Chapter 62 - The Guardian of Order
The mystical aura of the environment quickly calmed us down, which gave rise to a new question.
What was up with the ferret, thinking about it… Was it a ferret or might it have been something else entirely?
The questions kept spiralling as I didn't have the answers to them at all…
For now, we decided to just keep moving forward, towards the alter.
The system reacted to the alter mentioning ways for us to gain strength,
but the peculiar thing about it was the fact that even the system couldn't tell me what needed to be done for us to utilize this mysterious power. I almost broke my brain over it trying to find a way to use it. There was a text encrypted onto the platform in front of us which read;
"For those who enter, a trail await… A trail to determine those worthy to be in the presence of "kings". A trail was created to find those strong enough to question the authority of the rulers of these lands. Do you find yourself worthy to challenge these ancient beasts? Then enter at your own risk…"
Reading the encrypted message didn't make much sense. What was this about a trail of the kings?
Was this alter for those who questioned their reign? To have a fighting chance against those at the top? Nothing made sense to me… I figured all we could do was give it our all,
but then this trial could prove to be lethal which was a major important factor for survival.
I turned around for a moment to discuss the findings with Blacky when suddenly a voice rose from the depths of silence.
"Welcome to my sanctuary, a place only us "kings" may enter…"
Not knowing who or what was with us thinking only the ferret had entered with us Blacky and I froze in place. Were there others besides the three of us? No… That couldn't be, right? Then…
That would mean…
Not being able to look behind us, the only thing we were certain of was the fact that we weren't alone. Whatever was behind us even spoke to us. Within moments the voice who had broken the silence quieted down. Something moved in the shadows which we weren't able to see…
Finally, I broke out of my fear and looked behind me, but there was nothing…
Nothing but the depths of the cave we had entered shortly.
Confused I turned around to find that what had been behind us all this time now had moved in front of us, without as much as making a sound… The majestic animal kneeled before us to take a closer look. Its eyes were glowing a bright golden aura. And its fur was white as snow. A wave of warmth could be felt coming from the beast. Unaware of who it was we kept gazing at it in awe.
Its size towered over that of us, with it easily being twenty times larger than us.
Its fur kept waving left and right almost as if it was underwater. Its face was sharp almost shaped like that of a fox, yet fluffy as its fur kept floating like the rest.
I observed the animal, slowly going down its neck I recognized something.
I recognized the beads which were hanging around its neck.
The same beats that had appeared around the ferret's neck at the moment it had opened the wall for us. But could it be?
"Majestic aren't I? I usually don't show myself to others you know, you little ones should be honoured really."
"Mister Ferret, is that you?" I asked certain of who we were talking to.
The majestic beast reacted surprised.
"Mister? Haha, you think I am a man young?! No, no, no. I am a woman through and through!
But yes, you are correct, I am the ferret who had been protecting you all this time…"
"Thank you very much, ma'am. Thanks to you helping me out I was able to make some new friends,
even if those had been fighting you blindly in the beginning, trying to protect their young against potential predators."
The majestic being glared at the small black and white badger, which had taken her whole family with her to protect. Blacky didn't know what to say or how to react. She knew it was wrong to attack those out cold, but at the same time what she did was to protect her own, which should be seen as something good.
After sizing out the badger the majestic being smiled and moved on with whatever needed to be done.
"All is forgiven, I would have done the same to protect those dear to me.
But maybe try to not get blinded next time, al thought… That must have had its reasons too, hasn't it?"
Blacky looked away, hiding her broken heart from the both of us.
The majestic being immediately curled around her knowing it wasn't wise of her to open old wounds. Giving her comfort.
"You don't have to talk about it if it's a too hard young one, but healing can only start once you've let it all out. Don't mind your composure, it is important to let go of your anger and sadness alike, not to mention the frustration you must have felt during all this time…"
Almost immediately Blacky broke down in tears…
Knowing she fought so hard to protect her young there must have been more behind it,
yet I never dared to ask about it…
"It must have been hard, losing your loved one… Not to mention seeing it happen in front of your eyes… Your husband would be proud of you, let it all out young one…"
When the majestic being told her all that I realized why Blacky had been pent up so much…
She had seen her husband, the father of the children slaughtered in front of her eyes as he too must have tried to protect their young ones.
I was a fool for not realizing this sooner during our battles…
All that blind savagery was pent-up frustration towards the death of her husband…
I couldn't do much for her, other than trying to protect them as she had become my important friend. Blacky had started to calm down, finally finding a way to let go of all her pent-up frustrations. She did look calmer than she did moments ago.
"Now that, that is taken care of. I would like to ask if there might be things you wish to ask me before we proceed with the following."
We thought hard for a moment but didn't seem to think of any questions when one suddenly popped up in my head as I was curious to find out why it was the majestic being that had decided to protect me.
"I have a question; Why is it that you protected me with all you might?"
"That is an easy one young one, for you see you are not the only one blessed with the vision of the gods. The vision might be experienced as that of a "system". Not only that but as the gods have these abilities so do all other creatures within this world. Allowing them to adapt and evolve according to their will.
The peculiar thing about you is that while most do have the same ability as you,
they don't possess the free will you have. Allowing you to be adepts on the fly and making your own choices. To go into deeper detail about why I was protecting you, that might be because of your special title.
The Dungeon in and of its right consists of five area's each ruled by a different "King" or "Queen" for that matter. Kings tend to do a good job keeping their areas in check, but sometimes they roam around and venture to other area's breaking the order of the ecosystem provided by those in charge of them.
As for your question, you now have your answer. Might there be other things you wish to ask me before we continue our task ahead? I'll allow two more questions. Seeing how you are the messenger of the gods I might already know one of your questions. Haha."
With these answers, only more questions came to mind. Having two more left I decided to make the most of it and ask the most obvious one of all while asking the third question together with the second one.
"Why is it I was chosen as the messenger of gods? Thinking this might have huge consequences I also would like to ask who these gods might be seeing how this will light up a lot of the questions I have"
The Majestic Being laughed in a high and mighty way lowering itself towards me with an amused look on her face. Thinking she had only one tail quickly showed to be false as multiple tales were now twirling in the air. She answered with an amused tone;
"I knew they had chosen the right one, asking the important question right from the start.
Allow me to tell you about them then young one…"