Guardians Book 2, Ch2: A Voice of Dissent

Read All of Book 2: Here

Bao pulled the straps of the miniature crossbow tight around his wrist. The bolts surrounding the leather strap were designed to reload themselves, so they were ready at a moment’s notice. The Yellow Guardian took aim at a training dummy that he had moved to his workshop and pressed the trigger on his palm. The device deposited a bolt into the crossbow, and the string began to draw back. Bao waited for the click that would lock the bolt in place. If all goes right, a quick tap of the trigger would then send the bolt flying.

The string wasn’t stopping, just being continually pulled back. Bao watched as the metal began tearing out of place and the string began to fray.

No, No, No… He thought, reaching for the buckle that would release the crossbow from his wrist, but before he could. The metal bent upwards, and the bolt went careening into the floor as the string snapped. The bowstring whipped Bao in the arm, drawing blood, as the bent metal cut against the leather strap.

Bao took off the broken crossbow and opened a drawer on his desk. Taking out a few bandages, he began tending to his wounds.

You’re never going to get that working.

The thought rang through his head before he could stop it. Bao shook his head, trying to dispel the thought, but it was joined by a flood of others.

If you had any talent whatsoever, you would have had that working before the night at the warehouse. Then you probably wouldn’t have gotten captured by that shadow Idemoni, and the others would have been able to capture Legion instead of needing to help you.

“It’s not my fault I got grabbed. It could have happened to anyone.” Bao tried to reason.

But Warinot would have used his sword, Fremont would have used his fists, or Esmun would have used one of the dozen potions he has at the ready. What did you use?

“That’s not fair,” Bao started.

It’s also not fair that a talentless Imbicile got into the Guardians, is it? There are hundreds of people in Archana, Hundreds of people in Areotheil even, with a more competent ability to be the Great and Mighty Yellow Guardian, but here you are. Offering absolutely nothing to the rest of the Guardians, only being a burden.

“Shut UP!!” Bao yelled, clutching his head.

A knock came from the door. Bao looked up, and Tentavly called out.

“Hello?”

“It’s Esmun. You ok in there?” the voice on the other side of the door responded.

Bao Sighed. He should have figured Esmun was in his Brewery. The boy had been training or working on his elixirs for weeks. Barely anyone besides Mphu Lonix had seen him. Esmun’s Brewery was next to the workshop, so any screaming would probably be heard.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Esmun, sorry about that,” Bao said. The door swung open, and the Blue Guardian walked in. eyes scanning the workshop, he looked down at the broken crossbow on the floor.

“more problems?” he asked.

He’s judging you

“yeah, something kept the mechanism pulling the bolt back until it broke. I need to do some more tinkering with it.” Bao said.

Esmun stared at him with tired eyes.

“That’s too bad,” Esmun said.

He’s wondering why you’re a Guardian

Bao shrugged.

“It is what it is. You pick yourself up and keep working on it,” he said.

What a stupid analogy

“Yeah, you’re right,” Esmun said, seeming to straighten up and rub the exhaustion out of his eyes, “keep pushing forward, no matter what, right?

He feels bad for you.

“Right,” Bao said as he picked the remains of the crossbow up and put them down on his workbench.

“Speaking of pushing forward, what have you been up to these past few weeks? Nobody has seen you in weeks,” he asked.

“Training.” Esmun said with a shrug, “or working on my elixirs.”

“That’s it?” Bao asked.

What do you expect him to say?

“yeah,” Esmun responded, “pretty much. Do you want to train with me sometime?”

You need it more than anyone.

“Sure, bud,” Bao said, “If you want me to, but are you sure that’s healthy? Just training and making elixirs? You’ve also been sleeping, right? And eating?”

Esmun just shrugs.

Stop bothering him

“Well, if you are sure you’re ok.” he said, “if you ever want to talk to me, I’m here for you. Don’t take all this pressure on by yourself.”

You’re one to talk.

“Thanks.” Esmun said, “uh… I’m going to head back to my Brewery now. See you later. Good luck on the crossbow.”

“Bye,” Bao responded.

The door closed, and Bao listened as Esmun’s footsteps faded away. He picked up the remains of the crossbow off the desk and looked it over. Trying to see what had gone wrong. Picking up a screwdriver, he began disassembling it, trying to rescue as many parts as possible for the next iteration. He let his work pacify the voice in his mind, drowning it out with the drone of thoughts coming from his work.

Could it be the metal was too long?

No… maybe If I make the bowstring tighter, it won’t pull back as far.

With the critic in his head momentarily silenced, Bao threw himself back into his work. Allowing the tools in his hand to guide the thoughts in his mind once again. 

Read Book 2, Ch 3: Here