What is the difference between gods and devils? Is it simply the humans understanding of right and wrong? Good versus evil. What sets them apart from the others? Can a god become a devil? Or can a devil rise to become a god? 

These have been my questions left unanswered in a world ruled by the humans, protected by the guardians, and destroyed by greed. I have seen many things, witnessed true wealth and power. And seen hero's fall.

Captain Argus led our crew on a chase for the treasure we had heard about. We were not disappointed. Passing through the gates from the sea into this hidden paradise, we found the treasure. 

Gold and jewels lined the walls of their homes. Food was abundant and the people were kind. They offered us their wealth in return for our stories. They did not leave their home and sought to learn of far-off place through us.

Argus thought it was a fair trade and they loaded our ships to the brim. We stayed and feasted with the locals. It was then I saw her. Her hair was the color of gold and her eyes sparkled like rubies. 

The soft white silks and gold accents revealed much of her skin but covered enough to leave one wanting. I was not the only one smitten with such a beauty. We learned that she was priestess of this place and that she was grateful for our company. 

Argus looked after her with lust and often made excuses to be by her side, in hopes to bed her. I was only a scribe, while he was my captain.

I was writing the first transaction of our meeting there when she approached me. I was shocked she would even spare me a glance. It turned out she too, was a scribe for her people and we shared much in common. 

We left the party together that night, a mistake on my part I truly regret. I had missed the change in my fellow shipmates as they lusted after something they couldn't have. I was blinded by the small bit of happiness in my waning soul. She led me to her library where I could see the history of her people. 

I was fascinated. Never had I seen a collection of knowledge so well protected or cherished. The way she spoke about each volume of written words as if it was her absolute favorite. I was falling for her. But our happiness wouldn't last.

Argus was wrought with anger towards me. Fuming that I had stolen the priestess from him. I had tried to explain that I had done no such thing. I watched the smile fade from her beautiful face as Argus continued to rage. 

Finally, she said we were no longer welcome there. Said to take our treasure and leave. Argus refused to leave until she became his wife. I tried to get him to see reason. Tried to understand why my friend had suddenly changed. It wasn't like him to take a woman by force. 

Perhaps it was because he had never had a woman so disinterested in him. She snorted in his face and refused before claiming that I would be her potential mate. The anger that rolled off my captain. I had betrayed him. He decided to kill me so that she would be his. Mind you, I was a dead man. I am a wielder of pens, not swords.

Argus attacked out of anger and rage, but his blade was halted by the hand of the priestess. We both stood in wonder and horror as her true form took hold. She was a guardian. Suddenly, her clothing made sense as the scales and spines took over. She was a being we knew we could not defeat. 

She chose to walk with Argus as my captain let her lead him away. They were gone for hours before I returned to the feast alone. My cabin mates were drunk off good mead and full of great food. They would have never noticed if Argus had killed me. 

Argus returned sometime after dark while were already sleeping. I knew our friendship would never be the same if it lasted. I never saw her again as we left come morning. Upon our return home, we were hailed as heroes for introducing new food and spices. 

We divided the gold amongst us, and I never saw Argus again. I seemed to have lost the first entry of this voyage, so I have written it again before my time comes to an end. The woman I would never forget and the city of gold she protected...

Garvit closed the little diary tucking it into his pocket. A city of gold. Now that was more interesting than a guardian priestess. Though according to this book, left by his great grandfather, it had been many years since then. 

The guardian was sure to be long dead leaving the city of gold ripe for the taking. Garvit smiled taping the walls with his fingers as he walked. His dark black hair was slicked back letting his deep black eyes gaze freely over the men who passed him.

He knew a thing or two about guardians. He was half one himself. His mother had been caught by his father and forced to bear two children before her death. She had been the keeper of water, dividing it up between her sons. 

Garvit was the new guardian of the sea. The ocean and seas obeyed his command and if he was upon them, no one could defeat him. His eldest brother was traveling his own way, was the keeper of rain. They had fought constantly as children trying to prove who was stronger, but it only ever ended in a tie. If only because Garvit refused to leave his ocean.

Garvit paused to take a deep breath. He was growing bored of this crew. His father was a pirate, raiding villages and seeking treasure. It was fun for the most part, as long as Garvit never had to leave the ship. Dramis, his brother, always hated him for it, but he hated him more because he was father's favorite. 

Their father was the captain of the most feared pirate ship on the sea, raiding and pillaging where they went. Taking what they wanted and leaving the rest to burn. Not that Garvit cared either way. Let the weak parish. Only more for his seas to feed upon. 

Garvit paused outside of his father's door, watching some of the men grumble. They were bored and tired of being out at sea, but they would never say anything against their captain. Though once in a while Garvit regretted not making his power more well known. 

They should be fearing him, a demigod, more than his human father. But his father could be crueler than even he cared for. Garvit knocked quickly listening to the old man grumble.

"Enter boy." He called out making Garvit hesitate before he let himself in. The cabin was larger than any other room on the ship and decorated in the finest silks and art. A few captives from his father's last conquest sat chained to the walls with dead eyes. 

Garvit ignored them as he made his way to the sitting area on the other side of the bed. His father was enjoying some wine as he stared into the fire. 

"Are we there yet?" He asked in a harsh voice as Garvit shook his head.

"Not yet. According to our informants we are just about there. There is a storm approaching. If you wish to avoid it, I will be occupied for a while." Garvit explained as the man huffed.

"Move the waters faster. I want to be there before dawn. If you can't come within sight of the gates by then, then I shall ground you to the ship. You don't get your share of the spoils if you don't do your share of the work." He growled making Garvit nod, covering his expression in his hair.

"I understand. You know where to find me." Garvit told him in a silky voice before wandering away. He kept his eyes on the door, knowing that nothing in this room belonged to him, even if he wanted it. 

He closed the cabin door climbing up to the bow of the ship. Nothing, but sea for miles. He grunted drawing a circle on the wooden floor before standing in the center of it and summoning his guardian half. He moved the sea to create a current and carry them faster, closing his eyes as he did so. He smiled at the spray on his face and tried to outrun the coming storm.

"Sir?" Garvit grunted, turning on the thin man only kept around to swab the decks. He was the only deck hand to speak with him, though that didn't mean he liked him. Garvit narrowed his eyes as the man pointed past him. 

Garvit turned his gaze staring at the silver cliff wall's sparkling in the fading light. Just in the distance he could see where two peaks reached high to create an archway made of stone. Garvit grinned happily hoping they had found it at last.

"Look alive men! The city of gold awaits! Head for the silver arch! I want to get this ship inside before the storm hits!" Garvit shouted as he swung through the sails. The men shouted in victory as they hurried about their posts. Garvit landed near the wheel where the crew man passed control over to him. 

The sun was mostly gone by the time the arch was looming over them. Garvit was smiling at the challenge, oblivious to the captain at his side. This ship was larger than most everything that probably went through this arch, but they needed a large ship to carry an entire city back with them.

"That's it, lad. Like threading a needle. Let's go get ourselves some gold!" The captain shouted as the thunder roared above them.

"And jewels! I think it's time we branch out and collect a little more than just whores and gold. At least jewels can be sold on the market." Garvit huffed hating the rainfall. It always reminded him of his brother. His father simply scoffed in agreement. Taking the wheel from him. 

Garvit leaned off the side, touching the gates as they passed. They were smooth like silver too. A bunch of murmuring from the crew drew his attention to the very populated city. Glowing in the darkness. They were hoping it would be empty after so many years. Then they could just waltz in and steal the gold from the walls. This was going to be a little trickier with actual people alive and thriving.

"Let us pirates do what pirates do best. Take it all!" The captain shouted as his men agreed. Garvit didn't say anything as he held onto the ropes. He simply hoped his great grandfather knew what he was writing about. And he hoped the other half was simply a myth.