Unseen Guardians
In the bustling city of Vanrovia, where towering skyscrapers touch the skies and technology does all but breath for the citizens, a world different from our normal life exists in parallel. A world inhabited by ethereal beings known as the 'Guardians' who lived hidden in plain sight. They were responsible for maintaining the balance between the natural and the human-made world, two forces that we humans indeed could not manage.
Emma, a brilliant yet humble AI researcher, lived alone in her apartment. Irony dawned upon her in the form of unfamiliarity with technology that co-existed with the people of Vanrovia. The world saw her as an eccentric yet charming individual, blind to the machinery around her. She owned a cat, Whiskers, who was as equally aloof to the machines as her. Unbeknownst to them, they were under the protection of a guardian, Orion.
Orion was one of the strongest guardians assigned to look after those who were ‘unadjusted and unaligned.’ He was an old soul, carrying tales of the ancient world and wisdom beyond imaginable. His appearance was nothing short of majestic, with a cloak the color of twilight embedding sparkling stars.
One cold night, a distress call echoed in the guardian realm due to an imbalance in Vanrovia. The guardians hurried to the council hall. Their leader, Elder Ignis whom Orion respected and admired, informed them of a machine created by the governing council of humans claiming it to be for the 'greater good.' But in turn, it was disrupting the natural energies leading to an imbalance. The machine named 'Syntheticon' was causing the energies of technology to oppress those of nature. The council knew the catastrophic ramifications of such an imbalance.
Upon hearing this, Orion felt a shiver run down his spine imagining the impact on Emma. His sense of duty amplified with added protection for those who couldn't protect themselves. The council, after days of heated discussions and strategic planning, decided to plant guardians in strategic places to minimize the machine impact. Orion, being crucial to the mission, had to stay at ground zero, exposing him to the harsh effects of the Syntheticon.
As days passed, symptoms of the imbalance started to show. Across the city, technology started acting bizarrely, affecting everyone, especially the 'unadjusted'. Emma, amidst the chaos, remained calm and thoughtful. While worrying for her fellow citizens, she had a strange feeling of being protected.
Having battled for weeks at the ground zero, Orion's strength was gradually fading against the persistent machine’s energy. The other guardians, too, were gradually losing their energy. They couldn’t stand the sight of their dying companions, but they remained strong for Vanrovia's people, whom they vowed to protect.
The Elders sensed the machine becoming even more potent, creating a shield around it, making it invincible to outside attacks. In the face of despairing odds, the guardians were left with one choice – to perform the forbidden ‘Ritual of Convocation'. This ritual invoked the powers of the guardian spirits from the past but at the cost of the invoker's life.
Emma noticed the machines settle down one day and felt an odd sense of tranquillity. That night, she dreamt of a beautiful being fading away. The dream felt so real that she woke up with tears and a sudden realization hit her. She felt a connection, a bond with this being.
The next morning, everyone woke up to a city returning to normal. The Syntheticon was reported to have mysteriously powered down, providing relief to the people of the city. The Elders were delighted yet heavy-hearted, knowing the cost that had come with the victory.
In the invisible realm, a grand procession was held to honor Orion, the Guardian who had sacrificed his life for Vanrovia. Emma felt a haunting emptiness that day, not aware that she had bonded with Orion emotionally.
In the quiet night, as Emma gazed out her window, a shooting star split the sky. In her heart, she thanked whoever looked upon her and kept her safe, unaware that her silent gratitude reached Orion in the guardian's heaven. Through death, Orion had succeeded in forming a bridge, fostering a bond across the unseen world.
Life resumed at its usual pace, but the legend of Orion, the heroic Guardian passed down generations. The elders used the tales of Orion to inspire younger Guardians, and the memory of a majestic being wrapped in a twilight cloak lived on.