Belmont’s proposal wrapped around his neck like a new leash. It’s rigidity slowly suffocating him. He raced along the rooftops, hoping it will clear his mind. He’s only goal was to speak on his Mage’s behalf. But now he found himself stuck in the middle of something worse. The Council was making weapons to raise an army. For what, he didn’t know. But he couldn’t ignore the impact it would have on his Mage in Alexanderia. He needed proof. And if Belmont was right, it was at Eyden’s Passage.

The more he thought about it, the worse the regret seeped into him. He had sent those two young girls into the desert. At first, he suspected smugglers, bringing in the illegal gems through the Passage. But if the mines were fully operational, then Saule’s life was in danger. She trusted him. She was eager to prove her worth and she agreed without a second thought. He remembered Moira begging to try her luck in the wild. He saw the same excitement in Saule’s eyes the other day at the Academy. A young woman wanting to excel, grow strong in the face of adversity.

She’s going to get herself killed.

That was what he should’ve told her. He was too preoccupied with his own business that he didn’t think it through. Active mines meant more Crims and more Mages loyal to the Council. And a restricted area that if entered might lead to her expulsion from the Academy.

He leapt over the gap between two rooftops. The thought of him causing a second student to lose her dream of Council Elect gnawed at him. He pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. He was approaching the desert gate, and it was always guarded. He didn’t want to waste more time. If he could intercept Saule and her friend, order them back to the kingdom he could continue alone. And the girls would be safe.

All he needed to do was pass the gate without detection. Chancing a look beneath him, he surveyed the empty streets. The afternoon heat had forced most people indoors. Despite the sun-baked bricks burning the pads on his feet, he kept to the rooftops. They were easy to navigate, and it kept him out of sight of the wandering patrols. He couldn’t risk Godfrey discovering what he knew. He didn’t know what lengths he would go to keep his plans from the populace.

He appreciated the residential areas of the kingdom. Rows of winding roads of homes stacked side by side sprawled towards the exit. The kingdom whizzed by as he ran. Streets snaked in a blur that followed alongside him. He dodged old furniture from the people who used the rooftop as extra storage. Some converted it into beautiful outside living spaces with rugs, canopies and benches.

In front of him the gate appeared. Its vibrant colours made it a marvel to look upon. There were many creatures that only existed in the desert climates. Some lizards that were too strange to be believed. But there they were, stretching out before him. Animals of all shapes and sizes living in harmony around the oasis. He reached the end of the row of buildings and hopped from awnings to crates until he had reached the ground. To his right was the gate itself, tall and heavy, and guarded by four Crims.

He hugged the side of the buildings, concealing himself behind carts until he reached the wall. There he found a row of perfect trees. Strong branches, thick trunks, and just tall enough to reach the top. It was a difficult climb for a clumsy human, but the high branches and thick bark suited him. He climbed it without drawing the attention of the Crims a few meters away. From there, it was a short excursion over the wall, and then freedom.

The river bustled with life as he wandered under the overhanging palms and between the leafy plants. Enjoying the camouflage that reminded him of younger days where he hunted for that day's meal. The stroll to the river's edge seemed longer than he remembered. And he wondered if the lazy birds swimming over the surface knew whether the depth had shrunk.

Taking the chance, he approached, surveying the brush beside him. Paying additional attention to the predators lurking under the surface. The crocodiles ignored him, choosing to float along as they digested their last meal. He slurped the cool liquid, enjoying every drop as it slipped down his dry throat. Catching his reflection, his mind brought him back to another time.

The river was the same, but he felt like he had aged decades since that day. It was Moira’s first year at the Academy. Her class enjoyed an afternoon of practising by the river. And after a short while, their vigour subsided into a carefree play. Her peers swam, splashed or laid in the shade. Moira sat perched on the edge, watching the current take wayward debris downriver. He remembered the sadness on her face as she watched the others laugh and splash each other. It hurt to see her so alone.

“Eclipse, am I broken?”

“You are perfectly complete the way you are. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t get it. Why can’t I make friends? I’m nice, I offer to help people, I don’t bother anyone either. I get good marks; I finish my homework. I don’t smell nearly as bad as that boy in history class. But still, I’m always alone.”

“Am I not company enough?” He tried to joke but she seemed too distracted to notice the humour.

“You know what I mean.”

He did. He was afraid it would happen. The intolerance associated with having a Guardian. The reason for his existence was even a secret to him. He was born with a duty to his Mage. To protect, guide, and live long enough for them to stand on their own. But why some Mages had one and others didn't was unclear.

The consensus was a Mage with a Guardian would struggle in some destructive way. The Guardian was the key to bring them into the fold- to be the right kind of person for society's greater good. Unfortunately for him, even with all his knowledge, he couldn’t decipher the complexities of children’s social development. Their relationships to each other were far more unpredictable than any political alliance.

“It will not be like this forever Little One. Just like the river, we all change and grow. In time, you will find your way.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“How long does that take?” She sighed, falling on her back in the dirt.

“How ever long the Gods see fit.”

“Ugh, you sound like father.”

“Are these feelings stemming from missing home? Missing your father perhaps?”

“I’m sure he hasn’t realized I left yet.”

“That is not funny Moira.”

“It’s true, I’m sure he misses me, when he realizes I'm not there. But how many times a day did he ever check on me? Eat with me? He has his lords to tend to, they’ll keep him busy. If I miss anything, it’s the ocean.”

She climbed to her feet and stepped to the edge of the rock. Outstretching her arms like a great heron about to take flight, she leapt into the river. The splash sprinkled his fur. He waited, almost holding his breath for her to surface. He knew her games, and she liked to take her time before coming up for air. However, she was pushing his patience. As he stood the surface broke and her soaking blonde head emerged.

“Come swim with me, the water’s nice.”

The surface of the water rippled, distorting the memory before it faded away. He glanced at the canyon walls. Passing the rock, the rolling dunes, and the mountains was the green rocky kingdom of Alexanderia. There his Mage waited for him. He sighed and flopped on the riverbed. Watching the lazy birds drift by until something glistening caught his eye.

At first glance it looked like broken sticks. All jumbled together like a nest that collapsed into the river. As the debris floated closer, he spied bleached bone arrowheads mixed within the mess. Heads and shafts and feathered fletching came downriver in clumps. It dawned on him that he was watching the remnants of a battle. Who the victor was he didn’t know, but the need to find the answer brought him to his tired feet.

The sinking sensation in his gut told him it related to Saule. It might not make sense to him at the moment, but he knew she was nearby. The broken arrows were a harbinger of worse to come. He raced along the bank, keeping alert to any sign of the girls. Any indication of the archers. Anything at all that might tell him where she was.

The tranquillity shattered as the birds on the riverbank took to the sky in a gust of chatter and flapping wings. The clamouring of noise and feathers swooped over him. He dodged and ducked, barely missing the creatures that flew at him. Then the ground shuddered. Pushing the sand in clumps until two giant claws stretched towards the sun.

Spindly legs pushed the giant from the sand. Its claws snapped at the sky, celebrating as the black segmented body revealed itself. His heart raced, daring not to make a move. Fear gripped his chest as a long tail with a deadly stinger rose above it. He crouched, trying to make himself as small as possible.

He never heard of a Giant Scorpion being so close to the riverbed. Their appearance in the mid-day was even more extreme. They preferred to hunt at night, or in their tunnels deep in the cliffs. His gaze fell upon him, and the beady black eyes sent a shudder of terror over his spine. The fanged mouth rubbed together and urged its eight legs forward.

The pincers, heavy and fat, spread themselves wide as it neared. Eclipse backed away, scouring the area for the higher ground. But the pincers boxed him in. The stinger was delicately poised for the final deadly attack. A growl vibrated from his throat. The enemy tensed. A roar echoed off the canyon walls. But their dance continued. One losing ground as the other claimed it.

The creature lunged; a claw swooped over the ground. He dodged it, but the second one came next, faster than the first. The whoosh of its force brushed over his fur. The tail curled above him, like a knife wielded by a madman. The creature constricted his body upward, the pincers surrounded him. As his fate flashed before his eyes, the ruby mark on his forehead glowed.

His muscles and very being, constricted, sending a familiar pain through his body. His magic pulled itself from his life force, swimming over him until the mark on his head began to burn. Above, the tail whipped backwards, then in a blink it flung forward.

Piercing the air and landing inches from his side. The closest pincer whipped at him, sending him crashing into the rocky shore. The edges of the river licked his shoulders. The acidic scent of its venom floated to his nostrils. He pulled his aching body to his feet and faced it one more time.

The dull ache pounding behind his eyes made his vision blur. The fuzzy shape of the creature crawled toward him, claws snapping at the air in victory. The tail once more poised to end it all. When the pain was at its worst, he planted his feet. Drew a deep breath and let the magic take over his body. The birthmark glowed, not a dull light as before. But a bright steady stream exploded from the mark. Instantly the pressure washed away, leaving his mind clear.

The stinger stabbed again, but he focused on the light. It solidified before his eyes, spanning the space above him. It was thin as glass but strong as a diamond. Ruby Light, his gift from the Gods. The stinger, with all its might, jabbed into the magic barrier. Its impact snapped the tip like a sewing needle into stone. The beast unleashed a hiss like scream. Stumbled backwards further inland.

Each step he took forward felt like pushing a boulder uphill. The light expanded before him, acting as his shield, it was his turn to corner the creature. The death dance had a new lead, he pushed, slowly but surely forward. Stepping over the rocks and cacti that got in his way. All his focus was on the light and the creature. The panic in its movements, the chaotic shifting of its legs. The bleeding tail, oozing a deadly venom over the ground.

It bludgeoned the barrier with everything it had. The fury of a desperate creature. Slamming the pincers and whipping it with its tail; all to no avail. Each strike bounced off. Another step forward, another step backward. His tail grazed a rock wall. It was trapped.

Eclipse didn’t stop, he had him now. His body was weakening under the strain of his magic. barrier. The final push, he shoved the creature against the rock. Taking the opportunity when its claws swiped, to push it on its side. There with its belly exposed and his claws pinned he went in for the kill.

Channelling the last of his strength he funnelled his power into the middle of the barrier. A single pole formed, inch by inch it grew, until it sharpened itself into a jagged point. The beast flailed as it pressed against the armour plating of its body. He stepped forward, driving the spear further into the thick scales.

It felt like minutes for the point to pierce the body, but when it did the creature screeched. It vibrated over the walls, filling his ears and heart with a newfound terror. He pushed on, further until the creature was fully impaled and still. When he saw the black bile spill from its body, he stopped.

The light flickered, faded then vanished all together. He dropped to the sand, panting and sweating as his strength drained from him. But he was alive to fight another day. He thanked the Gods, asked forgiveness for the brutality of his fight, and closed his eyes.