Chapter 12: Fiery Passion Part IV
The Guardians found themselves surrounded by spirits. Alarmed, they slid into their defensive positions. Only Kimi and Orube seemed unfazed. Confused, Hay Lin did a double-take at the ghosts. Realizing who and what they were, her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened.
"What is it, Hay Lin?" Will asked.
Hay Lin laughed. "Guardians! They're all Guardians!"
Hay Lin was right! Her friends turned to look and gasped; They were surrounded by Guardians with gossamer wings and donning the traditional attires in various shades of pinks, purples, blues, and greens. Some have touches of black and white as well as silver and gold. All were positioned in pairs.
"Twin Guardians!" Taranee said. "These are all previous Guardians of Light and Darkness!"
"Indeed. Welcome to the Hall of Legacy," Kimi said, waving a hand at their surroundings. "It was built by the Kinomoto clan centuries ago to immortalize and glorify the Guardianship."
"Glorify" was the right word to describe the purpose of this place. It was a large hall with large red-lacquered pillars coiled by gold-painted dragons and phoenixes. They were placed far apart, allowing artisans to render paintings and statues of epic battles. A pair of Twin Guardians accompanied each artwork while erected on pedestals. The building went on for several hundred yards until it led to a grand stairway where doubled doors were currently closed. In the center lay a fountain and a miniature Zen garden with cascading water features, rocks, and plants.
As impressive as the architecture was, they only had eyes on the past Twin Guardians: tall and elegant, these figures looked so otherworldly as if they had been rendered as gods. Irma reached out to touch them, curious to see what they were made of. Her fingers went through, causing the image to flicker like ripples in the water. She felt nothing but cool air, and it took a moment for the image to reset itself.
Irma laughed. "Holograms?" she turned to Kimi. "So, instead of immortalizing them in stone, you rendered them as holograms?"
Kimi nodded. "Light magic," she said, pointing to the round pedestals. "Memories and light particles are blended in perfect harmony to create them for posterity. I'm afraid we couldn't render them as living relief murals like the ones in Kandrakar."
"Kandrakar is ancient, so it would take a lot of magic to be able to do the same here," Orube said. In Kandrakar, history is recorded on its walls as living relief murals. Its walls, hallways, chambers, and corridors are endless and ever-growing. Every critical moment of its history will appear on its walls as if by magic. The last time W.I.T.C.H. was in its core, they stumbled upon a wall recording every generation of the elemental Guardians that precede them, including Yan Lin and her friends.
"Holograms or not, I think this beats the wax museum Martin tried to drag me to a while back!" Irma grinned.
"I wonder if the Gemini Council has their own," Taranee said, glancing around. Wonder and amazement filled in her eyes.
"I don't care if they're made of stone, wax, or holograms! Their outfits are amazing!" Hay Lin said as she glided up and down the hallway, taking in the view. "Hey, look!" she cried, pointing to the holograms behind her friends.
They turned to see the two largest holograms, rendered thrice as high. They were identical brothers, standing tall and regal at their end of the hall before all the other holograms as if they were kings amongst gods. They were majestic but also familiar, their outfits mostly in blues and greens with traditional black and silver samurai armors. They were both very handsome, with long dark, blue hair tied up in a warrior's ponytail. Their dark blue eyes were full of wisdom and hardship of a bygone era.
"That's Kazuhiko and Kazuhiro," said Kimi, glancing up at their faces with reverence. "The first Guardian of Darkness," she pointed to one brother, "and the Guardian of Light," she pointed to the other. "Kazuhiko and his followers went off to start the Watsuki clan, where my father is a descendant. Kazuhiro and his followers went off to start the Kinomoto, my mother's clan, and from them is where all future Twin Guardians are from."
"They certainly do look larger than life," Cornelia said, "I don't mean that literally."
"How many pairs of Twin Guardians have there been?" Taranee asked.
Kimi thought for a moment, tapping her chin to calculate the number in her head. "I believe Kyochi and I are the one hundred and eighth pair."
Taranee nodded, her eyes still sparkled with the fire of curiosity and the hunger for knowledge. Glancing around, she noticed something about the other holograms: not many of them were portrayed in their secondary form—a power-up level Hay Lin affectionately named 'New Power' from when they were fighting Dark Mother. She turned to Kimi and asked.
"Being a Guardian is wonderful but dangerous," Kimi replied as they followed Hay Lin, who had been gliding down the hallway to look at the other holograms. "Not many live long enough to achieve their secondary form because many died before given a chance. Most were killed in battle, and others sacrificed themselves for some noble deed." She paused. "Didn't you tell me one of your predecessors met the same fate?"
"Yeah…Cassidy and Nerissa," Will said glumly. Honestly, she didn't need a reminder of the fallen Guardian who killed her friend because she was drunk on the power of the Heart. She needed to find Matt, ensure he was safe, and get back to this whole business of defeating Seiryuu. Unfortunately, her friends don't share the same sense of urgency as they were too enchanted by these ghostly projections of dead Guardians.
"Hey, look at this! I found another pair in their New Power outfits!" Hay Lin cried.
Everyone paused to admire the two sisters. They were identical and beautiful in almost every way, saved for the slight differences in their outfits. Still, they were like a pair of perfectly cut diamonds. Their hair was flowing, shining like glass, and held back by flower ornaments. They sported small shoulder armors, tied loosely with elegant knots over their embroidered robes. If beauty could be intimidating and admirable, these two were the perfect example.
"Who were they?" Cornelia asked, unable to hide the admiration in her voice.
"Tomoko, the Guardian of Darkness, and her sister, Satomi, the Guardian of Light," Orube said, reading their names on the pedestal. "It says here that they ascended almost two thousand years ago!"
"My grandfather used to tell me stories of their exploits when I was little," Kimi smiled. "He told me how Satomi was so fierce that she brought down a water-wielding pirate queen and her entire fleet by churning the sea to create a whirlpool with a pillar of light. And Tomoko was so kind-hearted and pure of spirit that she touched the cold heart of the underworld god." A coy smile appeared on her lips. "According to legend, he even asked for her hand in marriage."
Irma whistled. "Whoa, that's pretty badass."
"Did she accept?" Cornelia asked. Always the romantic.
"No, she died not long after her sister did."
Cornelia furrowed her brow. She made a note to ask Kimi for more details on this story when they returned.
"What about these two?" Irma asked, stopping in front of a pair of twin brothers. From the looks of it, they were the next to achieve their New Power, about a thousand years after Tomoko and Satomi.
"Kohei of the shadows and Kosei of the light," Kimi said. "I believe they also died young."
"What did they do?" Hay Lin asked.
Kimi gestured to the silk painting opposite the holograms. "They died while trying to protect the universe's balance against a warlock on the cusp of unleashing a black hole."
Taranee gaped. "A black hole?"
"That's what it says here," Orube nodded as she read the description on the pedestal. "According to this, the warlock was a powerful shadow-wielder, close to destroying this solar system with his massive black hole. He almost succeeded had it not been for Kohei and Kosei, who used all of their magic and the Sacred Talismans to create a powerful spell and disperse it. The black hole shrank, but in the end, the brothers sacrificed themselves by jumping past the event horizon, dragging the evil warlock with them so that he many never plague the universe again."
"Woah! That's pretty epic!" Irma said.
Taranee studied the holograms. "I guess it's true what they say that real heroes have short lives."
And it's a pity that some of their direct descendants aren't as honorable as they were, Kimi thought bitterly.
Impatient and irritated, Will crossed her arms. "This is nice, but shouldn't we get going?"
"Oh, why the rush?" Irma asked.
"Yeah, just look at all of them!" Hay Lin squealed with delight. She floated dreamily back and forth as if she was on cloud nine. "Look at their outfits! I didn't think Guardians could look so good in these different hues! And their armors and hair ornaments?! Oh, don't get me started on the black and white embroideries! I'm in Guardian fashion history heaven!" She pumped her fists into the air. "Argh! Why can't we look good in our elemental colors whenever we transform?"*
Cornelia laughed and decided to join her in on the fun. "And not just their fashions, Hay Lin," she said, coming up to the last pair—two brothers. "Some of these former Guardians are kinda cute while in their prime. Especially the boys!"
Irma laughed and slapped Will on the back before joining Cornelia at her side. "I know! Who knew that guys could look so hot with a pair of wings?" Together, they giggled like gossiping school girls. "Hello, handsome!" Irma said flirtatiously. "Nice pecks you and your twin have there! Can I feel them?" She pretended to stroke their bare chests and laughed. "Ooh…you're so strong!" she cooed and then giggled.
Glancing at the nameplates, Cornelia decided to join in on the fun. "Oh, flowers! Takao, you shouldn't have! And Akihiro? Why, yes! I did just have my hair done!" She tossed her golden hair gracefully over one shoulder and winked at the holograms. "You're both so kind to notice!"
Kimi and Orube exchanged glances. "Do you want to tell her, or should I?" Orube asked.
With a controlled expression, Kimi strolled up behind them, cleared her throat, and said in an even tone, "That's my great-grandfather and his brother that you're ogling at."
Irma and Cornelia froze in mid-flirtation. Taranee and Hay Lin burst out laughing.
Will, however, was not in the mood for games and jokes. Putting her foot down, she hissed, "GIRLS! C'mon! We have an important mission to do! We don't have time for this!"
Orube placed a hand on Will's shoulder. "Calm down, Will—"
Will slapped her hand away. "Don't tell me to calm down, Orube! Matt has gone A.W.O.L., we still have a whole bunch of things to do, but you all just wanna goof off here!"
Orube frowned and crossed her arms. "I understand your frustration, Will, but you're stressing out."
Will gave her a dubious look. "Of course, I'm stressed! What if something happened to him?! What if he'd gotten lost or is probably hurt somewhere? If we'd learned anything in Annam, it's that nowhere is exactly safe!"
Kimi gave an indignant huff. "Oh? So you're admitting I was right, and Matt should have stayed home in Heatherfield?"
Will shot her a furious glare. "Shut up, Watsuki! None of this would have happened if you hadn't—"
"What? Bruised his ego?" Kimi challenged. "No matter how many excuses you came up with to justify your frustration, it won't change the fact that Matt-boy has made all the decisions himself! He was the one who insisted on helping us. He was the one who asked me to make the challenge harder in the stimulation room to prove himself. He was the one who decided to sneak into my world like a thief in the night!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU TWO!" Orube roared, pushing herself between Will and Kimi before they could claw each other's eyes out. "I've had it with your bickering. I am your leader, so you both will do well to listen to my orders!" She glanced around at them all. They wilted under her glaring eyes, gulped, and nodded nervously. "Good! Kimi," Orube turned to her, "you need to stop torturing Matt. I've known him longer than you, and I assure you he means well and has his worth and strength. I don't care if you still dislike him, but at least try to be courteous and respectful to him from now on." Kimi's lips tightened at this but decided it was best not to argue. "And Will," she turned to the Keeper, "I don't know what Matt is up to, but at least we know he's somewhere in this area. We'll ask if anyone has seen him if we can, but I'm afraid he's not our priority. Matt has been training and can take care of himself. With Seiryuu's attack nearly here, I want us to focus on that…" She placed a comforting hand on Will's shoulder, this time with a little more pressure, forcing Will to look her in the eye. "I need you to focus on the things that lay ahead. I can't have you worrying about Matt right now. Can you do that?"
Will opened her mouth to protest but remembered when Irma hadn't been able to focus during their battle in Annam. She had lost control and allowed Zhu Que's Deadly Sin to consume her. It nearly cost them the battle and their lives while Irma was swept away, almost lost forever. She had to admit that Orube was right, and she couldn't lose focus for any of their sakes.
Sighing with resignation, Will said, "All right, I'll try."
Satisfied, Orube turned to face everyone. "Good, now listen. Since we've been sent here by Kandrakar, I think it's obvious that we need to speak to Chancellor Komei."
Cornelia nodded. "If he's waiting for us, let's go and look for—"
"Um, sorry to interrupt, but is it just me, or did that dragon just move?" Irma interrupted.
Cornelia shot her a look. "Irma, we don't have time for jokes!"
"I'm not! Look!" Irma insisted, pointing to a giant statue of a silver dragon.
Placed opposite to Kimi and Kyochi's holograms, it seemed a little out of place. Its design was foreign. Its scales and hide were made of silver, bending and overlapping each other like living metal. Its eyes glow a piercing blue, and its joints made a smooth whirring sound as the pistons and gears sang in unison. Even the membrane of its wings has a silvery shimmer with circuit patterns. It looked like an artist's rendition of a creature blended with steampunk and cyber technology.
Without a thought, Kimi rushed to the dragon and embraced it. "Silverlore!" she cried.
"That's not a statue!" Taranee adjusted her glasses in wonder. "It's alive!"
"A robot dragon! A cybernetic and steampunk robot dragon!" Irma grinned at Will. "I thought we've seen a lot of weird stuff on Lusteria, but this is one of the weirdest!"
"Kimi, what is that thing?" Orube asked, just as surprised as everyone. "Is it Lusterian?"
Kimi shook her head as she stroked the giant dragon's snout. "Alien. He belongs to Kyochi," she said. "A few years ago, Lord Araël sent my brother on a solo mission to a hostile world where he found Silverlore. This poor beast was broken and left for dead until Kyochi found and rescued him. When his mission was over, Silverlore didn't want to leave Kyochi's side."
"My parents wouldn't let me keep a stray cat that I found on my way home from school when I was nine!" Hay Lin said.
"So your brother brought home a pet robot dragon?" Irma raised an eyebrow. She exchanged a grin with Hay Lin. "I bet your uncle wasn't too happy about that."
"My aunt and uncle weren't certain about it at first. Even I had my trepidation. But Kyochi was insistent, and Silverlore seemed very attached and protective of my brother. My grandfather allowed it when he snapped and bared his fang at Lord Osamu for his rude remark."
A low rumbling sound echoed from the dragon's throat. He glanced at them and huffed, creating steam out of his nostrils. Hesitantly, everyone took a few steps back.
"Don't worry, that just means he likes you," Kimi smiled. Turning her attention back to the metal beast, she said, "I can't believe you're here. I'm sorry, I've been gone for so long since…" she paused, "since Nii-san disappeared." The dragon gave her a longing look. "Where have you been, boy?"
"With me, child," said a voice.
They turned to see an elderly man stepping out from behind the dragon. Donned in a dark blue and white kimono, he struck a proud and elegant stature with his dragon-tipped cane. His silver beard glistened in the light while his hair was tied back in a sleek topknot. In some way, he does bear a similar resemblance to Kimi's uncle. It was like looking at Komei, aged with grace and humility several decades into the future. Will thought he reminded her of a wise and grand master.
Orube's eyes bulged in recognition. "Lord Kyosuke!" she gasped. Realizing her manner, she positioned herself into a respectful bow. "It is an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of the Dragon of Hoshi."
"Gratitude, young warrior," he said. "It has been many years. I am glad that my training has been useful to you while in the service to the Oracle."
Orube nodded. In her most humbled voice, she said, "Yes, sensei. Thanks to you, I was able to render my service useful to Kandrakar during one of its darkest times."
The others exchanged confused glances. "You're the one who trained Orube when she was here?" Irma asked. She noticed how Silverlore moved beside the old warrior and studied her curiously. "Lemme guess…you've been taking care of Kyochi's pet dragon all this time, too."
"Irma!" Orube quietly elbowed her in the side. Switching to their mental connection, she thought, Lord Kyosuke is a prominent figure in the Kinomoto clan. Show some respect!
Irma huffed indignantly, and Will couldn't agree more. Let's hope this old man is on our side, she thought.
Kyosuke smirked. If he had heard Irma's comment, he chose to ignore it. He turned to face Kimi, who had been quiet since he appeared. "Greetings, Guardian of Light," he smiled. "What an honor for you to have graced us with your presence. And it would seem you've deigned to bring your Earthling allies."
Kimi gave him a gracious bow but then folded her arms and gave him a resigned look. "I've brought friends, Oji-sama," she corrected.
Kyosuke studied her, pondering her words. He stroked his beard with concern. "Friends? The granddaughter I knew never used such a word, even to describe her cousins."
The other Guardians' mouths dropped to the floor. They exchanged glances. "Granddaughter? This man is…"
Orube nodded but pressed a finger to her lips to silence them.
"I'm no longer that little girl, Oji-sama," Kimi said. She took a few steps forward and gave him a defiant look, ready for a challenge.
"No, of course not," Kyosuke huffed. He circled her like an eagle, scrutinizing her with piercing eyes. "You seemed to have shed your hatred for the world and your self-loathing." He jabbed the end of his cane at her heart. "Your heart hasn't just changed, but it evolved. You've grown to become more like your mother and your father." The mention of her deceased parents caused her lips to quiver. Tapping his cane to the floor, he drummed his fingers on its dragon-tipped head. "But I wonder if that is enough to face the coming challenges."
"We've faced ordeals and uncertainties before," Kimi said. "As long as there is breath in our bodies, we will not stop."
The old warrior scoffed. "Such confidence. At least that hasn't wavered."
Kimi narrowed her eyes at her grandfather. "What are you suggesting?"
"Your declaration is impressive, but can you and your friends…" he tried out the word as if it was a new and unfamiliar dish, "…take on so many burdens that will fall on your shoulders."
"We're Guardians, sir," Will interrupted but still tried to look as humble as possible. "With the powers of the elements, burdens, and hardship can be expected."
"Yeah, there's a saying on Earth that with great power comes great responsibilities," Irma added with a grin. "Cheesy words from a movie, I know, but it is still true."
Kyosuke turned to gaze at them with such fierce eyes that they were almost sorry for speaking up. He stroked his beard in contemplation. "Wise words, indeed, young Guardians, but the fact remains that you are all still so young and inexperienced. How far can you go with nothing but your courage?" He paused and gazed at the holograms of Takao and Akihiro. "My father and his brother were the previous Guardians of Darkness and Light. They were around your age when they ascended. Still, despite their youth, they were wise beyond their years and already suffered through great traumas."
He gazed at them with such sorrowful looks in his eyes. This irked Will somewhat. Were they being pitied? Finding her voice, she took a step forward and said, "With all due respect, sir, we have suffered through great traumas of our own and faced challenges that would leave many to crumble in defeat." She gestured to herself, Irma, and Cornelia. "The three of us have been through some grueling ordeals since coming to your world—ordeals we had to face while trying to defeat the corrupted Celestial Warriors!"
"Will is right, sir. From their descriptions, it sounded as if those ordeals were intense!" Hay Lin added.
"Yes, they were! But in the end, we came out on top," Irma grinned. With a thumb, she pointed to the rolls of former Twin Guardians behind them. "Not to brag, but we're the first to achieve our third transformation after passing our big scary tests. I'm sure your dad and his twin were amazing Guardians and all, but can you honestly say that any of them have achieved the same level as we have?"
Perplexed by her audacity, Kyosuke continued to study Will and her friends with such an expression that it was difficult to know whether he was insulted or taking it all in stride. He turned to his granddaughter and said, "I can see why my cousins were not pleased to hear of you being sent to live and learn amongst such companions."
"You disapprove?"
Kyosuke's eyes fell on them once more. "No, but I have to wonder…" He tucked his cane away and, as quick as lightning, drew out a hidden katana.
Alarmed, Kimi spread her arms out to block the others from his view. "We don't have time for a challenge, Oji-sama!"
"Then make time," he declared. "Let me see how much you've grown!"
"But—"
"It's clear that you view your friends with esteem and respect. But convince me of their merits! Prove to me that they have made you stronger!"
Kimi could feel her friends' auras agitating with alarm at this sudden turn of events. She can't let them fight her grandfather. Kimi pinned Kyosuke with a defiant look. "You won't fight them," she said in a low and dangerous tone.
Kyosuke smirked and flashed his sword. "You've misunderstood me, granddaughter," he said, "It is you who must fight me." In a blink of an eye, he appeared right before her. Before Kimi could comprehend his speed, he grabbed her by the neck and tossed her back several feet as if she was a rag doll.
"Kimi!" Orube cried.
Kimi flew through her and Kyochi's holograms and slammed into the wall. She hissed and winced from the pain but quickly got into the air.
"That was uncalled for!" Will cried, turning to face the warrior.
"Yeah, if you want a fight, then let's dance!" Irma added, not caring if she sounded cringed. They slid into fighting stances, the lights of their elements crackling and sizzling at the tips of their fingers.
"No!" Kimi said, landing between them and Kyosuke. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured her own katana, crafted from hardened light. "This is my fight. Stay out of the way!" she warned.
They protested but were cut off when Silverlore growled and slammed his tail down, blocking their attempt to join Kimi's side.
"Let's see if the months you've spent on Earth have eroded your skills," Kyosuke declared. He raised his sword and pointed it at Kimi. "Show me your worth as the Guardian of Light!"
Kimi charged; her blade clashed with Kyosuke's, sending sparks flying. "You're a foolish old man!" she cried.
Kyosuke stepped to the side and backhanded her across the face, hard. Her friends winced. "And you're still a child who yearns to step out of her brother's shadows."
Kimi wiped the tiny droplet of blood from her lips and got back on her feet, her sword flashing.
Her friends watched in amazement as they dodged, slashed, and blocked. Despite her fury, Kimi remained swift and fluid; her movements were graceful and stunning. Still, she was no match for her grandfather. He may be old, but it was evident that his skill remained sharp as though he was still young. He blocked and parried all of Kimi's blows, dodging and evading like the wind and the shadows.
"It's like he could read all of her moves and tricks," Will noted as Kyosuke countered Kimi's attempt to use an illusion of herself from coming up behind him.
"As expected of a son of a former Guardian of Darkness," Orube said. "Lord Kyosuke trained all of his grandchildren. Many outsiders sought him for their teacher, but he usually turned them away." She paused, remembering something from long ago. "It took Luba several tries to convince him to train me."
They continued to watch from the safety of Silverlore's shadows. Kyosuke's blows have shattered Kimi's sword, forcing her to conjure a naginata, but that weapon was quickly countered after a few strokes of his blade. Kimi blasted a beam of blue light at Kyosuke, but he slashed it into halves with his sword and ran at her. Seeing him coming, she flipped into the air to land behind him. In mid-flight, he swung his sword at her again, its tip cutting off the ends of her hair. Landing on her feet, Kimi conjured a kusarigama, a chained weapon with a sickle tied to one end and a heavy metal weight on the opposite. She wiped the heavyweight in a circle with an expert hand before throwing it at Kyosuke. It coiled around his wrists, but he yanked hard, pulling Kimi closer. Her friends yelped, but she was ready as she had the sickle on the other end of the weapon. She swung down, but Kyosuke blocked it with his sword. With surprising brute force and speed, he grabbed her by her hair and threw her to the ground. But he wasn't the only one who was quick as Kimi slid from beneath him. She grabbed her kusarigama and spun the sickle in a circle before aiming it at the old warrior. Kyosuke huffed and cut down on the chain, separating the sickle from the rest of itself and rendering her weapon useless. Leaving no time to recover, Kimi conjured a flurry of throwing stars and kunai daggers and threw them at her grandfather. Weary, Kyosuke gathered a shield as her weapons bounced off his constructs like rain off a tiled roof.
I'm thinking like a warrior! I need to think like a light-wielder! Kimi thought as she dodged and blocked another one of his attacks. She conjured several more weapons in rapid succession and had them flying at her opponent in an endless stream of attacks.
"C'mon, Kimi! You can beat him!" Irma cried.
"Yeah, show him what you're made of!" Cornelia added.
"Remember, you've trained with the Jade Dragon, too!" Taranee said.
That's right, and the Jade Dragon told her that she needed to be more creative with her attacks. Straightening herself, Kimi conjured tiny clusters of crystals in mid-air. Shimmering like gemstones, they exploded in little bursts of blinding light. Kyosuke recoiled from the flash, giving her enough time to dive in. This time she was ready as she came at him with a lot at her disposal: Rolling pillars knocked his feet from under him, followed by a flurry of beams that burned and flickered like fire. He tried to block them and move but found his legs tied down by vines that glowed with a green aura. They let go as a swirling torrent of purple light pounded into him like a gust of wind. It tossed him into the fountain. Kimi muttered something under her breath, and an avatar of an octopus emerged from the water, drawing its aura tentacles at him. Kyosuke hissed in annoyance as he slashed and cut off the creature's limbs.
Will and the others stared, dumbfounded. They never realized that light-wielding could be this versatile. Although Kimi couldn't control any of the elements they can, she could create something in their shapes with her construct or conjure something based on their fundamental aspects.
"Is that all, child?" Kyosuke huffed as he slashed the last of the tentacles. Without looking, he stabbed into the octopus's temple, and it dissolved into a cloud of shimmering dust.
"No, it isn't," Kimi said and held a hand at him.
Before Kyosuke could react, a shadow loomed over him. Spinning on his heels, he was surprised to see Silverlore bearing his teeth at him. "By the gods—" he gasped but was immediately cut off when Silverlore roared and snapped his fangs at the old man. With great effort, Kyosuke stabbed his sword into the roof of the dragon's jaw before it could swallow him.
Will and the others blinked. They glanced up to see Silverlore still looming over them and realized that Kimi had created an illusion as solid as she could conjure. Unfortunately, Kimi couldn't maintain it for long as the fake Silverlore dissolved into tiny light particles. Exhausted, she fell to one knee and found herself at the mercy of Kyosuke's blade.
"Any more tricks?" he smirked.
She tilted her chin and returned his smirk. "Yes. This one."
Kimi dissolved into nothing, and Kyosuke found the real one coming from behind him with a wakizashi blade construct ready to slit his throat. "Impressive deception," he huffed. "But that's all it is." As quick as before, he knocked the knife away, grabbed Kimi, and flung her over his shoulder, pinning her down.
"Argh!" Kimi cried. She tried to blast him with energy orbs, but he conjured light constructs of his own—kunai daggers and pinned her down by the fabrics of her gloves. Unable to move her arms, she tried to wiggle her way out and aimed a kick at him, but he rammed the butt of his sword at a specific spot, causing her to gasp in pain.
"Kimi!" the others cried. They tried to get closer, but Silverlore growled and slammed his tail down as a reminder that they shouldn't interfere.
"Damn you!" Tears of frustration leaked from her eyes.
"Your Earthling friends are honorable, but they have made you soft and weak," Kyosuke said. "You will always be a child submissive to her elders. You will always be another worthless pawn to Isamu-dono and his cohorts." He paused and gazed down at her with a pitying look. "Face it, little one. You are a Kinomoto."
Something within Kimi snapped. Her clenched knuckles turned white. With great effort, she got to her feet and gave Kyosuke the fiercest gaze she could muster. To his surprise, she overtook his light-wielding. Wrestling control, the daggers he had created shattered like glass.
Power flowed into her, and her eyes glowed the purest white. "I am NOT a Kinomoto." A pure white aura emitted visibly around her with flecks of shimmering crystals like an iridescent rainbow. Even the old warrior seemed awed by Kimi's ethereal appearance. If he were the Dragon of Hoshi, this child before him would be the queen of the stars.
Kimi didn't seem to notice the glowing aura around her. Her only focus was on her opponent. Straightening herself, she took a step forward. "I am the daughter of Kinomoto Kotone, and I have her humility! I am the daughter of Watsuki Kohaku and am his pride! I am the sister of Kyochi, the Guardian of Darkness, and am his shadow while he is my light! I am the holder of the Jewel of Life! I am myself and no other! I am a Guardian of Light! I am Watsuki Kimi!"
She raised a hand in the air, summoning the Jewel of Life. A light radiated from within, temporarily blinding everyone in the hall. Her friends gasped. Silverlore screeched as he spread one of his wings to protect Will and her friends from the intensive light.
When it subsided, Kyosuke glanced up and found himself faced with not just Kimi but someone who had been dead thousands of years.
"You! It can't be!" he gasped.
Kazuhiko and Kazuhiro said nothing as they conjured their swords and rushed at him. Taken aback by the appearance of the first Twin Guardians, Kyosuke was a bit slow to block them and found himself pushed back. He was so engrossed with his two new opponents that he didn't feel a stinging pain of an arrow across his cheeks. Glancing up, he saw Kohei and Kosei aiming their bow and arrow constructs at him.
"By the gods!" he cried. They fired, forcing him to retreat.
It took a moment for Hay Lin to find her voice. "Woah…are you seeing what I'm seeing, girls?"
Taranee gulped and nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, we're seeing it, Hay Lin…but I don't think we believe it."
"The Guardians…the previous Guardians are…alive!" Irma pointed. She was half right, as several Twin Guardians standing on their respected pedestals were moving and fighting the Dragon of Hoshi. Even Kazuhiko and Kazuhiro were rendered their average size to fight.
Orube stared at Kimi in utter disbelief. "She's controlling the holograms and making them fight Kyosuke on her behalf!"
Kyosuke tried to hide behind a pillar, and when he tried to sneak a look, something sharp whizzed by and nicked the stone pillar. Kyosuke's eyes followed the flying war fan as it flew back into the hands of Tomoko. Her sister, Satomi, aimed her sword at him, her expression cold and pitiless. Orbs of white light gathered into her blade, and she swung it at him. Kyosuke cursed and ran. He looked back in time to see the pillar crumbling into chunks.
The next few seconds passed in a blur. Kyosuke swore under his breath whenever his blade passed through them like ghosts. Only Kimi could decide which parts of their bodies solidify for an attack. Strong arms appeared from behind him before he could whirl around. Thrown to the ground, he looked up to see the tip of a sword wielded by Akihiro. His brother, Takao, looked down upon him with a mirror in hand, his face expressionless.
Kyosuke's face turned white. For the first time in decades, his tightly controlled warrior expression melted away like snow thawing in the light of spring. He struggled to get up but seeing the ghosts of his father and uncle did something to him. He fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the floor. It had been years since Kyosuke had seen Takao and Akihiro liked this. He was but a boy when they were still in their primes. The holograms retained their youthful faces while he…he had grown old.
"Father…Uncle…" he whispered.
Takao and Akihiro's eyes and expressions remained unchanged to his plea. Kyosuke almost wanted to scoff. Why should he expect an answer from them? They weren't even real ghosts. No, they're made of light particles bent and hardened by magic—magic created by a very clever and powerful light-wielder. Kyosuke turned to Kimi, who continued to be in a trance as the Jewel of Life shone brightly in her hand.
"I yield," he said. Getting to his feet, Kyosuke sheathed his sword in one graceful move.
"Indeed. Enough is enough," said a familiar voice.
A torrent of wind flooded the hall. Once it subsided, everyone looked up to see Chancellor Komei standing at the top of the stairs. A startled gasp escaped Kimi's lip as she broke out of her trance. Realizing what she had done, she clasped her hands together, absorbing the Jewel back into herself. With her hold gone, the holograms of the Twin Guardians flickered like a broken record before reforming on their respected pedestals.
Silverlore lifted his tail, allowing Orube and the other Guardians to join Kimi's side.
Kyosuke smiled and gave her a bow. "Well fought, Watsuki Kimi," he said. "Using my father and uncle's images to break my concentration was unprecedented, but clever and innovating." He glanced at Komei and smiled. "Wouldn't you agree, son?"
"Yes, but her earlier attacks were just as creative," Komei noted, flicking his fan gently. "I especially enjoyed the octopus avatar." He gave Kimi a wink. "Perhaps you could conjure something larger and more intimidating next time. Perhaps an umibozu?"
Taranee gave him a skeptical look. "Wait, you've been watching us since then?"
"I've been watching since you arrived," Komei said. He turned to look at his father. "I would have greeted you earlier, but Lord Kyosuke insisted on approaching you first." He glanced at Kimi. "He also wanted to meet your Earthling friends."
"I was curious, but I also wanted to see how much you've grown, granddaughter," said the old warrior. He had pulled out his dragon cane and leaned on it as if tired from the fight. "And thus, I felt the need to test you."
"But why?" Hay Lin asked. "Why challenge her now when there's a siege on your doorsteps?"
The Dragon of Hoshi gave her a look. "It is precisely why that I must test her." He turned back to face his granddaughter. "Kimi-chan, our world is changing, and the situation in Nihon is at a critical point. The Emperor is dead, and his heir is in surgery. Many will try to seize this opportunity to take control. It is not just Seiryuu and her forces that you will have to face, but several of those who have been plotting with dark forces. Do not be surprised if they are close members of the Kinomoto clan."
The colors drained from their faces as they lowered their gazes.
"Kenji…" Kimi whispered. She clenched her hands. "We've discovered he's been working with the Celestial Warriors for some time. And it seemed he had pulled Kazumi and Kiyomi into his machinations." She turned to Komei. "I'm sorry, uncle."
Sadness and disappointment glinted in the Chancellor's eyes. "I had hoped he would use his talents for the greater good, but his heart is too steeped in hatred and darkness. I'm afraid we haven't found him."
"We'll deal with him when the time comes," Kimi said.
"Yes, you will, but it is not just your cousins you need to worry about," Kyosuke said. He placed a withered hand on her shoulder. Kimi's auraseer magic flared, reading his aura and some of the memories and the thoughts that come with it. Without speaking, the Dragon of Hoshi had relayed his warning and concern for her regarding the Kinomoto elders. He showed her memories of the summit and how the elders planned to send the Guardians into the Dark Forest. It was nothing more than a veiled plot to get rid of her because they had grown tired of her dissent. They would pawn her off as a bride if she had survived, just like countless Kinomoto women before her.
There were more…something…a few significant things…
Before Kimi could read into them, Kyosuke released his grip on her shoulder, ending their shared connection and the magic.
Thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning flashed. They turned to the windows to see dark clouds rolling in. Silverlore growled in agitation as if he sensed something wrong in the air. Kyosuke turned to him and calmed him with a glance
Turning to face the Guardians, Kyosuke tapped his cane on the marbled floor to command their attention. There are a few words of wisdom he wished to part on them. "The time is nearly upon us, Guardians," he said in his low, booming voice. "Dark times are approaching. My father and his brother's time has passed, and I have grown old and weary. While there is little that I can do to assist you, it will be up to you and your generation to take on the harrowing tasks to come." He glanced at Kimi. "Testing you have not only proven your worth, but also your capability to change and to change this insane world of ours, granddaughter."
"Yes, grandfather," Kimi nodded.
"Remember, Guardians," he said, returning his gaze to all of them. "You are the most powerful wielders in the universe. You command the seven elements and embody all of its attributes. When the time comes, be as swift as lightning, powerful as the sea, fierce as fire, firm as the mountain, elusive as the wind, bright as the stars, and mysterious as the shadows." He turned to Orube, "And, of course, possesses the heart of a warrior." A collective feeling of pride spread amongst them. Since coming to Lusteria, they hadn't heard such words of encouragement, especially from a Kinomoto. They couldn't help but beam. Kyosuke chuckled and turned back to his granddaughter. "Darkness may come before the Light, but so long as the light you hold in your heart remains pure, the Darkness will yield to you. As you've said before, Watsuki Kimi, you are the Guardian of Light."
Kimi smiled and bowed. "Arigato gozaimasu, Oji-sama," she said.
Without warning, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Kyosuke blinked, surprised by the sudden burst of affection. It must have been something she picked up on Earth. Without thinking, he returned the gesture by wrapping an arm around her.
"Come now, Kimi," said Komei, gesturing for the doors that would lead them into a private antechamber. "You have an audience with Lord Isamu and the others."
Dread bloomed in her chest. Of course, the daimyo would want to see her. But her grandfather's test has encouraged her somehow—no way to avoid it.
"Let us proceed, Uncle," said Kimi.
To be continued…
I'm so sorry for the delay. Originally, this chapter was supposed to be uploaded last month, but I got infected with…the virus. (Cough cough). I hate pandemics. Even when you're careful and received all your shots and wore your mask, you could still get infected. I've been recovering, but it's still difficult to write.
Originally, this chapter was supposed to be longer, but once again, it got too long and I have to cut it in halves. The next one will be done in a few days.
Notes:
Yes, we finally get to learn a few previous Twin Guardians. I'm only mentioning the ones who earned their New Powers. I even sketched their designs! To see them, go to my Deviantart page, (I use the same pen name: galistar07water) and then go to the "Dreams of Lusteria" folder in the gallery.
The number Kimi mentioned when asked how many pairs of Twin Guardians are there, her answer, number 108, is actually a sacred number in Buddhism (as well as Hinduism and Jainism).
*When Hay Lin asked why couldn't they have a transformation in their own respected elemental colors, I actually designed one for them. Mystic Elements is the 4th transformation level that I created, where each Guardian is wearing her (or his) elemental colors. Yes, you can see their designs for all seven Guardians, including Kimi and Kyochi on my Deviantart page.
"With great power comes great responsibility!" - Yes, Irma made a Spider-man reference.
Oji-sama – Grandfather in Japanese
Kusarigama – A weapon with a sickle on one end of a long chain and a heavy metal weight on the other.
Naginata – A pole weapon with a blade on one end, commonly seen as a preferred weapon of choice for female samurai
Kunai – Japanese daggers
Umibozu – A Japanese yokai in the ocean, said to be vengeful spirits of priests who drowned. Their appearance is that of a giant human head with a shaved scalp and a perpetual smile. They've also been described as having cloudy or mist-shrouded bodies with serpentine limps. Google it and you'll be freaked out.