The Guardian They Left for Dead

“My lord, please join the Frontier Knights.”

The captain dropped to one knee before Jayden Jian.

Behind him, the surviving knights followed, ignoring their wounds as they lowered their heads. Some still had broken arrows buried in their armour, while others could barely remain upright, but the desperation in their voices was clear.

“Remain at Grey Pass,” the captain pleaded. “Name your price. Gold, land, rank, anything. As long as you protect this frontier, Midgard will never fear another invasion.”

Jayden stood silently before them.

Around him, the snow had turned red. Dead Frost Giants covered the broken pass, and farther behind him lay Korr, the colossal dragon that had led the invasion. One of its wings had been torn apart, while smoke still rose from the wound across its neck.

Moments ago, the Frontier Knights had been waiting to die.

The Frost Giants had crushed their defensive line, and when Korr descended from the sky, even the captain had known Grey Pass would fall but then Jayden appeared without warning.

He had no army and carried no banner.

Yet before anyone could ask his name, he cut down the first giant. The others followed, and when Korr attacked, Jayden faced the beast alone.

Now the dragon was dead, and the mysterious warrior who had saved them was preparing to leave.

“You saved every man standing here,” another knight said. “Please allow us to follow you.”

Jayden looked across their injured faces, then shook his head with a faint smile.

“I cannot stay.”

The captain looked up. “Why?”

“This battle was only my trial.”

Silence fell over Grey Pass.

The knights stared at him, unsure whether they had heard correctly. Hundreds had died. Their walls had been destroyed, and an entire army had nearly crossed the border but to Jayden, it had only been a test.

The captain swallowed. “You killed Frost Giants and a dragon merely to complete a trial?”

Jayden glanced at Korr’s corpse.

“The trial is over,” he replied. “It is time for me to go home.”

Before they could question him further, he lifted one hand. Golden lines appeared beneath his boots and quickly formed a magic circle.

The captain stepped forward. “Wait! At least tell us your name.”

The light rose around Jayden.

“Jayden Jian.”

Then he vanished.

When Jayden opened his eyes again, he was standing above the clouds beside Lady Vara.

The Valkyrie looked down at Grey Pass, where the surviving knights were still staring at the place he had disappeared from.

“I chose well,” she said. “A mortal who can kill Korr with his own hands is already standing at the level of a demigod.”

Jayden lowered his head slightly. “I would not have survived this long without your guidance.”

“You give me too much credit.”

Lady Vara turned to him. Years ago, she had found Jayden dying among the ruins of House Jian. There had been little life left in him, but even then, he refused to close his eyes.

That stubborn will was why she chose him.

Jayden’s fingers touched the faded silk girdle tied around his arm.

Lady Vara noticed. “Thinking about Mira again?”

His expression softened.

“You promised I could return after the final trial.”

“And you have passed.”

“Then I want to see her.”

Years ago, House Jian was destroyed in one night. Jayden still did not know who ordered the attack or why they wanted his family erased, but he remembered Mira risking her life to save him.

She stayed beside him while he bled and refused to break their engagement even when everyone believed House Jian was finished. Before they were separated, she tied her silk girdle around his arm, while he gave her his jade pendant and promised to return.

For years, that promise had kept him alive and Mira was the only family he believed he had left.

Lady Vara smiled. “You may return to her, but first, there is something you must receive.”

Jayden frowned. “Another trial?”

“No. The burden you have earned.”

Lady Vara raised her hand and the sky above them changed.

Clouds pulled apart as a vast golden circle appeared overhead. Ancient symbols turned within it, and a crushing force descended upon Jayden.

“Jayden Jian,” Lady Vara declared, “by the authority entrusted to me and by your victory at Grey Pass, I name you the new Guardian of Midgard.”

Golden light struck his body and Jayden’s back stiffened.

The power did not settle gently. It rushed into his chest and spread through his veins like fire. His blood seemed to ignite, each heartbeat driving the burning force deeper into his bones.

His hands clenched and for one moment, he heard everything.

The wind across the nine frontiers. The beating hearts of the men below. The distant roars of covenant dragons scattered throughout Midgard.

Something ancient stirred inside him and golden light crawled into his eyes, and his pupils narrowed into sharp vertical slits.

The pressure released from his body split the clouds around them.

Jayden forced the power under control and looked at Lady Vara.

“This authority is too great. I have strength, but no experience governing a realm.”

“The previous Guardian had experience,” Lady Vara replied. “Yet he could not stop what you ended today.”

Jayden remained silent.

“You defended Midgard before receiving the title,” she continued. “That alone makes you worthy of it.”

Lady Vara then glanced at the silk girdle around his arm.

“Besides, how do you think Mira will react when she discovers that the man she waited for has returned as Guardian of the Realm?”

Warmth entered Jayden’s eyes.

“Mira never cared about status.”

“No,” Lady Vara said. “But she will care that you came back alive.”

Jayden looked down at the old silk.

He imagined Mira standing before him again. She might cry, slap him for staying away so long or refuse to speak to him until he explained everything.

He would accept any punishment she gave him.

He only wanted to see her safe.

“I accept the title,” he said. “But I will visit Mira first. Once I know she is well, I will return and take up my duties.”

Lady Vara nodded. “Go.”

Jayden drew his cloak over his shoulders. He touched the silk girdle one last time, then opened another magic circle.

A faint smile appeared on his face, after all these years, he was finally going home and with that thought, the light swallowed him.

-------

Far away from Grey Pass, laughter filled Voss Manor.

The younger members of House Voss played in the courtyard, dressed in warm silk clothes while servants carried trays of pastries and sweet drinks between them.

Near the side of the courtyard, a little girl swept the floor alone.

Her dress was old and too thin for the cold. Her small fingers had turned red, and her eyes were swollen from crying, but she did not dare stop working.

Her name was Nia Jian.

A jade pendant hung around her neck, hidden partly beneath her torn collar. It was the only precious thing she owned and the last thing her mother had left with her before she was forcefully dragged away from the manor.

Her mother had warned her never to lose it.

Nia did not know why the pendant mattered so much. She only knew it had once belonged to her father and she had promised her mother that she would always keep it safe.

A group of children ran past and knocked the broom from her hands. They laughed when it fell, but Nia quickly picked it up and lowered her head.

Crying would only earn her another punishment and more mockery

She wiped her wet cheeks and continued sweeping, though her small hands had started to shake.

After a while, she touched the pendant through her dress thinking of the last time she saw her mom being dragged away then she remembered what her mother used to tell her whenever they slept beside each other.

“Mother said you would come back,” she whispered tightening her hold on the pendant

Another tear slipped down her cheek.

“Daddy … when will you come and save Mommy and me?”