Erichthonius Escathos considered himself to be a simple man. He had worked hard his whole life, risen through the political ranks, and was even chosen by the World System to become a Paragon. It was a proud achievement that eventually led him to become President of the United States.

But it also came with much responsibility. Far too much responsibility for his liking.

He was now the leader of the most powerful country in the world, tasked with making decisions that would impact the lives of millions. Billions, even, considering what it took to broker the complicated systems of alliances and treaties between different countries.

President Escathos never truly felt like he deserved the mantles he wore. The pressure, the stress, and the sheer weight of the responsibility were crushing. He had tried to make a difference, but sometimes it felt like the world was just too vast, and his actions were insignificant. Like his siblings, he had been given to adoptive parents who raised him well, but he had always wondered who his birth parents were. His adoptive mother, an esteemed ambassador, had told him he was special, but he never understood what she meant.

That was until one fateful day sixteen years ago.

The day he'd lost his cherished students to the machinations of Mortifera Nox. Her actions had triggered a cascade of events that had led to a crisis that threatened to destroy the entire world. It was an event that'd been quietly kept hidden from the public, a secret the Guardians had desperately tried to contain.

And he had learned a truth that day. A truth that he'd never wished to revisit. A secret that he had hoped to take to his grave.

Erichthonius knew that his actions were necessary to keep the world from falling into chaos, but it was still a heavy burden. And now, it seemed that his worst fears had come true.

A worldwide attack had decimated the major cities of every country, unleashing extradimensional monsters upon the unsuspecting populace. Monsters that they'd been woefully unprepared to combat.

It was a devastating blow, and it had shaken the world to its core. The Magical Knights had rallied to try to stop the attack, but they had been too slow, too late. The damage had been done, and the consequences would be long-lasting.

But there was a sliver of hope. It would require him to confront a harsh and brutal truth that'd he been running from for far too long.

"Mr. President," said a voice, breaking him out of his thoughts. He turned to see his trusted advisor, a former CIA agent who had helped him navigate the political minefield. "We're ready for you now."

Erichthonius nodded and followed him down the corridor, his eyes flitting from side to side as he passed the various doors and rooms. They were in a secret facility, one that was only known to a select few. It was a place where the Guardians had stored their most prized artifacts and equipment, a place that held some of the world's most dangerous secrets.

And now, they were about to add one more.

As they walked, he caught glimpses of other figures walking past. Some were Knights, while others were members of his staff. They all nodded in respect, their faces somber and tired. They had been up for days, trying to recover from the devastation of the attack.

As they neared the end of the corridor, they came to a large metal door. It was heavily guarded by armed soldiers, and a retinal scanner was required to gain access. Escathos looked at the door and took a deep breath. He knew what was behind it, and he wasn't sure he was ready.

But he had no choice.

With a nod, he approached the door, and the soldiers stepped aside. He placed his eye in front of the scanner, and the door slid open. He stepped inside, and the door closed behind him.

He was now in a large room, one that was empty save for a single object. It was a portal, one that shimmered and rippled with energy. He approached it slowly, his hands shaking. He knew that what was on the other side was dangerous, that it was a risk. His trusty Crocea Mors was by his side, a sword granted to him by his grandmother that had served him well for many years. But even it would not be enough to protect him.

"You are a brave man, Eric," said a curt voice from behind him, following a 'wooshing' sound.

He turned to see Tesserac dressed in her uniform, arms crossed in anticipation. "You sure you want to do this?

"I have no choice," he replied. "If we don't find out more information about the attack, we may never be able to stop them. And we need every advantage we can get."

Tesserac nodded, her face solemn. "I'll be waiting here for your return, sir. It's been an honor."

"Thank you," he said. He turned back to the portal and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and stepped forward, disappearing into the portal's swirling energy.

He reappeared on the other side, finding himself in a dark and cavernous space. The air was dusty, and the ground was cracked and broken. He looked around, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed, and a figure emerged. It was a petite woman, one with caramel brown skin, long, flowing black hair and piercing green eyes. She wore a cloak, and her feet hovered inches above the ground.

"Awww, if it isn't little Eric? All grown up I see," she said, a playful smile on her lips. "What brings you here, my dear?"

"Cut the bullshit," he replied, his grip tightening on Crocea Mors. "You know why I'm here."

The woman shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "I suppose you want me to give you information, hmm? Something about the attack?"

"You Guardians know something, and I need to know what it is," he said.

She shook her head, a pout on her lips. "You are so rude, Eric. And here I was, hoping to have a pleasant conversation with you. How disappointing."

"Don't toy with me," he snapped. "Take me to her."

The woman rolled her eyes and floated forward. "Fine, fine. Come with me, then."

He followed her down a dark corridor, his heart racing. He knew who was at the end of the corridor, and he wasn't sure he wanted to see her.

But he had no choice.

He looked around as he walked, taking in the strange sights and sounds of the base. There were paintings and sculptures scattered around, and the air was thick with magic. It was a place of power, a place that was both ancient and new.

As he walked down the corridor, he caught a glimpse of a painting that caught his eye. It was of a man in full medieval plate armor, a sword by his side. He had white hair and blue eyes, and if Erichthonius was honest, he could've sworn he was looking in a mirror.

He moved closer, inspecting the painting. The man was sitting atop a horse, his face set in a serene smile. Erichthonius couldn't believe his eyes. The resemblance was uncanny.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Impressive, isn't it?" said a voice from behind him. It was his escort, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's one of your grandmother's favorite pieces. She's quite the artist, isn't she?"

"Who is this?" asked Eric, gesturing to the painting.

"Oh, that's you, silly," she giggled. "You don't recognize yourself?"

"No, I..." He shook his head, confused.

"Just kidding. You could say that he's your grandfather. Or, should I say, was. He died a long time ago."

"My grandfather?" he said, shocked.

"You didn't know?" she smirked. "That's a shame. Your grandmother didn't tell you? She can be such a secretive woman, I'll give her that."

"You could say that again," muttered Eric. He had so many questions, so many things he wanted to ask. But before he could say anything else, they arrived at a large door.

"Here we are," she said, gesturing for him to step inside. "Good luck, Eric. You're going to need it."

He pushed the door open, and he was met with a sight that made his breath catch in his throat.

It was a large chamber, one that was lit by a soft, warm glow. In the center was a throne, and seated upon it was a woman. She had emerald green hair and yellow eyes, and she looked young, even though he knew she was old beyond his comprehension.

She was his grandmother, a being of immense power and knowledge. A being that he had only met once before, when Mortifera Nox had broken the barrier that had kept their world safe. Hidden.

She looked at him, her face impassive. "Hello, Eric. It's been a long time."

"Edith," he replied, tensing out of reflex.

An oppressive pressure filled the room, and he fought the urge to buckle. It was overwhelming, and he could barely breathe.

"I assume you are here for answers," she said, her voice calm and collected.

"Yes, I..." He trailed off, not sure how to begin.

She chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Come closer, child. We have much to discuss."

To call a man entering his fifties a child...

But Eric chose not to say anything. He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on her.

"You told me this day would come."

"Yes, I did," she said. "The System was an experiment designed specifically for that crucial node on the World Tree by our forebears. It was always unsustainable — even if Mortifera Nox had not meddled with it, the protections would have collapsed on its own within your lifetime."

"Then why didn't you warn me sooner?"

"Did you believe me back then, Eric? Would you have accepted that truth?" She smiled, a sad, wistful smile. "I understand you took the loss of Arcadia Vox's team harder than most, even for your world."

He had. He had been devastated by the loss of his prized students, and though he lived on, a part of him had died with them.

"Now, it is up to you to decide what path to take," she continued. "You can either embrace your heritage and use it to protect the world you call your own, or you can reject it and leave it to fend for itself."

He thought for a moment, weighing his options. It was a lot to take in, and he wasn't sure what to do.

"Why did you place me there in the first place? I... I call it home, but it was never your home, was it?"

He glanced back at his escort, who was grinning. He could tell she was enjoying this.

"I placed you there because I believed you would make a difference. You were a gift to them, a promise. They needed someone to lead, and your grandfather's legacy made you a perfect fit. The System was already failing, and they knew they could not keep it hidden forever."

"They? Who is this 'they' you speak of?"

"Ah, a question that is difficult to answer," she sighed. "There are many groups out there, some who are friends and some who are foes. It is a complicated world, Eric. One that you must navigate carefully."

"You're not making any sense," he said, frustrated.

"Perhaps," she said, standing up. "But for this particular case..."

Her arms swept around the room, and a blinding flash of light erupted. He blinked, and when he opened his eyes, he realized they were very much not alone.

He looked around, stunned.

He saw people. No, not people.

Some had serpentine bodies, some had wings, but almost all were humanoid. Others were creatures, creatures that he had never seen before. There were fourteen of them, some seated, standing, and some floating in the air, eyeing them with interest.

"The Witch of Babylon. Always one for the theatrics. I approve!" a woman with silky, long purple hair in a kimono commented with a smile, leaning against the wall while fixing her hair with a bronze mirror.

Erichthonius took a step back, overwhelmed.

"They are here to help you today, Eric," she said, gesturing. "The legacies of our forebears. Their greatest servants, and their personal familiars. Ones who humanity, through its current history, took for... gods. They are who your world calls the Guardians. Assigned to your world in hopes it would survive the primordial chaos."

His escort giggled, and he shot her a look, only to do a double-take.

She'd suddenly sprouted.... cat ears, and a black tail, and now donned a robe that left little to the imagination.

The cat 'goddess' shot him a wink, and playfully waved a single paw in the air.

"This is insane," he muttered, shaking his head.

"No, it is reality," Edith replied. "A reality that you must accept."

He turned to his escort, his eyes pleading for help.

"Don't look at me, I'm just the tour guide," she said, grinning.

He took a deep breath and turned back to his grandmother. "Okay. Okay then... What's... what's the plan?"

His 'grandmother' sighed, "The stage has been set. The primordial chaos that once threatened to swallow all life is rising again. Make no mistake, there will be war, and it will be bloody. A war that will span across multiple worlds, and you and your sisters will all have a vital role to play. It is your duty to protect your key domains, and when the time comes, you must stand and fight to the last man, woman, and child. You will not be the heroes of your worlds' stories, so to say, but you must find, shepherd, and protect your worlds, nonetheless."

He looked at the crowd, his head spinning. This was a lot to take in, but he knew he had no choice. It was what he'd been groomed for his entire life, and he understood it well.

"So, what now, then?"

"That's up to you," Edith replied. "Anyway, I must inform you. We do have another guest arriving soon. She is dealing with a problem similar to the one your wor—"

She was cut off by a sudden crash. Eric whipped around, his hand instinctively reaching for Crocea Mors.

He watched as the air shimmered and distorted, and a portal appeared. It was a glowing, swirling mass of energy, and through it stepped a young woman.

She had long, flowing white hair, and her eyes were a brilliant gold. She wore a simple tunic and leggings, with a twin pair of daggers strapped to her hips. The girl looked she looked like she'd just stepped straight out of a fantasy book.

"Gran gran!" the woman cried, rushing forward. She embraced her grandmother, tears streaming down her face.

"Hello, Elena. It's good to see you, too."

Elena stepped back, wiping her eyes. "I've missed you so much. Um, this is...?"

"Oh, yes, pardon my manners," Edith said, gesturing. "This is Erichthonius, your brother. He's been quite a wonderful... asset to his world."

Elena eyed him, her expression unreadable.

"He looks kinda old. You sure he's my bro? No offense," she said.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Well, you are kinda old," she shrugged.

"Hey, most people tell me I look twenty-nine!" he snapped.

"Well, that is pretty old, dude," she deadpanned.

"Bah, children, please," said Edith. "You have a lot of catching up to do."

"Yes, we do," Elena agreed. She turned to him, her eyes narrowed. "So, Eric. Tell me about your adventures! And don't leave out any details."

"There will be that time for that later," his grandmother pushed back curtly. "For now, we must discuss the issue of the collapsing System in Eric's world, and we will discuss the anomalies encountered by Elena when we have time later. It was inevitable, given its design, but the timing could not have been worse."

"Agreed," one of the 'gods', a tall, bald disfigured-looking man with stone-like gray skin, clubbed feet, and large, cross-eyed blue eyes chimed in. "The System is a delicate balance, and the damage done to it by the supervillainess Mortifera Nox is severe."

"What can be done about it?" the goddess with the bronze mirror and purple kimono asked.

"We can start by stabilizing the access nodes," the cat 'goddess' suggested. "If we can get the system back up and running, we can slowly repair the damage and hopefully avoid a full-scale collapse."

"That's a good start," 'grandmother' said. "But it won't be easy. Mortifera Nox tampered with the System in ways that are almost impossible to reverse. That foolish woman had no idea what she was playing with."

"We will have to be creative and figure out a new solution," the gray-skinned man. "I do not believe the System is salvageable as is, but I could get something workable."

"Hehehe," the cat 'goddess' giggled. "I'll leave that to you, Hepphy I'm sure you and your brothers can figure something out. Besides, I have a few other matters to attend to."

"What matters?" the gray-skinned man asked.

"It's a secret," the cat 'goddess' grinned and winked, "But let's just say I'm in the market for a new playmate. Let's just say she caught my eye when I was making my usual rounds."

"Very well, then," the gray-skinned man nodded. "As for me, I will begin working on a plan to stabilize and reboot the System. We cannot afford a complete collapse."

"Understood," 'grandmother' said. She looked at him and Elena, who were both watching the exchange with rapt attention. "Eric, Elena, you have much to learn, and there is a lot at stake. You will need to prepare yourselves for the battle ahead. But for now, let us focus on the present."

The two new-found 'siblings' shared a look. They had a lot of catching up to do indeed.

"Good. Now, let us continue our discussion elsewhere..."