4. Rai

Chapter four

Rai

It was all a lie.

I was standing in front of Mr. Morris as he sat behind his desk. "I want to go back home."

Mr. Morris smiled, then rose from the chair and came around to sit on his desk. "I'm sorry, but there is no going back home for you, Rai."

"You told my parents this was a school," I said.

He nodded. "It is. But it isn't a school to prepare you for the corporate world. No, your destiny is far more noble and important than that. You will be educated, it's a must. But you will also be trained to become the warrior you were born to be."

This was bullshit. "I want to go home. You didn't tell my parents this was a military Academy."

He chuckled then.

And that enraged me even more. "Ain't shit funny!" I snapped. He laughed far too many times in my presence today.

His expression lost the humor, but it was also sympathetic. "Colorful language."

"So what? You deserved it. This is a military academy. You should have been honest."

He nodded. "In a way, it is. Yes."

"I want to go home, now," I yelled.

He exhaled and his expression changed from sympathetic to serious. "Tell me, Rai... what have you seen in your dreams? Have you seen me?"

I stumbled back as I stared at him because how in the hell did he know about my dreams?

"Have you seen epic battles between warriors and demons?" he asked.

"How do you know about my dreams?"

"Because you are special, Rai. You are a Guardian, the last one to be born. The night you came into existence, there was a comet. We call that the Falling Star of the Angel's Blessing ," he said.

"I... I don't get it," I said.

He nodded, then gestured for me to sit down. I did. "This school is where Guardians train to be able to fulfill their destinies. We also train humans who are known as Guards, who work alongside Guardians to rid the world of evil spirits and demons. What your dreams have shown you are events from the past."

"But... they're just dreams," I said, still confused.

Mr. Morris shook his head. "They are visions that every Guardian receives when they turn twelve years old. It's a Rite of Passage. It also lets us know that a new Guardian has been awakened. That is why you must start training and learning about what it all means."

I thought back to that night of the comet and that tingling sensation I felt when it passed over me. Did that have something to do with this? "It tingled..." I said softly.

"The comet's passing?" Mr. Morris asked.

I nodded.

"Yes, it marked the moment you turned twelve, Rai."

I wanted to deny his words, but he knew too much. He knew about my dreams, he knew about the comet on my birthdays, what else did he know? "What if I don't want to be a Guardian?"

"You don't have a choice. You are one and the demons know it too. That's why I had to bring you here, to protect you as well as teach you," Mr. Morris said. He moved from his desk to the chair beside mine. "None of us have asked for this fate, but it is what we were born to do. Rai, you will face many challenges as your journey will differ from other Guardians."

"Why? What does that mean?"

"When you're older, I'll explain. For now, you must trust me."

"Trust you? I don't even know you," I said.

"You will. I will guide you, Rai." Again, he smiled as if that should ease me in some way.

"Is this destiny you're talking about dangerous?" I asked, because I remembered how scary my dreams were.

He nodded. "Yes, but that is why you have to do your best to prepare. Do not refuse what you simply must learn in order to survive."

"Are you a Guardian?" I asked, because, in all of my dreams, I saw him fighting.

He nodded. "The oldest of all of us."

"How old," I asked, my voice shaking with fear and uncertainty. Because in my dreams, nothing looked like anything I recognized. Even the clothes looked ancient.

"I am over fifteen hundred years old."

My mouth dropped open. "No way!" I looked at him from head to toe. "That can't be true. No one lives that long."

He nodded. "Guardians do, if they survive their battles. Listen very carefully to what I'm about to say, Rai."

I decided to keep my mouth shut.

"Demons have been around for as long as the first human, which is around two point eight million years ago. As humans evolved so did demons, becoming more dangerous as time went on. Five thousand years ago, the first Guardian was born to be the last defense against the demonic reign over humanity. There were to be twelve Guardians born and you are the last one. There are now only six of us alive."

"Why just twelve?" I asked, seemed like we needed a lot more based on my dreams.

"I don't have an answer for that. It is what God intended, but it may also be the reason why he created Guards. Humans who have insight into our hidden world. They fight with us and oftentimes, handle lesser demons and spirits on their own. Our duty is to take on the bigger threats. The ones that, if successful, could destroy the world," Mr. Morris said.

This was too much for me to accept. I didn't want to fight demons my whole life. I wanted to be an astrologer. Preferably one who could fight, because I was really into learning martial arts. "Are you sure I'm the one?"

"Yes, we can sense each other. I'm sure you felt some kind of connection the day we met."

I thought back to that day when I came home and saw him sitting on our sofa speaking to my mom. "Yeah, I did. I felt weird. I still feel it. I also remembered seeing you in my dreams, but I just wasn't sure."

"I know. I'm positive you've dreamed of other Guardians too, both living and dead."

"Will I always have those dreams?"

He shook his head. "It's simply to prepare you and to give you the knowledge you need. As time goes by, they'll be fewer and far between until they are gone. And that's usually within the first year of your awakening."

"I don't know if I want to be a Guardian," I said, because it seemed like a terrifying life.

He nodded. "I know how you feel, the fears you have, because I've had them myself."

"You're not the first Guardian?"

"No, just the oldest. My teacher has passed in the line of duty," he said.

Hearing about the Guardians who died made me even more scared. Just what kind of future did I have? Would I be able to do this as a side job and still have my dream job?

"Will I be able to go to college?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, unfortunately. You must train until the day you're able to call forth your Champion."

I frowned because I was curious about that. In my dreams, I'd seen angels merge, which was what made the dreams even weirder to me. Was that what the Champion was? "What's that?" I asked because it was best to let him explain it to me.

"Every Guardian has a Champion. You can command them to fight for you or if need be, to merge with you and become your weapons of Divine Justice. You're too young right now and your ability to call forth your Champion has not awakened within you. But when it does, you already need to be able to fight," Mr. Morris said.

I knew that everything he was telling me was the truth, but I seriously wished that it wasn't. "So, I can't be an astrologer?"

"It's possible that you can be, but you'll need to be able to leave your job to fulfill your duties at any time. Nothing can take precedence over your destiny," he said. "I am the Headmaster of this Guild because I must be. However, I can also leave whenever I need to."

"Guild?" I asked, because up until now, he'd been calling this place Stellar Academy.

"This is the Celestial Guild, Rai. It's only known as Stellar Academy to those on the outside. The only children we take in are those who will protect humanity—hence the exclusivity."

"What about my diplomas for elementary and high school?" I asked.

"You will need to train every day. Don't worry, your education will continue here. You'll get your diplomas and degrees."

I now understood why this Guild seemed too good to be true. Why they had so many classes. It was because once you entered, you could never leave. And that realization left me feeling like I wanted to cry. Like I was lost. I felt so betrayed by him.

"So, why did you lie to my parents about everything?"

"Because humans can never know what this place truly is. They can't learn about the demons who roam this Earth alongside them. Our war is fought in secret, hidden in the shadows. Your parents only needed to know that you would be well taken care of. And at no cost to them, I might add." He leaned forward, his eyes staring into mine. "You can never return home. Never see them ever again."

"Why not? I want to see my family," I said, and rose from my chair.

He grabbed my arm before I could run from his office. "They don't remember you anymore."

"Stop lying. Let me go!" I yelled and fought to break free with all my strength, but I couldn't get loose.

Mr. Morris rose and grabbed both my arms, forcing me to focus on him. "They must sever all ties with you, Rai. Demons will seek to kill or possess any human who has knowledge of their existence or relationships with Guardians or Guards. If you want your family to stay safe, you must let them go."

I shook my head. "No one was bothering us before," I stated.

"It was only a matter of time. Demons can sense us. They would have wanted to take you out, especially with you being so vulnerable," Mr. Morris said.

I was crying so hard, I couldn't see clearly. I just knew I didn't like what he was saying. "I want my mommy," I said through my tears.

"The moment your family left these grounds, all memories of you were left behind. Your bedroom in their house has been turned into a den by my people. Every sign of your existence in their life has been erased," Mr. Morris said.

My legs just collapsed and I fell to the floor, crying so hard that my chest ached.

"Why...why even have my family... come here and tour... if you were just going to do this?" I yelled between my choking tears. I was so angry, afraid, and sad that I was shaking.

"It's a process that makes the parting easier. And it gives us time to do what we needed to do to your home," he said as a matter of fact.

"How is this easier?! I fucking hate you," I said as more tears flowed down my cheeks.

Mr. Morris knelt down in front of me, putting a hand on my shoulder as if that was supposed to make everything better. "I know how sad this is for you, Rai." He looked at me sympathetically, but I didn't believe him.

I slapped his hand away. "No, you don't!"

"Endure this pain now, grow stronger from it. Realize I'm doing this to protect your parents from harm. Yes, you're upset now, but imagine how heartbroken you'd be if demons killed your family simply because you were their son?"

"But I can't see... them... ever again?" I asked and choked on my tears at the same time. I coughed a few times to clear my airway.

He walked over to his desk, picked up a box of tissue, then returned to me, extending the box. I took several and blew my nose and wiped my tears.

"Not if you don't want to put them in danger, Rai. You must leave your old life behind and embrace your destiny," Mr. Morris said.

I was crying so hard, I found it difficult to catch my breath. This was just too much and I wanted to run away from it all and hide.

"I will give you today to gather yourself, Rai. But tomorrow, your new life begins," Mr. Morris said, then he rose and walked to his desk and called for someone to come.

When the door opened, a teenage boy entered. "Andrew, take Rai back to his room, please."

"Yes, Headmaster," Andrew said.

I was still crying as I was taken back to my room. Even though I knew my family was alive, I felt like I'd lost them forever... because I had. I might as well be leaving their funeral, that was how I felt. That was how much pain I was in. All I wanted to do was lay on the bed and wish I'd never met Mr. Morris.