The Guardians of Daldaria

Chapter 7: Severing Ties

“I refuse! I refuse to work with him!"

The girl's response echoed about the cavern, starling some curious Nulrets who peeked in to see if the intruders had left their home.

Mewl scoffed, curling his tail about his body.

'It is too late to sever our ties. The contract between us has been signed! Refusing help now is foolish.'

Xiathia tweaked the cat's ear before looking at Mialtros. She appeared frightened by Mewl's outburst.

“What he says is not true. There is a way to sever the bond between God and Guardian. However," she waved the dagger, “it is…not a pleasant ritual. I thought you may wish to leave after this fiasco, so I went ahead and prepared what we'd need for the event."

Mewl's fur bristled.

'You act beyond your powers Xiathia!'

Xiathia grabbed the dagger, testing its edge on her cloak.

The blade cut neatly, but not deeply.

“You are the one who broke her trust Mewl. She has the right to choose her fate for herself."

Mewl growled at the woman, standing between her and Mialtros. Xiathia merely lifted the cat and smoothed his fur as he bit and clawed at her.

'Say no more Xiathia! We cannot afford to lose her! The balance of reality-'

She covered Mewl's mouth.

“Will be satisfied so long as another Guardian is chosen soon enough," Xiathia moved closer, “Mialtros. You have the ability to stop now if you want. I will force Mewl to release you."

The girl looked to the floor.

“I…don't have to be a Guardian?"

Xiathia fixed her cape. She twirled the dagger idly.

“No, you do not. I know your mother said you should continue due to your obligation, but the path of Guardianship is fraught with moral choices no child should ever have to make. I have no desire to watch you suffer for a fate you did not chose."

Xiathia nudged Ghirti with her head.

The serpent leaned to nuzzle Mialtros's cheek, clicking its face plates pleadingly.

The girl buried her face into the snake's neck.

“What...what would I have to do for this ritual?"

Xiathia's held the dagger to Mewl's skin.

“Cut off Mewl's head and shatter the crystal inside his skull. You will then eat those pieces and cut your throat in

the same manner. Death for death is the only release from the Guardian contract."

Mialtros collapsed against the floor, face pale.

“What the h*ll kind of ritual is that!? I…oh God…I…I can't do that!"

Mewl started squirming around in her arms. Xiathia held him tighter.

“You can if you wish. I will do all I can to save your life after the bond is severed. Should the knife edge hold true, your body will not bleed out so much that it cannot be revived."

The girl's eyes flickered to the dagger. She grew even paler.

“I..is…is that the only way to-"

Mewl broke free of Xiathia's hold, slapping at her hands. The cat ran and shoved his paws into Mialtros's chest.

'So what Mialtros!? You think this will end simply because we are bonded no longer? You think those things give a d**n whether or not you're my Guardian!? Whoever sent them wanted to fight us! They will hound you for the

rest of your days to draw us out!'

Ghirti's face plates opened, tongue swiping its fangs. Mewl's scoffed.

'You could not consume all of them and attend to your duties Ghirathirial! Furthermore-'

Mewl pointed a paw at Xiathia.

'Do you honestly think the other Gods and Guardians will care? Do you think they will let us search once more for a suitable candidate once she's gone? They will use her safety to threaten us! Force us to tip the power balance

in their favor!'

Xiathia woman ran her fingers through her cloak fur.

“I will fight them for her should it come to it. Powers and laws be d**mn*d!"

Mewl's laughter was harsh.

'You're hero act is starting to wear thin Xiathia! If you fight, you'll die, and then where will we be!? Two Guardians

down! Several injured! All for what? One girl's freedom!?'

The dagger tip burrowed into the rock, Xiathia's arm strained as she forced it deeper.

“We swore oaths to protect Daldaria and its people Mewl! What kind of Guardians and Gods are we if we force

children to fight in war and force them to play savior for our broken systems!?"

Mewl's claws raked stone.

'Guardians who do their duty! I'm not saying this is what I want to have happened! But it has, and we all must accept it!'

Xiathia rose and reached inside her cloak. Her blade formed and she drew it slowly. Ghirti coiled and stood to full height.

“I will accept nothing! She is not like you or I Mewl! We were born into this life! Trained our whole lives for the responsibilities and hardships it would bring! We have no right to force that burden onto someone else!"

Mewl crouched, eyeing the serpent and its protector.

'If I could, I would free her right now! But the-'

Mialtros slammed her fists to the cave floor, “Enough! Y'all gotta stop fightin' each other and tryna decide what's best for me without me!"

Mewl and Xiathia fell silent.

Mewl gazed at the tunnels. Xiathia watched the cave entrance.

Mialtros scrubbed her face in her hands, hissing air through her teeth.

“Xiathia…answer me honestly. Will someone else suffer what I had to go through yesterday if I sever the bond?"

She nodded.

“Sad as it is, Mewl is right. Once some of the other Guardians and Gods know the balance of power has shifted, they will do anything to keep it that way. In their eyes, you and I are…unwanted annoyances with powers too great for a single person to hold."

Mewl batted a pebble.

'I had a hard enough time keeping the other Gods at bay while you took your time confirming your Guardianship. Without a clear candidate in mind for your succession, there is no doubt Xiathia and I will be forced to shackle our

powers.'

Mialtros pressed her head to the stone, relishing the damp coolness.

“So…that dagger is the only thing that'll get me my freedom?"

Xiathia scrunched her cloak in her hands.

“It does not matter what you use to sever the contract. I just…wanted to make the process easier for you."

There was silence for a while. Each person lost in their thoughts.

Rock scraped.

Mialtros struggled to pull the dagger out.

Mewl laid his head in his paws and closed his eyes. Tears streamed down his face.

The dagger pulled free. Mialtros walked to Ghirti. She held it out.

“Can you destroy this for me? I want to start my Guardianship out on the right foot."

Mewl and Xiathia looked at one another.

Ghirti snapped the dagger between its fangs, swallowing the blade whole.

Mewl started to walk towards her. Mialtros held up her hand.

“I didn't do this for your sake Mewl. I just don't want to see anyone else suffer. Not because of me. Not because

of this Guardianship business. Especially not because y'all decided to keep secrets from people."

Mewl purred.

'I knew you would do the right thing!'

Xiathia snorted.

“Oh yes. Those tears were premature joy on your part."

Mialtros coughed before Mewl could say anything else.

“I have a condition. I need you to agree to it before I'll start training with ya."

Mewl waved his tail.

'Go on. Name it.'

Mialtros held out her hand.

“I need you to promise me that you won't lie to me anymore. That you'll include me in the big Guardian decisions

before we make 'em. I don't want to be in the dark ever again."

Mewl slid his paw into her hand.

'You got yourself a deal. You will not regret this I promise! I shall make your frumpy self the best Guardian of

Creation the world has ever seen!'

Xiathia hugged Ghirti close, laughing as the serpent licked her face.

“Careful with those promises Mewl. Mialtros might change her mind and actually kill you when you fail to live up

to them."

Mewl purred louder.

"Yes, yes I'll be careful. So, what shall we do first, oh great and masterful teacher?'

Xiathia smiled and pointed to the tunnels.

“Well~"