Chapter 12: The Seventh Guardian
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The crimson eyes remained fixed on the chamber.
Unblinking.
Watching.
Waiting.
For several long seconds, no one dared to speak.
Even the six awakened guardians stood perfectly still, their weapons lowered but their attention fixed on the darkness beyond the ancient hall.
The old guardian tightened his grip on his wooden staff.
"It cannot be..."
Master Kael stepped beside him.
"You know what's down there?"
The old man answered without taking his eyes off the darkness.
"I know what was imprisoned."
---
A deep rumble echoed through the ruins.
Cracks spread across the stone floor as a chilling laugh drifted through the chamber.
Not loud.
Not threatening.
Just...
Wrong.
It carried a weight that made every heart uneasy.
The crimson eyes slowly moved closer.
One step.
Then another.
At last, a towering figure emerged from the shadows.
Unlike the other guardians, its armor was black as midnight, lined with glowing crimson veins.
A tattered crimson cloak hung from its shoulders.
Instead of a sapphire crystal in its chest...
It bore a blood-red gem.
Its helmet resembled a crown with seven jagged points.
In its right hand rested a long black sword.
The blade seemed to absorb the light around it.
Brakus instinctively raised his shield.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
Nyx didn't respond.
Her instincts had never screamed this loudly before.
---
The six blue guardians lowered themselves onto one knee.
Not in respect.
In caution.
The crimson guardian stopped before the floating Crown of Aether.
Its hollow voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"So..."
"The heirs have finally arrived."
Azul stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The guardian slowly turned its gaze toward him.
"I was once called..."
"...Aster."
The old guardian closed his eyes.
"Aster..."
"I feared that name would be spoken again."
Cassian frowned.
"Who is he?"
The old man spoke quietly.
"He was the seventh founder of Aether."
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
"The seventh?"
Liora whispered.
"But the statues..."
"There were only six."
"Because history erased him."
---
Aster's laughter echoed through the chamber.
"They erased my name..."
"They destroyed my legacy..."
"And they called themselves heroes."
The crimson crystal in his chest pulsed violently.
"I protected this continent."
"I united the kingdoms."
"I gave everything."
"And how was I repaid?"
His voice grew colder.
"They sealed me beneath the earth."
The chamber trembled with every word.
---
Azul looked toward the old guardian.
"Is he telling the truth?"
The old man remained silent.
Silence...
Was answer enough.
Bashan clenched his sword.
"So the heroes weren't perfect."
"No."
The old guardian replied sadly.
"They were human."
---
Aster slowly raised his black sword.
The six blue guardians immediately stood between him and the Royal Vanguard.
Their leader spoke firmly.
"Aster."
"The trial has ended."
"The successors have been chosen."
Aster tilted his head.
"Chosen?"
He looked toward the six young warriors.
"I see children."
"I see doubt."
"I see fear."
Then his crimson eyes settled on Bashan.
"And..."
"I see ambition."
Bashan frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means..."
Aster smiled beneath his helmet.
"You understand me more than any of them."
Before Bashan could answer, Azul stepped in front of him.
"My cousin isn't your enemy."
Aster chuckled.
"Not yet."
---
Without warning, Aster pointed his sword toward the floating Crown of Aether.
The crimson gem in his chest erupted with energy.
Dark chains burst from the ground, wrapping themselves around the ancient crown.
"No!" the old guardian shouted.
"The seal!"
The six blue guardians charged together.
Their weapons struck the chains.
But instead of breaking...
The chains absorbed the blows.
One after another, the guardians were thrown backwards.
The Royal Vanguard stared in disbelief.
If the ancient guardians couldn't stop Aster...
How could they?
---
Master Kael drew his blade.
"Everyone!"
"Protect the crown!"
The Royal Vanguard rushed forward as one.
Liora thrust her spear.
Nyx disappeared into the shadows.
Brakus planted his shield before the platform.
Taren circled to Aster's flank.
Bashan and Azul attacked from opposite sides.
For the first time since becoming the Royal Vanguard...
The six moved as though they shared one mind.
One purpose.
One heartbeat.
Aster watched them calmly.
Then...
He smiled.
"Excellent."
"This is exactly what I wished to see."
He lifted one hand.
A wave of crimson energy exploded from his body.
The chamber shook violently.
The Royal Vanguard was thrown backwards.
Even Master Kael was forced to one knee.
Only the floating Crown of Aether remained untouched.
Aster lowered his hand.
"You are stronger than I expected."
"But you are not ready."
He looked directly at Azul.
"When next we meet..."
"You will choose."
"The world that exists..."
"Or the world that should have been."
The crimson crystal in his chest blazed brilliantly.
A pillar of red light engulfed him.
When it faded...
Aster was gone.
The black chains disappeared with him.
The chamber fell silent once again.
Only one thing remained where he had stood.
A broken fragment of crimson crystal.
The old guardian slowly picked it up.
His hands trembled.
"He has escaped..."
Master Kael looked toward the dark tunnel from which Aster had emerged.
"No..."
He said quietly.
"He wasn't escaping."
"He was leaving."
"He came here for only one reason."
Azul looked at the fragment.
"To test us?"
Master Kael shook his head.
"To see whether the prophecy had finally begun."
The words lingered in the air.
And somewhere far beyond the Kingdom of Azul...
A lone raven carrying a crimson seal soared toward the distant kingdoms.
The war that had slept for centuries...
Had finally awakened.
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