The Guardian of the Ward by Reginald Lewis

SPFBO8

An empire in ruin after a great betrayal, an order of warrior souls infused in teddy bears, and demons, monsters, and traitors around every corner… The world is filled with demons, monsters, and traitors, all things Erth, a legendary guardian and slayer of monsters, has sworn to battle. After a devastating fight, he discovers a mysterious gem and a plot that threatens him and all he holds dear. He must go on a journey to capture a smith forging mysterious artifacts before he loses everything. But the Caste’s fate doesn’t solely rest in Erth’s hands; a student struggles to find purpose in a deadly, secret tournament. A scout must make the impossible decision between duty and family. And a spymaster embarks on a quest to expose a conspiracy destined to annihilate the collapsing empire. A handful of individuals hold the fate of an empire in their hands; will they succeed or will Caste crumble to dust?