Atlas drifted down the dirt path ahead of the two travelers with their sword drawn. Xavier kept his weapon out as well in case their tense peace broke for any reason.

The likely cause of any peace collapsing started asking Atlas questions again. "Atlas, what exactly do you do as a guardian? I'm sure our old legends aren't as accurate as they could be."

The swordsman sighed. "My siblings and I each protect a section of the archipelago. I used to guard Solanja but after it sunk, I elected to guard Muerend and the waters around it."

"Hold on lad," Xavier cut in. "You mean to tell me you've been around ever since before Solanja sunk? That was hundreds of years ago."

Atlas stopped dead in their tracks and stared at Xavier with their wispy orange eyes. "Yes. Also, I'm not a 'lad'" The Guardian turned around and continued.

Xavier leaned his head in next to Rose and began to whisper. "Rose, I don't like this one bit. I think this here is a trap and they're well aware of how desirable you are to their colleagues."

A voice in the back of Xavier's mind kept insisting that the Guardian was being genuine when they answered Xavier's questions but he waved it away with the fact that he couldn't see the shadowy figure's expressions.

"Maybe," Rose agreed. "But I want to find out what's up with them. They said they weren't a Shade, so what are they? Worst case scenario I can teleport us to shore and we can try and find a boat by scouring the coast."

Xavier sighed but didn't fight any further. He gestured at Atlas and Rose continued her questioning. "So your six siblings, do you see them often?"

Xavier heard a muffled groan come from Atlas before they started to talk. "By your standards, probably not. They're all assigned to guard other islands and unless there's a meeting, we don't ever meet."

"Since you've been around for so long, I'm assuming you know why Solanja sunk?" Rose asked the subject-changing question casually enough that it didn't worry Xavier too much.

"Honestly? No." Atlas replied. Xavier didn't expect any elaboration from the Guardian but they continued. "One day, I'm patrolling the waters around the island and next thing I know, it's underwater. And with it, tons of advanced technology and ancient history of the archipelago. Including the Guardians' prophecy."

Xavier paid extra close attention because now his interest was piqued. "Before you ask, I'll just explain." Atlas swiftly said. "We Guardians were created by the Gods of this planet to guard the archipelago and protect it from doom. And a crucial part of our destiny was inscribed in the cave walls of Solanja but now... it's all gone and I'm the only one alive who remembers."

Atlas said alive as if they didn't really consider it true and stopped talking. They seemed to have nothing else left to add.

Xavier could hardly believe what it was that he was hearing. The Gods weren't just mythos but real, as were the Guardians they created? And he was in the presence of one? It was all too much for the pirate to process and he wasn't convinced of any of it.

Rose seemed equally skeptical and was about to ask more questions when a purple light suddenly appeared in the distance deeper into the island.

The Guardian's eyes widened and they gasped. "Astraeus is calling a meeting. Both of you stay here and I will return shortly. This is highly unusual." The shadow person vanished before either trespasser could question them.

Xavier looked at Rose and she was already getting her staff. "So we're following them, then?" Rose nodded and Xavier grabbed a hold of her.

The two teleported to the location of the purple light and appeared in the woods on the edge of a massive clearing. In the clearing was an altar with a stone table on it that had seven seats.

Each seat was occupied by a shadow person similar to Atlas and the ghoul who had attacked Xavier on his ship. The ghoul itself was located at the head of the table and held its golden staff by its side.

Atlas materialized next to the table and sat down in the only empty seat. The Head Ghoul raised its hands into the air and cleared its throat. "Greetings siblings! It's wonderful to have everyone all together again. Atlas I hope you've been doing well."

The Guardian in question nodded. "Right. Astraeus, why have you called this meeting? Especially during the day shouldn't you all be guarding your isles?"

The other shadows stifled laughter and Atlas looked around at them with a confused expression. 'Astraeus' shook its head and stopped laughing.

"Atlas, you really are clueless?" It confirmed. "Well, I suppose I called this meeting to ensure of that. You see my dear sibling, the rest of us have long since stopped our fruitless guardianship and have now taken to pursuing our true destiny."

Atlas suddenly shot to their feet. "No! You can't be serious! This again?" They shouted.

"Sit down!" One of the other shadow people ordered.

Astraeus put up a hand. "Peace, Crius. Atlas you are misguided and I refuse to sit by with our brothers and sisters and wait for this destiny you claim is for us! I've seen the prophecy myself! I know the Gods intend for us to rule this archipelago! And I've seen to it that our siblings take control of Kingston and eliminate any threats to ensure this."

Astraeus held up the golden staff while Atlas just wordlessly stared. "And I've secured the Solanjan Staff. Once we get the Indigo Jewel we will be able to enact our plan. I hope you'll see reason and join us."

"No," Atlas growled. "You idiots have no idea what you're talking about! I was the only one who went to Solanja! I saw the rest of the prophecy! We are to save this isle and these people! Not to destroy it!" Atlas looked at the other siblings present. "I can't believe you would all go behind my back and betray our duty because of what he told you!"

Xavier could hardly keep up with what was being said. The bit Atlas had told Rose and Xavier about the prophecy stuck out in Xavier's mind but it was still all a cloudy mess.

Astraeus began to grow frustrated and firmly placed his hand on Atlas's shoulder. "Atlas, you cannot be so deluded as to not see this is exactly why we chose to exclude you."

The Guardian shook Astraeus's hand off of them. "I will not stand by and let you all betray the wishes of our creators. How can you be so poisoned as to think they ever wanted the Guardians of these isles, the protectors, to destroy it all?"

"Consider this," Astraeus nearly whispered. "We aren't 'Guardians' like you've insisted. We've been wasting our lives away for centuries protecting those who cared so little of our existence they invaded our home. The prophecy never calls us Guardians except in your mysterious secret part of it. We will not sit around and waste away while our true destiny awaits!

"I'm aware you were quite close with the Solanjans. I understand you deign to protect these people but they care not of us. And we're so close to achieving victory. The only known trained Light Mage is trying to run right into the island we control. We'll locate the jewel soon and all the while they nations will be fighting each other until we can seize our destined control."

Atlas began to step back and drew their sword. "You're wrong and now you're dangerous. I will not allow you to do this."

Astraeus frowned. "I was hoping you wouldn't do this but we have prepared for that reality." The remaining five siblings stood up and equipped their weapons.

Each shadow person had a different weapon. One had gauntlets on their hands, another had a bow and arrow, the third one had a trident, the fourth one had a glaive, and the final sibling had a spiked ball on a chain that was held together by a handle.

"I won't even waste my breath giving you the option to surrender. You're too stubborn for that." Astraeus spat.

Atlas floated into the air. "No, I just know I can take you all. My losses during sparing are few and far between so bring it on."

All six of Atlas's siblings rushed them at once. Rose shifted her position and nearly dashed out into the fray but Xavier stuck out an arm and stopped her. "Not yet, lass. We need the element of surprise if they're in trouble and need an exit plan."

Rose was discomforted by the idea but begrudgingly stayed by Xavier's side while Atlas took on six foes at once.

The fighter vanished right before a volley of arrows could impale them and re-appeared behind the bow wielder. The one with gauntlets jumped in the way before Atlas could land a blow and blocked their sword with its beefy gauntlets.

Xavier saw the one armed with a trident and the one with a glaive charging at Atlas from either side and wanted to warn them but they expertly blocked the trident attack as well as the one with gauntlets with perfect sword positioning.

Atlas then fired purple magic from their right hand into the one with the glaive who could do nothing but take the attack head-on.

Atlas disappeared again causing both of their remaining attackers to start to fall toward. They instantly emerged right behind the opponent with a trident and raked their sword across its back.

The shadow-person cried out in pain but Atlas wasted no time moving on to striking the one with gauntlets in the leg while they were still falling forward.

They then rushed at the bow and arrow wielder and kicked it in the chest. Atlas followed up by blasting them with magic. Xavier's companion then held their sword in the sky to deflect a magic attack from above.

Atlas turned their attention to Astraeus and flew up to meet him in the sky. Xavier was transfixed by how Atlas managed to control the fight and find themselves against all six of their siblings at once.

They flew up and swung their sword at Astraeus only for it to be blocked by his staff. Atlas tried a few more sword strikes to no avail and then Astraeus flicked his hand and magic consumed Atlas and dragged them down to the ground with a crash.

They shook it off and got right back up. This time they funneled magic into their sword like when they had battled Xavier and Rose and rushed back into the sky at Astraeus in a blind rage.

That blind rage led to them being swatted out of the air by a spike ball from the one Astraeus called 'Crius.' Crius started to laugh and Atlas quickly forced themself back up again to face down the new enemy.

They were breathing heavily and by their stance, Xavier could tell that the exhaustion and damage were starting to add up. Just as they were about to dash at Crius they had to swing their sword to block a sudden attack from the glaive wielder.

They backed away but suddenly the spike ball was flying at them and they barely deselected it. Magic from above caught them while they were recovering from the block and Atlas screamed as the attack left them vulnerable to several arrows.

The arrows landed in their sword-fighting arm and Atlas continued to scream in pain. All of their siblings were now back on their feet and ready to let the Lone Guardian have it.

"We need to intervene, now," Rose commanded. Xavier was in no way going to object to that and they prepared to run out as the trident wielder threw its weapon at Atlas.

They tried to move their sword to block but the arrows left it immobilized. Xavier rushed out of the brush and conjured a thick wall of ice between Atlas and the weapon.

The barrier barely did the trick and stopped the trident just inches away from Atlas's body. Xavier ran to their side and fired several warning shots at the nearby threats.

"What are you doing here?" Atlas screamed between gasps for air.

"YOU!" Astraeus shrieked. "You're that ship captain who protected the girl!"

Xavier looked up at the sky and rolled his eyes. "I'm a PIRATE. And she can protect herself." Right on time, several beams of light began to rain from the sky and Rose joined Atlas and Xavier in the clearing.

The pillars engulfed the five siblings on the ground before subsiding while Astraeus was forced to watch. Rose's entire body had a golden glow to it and she gave off enough warmth to thaw even Xavier's best spells.

Rose waved her new and improved wand in the sky and a plume of light spewed from the gem in the center that she directed at Astraeus and his siblings.

The light was blindingly bright yet didn't hurt Xavier's eyes. Though judging by the screams of her targets, that couldn't be said for the Rogue Guardians.

The attack died down and all the enemies except for Astraeus were lying on the ground, knocked out. Astraeus had somehow managed to deflect the attack and unleashed a blast of dark magic down at the trio that Rose countered with her light magic.

This time, the two were much more evenly matched than their encounter on the boat and the attacks resulted in a massive explosion when they met.

"Ross, let's take out leave!" Xavier shouted to his companion. He felt her grab hold of him and he put a hand on Atlas.

And then they teleported away.