Guardians of the Light (Book 1: Rebirth)

Chapter 14

“What do you mean I can’t come with you?”, James spoke from where he was pacing back and forth in Ronin’s chambers. Ronin had left the Guardian Hall last night after receiving his orders from Master Guardian Thaddeus, he had returned to his room to rest before the journey ahead of him. He of course could not sleep, his mind plagued with nightmares, so he had gone down to the training grounds to let off some tension.

Only to find James was down there as well, the two of them caught up on events during the time Ronin was recovering while they trained together. James told him how much Sara had been adapting well to the new world she had been thrown into. Ronin was happy that she had James teaching her everything she needed to know about the person she could become.

Once training had finished James joined Ronin in his chambers for a couple of drinks between friends. While pouring a glass for James, Ronin had gone on to tell his friend about his up coming mission to the House of Royal Witches, not wanting to keep secrets between them.

That is when it had started, the questions, which lead to James asking him why he could not go with Ronin. “I need you to stay here and protect Sara in case something happens. I need someone I trust”, he spoke to James, knowing that the young man wanted to go with Ronin deeply but the nod made him realize that James also understood his duty. It would be a great learning experience, if it were not a strict solo mission. Ronin would have gladly taken James to visit the city of the House of Royal Witches.

There was no other place like it in the world, but this was not a visit this was a task only Ronin could carry out by himself. After a goodbye between them, James left Ronin to pack for his journey. While he was using the traveling portal to reach the realm in which the Coven’s territory rested, it was still a long journey. Time moved differently there, many of the Coven witches had lived for centuries because of their immortal blood.

High King Dante had hidden this world away from the world of humankind for the reason to keep their ancient ways a secret from all. The Coven of the Enlightened had been formed during medieval England around the 14th century. Once before man had tried to burn down their castles and steal their magic.

The High King and Queen at the time vowed to create a magical vortex in which their territory could be kept safe from the chaos of the human world. Ronin did not know how long he would be there so he packed a few extra items just in case they were needed. The plan was to leave first thing in the morning so that he would arrive in enough time to gather any information needed to rescue Lillian and find out who or what had taken her.

Ronin knew deep down that it was The Darkness behind all of this, he just didn’t know who was helping The Darkness, there were many different unholy creatures and groups out there that supported The Darkness vision of new world order but without proof of which one, the Guardians couldn’t act against the threat upon them.

Having finished packing for the night, Ronin went about his routine, settling down in his bed for the night. He was not sure if he would be able to sleep with everything going on right now, his whole body was filled with worry about Lillian. One of the Elders had give him some Valerian Root to help him sleep, hoping to keep away nightmares or visions and yet as Ronin drifted asleep, he was plagued with them. Like clockwork Ronin woke up with a panic consuming his body, the cloak on the bedside table read the exact same time it always did when the same nightmare plagued his mind repeatedly, he could not escape it. Ronin thought once Lillian had remembered who she truly was, the nightmarish scene of him killing her in the past would stop, yet it still lingered there causing so much pain each night.