Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

Fireflies danced in the dimly lit room. A flash igniting when they make contact, framing them like a photograph. She let out a cry as she lunged forward, the aurora splitting then reforming as she wove her magic with the delicate precision of a watch maker. Yet time shows all and as colors danced above her enemies head it highlighting her fatal mistake. She saw the sky as it appears covered in cloud, a blank canvas as her eyes rolled and she was sent toppling back. Her body impacting the ground in staccato movements.

“Ugh,” she groaned. “When did we start practicing so hard?” A loving chuckle emanated from the other side of the room, and as if her smile lit the room light came flooding back.

“Aggression is important, but too much and you'll allow your enemy to find your weakness. You must keep your opponent off balance when attacking,” she said, allowing the unicorn to rise, albeit painfully.

“I just couldn't get inside no matter how hard I hit,” her student said dipping her eyes to the painfully crafted marble floor. The designs wove inside each other depicting an epic battle between the forces of good and evil.

“You should never commit one hundred percent to any one attack, you must be balanced, allow yourself freedom to adapt and expand,” she continued. “Besides Flare, you're the first one who’s managed to make contact with me in a very long time, including the troops I spar with.” She turned her head to show the charred tuft of white hair. They both smiled, filling the room with a soft warmth that relieved Flare.

“Well, I have a great teacher,” Flare said.

The door opened and vented the room. Flare only now noticed how filled it was with soot and smoke. The guardian coughed, the hair on his helmet dipping as he did so. “Matriarch Valor, the committee is waiting on you,” he said adjusting the silver helmet.

Valor gave a 'thank you for telling me but I already know,' nod and turned to Flare. “I must be going Flare, remember you've other studies then combat. Be as diligent in them as you are here. The Tree-”

“The Tree is the keeper of life, and the giver of knowledge, and I am but it's humble protector,” Flare finished.

“Will be,” Valor corrected. “I shall see you tonight Flare.” They bowed and she exited. Flare would have left at the same time, but then it would have been awkward. Besides she wasn't totally keen on cracking open the books. How long she'd spent in their pages, how much she had transcribed. Grandmaster Song would have been glad to pile more books on her plate, and Flare was in no mood for it.

With a sigh she trotted over to the balcony that overlooked the city, the marble merging with it as if the tower itself had been cut from a single slab. As the sun dipped the rays skipped over the barrier casting a brilliant rainbow of colors over the roof's tiles. A bird landed on the balcony to enjoy the view with her, his crimson wings emulating the falling sun.

Life was slowing as night approached. The street lamps had already been lit and soft white plumes of cooking smoke drifted from the chimneys. Smoke that would later be converted back into energy by the control casters. The soft warm smell of fresh bread drifted up to her balcony and she reveled in it trying to ignore the smell of sweat and smoke that came from inside.

A lake that ended abruptly against the barrier shimmered as a boat came to dock and she placed her head against the cooling railing. Trees meshed with the stone houses in a way that made them look natural. As if the houses had sprouted from the ground itself. Orange dotted the trees in the outer yard and she imagined the guards stationed there tending to the trees, picking the fruit. She wondered how they got those duties, were they good ones, or were they being punished by tending to the gardens? Perhaps she would ask Valor one day. The main gardens were tended on the other side of the outer yard, and she realized suddenly that she hadn't seen them in such a long time, oh well.

She looked out from the tower in which she stood. A tower that sat atop the formed ring. A ring that protected the keeper of life, The Tree. In the close distance the Queen's castle stood, the purple banners flowing softly in the breeze.

“I wonder what it's like in there?” Flare asked no one but the bird. It answered with a soft peep. “I know, I have a job,” she told it. “Maybe once I complete my test I'll get a tour, I'll be important then right?” she asked with an air of excitement. She smiled. “Being a guardian is almost silly, nobody has gotten past the second wall since the war anyway.” The bird chirped again. “Yeah yeah, I know.” She raised herself and held out a hoof, “We must always be vigilant, for The Tree is the keeper of life and the giver of blah, blah, blah,” she said exiting with a chuckle. Then turning to the bird, “Oh I know, I'm just having fun. Val's just really serious sometimes.” She went to touch the bird but it flew off. With a sigh she took that as a sign she should start studying. As she entered the tower she stole one last look as the sun faded. She couldn't imagine a life outside. No, not with those monsters.