• Prologue


    "Sire! Sire!" The doors slammed open as the runner quickly moved from the doorway to the middle of the large meeting hall. He bent at the waist, lowing himself to a kneel as his calves and thighs burned, beside him a creature emerged from the darkness, its eyes a deep shade of rich green, its fur a strange shade of burnt orange while black speckles ran ramped across its feline body. It, too, made a tired bow before sitting up, unlike its owner who stayed in his respectful position. "Sire! I am sorry for interrupting this highly important meeting of the Guardians, but-"

    "This better be important, boy," a man’s deep and ill-tempered voice rattled the room, making it obvious that he didn't want to be disturbed, as did the rest of the room as they shifted, uneasy that their meeting had been interrupted in such a disrespectful manner. "Or, so help me, I'll lock you in a cage so far beneath the ground that not even your Knight will know where you are." He growled, his cloak masking his annoyed stare, yet curious of what sent the normally well mannered servant into frenzy.

    "It's Them, sire," the servant shook under the weight of the threat. His voice cracked as he looked up. "They've gone missing."

    The man stood quickly, the animal beside him came from under the table, growling loudly as he stepped forward, his eyes glowing a bright red. His nostrils flared as he walked toward the man. "You said what?"

    "The two are gone," the servant shook wildly, his animal companion stood, lowing his head as the wolf emerged beside the man who was once sitting. "One of the newer recruits was on watch, when I went to check on him, as you asked, he wasn't there. He must've taken the Two and fled."

    "He must have been a rebel," the older man growled lowly. The wolf stood tall, glaring at the jungle cat. "I thought I told you to do background checks on everyone in this building!" He shouted.

    "I did, Sire!" The servant pleaded as the wolf drew near to his Knight. The jungle cat took a step back, his fur prickling as the wolf bore his teeth, the cat beginning to show his enchantment as a pair of burnt orange fairy wings that had been hidden against its slender body spread nervously, ready for flight. "I promise I did!"

    "Well, apparently you did not do a good job of it," the man growled, turning and snapping his fingers. The wolf jumped forward, his dark leather wings snapping out and catching the cheetah in mid-flight. The jungle cat screamed in agony, but it was soon cut off by the jaws of the wolf. The man, in turn, shrieked in both pain and shock.

    "Please, Sire!" He shouted. "Don't punish him for my idiousy! I'm the one who didn't properly check the records!"

    The man turned slightly, his smirk catching the light as he face stay hidden from the servant. "Who says you're not going to be punished?" He asked.

    The wolf turned onto the man, smirking before he jumped toward him, fangs bearing down. The older man shuffled back to his chair as the servants’ screams filled the hall for only a moment before a sickening crack echoed in the darkness.

    "They're gone," he sighed loudly, looking toward the head of the table. His gaze barely met the man at the head of the table.

    "This is," he paused, his accent thick, but his voice light though the situation was troubling, "interesting," he smirked.

    "Sire?" The man looked shocked.

    "Hear me out," he stood, smiling lightly. "For years we, the Guardians, have protected the world from the tyranny that was before us, the High Rule of the King of Rosario, such a horrible ruler he was, stealing for everyone and holding down the world under his thumb," he smiled as a small laugh echoed through the hall. "And we have destroyed the royals that held such a high place over us, either they stepped down or they're whole family was taken care of. In the end, we rose to prune the wonderful flowers that are in this garden, and we shall continue."

    "Sire," a woman closer to the middle of the long table stood. "I'm sorry to question your motives, but how do They getting out have anything to do with our rise?"

    He laughed lightly, though the sound made chills run across everyone's skin. "The High family, you remember?"

    "Yes, Sire," The woman looked down. "We executed the king and queen publicly."

    "What we didn't know," the man looked around the table, "was that they had children."

    A low murmur came across the table; the people looked up and down the table in wait.

    "They were waiting til their eldest sons 18th birthday to announce their kin," the man whispered. "He was around 13 when we rose to greatness. Since his birth, they had several other children. We only executed the High King and Queen, meaning,"

    "There are still High Royals out there," the man whispered, looking at him. "High Royals with the power to bring down the Guardians and restore the High Monarchy. That's why They were born. Who would They be headed to? Is there a chance there is yet to be one who receives a Knight?"

    He smirked. "There's only one way to find out," he sat back, behind him a massive creature lifted its head, smoke forming around him. "Who's up for a game of hide and seek, winner gets to rule the world."