Guardian of Vulnerable Flames

Chapter 25

The trio of Guardians emerged from Cyclone's house, the air still carrying the weight of the enigmatic revelations. As they walked away, Leaf couldn't shake the oddity of Cyclone's disdain for the crystal. "It was so odd," he remarked, glancing at Furie. Furie nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed with curiosity. "And did you notice she sees a lot but doesn't share much with us? I feel like she's not telling us everything. I don't know..." Blaze, who had only met Cyclone for the first time today, chimed in, "She's a weird lady. Now, I understand why her book was written that way." Curiosity piqued, Furie looked at Blaze and asked, "What way?" Blaze attempted to articulate the peculiarity of Cyclone's prophecies. "Her writing is chaotic. The prophecies seem unorganized, cut here and there. It's not like any other book I've seen." She struggled to find the right words to convey the uniqueness of Cyclone's style. "I'll need to show you one day. You need to read it to understand what I mean." Furie, intrigued by the prospect of delving into Cyclone's mysterious writings, was about to express her agreement when suddenly, two fire spheres whizzed through the air toward the sisters. The orbs hovered in front of them, demanding attention and signaling a message from a fire Guardian.

The two fire spheres hovered in front of Furie and Blaze, their surfaces pulsating with a sublime glow. As if guided by an unspoken agreement, the sisters reached out and opened their messages simultaneously. Ignatius had sent identical messages to each of them, not anticipating that they would be together when they received the spheres. Furie's eyes scanned the message, absorbing the information, and she quickly shared the content with Leaf. "Ignatius has found some old tomes about the Obscure world in his library," she began, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "He's telling us about Penumbras, how they are the creators of shadows. The Penumbras, he says, are the mind, and the shadows are their soldiers." Leaf furrowed his brow, absorbing the gravity of the information. "So, he thinks the Penumbras are behind the attacks done by shadows?" Furie nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Ignatius believes that the Penumbras might be orchestrating these attacks. He wants us to be vigilant and he will try to gather more information about them." Blaze, listening intently, added her thoughts. "He also mentions an old bitterness between Guardians and the Obscure World. He hasn't found out what it is about yet." The Obscure World was proving to be more complex and dangerous than they thought.

The trio exchanged meaningful looks, their minds now grappling with the realization that their mission had taken an even more ominous turn. Ignatius's messages had opened a new chapter in their quest, one that involved understanding the Penumbras and deciphering their role in the shadow attacks.

The three Guardians, now armed with the crucial information from Ignatius, felt the weight of their responsibilities. After a brief discussion, they decided it was imperative to communicate the new revelations to everyone involved in the fight against the shadow attacks. Leaf took charge of sending a couple of message spheres to the Queen's advisors, ensuring that the highest levels of authority were informed. He carefully crafted the messages, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the potential involvement of the Penumbras in the shadow assaults. Meanwhile, Blaze and Furie took on the task of informing Guaya and their circle of friends, expanding the network of those who needed to be aware. Blaze focused on the practical aspects of protection, emphasizing the need to safeguard the relics, while Furie delved into the details of the Penumbras and the potential threat they posed.

As the trio engaged in multiple conversations, exchanging messages with precision and urgency, the gravity of their mission became even more apparent. The threads of information began weaving a complex tapestry, connecting the shadow attacks, the Penumbras, and the relics. Eventually, the trio reconvened, acknowledging that it was time to unravel the mystery surrounding the Penumbras. They decided to plan a meeting with the Queen and her advisors, realizing that a collective effort was essential to understand the motives behind the Penumbras' animosity towards Guardians.

The response from the Queen, however, came with unexpected challenges. In her messages, the Queen explained that the castle was in a state of chaos due to the preparations for the Winter reception. Guaya, acknowledging the time constraints in her schedule, suggested a quick morning gathering in two days. She emphasized the need for efficiency and productivity, as she had limited time available. Furie, reading the messages, couldn't help but frown at the mention of the Winter reception taking precedence. "It's always on her own time. I know she is the Queen, but her royal majesty's agenda seems to never have a moment for her daughters," Furie remarked with a tinge of hurt in her voice. Leaf, understanding the underlying emotions, looked at Furie and gently replied, "She managed to squeeze in a meeting with us; that's all that matters, Furie."

Furie knew Leaf was right, and she appreciated the reassurance, but the frustration lingered. She sighed and replied, "Sure." Despite the inner turmoil, the trio acknowledged the necessity of working within the constraints of the Queen's schedule. They understood the importance of the impending meeting and remained determined to make the most of the limited time available. The Winter reception might be a grand affair, but the looming threat of the Penumbras demanded swift and decisive action.