275 A hardy guardian's tale (1), intermission

"Beatrix! Get down from there, you'll get hurt!"

Mother is nagging again. What's so bad about me climbing a tree? It's not like I'd get badly hurt even if I fell. I'm already 10 years old and taller than most of the older kids at school.

"Isn't it fine to let her have a little fun? I'm here. I promise I'll catch her if she falls."

Yes, aunt Brigitte is here to save me! She's so cool! When I grow up I want to be a guardian just like her. Then I'll valiantly protect my friends as we conquer all dungeons!

"Brigitte! Don't help her when she does this stuff. What if she falls and hurts herself? I heard that when kids fall on their head too much when they are young, they'll become stupid. Earnest, say something, she's your sister!"

Why does mother always involve father when aunt Brigitte is being nice to me? That's so unfair.

"Sis, can you just get her down please? Antoinette is just worried. That's how parents are."

Aunt Brigitte sighs and looks defeated.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make things harder on you. I'll get her down."

Why does she always give in? Is that a grownups' thing?

Brigitte approaches the tree with an apologetic look. I quickly climb a bit higher to make sure she can't reach me. I don't want to go down yet!

"Beatrix, please come down now. You are worrying your parents."

"But climbing trees is fun!"

"I'm sure it is, but we can't always do what we feel is fun. You told me you wanted to be a guardian, right? As a guardian you'll have to protect your team even if you get hurt in the process. Then, doing what is fun for you can get someone killed."

"So being a guardian isn't fun?"

"No, being a guardian isn't about fun, it's about honor. We are what stands between the monsters and our vulnerable companions. If you come down now, I'll show you one of my strongest skill, it's called guardian's bulwark."

"Really? Yay, I get to see a cool skill!"

I'm so giddy, I can't wait. And I'm so far up the tree that climbing down will take forever. Well, I'll just jump. Aunt Brigitte is so cool and strong she'll surely catch me, right?

I throw myself off the tree and spread my limbs as I fall down.

"Weeeeee!"

""Shit she jumped!""

Mother and aunt Brigitte don't look so happy. Didn't they want me to come down? I am doing that now, aren't I?

Aunt Brigitte breaks into a sprint and leaps towards me. The grass below her has two deep footprints from her boots. She's so strong! I want to be strong too!

She sails through the air catches me and presses me against her as we descend. With me safely in her embrace, she lands heavily but I barely feel it. Despite having already reached the ground, aunt Brigitte doesn't let go of me. Her grip is a bit strong and I feel suffocated.

I look up at her face and want to tell her to let me down. But then I see her face. She looks scared, terrified. Why?

"Don't ever do that again!"

She addresses me in a somewhat angry manner and I don't quite understand. Did I do anything wrong? Nothing happened but aunt Brigitte seems shaken. I decide to just ask.

"Why are you angry?"

"Because you jumped off that big tree! You could have hurt yourself!"

"But I knew you would catch me! Nothing happened."

She seems to get even angrier at my words.

"Nothing happened because I reacted fast enough or at all! What if I had been slow to react? What if I decided not to catch you?"

"But you did catch me."

"You could have gotten hurt!"

She starts repeating herself.

"But don't you also sometimes get hurt when you go into the dungeons?"

"I may get hurt but I can defend myself. As a guardian my survival chances are the highest and I get injured the least."

"Isn't it your job to defend the others? Why do they get hurt but not you?"

"Defending others is my job but I'm only required to do it to the point where I don't put my own well-being on the line. No one expects me to defend against a monster that can do serious damage to me."

I give her a long look.

"Isn't that selfish?"

She jerks back as if I've slapped her face. She lets go of me and steps away as I land on the grass.

"I am not selfish! Putting your life on the line for others is just stupid! It has nothing to do with bravery as only a fool would jeopardize their own life to save another. I do my job, just like any other member of the team!"

Aunt Brigitte is really angry now. Why won't she admit to being selfish? Are all guardians like this?

My parents come over and worriedly check me for any injuries. Aunt Brigitte just stands there and stares at me. After my parents have ascertained that I am alright, they turn to aunt Brigitte.

"What were you yelling at her for? Even if she did something bad you shouldn't be this angry."

My parents hadn't heard the brief conversation between me and aunt Brigitte. She looks even angrier when they ask about it.

"I don't think Beatrix is cut out to be a guardian. She is far too reckless! Find a nice office job for her instead."

Aunt Brigitte stormed off, still angry and I knew I wouldn't get to see the guardian's bulwark skill.

But I knew that day, more than ever, that I wanted to become a guardian. Not one like aunt Brigitte anymore. I wanted to be a guardian who was willing to put her life on the line to protect her companions.

My parents wouldn't be thrilled so I would have to be convincing, but I would realize my dreams. Of that, I was sure!