Chapter 50: Parallels and Meridians One
"Look at me, look at me, with your charcoal eyes,
I will too, look at you, with eyes like fireflies"
Previously on the Dark Descendant:
The guardians lost to Phobos and Leonida during Elyon's wedding in order to terminate the Dark Descendant cult once and for all. Nerissa rushed back to confront the two villains after the guardians trapped them in the Meridian Palace with a mini veil, but Leonida was one step ahead; she put a curse on Caleb, forcing Nerissa to retreat and give up everything, sending her, Caleb and Julian away as long as Leonida breathes. Cornelia came to know that the only way for the curse to be lifted was for her to kill Leonida. Meanwhile, Visser, the Coronian castle caretaker, and his son Emery, were revealed as the mastermind villains and intermediaries of the Dark Descendant cult- a society of aristocrats who long for returning Coronia's old rows, diving its people into rich and poor once again, and usurping the almighty power of the Golden Spring. A few weeks after they were were locked in, Phobos, Leonida, and their baby daughter escaped the veiled palace and moved to Coronia, where they began plotting their next move that's to bring them closer to dominance over a majority of realms. On Earth, Tony Vandom got involved in a new mess in Heatherfield - where Matt's family and their old twisted conflicts are threatening to break Will and Matt's relationship for good. A former concubine who once conceived Phobos's child entered the picture with a secret of her own; she and her daughter are involved in their own war in a parallel version of Meridian in another narrative and timeline... Latest events left the girls divided; With Will, Cornelia, and Irma following Zorarose into the parallel realm, and Taranee getting abducted under their noses, Hay Lin is left alone with the former guardians. What will happen next? Who will win? Who will die? Stay tuned to find out yourselves.
"Magic beans; but of course. They are rare, but they still exist. They can take one wherever...even into another time narrative; into parallel realms that exist in another line of time, as well. That is what Zorarose used to open that portal."- Kadma had taken the liberty to investigate the area where the said portal had opened with her green listening powers and powers over the element Earth in general. It had been a success. The Queen of Zamballa had found the remains of the magic bean which were left after the portal.
She rolled her braid into a big bun behind her neck and secured it with a bunch of hairpins before turning to her two friends, already knowing what they were to say.
"Do you think that you can grow more beans out of the remains we gathered?"
They were in Cassidy's house. It was a hot summer evening, kids could be heard playing in the suburban, quiet neighborhood. Cassidy herself was cooking dinner in the kitchen, her mother was out on the porch and Peter was with their son; even though he and Cassidy didn't live with her elderly mother, they still spent a lot of time in the old house.
Halinor, Yan Lin, and Kadma were guests tonight, but they were using the time to discuss what to do next in the old piano room. Suddenly it was all on their shoulders and they had to work fast and without mistakes. They had to unite in order to unite the present guardians again.
"I can try."- Kadma sighed, knowing it would be a hard task. If Cornelia had been here, their united magic would've done a better and faster job. Growing magic beanstalks was a very tricky, and, usually, time-consuming process. Of course, the Queen of Zamballa and former guardian of Earth was going to speed things as much as possible, but still, it didn't mean that it would be significantly easier.
"How did Zorarose even get her hands on one of these, I've never seen a magic bean in real life before, through all our years... That's remarkable, really."- Halinor commented.
"If she traveled through parallel realms, she might've been in fairytale realms too; realms beyond the possibility of the Heart, ones that hardly have anything to do with Kandrakar too." - Yan Lin pondered out loud. "Magic beans are myth-based magical plants."
"Coronia has always had different rare magical objects, flora, and fauna from other worlds. They have been buying it out from the home realms of all these rare magical items for many years before the golden fog isolated them."- Kadma snorted as she inspected the remains through her magnetizing glass again. "They're rich not only in gold but in magic too; they may have less magical users, population-wise, but they have things like that. Beans. Rare talismans, rare creatures; just remember the graumer story. Graumers are also deemed nearly extinct, yet one managed to get into Leonida's life years ago. Maybe the concubine got a hold of a few beans there, while on Coronia, but I think that she has grown them herself afterward. They would've never lasted her for so many years if not. Now that's remarkable."
"Maybe there is someone that can help Kadma grow a beanstalk faster."
Hay Lin had just appeared in the room, walking through the open door in a fast pace. The three older women looked at her in anticipation.
"Lillian is the Heart of Earth."- the Air guardian said. "There are magic beanstalks involved in an Earth-based legend/story, right? Jack and the Beanstalk... Maybe Lillian and Kadma can work together and we can harvest our own magic beans."
"It is possible."- Halinor cheered up. "Right, Kadma?"
"I hope so-"
"Ya, we should try everything. Hope is in the youngest, always. You should've seen how Will junior bamboozled his parents and all adults present that he had been out by himself the entire time Zorarose held him hostage. He will be a fine addition to the squad one day. Lillian too."
"The Guardians' squad." - Hay Lin smiled in response. Then her smiled quenched. Her thoughts had just gone in another direction that provoked a ton of worries. "But Taranee's still in danger...We have to do something to find her and retrieve her."
"Get your filthy hands off of me, you freakazoid!"- Cornelia raved, rebelling in the shackles they had put her in. All of them, actually. Her friends were chained and roughly put on wagons, just like her. Like some sort of circus animals...It was humiliating.
Will, Irma, and Cornelia were caught by surprise once they had found themselves at the other end of the yellow portal.
Queen Zorarose's people were like ninjas; they had thrown some acetic-like powder at them; managing to put magic-blocking bracelets on their hands in a matter of seconds... They had come unexpected, launching their attack the second of the girls' arrival, otherwise, they've put a bigger fight for sure. Without their powers, the three girls were not a challenge for the dozen men that had ambushed them. But how had they ambushed them? Will would never know; they had managed to ambush them as if they had arrived hours after Zorarose, when in actuality it had been just a minute or so. Or so she thought...
"How did you do that?"- Will finally asked, sulking at the woman who was riding on the horse leading the entire entourage that included their three carriages.
"I will talk to you when you give me the Heart of Kandrakar."- the ex-concubine averred coldly and turned back to the front. "You will give it to me, I assure you. I will torture you until you do. Without your magic, you're just like me."
Will narrowed her eyelids at that. Just like her? What was that supposed to mean...
"You mean a fucking lying WHORE, who entertained Phobos and his goons?"- Irma called in a vicious voice. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that nothing will ever make us follow your steps there, bitch."
"I already told you that I've only been intimate with Phobos and Cedric!"- Zorarose fumed, but one of her guards had already hit Irma on the back of the head for her audacity.
"How dare you!"- Cornelia yelled at him, trying to claw his face, but in vain. Another man was holding her shackles from behind... "When I get free of this fucking bracelet, I will make sure to leave you BALLESS for the rest of your-"
"When you get free of your bracelets, the Heart and all its power will belong to me."- Zorarose smiled at their misery. Her red hair was falling freely down her shoulders, reaching to her elbows. She was so sure in herself; so calm... She's the Queen here, Will realized. She could actually feel it. She's the Queen and the advantage is hers.
"I knew I had slim chances of getting the Heart by threatening your brother. "- the older woman revealed. "You five were all together and you had your powers... Your supporters. I knew I had to make you follow me here, in my realm, where I control things, to get what I wanted. And look, you took the bait, and what's most important, the keeper of the Heart is among those who did."
Will clenched her teeth but didn't say anything. Whatever she said, they were not in a good position. She glanced at Irma and Cornelia. They were just as distressed and miserable as her. The worst thing was that they didn't know when would Taranee and Hay Lin come for them and if they would even be able to.
"What's the matter, Will?"- Zorarose taunted. "You look chagrined. Do you really want to know how I ambushed you like that? Fine, I will tell you... If you promise to give me the Heart faster. I don't want to waste time. In fact, I have no problem with you and your guardians alone. I solely want the Heart."- she sighed dramatically when the guardian just looked daggers at her. "I suppose that you have a deep connection with it. It's a living Heart, you know, I've heard how it's capable of driving its keepers to the edge, even. But I just need it, you don't even realize how much I need it and how long I've waited to have it. I shall not miss on the opportunity now when I have you captured-"
"You opened another portal."- Will interrupted her point-blankly. "You opened another portal in the one we followed you through, once you were out. It somehow sent us here hours later. Meridian is about five hours ahead of Earth in time, but it's already early in the morning here. About seven?"- she guessed as she looked around herself. Judging by the position of the sun it looked like it was around seven in the morning. "It was a little after midnight when we were chasing you through Heatherfield."- Will went on, meeting Zorarose's eyes decisively. Bluntly. "This means that we arrived here at least an hour after you. Assuming that this parallel version of Meridian and the Meridian are in the "same" time zone. Not really, but still..."- she took a second to reflect on what she had just said herself. It made sense. It had to be what happened.
"That's how you had enough time to ambush us."
"You're quite bright, I have to admit."- Zorarose smiled awry. "A true leader indeed."
"I am, yes. That's why I'll never let the Heart go willingly. Especially in the hands of someone like you!"
Displeased, Zorarose was just about to retort to that when an arrow got stuck just inches away from her head. She and her soldiers turned around in shock just in time to meet the next arrows that were coming their way. This time - lit on fire.
"Rebels!"- one of the men shouted in distress. "Rebel attack! We have to get to safety, your Majesty! We have to get to safe- "
An arrow struck him in the head before he could finish his sentence. Cornelia screamed ear-piercingly. Irma thought she would barf. Will was honestly unable to think or even say anything. It all happened so fast. The rebels caught up with them on their hugongs, targeting Zorarose's men one by one. They fought, but they were taken down like flies. Some of them were just knocked down, but others seemed to be killed then and there. The horses were beyond terrified; The entire formation that was pulling the guardians in their separate wagons was out of order. They had seen and been part of rebel actions before, but this was an especially vicious one.
"Curse you, Avani!"- Zorarose yelled on the top of her lungs as she battled the rebels coming her way with her sword. She was quite skilled; they couldn't get to her, but still, she was using no magic... "Curse you forevermore!"
Will's eyes widened. Now she understood. Just like me... Zorarose had no magic. No magic on herself! But the attack of the rebels didn't leave her much time to think about it. They managed to break some of the chains that connected the wagons to the horses in the front. The horses of the fallen royal soldiers had already fled on their own...
In the end, Zorarose saw herself outnumbered and forced to hew the rest of the chains that were tied to her horse's saddle. They were only slowing her down and the rebels were too many; her people weren't enough. She had to flee. She had to head for the hills if she wanted to save herself. Resentful and with visible reluctance, the Queen prodded her horse into kicking the rebel that was trying to get to her from the front, clearing her way and speeding away into the forest that they had been traveling by, hiding from sight like she had never even been there.
The three wagons collided and stopped due to the abrupt stop of traction force. The three chained young women were thrown out of them, onto the hard ground, meters away from the road. They landed behind some of the tall bushes that outlined the other side of the road, the one opposite to the forest.
When everything went quiet, Irma cursed under her nose, trying to get up only to come face to face with a pair of male boots. There was someone in front of them. And behind them. She pressed her back in Will's, and Cornelia just closed her eyes in weariness; Great. Exactly what they needed after that wild ride and painful fall. They had just been hijacked by the rebels.
"One of the guardians. Your fearsome, powerful Spiritual Master captured one of the five guardians?! Well. I do suppose it to be better than nothing; I'm astounded the old fool actually managed to recognize Taranee and seize her, he did a mind-blowing job, indeed!"
When Taranee started hearing again, those were the words she was greeted with. And she knew damn well whose voice that was... She toiled to open her eyes, but it wasn't easy. The spell that had been placed on her, it kept Taranee numb, exhausted and dizzy.
Emery looked down in distaste. Then he met his father's eyes, who gave him a sign to stay quiet. He was going to take the word:
"It's lucky he could grab this one, prince Phobos, for the other three, including the Heart keeper have crossed into an alternate realm. Even the Spiritual Master can't follow them there."- Visser explained. "We won't be able to control him forever. As long as we have ingredients for the potion we put in his bracelets-"
"The guardians are five, not four... Alternate realm?"- Phobos blinked in perplexity. He didn't care to hear about how the father-son duo had gained control over the ancient sage over again. Then his calculating green eyes turned to Leonida, who asked abruptly:
"Why would they travel to an alternate realm? An alternate realm as in a realm that exists in another time?"
"Another timeline, other physical laws, often other versions of oneself too. There are ways to travel to alternate realms even if it's not as easy as traveling through the realms from our line of time."- Phobos grumbled in response, gazing flowing beyond everything. "But you know that..."
He had thought about alternate realms many times before. How fascinating and tempting they could seem. Maybe... Maybe he would've had the life he once desired had he escaped to one such realm. Maybe he wouldn't have lost so many years in imprisonment. Yes... Maybe but it was just not meant to be, after all. All that was behind him now. Part of his past. Now everything was different. He had a new purpose in Opal's face. His future...
"We believe that the reason behind them traveling beyond our time is to find a solution. A way to defeating you and us. Forever."- Visser admitted bitterly.
"That's impossible."- Leonida was shaking. She was getting mad. Really mad.
She pushed a vase down in her rage as she screamed, disquieting her baby:
"They can't just break time and go around everything, everything that we suffered for! That we endured! All these years, all the pain, all the efforts... They can't defeat us now that we're so close to claiming our birthrights back completely!"
"There's another thing they might be looking for beyond our time. Or someone-"- Emery began cautiously, his eyes falling on Leonida, who just spat, her blood boiling:
"That's impossible! The-"
"I am just guessing, princess Leonida, I can't know what and why are the guardians doing."- Emery lifted his hands up defensively.
He looked at his father again. They had to beat around the bush with everything they said as of late; Phobos and Leonida were both rebelling against their control. Even if they weren't aware of the extent up to which that spread, they wanted to be independent. They wanted to be in charge. Completely. And if the two cult leaders didn't act faster, things were threatening to go down to pieces, prematurely.
"There has to be something that we can do to speed up everything and gain more control over the combined mystic powers of Meridian and Coronia."- Phobos demanded. "Losing more time will only further fail us. We need more fractions of control- "
"However, you and princess Leonida are just regents of that power."- Visser shook his head. "Regents of a breathing, living Heart, who has absorbed more power than recent history of both Meridian and Coronia has witnessed. The Heart has a will of its own. Only she-" - and the old man pointed at the baby. "-only she can decide when and how much of her power may you access."
"Our daughter is too young to understand the need for us to use the mystic powers."- Phobos snapped dangerously, looking daggers at Visser and his son. He couldn't stand them anymore. He was getting closer and closer to the idea of annihilating them. "She's just an infant, what do you expect of her?"
But before Leonida or the other two Coronians could retort, Opal started crying louder, attracting all attention on herself.
"What is going on?"
"Something's happening with her!"- Leonida yelled as she and the Prince dove towards their daughter. Her small body was glowing. Her crying, however, soon stopped and she looked calmly at them. Her big indigo eyes focused on her parents. She was reaching to them. Telling them something. Phobos and Leonida both placed a hand on the baby and she caught their hands with her little ones.
"She's conferring more power on us."- Phobos exclaimed, exhilarated. "She understands us, even now. Our daughter! She is a blessing."
Leonida exclaimed as her missing hand started regenerating. Going back in time... She had spent weeks missing a hand after that night. The night she had got the sorceress out of the way... But now, thanks to her daughter and the power she was supplying her with, her limb was being restored. Her palm, her five fingers were regenerated...
The honey-haired woman squalled in elation and astonishment and moved her newly acquired hand, tightening her fingers in a fist one by one and then all together.
"My Opal."- Leonida whispered lovingly, reaching to caress the baby with the hand she had just gifted to her. "Thank you. Thank you for coming to my life."
Visser made a face of disapproval but didn't say anything. His son didn't utter a word as well, but they both knew that this was bad news. Disquieting, really. Both Leonida and Phobos were falling in love with the baby and that was clashing with the cult's ideas.
From her corner, Taranee who had witnessed everything, even if vaguely, started gathering strengths. She needed to contact Hay Lin and get help because she couldn't move on her own. And if she knew one thing about Phobos for sure, it was that seeing her dead would make him nothing but happy.
The rebel village looked a lot like some of the equivalents on their Meridian, like everything else in the parallel realm, but it looked bigger, brighter, and much more populated. Without Phobos's thorns and oppressing, gloomy atmosphere in general, people seemed to be happier. Normaller. They had passed through a few already, but this was one of the most beautiful. Everyone that their eyes fell on seemed more or less contented with life, unlike the people they had first met over 10 years ago. Still, it was a little bit unusual that nobody seemed to pay attention to them as they were escorted. Yes, most people around this realm had probably never heard of guardians or Kandrakar, but it was still uncanny. Were their uniform and wings that ordinary to them?
Those who were escorting them pretty much against their will? They seemed to know what they were doing. It wasn't necessarily that they knew about the Heart, Will estimated, but they were probably going to present them to their superiors as "the captives they snatched" from the Queen's carriages. Assuming that the rebellion indeed hated and wanted to overthrow Zorarose. Will sighed and kept walking. This was still good. If the rebels were taking her and her friends to their superiors as to present them and ask for further orders, they were going to meet Avani, Phobos's daughter and the older heir to the throne, who they needed. At least that part of the ex-concubine's story appeared to be true.
But if Avani's crazy like her mother and we can't even use our powers, we're fucked again.
The redheaded turned around to Irma, whose string of thought she had managed to detect, one of the few extraordinary things they were able to do with the bracelets on, and that because they were close to each other. Other than that, all their powers were utterly blocked. The brunette had a point, Will knew. They all tried to keep a steady pace which didn't leave them with much time for personal conversation. They weren't being pushed or dragged or anything, but there were rebels walking in front and behind them. They had made it clear that trying to break free or run wasn't going to be a wise attempt. Besides, even if they did manage to run away from the rebels, where would they go? Back to Zorarose and her plans for seizing the Heart? They couldn't escape the realm nor would Will ever consider it before having the chance to meet the one they had been looking for. The heir...
"We might be safer with the rebels, but they're so annoying."- Cornelia huffed as she caught up with the two shorter women. "We've been walking for over an hour. Why is there no transportation to their stupid village? Ugh, forget that, let's talk about the elephant around here. You're probably happy that we're going to meet her, but if this girl doesn't listen to us, we need a plan B."
"Probably because they've built it where it's safest for them...and yeah, I know."- Will frowned down at the magic-blocking bracelet on her wrist. This was really making their options less. "Let's just see her first."- she whispered and looked behind her shoulder. Being heard by the rebels wasn't needed. "If she tries to kill us or something like that, we'll offer to help her with taking down Zorarose."
"But we don't have time for that shit-"
"We'll just lie, Irma."- Cornelia hissed, glaring at her. She was being too loud as per usual. "We're in this world, not having access to our magic and we need to think outside the box to survive and make it back to our Universe."
"I can lie like a pro, Corny."- Irma rolled her eyes. "Lying to Avani? Count me in, as long as we can make it work. I was just double-checking that Will's not, you know, in for a take with Zorarose, because that bitch tricked us and even threatened William as to get the Heart... Geez, freaking lunatics everywhere, even in alternate realms."
Will didn't say anything. She did want to put the old concubine in her place, but they had to prioritize.
"Forget Zorarose, we need Avani."- Cornelia's face was overtaken by an ice determination. "No matter what, she has to come to our Universe. Willingly or not."
"She's been like that for hours; she doesn't wake up, she doesn't respond to anything, no matter how hard I try. She's talking to someone in her sleep, I think. What can we do?"
When Eric had called her, more than agitated, in the middle of the night, Yan Lin had immediately answered the call by driving herself to his home. Now that she had heard his story and saw her sleeping, yet restless granddaughter, hurling in the bed, she knew one thing for sure. Hay Lin was more agitated than anyone, but at least now that Eric knew of her secret identity, her grandmother didn't have to beat around the bush like last year.
"She has established a mental connection beyond everything she has ever done until now."- Yan Lin explained, the wrinkles around her eyes intensifying with her growing concern. "Regardless of the air guardian's power over dreams, it must be overwhelming, hence she's in this state. Don't worry, she'll wake up, more tired than ever if anything, but she'll be alright."
"But what exactly is she doing?"- Eric wanted to know. He looked at his girlfriend worriedly and then met the old lady's gaze again. "Is she...talking to the others?"
"Yes."- the former guardian sighed but smiled. She was proud of her granddaughter's unremitting abilities for this was something that even she had never done in her time as a guardian. A need for it had never arisen, but still. Hay Lin was mastering her powers and exploring them more and more, and that was a reason to smile.
"She has managed to bring the other guardians together. In the dreamworld."
"Hay Lin? Girls?!"- Taranee looked around herself, as the swirling white background changed to purple, almost space-like one, with various blurry images of objects levitating all over the place. With wind, stars, and mystic sounds.
This was the dreamworld, she could tell. The dreamworld was vast and immense in opportunities. She could feel the presence of her four friends too, she knew that they had all somehow parted from their dreams to meet in the infinite center of the dreamworld that, much like Kandrakar, was the perfect center of everything, only beyond time and space for real, unlike the Fortress that was actually set in a tangible realm.
"Taranee? Taranee, are you OK? Where are you?"
Taranee sighed in relief when Will and Irma appeared behind one cloud-like wall that disappeared into space.
"Oh, good, we've managed to fall asleep at the same time. But how did we all cross paths in the dreamworld without trying?"
"We're connected by the four dragons and the nymph, and Hay Lin's trying for all of us. She looks like it's crushing her!"- Cornelia, who also came into focus, exclaimed and the others all looked towards their fifth friend, who was levitating above them, convulsing with all the mystic energy she was using. She was a transmitter for it, it rocked through her body as to bring the others together from across time and space...
"Hay Lin!"- the others exclaimed in unison.
"I'm fine!"- the youngest guardian managed to let out, even though she wasn't fine at all. She felt like the intensity would splatter her brain any next minute... "But we don't have much time! We had to talk all together once again, we can't be divided if we want to win!"
"This isn't going to be a beneficial talk if you're in agony the entire time."- Will argued. "You're the only one who can help us, and we need you. We have to help her first though."- she said to the rest.
"How?"- Irma questioned. "Can't we like, all enter the same dream or something? Maybe if we use our thoughts- "
"Exactly!"- Taranee nodded. "Join hands around her and concentrate. We have to pull ourselves out of this place and into a particular dream- "
The girls didn't waste any more time. They all joined hands around Hay Lin's body and closed their eyes. They concentrated. Everything around them started to move like a vortex...
"Think back!"- Cornelia demanded. "Think of a happy memory, a happy time we shared."
"Will's 13th Birthday!"- Irma suddenly shot.
"What?!"
"Never mind, it might work, think of that day and we will be able to turn fractions of our combined memories of that day into a dream!"- Taranee exclaimed. They had already worked together in the dreamworld, in their separate and mutual dreams, joining each other to fight enemies, starting with Nerissa's dream puppets... The dreamworld was full of opportunities. This had to work.
"Will's 13th Birthday..."
Everything went white again. When the girls opened their eyes, they saw themselves in Irma's backyard. Her parents were doing the dancing train with the guests. Their teenage selves would soon come in to join them through the front yard.
Cornelia blew a strand of hair in relief and tried to smooth it out with her hands.
"Thanks, guys."- Hay Lin said, beholden. They were finally all on hard ground and she wasn't as overwhelmed. "That's much better."
"Thank God."- Will scratched the back of her head and turned to the water-witch. "Will's 13th Birthday, really? Random much?"
"Whaaat? Good times. I was just channeling good times to helps us concentrate."- Irma grinned in response.
"OK, now straight to business."- Taranee ushered. "Visser controls the Spiritual Master, that's how they got me kidnapped. That guru has a lot of ancient powers and hidden talents. Phobos and Leonida are getting more and more power from the baby... They are on their way to dispose of me now, I can really use a rescue."
"You're abducted?!"- Cornelia exclaimed in shock. She and the other two had gone after Zorarose before that. This was bad news to them...
"Kadma, Halinor, and I will come to rescue you."- Hay Lin promised. "We were discussing that, we even ensembled a Zamballan army to storm the Coronian palace. We even were in Coronia, the night you were abducted, but there is a protecting dome raised around the capital... We finally have something to pierce through it- "
"No, I'm not in the Palace. At least I wasn't before the Spiritual Master put me to sleep again."- Taranee shook her head in fear. "I don't know where I am, Hay Lin..."
Hay Lin felt her stomach tighten.
"B-but how are we going to save you if- "
"Don't be discouraged, just go to Coronia and look for her again, right now, Hay Lin."- Will shook her head. "Knowing Phobos and Leonida, they might want to execute her in public to prove their supremacy to the people- "
"Well, that sure is encouraging- "
"No, but she's still alive, that's good; we have to act fast because we all know that it's a dream of Phobos to eliminate us for good."
"Taranee, can't you use your powers?"- Irma shook her up. "You have to think of something to win time before Hay Lin comes for you, you're the brain!"
Taranee shook her head. She had tried to, but the Spiritual Master's spells were keeping her weak.
"I have to go; I have to find her."- Hay Lin hasted. "You, guys, you just have to get to..."
"Avani."- Cornelia nodded. "We're in the realm she and her mother fight each other-"
"Wait, why are you sleeping instead of looking for her?!"
"Long story."- Irma growled, not losing Taranee from her sight. She was very worried about her being abducted by the enemy. So were the others, naturally. The only reason Hay Lin wasn't rescuing her yet was that she had wanted to establish contact with her too, but that hadn't lived up to be very beneficial.
"The stupid rebels of this realm are keeping us hostage, all day, their superiors are supposed to come to meet us, but as for now, we're just locked in this stupid hut."- Cornelia growled.
"They probably laced the food they gave us."- Will added.
"Don't worry about us, help Tara. Go now!"
"I'm going. We can finally enter the Capital; I hope she's there somewhere."- Hay Lin turned to Will, Irma, and Cornelia. "Matt is helping Lillian, who is helping Kadma grow beans from what that yellow portal left behind... Magical beans...that's a long story, but that's how Z.R travels through realms and time, and that's your ticket back to our Universe, you just have to get Avani and we'll come for you. We just need the beanstalks to harvest!"
"Easy-peasy."- Irma tried to joke, but even her voice was full of fear. "Hey, don't look at me like that. We'll make it, I know it. W.I.T.C.H forever, right?"
What a mess, Will thought as they all nodded and got ready to depart. To wake up and leave the dreamworld. So much was going on and a big portion of it was left on Hay Lin's tiny shoulders...Again. Cornelia had been right the other night when they had talked about the trials and tribulations that they were constantly put through, and the aftermaths. The vicious cycle... Taranee's life was at stake, the life of many kingdoms was at stake too. At least Matt was helping, despite their own drama, but she guessed it was normal. He was a regent to the Heart of Earth after all.
"OK, I'm not waiting any longer. OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR UP!"
Irma was seeing red. After waking up, after getting to know that Taranee's in grave danger, she didn't feel like spending another second locked up and forced to wait.
It was already evening time, they had spent the entire day waiting and now, there was loud music and festival atmosphere in the village they were dragged to? This was too much. With a militant scream, Irma rushed towards the door, aiming to break it down only to end up in pain and on the floor. Again. This was her tenth unsuccessful attempt to escape. The rebels had secured the door with chains, steel, and anything they could find, really. They wouldn't risk having the three women escape.
Irma, however, had never endured punishments lightly. Being forced to stay grounded in her room? Nonsense. She always found a way; she always found a way out to freedom. That was exactly what she was planning on now as well.
She started throwing glasses and plates, breaking the windows down. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything about the metal bars on the windows, no matter how hard she tried. Still, she broke all glass down as if that was doing anything. She would vandalize the entire place if she had to, she'd do anything to be heard, but the loud music was muffling her. That really enraged Irma, who was used to her loud voice being heard, no matter what.
"HOW THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF HERE?! You know what?! I take it all back! I wish these idiots never hijacked us, at least we could've fought Zorax barehanded, at least we could've done something had we remained in her claws! These dicks are just wasting our time here, FOR NOTHING!"
"As if she'd spare us anything, she wanted to torture us for the Heart."- Cornelia, who was trying to get her bracelet off again, rolled her eyes. It wasn't working. She screamed in rage and hit the bracelet hard on the ground. "This is ridiculous! Why are these UGLY things indestructible!"
"Ironically they can only be taken off with magic."- Will remarked. She was going to try something crazy. She had just put out the fire in the fireplace and now waited for the smoke to disperse.
Irma jumped on the window, trying to shake the metal bars with all her might:
"FUCK YOU ALL!"- she yelled at the people that were celebrating in the village. No one seemed to hear her. Peachy. Just peachy.
"Through the fireplace and up the chimney. Let's go!"
Irma and Cornelia turned to Will, flummoxed by her words but she just spurred them:
"Come on, I checked, it's wide enough for us to climb through. Cornelia, we will push you up first, then Irma will push me, and I will push you again to elongate the human ladder. Come on, hurry!"
There was excitement and joy outside. People danced, hugged each other, drank, and sang. They seemed to be celebrating something, but the girls didn't have time to guess the nature of the merriment occasion. They managed to get some old cloaks that they found behind the hut over their suits, thus, more or less, managing to merge with the others. Or at least not standing out so much with their wings. Most residents of the village had already seen them being escorted and then locked in the hut and would make a fuss if they saw them out and free. And their detention was not fair at all. They had waited too long for Avani or someone to come to them. It was time for them to find people and answers on their own.
"Hey what's that?"- Irma stopped walking and pointed at the two big haystacks in the distance. It appeared as if someone was coming towards them. People gradually grew silent and focused on the silhouette of a woman that was soon the center of everyone's attention.
"More like who."- Will whispered in response and looked around herself.
"I think it's a...performance or something."- Cornelia shrugged.
As if to bring evidence to her words, the clutter died down and the music began playing, clear and obviously composed as opposed to the random notes that the celebrating folk had been creating with their mandolins, guitars, and other archaic musical instruments up until now.
Look at me, look at me,
with your charcoal eyes,
I will too, look at you, with eyes like fireflies
Cornelia felt her heart starting to beat faster when the shadow of the woman danced to the song and she heard her voice. The woman just threw her hair back, moved her hips, and drew figures up in the sky as she danced.
"Is that-"- Will couldn't finish.
Look at me, look at me,
with your charcoal eyes,
I will too, look at you, with eyes like fireflies!
My eyes, embers in the sky,
will ignite fires tonight,
they will burn and they will glow,
like sparks of real gold! X2
Her green eyes shone the entire time, like those of a wild cat, but as she sang those lines, two sparks flew out of nowhere and ignited the big haystacks on fires. The villagers cheered in appreciation and awe. If anything, now Will and the others could clearly make out the image of Nerissa, the person they had never expected to find in the parallel realm.
She wore a black leather strapless bodice paired with a short flowy red satin skirt, lined with black lace at the bottom. She was barefoot and she danced and sang like she was on top of the world. With her long black waves falling freely, and red lips, her sensational beauty was as striking as ever.
But what is she doing here...Nerissa? Will shook her head in confusion as the song went on:
My lips - honey and spice,
will melt with yours all the ice,
and with my body like fire,
do as you desire.
People adored her and threw flowers at her. Some men even went as far as to try to come near, but others pulled them down as if they were protecting a celebrity from their crazy fans...
A few minutes later, when the song was over, Will decided it was time to confront her. Nerissa. In Zorarose's kingdom. Playing teen idol again. She frowned. She had to give them some sort of explanation as to what was going on around here.
"We should be thinking of a way to help Hay Lin rescue Taranee, but instead this happens."- Irma protested. "I can't believe this is even for real-"
"If she's here, then so is Caleb, and he can't come near me."- Cornelia, who was still debating what exactly her emotions were, whispered.
"But if Nerissa's with the rebels, is she with Avani as well?"
"More like why is she with the rebels. How is she with Avani's rebels? This is insane-"
"Yeah, talk about crazy coincidence. Hey, what if this is not our Nerissa? Maybe she's an alternate version as well-"
But before they could come near her, she turned around and saw them. Recognized their faces. Nerissa's own face dropped as her smile quenched.
"You fools! What were you thinking, coming here and endangering Caleb's life when you know that Leonida cursed him!"- Nerissa practically pushed them inside the house they had escaped earlier that night, not even giving them the chance to express their bewilderment. Oh, she was their Nerissa alright...
She then slammed the door behind herself and locked it from the inside before turning to face them with indescribable outrage:
"Did I not tell you that he can't come near you before the curse is lifted?!"- she pointed at Cornelia with her long index finger. "Why are you here? How did you even come here? Wait..."- for a second there was hope in her voice that immediately made her face soften. "How long has it been...is she, is she destroyed? Did you defeat her and Phobos? Wait..."- her green eyes grew dark again."Why would you be locked here if you had done all that."- she frowned and then went on, her tone accusatory and her voice growing hostile as she came to realize: "And why would you be found as captives of the Queen, what have you nimrods done this time?"
"W-we just- "- Cornelia stammered, but the redhead interrupted her:
"Nerissa what the hell are you even trying to say, we had no idea you were in this realm nor did we come here to seek you and Caleb!"- Will finally overcame her stupor and was ready to reply to all these statements that came as if out of nowhere. "Cornelia told us everything and we knew that-"
"Mage! Mage is that you with the women we took from the Queen?"- a male voice came from the outside accompanied by knocking.
"Mage?!"- Irma repeated, not understanding anything. "What the hell is actually going on around here?! Answer us, Nerissa!"
Nerissa closed her eyes in annoyance and snapped:
"Yes, I'm with the women, now go away."- and she kicked the locked door. "Scat!"
"Understood."- came from the other side. "Just make sure they don't escape again. Avani wants to talk to them personally."
Will, Irma, and Cornelia exchanged bedazzled looks:
"I know."- Nerissa clenched her teeth. "Now go and make sure my son and my husband stay far away from this hut. Go!"
Then she turned to the three women and took a deep sigh:
"How much time has passed in our timeline since the night we left it."- her question didn't exactly begin to explain anything, but Will guessed they had to start somewhere.
"Over six weeks."- Cornelia replied the fastest.
Nerissa nodded. She didn't look impressed:
"And the plan is still incomplete, isn't it. The cult hasn't been destroyed and the two dirtbags still hold the power hostage."
"Yes."
"Then why are you here."- Nerissa snapped. Her left brow jumped up in belittling anger. She looked down at them as if they were lice. Some things never change, Will realized grimly as she tightened her lips and fists.
"Why are you here, where the other two and why were you captives of Queen Zora-"
"And what about what are you doing here as the Mage and how the hell does that fit in the entire story?"- Irma interrupted her angrily. "You're out here giving orders as if nothing has ever happened. As if you're home. You were singing at their celebration, for Pete's sake! Don't you think you have some explaining to do?"
"I absolutely do not."- Nerissa averred before teletransporting something in her hand.
Will's eyes widened at that. A little transparent, kidney-shaped objects... Was that what she thought it was...
"I will send you back to Heatherfield, to our line of time."- the former keeper of the Heart narrated. "I don't know how you found us nor what new messes you've created, but I don't need you here, threatening my son with your idiocy. Cornelia, I expected better of you. I never imagined you'd come before that repulsing princess has- "
"How do you have a magic bean!?"- Irma screamed. "You...this...Arghh! You always do something like this, I can't believe I had nice things to say about you in your absence!"
"Look, you talentless girls, I didn't come here because I wanted to, but because I was forced to."- Nerissa began in an echoing voice. "It's not my fault you failed to get the meaning of the point-blank message I had for you, Cornelia, but I won't have Caleb die because of your presence here- "
"Don't talk like that!"- Cornelia interrupted her, through hot tears. "Caleb will not die! Leonida will die! And he will come back to us, at home. Our home."- she took a few steps towards the tall brunette. "How can you even think that I'd purposely endanger his life?! We're here because we followed Zorarose through her portal. She wanted- "
"Wait, Cornelia."- Will stopped her and locked eyes with Nerissa. "Nerissa is the one who owes us an explanation first. First, she must tell us everything. Everything that has happened. From the night of Elyon's wedding up to now."
Will wasn't going to let it be, the older woman was well aware of that. Visibly peeved, Nerissa pulled up one of the chairs that Irma had knocked down earlier and sat on it. Then she gestured at them to take a seat as well. She had a long story to tell.
"The night of Elyon's wedding I returned to the Palace after we veiled it."- she began. (chapter 41)
*Flashback*
"How did we not see this coming. All the mystic powers are finally with us but we can't leave this wretched Palace."- Phobos let out an angry roar before smashing his fist in the table nearby. "This is because we rely on your strategies, your slow plans, and mindless supporters; each time I listen to you we get locked up for months!"
"I was the one who helped you break out of your decade-long imprisonment in the first place!"- Leonida screamed at him. "Do not shift all blame on me! Perfection takes time! You're just reckless for the most part and if you're dissatisfied with those who support me, I would like to see your supporters. Where are they? Are there any left? Even Cedric betrayed you a second time, he has made a run for it!"
Phobos was just about to snarl back at her when he caught a glimpse of the shadow with the corner of his eyes. There, in the corridor leading to the Throne Room. He could see her through the open doors. His sister...
"You must be out of your mind to return here!"- he yelled at her as she took a step towards them, unabashed. "I will kill you, Elyon! I will kill you once and for all. You-"
"Shut up."- she retorted point-blankly, spinning one of her brother's roses between her fingers. His beloved roses. That only further enraged him. He tightened his fist as his detested sister spoke:
"You're a parasite. A brainless, heartless monster who had a baby just to have her steal my powers, my place as Heart of this realm. And you, Leonida? Do you expect me to believe that you had any other intentions different from getting to power again?"
Leonida remained silent. She just observed as the prince clashed with the Light of Meridian.
"There's a reason you were denied your thrones, and that reason is that you're incompetent and pathetic people, gone mad because of circumstances with no way back to adequacy."- Elyon then proceeded to crush the rose between her hands.
"How dare you."- Phobos hissed dangerously. "You're powerless yet so impudent. You shouldn't have come back here, sister. Fate saved you from me many times, but not this time!"
"How else would I set your gardens on fire and self-handedly destroy every rose you've ever grown with your filthy fingers."- Elyon hissed twice as maliciously. Then she added, ruthlessly: "You should've died when our dad tried to drown you in that pond."
Phobos lifted his hand up, overtaken by dark hatred. His sister had provoked his hatred more than usual. More than ever...
"But I didn't."- he sneered bitterly. "Zaden died instead. Now you shall also become one of my roses. The black ones, though. Those who have suffered from crossing me, my kingdom, and my garden!"
The spell flew towards her rapidly. She caught it midair and laughed. She laughed again and again:
"Foolish prince. Fooling you has always been such a child's play."
"Nerissa."- Phobos hissed scornfully as he watched her glamour into her true form. "What are you doing here- "
"What do you think? I came back to destroy you and take the baby."- Nerissa looked at them with malice aforethought. "But I needed your signature black rose curse first. Thank you for that, brat. A little mirroring magic on it and Queen Magana will be back with her family. Unfortunately, you won't be joining them for the family reunion, Leonida. You will be long dead, you see."
"The matron is dead. I annihilated her months ago, I have that power over my black roses."- Phobos growled, but Nerissa just teletransported his spell away and shook her head in amusement:
"You attempted, but I cut you off with a pair of demigod scissors, brat. (chapter24)"- she gave him an almost soft smile when his furrowed brows tensed even more. "I am smarter, quicker, and much more sensible than you'll ever be, bow down to that already. Like I made you bow down in front of my son I will make you bow down in front of the realization- "- her voice grew darker and full of spite. "Your time is over! This time it really is, and the only person willing to spare your life isn't here to stop me. As a matter of fact, a few months ago, I finally convinced her that you mustn't live. The last living person to truly care for you no longer does. Congratulations; you have successfully turned every drop of love and compassion for you into hatred. In everyone."
Phobos didn't tremble. He just stood there, looking at her gloating face without uttering a word. He didn't have the magic he needed to make that face still forever. Yet... He had been bullied by women his entire life. Nerissa wasn't the first one to trample over his dignity. His mother, his sister, the royals... The guardians. Even his governess from childhood had despised and abused him, but he had to admit Nerissa had a special type of hatred just for him.
"It's intriguing you mentioned your son. You love him a lot, don't you, Mage?"
Leonida's interference managed to make her smile drop. Nerissa frowned at the young enchantress and her beaming smile. A smile that didn't belong on a goner's face. She hated her.
"Don't you even take my son's name and my love for him in your disgusting mouth."- she spat and started walking towards her but Phobos stood in her way:
"Wait a moment."- he smiled darkly, to Nerissa's dismay. "We have a little shocker for you."
And then she saw him. Leonida had waved her hand and when the golden smoke got dispersed, he was there, caught in golden energy shackles... When she saw him, all her confidence, all her smugness vanished even faster than the smoke had.
"Caleb..."
Leonida and Phobos laughed at her and she just stared at them in astonishment. They had known. They had known she'd come back for them and hence they had taken her son as insurance.
"If you don't do as I say, Nerissa - Mage of Meridian, Caleb will die."- Leonida said bluntly. "It's time you forgot all about being so intransigent." - she shook her head and her honey-colored hair danced around her face as she gently pulled Caleb's head back with her power.
Nerissa turned to her, her eyes flaming:
"If even a hair falls from his head, then I'll..."
"You already came here to destroy us, what now?"- Phobos taunted and then laughed in her face. "Destroy us twice, why don't you? You're loaded on power, attack now, you might be able to save your son and flee, but know that he is not the same anymore. The rebel leader I wanted dead has been given an even worse fate, I suppose. He and you shall no longer stand in my way."- the prince averred coldly, enduring the hateful sparks of her green eyes.
"What are you talking about."- the ex-guardian hissed in low voice. "What have you done to him? Phobos, I will make you regret evey-"
"He's just cursed to never return to his loved ones."- Leonida explained as if she was explained a recipe. "You know, just to ensure that you will do as I say. I can't kill you, because you're stronger. That doesn't mean I can't get rid of you for good. Let's strike a deal, Nerissa. Let's all leave this setting satisfied. Let's be...sensible."
Nerissa just stared at her, silently, refusing to accept that she had just fallen into such a trap. She covered the key ring with her hand, but Leonida offhandedly pushed it away and shook her head with a smile:
"Don't hide that little ring, you won't need it to exit this place. I, however, do need it to tear down the stupid veil you and your friends put around the castle."- she held the older woman's hand up and just kept smiling at her stone expression. Underneath that, she knew she was screaming and crying in rage and despair because she had just been bested. Ultimately.
"So, let's talk about what you want and what I want, and try to make the most of it."
*end of Flashback*
"She knew the statistics of the situation very well."- Nerissa shook her head in a splenetic manner. "If she physically hurt Caleb, I'd raze her, her prince, and her baby to the ground. If I tried to flee with him, her curse would catch up with him in some way. I had to agree to a deal with her because I was left with no other choices. The worst thing was that she had predicted me showing up there that night. And I had lost Caleb from my sight long enough for her to use him against me."
"That's not really a stretch to think of."- Will remarked bitterly. "I knew you wouldn't let it go too."
Nerissa met her eyes, annoyed, and snapped:
"Had I not done it, Caleb would have remained with her. She was going to blackmail me regardless of my actions that night."
"What were the conditions of your deal and how did you end up in this parallel realm."
The ex-guardian crossed her long legs and sighed before going on:
"She wanted my key-ring, my Seal, and me out of the way. I wanted Julian and Caleb, their memories locked with me and under my control, and them being reversed to the age they were when I had to leave them for the first time. When Meridian fell under Phobos's thumb for the first time. Caleb was just two..."
"What?!"
Once again, the girls were totally dumbfounded. All three of them. She had expected that, of course. After all, she and her actions often had this effect on them.
"How did Leonida even do that?!"- Cornelia gasped, unable to grasp the thought of Caleb's age being brought down almost to that of their son...
"I did, before bestowing my Seal and all its power on their baby."- the brunette admitted reluctantly. She crossed her arms on her well-defined chest. "I have always had that power, because of my element. You know, just like I permanently turned back time for Cassidy and then for the other former guardians for a while. Oh, and I cursed the key ring, but I doubt it destroyed her. Did it?"
"No, but she was missing a hand right after that night…"- Will remembered.
Nerissa nodded in understanding and disappointment:
"Figures. She probably cut it off to stop my curse from spreading over her entire body. Too bad."
"Wow."
"Yeah..."- Will rubbed her chin. Some things still didn't completely make sense. Thankfully, the Mage went on with her story without having to be prompted:
"Leonida had a magic bean. It did surprise me; those are very rare. Her magic and my combined opened a portal to another time narrative. Another realm, set in another time, one beyond our Universe. In that realm, time didn't run the same way as it does on Meridian, or Earth, or any other planet from our Universe. You see, every world has parallel versions of itself that may appear on a random basis. Naturally or because of someone's magic. Versions that may exist in an alternate universe, one where everything is different, just like this parallel version of Meridian that we're now in. Magic beans are extremely rare because they have the power to create new branches of time and new parallel realms, but Leonida didn't seem to be aware of that. Not completely, at least. She thought she was just sending me away, but I was able to create my own realm in my own new branch of time because that magic bean worked for me. For my vision! Me, Julian, and Caleb found ourselves in a version of Meridian from when we first fell in love, but without Phobos, or Weira, or any of those people whose actions had me chase my goal for a perfect Universe for so many years... I finally had my perfect Universe, much like the one I had when under the illusionary influence of my friends' magic in Weira's jewel... Everything was perfect! I talked to Cornelia; I now just had to wait for the time to come and for us to return to our Universe, where there would be no more threats for my son, where I'd give him and his father their original age and memories back, and everything would go on as it had to."- Nerissa's eyes were glowing as she stopped talking as to breathe. "I had done it; despite losing so much, I had found a loophole and I was thriving. I'd just wait for you to finish the cult, Phobos and Leonida and everything would be back to normal, and in the meantime, I got to live through the years of my son's life that I missed so much on...But no. Of course, something had to go wrong again, leading to us finding ourselves here, in Queen Zorarose's version of Meridian."- her face darkened as she mentioned the name of the ex-concubine.
"Wait...how many years exactly did you spend in that realm you created?"- Will asked as she had finally put most of the pieces together. "You said time ran differently there- "
"Six years."- Nerissa replied, flabbergasting Irma and Cornelia again. "But we've been here for the last month or so; time in Zorarose's Meridian and our Meridian runs the same."
"Holy shit... So, Caleb is now.. eight?!"
" But you didn't age."- Irma taunted, but Nerissa just brushed it off:
"When have I?" – she raised a smug brow.
"OK, that's insane...but how did you come here, in Zorarose's realm. Why did you leave yours, where time ran like crazy."
"Because, Cornelia, that stupid frump came to my realm and ruined everything."
Nerissa stood up from her chair and walked to the broken window.
"She has been traveling through time and through worlds with beans for years. She's like a time pirate, she discovered the appearance of a new branch of time and a new parallel version of Meridian and came to investigate and try to steal"
"Zorarose doesn't seem to have magic."- Will stood up as well. This was something she had been thinking of the entire time. How did a person without magic manage so many things even they as guardians had never imagined?
"Well, she wasn't born a magic user, but she did have a charm bracelet."- the black-haired woman waved her hand. "And other little talismans, I suppose. She couldn't do much with it, whereas I use it as a magnifier for my power."
The three guardians all shifted their attention to the silver bracelet on the woman's hand. It had a bunch of hanging charm stones attached to it. Irma made a face:
"I see you didn't hesitate to steal yourself."
"Please. And what she stole from me and did to me? Not even comparable."- Nerissa snarled. "Zorarose and her people tried to usurp my realm and make it part of their kingdom. In the midst of the battle, she stole my only beanstalk with the only two beans that I had managed to grow in six years! I had managed that out of the remains of the bean we had come with, but I have no earth powers, no special skills, hence it took so long. I was proud of myself for managing at all... And that bitch just took it! Six years hard work and gardening she just stole!" - it was obvious that Nerissa was deeply upset just remembering what she was telling them about. "Then, when I caught up with her and was this close to killing her, she used one of the beans to merge my realm with hers, making her usurpation complete and successful. I admit I had almost lost hope, but then our rebels joined the rebels of this realm and I became their Mage. I caused a lot of trouble for the bitch in just a month. Helping her daughter steal magic beans from her and then destroying her beanstalk plantations is one of my favorite feats. There's this interesting story of this realm, the Queen's daughter leads the rebellion, who are aiming to take her down. Drama, drama, and more drama. But I like Avani, she's not an idiot, unlike many others who are, unfortunately..."- she then turned to the guardians again and smiled. For a moment, she finally just looked happy to see them.
The younger women just looked at each other. She didn't know. She didn't even know who she had befriended and who she was fighting during that last month.
"So, what the hell are you doing here and how did Zorarose possibly manage to abduct you? Your turn to explain, Will."- and the former guardian became serious and stern again. "And make it quick, because Caleb shouldn't see Cornelia before the curse is lifted."
Will took a deep sigh:
"OK, don't look now, but we might have had some insane luck."- she said and met Nerissa's eyes. "Phobos had a daughter before the one he had with Leonida. With one of the girls from the so-called harem? You ever heard that urban legend before? Never mind, that girl was Zorarose. And their daughter is Avani. Avani is the person we need to be able to claim all mystic powers and rights back once we've debunked the cult of the Dark Descendant as according to plan."
Nerissa's mouth hung open at that. Her eyes went wide with excitement and thrill... She was just about to say something when they heard a loud explosion from outside the hut. Then another one. The third one knocked the door off its hinges.
"What the hell is happening?!"- Irma exclaimed in total shock as she and Cornelia struggled to stand up again.
Will rubbed her head. She and Nerissa had been thrown to the wall together.
"Mage! Mage, we request your help!"- one man came to focus amid the smoke and clutter that had overtaken the village, limping his way to the broken door. "The Queen is attacking the village! There are fallen men... She bears forces that we cannot fight back without magic. We need magic!"
"Darn it!"- the Mage cursed angrily. "What is she doing, exactly? I don't have that much magic yet-"
"We have magic!"- Will exclaimed. "Nerissa, take our magic-blocking bracelets off and we'll help you defend the village and the people. We have a score to set with Zorarose anyway."
Hastily, Nerissa looked down at their hands and immediately blasted her bracelet and that on Irma's hand. They fell to the floor.
"Hey, what about me-"- Cornelia protested, but the older woman cut her off:
"You will stay here. Go to the back room and don't move, I can't risk Caleb seeing you! Caleb... I have to go and save him!"
"Yes, but-"
But Nerissa didn't wait for her to finish. She grabbed ahold of Will's hand and started dragging her towards the battle scene. Unsettled, Cornelia managed to stop Irma at the last moment:
"Irma, please, you have to take my bracelet off!"- the blonde pleaded. "I will hide, I promise, but I have a terrible feeling...I might need all my magic tonight. Please, just take it off and go!"
Irma was too muddled to think straight or reply to that, she just crushed her friend's bracelet with some high-pressured water and flew after the others.
