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"What happened?" asked Graham, utterly confused, "I suddenly felt like I wasn't in my own body anymore?" He looked to his side, and his heart skipped a beat. There, before him, was the one person he longed to see more than anything else. It was the woman who he desired to protect with his very life. No doubt it had been part of what the little ferret said to him, bringing a Partner back from the dead. It was the biggest irony Graham had ever known, helping his Princess's new Partner to look for her, so she could look for him in order to bring him back with her to the living realms. A small smile crossed his lips, the first in months. Japolo sat grooming himself, wondering what exactly Tiara would say to her first Partner.

"You were. We were all in one body, combining our powers to fight the Mihan Demons. I didn't know that it could activate on its own. I thought that I needed a spell to combine our souls. But I'm glad you're back Graham. I wanted to say that I was sorry, for what I said to you that night. I was upset, I only thought about Kagetsu being hurt. But he told me that you restrained yourself, that you were just reeling from what happened on the mission. At least everything is ok in the end," Tiara stated. She felt like she could barely look Graham in the eye, fearing that he thought her actions had sent him to his death.

Graham replied, "It's ok, I deserved it for starting a fight for no reason. But remember, I would give my life for you at any time, Tiara." He knelt before her, hoping she wasn't mad at him for trying to fight with Kagetsu a second time. At least that time something was really wrong, he had a better reason for it.

Tiara smiled a little. "I'll forgive you if you forgive me. I should have listened when you said that something was wrong with Kagetsu. If I had, I may have been able to figure out what was wrong and you wouldn't have had to fight with him in the cave of the Throne of Yord. But from what happened afterwards, especially now that I could bring you back, everything worked out for the better." They walked away as Tiara explained to Graham what had happened during the mission to bring the Throne of Yord back to its home.

"It looks like the two of them are happy, Miss Lena," stated Leon, "I guess Tiara and Graham have a few problems to work out, but it'll all turn out ok for them." He sighed, wishing that things could turn out ok for him as well. Leon knew that Lena had a lingering crush on Kagetsu, but he too was in love with his lady. Tiara also loved Kagetsu, so Leon had always counted on that as a buffer, and to buy him time. Although not forbidden, it was rare for a Partner to marry the Magic User that summoned him or her. If Tiara became Divine Sorceress, Lena would have a better chance at snagging Kagetsu, since Tiara would then become ageless. It may feel weird for Kagetsu to live his life aging and dying while she stayed young, especially since her Partner was back. The look in Graham's eyes was so similar to his own when he looked at Lena.

"Of course she does. You know, it would be funny if we hooked up both Tiara and Graham, I knew he had feelings for her all along. But he didn't want to hurt Tiara, since she loved Kagetsu. I wonder if it was because of Graham that he decided to go to the mountains in the first place. No, that wouldn't feel quite right, I don't want to look like I'm forcing Tiara to do anything like that," Lena stated. It didn't concern the mission or their own rivalry. Besides, it wasn't like Lena felt confident enough with her own feelings.

* * *

Sienna was reading her book when Tiara entered with Japolo and Graham. By now, the two of them had made up for every little fight they'd had over those last few days. It was almost as if it never happened. Graham, if you could well believe it, wasn't that mad at Kagetsu for killing him. He was more mad at him for making Tiara go through so much turmoil. Of course, he knew it to be a blessing in disguise, now his lady was more powerful. She would be able to survive fighting against any adversary that they came across.

Sienna said, "Good, you've made it back with your Partner. I'm glad. Now, we must prepare for the final test. In a day's time, the potion will be ready. I will recite the spell over it, and then my agelessness will transfer from me to you. I will be a simple mortal, but with my Divine Sorceress powers still intact. At that time, I will seek out the Mihan Leader, and kill him. You will continue on the legacy, and protect the Guardian world from attacks by the lesser Mihan Demons. Now, I need a small sample of hair to begin."

Tiara walked up to her, and pulled out a single strand. Sienna did the same. They added the two to a small bowl that Miro had placed upon the table. Then, Yami began to shred a herb with her claws in order to add it to the mixture. "We need the energy from this Kara - - the life giving fruit - - to complete the task. Also, we require a leaf of the Senel Tree which lies outside, and a small Varica stone. That lies in the caves in a section of the hills to the north of this cabin. It would be advisable to go together in the quest to find it. I've heard some of the stronger Mihan Demons have begun to roam about that area looking for victims."

"Well, that shouldn't be too bad," Tiara stated, "I'm sure that Graham, Japolo, and I can take care of those Mihan Demons. When I transformed, I obliterated an entire force of Ryukami that had found their way into the Land of the Dead. We can go and be back as soon as possible, then we can make the potion." She looked to Graham, who nodded. As did Japolo, once he returned from jumping out the window and getting the leaf of the Senel Tree needed. He landed on Tiara's shoulder, ready to go.

"Just to be on the safe side, you should take your friend Lena along. Probably, you'll have to camp for the night, it's pretty far. That's why I said the potion would take a day to make. You see, the Mihan will know how you killed the Ryukami. They will be waiting with new tricks in order to kill you," Sienna warned.

Although not too happy about having to work with her rival, Tiara saw the sense in the argument. Sienna knew what she was talking about, living a millennia would do that to you. As Yami began to shred the leaf in order to add it to the potion, the young sorceress and her two Partners left the room. Outside, they saw Lena and Leon, still hanging around and resting in the sun. Upon seeing them, Lena got up.

The woman stated, "I guess Sienna has given you another assignment in order to become her successor. Whatever it is, I take it you will be going on another trip." Lena sighed, Tiara always got all the luck. Kind of weird when your rival seemed to have every advantage on her side from outside sources.

Tiara looked at Lena. "I know you and I are rivals, but Sienna wants us to work together. Since this is to protect the Guardian World, we can use that common goal of saving our home and Sara in order to keep peace between us for the time." She held out her hand, and Lena shook it to signal their truce.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Word…

Don't seem much like rivals now, do they? To me it appeared like a friendly rivalry. They fought when on opposite sides, but knew when it was best to join forces under the common goal of protecting themselves, Kagetsu, their Partners, and Sara. Also, Lena did visit Tiara in solitary to introduce her to Leon. Tells me that they were still friends deep down, but were at competition to be better at magic than the other. Ok, here's how Sara can be a common goal this time. If the Mihan are trying to destroy the Guardian World, wouldn't they go for the Throne of Yord? Sara is now the dominant persona of the talisman/painting so if it is destroyed she would die. She was the one person that nobody was mad at during the entire show.