Page 90 of The Last Guardian

Plates piled high with rotting food scraps. Heaps of papers, dishes, and clothes littered the floor. I swayed, a knot forming in my stomach. A change in the air, a tickle on my skin.

I jumped when a sensation brushed against my arm. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Has the dark night at last led you to me, child of darkness? A deep voice resonated in my head, startling me.

I stumbled back. Zaidkiel’s chest collided with mine, his broad hands curling on my shoulders.

Distant yet so close, the voice echoed in my skull and between space and time, through our bodies, in the universe.

Everything shifted. A dark gray haze enveloped us, on the ground, on the walls, in the air. Forming before us⁠—

Seven Hells. What was this creature?

A face, with two horrific horns like onyx blades jutting out of his skull; the man’s skin had a deep gray hue, like a stormy sky.

Death. It was death standing in front of us.

His dark eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me with curiosity. Kraktos turned his head toward Zaidkiel, his nostrils flaring—as if he were sniffing the commander. Zaidkiel stayed still.

The stars brought you together after all. What an interesting twist! I hadn’t seen this coming at all: the gods have a strange sense of humor.

Kraktos’ voice echoed not only in my head—it filled the room, echoing everywhere.

“We need your help, Kraktos,” Zaidkiel said, staring into the Oralys’ horrifying eyes, completely dismissing what Kraktos had said.

And what about you, Lost Heir? Kraktos asked with a laugh, ignoring Zaidkiel’s comment. Did the unbound crown make you forget your path?

Lost Heir? I cast a curious glance in Zaidkiel’s direction, only to find his jaw clenching hard.

Tell me, Crown of Lost Souls, which lands are you now afraid to walk?

I furrowed my brow at the absurdity of the situation. As if sensing my confusion, Kraktos smirked at me, his thin lips stretching into a grin.

And you’ve found a charming little doll.

His monstrous head turned toward me, making him look like an animal. Ice flooded my veins. His gaze scanned me, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and my pulse thundered in my ears.

Princess of Darkness. Daughter of the Sky. Queen of the Night. You have much to learn, Kraktos hissed.

“What?” I blurted out.

Kraktos’s face moved closer to mine. His hand slightly reached up towards my face. His long, bony fingers curved at the base of my neck, brushing against my cheeks without making contact.

Have you told her about what you’re looking for? About what could save us all? Kraktos asked Zaidkiel. He smiled, nodding his head, and Zaidkiel tensed beside me.

“Are you talking about the Last Guardian?” I asked Kraktos.

Kraktos chuckled and said, staring at me, The creature birthed of light and darkness.

I frowned; the hair on the back of my head stood up. “What kind of creature? What—what does it look like?”

Bowing his head gracefully, he said, The Sankyanoia has been hidden for thousands of years. Kraktos chuckled as he added, No one knows what it looks like.

“Sankyanoia? Is that the Last Guardian?” The term sounded bizarre yet simple to articulate.

Kraktos uttered a gentle laugh. The creature sent by the gods. It crouches in the embers of Myrh, hiding with the other Guardians. His dark eyes lit up as he added, It’s waiting.

“Waiting for what?” I asked.