Silver was frustrated. He had tried again and again to break the barrier that imprisoned Meliradal, but his efforts had yielded no results. "If only Krasper were here," he muttered in frustration, punching the ground with his fist.
Suddenly, a familiar voice emerged behind him: "What about me? What am I good for?"
Silver spun around quickly, surprised to see Krasper standing there. "Krasper, my friend! What are you doing here? And where have you been?" Silver asked, thrilled by the unexpected appearance.
"Well, that's quite a few questions, my friend," Krasper replied calmly as he approached. "But I came for the same reason you did: our creator contacted me telepathically. Though his voice sounded very faint," he explained thoughtfully.
Krasper looked around, admiring the place. "So this is the sanctuary where Meliradal resides... Wow, it's decorated and looks rather luxurious," he commented, inspecting every detail. After a few moments of silence, he added, "By the way, where is she?"
"Well, she went to fetch some things, but the problem is that she couldn't leave this place. There's an invisible barrier preventing her from leaving—it only affects her," Silver explained, pointing to the space where the barrier was present. "Do you happen to have any weapon that could destroy it?"
"I see," Krasper said, carefully observing the surroundings. He examined every inch meticulously, searching for any clue that might help him solve the problem. After a moment, he looked at Silver and smiled. "Of course, my friend."
From his back, he produced a strange artifact: a sort of spear, but instead of being an ordinary spear, it had a spiral running along its length, resembling the drill bit of a screwdriver. Without wasting time, he handed the weapon to Silver. "Aim this at the center of the barrier with great force," Krasper instructed.
Silver nodded and, gripping the spear firmly, pressed it against the space where he assumed the barrier was. The spear began to spin rapidly, drilling into something invisible in the air. A sharp noise resonated, as if something were cracking. Suddenly, a fissure appeared in the air, followed by more fractures spreading like shattered glass. The entire space began to collapse, and fragments of the barrier fell to the ground, evaporating on contact.
Silver, the silver warrior, stood awestruck at what he was witnessing.
"Done. It's over," Krasper announced, making the spear disappear with an elegant gesture.
Shortly after, Meliradal returned with a tray laden with tea and cookies. She was surprised to see Krasper there.
"Hello," Krasper said with a smile before pulling her by the arm toward where he stood, along with the tray she was carrying. Silver reacted quickly and grabbed the tray before it could fall.
"Wait, you're going to hurt me! There's a barrier!" Meliradal shouted, worried. But she immediately realized that nothing had happened to her. She looked around, incredulous, and understood that she had finally managed to leave the place.
"But how? I tried so many times, and nothing worked," Meliradal said, both confused and amazed.
"Of course, my friend. This barrier was specifically designed for you," Krasper explained calmly, as if it were obvious.
"What do you mean, 'just for me'?" Meliradal asked, frowning with a hint of irritation.
"That's right," Krasper replied calmly. "You see, to protect you from the shadows, Avocios asked me to create something that would keep you safe. Although he later modified the barrier himself, as I can see," Krasper explained, scratching the back of his neck with a casual air.
"What do you mean, 'you'?" she retorted, still irritated but also thoughtful.
"Relax. I'm sorry for what you had to go through," Krasper said sincerely. "But it was partly my fault. I fell into a trap and couldn't get out until Paltio and his friends rescued me."
"Oh! I see," Meliradal responded, slowly relaxing. A faint smile appeared on her face as she added, "Well, at least you got what you deserved." She chuckled softly, recalling her companion's predicament.
"You also met Paltio and his friends," Silver interjected, seizing the moment to change the subject.
"Yes, the last I heard, they were already on their way to Reedalia," Krasper replied, nodding.
Once the three of them had calmed down and discussed a few more details, they decided it was time to reunite with the other guardians.
"But Golden is with Paltio, and he can't leave the boy's seed," Meliradal pointed out, concerned. "And Kilibur... I don't know where he is."
"Don't worry, I can sense Kilibur," Krasper assured her confidently. "With my ability, I can transport us to him. Remember, my power only works with the guardians."
"Alright then, what are we waiting for? It's time to go," Silver said decisively.
"Wait a moment. I need to say goodbye to my followers. I'll be right back," Meliradal announced. In an instant, majestic wings sprouted from her back, and she flew off elegantly from the place.
"Typical of that woman, always rushing off somewhere," Krasper commented with a sarcastic yet affectionate tone.
"Hey, Krasper," Silver said, taking advantage of the moment alone. "You remember everything, don't you? Your mind wasn't erased like hers, Golden's, or Kilibur's."
"Of course, my dear doggy friend," Krasper replied with a mischievous smile. "The master didn't want to do that to me because he needed me to create weapons for the upcoming war. My memory had to remain intact. But… why did he erase or distort things about the battle for those three?"
"Good question," Silver reflected, crossing his arms. "I don't know why he left some notions of that event in their minds or, in some cases, twisted them. I imagine when we find Avocios, he'll explain it to us."
"Alright, let's go after that bird-girl before she takes too long," Krasper said, tapping Silver's shoulder. In the blink of an eye, both vanished from the spot.
Meanwhile, Meliradal had arrived where her followers were.
"Hello, my dear Galatea," Meliradal said warmly.
"My lady, I was just about to go see you, but… how are you here?" Galatea asked, surprised to see her.
"Well, it's a long story, my girl. I promise to tell you all about it later," Meliradal replied with a reassuring smile. She paused and continued, "I've only come to tell you that I'm leaving this place. There are things I must do elsewhere to prepare us for the final battle against the shadows."
She looked at Galatea seriously and added, "Remember, protect your people and use what I gave you in case of an emergency. Though it would be best if you transformed into the badger should anyone come."
"Yes, my lady, I will… But if you leave, who will protect us?" Galatea asked, her voice a mix of concern and admiration.
"Don't worry, you and your people are strong. You'll do fine. I'm leaving the realm of Fuertelia in your hands," Meliradal responded firmly, but with a warm tone that inspired confidence.
"But, my lady, if you're preparing for the final battle, count on us. Let us ride by your side," Galatea said with conviction, looking directly into Meliradal's eyes.
"No, my girl. The mission ahead of us is a complicated one. But the time will come when your people can help in this war. You'll receive the call," Meliradal explained calmly, placing a reassuring hand on Galatea's shoulder.
"Very well, my lady. If you say so, I hear and obey," Galatea replied, bowing her head slightly in a gesture of respect.
"Good, my girl. Just don't forget to do as I said, and take care of yourselves. Stay out of trouble," Meliradal said, giving her one last smile before stepping away.
"It's a promise, my priestess," Galatea said, bowing deeply.
"That wasn't necessary, my girl, but alright… Take care of yourself and your people. I must go now," Meliradal responded tenderly.
Behind her, Silver and Krasper waited patiently.
"We're leaving," Krasper announced, crossing his arms.
"Yes," Meliradal replied, approaching them after waving a final goodbye to Galatea.
"Then we need to find Kilibur," Silver said, looking at Krasper expectantly.
"Alright," Krasper responded, closing his eyes for a moment to concentrate. "Let me see where that fox might be."
Krasper extended his perception, searching for the presence of his companion. A moment later, he opened his eyes with a triumphant smile. "Ah, I've found him!" he exclaimed, touching Silver and Meliradal's shoulders simultaneously.
In the blink of an eye, the three vanished from the spot, leaving behind the realm of Fuertelia and heading toward where Kilibur was located.