Chapter 1

“We don’t have to do this, right?” I asked as soon as Mother Earth finished her speech about her decision. Mother Earth was sitting on her usual chair made of roots and leaves while looking out the window that overlooks the Earth. Her dark skinned body was covered with a green dress and her curly hair was tied up neatly into a tight bun. She was beautiful but stress has shown on her face. “You’re asking way too much of me.”

A firm hand was placed on my right shoulder and Vito smiled weakly at me. The ongoing war and violence on Earth has also affected the Guardian of Life and Death. His aura has been dark for a few years now but there is still a tinge of light in it. Thankfully.

“Mother Earth has made a decision, Ember,” Vito told me. His voice boomed. “I know that you love humans more than anyone here in this room, but they have been unbearable. We’ve been giving them chances. Now, it is time to move.”

“But…”

“Vito,” Mother Earth started while still looking out at the window. “Take everyone out of the room except for Ember.”

I gulped. This is not gonna be good. Vito, Kronos, and Zachariah exited quietly out of the conference room. I sat down on one of the chairs like a good girl. I started fidgeting when she hasn’t said a word for over ten minutes.

“Ember,” she started as she looked at me for the first time since the end of the meeting. “I know that what I am asking for you is too much. And I know that you just wanted to give more chances to every humans…but this has got to stop. Humans have been on constant war. Peace is not among them anymore. I have been patient enough and I could not take this any longer. The life will leave me soon if I didn’t do this. Have you seen Vito?”

I looked down to my hands and didn’t say a word. Of course, I’ve noticed. Vito has been dark for the past few years. Too many deaths and too little alive. This is the price of being the Guardian of Life and Death.

“And have you seen yourself lately?” she continued. I shook my head, of course I noticed but will it be nice to actually hear it from someone else. Vito and the others are gentlemen. They won’t tell you if you look ugly. “Ember, you are the Guardian of All Elements. Have you seen nature on Earth now? It’s dead. The Earth is dying. Fire dominates all the elements down there. So have you seen yourself?”

I nodded but I don’t think she saw since she continued, “You look horrible. You’ve been pale and sickly. Your hair and eyes are dark. I know you’re a natural black haired girl, but this is dead black. Your hair used to be filled with glow. The most affected ones here are you, Vito, and I. It needs to stop. They need a push.”

Mother sat down on her chair with her face to her palms. She’s tired. And she needs rest. “I want to revitalize. I can’t do that and leave Earth the way it is now. So in order to do so, all of you need to do this. You need to.”

A tear dropped from my eyes as I stared at my weak pale hands. All she said was true. We really do need to do this. “When will we do this?” I asked. “When will we intervene the humans?”

She looked up to me weakly. “Tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod. “I have to get some rest then.”