The Path of the Warden

Writers note: While reading this you should listen to the prompted music for the best effect. ******_Calm forest_https://youtu.be/hlWiI4xVXKY******
It was a warm and beautiful summer day in the city of Eln Serine.
For many, this was just another beautiful summer day to enjoy, but for others it were a day of sorrow and remembrance.


Just on the outskirts of the city is a place called The Starmeadow. It is a beautiful grove filled with light blue and star shaped flowers together small stone plaques; strewn all about.
If you were to visit this place on this particular day of the year, you might notice a single elf sitting in front of 2 of these vibrant flowers next to a modest stone plaque. A peculiar sight as he is sitting in ornate elven plate armor, slowly talking to the flowers; with a small sad smile on his lips.
This elf would be here to find every single year, on the same day, for the last 200 years. This elf, is Karitah Storm, telling his parents how his year has went.


As midday arrives and the sun is at its highest, Karitah is disturbed in his narration as a large blue butterfly lands on the small stone plaque next to the flowers.
Karitah, doing a double take, looked at the butterfly to be sure that he wasn't getting heatstroke and had started to see things. Sure enough, in front of him was a Goddess Butterfly .
For a minute or two they just stared at each other before the butterfly got up and started to fly away.
"I'll... Be right back" Karitah said to the flowers, as he slowly stood up and followed the butterfly away from The Starmeadow.
******_Zen Waterfall_https://youtu.be/V1RPi2MYptM******
He followed the butterfly for some time, and slowly the audible sound of a gentle waterfall could be heard, as they both arrived at The Radiant Waterfall.

RADIANT WATERFALL.jpg

by Spellarena

Momentarily stunned by the beauty he saw before him, Karitah almost lost sight of the butterfly, as it landed on the bridge facing the waterfall. He was confused about why it had brought him here, but smiled nevertheless and slowly approached the butterfly.
"So. Is this what you wanted to show me? A monument of an old protector of Chitara Woodland?"
The butterfly did of course not answer to the question, but instead started to crawl towards the monument; out into thin air. And it was standing still in thin air! Not using its wings to stay afloat.
It turned around towards Karitah, almost challenging, and then started moving from one invisible step to another, slowly going towards the top of the monument.
Karitah, as a person, was very much not fond of the water below and the prospect of falling into it was very unpleasant to him, yet he couldn't let himself be beaten by a butterfly now could he?


Steeling himself, he climbed onto the railing of the bridge, took a deep breath and took a leap of faith. And sure enough; he did not fall.
Right beneath his feet were small shimmering specs of light, keeping him from plummeting into the unpleasant watery bellow.
Letting out the breath he was holding and feeling the thump of his heart, he looked towards the monument top and started to climb.
He came to rest at the clasped hands of the monument. Looking around he spotted the butterfly resting on the front of monuments face.
Something... Was off when he looked at the monument. Studying it closer revealed two glowing eyes beneath the helmet of the monument. Quickly taken by surprise, Karitah moved to draw his sword, but before doing so his world faded to black.
******_I Remember You_https://youtu.be/WOpdGzMbnDI Listen until 1.33 before reading on.******
When the unconsciousness faded, Karitah found himself laying in the soft grass of a forest; looking up into a pleasant blue sky with an ever moving sun.
Slowly sitting up and looking himself over he saw he was unharmed but missing all his equipment and only wearing simple clothes.
Furthermore.. The world seamed much bigger. Or so he thought, until he realized that it was him that were smaller. He was a child again.
Confused by these turns of events he started looking around for his stuff, but instead spotted the butterfly, slowly flying in circles by a path leading further into the forest.
"What's so important for you to show me, that you go through the trouble of bringing me here?" Karitah thought to himself.
He got up and followed the butterfly for a time, while taking notice of his surroundings slowly changing into a small clearing.

As he entered the clearing he heard his own voice say from somewhere:
“When I was little, I was scared of monsters.. Yet I thought I thought we always would be safe.. Because we had him.”
Shortly after, he spotted a large monster of pure darkness and hatred slowly approaching a covering woman.. No.. Not any woman.. His mother!

Wardens path 1.PNG

by CzePeku

“One night.. In a room, all by herself.. A monster stood before a woman.. She knew there was nothing she could do...”
Utterly panicked Karitah rushed forward, screaming at the top of his lungs for her to run away! On the way he spotted a broken sword on the ground, that he picked up as he threw himself at the monster, swinging with all his might!... But.. The grass came alive and bound him still.. As he was rendered helpless, he could only watch in horror as the monster descended upon his mother.
“She prayed and hoped.. Yet nobody came.. And she was slain by the monster..”
Shortly after his mother and the monster were no more, and he was dropped to the ground, tears streaming down his face while breathing heavily.
Again his own voice rang out from somewhere and said:
"I swore and oath that day...."
Karitah shakenly got to his feet and looked at the large stone slab, where his mother just moment ago were covering against. Bold words were emblazed upon it and as every time before, these words kept him going, no matter what.
"I WILL PROTECT THE WEAK AND INNOCENT FROM DARKNESS AND MONSTERS."
Filled with a fiery determination he left the clearing and followed the butterfly further into the forest.


After following the butterfly for some time, the forest slowly broke away to a tall mountain. The top was hidden by clouds and a storm was brewing at the top.

Wardens path 2.PNG

In front of him was a pathway leading up the side of the mountain. A large circular stone gate was on the pathway, bearing the words:
"How much are you willing to sacrifice to reach your goal?".
"Everything" was Karitah's quick answer. As the words were spoken, the butterfly flew forward up the pathway and Karitah was quickly to follow.


After walking for about an hour he came across another stone gate. This one bearing the words:
"Be prepared to hear your last sound".
Karitah stopped, for but a second, before pressing on; up the pathway. As he passed the gate, everything instantly became quiet. The rushing flow of the wind, the sound of his feet on the ground, the sound of his breath as he walked.. All were gone.. Taking a deep breath Karitah pressed on.


Another hour passed and yet another gate appeared. This one said:
"Be prepared to see your final colour".
Karitah looked out over the forest, taking in the colours for the last time. "Darkness and monsters will be the same, colour or not." He thought as he moved forward.
Closing his eyes as he passed the gate, he opened them to find the world a silent and monochromatic place. All the colour that gave life to the world were gone from his vision. But he did not falter. Taking a deep breath Karitah pressed on.


Yet another hour and the third gate appeared. This one carrying a much higher price as it said:
"Be prepared to take your final breath".
The butterfly had landed on the gate, and seemed to look at Karitah expectantly. Karitah looked up towards the top of the mountain, not far away now. He could make it. He had to. Slowly he got to right in front of the gate and stopped.
He took a minute to appreciate the silent rush of air as he tasted it flowing to and from his lungs. But as always. All good things must come to an end. Taking a deep, and F̴͖͆̓i̵̳̋̊n̴̢̺̑̀a̷͖̝̰͌̿l̵̼͖̋ , breath Karitah pressed on.

Though Karitah walked ahead filled with determination, he soon started to struggle as his body begged him to take a breath. He knew if he were to attempt this, nothing would come of it and he most likely would perish. Forcing himself to press on, starved of oxygen, he spotted yet another gate. Though his vision was swimming from the lack of oxygen, the words on the gate stood clear as day.
"Be prepared... To See your last".
At this Karitah thought to himself:
"How am I to fight evil, if I can not see??" as doubt slowly started to take his mind..
Somewhere a flower shone brighter as a memory flashed in Karitahs mind.

Scared_Token.png

The fire that burns inside him with the will to destroy all darkenss flared and he started to move forward again.
"NO! I MUST press forward! Nobody shall suffer! I'll make sure if it!".
And sure enough.
Karitah pressed on, now running though the gate.


Instantly the world became a black nothing. No sounds, no colour and no air. Nothing but the feeling of his own body desperately in need of air.
He knew he had to keep moving, so he went and followed the mountain wall as to not fall out the edge.


He kept on walking in nothing but darkness. How much longer was there? How long had he been going?
His steeps were getting slower and heavier now.. He did not have much time left and he knew it.. And just as that realization came he felt them. Not quite voices but intents of words. Taunts.
"Give up! You fight alone; you always will!"
"You're but one man! Do you really think that you could make a difference?!"
"If you could, why didn't you save those near you?! Your mother would still be here if you could!"
The last one hit Karitah hard as he stumbled. He slowly tried to get up but his body was done.. And he slowly started to fade away..
"It's P̷̫͑O̵̙͂I̸̻̊N̶͉͆T̸̯̓L̶̥̅E̸͓̔S̷̰̄S̵͜͝"
In the dark. With no sound and no colour, it felt like something was gripping him by the hand and helped him back to his feet. Was it... Another hand?
Slowly as his feeling came back, he felt the softest flaps of wings leave his hand, as he, against it all, started to move forward again.
"All your friends are just using you so they themselves shan't suffer!"
Ignoring the taunts he let go of the wall and gave all he had left in a sprint.
"S T O P! If you continue you'll NEVER have peace! You will fight for the rest of your day.............."
Karitah landed HARD on the ground, coughing and shaking as sweet fresh air finally filled his lungs yet again.. As he lay there, he could hear the soft wind blowing and as he opened his eyes he could see yet again.
He was at the top of the mountain, though there were no storm to be found. The only thing of notice was a small pointed outcropping with a.. Sword sticking out of ground?
The butterfly passed by Karitahs head and flew towards the outcropping and disappeared out into the light, from where an armored figure appeared.

Wardens path 3.PNG

by CzePeku

Karitah instantly recognized that armor. It was the same one that he had been using for a long time. The one his father had used.
As Karitah slowly approached the figure, Karitah seamed to grow with each steep he took, until he again was his normal height and now wearing the same armor as the one in front of him. The only thing missing was Karitah's sword. No... His father's sword.
He stood still in front of figure, looking to where his eyes would be behind the helmet.
The figure then said:
"Karitah. Why do you fight? Why do you suffer?".
To which Karitah responded in a heartbeat.
"I fight so others doesn't have to. I suffer so they shall not."
His voice was strong and filled with conviction.
The figure nodded slowly and motioned towards the sword as it said:
"So be it. Take my blade as your own."
Karitah bowed honorable and steadily started to pull the blade out of the ground. As he did, he could feel every muscle and joint pop and give as he used all his strength in pulling out the blade.
"Though the body is weak and breakable. The soul is indomitable." The figure said.
Karitah then poured all of his will into the blade as it finally let lose in a blinding show of lightning. As he turned the blade skywards, angelic wings sprouted out from the handguard as the Holy Avenger awoke to its new master.
The blade was shining brighter and brighter until all there were, was pure white.


In this bright white expanse, the armored figure's voice could be heard, though much gentler than before.
"Maybe in the next lifetime we can be together once again. For now you’ll suffer alone… But you will keep living.
Keep Living so nobody else has to feel what you have felt. Go.. Karitah Storm… My son... The world of the living is before you."