The Light Guardian

"Where is he?" Elizabeth's voice sounded faint as Joe's vision blurred. He could barely make out the image of people running in the town. Lying on the bed, he felt nurses tending to him before everything faded to black.

After an hour, Joe stirred. He turned over and gently sat up, facing the window. Looking outside, he realized he had been brought back to the village. Slowly, he stood and walked over to the mirror in the ward. Removing the hospital gown, he froze in shock—his once slim body was now well-defined, more muscular, and he appeared taller than before.

"How did I get back to Comet Spire?" he wondered, his mind racing. Glancing around the room for his clothes, he was interrupted by a sudden flash of memories from a few days ago. A sharp pain struck his head, and he grabbed it in reflex. Around noon, he regained composure and walked over to the window, watching the villagers of Comet Spire going about their daily tasks.

"Okay, when he wakes up, we have questions for him," a woman's voice said. Joe turned, startled, but the room was empty. Realizing he could hear voices through the walls, he sat back down, trying to piece together the events of the past few days. Moments later, multiple footsteps approached the door.

"The doctor said it's unclear if he'll wake up," Elizabeth said.

"And even if he does, he's on the verge of collapse. The injuries he sustained could kill him if he moves an inch without proper rest," she continued.

The door opened, and the group entered. Their eyes widened in shock. Joe, who had been declared comatose, was sitting up, looking healthier than ever.

"J… Joe?" Elizabeth called hesitantly.

Joe turned to them and smiled. "Oh, you're here," he said as he stood.

Tears welled in Keji's eyes as she rushed forward, throwing her arms around him. "I thought you were dead," she sobbed. "We searched everywhere. The locals thought we were crazy, saying you were just a fragment of our imagination."

Joe chuckled softly. "It was crazy, but you wouldn't believe what happened," he said. "Before that, where's Liya?"

The room fell silent.

"After we found you, she fainted. It was like she was holding on just to find you," Fred explained. "She's still asleep, though. The doctor doesn't know when she'll wake up."

"I don't know how I'll explain this to her mother," Elizabeth said with a worried sigh. Then, smiling through her tears, she added, "But I'm so glad you're alive."

"Same here," Fred, John, and Nicholas chimed in, laughing softly.

"Um… Keji, do you mind letting go of Joe now?" John teased.

"No… not yet," Keji replied, shaking her head as she continued clinging to him.

Elizabeth studied Joe closely. "Guys, don't you notice? Joe looks… different. He seems taller and more muscular," she pointed out.

Keji finally stepped back, examining him. "Yeah, he does. And this change must've happened after the incident," she added.

"What happened to you?" Fred asked, circling Joe curiously.

"There's a lot to explain," Joe replied vaguely.

"Liya hasn't spoken since she came out of the cave," Elizabeth said.

"Maybe if you visit her, it might help her wake up," Keji suggested.

"Let's get the doctor to check on you first," Nicholas said, opening the door. Behind it stood the doctor with Nurse Sonia.

"Kids, your friend needs rest. Your noise could—" the doctor began but froze mid-sentence when he saw Joe standing by the bed.

Joe bowed respectfully. "I believe you're the doctor who treated me," he said.

The doctor's mouth fell open. "How are you even standing? And your body… it's changed," he stammered, walking toward Joe in disbelief.

"This is impossible. You had three internal bleeding points—your chest, back, and left abdomen," the doctor said, using water magic to inspect the areas. His expression turned to shock. "Nothing? They're completely healed?"

"What… what are you?" the doctor asked, bewildered.

Joe blinked, confused. "What am I? I'm just a boy. My name is Joe," he replied, glancing at the others for confirmation.

"This is unbelievable," the doctor muttered. "Are you a ghost?"

"Pardon my silly questions," he continued, "but I've never seen someone recover this quickly. This is off the charts!" He raised Joe's arm to inspect him further. "I don't even know what to call this."

Shaking his head, the doctor finally smiled. "Well, it's a miracle. You're healthy, and that's what matters. After some checks tomorrow, we'll discharge you." With that, the doctor walked out, leaving everyone stunned.

"What was that?" Joe asked, slipping into a pair of hospital slides and adjusting his patient clothes.

"Where's Frosty?" he asked again.

"She hasn't left Liya's side since we got here," Elizabeth replied.

"I see…" Joe murmured.

"Joe, before we forget," Fred interjected, catching Joe's attention. "This is Sonia. She was incredibly helpful while we were searching for you."

"She provided us with most of the equipment and information we needed," Fred explained, gesturing toward Sonia.

"Nice to meet you," Sonia said with a warm smile, bowing her head slightly.

"My name's Joe. Nice to meet you," he responded, returning the courtesy. "Thank you for everything."

"Let's go see Liya," Joe said as they exited the room and closed the door behind them.

They strolled down the hallway until they reached a blue door at the end. Elizabeth opened it, and they stepped into the room. Liya was lying on the bed, connected to a drip. Frosty, perched nearby, perked up at the sight of Joe. The small creature let out a happy meow and leaped into Joe's arms.

"I missed you, Frosty," Joe said as Frosty rubbed her head affectionately against him. Holding her, Joe approached Liya's bedside. He gently sat on the chair beside her and placed Frosty on his lap. Taking Liya's hand in his, Joe closed his eyes and whispered softly.

"Liya, I'm so thankful nothing happened to you. I'm back now," he said. "Please wake up soon."

As he lowered his head and sighed, Liya's fingers twitched. Startled, Joe lifted his gaze. She stirred, her eyelids tightening before slowly opening.

"Joe… and everyone?" she murmured, glancing around the room.

Elizabeth rushed to the other side of the bed, dropping to her knees. "Thank the heavens! Madam Springfield won't be heartbroken," she said, tears of relief streaming as she embraced Liya.

The room filled with happiness as they celebrated the miraculous moment.

---

The next day, both Joe and Liya were discharged from the hospital. They spent the remainder of the week exploring Comet Spire before returning to the capital the day before the DLA celebration.

---

Eve of DLA:

Joe walked through the bustling streets of Avarion, the city alive with excitement. The air was filled with laughter and chatter as preparations for the celebration continued. Frosty rested comfortably on Joe's head, draped from his crown to his back.

"We're almost there, Frosty," Joe said, gently petting her.

He reached the main square, overwhelmed by the crowd and vibrant energy. Spotting an open café near the square, he pointed toward it.

"Over there," he said, and Frosty meowed in agreement.

Navigating through the throngs of dancers and merrymakers, Joe approached a table where his friends were seated.

"Hey, Joe's here!" Nicholas called, grabbing everyone's attention.

With a smile, Joe joined them, sitting between Liya and Nicholas.

"We thought you got lost," John teased, earning a playful smack on the head from Keji. Everyone burst into laughter.

"It's so wonderful to have all of us together again," Elizabeth said, raising her glass of juice. She glanced at Sonia and Frosty, adding, "Including you, Sonia, and of course, Frosty. I love you all."

They laughed again, the warmth of friendship filling the night. As the celebration continued, they grew more familiar with Liya's recovery, enjoying the moments of peace and joy together.

---

As the ten-second countdown began, the crowd gathered around the square's central statue—a depiction of a sage holding a staff with a beast subdued beneath his feet.

"Five… four… three… two… one… Happy New Year!" the crowd cheered. Fireworks exploded in the sky, painting it with vibrant colors. People embraced their loved ones, laughter and celebration echoing everywhere.

Liya stood before Joe, looking up at him with a soft blush. "Happy New Year," she said before wrapping her arms around him.

Joe returned the embrace, holding her gently.

"Thank you for saving me that day," she whispered. "And thank you for surviving." She smiled and pulled back, meeting his eyes.

As Liya spoke, Joe's gaze shifted to the statue. His heart raced as recognition dawned—it was the Light Sage Dele, the very figure he had fought. The river's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of his destiny as the guardian of his generation.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, shaking the square. People clung to one another and nearby objects, their laughter filled the air. Despite the termor , the celebration didn't cease.

Joe's expression hardened. This was it—the realization of his duty and the beginning of his journey as the guardian.