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The Guardian Vesuvius Chapter 15: Faith in Life

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“To attempt to decipher the countless mysteries and enigmas of the heart was never going to be simple. Not only did I understand even then that the heart was such a immeasurable subject that I would likely never even come close to finishing, but I later discovered that in every act I performed, even when trying to interpret it’s working, the heart would be ever present, influencing me in ways that has taken me years to just notice, and will take me many more to comprehend.

A realistic mind would tell me to stop, would have told me to never even begin. Yet a realistic mind would have told me to never start any of this. No, no I never had blessed, or is it cursed, with such a mind. It is my heart that lead me, my heart that allowed to create what I have done and accomplish what I have. The heart separates itself from logic and sees the world through a different view. I feel it is best described like this, when lead by logic, realism, we see only the present, what is immediately before and around us, however when lead by the heart we see the future, at least the one we are working towards. An unfinished bookcase, a tree sapling, someone you like who you just got the name of, the heart see only the desired end result of our ventures.

Through the joy this brings, it as if we have already acquired what we wanted and the work we do is only to make it stay. As wonderful as this is, if we then fail in those ventures, we are helpless but to be dragged with brutal speed from those fantasies, back into reality. The reality where we never really got there, never finished the project, never made it till the end, never won over the person we liked, and in an instant, every moment we lived in that fantasy is shattered and shown for what it was. Yet in a malicious case of irony, we truly feel both the pain of losing what we wanted and the hurt of failing to get it in the first place.

The heart separates itself from logic, but not from reality. Which is for most of us, is the heart’s greatest foe.”

Several days had passed since Fayth and her friends had come to the Sanctuary in the Sky, the home and haven of the guardians. Like all the others here, they had arrived having lost everything they held dear, and through that they also lost their hope, their faith in life. Yet in such a short time, these dreadful feelings, that would normally choke their hearts for years to come, had all but disappeared. Here, everyone was taught to feel the pain in the hearts of others, an amazing feat that the master and founder of the guardians, Zanados, had discovered. While those who chose to become Guardians would go on to hone this skill to be able to allow them to return to the surface and feel for miles around, and be able to detect when people were in peril and home in on that feeling to protect them, those that chose to remained in the city could still use it to understand the pain of others around them, and the origins of that pain. It created a place where people didn’t need to hide or be ashamed of their pain. At first, the concept of not being able to keep secrets was something that frightened the three of them, but they soon learned that it meant they never needed to suffer alone, to forever have someone to confide in was one of the many reasons Zanados built the city.

With their hearts embracing their new home, they began to settle into the community and become part of it. Vance in particular, had been taken in by the idea of becoming a guardian. His family had practiced martial arts for many generations and from an early age he had been taught the importance of honour and defending what you loved, the guardians had very similar values. Yet, behind all that, Vance delighted in the idea of the revenge he could exact on the kind of people responsible for his family’s murder. Swinging open the door of the house the three kids had been given to live in, he smiled at the bright morning sky, his face beaming with confidence and determination. As he breathed the crisp air in deeply, he gripped tightly onto Tiger Glance, his family’s sword, it, along with the blue sash his father wore, which he wrapped around the handle, was all that remained of his family and its proud history.

“Through this...” He said as he stared upwards, his voiced shot out from his mouth in passion “...I will honour your memory...and write my own page in our history.” He raised the sword and rested it on his chest, closing his eyes, he readied himself for whatever awaited him today. He would show the guardians the strength and discipline his father taught him. Vance admired his father so much that even here, where he had witnessed levels of power nobody on the surface could fathom to be possible, he believed his father’s teachings would impress. He closed the door, Mirril and Nicola had already left earlier on. Then, with one final pause to be sure to himself he was ready, he made his way towards the castle, with long, eager strides, his eyes rarely wandering from the grand structure at the end of the sanctuary. He had been anxiously anticipating this morning for the past few days and now it had finally come, his spirits could not be higher, whatever had displeased him about Fayth and her new friends didn’t even cross his mind now.

Today was the day Vance began his guardian training.

Mirril and Nicola had also found a calling of sorts within the walls of the sanctuary. They had left the house about hour before Vance to help out in the plantations and had been doing for a few days. It was here in these small fields that the food for the entire populace of Valkerie city was grown. It was hard work but with such a friendly atmosphere among the people there it was never really seen as much of a chore, and even when the workload got high, there was always some guardians who were spending some time off patrol who were happy to stop by and help. Today was such a day, and even Ferrah of the sentinel council had joined some of his guardians in the fields.

Ferrah was thankful for the opportunity to see how the two girls were doing, after all it hadn’t been long since they arrived. He was warmed inside to see them both doing so well, and to be among so many friends old and new. Nicola caught sight of him as she worked and waved excessively, a big smile on her face. In stark contrast, Mirril, her head barely rising above the tall plants simply smiled timidly and gave a tiny gesture as she looked up to see what Nicola was so excited about.

“Let’s go talk to him Mirril! He wandered off before I had much of a chance to speak to him when we first got here!” Nicola, though somewhat out of breath, still spoke with enthusiastic volume, taking Mirril’s hand and yanking the little girl along with her before she even had time to reply.

“Umm...I-I-I don’t know, are...are we even allowed to?” Mirril stammered, more focused on trying to keep her footing than speaking as Nicola’s rushed through the paths between the rows of plants. Ferrah watched them with an inkling of concern, half expecting the pair to fall over each other as they almost tumbled towards him. Yet he was as much helpless but to be charmed by the pair as he was to worry as he was prone to.

“Be careful you two!” He called out as they reached him. Mirril tried to bow and keep a smile on her face despite obviously being exhausted and a little shaken, Nicola grinned at Ferrah, seemingly not even hearing Ferrah’s warning.

“Hey! Ferrah isn’t it? I never got to thank you for showing us around when we got brought here! We’d probably be completely lost somewhere right now if it weren’t for you, that was pretty cool so thanks, you guardians must be pretty busy I guess” Nicola was as buoyant as ever, Mirril watched in equal parts admiration and envy seeing her friend acting so confident and laid back even in front of someone she liked.

Ferrah smiled sincerely and shook his head, “Not at all, it was only an honour for me to help you all settle in here, if I wasn’t making sure that everyone was as comfortable here as they can be, I wouldn’t deserve my place in the council. Oh! Speaking of comfortable, how are you finding your new house? I can imagine it’s a little different to what you’re used to.”

“Oh, yeah it’s fine, more than fine!” Nicola replied.

“Ah, that’s good to hear.”, he could feel that she was lying, the houses in the city weren’t very large or luxurious, they had no electricity or gas so it would be a while yet before they truly got used to life up here, but he was content that regardless, they were happy. “If there’s ever anything you need though, don’t hesitate to ask.” As Ferrah spoke one of his guardian approached him and bowed his head to his master.

“Master Ferrah, you requested to be informed of any development in the city below.”

Ferrah gave a serious and worried stare towards the ground.“Ah...I see, thank you, I will be along shortly.” He nodded at the guardian, who bowed as he turned and left. As Ferrah turned back to Nicola and Mirril, his face shifted back to his gentle smile.

Nicola gasped. “Oh that’s right! You’re one of those...err...sentinel council...right? Maybe I shouldn’t be acting so familiar with you and should be calling you Master like that guy did.” Nicola looked down at her dirt covered clothes from working in the fields and ruffled her messy hair. “Heh, maybe I should have made myself look a little better too.”

Ferrah chuckled. “Please...just Ferrah is fine, there’s no need to be formal with me, I get enough of that in the castle.” Ferrah’s eyes locked with Nicola’s as she looked up from her clothes, “and really, it seems silly to me when beautiful girls bother themselves so much on their appearance.”

The sudden compliment instantly stilled Nicola, for a moment she stood silent, blushing, something uncharacteristic of Nicola to say the very least, she bit her lip and broke eye contact with Ferrah, glancing over her shoulder, maybe to just face away from him. “..eh..heh..well you know how it is with us girls.” Caught completely off guard, Nicola had no idea how to respond but couldn’t bear to let the silence go on.”...well I best...best be getting back to work...l..later.” before she had even finished Nicola had darted off back towards the plants she had come from. Mirril, a little naive in these matters, stared in bewilderment at what just happened.

“Ah...hmm maybe that was too forward of me.” Ferrah worried. Mirril turned to face him and he smiled at her when he felt her confused thoughts. “No matter how brave or strong we are Mirril, the heart will always be able to take its hold on us. You shouldn’t be ashamed of it in yourself either...could you apologise to Nicola for me please. Unfortunately I must be on my way now, take care.”

As Ferrah turned to leave, Mirril spontaneously spurted into movement and speech, as if driven by a powerful desire, or inspired by Ferrah’s words. “Umm....Master...I mean...Ferrah.”

Sensing the change in Mirril’s heart much more than he heard her call out to him, he stopped and turned back to her. “What is it?”

Withdrawing back into herself somewhat, the little girl fiddled her thumbs and look around as she spoke. “I’m sorry to take more of your time it’s just...I was wondering...umm...people in the...um...council...do they come to the city much?”

Ferrah could easily see the powerful emotions that were whirling in Mirril’s heart, he knew she wanted to see Valyos again, she wasn’t sure if there was any actual attraction to him yet but what she did know was that he was the boy who saved her life and she needed to see him again. Ferrah smiled, he didn’t let on what he knew, he felt it would be much easier for Mirril that way. “It’s not unknown, no...but I’ll tell you what, there’s a gathering of high ranking guardians later on today to discuss the situation on the surface, anyone in the city is welcome to come so if you wanted to learn more about the council, we’ll all be there.”

Mirril smiled widely and nodded. “Y...yes I’d like that...thank you.”

“Alright then, I’ll come find you before it starts. See you then.” The pair waved to one another and then Ferrah headed back on his way to the control centre, even with the seriousness of the situation below, the two girls stayed in his mind. The notion of destiny he felt whenever he thought of the recent arrivals seemed to grow stronger every time he met them.

Elsewhere in the sanctuary, Vesuvius was meeting up with a group of Taurg’s guardians to help them in their master’s tower. Inside Taurg’s tower was the workshop, there guardians worked tirelessly to build everything the city and its inhabitants needed, everything from simple tools to the very houses they lived in were built at the workshop. On top of that, those stationed at the workshop were responsible for maintaining the Sky Sanctuary, if anything needing repairing then guardians from the workshop would be called out to see to it.

For the last few days Vesuvius has been working in the workshop, he had decided that if he was going to restore his honour as a guardian he should start with his own team. Vesuvius was not scheduled to work at the workshop again for another few months but volunteered to help out. His efforts were paying off too, he was already well respected among those he was working with. Vesuvius let his mind wander back as he waited, the first time he set off, he went alone and was not spoken to all day by the others there, but his brothers must have seen into his heart and felt his conviction, for two days later here he was waiting for those who called him friend and brother once more.

“What’s the matter Vesuvius? You look a little lost.” The gentle, familiar voice brought him from his thoughts, he turned to Misaro and smiled.

“Oh...no I was just thinking. I’ve come a long way in a short time, but there’s still much to do.” Vesuvius shook his head and chuckled at Misaro as he regarded the boy’s tiny frame. “You know, Misaro...I don’t want to sound nasty, but I really don’t think you’re cut out for the workshop.”

Misaro frowned at the remark. “Yeah yeah I know...but, I really don’t feel right not helping you out.” His eyes veered off to the ground, “...I know this is about you proving yourself, but I don’t want you thinking I’m not with you in this. We’re friends now, we help each other through everything. I’m sure I can find something to do, I...I just want to help.”

“Alright...in that case, thank you Misaro. Don’t worry, you’ll do just fine.” Vesuvius was amazed at how Misaro had grown in these last few days too, back when he first met him Misaro would have never dared to go against something he was told, stand up for himself and believe in himself in the way he just did. “But don’t push yourself too hard, aren’t you meeting up with Fayth again tomorrow? I don’t want you to have to cancel because you hurt yourself today.”

Misaro blushed and laughed awkwardly. “Oh...so you know about that?”

Vesuvius grinned in a teasing way at Misaro “Hahaha sorry my friend, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned, she told me yesterday. You two seem to be getting along pretty well.” Vesuvius’ tone was so suggestive that even Misaro couldn’t fail to realise it. As jovial as Vesuvius was being Misaro seemed troubled by something. “Hey...are you okay Misaro, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything.”

“Huh? Oh no, no it’s nothing like that, I’m fine really!” Misaro shook his head quickly, it was clear to Vesuvius that Misaro was lying, but he decided not to press any further, he had faith in Misaro’s growing confidence and believed that Misaro would tell him when he was ready to.

“Alright then, let’s just get you through today alive.”

“Heh...right!”

From up the road behind the two of them, a pair of glaring red eyes cast a hateful stare at Vesuvius, some people in the sanctuary hadn’t changed at all, and Dion was one of them. He snarled at the sight of his once closest friend, forgiven for his crime, an almost carefree smile upon his face. He felt like he was the only one who truly paid for Vesuvius’ betrayal, he tensed every muscle body as his blood boiled. He had not spoken to Vesuvius since before his audience with Zanados. It disgusted Dion to his core that Vesuvius had been allowed to continue as a guardian in any sense. Despite wanting to vent himself at the source of his anger, he instead managed to contain himself and went to take another path. As he was leaving though, Vesuvius’ voice raced past his ear, the sound seemed to slowly travel all through his body, it felt like it was twisting and pulling him in all directions.

“DION!”

Dion stopped in his tracks, mad eyes fixed forward. He heard Vesuvius’ footsteps coming towards him but refused to turn to face him, not only could he not bare the sight of him but he was also too consumed in fighting to hold back his raging anger to have the will to turn his head. The sound of Vesuvius voice again dragging itself around him made it all the more hard.

“Dion! I’m sure you know by now what judgement was passed down...I know I have much to answer for, to you especially, but no matter how long it takes, I want to rebuild our trust and our friendship. I swear it still means as much to me now as it ever di...”

“SHUT UP!” Dion’s head snapped round to face Vesuvius and rigidly the rest of his body followed. “I cannot stand to hear anymore of your weightless words! You think you can just sweep all this crap under the rug? You betrayed me Vesuvius. You voice used to give me belief and hope, now every word just makes me SICK!”

Vesuvius found himself once again without a word to turn to against Dion’s attack. “Dion...I....”

Dion suddenly shoved Vesuvius away from him, it was powerful enough to knock the wind out of him but not to cause him to fall over. Dion had held back, he wasn’t looking to fight, but right now anger dictated him, if he wanted Vesuvius to be quiet, then anger would tell him how to do it. Misaro gasped and rushed to his side, Vesuvius ushered him away, nodding to reassure him he was okay. Dion sneered at the pair, his voice nearing a growl as he spoke.

“Don’t even THINK about trying to say sorry...go ahead and make up with the idiots stupid enough to let you in, but you can FORGET it with me! We are done...just stay away from me, you have the little wretches you brought with you to be your friends now!” Dion pointed a demeaning finger at Misaro.

Vesuvius straightened up and was about to defend Misaro when a voice called out from behind the conflict. It was the guardians Vesuvius had been waiting for. They had rushed the rest of the way when they sensed the flaring emotions from the pair.

“What’s going on here? Stop it! Stop fighting!”

The pure, seething anger that pulsed out from Dion was a terrifying thing to sense and was completely unlike anything these lower ranking guardians had ever sensed, they hesitated as they neared the scene. Dion hardly even registered them, without so much as a word to anyone else, he stormed past Vesuvius as he struggled to get his breath back. The pair only exchanged dagger like stares as Dion moved past and up the path towards the opposite end of Valkerie Castle. Despite Vesuvius desperately searching his mind for the words, there was nothing more to be said. Dion seemed to be lost to him now, the thought hung heavy on Vesuvius’ heart, more than dwarfing the ache from Dion’s blow.

The four guardians hurried over to Vesuvius. “Are you alright?”

Vesuvius was visibly troubled, but he gestured for everyone to calm down and put on a brave face. “I’m alright, really, thank you all...”

One of the group glanced up the path at Dion “Unbelievable...what kind of Guardian does he think he is, attacking you like that!”

“Pay it no heeds my brother” Vesuvius replied, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Some people aren’t willing to forgive me yet, but I won’t give up, even it if takes the rest of my life I will not give up.” Vesuvius thought about those words to himself, no, he would not give up. Regardless at what Dion said, he could see into his heart and knew there was something beyond the anger. Unlike the other guardians here, Vesuvius could fully understand why Dion was reacting the way he was.

“I won’t give up on you my friend.” Vesuvius thought “to do so would be to betray you and our friendship once again.” Re-invigorated by his thoughts, he turned to his brothers and Misaro, a true smile once again on his face.

“Anyway, let’s get going. I hope you guys don’t mind but my friend Misaro has insisted that he help us today.” Misaro fidgeted shyly as he was mentioned, not sure whether Vesuvius was poking fun at him again. To his surprise, not a single one of the guardians so much as smirked at him.

“Excellent” One of them said heartily, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “We are grateful for your generous help, brother.”

Misaro couldn’t believe what he was hearing, it was just like Vesuvius had told him. Within the Sky Sanctuary you didn’t need to be ashamed or embarrassed, everyone understood you and didn’t resent or judge you for anything. He smiled joyously and almost leaped out of his shy posture. “Haha...you’re welcome...I’m only happy to help.” And just like that, Misaro had made four new friends, something he found impossible back on the surface. Clutching his pendant, he looked up at the sky, surrounded by the clouds he would never see the stars here, but he knew they were there and he had never been so close to them. Meeting Vesuvius had gradually taken everything that hurt him away, answering every prayer he had ever made to the stars, including the ones to save Fayth.

“Thanks mum,” He whispered.”I...I think I’m finally okay again.”

Heading in the opposite direction, Dion fought against the heartache that crushed his chest as he walked alone. Usually in a place like the Sky Sanctuary, guardians who became upset or frustrated were never left alone for long, sensing their sadness other guardians would come to offer solace. Unfortunately for Dion, it was different, he was known as Vesuvius’ closest friend and word of his outbursts had spread quickly about the city. He was avoided and to an extent he was feared. The way things were, only the sentinel council and Zanados would hear him out and help him.

One of them in particular, was both his master, and of late his closest confidant, someone who understood firsthand how it felt to be avoided and betrayed. Dion pushed open the door to the hospital tower, the tower that belonged to Shylock. Its interior was a curious result of the Sky Sanctuary’s short supply of electricity and its medieval architecture. The gleaming computers and instruments, metal framed beds and modern medical tools and chemicals, all coloured purest white were in stark contrast to the dull grey of the stone floor and walls, the dark wooden shelves and beams. The beds within the wards almost seemed to glow like ghosts in the dimly lit corners of the tower. The Guardians who worked here were once doctors and nurses on the surface or had learned from others within the tower.

As Dion scaled the stairs that spiralled the inner walls of the tower, he passed several floors of surgery stations and storerooms, an eerie quiet blanketed the whole of these floors, guardians who had been wounded while working on the surface often refused to show any pain during treatment, and up here, there wasn’t much in the way of anaesthetics. All that could be heard was the soft murmuring of the people working and scrape of feet across the floor. Higher still was the grafting chambers, here the most skilled of the medically trained Guardians, none other than Master Shylock himself, affixed the gruesome graft armour to new guardians. The procedure was Shylock’s own design, and it alone allowed the guardians to stand a chance against the gangs of the surface world. Receiving the armour, despite the intense pain and the scarring, had become symbolic to moving from a guardian in training to the real deal and was seen as a true honour. To such an extent that it was performed in the audience of the whole council, Zanados and all those who trained with the one receiving the armour, to help them through the pain and to congratulate them when it was done.

Finally, Dion reached the summit of the tower, as one of Shylock’s highest ranking guardians, the guards at the door parted for him without question, Dion sensed the awkward unease they felt as he passed, he noticed it growing with each passing day. It only deepened his hatred for Vesuvius, knowing it was cause of him people had become so wary around him. He shoved open the two doors with a mighty push, but once inside his attitude changed dramatically, he was now in the chambers of a council member. Dion may have been swelling with anger, he may have been close to Shylock but nothing would strip the respect and duty in his heart and mind. He stood upright and awaited his master’s attention patiently.

For all the nightmarish qualities in his tower, the ascent would never prepare someone for what there is to behold in Shylock’s quarters. The entire room was nothing but bare stone save for the very rear of the room. There stood a single rickety chair that faced towards a wooden platform. Upon the platform was a hangman’s noose, dangling ominously from a post. The only light that entered the room was the faintest glimmer from the window of its door. Outlining each disturbing object with a faint white line and casting tall, frightening shadows about the walls. The very sight shook even Dion to the core no matter how many times he came.

“Does it trouble you?... The scene before you.” The raspy voice echoed about the near hollow room, Dion kept still and silent despite the sudden sound. “It’s the last thing I properly saw...I keep it here to forever remind me of what was taken from me...and the faces...I need to remember those faces.” Shylock rose from the chair, Dion hadn’t even noticed he was sat there until his master moved. Shylock turned to him and ambled towards him.

“You come to me distressed once more Dion.” Shylock’s voice underwent its peculiar shift to the caring, fragile tone it sometimes took. “Please...speak your mind, your feelings are hard to read through your anger.”

Dion, more at ease now his master had come away from the dark, glowered as he dug into his thoughts. “It’s...it’s Vesuvius again master, I feel as though I will never be able to find peace in these walls again for as long as he’s here. He...he got off so lightly for what he did...”

“Zanados cannot punish Vesuvius for his betrayal of you Dion...only for what he did against the Guardian Order and people of Valkerie City as a whole.” Shylock came to a stop in front of Dion and continued. “Don’t you see it? Your dismissal of your friendship has punished him on your behalf. Any pain you are feeling for having lost such a close friend, he is sure to be feeling too. Whereas you feel the sting of betrayal, Vesuvius feels the ache of guilt.”

Dion shook his head. “No...no, that should be how it is but it’s not.” His voice grew angrier, “...he has that boy with him. Vesuvius wears a smile, he isn’t hurting or despairing at all like he should be, like he DESERVES to be! That boy fills whatever void I was filling and so....and so only I am left to bear the suffering of what was lost...what HE destroyed!”

“Really...is that what you believe?” Shylock wandered over to the chair and grabbed onto the backrest. “We...are only as alone as we make ourselves Dion, remember that.” Shylock tightened his grip on the chair as painful memories surfaced. “Sometimes...we must see past what we think is fair, we have to accept whatever pain comes...if it means not being alone. Pride is nothing in the face of a warmed, loved heart” Shylock slowly brought up his arms and clutched onto himself tightly, hunching slightly over the chair, trembling, his voice quickly slipping more and more into the vulnerable half of his character.

“THAT’S WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE REALISED!” Dion yelled. “He must have known how this would have affected me, yet he still went ahead with it!” Dion came quickly away from his anger when he noticed Shylock’s state getting worse. “Master! I’m sorry, I...I didn’t mean to upset you!” He went over to his master and helped him straighten up. Dion had to be very careful, Shylock was prone to episodes of slipping into depression if he reminisced too much or was left alone for too long.

“No...It’s not your fault.” Shylock struggled to say. “These recent events have...terrified me, that is all.” Composing himself he turned to face Dion and gently embraced him. “...Do not squander yourself in anger when there is so much to be loved, Dion...it does not do the heart well.” Even as he spoke the words, Shylock knew Dion would not let go of his hatred for Vesuvius, not with things as they were. He would not admit it to Dion, but Shylock himself harboured ill feeling towards Vesuvius, but Zanados had chosen to forgive him and so Shylock had endeavoured to do the same, but not to forget.

That afternoon, those terrifying recent events were going to be addressed. Ferrah and the control centre team were going to discuss the situation on the surface with the rest of the guardian order. Ferrah had met up with Mirril and the two were headed to the main building of the castle were the talk would take place.

“This will be your first time in the castle right?” Ferrah asked, Mirril walked with her head down, close enough to Ferrah to not feel like she was walking alone but far enough away so that she didn’t feel like she was embarrassing Ferrah by bieng with him. She had obviously made an effort to look nice but she felt unsure about it. It wasn’t as if they were going to a party, this was a conference and the subject could hardly be more serious.

“Umm...yes...it is.” She eventually replied.

“Ah, well stay close, it’s quite busy in there right now and it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know your way.” Ferrah smiled as he noted Mirril’s nature. Considering the feelings others yet with a heart that she needed to follow, constantly working to find a way that she could do both. Someone like her, who could both care about Valyos’ pain and show him that despite all his efforts to push people away he wasn’t hated, was exactly the kind of person that could save Valyos from himself.

Mirril stared in amazement as they passed through the grand archways that lined the front of the castle. While the houses in the city were built purely for their purpose, the castle had been constructed as a symbol more than anything else. It stood like a giant sentinel at the city’s edge, reminding everyone that here, the danger and hurt of the surface would never reach them.

“It’s quite a feat isn’t it?” Ferrah’s voice broke Mirril’s trance of admiration, she had become so lost in it that she had forgotten Ferrah was even there with her, and that she was supposed to be keeping close. She blushed at being caught in such a dizzy state.

“Oh...sorry.” Mirril hurried through the vast hallway to where Ferrah stood waiting.”But, it really is incredible. That you managed to build something like this all the way up here.”

“The castle is an ongoing thing for us. When I got here it the main building was pretty much complete. I was only involved in making the towers. Zanados told me that it went through many renovations to become what it is now. Back when the Sky Sanctuary started off, it was far, far smaller that it is now and we needed to come back to the surface all the time because we didn’t have anything up here like we do now.” Ferrah looked over at the city as he reminisced. “It was always Zanados’ aim to eventually become independent here though. It wouldn’t be the haven he wanted if we weren’t.”

With a short sigh Ferrah brought himself back to the present. He turned back to Mirril and smiled. “Right enough of that. It’s about time we made a move, the conference will be starting soon.”

Down below, hidden safely away from the veritable warzone of the city, Governor Baxton spoke with several officials deep within the city hall. His bodyguard Crevan, lurked unsettlingly about the outside of the group, pacing slowly around, the already nervous officials could swear the air went colder as he passed behind them.

“...but Mister Governor” One of them continued, his voice devoid of any authority or confidence, both were most likely stripped from him within moments of talking with the fearsome figure of Baxton. “...it would be almost impossible to give you the clearances you are asking for, you have no evidence to support your...let’s be honest, outlandish claims.” The man’s voice trailed off into an even weaker tone as he heard Crevan’s footsteps halt behind him, the man dared not glance over his shoulder and meet with those manic, hungry eyes.

“You will have all the evidence you need gentleman. But what I need to is of the upmost importance, national security could very well be at risk as we speak.” Baxton replied, the contrast between their voices weighed heavy on the official, seeming to darken the shadow the large Governor cast over him. “That is why I need you to begin work on getting those clearances to me now, so that we are ready to act as soon as is possible.” As Baxton finished his sentence, he shifted eyes to Crevan and nodded in a manner that was purposefully obvious.

Crevan took a step towards them, “I’m afraid that is all the time we have for you gentleman.” The shrill voice shivered the spine of the men, there wasn’t a person in the whole of the political world who didn’t know or fear the name of Crevan, even if any of them had anything to add, they wouldn’t dare do so now. “If you could all make your way out, the Governor has a lot to get on with. I...sincerely...hope you’ll cooperate with the Governor’s requests”

Without a word, gesture or expression in protest, the officials shoved awkwardly past each other in a hurry to be out of the room. Crevan kicked the door shut so close behind them that the last one out barely escaped it crashing into him. The assassin then lurched forward and pressed his ear against the door.

“All gone boss!” he hissed after a short while, standing up straight. The Governor turned to face the window and looked down over the car park area where all the rioters were being stored. The cell like trailers bustled loudly with the frustrated and frenzied thugs.

“Are you sure about what you wanna do with them boss? “ Crevan asked as he made his way over to the window. “As much as I love it, sure is alot of man power to send to the slaughter.”

Baxton scoffed at the remark. “Huh! They’re worthless to me now, this whole city is. In hindsight it was a mistake to let a fool like Funuchi handle things here. That idiot reckoned himself among the most powerful of us and it got him killed. Now everything we ran here is lost.” He ran his thick fingers roughly through his beard in thought. “Still, his ignorance has provided us with the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.”

At that moment, there was a curious knock on the door, recognising it as the knock of someone that worked for him, Baxton signalled for Crevan to let them in. On the other side a shady looking suited character slipped in, even this man, hardly weak looking himself was made suddenly uneasy when he caught the pale faced grin of Crevan in his eye, holding the door for him in way that seemed like he would attack him with at any time. The man shuffled a step away from him and cleared his throat.

“I’ve just heard from Reece, he caught up with those detectives you were interested in, and he says he’s found out what you wanted.”

Baxton turned sharply away from the window to face the man, a grin of his own now replaced the seemingly constant frown on his face. While Crevan’s reflected his sadistic and insatiable character, Baxton’s spoke of much more malevolent kind of evil, not fuelled by urges or addictions but by a truly sinister soul and purpose. He clapped his giant hands together loudly and rubbed them together, the rough skin upon itself rustled even through his deep voice. “Brilliant, tell him to keep on them. Go and meet up with him, I want those two bringing here, alive!”

The man nodded and was half way out the door as he replied “Right away boss!” His eyes darted to the left every so often to check where Crevan was standing. Crevan, always aware and amused by the way he made people act around him, made sure to fix the man with his bone chilling stare every time his eyes looked at him. The door closed and Baxton smirked in satisfaction.

“This...moves everything forward.”

Back within Valkerie Castle, Ferrah and Mirril had since arrived at the conference. Mirril's mind had been mercifully taken away from her anxiety by the stunning architecture of the castle, she had become increasingly amazed by it the closer she came to the centre. The conference itself, as with all matters with this level of importance was to take place at The Pivot. Where Zanados and the Sentinel Council would decide amongst themselves what course of action to take with the new developments on the surface. The pair shuffled in among the many other guardians who had chosen to come, mostly those who had been recalled from the city who were desperate to know when they could return to it and once again protect the innocent people who to this moment still suffered at the hands at the hated monsters of man. Once Mirril had got inside, she caught sight of Valyos stood at his tall podium within the pivot, closest to the left of Zanados’ throne. Shadows from his hood hid all but his solemn expression, a subtle combination of his usual cold stare and his concern for Zanados.

Immediately upon setting eyes on the boy again, her nerves set in and she started to panic, almost instantly afterwards though, the more skilled of the guardians surrounding her felt it. One knelt down to her and after catching her attention, patted her shoulder gently.

“You are a brave girl to even come this far, Mirril. Most guardians would avoid speaking with Valyos at all if they could. Believe in yourself and the strength you have, to even hold your head high after what you’ve been through is proof enough that it is there.” Mirril blushed and smiled, looking around her she saw many guardians smiling back, nodding in agreement.

“They’re right Mirril” Ferrah’s voice swung Mirrils head back to in front of her, where he stood with his warm smile. “Now, I have to go stand at my podium, but remember, even though you might not know any of their names, everyone in this room is your friend and is supporting you, your not on your own.”

Suddenly aware that Ferrah, and indeed everyone here knew her real reason for being here, she felt inside that she should be overwhelmed with embarrassment and maybe even shame, she thought about all the noble reasons the guardians had for being here and she expected to feel horrible for coming just to get a chance to talk to Valyos. But she didn’t, at first it was surreal but she soon started to understand it. It’s just like Ferrah and Taurg had told her when she first arrived. Here in the Sky Sanctuary, everyone understood you, they could feel things from your perspective and they knew what it meant to you. She knew no one looked down on her for doing what she was doing, in fact they admired her, encouraged her. Empowered and touched way beyond anything this timid and sheltered little girl had felt, a tear of happiness rolled down her pink cheek as she smiled sweetly back at Ferrah and nodded. The gesture was full of life and faith, a massive difference to the tiny, second guessed movements she had when she arrived.

Ferrah felt his heart lift, just like Zanados, it didn’t matter how many times he had seen a broken, withdrawn person come out of their shell and realise the happiness that existed here. It always gave that same, wonderful feeling. “You’re going to be just fine Mirril. I’ll see you later on and take you back to your house.”

As Ferrah took his place to Zanados’ right, he turned when he felt Taurg, who took the podium next to his looking at him.

“What you’re letting her do Ferrah...is dangerous, it could break her heart, maybe even his. She doesn’t even know about Valyos’ vow. He will be furious if he finds out you’re behind her being here. Even if he doesn't it’s unlikely he will want to open up to her, considering...” His tone was not scolding, it didn’t even seem like Taurg particularly protested the idea.

“So...you’ve noticed it in Valyos too.” Ferrah sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he racked himself with worry once more. “I know the risks involved...but when I saw it, I just had to do something. You know how I long him to change his mind, and with things the way they are now, they both would have just not acted on it if I left it alone, I had to take the chance. Maybe it’s selfish of me, to not respect his wishes and do this for my own peace of mind.”

Taurg shook his head. “No...No, you’re right to do this. Valyos...he needs someone to show him the other side of his heart. Zanados is there for him but...he needs someone like Mirril, I think he knows she can change him, but he doesn’t want to accept it. It may be he’s ashamed of it, like he feels he lacks conviction for feeling this way.” Taurg looked over at Valyos, silent and eyes cast down, hiding from the world behind his cloak and his reputation. “I can’t tell, his power is continuing to grow, soon even we won’t be able to sense his feelings, if we want to help him...it has to be soon.”

The pair ended their exchange then as Zanados arrived in the Pivot, this was Mirril’s first time seeing the grand master of the guardians. His name was forever being mentioned by the people she had met here, even from the short time she had spent she already understood that he was someone the guardians loved almost like a father, who had saved them all, who bore the pain of the world next to his own. Thinking about him her mind trailed back to Valyos, she wondered about what painful past he had suffered, she looked up at him, Valyos had taken his eyes from the ground now.

The boy was staring at Zanados, from within his cloak he clutched onto his chest in concern so strong it was painful. Before addressing the crowd before him, Zanados returned his stare and smiled. He knew even without searching Valyos’ feeling that he would be more worried about him than anyone in the sanctuary, for all the feelings and people he had discarded and pushed from his life in the name of his vow, Valyos simply could not bear to distance himself from him, the one who saved him, the parent who didn’t abandon him. All it took was that simple smile though, Valyos, though callous and cold in character was still only a child, all he needed was a little attention from his father figure and his worries were sated, for now.

Placing his hands on the balcony, Zanados began to address the guardians and others who had gathered.

The conference lasted for a little under an hour, Ferrah made all those there aware of the unusual and frightening situation on the surface. Without a doubt something out of the ordinary was going on and with news reaching the Sanctuary that two people suspected by the guardian order of being very powerful figures in the criminal world had been spotted in the city, things were only getting worse. In the end, Zanados and the council decided that it would be impossible to begin returning guardians to the city. The unprecedented military activity going on there was causing the withdrawal to go on longer than was planned, it wasn’t the news that anyone wanted to hear, but all understood that right now, it was unavoidable.

Mirril had found herself paying close attention to the conference, it was after all the city she had come from. It wasn't until she noticed everyone making their way out that she was reminded of why she came. She quickly turned her head up and watched Valyos, once again wrapped up in his cape and his head down, descend from his podium, each step he took pounded in her heart, it felt like fear and she could feel herself become more and more nervous, but it was something more than that. She anticipated each movement towards her and yearned for the next, she didn’t want him to turn and head away like fear would want him to, she wanted him to be closer in a way that was much more powerful than anything she expected to feel. Could it have been that feeling the warmth of the guardians and seeing how much they do to protect others through what she had seen in the conference had given her a deeper respect for him, beyond just having saved her life, beyond the soft voice that eased her from her fear.

Valyos reached the floor of the Pivot and made his way to the doors. Without warning a wave of heat surged through Mirril’s body and her heart fluttered. He passed by Mirril, a few yards ahead of her, his eyes never left the floor, his pace never slowed. Mirril felt her feet moving towards him, despite all her reservations and doubts, her nervous and shy nature she could not ignore the incredible feeling in her heart, she needed to speak to him. Without even thinking about it, she started to pick up her feet and run after him. The feeling grew stronger and stronger, it was completely in control now.

“stop...wait..I...” Her words began as a whisper, a rapidly repeating thought of a desire so strong it escaped through her lips.

“Valyos! Wait!”

He stopped in his tracks, but he didn’t turn to face her or even lift his head. There was a pause in which Mirril could only catch her breath, exhausted by the rush of desperation that forced her to call out to him.

“What?” He eventually replied, in his usuaul, emotionless tone.

Then, Mirril suddenly went completely blank, she realised she hadn’t even the slightest clue what she wanted to say to him. She hadn’t even contemplated this moment, she knew that she wanted to see him again and that was it. Panic quickly settled in again, pushing aside every trace of the surge of emotions she so recently was overwhelmed by. Her mouth opened only because she knew she had to speak, but there was nothing in her mind she had ready to say.

“I...I...”

“If you have nothing to say then don’t waste my time...I thought I made it clear I never wanted to see any of you again?” Valyos clenched his fists tightly, as he snapped at her, still refusing to face anything but the floor under him.

Mirril’s eye began to water as she struggled hopelessly with her panic to try and find words, but with Valyos taking such a tone with her she simply could not bring them to the front of her mind despite wanting so much just to say anything, it was like she was screaming at the top of her voice, her mouth hung open but nothing would come out. Her heart felt like it was tearing in half.

“......”

“Tch!...How annoying, don’t you have enough friends of your own to not have to bother me? Get lost!” Valyos had already marched away from Mirril as he finished, she watched him leave and disappear out of the door, as he made the last few steps the tears that welled up in her eyes made it impossible to see him. It was the final painful blow that broke her and she collapsed onto her knees and sobbed into her hands. To be so driven by impulse and boldness only to fail at the critical moment, to hear those words directed at her in his voice, to watch him walk away without even looking at her. The reason for the pain she felt was clear to her, it came from simultaneously realising just how much she felt for Valyos and how very little she meant to him. In one seamless, horrid feeling, she fell in love and her heart broke.

It was only a few seconds of her crying alone before she felt cloth wrap gently around her and hear a giant kneel down next to her. As soon as she recognised his voice, she buried herself into his chest. Taurg made sure her head rested on the thick cape around him and not on his armoured body.

“There there sweetheart...it will be alright”

Standing just behind Taurg, his hand clutched over his mouth, Ferrah fought back his tears. The heartbreaking scene of Mirril crying hit him hard, he quickly began to loathe himself for getting her into this, after seeing her so happy and at peace that very morning. He came round to the other side of her and hesitated as he rested a hand on her shoulder, unsure whether she would even want anything to do with him again.

“Oh Mirril...I’m so, so sorry.”

Making his way through the castle, Valyos maintained his rushed pace that he had moved away from Mirril with. Guardians ahead of him were forced to almost jump out of his path, everyone was aware Valyos would not care to look up to see if the path ahead was clear, he expected it to be. He moved deep into the furthest reaches of the castle. Very few guardians came through this way, only high ranking members or very special cases needed to pass through here. A few more corridors and doorways futher into the castle and there wasn’t a single other guardian to be seen. Valyos ascended a very wide flight of stairs, the place they lead to was an extremely special place in the castle.

Once he reached the top of the stairs, Valyos stood before the pair of grand doors, similar in design to those at The Pivot. He checked over his shoulder to make sure nobody else was here, satisfied, Valyos flicked down his hood and pushed his cape behind him, for it was beyond these doors and only there that he felt completely at ease, that he felt no need to hide himself.

He pushed open one of the doors with a gentle touch and stepped inside, as he did, his shoulders relaxed and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Zanados was stood over at the single tall window that existed in this, the chamber of the guardian master. He turned to face Valyos as the door closed behind him.

“I thought you might come here, once I saw she had come.” He smiled at him and shook his head. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Valyos.”

“It’s fine, that should be the end of it now. I don’t think she’ll bother me anymore.” Valyos walked into the room, standing at a distance from Zanados to show respect to him. Even though this was as far from formal that one could get, Valyos and indeed any other guardian would willingly still show the same respect to Zanados.

“You think so?” Zanados raised an eyebrow and stared back out the window, the view overlooked the entire of the city, from here he could survey his entire beloved sanctuary and watch the people live happily within its walls. It brought him precious release from the unrelenting pain and sadness that he took in from the world. “Come stand by me, Valyos. I can feel you’re hurting, don't stand on your own.”

Valyos eagerly made his way to Zanados side and, despite his efforts to keep a straight face, smiled as he looked up at his saviour. Zanados put his hand gently onto his shoulder and smiled back.

“Listen Valyos, I agreed to respect your wishes and promised to never try to force you to change your mind. You have a strong heart and if I tried to make you ignore it, not only would I be going against what I believe but it would only hurt you.” Zanados gestured out of the window. “But...you are living in a city full of people who not only care, but are seeking people to fill the void in their hearts that they came here with. They relate to you Valyos, and no matter how cold and indifferent you want to be to them, not everyone is going to just leave you alone. Her especially, whether you like it or not when you saved her life, she made a connection to you. Just as you have with me for the same reason.”

Valyos look saddened, Zanados was right, Mirril was only acting towards him the way she was because of her heart, he couldn’t hold it against her and he couldn’t blame her for it. He could feel what she was feeling when she chased him, he felt it so powerfully that it petrified him, he began to think that maybe he was too harsh to her because of that.

“I don’t hate her...but I don’t want her to come after me. She...she will make things difficult if she gets too close.”

“I have faith in you Valyos, just do as I have always said for you to do...”

Valyos nodded. “Yeah I know...forever search my heart, for I have to always be sure of what I want if I am to devote my life to it. Thank you Master Zanados. Without you...I....” Valyos stopped mid sentence when Zanados put his arm round his shoulder and gently held him close to his side. Valyos, once more caving in to the child that lay deep inside him, chose to forget his troubles and close his eyes, he knew Zanados understood what he wanted to say anyway. It was so much easier for him to simply listen to Zanados’ deep, calming voice resound in his chest rather than struggle with his own words, Valyos didn’t care about blood relation, for it had never meant anything to those he shared it with. As far as he was concerned, Zanados was his father and he loved him as one.

“It’s alright my boy...you know I am here for you, whenever you need me. All I ever need to do is show you that the answer was already in your heart...and another thing, I know it’s hard for you to help, but you needn’t worry yourself so over me. I will never surrender, no matter what the world throws at me, I have far too much that I care about, far too many who believe in me. I will not let them down, for you and all of those people are the ones who never, ever should be let down again!”

On the surface, taking a break from what seemed like a total waste of time, Ted and Al sat, drained and unenthusiastic in what might as well be some nameless cafe. They had been to so many in the last few days it had stopped mattering what they were called or how clean they were.

“It’s unbelievable that we STILL can’t get back into the city.” Al complained, having run out of cigarettes long ago he had become increasingly frustrated with each person they visited telling him the same ridiculous stories. “aaaaargh I NEED to get back to my apartment, I can’t believe that I didn’t bring my bank card.” Al, took his hands away from his head and banged them on the table. “OR that you won’t buy me cigarettes!”

Ted, not even looking at Al as he mumbled and huffed on the other side of the table, stared into his paper and just sighed. “Stop whining already, you’ve been at it all day! Christ, your just like a child." Ted threw a glance at Al and prodded the menu at the table. "The only difference is you don't get to eat here for free! So you're even worse!" Ted went back to his paper and turned the page. "I already told you I’m not wasting money on buying you that rubbish, who knows when or even IF I can return to work.”

Al rolled his eyes "Fine..."

Ted took a more serious tone now, placing down the paper and staring into space in thought. “But you are right about the city...its taking way too long. Considering the army was already there three days ago, it shouldn’t take them so long to take control of even that many rioters.”

Al picked up his fork and poked at his empty plate, sleeping in the car, not having smoked in what for him was considered ‘far too long’ and getting nowhere at all with finding his caped vigilante was leaving him half dead during the day. However a short while later he was suddenly brought to life when he heard Ted speak in a urgent tone.

“Oh no...This doesn’t look good. Al! Wake yourself up! Now !” Ted slapped his hand on the table in front of Al to get his attention.

Al raised his head to see Ted staring sternly out of the windows behind him. "What? what is it?" swinging his head he saw a black, expensive looking car had pulled up at the cafe. From out of the car stepped two suited men, one of whom was the man following them at the farmhouse, the other was the man from Baxton’s office.

Ted furrowed his brow as the men approached the door, “I don’t think they’re here for the coffee, Al.”

Al, somewhat glad that something was breaking the mind numbing mould he had been dragging himself through lately. Smirked playfully at the sight of the two men and turned back to face Ted, swivelling the fork in his hand.

“Heh! Definitely not this coffee anyway, it was terrible.”

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Things are really moving along in the story now, Ive been really looking forward to doing all the things Ive been planning for this part of the story heehee. So hopefully I can use that enthusiasm to get me doing these chapters a little faster hehe. Thank you so much for reading, I know this one was a big one :D I hope you liked it!

Chapter 16: A Heart Worth Breaking

Back to The Guardian Vesuvius: Prolouge

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