Dream of the Guardians I-1: Rising

Chapter 1 - The first step

In a lifeless village, where everyday life is looking for something to do with their lives, villagers speak worried about the rise of passengers in the last years. Recently more outsiders passed by through the town, although it is good for business, they cannot lower their guard because of the possibility of being robbed from what little they have.

Someone starts talking over a box about the recent monster attacks in the area, the inhabitants are more concerned about how active the world has become. A young man in rags and covered in dirt carrying a slightly large sword and a sack in each hand goes into the village in search of a tailor.

People give him the right directions, and as the young man walks his way everyone looks at him and talks behind his back. After a short tour he arrives at his destination and inside he meets a man with gray hair so white that the young man's eyes squint when trying to look directly at him.

The old tailor drops a chuckle, a sign of being used to giving the same first impression for a long time. Unlike the rest of the people, he ignores the appearance of the young man, and when pointing it out the tailor responds:

"In this line of work the first thing you see in a person is what a customer can become. Each person is a work of art yet to be sculpted."

The young man appreciates his wisdom and holds a conversation while his measurements are being taken:

"What kind of outfit will you want? Preferred colors? Usual postures?", the tailor is very methodical about the details of his work.

The young man is quiet trying to answer each question clearly enough, the conversation is more of an interrogation.

"I want an outfit to travel, to cover the most essential, to resist the cold, walk a lot, be able to carry objects easily. I guess blue and black. I am more used to having my legs open and moving my arms, so take into account the area of the upper back, knees, and crotch.", the mental effort to remember each question and formulate a clear and concise answer to each of them leaves a good impression on the tailor.

«Specific requests, he must have a clear objective», thought the tailor, "What is your objective? If you can tell me.", asks the tailor while taking measurements of the young man's exercised body.

"Eventually I will take the King's Mountain Challenge far to the west and reach the top of the world, then I will be able to fulfill my goals.", answers the young man in a serious expression, but full of motivation, a fire that the old tailor has seen more times than days he has lived.

The tailor claims that it is a suicide, even his lifelong friends left the town in search of adventures when they were young and then they were never heard from afterwards. He is the only one who has lived so long by having his feet on the ground and asks the young man to be realistic.

"There is no point in living if you do not at least try to reach your goals, whether dreams or ambitions." says the young man with complete honesty that his words reach the heart of the tailor, they even made him feel young once again. "Although you say that it is a suicide, there is nothing else I want to do with my life, it is the only thing of which I am completely sure. Besides, it is not just for me, it is no longer just my dream.", he says as he turns his gaze to his sword.

The young man appreciates the old man's concern and assures him that he is not just any person.

«That look, this young man is determined», the tailor deduces when he saw the face of his unusual client up close, until he saw more closely, «Those dark circles, how much have you cried in your short life? »