Prophecy Of The Guardian (Guardian Series Book 1)

by J. W. Baccaro

  “I do hope I did not cause any strife,” Aurora muttered.

  “No, my lady,” Darshun comforted her, “you did nothing wrong.”

  “Let us lighten the mood a bit.” Mythaen retrieved a flute from his backpack. He was a wonderful musician, a fact Darshun only recently discovered, upon returning to Loreladia after a long ten years of training in the wilderness. Darshun spent the night at Elwin’s one time and Mythaen played his flute while Darshun and Elwin seated themselves around a little bon fire behind Elwin’s house, chugging down a few cold brown ales.

  Mythaen began a song with a perky melody which immediately, seemed to lift their spirits, especially Aurora’s.

  “How wondrous!” she cheered. “I want to dance. Come on, Darshun!”

  “Umm—” Before he could finish his silly grunts, she grabbed his arm and pulled him up, they danced to the melody as it quickened. She moved gracefully, swaying, twirling, circling him, her eyes fixed on his.

  Darshun soon followed, matching her skills. For he was a beautiful dancer as well—naturally all Nasharins were, being from the race of Wizards, and Wizards originally from the blood of Angels, whose dance for Abidan was always flawless. They danced until Mythaen’s lips were tired then stopped abruptly with Darshun holding her at a dip, their eyes locked.

  “All right, that’s enough,” Mirabel interjected. “This isn’t a festival. Supper's ready anyhow."

  “Oh, all right.” Darshun sighed, finding it hard to let her go.

  During the meal, speech seemed mundane. Of course, Aurora was asked by many where she’d learned to dance, and it was discovered her mother taught her.

  For the first time in Darshun’s life, he didn’t feel hungry. All he could think about was this woman, her feminine beauty, her lively charm, the scent of lilacs and roses she carried—how he wanted to be with her. Even the few times he needed to excuse himself for nature’s call because of too much tea, he could hardly wait to return to Aurora's side.

  The night fully settled in, and after eating, many nestled themselves around the fires, preparing for sleep and chatting about nonsense. How trees grow, how the seeds of trees migrate to different sections of land, or the most efficient way to interlock stones when building a tower, like the Tower of Zithel—all utterly boring for Darshun. Though, he hadn't any topic to start either. Part of him wanted to venture off with Aurora alone to chat and be with her, the other part told him to stay put and await the King of Loreladia for council. Then, just when he could take no more of the conversations involving the process of carpentry, he heard the overwhelming sounds of galloping horses echoing across the landscape followed by a familiar horn, the horn of Loreladia.

  “King Loreus has arrived,” Mirabel announced, rising to his feet. “Darshun, come, we must make council.”

  “Yes, Father.” He stood up, then glanced over to Aurora, but found she wasn’t there. When she’d left he didn’t know. The sounds of the horses distracted him. He looked around and saw her walking out of the woods toward Mundoria Mountain. “I'll be right back,” he told Mythaen. Hastily, he ventured after her, finally catching up, about halfway across the meadow. “You can sure move when you want to, Aurora. Where are you going?”

  She didn’t respond, wouldn't even acknowledge his presence and continued walking.

  Lightly he touched her shoulder. “My lady Aurora?”

  She stopped, faced him, tears cascading along her cheeks. “Oh, just for a walk.”

  Darshun held her close. “Are you all right?”

  “I‘ll be fine. Just a tad lonely is all. Missing my parents—my tribe.”

  “I understand.” He wiped her tears away. “But wandering off this time of the night could be dangerous.”

  “I don’t fear the dark. This time of the night is my favorite hour to be on the mountain. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. I know a place that can take all sorrows away. That’s where I am going.”

  “Must you go alone?”

  “I would rather not be around people right now.”

  His heart felt broken, like his dearest treasure had cast him away. “Oh—I'm sorry.”

  Aurora grabbed hold of his hand. “Except for you, Darshun. Accompany me?”

  He glanced back at the woods, seeing it now flooded with Loreladian soldiers, dressed to the core in steel-plated armor as though the battle for earth was to begin at any moment. I know I should attend the council, but Aurora mustn’t be alone out here. Besides, my father can always inform me of the details. “Yes, I will accompany you.”

  She tugged him along by the hand.

  They went up the mountain, following the rocky trail until its end then traveled through the trees and heavy brush 'till reaching a hill of open grassland.

  “Now follow me, but don’t turn around until I tell you to,” Aurora warned.

  They climbed the hill for a long while; it seemed like a ladder to Heaven. The wind picked up, the temperature dropped, and Darshun felt they’d ventured miles away from the camp below, with no one knowing where they were.

  Finally, Aurora stopped beside a tree, the only tree growing on top of this mountain, a great oak, hundreds of years old. “All right, take a look.”

  Darshun turned around and stood in awe…The full moon and stars of the night lit up the landscapes below for miles on end. Trees danced in the breeze, swaying to and fro. The meadows and valley’s were abundant lakes sparkled like crystals while wind carried the singing of the nighttime birds and creatures as the twinkling fires from the campsite blazed. Even so far as Arundel Mountain could be seen, especially the great tree of Azarius, Merlin, which always held a dim glow of blue on clear starry nights, a little—magic the Wind Wizard cast into it long ago for a beacon perhaps. With this entire splendor before them, it seemed like they were on the top of the world. “So glorious!” Darshun announced.

  “Ecstatic, are you? Ha, I knew you’d love it.”

  “Very much so.” He gripped her hand tightly, happy to enjoy the moment with her. “How long have you been coming here?”

  “Since I was a little girl. My father used to take me here and tell me I was his little princess and one day all of this would be mine. I’ve always liked to believe that. There’s so much beauty in this world. It’s hard to imagine why some seek nothing but destruction.”

  “That’s why we must fight to protect the earth. A constant duty my race has always sought.”

  They seated themselves on the soft grass and Aurora made sure to stay close to him. “Darshun, a real live Nasharin sitting beside me! I never thought I would see this day. And your father Mirabel, is he the only other?”

  “No. Seth also.”

  “Ah, the one with bronze eyes?”

  “Yes, my uncle.”

  “What of the quiet one whom seems bitter toward you, Nayland; is he one of you?”

  “Absolutely not. He’s a good fighter, very good for that matter, but far from one of us. Why do you ask?”

  “He gives off a strange feeling I guess. Neither good nor evil, just different. And that gaze of his is uncomfortable. I don’t like it.”

  “Pay no mind to him. Whatever he is, he definitely is not a Nasharin. There’s just my father, uncle and me. After us we know of no other.”

  “I once read a story about a Nasharin with the name 'Mirabel,' who was looked to as a hero, saving some civilization from Barbarian men and a destructive Wizard.”

  “Mirabel the Great.” Darshun nodded his head.

  “Yes, that was his title. Your father is named after him?"

  Looking at her with a smirk, he answered, “He is my father.”

  Aurora nearly fell back. “No!”

  “Yes, that would be Mirabel. He aligned himself with the Loreladian people and defeated their enemies.”

  “I—cannot believe this. It is too much.”

  “I don't know what you’ve read, but it's probably no more than a few pages with little detail. And then there’s an oral tradition of the story. But I
sense something deeper happened, something he never speaks about or ever cares to. I get zero from him whenever I bring it up, so I no longer bother asking. Everything is always a secret, always kept hidden until your own curiosity and play drive you to discover something that shatters your entire purpose in life.” By this, he spoke about his calling of Guardian and how he wished he’d never looked into the wretched Golden Crystal ball, the event that started everything, those darn visions. “Elders are always telling one how to live, what to do, where to go, and I grow tired and feel like a lifeless puppet of a dozen deplorable strings!”

  “What on earth are you talking about?” she asked, looking startled by his sudden change in tone.

  Realizing his thoughts went astray, he calmed himself, focusing on her angelically carved face. “Apologies. It is nothing.”

  “Interesting…” Aurora stared at him a long while. When he finally opened his mouth to speak again, she threw up a hand. “Darshun, don't move.”

  A squeaking sounded from beside him, and from the corner of his eye, he saw something moving through the blades of grass.

  Aurora took off her shoe, gripping it by the sole, ready to drive the heel into the little critter's head.

  “What are you doing—?”

  “Shhh…” She placed her palm over his mouth. The thing stopped, perhaps sensing her stress, and she brought down the shoe

  Darshun hastily intervened. “Aurora no!” he yelled, catching her wrist. Remarkably, the strength in her arm brought him down as well, but the interception was enough to ruin Aurora's plans of execution.

  The little critter, which was nothing more than a black mouse, scurried away with a set of squeaks, probably giving his opinion of his near-death experience.

  “Hey!” she scolded.

  Her tone sent a chill down Darshun's spine. To him, there could be nothing more fearful than an angry female, at least this one.

  “Why did you stop me? I hate rodents; kill them all the time.”

  “You do?” He gasped.

  “Of course I do. They bite!”

  “No, they don't.”

  “Yes they do.” Her eyes flashed.

  “Have you ever been bitten?”

  Smiling conceitedly, she answered, “I never give them the chance.”

  “Aurora Athena, you shouldn't kill them, not unless it is for protection or the hunt. Rodents are living creatures too, just striving to survive like you and I. And they're kind of cute.”

  “Am I—hearing this correctly?”

  “What?”

  “A Nasharin who doesn't like to kill?”

  “Heh, I don't even like to hunt; I do it for survival. And every shred of the animal gets used. Though, if there ever was a way to avoid death, I would follow it, for I love the creation on earth.”

  Her eyes dropped. “A sentimental Nasharin? Oh my. Are you even aware of the crimes committed by your people?”

  “I told you that is only myth,” he answered, squinting.

  “And you are sure?”

  “Ever witness such a crime?”

  She paused a moment, perhaps taking in his words. “Only in literature.”

  “Well there you have it—mere myths.” He sounded like a spoiled child winning a contest.

  “So odd.” She stared at him, looking like a tigress in need of blood.

  Darshun felt a little uncomfortable and glanced down.

  She touched his cheek, shifting his face back to her. “Darshun, I have to ask, what is your Magic?”

  He nearly fell back, laughing. “That’s why you are looking at me like I am your prey? Curiosity?”

  She grinned. “One reason among many. But I would like to know.”

  “My Element?”

  “Element, Magic, same thing.”

  “Fire.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “A feisty one I see.”

  “Heh, perhaps.”

  “No one possessing mastery over such an Element could be anything other.”

  “I have not yet mastered it.”

  “Hmm, show me.”

  “…show you?”

  “I didn't stutter, now did I?” she teased. “I want to witness your Transformation, the power that causes the other races to fear you.”

  “Mirabel taught me to use my gift for nothing other than training or fighting…not display.”

  “In all respect to your father, he’s not here at the moment. And it is by no means a gift. I would say it is the nature of your being; therefore, using it for any means should be your choice. I really wish to see it.” She placed a hand on top of his and drew her face closer, staring. “Please?”

  Logically, Aurora made sense. Transformation is a part of his own nature. Not some gift merely handed over like the necklace hanging down his chest, something he never asked for. She was right. Besides, he couldn't say no with her adorable eyes bent on him. “Very well.” He rose to his feet. “Excuse me if I seen a little haughty—the state tends to do that to a Nasharin's mind, or at least mine. I'll try to retain the attitude.”

  She giggled and stepped back.

  “All right, here goes.” To make the change more dramatic for her—for it wasn't everyday a beautiful female practically begged to witness a Nasharin's might, he planned to slowly draw his power out; feeling the energy, so he began to raise it. A sudden change moved in the wind, and a trembling vibrated beneath her feet. The air even seemed to heat up.

  Keeping her gaze fixed on Darshun, the Nasharin warrior started to change. Red Flame streamed around his presence, elevating two or three feet; his cream-colored skin became like beautiful fire opal, omitting a smell like a volcanic eruption, and then his hair lit up in a blaze, the wind scattering it back and forth. Lastly, his eyes shifted from steel blue to flaming red with very little white. He let out a slight roar, creating a semi-explosion merely for effect, hoping to impress her. “The Transformation is complete,” he announced his tone becoming a little deeper than usual.

  Aurora stood baffled, her mouth hanging open, then smiled—no, it seemed more like a grin, a selfish grin.

  Darshun wondered what could be flowing through her mind. But it's not every day, one witnesses the Transformation of a Nasharin—the accursed race.

  She walked over to him, her gaze never abandoning his eyes. “Can I touch you?”

  “Tempting, isn't it?” he teased.

  “You know what I mean!”

  Smiling, he extinguished his aura. “You may now.”

  She brought her index finger against his smooth orange-red skin, expecting the flesh to be hot. What she found was a sensation of warmth, like semi-heated bath water. Then she caressed his face and continued to slide her hand along his shoulder and down his arm, across his chest and under his chin. “What does it feel like? To bathe in a cloak of flames? For surely fire cannot harm you.”

  “Depends on the caster. My Element is Fire, but if another Nasharin, Wizard or even Sorcerer had an energy level beyond my own, well then, I burn just the same.”

  “So you are not immune?”

  “Correct.”

  “Then, how is it fire can dance around your essence?”

  Admiring her curiosity, he answered, “The fire ignites as an aura by the releasing of my energy. A sort of 'switch' among my being, only I can feel and understand.” Tapping his brow Darshun continued, “The mind controls it all, elevating the flames to different heights, even when I do not will it, it came be influenced by anger or desperation.”

  “And you feel no pain?”

  “Nothing more than a pleasant warmth. And depending on how much and how fast I release it, sometimes an ecstasy of pleasure. I love the sport of fighting, a good battle, and the feeling of dramatic energy.”

  “Wondrously amazing!” she sang out, the words rolling off her tongue like a song. “I love it!”

  Darshun smirked. “I knew you would, Aurora. Now, are you through studying me?”

  “I suppose so…”

  He stepped back, at
tempting to descend.

  Aurora stepped after him placing a hand atop his arm. “Please remain in your state.”

  “For what reason?”

  “I feel fascinated by you—for what you truly are. And I wish to spend our time here with that person. If I may?”

  “It is not a wise way to conserve energy.”

  “Then think of it as a type of training, Darshun.”

  Wary to the idea, he agreed nonetheless. “You really must adore Nasharins.”

  She smiled, and they sat down together, Aurora resting her head against his shoulder. “We share a common bond, you know. My people wiped out, yours too—well, almost. Feels lonely thinking about it.”

  “I understand the feeling, felt the same thing when my father first told me about the rarity of my people. But life continues on. We must not dwell in the past, especially one as gorgeous as you, Aurora. I promise to always be by your side.”

  “You are very sweet.” She slowly caressed under his chin with her hand.

  Darshun's eyes never leaving her angelic face.

  “I want to sing a song for you. Though, it is in the language of the Dryad Race, it’s about the beauty of life.”

  “Beauty or seduction?” he teased, foreknowing the Dryads and their troublesome behaviors.

  Grinning, she came closer to his face, sliding her hands along his lap. “Please?” she purred.

  Darshun had to admit this felt tempting, but who is he kidding? He couldn’t wait for this goddess-of-a-woman to begin her song and sway. “Then begin already,” he teased, earning himself a light slap on his cheek.

  She took a deep breath and began.

  The melody of the song with sound of her voice were so hypnotic and soothing, Darshun fell captivated immediately, entrapped by the notes.

  Continuing to sing, she stood up and danced to her song, swaying her hips side to side, flinging her long, strawberry-blonde hair back and forth. When the melody fit, she twirled her body around in circles, her gown shone in the moonlight, her confident- seductive gaze always on him.