would be the next in line to protect the amulet.

It led to chaos. The fire clan who were followers of Kola decided that it was time they took matters into their own hands. They started to burn the village into ashes, the other elements fought back, and many died. But others survived the attack and moved to other regions, and they rebuilt. Followers of Kola still took the amulet with them and rebuilt themselves up north. We rebuilt the village for those who still believe that we can be united again. The animal shifters stayed with us in the United, ‌in fear of being captured and used as slaves for the other nations.

Tanwen, the ruler of destruction, was summoned by followers of Kola. They gave him the amulet thinking they could gain godly powers. He turned his back on them once he got the amulet. He went on to cause chaos and treacherous conditions. Then a few years back the Rye gained back the amulet and restored the island to its natural balance.

She used her powers to seal Tanwen in the mortal realm. The earth's domain, making him powerless. In fear of the amulet getting into Tanwen's hands or others once more. She broke the amulet into its different powers and hid them. After that, she ran away and went into hiding.

Now the fire clan has brought him to the surface once again, somehow without the amulet. Not learning their lesson the first time. Recently we were informed that we are nearing a world war. They have started to blame each other for the now very fast-occurring danger, Tanwen. We'll be in even bigger danger if Tanwen finds out that you and the amulet are back." Zaya explains.

"That is a lot to take in," I sigh with the intensity of this situation.

'Talila, why didn't you tell me there was going to be an upcoming war in the making!?'

'It wasn't necessary?'

'What do you mean a world war is not "necessary" for me to know!?'

'...'

Once more I get no answer.

"Yes, yes it is. But I am confused about how you have the amulet as a whole when it was shattered long ago," Zaya asks, looking at Talila.

'Yeah, she's right, why aren't you in pieces or have anything missing, Talila?'

'I am an illusion,'

"Talila says it's an illusion," I tell Zaya. She almost spits out her tea but coughs to stop. She sets down her teacup.

"It told you that? I didn't hear it say anything," Zaya exclaimed in shock.

"Well, it did say we have linked minds now," I told her. Zaya flipped through the books over and over again.

"I don't see such powers as those in the book," Zaya stated, she sighed and closed the book.

"Maybe it's not in the book," I tell her. She pauses and thinks, moments later she nods in agreement.

"After all you said it had powers beyond our imaginations," I replied.

"That is true," Zaya agreed.

"I'm sorry this may be off-topic though, but I want to get home very soon and I don't know how I got here. " I asked her.

"That may be a problem because the portal that brought you here only opens twice every four months, for reasons of course, but to get to it you have to reach the West Element Temple," Zaya stated.

'Great now I have to be here for the next 4 months,'

"But if I'm the new guardian, I have to reunite the different elements of the amulet once again, stop a war, and while doing so in prison Tanwen or defeat him once and for all? In four months!" I commented. She nodded slowly in weary movements.

A bell rang in the distance, very loud. Zaya sighed. She stood up with a swift movement.

"Ayla it's time to go." She carried the teacups back to the kitchen.

"Where are we going?" I also stood up.

"The announcements for the day. In the middle of the village square." Zaya sighs. I walked over to her in the kitchen.

"Are the announcements bad?" I asked with genuine concern. For someone to be sighing so deeply at something must mean it's either something bad or tiresome.

"The news isn't all bad but it wasn't all good either. It's the same old same old, war is going to start this. War is going to start, but it never happens," Zaya rambles yet still manages to clean up everything with speed.

"Come on, we don't want to be late do we?" She says as she walks back to the front door. She unhooked a small black cloth from the coat stand.

"You might want to put this on. You don't want to catch unwanted attention. It's a small village where everyone knows everyone. So if anyone new comes in it's going to be a dramatic problem." Zaya suggested, she handed me a small cloak with a hood. Without hesitation, I put on the cloak and we both walked out the door.

We walked past the beautiful flowers in her garden. Ghost Orchids, Corpse Lilies, Parrot's Beaks, Yellow & Purple Lady Slippers, Kadupul flowers, Sea Poison Trees, Campions, Snapdragon's Skull. They were beautiful, the different colors made them unique. I bent down to look at them more closely. These flowers are rare to find on Earth, only very few are found. But here they grow without problems. It even looked like an invasive species.

"Beautiful aren't they?" Zaya gushed, she was bent down to the right side of me.

"Yes," I agreed.

"Most of them I keep for the enhancement of powers," She explained.

"The enhancement of powers? To increase the power of a person?" I questioned. She nodded and pointed to a Kadpal plant.

"This one," she stated. I extended my hand to touch it but my wrist was grabbed, stopping me before I could. I look up at her, then her hand softly grabbing my wrist.

"No touching, delicate, and very poisonous," she warns me. She let go of my wrist. "We mustn't be late," She exclaimed and we stood back up after a few minutes.

'To think something so soft and pretty would be highly poisonous.'

We continued walking past the garden, to a small dirt road. The trees were beautiful, Cherry Blossoms, Oaks, and Weeping Willows. All are planted on either side of the road. We reached the end of the road to a gate. Rusty and small, pushing it open made the hinges squeak. We walked the path till we reached the village. Still bustling like it was before. I spot a large group of people, animals, and many other creatures. I followed Zaya.

"This way," Zaya gestured over to the crowded area with a stage. Ryoko, Tatsuya, and Kaida stand a good distance away from the crowd. Ryoko was yelling and waving, trying to get our attention. His shouting wasn't very audible through all the noise. People were starting to notice. Tatsuya was scolding him, trying to stop him from attracting more attention. All eyes looked in Zaya's and my direction. I put my hood on, seeing that the attention on me was now.

Thankfully the announcements started and everyone turned back to the announcer on ‌stage. A tan, tall, well-groomed, and middle-aged fully suited man stepped onto the stage, standing in front of the podium. Tapping the microphone and getting everyone's attention.