The Arcane Guardians Chapter 1: Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles - Chapter 1: In The Beginning, There Was Darkness

Read chapter 1 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Book 1: Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Henry David Thoreau In a world where both magic and supernatural powers coexist, Felix Pagonis is a complacent but powerful psychic who is merely content with using his powers for himself. Despite facing blatant discrimination against his race, he leads a relatively easy life working as a part-time law enforcer in an elite task force: the Guardian Council. But all that will change when his colleague, Gaius Deusdedit, discovers a unique spellcraft that traces back to their world’s sinister origins during one of their missions. A reluctant Felix is dragged into a plot that may very well plunge their world into an eternal, literal hell. Facing a powerful criminal syndicate as well as sinister forces in the shadows, the duo will soon find themselves losing a lot more than they can handle. ~ ~ ~ It was hopeless. They were utterly, irrevocably outmatched. Outclassed by the demons they once called brother, father, daughter. Outgunned by their enemies they once called fellow humans. It would take more than a miracle to turn the tide of the war, and not even the gods could convince those bloodthirsty warmongers to show them mercy. Yet they chose to fight on, determined to throw their lives on the line in the hope that another might live to see the light again. They fought on stubbornly, against nature’s intentions. Against his intentions. General Theodore stood pensively over the ledge, gripping onto the railings. His olive knuckles turned white as a muffled blast accompanied by screaming men shook the floor from beneath. He closed his eyes painfully. Guilt wracked his body with an intensity that never seemed to diminish, no matter how many times he was forced to send his men to their deaths. “For mankind!” They would yell, charging towards soldiers who could breathe searing flames onto their carriages and cannons. “Weep not, leader.” They would lie in his arms, their ribs shattered by a single stomp from an enemy that grew to twice their size. “Smile, for this is but a glorious death.” The general sought comfort in the nightmares that haunted his sleep, for nothing he dreamt of could even come close to the horrors he woke up to every day. But dawn was just beginning to break. “Theodore,” a voice called him from behind. Theodore turned around, his tattered cloak sweeping in the charred wind. His boots creaked against the wooden floorboards heavily as he approached the man waiting by the door. His weary eyes stared at the singular horn atop his head for an uncomfortably long time. Arcani. Pockets of instability within reality itself that condensed themselves into a form of natural energy. An accursed energy that coursed through every living being. A magical energy that had one day decided to attune itself to half of humanity, granting them a variety of supernatural abilities. Abilities that they immediately used to enslave all that they deemed inferior. ‘Metas’, they called themselves. Born with the unstable parts of reality within them, the Metas were imbued with a buffet of superpowers ranging from minor physical alterations to a god’s ability to manipulate the elements. They banded together almost immediately, believing themselves higher beings and turned on their less gifted blood kin. The weaker Metas were the exception, having chosen to ally themselves with the non-Metas instead. Power was a universal law, so they knew better than to stay with their stronger brothers and amount to nothing more than bottom-class slaves. “Theodore?” the Meta repeated himself. “Keep it together, my friend. Our soldiers fought valiantly, and they have done their part. It is our turn to launch the surprise attack now. And once we reclaim the capital of S—” “Philemon,” Theodore interrupted him. “There will be no more need for that.” “Have you come up with a new strategy?” Ph