The Guardian and The Last Goddess

The village of Eldra lay quiet under the shadow of the Dragonspine Mountains, its thatched roofs shimmering in the early morning light. Birds chirped, a low breeze whispered through the trees, and smoke rose lazily from chimneys. It was peaceful—too peaceful. Xhiah stood outside her small home, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. She looked at the forest that loomed just beyond the village’s edge. It had always been a source of comfort for her, a place where she would go when life felt too overwhelming. The villagers loved to tell stories of dragons once flying above those trees, of old battles fought in the sky, but none of that had ever fazed Xhiah. But today was different. For days now, she’d felt something. Not the cool embrace of the forest or the warm protection of the mountains, but something... dark. It wasn’t something she could describe, but she knew it was there. Watching. Waiting. “Xhiah!” A voice broke her from her thoughts. She turned to see her friend Meria, her black braids bouncing as she approached. “You look like you’re a thousand miles away. Are you all right?” Xhiah smiled weakly. “Just thinking. You know how I get.” “You’ve been like this for days,” Meria said, her brow furrowing in concern. “You keep looking toward the forest. Did something happen?” Xhiah hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s just... I feel like something is watching me. Ever since last week...” Meria’s eyes widened. “You think it’s a ghost?” She said it with a nervous laugh, but her tone betrayed the joke. Eldra was a place filled with superstition. The villagers believed in spirits, demons, and forces older than the mountains themselves. “No, I don’t think it’s a ghost,” Xhiah replied, although her voice wavered. “But something is out there. I can feel it.” Before Meria could respond, a group of villagers passed by, their arms full of supplies for the day’s market. They greeted Xhiah with warm smiles, and she returned the gesture. She didn’t want to worry anyone with her feelings. Not yet, at least. Meria put a hand on her shoulder. “Listen, if you really think something is wrong, maybe you should speak to the elders. Or even... the priest.” “The priest?” Xhiah echoed, the suggestion surprising her. She hadn’t considered going to the great priest Amoth. His presence in Eldra was almost mythical. No one really knew how old he was, or why he chose to live in such a small, secluded village, but everyone respected him. He was known to be wise, with a connection to the divine that no one else in the village had. Meria nodded. “Yeah, if anyone knows what’s out there, it’s him.” “I don’t know...” Xhiah hesitated again. The idea of speaking to the priest about her feelings seemed excessive. She wasn’t sure how he would respond, or if he would even take her seriously. After all, she was just a village girl. Why would anything out of the ordinary be interested in her? But the sense of dread was growing. It followed her through the day like a shadow, whispering in the back of her mind. Maybe Meria was right. Maybe it was time to seek answers. --- That evening, Xhiah found herself standing outside the old stone temple at the heart of Eldra. The building was ancient, its stones worn and weathered, but the carvings that lined the walls still held their shape. Images of gods, beasts, and long-forgotten heroes adorned the temple, their stories captured in stone. Taking a deep breath, Xhiah pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The inside of the temple was dim, lit only by the flickering flames of a few candles. The scent of incense hung in the air, and the soft hum of a low chant echoed from somewhere deep within. “Come closer,” a voice called out, surprising Xhiah. She looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Hesitant, she stepped forward, her footsteps echoing in the empty space. She passed rows of benches until she reached the altar at the front of the temple. There, standing with his back to her, was the great priest Amoth. His long robes brushed the floor as he turned slowly to face her. His hair was silver, his face lined with age, but his eyes—his eyes were sharp and piercing as if they could see straight through her. “I’ve been expecting you, Xhiah,” he said calmly. Xhiah blinked. “You... have?” Amoth nodded, motioning for her to come closer. “You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The darkness. It’s been following you.” Her heart raced. “Yes. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like... like something is watching me.” The priest studied her for a long moment before speaking again. “What you feel is no ordinary presence. It is an ancient entity, one that has sought you out for a reason.” Xhiah’s mind whirled. An ancient entity? Why would something like that be after her? She was just a simple girl from a quiet village. What possible reason could there be? “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why me? I’m nobody.” Amoth’s expression softened slightly. “You are more than you know, child. There are things about your past that have been hidden from you. Things about your lineage.” “My lineage?” Xhiah repeated, confused. “I don’t have any special lineage. My parents were—” “Your parents were not who you think they were,” Amoth interrupted gently. “There is much you do not know, Xhiah, but now is not the time to explain everything. What you need to understand is that you are in grave danger.” A chill ran down Xhiah’s spine. “Danger from what?” “A demon,” Amoth replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the word. “A powerful entity that seeks your soul. It has been following you, waiting for the right moment to strike. But you are not defenseless.” Xhiah felt a lump in her throat. A demon was after her? The weight of the revelation made her feel like the air had been sucked from the room. “What can I do?” Amoth stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You cannot face this alone. You need protection. Someone who has been destined to guard you.” He stepped back and clapped his hands once. A figure emerged from the shadows at the back of the temple, and Xhiah’s breath caught in her throat. The man who stepped forward was tall, his silver hair falling loosely around his face. His eyes were sharp, alert, and focused entirely on her. He was dressed in armor, a sword hanging at his side, and his presence seemed to command the space around him. He moved with the quiet grace of someone who had been trained to fight, to protect. “This is Glenn,” Amoth said. “He has been chosen to guard you, Xhiah. He will be your protector from now on.” Xhiah stared at the man, a thousand questions flooding her mind. Who was he? Why had he been chosen? And how could he possibly protect her from something as terrifying as a demon? Glenn approached her slowly, his expression calm but serious. “I swear on my life that I will protect you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “No harm will come to you while I am by your side.” Xhiah didn’t know how to respond. The entire situation felt unreal, like something out of the old legends her mother used to tell her as a child. But the fear in her chest was real, and the weight of the priest’s words settled heavily on her heart. “You must leave Eldra,” Amoth said, his voice cutting through the silence. “It is no longer safe for you here. The demon will grow stronger the longer it is near you. You must journey to Mount Mierlitte, where you will train and retrieve the elixir of life.” “Elixir of life?” Xhiah echoed, feeling more and more out of her depth with each passing moment. Amoth nodded. “The elixir is the only thing that can protect you when the time comes. It is drawn from the blood of the great high priest Soa, and it will give you the strength you need to face the demon.” Xhiah swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. This was all happening so fast. Just that morning, she had been standing outside her house, worrying about shadows. Now, she was being told that she had to leave her home, that she was being hunted by a demon, and that her only hope of survival lay in some mysterious elixir on a distant mountain. “I don’t... I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered. “You can,” Glenn said firmly. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” Amoth nodded in agreement. “You are stronger than you think, Xhiah. The blood of the Goddesses runs through your veins, and with Glenn by your side, you will succeed.” “The Goddesses?” Xhiah felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. Everything she thought she knew about her life, her family—it was all changing before her eyes. Amoth smiled kindly. “There is much for you to learn, child. But for now, you must focus on the journey ahead. Time is running out.” Xhiah looked at Glenn, then back at the priest. A sense of determination began to replace her fear. She didn’t understand everything that was happening, but one thing was clear: her life was in danger, and if she didn’t act, the demon would find her. She had no choice. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice stronger than before. “I’ll go to Mount Mierlitte.” Amoth nodded approvingly. “Good. There is no time to waste. You must leave tonight.” Glenn stepped forward, offering her his hand. “Are you ready?” Xhiah hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. She didn’t know what awaited her on the journey ahead, but she knew she couldn’t face it alone. With Glenn by her side, she took her first step into the unknown, leaving behind the quiet life she had always known. As the door of the temple closed behind them, Xhiah couldn’t shake the feeling that her life would never be the same again.