forum GateWorld: Keepers of the Gates//7/8//Group Rp//

Started April 10, 2021 by @StarkSpangledMayflower_Mad_Elder

tune

(Forgot I had two characters for a moment-)
Nicole fiddled with her ear piercings nervously. She didn't like this.
Her father had left for an emergency call to work, leaving her with her books and staff.
"Always having to work…always leaving for emergencies…" She whispered to herself.

Nicole jumped at a loud crash. It had sounded like glass, from the kitchen.
"The hell?" She inched forward, brandishing her staff.
"Who's there?" Nicole said, opening the door.

A slithering voice responded. "No one."

Nicole frowned. "Okay, come out. Now." She said.
No one came out, infuriating Nicole.
"Fine, I'll come to you." She looked around the corner, getting hit over the head with the coffee pot, which shattered on impact. "OW. UNNECESSARY."

She couldn't see much. It was all blurry, spinning. Nicole could see a dark figure though, who blocked the light. "Where…who…" She muttered.

The figure shushed her. "Be quiet…it'll make your death quieter, calmer." It said.

Nicole panicked, letting out a scream. "LET ME GO! DAD! HELP" She kicked at the figure, fighting through the pain in her head.

All went silent as a blade slipped into Nicole's chest. She tried to cry for help, but couldn't.
"That's it…quiet…calm…" The figure said.

It left, climbing out the window it broke and left Nicole to her fate.
__________________

Nicole gasped for air. "Dad!" She yelled.
But…something was different. This wasn't her house. It was a garden.
She looked behind her, seeing a door, filled with carvings of birds, and bird nests on the top of it.
"The hell…?" Nicole muttered as she got up, brushing herself off. Her clothes were the same, and they didn't have a hole or bloodstains on them.
It was a win in her book.
She looked around, listening to the birds, feeling the dirt and stones under her feet.
"Hello? Anyone there?"

Destiny walked around in paces as her sister Luz looked up at her from the nut chair she was sitting on. Axel was nowhere to be found, and it was worrying Destiny. For a minute, she thought she could leave to search for her brother, but then remembered she had a sister to take care of. "Well, there isn't anyone I can ask to take care of her. And even if I do find him, what if he's dead?" She mumbled to herself. Axel had a bit of a rivalry with Grindel, the elf. Okay, maybe a bit of a rivalry wasn't the right word. She constantly found her brother trying to murder Grindel, which she would always somehow manage to stop. Axel kept telling her it was because Grindel fancied her, but she highly doubted it. And if that was indeed the case, well…she just hoped something could happen to Grindel before he managed to speak a word to her. But what if Axel had succeeded this time? What if that's why he wasn't at their house? Her wings fluttered like crazy and Luz sighed.

"Go on. Go find our brother. I can take perfectly good care of myself, you know." She said as she shot her older sister a smile. "I know how to defend myself after all. I did learn from the best."

Destiny hesitated and looked at her sister. "Are you sure? It would devastate me if anything bad happened to you. Or Axel."

"Which is why you need to go find him!" She yelled. Destiny flinched when her sister yelled and Luz sighed "I'm sorry, I yelled. But you need to go find Axel as soon as possible. That nasty elf might have done something to him."

Destiny nodded as she walked to Luz. She engulfed her sister in a hug, and she knew Luz was struggling to get out, but she didn't care. She hoped that she would be able to return with their brother safely. She whispered goodbye and set off to look for her brother. It didn't take a long time to find Axel, as his loud screaming could be heard from miles away. She stopped in midair as she heard her brother scream. It wasn't a normal scream….she quickly noticed that Axel was screaming in pain and quickly flew down.

What she saw was horrible. Her brother was trying to stand up, and he was covered in blood. For Pluto's sakes She thought to herself. She didn't know if that was Fairy or Elf blood that her brother was covered in. She hoped it was the latter. Axel was clutching a dagger as he ran towards Grindel and stabbed him on his side. Grindel let out a scream, and let out a stream of swears towards Axel. "You'll pay for that, you filthy piece of a fairy!"

Grindel growled as the fingers around his spear tightened. He was about to throw the spear at Axel's wings when Destiny yelled "STOP! BOTH OF YOU!' Axel looked up as her sister made her way to the ground. Grindel smirked when he saw Destiny. "Why is it always the both of you trying to kill each other. Why can't you live in peace, for Pluto's sake?"

"Grindel started it! He was talking shit about us. I wasn't about to let him badmouth our family." Axel said angrily as he crossed his arms. He sent a threatening glare at Grindel who still had the spear in his hands. Destiny sighed and shook her head. "That gives you no right to start another fight. Couldn't you just ignore him?"

"Ignore that stupid elf? It's impossible!" Axel said. "Either way, it isn't like he would be able to fight. I gave him more injuries than he gave me."

Grindel laughed bitterly as he threw his spear at Axel. Destiny moved in front of him and the spear stabbed her on the side of her stomach. She hissed in pain as she gently took out the spear and clutched her injured side. The elf gasped softly as he stumbled backward. He had promised himself he would never hurt Destiny, and yet he had done the very thing he swore not to do. He looked around and disappeared into the trees. Axel could be heard saying "Coward! You and your kind are cowards!"

Destiny collapsed to the ground and she closed her eyes in pain. This was it. This was how she was going to die. To a stupid elf and his spear. She tightly grasped the spear in her hands as she passed out. An extremely bright light shone on her and she mumbled something. She opened her eyes and a black-cloaked figure looked down at her. She couldn't make out anything since her vision was blurry. "Axel? Is that you?" She cried out weakly.

"Come on, silly girl. Get up. There's work to do." The voice responded. To her surprise, it wasn't Axel who had responded. The figure helped her get up, and now that her vision was back to normal she could she was no longer in the forest where her brother and Grindel were fighting.

She was in a garden and behind her was a wooden door with a cobblestone frame with moss, mushrooms, and shrubs surrounding it. She looked at her side and noticed that it was healed. Her clothes were the same, but when she touched her head, a flower crown was in place. She carefully took it off and inspected the colorful crown. The black-cloaked figure took the crown out of her hand and placed it back on Destiny's head. The figure smiled at her and she looked up at the figure speechless. Her fingers around the bloody spear loosened a bit. "Where in the world am I?"

(Aa ok sorry I've been pulling a lot of all-nighters to get my grades up before conferences so I haven't had the brain power to write for fun but I am here (I hate school sometimes t-t))

August was running. Again. It seemed to be a consistent part of his life now, for him to get chased by someone. Today it was different, though. He had no idea who was chasing him this time. As he bolted through the streets, winding through small crowds, he briefly mulled over who it could be that was after him. Definitely someone tall. Definitely someone running at him with a knife. Maybe it was the mafia. They were usually subtler than this, but one never knew. He tried to think over the list of people he'd cheated recently, but no one he could remember had fit the picture of the person trailing him.

"Hey, Alexei," he panted at the skeletal bird clinging to his shoulder, "got any bright ideas?" The bird did not, and August didn't have time to have a heart-to-heart with him about his recent lack of planning skills. Alexei rattled faintly as August turned corner after corner.

"You're already dead, dumbass," he told the bird. "It's my ass we're worried about, here." August turned down another street, and was abruptly faced with a dead end. "Shit." He was trapped in a small alleyway now, and there didn't seem to be any viable way out. He started running back the way he came, hoping for an escape, only to see the figure turn into the alleyway and run at him.

"Woah!" August laughed nervously as his persuer came to a stop in front of him, blade held high. "I'm sure we can talk about this. I've got some great connections with the uh, with the crime- the criminal side of town, you know what I mean, I can get you a favor or some money or hell, I'm not above drug deals. Just name your price," he smiled, speaking far more quickly than he'd intended to.

The man in front of him was very clearly unimpressed. "I need your head, severed from the rest of your body," he stated, seeming almost bored.

"Shit, ok, I mean I'm uh- I'm definitely actually using this head right now, I'm sure there's another head you could find though, lots of people in this city, so many heads, infinite brains! My head's really nothing special, just a pretty trophy, you know, I'm sure you could find one with a lot more-" the man stepped closer. "Okay, fuck, this is exactly what my mom said was going to happen. I've got this bird! I can reanimate shit! I'm useful, there's really no need to-" the man had clearly grown tired of August, as he abruptly stabbed him directly in the chest.

"Ow, fuck," August exhaled with an immensely labored breath. The blade was pulled from his chest, and was then drawn across his throat in a swift motion that immediately ended his life. He'd always known it would end this way; he just hadn't expected it to be so soon.

August had quickly come to terms with the fact that he was dead. It was a fate that he'd been anticipating his whole life, and at least his death had been dramatic. Just how he'd always hoped it would be. He smiled and opened his eyes, expecting to wake up floating on a cloud or standing in front of the pits of hell. He was disappointed.

"Hey uh, what the fuck?" He called loudly to anyone who might be around to hear him.

(Sorry all! Simon, august saying "ow, fuck" before dying is a mood if I ever seen one lmao)

Sparrow walked a couple steps further and jumped when she saw more confused people standing in front of gates, each one different than the rest. "Either I'm dreaming or I'm dead." She muttered, taking in all the winged creatures and then some. "Hey, who are y'all and what am I doing here?" She said, drawing the knives in her skirt and spinning them on its chain.

Although she knew that she was in a garden, Sparrow couldn't understand where she was. If there was one thing made clear, it was that this garden wasn't on earth anymore, and yet there were birds singing. Slowly, testing the reactions of those around her, Sparrow continued to the middle of the Gates where there were 8 seats, almost thrones, similar to the different gates. She stopped spinning the knife and let it fall back against her leg, flowing slightly and circling the center. "What the fuck?" She murmured, standing in front of a seat that was made of stone and vines with metal decorating the back rest and the arms. She tentatively took a seat and felt the seat move, fitting her frame better so that her feet were just hovering off the ground and the back was tall enough that her head was cushioned by it.

Nicole nodded at Sparrow, following her lead, sitting gingerly on the throne that was closest to her.
"Urm, well. I'm Nicole. And I'm in the same boat you are." She replied.
Her own throne moved as well, moving to be able to contain her wings.
The birds on the Gate chirped, hopping around. The height increased, towering over a few of the others. "How did you get here? I got killed and now I'm here." Nicole rubbed the back of her neck, twirling her staff.
"Fuck, what a way to introduce myself…" She muttered, looking around. Her back eased into the back of the throne, letting her relax after her ~traumatic~ experience.

Lance blinked. These people apparently spoke the same language. And the winged person, Nicole he believed, came here the same way he did.
Death.
"Lance Ulric Forester." He said, standing up. "Tell me how you managed to get here, one in the dress. Unless you don't want to, of course." Lance was being very polite and watching himself so he wasn't rude.
The Code demanded this.
"Should we be sitting in these thrones? What if they're trapped, or have a spell on them? We could be killed by a stray Fireball if we do."

"Sparrow, my name is Sparrow. And like you, I came here because I died. I was stabbed and thrown from a high rooftop." She shifted her position to lay on the arms, her legs dangling off the side, and realized that the metal decor had moved so it wouldn't stab her. "I assume we aren't from the same places, where I come from we don't have magic or winged beings. And this must be a place of magic because we can all understand each other." She bit her lip in thought.

The few others around the circle seemed to be hesitant. Sparrow ignored them and gazed at the last gate. It was a fancy cement wall with many architectural details and designs. Right in the middle was a black shadow-y portal. It looked similar to a galaxy being sucked into a black hole and being blended at the same time. The dark colours moved and swayed hypnotically, beckoning.

Sparrow stood and slowly walked over to it. It was the last gateway and no one had stood in front if it, it seemed no one would be coming.

"Master, one approaches, she is coming to weaken the gateway!" A black avain flew and perched on top a pedestal, a few steps away from a crumbling, silver throne. "Let her come, one touch is all it takes." A deep voice called from the throne. "Let her be the bringer of pain."

Only steps away from the gate, Sparrow raised her hand to touch the colours. "Do not move any further child, you will ruin us all." A melodious voice spoke from around them. Sparrow stopped a breath away from the gate, the colours swirling and dancing. She looked back at the others, not seeing the portal inch closer and touch her hand. "Who, or what, said that?" She asked, turning and walking back to the group.

August looked around confusedly. He could swear his eyes had spent the last several minutes adjusting to the light. It wasn't even that bright, for fuck's sake. And now there was all this fucking angel, magic bullshit, which was just- a voice came from everywhere. "God? Is that you?" He panicked for a brief moment, and immediately got to his feet. He'd never believed in any sort of religious system, was this now coming back to bite him in the ass? "I've always believed in gods, my whole life, very devout, crystal stairways and- uh, offerings, and all that," he smiled nervously. "This heaven shit, that is the place for me."

(There is a long section here of a little bit of Sparrow's backstory. You're welcome to skip over it but you can read it if you want.)

The melodious voice returned, this time laughing. "Nay, not God child, that is just one of our many responsibilities." The voice became clearer and came from one place, beside the place of one if the doorways. "I am Arusyll, you may call me Aru. I am the guardian of Germyziak. Thalassa is from there. I am a water Nymph and I share some of my abilities with the sirens that live in my realm of origin, that is why it seems like I am singing whenever I speak." She said, humming at the end.

Aru looked very beautiful. She has beautiful light grey skin with a blue undertone, fin-shaped ears, and deep purple eyes, there was no pupil. Aru had a curvy body with a round face and long ash blonde hair. Her hair was styled in a way that reminded Sparrow of Yue from Avatar. Aru noticed Sparrow looking at her and waved with a webbed hand.

"I am one of 7 guardians, each from a realm that one of you have come from, each to protect a realm." Aru explained. "OK, that's good for you. Why the fuck are we here?" Sparrow asked. Aru looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Where I'm from, we do not interrupt. I see that isn't the case where you're from? Regardless, the reason you are here is because you are here to replace us as the new guardians." Sparrow opened her mouth to ask a question but was silence by Aru putting a hand over her mouth. "To answer your unasked question, you were chosen because you posses a skill important to us. And because you passed a test we put for you. You each were protecting someone or something dear to you, or you were transporting something important, or you were on the run from something or someone that did something that went against your principles. This is why you were chosen."

Right as Aru stopped speaking, Sparrow thought back to see what could have possibly contributed to her being chosen. She gasped once she realized. "Was that one of you who–" her question was answered by Aru nodding with a smile.

(⚠️⚠️Trigger warning⚠️ ⚠️)
(Some hidden mention of assault and child abuse)

It was joyful in the bar Sparrow was in. She had received word that her services were needed by a man at this bar and she was waiting in the back, her cloak around her shoulders and the hood up. A cloak was an odd thing to wear in a time such as this, there were cars and phones and animated movies in theatres, the time of cloaks was long ago. But to Sparrow they were a needed accessory for when she did missions, they served as a blanket and a tent, as well as a great camouflage in the forest.
~~
It was her cloak, however, that let her customer know who and where she was. It was no surprise when a man tossed and envelope on her table as well as a room key. Sparrow knocked back the rest of her drink and followed shortly after. The room was on the 3rd floor with a stunning view of the city this evening. "What do you need me to do?" She asked, lowering her voice to stay safe from anyone listening. "I need you to move these two packages. Urgently. I can pay double your asking amount." Sparrow whistled. "Not many can afford that amount. What's in them?" The man opened the closet and out came a young bruised boy with a bandaged wrist. Following him was a young girl, older and taller than him, but thin and bruised. Sparrow looked her up and down and grit her teeth, the placement of the bruises told her that the girl was getting abused by the man in front of her in more than one way.
~~
"I don't do human trafficking. Find someone else." She spat. "I'll triple your asking amount." She stopped. Triple the original amount was enough to buy her a brand new house. "Where are they going?" She asked without turning around. The man chuckled lowly. The sound of a match being lit and the smell of smoke made her turn around. "Across the country to be placed on a boat to an island an hour away from there." She laughed darkly. "Triple the amount isn't enough to do all that. Make it five times that and I'll think about it. Who are they anyways?" The man glanced at them and flicked the ashes of his cigar. "She's my…." he paused, looking Sparrow in the eye with a nasty smile. "Stolen wife. And he's our son, isn't the right baby?" The girl nodded quickly. "Five times the amount is a done deal. I know your rules sweetheart, I'm glad you broke this one for me." Sparrow smiled at him. "I'll need the money before we leave."
~~
"Quick! Hurry up, he's gaining!" Sparrow yelled. They ran across the runway strip and jumped into the helicopter seconds before the man reached them. Sparrow tossed a peice of paper out of the door before closing it in mid air. Better luck next time asshole the note read
~~
"Take this bird with you. I have it's pair. Anytime you need me or are in trouble. Send a note with him and I'll find you." She told the girl and her son. "Dont worry about me, if he comes after me, I'll kill him. Take the money and go, I have no use for it." She kissed the boy's forehead and gave the captain the go-ahead, they were on their way to a small but safe island.
~~
Sparrow managed to dodge her pursuer for days but she had trained with him, he knew all her tricks. He finally caught up to her and took revenge, for himself and for the man, who's child-bride and son he had saved from his clutches.

That was why she had been chosen. Sparrow raised a hand to her neck and sighed in relief, the necklace that she was given as thanks from the girl was still there, along with the bracelet her son had given her. With tears in her eyes she looked at Aru who smiled warmly at her before leaving her to her thoughts and moving to another person.

Lance eyebrow raised slightly at the appearance of the 'Guardian', but said nothing. However, he did kneel, as was usually a good idea when a powerful being was with you, or speaking to you.
"Milady, may I ask why there isn't any others? If you are who you say you are, then shouldn't there be multiple Guardians?" He asked looking up at the Siren.
Even for his strange life, this was…stranger. Usually, it was just a Sorceress, or a Wizard, but being summoned to a strange place after dying? This was truly unorthodox.
"And are the thrones trapped?" Lance asked, shifting in his new armor.
It wasn't uncomfortable, just…not his usual armor.

Nicole leaned forward, only paying the closest attention.
"Realms? You mean there are other worlds? Cause I know about that. My kind decides the fate of them a lot." She supplied helpfully, or at Nicole hoped it was helpful.
"Though, Mr. Guy in Armor has a point. Where are the others?"

"I suppose they have better things to do than to meet us," Destiny drawled. Her eyes were filled with mistrust and she clutched the spear tighter, leaving her hand white. Her eyes seemed to twinkle in the sunlight, as she eyed the strangers around her, and of course, the guardians. Or at least the one single guardian. "New guardians?" Destiny asked, surprised. "Why would you possibly need new guardians….no that doesn't matter. What matters is for me to return home. I have a little sister to take care of and a twin brother I have to scold for his stupid decisions of starting a fight with an Elf. So, if you or any of the other guardians would be so kind as to return me home, I would be very… honored."

It's worth a shot. Destiny mused. But deep inside, she knew the guardians wouldn't let her return home. Why would they, when she, like the others, had passed their stupid tests with flying colors? The other beings, some of who had wings and others who didn't, didn't look exactly pleased to be here. Destiny was starting to lose her patience, and a fairy with a spear was a dangerous thing. Especially one that wasn't exactly emotionally stable.

(Shortly turned into 15 hours later heh)

Aru faced Destiny and smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry child, there is much you will be able to do, go back home to your lives is not one of them. You will be able to visit your homes, but you will be unseen and unheard by those around you. That is, until you can be trusted with that power. as for the other guardians," Aru turned to Lance, "They should be arriving soon. you do not need to kneel, we are unlike gods, we are protectors and we serve those we protect. Nicole, I know that you will have some experience in this matter, having been protecting the planets and stellar systems in your realm, Dart will be pleased to have such a bright protégé." Aru smiled and went to stand next to the throne in front of Thalassa, it had been hers sometime ago, but it was time to pass it to someone better suited.

"Arusyll, I thought we agreed to come to the guardians together. Why must you do your own thing so often?" A deep voice boomed from all around them. Sparrow did the logical thing and flinched, holding her daggers at the ready. "Because too many new things at once could kill them a second time." Aru responded, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Like the way Aru appeared to the guardians, 6 more figures came out from a bright light, each one dressed differently form the other but wearing something familiar to the new guardians. "You speak a truth my dear, but you know that Luzzen thrives when following a schedule, one of his abilities is rewinding time." A feminine voice spoke from the side. The owner of the voice came forward and bowed lightly at the waist. "I am Selene, the Fae guardian of the Arsxaen realm, your mentor." She looked to Destiny as she spoke, walking to her throne and placing a hand on it. The rest of the guardians walked to their respective thrones.

The deep voice that had spoken earlier came from beside August this time. "I suppose like Arusyll and Selene I should introduce myself. I am Luzzen, guardian of the Saiorin realm and this one's mentor." He gestured to August. "I am a crystal mage who uses time crystals most often. I can rewind time wherever I am except here." Once he finished speaking, the one beside Nicole gave an introduction. "I will be your mentor, my name is D'artagnan but you may call me Dart. I have a scar and an eyepatch but do not let that faze you, I am far kinder than Luz there." He smiled at the group.

Luzzen only snorted at the nickname, choosing instead to look at the next guardian, or guardians. "I am Maddox and this is Percy. We are twin souls though we are from different realms." She spoke. The one who was silent, Percy, took over, "Maddox is from Meydea and I am from Avalon. Yes, I am the original goddess Persephone reincarnated. In times like these, the Olympians are no longer what they once were so I accepted this chance to be a guardian. I am retiring now that you have been selected." She smiled at Sparrow. "Our two realms are connected closer than any of the other 6, almost tied with Luz's realm." Maddox brought out her wand as Percy kept speaking. "Maddox is a sorceress who was trained under a wizard for long, and I was a god in Avalon. I will mentor you and Maddox will mentor Lance."

The last one to speak had large horns sitting on his head like a crown, coming out by his ears and resting on top of his head. "I am Leyfei, the Fallen angel and mentor to Luciano. I can have you do whatever I want outside of this place. Do not cross me." He grinned widely, sharp, pointed teeth glinting in the light. Leyfei settled back on top of the chair Luciano was to be seated at, perched on the back rest like a bird.

(Just a guide on how to pronounce their names:)
Arusyll:- AROO-seal
(Likes to be called Aru, is the Guardian of Germyziak)

Selene:- se-le-neigh
(Is usually calm and collected, the voice of reason and the peacemaker between Aru and Luz, Guardian of Arsxaen)

D'artagnan:- DAR-tan-yun
(Likes his names but it can be hard to say so he doesn't mind being called Dart, Guardian of Sollaerys)

Luzzen:- LOOZ-zen
(You can call him Luz if he likes you, or if you don't care that he will curse you with his magic, Guardian of Saiorin)

Persephone:- Per-sef-oney
(The original greek Goddess(Don't judge, I had no ideas for a new celestial being), prefers to go by Percy, Guardian of Avalon)

Maddox:- MA-dox
(A little timid, likes the nickname Maddi, it was the last thing given to her by her older brother before she left, Guardian of Meydea)

Leyfei:- LAY-FAE
(Likes the nicknames Fei, Lei, or Stitch(Claims to be just as lovable as the alien from the movie Percy showed him) Chaotic Neutral, serves himself but is tied by duty to be a guardian, is loyal if you are loyal to him, fiercely protective of those under his care, Guardian of Haos-Aseley)

Nicole jumped at the voice, looking at Dart. "Um, okay. I'm Nicole Harlow. Nice to meet you sir."
She smiled nervously, sliding off the throne. "I, um, suppose you should get to keep the throne, since I'm not a Guardian, right?"
The Ru'nay'l gulped, hoping she would be able to keep up, and manage to be a good apprentice. Generally, she didn't trust random people who just appeared, but something about Dart felt…warm. Comforting. Nicole started trying to calm herself, noting details about Dart.
He had chocolate brown skin, and hazel eyes. His black hair was wild, unkempt, but still oddly charming. Dart's jaw wasn't jutting out, but rather spread out, giving him the appearance that he was smiling even still.
"Well, urm, Dart." She started awkwardly. "What um…what are we going to do? And why were we chosen?"

Lance stood up and smiled at Maddox. "It would be an honor to apprentice under you. Allow me to introduce myself." He said, clearing his throat.
"I am Lance Ulric Forester, Knight, protector of Warlimeet, and werewolf." Lance held his hand out to shake Maddox'.
"I bare before you my soul and honor. It's the only thing I can offer to repay you for this kindness. I get the feeling that that's the only thing we all can offer, considering our circumstances."

(Yeah lol-)
(Ack short)

Destiny sighed as she passed a hand through her purple hair. She looked at the door she had come from longingly. She wished for nothing more than to return home and spend time with her loved ones. What happened to her body back home? Did it disappear, or would Axel consider her body dead? She didn't want to leave Luz with Axel for too long, because she knew it wouldn't take long before he got into trouble again. She turned to her mentor and gave her a weak smile. "I'm Destiny Moonray, it's nice to meet you."

She noticed Selene dart her eyes towards the slightly bloody spear, and raised an eyebrow as if asking her how she got it. "Long story," Destiny quickly replied. Now that she could see her guardian, she had to say that there was something about her that screamed out royal. Her long brown hair was styled quite….elegantly. And she recognized pain in her mentor's blue eyes. Her light skin seemed to glimmer in the garden, as the rays of the sun hit her. Destiny had to admit that her appearance was breathtaking. And while she felt out of place due to her casual outfit, she knew that her mentor would help her out through this (forced) journey she was about to embark.

(Why do I get the feeling that Sparrow and Lance would not get along at all? I know she would find his manner of speaking insufferable 😅😂)

(He's just trying to be polite to the Guardians-)
(Generally he's a lot less…Shakespearean)

"Wait, Aru said there were 7 guardians other than her. I see only 6 others, where is the seventh?" Sparrow asked. Immediately Luzzen cursed in a strange language and turned to Selene. "How are you going to vouch for her here? They were not to be told about The Nightmare until they had been trained! They have only found out they died and are now guardians of 8 massive realms, we can't tell them the fate of these realms rests on their shoulders!" He glared at Aru who looked as though she wanted to be anywhere but here. Sparrow looked around with wide eyes. "We—What?"

(apparently today meant in two weeks later-)

Thalassa blinked at the woman who was to be her mentor. Her brain could not keep up with processing this. Just minutes ago, she'd been trying to defend her family's meager dwellings from some robbers, getting killed in the process and winding up here? It was bizarre. She couldn't stop trailing her fingers across her neck where she'd been stabbed. There wasn't even a mark. And now she was supposed to inherit the title of guardian for her entire realm? When she hadn't even been able to defend against a couple of mere robbers. Surely if these beings were as all-powerful as they seemed, they would know this.

She ran her fingers through her hair nervously. Just what was with this place? She shifted nervously. It was all so overwhelming. Thalassa glanced around at the others, trying to figure out if they were just as anxious as she was. "So are we truly dead then?" she asked after a moment. "Are we like spirits now, or some such being?"

Meanwhile, Luciano was too busy looking around the garden to really think deeply about what was happening. It was a very nice garden, and he was sure that he looked very nice in his admittedly strange outfit. It draped over his figure wonderfully from what he could tell. Of course, he hadn't been entirely ignoring what the realm guardians said. In fact, as the fallen angel man went near him, all Luciano could think about was Theo. He'd have been the much better choice. Theo was much more emotional and caring, he was more reckless and cared more about his family than anything. Of course, Theo was also a playboy with a habit of getting into trouble, but everyone had their flaws.

Luciano wasn't sure what would come from this whole thing, but they were starting to get intrigued. Maybe they could really figure out what was happening from the man near them? Though how they would go about doing that was quite the mystery. They frowned in thought. "You can manipulate people's minds then?" they asked their so-called mentor, raising an eyebrow.