The Burden of Truth

That day, ten years ago—

I sensed it.

A demonic power in Beaster, it appeared all of a sudden, without notice, from nowhere. As if it hadn't arrived… but been teleported here. Frightening.

I traced it, cautious but compelled. The further I went, the stronger the malice became. My journey led me not to the outskirts or wildlands, but to the royal castle itself.

The hallway at night was quiet, too quiet, uncanny. As I walked through the hall, many fearful anticipations struck my mind. What could be waiting at the source of this.

"Guardian Temina!" a voice snapped the silence, broke through my thoughts like a blade, shivering me from inside. I spun around.

"Don't startle me like that," I exhaled, relieved to see it was only King Pholomin.

"Well, sorry for that. But why are you here?"

"..." The hall got quiet again.

"Well, no matter. Since you're here, join me. I am off to see the newborn baby."

"Newborn?"

"Yes. My brother, Sakan, the general if you can remember. His son was born just a couple of minutes ago. The last room of this hallway, there they are."

I froze. My eyes widened as my sight followed the end of the hall, the unworldly power was coming from the room. I followed Pholomin to the room, as I found the source.

Newly-born Basalin Lenard, so sweet and precious, soundly laying in his mother's lap. It's coming from him, like a storm wrapped in flesh?
He is just a baby... How?

I approached him, forcing a smile

"Congratulations! How's the baby?"

"He's healthy and lively. Here, would you like to hold him?" Balin handed Basalin.

"It would be my pleasure. You should rest. Don't try to move too much."

I gently cradled him. "What was your name again...? Right, Basalin! What an adorable cub you are." 

Such intense power! How can something so little have this much demonic prowess?!

Basalin smiled.
He then grabbed my finger with his little soft paws.

And in that moment… I knew.

Disbalance caught me off-guard, but I managed. I handed him back to his mother and came back to my place.

It took some time for me to get my thoughts clear.

So that's how the mysterious power suddenly appeared. But I still can't believe how it's possible. Basalin was surely a lion-kin, not a demon. Then why was he emitting a demon-like energy, not just that it was something familiar, like a... spirit!
I can't get to any conclusions for now.

***

To seek clarity, I returned to the Spirit Realm. I presented my findings to Emperor Nyxarion, sovereign of the realm—

"...And that’s why I suspect there’s more to Basalin than meets the eye," I concluded.

The Emperor frowned, getting himself into deep thought.

"Also I felt something familiar, alike a spirit, but not completely. It has been bothering my mind since then."

"Spirit you say! How can he possess a spirit? He was just born!"

"That's what I have been thinking. I didn't sense any fellow guardians nearby that day."

"The things that you specified today are quite troublesome. Even I cannot say anything for sure. This power you describe… it’s neither demonic nor divine. It's both, yet not fully either. A contradiction."

"Can such a thing even exist?"

"…I don’t know," he sighed. "Stay in the spirit realm, Temina. Give me time. I'll look into the matter."

"As you wish, Emperor Nyxarion."

...

Several months passed by.

Then, one day, I was summoned again.

I entered his hall. The Emperor was looking outside the window. The golden light of ever brighten spirit realm, shimmered through the hall as he stood tall, waiting for me.

"Here, have a seat, Temina. How have you been during this time?"

"Thank you for your consideration, Emperor. I’ve been well." I took a seat and continued, "But aside from that, have you found anything?"

"Yes, regarding that... I am afraid I cannot say anything for certain." He looked at me with weary eyes.

My breath caught. “What do you mean?”

"I searched old logs of previous sovereigns, but there were no cases that resembled this one. Then I summoned the other spirit guardians to discuss the matter."

"Sir Dryope was here?"

"No, only those guardians who are here in this realm. It would be better if Dryope could come, but we all know how busy he is in the Mc. Lain Academy. However, we all came to one conclusion." His eyes met mine, "But, it's quite a gamble!"

"Gamble?" I asked, heart tightening, "Then... what is the stake?"

"The very life of Basalin."

"What?! Are you out of your mind?!"
I shouted and rose to my feet reflexively.

"Calm down, Temina. Hear me out. I know it's harsh, but..."

I sat and took a breath. I came to my senses, "Forgive my impatience, Emperor. Please continue."

"We must first need to confirm if it really is a spirit that you sensed."

"But how? I could not recognise it even when Basalin grabbed my fingers. No matter how excellent one is to hide his spirit's existence, we guardians can always sense them by physical contact."

"There is another way to do that. Do you understand what I am saying?!"
His face became more serious, the atmosphere shifted, the air felt heavy.

I realized what he was saying.
And why he said it was a gamble.
My face darkened.
"Are you sure about this?"

"There is no other choice."

"He is just a baby, so fragile and lively. Can't we wait and check if he is a danger or not."

"I'm afraid not. If he’s not dangerous, he will survive and get a gift for engaging in the gamble. But if he is, then we should get rid of it before it goes out of our hands."

"Still—"

"You must do it, Temina."

My face caught the golden light like fragments of sunlit glass, as a sense of guilt covered me.