25 years ago. Savoyar Castle. The Borderlands.
"A girl? How can there be a girl? Girls were never born into our lineage." Roger de Savoyar paced his study, deep in thought. He was the Guardian of the Borderlands.
"Your Excellency, do not worry. It is related to the lineage of your spouse. The magic of the de Seen family has brought about this change, as in their ruling dynasty, girls were always born first," reassured Hilcrest, the elderly healer who was examining the Guardian's wife.
"I know, Hilcrest. I am well aware of the lineage of my wife and the peculiarities of their magic. But throughout the entire pregnancy, you insisted that the child carried the aura of the Guardians. You know as well as I do that only men can be Guardians. Girls are born with the magic of the spouse's family and only after the appearance of an heir," Roger exclaimed, unable to find peace. The birth of his daughter, even with the magic of Celesta, would have been manageable if they had simply waited for the birth of a second child. But a girl with the power of a Guardian, it was too dangerous and unpredictable. And above all, it had never happened in the entire history of the Rift's existence in the Borderlands.
The Borderlands, under the rule of the Guardian lineage of Savoyar, have held a special position on the border of two mighty kingdoms—the Forest Kingdom and the Sea Kingdom—for several centuries. Situated along the Rift line, these lands possess unique significance and characteristics.
One of the main features of the Borderlands is the existence of a massive portal known as the Rift, stretching for dozens of kilometers in length and reaching heights of around a hundred meters. The origin and reasons for the Rift remain a mystery, but periodically, creatures from other worlds emerge from it.
The creatures that emerge from the Rift vary in their degree of danger. Some are relatively harmless, while others, such as the Crawlies, pose a special threat. Crawlies are dark beings that can either originate from other worlds or be spawn of Chaos. They attack and destroy all living things, draining their magic. Crawlies appear as black, fanged creatures with smooth and impenetrable skin, crimson eyes, pointed ears, and enormous tails that can reach several meters in length. Their bodies are about three meters long and two meters tall. Only a Guardian, a member of the Savoyar lineage, possesses the ability to send these monsters back into the Rift and contain them within the Borderlands.
Neither elemental mages (of water, air, earth, fire) nor the most powerful mentalists from both kingdoms can overcome or weaken these creatures. Any attempts to fight the Crawlies usually result in the death or loss of magical abilities for the mages. The primary danger posed by the Crawlies lies in their ability to drain the magic of the gifted individuals. Only a Guardian has the ability to resist their magical attacks, as they do not possess their own elemental magic but can accumulate and amplify magic from the surrounding environment.
Roger and Celeste de Savoyar, the rulers of the Borderlands, eagerly awaited the birth of their firstborn. Their marriage had lasted for over five years, and they needed an heir who could continue the lineage and assume the responsibilities of the Guardian. In this role, the Savoyar heir would gain all the knowledge and skills of the Guardian through a special magical ritual.
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Once the child learned to walk, physical training would commence to prepare them for battles against the Crawlies. Serious preparation was necessary to successfully confront these dangerous creatures. At the age of five, the child would begin training in wielding cold weapons, and by the age of eight, their magical reserve would develop enough to engage in training sessions with invited mages and the senior Guardian.
During the training, the Savoyar heir would learn to harness their magical abilities and acquire combat skills. Typically, by the age of twelve, the Savoyar heir would reach the required level of preparation and be ready to participate in battles against the monsters emerging from the Rift.
Thus, the Savoyar heir underwent intensive physical and magical training from early childhood to become a worthy Guardian and protect the Borderlands from the dangers emanating from the Rift.
The birth of a girl instead of the expected heir brought confusion and dismay to the Savoyar castle. Everyone had expected the child to possess elemental magic. However, the girl received the gift of the Guardian, which was unexpected and unusual.
Little Alessandra, gazing at the world with her green eyes, was completely unaware of the adventures and trials that awaited her. Confusion and incomprehension surrounded her, but she herself had yet to grasp the whims of destiny that lay in store for her.
This new situation brought a change in plans and expectations for the Savoyar lineage. Instead of passing on the inherited knowledge and abilities of the Guardian to a son, they now had to seek new paths and solutions. Perhaps the girl, with her gift of the Guardian, would bring something new and unexpected to the Borderlands. Alessandra, with her unique gift and extraordinary power, could become the key to unraveling the mysteries of the Rift and combating the dangers that emanated from it.
Little Alex, aware of the responsibility that fell upon her as the Guardian's heir, displayed an iron will from early childhood. She aspired to be better and prove her worth, fearing to disappoint her father, Roger de Savoyar.
The ritual of knowledge transfer took place as planned when Alex turned eight. However, the absence of a male heir caused concern for Roger and Celeste, as it jeopardized the lands of the Forest and Sea kingdoms. Alex was their only child, and Roger de Savoyar had no choice but to pass on all his knowledge and skills to his little princess.
Celeste de Savoyar, the sister of the Sea King and belonging to the de Seen lineage, was married off to the Guardian Roger de Savoyar when she was still very young. King Christoph de Seen, after his coronation, planned to strengthen his influence over the Borderlands. The political marriage between Celeste and the Guardian solidified his control over the coveted lands. The king hoped that the Rift would eventually quiet down, and the Borderlands would fall under the dominion of the Sea kingdom. However, King Frederick de Forest of the Forest kingdom, more experienced and skilled in political intrigues, learned of Christoph's plans and fortified his borders, doubling patrols and attempting to influence the Guardian. As a result, relations between the Forest and Sea kingdoms became almost hostile.
Thus, political intrigues and the struggle for influence became an integral part of Alex's and her parents' lives. Roger tried to shield the girl from political intrigues, but he was not all-powerful. Celeste often suggested forming an alliance with her brother's kingdom to reduce the pressure from de Forest, but Roger was not willing to change the Borderlands' centuries-old neutral position in the kings' disputes. Given the unstable situation associated with the birth of their daughter, the Guardian sought to limit communication with the kings as much as possible.
From early childhood, the little Guardian displayed a strong and determined character. She knew how to control her emotions, despite the storm raging inside her.