Guardian of the Wishing Well: Tales From Archeleon's Willow

By Kouta

Hexteria. A world of peaceful elves, goofy guardians, and a wishing well that can make your dreams a reality. And what better way to introduce such a fun community than with one of their many parties? Like the Festival of Shadows! A celebration honoring one of their favorite and quite standoffish guardians, Kagemaru. The quiet queer sword-wielding fairy who protects Wish-You-Well's wishing well. From who exactly?
You'll see. Because for every kind-hearted soul you meet, there's a treacherous retch in the works, ready to ruin the peace many worked hard to achieve.
Of course, those about to throw a wrench in the works are about to learn the fun-loving guardians of this village are as kind as they can be merciless.
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Rated M
This book deals with swearing, gore, and death. Make sure you can handle these subjects before reading; thank you and enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304672230

Book preview

Guardian of the Wishing Well

Written by Kouta

Copyright © 2017

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-304-67223-0

CONTENTS

Archeleon and Their Willow

Once flourishing with life and prosperity, an Earth, Jupiter's size, fell into war and ruin after a battle between cosmic beings obliterated the balance between good and evil. A blast destroyed the re-shaped Milky Way galaxy and nearly eliminated all possible life. 

But Creator, the universe given a human form to travel space, was able to save it all. Saddened by what became of their favorite galaxy, the Creator cried out the Ocean of Forever Reaching Waves. It stretched from one end of the ever-expanding universe to the other with an endless bottom. The Creator punished those who destroyed their work, relishing their infinite pain and suffering but feeling empty nonetheless. 

After what felt like over a hundred thousand years of torturing those who ruined what the universe made, old friends came to give their condolences. Meeting their greatest allies who wanted to cheer them up, Creator was struck with inspiration. They desired to remake their galaxy, but better, bigger, and far more amusing. After telling the friends, Archeleon asked to take on the burden of looking after the new galaxy. The Creator was pleased with the request and offered the Ocean of Forever Reaching Waves to be Archeleon’s home. The energy which composed the ocean had infinite power and would keep Archeleon alive and well for many, many eons. 

As Archeleon took to the cosmic sea, the Creator used their power to make a willow tree sprout from the turtle’s shell. There is no real-time in space, which I know is confusing since I technically used time terms, so I can’t say how long this really took. When the Creator was done, a willow tree of galactic proportions grew from Archeleon’s back. 

Archeleon’s shell grew as wide as your Milky Way Galaxy; the tree stood taller than anyone could measure. The colorful leaves were filled with stars, suns, and moons blooming to grace the worlds with life. The worlds grew from the trees on vines with atmospheres made of cosmic energy from the tree itself. 

The Creator filled the tree with sentient life once more, then ‘disappeared,’ excited to see what stories come from their newest creation. Their friend, the cosmic space entity of protection Archeleon, happy to protect their new Willow Tree forever.

Intro

The night wasn’t bad, but a storm is a storm, and those outside needed to take shelter somewhere. Because of this, the Full Moon Bar was pretty packed. The boss was in the back while the waitresses worked upfront. Alright, two men sitting at the bar counter on stools spoke up. What do you think she has in there?

Gary, the speaker, asked his friend, Andy. Andy was a regular at the bar, so when his old friend Gary came to town, he decided to take the companion to his favorite spot. Andy looked to where Gary was pointing behind the counter. The woman behind the bar had been moving a big basket whenever she moved from one end to the other.

Andy chuckled, understanding the confusion. Oh, I see. You think she’s holding something in there for the customers. The woman behind the bar was five feet tall with pale skin, colorful orange hair, and moth wings. Vidalia! The fairy had four bright green eyes and two pairs of fit slender arms.

The bar-runner turned to Andy. You need somethin’? Vidalia had a joint in her mouth and no care for customer service.

No, no, Andy chuckled and took another sip of his beer. He and Gary were already a little buzzed. My buddy here wanted to know what’s up with the basket, and I kind of wanna see the little rascal.

Gary turned to Andy with an even more confused expression on his reddened face. Rascal?

I guess it couldn’t hurt. Vidalia’s mood lifted a little, Look after him for a sec; I’m gonna get some refills. Vidalia picked up a sizeable hand-weaved basket and gently placed it between Andy and Gary’s beverages. Play nice, baby. Vidalia floated off with a pitcher of alcohol, her wings carrying her over the bar counter.

Gary blinked at the basket for a minute before understanding what he was looking at. Is that… a baby? In the basket was a seven-month-old baby. He was swaddled in a blanket and breathing peacefully with all four eyes closed.

Yup. Andy was staring at the baby with a look of serenity. Kagemaru, here is Vidalia’s first and only. Andy couldn’t help move the blanket to better look at the baby’s wings and hair. Kagemaru was a tiny male version of his Mother with orange hair and fuzzy wings.

Gary’s expression widened before he shook his head and looked at his beer. Um, I might have drunk a bit too much.

That’s only your third mug! Andy laughed at the notion.

Gary looked back at Kagemaru, I guess. Gary stared intensely at Kagemaru’s sleeping face. Almost looks… like he doesn’t have a mouth.

Andy nodded. You’re buzzed and right. Andy moved the blanket from Kagemaru’s chin to show no mouth but a tiny curved horn. Most atlas fairies are born without mouths, but this one got the bonus of a devil’s horn from the Father.

Oh, Gary was thankful he wasn’t that drunk and took another sip of his drink. Does he look weak to you?

Of course he’s weak, Vidalia said as she returned behind the bar. It’s hard for a single parent to take care of a mouthless baby. Vidalia picked up the basket and moved it from the drunkards.

Awe, come on, Vidalia. Andy groaned when the baby was removed. Just a little longer. He chuckled. Don’t take it the wrong way, but your son reminds me of my daughter.

Oh, alright. I guess a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Vidalia replaced Kagemaru in front of Andy so he could continue fawning over the baby. Saw a psychic last week, said Kagemaru will grow up to be non-binary.

Really? That might be why. Andy thought out loud. I always thought my little girl would be androgynous or non-binary.

I think good parents can tell, Vidalia told Andy, hoping this would cheer him up. Andy smiled at the comment, thinking about his daughter, and Kagemaru seemed to make Andy feel better.

Before Andy could ask to hold the baby, Vidalia grabbed the basket. Andy looked up to ask what happened, but Vidalia wasn’t there anymore. Gary pointed to the end of the bar, where Vidalia burst through the exit door. What was that about? Gary asked.

Andy turned around and saw a few humanoids suddenly running out of the bar. Andy kept looking around; employees and customers alike seemed fine if not confused about the people abruptly exiting. I hope she’ll be alright, Andy grumbled as another fairy came behind the counter to replace Vidalia.

Vidalia ran out back and found Sprinkles, her all-black Arabian horse. Vidalia dropped the basket, holding Kagemaru in her two lower arms.

You read right, she hid them inside, but Vidalia had four arms in all and used the bottom two to cradle her child close to her stomach. Hya! Vidalia shouted and whipped Sprinkle’s reigns.

The Arabian took off as quickly as possible; the rain was getting heavier. How did they find me!? Vidalia screamed internally. I was so careful! 

Vidalia held Sprinkles’ mane with one fist and Kagemaru with the other, then used her top two hands to form a magic circle out of light in mid-air. They won’t get me this time! I’ll go make my wish now! Vidalia, Sprinkles, and Kagemaru were overtaken in a brilliant orange light, then vanished into thin air.

They traveled through the willow tree branches spanning over a galaxy; they went lightyears per second while rocketing in an orb of magic to their destination. It was a few minutes before they burst from the ground on another world. Vidalia screamed in relief as she gasped for air, Ha! She laughed at the Heavens, partially hoping the devils chasing her could hear. Chase me here, punks!

Sprinkles galloped past a sign, and before they knew it, Vidalia was in an abandoned-looking town. The worried mother looked around, it wasn’t raining here, but it was still too dark to see far. Where is it? She asked, Where is the-?

Sprinkles’ legs were severed in one slash. The Arabian screamed in horrific pain and fell to the ground like a snake. Vidalia fell over, clutching Kagemaru with her bottom two arms. Sprinkles! She screamed in fear. No!

Did you really think you could escape? Vidalia’s eyes widened in horror. Vidalia kept her child out of the mud, scraping her elbows and forearms laboriously in the process. Stop running! The shadows in the area rose from the ground. A towering presence stood before Vidalia and her offspring. You’re only delaying the inevitable. The devil of shadows let his large wings spread into the sky, wings like a butterfly. The patterns were blood red, forming waves that turned into razor-like peaks. The evil-being wore a leather tunic that reached their knees and thick pants to ward off the cold.

Asmodeus, please don’t-! With a flick of Asmodeus’s wrist, Vidalia’s shadow roped her to the ground like chicken wire. Kagemaru was crushed into the mud beneath his Mother and began screaming in fear and pain.

The fairy child sunk through the darkness, losing the warmth of his blanket and the safety of his Mother’s arms. Kagemaru fell from the sky, Asmodeus caught the child by his leg. You think I’m a fool? Asmodeus jerked the baby in a downward motion, snapping Kagemaru’s leg. "You think I’ve maintained my title by sitting and watching people fuck my son? I won’t let