A small range of mountains split for nearly 50 miles before tapering and meeting the sea. It was early spring and newly budded leaves sprouted from the trees that covered the juvenile slopes. The beauty stretched down until a sharp line marred the north side of the valley. Burnt and fallen logs covered it and grass that had been burnt to ash stretched to a malformed creek that was in the process of filling in what would come to be a deep lake.
Throughout the valley similar craters cracked the landscape, though most were not fortunate enough to be filling in with water. Areas of scorched earth extended into the distance until the burnt grass melded into burnt farmland. Further along, there was a stretch of burnt farmland with crumbling barns, and past them was a burnt village. Whole buildings had been thrown together and nearly a third of the village had been overturned completely. Although some had been spared from being uprooted the fire had spared nothing.
Bodies littered the village and they continued towards the West. Many had been struck down as they fled. Every single body had been burnt horribly and lay in positions of desperate agony. Arms were blackened and still reached for loved one. Others seemed to still be frozen in the process of clawing towards safety. Mothers and Fathers had died clutching children in a futile attempt to protect them. Farther down the valley was a battlefield . Thousands of troops lay dead in the same positions of horror and agony.
Far away from the tragedy of death, a room was crowded with people who sat around a table that was a raised platform of earth. Each chair had been pulled from the ground with the same practical efficiency. Raised voices fought all around it. Only one person at the table did not have their face revealed instead it remained covered in a fresh and shining helmet. However, a new scar reached down the face of it. This was the only mark that marred the precious steel. Finally, the arguing reached a high point and a short, greying man stood. As he stood the room fell silent.
"I have made my decision. I will go forward with my plan. Do any of my followers still insist on opposing it?" The room remained silent.
"Very well. Reglin, do you still oppose it?" He spoke with an orator's confidence, but his eyes were tired and filled with frustration.
Reglin, a tall, lithe woman, rose as the elder addressed her.
"Dimitri, I dislike your plan. However, yesterday taught me, and I believe everyone here, that no one currently living can face that thing. We need to create something that can defeat it. I acknowledge all of that. Yet, your plan carries a terrible price and will leave the world helpless if it fails." The room held its breath as Reglin paused dramatically.
Unfortunately, I do not have a better option. I will support your plan. My only opposition is your decision to nominate Lonn."
"Must you insist on arguing Reglin?" Sona cut in even before Reglin had a chance to sit. She was a mature woman that cast a dismissive gaze at the young woman.
"Dimitri my people support you, your plan, and your champion. What Reglin refuses to acknowledge is that Lonn was the only person that managed to face that creature. Had it not been for Lonn we would have lost yesterday. The only reason we are here to debate this is due to the injury that Lonn inflicted. Lonn should be the champion."
"And do you plan to sacrifice yourself as well? Will you be among those slaughtered to enact this plan? Are you allowing your exalted life to end in order to empower an arrogant man?" Reglin shot back.
"Yes, all of my people here will. I walk to that fate gladly." Sona responded flatly with nothing but determination in her face.
"Thank you, Sona, as you all know I too will be among those who sacrifice themselves. Two of the three sides are in agreement. That is all we need. We will be going through with it. Everyone who wishes to take part please stand. If you do not wish to take part, please sit. No one will look down on those who do not participate." Dimitri spoke solemnly and clenched his hands to stop them from shaking.
In a moment every person in the room was on their feet. Sona cast a confused look at the still standing Reglin. Reglin shrugged, and then winked.
"Now Lonn will you swear the oath and accept this duty?" Dimitri asked and the whole room shifted their gaze to Lonn's steel silhouette.
The lone armored figure looked around the room silently. The earth below the figure rose up to place the leather soles of Lonn's boots on the table. Lonn strode to the middle of it and knelt.
"I swear, on the hope of the people, to serve as the protector of this world. Until the end of time, I will stand ready to guard against all threats. I will provide shelter to all, without favoritism, and regardless of nationality. I will only act to safeguard the independence of the people. I will never seek to lead. My purpose is to save lives, not take them. For the sake of all, I will be the Immortal Guardian."
One day later three hundred and eleven bodies lay evenly spaced to form a circle around a central platform. The platform was empty. Far away a large, horned being in a loose white robe roared in agony from the three spears that pierced its chest. It struggled frantically against the glowing chains that encircled its body. Slowly, an armored figure dragged the being down through the earth.