Not all warriors bear muskets, nor do all revolutions unfold upon the battlefield. In The Last Patriot, there exists a shadowed order older than any nation, sworn not to king or colony but to the survival of the world itself. They are called the Wardens of the Veil.

Who Are the Wardens?

The Wardens are an ancient fellowship bound to a single purpose: to guard the barrier known as the Veil, the fragile wall that separates creation from the endless hunger of the Hollowing. Their order predates the Revolution, predates even the founding of empires. Some claim the Wardens have existed since the dawn of the first breach—when the Veil was first torn and the Hollowing first fed.

Wherever the Eye appears, the Wardens are never far behind.

The First War

Long before colonies rose or kings reigned, there was a war no history book records—a conflict now remembered only in whispers as the First War of Shadow. It began when mortals first pierced the Veil, whether by accident or design, and the Hollowing surged forth to devour.

Armies clashed not over land or crown, but over existence itself. The Hollowing spread across battlefields like fire, leaving nothing but echoes and ash. In desperation, a coalition of seers, warriors, and mystics united—not as nations, but as survivors. They wove together the first rites of flame, sealing breaches with light drawn from the Veil itself. Out of that crucible, the Wardens of the Veil were born.

Their vow was simple: never again would mankind fight alone against the dark.

Oaths and Discipline

Every Warden takes the Vow of Silence and Flame. Silence, because their knowledge is not for the uninitiated—truth spoken too freely can draw the Hollowing’s gaze. Flame, because the light they wield is not of this world but drawn from the Veil itself, a counter-force to the consuming dark.

Their rituals are secret, their training brutal. Those who survive emerge not only warriors but keepers of lore. The Eye-bearers, the Hollowing, the rift between realms—these are truths the Wardens hold, even when kings and nations dismiss them as superstition.

Maera and the Burden of Leadership

Maera, Elias’s reluctant ally, is one of their oldest and most seasoned leaders. Stern, unwavering, and bound by duty, she embodies both the strength and the sorrow of the Wardens. She has watched countless generations bear the Eye and fall to its curse. To her, Elias is not a chosen hero, but another link in a long, tragic chain.

Yet even in her severity, she knows the war cannot be fought by the Wardens alone. That is why Elias matters. And why the Eye cannot be ignored.

The Wardens’ Dilemma

For all their power and knowledge, the Wardens are not without flaws. Their secrecy breeds mistrust. Their harsh judgments make enemies. To some, they are protectors; to others, zealots who meddle in the affairs of men while claiming allegiance to a higher cause.

But one truth remains: without the Wardens of the Veil, the Hollowing would have swallowed the world long ago.

Why They Matter in the Revolution

As Elias learns, the Revolution is not only a war for independence but also a stage for ancient forces to break through. The colonies and the crown fight with muskets and treaties, but the Wardens fight for something far greater: the survival of reality itself.

The Veil is thinning. The Hollowing stirs. And the Wardens are the last line of defense—whether Elias trusts them or not.