Guardian of Distortion

Perspective: Conrad Garnier

Yesterday's events weighed heavy on my conscience. Curiosity was getting the better of me. Normally I wouldn't care, but the thing I saw beneath that frozen sheet of ice, it's appearance, and the way it moved and seemingly disappeared, I couldn't seem to get that scene out of my mind.

Emilia, her lack of reaction, when she saw that thing, raised more questions in my mind.

As we went further deeper inside those ruins, we found ourselves in an old town or Village if one may call it.

As I walked through the desolate streets, a chilling breeze whispered through the hollow windows of the ruined buildings. I could Imagine these streets bustling with people, however now they stood as a haunting reminder of a forgotten era. I felt as if Shadows danced ominously across the cracked walls, casting eerie silhouettes that seemed to come alive in the sunlight. The air was heavy with a sense of loss and decay, as if the very essence of time had been frozen in this forsaken place. As we ventured deeper into the heart of those ruins, a feeling of unease washed over me, as though unseen eyes were watching my every move. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant echo of our footsteps through the snow . It was as if something still lingered there, trapped within the crumbling walls, their presence haunting yet assuring that no one had treaded these streets in ages, we would be the first one.

Patrick's stated,

"I can feel a faint presence".

"Something is still here".

His words hung hesitantly in the air, weighted with a sense of unease.

"No ... two presence actually".

Patrick continued, his tone growing more urgent.

"One is begging for our aid, while the other wants us gone."

Elkdrack interjected, frustration apparent in his voice,

"Talk sense mate".

Ikbal's exclaimed with a sense of disbelief ,

"Are you fucking kidding me right now".

"How can he sense those?".

"He is pulling our leg".

"Isn't he?".

Thor Gild, his tone commanding, intervened.

"Ikbal silent".

"Patrick isn't the type to do that".

Keira's voice chimed in, filled with a mixture of awe and trepidation,

"I can feel it too".

He confessed.

"It's like there are eyes upon us, watching our every move."

Ikbal's voice wavered, a hint of frustration lacing his words.

"Guys cut it out".

"There is no one except us here".

Thor Gild's voice held a note of urgency.

"Don't you feel it too?" he asked,

A tremor of uncertainty colored Ikbal's reply.

"I... I do. But I was hoping that's just my fear talking, playing tricks on my mind."

Keira responded, his tone laced with a mix of concern and teasing.

"You whimp".

This town was located in the middle of the 'weeping forest'. Pressing deeper, an immense building came into view. Its architecture surpassed that of the surrounding structures, standing proudly on a raised plot of land. While the neighboring buildings crumbled into piles of rubble, this remarkable edifice exuded an aura of strength and resilience. The upper section of the building appeared to be crafted from shimmering materials, reflecting the sunlight directly into our eyes. Despite the presence of delicate cracks, crevices, and a gentle embrace of moss in its walls, every aspect of this building remained completely intact.

Regina remarked,

"That building".

"It appears different from the others".

Sheela asked,

"Different how?".

Regina nodded, her eyes fixed on the building, and replied,

"Something about it ... exudes a different vibe".

"Doesn't look like your regular house".

Elkdrack chimed in, speculating,

"Maybe it's the mansion of the ruler of this place".

Patrick shook his head and chimed in,

"I don't think so. It doesn't give off that majestic aura. It's actually quite small-looking. Perhaps it serves another purpose, like a church maybe?".

Elkdrack, wanting to clarify, responded,

"That's called perception Patrick".

"It looks smaller because its far away".

Patrick smirked and sarcastically remarked,

"Very nice observation.... drunkadore".

Yuna, puzzled, asked,

"Drunka ... what?".

Patrick brushed it off with a wave of his hand and said,

"Nevermind".

"Shall we take a closer look".

Elkdrack's eyes lit up with excitement as he exclaimed,

"Yes... maybe there are treasures there".

Emilia, cautious, warned the group,

"Keep your guards up".

As we approached the building, we quickly reached the town square. As soon as we arrived, the air filled with clunking noises of metal. Before us, a massive mound of snow sat, seemingly motionless. But then, it began to stir, emitting crackling sounds reminiscent of long-forgotten rusted metal. As the snow settled, it unveiled a knight.

The knight's helmet worn and rusty boasted a high, sloping crown, its elongated shape resembling a towering spire. At the front, a wide and elongated faceplate extended downwards, tapering to a sharp point. On either side, narrow eye slits provided visibility, with two arrows protruding from the right side. These arrows, weathered and aged like the knight himself.

He wore a weathered cape, cascading with snow and ice, its ragged and torn texture bore witness to numerous battles he must have fought. The aged fabric extended generously, reaching down to his lower legs. Its color, a blend of white with a hint of blackish tint. Studded with patches, the cape gracefully draped around his shoulders, moving with elegance and grace.

As my eyes fell upon him, a sense of unease gripped my soul, for he slowly walked towards us adorned in a ghastly ensemble of ancient armor.

A coat of mail enveloped his form, its interlocking rings whispering tales of battles fought and blood spilled. The wear and tear upon it spoke of countless trials endured, evoking a somber aura.

His arms were guarded by armplates, each marked with a distinct feature - a sinister fluted couter, adorned with two ominous thorns that protruded like a warning. The presence of these menacing spikes sent a chill down my spine, as if they held a unseen power.

Joined seamlessly to the armplates were fluted vembraces, their engraved patterns indicated the whispers of a long forgotten era. Their somber elegance carried a weight of history, leaving an indelible impression on everyone of us.

A plated cuirass encased his chest, its surface marred with the passage of time. The dents and scratches hinted at battles fought, as if the armor itself bore witness to the knight's actions.

Fluted poleyns and cuisses guarded his legs, their intricate design reflecting an ancient age. The enchanting contours of the fluted details seemed to dance with each step, adding to the haunting allure of his presence.

The knight slowly raised his short sword, its blade gleaming ominously in the pale light. His gaunt frame seemed to defy the laws of the natural world as he shifted his weight with an in humane fluidity.

His fingers, wrapped themselves around the worn hilt of the blade.

Leaning slightly forward, his posture exuded an aura of haunting elegance. His shoulders, draped in his tattered armor, were squared with an imposing presence. The ancient chain mail clung to his frame. His head, held high atop his neck, tilted slightly to the side.

In a voice that echoed with a haunting mystery, the knight spoke, his words carrying an eerie weight in the air.

"Tresspassers turn back".

He warned, his voice reverberating with a spectral resonance.

" There is nothing of note here, only distortion awaits further".

He continued, his tone laced with an unearthly authority.

He paused for a moment, the silence between us filled with an unsettling stillness. Then, with a cadence that sent a shiver down our spines, he concluded,

"Lest you be counted among the slumbering ones".

The air seemed to grow colder, as if the very atmosphere itself hung on his every word, warning us of the dire consequences that awaited those who dared ventured forward.

Sheela's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she exclaimed,

"Who is that? ... what in the fuck".

Elkdrack tilted his head, trying to make sense of the sight before him, and remarked,

"Some kind of monster knight ... maybe".

Patrick's eyes widened as he took in the knight's appearance, and he commented,

"Just look at him'. 'He's ancient, perhaps as old as the very ruins we stand in".

Elkdrack shook his head, frustration evident in his tone, as he retorted,

"Again talk some sense, Patrick".

"How could one be so old?".

Patrick lamented, his voice tinged with frustration.

"I don't know".

He conceded helplessly.

"I am just saying... what I see".

Emilia gingerly ran her fingers along the edge of her sword, feeling the warm stickiness of blood as it dripped down the blade, which emitted a haunting red glow.

With a sense of urgency in her voice, she warned everyone,

"Heads up".

In one swift motion, she propelled herself towards the knight.

The knight responded with an enigmatic tone, his words shrouded in mystery,

"Tresspassers leave".

"Do not seek the old distortion".

"Lest the apostles infest".

Elkdrack, perplexed by the knight's cryptic words, voiced his confusion,

"Distortion?".

I noticed Emilia's face as she drove head first into combat. She had a grin that exuded, a realisation that she found what she was searching for.

Her blade moved elegantly, as if the only thing standing in the way of her goal was that ancient Knight.

Despite being confused, we couldn't help but battle against this ancient Knight, for our lives depended on it.

As the Knight, faced Emilia's aggressive advance, he effortlessly swayed his hand aside. In an surprising display of power, he propelled her towards a crumbling building, causing debris to cascade around her. At that moment, Keira, couldn't help but express his anger, labeling the Knight as a "bastard." Keira summoned his Earth Golems to aid him, but the Knight, with a single gesture, unleashed his unseen force. With a swift motion, he ripped Keira's golem from its chest, prompting it to disintegrate into nothingness.

Yuna called out,

"Cover me," as she swiftly began casting her spell.

Regina and Sheela promptly positioned themselves to shield her, while myself, Thor Gild, Ikbal, Patrick, Brandon, and Elkdrack instinctively moved into protective positions.

The Knight advanced with an intimidating stride, its voice resonating with warning,

"Tresspassers, do not seek that which does not belong here."

"Let it rest, lest it infest."

Sheela, growing frustrated, exclaimed,

"For fuck's sake... What is he talking about?"

Kyle, discarded his hourglass , allowing the sand to gracefully slip through his fingers as if carried by a gentle breath. With intricate finger movements he controlled the sand, while his body embraced a faint, yet radiant green glow, as an enormous hand, seemingly crafted from sand, materialized in the air. It swiftly grasped hold of the Knight, seizing the perfect moment for action. Recognizing the opening, I ignited my sword with a blazing fire. With a powerful upward swing, the sword sliced through the Knight's flesh, leaving a trail of black blood dripping from his wounded body.

With precision, I had executed a strike that cleaved the Knight's head in one swift motion. The gruesome result left his head hanging in two separate pieces. Yet, defying my expectations, the Knight swiftly retaliated by hurling his sword towards Kyle. The blade pierced through the air and mercilessly pinned Kyle to a crumbling building.

Catching me off guard, I witnessed an dreadful sight. Strings of flesh emerged from both severed pieces of the Knight's wounded head, stretching and intertwining with one another. Slowly but surely, these threads began to draw the two dangling portions of the Knight's head together. Against all odds, the severed parts seamlessly rejoined, forming a unified whole once more. Though his helmet remained broken and cracked from my strike, the Knight's head had miraculously become whole again.

"What the fuck!".

[ (Not a part of Conrad's narration) The knight extended his hand, called back his sword, that was pinned to Kyle, as soon as the sword was removed, Kyle floated in the air, his body exuded a green glow as his wound closed, Kyle fainted, and the glow faded.]

The Knight called his blade back.

And then he repeated his words,

"Tresspassers, leave do not seek distortion".

Sheela scoffed with frustration, said,

"This is stupid".

Resigned and indifferent, she muttered,

"I don't care anymore".

Elkdrack furrowed his brow in confusion,

"Why is he saying the same thing over and over again?".

A tinge of fear laced Elkdrack's voice as he questioned,

"Is this a nightmare?".

As Elkdrack confidently declared,

"I won't be bested," he unleashed his attacks. With a fluid motion, he spun both axes in perfect synchrony, as he became enveloped in a faint green aura. The resulting whirlwind of deadly strikes emanated from him, aimed towards the Knight. However, the Knight effortlessly shifted from one stance to another, adeptly blocking each of Elkdrack's attacks with precision. And then, the Knight swiftly swung his sword in a wide arc, severing Elkdrack's head in a single, decisive blow.

[ (Not a part of Conrad's narration) As Elkdrack's head soared through the air, his body bathed in a radiant green glow. Miraculously, his head reattached itself to his body, while his wound began to close. The powerful rejuvenation completed its course, leaving Elkdrack's body lying gracefully on the snowy ground as the vibrant green glow gradually faded away.]

As Yuna completed her chanting, she spoke the words, as she emitted a faint green glow,

"Frozen Stasis."

In response, a swirling flurry of snow began to envelop the Knight, gradually transforming him into a magnificent statue of ice.

Observing the transformation, Sheela asked,

"Is it done?".

Her confusion evident, she continued,

"I don't understand anything".

"What the hell is going on".

"As If Some unseen entities are playing with us".

Yuna, still processing the extraordinary events unfolding before her, shared her thoughts,

"For all my years... I hadn't witnessed anything like this".

Yuna thought out loud,

"What is this forest?".

In response Keira sternly uttered,

"This is not the time for that," he swiftly placed his hand upon the snow-covered ground.

A tremor rippled through the earth, causing the ground to quake and shudder. A sight unfolded as an army of mighty Golems emerged from within the depths, their stone forms rising to seize the frozen Knight in an unyielding grip.

Undeterred, Keira acknowledged the insufficiency of this obstacle, asserting,

"This won't be enough to stop him."

Emilia, who had managed to free herself from the rubble, responded to Keira's signal and prepared herself. Her confidence etched across her face, she proclaimed,

"I will cut him into a million pieces."

The frozen statue trembled, sending ripples of vibrations through the air. Suddenly, before their very eyes, the statue shattered into countless fragments, leaving everyone in a state of shock. In a surreal and unsettling display, the Knight burst open, releasing black blood, inky liquid and flesh.

However, the unsettling sight was not yet over. In a matter of moments, an unsightly occurrence unfolded. Strings of flesh extended from each shattered piece of the Knight, intertwining and connecting with one another. Slowly and methodically, the strands pulled each piece together, seamlessly reconstructing the Knight as a complete entity once more.

Everyone was caught off-guard as a pungent scent of decay abruptly filled the air, overwhelming our senses. The Knight stood before us, his once-proud form now stripped bare, exposing the grotesque sight of rotting flesh. Insects and bugs crawled upon his decaying skin, their incessant movement creating a disturbing spectacle that left us in a state of shock and disgust. The ghastly creatures seemed to find solace within the decaying crevices of his body, emerging and disappearing in an unsettling dance.

His flesh bore the unmistakable signs of decomposition. His skin sagged, revealing patches of exposed bone and tissue. The sickly pallor of his complexion was marred by an unnatural, sickly gray hue, as if life had long abandoned his body.

Insects and bugs writhed upon his rotting flesh,

They crawled in and out of the decaying crevices, their tiny legs and wings adding an eerie movement to the already unsettling sight. From wriggling maggots to skittering beetles, the grotesque companions seemed to thrive within his deteriorating form, It was disgusting and terrifying at the same moment.

His eyes were hollow and sunken, Tattered remnants of armor clung to his skeletal frame.

Without wasting a moment, Keira swiftly commanded his Golems to encircle the Knight, their stone forms moving with purpose. As they closed in, they seized the Knight in a firm grip, temporarily immobilizing him. Meanwhile, Emilia propelled herself towards the captive Knight, ready to strike.

In a haunting crescendo, the Knight let out an anguished scream that echoed throughout the ruins. As the sound reverberated, snow cascaded from the roof of the crumbled buildings. The power of the scream also took its toll on Keira's Golems, causing them to splinter and crumble, their strength fading away.

As the Golems weakened and released their hold, the Knight, now free, seized the opportunity. With lightning-fast speed, he extended his hand, forcefully pushing Emilia back, causing her to thrash against the ground.

In a relentless surge of motion, the Knight lunged towards Keira without pause, catching him completely off guard. With a swift and brutal maneuver, the Knight seized Keira by the neck, effortlessly lifting him into the air. In a horrifying display of strength, he spun his sword with deadly precision, slicing through Keira's body and cleaving it into two halves, severing it at the waist.

As the sword cut through flesh and bone, Keira's innerds spilled out, accompanied by a gush of blood that painted the air in a gruesome red. The ghastly scene unfolded amidst the chilling backdrop of falling snow.

As Keira's lower half detached from the upper, a rush of urgency filled the air. Thor Gild, overcome with shock, sprinted to Keira's side, hoping to offer some form of aid. Meanwhile, Keira's lifeless body crumpled to the cold ground.

Keira was dead and gone, forever.