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The Protector: A Dark Guardian short story
“…For so long as you uphold this oath,
I shall follow you for the rest of your days,
And shall be your shadow and your shield both,
Until the time unto which we are parted by Death…
I shall be your Protector, always…”
~ Qui Protegit
I protected a boy once, long ago… I watched him grow from boy to young man, unaware of my presence, but even so, I watched over him. It was at time of War, I remember… And many humans were dying…
Their screams tortured the young man, and I felt his anguish at the death and injustice of those around him. Like dark flames, War crept up upon the land, until one day it even touched his home. His father and brothers were killed in battle, his mother… raped and murdered when the young man had left her alone to find work. The young man… could not forgive the perpetrators, and he could not forgive himself… The night the young man found his mother’s crippled body, was also the first night he picked up a sword. I followed him into battle then as well, for his despair… was mine as well.
The young man silently followed the trail through the small wooded area near his home, that his mother’s murderers had left in their wake. It was not difficult to find, for the men had felt no guilt upon their actions, and therefore, no need to hide their presence. In times of War this lack of caution would no doubt lead to Death, for enemy soldiers were always close at hand… For the young man, such a thing was to his advantage…
The riotous laughter from their camp could be heard clearly as we approached after Dark, and the young man shook with rage at hearing that laughter, understanding its meaning instinctively. It was that Rage that nearly carried the boy forward, that rage that nearly flung his body into the clearing into disaster! Were it not for my hand upon his shoulder…
The young man spun around, lunging at me with his sword, but found nothing. It was only natural that he had reacted as such, for I have only ever rarely interacted with him physically, and wariness at this time was wise… The young man could not see my form, and yet regardless of this, I still whispered caution...
...
I shall follow you for the rest of your days,
And shall be your shadow and your shield both,
Until the time unto which we are parted by Death…
I shall be your Protector, always…”
~ Qui Protegit
I protected a boy once, long ago… I watched him grow from boy to young man, unaware of my presence, but even so, I watched over him. It was at time of War, I remember… And many humans were dying…
Their screams tortured the young man, and I felt his anguish at the death and injustice of those around him. Like dark flames, War crept up upon the land, until one day it even touched his home. His father and brothers were killed in battle, his mother… raped and murdered when the young man had left her alone to find work. The young man… could not forgive the perpetrators, and he could not forgive himself… The night the young man found his mother’s crippled body, was also the first night he picked up a sword. I followed him into battle then as well, for his despair… was mine as well.
The young man silently followed the trail through the small wooded area near his home, that his mother’s murderers had left in their wake. It was not difficult to find, for the men had felt no guilt upon their actions, and therefore, no need to hide their presence. In times of War this lack of caution would no doubt lead to Death, for enemy soldiers were always close at hand… For the young man, such a thing was to his advantage…
The riotous laughter from their camp could be heard clearly as we approached after Dark, and the young man shook with rage at hearing that laughter, understanding its meaning instinctively. It was that Rage that nearly carried the boy forward, that rage that nearly flung his body into the clearing into disaster! Were it not for my hand upon his shoulder…
The young man spun around, lunging at me with his sword, but found nothing. It was only natural that he had reacted as such, for I have only ever rarely interacted with him physically, and wariness at this time was wise… The young man could not see my form, and yet regardless of this, I still whispered caution...
...
