Confusion struck me the second he spouted out those words. What could he be trying to ask for from me, who has no association or any idea of what the third seat of the Aethalgard should do. I don't even know whether that is a command or a request, or an interrogation or a statement. I just know that I am spiralling down a whirlpool that has no end.
I keep being faced with this situation where people expect me to do something, but I just don't know what. First it is that I dissapeared eighteen thousand and a hundrad years, then we have the fact that I may have looked a lot like the former Guardian of Death. Added to that, people think I am naive.
Just what in the world is possibly going on? It's not like I have ever wanted to ascend into a Guardian. I just wanted to go back to Earth every second that I think about it. And these circumstances never allow me. They keep dragging me deeper and deeper into the story of this world.
To begin with... These people all are acting like I was born in this planet itself. I can't explain... What is in their minds? This is literally my first time being here... It's not like I could be any what recognizable. Unless I look identical to someone who in my family and they had been here before. But that is highly unlikely.
I thought about it again.
There were multiple possibilities to what the question might mean. Like they could be asking for an explaination on whether I know if the Guardian of Death and the third Aethalgard's dissapearance was a link to the same person. Or they could be asking me to look for the missing last Aethalgard Heir.
Then, they could be asking it as a test to see if I truly knew anything at all about this Realm.
Of course I knew nothing about this Realm. Because this is my first time even stepping in. I only just started collecting information about Guardians after I had reawakened from my grave and ascended. It was just because I wanted to survive much harder then my previous time in life, before I jumped off the bridge.
I now suddenly felt the need to enquire more about what they were trying to say. They might just also be testing me about knowledge on them and the safer choice was to act dumb. When you act dumb and is secretly a smart person, people will lay obvious traps that you can tell and use it against them to expose their real personalities.
I wanted to brace for just that. They could be thinking about sugar coating me with things like laughter and excitement, but they could also be hiding another plan on the otherside of their mask where they might just be thinking about throwing me into a dungeon. I wasn't going to risk losing my life again... This time, it truly is precious!
"I am sorry... I just don't understand what you might mean by it." I asked after a long moment of silence. "I am not associated to that particular throne so I can't say anything about what might have happened that led to its emptyness."
They were taken aback by my words. Creatures almost mythical being fooled by a mere rookie's words... Ha!
But of course... I wasn't really fooling them while telling the lie. Because what if among them, one was a truth reader. And if they could read my mind right now, they know that I am not lying when I say I am really confused to the point of daze.
"I see..." The Guardian of Justice started speaking while leaning back against his own high-back chair. I could tell there was disappointment on his face from the far distance, and I could tell that he had not expected me saying such a thing.
"Then, would you understand if I used simpler words?"
"I am afraid I might need a full explanation. There are multiple different ways your words may be meaning something. Afterall, I have just ascended and I am still unfamiliar with many things around this Realm." I answered back while bowing my head to show the loyalty of my words. I knew he wouldn't believe it unless I showed it too.
"In that case. How is it that you would like to take the empty seat?" He smiled at me while leaning his head against his palm. "At the end of the day... It is quite clear that on the day that the previous Guardian of Death dissapeared, was the same day that the third and mysterious Aethalgard Heir disappeared too. And after a few more days, Silence chose to go ahead and start her official 'taking control' mission.
"It can also be seen why she would suddenly hand the title to someone like you. She felt like repaying the debt which she had still left from her time as a Guardian of this Realm." He added after a short while. I already knew that she was a suspicious entity. And I knew that she was never really associated and working with the rest of Guardians. She had a mixture of presenses... Which was an odd thing to think. And that she had established such a stupid set of rules, and for study.
"Well she was an entity with unknown origins. She tried taking over control of so many things, true." I breathed after a long time, already aware of my vulnerable standing ground. "About your question earlier... I am still far too weak to actually take that seat just yet. I would like to reject for the time being."
My response was a bit shocking, that made the Guardian of Space to stand on her feet and walk towards the railing to look at me properly. She wanted to say something, but was stopped by the Aethalgard Heirs.
"I am sorry if it is something that offends you, but I am saying it for the sake of the Realm. I want to be sure that the Competition can never lay a hand on this Realm. Since I am still somewhat associated to it." I clarified. I honestly didn't want the competition to harm this place since I have learnt my lesson enough from Silence.
"I understand." He frowned while straightening at his seat. He then observed me for a long time before speaking again. "I completely agree with you since you are also still a young kid... You deserve a bit of freedom before you are officially tied to these inescapable burdens of solving humanitarian conflicts."
"I am sorry if I seem arrogant. I don't like leaving a bad image with a rejection. But I have good reason why I needed to do so." I said while lifting my head again. My head was actually aching, and thus I wanted to keep it down for a moment.
"I understand my child. Then since you don't want anything to do with the Aethalgard seat, what is something you would like. Take it as a reward from the all of us. It will be a reward that congratulates you for ascending."
I looked at the man with the long grey beard who looked wise and old. He kind of reminded me of Lewis, given how I used to tear him apart mentally just by calling him a grandpa for his silver hair. The thought caused me to smile for a bit, before I got caught back into the thought that I needed to finish rethinking the matters, that I needed to choose a reward in return.
A reward befitting that of a congratualations for ascending from the rest of the Guardians. I wanted to ask for only two things.
"I have two wishes. Would that be acceptable?"
"Go ahead." He smiled at me as if I were a kid asking for a toy from a loving grandparent.
"Then... I would wish to meet my brothers again. Since I left them suddenly where they were pretty broken by my betrayal." I added. "At least Henry. But I don't want them to know that I am still alive."
I know it isn't too much to ask from them, I just wished to meet my family again. That was all I ever wanted from some people who could cause circumstances that would reunite us for a split second at least. And that split second would be enough for me.
"I want to meet my biological brothers too. But I know that isn't possible since they are back on Earth." Although it was easy for me to blurt out, the words hit my throat before leaving my mouth. It is always painful when I recall that I keep abandoning my family for their own sake.
The Guardian of Everlasting Health was the only one who seemed to be hesitating from saying something. But I knew it would be arrogant to point out something that the Guardian is unwilling of doing. So I diverted my eyes back at the Guardian of Justice whose smile too vanished.
"You did suffer quiet the much kid... For your age... You should be asking for a good life and enjoying the rebellions that you can never get back memories of." He sighed while cutting to the point the next moment. "Although it is possible to grant your wish like you said... I am uncertain if the moment you meet them will be to your liking."
"I am alright with however I meet them. At least I get to see how they are doing."
"Very well... What is the second wish?"
"That I am faced with more battles where I can train my skills."
"What?"
"I know it may seem irrational... But I need to get my skills and strength up so I can prepare faster to take the empty throne of the Aethalgard." I offered with a smile. "I don't care about getting injured or fatally hurt. I have a way I can survive... So I would also want the battle intensity to be hard. It will force me to train harder."
"That is some strong kid we will be growing!"
Suddenly, from the Esclipse side, another familiar voice rang out. And then the Guardian of Wrath poked his head out and waved his hand quite kidishly. Unlike the others... He seemed to be around three years younger than me. And that made me feel like the only person in the room who might seem more human in terms of age and qualifications.
He had a gradient of dark to bungurdy eyes, and wine red hair. To hear him say I was a kid... Was I honestly dreaming? But of course, the Guardians had a sort of power that could make them disguise their identities and make their age seem younger. If I wanted... I could do it too with my powers.
I smiled at him and waved back. Then turned my head back to the Guardian of Justice. "Is that fit for the second wish? Otherwise, it is alright to not consider it. I am fine with my first wish itself." I added after a short while. I clasped both hands behind my back and kept my composure seem like a professional, so I don't seem like I came here to joke around.
"No. I agree with you for the strength part. I see you are very smart with what you end up choosing." Justice sighed while eventually standing and stepping towards the railing. He held a hand in front of himself and suddenly, a sort of golden light seeped out of his palm.
Then, at my feet, the same type of golden light appeared and surrounded me as if swollowing me whole. I was engulfed with the light, only immerging a short while later. I may have been blinded for a moment, but when I could finally see through the darkness again, I was dressed differently.
I then realized... They wanted me to wish for something like an appearance change.
Spectrum at my side was still alright, but its scabbard was way prettier now then before. I looked at my hands and at my clothes. They were completely changed. I was cleaned and I was clad with more ornaments then before.
"Uhh...?" I was dazed, my mind still spinning on itself from the light.
"I couldn't stand for myself to see you wearing your funeral clothes... And I wanted to see your true form."
I looked down, to find myself wearing a pinafore that was half black and the remaining fabric from my back to the side, a deep red. My white shirt sleeves tucked neatly at my wrists, and a black tie at my neck. My trousers turned black, my shoes were more elegant with black boots with heels and bright red soles.
My instincts after finding out, was to search my collar. Luckily the brooch was still there.
"Don't worry... I wouldn't dare to take away someone's priced possession." Justice added after a short while.
I searched my collar a little bit more... And the shirt collar did shapeshift a bit. It had diamonds and metals at the edges. "Wow... That's... Literally something I wear almost everydat..." I blurted out softly while looking around for anymore details. Like I thought... There were strings of pearls and then again... An annoying cape! And that too one shouldered! At least add some support! I can't move my left shoulder because of the weight!
I may be annoyed by a bit... But I couldn't do anything in front of them. My crimson gaze shot to where the Aethalgard leader was standing. "Thank you." I spoke while trying to seem very much grateful... For a darn cape!
Everything I know... A little bit of extra fabric is a compulsory! That too only in one shoulder that feels like falling off any second! What is up with this version of medieval fashion?!
"By the way... I never thought your wings will be such a pretty and mysterious feature..." The Guardian of Space spoke while stepping forward next.
"What...?"
I moved my finger towards where I felt a pair of feathers... At least my hair was tied up again, but there seemed to be a light accessory of a bow.
That didn't matter. I inspected the area where I felt bones and rims... And a metallic tip too.
Then... I flicked it, actually my brain did. And bam!
Bug! I smacked my own wing away from my face. Speak about the devil! In front of the other Guardians?!