The Guard Life

Gard stood in the centre of the armory hall, looking across the gathered guards.

“Right, men, off you go. Protect the city of Endine!”

The guards began to disperse, collecting their weapons and fastening their uniforms before heading toward the exits that led out into the city.

The armory hall was built differently from the rest of the palace. Vines still covered the walls, and small patches of flora grew naturally from the living structure, but here the vines were twice as thick. Their surfaces had hardened, forming a dense layer around the walls.

The guards rarely thought about it anymore.

The Ancient Power had shaped the armory to be strong, just as it had shaped those who protected Endine.

Gard watched his men and women leave in pairs.

The guards were divided throughout the city, each section having its own small post where two Felines would remain responsible for watching over their assigned area. Anything unusual was reported back to Gard.

At the far end of the armory, one of the guards pulled his uniform into place.

His entity hovered beside him.

It was larger than the light particles that usually drifted through Endine. Its form was thicker, its glow denser, almost as though it carried more weight than the others.

The guard glanced at it.

“You ready?”

The entity pulsed once.

He sighed.

It was still early, and already Gard had given them something unusual to investigate.

A rumour.

A Feline had supposedly been seen beyond the borders of Endine.

Not a Feline they knew.

Not one who belonged to the city.

He finished fastening his uniform, reached for his sword and secured it behind his shoulders.

When he turned, Erica was standing beside him.

She was another member of the guard, and like him, her entity hovered quietly at her side.

“Ready?” she asked.

He nodded.

The two of them headed toward the exit.

They were never supposed to patrol alone.

All must go out in twos.

Not only for protection.

For witnessing.

Erica looked at her companion, Warsa.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here before we get any more orders!” she said, adjusting the ties of her corset armour as Warsa followed beside her.

Their two light particles drifted along behind them, moving almost as though they were engaged in a conversation of their own. Their glows pulsed softly as they travelled through the armory hall.

The two guards stepped out of the armory, swords secured across their backs, and made their way through the hall toward one of the palace's side exits.

As they reached the huge yard outside, Warsa stopped for a moment and looked around.

Several exits led away from the palace, each one heading toward a different part of Endine.

“Right,” Warsa said, turning towards Erica. “So where are we posted today?”

“Theryn district,” Erica replied.

Warsa's expression immediately dropped.

“Again?” he groaned. “Oh, man. Why do we always get posted there?”

Erica shrugged.

“I don't know. Maybe someone up there doesn't like us.”

Warsa sighed as they started towards the exit.

“Brilliant. Another day in Theryn.”

They had barely taken a few steps when a voice came from behind them.

“Because that's where you're posted, Warsa. You got a problem with that?”

Warsa froze.

He slowly turned around to see Gard standing behind them in his captain's uniform.

“Yes, sir!”

Both guards immediately straightened and saluted. Their particles quickly moved into position beside them, mimicking their owners.

Gard looked at Warsa for a moment before his expression softened.

“Relax, will you?” he said, stepping closer and giving Warsa a light slap on the shoulder. “You have to try not to be so tense all the time.”

Warsa lowered his arm, clearly embarrassed.

“Sorry, sir. I just feel a little off this morning. I didn't mean anything by it.”

“It's fine.”

Gard smiled, but the expression didn't last long.

His posture changed.

He glanced briefly towards the palace entrance before looking back at the two guards.

“Listen,” Gard said, his voice becoming more serious. “I'm not going to give you too much information here, but you're going to Theryn for a reason.”

Erica frowned.

“A reason, sir?”

“Yes.”

Gard folded his arms behind his back.

“I just want you to keep your eyes open. Look out for anything unusual.”

Warsa and Erica exchanged a quick glance.

“Anything unusual?” Warsa asked.

Gard nodded.

“Anything at all. If you see something that doesn't seem right, report it directly to me.”

He paused.

“And no one else.”

The lightness had completely disappeared from his voice now.

“Do I make myself clear?”

Both guards immediately saluted.

“Yes, sir. Of course!”

Gard held their gaze for another moment before nodding.

“Good.”

He turned and walked back towards the armory, leaving Warsa and Erica standing in the yard.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Warsa looked at Erica.

Erica looked back at him.

“Okay,” Warsa muttered. “That was strange.”

Erica nodded slowly.

“Very.”

Their particles pulsed beside them.

Warsa glanced towards the exit leading into Theryn.

“Well… I suppose we'd better find out what we're looking for.”

Erica tightened the straps of her armour.

“Let's go.”

Together, they headed out of the palace and towards the Theryn district.

They both walked through the yard to the other side of the palace grounds, passing through an archway that led into the transport depot.

The depot was overgrown with vines, much like the rest of Endine, with particle lights drifting gently through the air around them.

As Warsa and Erica stepped beneath the archway, the particles suddenly began to gather.

Erica's feline ears twitched.

Warsa's did the same.

The lights moved around them, joining together until they formed a large, transparent bubble. Lines of light stretched between each particle, connecting them into a glowing network that formed the walls of the transport.

Erica stared at it with fascination.

“I've been around the Ancient Power's particle lights since birth, and how they form these bubble transports will always fascinate me!”

Warsa smiled.

“You're like a child when it comes to those particle lights.”

Erica looked at him.

“You just said it yourself. I've been around them since birth. It's completely normal.”

“Exactly,” Warsa replied. “So why are you still fascinated by them?”

Before Erica could answer, the bubble finished forming.

A section of the glowing wall opened, inviting them inside.

They stepped into the centre of the transport.

As soon as they entered, their individual entities drifted forward.

Erica's entity moved towards her while Warsa's moved towards him, both glowing softly as they connected with the surrounding particles.

The moment they did, strands of light extended from each entity.

They wrapped gently around Warsa and Erica, securing them within the transport.

The light settled around their feet and legs first, holding them firmly in place before extending upwards around their bodies.

Erica looked down at the glowing restraints.

“Our entities really don't trust us, do they?”

Warsa laughed.

“They're keeping us safe.”

“I know.”

The two entities remained close to them, their lights pulsing gently as though they were watching over their companions.

Warsa looked towards the front of the bubble.

“Right. Theryn, please.”

The surrounding particles flickered.

The entities responded immediately.

Their lights brightened, connecting with the transport and forming a pathway through the depot.

A moment later, the bubble suddenly shot forward.

The network of particle lights carried them through Endine, travelling along pathways that stretched between the districts.

Trees and buildings blurred past the transparent walls as the transport moved effortlessly through the forest.

Despite the speed, Warsa and Erica remained completely secure.

Their entities stayed beside them, their light holding them firmly in place throughout the journey.

Erica looked out through the transparent wall, watching Endine pass by.

She smiled.

Even after growing up surrounded by the Ancient Power, there was still something about travelling through Endine like this that fascinated her.

Warsa simply sat back and allowed his entity to keep watch.

For him, it was another journey to another district.

For Erica, it was another opportunity to admire something she had never quite grown tired of.

And their destination was Theryn.

They shot through Endine like a ball on a marble run, until the transport finally entered Theryn.

The platform was almost identical to the one at the armory, its vine-covered walls blending naturally into the surrounding forest. The bubble of light particles came to a smooth stop at the edge of the platform.

“After you!” Warsa said as their entities released them from their straps.

“Thank you!” Erica replied, stepping out of the transport, with Warsa following close behind.

Two other felines were already waiting on the platform. They looked ready to head home, their night shift finally coming to an end.

The bubble of light particles remained hovering nearby as the four guards exchanged their final words.

“Hey, ready for the day shift, are we?” the male guard asked. He looked tired after a long night, his own entity floating quietly beside him.

“Yes, as always. Anything to report before we start?” Warsa asked.

The guard waved a dismissive hand.

“Nah, nothing really. You heard what Gard said, though, about keeping an eye out for anything unusual?”

“Yes, of course. He told us at the meeting before we left. Any idea why?”

The guard shrugged as the four of them moved to one side of the platform.

“Nah. Just follow orders, me. I don't question why. It's easier to maintain a peace-free mind, if you know what I mean!”

The female guard beside him suddenly joined the conversation.

“Well, I did hear a rumour about someone hanging around the borders of Endine.”

She raised both hands quickly.

“But don't quote me on that. It could be completely unrelated to what Gard was talking about.”

“Oh, interesting,” Erica said.

The two night guards stepped into the bubble, their entities following them inside.

“That's all I've heard,” the female guard added as the bubble sealed around them.

With a soft rush of light, the transport shot away from the platform and disappeared into the distance of Endine.

Erica watched it go before turning towards the exit.

“Well, that's something.”

Warsa gave her a sideways glance.

“I tell you what, if there really is someone hanging around the edges of Endine, I feel sorry for them.”

“What? Why?”

Warsa paused as the vines covering the entrance slowly slid apart, revealing the district of Theryn beyond.

“Oh, I don't know.” He stepped forward, looking out into the district. “Our people have never met anyone from outside Endine before.”

He glanced at Erica.

“I can't see that going too well.”

Erica followed him through the opening.

Neither of them noticed anything unusual

They stood at the end of a slope leading down onto a platform, with the district of Theryn stretching out before them.

“Well, here we are. Theryn again!” Warsa said, gesturing towards the district with an expression that was neither particularly happy nor disappointed.

Erica had already started walking.

“Oh, come on. It's not that bad. Everyone here knows us because we're regulars!”

As they made their way down the slope, several felines turned towards them. Males, females and children alike greeted the two guards as they entered the district, often accompanied by their families.

“Morning, Erica!”

“Morning, Warsa!”

“Good to see you two again!”

Erica returned the greetings with a smile, waving to those she knew, while Warsa eventually followed behind her, offering a smile and nod to those along the way.

Theryn was one of the busier districts of Endine. Tall buildings rose from the forest floor, grown and shaped from the living surroundings just like most of the structures throughout Endine.

But Theryn was different.

The district sat directly against the thick vines that formed what the felines simply called the border wall. Houses, shops and even larger malls had been built into and around the enormous growth, making the border feel less like a wall and more like another part of the district.

The district itself formed roughly a triangle, with the neighbouring districts connecting to it in a similar pattern.

Along the top of the border wall ran a pathway created by the Ancient Power. It was there that the guards would patrol, walking the length of the district while keeping watch over Theryn.

The palace guards were the only felines who regularly saw what lay beyond the border.

Although, there wasn't much to see.

Beyond the wall was simply an enormous, overgrown forest. Thick vegetation stretched as far as the eye could see, leaving little for anyone to become interested in.

At least, that was what they had always believed.

For now, Erica and Warsa continued through the district, keeping an eye on the felines around them and maintaining peace and order as they made their way towards their post.

For the most part, there wasn't much to maintain.

The people of Endine rarely caused trouble. There was an almost unquestioned belief among the community that if anyone did cause problems, the Ancient Power would somehow know.

The Queen would be informed.

Additional guards would arrive.

And whoever had caused the disturbance would be arrested.

But that wasn't how the Ancient Power worked.

It didn't constantly watch every feline in Endine.

It didn't need to.

That was what the guards were for.

Their job was simply to watch, listen and step in when necessary.

And most days, there was very little to step into.

They passed several food stalls preparing breakfast for the morning rush. Smoke drifted from one of the small furnaces as the smell of freshly cooked food spread through the street.

“Hey! Erica! Warsa! Over here!”

They both turned.

A young feline was waving at them from behind one of the stalls.

Erica smiled.

“Hey, Jon! How are you this morning?”

She waved as they approached, while Warsa simply smiled and nodded.

Jon reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small bag.

“Here. Your breakfast is ready. Hope you like it. I made the sauce a little differently today!”

He handed the bag towards Erica.

“Oh, thanks!”

She took it from him.

Warsa suddenly looked at Jon.

“Hey, while we're here, have you heard anything unusual lately?”

“Unusual?”

Jon frowned.

“Yeah. You know… anything that seems out of the ordinary?”

As Jon thought about it, another cloud of smoke drifted out from the furnace.

Erica immediately coughed.

“How is this smoke affecting me when the stall is practically in the open?”

She took a step backwards, waving a hand in front of her face.

“Oh! Sorry!” Jon said. “Yeah, it's been burning a lot lately. I think I need someone to check it out.”

Warsa stared at him.

“Yes, I said unusual.”

His tone was beginning to sharpen.

Jon raised both hands.

“Whoa, whoa! No need to bite my head off!”

His apron was already covered in marks from the morning's cooking.

Erica stepped between them slightly.

“Yeah, he's a bit grumpy today. Forgive him.”

She looked at Jon.

“And thanks for the breakfast. If you do hear anything, though, let us know, please.”

“Of course.”

Erica turned and continued along the route, Warsa following beside her.

They had only taken a few steps when Erica slapped him lightly on the arm.

“Hey! Why are you so moody today? Normally you're on top of the world!”

She looked at him, her expression becoming more serious.

Warsa lowered his head and sighed.

“I'm sorry.”

He was quiet for a moment.

“It's my mother. She's not well, and I'm looking after my sister as well. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed, if I'm honest.”

Erica's expression immediately softened.

She reached over and held his arm as they continued walking.

“Why haven't you said anything?”

There was a hint of hurt in her voice.

“You know I'll help where I can.”

They passed a row of benches beside a small park. Nearby, children played on equipment that had been grown from the vines themselves, climbing through twisting branches and tunnels while their families watched.

“I know,” Warsa said quietly. “I just didn't want you to be bothered by it.”

Erica stopped for a moment.

“I'm offended by that.”

Warsa looked at her.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

She gave his arm another light slap.

“What can I help with?”

Warsa couldn't help but smile slightly.

“Erica…”

“No. I'm serious.”

She continued walking beside him.