The Guardians' Legacy

The walk through the narrow streets of the northern region of the Capital had already lasted a few minutes, Colth and Garta headed towards the sun that was about to set.

“So you’re the kind of people who give people drugs to help them sleep?” Colth said, striking up a conversation in the middle of a gray alley.

— If you're talking about Celina, know that she agreed to this. — Garta replied, heading towards a single objective.

— Do you think I was born yesterday?

—Suddenly you feel like playing smart?

— No. I just don't like seeing people with bad intentions taking advantage of others.

— Then you don't need to worry. We have no bad intentions — she replied in a mocking tone as she turned the deserted corner under the shadows of the Capital's great border wall.

— That's what a kidnapper would say.

— Oh? Of course, a kidnapper would help a useless person like you escape this shitty city.

— Okay, I get it. I'm not in a position to discuss this — he said, deceiving himself that he had convinced himself. — So?

“We’re here,” he concluded in a dejected tone.

The Capital was surrounded by a great border wall that excluded all the other six cities of the kingdom of Albores. Recently, the empire had annexed all of those cities, including Toesane, Colth's home, but had not changed much in its treatment of the inhabitants of those places, except for allowing citizens from outside to work in factories and other manual labor. It was hard to forget this reality when the walls became visible around the neighborhood.

The woman turned to the narrow three-story building that had broken windows, graffiti on the facade, and a single, simple rusty metal door for access, and entered without ceremony. Colth simply followed while controlling his curiosity.

As soon as she walked through the door, Garta was immediately greeted by the words of a man at the back of the old store:

— Ah. If it isn’t Edgar’s guard dog, Garta. — The cheerful welcome came from an old man behind a worn wooden counter.

— Let me handle it, stay here — the guardian ordered Colth before diving deeper into the store.

The place was a wide corridor, a dark room with a few lamps on several disorganized shelves, some empty, others filled with the most diverse objects. The old merchant got up from his chair and leaned over the battered counter to serve the woman.

“I don’t have much patience today, old man,” she replied as she walked to the back.

—Of course not—the merchant said briefly. —What brings you here?

Colth accepted the woman's orders and remained at the entrance of the store, observing what he could from there. Antiques, unused objects, used weapons, and a bunch of other trinkets that were covered by the thick dust accumulated over the years on the shelves leaning against the old cracked walls caught his attention while his ear focused on the distant conversation.

“Two things I need,” Garta continued. “The first, a 4-millimeter valve. And the second, a passage to Toesane.”

— Oh, great. Do you want a flying elephant too? How about a pet dark creature? — The old man threw his arms up in the air, gesturing mockingly. — Are you kidding me?

— Is it so difficult to get a valve like that?

— No. The problem isn't the damn valve. — he said, placing both hands on the counter to show the value of the matter. — You know, how difficult it is to leave the Capital these days? The Ministry of Defense now even has rules for you to go pee in the bathroom of a passenger station.

— What's up, Frederic? Stop trying to make it seem like something infinitely more valuable than it really is...

— I'm serious, girl. It seems that this sudden change in government policy is to prevent the flight of labor. Rumor has it that they've found a mine of precious resources right here underground in the Capital. They're going to need a lot of workers in the coming months.

— And you believed it? Seriously? What nonsense. — Garta emphasized his disdain.

—What else would explain this policy? Who knows what it could be? Maybe silver? Gold? Or perhaps Sathsai crystals?

— Pfff. I thought old age brought wisdom. — More disinterest from Garta. — So, what can you do?

— The valve, I have it here. It's 9 Malpezas. — Frederic placed the object that resembled a small lamp on the counter, then continued with the proposal. — As for the ticket, I'll need a few days to get a fake or something similar.

— How many days?

— I don't know. Maybe a week or more.

— A week!? — Garta almost climbed onto the counter in surprise. — No, no. You can do it sooner, go on. I know you even have passages through the walls where you get your various goods. I'll pay whatever it takes for you to simply smuggle someone through there, how about that?

“The problem isn’t the money,” he sighed. “In fact, I have suppliers who use an opening in the wall. But it’s for Tekai, there’s nothing like it in the direction of Toesane. Even if I wanted to, I can’t.”

— It's just a matter of purging a person from the Capital, how difficult is it?

— Purge? — He was surprised by the choice of word — Are you talking about that one over there? — Frederic pointed with his eyes to Colth who was observing the remains of a silver armor thrown in the corner of the store.

— It doesn't matter who it is — Garta shrugged. — Can you or can't you?

— How many times will I have to repeat it?

— Argh. — The woman closed her eyes to swallow reality. She rubbed her hand over her face trying to get rid of the bitterness as she accepted the proposal. — Okay. One week and nothing more. That's all you get, okay?

The woman placed the nine coins on the counter and grabbed the valve Bertha had requested before turning around and heading back to the store entrance.

— It was a pleasure doing business with you, Garta. — the shopkeeper said goodbye.

— So? Did you get it? — Colth asked as he left the store next to the guardian.

— No — Garta growled the answer with furious eyes.

                                               ***

They both made their way back as the afternoon began to give way to night. As soon as they arrived at the shopping plaza, which already had all the decorations and ornaments for the Moon Day celebrations complete, Garta crossed the place and stopped at the entrance of another building, right in front of the Gato Implacável restaurant sign.

— Come in, go up the stairs to the first apartment. Wait for me — he summed up his impatience in a few words.

— What? How? What is this place? — Colth was completely confused as the woman had already turned around and left him behind.

— I said I'll be right back... Just do what I told you — irritated, she took steps towards the restaurant on the other side of the square, which was gradually filling up with guests for the festivities.

“What an arrogant girl. Arrogant and annoying.” Colth thought as he looked at the commercial building with apartments on the two upper floors. On the ground floor, the sign “Runa’s Tailor Shop” indicated the store that was already closed due to the opening hours.

Colth entered through the simple passage on the side of the place that gave access to the narrow stairs and, as ordered, went up to the first apartment. When he opened the door he saw an almost completely empty house. He had already imagined that he would have to spend the night there, but he was not surprised.

“Not welcoming,” he whispered to himself the moment he stepped through the door and got his first impression.

Two rooms and a bathroom, basically a large concrete box, there were two simple beds, almost stuck together in what looked like the bedroom, a small closet, and a small window on the back wall through which the last rays of sunlight illuminated the room with a musty smell in the half light.

— It won't be for long, will it? — Colth said out loud to convince himself that it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

His voice echoed off the cold walls of the tiny room and returned to his own ears, bringing him a lonely feeling. In just three steps, he walked back to the center of the apartment and pulled a thin cord coming from the ceiling. The lamp hanging precariously from the ceiling struggled to turn on and illuminate the room with its weak yellow light.

His concern for the place only lost strength when he heard the noise of the festivities coming from the square. Colth reached the only window in the room and opened it to let the new night breeze in and the cheerful sounds of the square fill the air.

Some artists with different musical instruments had just set up below the gray tent and were highlighted by the various lamps installed earlier in the center of the square.

There could not be a festival without music, it was from the first notes played by the guitar and the long flute of the musicians that it could really be said that the Moon Day party had begun.

Children played, couples danced, people had fun. Colth smiled contagiously at the shared happiness, leaned on the windowsill and let the music pass through his body. It didn't last long, the front door of the apartment slammed without warning.

Garta had already entered the residence bringing with her another one, Aldren followed her closely while chattering.

— So your hideout is inside the Capital? That's quite impressive. Aren't you afraid of what might happen, so close to the enemy? — he said, showing excitement in the middle of a long conversation with the bored woman. When he walked through the door and saw Colth without reacting, he was surprised and revealed a sincere smile. — Colth! So, you're going to stay here too?

The “also” used by Aldren confirmed the boy’s suspicions. Colth would share the apartment and the room with his colleague until his train ticket to Toesane was in his hands. He didn’t think it was bad, on the contrary, he smiled in response and was relieved to have someone he knew with whom he could share his impressions of the whole place.

— There's food in that bag... — Garta threw a brown paper bag towards Colth who caught it in bewilderment. She kept the same carefree expression as always. — Meet me at the restaurant tomorrow morning. Until then, don't leave here.

The guardian turned around and prepared to leave the apartment, but before she did, Aldren interrupted her:

— Wait. You said I would see Celina.

— Tomorrow, that's what I said.

— But she...

— What's your problem!? — Garta shouted — I already told you that Celina is fine.

The guardian's ferocity suddenly made the boy take a step back and lower his head.

She, in turn, felt the remorse coming from that obvious disappointment and shook her head to rid herself of the guilt in her thoughts.

- Tomorrow...

— Okay. Sure — replied Aldren, still looking downcast.

— Hum — sighed Garta, making sure to make it clear that she had no regrets. — Good night.

She left and slammed the door, leaving behind the two boys who looked at each other in a brief awkward silence. Colth lifted the paper bag he had in his hands to offer what would be dinner. Aldren hesitated, but soon nodded positively and his smile returned.

                                                ***

— It's good to know she's okay. I was a little worried — concluded Aldren after receiving news from Colth that the girl Celina was on the other side of the square without any apparent risks.

They had just finished eating the leftovers brought by Garta from the restaurant and, now satisfied, they contemplated the pulsating festivities from the window. The boy tried, but could not hide the smile of happiness on his face.

— I can't believe I'm actually going to start living in the capital — Aldren changed the subject after he was calmer with the food in his stomach.

—Is this really that amazing? —Colth asked, not understanding the depth of the joy.

— Yes. Of course — he stated with conviction. — That's why we were taking the Defense selection tests, right? To never return to our cities again.

— Oh no. That’s not exactly it. — Colth didn’t agree with the “never coming back” part. — Honestly, I’m just here because of a last request from someone I cared about a lot. I really like Toesane.

— Did it matter? Like a girlfriend? — Aldren asked curiously, the music and laughter echoing in the night outside.

— What? No — he denied immediately when he saw the curious look on the boy's face reach him. — That 'important' person was my sister's husband. I promised him that I would get a place in the Royal Guard. He spent almost a whole year training me for it.

Colth lowered his head without realizing it. The feelings that came with those memories still hurt. But it didn't last long, Aldren interrupted his colleague's feelings by getting excited about the story.

— How cool! Like a master, then?

— Master? Thomas taught me, but I don't think that's it. — he replied with a shy smile on his face after raising his head in surprise. — After my father died, he told me it was important to come to the Capital so that the doors to my future would open, that kind of thing. That's when I promised to be part of the Royal Guard, as long as he trained me. Unfortunately, he died in an accident shortly after.

— A... — Aldren interrupted his good mood uncomfortably — I'm sorry. So, do you have a family waiting for you in Toesane?

— I have an older sister who lives with her daughter. I was hoping to pass the selection process so I wouldn't have to depend on her. But those guys at the Ministry of Defense are all idiots.

— That's right. They think they're cool just because of their cool uniforms.

— The Colonel called me “murky”, that idiot. — Colth showed his anger by frowning.

— That's because we're from outside the Capital. As if it makes a difference. Idiot. But the uniform is cool.

Colth smiled in surprise at the boy's detached words. He tried to get over the subject.

— You said you came from out of town. Where exactly, Aldren?

— Celina and I are from Rasuey.

— Rasuey? The city of the sky? — Colth used the little knowledge he had about the place.

— That's it. The city with the biggest mountains on the continent, and the biggest hypocrites too.

— Why don't you want to go back there?

— I don't know, Toesane, but Rasuey resisted the annexation and fought for its freedom. Obviously, it didn't work out — Aldren replied and paused thoughtfully. — Whatever. Nothing good is there anymore anyway.

— Does it have to do with the girl? — Colth insisted.

— Celina? — he seemed bitter again. — Yes. She got into a big fight with some important people there. I ended up getting involved and we ended up fleeing the city.

Colth couldn’t hide his surprised look. He wondered things like, “Did that tiny girl get into such a big trouble? To the point where she had to leave town?”

—And that's it. — Aldren forced the end of the subject.

— I see. But listen, aren't you afraid of being completely surrounded by walls here? Aren't you just giving up your freedom?

— Not at all. Celina and I lost our freedom a long time ago. — Aldren replied, watching the children and adults having fun amidst the festivities on the square's pavement. He reflected on his own words: — I just want to experience a little of the happiness these people have. Do you think they're wondering about freedom?

— ...

— Well, from what I can tell, tomorrow is going to be a busy day. — Aldren left the windowsill and headed for his room. — You better get some rest. Good night, Colth — he said goodbye.

“Good evening,” he replied, continuing to think about Aldren’s unpretentious words as his eyes reflected the lively party.