Guardian Of Midgard

Chapter 1: The Guardian's Return

Midgard frontier:

Smoke drifted across shattered battlements and frost-covered corpses of men, giants and monsters littered the ground. 

"Join us sir!"

The captain of the frontier fell on his knees and lowered his head toward a young warrior who stood on top of a mountain of frost corpses.

The Knights followed after him and dropped to their knees. "Please… We humbly ask you to join the Frontier Knights!" 

Kael’s black cloak fluttered in the wind. 

Beneath his feet rested the severed head of a dragon and its lifeless eyes remained wide open, as though even in death it could not believe what had happened. 

The sight would have stunned anyone in the Nine Realms.

The proud defenders of Midgard were lowering themselves before this young man but yet none of them found it strange. 

They had witnessed the impossible.

Only moments ago, the Frost Giants of the Ashen Plains  had stormed the frontier alongside Drakaris, a dragon whose name had haunted Midgard for decades.

They could hold back the frost giants but Drakaris was another matter. 

The dragon destroyed their walls and wiped out half of their ranks but it was the young man who had appeared and single-handedly turned the tide of battle. 

The dragon's fire failed to stop him and the giants' weapons shattered against him and by the time the battle ended, the battlefield had become a slaughterhouse with only one butcher.

The remaining members of the Frontier Knights looked at him in awe hoping that he would lead them. 

The old captain clenched his trembling fists. "Please become our commander!" Hope blazed in their eyes.

The young man merely stared toward the distant horizon and slowly shook his head. "I cannot."

The old captain looked up, his eyes sunken. If only he could convince a powerhouse like this young man, Midgard will never have to suffer the torment of invasions again.

Kael’s golden eyes swept across the battlefield and his gaze fell upon the dragon's corpse.

"This battle was merely a trial. Now that it is over, it is time for me to leave." He said as he turned towards the crowd. 

The crowd was struck with awe. 

What kind of person treats a bloody, brutal invasion that had nearly destroyed the entire frontier as a mere test to be passed? 

But before they could process this, silver runes erupted beneath his feet and a massive magic circle unfolded and he vanished from the battlefield. 

The surrounding air trembled violently and the captain's eyes widened, finally reacting but it was too late. The young man had disappeared.

Rune teleportation? He gasped. Such magic existed only in legends. Who exactly was this man?

Upon a floating cliff hidden among silver mist above Midgard a woman stood quietly. She wore golden robes that wrapped around her graceful figure. 

Instantly a ripple of light appeared beside her and the young warrior had stepped out. 

The cold indifference on his face immediately disappeared and he lowered his head respectfully. 

"Lady."

The Valkyrie smiled. "I didn't misjudge you but you exceeded my expectations, Kael.”

Kael knelt on one knee. "It was only possible because of your guidance." He said with reverence in his voice. 

Five years ago, she had discovered him among a sea of corpses. His clan and family had been slaughtered so she had chosen him as her successor and trained him herself. 

That proved to be the right decision. 

Though he was still mortal, the power he displayed rivaled that of a demigod. 

The Valkyrie smiled as she overlooked the battlefield. “You have done well.”

A word of praise from the Valkyrie was worth more than a hundred compliments from ordinary men, yet Kael remained unmoved. 

His hand slowly rose to the faded silk girdle tied around his arm. A treasured keepsake.

The Valkyrie  noticed immediately and a knowing smile appeared on her lips. "Still thinking about her?"

Kael nodded.

This keepsake was given to him by his financeé. 

Years ago, when Kael’s entire family was wiped out overnight he had been injured and everyone said he should be left behind because he was dead weight but Lucy refused. 

At that moment of crisis, people had abandoned their loved ones behind who couldn’t walk.  

Moving alone was already hard enough and dragging someone along was surely asking for death but she stayed by his side as they escaped from the frost Giants under the cover of the night and that was when they exchanged tokens of love. 

Even now, five years later, Kael could still remember the warmth of her hand gripping his as they fled through the night.  

Tragically they were separated when some stray frost giants chased them down. She had offered herself up as a distraction leading them away. 

He had held on to the belief that she was alive somewhere. 

"The trial is now over." The Valkyrie smiled. 

His eyes turned toward Midgard. "May I finally return?"

The Valkyrie’s smile widened. "Of course."

Relief flooded Kael's expression. 

“Thank you, master.” He cupped his hands and lowered his head in respect. 

The Valkyrie raised her hand. "However..."

Suddenly the space seemed to tremble and Ancient golden runes appeared across the sky.

The clouds churned violently and Kael looked at the sky. "What is this?"

The Valkyrie stepped forward. "There remains one final matter."

A pillar of golden light descended from the heavens and It swallowed Kael whole.

 "Kael by the authority granted to me. I hereby appoint you as the Guardian of Midgard." She raised her hands.

Power surged through his body and his blood ignited. Ancient runes appeared beneath his skin and a strand of golden light entered his eyes and Kael stood in awe, he could feel it.

The mountains, rivers, forests and even the heartbeat of Midgard itself. It was as though the entire realm had acknowledged him.

For a fleeting moment, his pupils turn narrow and slit-like—the eyes of a dragon. It came with an Ancient and Majestic aura which disappeared as quickly as it came.

The golden light faded and Kael immediately stepped back.

"I lack the experience master.” He said falling on one knee. 

But she let out a light laugh. "You underestimate yourself. Few in your realm could even glimpse such power, yet you have already touched it. Moreover, after defending Midgard, you are already stronger than the previous Guardian."

Kael remained silent. 

"Don’t fret, I was simply wondering how your fiancée will react when she learns her beloved has become the Guardian of Midgard?" She continued. 

Kael imagined her smile and his fingers tightened around the faded girdle tied to his arm.  He had really missed her. 

A humble smile slowly appeared on his face. “If that is your will I accept. As soon as I visit her, I will assume my duties as the Guardian of Midgard.” 

Golden light flickered around him and a mantle had been passed to him and the new Guardian of Midgard had been born.

She laughed proudly seeing him accept the mantle. 

“I'm done here then.” Her ropes fluttered. 

The winds gathered around the Valkyrie, lifting her effortlessly from the ground. In moments, she ascended into the sky and disappeared from sight. 

Teleportation was unnecessary for someone of her rank and with a single step, she could traverse thousands of miles. 

Kael fastened his cloak around his shoulders and looked at where she disappeared for one final time. “One day I’m going to step into that realm.” He muttered.  

Silver runes appeared beneath his feet and a teleportation circle unfolded. 

For now, he would find his fiancée. The space trembled and he disappeared.

At that very moment at the estate of House Ravenhart. One of Midgard's most prestigious noble families.

Laughter echoed through the Manor of House Ravenhart.

Young masters and ladies played in the gardens. Servants carried trays filled with roasted boar and honey cakes serving them while they laughed, drank and played merrily.

A little girl knelt on the stone walkway. She looked no more than seven and held a straw broom in her grip. Her clothes were patched and worn, and dust stained her tiny hands. 

Though her face was smudged with dirt, her delicate features bore a striking resemblance to Kael.

The stone walkway was littered with leaves that had fallen off the trees of the young masters and climbed earlier. 

Slowly and quietly she swept the fallen leaves. Her hands hurt so much from working and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Yet she continued working. Around her neck hung a jade pendant. It was a gift left behind by her father and the only valuable thing she possessed.

Her palms were red from sweeping and scrubbing all day. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks and she brought out the jade pendant and clutched it tightly.

The little girl stopped sweeping.

She wiped her eyes and looked toward the distant gates and hope flickered within her tear-filled gaze. 

She bit her lips

"Father, when are you coming back? "Mum, said you promised to come back.." She murmured to herself. 

“Can you come rescue us from this place?” She whispered to it. 

“Hey you there, where did you steal that from?” A voice interrupted her thoughts. 

She turned around to Mitchel leading a group of other children towards her. 

She couldn’t let him take this from her so she quickly hid the jade pendant in her clothes and wiped her tears.