Watcher

I am Penny Lovely, an explorer. Ahead is the account of my last adventure, the most influential I’ve had.

I had reached a beautiful forest. I reminded myself to remain cautious. Many forests in this land were sites of strange and powerful relics. The kind said to be “dangerous in the wrong hands” and as cheesy as that sounds it was true enough. I was not there to take the relics, as others may plot too, so I was doing my best to appear non-threatening. I was only there to simply, observe; to see another piece of the vast world my soul is blessed to wander.

Often on my journeys, I will pass through villages, or come across groups of people. Souls living together. I am not like them. I am a soul thriving alone, content to continue this way. Despite meeting so many souls, it is rare for me to come across one like myself. A singular being, fulfilled in solitude. In this forest, however, I met such a person. He was tall and strong, standing mysteriously before me. His face was veiled by a metal mask, a visage the shape of a bird’s head. His bright hair rose vertically from a split at the headpiece center. The strange, un-human appearance gave him an intimidating air, but I was not afraid. I spoke, my voice unwavering and my hands held out so that he could see I carried no weapon or item of ill-intent.

“I am here only to observe,” I said. I suppose he believed me because something about him softened. He turned, motioning to me to follow without a word.

I decided I should introduce myself, “Oh! I’m Penny...Lovely. Are you a-”

“Watcher? Yes. Exavier Watcher.” his voice was soft and deep.

I knew about “Watchers” but I wasn’t sure until then they were still around. They were an ancient family, vowed to protect the sacred relics of the forest from the “wrong hands” I spoke about. They were very impressive, to say the least, and at the time I will admit I was quite overwhelmed. I began asking question after question (I won’t record them all), but he only answered one.

“So um... where are we going?” I said feverishly, nearly running to keep up with his long strides.

“My home. I can tell you have a good spirit. I may need your help.” He replied, his tone almost somber. I wondered what was going on.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the pillowed floor of his home, a living space fashioned from a cave. It was quite nice, and with openings, for the sun to penetrate, bright and warm. He’d made some tea, served in little wooden cups, and offered me some food. I declined, unsure about the diet of someone living alone in the woods. Soon enough, he sat down beside me, looking ready to talk. For a moment, I thought he’d remove his mask, but he didn’t. This felt odd. I knew watchers wore these, but I never could figure out why. As I was pondering this, and about to ask him outright, he spoke.

“Penny, what kind of person are you...?”

The question surprised me, “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, what do you want. Why did you end up here... if it is not for ill-intent.”

“Well, I just like to... wander, I guess. I want to see as much of the world as I can. This forest is an important part of that right?”

“Right...” his voice trailed off, tinged by a sort of sadness. “Penny, I must ask you something. And... well, it is up to you... but...”

I nodded slowly, intent on his words, wondering what the question could possibly be.

“Well, the threat here has recently become greatly increased. If you truly are as you claim, then I want to ask for your help... in protecting this.”

He stood, walking across the room to a chest. Taking a key from around his neck, he unlocked it and pulled out a beautiful thing. It was like a scepter, golden with jewels, its top round and smooth. He did not have to tell me what it was, for I already knew. The relic of the forest, this one at least, was being held before me, so close I could reach out and touch it. I held back, trying to behave in a respectful manner. Then, I realized I’d been silent for too long and had not answered.

“Yes, yes I...I would love to help you. What exactly do you...”

“Well,” he said, putting the object away, “I do not need much. I have matters I need to...attend to. I ask only that you stay here, and keep watch over it while I am away. It should be only a few days...” he sounded nervous. I did not blame him. He was putting a lot of trust in me, a stranger. Whatever “matters” he had to deal with must have been serious for him to do something like this. I could have been lying and he probably would never know. He could leave me here with the most important object for hundreds of miles, and I could run off with it and be far enough away that he’d never track me down. Yet here he was, handing the key to me as I nodded in agreement to his request.

I was not sure how I should feel. Honored? He was gone now. He’d packed up the morning after our agreement, but not before making me breakfast. It wasn’t so bad as I’d imagined. The meal consisted of honeyed tea, fresh berries, and some kind of edible mushroom. I ate as I watched him walk in long strides through the small home, gathering things and storing them in his large shoulder bag. It looked like leather and I wondered briefly if he’d made it himself.

I took it upon myself, after he left, to briefly explore the little home just to get my bearings. There was a little makeshift kitchen and the room we had sat in. The latter was cozy, with a bed in the corner and a floor with comfy pillows to rest on.

The first day of my lone stay was quite uneventful. I cooked for myself (although it took trial and error), made more tea, and read over old entries in my journal as well as added a new one. I slept well that night, and do not remember dreaming anything.

The next day wasn’t the same. Early in the morning I heard voices outside the little hovel. They did not sound friendly... I quickly found a knife and grabbed it just to be safe. I cautiously approached the entrance. I spotted some cloaked figures and was about to make a move when a weak groan reached my ears. I chanced another look... no... they had Exavier! I froze in place, unsure what to do. Panic crept into my mind, and in a impulsive rush I sprinted out, brandishing the weapon. One of them moved, too fast for me to react, grabbing the shining key around my neck. Luckily, the rope it was tied to was strong... I stood, tense, waiting for any sort of opportunity to fight back, but before I could move again Exavier was up. He hit the cloaked figure hard, knocking them away from me. I scrambled to my feet, clutching the key protectively. I eyed Exavier, who was now poised next to me, “What do they want?”

“The relic...” he hissed in a cold whisper. His helm disguised his features, but I could see his eyes and they were burning with a steely determination. He began fighting, lunging at them and fighting in a style I couldn’t quite recognize. He hit with his palms and elbows and knees and feet. He was good, but he kept faltering. He must have been injured. I joined in, helping him.

Everything after that happened in a quick blur. My opponent ran, and I saw the one Exavier was grappling with make a quick movement before following.

I rushed to his side, worry flaring up in my chest. Red liquid was seeping through his top, just under his ribs on one side. He fell to his knees and one of us gasped, I’m not sure who. There was nothing I could do, but I really wish there had been. Something. Anything. I felt wet tears roll down my face. No. No. NO.

It was too late. I tried to stop the blood flow, but again, I could do nothing. Not out here. Not without any help or village for miles. I saw his eyes fading, clouding over. The metallic smell took over everything and he was gone.

I was shaking, that’s all I knew. I had hardly known him, but he was a kindred soul, and it hurt to see him go like this. At least he’d been doing his duty. Protecting what needed to be protected. That’s when it hit me. The Watchers weren’t a family, not by blood anyway. They were a concept. The desire to protect this world. The intense need to be something more than yourself. I wanted that. I wanted to be like him. I’d only seen a glimpse, and it was scary, it was dangerous, but in that moment, it was undoubted.

Being exceedingly gentle, I knelt by Exavier, removing the helmet from his head. I saw his face for the first time. It was deeply scarred, shockingly young, no more than thirty-five. His eyes were a pale green, like moss. I carefully closed them and took the heavy helmet in my hands. I moved deliberately, pulling it over my own head.

I am Penny Watcher.