The field was quiet again.
Too quiet.
The place where the Shadow Beast had stood was now nothing but slightly burned grass and drifting sparks of black dust that slowly faded into the air.
Arjun's hands were shaking.
He stared at his palm. The glowing symbol was still there — bright blue, shaped like a circle with sharp lines crossing through it.
"This… this isn't possible," he whispered.
The blue fox walked calmly toward him.
"It is very possible," the fox said. "You just proved it."
Arjun looked down at the creature. Up close, he could see faint light flowing through its crystal ears like energy moving inside glass.
"You talk like this happens every day," Arjun said.
"For you, no. For this world… yes."
Arjun swallowed. "Explain. Now."
The fox sat down, wrapping its glowing tail around its paws.
"My name is Lumo," it said. "I am a Spirit Guardian of Aetheria."
"Aetheria…" Arjun repeated slowly.
"The World Between Worlds," Lumo continued. "It exists between your world and many others. It is a bridge. A balance."
Arjun turned in a slow circle, looking at the floating islands, glowing grass, and strange sky.
"This is real," he said softly.
"Yes."
"And that shadow thing was real."
"Yes."
"And I just fought it with a light sword that came from my hand."
"Yes."
Arjun stared at Lumo.
"I think I need to sit down."
He dropped onto the grass.
Lumo continued, "The Shadow Beasts are servants of the Shadow King."
"The Shadow King?" Arjun said. "Why does that sound like a final boss name?"
Lumo blinked. "Final… boss?"
"Never mind."
Lumo's eyes grew serious. "The Shadow King feeds on fear. Long ago, he tried to take control of Aetheria. But a human Guardian stopped him."
"A human?" Arjun said.
"Yes."
Arjun slowly looked at his glowing palm.
"You're saying… I'm like that human?"
"You are the next Guardian."
Arjun stood up quickly. "No. No, no. You've got the wrong guy. I'm not a hero. I don't even like speaking in front of my class."
"Bravery is not the absence of fear," Lumo said calmly. "It is action despite fear."
Before Arjun could respond, the sky flickered.
One of the suns dimmed slightly.
Lumo's ears twitched.
"He's watching."
"Who's watching?"
"The Shadow King."
A wave of cold air swept across the field. The grass bent low, as if something invisible passed over it.
Arjun felt it.
A presence.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Angry.
Far in the distance, the sky darkened for just a second — and in that darkness, two massive red eyes opened.
Arjun's heart nearly stopped.
Then they vanished.
"That was him?" Arjun asked quietly.
"Yes."
Arjun clenched his fists.
"Why me?"
Lumo looked toward the horizon. "The tree you touched in your world is connected to Aetheria. It awakens only for someone with strong potential."
"Potential for what?"
"To protect."
Silence filled the air.
Arjun thought about his normal life. School. Homework. Small worries. Small dreams.
None of that prepared him for this.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled again.
But this time, it wasn't just one Shadow Beast.
Dark portals began opening across the field — five of them.
Creatures stepped out.
Different shapes.
Some with claws.
Some with wings.
Some crawling low like living smoke.
Arjun backed away. "There's more."
"Yes," Lumo said. "Now they know you are here."
Arjun looked at his hand.
The symbol began glowing brighter.
"Okay," he whispered. "If I'm really this Guardian… show me how to fight properly."
Lumo's silver eyes flashed.
"Focus your breathing," Lumo said. "Feel the energy inside you. The symbol is a key. But you are the door."
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"Just try!"
The Shadow creatures began circling them.
Arjun closed his eyes.
His heart was racing.
Too fast.
He forced himself to breathe slowly.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
The world around him felt different.
He could feel something warm inside his chest — like a small flame.
The symbol on his palm pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He raised his hand again.
This time, the light didn't explode wildly.
It flowed smoothly.
The energy sword formed again — but stronger. Clearer.
The creatures lunged.
Arjun moved.
He dodged one claw swipe, rolled under a winged shadow, and swung his blade.
Each time the sword touched darkness, it dissolved like smoke in sunlight.
But there were too many.
One creature knocked him to the ground.
The sword flickered.
Fear rushed into him.
"I can't do this," he thought.
The shadows grew larger around him.
Then he heard Lumo's voice.
"Guardians do not fight alone."
Arjun opened his eyes.
Lumo's body began glowing intensely.
Light shot from Lumo's crystal ears into the symbol on Arjun's palm.
The energy doubled.
The sword transformed — becoming longer, brighter, with patterns glowing along the blade.
Arjun stood up.
"Okay," he said, gripping it tightly. "Let's finish this."
He spun, striking in a wide arc.
A wave of light burst outward, pushing back every shadow creature at once.
The field exploded with brightness.
One by one, the Shadow creatures disintegrated.
Silence returned.
The portals closed.
The sky brightened again.
Arjun dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
The sword dissolved once more.
He looked at Lumo.
"You helped me."
Lumo smiled slightly. "A Guardian and a Spirit are connected."
Arjun stood slowly.
"So what now?"
Lumo looked toward the distant floating islands.
"Now your training begins."
Arjun groaned. "Training?"
"If you are to defeat the Shadow King, you must unlock the powers of the Five Realms."
Arjun stared at the glowing horizon.
This wasn't just an accident.
It was a mission.
He flexed his fingers, watching the symbol glow faintly.
"Alright," he said quietly.
"If I'm the Guardian…"
He looked at Lumo.
"Then let's do this properly."
Far away, in a dark fortress hidden within swirling shadows, red eyes opened again.
And this time…
They were smiling.