The Guardian of Elaris

Chapter 4: The Guardian of Elaris

The Planet of Life

Far beyond the volcanic chaos of Veyndor, nestled within the Emerald Nebula, lay a world untouched by war—Elaris, the Planet of Life.

Unlike the violent landscapes of other worlds, Elaris was a sanctuary of nature's purest form. Towering trees with silver leaves stretched toward the heavens, their roots pulsing with a mystical green glow. Rivers of shimmering blue energy carved their way through vast golden meadows, nourishing the land with an unexplainable force.

The skies of Elaris were eternal twilight, painted in hues of soft violet and deep sapphire. Floating islands, cradled by invisible energies, hovered above the great forests, their waterfalls cascading down like liquid diamonds.

Here, life was sacred.

Every creature, from the smallest insect to the colossal beasts of the wild, thrived in harmony, connected by an ancient force known as the Essence of Life.

And at the heart of this paradise stood its guardian—Selene.

The Guardian's Burden

Selene was no ordinary warrior. She was the chosen protector of Elaris, a being infused with the very essence of the planet itself.

Her hair shimmered like silver moonlight, her eyes glowing an ethereal green, reflecting the boundless energy of her home. Unlike the warriors of Veyndor, her strength did not come from brute force—but from nature itself.

She could command the winds, summon the roots of the great trees, and call upon the spirits of the land to defend her world.

But despite her powers, Selene carried a heavy burden.

For centuries, she had lived in peace, watching over the balance of life. Yet, in recent years, she had sensed a change.

A darkness creeping beneath the soil.

A disturbance in the Essence of Life.

And then, one night, she saw it.

A vision—of a war beyond the stars.

The Dying Forest

Selene stood in the heart of the Sacred Grove, where the oldest tree of Elaris, the Eternal Oak, had stood for millennia. Its leaves shimmered with golden light, whispering the secrets of time itself.

But today—something was wrong.

A single branch had withered.

Selene's breath caught in her throat. In all her years, she had never seen decay touch the Eternal Oak.

She placed her hand on its bark, closing her eyes. She could feel it—an unnatural force, something alien, something... corrupting.

The Essence of Life was weakening.

She turned sharply as the earth beneath her shook.

A deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest.

Something had come.

The Corrupted Beasts

From the shadows of the trees, they emerged.

Beasts once pure, now twisted beyond recognition.

Their eyes glowed a sickly red, their bodies covered in pulsating black veins, as if something had infected them.

Selene's heart pounded.

This was no natural sickness. This was a corruption of the Essence itself.

The first beast lunged—a massive, wolf-like creature, its jaws lined with jagged, obsidian teeth.

Selene moved like the wind.

She raised her hand, and the vines of the ancient trees sprang to life, wrapping around the beast, restraining it. But even as they tightened, the creature snapped through them with unnatural strength.

Selene's eyes widened. This was no ordinary corruption.

More creatures emerged. Dozens. Their howls pierced the silence of the sacred land.

For the first time in centuries, Elaris was under attack.

The Battle for the Forest

Selene took a deep breath, feeling the Essence within her.

She raised her arms, and the very earth responded.

The ground trembled. The trees bent to her will.

Lightning crackled through the sky as she called upon the elements themselves.

She moved like a storm, weaving between the beasts, striking them down with waves of raw energy.

But the creatures—they did not die.

Even when struck, they rose again, their bodies regenerating at unnatural speed.

Selene gritted her teeth. This was not just a battle. This was a test.

And she was losing.

The Arrival of Elyon

As the beasts closed in, a sudden burst of silver light erupted across the battlefield.

The creatures staggered, their corrupted bodies trembling as if in pain.

A voice echoed through the forest.

"Enough."

Selene turned.

Standing at the edge of the battlefield was a man in flowing silver robes, his eyes shimmering with the wisdom of a thousand worlds.

Elyon.

The beasts hesitated, their corrupted forms shaking violently, before they suddenly collapsed into dust.

The energy that had twisted them vanished.

Silence fell over the forest.

Selene's breathing was heavy, her body trembling from the battle.

She turned to Elyon, her voice sharp. "Who are you? And what was this... plague?"

Elyon stepped forward, his gaze calm but firm. "I am a traveler, Selene. And I bring a warning."

He gestured to the fallen beasts.

"This is only the beginning."

The Call to Destiny

Selene felt her hands tighten into fists.

She had spent centuries protecting Elaris. She had fought countless battles, defended the balance of life itself.

But this—this was something she had never seen before.

Elyon's voice softened. "You have seen the vision, haven't you?"

Selene's breath caught.

The vision of the seven warriors.

The vision of a war beyond the stars.

She had thought it was a dream. But now—she knew it was real.

"The universe is in danger," Elyon continued. "A darkness far beyond our understanding is returning. And you, Guardian of Life, are destined to stand against it."

Selene looked around at her wounded land. At the trees that had suffered. The beasts that had fallen.

She had never left Elaris. She had never desired war.

But now, the war had come to her.

And she knew—she could not ignore it.

She took a deep breath.

"If the universe calls for a Guardian—" She lifted her staff, her eyes burning with new purpose.

"Then I will answer."

And so, the third hero was chosen.