The wind descended from the early, blue sky, tracing its tendrils against the green rattling leaves of the Duskwood trees, a species that plagued the forest floors with its presence. The trucks were as thick and rough as ever, the cold dew drenching the oak surface profusely like sweat on an athlete's face. The swirling branches of the Duskwood trees crowded together while their branches freely laced a canopy.
A house nearby exuded smoke, and green moss leached onto the cracked peach walls. The iron on the curved, resting hill roof was corrugated.
Kuhn Lau sat on the matress and crossed his legs. He folded his index fingers with his thumbs and meditated. His silver hair shimmered under the light cast by the lantern from above, and it tipped down his neck. His skin was smooth and fresh; he looked like a man in his late twenties, although he was four centuries older.
He frowned during his meditation, a recent memory plagued him relentlessly.
A MONTH AGO
Kuhn Lau opened the door and entered, and closed it from behind. He took a deep breath as he looked around. The lights flickered, and the tar, its coat peeled off in different places, thanks to the hands of time. The area was spacious and occupied by multiple columns. He walked forward, his steps loud and as heavy as lead.
With each step, his heart drummed frantically against his chest, threatening to burst out. His pupils dilated; wide enough to suck your gaze into them.
"So you've come," a deep grumbling voice belched.
When Kuhn Lau stepped forward, two men stood before him. The one on the left dwarfed him in height—it was the same brute who rag-dolled him across the forest and threatened him about his mother. The other was shorter but slightly taller than Kuhn Lau. He stood next to the brute, on his right, and said. His eyes shimmered with a gem-green pigment. He wore a long leather jacket. His hands, garbed with leather gloves, intertwined. This implied that he was the mastermind behind this secret rendezvous. The shadows silhouetted the two men.
The man in a long leather coat continued, "You need not be nervous. After all, we are not strangers. How long has it been since we met? Ah, yes, a year ago."
"I'm only here for one reason; why did you threaten to kill Peter if I didn't agree to our meeting?" Kuhn Lau began in a stern and smooth voice.
"That was just a ruse to lure you here; you were none the wiser. I've heard whispers of your intellect, you know. Or is that a falsehood?" the man in a coat replied.
"Those were not just whispers; your ears did not betray you," Kuhn Lau said as he tightened his grip around his golden staff.
"I'm interested. Then surely, you know that strength is not only a product of raw power. In truth, it is also a product of one's intellectual capacity. It's extraordinary what we sapient beings are capable of, the things we've brought to existence with our minds. Both humans and Utopians evolved from primitive customs and have turned against nature to make our way of living more convenient," the man in the leather coat preached.
"Yes, I concur, but you did not summon me here to discuss both species' mental evolution. What do you want from me?" Kuhn Lau inquired, his lips tighning with vexation.
The man reached into his pocket and dug deep until he found what he was looking for. He took it out; it was a device with similar features to those of the remote controller. It was rectangular and round, like a Snickers chocolate bar. It was charcoal black and had a big red button. He pressed the button, and the device emitted a holographic image of a middle-aged woman tied to a chair. Her hair was a darker shade than basalt rock, with the addition of grey linings due to her age. Her mouth was strapped with duct tape while she looked at the floor helplessly.
Kuhn Lau's eyes widened with horror, his hands shook violently while the man in the leather coat addressed him, his voice deeper and rougher than before.
"You must be wondering how I captured your mother. It's simple, really. I had a bit of help. You see, Kuhn Lau, I have eyes and ears everywhere. There is no running from me. Praise the Heavens that you were not stupid enough to involve your fellow Guardians in this matter; otherwise, all of you would pay a heavy price.
Kuhn Lau stood stationed, his gaze fixed firmly on this powerful figure.
"You have two options, Kuhn Lau. One, I will pardon her from this accursed life, or two, you join me within a fortnight. And remember, I have eyes and ears everywhere. If you so much as squeal, her blood will be on your hands."
*******
His eyes shot wide open, his heart pounding faster and harder like an Indigenous drummer from a ferocious tribe. His face was drenched with sweat, his shoulders heavy with the burden of his crossroad. Striking a deal with the devil to save his mother seemed like a viable choice; no one would get hurt in the process, apart from Pete and his fellow Divine Guardians. The other meant losing her; however, his fellow Guardians would be by his side and aid him. What to choose? He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
A loud ringing bellowed from afar. He darted his gaze toward his right side and arose from the floor and sauntered toward his table, on which stood a white spherical object. With just a thought, one would instantly assume that its structural shape consisted of metallic parts that were fixed together, initially giving it a spherical shape.
It was called a Teleprojector. The Utopians used it primarily to communicate, not only does it share similar characteristics akin to a cell phone, but once the user answers the call, a clear visual hologram will flash out. That would be the hologram of the caller, and when the hologram emerges, one would assume that the caller was physically present based on its realism.
He grabbed it and pressed a blue button. Ken Sou's hologram flashed out behind. His gold armor shimmered like the sun's rays, bequeathing a majestic aura on him as his white cape hung from his pauldrons and cascaded down to his ankles from behind. His white hair, the color of snow, was tied in a bun, and his long white hair curled down the insignia of a phoenix chiseled on his breastplate.
"Good day, Commander Ken Sou. My, I am honored to be called by you." Kuhn Lau said, his lips tugging a smile.
"And how are you, Kuhn Lau? It's been a while since we've been in contact," Ken Sou began softly.
"Quite frankly, I've been preoccupied. I've decided to return to my roots and distance myself from the earthlings' cultural norms to attain inner peace."
"And how has that treated you?" Ken Sou inquired, his lips stretching into a crescent shape.
"It's been an arduous path; there is a price to pay for internal peace," Kuhn Lau replied.
"I concur, nevertheless, why I'm calling is because I have a task for you and the other Guardians."
"I don't mean to question you, but our only task as the Divine Guardians was to guard over the talismans. Since they are way beyond our reach, doesn't that mean the task you're giving us might be out of our jurisdiction?"
"I selected six of you to wield and protect the talismans. That has only been your mission since. However, from now on, I've decided it's time for the six of you to face a more advanced mission. I'll explain the nature of these missions in time. I am currently summoning you and the other two back to meet at Yung Fu's compound. I am going to assign you your first advanced mission.