Just a Dream?

"Did you hear me who are you, and why is your soul so dark?"

Alexander looked down at his body and noticed it was not his regular body but a shadowy form in his place.

'My soul?'

"I don't know where I am at, and what do you mean by my soul?" Alexander asked the young lady in front of him who he noticed had no face, but was also just the outline of a person.

"Answer me first, who are you?" Said the white and gold shadowy figure now standing in front of him that outlined the figure of a young woman.

'You can trust her she is like you.' Aether suddenly spoke out while Alexander was thinking about their words.

"My name is Alex. As for my soul that has to do with my soul partner. Now, who are you?"

"You can call me Ira. Now tell me how you got here or I will be forced to kill you."

'Kill me? I thought she was like me?'

"Why do you need to kill me where are we? I had just fallen to sleep then appeared here."

"Bring him to see me." Voice echoed through the dense forest ahead pushing leaves from their branches and into the wind as the voice passed.

"As you wish. Well, I need you to follow me now." Ira's shadow started walking away in the direction she had come from.

"So where are we? Also, do you know why we are here?"

"Do you ever be quiet or are you going to annoy me the rest of the way there. Your questions will be answered when we get there."

Alexander shut his mouth after hearing those words and began just following the figure in front of him. As they walked further through the forest Alexander noticed the large tree he had noticed before only saw it grow as he walked deeper into the forest.

"Are we going to that big tree?"

"Big tree huh that's funny, so you have no idea where we are at. We are almost there so stay quiet."

'Isn't that what I said before? Why doesn't she just answer me?'

After walking for 10 more minutes through the forest the trees surrounding the two began to shift out of their way allowing them to pass deeper inside. As the pair of shadowy figures arrived before the massive tree that reminded Alexander of skyscrapers from his last life stared in awe of the beautiful aura the tree emitted.

"Welcome! I have not seen you in centuries old friend." The voice seemingly coming from the entire forest sweeping through the air like a morning breeze.

"Old friend? Can this boy be like me?" The white and gold figure thought to themselves.

"It has been a long time and I am rather surprised you chose a human of all the races to merge with. This is good though, isn't it? Cerberus!" The large tree began to move slowly seeming to open up allowing for a green wisp to fly out of the bark.

"Cerberus? The mythical creature Cerberus who is of equal standing as my Starry White Huntsmen." Ira thought to herself thinking of the green wisp's words.

"Young man has Cerberus explained to you your role in this world?"

"Yes, he has about being a guardian." Alexander replied to the floating wisp that was now floating around his body seeming to be expecting his body.

"Good this will be much easier then. You are now my guardian of death as I am the cycle of life also known as the Tree of Life. You were also curious about this place that we are in, correct? Well, we are currently in a dream world of sorts. Only your souls are here in this world where I reside, so I can call for you to see me when something happens in the world. You can also visit here on your own but you will have to get better at separating your soul from your body and finding your way here."

"Why would I want to come back here?" Alexander had a confused look on his face as he did not understand why he would have to be there if it is just a fake world.

"Don't you feel the aura from this place? It will help your soul power grow to allow you to keep merging with your partner. Allowing your abilities to get stronger aiding you as being one of the guardians of life. I called for you both here today so you can meet this is the first time we have ever had a guardian for death. I will get going as I cannot be out of the tree for long, so both of you should get to know each other." The green wisp slowly floating away as the wind carried him back into the large tree.

"So, you are a guardian huh. How old are you and where do you live?" Ira asked watching the green wisp return to his home.

"I am 6 years old and currently live in the Galdos Kingdom. What about you?"

"That isn't important. What abilities do you have and do you know what rank you are already?"

"Are you a little princess?" Alexander said jokingly to the overly assertive young woman in front of himself.

"How did you know?" Ari stood utter confused as you could not see a person's face in this soul world only their figure outline and aura coming from their soul.

"Huh, you are a princess?" If Ari was able to see Alexander's face, she would see his mouth touching the floor right now as he said those words in shock.

"You didn't kn... No of course I am not an actual princess I am just messing with you idiot. Anyways, so how did you get Cerberus to choose you. The demon race has been trying to merge with that creature for centuries but could never get them to budge." Ira asked trying to change the conversation.

"I don't know why they chose me. I am just lucky I guess."

'You could say your luck is out of this world.' Hades gave a mental wink in their shared mind.

'That was a good one Hades.' Ares butted in laughing at the horrible attempt at a joke.

Alexander mentally cringed at the joke he had just heard returning to his conversation.

"Well, I am the guardian of creation. My soul partner is the Stary Night Huntsmen who gives me some healing abilities and the ability to talk to plants. Now tell me about yours."

'Do not tell her about our hold over space. Only tell her about your increased strength and control over darkness even the Huntsmen does not know we have control over space. I also believe she is withholding her true ability as well.' Aether advised Alexander before he could respond to Ari.

"Cerberus gives me increased strength and control over some darkness abilities. Also, what type of creature is your Huntsmen?"

"Huntsmen is a mythical Elk much like your Cerberus who is also a mythical creature."

"Aren't all of the Elk creatures situated in the Elvish forests? Does that mean you are an elf?"

"You know a good amount about creatures. That is correct I am an elf is that a problem?"

"No, I have only met one elf before and she was beautiful. So, I don't think anything of them besides they have beautiful women."

If Alexander could see Ira's face, he would see it slowly turning red.

"Is that all you care about is how beautiful someone is? What if I am ugly all over what then?"

"What do you mean what then I am not interested in you you're 6 years old. Also, you are kind of annoying."

"Wait what do you mean annoying and aren't you also 6 years old?"

"You tried to kill me when we first met and then called me an idiot not so long ago now. Also, I guess I am but you act like a child."

"You act like a child. Ha, try figuring out how to get out of this world now without me."

'Wait what? That wisp never told me how to leave only how to get here. I just thought it was like a timer kind of thing where I would leave eventually. So, why would she say I have to leave on my own?' Alexander thought to himself now seriously regretting his big mouth.

"I am sorry for what I said so can you tell me how to leave this place?"

"Do you mean it?"

"Yes of course I do."

'No, I don't you have only been rude to me.'

"Okay, all you have to do is close your eyes and focus your soul on your tattoo then fall backward. This will allow your soul to return to your main body waking you up."

"Okay, thanks."

Alexander closed his eyes focusing his soul on his chest then falling backward.

*Thump*

"Hahahaha. That's what you get for calling me annoying now we are even. Just press your hand against your tattoo then you can leave. Nice talking to you can't wait to see you again." Ira said as her hand touched her shoulder having her disappear from the world.

"That dam girl." Alexander said as he laid on the floor moving his hand to his chest causing his eyesight to go dark.

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Meanwhile Inside the Tree of Life

"This is the first time both the guardians are so young. What is the world preparing them for? Is something big going to happen in the upcoming years that will affect the whole world? I need to keep watch over them."

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On a kitchen table

'Was all of that real?' Alexander thought to himself waking up back on the kitchen table he had fallen to sleep on.

'Yes, it was all real and you should go back as much as you can so we can increase your soul power. This way you can use more of our power and you will have a better time defending yourself in the future. I think it will be best only to visit that world while you're sleeping as your body will get to rest while your soul trains.' Aether answered the confused Alexander.

'I think that is for the best as well. It would be weird for me to train there during the day as it would leave my body passed out somewhere. That may scare whoever is around me as they will no longer be able to feel a soul in my body.'

Alexander stood up from his chair walking over to the sleeping Captain who was also passed out on the table.

"Father wake up, so we can go lay down." Alexander called out to the Captain shaking him awake trying to carry him.

"Ah yes let us go you will need all the sleep you can get for your training tomorrow." A drowsy Captain Collins slowly walks to his room with the help of Alexander.

'Why do I need lots of sleep... oh I forgot the Old Man is going to try and kill me with his training starting tomorrow.' Alexander thought to himself all of a sudden not excited for his new training in the afternoon.

.

. Next Afternoon

.

In a certain Old Man's courtyard

"So, today we will have a little spar to figure out what abilities you have and how strong they are."