(During W.I.T.C.H Issue 1, Before Halloween)

"It's been years since our first assignment!" Nigel infuriates as he pounds his fists to the table

"To be exact, two months has passed." Eric correct as he drinks coffee. "And don't let your rage down we're in a dine-in.

Eric, Nigel and Ray of the Vanguard, set up a meeting at Golden, a famous restaurant on Heatherfield, after two months of no trouble or disturbance on Earth. Every day since then, Nigel guards and checks the twelve portals of his hometown while both Eric and Ray guard the only portal at their hometown, Open Hills. The imbalance to the guard and portal ratio causes Eric to drive on his electric motorcycle for a hundred kilometers from Open Hill, to guard with Nigel, and back every night!

"It would be very convenient if the two of us could guard the twelve while the other guards the only portal at Open Hill…" Eric yawns as he crosses his arms on the table and lays his forehead on it.

"Never had the time to sleep do you, Eric?" Rays sheepishly rests the side of his face on his hand as he places his elbow on Eric's back as his hands.

"Don't you think?" Eric says, as his voice echoes on the space around his arms. "One, I have the only means to travel. Second, I was sent to the Principal's because I slept during class and third, I'm always with Nigel for every single night."

"Hey." Nigel annoyingly exclaims.

"That's enough." Rays stops them. "I think we should discuss on what to do from now on; especially about the news on the return of the Guardians of the Veil."

"Wait!" Nigel stuns. "They're back? So what about us then? We're not going to be the guardians of the universe then? So we do nothing then? What about the adventure?" He asks with no space between to breath after one question to another.

"Pipe down Nigel," Eric says as he raises his head back. "We're still on our objectives with a few minor tweaks."

"Minor tweaks?" Ray asks.

"I met with Yan Lin here at Heatherfield a few nights ago." Eric explains. "There was one night that I didn't join you, Nigel, because she told me to meet her up at her place."


(Before W.I.T.C.H Issue 1)

One night, the clock strike eleven-thirty sharp as Eric stops his bike on front of the said address. He removes his helmet and shoves his sleeves to check the time "Just in time." He looks to a sign that says 'The Silver Dragon' and looks at the address again. "I wonder why master called me to such a restaurant."

He looks around the place, especially Yan Lin's home "The lights are out. I hope, no one's watching." He covers his head with the hoodie of his jacket, claps his hands softly, closes his hands and concentrates. "Yan Lin" he whispers. Suddenly steam like air circulates his body and disappears with the wind. It is one of the legionates specialties and training, to transport to a person through air within a ten meter radius.

He opens his eyes to be at the shadowy corner of a small room. Across is the only source of light which is from the window next Yan Lin as she lies on her bed and gazes through the window outside

"Such a rare occasion for you to arrive on time" Yan Lin says, though he does not see him, sense his shadowy presence

"You knew I was here?" Eric surprisingly asks, removes his hoodie as he approaches her. "Never knew you own a restaurant."

"Oh I know you better than you know yourself and this is my son's restaurant" Yan Lin chuckles. "Did you bring what I told you to bring?"

Eric pulls out the map of the portals which was handed down by Endarno. "I don't know why you need it, but if you could be a great addition to the team, you're happily invited though."

"You were right all along." Yan Lin redirects the conversation. "They're back."

"They're back who?"

"The Guardians of the Veil of course!" she says.

Eric's eyes widen and jaw drops slightly as he could not believe of what she said. "They're back?!"

"Hush now!" Yan Lin silences him. "My family could wake up. I should not have announced that you."

"I'm sorry master, but I could not just contain the gladness." Eric exclaims silently.

"Oh right, but what about the map? What are you going to do about it?" He gives the map to her.

"The twelve portals are now the Guardians mission." Yan Lin replies.

"Oh what good news!" Eric exclaims sarcastically. "For the past two months, my team and I check and guard the portals and no disturbance occurred and now they're firing us." Eric says jokingly flat faced. "I think I want to take back what I said about the Guardians."

Annoyingly, Yan Lin hits Eric with the map. "No, Young Lyndon, the council agrees to retain the Legions as guards of their own world. Though your original mission will be taken care of by the new Guardians, your new mission is to take care of the only portal at your hometown and to keep an eye on the new guardians."

"That's good news, I guess." Eric says.

"Oh, truly" Yan Lin says as she then stares through the window again for long seconds of silence without a flinch to look at Eric.

"You have been gazing at the stars for a while, Master Lin." He says. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, Young Lyndon." Yan Lin replies. "It's about time that I would see the stars from Earth for the last time."

"What are you saying?" Eric worriedly asks.

"My body has run out of time, Young Lyndon, would you perform the ceremony for me when my time has come?" Yan Lin grins widely and Eric understood. "I want you be here when I call for you, do you understand?"

Eric smiles in return. "Understood, Master Lin."