Whilst Leo went on his spiritual journey, Eren and Tara sought for their own answers.

Eren, in his heart, knew that The Guardians, as mighty and knowledgeable as they may be, might not hold all the wisdom they need to understand the necessity for balance in the cosmic.

However, even an ounce of knowledge would be enough to quench his thirst to fill the mystical void in his heart left by Seraphina.

---

In a discussion with Sarah...

"We're fighting to protect the innocent. How could that possibly be wrong?"

"There is no simple answer, Eren. The world is not black and white. There are shades of gray, nuances that we often overlook in our pursuit of what we believe is right," Sarah replied in a stoic manner.

She paused, her eyes seeming to peer into the depths of his soul. "The Nether is a conduit for the darkness that exists within all of us. It cannot be eradicated, just as we cannot eradicate the darkness within ourselves. But it must be kept in check, lest it consume the world."

Eren's frown deepened. "But how do we do that? How do we fight the Nether without disrupting the balance?"

"By understanding the balance," Sarah said. "By recognizing that our actions have consequences that ripple far beyond our immediate understanding."

She gestured towards the ancient tomes and relics that lined the chamber walls. "The Guardians of Truth have existed for more than a century, Eren. We have fought the Nether and its ilk in countless forms. And we have learned that the path to victory lies not in brute force alone, but in wisdom and understanding."

Sarah began to weave tales of ancient Guardians, their victories and failures serving as lessons for the present. She spoke of a time when the Guardians nearly eradicated the Nether, only to find that their victory had plunged the world into chaos.

"Without the Nether to act as a conduit for darkness," Sarah explained, "the darkness festered within humanity, leading to suffering on a scale never seen before."

Eren listened intently, his mind struggling to grasp the complexities of the cosmic balance. He had always believed that the Guardians were fighting for good, but now he began to see the nuances, the shades of gray that he had previously overlooked.

"The Regulators," Sarah continued, "are the custodians of this balance. They are ancient beings who exist beyond our comprehension, tasked with ensuring that the scales never tip too far in either direction."

Eren felt a surge of defiance. "But we can't just stand by and do nothing while the Nether harms innocent people!"

"No," Sarah said. "We must fight. But we must fight with wisdom and understanding. We must be mindful of the consequences of our actions, and we must be willing to adapt our strategies as needed."

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Eren, you have been chosen for a reason. You have the power to see through deception, to discern truth from lies. But that power is not enough. You must also learn to see the bigger picture, to understand the tapestry of shadows and light that makes up our world."

Eren sat in silence, contemplating Sarah's words. He understood the concept of the cosmic balance in theory, but how were they supposed to apply it in practice? How could they fight the Nether without disrupting the delicate equilibrium of the universe?

Tara, who had been listening intently, spoke up, her voice laced with uncertainty. "But Sarah, how do we know what the right course of action is? How do we discern between fighting for justice and disrupting the balance?"

Sarah smiled gently. "That is the question that has plagued the old Guardians, Tara. There is no easy answer. But we have learned to trust our intuition, to listen to the whispers of the cosmos."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the ancient artifacts and tomes that lined the chamber walls.

"These relics," she said, "are not just objects of historical significance. They are tools, imbued with the wisdom of generations past. They can guide us, if we are willing to listen."

Eren felt a surge of curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Sarah moved towards a dusty tome, its leather cover adorned with intricate symbols. "This book," she said, "contains the accounts of the first Guardians. It tells of their struggles, their victories, and their failures. It is a record of their wisdom, passed down through the ages."

She opened the book, its pages crackling with age. "Here," she said, pointing to a passage, "is the story of a Guardian who faced a similar dilemma to yours. He was consumed by vengeance against the Nether, and his actions nearly tipped the scales of balance, plunging the world into chaos."

Eren leaned closer, his eyes scanning the faded text. The story was both captivating and terrifying. He saw himself reflected in the Guardian's actions, his desire for justice morphing into a thirst for vengeance.

"What happened to him?" Eren asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"He was stopped," Sarah said. "Not by force, but by wisdom. He was shown the consequences of his actions, the devastation that his vengeance would unleash. And he chose to step back from the brink."

Eren closed his eyes, the Guardian's story resonating deep within him. He realized that he, too, was walking a dangerous path. His desire for justice was righteous, but it could easily turn into something destructive.

"How do we avoid making the same mistakes?" Tara asked, her voice laced with concern.

Sarah placed a hand on her shoulder. "By remembering the principles that have always guided the Guardians," she said. "Wisdom over wrath, understanding over enmity, and balance over blind justice."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across their faces. "These principles are not just ideals, they are survival strategies. In a universe where light and darkness are in constant flux, we must strive to maintain the equilibrium. We must fight the Nether, but we must do so with wisdom and compassion."

"There is one more thing you need to know," Sarah said. "The Guardians are not alone in this fight. There are many others who are trying to strive for justice, and they all have methods to ensure they do not tip the scale."

"Who are they?" Eren asked.

"You will find out for yourselves, young ones," Sarah turned away and gazed into the abyss.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Sarah's words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Eren and Tara exchanged glances, the weight of their responsibility settling upon them like a mantle woven from the threads of ancient wisdom.

"We understand, Sarah," Eren said, his voice firm with newfound resolve. "We will fight the Nether, but we will do so with wisdom and compassion. We will strive to maintain the balance."

Sarah nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes. "I know you will," she said. "And you will not be alone. There are others who fight for justice, who strive to maintain the balance. You will find them in time."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing the candles and plunging the room into darkness. Eren and Tara gasped, their senses on high alert.

"What was that?" Tara whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Sarah chuckled softly. "A reminder," she said. "The balance is a delicate thing. It can be disrupted by the smallest of actions."

The darkness receded as quickly as it had come, the candles reigniting with a soft glow. Sarah turned to face them, her expression grave.

"The path ahead will be fraught with challenges," she said. "You will face enemies both seen and unseen. But remember the lessons you have learned here today. Remember the principles that guide us. And trust in your own intuition."

Eren and Tara nodded, their hearts heavy with the weight of their mission. They knew that the fight against the Nether was far from over, but they were no longer the naive recruits they had once been. They had glimpsed the tapestry of shadows and light that made up the cosmos, and they were determined to play their part in maintaining the balance.

As they left the chamber, Eren couldn't help but wonder about the others Sarah had mentioned. Who were these allies who fought for justice, who strived to maintain the balance? He knew that he and Tara would find them eventually.

---

As they waited for Leo to return from his spiritual quest, both of them took breaks to go back to where they came from.

In their hearts, both of them knew that in order to find that balance, they needed more than just a sense of justice.

They both decided to meet back at the headquarters in two weeks time. Sarah gave them their passes and bid them farewell, and they both took separate cars out.

--

Eren's heart ached as he stepped into his childhood home. The once vibrant walls now seemed dull, the air thick with a melancholic silence. His parents, John and Diana, sat at the kitchen table, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion.

"Eren," his mother said, her voice breaking. "You're back."

Eren embraced his parents tightly, feeling their frail bodies tremble against his. He had been so focused on his mission, on fighting the Nether, that he had neglected his family. Shame washed over him as he realized how much they had suffered in his absence.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have been here."

His father patted his back awkwardly. "It's alright, son. We understand."

But Eren knew it wasn't alright. His parents had lost everything to a scam, and he had been too busy chasing shadows to help them pick up the pieces.

He sat down at the table, facing his parents. He wanted to tell them everything, about the Guardians, the Nether, and the cosmic balance. But how could he explain a world that they couldn't see?

"I'm working with a group of people," he said finally. "We're trying to stop the people who scammed you."

His parents exchanged a surprised glance. "But... how?" his mother asked.

Eren hesitated. "I have a gift," he said. "I...I can see through deception."

His parents stared at him, their eyes wide with disbelief. Eren sighed. He knew it sounded crazy, but it was the truth.

"I know it's hard to believe," he said. "But it's true. And I'm using my gift to help people like you."

His parents remained silent, their expressions unreadable. Eren felt a pang of despair. He had hoped that they would understand, that they would be proud of him.

"I'm doing this for you," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm doing this to make sure that no one else has to go through what you went through."

Finally, his father spoke. "Eren," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "We're proud of you. We know you're trying to do the right thing."

Eren felt a wave of relief wash over him. His parents' approval meant everything to him.

"But please be careful," his mother said, her eyes filled with tears. "We don't want to lose you too."

Eren nodded solemnly. He knew that his mission was dangerous, but he couldn't turn back now. He had to fight for justice, for his family, and for the balance of the cosmos.

He spent the rest of the evening with his parents, sharing stories and trying to forget about the darkness that loomed over them.

For a few precious hours, he was just a son again, sitting at the kitchen table with his family.

But as the night wore on, Eren knew that he couldn't stay. He had to return to the Guardians, to continue his fight.

He embraced his parents goodbye, promising to return soon. As he stepped out into the night, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He was fighting for something bigger than himself, something that transcended the boundaries of his own world.

---

Tara’s journey home was less of a physical one and more of an inward trek through the memories and decisions that had led her to this moment. Sitting in the quiet of her small apartment, the remnants of her life before the Guardians surrounded her, each object a testament to a life once fully engaged in the material world.

The quiet was a balm, but also a mirror reflecting the internal tumult she seldom voiced. Tara’s fingers traced the spines of finance books on her shelf, remnants of her past life. She opened one, the pages familiar yet foreign, her past and present self colliding in the silence of her room.

The phone rang, shattering the silence. It was her brother, the only family she had left, his voice a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Hey, Tara," he began, hesitancy in his tone. "You’ve been so quiet lately. Everything okay?"

Tara hesitated, the truth on the tip of her tongue. How could she explain her reality, the weight of her visions, the fight against the Nether, to someone so grounded in the tangible world?

"I'm... involved in something important, something bigger than me," she said, choosing her words carefully.

Her brother chuckled. "You always were the ambitious one. But remember, you don't have to save the world on your own."

Tara smiled, a pang of longing for simpler times aching in her chest. "I know. It’s just... complicated."

The conversation shifted to mundane topics, a comforting yet stark contrast to the chaos of her current life. Tara found solace in the normalcy, a temporary anchor in the storm of her existence.

As they said their goodbyes, Tara’s gaze fell on a photo of her and her brother, taken in happier times. A resolve settled in her, the weight of her mission reinforced by the reminder of who she was fighting for.

---

Returning to the Guardians, Tara felt a renewed sense of purpose. The break had provided her not just with rest, but with a clarity she had been missing. She was ready to face the challenges ahead, armed with the knowledge that the fight against the Nether was not just a battle for the fate of the world, but a personal crusade to protect those she loved.

Eren, too, returned from his visit home with a similar sense of renewal. The Guardians' headquarters buzzed with activity as they prepared for Leo's return, but there was the dynamics between them. Eren and Tara, each carrying the weight of their personal revelations, found solace in the shared understanding of their larger purpose.

When Leo finally returned, the reunion was a mixture of relief and anticipation. His journey had imbued him with a quiet confidence, a sense of inner peace that was almost tangible. They gathered around, eager to hear of his experiences, but also to share their own.

Leo recounted his journey with a serene clarity, describing the mystic's teachings and the profound visions that had altered his perception of their mission. His words resonated with Eren and Tara, echoing the truths they had discovered in their own time away.

"The balance... it's not about eradicating the darkness but understanding its place in the world," Leo concluded, his gaze steady and sure.

Eren nodded, his own experiences with his family reinforcing the lesson. "We fight not to destroy but to protect. To keep the scales from tipping too far in either direction."

Tara added, "And we do so with wisdom, compassion, and the understanding that our actions ripple through the cosmos."

Eren, Tara, and Leo sat in contemplative silence, the weight of their shared understanding settling upon them like a mantle. The fight against the Nether had taken on a new dimension, their mission now intertwined with the delicate balance of the cosmos.

"We can't simply charge in blindly anymore," Eren said, his voice firm with newfound resolve. "We need to be smarter, more strategic. We need to understand the consequences of our actions before we take them."

Tara nodded in agreement. "But how do we do that? How do we know what the right course of action is?"

Leo, his eyes filled with a newfound wisdom, spoke softly. "We listen. We listen to our hearts, to our intuition. And we trust in the guidance of those who have walked this path before us."

He looked at Sarah, who stood silently observing them. "Sarah, you have been a Guardian for longer than any of us. You have seen the consequences of disrupting the balance. We need your guidance."

Sarah stepped forward, her gaze sweeping across their faces. "I will guide you," she said. "But the path ahead is yours to walk. You must learn to trust your own instincts, to make your own choices."

She paused, her expression grave. "The Nether is growing stronger. Their influence is spreading, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. You must be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead."

Eren, Tara, and Leo exchanged glances, their determination hardening. They knew that the fight against the Nether was far from over, but they were no longer the naive recruits they had once been.

They had glimpsed the tapestry of shadows and light that made up the cosmos, and they were determined to play their part in maintaining the balance.

"We are ready," Eren said, his voice ringing with conviction. "We will fight for justice, for balance, and for the future of our world."

Sarah smiled, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Then go forth," she said. "May the wisdom of the ancients guide your steps and the light of truth illuminate your path."

With Sarah's blessing, the three Guardians set out on their renewed mission. They knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but they were no longer afraid. They had each other, they had the wisdom of the ancients, and they had the unwavering belief that they were fighting for something bigger than themselves.