In the kingdom of Tekkitopia, a girl by the name of Zoeya was born to King Xephos and Queen Lomadia. The kingdom rejoiced at the birth of their princess, odd as she may have looked next to her parents with her fire hair and ocean-colored eyes. Plans were immediately being made for her future, and noblemen from across the kingdom came to the grand ball to nominate their sons for the role of Royal Guardian to the newborn.
As soon as the son chosen became a knight, he went to the castle to serve as the princess' personal bodyguard. King Xephos turned away many of the boys, seeing spoiled children and fathers who only wished to gain power. Not one of them even seemed remotely interested in the real issue: the princess' well being. One nobleman's son, though, stood out from the rest.
A quiet, good-mannered young boy named Rythian. He addressed the king politely, and though he was only two, seemed very eager to help the Royal Family protect their daughter. Both monarchs liked him, and assigned him the responsibility of protecting their beloved daughter one day.
They made a smart choice, it turned out. The boy could handle a large variety of weapons by the time he reached 7, so gifted was he at combat and defense. He then began to dabble in magic, though still practicing his sword fighting, archery, and other weaponry daily. By the time he was 11, he reached the qualifications for knighthood.
It was a feat that had never been accomplished before. A mere boy of only 11 years of age becoming a full-fledged knight. Most didn't believe he was ready until they saw him fight for themselves. Even the King and Queen didn't believe their eyes when they received the letter that Rythian was ready.
Never the less, they had him sent to the castle immediately, and knighted him. They then introduced the princess and guardian. The two children got along well, and soon became best friends. As time went on, Princess Zoeya grew accustomed to Rythian's strangeness: the mask he wore covering half his face, the cape with eyes as purple as his on the back, the magic powers he possessed, even the blonde streak in his brunette-colored hair.
Over the years, he began to teach her magic. Soon, the pair were flying in the air and speeding plants growth with magic rings, and walking through fire unharmed with amulets. The two had fun together, but Rythian never lost sight of his real purpose. He was there to protect Zoeya.
At any public event Rythian stayed by her side, staying alert to every movement and sound within a twelve foot radius of her. He almost never let her out of his sight anyways, but just to be safe he always kept weapons on him and easily accessible. He made sure his Red Matter Qatar was always in plain view. People would be less eager to attack if his weapon was easily seen and reached.
That wasn't his only weapon, though. Each of his rings served a purpose. One could teleport him anywhere he could see instantly, another shot fireballs, and another snowballs. Not to mention the many hidden knives and daggers concealed in his clothing.
People began to call him the Shadow Guardian because of his dark, mysterious demeanor and the fact that he was like the princess' shadow. Always there. Constant. Unchanging.
Rythian, the Shadow Guardian: Knight, alchemist, and mage. Zoey, the Fire-Haired Girl: Princess, nature enthusiast, and mage's apprentice. These are the characters. This is their story.