"Guardian! Please calm down! I hope you don't see this as a major threat... But he is to work for you! Please just understand!" My escort came rushing to me, trying his best to stop me from causing a wreckage.
"These work for me? Pfft... I rather have them killed right now." I smirked while my crimson gaze shot towards the two others who were talking to the chubby one I was interrogating.
With a swift movement of my wrist, blood splattered onto the floor and onto my white clothes. I didn't care about what the others might think of me... But my snake personality is the reason why I can bite and kill many, but they can't bite me back. Faced with a situation like this... I would never let it slip.
The man who I had the blade pressed against, fell to his knees while holding his wound. I didn't bother feeling pitiful towards him. "You should consider yourself lucky that I let you go... Next time... It would be your tongue being fed to the stray dogs. At least they would be loyal to me after eating it then having you pesky insects trying to plot against me."
I then looked up at the two others. "As for you... Who do you think you are? Just that I am new and haven't taken office yet... Do you think you really have the audacity to plot against someone who you work for? The same person who gets to choose what sort of work you were to do for?"
"No... Our Guardian... We don't have the right to do such a thing to someone we are to serve." One added while bowing his head. But I wasn't pleased. Then, I shot my gaze towards the last one tucked out at the corner. "Do I have to say a single word to make you bow?"
Immediately, he fell to the ground and started begging. Again, I just wasn't pleased. I wanted to do something even more intense, but I couldn't since they hadn't gone far enough. I promise though, I will not spar them when the time comes. My escort started to chuckle behind me, it was understandable since he was the only one who knew his place when faced with me.
"And who do you work for?" I turned to face him next. It was a question that I wanted to ask out of curiosity.
"I am currently not working for the Guardians. I am a member working under the group of knights who are supposed to look after any harm that one Guardian might cause the others." He replied politely while bowing with his right hand positioned at his left shoulder.
I knew by the help of Spectrum that the Guardian Realm always had a conflict or two happening on a daily basis which often resulted with innocent servants being blackmailed into doing things they never agreed to. Sometimes they would have to kill by their Master's command while the other times, they would have to choose to kill themselves.
This resulted into an uncontrollable lose of life around the Realm and the Aethalgard had to step up and form a more neutral base of servants who could stop the situation. They have their own ruler, and they are not a Guardian. They are called the Honorary Knights, because of the amount of power they could carry and the title that meant equal to that of the Guardians.
It was said that these specific group of honorary knights had the power and magic to detect who is lying and who is siding with who. They can tell whether the innocent life was bribed, threatened or provoked into doing the very situation they were in. So they are practically judges who are knights as a help to the Gaurdians and also keep the Realm under their supervision for any sort of conflict before it even begins.
"Then, why are you holding a clipboard?" I asked while furrowing my brows. He seemed to have been unconscious about the thing he was holding on his hand and turned embarrased.
"That's to ensure you won't take us for an enemy. Swords and spears have scared many in our past situations." He answered back while hiding it behind his back. "So instead, our weapon can be stored in a shifted shape just in case. I hope you understand."
"..."
Then, I looked at the three men who were still trying to recover from the situation that I had caused them from a few seconds ago. "Anyhow... Is there a chance to have the Honorary Knights infiltrate my crew of servants before I take office? I don't want to deal with them as a problem the first thing once I step into my workspace."
"Given that we had been suspicious of these for a few days now... I suppose it is safe to say that an immediate attention will be required." My escort spoke while placing a finger at his chin. "Don't worry, it will be done in no time." He reassured me just when I started to question what he might be up to.
"Perfect then. I hope this will be settled soon." Although honestly, I don't want to do any extra work as a guardian. I asked while shealthing back Spectrum to my side and started walking behind the Honorary knight. My sword snapped inside with a soft click.
It was a satisfying sound in my ears... More like a calming sound. But one other thing that could sound even more satisfying was the sound of bones snapping at my hand when I killed those three back there. I still have that anger at the tips of my fingers that made me want to go back and finish off what I had left undone and for later.
Down the hall, we transitioned from deep purplish colour of the night to the light yellow colour of the day. It was a pretty sight and reminded me of the sunsets of the Smod Island. At least it kept me distracted and got me to start recollecting on what I had done back there and what I needed to do for the upcoming encounter with the Aethalgard Heirs.
I will be brutally honest, I needed to mentally prepare myself for facing such powerful beings after having almost killed three of my own servants at the main hall. I am sure there must have been witnesses. But if what my escort had said that he was indeed from the Honorary knights, then I can rest assured.
On my way to the main chamber, I was mostly distracted by a few decorations that caught my eyes, and I always ended up getting dragged away by thought about that instead of what I was supposed to do. If there were a small meeting room of my little personalities inside my head... I demand a rent for being such indecisively and occasionally caught onto these stupid things instead of discussing about possible escape ideas when I have been declared a 'criminal' by the Aethalgard.
Sheesh... Just by the thoughts of it makes me gets goosebumps.
Anyhow, we managed to make it towards the Aethalgard chamber of Justice in an astonishingly short time. At the door, I may or may not have thought about withdrawing Spectrum and puncturing the air to run away quickly. But on second thought... What wrong did I do?
Just when, the door pushed open to reveal a massive interior. It was three storeys stacked up on one another with a ceiling only visible after the height of another storey, and in the shape of a triangular prism with no base. It felt like at an opera house, and I was a play actor. The room was wide and filled with colourful windows, which were tall and had small pieces to form a mosaic.
Then there was the amount of space where people could sit and watch from every directions. Given the fact that there were previously fifty Guardians... I see why it now felt totally empty. There were now only a few that I was too lazy to count, so I didn't give a mind. As I stepped inside, I felt the nerve to admire the architecture first before answering whatever questions the Aethalgard had wanted to ask me. It was just too elaborate to not bat an eye at.
"I am sorry Guardian, but this is the most I can go. If you need anything, just ask for me. My name is Matthew." My escort told me while bowing one last time and then walking away. Now this got my nerve. I was alone and surrounded by powerful beings to properly meet and answer.
"Sure. I will remember. Thank you for your help." I answered while smiling. But just when I turned around and checked myself, I realized a little too late about my bloodied form. The heck was I busy doing! What the heck do I do now?!
I still turned to face the Aethalgards who were perched on the two high-back seats upstairs. They were looking down at me with their marvelous galactic true forms. They had wings and horns, cosmic shades of eyes and hair. And they were elegantly clothed in heavily designed fashion materials. Trims and gems... Reminded me of what Nada might have found fascinating. I wished she were with me right there.
Upon seeing them eye me with curiosity, I dropped to my knee and bowed my head in a form of respect. I didn't know how to pay respect to a Guardian, but I also didn't want to leave a bad image on myself as a rookie. What if they summon my execution?
I didn't speak for a long time, since I didn't know what to do to begin with. The amount of presence that I was getting was something I couldn't really adjust to. It made me get goosebumps since it reminded me to just how weak I was. I didn't know if it was making them suspect me more, but I never wanted to ascend to begin with, so they should understand as keepers of justice that they have no right to force me with execution for not fulfilling my roles.
"You seem to have dissappeared for eighteen thousand and a hundred years... Then suddenly you reappear as a rookie?" One of them spoke, but I didn't know who exactly. By the direction they were speaking, I could tell they were one of the Aethalgards.
What really concerned me was... I didn't disappear for eighteen thousand and a hundred years. I was simply born fifteen years ago on Earth. So I replied without giving it a much thought.
"I am sorry. I don't quite get your question. I was born fifteen years ago on Earth. Even if I may have reincarnated, I don't quite remember my past life memories. But I also believe that you may have mistaken my face for whoever was the past Guardian of Death like everyone else down the hall."
"The level of confidence you speak with is unnerving." Another one of the Aethalgard Heirs spoke with a displeased tone of voice. But I still didn't lift my eyes. "Anyways... What happened to your appearance?"
"A few servants were speaking behind my back, so I dealt them a simple warning." I replied instantly. "I am sorry if I seem like a mess right now. I wasn't honestly planning on facing them today."
"Hmm... Well that is a problem..."
But I didn't know who was the problem. Probably me?
"Lift your gaze. It's not like you are anyone lower than our ranking to begin with." One of them laughed. It was a familiar voice, and it was also that reason that I lifted my gaze towards the Aethalgard Heirs.
I think it really is the first time that I had seen them, but the same four guardians who had been protecting me this whole time... They were in their true forms. "Wait... You are 'them'..."
I caught sight of the smiling, sweet Guardian of Space looking towards my direction with her cosmic white hair, wings and her silver eyes. "Well yes... I have been quite excited to meet you for a long time now. You have grown quite powerful since the first time we contacted you. It was almost like watching a baby grow."
She was indeed as beautiful as I had imagined her.
"Thank you for your support and protection throughout." I smiled and answered back, while bowing my head again. But then I suspected that any other Guardians were going to be this nice to me like her.
Of course, the leader of the Aethalgards, the Guardian of Justice, smiled next. "I honestly believe you should be standing instead. I don't think that anyone here wants your demise. We are honestly happy that we have a new Guardian of Death."
"It was said that with one Guardian of Death gone, the era was officially offer. So I believe the next saying will be that with a new Guardian of Death back, we will have a major comeback." The Guardian of Everlasting Health added next.
"I doubt so... I haven't manifested the remaining of my powers yet." I added while scratching the back of my head. "It is pretty intense for me to pursue and unfold... So I might want to train harder before I eventually bring back the era. So I can guarantee a much safer barrier for the rest of you."
They all laughed along, except me. But then, they all stared at the empty seat beside the two Aethelgard Heirs, the entire room turned silent again. It was too silent for me to believe it was just any type of conflict that may arise next. Oh shit... I am cooked... Fired on my first day of Interview... Niiicee!
I looked down at the floor where my white boots bled into the wooden floors of the Justice chamber. My hands instantly flew to where the butterfly brooch rested at the collar.
It was something I did when I needed some sort of thing to cling onto. So I stay anchored to the feeling of the brooch that I didn't quite wear for longer than a night and the next morning in front of the person who had given it to me.
Finally, after a long moment, the Guardian of Justice started to speak.
"So... The third seat of the Aethalgard can't be left unclaimed for long."