Guardians Of Priceless treasure (Chapter two)

I arrived at the library and found John's little daughter perched on a tall stool at the reception counter of the little library.

"Hello Isa!" She said in her adorable high pitched voice, pretty little thing that she was. Because I visit the library so often, I had gotten well acquitted with the little girl. So much so that I didn't mind her calling me Isa, short for Isabel of course.

"Hi... Mary" I said smiling back at her, the little girl's joy was very infectious.

"Where's your papa?" I ask, "in the back he is putting away some old books to make room for the new!" She offers quickly.

"He said to yell if anyone needs him" and so she proceeded to yell; "PAPA! ISA IS HERE!" "Coming!" He says from somewhere behind the book shelves that line up at the end of the little space that was the village library.

A short stocky man with a bushy beard emerges from the back room with a wide smile on his face, his coffee black eyes identical to that of his daughter. They  were seasoned with age and knowledge but still same as his daughter's.

"Isabel! You look well. How is your dear father?" "He is well thank you and how is your wife"? "Did the recipe I found to help ease her nausea work?"

"Oh! It most certainly did, bless you! She eats properly now. If I knew better and were I in her shoes I will very much not want to have another baby!"

"Oh I'm happy she feels better" I laugh lightly. "If I also knew better I'd must certainly agree with you. But alas, I think our ignorance favours us."

"Because I think it is worth it in the end." I said to him looking pointedly at Mary. He too then looked at her, with so much love in his eyes. The sight almost intimate to look upon.

"It most certainly is worth it Isabel."

"What's worth it?" Mary pipes up looking at both me and her father this makes us both laugh loud which increased Mary's confusion.

After chatting some more about our families, John showed me the new books.

I told him about the button or was it a cufflink? With the Griffin engraved on it.

We talked about different myths that surrounded griffins, depicted as very dangerous and scary creatures but the served as guardians of treasures unimaginable. That stood out most; they were guardians.

"Ooh I think I remember a very old  story, a lot older than me. My mother told me when I was a little boy."

About a man that was very considerate and always took pity on the poor. He treated people alike and never despised anyone.

He was esteemed by the gods and men because of his good nature.

So much so, that the goddess that gives life approached him and bestowed upon him the greatest and most priceless treasure ever.

She made him Guardian and keeper of the most precious treasure that ever existed and also gave him the ability to bless people with that treasure or take it away from them completely. He passed this responsibility and the ability down his bloodline and to them alone.

And they to their sons, each to his living heir.

Being a generous man with a good heart he blessed those in need of this treasure freely and kept it way from the wicked. This delighted the gods and they made him more prosperous. In fact, more prosperous than any man or king that ever lived .

And so were his sons , and the ones after them because they followed in his footsteps. The Griffin became their family crest, for they were indeed the powerful guardians of the most valuable treasure.

But there came a generation, where a descendant of that good man forgot his calling and who he was meant to be. Because he neglected the teachings of his Fathers.

Where they were good natured and kind. He was arrogant and foul.

For he was a very vain man indeed.

He was self absorbed, valued only the prettiest of things and things that brought him pleasure.

So instead of blessing those in need he denied them what they needed most. He didn't lack for anything for he still had the wealth of his Fathers before him. But yet he grew greedy and his riches grew from his misuse of the treasure and his ability.

So he gave only to those who agreed with him, the wicked who perversely used the blessing he gave.

He forgot completely the source of his ability and never learnt his responsibility. The gods grew angry with him with each passing day, they tried to warn him but tried in vain.

Until at dusk, he was visited by the goddess of life herself in all her glory.

She cursed him and this descendants. Saying since you like to look upon yourself so much; to you and anyone else that lays their eyes upon you. You will be the most hideous creature that ever existed.

She took away his ability and gave it away saying; his descendants will continue to turn into hideous creatures when they come of age.

Suffer they will for your iniquities whether they deserve it or not. To serve as a reminder never again to follow your path.

Until they find a maiden willing to help them find and restored the ability and priceless treasure They've lost.

So he retreated deep into the forest, where he locked himself and his family up, endlessly searching for a way to break the curse.

Generations after him remained cursed because of the sin of their Father. With their only hope for redemption in an unknown maiden who would care enough to want to help restore what was lost.

John's story had put me in a trance, because I didn't realise how late it had gotten. I was leaning on the counter and Mary was laying across her Father's laps sound asleep.

"Oh dear gods above! It is passed noon" I said with a start when I noticed the sun was no longer directly overhead, it was on its way to setting in the east.

I grabbed a book from the new arrivals without really looking at it. And said my goodbyes to John, sending my regards to his wife.

"That was a great story, really it was. I'd like to stay and hear more about it. But I've got to get home and make my Father a late lunch, the poor man."

John just smiled knowingly and waved me off, being careful not to disturb the little angel in his laps.

And with that I was out of the library and quickly making my way home.

On my way home, crossing the village square. I could not resist taking a look a the book I'd taken from the library, I wondered what it was about.

Going over the synopsis quickly, I gathered it was about romance. I considered romance ridiculous sometimes but it was rather entertaining to read and I won't deny some very deep part of me longed for it.

My attention was captured by the heroine, who seemed more a more not be like the traditional damsel in distress. That's remarkable, women were always made out to be "the damsel in distress" in romance novels.

So immersed I was in reading my book that I was walking slowly now, with all my attention not on the road but completely in the book.

Until I ran into something, "ummph" or rather, someone.

I look up from my book, to find a very pretty swanlike face.

A very angry swan this one, staring daggers at me.

I tell you the truth, nose beak like, thin lips, a slender long neck. With her hands akimbo painted a perfect picture of a swan in it's moment of righteous anger.

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