The Unseen Guardian

    By Ma. Rhodora

    The Unseen Guardian cover image

    07 Mar, 2024

    a boy with a backpack standing in front of a house with a boy standing on the sidewalk in front of him, serial art, a comic book panel, Clark Voorhees, graphic novel

    In the small town of Glenwood, a young boy named Owen was a constant target for bullies at school. Despite his efforts to stand his ground, he was consistently beaten down and ridiculed.

    a boy with a backpack looking at a map in the forest with a backpack on his back and a backpack on his shoulder, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Aaron Jasinski, rossdraws global illumination

    One day, while taking his usual shortcut home through the woods to avoid the bullies, Owen stumbled upon a peculiar stone. It was a vibrant blue color and emitted a strange, enchanting glow.

    a man sitting next to a dragon on a rock next to a forest at sunset with the sun shining, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Clint Cearley, dragon art

    As Owen picked it up, a mystical creature emerged from the stone. The creature was a small dragon, with shimmering scales and eyes as bright as the sun. It introduced itself as Zephyr.

    a boy and a dragon in a forest with trees and bushes in the background, with a boy looking at the dragon, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, official art

    Zephyr explained to Owen that he was a Guardian Dragon, bound to protect the owner of the stone. With a newfound courage, Owen decided to stand up to his bullies, with Zephyr at his side.

    a boy with a backpack standing in front of a crowd of people with a dragon on his head and a demon on his head, furry art, a comic book panel, Adam Rex, comic cover art

    The next day at school, the bullies confronted Owen. This time, however, Owen didn't run away. Instead, he revealed Zephyr, who let out a mighty roar, leaving the bullies in awe and fear.

    a boy and a dragon in front of a sunset sky with a boy staring at the dragon in the foreground, sots art, poster art, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic cover art

    Word spread about Owen's Guardian Dragon, and the bullies never bothered him again. However, Zephyr's presence attracted unwanted attention from supernatural beings who wanted the Guardian Stone.

    a blue dragon sitting on a rock in a mountainous area with a river and mountains in the background at sunset, fantasy art, an airbrush painting, Clint Cearley, dragon art

    Owen and Zephyr faced many challenges, but they always managed to overcome them. Their bond grew stronger, and Owen learned about the power of friendship, courage, and standing up for himself.

    a boy in a tie and a dragon in the background with a group of people standing around him in front of a building, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Clint Cearley, dragon art

    As time went on, Owen became a symbol of courage in the school. He was no longer the timid boy who was bullied, but a strong and confident student with a dragon for a friend.

    a boy with a backpack and a dragon wings on his back standing in front of a cityscape, fantasy art, a character portrait, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), dragon art

    The once-bullied student turned into a defender for those who were weak, standing up against any form of injustice. Zephyr always there, supporting him and reminding him of his inner strength.

    a boy and a dragon are in front of a mountain scene with a sunset and trees in the background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Clint Cearley, rossdraws global illumination

    Owen's journey with Zephyr was nothing short of a magical adventure. The bullied boy who once felt so small and insignificant had discovered an inner strength and courage that he never knew he possessed.

    a boy and a dragon in a fantasy setting with a castle in the background and a castle in the background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, rossdraws global illumination

    Owen and Zephyr's story spread far and wide, inspiring others to stand up to bullying. The bond between a boy and his dragon reminded everyone that sometimes, help comes from the most unexpected places.

    a boy and a dragon are standing in front of a mountain landscape with a river and a forest in the background, furry art, a storybook illustration, Adam Rex, comic cover art

    And so, Owen and Zephyr continued their journey together, facing whatever challenges came their way. They stood as a beacon of hope, proving that even the smallest person can make a big difference.

    two boys standing in front of a dragon in a forest with a full moon in the background and a forest with trees and bushes, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Brothers Hildebrandt, official art

    The mystical stone and the dragon guardian remained their secret, shared only with those who needed to believe in the magic of courage and friendship. And Owen, no longer a victim, but a hero, thrived.