Born as half demon, Prince Rathbone only has one purpose in life. Stopping his father, the Demon King from destroying the world
Charlie's life purpose is clear. She must contact the Guardians and ask their help to defeat the Demon King once again...
The wind guardian swirls around her. For a moment, she's engulfed in cloud.
Charlie bursts to tears when she finally got released. Luc hugs her and let her cry to her heart content.
"Oh, Luc! It's horrible! I could see suffering everywhere! Humans are dying...nothing I could do...it hurts..."
The wind guardian has showed her what he has seen in ages. Humans killed each others in senseless wars. Demons feast on humans like cattle.
Gaia scolds, "You shouldn't do that..."
Zephyr replies in his childish voice, "As a priestess, she must learn the humans foolishness."
Luc rubs her back. If only he could ease her pain. He holds her hand and kisses the back of her hand. Right where the wind tattoo has appeared.
Charlie's heart skips a beat.
Luc said they're just friends. Well, a friend doesn't do this kind of kiss. Bad for her heart. She pulls her hand from him.
Charlie pushes him away slightly. She says, "I need to think. Alone."
"Don't go too far," warns Luc.
He nods to Dante and he nods back. As usual, Dante would follow her. To keep her safe.
The Guardians are whispering something in old dead language. No human understand it. Luc hates when they keep them out like this.
Gaia is arguing with them. He looks upset. The tiny Guardian leaves the rest of them.
That night, Gaia hops to Charlie's lap.
He whispers, "You don't need to purify my shrine. I'm good in my present condition."
"Why? You would need your full strength to face the Demon Lord again," asks Charlie.
"It's true. But I don't need this kind of sacrifice..."
Luc is still asleep. Claudia is standing guard, patrolling around their campsite. Dante is snoring a bit loudly.
Charlie looks at them.
Then she says, "I love them all. They are my family. I want the Guardians kick the demons out from this planet. Make the world peaceful again."
Gaia bows slightly.
He says, "As you wish. You're a good kid, Charlie. I'm glad we have met."
"You sounded it's like goodbye."
"Maybe. I won't be so tiny anymore after you purified my shrine. Back to my awesome form," says him.
"And no one would call you a rat again."
"Brat..."
Maybe Charlie's eyes were playing tricks on her. She could swear the guardian shed some tears before he vanishes.
Charlie lies down on the grass. The night sky looks so beautiful tonight. She wants to sleep early. Yet, the sleep has evaded her.
She turns and turns but still couldn't sleep. She feels uneasy maybe because knowing the last shrine would be purified soon.
Tomorrow their long journey to purify the shrines would end. Another chapter in this long war would begin.
The humans and guardians would fight against the Dark Lord again.
In the next morning, Zephyr cast a gust of wind. The humans got blown to a spot near Gaia's shrine. It would take two-three days to reach their next destination.
The earth guardian is awfully quiet the last few days. He rarely said anything when the humans teased him.
The group goes hiking. Their destination is on top of a tall mountain.
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A stranger suddenly appears a mile before they reach Gaia's shrine. He yells, "Don't purify it, Luc! You'll regret it!"
Luc draws his blade and he asks, "Who are you?"
"The name is Rathbone. Don't let her purify it..."
The stranger's body crumbles to dust.
Luc stares Claudia and she stares him too.
Claudia asks, "Rathbone, isn't he..."
Luc quickly hushes her. That stranger really looks familiar. As if the older version of him.
(Did father send him here to distract us from our mission? But he looked just like me! Time travel would sent the user into dust. And he looked just like me. I'm Prince Rathbone!)
Undine appears beside them.
She urges, "The shrine is near! Don't stop here! It's almost time for all the guardians to reach glorious old days again!"
Gaia is still silent. He doesn't look happy, knowing his power would be restored back.
Luc ponders in his heart. Still no answer. He hates to be indecisive like this. His instincts told him to tread carefully.
Luc stares to Charlie and he asks, "What do you think?"
She looks a bit pale this morning. She told him she couldn't sleep well because the anxiety she felt last night.
Luc knew that feeling well. No one could sleep well if tomorrow would be your big day.
Well, except the glutton Dante. He could sleep anywhere. Even standing on his feet. Or up on a tree.
Luc stares the rest of his comrades. They have got so far. It's their last shrine. It would be foolish to heed a stranger's warning.
But Gaia were acting strangely.
There are two choices for them right now:
A. To continue the purification. Completely ignores the stranger's warning.
B. Confront Gaia. Ask him why he behaved so strange.
(If you choose A, continue to the next chapter).
(If you choose B, choose the second chapter after this one).
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