Gate Guardian - Tale of the Blazing Heart

Phase 3: A Haunted Date

Phase 3: A Haunted Date

[Heightsburg Campus – Heightsburg City]

[12:54 Noon]

"I'll see you after class. Wait for me at the entrance~"

Then Erylle waved goodbye at me. She's going to her Archery Class, she said. I always go home earlier than her before we had that amazing encounter. Truth to be told, this will be my first time accompanying a girl other than Asumi.

"Hey hey hey! Look what we got here. You finally made your move eh?"

Speak of the devil. It's her.

"I-I-I-It's nothing. We just got an urgent business."

"Don't give some excuses. Want me to give some tips for you?" Asumi smirked.

Oh yeah, I heard that Erylle's ex-boyfriend is Asumi's brother. I think Atlas is his name, I don't know. From all I've heard, Erylle and Atlas had their relationship for about two years, until Atlas died. No one knows how. Even Asumi didn't bother to tell me. It's a mystery for all of the campus.

Erylle never had a boyfriend ever since. She rejected all the confessions. The more I think of it, the more I lose my confidence.

"I'll give you her favorite food if you wanted to exchange information." Asumi continued.

"L-Like what?"

"Like what is that urgent business?"

"T-That's none of your concern. Let's go, I'll accompany you on your way back home."

"No thanks! I can handle myself." She smiled.

"Watch your step; you might trip on a dog poop again..."

"No, watch yourself! You might get rejected! Ehehehehe~"

Then she eventually left, shabbily. It got my nerves. I thought she was going to support me about my love for Erylle, but she instead gave me a painful joke. The more I think of it, the more I think that it will happen to me sooner....

Asumi is such a fan of dry humor...

<>

An hour later, Erylle saw me sitting on the bench in front of the main gate of the campus. She looks happy just by seeing me. Maybe she wanted me all along... No! Stop your delusions, Yohan! She's here to teach you how to become a Gate Guardian! Delete all unnecessary thoughts!

She waved and made a big smile on her face the moment she noticed me.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

I was speechless. I don't know how to start a conversation, or answer a non-question sentence, really. Especially if it's my ultimate crush is talking to me. Maybe I should hang myself. Wait, what am I thinking?

"So what shall I teach you for today? ...Oh, about the Eidolon hunting. I know a place."

I just followed her without hesitation while she talked about the benefits of being a Gate Guardian.

Once being baptized to be a Guardian, you will receive a power to fight Eidolons, the <Guardian Ability>.

Also, once you become a Guardian, you will receive a Quintessence, which can be used to unlock your powers on earth. Normally, you can only use that power in Transfield, and you're an ordinary human on Earth. But this Quintessence makes you a superhero on Earth for only a maximum of 15 minutes. Then the Quintessence vanishes. Another downside is that you can only use one per day.

That is where the hunting for Eidolon begins. If you killed an Eidolon, you will receive one Quintessence, regardless of how powerful the Eidolon is. Eidolons are giant monsters with evil spirits, and they are thousands more than the stars in the sky, so Eidolons don't go extinct.

Actually, a Gate Guardian's job is to minimize the execution of sins caused by Eidolons. If the Gate Guardians will just sit around watching the Eidolons run amok, it could cause a global disaster. So the primary goal is "Defeat Eidolons as many as you can". There is no way Guardians can defeat all of them, but they can at least try.

If we die in a battle, we die for real. It's not like an online game where you respawn. Also, you will carry on the wounds and any other things that affected you in the Transfield. What happens there happens for real. That's the only part I can't bear. But having to use your powers here on Earth is good for my ears.

I'm now pretty much convinced to be a Guardian. Just a few people have the ability to become a Guardian and I'm not planning to be deduction to our number. Besides...I will fight with her.

<>

"Here we are."

We stopped in front of an abandoned hospital a kilometer away from our school. It was called the "Red Hospital" though it's not really colored red. It's not even painted, just pure cement. Every night, the building's paint becomes red. That's what the legend says.

Erylle swiped her pointing finger in the thin air, and a glowing ring of light appeared out of nowhere. It's a Gate.

"Once you became a Guardian, I will teach you how to open a Gate."

The ring of light flashed and the next thing we knew is that we're already in the other dimension, the Transfield. The world is still the same icy dark place when I first got here, but the only difference is that we're standing in front of a big old creepy mansion.

The moon is currently yellow. Erylle said that the moon on Transfield changes its color depending on the time in the normal world.

"Transfield often reflects things from the Earth." Erylle said.

I noticed that when she was here on Transfield, the pupils in her emerald eyes returns to the golden cross-like sigil form from before. That adds prettiness to her beautiful eyes, really.

"You seem nervous...Your toes are shaking~"

Well I'm nervous because of two obvious reasons. One, Erylle is with me. Two, Erylle's with me, going into some creepy old mansion. I can't even talk.

"That can't be helped. Oh well, let's go inside!"

"B-But, isn't that mansion creepy?" My voice finally came out.

"Sure it is, Eidolons lurk inside. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

She immediately grabbed my hand and slowly pulled me into the front door of the mansion. It was painted dark, just like in every movie where a vampire pulls you through and suck your blood. I will not be surprised if I find a coffin inside. An owl started making creepy noises that made it much worse.

Well, at least I play horror video games. They are my personal favorite. I will not be scared. Besides, Erylle's with me. We should be fine.

We slowly opened the pair of doors together with both of our hands. There is a red carpet on the floor. As I expected, a vampire castle. Now we're hunting vampires, are we?