Chapter 8 - Clarity

The cloaked figure in the courtyard stood tall, its presence radiating an aura of mystery that sparked curiosity in the hearts of everyone present. The Naja leader, his arrogance replaced by curiosity, asked a question that hung heavy in the air.

"Who are you?"

The figured emerged, a Naga, his body a mesmerizing blend of human and serpent. His scales glinted like polished obsidian, but his tail was a vibrant splash of crimson, like a flame that burned bright in the darkness. As he raised his head, his piercing eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom, and his gaze seemed to bore into the Naja leader. A deep sigh echoed through the chamber, the sound crackling with age and authority.

"My suspicions were correct" the figure boomed, its voice surprisingly gentle despite its power. "You're behind everything."

A wave of surprise washed over Zym, Kael, and Mieza. Veridian, the very Naga they had hoped to speak with, stood before them cloaked. Their hearts filled both with relief and curiosity. Perhaps, just perhaps, the tide was turning in their favor.

The Naja leader, however, wasn't moved. " Veridian," he boomed, his voice a mere whisper. "Of course you suspected."

Veridian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the smaller Naja figure. This individual, emboldened by their leader, stepped forward, their voice filled with defiance.

"We are righting a wrong," they hissed. "The Nagas have been subjugated for centuries by the Garudas! We are simply claiming what is rightfully ours – power and respect!"

Veridian turned his attention to the smaller Naja, his crimson eyes glared. "Power gained through manipulation and deceit will only breed more conflict," he said, his voice resonating with a deep sadness. "True power lies in unity and the pursuit of justice."

The Naja remained defiant. "Justice! You speak of justice when the Garudas have taken everything from us!"

Zym, unable to hold back any longer, felt a surge of anger course through him. He stepped out from his hiding place, momentarily disabling the invisibility spell. Kael and Mieza followed suit, their celestial guardian forms materializing before the Naja and Veridian.

"The Garudas had nothing to do with this!" Zym boomed, his voice filled with righteous fury. "It is you, the Naja, who are attempting to incite a war!"

Veridian turned his head towards Zym, his gaze piercing through the celestial guardian. Zym felt a wave of calmness wash over him, calming his anger and replacing it with a sense of clarity.

"Exactly, Guardian," Veridian boomed, addressing all three of them. "The Naja have indeed orchestrated this deception. They have stolen the Eye of Naga and used dark magic to frame the Garudas."

The Naja Leader scoffed. "Lies! You have no proof!"

Veridian raised his hand, silencing the Naja. "I've kept a watchful eye on you for a while now", The Naja leader gasped, his eyes wide with terror.

"I know you're behind the theft of the eye," Veridian declared, "The eye was hidden safely within the Grand Archives, protected by powerful wards. You breached the wards, leaving behind traces of dark magic and stole the eye. Then, you planted the feather to make it look like the Garudas stole the eye."

The small Naja, realizing their predicament, suddenly turned to his leader. But before they could utter another word, the Naja leader hissed a spell. A shadowy aura engulfed him and the smaller naja, and with a crackle of dark energy, they vanished into thin air.

Zym's heart hammered in his chest as the Naja leader and the smaller Naja vanished before their eyes. A swirling vortex of dark energy lingered for a moment before dissipating completely, leaving behind an unsettling silence.

Kael was the first to react. "They used a teleportation spell," he said, his voice grim. "We have to go after them."

Veridian, his eyes narrowed, looked towards the spot where the Naja leader had disappeared. "They fled using forbidden magic. We must find them before they can cause further harm."

"Guardians," he said, his gaze lingering on the trio. "Now we know the culprits behind this plot and we can prevent the war. We received word that the Garudas will soon be on their way. We must capture the Naja and expose them."

Mieza scanned the surrounding area. "There are faint traces of residual black magic," she reported. "But it's faint and scattered. The ritual must've had a purpose."

Veridian, his crimson eyes narrowed in thought, stroked his long, forked beard. "Indeed, we'll find out its purpose." He turned to Zym, Kael, and Mieza, his gaze filled with a newfound respect.

"Kael, it's good to see you again," he said, "The last time I saw you, you were just a boy, Queen Melinoe would be happy to see you. I propose we combine our strengths to track down the rogue Naja and recover the Eye of Naga. Together, we have a better chance of preventing this war."

Zym straightened his back, a surge of determination coursing through him. "We're in," he declared without hesitation. "Zola is holding off the Garuda army. We'll do everything in our power to help stop this madness."

Kael nodded curtly. "We must retrieve the eye first."

Mieza dipped her head in agreement. "Yes we must, but we must also inform Queen Melinoe about this treachery. It's important that she comes to know about this."

Veridian studied them for a moment, a hint of a concern etched on his face. "We must gather enough proof before telling her." he rumbled. "Without proof, the Queen may not believe us. She trusts no one, especially those without solid proof of their claim."

Kael turned and surveyed the vast night courtyard. "Time is of the essence," he declared. "We must act swiftly before the Naja leader uses the Eye of Naga to further his agenda. Let us begin."

A sense of camaraderie bloomed between them. Guardians and a wise elder Naga – Teamed up to stop a rogue faction. United by a common goal, they stood ready to retrieve the eye and prevent the war from starting or even, engulfing the realm.