The reluctant bodyguard

chapter 5

Merek and the other protectors were having their own doubts, but they were more open about it, not caring who was listening. They sat at a table in the grand hall, each having a drink and discussing the current situation. "Witches, no matter what year it is, they think just because they have magic, that means they get to control everything." Erix was quick to make his opinion known, but that wasn't surprising, he's never been a huge fan of the witches even during the first war.

Mannix is the next to chime in "We've already made it clear that we can't be controlled this time, if they want our help and our trust, they are going to have to earn it. I left my family back home just to be here, I intend to keep them safe and stop the demons before they can destroy everything." Ardellia perks up hearing that "family? What are you talking about?" She was very confused considering they were made and not born, they don't have parents or siblings. "My wife and my daughter." He says with a smile, showing them a picture of his family, which only makes Ardellia more confused "you...had a child? And got married? Why wasn't I invited?" Merek lets out a chuckle when she says that and Mannix rolls his eyes "And where have you even been all this time? I heard from Erix that you were living in France?" She nods quickly to that "most recently, yes, before that it was Denmark and before that, it was Belgium. I've tried to live everywhere at least once. A man of every flavor. Or woman." She says, smirking, seeming pleased with herself, and Mannix again rolls his eyes "you haven't changed a bit." They all share a laugh at that when Erix turns his attention away from the table "we have an eavesdropper." Erix is the one to notice, gesturing to a closed door.

Alina pulled her head away from the door when she heard that, and she blushed, feeling embarrassed. She quickly gets her composure back before pushing open the door "sorry...I just didn't want to interrupt or anything. I was going to show you to your rooms if you're all ready." They each nod, getting up from the table and following Alina up the long winding staircase. Halfway up, she stops and leads them down a long corridor and opens a door "for you, Ardellia." Ardellia, of course, smiles at her. Alina continued down the corridor showing Erix and Mannix their rooms as well and then finally taking Merek around the corner to his room. "Your room is next to mine." Her father did that on purpose so she could keep an eye on Merek, but she knew he meant it was to spy on him."Thank you, this will do nicely." All he really needed was a bed and a shower to be content."If you need me, I'm right next door." She says in a soft voice before going into her own room. Merek gives a simple nod entering his room and getting comfortable.

Merek took his time looking around the room. They had already filled the drawers with clothes, and the bathroom was stocked with anything he'd need. He took the opportunity to shower and get into some clean clothes. He felt very refreshed after his shower, and he dropped onto the bed, quickly falling asleep. He doesn't sleep much, so he was awake again after only a few hours. He found himself sitting by the window, just watching the trees and the sky. Eventually, though, he felt a bit restless and decided that exploring would be a good idea. He wasn't much a fan of being in an unfamiliar place, so he left his room and began wandering around the tower. He made his way further up the stairs and found a couple of doors with odd looking symbols but when he tried to open the doors they wouldn't budge.

"Looking for something?" He turned when he heard Alina's voice seeing her standing a few feet away, watching him."Nothing in particular, just looking around I guess. Why are these rooms locked?" He asks curiously, and she shrugs "that's where they store dark objects and old grimoirs for safe keeping." That's all she really knew about it and never bothered to ask more questions. "You really shouldn't be snooping around, my father won't like it." She wanted him to know that her father and the other elders do not trust the protectors."You're right, I was just curious." He says with a small nod, walking over to her."Perhaps you can give me a tour instead? Since you know where I should and shouldn't go?" He suggests instead and she thinks about it before accepting the idea "that would be perfectly fine." She says sounding almost excited to show him around.

The tower was constructed nearly 200 years ago and she always loved coming here when she was little, it's old and filled with paintings, statues, and other pieces of art from different eras. She took her time, leading Merek back downstairs and showing him her favorite paintings, and soon enough they were on the ground floor where she showed him the sitting rooms and, most importantly, the kitchen. Merek took the opportunity to grab an apple taking a bite when both him and Alina stop to watch the TV, a news report detailing a recent attack, the humans are unaware what these attacks are caused by, but it is happening all over the world, entire towns being devastated by fire, eartchquakes, explosions. "Hundreds of humans have already gone missing..." Alina mumbles.

"Elites picking their human bodies." Merek says with a sigh, hundreds of humans gone missing, that means hundreds of elites.

"So, do your elders even have any sort of strategy on how they expect us to take out these demons? Or do they just assume that we are indestructible killing machines? Because that isn't the case, I'm not going on a suicide mission." He wanted to make that very clear right now. Alina nervously bit her bottom lip for a quick second before responding "I honestly don't really know much, all my father told me was that they needed to find you and the others, that you could fight the demons just like you did in the first war." He raised his eyebrow at that,"I see. Well, I hope they have some sort of plan then." He takes another bite of the apple and then takes a seat watching the TV.

It was starting to get bad out there. The demons were only going to get worse if they weren't stopped soon.