Knights and Guardians

"That isn't normal." A knight clad in pristine iron armor said as he looked beyond the borders of the city and saw the mountainous monsters walking around while the largest one seemed to be standing still with its back to the morning sky. 

Right after was a loud roar, as if it was a large bell ringing. Every citizen could hear it, even those at the other end would think it was coming from the castle. 

"Roy, send some scouts to check out what's causing that commotion." The knight said to his underling. 

"What would you have the scouts look for exactly, Commander ?" Roy said as he watched the monster's movement. 

"Their goal is to Identify any threat that lies on the back of the Colossal Guardian, if there is none then they can return at once." 

"And if they find a threat?" 

"I want a report on who and what's there, I don't want them to engage in combat unless they have to." 

"I'll get to it, right now sir." Roy said as he started walking towards the border's tower to head downstairs. 

"I'll notify the King." The Commander held up his forearm while whistling. 

Suddenly an eagle flew to him and perched on his raised arm. "Take this to the King." He said as he placed a rolled note in the eagle's talons before it flew away. 

The Commander turned around to the city and watched as the bird flew to the castle before he climbed over the stone balustrade and dropped from the top of the 35 ft wall. 

*Thdoom!* A large crash was heard at the bottom

of the border, which kicked up a thick cloud of dust. 

"What was that?!" A citizen said in shock as he grabbed his son. 

"Is it an attack?" Another said as the dust cloud began to dissipate. 

However as the dust settled everyone walked away as the Commander was standing there unfazed by the height he fell from. . 

"You have questions?" The Commander asked as he noticed the crowd staring at him.

The citizens simultaneously shook their heads.

"Excuse me then, I must visit King Daios." The Commander said politely.

The crowd of people moved out of a way, forming a small path for him to walk through. 

Airon was still on the back of the Colossal Guardian, only just finishing his fight with the five blue monsters. He was left with lacerations all over his body, the bruises left by the blue monsters tore this skin and blood vessel. 

The monsters around had parts of their bodies melted through, as if lava was poured through them. I didn't expect to be able to control the flames like that. 

"Shit… I should've never fought them. I'm satisfied though… it's better than dying in anger." I crawled to the closest tree so I could rest on it. "I can't even feel my body, maybe if I just take a little nap, I'll be alright." I feel cold, I can't even keep my eyes… open. 

As Airon's brown eyes began to lose color as his consciousness faded. Just before the color is completely lost, he could see his memories replaying as if he was reliving his life and as he watched his life flash.

There was one memory that was as vivid as the present day. 

It took place no longer than half a decade ago. It was the start of summer and school had just ended. That day I went out with my friends because we came up with this great idea to explore the abandoned oil fields. 

Each of us told our parents that we would spend a night at the other's house for the night which was how we were able to get there in the first place. 

It went well for the most part, I can't lie it was fun. We had money to get some food after so we had no worries. 

Until later in the night when my mother called me… There were two things she told me that night. The first thing was she had figured out about the plan and wanted me home. The next thing she told me was that my brother had to go to the hospital because he started coughing up blood and nearly suffocated when he was trying to go to sleep that night. 

I don't know what happened to my friends when they got home but my mom was crying. She was worried about me after what happened to my brother, she couldn't stay with him that night so the next morning we went there. 

"Here you go Ms.Berns, Felicie is behind the curtains however you cannot open them and must keep your mask on." The nurse said as she opened the door to his hospital room. 

As I walked into that room and saw the black silhouette of my little brother through that blue and white curtain, my heart sank. We knew he was sick but this sight only tore through my soul. 

"Is that you Mom?" His voice was raspy from the coughing. 

"Y-yes, your brother is with me too." Mom's voice shuttered from the sight, she covered her mouth and diverted her eyes. 

"He is! Was-" Before he could get the words out, he started coughing again. 

"Yeah I'm here…" I got closer to the curtain to whisper something to him. "I went to the oil field last night."

"You did!" He said as tried to keep his down. 

"Yeah! It was like a big robot arm was sticking out of the ground." I held my arm up to mimic the abandoned machine at the oilfield. 

"Really!-" In his excitement, Felicie started coughing again. "…Aww that sounds so awesome." 

"Don't worry bro, when you get better I'll take you there and show you the huge robot arm. 

"When will I get better?" It sounded as if he thought he'd never get better. 

"Yeah, I promise." 

My little brother, he's a strong person with an even gentle soul. People think I'm wasting time, working for someone on their deathbed but even if my mother was to give up on him. I will never, even if our promise was small to others, it may be the only thing he's holding onto before it gets too heavy to hold. Before his will to live slips through his hands. 

"I can not die here, I have to continue to live no matter what. No matter the damage, it doesn't compare to what Felicie feels." I thought as I felt warmth coming to my body. "I need to cauterize my wounds, but I can't see my body or anything. It's hard to even open my eyes. I can't give up here, I can't die." 

Airon was barely breathing as a group of vultures landed and started picking at the flesh of the dead monsters. Three of them walked towards Airon, looking down at his body, trying to figure out if he was still alive. As one of them got closer to his head, a surge of mana suddenly coated his body. The surge scared them into running back towards the monsters as they didn't have any mana flowing in their body. "Beloved Guardian of the flames, hear me-" 

Nearly 7 hours had passed and the recon group had already left the capital city. They are now closing in on the Colossal Guardian. Evading the enormous limbs of the Goliath Guardians on horseback, wearing light armor which was able to camouflage perfectly with the environment. 

As they reached the 30 meter point, four green magic circles appeared around every recon soldier, then wings spontaneously sprouted out of the sides and ankles of the horses allowing the recon group to reach the top of the colossal by flight.

However after they passed the Colossal Guardian's knee and reached the halfway point of its height.

"Do you feel that?" The Recon Captain said as his eyes jotted around. "There's some fire magicules." 

"Just a little, It seems me and you are the only ones who can notice this." The second in command said as he looked at the soldiers behind them, who had confused looks on their faces.

"Be on guard…" Although The captain seemed to be staring at the air, he was actually analyzing the magicules around. "Drink the flames elixir, All of you! Now!" He said before he pulled out a flask with an orange liquid that was ethereally glowing. 

The soldiers pulled out a flask very similar to his and they all drank the same elixir which began to cover them in a red aura. 

"What's happening?" One of the soldiers asked. 

"Stay on guard, one of the monsters might've evolved." He said as they continued to fly up towards the back of the Colossal Guardian. 

"Sir!" The soldiers all shouted without question. 

Nearly 7 minutes it took them to reach the top, the flow of flame magicules in the area grew exponentially which made the soldiers even more tense however. Seeming as if the flame magicules devoured all of the mana in the area. 

"You can see them, can't you? There are enough magicules in the air to match the Colossal." The captain said as they continued to hover over the Guardian. 

"Sir, look at the trees. Their trembling." The second in command said. 

"What the -" Suddenly the Colossal Guardian began to roar. Much louder and aggressive then earlier, bringing the horses to the ground through the sheer fear instilled in the Colossal's voice. 

The soldiers landed on the Colossal guardian's back, overwhelmed by the vicious trembling and the explosive sound of the roaring. Only the captain was able to realize the absorption of the flame magicule before a bright red flash appeared from the center of the forest. 

The roaring intensified. 

From the flash, a Phoenix emerged with a golden beak and wings that could wrap around a country, its entire body made purely of red flames. The bird floated above Airon. 

"Become mine and embrace me in your wings, Custos Flammae." He finished the incantation, turning the red flames to a bright green, and its beak emerald, it perched itself on his body, burning away the forest.