What was Miru?

Well... to start, they were several souls who had "fused" together at some point to fill in the gaps in their individual souls in an instinct to survive.

It can be imagined this didn't quite end well. The chance of this occurring was rare and next to impossible for the lower world, after all. Though, something of this nature is rather common in various parts of the High Realm, specifically the ones governed by darkness.

Miru's rotten, broken, and undead body along with their soul which was held simply by a single string that could go undone in a moment was a sight that showed the crudeness of such a thing as instinctual soul merging if previous generations hadn't built special 'gates' to pass on, which was essentially a specialized knowledge pool.

The only reason for success and the only cause of Miru's survival was due to Fatir's sudden presence at a critical moment. He had heightened their probability of success and had planted a small divinity to the soul to act as a layer of protection and connection to make sure the string lasted.

Unfortunately, Fatir was most certainly not a Soul Dealing Reaper, his methods were crude and things hadn't balanced right. In the end, the soul merging could be considered a major failure and success.

Apart from the undead body, which is something that signifies a level of failure, Miru was currently unable to have direct contact with anything living unless they had a high-grade aura. Miru's mere touch acted as a venom that if given enough time could even damage a weak soul.

"Hold on tight!"

With Yul obtaining aura, Fatir felt even if contact was impossible and there was always a slight danger, it was best for the two to meet now as for them to build a proper connection for the future as the future had no plans to be kind.

Step- Step-

Running speedily through the forest with Yul on his back, Fatir with a straight path forward arrived rather fast back at Edell with no trouble.

Though, stopping for a moment as he walked in, he was mildly surprised to see the place having actual life. Elves were walking around and looking about as they lightly chatted amongst each other as they crossed and there were a few groups of children playing in an open area with supervision with some of the older elves joining their play.

The number of elves out and about was around thirty-eight. That was certainly better than zero.

"A-Ah greetings, your grace."

Having the eyes of those in the vicinity, Fatir simply waved it off.

"Don't concern yourself with my presence, proceed with your own will."

The elves listened, Fatir was quite glad.

Walking forward calmly, Fatir felt a rush of cold air turning warm around him. "Yul it seems you've completed two goals today instead of one."

Yul looking ahead as he returned his gaze which traveled around the vicinity, with a tired and low but rather joyful tone, responded quickly to Fatir. "Mhm. It's great."

He couldn't help but be excited.

He had finally seen the elves today and had begun training. These were two goals of his main roster.

The elves were one of the many people Yul wanted to meet due to the individuals in the book Fatir had read to him in the past. It was about a young scholar's travels through the world, Yul rather liked it.

[Nerifine Nirvanna], that was the name of his favorite elf in the book. It was an odd name for an elf, though. Every single person in the book had a name that didn't seem to correlate with the standard.

Wooooo...

"Good afternoon, your grace, and young Yul."

Arriving in front of a moderate-sized home that was located on the edge of Edell, Fatir and Yul paused for a second. Yul had gotten off Fatir's back a bit before, so he stood next to him.

Turning his gaze but walking forward and opening the door of the house, Fatir slightly had his sight to the right. A person stood a bit away from the door, seemingly waiting for their arrival for quite a bit now.

They bowed politely at his gaze.

"Greetings Elder Cithrel."

"Hello, Ms. Cithrel." Yul didn't know who this was but replied following Fatir.

"Alright..."

'Cithrel Urifaren... one of the four elf elders, the ones that oversee the goings of Edell.'

"What is it that you require?" Fatir got straight to the point as he had Yul walk into the house.

Understanding well not to dally, Cithrel raised her head a bit.

"To point, as a thank you, we'd like to present your grace a gift. Since we may not know whether it will be a bother, I came to verify which of our selec-"

'I see...' Raising his hand as a sign for Cithrel to stop speaking, Fatir let out a cold breath.

"I do not need a gift. There is no need to prepare one." Fatir readily spoke. He simply did his task, though that meant a long decade of trauma for Edell, and he wasn't about to take something from them now.

With a slight smile, Cithrel as if expecting the reply of Fatir, spoke. "We cannot do that your grace, even if your grace doesn't see his actions as anything, it isn't the same for us. If you truly don't wish to receive it, it could for young Yul instead."

"Hmm..."

With a pause, Fatir felt this was an okay alternative as to leave something else for Yul, but...

"Anything far too precious and important for Edell isn't needed, make sure you understand."

Fatir had those who had offered everything that made them able to sustain life before, he didn't want anything near that level.

"Well, come inside."

"Yes."

Walking in behind Fatir, Cithrel's steps were silent, as was his.

With the door behind them shutting with a light *thunk*, sound seemed to disappear.

"..."

"Take a seat."

Walking towards the right, Fatir picked up a sleeping Yul who had lost his adrenaline rush from a chair and walked away towards a stairway as Cithrel sat herself down with natural grace.

Step. Step. Step-

After a short moment, as Yul slept, with Miru appearing beside his room resting, Fatir came back down.

Gazing up a bit, Cithrel saw him seating opposite of her.

"Alright, say what you have to."

...

...

At around this time, as Cithrel Urifaren spoke,

In a city called Orario, a place teeming with a large count of gods with their powers sealed with few exceptions, like how all other gods that descended to the lower world were restricted, the authoritative organization the Guild seemed restless...?

This was a city of adventurers', a place where many of different races from across the world arrived in allure of the only dungeon this realm had and the opportunity's carried within these city walls. The strong readily noticed the oddness that seemed to have occurred today with the origination that oversaw the dungeon and many proceedings of the city.

Unfortunately for them, the questions they had about this weren't answered and since it didn't seem to affect them, they didn't think much more about it... except that a few gods that were notified of the strangeness they felt by their familia members were rather curious people.

Though, like their familia members, the curious gods didn't find anything and were simply told the guild had a sudden problem that had already been handled. Things ended there as nothing good would come to be if they pushed further, and it didn't seem interesting anymore to them as something else had occurred that drew their attention.

A rising adventure who was only level one from information somehow defeated a level three adventure. There was no use of skills or such but even then, it was an interesting thing even if the level three was holding back. Advent Afred, that was their name.

During this time,

Under the main building of the Guild which was called the Pantheon, in the Room of Prayer, Ouranos, a Stoic figure, one of the first gods to descend and someone who has patiently watched over the dungeon for 1000 years, keeping the monsters within from escaping talked lowly with a man named Royman Mardeel, a fat elf with white hair, green eyes, and short legs, he was the one who dealt with guild matters.

"Royman make sure there are no records and..."

"Go through the lists of registered adventures... take accounts from the guild employees and find those who seem abnormal. Remember, not just in a standard thing such as strength. Behavior, personality, actions, achievements, take into consideration several things and categorize them, prepare a list in three days."

Hearing the request, Royman felt his creases grow more defined, but was at least somewhat pleased to have received another task from Ouranos. It had been a while.

Bowing, after a few more words, Royman started to exit the Room of Prayer, with Ouranos looking towards him until he disappeared. The elf was a mere 150 years old, and yet he looked as if he had turned 300 years where regular elves like him underwent rapid aging.

Closing his eyes, Ouranos spoke to himself. "The Sixth Seat Guardian God of the World Genesis... for one to descend... is the sign of anomaly... it's best to proceed with caution."

"Fels," Ouranos called as his eyes opened. In a moment, a person clocked in black stood in the position Royman had before.

"Investigate those listed here, in three days, you'll greet the Guardian in my place. Make sure not a fly nears."

Catching a parchment, the cloaked figure bowed and disappeared as Ouranos returned to keeping watch of the dungeon.

...

...

Time quickly ticked by. The hour of day replaced with the darkness of night.

The cold breeze, the light fluttering of leaves, the silent yet beautiful song of nature. The ambiance felt peaceful yet restless. Howling yet harmonious.

Sizzle. Sizzle.

The light of the campfire and the burning sizzle of wood, it was all great... yet...

The mood seemed... odd?

Sitting in silence, it was hard to tell how long had passed. Yul felt that a very long while. His mind seemed so slow...

Under this light of the campfire, Yul was told of something he felt was a dream.

A [Guardian] had chosen him. He was to now choose to accept them or not do so. The mark of the [Guardian] shone a light blue on the back of his left hand. He felt a deep connection with it and focusing on it, he heard a name ring through his mind powerfully.

"Mirevaule Urionfal... Four Star Connection of the Star Gate Heart Stream..."

Everything felt unreal. The light smile on his father's face was what made him slowly calm down. If his father said he wasn't dreaming... then it must be true, he thought.

He gulped slightly in excitement. His expression gradually grew in levels of joy.

After he had woken up from his nap, from which he had felt energized and stronger than before, he had seen that it was night and that a weird symbol was on his hand. After recognizing the symbol, he had quickly jumped and rushed downstairs to look for Fatir and then after, they had arrived here... he didn't expect any of this but... it was amazing to think...

According to the book of the scholar, a [Guardian] was an existence that descended upon a chosen individual to protect and guide them to heights they wouldn't dare before, all to become a [Eerele], an assistant to a greater being in the High Realm. It was a way of showing worth.

Yul didn't care too much about that nor understand it well... he just knew that if they got along well, he would have a permanent friend that could join him and his father. There were two [Guardians] in the book who decided to stay instead of becoming an [Eerele].

"Dad, should I try to summon Mirevaule. Like how they did in the book?"

Hearing Yul's excited question, Fatir simply stood and walked to the side. Yul understood what that meant.

Standing up, Yul took a breath as he looked at the campfire.

Moving to the side, away from it, he exhaled a breath. He was nervous, for sure. He was anxious whether they would get along and if Mirevaule would truly accept his calling.

"Don't worry too much Yul, they sent you their symbol meaning they accepted you, now you have to be brave and confident about it to make a good impression. Take a few breaths in and out and try to steady."

"Ok..."

Breath In...

Breathe out...

After focusing on only one thought whilst keeping everything else on the side, Yul felt a bit better as the breeze of the night felt cool against his skin.

Closing his eyes, he manifested his aura and spent about 20 minutes exploring the passages within his body that energy traveled through. If he didn't know how to properly release the energy, it wouldn't work. He knew that.

Gradually, following the scholar's notes, Yul felt his body lighten as aura and mana moved around him. It was a dazzling sight and Fatir was impressed at Yul's learning speed with only a few guidelines. His mind had been honed, and he did carry a special blessing from him, but this was beyond his expectations.

At the 30-minute mark, Yul felt that he had connected to something within his body as the quality of mana and aura improved. Grasping this, Yul remembering the books' contents' rose his left hand which carried the symbol, and channeled this energy into the passages that connected to the symbol.

Wooooo....

With a bright shine, the forest illuminated with a pale light as the symbol on Yul's hand expended and also rested on the palm.

Swiping down on the air with his hand, Yul mentally visualized a gate-like tear as his hand followed the motion of wind to draw that tear.

Swooooo!

An illusionary tear-like fracture opened in the air as mana filled into the space.

Turning his hand, bringing it high, and then bringing it over his heart, Yul shone brightly as the symbol gradually combined with his mana flow.

"With my name, Yul Solace, within this hour of midnight, Gate of Star and Heart open!"

Shing!

Calming down, the light around faded as everything formed around the tear.

Step- Step- Step-

Falling down onto the ground, sitting, Yul opened his eyes as he breathed out slowly. Looking over to his father, he saw him pointing. Turning his head, Yul looked ahead.

Gradually walking out of the fracture, audible steps echoed as the silhouette of a figure slowly revealed.

Light blue glowing mane, skeletal gray tale, tattered wings, a pair of skinny and long-horns from where ears should've been. An undead mystical horse-like creature with a pale gray luster watched Yul closely as he stood.

From bursting excitement to restraining himself somewhat as he steadied, Yul was smiling.

"[Guardian] Mirevaule Urionfal, nice to meet you! Let's be friends!"

...

Fatir wasn't sure how to feel about the new identity Miru had agreed to go under. Accepting this role meant they had forgone many things, but it is also what they wanted... Miru wasn't always calmed around Yul for no reason, after all, that wasn't something Fatir asked of them... the true reality of Miru was rather... painful... but since they had decided to move one, he also wouldn't think about it anymore.

'Hm...'

And while on this topic, Fatir lightly went over [Adventures of Origin Fall] by Riverend Orini in his mind. He truly disliked the author, but the story itself was good.

This is where this concept of [Guardian] was derived, but of course... while the concept was something that existed in the High Realm, in no way was it how it was in the book. The system in the book was all opposite and offending the actual concept. Due to this inexistence, Fatir had to create a new small concept around Yul.

.

.

.

Swooosh!

Slide!

The sun was rather bright.

Through the sun rays shining down, Fatir watched over Yul who was training as he leaned back on a tree

Miru being a [Guardian] was guiding Yul for now. Though, he had placed a small barrier around them for safety.

Currently, Yul was simply trying to follow a pattern of movement that Miru laid out, but that pattern changed every moment one blinked. Once again, the same as Fatir, the purpose was to stimulate the strength of Yul.

And it certainly began to work as intended. With every passing second this went on, the more mana was coursing through the area as they very slowly headed to Yul. They were subconsciously being drawn in.

"Haa!"

Stomp! Wooosh.

Jumping into the air, Fatir watched for a moment as Yul caught several rocks that were thrown at him at a rather fast speed.

'Alright.'

Taking a breath, as he had seen enough, Fatir closed his eyes.

Shaa...

Entering into a mental domain, he began to go over various subjects of matters. He was also checking in on the eyes he had traveling around. Unfortunately, all these caused a painful headache because of the split mind. He and Tale were already trying to keep things filtered, but this put a great strain as the complexity heightened by leaps.

Moments like this where the mind had to undergo several processes that contradicted were always painful, but both had to just steel through it.

"Ah..."

"Mother's letter..."

After finishing most of his tasks, picking up a new message sent to him, Tale started to read through it as he hummed to distract from the pain.

"..."

"Oh my goodness..."

For an instance though, just for a moment, the pain seemed to stop. To comprehend the buzzing words in his mind, the pain was put aside.

Hurriedly stopping the message from reading further than it had, Fatir took a deep breath.

"..."

"Very sugary... I'll finish it another time..." He muttered softly. Even Tale on the other side had reflexively stopped his thoughts for a moment as he glimpsed at parts of the message.

"Anyway... it seems my next destination is locked."

Shaa.

Closing the mental domain gradually and opening his eyes, Fatir readily welcomed the sun's shine and the blue sky.

With another breath, he looked out and saw that Yul and Miru were now resting, with Miru pushing bits and pieces of food towards Yul as if he was a baby.

'Hm...'

Looking elsewhere, Fatir lightly waved.

"Come sit down, child." He said with a smile as he looked up at a tree whose leaves seemed to rustle frantically after hearing him.

Crack! Stumble!

After a moment, an elf dropped from the tree on his butt.

He had been here watching Yul training since the start. Fatir had ignored him until now.

"-A-Ah..."

"-I'm- sorry-"

"It's fine. Come on, you can watch with me."

"A-a-ah yes...?"

"Wait... aren't you the one who shot an arrow at Miru over there?"

"I-I apologize!"

Laughing lightly, Fatir shook his head.

"It's fine, there are no grudges. Come on."

As he watched the elf slowly making their way over with an anxious expression, Fatir swirled his hand and a box appeared. Opening it, food was displayed.

"Let's go join them. And, oh yes, what's your name?"

"It's Yinrieth Nirvell, your grace." The elf spoke confidently when answering this, and then his expression went back to before, a nervous rack.

Tsk.

Seeing this colorless soul of this young elf, Fatir looked at him with a frown.

Having him follow, at a pace that was quite slow, whilst making their way to Yul and Miru, Fatir queried the young elf as he listened.

Sigh...

After a bit, Fatir just shook his head.

"Young Yinrieth... It seems you have rather well twisted the words of theirs. You cling to a twisted misunderstanding to find comfort... It's not very healthy."

"What-?"

...

...

"What..."

Tap... Tap... Tap...

Walking towards the exit of Edell, Yul, and Yinrieth... felt perplexed... for different reasons. Yinrieth simply still couldn't understand what Fatir had told him...

He was trying to remember the story that was the past but couldn't.

Swooosh.

Before long, as the two arrived at the gate of Edell, Yinrieth was still lost.

The four Elf Elders, Miru, Yul, Fatir. With their gaze, he felt suffocated. His breathing started to grow rough.

"Come on brother Yinrieth!"

Yul's words seemed to pull him out of his mind as he was pulled along.

Looking at the scene, the elf elders sighed.

"Haa... this child... your grace we apologize for asking so much... Thank you for accepting our request."

"Well... It's not a problem."

They wanted him to go out into the world for a short period... They wished it would wake him up.

After a bit of talking and receiving an item, Fatir bid farewell to the elf elders and with his usual silent steps walked ahead. Following behind, footsteps rang hurriedly.

And, appearing beside him, Miru walked with Fatir as he softly patted their head for a moment.

"Hey. Hey. Dad slow down!"

"Come on, catch up to me, you can do it, right Miru?"

-[ Snarl. ]-

"Great."

...

Time quickly passed by. Yinrieth felt his body had been tied with boulders after a while, but Yul was as chirpy and cheerful as usual. It made him wonder if all he did was useless after all.

'Haa.'

Looking at Fatir with a low gaze, Yinrieth questioned whether he truly would discover his own purpose, but quickly forgot about it and simply followed.

Step. Step. Step-

After a while of choosing a path, to make this trip far faster, Fatir had stopped and suddenly rose into the air as Miru, Yul, and Yinrieth did also, there was a gentle wind around them.

Hoooooo!

"Woooo!"

"A-Ah-"

Different personalities, different reactions. Yul and Yinrieth were acting the opposites to this sudden event.

And just like that... they had finished their short travel.

This was a trip that should have taken 15-30 days, but it happened in a mere 6 hours... Yinrieth felt dizzy thinking. Those 6 hours were just the walking, after all.

"This..."

Landing securely in a near forest, everyone silently followed Fatir as Miru vanished.

After a short period, they arrived out, and awaiting them, a black-cloaked figure stood still. There was no life other than them right now for a good distance. Of course, neither Yul nor Yinrieth knew that.

"Fels Dragoon, I assume Ouranos sent you?"

Seemingly flustered for a moment, the clocked figure trembled slightly hearing his name before calming. Fatir seeing it decided to just not say it again.

Though, Yul who had heard Fatir had his eyes sparkle with a wondrous thought. There was a family in the book with that surname. Was he related?

"Yes, God Ouranos has told me to guide your grace, the Sixth Deity."

"Please follow me. This is to cause the least disturbance."

As Fatir's divinity was already concealed so that even the other gods couldn't tell of his presence, Fels was to simply guide him so no unexpected disturbances occurred.

"Alright. Convoy Fels, lead the way. You two follow along."

"Actually, wait a moment..."

Suddenly stopping as they were about to step forward, Yul, Fels, and Yinrieth looked at Fatir though the other two except Yul had a low gaze.

Bringing out a parchment and tearing it, a strange light spread before becoming invisible as Fatir closed his eyes.

"Well... it may not be what I have come for... but... it seems there is an anomaly here in Orario." It wasn't his target, of course, it was a very weak and dim thing...

Fels though unshaken was surprised at Fatir's words. He didn't know much of anomalies, so God Ouranos's actions three days ago freshened greatly in his mind.

<><><>

[ The star eyes the moon and the moon drifts away, ]

[ What has known to be, falls to notice, ]

[ A rather venomous hatred of wishes. ]

[ The key strives, the lock opens, the plight of mind watches, ]

[ Await--------- Fallen. ]

[ N-------- M------- O------- I---- ]

Going over it once more, Tale sighed. This was what resulted of his foretold writing... for this, the consequences were great... so much so that he had to use a portion of his vitality to heal Artem.

'Damn it...'

Tale felt irritated.

'No, calm down... take this slowly.'

"Hah... even if for a moment... If I could contain the entire earth in a domain... well my mind would go crazy first but..."

Sizzle. Sizzle.

Walking away from a building on fire, Tale went into an alleyway far further away.

___________

MIRU: