The Guardian Beneath the Mountain
783 Words
Chapter 5
The enormous blue eye blinked once.
The entire sanctuary trembled.
Cracks raced across the crystal floor like lightning, and a deep rumble echoed beneath everyone's feet.
No one moved.
Not Lyra.
Not the Shadow Hunter.
Not even the shadow creatures.
The eye slowly looked around the chamber before stopping on the child holding the glowing blue crystal.
Then...
A warm, ancient voice echoed through every corner of the sanctuary.
"A Keeper..."
The words were not spoken aloud.
They appeared inside every mind.
The child clutched the crystal tightly.
"W-Who are you?"
The voice answered gently.
"I am Arkanor..."
"...the First Guardian."
The crystal floor split apart.
Massive stone slabs rose into the air.
A gigantic creature emerged from the darkness below.
Everyone gasped.
It looked like no animal the child had ever seen.
Its body resembled a lion, but it was covered in shimmering sapphire scales instead of fur.
Its enormous wings sparkled like crystal glass.
Silver antlers crowned its head.
Its tail glowed with tiny stars.
Blue fire danced beneath its paws without burning the ground.
Arkanor stood nearly three stories tall.
Every step filled the sanctuary with light.
The tiny dragon immediately bowed.
"The First Guardian..."
"I thought you were only a legend."
Arkanor smiled.
"So did most of the world."
The Shadow Hunter stepped forward.
"I have searched for you for centuries."
Arkanor's glowing eyes rested upon him.
"I know."
"You seek the Blue Crystal."
"It belongs to no one."
"It belongs to the world."
The Shadow Hunter raised his sword.
"Then allow me to protect it."
Arkanor's expression became thoughtful.
"Protection..."
"...and possession..."
"...are not the same."
Without warning, one of the frightened shadow creatures launched itself toward the child.
The tiny dragon spread his wings.
"I've got this!"
He inhaled deeply.
A tiny puff of blue smoke escaped.
Then...
PFFFT!
A single glowing spark floated lazily through the air before landing on the creature's nose.
The shadow creature sneezed.
"...Achoo!"
It stumbled backward into three others.
All four collapsed into a tangled heap.
Bramble burst into laughter.
"I've seen scarier butterflies."
The little dragon sighed dramatically.
"My fire breath is... still developing."
Even Lyra smiled.
For a brief moment, the fear lifted.
Suddenly—
The crystal in the child's hands blazed brighter than ever.
Arkanor turned toward it.
"The Crystal has accepted you."
"It wishes to test your heart."
"My heart?"
"Every Keeper must prove one thing."
"Courage?"
"No."
"Strength?"
"No."
"Wisdom?"
Arkanor smiled.
"Kindness."
Everyone looked surprised.
The Shadow Hunter frowned.
"Kindness cannot save kingdoms."
Arkanor looked directly at him.
"No."
"But without kindness..."
"...they are not worth saving."
Silence filled the sanctuary.
Arkanor lowered his enormous head.
"Keeper."
"Come closer."
The child slowly walked forward.
The great guardian touched the crystal gently with one claw.
Immediately, a circle of glowing blue symbols surrounded them.
The sanctuary disappeared.
The child found themselves standing inside an endless ocean of stars.
Seven gigantic crystals floated in the darkness.
Each shone with a different color.
Blue.
Red.
Green.
White.
Gold.
Purple.
Black.
A mysterious eighth light flickered faintly in the distance before vanishing.
The child frowned.
"There are supposed to be seven..."
Arkanor's voice echoed through the stars.
"There were."
The child looked around.
"What does that mean?"
Before Arkanor could answer—
A chilling laugh echoed across the void.
The stars dimmed.
Dark mist crept between the crystals.
One by one, the glowing lights began to fade.
A hooded figure appeared in the distance.
Its face was hidden, but its eyes burned like molten silver.
It stretched out one hand toward the blue crystal.
"I have found you..."
The child instinctively stepped back.
"Who are you?"
The figure smiled.
"You will know my name..."
"...when the final crystal falls."
The vision shattered like broken glass.
The child opened their eyes.
They were back inside the sanctuary.
The crystal still glowed in their hands.
Arkanor looked troubled.
"That should not have happened."
Lyra stepped closer.
"What did the Keeper see?"
Before the child could answer—
The Shadow Hunter quietly lowered his sword.
His voice had changed.
For the first time, it carried genuine concern.
"The Hollow King..."
Everyone froze.
Bramble whispered,
"That's impossible."
Lyra's face turned pale.
"He was destroyed a thousand years ago."
The Shadow Hunter shook his head slowly.
"No."
"He was imprisoned."
"And if the Keeper has seen him..."
"...his prison is breaking."
The sanctuary fell silent.
Far above the mountain, black clouds gathered once again.
Somewhere beyond the horizon, an ancient castle hidden beneath ice trembled as a pair of silver eyes opened in the darkness.
A deep voice echoed through its empty halls.
"The First Crystal has awakened."
"Bring me... the Keeper."
- Writer
