"What do you know about guardian angels?" the master asked when Lucius returned from his rest.
"Honestly, I don't know all that much except the basics. I know that they are tasked with protecting humans, i.e., protecting their souls. Each human being has one to watch over them and protect their souls from danger. That would pretty much be it." Lucius answered honestly.
"That's perfectly fine. You weren't chosen to be one; you didn't meet one, and your focus was completely on your training, as it should have been. However, your second mission concerns them, so, if you don't mind, I'm going to inform you a bit more about them."
"I'm listening..."
"Then listen well. What you've said is correct. Each mortal, as long as he is alive, has a guardian angel assigned to protect him. They are a special unit among us, and they are a step higher than the standard angelic warrior. Many mortals are also aware of this bond, and they pray that their guardians guard them successfully. When a guardian angel is assigned to such a mortal, their cooperation is a matter of common sense, and it's usually a breeze for the angel, and the only thing left for him to do is watch over his mortal and pat him on the back whenever he is struggling, because his success is guaranteed through his determination and religiousness. As you can probably guess, those individuals don't need our help. The ones who need our help are those who have more problematic wards who aren't so keen about religion."
"But isn't it so that even those mortals who aren't baptized get assigned a guardian angel as well? As long as they live an ethical and moral life, aren't they too in the mercy of God?"
"Yes. God is merciful, and he doesn't forget even those who don't want him in their lives. As long as one is a good man, neither his soul is in danger nor his guardian angel is pulling his hair out, let's just put it that way. Despite this, problems eventually arise in cases where a guardian angel gets assigned a mortal that doesn't care for such things as ethics and morality. This can be a product of a bad childhood, irresponsible and abusive parents, bad company, and so on. I know what you're thinking. Isn't a fall something normal for a human being, even for those who strive to be good people? Yes, yes, it is, but it is at exactly those times that their souls are in the biggest danger, and demons of all kinds strike at them, trying to break them and get their souls. This is where the guardian angels come in. Protecting the soul of their ward is their sacred duty, and they would rather die than watch it fall into the hands of some demon. As we previously concluded, when the cooperation between the human and the guardian angel is functioning, this is a piece of cake for the angel. When the situation is opposite, the guardian angel is in big trouble. Instead of cooperating with his ward against the demons, the angel is left on his own, completely ignored. He fights with all his might to defend the soul of the mortal, but his job is tough and often hopeless because the mortal often unknowingly works against him. He can't force the human to be good and kind because of the free will God has given to mortals, so the recovery of one's soul depends solely on his own will to heal it. As you can imagine, this doesn't always end with a happy ending, also known as conversion. Sometimes only one perishes, but sometimes the tragedy becomes even greater, and both the mortal and the guardian angel are lost."
"Pardon me for what I'm about to say, master, because I know these are harsh words, but personally, I think no guardian would be content with living if he failed in protecting his ward. At least if he dies, he knows he died fighting for what mattered. But that's just my opinion."
"There is truth in what you're saying, and those guardian angels whose wards perished often have problems going onward, and they start losing faith. It is heartbreaking to watch them struggle. In that way, yes, it's better for them to die. But then again, we all have a right to a second chance, don't we?"
"Far from it that we don't, master. I was just talking from my point of view. I knew it would have been hard for me if I failed my exam or my first mission. I know you told me to stop thinking about it like that, and I'm trying my best, but if I did fail, it would be a horrible blow to my confidence and self-respect. I would either have to learn how to live with it or constantly be reminded how hard I messed it up. Yes, I wouldn't be a failure as long as I didn't give up, but the fact that I failed in the first place would still be there. I am aware that we aren't perfect. We may be angels, a life form higher than the human one, but we are still prone to failure and imperfection. It's a curse as much as it is a blessing. It's a curse because we and those around us still suffer because of our mistakes, and it's a blessing because it motivates us to strive for perfection, just as humans do."
"Then my advice to you is to strive for perfection and worry less about what comes out of it. As long as you give your best, nothing else matters. God knows what you can or can't do."
"I will do so, master!"
"Good. Now, back to your mission. The reason why the guardian angels perish is simple. It's in their name. They are guardians, not attackers. They are not allowed to leave their wards defensless and pursue the demons. Instead, they either manage to repel the attack or they don't. This is where you come into play, Lucius. A great woe has befallen the guardian angels. Lately, there have been multiple cases of both guardian angels and their wards dying, and the perpetrator was the same. Their kind is called various names. Nightmares. Horrors. Sleep Demons. The name doesn't matter. They prey on the fears of humans and trouble them in their sleep, forcing them to live in constant fear and stress until they go insane or suffer a heart attack. They are usually not a threat a guardian angel can't handle, but it seems that one individual with an ambition similar to that of the Imp King has managed to become more powerful than expected. Your mission is to put a stop to his spree."
"It seems simple enough, but I suspect it will be anything but simple. Do you have any advice for me, master?"
"I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about those demons except what I already told you, simply because I never had the privilege of fighting any of them. I can only tell you that you will have to rely not only on your strength and combat skills but also on your wit. I hear they really love to play with one's mind. After all, that's their main way of attacking. Remain stalwart, and don't let him confuse you. You, and nobody else, are the master of your own mind."
"Understood. I'll do my best. Anything else?"
"One more thing. I didn't want to tell you this before, because, honestly, I didn't believe the situation would last this long, but you have an incentive to try and complete this mission as fast as you possibly can. Not only are you going on a hunt, you will also be taking the place of the guardian angel. He sadly perished during the last attack, but the human he protected is, miraculously, still alive. If you hurry, you might be able to save him, but don't get your hopes up. He has been resisting death for hours, and it's only a matter of time before he succumbs. This also means that your presence will be known as soon as you emerge from the portal. You will be treading on freshly conquered ground, so to speak."
"Then I don't have any time to lose! However slim his chance of survival may be, I would at least like to try and help him!" Lucius said, instantly ready for action.
"I didn't expect any less, Lucius. Please allow me to summon a portal for you. You need to save your strength for the fight ahead." master said with a smile on his face.
Lucius nodded in agreement, after which the master promptly summoned a portal for Lucius.
"Good luck and be smart, son!" said the master as Lucius went through the portal.
The master looked at Lucius as he disappeared through the portal, and when the portal closed, an ominous feeling swept over him, and the only thing left for him to do was hope his former apprentice was up to the challenging task ahead of him.