The Protectors: Matze's tale

Sun and Wind

(Getting better at this. Or I think so at least. I know for a fact I like how chapter one ended better and like the story better in this order than the original. Let me know what you think. And again as always, critiques are always welcome.)

Bright green eyes blinked open to a white light that gradually faded to reveal a golden ceiling light enough that one could think it was the sun. "What?" the male says as he moves to sit up, long messy blue hair falling into his face. He sighs and brushes it back from his face before looking around the room. It was a wide space, white walls giving the feeling of endlessness. The marble floor is almost like that of a cloud. And settled at the far end of the room was a throne or something similar to that. To Matze, it looked like it was made from clouds but it also was not. Like maybe whoever sat there liked making people believe it was but the gold and blue trims on the white made it seem impossible to have been. 

"Ah You're awake" The voice was soft but carried the entirety of the room, drawing Matze's gaze to the doorway that had definitely not been there when he was looking over the walls. The trim had that same cloud-like look as the chair with blue and gold ripples through it. "I'm sure you're wondering what you're doing here," the voice said again drawing Matze's gaze to the woman who stood there. She was tall, taller than himself but then he was on the shorter side when it came to men, but had he to gander a guess from this distance he'd have put her at over six foot tall. Her long pale blue hair that matched that of the sky on the brightest day was pulled back into a high ponytail and still fell nearly to her knees as she stood there. Her deep blue gown, nearly black in the right light, stopped just shy of the floor. The arms of the gown didn't seem to be there at first but after a long moment of concentration, Matze could see them. Clear as the air around them but the neckline that hung loosely along her collarbone and wrists was much easier to see. Her skin was lightly tanned, enough to know she'd spent a healthy amount of time in the sun but judging by her slim build Matze would have said that was likely more by choice. "Sorry to bring you here so suddenly. I usually try to reach out to...before I choose to bring someone in here." Her voice this time brought his attention to her face, or rather her captivating golden eyes that seemed to glimmer with amusement.  

A few minutes passed before Matze was able to pull his gaze away and get to his feet. "I'm sorry ma'am. I um...You brought me here?" he asks, a curiousness flashing in his green eyes, arms crossed over the soft red fabric of his own shirt.

"Yes, Matze. Do you recall what you were doing before waking up here?" she asks as she walks over to him, ponytail swaying with each step she takes.

"I...I've been sick in been for months. Dying slowly from the inside out." he says, green eyes locking with gold again, this time not allowing himself to get lost in them.

"Ah. See I knew you were special." she chuckles softly as she comes to a stop in front of the former king. "But unfortunately I'm sure you can guess what being here would mean for your body right now"

Matze's gaze flicked down to the floors before back to hers. "I knew it'd end this way. No point in regrets now"

"And should I be able to extend you a second chance?" she says, a light smile pulling at her lips.

"oh? Gonna assume there are conditions to this offer of yours" he says, curious what this stranger could possibly offer. "And even if not why should I trust someone who hasn't even bothered to introduce herself yet?"

"oh? Seems your love caution has rubbed off on you." She says, smile growing slightly "I am the goddess of the sun and sky. I have many names, Isli, Leasa...many more I assure you. But these days I prefer Arianna" She says as she turns to walk to her throne "You are right about their being condition. Creating a new body the same age as your soul isn't easy even for a god" she says, taking her seat.

Matze watched her before moving closer as she took a seat. "I see. Why me? Surely there are men, women, children far more deserving" He says, right hand moving to hold his left side. 

"AH, I don't know of anyone more deserving than one who would throw away his own well-being and care for others the way you always have." She says, watching as the hand on his side tightened. "I do mean that. You have had a rough go of things and yet you never let that stop you from putting others before yourself at every turn. You deserve this Matze."

"Let's leave that at I disagree. Those conditions you mentioned?" he says, wanting to move along before he could get too lost in the things he'd lost to bring him here.

Arianna let out a soft hum, eyes resting on him before she leaned back into her seat. "Yes. Firstly it will come at a cost of your memories. Now normally this is only a temporary loss but there have been cases where it's been permanent." She says, eyes studying him as he takes in that information before continuing "Second you'll be immortal. So you won't have to worry about age or sickness. Death is something you can experience but your body will heal itself and you'll awaken. Time for that will depend on the injury"

Matze shifted slightly before sighing softly "That's one hell of an offer so far. Not only a new life but one where so long as I stay in your graces I won't die? I'm sure anyone would be willing to jump at that."

"Most do. You seem reluctant, however. And I haven't even told you the thing that usually makes people reconsider. The final condition is that you will be at my command. Protecting those I deem worthy at all cost." Arianna says.

"I'd figured that from the start. I've met a protector or two in my day." He says meeting her gaze, conflicted about what to choose. His memories made him who he was to give them up for immortality sounded like a betrayal to those he'd hurt with his choices. "As for the reluctance, I don't know that I can take this. The risk of losing who I am. Betraying the people I left behind"

She smiles slightly "Someone like you won't lose his memories for long. And that mark on your side will still be there. Memory or not he'll know it's you"

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A pale hand comes up to shade emerald green eyes from the blinding sun as a male, on the thinner side and dressed in a vibrant red shirt and deep navy bottoms steps out of the shrine. Apparently, the Sun goddess, Arianna as she'd told him, had chosen him for a new mission. He didn't remember it all but he knew he was supposed to protect those on his way and with the help of the blade that now rested at his waist he would do it for sure. 

"Welp here goes nothing I guess." He says before sending a glance back at the shrine where he'd woken moments before. At the centre was a waving statue of his goddess. A statue that seemed to move for a moment as if to wish him luck.

He smiles and with a slight wave back to her sets off to the nearby town. Brown boots hitting the path out of the shrine at a steady pace. That is until stone turned to dirt then he took off in a sprint using his control on the wind to wind his way through trees that separated the shrine from the town before him.

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Above, orb in hand Arianna smiles as she watches him.

"Goddess this is crazy. There's no way a soul so young can..." It was the same male as before. His true issue was that the male had been a king prior and royalty doesn't usually have the best track record for being kind.

"How long are you gonna continue to question someone you know nothing about, Arginten? You aren't the one who watched him in his last months." Her hallow gold eyes lifted to meet the gaze of the man who'd spoken. "I understand your reservations about him and his past but have faith in my judgement. I would not have waited this long to pick just anyone."

"But goddess..."

She lets out a deep sigh "Matze will not fail. he is the one I've been looking for. I know it in my soul."