Belencia's lights hit the windshield of Remina's Spark, and every vehicle that passed by us left a trail of light between the road and the window. While driving, Anetta hugged her cousin. Dreis, that guardian of dreams who promised to protect her, was by her side. We watched closely the car in which Zeylan, Kyara, Erick, and Sharin were driving towards what they called Agora, which she suspected was a meeting point for this group of night watchers.
"Do you think this would be a good time to talk about what happened tonight, Mera?" Remina asked.
I remembered the promise I had made to her to explain everything that was happening. No doubt this was a good time to talk about it. I'm now a little calmer after having defeated that dark cult and knowing that my friends are safe. Knowing that Helena was being held prisoner broke my heart. Knowing almost all of her life and her feelings towards Zeylan made me feel more motivated to rescue him.
"This is going to be interesting," added Anetta.
As I looked in the rearview mirror, I nodded and started talking about the first night that noctophage tried to kill me, Zeylan's appearance, and what I deduced about why the blue-eyed guardian and his comrades-in-arms were at our university. Then about the kidnapping of my friend and the secrets we discovered at the entrance of that temple where she had been taken.
"Wow, this all sounds like one of those novels you read on your cell phone." "It is... but what I saw there was real; I never thought that something like this was happening to you," she said, putting her hand on my shoulder.
Remina was right—none of us could ever think that something like this would happen to us.
"The important thing is that you kept your promise to rescue Mina," Anetta commented, hugging her cousin.
I smiled along with them, but my mind was on what to do from here on—without a doubt, it was to learn how to fight, to use my powers, and rescue Helena. I still didn't understand what it was that tied us both together; just like Zeylan, they had known each other for a long time, but I felt as if he was close too.
"It's important that I tell them that they only take each other awake to the ágora," Dreis said.
"And what would that be?" "By the way, I'm Remina," commented my friend.
"I'm Dreis, and about the reason why we are going there, it's better for you girls to discover it by yourselves," answered the guardian with a smile.
It was at that moment when the car that was guiding us turned to the left. entering what appeared to be a private property road, followed by miles of thick forest. As we followed the road and went deeper into that place I did not know, I could see at an entrance two white statues that had the shape of two beings with wings on their heads, flanking an arch that seemed to be from some Greek or Roman antiquity. We crossed the passageway guarded by the human forms in marble, and in front of us was the image of a small square delimited by white columns. We stayed a few minutes marveling at the impressiveness of that building. I stopped the car, and so did a number of other vehicles.
"If I hadn't seen this, I wouldn't believe it if they told me," said Mina, as amazed as I was.
"It is amazing when you see it for the first time; they say that Calcrates, together with the Encantris of Thebes, built it in two nights," added Dreis.
"That's impossible," commented Netta incredulously.
"Well, we have seen too many impossible things today; I doubt that this is not one of them," I said after closing the spark door.
"Don't underestimate the power of words and the ability to spin thoughts, Anetta," said the guardian.
She nodded, and we watched as the rest of the guardians began to make their way in what appeared to be a staggered descent, ending in a dais of white marble blocks.
Everyone seemed to take their seats in the stands, but Zeylan, Erick, and Sharin were waiting at the front of that dais, where I watched as human forms began to appear, each guarded by what I noticed were other guardians.
"Kiwari Ndiaye, Vigilare from the East," said his companion.
"Nerea Saenz, Vigilare from the North."
"Gerald Thorn, Vigilare from the Northeast."
"Alexandras Rossi, Vigilare from the south."
Notice this group of people of different ages, cultures, and genders standing on that dais, the guardians bowing in salute to the four figures.
"Zeylan Levi, as caput of Belencia, you have the floor to speak for your people," said Vigilare Nerea.
The dark-haired guardian passed to the front, gave a glance to everyone between the stands, and without hesitation addressed his superiors.
"I thank you for your presence as the majority of Gaia's 7 vigilars. "My people have found clues as to who has been behind the noctophage attacks on the sleepers, and everything points to Nezret Lunari, the sinister star, leader of the cult of eternal night," he proclaimed to the dais.
The leaders looked at each other and nodded in agreement with Captain Zeylan's words.
"Continue, Captain Levi," Kiwari said.
"Everything points to him hunting sleepers with the potential to swell his ranks of noctals and feed his most lethal noctophages. We attacked his hideout with many casualties but managed to stop his intentions, destroying a powerful dark lord in the process."
"So you destroyed Nezret and his cult?" Alexandras asked incisively.
"He fled to the vigil along with a few of his cult," answered Zeylan.
There was a resounding silence throughout the agora. The leader of the guardians of Belencia was not overwhelmed by the uncomfortable question and decided to break the silence.
"We still know what his objective is, and from where he is sending his hosts, we just have to follow him to the lands of the dream," added the guardian.
Voices of approval were heard among the ranks of those who followed him, and the watchmen raised their hands in silence.
"You are aware that entering enemy territory is very risky for a cell as small as Belencia's, aren't you, Captain Levi?" said Alexandras.
Sharin wanted to raise his voice, but Erick took his hand to stop him from doing so.
"It is true that our numbers have been reduced, but there is someone who has managed to demonstrate that her power is above someone who has just awakened, and I decided to accept her into our ranks; she is an awakened one whose power has surpassed a large number of noctals and noctophages," said Zeylan.
The Vigilares turned to look at each other in remarkable disbelief at the dream keeper's words.
"What if this person you speak of is willing to be part of our cause?" commented the northwesterly Vigilare.
"Let her be the one to let you know why she is here at dawn," concluded the blue-eyed boy.
All the guardians surrounding the stand where I was sitting made a space for me to be in sight of Zeylan's superiors, who looked at me between incredulous and inquisitive. I didn't let that overwhelm me, and with a firm step I went towards that desk, watching the dark-haired boy nod with a smile. I had succeeded in making the caput of Belencia not underestimate me anymore.
"I am Mera Albaceleste, the emissary of the shepherd of the dreamlands; I was once afraid of the horrors of the midnight kingdom, but I have decided to face them to protect those I love and those who cannot protect themselves," I said in a high tone as if reciting an oath.
"So she is the one who has managed to wipe out a large number of noctales?" asked Nerea, observing in detail on her stand.
"She mentioned a demon; that's unlikely to happen between awakened and dreamland beings," exclaimed Gerald in astonishment.
The Vigilares began to deliberate as if I were an unfortunate awaiting his fate under the will of a panel of judges.
"I did not come here to fight in this absurd war between dark ones and defenders of the status quo among sleepers; I came to prevent more innocents from falling victim to the noctals and noctophages," I remembered Helena's sad face and how much she was suffering, "also because I promised someone that I would rescue her from the cult of the eternal night," I interjected, looking at my friends and the rest of the guardians.
"Interesting principle, but to prove that you are the person who Captain Levi claims "Like Heracles in the ancient myth, you must hunt your lion of Nemea, Miss Albaceleste; only then will the guardians be allowed to tread the lands of the dream," said Alexandras.
"What do they mean by that?" I asked without understanding what they were talking about.
to pass the test as a full-fledged guardian of dreams. "You must defeat and destroy Arach'nogurat, the most lethal noctophage released in the Vigil, with your abilities," Kiwari added.
Voices of protest were heard in the guardian stands, making it clear to me how dangerous the job was.
"Watchmen Kiwari and Alexandras, that's sending her to die; it's too much for someone who is just starting to be a guardian," protested Zeylan.
"You have spoken of her capabilities as those of someone who is above an awakened one; we have given her a test in equivalence to that statement; you are the one sending this woman on that mission," Nerea replied.
Zeylan clenched his fists in discontent but took a deep breath and looked at me as if he expected me to give up accepting such a dangerous mission. I was so tired of being underestimated and being seen as someone who is not up to the situations of this new life that I vented my frustration in two words.
"I will do it!" I stared resolutely at the words of the Vigilares and Captain Levi.
"You don't have to do this, Mera; we will find another way to defeat Nezret and rescue Helena, but please don't risk your life for the whim of showing them who you are," exclaimed Zeylan as he fixed those blue and worried eyes on me.
I shook my head at the guardian's plea and, placing my hand on his cheek until I felt his touch, I nodded, making it clear to him that he had no doubts about me, followed by a smile.
"You and I will go together to the dreamlands to remove that laughter from the faces of Nezret and his people," I said, convinced that I would pass the test of the watchers.
The four superiors began to withdraw from their platforms, fading away at every step.
"The fate of this woman is in your hands, Zeylan Levi; it is here where your work as captain is tested to achieve what we have asked of her," said Alexandras as his body vanished into thin air.