The Author's POV

As I sat in the dimly lit room with Waylan, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of curiosity about his role as a 'Protector.' I had always struggled to comprehend their roles and the motivations behind their actions.

It had been gnawing at me for quite a while now.

Waylan was calm and collected, and he seemed to know everything there was to know about the Records, the universe, and our place in it.

I eventually shook my head.

"No, I do not know why you do the things that you do."

"So he hasn't told you…"

Waylan calmly nodded his head.

I frowned in response to what he said, but I did not move from where I was sitting.

He continued.

"The universe… you can say that it was something that was created by the Records. It's their body, and we are both creations of the Records."

This portion was one that I had a general comprehension of. Despite this, it did not clarify for me what the records' objective was in engaging in all of this activity with creating the Protectors and keeping this so called 'balance'.

Perhaps seeing the confusion on my face, Waylan shifted his posture and changed his wording.

"Think of it like human anatomy. The universe is the Record's body, and we are the components that make up their body."

The things that he said got me nodding my head in agreement. In all honesty, this made much more sense.

"A body is composed of millions of distinct cells and bacteria that work together to keep it functioning. Cells generate energy, and the body grows gradually over time..."

"In light of the aforementioned, because the human body contains such a vast quantity of cells and bacteria, something is bound to occur sooner or later, right?"

I pursed my lips. Somewhat starting to get where he was coming from.

"If there is a virus or some cells begin to multiply too rapidly, the human body will attempt, on its own, to find ways to correct the problem. One such route could be accomplished by deploying white blood cells... antibodies..."

While I listened to him speak, I kept my eyes closed. Even though I couldn't see my face, I could tell that it was getting more and more ugly with each passing second.

"Are you trying to imply that you, Protectors are the antibodies of this system?"

"You catch on pretty quickly."

Waylan happily smiled.

that all of the processes taking place within the body run smoothly. We get rid of anything that even has the remotest possibility of being hazardous. We respond to things that

what does that have to do with the fact that you're the ones who

give us the means to grow strong to that extent if they were so afraid of us developing into potentially

glance for a split

you think

I began to

every other being in the universe so that we could play a game with you? Do you honestly believe

Waylan shook his head.

a much larger network. It is our responsibility as Protectors to see to it that

paused and stared

to know your

very air chilled at his last words, and I stared straight at

whether

body has helped me get a better understanding of what was going on, but at the same time, it demonstrated to me just how

so much

insignificant

voice reached my

some big secret. Reality is… it doesn't matter

slowly stood up from

Never cared for that. You were never a threat to us from the very beginning, and even if that

that precise moment, he halted his speech, and it was at that point

He probably felt it.

really think I'd come here

to the chapel in that world, it was immediately abundantly clear to me that I was not a match for a Protector. Even with all of my abilities and skills, I was able to see that there was no way that I could overcome the gap that existed

That was before, however…

Kevin has betrayed you… you should be aware that there'd be no way he'd let me come to you knowing

of sending me to that world wasn't just to help me understand what was going on behind the scenes;

way into my system slowly but surely. The process was smooth and harmless, and gradually I witnessed my power undergo changes

big level shattered, and I broke through to

on Waylan, the corners

we were

clear to me that the Protector of the Seat of Diligence was someone on an entirely different level than anyone else I had ever

Ba.. Thump! Ba… Thump!

I stood in front of him, I could actually feel the beating of my heart

"Must we fight?"

air of calm composure. He did not give any indication that he was unhappy with either my actions