Robin

A cheering wakes me up. Looking outside I see the people cheering. Still in my pyjama's I open my window to see what is happening. Something catches my eye to my left. Looking down the street I see the fortress. His fortress. The fortress of The One. The Golden King. To my shock I see he is awake. For generations he hasn't moved even a single claw. His breathing was so slow it took him a day to take one breath. But now his enormous chest moves way faster. His bright blue eyes seem to scan the city. I'm full of awe. The legends are wrong. The Golden King is still alive.

When I've prepared and eaten my breakfast I quickly get dressed properly and go out. On the marketplace I get some food for the next week while keeping my ears open for rumours why the Golden King is awake. Legend tells that the next wakening would mean the end of all we know. The end of humanity, the end of the kingdom of the heavens and the end of all life. I'm afraid this is it. But all of the rumours say that the Golden King is just awake to be awake. That his sleep was restless and he needed some time in the world of the waking. Deep inside I hope those rumours are true.

After the shopping I go straight home. My house isn't that special. Its just a house in a row of houses.

Timber frame with smooth stone walls in between. Fairy tale like windows with curtains behind them and a thick oaken door. Number eighty-five. It is on one of the main streets that runs from the fortress up hill down to the city wall that marks the edge of the kingdom of the heavens. The gates are always closed so no one knows what is behind the walls. Not that anyone ever cares. In the kingdom of the heavens we have everything we ever need. Lush green fields that give food year round, small rivers originating in the fortress running down to the walls giving a year round clean water supply and more than one way to keep one busy when not working.

The Golden King has an elite group of magicians that give magic shows and sometimes are willing to take an individual into apprenticeship. The magicians are powerful and are said to protect the kingdom of the heavens from evil. They are amazing. It is an amazing honour to be chosen as an apprentice.

Not that I don't have work. I'm a city guard. In the evenings and nights it is my duty to walk the streets to see if anyone tries to be a thief or something like that. A sour taste fills my mouth. The Golden King decreed when he allowed us to live in his kingdom that stealing is forbidden. There is no money here because everything is in abundance. If a piece of furniture is broken I can just go to a carpenter and get a new piece for free. How does it work? Well, the magic of the Golden King helps everyone with his or her profession. If one chooses to become a carpenter that person is exposed to the Crystal of the Carpenters. From that day, whenever he or she wants to make something like a chair, that person gets the knowledge imprinted in his or her head and the materials appear when needed.

For me it was quiet the experience the first day I worked as a city guard. I had just put my armour on when the effects of the Guard-crystal where released onto me. My eyesight improved massively. My helmet changed shape to form two metallic cat ears that moved to every sound. The armour even temporarily fused with my skin. I was tired when I first put the armour on but when wearing it and under its influence I became invigorated. It is intoxicating to feel its effects. How strong and flexible you feel in the moonlight.

I see that the sun is setting already. It is almost time for me to put the armour on and get going. I can already feel the Guard-crystal tugging on me. It wants me to prepare myself. I quickly prepare a couple of sandwiches which I quickly shove into my mouth while taking pieces of armour off of the armour stand and putting them on.

The armour is beautiful. Its made of metal with golden patterns embellishing it. It doesn't matter how I treat the armour it always shines with an inner light. While putting it on I wonder what becomes off me tonight.

Everyone at the guards knows what I mean with that. I may be a captain of the guard but like the other guards I have no idea what happens every night. Every night we walk around in a different form. One thing doesn't change: the armour becomes our very skin. While wondering I put the armour on. When I put the shiny helmet on the last rays of the sun are disappearing behind the city walls. The familiar tingling all over my body tells me the fusion is happening. My sense of smell improves and my fingers feel strange. I feel the ears growing again like every night. A guard without his ears is no good.

Now I turn to my mirror. A wolfish head is visible. Liquid metallic fur covers my entire body. It is fluid like water yet solid like metal should be. The gold forms patterns that indicate my rank. Captain. The gold mixed with metal also forms claws on my fingertips. I'm ready for my guard duty.

I'm already halfway done with my duty when I notice something. A figure clad in shadows sits on a roof. I quickly move towards a nearby house hoping the figure hasn't seen me. Thank god for the howling moon: the moon that gives no light. My armour is way to bright. It is meant to give an air of authority, which it does perfectly, but stealth is compromised a tiny bit. A tiny huge bit.

Using the metallic claws I climb the building to follow the shadowclad figure. Because the claws flow as water I have perfect grip even on the smooth walls. It allows me to quickly climb onto the roof. There I follow the shadowy figure.

The figure makes his way to the fortress, apparently without noticing me. Without making a sound I follow the person. The person manages to get past the demi-dragon guards who protect the fortress. He then climbs the fortress walls with no effort at all. Fearing the Golden King is in danger I jump from the roof to the wall, not being noticed by any of the demi-dragons. Quickly and quietly I climb the huge fortress walls. Only now do I appreciate how tall they are. But they are still finite.

I take position on top of one of the walls. One of the demi-dragon guards notices I'm here. I point towards the shadowy figure before looking back at it. The demi-dragon wants to sound the alarm till I put a finger before my snout. The demi-dragon stops trying to sound the alarm.

Meanwhile I keep a keen eye on the shadowy figure. It still hasn't noticed me. That is when I notice the shine of the object in one of its hands. The object is definitely not some innocent glass object. It is something dangerous. Something meant to kill. Something forged from steel.

Shock hits me. There is actually a person here trying to kill the Golden King. No one is as pure as the Golden King. No one is as forgiving as the Golden King. I must stop this person no matter if I survive this or not. This person must not succeed on its mission.

I need to dig into every bit of experience I have to make this work. The problem is I don't know this body very well. I don't know how far I can jump. Can I cross the entire courtyard in a single jump? I seriously doubt I can make it. Another thing that bugs me is that I don't know if the speed of my fall and the length of the claws is enough to stop the person. I may sacrifice myself in vain if I try to make this jump and fail to kill or badly injure the person. If that happens there won't be anyone who can protect the Golden King and he will surely be injured or die.

I look at every option trying to find the best way to take this person out. I have to make the leap. I pray to the Golden King I will successfully make the leap and also praying I will survive the jump. Then I push away my entire body from the edge while making the final guesses. Using all the pent-up energy in both my legs and my arms I swing myself forward. I hear the claws leave small scratches on the hard stone of the wall.

In the air the time looks to have fallen still. I fly through the air with a previously unknown speed. The wind blows over my metallic fur and whines in my ears. With the jump I inadvertently made a growling sound, which apparently woke up the Golden King. One of his eyes follows me while I fly through the sky. Then my trajectory moves me down. My target is in sight. I'm going to make it! Filled with wonder I see that the form only notices me when I'm about to sink my claws into him. When my claws touch him the cloak loses its form. My body comes to an abrupt hold. My breath is knocked out of me with such force I can't keep up. My consciousness follows my lungs and shuts down completely. I suspect I'm dead with my last thoughts. Killed myself for the Golden King.