The Four Guardians

After leaving the glass eye at the bottom of the endless pit, Sagitta was shown around the city and the hotel in which she would be staying in.

"This is our finest hotel," Ebba said standing in the centre of the massive open golden reception area. "We have all you could ever want. All food and drinks are free for you. We even made sure to give you the dry suit so there will be no water and you may sleep comfortably."

"T-thanks…" Sagitta replied, overwhelmed by the amount of wealth the merfolk possessed.

Out of all the races that participated in the war, the merfolk left with the best end of the deal. They thought against the demon king like everyone else, but seeing as all their cities are underwater, they faced zero damage but still received a large sum of funds as a result. Those funds were spent increasing their tourism. Building casinos, hotels, restaurants. Anything to make themselves attract visitors. Whatever it was they did, whatever it was they build first. It seems as if it worked.

"I shall meet you back here in an hour. I'll give you time to get ready and dress up for the best restaurant we have." Ebba said flaunting every ounce of wealth she had.

"R-right…" Sagitta left to go to her room, up at the top of the 100-floor hotel, resting at the bottom of the sea. Her room was bigger than her room back home. It was called a dry suit because there was no water in the room and no water would get in from the outside. The room had the best view to look over the whole city with fish flying around in schools, looking to survive. The bed was large enough for three people and was made from all-natural and pure materials. The room was a dream for everyone. It was such a change from the Demon Realm which was in debt. All Sagitta could do now was wait until her dinner date with the Mermaid Princess.

# # #

"So tell me, Sagitta…" Ebba said as she sat opposite Sagitta in a restaurant that would put the hotel room to shame. "How is the dragon slayer?"

"Mane?" She replied. "He's fine… I think… he seems fine at least…"

"I see…"

The two ate awkwardly careful of each other. Two rulers of nations opposite each other. One nation that is full of beauty and wonders, and the other that is hated after causing devastation to many.

"Why are we being so tense?" Ebba said. "Let's relax… We can enjoy our time together… So tell me, how are the guardians?"

"They've been doing alright…" Sagitta replied slowly eating her food. "Ifer and Mane are well… Tempus got us all involved in this but he seems to know what he is doing."

"If I recall… you don't like Tempus." Ebba said getting involved in something that didn't concern her.

"It's complicated," Sagitta said. "I'm not a fan of humans but Tempus seems to care for them so I put up with it..."

"What a shame… Humans are our greatest ally… They even voted for you in that insane referendum. King Arthur may be many things but he is a leader first…"

"King Arthur…" Sagitta thought to herself as she looked around. "There certainly are a lot of guards around here…"

"I am royalty," Ebba said. "What do you expect?"

"Do you not trust me to protect you?"

"Of course not. That is not your job. You are here for the eye and that is all. You don't care if I live or die."

Ebba spoke to Sagitta with a harsh tongue. Despite the two of them being a close age, barely even a.d.u.l.ts of their races, Ebba spoke like the ruler she was, looking down on those she finds inferior. Even with her fondness of one of the guardians, the others didn't matter to her. So long as Sagitta was on her land, she had to act like a politician and not as a demon.

"This was a nice meal," Sagitta said wiping her mouth.

"Indeed it was… Would you like something to drink?" Ebba suggested.

"Oh no… I'm fine… I should get some rest… I've got a long day tomorrow."

"Understandable…" Ebba said staring at Sagitta closely. "The eye will be in your possession tomorrow morning. I recommend getting lots of sleep. I will have my guards wake up you when we are ready. But before you go. May I ask you about the Guardian System?"

"S-sure…" Sagitta said cautiously.

"The system was created after the war but wasn't implemented until many years had passed, why was that?"

"They couldn't find anyone to do it… there were no demons that possessed the power to protect the world."

"And you are the first set?" Ebba asked.

"No… I don't think so… we are the second generation… I believe…"

"I see… That was all I wanted to know for now… I shall let you go… Remember, you may be after this eye as it is the source of great power, but to us royales, it is a jewel that we care for more than anything...Goodbye, Sagitta."

The dinner ended, it felt rather sudden but for Sagitta, it felt like it lasted hours. She wasn't even sure she understood half the conversation. Sagitta wasn't one for the monarchy. Despite the demon realm having a similar system, the demon king has no power and is hated by the world. Sagitta's political position, as a guardian, means a lot to her. Having finally achieved what she had hoped to achieve she would do whatever she could to restore honour to the demon realm and bring them back to the golden age they were once in.

# # #

That night, Sagitta slept on a bed, unlike anything she had slept on before. Not only was it the ric.h.e.s.t bed she had slept on but it was also the weirdest. Made from some strange wavey material that she couldn't understand.

She slept soundly but before she got a chance to wake up, she was shocked awake by the sound of alarms ringing in her ear and people rushing to her door.

"Sagitta," Ebba said ramming down the door as water flooded in. "They are here!"

Down at the bottom of the chamber, where guards once stood, swimming as if they were experts, the familiar jester mask stood protecting her eyes with her clothes sleeve joined by someone who looked as if they were dragged along.

"Teehee… That was easy. Are you ready, Greed?"