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~ [Music Recommendation: "The Heart's Tale" by BigRicePiano (Instrumental only) - available in Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this scene ~

Rania, Elliot, and Luna gasped upon seeing the situation inside.

​​

At the very center of the room was a large bed covered by a thick reddish barrier. On it, laid a man with reddish brown hair, braided loosely up to his stomach. His face seemed kind and warm but its youth and beauty was covered by dark circles under his eyes, darkened complexion, and an obviously thin, weak, and sickly body, covered by nothing but a sleeping robe. Along with the robes … was the dark aura, attached to his very skin.

He opened his eyes when the team entered, to reveal a beautiful, golden glow. With what seemed to have taken him all his might, he gave them a warm smile. At this gesture, the young boy who sat beside him on a chair, just outside the barrier, bit his lips. The young boy had the same color of hair, just shorter, extending up to his shoulders. He looked no older than thirteen, but with a tall, slender body. Unlike the man on the bed, his eyes were bluish gray in color. It was beautiful … yet reflected such deep sadness and regret.

"Ignis …," Ducis called the man lying on the bed. With a wretched face, he gritted his teeth in sorrow and annoyance … annoyance from everything that was happening and the fact that he couldn't even do anything to help a dear friend. He dragged his feet as he approached the barrier. And in a low, pained voice, he greeted him, "My friend … It has been a long time".

Ignis, still smiling, greeted him back, "It has been long indeed. How have you been?" His voice was hoarse and dry. Despite his young age, the way he spoke was very slow.

"... Doing better than you, I suppose," Ducis let out a bitter smile. Sighing, he asked, "What happened to you?"

"I … visited Gaia".

Ducis was alarmed. "Huh?! Why would visiting -" before he finished asking, he already realized the answer to his question. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes, my friend. I'm afraid … what we had been dreading for ... just happened".

Rania, Elliot and Luna came closer to Ducis, Ignis, and the young boy. When they got nearer, suddenly, Elliot's Zweihänder went out of his body on its own. Along with it, were the other guardians. They all went out of their dwelling place and hurried towards Ignis. Worry reflected on everyone's face.

Ignis chuckled seeing the faces of his co-guardians.

"Greetings," Elliot bowed his head. Rania and Luna followed, to show respect.

"Greetings to you as well, Anointed King. And to everyone," Ignis replied.

"Can you tell us what's happening in Gaia?" Elliot asked in a serious and worried tone.

"Of course, my king," Ignis smiled. "However, I no longer have the strength to tell the tale. So let this young man say it on my behalf," he couldn't move his body much anymore so he simply turned his head slightly, towards the young boy who sat beside him.

The young boy flinched. It was obvious that he barely listened to their conversation. He was absorbed in his own worry and misery.

Noticing his master's call, he quickly answered, "Yes, master!" Then, he turned around towards Elliot and the rest. "Please, have a seat first," he waved his hands towards the couch on the side of the room and brought it near the bed so they may be seated. He also brought the coffee table and prepared a warm drink and some snacks for everyone. He did all these with a smile on his face … though happiness was missing and very far from it.

"Thank you," the team chorused, and sat on the soft couch. The other guardians followed and took their seat. But some remained standing, near Ignis, checking on his condition.

"Ahmm … so … what happened is," the young boy was at a loss how to explain everything. "Oh, right! I haven't introduced myself, he he he".

Elliot chuckled. "Relax, we don't bite". And he gave him such a warm and soothing smile.

Seeing this, the young boy calmed down. He breathed deeply before he continued.

"My name is Eres, an apprentice of Guardian Ignis. Though, I am just a mere boy, unworthy of his tutelage".

"Do not think lowly of yourself," Rania encouraged the boy. "I'm sure he picked you to be his apprentice for a reason".

"They are right, Eres," Ignis agreed.

Eres quickly turned to him, and almost cried. But he strengthened himself, not wanting to cry in front of his master. His cute face, trying to be tough was admirable to look at. He turned back towards Elliot, Rania, Luna, and the rest of the other guardians.

"It all started last month," Eres began. "My master suddenly felt that there was something wrong beneath the planet's core. He immediately went to Gaia to check it out and when he arrived, it was the same, barely surviving planet. He couldn't figure out where exactly the problem was. But he didn't give up searching. He stayed there for weeks trying to find the cause. Until … one day, a rumor of a demonized monster spread across the land".

"A demonized … monster?" Caligo, who was intently listening at the corner, murmured to himself.

"I see. I suppose it's the same kind as what we all fought with down at the temple?" Elliot asked.

Eres nodded. "That is correct. My master investigated the rumor and it led him towards a deserted village near the center of the planet. When he arrived, there was this dark, sinister mist all around the village. And as he was walking along the streets, he stumbled upon a very sick man. His skin was darkened, and his eyes were turning red. He kept on shrieking and wailing in pain. My master hurried to his aid however he was too late. The same man suddenly went wild and attacked my master. He tried his best - everything in his power! But … there was no way to save him".

"Spiritual corruption …," Elliot commented.

"Yes. It was indeed, spiritual corruption. My master noticed it right away since it already happened before".

All the guardian's faces instantly darkened. A heavy atmosphere filled the place.

"What happened after? Why does your master have … the corruption ... now?" Rania hesitantly asked. 

At this question, Eres' expression broke. He forced a smile on his face and tried to answer her without crying.

"That's because … he ventured too close. When he realized that the man he tried to save suffered from spiritual corruption, my master immediately knew where to go. He went there, to a place that should never be visited - the land of 'Vetiti'".

"What?!" all the guardians were appalled. 

"That land … isn't that where -" Terra mumbled, clenching her fists in agitation.

"What's in the land of Vetiti?" Luna blurted out. "Why do you all look so … scared of it?"

"... It's the place where … the root of Gaia's demise was located," Aqua answered her.

"And what is that root that you're referring to?" Elliot asked.

"That's …" Aqua glanced towards Ducis first before she answered. Ducis gave his consent, so she continued, "It's where the Core Crystal is located. The Crystal of Life, the very heart of Gaia. However … the crystal itself had been corrupted".

"Yes, that's correct," Eres continued. "The Core Crystal that was once the source of life, now had a dark aura emanating from it. A dark aura that not only dries up the planet of all its spiritual energy, but also corrupts the planet. And what's worse, when my master came to check on it, the barrier that the guardians helped in putting together so that the corruption won't spread … was almost broken".

"The barrier that we made?! Broken?!" Saburra couldn't believe it. "Does that mean that the dark aura is getting stronger? And that's how Ignis was affected by the corruption?"

Eres gritted his teeth before he nodded in affirmation.

A moment of silence passed by the room.

"We need to go back and set up another barrier," Fauna tried to convince everyone.

"But we need to continue the Rite of Passage," Terra disagreed. "We don't have much time".

"Then, why don't we divide ourselves? Those guardians whom Elliot already passed the trial, go back to Gaia and help set up the barrier, and the rest can stay?" Ventus suggested.

The other guardians agreed with the idea.

"My friends," Ignis stopped their conversation. 

Everyone turned to him to listen.

"What is it, Ignis?' Aqua asked.

"You do not need to worry about the barrier anymore," Ignis continued, with a smile on his face. "Because our Anointed King is a very kind and wise young man".

Everyone was puzzled by what he said … even Elliot for he knew not, what he did to be called kind and wise by a guardian he never met before.

==================

Hi Beloved Readers!

I just want to inform all of you that … the Official NOVEL TEASER of this book is OUT!!!

YAAAAAAAYYYY!!! I hope you all like it! Also, I would like to extend my personal thanks to those who helped me create this amazing video - for Ynna_Brittania (@trustmeimyg) for video editing, for Starr_Swann (@author_starrswan) for the beautiful voice over, and for Cy (@cyuuri29) for the amazing artworks. <3

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