CHAPTER 67: 67. PEACE FOR THE FUTURE

As the elder talked, they walked through the village. The Guardian was no longer just a guard.

Its presence alone had scared away monsters from the whole area. Merchants who had previously avoided the area now stopped by often, bringing trade and wealth, while other villages heard about the miracle and sent people to learn from it.

The elder said proudly, "We’ve grown more than twice as big."

"Families from nearby settlements have moved here because they feel safe."

"We even opened an academy, a real market, and even a small guild hall for adventurers who want to use us as a base for their trips."

They got to the Guardian, and Greg looked up at what he had made. It stood perfectly still, but as he got closer, its amber eyes seemed to brighten a little, as if it knew him.

"Does it ever move?" Seraphine was interested and asked.

A young woman stepped forward and said, "Only when there’s danger."

"Three weeks ago, a pack of direwolves tried to attack the village at night. I’ve never seen anything move as quickly as The Guardian."

"It made a wall that the wolves couldn’t get through and then gently pushed them away from the village. It didn’t hurt them, and it only just made them leave."

"Just like it was supposed to," Greg said softly. "Not a killer, but a protector."

...

They spent the rest of the morning looking around the village and seeing all the changes. There was a new well, the crops were doing great, and there was a general sense of hope that hadn’t been there before.

People wanted to thank Greg and tell him how the Guardian had changed their lives wherever they went. They were sitting at a small outdoor café that the village had just opened by the afternoon, drinking tea and watching the Guardian stand guard in silence.

Seraphine said, "This is wonderful," and her notebook was full of notes. "The Guardian hasn’t just protected the village physically, but it’s also given the people peace of mind, which has helped the whole community grow."

"People can build when they’re not scared," Lylia said in a low voice. "You gave them that, Greg. The lack of fear."

Greg watched kids play at the Guardian’s feet. Their laughter was bright and carefree. He thought about how much it would cost to make that thing and how close it had come to killing him. But seeing this, knowing that his sacrifice had made it possible, made it seem worth it.

"Greg," Lylia said, and there was a thoughtful tone in her voice. "Have you ever thought about doing this for other towns?"

"What do you mean?"

"Making more Guardians," Seraphine said, understanding what Lylia was thinking. "There are many villages in the area that are easy to attack."

"Small towns that can’t afford good defenses and are always scared of monster attacks."

"You saw what one Guardian did for this place," Lylia said. "Think about how wonderful it would be to give that gift to other people. Not weapons or tools of war, but real protectors."

"A monument to peace that lives on."

Greg’s system pinged, which was a clear sign that it was interested in the idea. But he also remembered how much it would cost. He had to give everything to make the Guardian Reborn, and it had pushed him to the very edge of death.

He said, "I don’t know if I can do it that easily."

"Like I said earlier, making the Guardian almost killed me. I don’t think I could make another one, let alone more than one."

"Maybe not by yourself," Seraphine said. "But what if we helped? What if the Brotherhood of Peace worked together to make these protectors?"

"Bork’s metalworking, Elwen’s magic, my book smarts, and your crafting skills. We might be able to share the cost if we work together."

Greg said, "That’s a big job. And there’s no way to know if it would even work."

"The Guardian came into existence due to the overwhelming need. And I’m not sure if we could do that on purpose."

"But it’s something to think about," Lylia said. "Greg, think about it."

"But not now, not right away. But think about what you could do."

"Not only keeping one village safe but also making the whole area safer. Isn’t that the kind of peace you’ve been working for?"

Greg looked up at the Guardian, which was huge and stood out against the afternoon sky. He thought about Marina and the other adventurers who were going into the Sunken Citadel, about Ferndale and all the people who relied on his work, and about how he could spread this protection even more.

"Okay, I’ll think about it," he finally said. "But I can’t promise anything."

"That’s all we want," Lylia said with a soft smile.

The village elder came up to them one last time as they got ready to go back to Ferndale. "Master Greyson, I want to tell you something before you go."

"That Guardian is more than just a protector. It’s a sign. A reminder that there are still people in the world who choose to build instead of destroy, who create instead of destroy."

"You have given us more than just safety, and you’ve given us hope."

Greg was too upset to say anything, so he just nodded.

...

The walk back to Ferndale was less noisy than the trip out. They were all lost in their thoughts about what they had seen and what it might mean for the future.

Greg’s hand went to the communication crystal at his neck without him even thinking about it as the sun began to set and Ferndale came into view. Marina hasn’t sent any messages yet.

The trip had only been going on for a week. They probably wouldn’t come out of the Sunken Citadel for at least another month.

Greg had to make some choices when Marina came back safe and sound. He needed to consider his feelings, his future desires, and the type of peace he wished to create.

But for now, he had to go back to the workshop, teach his students, and be with his found family in the comfortable chaos of their lives. And finally, he could have the peaceful life he had always wanted.

The question was if he would have the guts to protect it and grow it, even if it meant putting everything on the line again. The Guardian Reborn, a monument to one man’s refusal to make weapons and his desire to make the world a better place, kept watch from miles away.

And deep in the dark Sunken Citadel, twenty adventurers took that same determination into the unknown, trusting in the tools of a blacksmith who chose hope over violence. There was still a lot of the story to tell, and it really felt like it was just starting.