Guardians Book 2, Ch3: Seeing Red

Read all of Book 2: Here

“I’m sorry, Mphu, can you say that again?” Fremont asked.

“I want you to practice your weapons combat skills.” Mphu Lonix responded. Fremont shuddered at the thought.

“D-do I have to?” he asked.

“Fremont.” Mphu Lonix responded, “you are the leader of the Guardians, defender of Archana. The red sword is your icon; it’s how people know you’re the mighty Red Guardian, don’t tell me you’re afraid to use it.”

“You know it gives me a bad feeling Mphu,” Fremont said, “whenever I hold it, it feels like something bad is going to happen.”

“I understand, Fremont, but you must overcome that fear if you want to reach your full potential as a Guardian.” Mphu Lonix responded.

Fremont sighed. Lonix was right. Of course, he needed to overcome this fear of his own weapon. The red sword hung on his belt. Grabbing it firmly by the handle, he pulled it out and gripped it in his hands.

THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!!!!

Fremont gasped and almost dropped the sword as the wave of anger and discomfort rolled through him. The sword glowed in his hands.

“Good, Fremont.” Mphu Lonix said, “can you feel the sword’s energy traveling through you?”

“Yes…” Fremont muttered, hands shaking.

HELP ME!!! A voice cried.

Fremont’s breath grew ragged.

“Mphu, I don’t want to do this,” he said.

“If you want to keep control of your weapon, you need to take command. Your sword is tuned to you, and the energy you feel should be an extension of your own.”

TRAITOR, I’LL KILL YOU!!!

“GHNN,” Fremont grunted. He moved the sword to a ready stance as Lonix placed a blue crystal on the training room’s pedestal.

Three figures appeared in front of Fremont, each carrying their own swords.

“Mphu…” Fremont said, his voice shaking slightly.

“Do not worry, Fremont,” Mphu Lonix responded, “These will be easy for you; let your sword be an extension of your body.”

Fremont ran forward to meet the enemies. One took a swing at him, but the Guardian ducked under the blow and pushed the attackers’ sword up, knocking them off balance; then, with a kick, he sent them tumbling to the ground.

“Fremont, use your sword,” Lonix said.

KILL THEM ALL

Fremont growled and took a swing at another attacker. They blocked it and pushed the Red Sword back, but Fremont kicked them in the stomach, sending them stumbling away.

“Use the sword as an extension of my body.” he muttered to himself, “let my hands do the work as the sword takes the credit.”

Hearing a noise behind him, he spins around and blocks the third attacker’s strike. Purposefully pull back his arm, so the enemy’s sword is deflected off his weapon instead of his arm guards. 

“Good, Fremont,” Lonix says.

Fremont swung back, forcing the attacker onto the defensive. The Guardian’s muscles loosened as he dodged and weaved the attacker’s weapon, countering with jabs of his sword.

“I got this.” he muttered, “I got this.

As he dodged under his attacker’s weapon, he suddenly felt something change. A wave of energy washed through him, and his vision blurred.

“what?” Fremont muttered. Suddenly a blue sword came swinging at him. Panicked, he deflected it with his armband and backed away.

The other two attackers stand up, and the three regroup as Fremont looks on in terror. Three faceless things, dressed in the Guardian’s robes, each carrying a sword.

Blue

Green

Yellow

“Mphu?!” Fremont called out. The Guardians charged him, swords held at the ready. Fremont dodged their attacks, ducking under the blue and yellow blades and sweeping the feet of the Green Guardian.

“This isn’t happening.” Fremont said, “I’m just seeing things. I can’t let this get in my way.”

The blue Guardian turned to look at Fremont. Holding up the sword, he charged at the petrified Guardian. Fremont ducked out of the way and swung his sword wildly, cutting into the attacker’s shoulder. Followed up with a stab through the chest.

Fremont looked at the face of his attacker as they slumped to the floor.

Esmun’s glassy eyes stared blankly back at him.

Fremont screamed and stumbled back. He fell backward, staring at the body, letting go of his sword.

YOU KILLED HIM

The body faded away with the other two attackers as the blue crystal turned black. Fremont’s sword clattered to the ground as he stared at it.

Mphu Lonix watched him sadly.

“You’ll get it, Fremont,” he said.

“One day, you’ll understand.”

Read Book 2, Ch 4: here!