Guardian of Vulnerable Flames

Chapter 33

Blaze found herself sandwiched between two towering Guardian soldiers, their figures looming over her tall frame as they navigated through an ugly and dark corridor. The tight space made her feel uncomfortable, the echoes of their footsteps resonating against the walls, creating an eerie ambiance. The oppressive atmosphere of the corridor, coupled with the imposing presence of the two strangers, made Blaze yearn for the open spaces and familiar surroundings of the Guardian world. After what felt like an interminable couple of minutes, they finally emerged into a larger room. The transition was abrupt, as if the darkness of the corridor had been replaced by an equally foreboding expanse. The room, constructed entirely of rocks and bricks, surrounded them on all sides — the walls, the floor, and the ceiling alike. The absence of windows contributed to the unsettling feeling, shrouding the room in an impenetrable darkness.

The only sources of light were the two torches held by the Guardian soldiers, casting flickering shadows that danced along the uneven surfaces of the stone walls. The feeble illumination accentuated the stark, cold nature of the room, creating an environment that seemed devoid of warmth and familiarity. Blaze couldn't shake off the discomfort that had lingered from the cramped corridor, and the harsh, dimly lit surroundings only heightened her unease.

In the heart of the dark, stone-laden room stood a solitary cage, its imposing presence casting a somber atmosphere. As Blaze's eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could discern the figure within the confines of the cage—Aiden, her adoptive dad. The man she had come to visit, a man still branded a traitor by the Queen, condemned to spend years in the Guardian prison. A pang of emotion struck Blaze's heart as she took in the sight of Aiden. His face, once familiar and comforting, now bore the weight of hardship and confinement. The harsh reality of his situation was etched across his features, and the passage of time had left its mark on his once robust frame. Aiden's body, now slender and frail, stood as a stark contrast to the strong and protective figure Blaze had known him to be.

As Blaze approached the cage, her heart broke a bit more at the sight of Aiden. The distance between them, both physical and metaphorical, seemed insurmountable. His eyes, which once sparkled with warmth, now reflected the toll of his imprisonment. The echoes of their past, the painful moment when he had betrayed her trust, lingered in the air. In that cage, Aiden appeared different and fragile, a mere shadow of the man Blaze had once looked up to. The stark reality of his confinement emphasized the profound impact it had on his physical and emotional well-being. Blaze's journey to confront Aiden had taken courage, but as she faced him in that dimly lit prison cell, the complexities of their relationship weighed heavily on her heart.

Blaze stood in front of the cage, her gaze fixed on Aiden, who looked up from the dimly lit confinement. There was a moment of silence, filled only by the distant echoes of the corridor, before Blaze took a deep breath, determined to bring some lightness to the somber atmosphere. "Hi, Aiden," she began, offering a small smile, "I've got some good news. I made it through my first year of Guardian training." Blaze tried to inject a casual tone into her voice, hoping to lift the heaviness that hung in the air. Aiden's tired eyes brightened for a moment as he processed Blaze's words. "You did?" he asked, a mix of surprise and pride coloring his voice. Blaze nodded, her enthusiasm tempered by the circumstances. "Yeah, Furie and I both passed. We're well on our way to becoming top-notch Guardians." She paused, hoping the news would bring a momentary reprieve from the weight of their surroundings. Aiden managed a faint smile, a glimmer of pride flickering in his eyes. "That's incredible, Blaze. I always knew you had it in you."

Taking a seat on the cold stone floor near the cage, Blaze continued, "It hasn't been easy, but we're making progress. Furie and I even got messages from our biological father, asking about us. We're planning to visit him again soon." She tried to steer the conversation toward a more positive note. Aiden's expression softened, appreciating the effort to bring some comfort into the conversation. "I'm glad to hear that," he replied, his voice a mixture of gratitude and melancholy. Blaze leaned closer to the cage, her tone gentle as she reassured him, "Look, I know it's tough in here, but I am not giving up on you, Aiden. We'll get through this, and I'll put a good word for you. The Queen can reduce your sentence, I'll make sure of it." Aiden's eyes met Blaze's, gratitude and longing evident in his gaze.

Aiden's response was accompanied by a strange chuckle that echoed through the cold prison cell. "The Queen still thinks I'm a traitor. I don't know if she'll ever let me get out," he said, the bitterness evident in his voice. Blaze felt a surge of chaotic emotions within her as she grappled with the harsh reality of her father's predicament. "You just have to act like a Guardian and respect your Queen," she urged, her voice a mix of concern and determination. "You need to promise me you'll never try to hurt Furie ever again." Her gaze locked onto Aiden's, Blaze's eyes intense as she awaited his answer. Aiden's eyes, once warm and familiar, darkened as he regarded Blaze. After a moment of unsettling silence, he spoke with a seriousness that sent a chill down her spine, "I will promise, if you promise me to duel her and claim the throne for yourself. There's still time before she gets stronger than you." Blaze's heart sank at his unexpected proposition. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, and she hated what she heard. The idea of dueling her sister, of potentially turning against her, clashed with Blaze's sense of duty and loyalty. The internal struggle reflected in her eyes as she grappled with the impossible choice presented by her father.

Blaze took a step back from the cage, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and frustration. "You have to let go, Aiden," she asserted, her voice carrying a firm resolve. "Furie is my sister, and I'll never hurt her." The weight of the situation pressed heavily on Blaze, and she wanted Aiden to understand the gravity of her words. The anger simmered within her as she continued, "Furie is already stronger than me, Aiden. One day, she will be your Queen. Be ready for it." Aiden's eyebrows furrowed intensely, his features contorting with the stabbing impact of Blaze's words. The reality of his once-daughter's assertion struck deep, and the realization of the irreversible changes in their relationship hung heavy in the dimly lit prison cell.

Without giving Aiden a chance to respond, Blaze turned abruptly, her gaze resolute as she walked away. She signaled to the two Guardian soldiers, a silent command that she was done. The trio left Aiden alone in the darkness, the echoes of their footsteps fading as they departed. The cold silence that enveloped the prison cell mirrored the emotional distance that had grown between them, leaving Aiden isolated and bereft of light, both figuratively and literally.