The Protectors

Chapter 1

“This all started because of you and your forgetfulness!” Screamed a voice from the end of the oak, hand carved conference table. “You should have closed the gate before anyone could step in! We have rules so this situation doesn’t happen!”

“Hey, now it wasn’t all my fault Altear was the one that showed him around the place and brought him to the castle.” another said as a man stood up and turned to the ones arguing.

“Men! Do not blame others, it is all our faults! As the council of 10, we are supposed to protect this region and we let Ageod stay here even after we found out he was mortal.” The man who stood was the leader of the council at that time, Harsi. “We have come here to discuss the rebellion against the ‘king’, so if you would stop arguing like little children we can continue.”

“I am sorry Harsi we will behave better but there is still one thing that is still in question, how did he get magic?” asked Halem as he sat back down in his chair folding his hands.

“That is a good question-” Tero was interrupted as I stepped through the door.

“Which I believe I found the answer to!” I walked in and sat in an empty chair.

“Estovot you are late... again…What have you found?” Harsi realized what I said mid scold

“I found this notebook in the castle when I was on patrol which led me to a room and I stumbled upon a trapdoor. When I opened it I found this trunk,” I said, placing a small trunk on the table that had strange letters on the top and sides. “I’m not for sure what the letters say but I believe this will help us figure out why he was able to use magic.”

Harsi stood with a surprised look on his face. “show me where this trapdoor is! I haven’t seen that language in many years! I’m surprised you found that after the War of Esqualin the use of it was banned in all realms due to its complex, and slightly unreliable nature.”

“Follow me Harsi but you’ll need to change your robe before we leave.” I stood looking at his council robe, then walked out of the hall and waited in front for him.

Harsi and I set off towards the castle, which wasn’t far from the council hall but no one ever saw it because I was in charge of patrolling that area of the castle grounds and I convinced the “king” that it was my home and had been for years, which wasn’t a lie I often spent my time at the hall it was just easier for me, so the rest could stay there in peace when need be. As we worked to settle the disputes of Ageod gaining power, and how to reverse his gift, or at least put an end to his reign of terror. We arrived at the castle's back entrance a few minutes later with no difficulties, but once we were in it wasn’t so easy. Many guards were roaming the castle, and asking questions. It was quite difficult to convince them that Harsi was not “evil” (their definition of evil anyways). Once we got past the guards we headed to the room where I found the hidden door.

“Are we close?” Harsi asked in a very low whisper I could barely hear the words as they passed his old frail looking lips. “We may not be able to sneak past the guards so easily the next time we run into them”

“Relax Harsi, we will arrive shortly and I am the only guard stationed at this tower! It helps to know the king.” I laughed trying to lighten the mood a bit but Harsi still had the same stern look he always does. He has never laughed or even smiled since the day of the “king’s” raid…

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“Maya! Tyla! Where are you?!” Harsi shouted through the flames, “I’m coming! hold on!”

The empire found out that Harsi was using magic illegally which to them means not for the good of the king. They set his house on fire with his wife and two girls inside. He blames himself and only himself because he wasn't there; he was at a meeting for the rebellion.

“Daddy! It burns, help! Mommy won’t wake up!” Tyla, his youngest, screamed from the flames as she held her dead mother's burnt body close to hers.

“Tyla… I am here for you, come with me and I will wake your mother” It was a holy messenger but the unholiest of them all. If he came for you that meant you were dead or about to be.

Harsi heard the words from this being he screamed tears rolling down his face “NO TYLA DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!”

He saw his little girl rise out of the fire with the messenger and with the happiest smile he had ever seen on her face but it was strange, she had a radiant glow and her body wasn’t burnt at all, she was beautiful.

“Don’t worry Daddy I’ll be back soon with mommy and Maya. So don’t be sad we'll be together again one day soon I promise.” Tyla said knowingly as she wiped his tears away

“Goodbye for now” Menna whispered to her loving husband as she held tightly onto her youngest daughter's hand.

“It is time to go, little one. Hurry now or we will never make it to your new home” The messenger said in his soft song-like voice.

Then she was gone, she had left this damned world with the hope and innocence of a child. Before she left, however, her older sister came up beside her, the burns slowly coming off her face, and then they both walked off this world and into the next.

Harsi fell to his knees and clutched his daughter's favorite stuffed bear, which he saw laying amongst the rubble of his home. It was black from the ash, making it barely recognizable, weeping and whispering his daughters names ``Maya…. Tyla...Maya...Tyla…”

From that day on he swore vengeance on the empire. He swore to fight until the day he was called upon to be reunited with his loving family again. Harsi also swore to himself that he will never smile a true smile again in fear that he will forget that last smile he saw spread across his little Tyla’s lips.