Chapter 22: Mission

Third Person's POV

For the last chance, Armann glanced at Astra once more to ensure her safety before turning his gaze forward. He walked towards the direction where the Overseer had gone, disappearing like a wisp of smoke.

In an instant, they arrived at a building that was pure white, located at the top of a mountain where you could overlook the city lights. Through the glass walls, they could see the beautiful scenery outside.

They continued walking, encountering other figures in black coats. They nodded respectfully to each other before carrying on with their tasks and strolling.

As they walked, Armann could only see the back of the Overseer. They walked aimlessly for what seemed like an eternity.

During their walk, Armann pondered why he was suddenly summoned by the Elderly. They were rarely seen inside the office, only the overseers knew and spoke with them.

Five years ago, the Elderly issued a command appointing Armann as the Guardian of Dreams. He was given no reason or warning. The only information provided to him was about a girl named Astra because of the balance of realm and dream world. At first, he was opposed to the decision and visited the headquarters daily to speak with the Elderly. But he failed to meet any of them, so he was forced to carry out their orders.

"Sir, do you know why they summoned me? Are they going to transfer me?" Armann's question shattered the silence, his words tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

"I have no idea what they're thinking. My role is simply to carry out their directives," replied the overseer coolly, stopping in front of the big door.

The door was made of gold and stood 12 feet tall. It was adorned with many carved symbols like feathers and circles around it.

The overseer knocked three times before entering the room. At first, Armann hesitated whether to follow, but he was eventually compelled to enter.

When he entered, he found the three elders seated at a long table, with an old man facing away from them, gazing out quietly at the city beyond the building. These were the Elders, also known as the Upper Hand, the highest authority above Armann who knows everything in this world. They were the figures closest to the Supreme Head, also known as the God and Goddesses.

Armann took his seat at the far end of the table, while the overseer stood at the right side of the Elderly.

"Good, you're finally here," Elderly Mundorus commented who's seated at the right side of the table. His hair was still black, but traces of white could be seen in his eyebrows and wrinkled skin, indicating his old age.

He is the youngest among the 3 Elderly. He is also known for his unbelievable ability as Amabil because he can turn dreams into reality.

"We're pleased that we finally met personally," Elderly Resias added, who is sitting on the left side of the table. Her hair was a mixture of white and black, and like the other Elderly, she also had wrinkled skin.

She is the most famous prophet in the real world and second of the Elderly. She was known for being Peniel because she can communicate to God and Goddesses.

"Why did you summon me? Are you finally deciding to transfer me?" Armann asked politely. Anxiety was evident on his face, but it couldn't match the excitement he felt, thinking he might be transferred, but he was mistaken.

"We're not going to transfer you. You're the perfect Guardian for her," replied the Elderly on the left, his voice carrying a tone of certainty.

"Yes, it's the right decision to send you to her," affirmed the Elderly on the right, nodding in agreement.

Laughter echoed off the walls, resonating through the spacious chamber as the Elderly on both sides of the table lavished Armann with praise. Their words were like gentle waves, washing over him, and their smiles radiated warmth, illuminating the room. In that moment, Armann felt a sense of validation and pride swell within him, mingled with a hint of uncertainty. He couldn't help but wonder about the significance of their decision and what lay ahead for him and the person he was tasked to protect.

As Armann listened to their words, a mix of emotions flooded through him. While part of him felt honored by their confidence in him, another part simmered with frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their decision than they were letting on.

"What? Do you really think it's the right decision to send me? I'm Armann, the messenger of dreams, not a babysitter for a weak girl who has Dissociation disorder!" he exclaimed angrily, causing the two Elderly to pause in surprise.

The old man, who had been looking outside, slowly turned his gaze towards Armann. He walked over to the middle of the table and sat down. His appearance showed extreme age; all his hair was white, including his eyebrows. His movements were slow, and his eyes were almost closed.

"Maybe perhaps we really made a mistake in choosing you as her Guardian," Elderly Phias murmured softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "We sent you to her 5 years ago, but until now, you still haven't noticed anything," he added.

He is the oldest Elderly alive. He has the ability to see someone's past, present and even future 10 years ahead.

Armann fell silent at the Elderly's words. He realized they were right because every time he submitted a report, it was always about the Grim Reaper and nothing else.

"Tell me! Why do we have to protect that individual?" Armann questioned with a hint of arrogance. Among the many queries swirling in his mind, this one caught his curiosity the most.

"Because she holds the key to preserving the balance between the real world and the realm of dreams. Yet, she also possesses the potential to ruin it," Elderly Phias responded, his voice tinged with a sense of solemnity.

"What do you mean?" Armann furrowed his brow, trying to grasp the significance of the Elderly's words.

When Armann first began his duty as a guardian for Astra, he pondered over the various reasons why she needed protection. One of his thoughts revolved around Astra's significant role in their lives, but not as a threat to them.

"Astra possesses unique qualities that are rare for our kind. Initially, we thought of her as merely a Darsha, but while growing up we realized that she has the capability to transform and become an Aisling," the Elderly Resias explained.

At this point, Armann's ears pricked up upon hearing the word 'Aisling.' He only knew people that are classified as 'Dark Aisling' but not Aisling only. The Elderly refrained from using the term "Dark Aisling" because it was still uncertain whether Astra's use of her abilities was harmful, as she was yet to fully understand it. However, if she were to fall into the wrong hands, she would pose a significant threat to everyone.

"But why me? There are plenty stronger than I am, so why have you chosen me to protect her?" Armann questioned once more, his confusion evident in his voice.

"Because only you possess the ability to wield the Purple Nightmare. You alone can protect Astra not only from the Reaper but also from Nyx," replied by another Elderly. Their words hung heavy in the air, loaded with the weight of responsibility. It was a revelation that stirred a mixture of emotions within Armann, leaving him to struggle coping with the newfound knowledge of his unique role in safeguarding Astra from potential danger.

Armann felt a surge of fear and disbelief wash over him upon hearing the name. While not entirely familiar with all the details, he recognized the significance of the name. Nyx was a figure known to many superhumans, including Armann himself.

The Overseer, with measured steps, made his way to a small table beside him before turning towards Armann. Each footfall echoed in the chamber, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation. With every passing moment, Armann's heart pounded louder in his chest as he awaited the Overseer's next words, uncertain of what revelations or challenges lay ahead.

The Overseer placed a white folder and an old book in front of Armann, arousing his curiosity. Armann glanced at the Overseer, his eyes silently questioning. With a subtle nod, the Overseer gestured for him to inspect the items he had placed before returning to his position behind the Elderly.

Despite being nervous, Armann forced himself to reach for the folder and opened it slowly. Inside, he found a single piece of paper bearing a familiar image of a dark, humanoid figure. It seemed almost ghostly, with its ethereal appearance suspended in midair, yet its features distinctly outlined the shape of a person.

"We called you here because of the report you submitted last week," Elderly Mundorus began again, breaking the silence.

"We noticed that in each of your reports, there's a humanoid figure present. At first, we thought it was just a shadow, so we decided to investigate further. However, in your last report, we realized that this was no ordinary occurrence; there was something unusual about it," Elderly Phias added.

The Elderly explained everything to Armann, ensuring he understood all the details and implications of their discovery.

After their conversation, Armann left the building feeling unsettled. He couldn't shake the events of the meeting from his mind, replaying the information over and over again in his head.

As time passed, Armann began to process everything and eventually made the decision to return home. Perhaps, he reasoned, the Reaper wouldn't attack Astra again for the time being.

~ To be Continued ~