CHAPTER 4: MEETING
Ten minutes have passed and Randy made it to the throne hall, still adjusting his red cape that conspired against him this very night and decided to hang more to one side, as if it had life of its own and was protesting against the extra hour of 'work'. This silly thought vanished from his mind when he looked around to see general apprehension.
Angelique was already present with an unreadable face. Ernst was at her left, nervously adjusting his glasses from time to time. It seemed he was left on dark too, not knowing what Her Majesty pretends to say… In the opposite side, Collet stayed with eyes glued on the door, determination sparkling in her gaze. Rachel just watched her puzzled. And Julious…
- There are STILL missing four Guardians… What is keeping them for so long?
He had his eyes fixed on the spot where Clavis should be with an expression that meant business. Ange answered softly:
- It's just a matter of time until Rosalia arrives with the rest of them.
Julious almost grunted, but his pride kept him from it. He just continued looking at Clavis' place. Randy scanned the room for the others and saw a serious Oscar beside Julious, a sleepy Marcel across the hall and a most sour Olivie standing next to the entrance. The missing ones were Clavis, Lumiale, Luva and… Zephel.
The wind guardian frowned at this. Maybe the ball of fire was one of Zephel's doings and Luva was trying to fix it and preach him. About Clavis and Lumiale… Well, the dark one was always late and gentleness followed him. It was nothing unusual. But to Zephel and Luva be late… Something definitely happened.
Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He gasped and turned to see the warm smile of Oscar.
- You don't need to worry. The Queen missy told us she had good news.
- Huh? – Randy looked dumbfolded – Good news? In a time like this?
- Well, I trust the missy. Don't you?
- Of course! I could never think otherwise!
Oscar managed to calm him down and was glad. After a minute of consideration, he spoke:
- You looked rather angry before. Is something else the matter? A date that went awry? You can tell me…
The red-haired winked and smiled slyly. Even with the usual joke, Randy was caught off guard. He was so honest with his feelings that his face always expressed whatever was on his mind. It would be no surprise if he started talking to himself.
- Eh? Nothing like that… - He crossed his arms and looked to Zephel's place on his right – I was just…
- Worried if your friend did something wrong, huh?
- He's definitely NOT my friend! I just hang around with him because of Marcel!
- OK, OK… Well, except for the 'friend' part, I was right, wasn't I?
The mere insinuation that he was friend with such irresponsible scoundrel made he all worked up, but he couldn't lie to Oscar. Hell, he couldn't lie to anyone, by the way.
- Yes, that's true.
- If it's that so… - Oscar put his hands on his hips – You don't need to worry, either. Luva once told me that Zephel rarely sleeps in his own mansion and when he goes in search for him, always find the boy in different places. Rosalia probably requested Luva's help to find him, who must be sleeping soundly somewhere.
- Huh? Where he sleeps then, if not in his own house?
- I wonder if he got a girlfriend… Maybe he spends the night with her?
- WHA… A GIRLFRIEND???
At this shouted statement, everybody looked at both of them, making Randy blush and laugh nervously.
- Ah, sorry, sorry… Heh heh…
He repeated his apologies to those glaring at him coldly, as Rachel and Ernst, and bowed. Collet giggled, Marcel seemed to sleep on his feet, Olivie muffled a laugh, Julious paid no heed to this and Limoges looked a little hurt, but he didn't notice. His head was far off, trying to imagine a rude Zephel with a girl: "Yo, babe. Wanna ride in my motorcycle?" It sounded almost impossible.
- But… - Oscar slightly tilted his head – if he is always found in different places, he got LOTS of girlfriends. Heh, I must watch him carefully, otherwise he will beat me as 'the most irresistible' when he is a full grown man.
Randy's eyes grew wider and he turned beet red. Olivie couldn't leave then alone after that:
- Fufufu… What's that, Oscar? Isn't Randy a bit too young to hear your erotic tales?
The wind guardian blushed even more at the word 'erotic' while fire replied:
- It's nothing like that… But we are in the middle of men's talk here, you shouldn't be meddling about.
- ARE you insinuating something, Oscar?
The older men continued to exchange harsh words, but Randy wasn't paying attention nor tried to interrupt them. Did Zephel… You know, with many girls? He knew that Oscar is very experienced, while he is almost an ignorant. But Zephel too? Was the ruby-eyed boy ahead of him in the matters of love? Perhaps that's the reason the silver-haired doesn't enjoy the company of his fellow workmates: he prefers to date girls instead.
The door opened and Rosalia entered. Behind her the clear figure of a fire dragon could be seen: Mel. They proceed directly to Angelique.
- Angelique-sama… - Said Mel with concern in his voice – I know I wasn't called, b-but… I sensed something from the falling sphere; it is similar to a Sacrea… But I don't know exactly what it is.
Ernst listened and flipped trough a report in his hands.
- Majesty… The Royal Institute had similar results while analyzing the meteorite… It gives off a Sacrea with a pattern similar to...
- Calm now, I will soon explain what's happening. Mel, you can stay with us until then. Rosalia… What about the other guardians?
The Aide was about to talk when Clavis and Lumiale entered the room.
- We're here, Your Majesty.
Clavis said it emotionless and went to his proper place. Lumiale smiled and bowed to the Queen, before stopping by Clavis' side.
- Good. What about Luva and Zephel?
- Zephel wasn't at home, and Luva is looking for him.
Oscar elbowed Randy with an "I told you" smile.
In the deep corner of her minds, the Angeliques heard a calling. She was very close, about to land. Brunet Ange approached blond and grasped her hands firmly. Limoges understood what she meant and gave her permission to talk.
- I will have to start without them. – She made a swift motion with her hand and everybody went to their places and listened (Lumiale had to tap Marcel's back to wake him up first)
- You all might have already seen the flame ball in the sky… - everybody nodded – Some even thought it was a meteorite in a collision route to the Sanctuary… But the truth is: It is no ball of fire, nor a rock.
Confusion spread in the faces of all presents, except the Angeliques.
- What could it be, then? – Ernst question resonated trough the hall – What about the Sacrea?
Limoges proceeded:
- It is a person. A person filled with power, a power to embrace the universe, just like us, the Queens of the Cosmos.
Ernst frowned. It was plausible, if it really was a human with such powers, all the readings and data regarding the 'meteorite' would be justified. Lumiale tugged Clavis' sleeve and looked in his purple eyes. They were still distant, as it has been since he used his crystal ball. Was he… lending his Peace-bringing Sacrea to this person?
Everybody else couldn't understand less. Marcel was now very awake, but lost and confused too. Without Luva next to him, he wanted to run over to Randy, but dared not to leave his post during this important pronouncement. Olivie pinched himself, to make sure he wasn't in that weird dream he had. But no, this was reality. If his dream was odd enough, he surely woke up in some dork and distorted dimension and was facing the most unlikely things. Randy was plainly dumbstruck.
- Why? – Julious broke the silence – With your pardon, I ask why this person is coming to us.
- I… We, Collet and I, had a dream. We saw all the planets, sun, satellites, everything known that we rule upon. We traveled freely through the stars and visited many of our people. But, we too saw something else: places that were never heard of, lands living in chaos lacking the power of Sacrea, many Forgotten Lands. In this dream I realized how vast the universe is, and how it was pretentious of me to think that I had everything under my wing and Collet's. In the same time, I sensed that someone from these unknown worlds felt the same way and wanted to help. So, during my sleep, I called her. When I woke up, I wondered if it wasn't real… And spoke nothing.
- But in this very night, in the moment we saw the red star in the sky, we knew it. – The girl with straight hair continued the explanation – I could hear her answering our prayers, telling that she had come for us.
- So, that's it – Oscar said almost in a sight. – And what should we, the Guardians, do about it?
- Just wait here.
Angelique turned to Ernst, who cleaned his throat and stepped forward:
- By our research, we discovered that the impact point should be right here, if it's what the Queen means.
- Exactly. – The Queen's stern face gave place to the usual happy stance – Although it won't be an 'impact', just a soft land with soft wings… The fire was produced when entering our atmosphere, but she is protected by her own powers, you don't need to worry about that. Well, now that everything is clear, I shall have a brief meeting with my aides.
Hearing that, Ernst and Mel distanced themselves from the throne before the curtain enclosed it and separated them from Collet, Limoges, Rosalia and Rachel. All the presents relaxed a little and Marcel reached Randy:
- Isn't that great? Now we will have a new friend without the examination rush! What kind of flowers she probably likes?
- Hahaha! You are always so enthusiastic! I don't know much about flowers and girl's tastes… But they all liked the flowers you brought them until now. I guess you won't have problems with it!
Marcel giggled and Mel joined the young group:
- And I will make sure she gets along with everybody with my love-love charms!
- Huh, you don't need to overdo it…
- Why not, Randy? With all our love we can make a better welcome!
Randy laughed awkwardly while looking at the cheerful boys in front of him. They were making plans and clasped their hands in delight, almost giving little jumps. 'They are so naïve… She might as well misunderstand their actions.'
The people was soon split up into the usual groups: the workaholics (Julious, Oscar and Ernst), the youngsters (Randy, Marcel and Mel), and the silent ones: Clavis and Lumiale. Olivie stood strangely alone, deep in his own thoughts. The chattering around didn't interested the violet-eyed man even a little, for he knew what was to come. So, he turned to see his beautiful companion. He still had concern in his eyes. 'My little water guardian… Always so worried about everything…' He wanted to reassure his friend and share the peace he owned, so he approached. And gently stroke a strand of hair in his face to put it behind his ear. And Lumiale flinched.
The startled reaction made him take his hand off Lumiale immediately. Bitterness grew inside him. 'I should have known better'
- I'm sorry.
His friend shook his head and nervously smiled, probably to cover the disgust he felt from him. After that, a 'WHOOSH' sound could be heard from outside and attracted everybody's attention. Ernst, who was standing beside the huge windows, looked to the sky:
- What is that? Some kind of missile?
His sentence was finished by an outstanding boom and a blinding light took over the room, making all the presents hide their eyes. Marcel even jumped over Randy in fright and Lumiale hold Clavis' arm. In his turn, he couldn't see anything but white, his eyes were not used to such intense brightness, so he relayed in his hearing to picture what was happening:
*bump!* - someone fell down
- Ack! My eyes – Clavis recognized Olivie's voice.
- Owww… My head! – It was Randy, probably the one who fell down.
- Is it you, Randy? I can't see! Sorry about that, I was SO scared! – Marcel almost whined.
- H-hey, are you two alright? Where are you?? – Mel sounded to give some steps in the 'dark'
- We fell on the ground! Ouch, now you tripped on me!
- Oh, I'm sorry! I would help you stand up, but I can barely stand by myself! That flash blinded me, I still have some nasty spots on my sight!
- Is everyone alright? – Julious powerful voice echoed – Oscar! Randy and Marcel fell down, help me lift them.
- Uh, wait Julious, I still can't see very well…
- Where are my glasses? They aren't on my face anymore!
- Here, Ernst. Now stand by Oscar's side until you recover your sight completely. I'll help the others.
Steps. Julious walked to Randy and Marcel.
- Take my hand, careful now.
- Thank you, Julious-sama.
- Thank you.
- Now, you three, lean over this nearby column.
- Uh-uh.
More steps, Julious was now coming to his direction. Clavis checked on his sight: he could see a silhouette approaching him, but nothing more. With a sigh, he closed his eyes again. Lumiale still grabbed his arm.
- Can you see?
- I'm not used to such blasted light. – He scowled.
Julious was silent for a while, but Clavis could feel his presence and his angered breath. After calming down a little, the head guardian proceeded:
- Like it or not, I have to guide you to a better place.
With this, he felt a hand closing on his, and he snapped out of its grasp.
- I'm perfectly fine here.
- Clavis! – The other one was becoming impatient, he almost could 'see' it, and almost smirked.
- Clavis, please…
The begging tone of Lumiale won over his wish to annoy Julious, making him agree with that guidance. He offered his hand and Julious took it once again.
- This way.
This was ridiculous, if not to say humiliating. He hoped nobody else recovered his vision beside Julious and saw him in this situation. They were taken to stand next to the wall and he leaned against it and opened his eyes again
- I appreciate your help, Julious-sama. – His friend bowed
- You are welcome, Lumiale-sama.
He watched the silhouette go away without saying anything to him and definition started to improve, alongside colors. The white, blue and gold of Julious' robes approached the colorful chaos that was Olivie.
- What about you, Olivie?
- I've had better days, but I'm OK. Safe and sound, and my sight is coming back.
- Very well.
For a moment, everyone was silent, trying to recover from the sudden flash, until Oscar gasped and pointed to something outside:
- Ernst! Julious! Look, the meteorite! I mean, the missy!
Everybody ran to the windows and look, except Clavis, who didn't move a finger, and Lumiale, who walked a few steps and froze in the middle of the room. He could see from there… The ball was no more, giving place to a shower of red fragments.