Guardian Quest: The Tower of Tane
18th Century England, the Manescu Mansion
Laura dreamily sighed as she watched her boyfriend, Jay, and her annoying younger brother, Dave; wrestle each other on the wooden floor. Jay treated Dave as if he was his own brother; they had a certain bond with each other.
Dave had Jay's flute (which he got from the Water Guardian, Aquaria) in his hand as he waved it around saying, "I've got your flute, I've got your flute!" But then he squealed as Jay pretended to tickle him.
"Give that back, you pest!" shouted Jay as he grinned mischievously.
"Not until you say sorry!" yelled Dave. Just then, Mrs. Manescu came into the room, with some baked cookies fresh from the oven.
"Break it up you two, playtime's over." She scolded.
"Aw, Mum!" said Dave.
It had been two years since Jay and Laura had done the seven quests for Jay's cure and by now, Laura had grown into a prestigious young lady of sixteen. Being an adolescent meant that there were always new things to learn and say at dances. Laura had her long auburn locks in a bun with a plain country skirt to match. She still kept her Raeth Guardian key around her neck, to remind her of the adventures she and Jay endured and their undying love for each other. She and Jay had renounced doing any more quests and had settled down. But unknown to any of them, a new adventure was about to unfold…
Laura's boyfriend Jay, who was removed of his Carniave curse, had moved near the Glade village and the couple often visited each other. The village people had lost their fear of the 'winged wolf beast' and treated their local legend as a fairy tale. Jay was pleased with that event, seeing that he no longer was remembered since the 'fair incident'. Jay managed to enrol in Laura's private school, posing as a 'new student from Wales'. His brown hair was slightly longer and less untidy; he even got rid of his dark green travelling cloak, appearing in more normal clothing of a shirt and pants.
As for their Shadow Guardian friend, Shadith… Laura sent letters to her and she replied. But lately, Shadith hadn't answered her letters for some reason. And Laura was getting worried about her… Why wasn't she answering to her letters? Had something happened to her or the other Guardians?
Laura peeped outside the front door, wondering what the weather was like.
"Oh!" Laura gave a squeal of surprise, for outside the front door in the pouring rain, was a stray cat. The coal black cat shivered in the raging rain, its supple slim form being ruined by the pouring rain. It had strange markings on its fur and there was something, unnatural about the cat. Like an invisible aura was shielding it. The golden eyes surveyed the surroundings of the mansion as though it was suspicious. It mewed pitifully and Laura felt sympathy for the creature. "You poor thing," she said to the stray cat. It seemed the cat understood her words, but that was impossible... Wasn't it?
Dave was delighted with the cat, cuddling it and petting it. The cat reacted by purring very loudly. It seemed to be pleased.
"Mum, can we keep it? Can we? Can we?" pestered Dave as he held the purring cat. Laura's mum however, was not happy with the animal.
"A cat! We can't have a cat! Besides, I'm allergic to cats!" cried Mrs. Manescu, who was starting to sneeze and blow her nose REALLY loudly with her laced white handkerchief.
"How about we keep it in Laura's room, so that you don't have allergies?" suggested Dave.
"Ok, as long as Laura looks after that cat properly. I'm not going to be responsible if it misbehaves," muttered Mrs. Manescu, sniffling her nose out of the large room.
"But we have to find a name for the poor thing…" said Laura, stroking the cat. Jay thought for quite a while.
"How about Tiddles?" he suggested rather unimaginatively. Dave and Laura laughed until they rolled on the floor. "Um… Whiskers? Tom?" Jay continued. Then he threw up his arms in despair. "I'm no good at thinking at names!" Dave joined in the 'Naming Game' and practically jumped up with excitement when he thought of a name. "I got a good name for it… Frisky!" The cat was very provoked by the name, protesting with a yowl of disdain. Laura had a go.
"Let's see, how about names that go with its black fur? 'Shadow' or 'Night'? Oooh, look at the strange marks on the fur… One of the symbols looks like an eye or something. Eye, Orb…"
"That's it! Let's call it Night Eye!" yelled Dave.
"Fine by me," agreed Jay (who didn't care what they called the cat).
"That's perfect! Night Eye it is," proclaimed Laura.
A few days passed and Laura was beginning to like Night Eye. Night often crept up onto the bed and purred. But Night didn't behave like an ordinary cat would. Night loved the dark; it embraced the shadows of the room, sitting in them for hours on end. Night refused to eat the tuna that was served to it. Night meowed persistently when night came, wanting to be let out. In fact, you could even say that she had an instinctive feeling that Night wanted her to follow it. She didn't know how she knew, she just knew. Jay often wondered where the unusual cat came from, but as far as he knew, Night Eye's past was just a mystery. But he stated that the cat was somehow familiar to him…
One clear night, as if Laura was in a deep trance, she followed Night Eye through Glade Forest, unaware of her surroundings. Dave happened to wake up at that moment and thinking something strange was happening, he also followed his sister through the dark forest. He ducked beneath a rock as he saw a remarkable thing happen… The pale moon shone on the charcoal black cat as it transformed… Laura snapped out of her trance to find herself looking at the face of Hadin, the Shadow Guardian.
This Guardian was virtually the opposite of Shadith, who was her other self. A crown adorned Hadin's head; she had long sharp claws and wore a night black cloak with a winged black staff to match. The serious, often cruel Guardian looked down on the girl, her figure gleaming with a blackish light. Dave gasped at the evil looking lady. His sister was in danger!
"Whaa-? Hadin! What are you doing here?" asked Laura, suddenly aware of being in the forest. Hadin's amber eyes flickered for a moment before she explained to Laura why she was sent.
"I was sent by the other Guardians for we need your help desperately. You see… Long time rival, Tane of Tsand, has imprisoned Glen Usawaii. He has tricked all of us into thinking that Glen was killed and wants us Guardians to accept him as our new Master. But we all refused to serve him, now Tane has authority over us. He imprisoned all of us, including Glen in his tower. Since I, of all the Guardians, have the power to change my form, I was sent to tell you what happened. I turned myself into a cat to slip through the bars. And as the eighth Guardian, you and Jay have the responsibility to rescue us. Help us, please!"
Laura was shocked to see tears on the face of Hadin, obliviously, she was still bitter from last time when Jay chose Laura over her. (Note: Refer to the conclusion of 'Cry of the Carniave') Dave gasped, amazed by the sight. The evil lady was crying! Hadin continued with her long breath speech.
"Master Glen told me that you can use your Raeth Key around your neck to unlock certain abilities, but he gave me permission (before he was imprisoned by Tane) to activate it for you. Give me your Raeth Key." Laura unclasped the Key from her neck and gave it to the Guardian, uncertain about what was going to happen next. Dave was excited and scared for his older sister. What was going to happen next?
"Umm… Here, Hadin." The Raeth Key glowed with an inner light as Laura gave it to Hadin. The heart shaped key began to levitate in mid air as Hadin began an incantation with her eyes closed. She began concentrating. A flash of bright light and Laura felt something coming back to her as the Key formed itself into a largish heart shaped staff that shone, alight with the glow of pink magic.
"Oh Key of Raeth,
Unlock the undying heart,
And give Laura back her part,
Release the powers within!
Raeth Key!"
Hadin's eyes suddenly turned blood red and Laura felt a jolt of pure energy flowing through her body like a river. It didn't hurt, though she felt a tingling sensation. A white light consumed her body and then faded. Hadin's eyes faded back to their normal gold colour. "It is done. You now have the ability to use your Raeth staff whenever you want." Laura was still dazed, but she thanked the regal Guardian anyway.
"Thanks Hadin, for the renewal of my Guardian powers." said Laura politely. Hadin's pale cheeks went all red with embarrassment.
Meanwhile Dave was about to run back to the Manescu mansion without his sister knowing, but he accidentally tripped on a stone. Hearing the noise, Laura turned her head in Dave's direction and gasped in horror. "DAVE! WHY ARE YOU IN GLADE FOREST AT NIGHT! Did you find out our secrets?"
"I… Uh… Er…" stuttered Dave, looking down at his shoes in shame.
"Who is that boy?" asked Hadin as Dave started to tremble in fear of the dark Guardian. Laura noticed Dave's reaction to her and said in defence of him:
"He's my brother and don't you hurt him!" shouted Laura. Hadin snickered as the moon became covered by the clouds...
