Grand Game 382: A Guardian’s Favor (Patreon)

“So, even after all these years, justice has not been served,” Draven lamented once we were done.

“It has not,” I agreed. Draven had listened patiently to our tales. Although Adriel’s story had troubled him, it was my own description of Nexus and the political climate amongst the new Powers that had seemed to disconcert him the most.

“What will you do now?” Adriel asked.

“Do?” Draven repeated, shifting restlessly on his hooves. “I’m not… sure. The usurpers have acted more shrewdly than I anticipated. How can the Primes return if players no longer practice our ancient traditions? Worse yet, the Houses appear to have been entirely forgotten.”

“Not entirely,” I protested. “There are still some who remember the old ways and seek to restore it.”

Draven hung his head. “Be that as it may, I feared my brethren and I erred in our withdrawal. We gave the rebels time, and they used it.” His mouth twisted. “Now, these so-called new Powers have consolidated their rule.”

I had nothing to say to that. As far as it went, it was true.

“Unseating them will be difficult,” Adriel agreed, “but not impossible.”

Draven shook his head as if to banish his despair. “You are right,” he said softly. “Hope remains.”

Adriel floated higher, placing herself at eye level with the centaur. “So again, I ask, guardian: what will you do?”

“And more to the point,” I added, “will you help me restore the House Wolf?”

Draven’s gaze flitted from the lich to me. “I will,” he affirmed. “But I cannot act directly. Nor can I remain awake indefinitely. It drains me too much.”

I grinned triumphantly, unbothered by the limitations he’d expressed. The aid of a being as powerful as the guardian—no matter the form it took—could not be lightly discounted. At the very least, I could use the Reach as a shelter for those friendly to the ancients’ cause. After all, what better protection could I ask for than that of a guardian? Even better, the dungeon already housed a sizable city.

Do I need to rethink my plans?

Biting hard at my lip, I pondered the question. Instead of one sector—the hidden nether-infested one—I now had two possible locations for House Wolf. Nor did I need the wolves’ valley as much anymore. I could sell the tavern, I thought, and Saya could—

“I have a proposal for you,” Adriel said, floating closer to Draven.

Realizing what topic my companion was about to broach, I broke off from my musings to focus on her. It seemed Adriel hadn’t forgotten her own plans.

Draven cocked his head to the side. “A proposal?”

For a moment, I contemplated interrupting. The centaur’s attitude towards the lich had mellowed, especially after he’d heard her tale, but given his temperamental nature, there was no telling what his reaction would be to the former Death scion’s request.

It would’ve been wiser to wait or abandon the notion altogether—Draven did not appear a spirit in need of replacing—but I understood Adriel’s determination to pursue the matter. She had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Sitting down cross-legged, I held off intervening and made myself comfortable.

“Yes,” Adriel said after taking a moment to gather her thoughts. “I offer myself in your place.”

Draven’s bushy brows drew down. “Offer yourself? I do not understand.”

Adriel drew herself stiffly erect. “I propose that I take up your charge and stand watch over this dungeon and the others under your purview.” She paused. “I wish to replace you as guardian.”

Draven’s expression turned grave. “And why would you want that?”

Adriel sighed. “To make restitution,” she said softly. “For abandoning my House and for the many lives I’ve claimed. This way I can serve the Primes again.”

For a long moment, Draven did not respond. “Thank you for the offer,” he said solemnly. “But no. Becoming a guardian is an onerous duty.”

Adriel spread her arms, palms out. “But—” she began.

Draven held up a hand, stopping her. “It is not that I doubt your commitment. Rather say, I am not yet ready to relinquish my own burdens.”

Adriel deflated. “Oh.”

“There is a war to be fought,” the guardian continued, “and I will not go to my rest easily knowing I stepped aside.” His eyes narrowed, and from their sudden flaring, I suspected something had occurred to the centaur.

“Still your proposal is intriguing,” Draven went on. “Vital even, given that there are few others around able to take up the mantle of a guardian.” He paused, waiting for the lich’s reaction.

But lost in her own despondency, Adriel failed to mark the guardian’s subtle prompting.

“There are others who may take you up on your offer,” Draven added more forthrightly.

That caught Adriel’s attention. “Others?”

“Yes, others.” The guardian gestured my way. “Given the young wolf’s description of Kolath’s condition, I suspect he will go willingly to the long sleep if offered the chance.”

Adriel glanced at me, a wordless question in her gaze.

I nodded. “That seems about right.”

“You know this already, I’m sure,” Draven went on, addressing Adriel again, “but do not forget Nexus’ guardian is a vital cog in the guardian defense network. It is why the rebels made sure to neutralize him early on. If you truly mean to serve the Primes again, then it is Kolath you should look to replace.”

A new smile grew on Adriel’s face. Floating back to the ground, she bowed low to the giant statue. “Your words are wise, guardian. Thank you. I will present myself to Kolath.” She glanced at me. “Assuming our ‘young Wolf’ is not averse to escorting me there?”

I laughed. “Of course, I’m not.”

“Excellent!” Draven pronounced, rubbing his hands together. “This could work out well in our favor.” He studied me thoughtfully. “Nor should we let the deed go unrewarded. Let’s make it… official.” Closing his eyes, the guardian caused words to appear in my mind.

Draven has allocated you a new task: Restore the Nexus Guardian. Draven fears that Kolath is no longer capable of fulfilling his duties as a guardian. Your objective is to reawaken the Nexus Guardian and see to it that the lich Adriel replaces him.

My breath caught, prompting a quizzical look from Adriel. “He’s given me a task,” I explained.

“Good,” she said after I described the new task to her. “That’s settled, then.” She turned back to Draven. “But was that wise? I cannot claim to know the extent of your capabilities, guardian, but I do know that granting tasks are not without cost. How much of your energy did that consume?”

The centaur shrugged. “I cannot act outside of this sector; you know that. But does that not mean I am powerless to sway events towards a course I desire.” He pointed to me. “This way, I ensure my agent does not go unrewarded.”

I bristled. I certainly did not consider myself Draven’s ‘agent,’ but this was not the time to contest the term. “Rewarded?” I asked instead.

“I can’t aid you directly,” he replied.

I frowned. Draven had something similar earlier, but I still didn’t understand what he meant. “Why not?”

Draven crooked one eyebrow. “You do not know?”

I shook my head.

He gestured to Adriel. “Considering your companion’s proposal, I take it you know of my origins?”

I nodded. “You are a former scion.”

“Correct,” Draven said. “And therein lies the answer. House loyalty is not easily forgotten or relinquished. I assure you every guardian remembers his House and despite the neutrality required by our new existence, we are all of us more well-dispossessed to our former Houses and less… charitable to its enemies.” He shrugged massive shoulders. “It is because of this that Primes felt it necessary to bind us more closely when it came to the matter of players.”

I tilted my head to the side. “And that means what exactly?”

“No guardian can act against a player or favor him in any way unless it relates directly to our core mission—which is protecting the dungeons—and even then, an Adjudicator approved task is required.”

“I see,” I muttered.

Adriel frowned. “But doesn’t that also stop you from acting against the new Powers?”

The centaur grinned. The expression was devoid of mirth, though. “Strictly speaking, that is correct. But at the war’s start, each of the new Powers was given a task—stop their revolt against the Primes or face the consequences. Needless to say, none complied. Their failure to heed our warning makes any new Power or Sworn who enters a guardian-controlled sector fair game.”

“But only if the guardian is awake,” I pointed out.

Draven grimaced. “That, too, is unfortunately correct. But now that I’m out of stasis and replete with energy, I can awaken myself whenever necessary.” He bared his teeth. “Even now, I can sense a few targets ripe for the picking in some of my more populated dungeons.”

“Don’t act against them!” I said, growing alarmed at the guardian’s bloodthirsty grin.

Draven snorted. “Don’t mistake me for a pup, young Wolf. I’ve seen more wars in my lifetime than years you have lived. The time is not yet right to strike. When I do act, it will be with overwhelming force and with the support of my brethren.”

“Right,” I said, relaxing.

“Then you mean to awaken the rest of the guardians,” Adriel surmised.

“I do,” Draven confirmed.

“How?” I asked.

“With your help, of course,” the guardian said. “My brothers and sisters are scattered all over the Nethersphere. It will be up to you to find and awaken each.” Before I could respond, Draven waved his hand, causing another Game alert to unfurl in my mind.

Draven has allocated you a new task: Revive the Guardians. The guardian of the Reach is intent on restarting the now-defunct war between the Primes and new Powers. But before he does so, he has asked you to restore his brethren. Your objective is to find each of the remaining guardians and awaken them from stasis.

My gaze flitted between the centaur and the Game message still hanging in the air in front of me. “That’s it?” I asked, slightly incredulous. “You can’t give me more information than that?”

“Sadly, I cannot,” Draven said. “My brethren and I went to pains to conceal our locations from each other—in case the worst happened. However, I do have a few ideas about where you should begin your search, and the perfect means of getting you started.”

“Did he give you another task?” Adriel interjected before I could respond.

“He has,” I said and went on to describe it.

“That sounds reasonable,” she said.

I nodded in agreement and accepted the task.

“What is the rest of your plan then?” Adriel asked, taking up the reins of the conversation again.

The centaur tugged at his beard. “What makes you sure there is more?”

“There must be,” she insisted with more of her usual assertiveness. “Restoring the other guardians may keep the new Powers at bay for a time. But time is their ally, not yours. They will outlast you.”

The centaur inclined his head, conceding the point, then pointed one stubby finger at me. “Him. He is the rest of my plan.”