Keeper's Oath

Chapter 23: Clashing Souls

Hope felt something gentle behind her. A touch on her back as a reassuring hand rested on her softly. She turned her head around to see that it was Knowledge staring down at her. His eyes were wide with worry. They scanned her quickly while he rested his hand on his protected.

"Are you hurt, Hope?" Knowledge asked, concerned looking her over for any wounds that he could heal right now. There weren't any words that she could have told Knowledge how happy she was to see him. The wolf shook her head at her guardian.

"I'm fine but Guardian is really hurt." Hope looked towards the trio in front of them. They were standing still.

Guardian was still holding onto Hollow's left clawed hand with his blade. Forgo had blocked his incoming attack on the dragon's flank with his axe. His back was facing Guardian. There was determination that Hope saw on the deity's face.

The God of War pushed Hollow back far away from them to create a safe distance. Forgo glanced back at them seeing that Guardian had relaxed his pose. Seconds later, he settled down to a sitting position while clutching onto his side. The dragon gritted his fangs together. There was a pool of blood underneath him that had formed.

"Let me worry about this one, lad. I will keep him busy!" With that, Forgo charged at Hollow who was taken back by the old man's sudden movements. The werewolf blocked the attack by holding an arm in front of him against the axe. Surprisingly, the axe didn't pierce through the black fur. Hollow jumped back and with his fangs, he reached out to bring them down on the axe which Forgo was wielding.

The two clashed together in the background. Knowledge rushed towards Guardian who was barely able to keep himself up now. The blue dragon looked up at the werewolf, a weak smile appeared across his muzzle.

"Tch! Are you going to watch over me and allow me to die, Watcher?" Guardian coughed into his sleeve. His pale red eyes stared dully at Hope and Knowledge. "After everything I have done to the two of you... I'm sorry. It's what I would deserve if I would be the judge."

Knowledge bent down next to Guardian, he held his hand over him. From within that hand, there came a soft golden glow which showered Guardian. The soothing warm light washed over him. The leader of the guardians closed his eyes and bared his fangs at the pain as his wounds were healing slowly.

"Revenge isn't an option that crosses my mind. If someone is hurt, I'll heal them. You protected over Hope in the end. So, I must thank you for that." Knowledge's voice was quiet and soft. Hope shifted on her paws next to her guardian. She smiled up at him, her tail wagged behind her. He wasn't perfect but he was kind, she thought to herself. Everyone had their own flaws that would hinder them. "You may have been the reason why Almond was killed. Even if that would be true. She would never want me to take the path of destruction. Only more pain would be created. The world has enough of that already."

Guardian laughed slightly. The dragon sat down cross legged on the pool of blood. The healing light that was aimed at him was slowly restoring his energy. He stared down at his claws and to the sword next to him.

"That's what she would have said too... Perhaps over time, I had forgotten this feeling." Guardian took a deep breath. He smiled down as if remembering a memory from the past. "With power, there comes responsibilities. With those powers, sometimes it's easy to forget the roots. Power can corrupt a being to be blind."

Hope stared at Guardian, he seemed to be at peace when he spoke. The presence around him was different too. His aura had changed completely from what it had been previously. Perhaps it was because he knew his mistakes now, she thought to herself. Long time ago, perhaps Guardian had been someone like Knowledge. Power usually comes with greed and greed takes over the soul. When she thought of this, Hope thought of Gresham Nass.