Beneath the Obsidian Veil, Chapter 2 (part 1)
This is the second chapter of Beneath the Obsidian Veil. I broke it down into two parts because when combine, they're too long. This chapter does not contain anything nsfw.
As I gaze out of the window, I am captivated by the beauty of the night sky. Normally, we share my brother's room for sleep, but today he wanted some time alone, leaving me with no choice but to return to the attic.
My brother and I live in the peaceful countryside, while our parents reside in the bustling city. They chose to live near the airport due to their frequent work-related travels. On school days, we retreat to our countryside house, and on weekends, we often visit our parents' place for a few days before returning to our rural home.
Our countryside house isn't grand, but it's incredibly cozy. The second floor holds our main bedroom with an attached bathroom, while the first floor features a guest room with its own bathroom, reserved for friends and family. Our house spans three stories, with the attic being the highest level. Just below my brother's room, we have a combined kitchen and dining area, and a welcoming living room adorned with a TV, a comfortable couch, and a charming square table.
"Nolan! Come down and do the dishes, please!" Sebastian calls.
"Oh, come on! I did them yesterday!" I protest loudly.
"But you ate today, didn't you?" Sebastian calls out.
"Ugh, fine!" I give up and head downstairs to do the dishes.
As I open my door, I'm surprised to see a tall, white panther wearing a long white robe with subtle decorations. The robe's edges feature simple gold and silver embroidery, and it's cinched at the waist with a burgundy silk sash. The cuffs have basic scrollwork patterns, adorned with small metallic buttons. This robe suits the panther's wise aura, conveying a calm strength and timeless insight. Looking up at the panther's face, I notice a long gray beard framing his face.
"Wh...?! Excuse me?! Who are you?!" I demand.
"Calm down, little one. I have come in peace, seeking assistance," the old person says calmly and slowly.
"Who are you?!" I ask again. "And how did you get into my house?"
"I'll show you," the elder reaches out and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Get your hands off me!"
In an instant, everything goes black, and then everything begins to whiten.
"Welcome to my humble hut," the elder says.
I find myself in a cozy cabin-like house, surrounded by wooden furniture. The walls are adorned with art and decorations, while a comfortable couch sits by a sunlit window. A wooden coffee table holds cherished books, and a crackling fireplace adds a soothing touch.
"What...? Where am I?" I demand.
"You've entered the Guardian Realm," the elder responds calmly.
"Wait, hold on... The Guardian Realm? As in The Guardian Realm?!" I ask in disbelief and calm down quickly.
"Yes!" the elder answers simply.
"But... I thought... I thought the Guardian Realm is a myth...!?" I say, still befuddled.
"No, we are all real!" the elder chuckles, "Everything you've heard about us is real."
As I stand there, trying to understand it all, a sense of awe flows through me. The Guardian Realm, a myth recounted to me countless times, unfolds before my thoughts. My grandfather's words echo from the past, describing an era long preceding Earth's existence--a time when a god-like civilization diverged into two factions. One side embraced the title of Protectors, while the other became known as the Destroyers. Unhappy with their creations, the Destroyers harbored a desire to obliterate everything and start anew. In stark contrast, the Protectors deemed this notion cruel and diabolical, dedicating themselves to thwarting the destructive intentions.
A great war broke out between the two groups, and that led to the downfall of the Destroyers. Emerging victorious, the Protectors, nonetheless, found remnants of the enemy scattered across the universe. Faced with this pervasive threat, the Protectors embarked on a mission to cleanse the universe of the lingering Destroyers. Despite their efforts, the scattered nature of the enemy and their lack of cohesive communication posed challenges. After eliminating one Destroyer, the task of locating the next became almost impossible. Rather than persistently eliminating individual threats, the Protectors united to forge a new realm--the Guardian Realm. Within this domain, seasoned Protectors decreed the safeguarding of every planet they had birthed. A selection of Protectors was assigned the duty of shielding galaxies from the lingering Destroyers.
With the emergence of life throughout the universe, the council of Elders recognized the need for new strategies to protect all living entities. Consequently, plans were devised to extend protection to the families of these sentient beings. This specialized group of Protectors, known as Guardians, was entrusted with the authority to confront and neutralize the Destroyers--a vital responsibility in the ongoing struggle to preserve existence.
And now, a Guardian came to find me. I'm befuddled because I'm not fit to be a Guardian. I do not have the ability to protect or perform magic.
"I... okay, I understand. But why do you need me here?" I ask again.
"I apologize for the confusion... You see, every one hundred years, we Guardians have to find a new successor," the elder explains slowly, "I got news from a friend that the Guardians Society will announce that they will not be providing any more candidates."
The elder moves to sit on the couch, "Come! Sit down." He pats the space on the couch beside him.
I nervously move towards the elder and take a seat, "May I know your name, sir?"
The elder chuckles, "My name is Sage."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sage," I say nervously.
"Please... just call me Sage," Sage chuckles, "I need you to be my next-in-line Guardian."
"But me? I don't know anything, and I... I thought the Guardian society was all fake," I stammer, "Why can't Sebastian be the candidate?"
"Because I see more potential in you than in Sebastian!" the elder responds, "You are a kind person, Nolan."
"I... I'm sorry, but I'm still very confused about everything," I admit, "How would I do this? I'm not capable of performing magic or anything. What if I fail to protect my family?"
"Don't worry about that part. Just trust me. I'll be here to help you until you're ready!" the elder responds reassuringly, "I'll train you and teach you everything you need to know."
"Alright then..." I say, still hesitant, "Well, when will you start to teach me?"
"Starting today," Sage responds, "First lesson of all, physical combat."