Eleanor's gaze drifted to the pristine Guardian uniform draped over a nearby chair. The black fabric seemed to absorb the light; the gold 'Z' on the sleeve glinted softly. The Commander's booming words echoed in her mind: "Guardian Rank." Then, the piercing stares of the Ascendants, followed by the chilling wave of pure evil that had washed over her. Mariam, the Grand Goddess, knew her name now and wanted her dead.
A shiver, not of fear but of cold resolve, traced its way down Eleanor's spine. The Phantom Warden had been a test. What came next would be the actual exam, and she knew she wouldn't get any retakes. She pressed a hand to her chest; her heart beat a steady drum. This was real now. The gloves were off.
She pulled on the dark robe. The fabric felt light but incredibly strong, like woven shadow. As she tied the belt, her axe settled comfortably on her hip. She stood before the mirror. It wasn't just Eleanor staring back. It was Eleanor, the Guardian.
Eleanor stepped out into the gleaming hall. Guardians moved with urgency. Whispers followed them like shadows: "missing scouts," "weird disappearances," "strange magic." She spotted Meredith waiting near the main hall archway, already dressed and looking ready to conquer a nation.
"There you are, Eleanor. Ready for your first day as a real Guardian?" Meredith's voice held a slight smirk.
"Pretty much," Eleanor replied, trying to sound casual.
"Commander Aldric wants to brief us on some new strange events," Meredith said quietly, her expression sobering. "Think of it like learning the plan-making aspect of warfare."
Eleanor gave her a look. "Plan-making? I thought we fought gods."
"We do," Meredith answered, the small smirk finally breaking through. "But not without a plan, you doofus." She paused, her gaze softening. "You did great yesterday. Just remember what the Warden said. This isn't just about strength anymore. It's about knowing who you're fighting."
Meanwhile, across the vibrant city, in a bustling outdoor restaurant, Gail Valtheris, the Ice Ascendant, was enjoying an epic breakfast. Plates overflowed with delicate pastries, fresh fruit, and steaming tea.
Thump!
A messenger hawk, bearing a small Zenith Guard message tied to its leg, landed with an unceremonious thump right on her table. The hawk puffed out its chest, looking entirely too smug.
Gail picked up the message. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, quickly scanned the note. Her face lit up.
"OH HELL YEAH! FINALLY! ANOTHER MISSION!" Gail shrieked, leaping from her seat. She slapped a handful of glittering coins onto the table. "Keep the change, you amazing establishment!"
With a loud, joyous whoop, she burst out of the restaurant and took flight, soaring straight toward the Zenith Guard building with great enthusiasm.
The briefing room was smaller than the Ascendant chamber but cool and efficient. A huge map of the Angel Realm shimmered in the center of the room. Eleanor saw Zak, Katya, and Theo already there.
"Eleanor! Guardian! You look good!" Theo grinned, waving enthusiastically.
Katya offered a quick, almost unnoticeable nod, but Eleanor caught the flicker of respect in her eyes. Zak gave her a calm, steady smile. "Congrats, Eleanor. Good to see you here."
"Thanks guys," Eleanor said. "So which Ascendant did you guys get?"
CLACK!
A loud, decisive sound echoed from the entrance. Gail Valtheris burst in, her royal blue coat seeming to glow. Her long, black hair cascaded behind her, impossibly adorned with glittering ice crystals. She strode in, radiating confident glee.
"Alright, listen you four!" Gail's voice boomed, directed squarely at Eleanor, Zak, Katya, and Theo. "I've got some important news to share."
Commander Aldric let out a soft sigh.
Gail, unaware, placed a hand dramatically over her chest and continued, "First and most important! I... Gail Valtheris, the most Fabulous Angel in the world will accompany you on this mission!"
Meredith looked at her, one eyebrow twitching. "Could you get your stupid little head out of the clouds, then?"
Gail gasped, clutching her heart. "WHAT?!"
Commander Aldric stepped in. "Alright, alright. Everyone, please listen. This is serious."
The room fell silent.
"As Gail was so clearly attempting to explain," Aldric said, a dry sarcasm coating his words, "we've detected new patterns emerging. Isolated incidents. Alone, they might seem unimportant. But together, they point to something truly evil."
He gestured to the holographic map. "Over the last three days: Several angel scout teams have vanished without a trace near the Whispering Wilds. No distress calls. Just silence. And in a village further North, Oakhaven, we've received chilling reports of residents disappearing overnight, leaving behind truly horrific scenes."
Eleanor felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach. "Horrific scenes?"
Gail's expression darkened, all humor instantly drained. "The villagers weren't just killed. Their bodies were attached to the buildings. Melded into walls like grotesque decorations. Some were hanging out of windows, half-merged with the wood. Others were fused into the very floorboards. No blood. Just sheer horror. Like the entire village had been turned into a living, macabre exhibit."
A collective shiver of unease rippled through the room.
"This isn't typical Black Angel behavior," Aldric continued. "It's too precise. Too artistic in its depravity. We believe this is the work of Mariam's Demigods. Their first probing attacks, designed to disrupt and demoralize."
Meredith stepped forward. "We're assembling immediate response teams to investigate. Gail and I will lead. Eleanor, you're with us." She looked at Zak, Katya, and Theo. "You three should come too; we could use the extra hands for this."
Theo punched a fist in the air. "Aw yeah! Now we're talking!"
Zak raised an eyebrow at Theo. "You know we're about to fight demigods, right?"
Katya scoffed, her eyes darting toward Eleanor. "Whatever. I'll make sure to cut 'em down before Sunshine does."
Eleanor shot her a sharp look. "This is a mission, not a race, you moron."
Katya stared at her, her usual confidence giving way to a flicker of genuine challenge. Then she gritted her teeth. "Like I said. I'm gonna surpass you, Sun Angel."
Aldric stepped in again. "Alright, everyone. Let's all try to coexist, shall we?" He turned to Gail and Meredith. "Watch these young ones. Make sure they don't do anything reckless, especially the blonde one." He subtly indicated Katya.
Katya let out a frustrated huff but bit back any retort. Zak, the ever so calming presence, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Our primary objective right now is the Whispering Wilds," Gail stated, her voice suddenly sharp and focused. "Ziza, the Beast Demigod, is the most likely culprit for the missing scouts. Her hunting patterns are animal-like, predictable." She looked back at the map, a personal gleam in her icy eyes. "But keep your eyes open for Carna's work in that Northern village. She's far less predictable, and far more horrifying. Honestly, a shame for anything beautiful."
They departed within the hour. The air was cool and crisp as they soared above the Angel Realm. Eleanor flew alongside Meredith and Gail, with Zak, Katya, and Theo forming a tight group close behind.
The Whispering Wilds lived up to its name. Ancient trees, so huge their tops disappeared into the clouds, cast deep, oppressive shadows. The ground was a chaotic tangle of roots and damp earth, perpetually dim. The only sounds were the hushed rustle of unseen creatures and the faint, unsettling whisper of the wind through the leaves. It felt less like a forest and more like the living, breathing mouth of some colossal beast.
"Stay alert," Meredith murmured, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "Even without a Demigod, this place is dangerous."
Gail drifted ahead, moving with silent, predatory grace. She stopped in a small clearing. "Here. Fresh tracks. Too large for any known animal. And..." She pointed to some torn moss. "Not quite a paw print. More like a heavy claw mark, dragging."
Eleanor knelt to examine the earth. The moss was ripped, the soil beneath heavily compacted. A faint, musky scent hung in the air, alien and disturbing.
"Missing scout's bag," Theo reported, pointing to an old leather satchel caught in a nearby bush. It was ripped open, its contents strewn, but strangely, there was no blood.
"Clean," Katya muttered, frowning. "A bit too clean though. Something feels wrong."
Zak picked up a small, ornate compass, its glass cracked. "This belongs to Scout Seraphina. She was part of the last team that went missing."
Suddenly, a loud, sharp CRACK! echoed from deeper within the woods. It sounded like a massive tree branch snapping under an unbearable weight. Then, a low, guttural growl vibrated through the very ground beneath their feet.
Gail's eyes narrowed, a cold glint appearing in their depths. "She's here. And she's hunting."
Eleanor gripped her axe, the familiar warmth of Sunfire already blooming on her skin. The whispers of the forest seemed to intensify. This was the opening move of a war, and they were standing on the front lines.