It was the first time Rhys had ever seen one of them. The celestial beings that kept the scraps of the world safe. Golden wings that flashed brightly with every strike of their weapon. A burning halo that seemed to intensify in brightness every moment. A masked visage, hiding away the face of the champion. His mind spent much time wondering, gazing, picturing what could possibly be hidden underneath their hardened armor. They were only a few heads taller than him at most. A loud crash next to him broke his concentration for but a moment. Rhys looked back to see the crumpled body of a warrior, human much like him, yet nearly unrecognizable from the blood that ran down his body. The corpse's grip relaxed, dropping a bent sword to the ground.
"Evade!" a voice boomed in his head. He stood there baffled for a moment before dropping to the dirt and covering his head. Mere seconds later a loud woosh and what sounded like the crack of thunder rang out. Through his arms he peered back. The ramshackle building he stood in front of was a smoldering wreck. He glanced back again at the angelic creature, drawn back into its radiating glory. Fear, however, wrangled his eyes to the massive, mangled creature it held in its many arms. An amalgamation of all things terrible. Something of a bear, skinned, and made all the larger by the corpses it consumed. Despite the spear forced straight through its back, it still snapped and snarled at the warrior of light, screaming with a frightened yet violent anguish. Only a few guards stood by, doing much of nothing but staring.
And what could they do except stare?
Rhys picked himself up and silently prayed for the dead guard. He turned back to the clash. Not much had changed, save for the creature's maw inching ever closer to the gallant warrior, mashing and growling. They made no qualms, no complaints, not a sound escaped from the shining being, only continuing to struggle against the death that seemed all too inevitable now. And what could Rhys do? Whatever he could do, he supposed. He apologized to the guard and took his sword. It was still warm to the touch, heated by the flames that consumed its last wielder's life. It wasn't the first time he held a sword, but it felt like it might be the last. He tightened his grip and began running straight into the danger.
The man's lungs heaved and burned. He must've inhaled more smoke than he thought, but that did little to deter him. That ravenous, snapping creature grew closer. Perhaps he could buy a second, a moment, a chance. His heart pounded. His head ached. Rhys zeroed in on a small gash on the creature's neck, running from a malformed mouth that spewed blood. That was it. Rhys rushed forward. Suddenly he felt the heat emanating from the beast. Ah, so that's why they stood back. The sting of heat hit him not long after as he blew past the guards. There was some shouting, he could hear that much over the roar that pierced his ears. In an instant it stopped.
Rhys plunged the blade deep into the thing's neck, sending out a spurt of sickly green fluid onto the ground. The thing's glassy eyes snapped to him, snarling. The bent blade cleanly broke in half, falling onto the puddle of death. Rhys' whole body was burning, but he was calm. Odd. He should've been scared, shouldn't he? Rhys glanced up. One of the warrior's many arms pulled free from the beast, then they pushed out their chest. A beam of light shot out of them, cleanly producing a sword. In one swift motion they brought the blade down, piercing the beast's head and burying it into the dirt. The heat died. The beast gurgled, straining for a few more seconds before going limp. A twist confirmed its fate.
The full effects of Rhys' stupidity hit him at once, forcing him to the ground with a gasp. He watched as the blade continued downward, pressing the creature's head further against the ground. All the way that empty eye looked back at him, sending a chill up his spine, snuffing out the spikes of pain that ran up his arms. After the creature was still, Rhys was dragged off. More shouting rang in his ears, but they slid away. His gaze firmly stuck to that angelic creature. They stared back through those cracked, emotionless vents.
_
"Why am I here?" Rhys asked, flexing his bandaged arm.
"And where else would you be?" Edwin replied. He was a much older man. Grey had taken up most of his hair, with only a strand or two of a reddish color kicking in his mane. "The last I had seen, your home was in shambles." Edwin slowly went over Rhys' burned arm with a sponge, causing the younger man to hiss.
"I'll build it again," Rhys said. "All the better I get started quicker."
"With your arms seared as they are?" Edwin replied.
"And why not?"
"The next time you try to build a home, you may not even have arms. That's why not." Edwin placed the sponge back into a tub of water. "What drove you to do something so idiotic? I was half convinced you were possessed by a demon yourself."
Rhys stared out of the barn doors and at the distant silent towers. The sun had begun to set, the light cascading through those metal obelisks. "For once, we should do something in turn for our protectors, wouldn't you agree?"
Edwin cocked his head. "What romantic gibberish are you spouting? They are here to guard us, not the reverse." Rhys frowned. "I'm beginning to think you've given up on life."
"Would that be so bad? What future do I have to look forward to now?" A distant bang echoed through the air. "May as well help with those who will save future generations."
"You're spry enough to sire children. For now." Edwin knocked on Rhys' head, forcing his attention back to the older man. "I suggest you focus on that before your untimely, heroic end." Edwin nodded firmly.
"Children." Rhys shook his head. "What kind of person pulls a child into the world like this? You were born when the centers were still alive." He nodded to the distant towers. "It made sense then. Now--"
"Were it not for your parents deciding to have children, you wouldn't be here to do your heroic savior act, hm?"
"I suppose."
"And forget about the centers. There's a reason they're filled with sin now."
"But--" Just then a thump caught the men's attention. Rhys glanced at the entrance to the barn. In its large doorway stood that warrior of light. In one of their larger hands they held that massive spear. Rhys froze, unsure how to react. Perhaps it was a serious transgression for a mere mortal like him to even consider fighting alongside a heavenly creature.
"May we help you?" Edwin asked calmly. Rhys snapped to him, eyes wide. Edwin glanced at him. "Unless you're a demon, I suggest you push your eyes back in your sockets."
