From Sheina's diary... (48)

Minithriell... (seventh month, second week, sixth day)

"I woke up screaming. My heart was racing. I searched the dark room for the moving walls of Evil. But I was alone. This fact took a moment to sink in. But the feeling of panic disappeared much later. When I finally realized I was nowhere else but in the safe room, I tried to remember what I had dreamed. What had frightened me so much. I saw only a complete blankness in my memory. The dream ceased to exist with its end. I lost the desire to sleep. I lit the candles on the table and began to stare at the flame. The feeling of fear and uncertainty from the dream left me very slowly. Too slowly. I finally got out of bed and walked to the open balcony door. It was a beautiful, starry night. A warm, gentle breeze blew into the room, carrying with it the scent of a waterfall. I felt weary and tired, but I was afraid Fall asleep. A night walk? Why not. But this time I decided to use the door. I didn't particularly try to be silent when opening or closing the door. Besides, it didn't creak. I slowly went downstairs. There, to my surprise, Shae and Riviln were sitting with a goblet of excellent elven wine, talking in whispers. As soon as I noticed them, they turned their surprised glances on me.

"I'm going for a walk," I said curtly.

I simply felt that right now I needed it most.

"In the middle of the night?"

Riviln's voice, slightly tired, was clearly surprised. I stopped at the table where they were sitting. I smiled slightly.

"I'm not the one who should be sleeping here."

The elf replied with a slight smile.

Riviln had returned from his expedition a few hours earlier. I only learned that, with the Ruler's help, they had managed to kill several Undead. Selena and Alin, on the other hand, had found the perfect place to live together. I realized as I passed the inn's door that I hadn't seen either of them in a long time. My gut told me I'd be leaving this city soon. So before that happened, I decided to see Alin. Although I wasn't entirely sure I was leaving her in good hands, they were the best for now. And, most likely, we'd never see each other again.

I reached a spot with a beautiful view of the waterfall. Strangely enough, it was the same spot I'd been to with Shae.

The memory sent a pleasant shiver through me. I decided not to think too much about it. Too many strange thoughts were running through my mind as reasons for this behavior. An apology? A dark elf apologizing? Those were mutually exclusive. And in such a way, too. It simply didn't sit right with me. Delving into the reasons for this behavior only confused my thoughts, which were already clouded enough.

I spotted a beautifully carved bench and gladly sat down on the cool wood. For a moment, thinking nothing of anything, I stared at the light reflections in the falling water. In a few days, the moon would be full.

"Trouble sleeping?"

A warm, velvety voice spoke from somewhere off to the side.

"Yes," I replied without hesitation.

The voice was unfamiliar to me, as was its owner, a golden-haired elf standing directly across from me. In the moonlight, her hair gleamed with a soft glow, her eyes sparkling a rich green. She looked a bit like an apparition. The wind caressed her flowing robes, woven with flecks of crystal. It was as if the entire fabric sparkled with thousands of stars, their light subdued.

"May I sit down?

" "Of course."

Around her, I detected the delicate scent of flowers I was sure I didn't recognize. She was silent for a moment, gazing at the moon. I felt a bit foolish. I brazenly stared at her, wondering if she really was an apparition, or rather, a product of my exhaustion.

"I only recently learned you were in Nanaderkh'en. I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to get to know you a little and talk.

" She looked at me, straight in the eyes, and smiled faintly. I knew then that I should have known immediately who I was talking to, but my mind went blank. I remained silent, waiting for her next words.

"Are you having trouble sleeping? Nightmares?

" "Yes...

" I stammered slightly, surprised. Who is this woman?

"That will pass with time. Although it also depends on what your dreams are about."

She looked at the moon again.

"I don't remember anything of what I dreamed."

She laughed softly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. Though I hoped you would recognize me."

She stood up.

"Minithriell Abigeil, Keeper of the Stone of the Seal of Earth."

She bowed courteously, then laughed again softly and sat down. She laughed harder when she saw my expression.

"I don't know what to say...

I was embarrassed, very embarrassed. I had no idea how to behave! Stand up and introduce myself too? Bow? One of the Keepers was sitting next to me!

" "I'm sure you have a few questions. I'd be happy to answer them if I can."

Her serene and trustworthy face and calm, soothing voice encouraged conversation. From deep within me rose one single question, the one I asked myself several times every day.

"Why me…?"

Minithrell took a deep breath, as if preparing for a longer conversation.

"Are you unhappy with your role in this world?

" "Am I not happy?" I shook my head vigorously. "All my family and friends are dead. I'm left alone. For some reason, a gang of undead keeps trying to chop my head off, and I get beaten everywhere I go. And I don't understand it! How can anyone be happy about this?!

As the words poured out of me, irritation and anger grew within me. I shouted the last sentence. Seeing the Guardian's serious face, I lowered my head.

"I'm sorry…

" "I know what happened. I know your story."

She sighed.

"Several mistakes were made, the consequences of which you're now experiencing." I can only say that I'm sorry it all turned out this way, and that you perceive it this way, but I'm not surprised at all.

"What mistakes?

" "Do you remember how your choice was made?"

"Yes, the problem is, I didn't choose anything.

" "Exactly. In the past, Guardians were chosen consciously. Candidates knew what task awaited them in the future. They knew what the role of Guardian entailed even before they set out for one of the Forged Cities. They were aware of this and agreed to it." She shook her head. "Finding the right person wasn't a problem back then."

She looked at the moon, her voice gaining strength.

"But everything changed. The tenth passage. From then on, Kirserathill, Keeper of the Fire Sigil Stone, imposed a ban on recruiting Guardian candidates from the human race. So there were three of us left: me, Kirse, and Anya." Thinking the Wind Seal was somehow cursed, they haven't been looking for a candidate for the Guardian of the Wind Seal Stone since then.

"I don't know anything about that...

" "Oh, is that it?" she looked at me, surprised. "Naina was from the human race. We simply believe that the human body can't withstand the strain of being a Guardian in the long run.

" "But what happened?

" "Let's say that Naina..." she stopped and looked at the ground. "...went mad."

She looked at me. There was sadness in her eyes.

"Those were bad times. A fratricidal war. I'd rather not say much about it right now."

I hung my head.

"I'm also from the human race. Will I also go mad?"

Minithriell was silent for a moment.

"No one knows. Naina wasn't the only Guardian of your race, but the only one to suffer this fate. Perhaps something entirely other than her origins influenced it."

She shook her head and smiled warmly.

"You have nothing to fear. So far, everything's fine. But since then, you've been the only Guardian of the human race. Which happened half-accident.

" "Half-accident, I suppose," I snapped. "Nobody asked me, nobody told me anything!

" Marien wasn't entirely sure why Ishaimel had attacked you. She only had no doubt that you were the target. It was also a mystery why he finally gave in.

"What other reason could there be? He murdered my entire family! What other reason could there be?!

" "You could have been a demon."

I was speechless. For a moment, I couldn't say anything.

"When one of them is killed, he reappears in the world after three hundred years." And since demons don't have a physical shell, they must take over a person's soul and body. Such a person is born already marked, and nothing can stop this process. You know that, right?

I slowly shook my head; they'll be increasingly shocked.

"This is unbelievable. You should know these basics! Sigh..." she sighed. "I guess I'll have to talk to your Guardians."

"It can fall on any person, on anyone?"

The elven woman nodded.

"A person is born with evil within them. But a demon needs a dozen or so years to take over their will, body, and finally, their soul. Sometimes, to speed up the process, their kin attack such an unborn monster, if I may say so.

" "I understand." That's why Marien had doubts.

"She's not the only one. The fact that Ishaimel didn't finish you off led me to that very conclusion."

I closed my eyes. An image flashed before my eyes, the moment I saw Sul'lasill in the distance. And that strange feeling that had accompanied me the entire time, from the moment I passed through the gate. And the call, insistent, impossible to ignore, yet at the same time gentle, not instilling fear.

"If you hadn't followed the call, if you hadn't found the Chamber within two days, you would have been killed, an unborn demon."

Memories began to flood me in waves. The image of the Chamber that suddenly appeared before me, where a second before there had been a brick wall. A glass platform shimmering with thousands of colors, and above it a light source, shimmering and rippling. A seal. As if someone had formed a ball of water and enclosed the starlight within. Reflections of light danced across the walls and floor. They beckoned and called. Louder and louder, more insistent. The beautiful phenomenon wanted me to come closer, to gaze, to touch it. It dazzled and enchanted. It left me with no choice, because the choice had made itself.

"Sheina…?"

I snapped out of my reverie.

"It hurt…

" "Yes, I know. We've all been through this. The worst part is that you were completely unprepared for it. I can't even imagine the fear you must have felt…"

Her words were laced with compassion.

"I thought I was dying…"

The silence stretched on. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand, the mark on which was covered by a glove.

"Did you touch it with your right hand? I touched it with both, look."

She clasped her hands together and saw the exact same mark that was on the palm of my hand. The difference was that hers was larger and spread evenly across both palms. I also examined her forehead. There, too, was a symbol similar to mine, with a tiny teardrop, only light green. The pattern of the black lines was different from mine, more delicate. It gave her dignity and charm.

"I consider it an ornament," she smiled, and with the tip of her index finger, she touched my forehead, which was tied with a headband. "You should too. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

I smiled. She was right, after all. I untied the headband, revealing the mark.

"There you go," she clapped her hands together, clearly pleased. "One more, final stage ahead of you, and you'll be a Guardian, one hundred percent.

" "What stage?"

"Power," she said briefly and mysteriously. "The day will come when you'll know what to do. And may your Guardians be with you on that day. That's very important. In your case, all these processes related to adapting your body to the role of Guardian are proceeding very slowly," she mused. "Perhaps because you so desperately don't want to be one..."

I lowered my head and sighed heavily. You don't even know how much I don't want to be what I've become...

" "The most important thing is that you accept your fate. I know it's very difficult in your case, that you didn't want it and don't want it, that you were dealt with this way against your will. But think about it: if the existence of hundreds of thousands of souls depended on your decision, wouldn't you?"

She looked me straight in the eyes, expecting an answer. I'd seen that look before. And I'd heard a similar question, too, long ago. Then I'd answered "no"... And today... I remained silent, realizing that I probably would have ended up in Sul'lasill for some reason, and what had already happened would have happened.

"Destiny...

" "No," she shook her head. "Each of us is the architect of our own destiny.

" "But I had no influence on my becoming a Guardian.

" "Besides you, there might be one, two, or even five other suitable girls alive in this world. Or none at all. And in the next few years, several might be born, or none at all. Although it's true that since the death of your predecessor, Anya, no one has been born within the elven and dragon races...

" "Why did she die?

" "During a fight with one of the Six. She crossed the line..." she trailed off.

After a long moment, she resumed the thread.

"But she killed a demon. At the cost of her life." She was an incredible person, very brave, resourceful, and resourceful, yet calm and thoughtful." Minithriell smiled. "When she announced she intended to make a Dark Elf her Guardian, everyone thought she was crazy."

The Guardian laughed.

"But she achieved her goal. To this day, many wonder how it was possible.

" "Exactly, how?"

She looked at me more closely.

"Shae should have told you about that personally."

I sighed, disappointed. I'd hoped to learn something about him.

"He doesn't talk much about himself at all. I doubt he'll ever reveal a shadow of his past to me.

" "Don't worry about that," she placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled gently. "He'll definitely tell me; it just takes a little time."

I sighed again. I closed my eyes, remembering yesterday's situation. My heart warmed. I so desperately wanted to know more, I was so tempted by the idea that he was here, on the surface, serving a good cause, which was contrary to his origin and nature. It tormented me, his mysteriousness.

"If you have doubts about his loyalty and devotion as a Keeper, you have no reason to. He's proven time and time again to be as trustworthy as any Keeper. I'd say he puts a lot of heart into his task. "

I snorted ironically.

"Does he have a heart?

" The elf was surprised by my reaction.

"Why do you have doubts?

" "He's rather rough and unpleasant towards me. At least most of the time... And I know he's trustworthy. I've seen it for myself more than once.

" "So what's the point?"

I took a deep breath.

"I don't want to talk about it..."

But the elf's searching gaze bored into me, as if she were intently awaiting an answer. It lasted a long moment, until I felt uncomfortable. And finally, she smiled triumphantly.

"I think I know!

" "Ahhhh..." I sighed, burying my face in my hands. "Is it written all over my face?"

"Almost," she laughed. "You just have to know how to look."

"It's unthinkable! He's malicious, nasty, unpleasant," I began, listing off. "He's just looking for an opportunity and an excuse to snipe me, and he's happy about it! And how! You have no idea how much stress being around him takes out on me every day!

" "You're in love."

I shook my head. I sighed heavily.

"I guess..." "I

'm sure," she smiled gently.

"That's pointless."

"Why?"

"Because the Dark Ones don't naturally show positive emotions...

" Minithriell shook her head.

"You should see for yourself, not listen to others." You haven't known him long enough to have such an opinion of him yet.

"But he's so mean and demanding...

" "He just does his job well. Maybe you should try not to be afraid of him?

" "I'm not afraid of him!" I scoffed.

The Guardian responded with a smile.

"Just please, I swear to you! Don't tell anyone! Two people are already too many!

" "Two?

" "Riviln." He guessed quickly too...

"Ha! You see, nothing can be hidden from us," she stated with satisfaction, winking.

"If I stay here any longer, all the elves will know..." I groaned. "I have to get out of here quickly!"

The Elfica started laughing loudly.

"Yes, that's for sure. What are your plans for the next few days?

" "I don't know," I sighed. "But a crazy idea has occurred to me.

" "What?

" "Evehre'ester. I want to learn to defend myself. I feel a bit like a burden to my Guardians...

" "Well, well," she nodded approvingly. "That's not such a bad idea. I'll tell you what, I really like it. I think your Guardians will like it too. The question is whether you'll be able to handle it. "

"I don't know, but I want to try.

" "You have my full support. And we can meet. Evehre'ester is much closer than Nanaderkh'en.

" "Yes," I smiled, happy at the thought.

After this conversation, I felt somehow lighter. As if a great burden had been lifted from my heart. And I was very pleased at the thought of being able to talk to her again. Strangely enough, I felt relaxed and at ease, but a little sleepy. The sky had long since lost its dark blue color.

"The sun is rising!" I said with surprise.

Minithriell stood up.

"Time flies when we have a good conversation. I think you'll be able to sleep without any nightmares now.

" "Yes, they'll be daytime nightmares."

I got up and we both went to the inn where we were staying. The Guardian stopped a dozen or so meters from the entrance.

"I don't want to cause a stir. I'm here unofficially," she laughed softly. "My Guardians will panic when they can't find me anywhere. But, as I mentioned, I need to speak with your Guardians about a few things, so I think we'll meet again soon. Get a good night's sleep, my dear. May the stars guard your dreams.

" "Thank you, and see you later."

She smiled, leaned in, and kissed me lightly on the cheek.

"See you later, Guardian."

In the rays of the rising sun, her silhouette suddenly vanished into thin air. I sighed deeply, a smile on my lips as I headed for the inn. Shae stood in the doorway, watching me with a frown.

"I'm going to bed," I said curtly, passing him in the doorway.

"During the day?" he muttered.

"Any time is good. Goodnight!" I shouted, standing on the stairs, and smiled at him.

I don't really know why. I just felt incredibly good and light. I almost wanted to whistle to myself. I still remember that my dreams were incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I don't know if Minithriell cast some kind of spell on me, but meeting her and talking to her made me feel calm and rested. I'd been missing that for a very long time..."