The Guardian Chapter 4 Learning the Truth

It had been five years since Alexander and Leo had their encounter with the Cthulhu and thirteen years since the Beast Masters and their living dead army, known as Jikininki, killed his parents and decimated his hometown of Tranquility. Since Draco the Dragon had rescued him from a pack of hungry Dire wolves and brought him to the Citadel to live, he had grown from a five-year-old child to an eighteen-year-old on the verge of adulthood. He had studied hard and mastered every challenge Actus and the other elders had presented. Now, he was through with all the double talk, the evasive tactics, the “You’ll be told when you're older

” answers. Finally, it was his eighteenth birthday, and he wanted the truth.

“Happy Birthday, my friend,” said a familiar baritone voice from deep within his mind. I imagine you must be excited to complete the transition ceremony from boy to man.”

“Thank you, Draco! I’ll tell you what I’m really looking forward to is finally getting straight, honest answers to all my questions about the Beast Masters and the Jikininki. As good as these people have been to me, I get the feeling they’re hiding important information. Facts I need to know so I can plan my future. You understand, don’t you, Draco?”

“Yes, I understand, but please promise me that once you learn the truths you have been searching for, you will remember your lessons and use your mind to work through each item logically and compassionately. That is the only way you will come to a true and just resolution.”

“I’ve never heard you sound so worried, Draco. Will this information change me, change my relationship with you and those here at the Citadel?”

“It will if you choose to let it. If you react on impulse instead of looking at each situation and strive to understand why those involved reacted the way they did. It won’t be easy, but you must make an honest attempt.”

“I can only promise that I will keep an open mind. Everyone here has treated me like I was part of their family, and you saved my life more than once. I’m sure that counts for more than anything that has happened in the past.”

“I can ask nothing more from you, Alexander. Go now and join your friends. They have quite the birthday celebration prepared for you.”

Draco was not exaggerating about the party the Citadel residents had arranged for him. His best friend Leo guided him from birthday event to birthday event. Each table offered games, presents, and a wide variety of food. Alexander was overwhelmed by the feelings of warmth and good cheer the residents demonstrated. This may not be the town of his birth, but it was the best replacement an orphan like him could ask for. Still, even though he was surrounded by good cheer, it was impossible to shake the troubling questions that had been eating away at his subconscious mind ever since arriving at the Citadel.

Finally, it was time for the meeting Alexander had both waited for and dreaded for the last thirteen years. Leo approached him and delivered a special message from the elders that his presence was requested in the great hall. The boy in him stood frozen in place, but the man he had just become broke free of the fear and strode confidently into the hall.

Four men sat in large, decorative chairs. They were dressed in ornate robes, and each wore unusual headgear. It took a great deal of effort not to laugh. Three of the men were his teachers, Actos, Lonnie, and Leandros, but he had never seen them dressed in such lavish costumes before today. The fourth man was a mystery to Alexander, but it was clear by the way the others acted towards him that this stranger was the one in charge. Actos looked toward the stranger, and he nodded for Actos to begin.

“Alexander, we are here to congratulate you on reaching your eighteenth birthday and officially welcome you as an adult member to the Citadel community. It is your right to ask us any questions you may have about our society and how we came into existence.”

“Actos, I have the same questions today as I did the day Draco left me here, but because the gentleman in the black robe and I have never met, I’ll ask them once again. How did the Jikininki come into existence? Where did the Beast Masters come from, and why does the Citadel continue to stand when every other village and town on the planet has fallen under their reign of terror?”

Actos leaned forward in his chair to respond, but the stranger waved him off and stood instead to answer Alexander’s questions.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Cronos, and I am the leader of the Citadel. You ask very specific questions, so I will do my best to give you direct answers. The original Jikininki came from a planet that exists in a parallel universe. The Beast Masters were once members of the Citadel who violated our laws concerning interdimensional travel and brought several Jikininki into this dimension. Once here, these renegades used these other- dimensional creatures to build an army of the soulless. We alone have remained untouched by the ravaging horde because of our mental and magical powers. Unfortunately, these powers are only strong enough to protect the Citadel. Have I answered your questions?”

“You have answered some, but left me with many new ones, the biggest of which is, how do I defeat them?”