Guardian
1463 Words
"Eh... is this a stuffed toy?" I brought it out of the box to take a better look.
"Oh, It's a panda plushy!" Its height is around 12 inches. I tried to squeeze it. Wow, it's very soft and mushy! Squeashy!
"Wahhh!" I squeezed it more and hugged it tightly. "This is so cuddly and cute!"
"Host. I will die at this rate if you squeeze me more."
"What?!" I dropped it on the ground when it suddenly spoke.
"Hahaha! I must be hallucinating. There's no way this stuffed toy can talk." I picked it up again and dusted it off. "There, you're all clean again."
But then it suddenly started shaking in my hands. "That's mean! Why did you suddenly drop me?!" This time it forcefully moved away from my hand and flew in the air.
"It-it's actually talking and-and even flying!" I moved a few steps away from the talking plushy. Seeing this, made me remembered those horror movies where a doll was possessed. No-no...
"Snap!" I slap both of my cheeks. I should calm down. I need to count on three and calm down. "Three, I should expect that nothing in this life would be ordinary anymore." Yep, that's right I died and was transported to another world. That itself is beyond earthlings' comprehension.
"Two, this box came from that talking lion so it should have something weird inside too." Yep, it should not be that surprising anymore, if a flying, talking plushy is inside it.
"Hey! Who are you calling weird?!" The panda protested.
"And one, I should learn to accept these strange happenings now so that I will be calm and reach inner peace." I raised both of my hands and breathe in the air then as I put my hands down, I exhale the air out. At the same time, I closed my eyes and started chanting "Inner Peace." I do this three times until I could feel much calmer again.
"Yosh!" The three-second rule I made up in my life really helps me to calm down. This is the best! I pumped my fist in the air.
"Did she just ignore me?" The panda voice cracked as she listened to my continuous ramblings. I turned towards her and clasped both my hands in a jolly manner.
"Sorry, I don't mean to be rude. You can call me Nivea." I smiled and looked at the floating panda in front of me. "So what should I call you and what are you?" I tilted my head waiting for her response.
"Yup, she only notices me now." The panda murmured something then sighed before speaking again. "I am a guardian sent here to guide you in this world. And I don't have a name. You can call me however you want."
"Oh. Is that so...Then I'll name you as..." I paused a bit as I tapped my fingers on my head. Thinking of what could be a good name to give. I walked right and left.
Name...Name...Name...I am good with this. Giving virtual pets or even real-life pets a name is my specialty. Even my two endangered friends during my last life, wouldn't let me name their pets, knowing how awesome the names that I'll give. Well, I say endangered because they are the only friends I have left and can stand my awesomeness. They are the endangered species, I treasured the most in the world.
Now, that I remember them, I wonder how they are doing? I hope my death was not too hard on them.
"Host?" I came back from my deep thoughts and turned my attention back to the panda. "Ah, right. I should give you a name."
I examined the floating creature in front of me. She has white and black in color. She's small and cute too. Duh, of course, she'll have those features. She's a panda. Also, pandas are one of the creatures born to be cute no matter where they are or what they'll do.
"That's it!" I clasped both of my hands. Why am I thinking hard when the answer is right in front of me?
"From now on, since you're a panda, you will be called..." The panda looked eagerly at me waiting for my next words.
"You will be called..."
"Yes? Yes?" Her eyes started to sparkle due to anticipation. That's right, anticipate more, for your heart will jump with delight with your new name!
"From now on, your name will be Panda!"
"Arghh." Panda dropped to the ground as if a huge rock fell to her.
"I'm really such a genius!" She must be really surprised at the name I gave her! "Hehe! No need to thank my awesomeness, it's already part of my whole being."
But then a light suddenly surrounded me and Panda. "Eh? What's this?" I closed my eyes to the intense brightness it created. After a few moments, I opened my eyes again. The first thing I notice is a white feather mark formed on my right hand.
"Aishh. I thought you would have a cooler name to give me." Panda sighed.
"Eh. Why would I give you a cool name when you're already a Panda?" I was confused. "You should be proud, that I gave you the name of who exactly you are."
"Hmph." She crossed her hands on her chest.
Why does she look mad? Don't tell me, she's shy to admit that it's a cute and awesome name! It is after all the name of her whole race. Ehhh. Or perhaps she's a tsundere panda? I nodded my head. Yep, that's right, there's no way anyone would be disappointed with the names, I gave.
"Arghh. I don't even want to think about what's on her mind."
"Did you say something?" I looked at her when she mumbled words that I didn't hear clearly.
"No, never mind. Our contract is finally formed." Panda sighed. "Nothing could be changed now."
Then she looked seriously at me suddenly and bowed which surprised me.
"I am your familiar and guardian. With the name, you gave me as Panda, I'll assist you, my host in your journey to this world. The white feather of guardian is the seal of our contract and it will only disappear when one of us dies." She said in a calm and compose manner.
I gulped multiple times. It kinda felt heavy hearing those words in real life. But still, I felt more like I'm really the protagonist now in some parallel world! "Then, I'll just make sure none of us die. I'll be in your care Panda." I bowed my head.
"Likewise..." Her only response, that made me looked up again to her. "Hmph."
I just chuckled at her remarks.
I can't wait to explore and live my life here. I could feel the excitement started to boil inside me. I really arrive in a different world now!
"Hell yeah!" I raised my fist high above the air. "Let our journey begin!" I started to walk but then when I'm a few meters away, I noticed that Panda didn't follow me.
I retraced my footsteps back to her. "Panda, why are you not following me?"
"You're going in the wrong direction."
"Eh?"
"Then here." I started walking again. But yet again she didn't follow me. An irked mark was now starting to form in my head.
"Still in the wrong direction."
"Then here perhaps."
"Wrong"
"Here."
"Nah-ah"
"Just where is the right direction, you're talking about?!" I finally snapped. "I already went from east to west. North to south. And even its combinations!"
"The right direction is above there." She casually said.
"What in the freaking direction are you talking about?!"
"Have you forgotten," Panda raised her left brow as she looked at me. "I thought this is your favorite novel, the world you wanted so badly to go. You should know about it. The main place where all the story plot happened, the island in the sky right?"
Island in the sky? Hmm. Why does it sound familiar? Ah, wait! That's it! How could I forget?! My eyes sparkled at her words. "The city in the sky! Don't tell me?!"
As soon as I said that, the surroundings suddenly became darker. Though it is already dimly lit here due to the tall trees, it became much darker. As I looked above, I gawked at the sight that beholds in the sky.
There is a floating island right above us. "I-I can't believe this..." I could feel the heavy beats of my heart.
The-the infamous island of the sky, the-the Southern Sky, where the kingdom of Atlas is located and the majority of the plot of the novel Beneath the Sky of Chaos will happen!
"It's now just above me!"
- Writer
