REJECTION PART 2: THE CURSED ONES

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Aiden's POVI heard a scream and there was a bright light. I painfully stood up, my body is aching badly. Lightheaded. I might have lost a lot of blood. There is another scream and there is darkness, as if the sky suddenly turned dimmer.

I managed to get walk back but... there was no man. That man is gone. Ajax is on his knees panting. I turned towards Lucy and she is still there. My sight is blurry but I know she is alive, somehow, she is still breathing.

"Ajax."

I tapped. He just looked over his shoulder. For once, I thought his eyes changed like the moon, then it returned to its original color.

"Are you--- Where is the man?"

"He's... gone." He gulped. "He's gone." He repeated. I don't understand what happened but somehow I am relieved knowing that he's not here anymore.

"Lucy." I started trailing towards her. "Lucy." I tripped and stumbled but I continued. "Lucy." I tried reaching for her and I think I saw her hand reach for me, too.

"Lucy."

*Shoot*

A spear blocked my path. This spear. It's familiar.

"Stop!" I turned to whoever shouted. It was... Lumos. And... goblins and fairies and... Elves... These are... the guardians.

Someone grabbed my arms and pulled me away. "No. What are you doing? Let go!" But no matter how I tried, I have no strength to fight them. "No!"

The vines are encasing her once more. Lucy. No. My feet dragged as I try to get out of their hold.

"Stop it." Someone ordered.

"I have to save Lucy." That is what I can only say.

*Thud*

"No. Stop." Ajax. Someone pinned him on the ground. There are cracks on his arms and face as he tried to call out.

"There is no other way." It was Elena. "The curse must end. Right now we will end this." They all watch as Lucy is being eaten by the tree.

"No. No. I have to save her."

"It was her who imprisoned us in this body. In this form." An elf guardian. He is the one holding me down. "We have to end it."

"No. Lucy can't do that. She's innocent! Lucy!" I yelled. Fists clenching but the elf held the back of my neck. No. She is innocent.

"Without Lu Han's protection, you will now bear the thousand years of sin you committed. You, spirit of dreams, will be the price of our suffering.

From the branches, there sprout leaves and buds. They slowly opened up and showers light around it. Their bodies, the guardians, are slowly loosening their form. Guardians were the spirits. Their original form, they are returning to their original form. The curse is being broken.

Amidst the commotion, eyes stared at me. She stares at me.

Spirit of dream...

Her eyes are memories. She was... a memory. She was... Her eyes closed and the whole place lit up.

Have you ever heard the story? Of how the sun loves the moon that he dies everyday to let her breathe?

It was not the moon that he loves. It was the moon's lover. A long time ago, when spirits roam the world, where they make the rivers flow, the wind blows, the earth grow, everything lives in harmony.

One day, the moon gazes upon a lone spirit. She is a breeze of the wind, she lives in a world no one has ever been. She was dream. She was sleep. The moon, Lu Han was fascinated on her. How she roams the mind, how she ignites the heart. He loved her. He loves her. Every night, they sit together watching over the land. Over the creatures of the night. He gave her the gift to guide the creatures he created. And she loved him for his kindness.

But one day, when dream stays a little longer, and the Sun has shown up. The latter caught a glimpse of her and in that one look, he has fallen in love. Every day he wishes to see her. So, he tries to arrive a little early, or a little late. The Sun governs the day, the mortals, the once who lives in the light. And she is as fascinated with those creatures that she stayed a little while longer. And that is how they met. A story of love begun. Dream liked the sun, its light, its hope and people. She loves the warmth that the night does not have. Although still loving the creatures of the night, she seemed to stay more during the day.

The Moon noticed this, jealous of their love. Greed took over. He let his creatures pester the Sun's land. But the sun is powerful, more than anyone. He burns them, he scared them. Hide once more in the dark, never to see the light of day. But the moon saw this as an opportunity. He went to the other spirits, told them of the sun's actions. How the latter harmed the creatures. Afraid to be bestowed of the sun's wrath, they form a spell, a curse if you will. No matter how powerful a spirit is, it is but one of the many. They made a spell and bound the sun.

"Kill him." They chanted. "Kill him!"

That day, the sun up in the sky remains but the spirit is no more. Gone.Dream returns but unable to find her love. She roams all of the land, water and air. But nothing.

He is gone.

The moon said that he left her. But she does not believe, because she knows of love, she knows of him. He will never live her no matter what. That is the promise. She seeked for answers and found of it. The spirits are the ones to blame. They cursed him out of existence and so with anger and love, she chanted a spell:

"The day has lost their guardian, a heart that has been stolen.

The sin you commited is unforgivable, and dream will never forgive. So, hear me all of you, your vitality is your power, now I will make it your curse. I cannot forgive but the world shall not suffer and so, you will protect it for eternity. This is my curse, spirits woven by time, spirits who meant to protect, I bind you in this world, be a guardian in all of time."

A burst of energy covers the earth. The spirits were encased into mortal forms, but think not, they are not mortal. A responsibility to protect, that is their curse. Because they will love and lose, like how she did.

With the last of her words, the curse started. She turned to the moon.

"You... you who loves will remain to love. But to never have." The moon is vanished away from the world. Torn from his beloved. And as her eyes closed and her aura dissipates. The moon released the last of his energy. Encased the last of her spirit, and so the spell she spoke, encased her and she, too, turned to what they became -- A guardian.