A Gathering of Guardians: The Prologue (Etrian Odyssey Nexus Fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Title: A Gathering of Guardians – The Prologue

Summary: Flying city of Maginia. The mysterious island called Lemuria. Explorers far and wide gather to Maginia to join in the expedition leading to Lemuria. Some explorers, however, are specifically sought out and asked to join. The famous Guardian Guild is just one guild to receive a request.

AN: Ah, the beginning of a new novel and series. It's exciting, really. And I've been waiting aaaages to begin this series~

Now, just a few notes before we start. This first saga of the series is more or less a prologue that leads up to the beginning of Nexus. This novel will centre of the gathering of all key characters that will, at some point in time, take a role in this long and very ambitious series.

Secondly, I don't know if I'll be able to keep up a weekly update, what I normally like to do with series. But I will try to update in a steady fashion.

I think that's it for now. Anyway, hope you enjoy reading~!

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Chapter 1:

Lynus made a quick note within a patient's file before he closed it and pushed it aside. He felt a sense of satisfaction upon realising that his latest patient had overcome a life-threatening obstacle and was well and truly on that path of recovery. The rest was up to him, now.

"Azure?" he called out as he pushed his chair back from his desk and stood up.

As Lynus picked up the patient folder and turned toward the door of his private clinic, a young man quietly stepped into the room and looked at him expectantly. His appearance was extraordinarily similar to how Lynus used to look when he was younger. Only difference was his hair and eyes were of a different colour. Hair an amethyst purple colour while his eyes were a striking light blue. He, however, was a few inches shorter than what Lynus was and his skin was a natural tan.

"Y-yes?" he asked.

"Can you place this file in out-patients, please?" Lynus requested.

Azure nodded his head as he took the file from him. He glanced down at the file's name and his eyes widened a fraction as he looked back at him. "H-he's been given the all clear?"

Lynus smiled and nodded. "Yes, he's on the path to full recovery. The hospital will be able to take it from here."

A small, almost shy smile of relief appeared on Azure's face as he hugged the file against his chest. "Th-that's good."

"Do I have any more patients?" Lynus asked as he walked down the hallway that attached his private clinic to his home that he shared with his husband.

"N-not yet, though Dr Stiles has sent over a few patient records for you to look over," Azure answered as he followed a couple of steps behind him.

"Ah, I see to them while I have some tea," Lynus mused aloud as he idly brushed his long orange hair over his shoulder.

"I-I'll boil the kettle after I put this file away," Azure insisted before he skittered forward toward the filing room.

Lynus chuckled softly to himself. "Thank you, Azure, make sure you get some tea for yourself, too."

Out of sheer habit, Lynus watched until Azure was out of sight as he ducked into the filing room. As he did so, his mind wandered to the time, about a year ago now, where he met Azure for the first time. Rather, found him.

One particular sunny afternoon, Lynus had found himself feeling restless. Something had been pulling him to visit the first floor of the labyrinth. He had walked those natural paths many, many times before. Had seen just about every corner that the labyrinth possessed. Even so, he followed that feeling, that pulling sensation in his chest.