Guardians of Lakaya: The Catalyst: Guardians of Lakaya, #1

By Richmond Camero

For ages most of Anarri has been plagued by the Oblivian Rebellion. The Anarrians have felt its disastrous effects until now. Guier is tasked with helping one of the victims of the Rebellion: the village of Akisha. With his companions from Perennia,they are able to rebuild the village and give hope to the Akishan dwellers. As he and his companions leave for their hometown, the Akishan leader warns them of an incoming but unknown danger.

But the danger would come sooner than Guier expected. With his party's return to Perennia, bizarre phenomena begin to happen: the sky darkens and colossal pillars of light shoot out of the sky.

Is this the end of Anarri or the start of a new rebellion?

Guier must find out before it's too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creative Wordscape
• Release date: Jan 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393611271

Richmond Camero

Richmond Camero is the author of the Guardians of Lakaya series. He tells stories from the fantasy and science fiction genre. He builds worlds inspired by anime, video games, books, and his experiences in real life. He molds characters from different ethnic backgrounds with diverse traits and larger-than-life goals. Richmond is working in the IT industry since 2010 and does his writing during his free time. He likes to read fiction and self-help books. He lives in the quiet town of Bulacan, Philippines.

Book preview

Guardians of Lakaya: The Catalyst

GUARDIANS OF LAKAYA

—

BOOK ONE

Richmond Camero

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The author appreciates you taking the time to read this work. Please consider leaving a review wherever you bought the book, or sharing the book to your friends or blog readers to help spread the word.

Thank you for supporting the work of this author.

Guardians of Lakaya: The Catalyst

Copyright © 2016 by Richmond Camero

All rights reserved.

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CHAPTER 1

Guier walked toward the firelight and away from the comfort of his bed. The night was getting colder but the town of Akisha was alive. Guier rubbed his good left eye. I’m getting too old for this, he thought. The cold wind caught his long hair and beard and he held his cloak closer. With a sigh, he trudged toward the gathering crowd.

Akishans of different ages gathered in the town center. Guier felt comfortable with them around after his six-month stay in the village together with other Perennian soldiers. As he got nearer the bonfire, he heard drums and singing. He smiled.

The Akishans knew how to bid farewell.

As he reached the town center, he scanned the crowd. There were people dancing around the bonfire. Others were sitting on wooden benches carved from wide tree trunks, mugs of wine in their hands. Guier looked for his companions but he couldn’t find them in the crowd. He waited in a vacant spot far from the celebration.

As soon as he was settled, Guier noticed someone approaching. He was tall, his hair was trimmed but he grew his beard. Guier was sure that it was Dror.

Hey, old geezer, Dror told him. I knew I would find you here.

You have been enjoying yourself sufficiently, Guier said, noting the bottle of wine in Dror’s left hand and a wooden mug on his right.

Dror poured wine in the mug and offered it to Guier. Drink! You don’t get to taste wine like this in Perennia.

I don’t get to drink wine at all.

Humor me, Dror said.

Guier took the mug from Dror and took a sip. The wine tasted like berries and left an earthy aftertaste.

How do you like it? Dror asked.

It’s unique, Guier said. He felt the warm sensation of the concoction in his stomach and he thought the warmth useful against the cold weather.

Dror sat beside Guier, taking a gulp from his mug. We’re going back to Perennia tomorrow, Dror said. I will sleep all day.

But we still cannot rest, my friend, Guier replied.

Dror’s mug was halfway to its lips but he stopped. He held the mug with both of his hands. You’re right. There are many villages we need to restore.

The Oblivian Rebellion hit us hard. But we’ll persevere.

After a thoughtful silence, Dror spoke. Enough of that. We’ll get to all of them someday. But tonight, you need to celebrate. If not for us, do it for the Akishans.

Guier looked at the people, singing and dancing as if nothing had happened to them. I guess you’re right, he said with a smile.

Make way for Aban Yulik! An Akishan shouted. The celebration lulled into silence. The Akishans stopped dancing and gathered around the fire.

Let’s join them, Dror said.

Guier nodded and both of them stood up. They walked toward the bonfire and stood among the Akishans. The group of people opposite him parted into two smaller groups, creating a path between them. They were looking at Aban Yulik from the far end, waiting for him to pass by. The sound of footsteps crunching on the ground became louder and from the crowd, a cloaked man appeared. His cloak was pure white and it reflected the light of the bonfire. When he reached the center, the Akishans around him bowed low to the ground.

Aban Yulik raised both of his arms and the Akishans stood up. He withdrew the hood of his cloak and it revealed the face of a man hardened by time. His skin was tight and there were wrinkles in his eyes and around the lips. Yulik wore red paint in his face, but his was more intricate than the other Akishans, with vine-like pattern crawling across his forehead and the side of his face. He looked toward Guier and Dror. Tonight, we give honor to those who helped us rebuild, Yulik said. We have been through difficult and dark times, but the Twin Beings gave us the chance to live. Now, we are reborn.

The Akishans shouted in approval.

And this is because of Perennia’s aid. The Aban raised his hand toward Guier and Dror beckoning for them to come to him. Guier walked toward the Aban with Dror following him behind. They moved around the fire and stopped in front of the Aban. Yulik looked to his right and an Akishan came to him, bearing a long object wrapped in cloth. Yulik received it and turned to Guier. He bowed down and with outstretched arms, presented the object. He removed the cloth and it showed a sword sheathed in a golden scabbard filled with precious stones.

This is one of the most valuable treasures of the Akishan tribe, the sword of the first Aban, Yulik said. Please accept this as a sign of our gratitude.

Guier looked at the sword, his hands still beside his hips. We appreciate this gift Aban Yulik but we helped you because it was our duty. Guier pointed to the sword. This belongs to your family.

Yulik chuckled. You are modest, Gatekeeper. But the greatest of deeds deserves the greatest gifts. We owe our future to you. Yulik bowed and offered the sword to Guier. The sword gleamed, its luster magnified by the light of the