The Four Guardians

At the first sight of dawn, I prepared my horse and started my journey. It would take about 5 days of constant travel to arrive at Magia City. Thorit informed me that Eva and Tia had taken a Horse Dragon back. A Horse Dragon was a type of horse breed, called that way because of how quick they are and how easy they can climb up rough terrain as well as their endless supply of stamina. Taking one of them will only take about 1 full day, but I wasn't really in a rush so I thought I'd enjoy and see how my homeworld has changed.

The doors to the Demon Realm were remains of old demonic castles that wrap around the city protecting it. To isolate ourselves from the rest of the world we hide behind a large mountain with a direct path to the Orc capital, one of the only nations that were willing to be our ally.

The mountain was steep and taking a horse was no easy journey, I'd have to make various stops along the way and was worried about falling off the side. I could use magic to carry us down but I'm not in the Demon Realm anymore so If I get caught I'll be in trouble.

Magic is a powerful tool and is banned from regular use. I could get away with it in the Demon Realm but out here I would be Orc's problem, and I definitely don't want to use magic in the Human world if I look like a demon. I'd prefer if I didn't start any wars.

I had left at the start of dawn but I wasn't even halfway down the mountain and It was already midday. The steep rocks crumble at the slightest touch making it dangerous for most creatures to try and navigate this. Plus the scorching heat from a nearby volcano wasn't helping much.

I was starting to run low on water and my horse looked as if he needed to drink a few gallons or he would pass out. I was considering using magic to create some but I'm not sure…

Ah, what the hell… What's the worst that can happen.

I pulled out my book from my bag and started to create a small orb of water in my hand. I was having fun morphing the water into whatever shape I wanted, I even managed to turn it into the other guardians. It was kinda amusing to watch the horse drink Sagitta's head. I thought this journey was going to be hell but this isn't so bad.

"Halt! Who goes there?" A mysterious voice echoed around the mountains, it sounded like it was female but I didn't know where it was coming from… I can't sense any mana.

"You seem quite familiar to me?" The voice said. "Did you come from the Demon Realm?"

"Hmph… Show yourself then maybe I'll consider answering."

"Very well."

In Front of me appeared black smoke that rose from cracks within the groud. Inside the smoke stood a figure of what looked human, they were wearing light black armour and covered their face and hair with only their fierce grey eyes to be seen.

"Oh? One of the Guards of the Kings? To what do I owe the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e?"

The Guards of the Kings were trouble, these people serve no one but their ruler who helped forge the current Guardian agreement, rumours say that the person they serve was strong enough to make all the Nation's leaders sit and discuss in one room without fighting. With power like that, you could rule anyone but no one knows who or what he is.

They patrol the whole world in secret and deal with the worst criminals, but only if it will benefit them. They don't want to get involved if they don't have to.

"Looking at you up close, you seem to resemble one of the Demon World's Guardians… Perhaps I'm mistaken, the Demon realm wouldn't have a human as a Guardian."

Lucky for me they only know who I am when I disguised myself as a demon, but I'm surprised they even know what the Guardian's look like. I know the Head Guard represents the King during the Meetings of the Nations but I didn't expect a basic guard to know me.

"You must be mistaken. I am just a traveller, on my way back to one of the Human cities."

"Just a traveller? That's strange… I thought I detected the use of some magic, from the looks of it you don't seem to be capable of magic."

Thankfully I've mastered how to hide my mana. If she could even smell the slight hint of mana on me I'd be doomed.

"I shall help you off this mountain… It is dangerous for travellers on horseback to come to these parts alone. I shall carry your horse and you down."

Huh? What did she say? How was she going to carry m-

This slim person who I'm assuming is female easily picks up both me and the horse in separate hands. I'm amazed at her strength but I can tell she is a master in strength enhancement magic. I guess it's ok for them to use magic.

The rules on where to using magic are riddled with issues, there are places where you can use whatever magic you want and places were using it will get you beheaded. The issue wasn't that I used magic, it was that I used it on the border between the Human and Demon worlds. If I had done it anywhere else I would be fine, but whatever the Guards of the King say has to be followed. Going against them was a risky move even for us Guardians.

"You're pretty strong aren't you? I'd expect that from a Guard of the King."

"Us guards aren't just chosen for no reason. Each of us excels in something that we have spent our whole lives training."

Her whole life? Just how old is she?

The guard easily carried us down the mountain, jumping off the mountainsides as 'shortcuts' causing me and the horse to panic and frantically kick our legs each time she prepared to jump. She managed to stick the landing each time and made it look super easy. She was focused and silent for the whole trip but she managed to turn what would have taken 10 more hours into 1.

"Thank you so much… How can I ever thank you?"

"You don't have to worry about anything… Guardian of the North."

"Eh?" The guard disappeared into a pool of black smoke leaving nothing behind.

I guess she figured out who I was after all…

In front of me stood a large open field full of hills. The sun was bright and the breeze whistled throughout the grass. I wanted to stay here forever, it felt so much different from the Demon Realm. Being back home was something else. It looked as if It hadn't changed in years, this part of the land was untouched by civilisation and nature was left to create this pure field of green. Something that I had forgotten about.

But I can't stay and admire the scenery as my journey was only beginning.