The Supreme Guardian

Apparently, I hadn’t warned him. It seemed so obvious that I didn’t think to mention it! And evidently, I should have. The frenzied sorcerer was running towards me, shouting something. What, I wonder? The colorful explosions behind him completely drowned out his voice. But I immediately understood the meaning of his shouts and turned to run as well.

I’ve been running too much lately. Away from a dragon, and now because of a dragon… Well, I’ll have time to scold him later. If, of course, we survive. But why are we running?

I stopped abruptly, and Altair crashed into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Grasping his arm tightly, I wove a transition spell. In an instant, we were standing on the shore of an azure sea.

– Damn it! – the dragon cursed and collapsed onto the scorching sand. – Why didn’t you say that magic can’t be used?!

– You could have figured it out yourself, – I reproached him. – Who uses magic in an artifact repository?

– But we teleported right to the shelves! – Altair protested. – I thought they were protected somehow…

– How do you teach magic students if you don’t know such basic things? – I wondered. – Any spatial movement spells leave residual traces only at the point of transition! Therefore, you can teleport into the main hall, but it’s strictly forbidden to teleport out! I only pulled us out now because there was nothing left to lose!

– So, what now? – Altair looked at me guiltily. Seems like I did shame the retired dragon. – Will all the ancient relics be destroyed by a chain reaction? – The protective weavings should work, – I shrugged uncertainly. The enthusiasm to save colleagues from an unknown trap suddenly waned. Just thinking about what awaits me when the bosses see the destroyed main hall and hundreds of ruined artifacts and books is terrifying. Well, we’ll deal with that later. Hopefully, something in the headquarters will survive.

– Hey, where are we? – the sorcerer suddenly asked, looking at the bright sun. – Wasn’t it evening? – Bermuda, – I replied proudly, observing the dragon’s surprised expression. – You mean to say that… – Yes, – I nodded in agreement, interrupting my friend. – The Bermuda Triangle still hides many secrets from people. I sat down on the hot sand next to Altair and gazed at the calm sea. The Guardians vanished, and the headquarters, possibly destroyed along with a bunch of priceless artifacts, relics, and books. Well, it could be worse.

***

I practically ran through the gloomy corridors of the State Academy of Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft. Why must magic schools always be located in ancient castles? In the past, it was understandable, constantly defending against inquisitors and pagans, but now? A tribute to tradition? At least they installed central heating in the dormitories. I can’t imagine how everyone lived here a hundred years ago with such drafts. Surely, they all had a perpetual runny nose…

The wizard’s office welcomed me with pleasant dimness and silence. Altair was peacefully studying something, sitting at his old desk right under the canopy of a mighty oak. He really looks great here! I hope the dragon remembers to water it. The teacher tiredly raised his eyes to me and lazily motioned me over with his hand. Yes, these clueless students have exhausted the poor reptile. I even feel a bit sorry for him.

– Hello, – I cheerfully nodded to my comrade. – Why did you call? And so urgently at that? Altair’s call caught me just as I was about to take a shower and relax. After all, Guardians are humans too. And constantly jumping around the world is quite energy-consuming.

– Well, here, – the sorcerer indifferently nodded towards the table, – take a look. Hmm, what do we have here? A world map? And why is it all in white spots? Did he spill milk on it? Dragons are such strange creatures. Wait a minute! I took a closer look at the map. Volga Bulgaria? Khazar Khaganate? Rus’? What year is this map from?!

– Is this what I think it is? – I looked suspiciously at the teacher. – It’s a dragon’s map of the veil, – Altair condescendingly explained. Well, I had already guessed that. – And the white spots are breaches. The protective veil of this world is unraveling. What do you mean the veil is unraveling? I suspected such a scenario, but it stood as an unbreakable wall for over a thousand years, protecting our world from hostile incursions from other worlds. Occasionally, some curious and cunning dragon might slip through unnoticed, but they were always caught, and the holes in the defense mended. But now, judging by the map, only about half of the veil remains.

I felt uneasy. I cautiously sat down on a wooden chair opposite the sorcerer. He wisely remained silent, allowing me to grasp the scale of the tragedy myself. What does this mean? No Guardians, no combat artifacts, no headquarters, and the veil nearly gone?

– Now all the dragons will flock to us, – I looked at Altair a bit bewildered. – And we won’t even be able to hide them. Imagine what will happen? People will notice them, start killing them. And your kin are vindictive, they will seek revenge. A war between humans and dragons…

– Are you serious right now? – the teacher looked at me as if I were an idiot. – We dragons are very curious, but, as you know, not fools. None of my kind will venture into this world after the fall of the veil. First, it’s uninteresting to walk where it’s allowed, and second, they will understand that the veil didn’t collapse for no reason. And we really don’t like meddling in other worlds’ problems.

– So you’re saying the fall of the veil doesn’t pose any serious threat? – I was surprised, but Altair’s words considerably reassured me.

– Are you a Guardian or what?! – the sorcerer suddenly roared at me. – Do you really think the veil protected your world from dragons? Does your incompetent generation consider our kind the highest threat?!

– Well, actually, yes… – I cautiously responded, trying not to further enrage my friend. – We mostly protect against you. Sometimes there are outsiders from the spirit world or kamikazes from minor parallels, but it’s always small fry.

– Alright, – Altair exhaled tiredly, gradually calming down, – I’ll tell you a story of your own world, ignoramus. In ancient times, long before the veil was even thought of, this world faced a terrible threat. All dragon attacks and large-scale shamanic wars pale in comparison to the beings that came here. Our people call them “ekrhg’rakrges,” which literally translates to “invisible killer.” If I’m not mistaken, the Guardians called them “unseen nightmares” or “nezmares,” which, I think, is the same thing. Nezmares are inhabitants of the upper astral plane, from whom dragons long ago borrowed their favorite type of magic.

– Unstable upper astral charms, – I nodded understandingly. – I see. But what makes these nezmares so dangerous? Honestly, I’ve never even heard of them.

– Because you should have read the Great One Bestiary! – the sorcerer sharply interrupted. – It should be described in great detail there!

– I just haven’t gotten around to it yet… – I sheepishly replied to his reproach. – Always no time, you know. But it’s stored at the headquarters.

– Which I most likely destroyed, – the dragon guiltily nodded. – Honestly, I don’t know much about nezmares. I remember they’re nearly elusive, even invisible. Normal charms don’t affect them, they can drive you mad, and feed on the energy of living beings. Ancient mages prepared the protective veil for almost a hundred years to expel these creatures. But all the specifics should be in the bestiary.

– So we need to return to the headquarters. I leaned back in my chair and pondered. Return to headquarters? How exactly… As far as I know, in an emergency, a full system of protective charms tied to an AI like Marfusha activates. And if this AI decides that the Guardians’ office has been attacked, it will weave such a web of security weavings that even an army of dragons won’t break through, let alone a lone mage.

But there was no other option, as there was no copy of the bestiary. The Complete Collection of Magical Creatures, written by the Great One, couldn’t be copied with spells, and no one bothered to manually photocopy it. Who knew access to the headquarters would be suddenly cut off? But I definitely didn’t want to face nezmares unprepared, so – we’ll have to sneak into headquarters.

I looked at the dragon and gave a conspiratorial smile. Well, things are getting more and more interesting, which means it’s time to gather a full-fledged team!

Chapter 2: At the Bottom

– So, we just have to enter your office and grab some old book from the library? – Asya clarified suspiciously after I finished narrating our immediate problems. – Then why do you need us?

I guess I should have delved deeper into the details. But why burden them with unnecessary knowledge? They might back out.

For about ten minutes, Asya and Zheka had been listening to my misadventures, but it was clear they didn’t understand their role in the upcoming escapade. Frankly, I wasn’t sure how they could help either, but it’s always more fun together. Plus, they might learn something useful.

– In essence, you got it right, – I replied after a pause, addressing my fiancée.

A couple of weeks ago, I had officially proposed to her, and she had accepted. How could she refuse, given our magical oath? But traditions are traditions. So, we decided to have the wedding next summer, after the end of the first year. Though, I still had to meet her parents – it wouldn’t look good otherwise.

– And where is this office located? – Zheka inquired, still sporting his green mohawk.

– You’ll like it, – I smirked slyly. – A very picturesque place…

Our rented yacht had been sailing the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean for several hours, guided by an old, worn compass I found on a shelf next to a rifle. Interestingly, I had never been hunting in my life, nor had I ever owned a gun. So how a real rifle ended up in my cupboard was beyond me. But the compass was given to me long ago when I was still a trainee Guardian. It was the only way to find the sole real entrance to the headquarters.

However, our expedition now felt more like a vacation for the well-off: Asya, in a rather revealing swimsuit, was sunbathing on the deck; Zheka stood at the bow, pompously sipping cocktails from the mini-bar found in the cabin; and the dragon and I were at the helm, checking our supplies.

– Canned meat, dried meat, sausage, a loaf of bread, fish cans, beans, four liters of water, and spare clothes, – the sorcerer whispered, listing our provisions. – Enough?

– I have about the same, – I nodded. – Should be enough. I hope we’ll manage in a couple of days.

Teleporting to the headquarters using spatial transition spells didn’t work. As expected, the protective enchantments activated, shielding the Guardian’s office from any external invasion attempts. This was the first such case in my memory, and honestly, it was a bit alarming.

Our main issue was that thousands of years had passed since the headquarters were established, and each generation of Guardians had tried to add something new to the main entrance’s protective spells. Even my own security designs were there! So, a long and perilous journey lay ahead.

Suddenly, the compass glowed a soft green, and its needle started spinning chaotically.

– We’ve arrived! – I shouted. – Drop anchor!

With a casual wave of his staff, the dragon let the anchor plunge into the sea with a loud splash.

– And where’s your office? – Asya stood up, looking around in confusion.

– Not far, – I beamed. – Right beneath us.

Asya slowly removed her sunglasses and started drilling me with her gaze.

– Right nearby? – Zheka coughed, almost choking on his cocktail.

– What do you mean ‘beneath us’? – the girl asked, almost hissing.

I must admit, I felt a bit frightened for a moment. But just for a moment.

– Literally, – I continued smiling. – But don’t worry! Altair Ivanovich will quickly get us down there, right? – I looked expectantly at the dragon.

– Why me? – the sorcerer was surprised. – I can’t even swim.

– But you’re a massive lizard, – it was my turn to be amazed. – Can’t you handle it?

– I’m a reptile, not an amphibian! – the dragon roared angrily at me.

I stepped back cautiously, concerned for my safety. He really didn’t get the joke.

– Can’t we just create some magical bubble, get inside, and go bubble-bubble-bubble… – Zheka chimed in.

He must have been drinking alcohol. How many cocktails had he had? About ten?

– Actually, that’s a good idea, – the sorcerer suddenly switched from anger to grace. – Maybe we’ll do just that.

– The main entrance is covered by a confusion dome, – I declared both sheepishly and proudly. – My experimental design. It scrambles all spell weavings inside the dome, except for artifact and ritual ones. Simple light spells could cause a local tsunami or a rainbow of slugs. The outcome is unpredictable…

– But those are your spells, so you can remove them, right? – Asya asked logically.

– Well… – I became even more embarrassed. – There’s a small flaw. To remove the dome, you have to apply spells, and the dome scrambles them… In short, neither I nor the other Guardians could remove it after installation.

– Why did you try to remove it? – the dragon inquired suspiciously.

He was beginning to grasp the magnitude of the problem.

– Because it altered all the protective spells laid before, – I confessed humbly. – Except for the artifact ones, of course.

– So, even if we manage to get down there, we’ll encounter a mess of unpredictable protective enchantments from hundreds of Guardian generations? – Asya asked calmly. – I won’t do it, sorry. And I won’t let my brother either. We’ve had enough of your adventures.

She was right, of course, but…

– Asya, – I smiled affectionately at my fiancée. – We need you. Besides, didn’t I mention the Kraken that sinks anchored ships in the Bermuda Triangle? Its name is Tuzik, by the way…

The girl paled. And so did Zheka… Even the dragon turned a shade lighter! Perhaps I should have mentioned Tuzik earlier. Or not at all. But what’s done is done.

– You’re joking, right? – Zheka, now sober as a judge, eyed me warily.

As if in response to his question, ominous bubbles began to surface around the yacht, emerging from the depths. Indeed, I probably should have prepared them mentally in advance.

To the horror-stricken screams of my friends, Tuzik surfaced. Well, just a part of him – pink tentacles, twenty meters in length and about half the width of our yacht. Long seaweeds dangled from the suckers, raining down on our modest vessel. Surprisingly, even the dragon screamed. For the first time in his life, he probably felt tiny. Well, it was a good learning experience for him.

I closed my eyes and weaved a dome of shadows around the yacht. It was unlikely to be much help in this situation, but it felt somewhat reassuring. Soon, following the tentacles, the head of the Guardians’ tamed monster appeared, and my hands instinctively reached for the backpack with supplies.

– Tuzik! – I bellowed, simultaneously opening a can of fish. – Catch!

After tossing the tin to the kraken, I turned to my stunned friends.

– Sardines in tomato sauce, – I explained with a smile. – His favorite. Often feed him after work.

My friends, petrified with terror, just blinked silently, probably trying to incinerate me with their gaze. Someday, they might succeed, being practicing magicians and all… but I’d rather not test that.

– Tuzik! – I called out to the pet again and, seeing that he recognized me, dispelled the dome of shadows. – Wrap!

Understanding the command, the giant mollusk swiftly began to entwine the yacht with the tips of his tentacles. My friends screamed in unison and bolted into the only cabin. Right thinking. Following them, I quickly sealed the airtight door and cast an air bubble spell. Yes, the magic could turn into something terrifying and deadly, but it still felt safer with it.

The yacht creaked and tilted. Tuzik was sinking our rented vessel. A pity, but hopefully, the insurance would cover everything – nobody is safe from a kraken attack in the Bermuda Triangle. A genuine force majeure.

Meanwhile, my companions fell silent again. Had they resigned themselves? Or calmed down?

– I. Will. Kill. You! – Asya articulated each word with furious precision.

At least she wasn’t panicking. Zheka had fainted altogether. I really did choose a strong-nerved fiancée. Joint trips are quite beneficial for relationships, helping to unwind, change the scenery, and understand each other better. Maybe I should explain this to her…

– Joint trips… – I began, only to receive a sharp slap and fall silent, chastened. Apparently, I was wrong somewhere.

– Trips?! – the girl screamed at me. – You nearly killed us! You said we just had to sail to your office and grab a book! Was it so hard to warn us that the office is at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, guarded by a bunch of protective spells and a giant squid?! – Asya’s anger escalated. – I don’t want to be part of your schemes! And I don’t want to marry you! You’re a reckless idiot, always risking other people’s lives! I can’t stand to see you anymore!

Having finished her tirade, the girl climbed onto the sole armchair in the cabin and hid her face in her hands. It seems I really overdid it with the surprises, and we hadn’t even reached the office yet.

I cautiously crouched in front of Asya. The dragon tactfully turned away, pretending not to hear us. At least Zheka was still in a deep faint.

– Listen, – I began carefully. – I’m really sorry for presenting myself in such a way. By dragging you into this adventure, I wanted us to get to know each other better. Besides, you and Zheka need real-world experience in using magic, and this adventure is perfect for that. I can teach you things you’ll never learn in seminars or lectures. And I can protect you, trust me. No matter how scared you are now, remember, you’re with a true Guardian, who once nearly destroyed the world trying to save your life.

– What? – the girl looked at me, puzzled, while wiping the tears rolling down her cheeks. – What do you mean ‘nearly destroyed the world’?

Oops. Looks like I let slip too much. When will I learn to watch my tongue? Even the dragon was glancing at me with interest. But I couldn’t confess that I was actually behind the whole ley-line shift fiasco! Well, it’s time to lie elegantly.

– The slightest flaw in the forced evolution ritual could have wiped out humanity as a species, – I blurted out. – But I’m a professional and always know what I’m doing. Please, trust me.

Asya nodded uncertainly. It seemed to work. Grandiose phrases always work with eighteen-year-old girls. Someday she’ll realize that although I’m a professional, I almost never know what I’m doing.

– Ahem… – the dragon interrupted our idyll with a polite cough. – Excuse me, professional! Do you happen to know how much longer we have to dive?

That overgrown lizard! He’s even sarcastic!

– About forty minutes, – I estimated. – Tuzik isn’t very fast, and the depth is over eight kilometers.

– How much?! – Asya and the spellcaster exclaimed in unison. Even Zheka seemed to twitch.

– Trust me, I’m a professional! – I smiled reassuringly at Asya and winked at the dragon unnoticed.

The main thing now was that we were finally approaching our goal. We’d deal with minor issues like immense pressure as they arose. That’s always been my approach. And it always works. After all, I’m a Guardian!

***

It turns out, sinking in a magic-protected yacht is quite dull. Even Zheka, who had come to his senses, was no longer panicking. In fact, no one else was expressing fear. Perhaps my grandiose speech had calmed everyone, or maybe they were just tired of being scared. After all, we’d been descending for forty minutes and nothing terrifying had happened yet.

The dragon proposed doubling our protection by adding his own air bubble spell, but I forbade it. Yes, double protection is good, but only until the shields start morphing into something unimaginable. The spellcaster, taught by bitter experience of reckless magic use, didn’t argue. A pity. It would have been nice to have someone to blame if things went awry.

Asya remained seated, legs on the armchair, thoughtfully staring at the opposite wall. Zheka was quietly conversing with the professor, while I, comfortably seated on the floor, pondered deeply. What awaited us ahead? Could we make it to the headquarters? Where had the other Guardians disappeared to? When would the invasion of the Nizmors begin? Where did the rifle in my closet come from? Too many questions whirled in my head, yet I had no answers to any of them.

Suddenly, the yacht jolted as if we had hit the bottom. And why ‘as if’? Most likely, we had indeed finally reached the bottom. A loud crack sounded, and the entire cabin shook.

– What’s happening?! – Asya exclaimed, a hint of fear in her voice.

Both the dragon and Zheka looked to me for an explanation.

– We’ve reached the bottom, – I explained calmly. – Now Tuzik will drag us to the main entrance, and the air bubble spell will vanish. From this moment on, any magic you use will function improperly, so be cautious.

No sooner had I reminded my companions of the dangers of using magic inside the dome of confusion than my air bubble burst with a soft pop. Dark orange, sticky sludge, smelling like the contents of a cesspool, poured in from all sides.

– Yuck! – it seemed we said it in unison.

My eyes teared up from the acrid stench, and I barely suppressed the urge to vomit. What was this filth? I recalled no spell with such an effect… But it didn’t matter! We had to get out of here fast!

I opened the airtight cabin door and stumbled onto the deck, hoping to escape the smell. Not much of the deck, or the yacht itself, remained. Basically, only our cabin, protected by the air bubble, a few deck planks, and part of the mast were left. A pity for the little vessel, but at least we were alive.

– What is this filth? – Asya shouted, following me out.

– This appears to be a vivid demonstration of the dome of confusion, – the spellcaster explained calmly. – Quite an intriguing weave. Will you teach me?

I nodded silently. Why not teach a good person? Even if he’s not exactly human.

– Where are we? – Zheka was the first to address our surroundings.

Tuzik had dragged the remains of our yacht into a large cave, dimly lit by magical torches. Its vaults disappeared into darkness, and far in the depths, a tiny bright red dot was visible.

– This is the entrance hall, – I said uncertainly. – I’ve never been here, but I roughly know what we need to do. My office building is in the center of this system of underwater caves. During construction, the Guardians walled off all other approaches to the headquarters, leaving only the central one.

– Why aren’t we being flooded? – Asya asked apprehensively.

– Magic, – the dragon smiled, and I nodded in agreement.

– Everything here is indeed protected by fundamental-artifact magic. That’s when the building itself is the artifact, – I explained, seeing the puzzled looks of the students. – The most unshakeable and reliable magic. That’s why the cave wasn’t flooded even when I cast the dome of confusion. The lighting and ventilation also operate on artifact spells, by the way.

– So we’ll always have air and light? – the dragon clarified.

I nodded, confirming his theory.

– At least that’s a relief.

– What do you mean ‘always’? – Asya suspiciously glanced at the professor. – How long, may I ask, did you plan this excursion for?

– A couple of days, – I shrugged. – I did mention it. – You said we’d spend a few days in Bermuda! – the girl yelled at me. – You didn’t specify that it would be at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! I don’t even have spare clothes with me! – she pointedly looked at her rather immodest swimsuit. – I didn’t even grab my sundress from the deck when I was hiding from your pet!

– Don’t worry, – I smiled gently. – I’ve brought everything necessary. Spare clothes for you, and even a change of underwear. Luckily, I remember your sizes well…

My fiancée turned beet red. Was it embarrassment or anger? I really didn’t want to find out. I returned to the cabin, grabbed the backpack soiled with stinking slime, and pulled out three sets of spare clothes: for myself, Asya, and Zheka. After all, we are responsible for those we bring on a journey.