The Guardians could not help but love their King.
It was woven into their essence at creation. Part of the soul magic Clandareth used to make them.
Later, scholars would call this the Guardian Queen examination protocols—the Aether Protocol governing how souls could be bound through creation magic.
Absolute devotion. Unquestioning loyalty. Love without condition.
They were slaves who believed themselves free.
Sapphrine felt it every day.
The compulsion to obey. The need to please. The overwhelming drive to make him happy.
She couldn't help it. When Clandareth spoke, she wanted to listen. When he commanded, she wanted to act.
It wasn't choice. It was programming.
"I love him because I cannot help it."
But when he reached for the forbidden grimoire...
When Eldritch corruption began to consume him...
When his eyes shifted from sapphire to crimson...
Sapphrine felt something new.
Not the programmed devotion. Not the automatic love.
But fear for him. Grief for what he was becoming. And desperation to save him.
That was when devotion became sacrifice.
That was when she chose.
The Curse of Perfect Devotion
Sapphrine was created to worship. But she chose to love. And love demanded sacrifice.
READ THE GUARDIAN QUEEN'S STORY