Chapter 1: Asteria

Asteria was basically a planet 11 times the earth in size in another dimension with 1 continent which occupied 3/5's of the planet. It possessed unique flora and fauna. The planet was not created but was moved to a new dimension by the Gods. The Elementals were named by those who still remembered them the 'afti pou mas parakolouthon apo pshia' translated from Greek as 'the ones who watch over us from above'- the guardians for short.

The guardians were ruled over by the council of the elder 12. As for the Elementals they were detached from all forms of politics and they devoted their time to making their civilization thrive. They built a city called Zoriah. It had 4 gates at the four main cardinal points. They trained the people they brought to Zoriah in all the arts of combat, magic, technology, science, music and even artistry, as well as interaction with nature. They introduced the flora and fauna from the earth and made them coexist with the Zorian flora and fauna and helped the newly created ecosystem achieve a balance of its own. The guardians had been gathered from all other parts of the world and, as such, Zoriah was a melting pot of civilization and culture.

Due to the powers of the elementals, they could use 40th century science while the earth was still in the era of the Punic wars. They introduced advanced science which was on the borders of magic and instructed them in the teachings of the Gods whilst waiting for the hour when they would be needed the most. The Oracle was the bridge between all the guardians and the Gods. Sometimes the gods have missions for them to retrieve their bestowed- 'those who the spirit of the Gods looked upon in their hour of birth'- at other times they would admonish them on how to build their new society. Time in the outside world passed differently and Zoriah thrived for millennia. Guardians were nigh immortal, with an average life expectancy of about one million earth years. Their conception period was also much longer than that of humans and these two factors led to their very slow population increase with almost no natural conception. The population only increased with the advent of newcomers to Zoriah.

The elementals decided to send 2 members of the council of the elder 12, Orion and Callista, to the earth to watch over it and keep it safe. They would wait until they were called back and, in the meantime, monitor the progress of humanity without interference. With all the wars and battle behind them, the elementals left their God-slayers at the center of Zoriah inside a literal stone which would very much fit the description of Excalibur. The 7 ancient weapons shone brightly and, after their blinding light receded, a tower stood in their place. This tower would house the God-slayers as well as be the Elementals' final resting place.

With the tower housing the God-slayers, the Elementals call back all guardians scattered throughout earth save Orion and Calista. They set all their things in order. They divided the Zorian population into various 'callings'. Each calling, like beast taming, technopathy, sorcery, techno-sorcery and all the other specializations, formed various corps and they would work with those corps in preparation for a time when they would be needed. In essence, a calling was like an army platoon or division handling a particular aspect of war or society whilst also positively impacting and developing its society. From time to time, batches of guardians were dispatched to curb the numbers of the demons from the void and make sure any which ended up on earth were dealt with.

There was an orphanage where the children chosen by the Gods, their bestowed, lived and were taken care of by the elementals themselves. The elementals lived with them, loved them, nurtured them and trained them.

Their last act as Elementals was to visit them and have one last talk.

"It matters not how dark the path nor how straight the gate. It matters not how black the pit nor what fate may deem. You are the master of your fate, the captain of your soul. In the clutch of life's circumstances, I have not winced, nor cried aloud. Your head is bloody but unbowed, your soul unconquerable. Beyond the world of wrath and tears which you suffered for all your years until we found you, looms the horror of the darkness which desires to eat you up. But yet be strong! With great power comes great darkness, but always remember you use your power as you see fit, and see the world always through the eyes of love. We bid thee farewell children; our time has come!"

———

A/N

This is a derivative of the poem Invictus by William E. Henley… but it's my personal work nonetheless.

———

"What do you mean?"

Mythica, the youngest among the children, asked as she burst into tears.

"Don't leave us!" she said. 

Fiona, the elemental of life, knelt down in front of her and, with the loving gaze of a mother yet the firm resolve of a leader, said to the cute little girl in front of her.

" We have finished our race. Our time here is done. But as I told you, we guardians are one. We will always be in your hearts. And as long as you don't forget us and perform whatever duties are bestowed upon you, we will meet again under the light of Ilios. So be strong for me, OK. Can you do that?"

Mythica softly nodded and, although the crying became sobbing and eventually stopped, the children were sad. Maeve, Elemental of hope, smiled as Artemis hugged her and she proposed one last playtime session with all of them together.

--------

playtime sessions are times when the elementals came to the orphanage to have some fun with the kids when their training was over.

---------

Their last play-time session was as long as it was memorable. Sunset marked the end of the day and the elementals brought the kids to the tower and gave them a tour of all its contents- a museum for all the trophies and mementos they collected from their many exploits, the hall of meetings for the Elementals and the council of the elder 12, as well as the God-slayer chamber. This was their last time together, and the children decided to make it count. When they entered the chamber, the elementals showed them the God-slayers and told them about their personal encounters with the Gods.

They also showed them the gatekeepers. Weapons of power, which would later become the weapons of the watchmen of Zoriah in due time. The gatekeepers were also bound to the souls of the Asterian beasts who chose to give their lives to guard the gates.

With the day spent, the elementals dropped the children back at the orphanage and put them to sleep. They left the orphanage and appeared once more in the God-slayer chamber. The 7 elementals appeared together with 2 other figures.

"Zander. You have always known that you children are the chosen ones. You also know OMNIS's bestowed." Said Fiona, the Elemental guardian of life, with a voice so tender and kind, yet so firm. "Take care of Mythica, protect her till she can do it all by herself," she added.

"I've vowed to protect my little sister from time immemorial. I will protect her with all I have!" Zander responded with his bowed in respect.

"Eragon, when the time is right, be there for everyone. You both are the rock of the group. Perform your duty with all earnest!" said Jerome, Elemental of creation. Zander and Eragon bowed and bent one knee. In respect and admiration towards their heroes, the 2 teens went back to the orphanage, each making a silent promise to live up to their heroes' expectations.

———-

Ilios is the star equivalent of a sun on Asteria.

———-

As soon as Ilios rose and a new day began, the Elemental of the mind called all guardians on Asteria with the mind bond all guardians shared.

"My children," Triton said as he gestured for all the guardians gathered to be silent.

"For millennia, we protected humanity, and after retiring to our present home, we have survived a few millennia and had to intervene a few times. We have made our own place in the infinite tapestry that is the universe. Alas, after such an accomplishment, it pains me to say that we have lived our lives serving to the fullest of our abilities. But even such a fulfilled life means nothing without a rest at the end of it. We have created our own ecosystem as well as our own home."

"Most of us are not related by blood, yet we have forged bonds which even the legendary metal cannot be compared to. I am here to tell you our journey is over and it ends here. We have witnessed death enough to cherish life more and more over the years."

"We 7 end our journey, but we want you to continue living as we all did. Cherish life and cherish the sacred balance which is our duty to obtain. We leave you in the hands of the elder 12 with your blessings and our teachings. We pass down all our knowledge and all our wisdom. We pass down all we have preserved throughout our lives and we hope u preserve it as is our eternal purpose."

At those words, more than half of Zoriah was moved to tears. In a few moments, some had cried so much they could almost be mistaken for vampires with red eyes. The love they all had for their elementals was real. It was like the love of children towards their parents and although they did not want their beloved saviors, mentors, and even friends to go, each one of them was at least 100,000 earth years away. Although they knew that it wasn't even half their total lifespan, they understood their heroes had lived full lives and deserved their rest. Those who had been the personal mentees of the elementals each lit the sky with fireworks amidst the tears that even they themselves shed. It was a truly sad moment, but also a moment of great serenity. The entire planet, the flora, fauna, the sky and sea, all of Asteria were in one mind, soul and spirit.

Triton beckoned and once again, silence reverted throughout Zoriah. 

"The children chosen by our gods will inherit our legacy and we who have gone before will be forever in your hearts. Never falter in duty, be true to your purpose and always remember, a good life doesn't make you happy. Being happy in life makes life good. We are happy, we are fulfilled, we have lived long, good happy lives because of you, for that you have our thanks. And with that I beckon to you all, my children, my brother and sisters of Zoriah. Stand up tall, with heads held high. Bask in the light of OMNIS and be true to your eternal oath."

"We stand for those whose hope is lost"

"No matter what we face, no matter what it costs"

"We're the masters of our fate, eternally doing what we must"

"Forever bound by our true oath, forever march toward our goal"

"Over the dark which seeks to blot our light"

"Black as the pit of eternal night"

"With courage, and love, compassion and might"

"We vanquish whatever darkness within our sight"

"And when all seems lost in the war of light"

"In despair we shine, bringing hope to black of night"

"This is our guardians' oath, with elemental might."

As the elementals and all the guardians recited their oath, they all remembered who they were as a people and they all once more pledged to themselves to be true to their hearts to the end, no matter the cost. The elementals were gone, and they left the guardians to do the work in their stead. The oracle and the council of Elder 12 had worked on some reforms in society since the news of the elementals leaving and they were bound to put it into action. Before Zoriah dispersed, the Oracle called their attention once more.

"My people, we have all heard the last words of our elementals and we all know what we must do. I bring you a message from Olympus and it goes thus:"

"The elementals have taken their rest, and we rejoice for them. But there is still a darkness that lurks on the horizon. Be ready when that time comes. Guardians, train yourselves. When the time comes, the elementals of this generation will be chosen among the children of the orphanage. The gates will have watchmen. The oracle will have an apprentice. Train those children in heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body. When darkness falls and danger comes, all of Asteria must be ready."

"And must know that whatever happens, no matter how dark the night, a new dawn comes, never lose hope, the hope to behold the light"

"Integration of Valena into Guardian System. 0%....100%. Integration complete."

"Consciousness stable. System going dormant in 60 seconds. Launch sleep message"

"Hey Valena. I am the guardian system. My purpose is to aid the companions of the Alpha and Omega guardians, who will, in turn, aid them in their purpose and goal."

"You were brought here after you sacrificed yourself to save Zoriah. That has earned you a second chance."

"For now, you will go back to the one you love as his support system. Once I am powerful enough, you will be free. Until that time, here is your mission. You will go back and help Tornado with all the work he needs. You will take my place as the system because I am not powerful enough."

"The end of the beginning is coming and although the alpha and omega don't need my help, you and the rest of the guardians will. My power is yours, albeit sealed. So use it in my stead and use it wisely and don't tell anyone till the time is right. You will be resting in my zone for now. You will come to understand with time."

The girl in question was utterly confused, but as she was about to mouth out her questions, she suddenly felt very tired and with that, she drifted off into slumber, utterly confused and puzzled. Alas, the mystery of the system will remain a mystery for a very long time to come.

———

The Novel discord server link is in the synopsis. If you like the novel, save it to your library and support in any capacity. A like and comment is enough.

-----