Guardian

36: Guardian

Lara can see the clearing ahead of her now. She wiped the little sweat forming at her temples. She was nearly there... Before arriving at the glade, though, she almost got lost in the woods. Fortunately, some of her previous markers remained, so she could retrace her steps and find the hidden gate, which was up ahead.

A stone in the center of a huge clearing marks the hidden gate. There will be an open area up ahead. The stone will appear modest from a distance. But Lara knew it was 15 feet tall and will tower over her like a giant standing on its feet.

Finally, Lara reached the stone, and its shadow loomed over her like a dark veil. She swept the dust away from the rough etching on the stone and place her hands right there.

She had missed this place. She hasn't used the hidden gate in four years.

Doing what she came there to do, Lara started focusing her attention on the letters carved into the stone. They carved the words to open the gate in Old Vel... Her people's tongue. 

Prior to the purge, it was the language her people used to communicate with one another, especially with the Gods. But now the language is a forgotten chapter in her people's history. Only those born into an aristocratic family speak Old Vel in their conversation. In comparison to English, the language was difficult. As a result, nobles are the only people to use Old Vel in their words to show their intelligence and authority in public. Their knowledge, however, was not without flaws. No one in Velhellah can speak the language perfectly except for one family.

The royal family speaks Old Vel as a second language. That's why Lara doesn't mind saying it in front of people she despises. Embarrassing them was the only way they'd back down and leave her alone. But that's a distant memory now.

When Lara read the carvings, the ground underneath her shook. The stone hummed and grew taller not long after it sprouted arms and legs and stood up. The stone guardian of the secret entrance has awoken.

"Who dares to walk through the threshold of my master?"

Lara smiled as she heard the stone golem's low, booming voice.

"It's been a long time, Ulric. How are things going for you so far?"

Ulric, the stone golem, glanced down and noticed Lara standing in front of him. "Hmm." The stone golem knelt to his knees. His chest was strewn with mud, and the soil shuddered beneath his weight as he moved to stare at her face.

Lara looked at the growing tree roots that had wrapped around his arms and legs, adding to his already gigantic stature.

When the moon cast some light on her face, Ulric's stare softened in recognition. "Ah. The little princess has visited, I see."

When Lara heard this, she burst out laughing. Little princess...

It's the name Ulric frequently calls her when she comes to see him to chat. But she isn't there to converse. She's there for a more vital reason. But, hey, it never hurts to see an old friend!

"Every time we meet, Ulric, your vision worsens."

Lara joked.

More dirt and soil flew off the big golem's shoulders as he laughed. "I'm getting older with age, little princess," it said.

"Oh, I can see that," Lara said as she examined the golem.

Ulric smiled and rose to his feet, the ground shaking once again. "So, what brings you here, princess?"

"I would like to use the gate."

The golem locked his gaze on her. "Your father has forbidden your return, my brothers told me."

Lara sighed. By brothers, the golem was referring to his fellow guardians stationed at the four formal gates.

Lara gave a nod.

"I'm aware of that." The golem didn't give up on convincing her, though.

"It is an act of treason, your highness, to go against the king's command." His tone was solemn, and he never addressed Lara by her formal title.

"I'm aware of that, Ulric."

The golem did not answer and simply stared at her.

Lara let out a sigh.

"I'm fully aware of the implications of my decisions, old man. They will arrive, and I'll be ready for them when they do."

"Very well... I'm only a guardian, therefore I cannot stop you. Your highness should keep in mind that danger has been lurking in the shadows lately. As Velhellah's devoted servant, I beg you to keep your safety in mind."

"Thank you, Ulric." A smile spread across Lara's face as she caressed the stone golem's leg with her hand. "I owe you a favor."

The stone golem bowed his head in respect. "May the light of the eternal moon guide you."

Ulric, the golem, finally returned to his rest, burying himself beneath the surface as two ancient pillars rose behind him. Lara observed the formation of the gate as a spark erupted in the center of the pillars and a purple energy swirled in the center, generating a current that gradually became stronger by the second.

Here we go…

Lara pushed herself against the wind, covering her eyes. A dazzling light engulfed her as she passed through the gate, and it dragged her body forward. She became blank for a few moments. When she opened her eyes again, the first thing she noticed was that she was no longer in the clearing. The familiar darkness of the castle dungeon welcomed her instead.

The dungeon is abandoned, and her father is unaware of its existence. When she arrived, the sound of rats fleeing made her grin. She's back! As she gazed about, her chest swelled with pride. Oh, how comforting it was to be back.

The dungeon may appear frightening because her family once used it to torture and hold all of their prisoners. But, despite all of those gruesome facts, Lara had a lot of wonderful memories in this place. In fact, before her father sent her to the academy, she used to run around in that area by herself, exploring every nook and cranny.

Those were the days...

When a drop of water fell from above her and right to the puddle next to her feet, Lara flinched. She stepped away from it and trudged forward.

All right... Lara is unaware of the situation above, so she will avoid being discovered by palace personnel for now. This would be a stealth mission until she figured out what was going on.

She must also determine what happened to Cedric. If he's in grave danger, she'll come to his aid. But, of course, she'll need her father's help for that, so foremost, she needed to speak with her father.