Reya’s heart pounded as she walked through the dense woods, her thoughts racing. The journey had led her here, to the Sanctuary—the place she had seen in her visions, where the Guardians were meant to be. Her mind buzzed with questions. She had felt the pull of fate guiding her, but now that she stood before the sacred grounds, uncertainty clung to her like a second skin.

The Sanctuary loomed before her, its tall stone walls covered in vines and moss. The air was thick with a sense of ancient magic, as though the very earth here held secrets too deep for words. Reya hesitated for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. She could feel the weight of the choices she had made pressing on her—how she had chosen to leave the shadowy figure behind, choosing the light instead.

But what if she had made the wrong choice?

She shook off the doubt and walked through the entrance, where a narrow path wound deeper into the heart of the Sanctuary. The sound of voices reached her ears, and she followed the trail until she rounded a corner, coming upon a small courtyard. There, standing in the center, were four figures—each of them unmistakable in their appearance, despite not knowing them by name.

Amaya stood with fiery intensity in her stance, her dark eyes narrowed as she spoke to Kai, who had crossed his arms over his chest. The water Guardian was fidgeting, a small stream of water swirling around his hands, as though he were nervous. Lina was nearby, her blonde hair catching the faint sunlight, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched the two of them argue.

And then there was Sarlon—tall, regal, and seemingly serene despite the tension in the air. Her white hair was braided neatly over her shoulder, her blind eyes unfocused yet somehow aware of everything around her.

Reya watched for a moment, unsure whether to interrupt, but it was the sound of Kai’s voice that broke her from her thoughts.

“She’s just a stranger! We don’t know her, Sarlon. How can you trust her?” Kai’s voice was heated, his normally calm demeanor replaced by irritation.

“Trust?” Amaya cut in, her fiery temper already flaring. “We don’t even know what’s going on. What if she’s working with the enemy? She’s just appeared out of nowhere!”

Lina stepped forward, her usually gentle tone sharp. “We’ve been through enough. We can’t afford to take chances.”

Sarlon’s gaze remained distant, but her face remained calm. “I sense no ill intent in her, but we must all tread carefully. The world is changing. And something in me tells me she may be connected to the visions we all saw.”

As if on cue, Reya stepped forward, her presence noticed by the Guardians. They all turned to face her, their gazes full of suspicion, but it was Sarlon who spoke first.

“You have come,” she said softly, her voice carrying an odd sense of both power and calm. “And you carry a purpose, do you not?”

Reya nodded, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t sure what Sarlon meant, but something about her words struck a chord deep within. She could feel the energy of the woman, the power beneath the surface, but it wasn’t just the magic that she noticed—it was a quiet sadness, a hidden pain that Sarlon carried. And Reya couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with the shadows that had tried to tempt her on the road.

“I—I’m not here to hurt you,” Reya said, trying to steady her voice. “I’ve had visions, dreams. And I believe I have a part to play in all of this.”

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

Lina took a cautious step forward. “Visions? How do we know you’re not lying? How can we trust you?”

Reya’s eyes flicked to Sarlon, the only one who seemed to be observing her with less suspicion, though her blind eyes gave no clue to the depth of her thoughts. She could feel the tension between the others as they closed ranks around her, their distrust palpable.

Without warning, Amaya took a step forward, her hands outstretched, flames flickering dangerously around her fingers. “You can’t just waltz in here and expect us to believe you. We’ve fought too hard, lost too much. And you—” She pointed at Reya, her voice rising, “—you’re just an unknown in a sea of chaos.”

The fiery energy radiating from Amaya’s hands flared for a moment, but before anyone could react, Sarlon stepped in between them, her robes billowing out with an unnatural grace. The air seemed to grow still, and a strange tension filled the courtyard.

“Enough!” Sarlon’s voice was sharp, cutting through the rising conflict like a blade. Despite her blindness, she stood perfectly still, her presence commanding the space around her. “There will be no fighting here. Not among us.”

Reya’s breath caught as Sarlon raised her hand slightly, and for the briefest moment, Reya saw a flicker of something beneath the surface of the woman’s calm demeanor—a raw, uncontained power.

It was a fleeting thing, like the glimmer of lightning in a storm, and before anyone could react, it was gone. Sarlon’s hand lowered, and the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, leaving only the faintest residue of power lingering like an echo.

“I know what you are feeling,” Sarlon continued, her voice softening, but there was no mistaking the firmness behind it. “The distrust, the uncertainty. But I sense her connection. This is not the time to turn away from those who might help us. We have all felt the shadow growing closer. And we must be united to face it.”

The others stood in stunned silence, the weight of her words sinking in. Sarlon had revealed something in that brief moment—her power, long dormant, had stirred to life.

Amaya lowered her hands, the fire in her palms vanishing into thin air. She exhaled sharply, her frustration still visible on her face. “Fine,” she muttered, though there was a reluctant respect in her voice. “We’ll trust you—for now.”

Lina, too, seemed to relent, her posture softening as she regarded Reya. “We’ll give you a chance. But you’ll have to prove yourself.”

Kai, who had remained mostly quiet, nodded slowly. “We can’t afford to make mistakes, not now.”

Reya nodded, her resolve strengthening. “I understand. I won’t let you down.”

Sarlon stepped back slightly, her gaze lingering on Reya for a moment longer than necessary. She had not spoken of it to the others, but she knew that Reya’s arrival was no coincidence. There was something about her—something beyond just the visions. It was as if Reya were tied to something ancient, something beyond even the Guardians’ understanding.

“We all have our trials ahead,” Sarlon said, her voice calm once more. “But I sense that Reya’s path will be intertwined with ours. We cannot walk it alone.”

With that, the moment of tension passed, and the Guardians turned to Reya with guarded curiosity. But in the quiet that followed, the air felt different—lighter, as if the first step toward something greater had been taken.

And for the first time, Reya felt like she might finally be where she was meant to be.