Chapter 87: the fear

"Hello, Jonathan," the person said in a rich, rich voice. "Welcome, Marie." John felt his heart race in his chest. "Who are you?" he questioned, sounding cautious. The figure said, "I am a Guardian," gently lifting a hand to expose a silver gauntlet with an image of an open eye. "We stand watch against those who seek to disrupt the balance, and your actions have drawn our attention." John looked at Marie, a mixture of relief and a fair amount of fear in his eyes. "Our test?" The Guardian gave a nod. "The test is simple yet requires absolute trust." He gestured with a finger toward Marie. "She will be sent to a different location, a place filled with illusions and trials." Marie's surprised eyes became wide. "Hold on, what? We must confront this as a team." "That's true," the Guardian said in a composed tone. "Unwavering faith, rather than strength, is the actual test, however. Jonathan, you're going to stay here. We're going to tamper with your memories to create ques