Chapter 20: The World Guardian Arrives

Veronica prepared to depart the Mek-Tek headquarters one evening. She had sent Lila and Mindy away earlier, volunteering to stay and finish everything up. She was slightly annoyed at how everyone had been acting towards her recently. Everyone seemed so shocked that she was being nicer. It was true that she found them all rather annoying, but she wasn't heartless. Alexander Bellmont's sudden disappearance had impacted all of them—Lila, Robert, and Megan. Only Mindy had never met him before. She and Alexander were by no means friends, but he was a familiar face, a fixture in her everyday life that was comforting in its own way.

As she was about to leave, she saw Robert and Megan come into the lobby. Robert seemed to be doing his best to keep Megan happy. She had been in the office sparingly the last several weeks; the thought of losing Alexander, who was like her little brother, crushed her. Robert did his best to keep up the facade, but Veronica knew that deep down he wasn't alright either.

Veronica hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit of empathy. She thought that maybe she should try and cheer them up, that maybe it was the least she could do. She let out an exhausted sigh and approached them. "Hey, you two want to go out for dinner?"

Robert appeared genuinely shocked. "You want to take us out for dinner?"

Megan stared at her, touched by her kindness. "Why would you do that?"

Veronica tried to play it off and act cool. "All this moping around is starting to drag down the atmosphere." She realized that it was probably rude to say that. After pausing for a moment, her face flushed. "I-I just want to try and help."

Tears formed in Megan's eyes. "Thank you, Veronica."

The sight of Megan's emotions stirred something in Veronica. She wasn't sure what it was, but she thought it was nice. She wondered if this was what it might be like to have friends, to help people.

"I know a place not far away," Veronica said.

They stepped out of the office and the cool evening air hit Veronica's face as she took the lead. They walked the streets of Pendragon City, the evening life in full effect. People were out everywhere, visiting various stores and restaurants or just heading home from a busy day at the office. Veronica felt awkward; she had never done anything with anyone outside of work. She didn't really know what to talk to about with Robert and Megan.

They made it a few blocks away from Mek-Tek, and Veronica told them, "The restaurant I know is nearby."

Suddenly, they heard the screeching of tires around the corner, followed by the shattering of glass and the horrible sound of metal crushing and twisting. Screams rang out, and they saw people frantically running from around the buildings in a fit of chaotic terror, followed by the sounds of terrible shrieks.

Veronica didn't understand what was going on. Herr curiosity got the better of her. She peeked around the corner and saw dozens of winged humanoids smashing cars and attacking people. She watched as one of the creatures lifted a man into the air by his neck. He pleaded for his life as the creature sank its teeth into his neck. Her eyes widened and she clenched her fists.

Those who managed to avoid being grabbed by the creatures cried out in horror. They desperately ran, yelling for everyone to get away as more of these creatures descended from the sky and attacked. They began crashing through the windows of the buildings, taking people from inside. Veronica watched, something stirring within her. Her fists clenched tighter, nearly drawing blood from her hands.

Robert yelled from behind her, "What's happening?"

She turned to him and Megan. "Run! We need to get out of here!" She pushed them in the other direction, following closely behind. They didn't make it far before more creatures landed in front of them, cutting them off.

Veronica jumped in front of Robert and Megan, sweat running down her face, but she wasn't scared. "Stay behind me!" she told them.

Robert yelled out, "What the hell are those things?! And what are you gonna do?!"

A creature lunged at them, but before it reached them, someone tackled it out of midair.

The creature and a blonde woman clad in white armor crashed into the ground with a sickening thud. The woman drew a sword and plunged it into the creature's chest, causing it to let out a shriek of pain that grew weak as its body went limp.

The evening sky came alive as a blaze burned across, engulfing many of the creatures in the air. Their charred remains dropped to the ground. Veronica saw another blonde woman, this one dressed in dark-colored robes, gently weaving her hands through the air in front of her as intricate red patterns seemed to appear from nowhere. More flames sprang to life from these patterns, and Veronica questioned what she was seeing.

The creatures on the ground screamed out, but Veronica couldn't tell if it was a scream of fear, anger, or something else.

Several of the creatures charged at them and a group of fleeing citizens that had gathered next to them. A man dropped down in front of them, dressed in the same dark robes as one of the women, His black hair and red cloak gently blew in the wind behind him. The man raised his hands in front of him, and a glowing wall of light formed. The creatures smashed into the wall with tremendous force, yet it held steady.

The creatures backed away, shaken from the impact. Some of them looked at the man who created the wall of light and let out a terrifying hiss laced with vitriol and hatred.

The man quickly turned to face the crowd. With sweat collecting on his forehead, he nervously yelled, "Don't worry! We're here to help!"

Veronica wondered how he could say something like that while appearing so visibly shaken himself.

Veronica noticed his purple eyes and realized he looked quite familiar. She didn't quite believe it was possible, but she couldn't deny what was in front of her. The man was none other than Alexander Bellmont.

He looked over the crowd for a moment, his gaze pausing on her, Robert, and Megan. He stood frozen, like a deer staring into the headlights as a car hurtled towards it. After a moment, the look on his face turned to one of relief. Amidst the chaos, Veronica could hear Robert quietly say his name. "Alexander…"

Alexander continued staring at them, tears beginning to form in his eyes. The wall of light behind him vanished, and one of the creatures rushed at him, screeching his name, "Bellmont!"

The woman in armor intercepted the creature, flattening it into the ground with her shield before driving her sword through its back. The creature let out a pitiful scream in its dying breath.

The woman pointedly told him, "Lord Bellmont, stay focused!"

A look of determination filled his eyes, and he snapped back around in the other direction. A glowing light appeared on his left hand and elongated, taking the form of a glowing blade. A white pattern formed in front of his right hand, and he thrust it forward toward the creatures. A violent gust of wind blew through the crowd; Veronica saw several blades materialize that seemed to be made of the air itself. The blades swiftly sliced through dozens of the creatures, cutting them to pieces. Veronica watched in disbelief as the dismembered bodies fell lifelessly to the ground. Many in the crowd audibly echoed her thoughts.

The remaining creatures began to run away, fear etched in their glowing red eyes. Alexander chased after them, widely sweeping his left arm in front of him, causing the blade of light to dice up more of the creatures. The few creatures that made it back into the sky were caught in a sea of flames. Veronica looked to the woman in robes and saw her weaving her hands in the air again, a larger red pattern in front of her.

The woman in armor placed her hand on Alexander's shoulder. "You did well."

The woman in robes ran up and echoed, "Yes, you did great, Lord Bellmont!"

Veronica wondered who these women were and what exactly it was that Alexander had become.

The crowd stood in awe for a moment, many muttering under their breaths about what had just transpired. Many questioned who these three were. Some wondered if they were going to attack just as the creatures had.

Alexander seemed to notice the uncertainty in the crowd. Nudged forward by the woman in armor, he approached the crowd. "My name is Alexander Bellmont," he announced nervously. "I understand that everyone is shaken up, confused, and scared. But I promise you, we're here to help!"

The crowd seemed unsure at first of how to react, causing Alexander's expression to morph into one of concern. After a moment, a woman standing behind Veronica called out, "They saved us all!"

Veronica turned to see that it was Megan, tears rolled down her face. A man across the street called out next, echoing her message. Then another, and another, and another.

After a few moments, the crowd began to disperse as first responders arrived on the scene, trying to understand the extent of what had happened.

Veronica looked to Robert, who was frozen. Seeing Alexander alive had left him speechless and in shock. Megan, still crying, walked past the two of them, straight toward Alexander. Veronica called to her, "Megan, wait!" but she was ignored. Alexander saw her coming, and tears formed in his own eyes.

Megan suddenly slapped Alexander across the face, the sound ringing throughout the street. Everyone stood in stunned silence, the shock of it hanging heavily in the air…