บท 32: Iris, the Guardian

"Huh? Why did you appear multiple times?!" Hector shout surprised, "and where am I?" He asks again, he is not on the battlefield again, but a dimension with an odd placement, a lot of lands is floating slowly, and the land he is standing now, nothing around just a big throne with the unknown girl he meets multiple times.

"Welcome to my world, Hector." The girl smirk in amusement, "where the hell is Arkus?" Hector asks looking around, but to find nothing just the floating lands. "He's already awake." The girl said eyeing at her nails, "really? How'd you know? And who the hell are you" Hector asks eyeing suspiciously at her, "Jeez, ever heard of the Sacred Magic Guardian?" The girl asks annoyed by how he doesn't recognize her. "Guardian?...I've heard a story about that when I was 5. Father told me when I was about to go sleep." Hector said holding his chin to remember.

"Then, what would you think I am?" The girl asks having her smug face, "you're just a little girl. Nothing much." Hector said crossing his arms and shrugs, the girl stares at him in disbelief, an angry smile appear on her face, "you dare calling me a little girl?" She asks her smiles twitch in annoyance. "What am I suppose to call you? A child that keeps following me everywhere?" Hector asks his hands behind his head.

"You brat! Even I'm much more older than you!" The girl said throwing him a rock, "ouch! Why'd you do that?!" Hector wince, holding his head, fortunately, his head is okay. "Would you mind listening to me for a bit? You're getting annoying." She said asking him to listen along with roasting him. "What's with the roasting? Whatever, sure go ahead." Hector sigh crossing his arms.

"My name is Iris. And I'm the Guardian of the Sacred Magic, in appearance I look like a child, in truth I'm a 300 years lady. I exist ever since Shirogane's bloodline was born." The girl now known as Iris said her resting her left cheek on her left fist. "Really? Nice to meet you granny Iris!" Hector grins offering her a handshake, Iris blinks two times, until completely lost her patience, "Can you just call me by my name?!" She yelled annoyed. "Oh, sure, Iris!" Hector said like nothing happened before, Iris sigh and massage her forehead.

"So you're Leon?" Zeolite asks staring at him, "Mhm! It's nice to meet you Zeolite!" Leon said grinning, "great, another Hector." Zeolite muttered, Ashley hears what he says and slaps his head, "what is that for?!" Zeolite shout pissed, "nothing, my hand slipped." Ashley said looking away to avoid his glares. "Tch, whatever." Zeolite sigh.

"We have arrived at Rivertown, for those who have their destination here, please step down from the train, we'll wait for 5 minutes." The announcer said, "That's my stop! Hope we meet again!" Leon grins waving his hands, "goodbye!" Celine smiles waving, "Next time we meet, I will challenge you!" Ashley grins happily. "Hum! I definitely will win!" Leon said balling out his right fist. "Ohoho, you have some spirit!" Ashley said impressed. "Of course! Then, I will be going!" Leon bid them the last goodbye before runs towards the exit and hop off the train.

Zeolite noticed Theresa who just arrived at cart 2, "Ah, Theresa, how's Hector doing?" He ask, as Theresa sits next to Celine, "still not awake, but Arkus is." She said a little worried, "almost everyone in the train is awake." Zeolite said holding his chin, "Maybe his dream is much more longer, what's yours? Can I know?" Ashley asks cheerfully scooting closer to him, "…No thanks. You don't need to know my dreams…" Zeolite said and seems to space up afterward, "Hey, hey? Hey! Zeolite!" Ashley said waving her hands in front of him, "what?" Zeolite asks snap back to reality.

"You seems to lost in thought when I ask about your dream." Ashley pouts crossing her arms, "sorry." Zeolite simply said. And begin to read his book to distract his mind. "How much longer does it takes?" Celine asks her impatience is showing, "1 hour left." Theresa reply sipping on the tea she just ordered. "Please wake me up when we've arrived." Celine said closing her eyes to sleep, "You don't want to sleep in the sleeper cart?" Theresa ask a little concern, "Nah, you guys might forget to fetch me." Celine said roasting them about their forgetful attitude, when she that Ashley start to sweat nervously.

"So your saying that, you are part of me?" Hector asks trying to clear his confusion, "Yes, do I need to explain more detail?" Iris asks rolling her eyes, "Nah, I've got several questions." Hector said shoving his hands inside his pockets, "what is it?" Iris asks, "Can the others see you? Cause I think Arkus didn't see you in the graveyard before, but he does when we're in the garden, that just seems absurd." Hector said confused about her appearance.

"They can, but it's up to me if I want to reveal myself or not." Iris said sipping the wine she's holding, "I see. Did father had the same experience as me now?" Hector ask once again, Iris stares at him, and curls up a strand of her hair, "Find out yourself, I'm simply a Guardian, not a historian teacher that tells you the history." Iris said crossing her arms.

"Damn, hard as rock." Hector mumble, "what is that?" Iris ask, "nothing." Hector grins forming an X with his arms. "Whatever, I think you should wake up now. 15 minutes till you arrive." Iris said reminding him, "15 minutes?! Wake me up now!" Hector said panicking cause he can't goes to the bathroom, "as you wish." Iris smirks, Hector's vision then darkened and is changed by the view of Arkus.

"Finally!" Arkus cheered, Hector wake up and put him down beside him sprinting to the bathroom, without saying a word. "What kind of Master is he?!" Arkus shout annoyed, since he was waiting for Hector to wake up and ended being left behind, "I've got enough…" Arkus sulks and begins to walk quietly to cart 2.

"Hah! I feel refreshed!" Hector said in relief, since he was holding back his urges to pee since Iris is talking with him, 'You should tell me sooner that you want to pee really bad.' Iris snickered, "Hah?! Iris?! How?!" Hector shout starling the person on the other toilet. 'Oops, I forgot to tell you. I can communicate with you in your head, so prepare for eternal hell.' Iris said and laugh in amusement, "I don't like the sounds of this…" Hector mumble feeling something is going to happen with her getting free to annoy him every time. 'You won't last long with me here.' Iris chuckle, as a dead look is shown on Hector's face.