(Issue 5, WITCH is trapped in the painting)

"Should I say, 'thank you for bringing me out of here'?" Nigel asks as he closes the door of the main entry door of the Police department behind him. "I know my despicable mother wouldn't do that. If she did know I was here, then she would ignore me by the police station overnight."

"I saw your gang left with your parents, yet you were nowhere to be seen." Eric says as they walk down the stairs to the sidewalk and begin to patrol once again. "So I would've concluded you're still in there. Besides, I still understand what you're situation with your unconcerned mother."

"Let me guess," Nigel says. "you used one of your voice changing spells to sound like my mother and you used that payphone booth over there to call the police."

"It's a good thing I brought my spell book with me." Eric shows his hard leather bound book. "I knew your gang would get in trouble so I came to the museum, and I knew it. I saw the police cars and tapes around the museum. I asked one of the officers and my hunch was right all along."

"I see. Thanks by the way." Nigel says. "Since you came to the museum, did you saw the monster lurking?"

"I do." Eric nods as he shoves his book into the bag.

"Really?!" Nigel exclaims. "So you did see our old Vathek again?"

"Huh?" Eric crosses his brow. "Sir Vathek was in the museum?"

"What?" Nigel also crosses his brow in confusion. "I thought you saw the monster?"

"And I did, but it was not Vathek. Why would he be there?"

"I don't know! The reason we ran away was because he appeared on front of us with another seven-foot tall and large creepy Snake-humanoid at his side." Nigel explains.

"Wait-what? Seven-foot tall?" Eric doubts to more confusion. "This so called-lizard is even shorter than me!"

"So you think I was too delusional to what I have seen?" Nigel angrily yells.

"What are you talking about?" Eric asks sternly at him. "I even conversed and made an agreement with it—"

"You made an agreement with the enemy?!"

"If you just let me finish."

"You don't want Ray and I to be involved in this?"

"If Ray were here he would've stopped us already!" Eric replies with loud voice.

Then, they were both silenced in realization to Ray's arbitrary absence. And to the fact, they used his name in vain when Ray is in a serious condition as of these recent days.

After few minutes of awkwardness Nigel breaks the silence. "How's Ray by the way?"

"He's becoming worse by the minute. When I visited him in his room to comfort him, he didn't even respond and just tells me to leave." Eric breathes a heavy sigh to calm him down. "We're not going anywhere with this situation at hand. If you did see Vathek and the large reptile, then maybe you're right; it was them but mine was different."

"One of Phobos' men?" Nigel asks.

"I thought at first, but I realized he was the exact opposite, when I met him a few blocks away from the museum."


(Issue 5, WITCH is trapped in the painting)

"So my hunch was right after all! It would be better if he could just go alone." Eric says as he walks toward to the police department. Earlier, Eric plans to check on Nigel to see what he's up to yet he was informed by an officer that there was a trespassing of four delinquents and are now arrested for their crimes. "The problem is how to get there."

Eric rides around on his electric motorbike scooter as he asks around for the police station. Yet as the time passes so as the power of his electric bike runs out of power, the wasted fuel was enough for him to get back to Open Hill. "Nigel, you'll pay your dear life for this!" he grunts.

Suddenly, as he comes across a dark empty lot to park his scooter for a while, a voice beyond the shadows calls out "Vanguard…Vanguard…I can feel your presence!"

Alarmed, he puts the hoodie on and takes the sword out from his recently made back scabbard, underneath his jacket. He cautiously walks to the dark lot and turns around to find the voice. "I don't have the mage in me. Who are you?"

"I am Grantaire, a legionate yourself and yes I was just testing you if you really aren't a mage as the others say." says the shadow. "Are you Atlas?"

"Y-yap?" Eric stutters watchfully.

Suddenly, he feels a large hand over his shoulder from behind, "I knew it." says the voice behind.

Surprised and shocked, Eric jumps and turns around quickly to meet a unique and out-of-this-world humanoid-lizard with red clothing. Still he stands firm to his fighting stance as he points his sword at him.

"Sorry for my appearance." Grantaire hisses lively. "I couldn't transform to an Earthling! That isn't my thing as a Meridianite, sir."

Still in cautious stance, "And why are you here? You come to search for me?" Eric asks as he grips his sword tighter. "And don't call me sir, please, just Atlas."

"Oh yes!" Grantaire says. "I am a messenger, and I came in behalf of Lieutenant Caleb, sir—"

"Lieutenant Caleb you say?" Eric lowers his sword down a moment and removes the hoodie "Why has he come for me?"

"He wants your answer." Grantaire reports.

Eric sighs and for the next few seconds of silence, "To be frank, it's not because we don't want Meridianites here, we have a dire situation on our hands as of the moment. We need more time to think about it. I'm truly sorry"

"Understood." Grantaire says in disappointment. "But I should also ask for forgiveness from you too. I've appeared suddenly to some Earthlings along the way."

"Have you appeared yourself before the Guardian then?" Eric asks.

"How did you knew that?" Grantaire asks surprisingly. "I was supposed to be discrete when I came here but the first Earhling I've met is a young girl. I've felt a strong sense from her, so I would suggest that she is you, but the more I get nearer to her I have discovered that she is not you yet her sense tingles me differently—not from a legionate but a Guardian! I was surprised so I hid among the shadows." He then looks at Eric through his eyes. "Please don't tell anyone about it."

"Well, your so-called-discrete appearance made headlines since." Eric explains. "Not only the Guardian has seen you, but there are some who have seen you as well and news and rumors travels fast nowadays, especially a said boy."

"Well since you see me I supposed you won't tell anyone?"

"If I did, then they would not believe me. Trust me. Magic is not something to be believed here; there just hard-to-believe rumors."

"And the Fire Guardian by the way, how is she after she was captured?" Grantaire says suddenly.

"What? A Guardian was captured?" Eric asks as he remembers Nigel's concern for Taranee the other day. 'So she really is in trouble!' he says to himself.

"Oh but you don't have to worry about, intel says that the Fire Guardian was saved from the rest of the Guardians. I just want to ask if she is alright since you are both Earthlings." He chuckles slightly and turns to a glooming feeling. "Are you sure about your answer?"

Eric sighs and nods slightly. "Give us time."

"I see. I hope you could agree to this because to be honest, things are getting worse for the Rebellion Army by the day."

"How bad?" Eric asks.

"Intel says Commander Lamarcus' Corps again retreats from Meridian borders, Phobos' men backed them off a mile away, which delayed the final phase of the war." Grantaire says. "Although Lt. Caleb continues to look for more new recruits, he is now in charge for the exodus of the civilians away from Phobos' Pillage. If only the Light of Meridian, Princess Elyon, was on our side…"

"So our information was confirmed? Elyon is truly the Light of Meridian?" Eric scratches his head.

"We had spies in the palace who eye on Elyon's powers, and you were right." Grantaire explains. "Caleb announced it to the Rebellion yet they need time to believe and change goals to side with them and make her queen."

"I understand." Eric says as he watches his clock. "I must go now, sorry once again."

"Don't be too tough on yourself." Grantaire says. "I heard your reasons over the matter between you and Lt. Caleb, and I understood it. We will give you time, but please answer before it's too late to say 'yes'."

"Agreed." Eric replies.


"And when will that time be?" Nigel asks.

"Very soon, I predict." Eric replies. "I'm afraid that our time to decide is too costly for them, yet I couldn't 'just' trust any Meridianite, even truthfully, Grantaire as of the moment."

"And if I meet that Lizard-guy again, I would literally obliterate him for what he did to me." Nigel says.

"You can't blame him right? Isn't it your fault for being with your gang from the first place?" Eric says.

"Of all the portals he could enter, he chose where he was too exposed." Nigel says. "If he could only use the Seal of Phobos, for him to cross in a destined location, then that would be great."

"Seal of Phobos?"

"It was a device created by Phobos himself to create new portals and the user can imagine where his target location could be. Alborn told me that he used it to create a portal to Earth when they escape from Phobos. I think it's now with the Guardians possession." Nigel explains.

"Is that something that I should be noting on?" Eric asks.

"Up to you." Nigel shrugs his shoulder extensively. "It doesn't matter to me anyhow since we have natural portals we could use and the secret portals we have to travel to Kandrakar."

"You're right." Eric says as he turns to the empty lot and into its shadows.

"What are you doing?" Nigel asks as he follows Eric to the lot.

"I parked my scooter here." He explains. "And you owe me a charge when we get to your home."

"You do know it's risky to park over here, I heard burglars in town now intend to steal motorbikes." Nigel explains. "And yours can be easily be taken."

"I know." Eric says as he pushes his motorbike scooter. "I let him guard it when I fetch you." He points his thumb to his back over the shoulder. Suddenly, the lizard-humanoid lurks out to the hidden dimmed light behind Eric's back.

Nigel with a surprising and annoyance written on his face asks. "Why is the lizard still here?"

"Mind your words" Eric scolds "Since the museum is now heavily guarded by the police, we need a way to make him back to Meridian."

"Greetings!" Grantaire hisses lively. "I am Grantaire! And you are?"

'Touch blast…' Nigel still with his annoyance and slight anger, blasts his spark burst at him as the small explosion shocks him and falls to the ground, blinding and confusing his senses. "I'm Nigel nice to meet you."

"Hey!" Eric scolds. "Why did you do that?"

"It's a greeting and in gratitude for the 'best night I ever had'" Nigel sarcastically says.

"Y-your w-welcome…" Grantaire says as he still lies unconsciously on the floor.

Eric and Nigel helps Grantaire escape as they cover him with their jackets as they discretely deliver Grantaire to one of the sure portals that lead him back to Meridian safely. It is the portal inside the tunnel by the phone booth; where the Vanguard escaped from Meridian. They said their farewells to each other as Grantaire leaves with the assurance of a soon hopeful answer.

"As the voice of your mom through the phone, Officer Lair told me through the call about your community service." Eric says as they walk to Nigel's home where he could charge his scooter. "You still have time to guard the portals, right?"

"Better than sentenced to jail because of Vathek who actually ruined one of the paintings?" Nigel replies rhetorically.

"Wasn't it the judge who cleared the case for you? If he couldn't have been there then you're in a serious trouble." Eric explains.

Nigel heaves a sigh in despair. "That's the worst part about it! It was the judge! And remind you it's not 'he', the judge is a 'she'!"

"Oh really?" Eric asks. "And what's the worst part about a judge being a woman?"

"The judge is Taranee's mom!" Nigel frustratingly replies. "Flames! And she knew about me and my disgraced family."

Eric gazes with slight shock on Nigel, and then he scratches his head and blows a descending whistle. "Ooohh…That's going to leave a mark."

Nigel sighs. "Now, I've got a bad impression on her now."

"I don't think so." Eric reminds. "As long as you get away from your influential gang of yours and be true to yourself is what really matters. If you like Taranee, then you should start sacrificing your bad friends over her."

"You never had a girlfriend since and you're not love expert. Who are you advising me?" Nigel snickers.

"Just a friendly advice" Eric smirks.

(Issue 5, WITCH visits Dahl's painting)

Few days later as things go back to normal; Eric's wounds heal, Nigel gets used to being one of the janitors, together with his gang, in the museum. Yet Ray, still quarantined himself in his room over his glooming sadness, though he has his family and his colleague legionates with him. Even Nigel with Eric, came to his home to also to cheer him up him, yet nothing happened as Ray did not say a single word as he sits on the side of his bed stares at the window or melancholy bows his head.

"When you're done with the corridors, Stegosaurus needs to be cleaned." says the museum head with cross arms as he looks at them with boast.

'This is getting to stressful!' Nigel complains. Nigel and his gang, on janitorial aprons, is on duty work again in the late afternoons after school and as their working hours ended, Nigel begins to patrol with Eric. 'I still blame that Lizard-humanoid though!'

"But we cleaned already!" Uriah complains as he thrusts his mop to the mop bucket.

"Haven't you heard about the dust of the century? Stegosaurus is millions of years old!" the museum head jokes sarcastically.

Kurt counts with his fingers. "Hey! How much is 'a century' divided by 'one million years'?"

"Three months Kurt! The time we'll spend cleaning the museum!" Uriah sarcastically answers.

"Don't complain, Uriah." Nigel replies. "You should at least feel glad that the judge let us go easily." 'Because if she doesn't, it's all up to Atlas now!'

"I guess. We can enjoy many fun afternoons here." Uriah agrees. "To hell with community service! And to hell with Judge Cook!"

"Hey! Isn't that her daughter?" Laurent points angrily at Taranee, together with her friends, Will, Irma, Cornelia and Hay Lin, as they look at a large painting.

"The Guardians?!' Nigel exclaims as Laurent begins to march to them. "So what?" Nigel blocks him. "This isn't her fault!"

Laurent stops. "Yet I didn't say so."

Taranee turns around to the commotion and looks to Nigel. He gulps but manages to pull off from his hidden emotion and remembers what Eric told him: just be true to himself.

"Hi!" he greets. 'Flames! That's all I could say!' I hope her mother doesn't tell anything about her yet!'

"Hey!" Taranee greets back to smilingly to him.