Tears welled up in my eyes as I glanced at the scar on my finger, a constant reminder of the day my dreams were violently crushed. The pain and disappointment from that moment had followed me throughout my life, leaving me with a lingering sense of unworthiness.
I took a deep breath, struggling to find my voice amidst the overwhelming emotions. "Yes," I finally managed to say, my voice trembling. "I've always dreamed of a life filled with adventure and joy. But... circumstances made me believe that those dreams were out of reach."
I looked at his amber eyes softening as he walked towards me, "Those circumstance, Fiery, they are not here anymore. Your life is in your hands. And you can achieve anything you want." His fingers gently brushed the hair out of my face.
I shook my head, "I c-can't."
"You can." He smiled, such a loving smile, my heart skipped a beat, "Say you can, Selene, and you will. I will make sure of it."
I fucking hated him so much. Because I was about to say yes when actually so scared. "Break the loop of past, take a step at a time. I'm your guardian and I'll protect you. Trust me, Fiery."
As I stood there, his words washing over me like a soothing balm, I felt torn between fear and hope.
"Okay," I whispered, my voice so quiet that I thought that he couldn't even hear it.
But then he smirked, like he was oh so proud of me, making me feel this gust of emotion that I never knew I could feel. I didn't even know what it was as he spoke, "That's my Fiery."
"I am not yours, asshole." I spoke. "I am simply doing this for my own benefit."
"And the world's," He quipped, "which includes me, so you're doing this for me too."
"Ugh," I grumbled, and he chuckled.
"Now swear, and I'll show you what's on the other side."
"I don't even know your name," I whispered, feeling vulnerable and exposed. "Who are you?" He smiled, almost a secretive, unnoticeable smile, "Azriel Lex."
"Yes," I said, my voice a whisper yet I tried to sound as confident as I could. "I'm ready. I'm ready to face my inner demons, to train, and to s-save the world. And I swear that I will not go back on my words." I spoke. With a proud smirk, he turned and made his way towards the waterfall, the pup still nestled in his arms. I followed closely behind, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. As we approached the waterfall, I could feel the mist on my face and hear the sound of the water crashing down. The man didn't even hesitate as he stepped forward and disappeared behind the curtain of water. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, ready to face whatever was on the other side. And as I emerged from the other side, my eyes widened in wonder and amazement. I saw people moving about, but they didn't seem to notice me. They were too absorbed in their own world, their faces serene and content. It was then that Azriel spoke, his voice soft. "These people have passed away," he said, "but they didn't give up. They fought until the very end, facing the most tragic circumstances, yet never resorting to suicide." He looked straight at me, "You haven't died. You haven't fought this much, There's still more to do...They believed in themselves when no one did. They are the heroes." He looked at the people with pride. He walked over to a group of people gathered around a small fire, and I followed him.
They welcomed him with open arms, joking with him, thanking him for helping them, and that was the moment when I see a beautiful full smile adore his face. He grinned brightly, almost childishly as they went on talking. "She's Selene. She's the chosen protector of the world." The people whispered and studied me, making my breaths go heavier. Good place, my ass. This was nothing. This was just like the place where I lived, the world where I got looks like I was a monster. I felt like I didn't belong here. Just then, as if reading my musings, the guardian set his arm on my shoulder, causing me to jolt slightly. "She has a lot to learn. But she is a good person." He smiled bright and infectious, making my heart race with that same unknown feeling. He was being so nice to me, all of a sudden. But I still thought that he was an idiot. It was probably just show these people that he was being this nice, but it was enough to make me feel alive in a way I had never felt before. The stares and whispers eased down, and all of a sudden, all of them beamed at me. However, I didn't feel very comfortable. I knew I was awkward with interactions unless some tried to anger me. I wanted to hide.
"It's okay. They're okay." He whispered in my ear in a husky voice, as if sensing my discomfort. I stared at him, surprised.
"Um..." I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "H-Hi." "Hi, sweetie." An old lady said, "I am Mara." "I am Ruby." Another girl of my age said. "I am Troy." A boy reached out his hand, and it took me a moment to realize it was for a handshake. I panicked and reluctantly put my hand out in his, acknowledging all them with a nervous smile. "Oi Oi," An old man said, "Loosen up, little girl. Come on, Join us." He pulled me down and made me sit on a log of wood. "I am Yale, the protector of heaven."
Protector of heaven?
All of this seemed so unbelievable. Was I in a long lucid dream or what? Because this couldn't be real. Protector of the world, of heaven, maybe I have died. But, it is. A voice inside my head whispered, making me furrow my eyebrows. What the fuck was that?
Suddenly, the world shook beneath me.