The Soul's Guardians

After opening that final door, they were certainly not expecting to encounter such a thing, what will Tullos, Kryos and Frederique do now as they face a possible danger?

In this short amount of time Kyros, Tullos, and Frederique have seen some amazing and astonishing things. The metallic rooms, the ancient skeletons, and weird magics, although few in number they were enough to let them know that the world was much more diverse and unknown than they had originally thought. For Frederique however this only brought out fear and the need to hide and forget that he ever saw such things, however for Tullos and Kyros everything was interesting, new and exciting. Nothing spelled out adventure more than what they have witnessed and went through so far. Not even in their wildest dreams could either of them have imagined such secrets, such magics, such curious ancient artifacts and right now they would end up standing in front of the most amazing secret of them all.

When Kyros opened the doors and all of them entered, the chamber that stood in front of them was of an incredible size. The room spanned over 50 meters (164 feet) in diameter and was well over 40 meters (131 feet) in height. However, what was so impressive about this room wasn't the actual size, but what was found inside of it. The walls and floors were decorated with large magical circles and incantations that all seemed to be connected to each other in one way or another. The words that were written on them were certainly not of the Kyoran language, otherwise both Frederique and Tullos might have recognized some of them. Such a foreign and strange thing was certainly amazing, but even so this paled in comparison to what laid in the middle of the room.

Right in the center four large spikes crossed the diagonals of the room. Two spawned from the ground from the point that was the farthest to the right and the one that was the farthest to the left, while the other two spawned similarly from the roof. Each of the spike was well over 5 meters (16.4 feet) in diameter and around its base there was an ancient magical circle which was active and spinning counterclockwise with another outer circle. The tip of each spike was aimed at a single point which was actually the very center of this entire room. What was in that center was what frightened and confused the entire group.

Right there, at the very center of the room the four giant spikes impaled what appeared to be a naked woman. Her hands and feet were bound through a powerful magic to the pillars, being partially assimilated into them up to her elbows and knees. Around each spike, right where the flesh of the woman seemed to merge with the cold solid stone, purple magical circles could be seen spinning around it. The woman appeared to still be breathing. She was alive, but unconscious. The spikes were all driven through her torso, staining them with her red blood. However, what was the most interesting and maybe disturbing aspect of this woman was that each of the three saw a completely different vision of this woman.

Frederique saw a beautiful noble woman with brown hair, struggling to stay alive, whimpering and crying in her unconscious state. He didn't know this woman, he had never seen her before, but he felt strongly connected to her in an unknown way. The middle aged man although frightened by such a sight had his heart trembling and battling with the desire to set this woman free. His mind wanted to flee, but his heart wanted to rescue her. This brought him at a still point and made him unable to move from his spot. He was just trembling there, feeling himself ripped in half by these powerful emotions that he was all of a sudden feeling with great intensity.

Tullos saw something completely different from what Frederique saw. For Tullos the one that was tied up and impaled in the spikes wasn't even a human, but a beautiful dragoness. In his eyes she was of a staggering beauty. She was humanoid up to the point that she had two hands and two legs, but she was taller than a human, her head was reptilian, she also had a tail and a pair of wings. What seemed to attract Tullos the most was the gleaming color of her scales. They were light green and like the color of the plants during a beautiful spring, her scales seemed to reflect that very essence of mother nature. Although with a reptilian head, a lush and beautiful long hair seemed to decorate her scalp. It appeared to be silky and maybe pleasant to the touch despite its odd coloring, a combination of silver and light green similar to her scales.

There was also another thing that Tullos could see that Frederique didn't. The dragoness had her tail and wings bound and pulled down by a sturdy chain at the end of which there was a big metal ball hanging above what appeared to be a bottomless pit.

As it was the case of Frederique, Tullos was frozen in place by similar feelings that exploded inside of him the moment he saw her. He felt himself accepting that this dragoness was beautiful but at the same time rejected the thought because he was human and there was no reason why he should find her attractive in any way. He could feel deeply inside of himself that she was somehow tied to his very heart and soul, but at the same time he felt like it was a lie and that he must try to resist and run away from it. Like Frederique he did not know her, but Tullos also never saw, heard or read about such a being before. For him dragons were ancient creatures of incredible size that bathed entire villages and cities in their hellish flames. The one he saw right now was far from that picture, yet the feeling that he should fear her was incredibly strong in his heart, just as strong as the one that told him to set her free because she was important to him.

On the other hand Kyros was the only one that saw something completely different from all of them. While the two of them saw a beautiful woman from the start, Kyros at first saw only a ragged and mangled rotting corpse just barely hanging in the spikes and pulled down by that metal ball. He couldn't even tell if it had once belonged to a woman or a man, but certainly it wasn't human. It resembled a lot like the corpse from the species of that ancient skeleton they found in the other room. The corpse had no wings, only a tail. The metal ball was tied not to its tail, but to a type of belt which had inner spikes that dug deeply into wearer's flesh.

The sight of this corpse was what made Kyros freeze with fear for a moment, but for him such a sight quickly changed. It was thanks to his ability which he had since he was born that he would soon be able to ignore the rotting corpse and look upon that which laid unseen by the others. Thus, little by little the truth revealed itself to Kyros and thanks to it his fear was cast aside. As the image of the being was slowly being formed, like a shape revealed by a quickly vanishing fog, Kyros could only gaze at it in amazement.

The first thing Kyros would notice was that the spikes and spells were most likely not meant for that rotting body, but for what was actually inhabiting it all along. The one that was truly bound by those spells and actually had her legs and arms pinned to the spikes that drilled into her chest was actually her soul. Unlike in the illusions showed to the others, she was wide awake and looking down directly at all three of them with a the seductive smile of an enchantress.

It was clear now, Kyros was now looking at the true form of that rotting corpse soul. She was taller than the dragoness seen by Tullos and much more beautiful that the noble woman perceived by Frederique. Indeed she had both a pair of wings and a tail, but they were of a different nature. Her tail was long and ended with a few bone spikes that were dripping with a dark red blood. Her wings appeared to be made of bones moved by muscles and tendons that weren't covered by a layer of skin and fat. Between the tip and base of each wing, ripped and shredded skin was spread across, bleeding in certain spots, but not because of an injury but solely for the effect they might have on one's mind.

This out of the world monstrous being had her hands and feet bound to the spikes making sure she had no means of escaping. Her body was well toned, showing beautiful womanly curves that amplified her tempting and alluring appearance. With her size and unique looks you would expect her to have a dark colored tone skin, however she was Caucasian. While her head, face and hair looked a lot like those of a human, her eyes were far from one's. They were dark as the abyss in the deepest cracks in the ground. With a single glance they seemed able to draw you into the very pits of Hell, alluring you with a deadly venomous seduction. Her dark raven hair flowed freely around her form and although this room was sealed shut, her hair seemed to wave in the wind form time to time. In a way it almost seemed alive.

For any other mortal this giant woman had a deadly, dangerous, and very seductive appearance which spelled out only fear and terror for them, however for the young Kyros there was no such thing. He felt no fear towards her and instead he had a strange confidence that filled his heart from the bottom of his soul telling him that there was no way in Heaven or Hell that she would harm him in any possible way. Although never having met or seen this being before, just as it was in the case of Tullos and Frederique strange emotions and powerful feelings aroused boiling from deep inside his very being as if they had always been there since the beginning of time. Still, Kyros had no conflicting feelings for her. He did not look at this strange being and felt the need to run, nor did his mind struggle with the desire to free her or the idea to fear her. He was free of such inner conflicts and as such he was the only one for now that could move from his spot.

“She's... beautiful...” said Kyros as he made a step forward.

The more he looked at this enthralling being, the more he felt attracted to her emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It was strange, so very strange that his heart longed for her in an almost painful way. He didn't know why or since when this started, but he knew that this being was someone special to him and the closer he got the more he could see her better and admire her more.

“Who are you?” Kyros asked as he made another step forward.

His words and actions came unnoticed to the other two that struggled with their inner conflicts. They only saw their illusions, while the existence of the others was simply cast out in the corner of their minds as something unimportant. Even Tullos who at first hand appeared untouched by such a thing was found shaking and crying like a child on the ground. Frederique was almost screaming because he couldn't make up his mind. His heart was being ripped in half between the desire to free her and the desire to run away from her. Their cries and screams fell on deaf ears. Kyros did not hear them, he completely forgot that they were even there, he completely forgot that as a slave he should worry for his master's safety before anything, he completely forgot even his age and life so far. Maybe this was his illusion and this ancient place was simply a very deadly trap.

The being that gazed upon them, the giant woman with a terrifying aspect, did not show any sort of response to either Kyros's questions or the cries of the others. She watched over all of them like a defiant goddess wondering if she should kill them or spare them.

Step by step Kyros approached the giantess until finally he was in the middle of a circle on the floor. This circle was only a few meters in diameter and was surrounded by other smaller circles. Magical lines with incantations written inside each of them connected the circles between themselves and all the others in the room like a very complicated logical web. When Kyros was finally there he stopped and continued to gaze up at the giantess like a hypnotized fool.

You... are... finally... here... a cold whisper was heard inside their heads, speaking in their own tongue. The voice was that of an unknown woman and it sounded as if those were her last words, her dying breath, yet each word seemed to plunge a claw of fear deep inside their hearts which wished to shred their souls to pieces.

The giantess then smirked and the magical circle around Kyros activated. The circle glowed once very brightly and then a powerful shock wave was released from it on the outside. The blast struck both Frederique and Tullos sending them mercilessly into the walls behind them.

After falling on the floor Tullos could feel his whole body pulsing with pain. He whimpered like the small child he was. He couldn't move because of this pain and simply stayed there still. Frederique was in a much worse state. When he hit the wall a crack was heard and only after he fell on the floor did he realize that his left hand was broken. Spasms of pain rushed up through the middle aged man as he started to scream in pain.

“AH! My arm! It hurts!”

Tullos couldn't even see well now because of his tears, but he could hear now Frederique's cries.

“It hurts... mommy...” whimpered the young boy.

In that very moment a warm hand touched the child's cheek and one flap of wings was heard behind him. A very calm and relaxing sensation came over Tullos as his pain seemed to diminish in intensity and slowly fade away. The same thing happened with Frederique, although in his case the pain did not completely disappear, but it was much weaker now.

Tullos, do not worry child, you are safe. These words were heard inside his mind like a calming and relaxing melody. It was the voice of a woman,but certainly not the same as the one that spoke earlier, who threw daggers of fear in their hearts.

With the pain subsiding, the child managed to lift his hand up and wipe his tears away. He could still feel a bit of pain on his back in the spot he hit the wall. The child pushed himself up, willing himself not to cry anymore and then looked up when he heard again the sound of flapping wings. In that instant his mouth opened as he gazed upon a most beautiful being.

Tullos, you are strong. You are going to survive. Believe in yourself. He heard the voice of the woman once more as it resonated beautifully in his mind, but this time Tullos knew who spoke. She was floating right in front of him, smiling gently with a calming and peaceful aura surrounding her. This enchanting and beautiful woman had a pair of big white feathered wings sprouting from her back, which only seemed to add more to her beauty. The wings themselves were radiating a warm and peaceful light that could bring about even the most darkened of minds into a serene state.

A little pain isn't that bad once in a while! Kukaka! Another voice was heard, but this one was different. Every word scratched at the very door of insanity sending shivers of fear through his spine. It was a male voice this time and that weird laughter at the end proved his inhumanity.

With fear creeping up in his heart Tullos turned his gaze from the beautiful serene winged woman to the one that stood right next to him. He was crouched and staring right into Tullos's eyes. A wide smirk was on his lips giving in the madness that was hidden behind those piercing black eyes.

“Aaaa!” shouted Tullos as he jumped back frightened.

The man started to laugh loudly tilting his head back and spreading his bone wings covered with ripped skin, just like those of the giantess seen by Kyros. The child's fear didn't last long though as the woman flew next to him with a beat of her wings. She pulled Tullos in a motherly embrace. Her wings covered him up to protect him from the laughter of the winged madman. Such a calm and peaceful embrace removed all signs of fear from his heart.

You shouldn't be like that my dear! Kukuku! Let him feel the fear and terror! The man spoke in his mind again with the same scratching sensation that made him want to tear his hair out.

We are his guardians, protectors... I can't do that, it is not my job. Look, she's about to awaken. Said the woman as she healed away with the sound of her voice the mental injury inflicted by the man on Tullos.

Both of the winged beings looked towards the center of the room where the giantess now gazed down upon Kyros. Her eyes were unmoved from the boy, who at that moment stood on the floor shivering in a fetal position. A few drops of blood could be seen on the left corner of his lips, dripping slowly on the cold floor.

The poor fallen... said the woman who was still holding Tullos so dearly and gently in her arms.

The winged man approached the winged woman and said something to her, but Tullos couldn't hear him this time. However, a moment later the woman nodded and let go of Tullos from her caring embrace. Now standing in front of the two, the child looked up at them. His eyes then moved to the left where Frederique was calmed down by another feathered winged being, but that one was a man, while the one with bone wings was a woman.

Tullos looked back at the winged woman that held him so gently earlier and then asked her: “Who are you? What's happening?”

The woman looked at the man. A worrying expression was on her face, but the man simply smirked and nodded to her. Looking back at Tullos she smiled gently to him and then approached him with caution.

Tullos she said, speaking directly into his mind Please, do not fear us, we are the guardians of your soul just as those two are the guardians of Frederique. she pointed at the middle aged man as she said that.

Tullos blinked and looked back at Frederique's guardians. He saw that those two were pretty much similar to this gentle woman and scary man in front of him.

Looking back to the winged woman Tullos gulped and then asked them: “What manner of beings are you?”

Your priests speak of us using the terms of Angel and Demon. I am your Guardian Angel and this is your Guardian Demon. she said as she smiled softly, pointing at her first and then at the man next to her.

“How can a Demon be a guardian?” asked confused Tullos since he clearly knew that all the stories of the great adventurers spoke of evil demons and devils that certainly did not represent or even take on the idea of a 'guardian'.

Hey kid! said the winged man. Tullos flinched at the sound of his words. Don't you think this isn't the right time for this sort of questions? Your friend over there is suffering and that old geezer is scared out of his mind! While I do enjoy a good scare and would love to torture you all until you beg for mercy with your innards ripped out of your soon to be lifeless body, I still have a job to do! Now get your a*s over there and try to help him! His words were nothing like those of the angel. Like a true demon each sound he made tormented Tullos's mind and soul, forcing him to cringe his teeth. However, as much as he wanted not to listen to him, every little word he said resonated in his mind and he could not ignore it.

Once the screeching of his voice ended, Tullos looked towards Kyros. He saw him there sitting on the ground trembling. Tullos did not see the blood from where he looked at him, but even so, in that moment he felt something ache inside of his heart. He reached up and grabbed his shirt, holding it tight to his chest.

“Why do I feel like this? Where are his guardian angel and guardian demon?” asked Tullos as he looked back at his own demon and angel.

He's a fallen. He can't have a guardian angel and demon or more like he doesn't need one. explained the angel as turned her gaze softly towards the sight of the trembling child on the cold floor.

You want to help, but a lot of stuff inside of you is pulling you back. Isn't it? Pride, desire not to help, and even a wish to see him suffer a lot! A lot of good stuff! explained the demon with a wide smirk on his lips as he seemed to rejoice from the suffering that surrounded him. He was a demon after all, the realm of fear and pain was his home.

“Help?” asked Tullos after he recovered from the screech of the demon's words. He looked down to the ground and then closed his eyes. They were children, what could possibly be pulling him back like that? Tullos tried to figure it out on his own, but he couldn't. The more he stayed there not doing anything the more he felt like he would never forgive himself if he let Kyros die.

Tullos... whispered the angel as she leaned over his shoulder and embraced him gently once more, calming down his indecision and confusion for being so useless in a moment of need. You are now at a point of no return, that is true... but never fear the future. Whatever happens, know that we support you and we will help you on your path even if you will not see or hear us anymore. Young child you are strong and brave. You hold a destiny which only you can shape. Choose... Help a slave you barely know, conquering the fear and chains that cripple your heart? Or let him suffer and flee... The choice is yours child, but never fear it. For whatever you shall choose, a destiny meant only for you awaits. Go now child... on the path towards your future... As she spoke those final words, the angel pulled back her arms, releasing Tullos from her gentle and warm embrace. Her words meant more to the child than even he could hope to realize and her embrace and touch gave him just what he needed to calm down and carefully choose the path he wanted in life. The angel gave him the courage and strength he needed in this moment to make his life altering decision. Tullos knew now that what he was about to do, flee or help, would change the future for both him and Kyros.

To save him... or to run away... thought Kyros as he stood up and took a first step forward.