The Forgotten Guardian
In a realm far from ours stood a magnificent kingdom of Atherya. Atherya had known nothing but peace for centuries, thanks to the Guardian - a gigantic, mystical creature that shoulders the responsibility of protecting the realm and its inhabitants from the nefarious Netherbeasts.
As time slipped, the kings and queens succumbed to their mortal limits. Royal courtiers changed, fashions and technologies evolved, yet, the Guardian, frozen in time, stood strong. But with the passage of time, curiosity about this mysterious creature turned into an apprehension, and then ignorance, making the heroic figure, now referred to as 'The Forgotten Guardian'.
Our protagonist Eira, a fledgling arcana practitioner, stumbled upon ancient scripts depicting the feats of the Guardian in the depth of the Atherya archives. Intrigued by the forgotten story, she embarked on a quest to unveil the truths and bring the Guardian back the honor it was deprived of.
Her high spirits reached a stagnation when, on her journey, she encountered the formidable Brogan – a dreaded Netherbeast, one that the Guardian had vanquished centuries ago, lost in the annals of history. The encounter apprised Eira of the resurrection of the Netherbeasts, back to torment the realm once again.
Without a second thought, Eira decided to awaken the Forgotten Guardian. The ancient script had a cryptic reference to the 'Serene Vale' - the alleged residence of the Guardian. Eira, paired with Lorian, a skilled knave she befriended during her journey, made it to the Serene Vale, only to find no signs of the Guardian.
They ventured deeper into the vale, where they discovered an ethereal creature, Daegal- a fairy with a cryptic demeanor. Daegal hinted towards the Forgotten Guardian not being a separate entity, but a manifestation of the combined power of all Atheryans. The Guardian was not a mythical being; it was the strength, unity, and courage of all the inhabitants of Atherya!
Eira's heart sank for a moment, but then she rose, stronger than ever. With a renewed spirit, she traveled through the kingdom, reminding people of their forgotten power, their unity, their inherent courage needed to face the Netherbeasts. She ignited a spark in their hearts and united the kingdom under the banner of their Guardian.
When Brogan attacked with his Netherbeast army, the Atheryans did not cower. Instead, they stood firm, their collective courage and unity showing through. It was in that moment Eira realized - she, too, was a part of the Guardian. She led the army with courage, embodying the spirit of the Guardian in her fearlessness.
A clash to remember commenced, Netherbeasts on one side and Atheryans united as the Guardian on the other. With courage in their hearts and conviction in their eyes, they fought. The mighty Brogan, faced with the united front of Atheryans, fell, and the Netherbeasts retreated once again.
With their heads held high, and spirits stronger than ever, the Atheryans celebrated their victory. The tales of their Guardian and their unity filled the air once again, louder this time, coupled with newfound respect and pride. Through Eira, they understood that the Guardian was not an external entity to protect them, but the united strength within them.
Our story of the Forgotten Guardian ends on a hopeful note, reminding us of the resilience of unity and our inner strength. It reinstates, in the words of the brilliantly curious Eira, 'We do not need a Guardian to protect us, for we are the Guardian ourselves.'