Enzo's heart pounded in his chest as he turned to face the owner of the hand. His muscles tensed, prepared for a confrontation. But as he locked eyes with the person who had entered his cell, his breath caught in his throat.
Before him stood a woman, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. She was dressed in attire that marked her as someone of importance, adorned with intricate patterns and jewelry. Yet, what struck Enzo the most was the aura of power that surrounded her. And above anything else, her scarlet hair!
"Who are you?" Enzo demanded, his voice edged with caution and defiance. If she indeed was a descendant of the Monarch of War, then he would most likely die in a few moments.
The woman regarded him with a thoughtful gaze, her hand still resting on his shoulder. "You are not what I expected," she murmured more to herself than to him.
"Expected for what?" Enzo's impatience simmered beneath his words. He tried to look left and right to see a way to escape, but he was already surrounded from all sides. He could only escape from the wall he destroyed, but he could feel the air coming from it, meaning that he must be quite high in the sky.
In the end, to Enzo's surprise, she finally withdrew her hand and took a step back, giving Enzo space. "I am Seraphina, a guardian of this place," she replied. "I sensed a disturbance, and when I arrived, I found you breaking free from your cell."
"Well... see ya!" Enzo smiled triumphantly as he entered the wall before falling down.
He was right, he was quite high in the sky as if the cell he was in was an impenetrable fortress.
Well in the end he managed to escape.
Using the 'Wings of the Prince' ability, Enzo slowed down his descent before soaring into the sky again. He could see Seraphina looking at him with pity, which came as a surprise as he was finally free.
"You should come back, it's the best advice I can give you right now, really." Seraphina's voice echoed throughout the place.
And before Enzo could even answer or muster a sound, a huge shadow was cast upon him.
Enzo's heart raced as he looked up and saw the enormous shape that eclipsed the sky above him. His eyes widened in both awe and trepidation as the shadow descended, revealing a colossal creature with wings that blotted out the sun. It was a dragon, a majestic and fearsome beast that seemed to radiate power beyond comprehension.
Even breathing in its presence became hard.
The dragon's scales shimmered like polished gemstones, its eyes gleaming with intelligence as they locked onto Enzo. A surge of primal instinct gripped him, urging him to flee. But something held him in place, a mix of fascination and a strange connection that seemed to pull at his very soul.
And it wasn't as if he would be able to escape from a dragon's grip, could he?
As the dragon's massive wings flapped to stay in the air, its presence caused a gust of wind that whipped around Enzo. He struggled to keep himself steady in the face of such force, his wings flapping vigorously against the currents.
From behind, Seraphina approached him through the sky as if she was levitating, her expression grave. "Enzo, this is Azrion, the Guardian of the Skies. He's not here to harm you."
Enzo's brows furrowed as he regarded the dragon warily. "Guardian of the Skies? What's that supposed to mean? And sorry to say that but he doesn't look very friendly to me..." Just looking at his giant tooth scared the shit out of him.
He couldn't help but tremble.
The dragon's voice rumbled like thunder, echoing in Enzo's mind. "I apologize for startling you, young one. I am Azrion, as Seraphina mentioned. I am a guardian of these realms, just as she is."
Enzo couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and confusion. Conversing with a dragon was not something he ever thought he would experience. And even now he had a hard time believing it. "Guardian of the realms? What do you mean? What's the role of a guardian?"
In the end, even though he wanted to escape, Enzo decided against it. It was way too risky. Seraphina's presence alone was strong enough to make him kneel, let alone Azrion.
"Guardians are beings chosen to protect and maintain the balance of our world. Each guardian is attuned to a specific aspect of our realm, and together, we safeguard against the encroachment of darkness." Azrion's voice resonated within Enzo's mind, a deep and ancient resonance that seemed to hold the wisdom of eons.
Seraphina chimed in, her voice carrying a sense of solemnity. "The realms are interconnected, and the harmony between them is essential for our world to thrive. The guardian of the skies, Azrion, watches over the vast expanse above, ensuring that the balance is maintained."
Enzo listened intently, his initial fear giving way to a growing curiosity. The concept of guardians and their role in preserving the balance of the world was something that left him perplexed. Yet it was also both intriguing and daunting.
Azrion continued, "We sensed a disturbance when you broke free from your confinement, a disturbance that hinted at a power awakening within you. Such occurrences are rare and significant, especially in these dire times."
Seraphina's eyes bore into Enzo's with a weight of seriousness. "The darkness that threatens our realm is relentless, and we guardians alone cannot stop it. We need those who possess unique abilities and strengths to stand with us."
Enzo's mind raced as he absorbed their words. His situation had gone from captivity to facing a dragon and a guardian, and now they spoke of powers, balance, and a looming darkness that threatened everything he knew.
"What... what do you want from me?" Enzo finally asked, his voice laced with a mix of apprehension and curiosity... and fear. Even the Ancient Thorn had a hard time keeping his emotions in check at the moment. "Seriously you first wanted me to become the Butterfly Monarch, then a guardian? And should I remind you that I'm not from this realm? I'm from Earth, for god's sake, I don't care if your world is destroyed!"