A small block of ice was slowly melting on a stone table, and the water that ran into the corner dripped on the floor, making small sounds that echoed in a completely silent room.
The well-heated room forced the piece of ice to melt while something tried to suppress the cold contained within, trying to keep it intact. So it endured until that moment, the cold air that held it suddenly weakened, allowing the ice to melt into a puddle on the table quickly.
The small streams that existed grew more prominent as they made their way to the edge of the table.
What before were just dripping drops became like a thin waterfall, and when touching the ground, created another puddle, the water that accumulated in a tiny lake found a crevice and dissolved in what looked like a small river.
This followed quickly in one direction, making small curves and then continuing the course, only stopping when it hit something, causing it to split into two small lines of water, slowly stopping when it lost the strength it had before.
A black boot was the object that split the course in two. A long sigh came from above, and a pair of cyan blue eyes stared at a small boy with his head down across the table, the boy's white hair covering his face, and he didn't dare to look back at the eyes that were staring at him.
The cyan-eyed man furrowed his brows, his seemingly youthful face sporting a scowl and visible contempt. He walked slowly towards the boy. The sound of his footsteps caused the boy slight shivers, lowering his head, he closed his eyes, waiting for what was to come.
The man now in front of him raised his right hand and brought it down towards the boy, slapping his face, and by the sound of it, anyone could already tell that a mark would be left on the pale skin of the boy who didn't look to be a little over eleven years old.
The man continued to stare at the boy, and seeing that the boy didn't react, he clicked his tongue – Your sister can already form ice from the moisture present in the air, while you can't keep a single block of ice intact.
The boy remained with his head down, allowing himself to be scolded by the man in front of him, he couldn't do anything, and he shouldn't either. This was his father, who provided all the best for him, the least he could do then was to try to make him proud, even with small things, and even that he couldn't do.
– As a man, you should be ashamed. Are you really my son? – The boy shuddered when he heard those words. His father had already criticized him that way, but the last question made him desperate, for a moment he thought about saying something, but he heard again the firm voice full of contempt – Useless.
At his age, he should have been having fun with the other children, but as the son of the Guardian and King's Advisor, it was his duty to follow in his father's footsteps and become strong like him and then guide the next King to a glorious future.
But his sister, four years older, was just a few steps away from taking his place, at first his father loved both his three children, so his sister started to progress a little faster than usual, becoming the darling of the people, who now wanted her as the future Guardian of the Great Dragon Empire.
His father was happy about her success. He loved his eldest daughter but felt uncomfortable when he realized that she was powerful, even more than his second son, who should have been stronger because he had inherited his own powers to a greater extent instead of inheriting only those from his mother.
The boy with white hair and cyan-blue eyes, just like his father was Izrun, the second child of the Guardian. The first child is Lira, the older sister of Izrun and the way things were going, the next Guardian, and finally, the third child, whose power was already approaching that of the second, Álika.
The current Guardian felt frustrated. No matter how hard he tried, his son was a complete waste of teachings. He opened his mouth to scold the boy further, but was interrupted by a soldier who approached the door – My lord, the king has requested your presence.
The Guardian nodded at the guard, returning his gaze to his son as the boy stared at his father's boots. He sighed – Izrun, I didn't want to have to do this, but you don't give me a choice. Know that the pain you're feeling hurts me a lot more than it does you, do you think I wanted to hit you?
Izrun shivered, finally looking at his father, who was looking at him coldly. Feeling suffocated, the boy lowered his head again and finally saw the boots walk away with quick steps.
Sniffling, he let a few tears fall from his eyes, wiping them away before anyone could see them, afraid someone would report this to the Guardian. He slowly left the room, and two guards waiting for him accompanied him to his quarters.
Arriving in the room, one of the soldiers asked gently while holding the door, ready to close it – Little Guardian, would you like me to ask a servant to get the necessary books for your studies?
Izrun shook his head. The guard just saw the gesture and nodded, closing the door and leaving the boy alone. Still thinking about what to do, he heard the door open and looked up to see who it was.
Two white-haired girls entered, the tallest one, looking around sixteen, had eyes like his, also in cyan colors, and the smallest, who looked to be seven years old, had blue eyes the color of the clear sky.
The eldest was holding a tray. She went towards the small table in the center of the room, arranging the items on the table, while the youngest approached Izrun, clinging to him. Soon she did stare with wide eyes at her brother's face – Elder sister, brother had a red mark on his cheek.
Lira, Izrun's older sister, sighed as she sat down – Let's eat.
Lira was only sixteen years old, and even with all the pressure she felt for probably being the next Guardian and knowing that her father, although supportive, really wanted Izrun to assume that post, she still did her best to be close to her younger siblings, her mother passed early, her father was very busy with the chores, it was the servants who took care of them.
They lived in the palace of Snowden, home of the Guardian, located in the northernmost region of the Dragon Empire, in the city of Laugure, his father left to meet the King in the capital, Hadria, so they would be alone for a while.
Lira faced her siblings, who were calmly approaching the table, with a smile – We must eat before the food gets cold.
She took her silverware and started to eat. Watching her take her first bite, both her younger siblings started to eat too, and in silence, they finished their plates. Álika, the youngest, got up and went to her brother's bed. Climbing in with some difficulty, she lay down.
None of her older siblings thought it was strange, and they just continued at the table, Izrun wiggling his fingers under the table, still nervous from the previous situations. A hand reached his shoulder – Let me see that bruise.
Izrun pulled back a little – It's nothing. It doesn't hurt anymore.
Lira smiled slightly – I know you're lying, hurry up, come here.
Pursing his lips, Izrun slowly approached his sister, she placed her hands on either side of the boy's pale face, the red mark on the left side of his face was very apparent.
A silvery glow appeared where her hands touched, and soon the cheek that had been hot began to cool. Lira used her early Guardian gifts to soothe and heal whatever her brother's pain was.
The Guardians were there to care for the people, guide the King and advise him during his reign. Their powers could heal any pain, whether in the mind or the heart. They had the gift of healing the soul and protecting the auras, they could easily feel them.
The King's power had the gift of control and strength. If someone stood up against him, with just one look, the king forced the rebel to lower his head. With such power, anyone would lose their reason, seeking to control everyone, and so his Guardian should be there to calm him down, in addition to also being able to spread its aura throughout a region, being able to reach many of its people and relax them, rid them of the fear they felt, which was one of the things that led them to rebellion or cowardice, even before their King.
We are talking about Dragons, extremely strong creatures that, in case of any lack of control, any land would be destroyed, where many people would cease to exist.
No wonder they were forced to take a human form as a means of appeasing their relations with other races. Even an extremely powerful mage would not put himself in front of a gigantic and almost immortal creature like a dragon.
Their human forms, much weaker but even stronger than ordinary humans, helped them to create bonds with the other Kingdoms so that there would be no war, always seeking peace through alliances, transactions, and trade between them.
Izrun felt his body and soul much lighter, sighing he thanked Lira with a slight smile – Thanks, my sister.
Lira smiled gently. Removing her hands, she got up and went to the small sleeping girl on the bed and picked her up, headed towards the door, stopping for a moment before leaving – Izrun, don't think too much about what hurts you, be safe – Saying that she left the room.
Izrun slightly pursed his lips and walked to his desk. There, he opened some books that were already laid out on it and started to read.
Lost in his own thoughts, Izrun fell asleep, and in his dreams, he heard his father calling and smiling at him. For Izrun, his father was the most incredible and powerful person that existed, he wanted to be like him. He wanted to be like the great guardian Ikalles, the king's most trusted dragon.
Izrun unconsciously smiled when in the dream, his father hugged him and showed bright and beautiful spells, while outside of his dream, the man who watched him closely while he slept turned away upon seeing his smile and quickly left.
Outside the room, Ikalles walked the corridors seriously, stopping a servant who was passing he said – Wake up Izrun and help him get dressed properly. Tell the other servants to do the same with Lira and Álika, we will receive someone important today.
The servant nodded stunned, an important guest would come to the frost palace, as soon as the guardian Ikalles gave his orders. The servant hurried to warn the others and headed to Izrun's room.
Trying to wake him up gently even though she was a little euphoric with his majesty's visit – Little guardian, the master asked me to help him get ready.
Izrun woke up and looked at the servant, a little sleepy – Get ready? For what?
The servant guided him to wash his face while saying – Guardian said someone important is coming for a visit.
Izrun was stunned to hear her. Probably because of sleep, he remained like that while the servant chose and helped him to wear his clothes.
– Who's coming? - He thought.
The servant, finishing dressing him, looked at him meticulously. If the guardian said that the visitor was important, it was because he was definitely someone powerful – It's ready, I'll accompany you to the Guardian, please, follow me little guardian.