"You finally woke up!"
I looked at my sister with a big grin while she showed me a confused face.
"W-what ... what's going on?"
"Ah, nothing at all, we are just in the middle of the forest with some weird people, nothing to worry about..."
"Huh?"
Because of my words, she finally looked around and saw Irra and the others.
"Who are they?"
Before I can answer with another joke Irra intervened.
"Eric, getting over the fact that you just called us 'weird people'...was that really necessary?"
I got back to my chair and asked Lyna if is possible to have another cup of tea and my cup was immediately filled. After taking a sip from my tea I looked at Alice who seems a little upset that I ignored her sister, then I turned my gaze back to Irra.
"It wasn't necessary just if you wanted to wait all night but I'm convinced that we don't have that much time."
Irra looked at me silently for a while, sighed, and then turned her gaze towards Yuki.
"Hi Yuki, I'm Irra. I know this is a little bit too strange for you but I will clarify all the things soon. But now, because of someone, you need to change into some dry clothes."
"I think I can lend her some."
The one who spoke was Ari and without even waiting for an answer she took Yuki's hand and left the tent.
Irra watched them leave and then turned her eyes back at me.
"Well, I should say this, you're quite calm despite all that happened to you until now."
I drank the last sip of tea from my cup and answered her question without a change in expression.
"Oh, normally I would have jokingly said that it's just a normal day from my life, but even though everything I've seen so far seems amazing, I can't deny something just because I've never seen anything like it before. As for our coming here... whether that's a good or a bad thing, is something I'll worry about later."
Irra looked at me with a serious expression as if she was trying to figure out if I told the truth or not. After inspecting me for several more seconds she finally signed.
"With this kind of thinking you would have been a great magician, what a pity that you are not the chosen one..."
I didn't understand what she meant when she said those words but before I could ask anything Yuki and Ari returned in the tent. Yuki was now dressed in a white t-shirt and some blue jeans.
Irra greeted them and she finally started her story.
* * *
Thirteen billion years ago, when the universe was created, along with the stars and planets a Guardian was born whose duty was to protect and maintain the balance of the universe. That Guardian lived for countless years and witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations. After living and guarding the universe for so many years, he began to feel bored of watching and finally decided to abandon his duty so that he could experience what it was like to live as a mere mortal. He severed his connection with the universe and lived a normal life on a planet inhabited by ancient civilizations. It is said that the reason we can use magic is also because he taught the inhabitants of that planet how to use it.
After living for decades and his mortal body began to decay, he wanted to return to his duty of guarding the universe but found that he could not return to his immortal form because the world was angry that he forsook his duty, and as the world was now at peace and the chaos of the creation of the universe calmed down, he was punished to live as a mortal and be reborn once every one thousand years and let no evil befall upon the world.
* * *
"For us, this was just a bedtime story for little kids but we were forced to believe in it after a big disaster happened. Our world was threatened because of a single person who almost destroyed half of the continent, Kratos. We don't know from where he has come or why is he so strong but to resist him, we gathered the strongest people alive to fight against him but from them... I am the only one who survived..."
I could feel the sadness in her voice and so could the others. Alice, who was sitting next to Irra, held her hand and gave her a warm look.
(So she can give that kind of look too...)
Irra looked into the eyes of her sister and smiled back.
"Is alright! Now, going back to our story, although the world was almost destroyed, we managed to win some time and sealed him in the Ice Palace of Xirus Kingdom at the cost of the life of our parents and another several kings. Although so many people died we just barely won 3 years worth of time to find and train the new guardian."
"Wait! If you're telling us this doesn't that mean that..."
"Yes Eric, your sister is the reincarnation of that Guardian and our last hope..."
"I am what now!?"
"I know is hard to believe but this is the truth."
When she talked, Yuki had stood up but now she fell back on her chair lost in thoughts.
I looked at my sister in her pitiful state and then back at Irra.
"Hey, Irra, you said that you won 3 years to find and train the new Guardian so just how long did it take you to find my sister?"
"One year."
("One year heh...")
I stood up from my chair, went in front of my sister, and put my both hands on her shoulders.
"Hey, cheer up, you still have two years so do your best and good luck! I will go back now..."
("Yes, this is none of my business!")
I wanted to leave that place but when I was near the exit I heard something unexpected from my back.
"You will help too."
"I will do what...?"
I suddenly turned back to look at Irra but before I could reproach something my sister raised her voice.
"Hey, hold up! There are so many things that don't make any sense in your whole story!"
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask anything!"
("I want so bad to leave so I won't be involved but it seems like is too late now...")
Since I couldn't leave yet I got back to my chair.
"First, how did you know that I am that so-called Guardian? Why is me and not my brother? And lastly, why should I help you?"
"For your first two questions, there are some people that immersed themselves in the art of reading the stars. They don't involve themselves in the world's affairs but sometimes they give us a prophecy that can help us overcome great crises. One of the most proficient people in that art, Lady Celestis, woke up from her one hundred years sleep and told us that 'The star from the legends, the Guardian, is the only one that can help us. The new Guardian was born on the planet called Earth.' The rest of the prophecy is telling us how to find you and that the Guardian is the first child born. After a long search, we finally find you. As for why you should help us, we are not the only ones who know the prophecy. When Kratos will be free he will come after you. He can't let a threat like you alive and when he will come, no one can save you but yourself."
Yuki looked into Irra's eyes with a serious expression before sighing out loud.
"Ok, I understand so what should I do now?"
"We will start to train you every day from now on. I will come with you back home together with Clarissa and Alice and while I explain the situation to your parents they will arrange a magic barrier around your house and you're not allowed to go out alone. Although Kratos can't come in person, he still has some followers that will try to kill you on sight so you should be careful!"
"Alright then, let's go!"
Yuki, Irra, Clarissa, and Alice got up from their chairs and wanted to live the tent but I stopped them.
"Wait, Irra, you didn't forget something?"
Irra turned back at me and showed me a confused face.
"Mmm, I think that's all?!"
"No, that's not all! What about me?!"
"Mmm? What's with you?"
("I don't understand if she's for real or she's just playing dumb...")
" You said I will help too and I want to know what I'm supposed to do? I'm just a normal person!"
"Oh, that! Since your sister is a Guardian there's a chance you can use magic too but we need to wait until tomorrow to test it out!"
"You're serious?"
"Yes! Although the chances are slim but they're still here."
I was speechless for a moment but Irra didn't wait for me to process what happened and left the tent.
"Hurry up or we will let you behind!"
("Wait, go with them... or stay behind with the other 3 kind-looking girls...?")
"Now!"
"Yes Ma'am!"
("I guess I'll just go home, sleep and pray that nothing that happened tonight isn't true...")
With those thoughts I left the tent and followed the girls back home.
* * *
The journey home didn't take too much.
Irra and Alice used teleportation magic and we appeared right in front of our house. After we arrived, Irra explained all that happened tonight and the situation we are in to our parents, and surprisingly they weren't scared or confused they were even so happy that they hugged Yuki so hard that she almost lost her breath.
From their explanation it seems like they knew all about our bloodline and that the new Guardian will be born in this generation and this was a great pride.
In this whole process, they totally ignored my presence so I easily find a chance to slip back into my room and end that torture.
When I entered my room, I changed into my sleep clothes and laid down in bed looking at the ceiling.
I stayed like that for some time and for some reason I just couldn't fall asleep.
The house was quiet because the girls left and everyone got back to sleep. I thought back at all that happened tonight and I somehow didn't feel tired at all.
("Magic huh...?")
I closed my eyes with thoughts about what will happen tomorrow and without knowing when I fell asleep.
* * *
This is a story unknown to everyone but on that night, in a specific room, a huge magic circle that emanate a faint blue light appeared. In the center of that magic circle, between ancient characters, the image of an old man with a long white beard was looking down at someone.
"Oh, poor kid... you will encounter many dangers and your fate even I can't predict it but if you can overcome this struggle then you will rise more than anyone else. I pray for your good fortune!"
With these last words, the magic circle started to shine brighter and the ancient characters floated out of it and entered the body of the person below it.
Several seconds later, the last character disappeared and the magic circle vanished. The room was once more shallowed by the dark of the night and all that could be heard was the breath sounds of a peaceful sleep.