The Guardians' Legacy

The sun rose strongly to warm up the strange atmosphere of that morning, Colth and Aldren left their apartment towards the restaurant, where they would meet Garta, as they had done the previous day, but they were surprised as soon as they left the building of the improvised residence.

They found Garta accompanied by Celina, waiting for them, in front of Runa's tailor shop.

“What are you doing here?” Colth asked in surprise. After his conversation with the Manager the day before, he hadn’t imagined he would see Celina so soon.

—A change of plans, nothing more—replied Garta without showing any feeling that could be read.

— How are you? — Aldren said as he met Celina.

The girl responded with a simple shy smile while the boy radiated his usual happiness.

— Let's go. — Garta, as usual, led dryly.

Soon they began walking along the narrow, uncrowded street. Even though it was a time when local residents were commuting to work, the parallel streets remained quite empty and were hardly used.

—Isn’t the restaurant over there? — Aldren asked.

— The restaurant is over there, yes. So what? — Garta replied in a hollow tone. — We're not going there.

— But what about your “research” with Celina?

— More important orders must be carried out first. — replied the convinced leader.

They continued through the narrow streets of the North as the winds changed direction, the intense heat of those days seemed to be about to end, and it was no wonder, summer was coming to an end.

Colth quickened his steps to get the attention of the rest of the group, he was still confused about Celina's presence there, but he left that aside for a moment.

— What's this last minute job, Garta?

— Let's investigate something. — He pretended not to care and kept walking.

“Investigate?” Colth whispered. He figured he had the answer to the question about Celina, but he decided to confirm it anyway. “That’s why you brought her, isn’t it?”

— That's it — the guardian hesitated in her answer, but gave in. — Celina will help me investigate.

Colth smiled as his pride was vindicated, he couldn't be called a fool now, but his expression soon changed when he noticed Garta rolling his eyes in disdain in response.

— What? What is it? — he asked annoyed and was rudely ignored.

The group walked for a few more minutes until they stopped in the middle of an alley near the Capital's border wall. Colth recognized that place, he was once again in the antique shop.

— What are we going to do here? — Aldren even tried, but Garta didn't listen to his question.

The woman was already opening the metal door of the old building. As soon as she walked through the entrance, she was immediately greeted by the speech of the old man behind the counter in the back.

— Girl! It's good to see you again. — The shopkeeper's cheerful greeting sounded forced again.

— No funny business, Frederic. I don't have much patience today. — Garta replied, leaving the other three colleagues behind and heading deeper into the store. The rest of the group followed her with curious eyes on the artifacts buried in dust and spider webs on the shelves.

— You never have the patience, do you? Don’t touch the goods! — The old man’s sudden shout reprimanding Aldren, who was about to touch one of the goods on display, echoed faintly through the dark building.

The object that shone in the curious boy's eyes was a beautiful dagger with a bright blue blade. With red details on its handle, that object caught the eye and stood out amidst so much junk. Aldren took a step back and immediately lowered his silly hand.

— Sorry — he said with a wry smile on his face.

Celina continued to observe the beautiful blade, keeping her distance as Colth and Aldren slowly approached the counter. The gray-haired man with a cut scar on his cheek turned to Garta and continued his conversation with the woman:

—I see you brought new blood—he said, pointing with his chin at those approaching.

— What? — Garta turned around, slightly surprised. — Didn't I tell you to stay at the entrance?

“No. I didn’t,” Aldren replied as he scanned the merchandise behind the counter with his eyes.

— They're from outside, right? They definitely are — the shopkeeper thought out loud, looking at his customers in judgment. Celina joined the group and also received curious looks from the shopkeeper.

— Your ability to make the right guesses always irritates me, old man — Garta leaned over the counter with a more closed face than usual.

— These are not mere guesses, child. These are the eyes. The eyes reveal everything. — The old man gestured with his hands. — Come here, come closer. Let me see you.

With a bit of hesitation, the three of them took a few steps towards the eccentric man.

— Of course he's going to show off... — whispered Garta, twisting his face.

“That boy’s eyes, for example.” The shopkeeper stared at Aldren. “Compassion, kindness, a hint of hatred, and a brief… feeling of entrapment?”

Aldren was astonished as he was closely observed by the man. His eyes widened as the others around him doubted the words he had spoken. Immediately, with a dodge backwards, he quickly distanced himself from the shopkeeper.

— ... — The boy remained silent, staring at the old man while the others found the situation strange.

— So you're just like Aldren? — Celina asked, impressed. — Can you see what people think and feel just by looking at their eyes?

— Who is this, Garta? — The shopkeeper didn't believe the girl's sincerity and was vehemently surprised — Another crazy girl for your group?

— Stop the nonsense — Garta cut the subject off by the roots. — Hey, don't be impressed by this charlatan, everyone here feels trapped, we are literally surrounded by a wall. Frederic can barely read words, much less read what others are thinking.

“What a nuisance,” he replied disgruntledly. “I wonder how many days they’ll be able to put up with you, Garta,” the shopkeeper retorted mockingly.

— That's none of your business. Now, tell me you have something worth my coming here for — she said, leaning on the counter in a bored manner. — I didn't come here for you to just show off with this nonsense, right?

— Ugh. Why am I still impressed by you? — Frederic wondered as he ducked behind the counter. He came back with a large object, something like a box covered in a white cloth. — Here it is.

He placed the piece on the counter, arousing everyone's curiosity. Then he pulled back the cloth covering the surface of the thing, revealing what it was.

— What is this? — Garta was displeased when she saw a cage for small animals before her eyes.

Inside the thin metal bars, a bird, similar to a crow, was attentively observing everything around it.

— Some men, employees of the shoe factory, captured this little thing while they were working. It was standing on the sign on the factory facade.

— Hmm. — Garta showed his disinterest and even contempt for the subject. — You must have completely lost your mind. What's wrong with a filthy crow?

— Take a closer look, child. That’s not a crow. — The man’s words caught Garta’s attention, and she admitted to looking at the cage. Frederic continued talking while she analyzed the supposed animal inside the bars. — It was on the sign, like I said, but that’s where the bizarre thing comes in. The bird had been there for more than three days. Non-stop, without interruption. The factory employees made a bet, or something like that. Anyway, one of them thought the animal was trained and could get some change.

— And you bought it? — Aldren interrupted the conversation.

—Of course I did. It's not every day you can buy a shadow creature for just fifty malpezas.

— D-dark creature? — The boy’s surprise was shared by Colth. — Are you telling me this is a dark creature? No. It’s worse than that. Are you telling me there are dark creatures within the confines of the Capitol?

—That's what it looks like — the shopkeeper replied with conviction.

— Celina? — Garta gave the silent girl space to approach and analyze the bird.

— I thought the creatures only appeared outside the capital. — Celina said without any apparent conclusion as she observed the cage closely. With her usual thoughtful ritual, her thumb over her lips and her gaze focused, she tried to reach some conclusion.

—Does that mean the capital doesn't have all the light they say it does? — Colth asked a question everyone else thought was trivial.

— Of course not, Colth. That's just a bunch of stories the Capitol church tells to make themselves feel superior to other cities. — Aldren's answer didn't surprise anyone.

— It really does look like a dark creature — Celina confirmed the suspicions.

— Of course it's a dark creature! — The old shopkeeper replied annoyed even without being contradicted. — What is she, again? An expert on dark creatures?

— Let her think, Frederic — Garta replied to the ironic question in a serious manner.

  — If one dark creature is within the city limits, then does that mean there might be others? — Celina took the lead with her own whispered thought.

— So, really... — Garta thought out loud after being slightly surprised by that deduction. She continued in a hesitant tone, almost as if asking for advice: — A dark creature has never been seen in the capital before, and now more could appear? Do you think that's really possible, Celina?

— I don't know if there might be more, but we can't rule out that possibility. — she continued thoughtfully as she turned to Garta. — Besides, this one is very small. Outside the capital, there are huge creatures that scare, scare away, and even destroy entire villages. If one of those appears in the capital...

“It would be a complete disaster,” Garta concluded. “Old man, keep this a secret. I need to talk to the Manager about it.”

— Okay, sure. Don't forget that you owe me fifty... No. Two hundred malpezas for the creature.

— You said fifty before. — Aldren without thinking.

— I am a shopkeeper, not an almshouse — replied the old man mercilessly.

— Sure, Frederic. I'll get you the money — Garta ended the discussion and waved for his colleagues to hurry up. — Let's go.

— Besides the money, I would like a table at Gato Implacável. I will have a very good dinner tomorrow. — The merchant smiled in complete happiness.

They left the establishment still thinking. Garta walked with the group in silence and, after passing through some empty alleys on their way back to the square of the Gato Implacável restaurant, they came across a pair of police officers, far ahead.

“Damn,” Garta whispered in reverse. She held the group’s pace and waved her hands to make everyone pay attention.

The uniformed police officers appeared to be following orders to check the apartments and residents on that street. They knocked on doors and asked questions of the residents.

- What it was?

“Quiet,” Garta ordered as he ducked behind a large trash can on the sidewalk.

The other three in the group followed the leader. She watched the officers across the street thoughtfully.

— What's wrong? — Aldren said impatiently again.

— What are they doing here? — asked Garta.

“The cops?” Colth didn’t think any further. “They must be looking for a tax debtor, or something.”

— No. Police officers don't show up like that around here. They barely care about this area — Garta replied, trying to solve the mystery while looking around. — They must be looking for some... — The woman fell silent when she realized where she was.

— Let's just get out of here and go around... — Aldren said to the wind.

— Huh? What’s wrong, Garta? — Colth noticed the astonishment in her eyes. She was staring at the building across the street.

— This is Oskar's hideout.

— The one with the fake brick wall?

— That's it. That alley is behind this building. — Garta seemed apprehensive and even scared.

— Who's Oskar? — Aldren asked, only to be ignored.

— Come. — Garta walked, peeking towards the door of the brick house they were talking about.

The guard knocked on the door in a very specific way and waited with her suspicious group. The police continued their investigations from house to house, and approached there.

—What are you doing, Garta? — Aldren whispered uneasily.

— We can't leave them here. They'll end up getting arrested.

— Them? Them, who?

Before the answer could be returned, the door opened. A woman with a friendly smile greeted them, but before she could welcome them, Garta threw herself into the house and gestured with her hands to calm the resident.

— Wait, Garta. What are you... — Colth was surprised by the attitude. He and the others also entered the living room of the small house.

— Shhh. — Garta placed his index finger across his lips as he closed the front door of the house.

— Garta, what... — The resident whispered, looking for answers. The other three were relieved to know that the woman knew the guardian, even if that didn't explain anything.

— What happened, dear? — asked the husband along with his daughter as they entered the living room from the kitchen.

— Iara, Mr. Figo. I'm glad you're here. — Garta showed his relief on his face and in his voice.

— Girl and the man with the box — said the girl, opening a huge smile as she recognized the intrusive visitors.

— Do you know this one...

— We don't have time for this, Mr. Figo. — Garta interrupted the good humor and introductions with his urgent serious tone. — Where is Oskar?

— He went to Lagunia, he should be back in a week.

— What?... — Garta was surprised. — It doesn't matter. There are two police officers coming, you need to hide immediately — he reinforced the urgency.

— The police? What are they... — said the wife, hugging her daughter in terror.

— I don't know. But you need to hide now.

—What if we went out through the secret passage in the back alley? — suggested the resident.

— No. — Garta shook his head. — I don't know if there are any more police officers around.

— I see. So, the basement.

— That's it. Let's go.

They all immediately crossed the living room and kitchen to the door that led down to the basement stairs. The place was tiny, damp, and smelled of mold so bad it would irritate anyone's nose, but it was enough. Besides, a shiny thing on the old cabinet in the room caught Garta's eye.

“So this is where you hide, Oskar?” Garta whispered to herself as she stretched to reach the top surface of the furniture.

— What is this!? — Colth was shocked to see the woman carrying a gunpowder musket towards the stairs to return to the ground floor.

— You never know. — She walked past, ignoring his terrified expression.

— You never know?... — Colth noticed that the same fear on his face was stamped on the face of the child who was being hugged by his parents. He disguised his fear and tried to appear confident. — Don't worry, we're safe here. — He smiled falsely towards the back of the basement.

“They’re already here!” Garta exclaimed in a low voice at the top of the stairs as he looked out at the outside of the house through the window curtains.

“The police?” Aldren asked as he approached Garta. He had seen the terror on the family’s faces and didn’t know how to react or even stay with them in the basement.

— Of course it's the police. Who else would it be? — Garta was distressed and her words showed it. She didn't take her eyes off the small opening that gave her a view of some uniformed men walking down the street carrying their muskets.

“What do we do now?” Colth asked, unsure of what to expect. The illegal family remained in distress as their colleagues gathered on the stairs between the basement and the kitchen.

— It seems they are in a group of four people. — Garta narrated what he observed. — They are going from house to house, in pairs, one pair on each side of the street. Well armed with Sathsai muskets.

— Sathsai musket?! — Aldren wondered. — Why would the police need something like that? It could knock down a horse with just one shot.

— If they are well armed, it is because they expect resistance. — Celina touched her lips with her thumb as she thought out loud. — They already know that there is a force opposing the empire here and, probably, that there is a hiding place. An informant...

—Informant? — Aldren was surprised.

—That's what it looks like, but that doesn't matter now. — As soon as Garta finished her words, she turned sharply to the group behind her. —They're coming this way.

“What are we going to do?” Colth asked, being careful not to let his nervousness about the situation show.

— We just have to stay quiet and hide here in the basement and pretend no one is home — Aldren expressed his idea.

— No. They would break down the door. They seem pretty desperate to find something. — Garta replied.

— We can take them out. One pair at a time, it won't be too hard. — Aldren brought up a second alternative.

— Delete? — Colth countered his colleague's words, but no one listened to him.

— No — Garta denied again. — The disappearance of two, or four, police officers would only bring more of them here...

The sound of knocking on the door came from the entrance of the house and hastened Garta's words.

“Let’s fool them,” he said, accepting his own idea. “It’s a regular house. Celina and Aldren will pretend to be residents of the house while Colth and I hide and provide support in case things get out of hand.”

— Normal residents? Are you kidding? — Aldren disliked the idea, but Garta responded by simply shaking his head.

— Don't worry, none of them will recognize Celina. — he tried to convince his group. — These police officers are low-ranking, even if the Defense is after the guardian, I doubt they know.

The knock on the door hastened the decision-making. Aldren and Celina jointly accepted Garta's plans, there was not much else they could do.

The last to accept the idea was Colth. With nervous looks, they quickly set off up the remaining steps that would give access to the ground floor of the house. Quickly, they pushed one of the many kitchen shelves in front of the door that gave access to the basement so as to hide it.

— Here, Colth. Take this. There’s no telling what might happen. — Garta handed his colleague a knife from the kitchen drawer.

Colth swallowed hard, accepting the object as his weapon. He figured he wouldn't use it, after all, Garta had a musket. He would only need to use that blade as a last resort, that's what he thought as he held the wooden handle of the tool.

Celina and Aldren approached the front door of the house and waited, for Colth and Garta to enter and hide in the two closets in the living room. One at each end of the entry room, they hid and waited.

The knocking on the door grew louder.

— This is the capital police! This is the final warning! Open the door or we will be forced to use the law. — The male voice imposed itself from outside the house.

With no more time, Aldren took a deep breath and, next to Celina, turned the doorknob after unlocking it. He gently opened the door to see two impatient police officers.