The night in Taiba is never dark. A pale blue light always lingers in the air. Plants and trees illuminate and show the way to nocturnal travellers. That night in Taiba was unusually calm, there were no cooing of nocturnal birds or animals, and even the wind was still. Only a deathly silence prevailed.

In the midst of this, only a sharp swinging of a blade resounded. Once, twice… It continued. No other voices could be heard. As if the whole place was under some spell. A spell of doom.

A tall, robust man was counting coins. Near his foot was a person or what remained of a person. He stepped on this man’s head. He tried to yell but no sound came from his mouth. He winced and struggled, but in vain. The robust man kept stomping his head, till it crushed. He grinned as if satisfied and moved to his next victim.

There were many pilgrims rounded up by these muscular and brutal bandits waiting for their death. Some bandits were checking each tent and dragging out the pilgrims. They were ransacking, killing, torturing. The luckier ones were killed in an instant.

Kiara heard some rustling noises in her sleep. She had a disturbed expression, but she was too deep in her sleep. She felt some movement around her. A hand approached her and grabbed her face. She was jolted awake. She was about to yell when she felt a hand covering her mouth. She grabbed a knife from underneath her pillow. She swung it but another grabbed her hand.

She was startled but saw Aarav trying to say something to her. She realized it was Aarav who blocked her mouth. He tried to speak but no sound came from his mouth. He then gestured her to take their belongings and follow him out. She understood something must have gone awry.

They stealthily got out of their tent. There was a deadly silence in the atmosphere. A few distances from them some bandits were dragging people away. Their faces constricted in fear, winces and yelling soundless. Aarav stopped for a while; his feet were unwilling to flee. He had spent a few days with these people, ate and drank, laughed and cried with them for a few days. He looked towards Kiara, she was fearful and confused. He was no hero, he knew if he goes and helps others, he will endanger Kiara’s life. With a heavy heart, he took a tough decision. He grabbed Kiara’s hand and ran away from there.

Few others were escaping. Because of the spell, no voice could be heard. Those who were alert managed to runaway. As they were running away, few arrows shot people down. Aarav took Kiara and changed their paths. They started running deeper into the woods. He was hoping the bandits would not chase them. However, it was all wishful thinking. He soon found them at his neck. He increased his pace. Kiara was being dragged away. She could barely move her feet.

Aarav was anxious. “Just a few more distance. Okay”

Kiara nodded while panting. They kept running. Kiara’s wobbling feet got struck by some tree roots. She stumbled and fell on her face.

“Get up. They are approaching”

Aarav was anxious. He drew out his dagger as he sensed the bandits approaching. Kiara was teary-eyed. She was panting and huffing. Her face had lost all colours.

A muscular man in blue attire and turban approached them. He was carrying a machete and a disgusting grin on his face. He was swinging his machete carelessly. He was walking carelessly as if taking a stroll in a garden.

Aarav took his chance and decided to strike first. He got into his fighting stance and sent a kick towards that bandit. The bandit didn’t budge an inch. Aarav felt like he hit a wall instead. An Iron Wall. Bandit swung his machete towards Aarav, he dodged it easily. He was swift in his movement and careful in his attacks. However, he couldn’t manage a cause even a single bruise on that man. If Aarav was a skilful fighter, the opponent was a solid tank.

His anxiousness grew, causing him to be frustrated. If he doesn’t take care of the first bandit, there were going to be others. After some time of dodging and futile offences, Kiara and Aarav found themselves surrounded by more bandits. They had no way of running away.

“Look. I found a good fighter here. He will do well in the arena”

“I smell a hell lot of money. Hehe”

Aarav rubbed his swollen arms. He was bashed and bruised. He felt his opponent was only toying with him. They were surrounded. He felt worried about Kiara. He felt helpless. He couldn’t save even a single person he felt responsible for.

Kiara was down on her knees. She was shivering. She was looking down. She was too afraid to look ahead. Aarav felt like he failed her. Tears filled his eyes as he was filled with helplessness. If only he was stronger. If only….

“Awoooooooo”

Howling sounds filled the surrounding. Bandits looked around panicked. All of a sudden a silvery-white wolf jumped and struck down the first bandit Aarav was fighting. The bandit was thrown off guard. He stumbled but soon got back on his feet. His expression no longer careless, he was serious, ready to fight.

He swung his machete straight towards the wolf’s neck. The wolf dodged and pounced on his lower body. The bandit was thrown again. After a few blows, he met his end. The wolf attacked remaining bandits in few seconds. Some ten or so bandits were scared. They started running for their lives. But the wolf didn’t spare any of them. It killed every one of them.

Aarav was frightened but he couldn’t move. Not because of the wolf which was hunting down bandits like flies. It was because of what he saw just behind Kiara. Kiara was frightened. She was looking down. Behind her was a giant wolf as tall as a mountain. It was silvery white. Its fur shined like the moon. Its eyes were blood red. They were staring at him. Its face was expressionless but Aarav could feel anger in them.

The giant wolf kept staring at him, till the little or the normal-sized wolf was done killing the bandits. Other wolves were standing far away, watching from a distance. They all howled for one last time and they all went back.

Aarav fell on the ground with a thud.

“Guardian…. So, it does exist”