(Before Issue 11)

"Seems like you're going to be busy at the 'Calluna' for the next few days…"

Martin says as he squints his eyes to focus from his blurry vision. He tries to see how Nigel takes a quick glance from a leather book as he copies and draws the weird looking alchemy circle on Heatherfield's Park soil. He then places Martin's cracked glasses on the middle of the drawn circle beside the park's bench so it couldn't be seen from those around them.

"It will be." Nigel replies. "Eric told me about the general plan of the final battle, and tomorrow he and Ray will come and meet me here to give me my specific orders. I also need to polish the skills of my trainees as well later…"

"Based on how I see you strictly train your men, I already think they're polished to the core—Woah!" Martin exclaims as he sees light that sprouts from the outline of the drawing as Nigel mumbles to himself as he closes his eyes to concentrate. The magic soon erases the cracks and breaks on Martin's glasses.

The enchantment is finished and the light disappears from the circle. "There—good as new…" Nigel says as he gives back the fixed and clear glasses back to Martin.

"Thanks Nigel!" Martin says in gratitude as he finally sees around him crystal clear and pats Nigel's shoulder. "Good thing we bump in to each other here in the park after Uriah broke my glasses a while ago. What kind of witchcraft did you do on my glasses anyway?"

"It's a restoration spell and it grants an object to restore its condition from the past thirty minutes" Nigel replies as he wipes off the circle on the ground and sits beside Martin. "Back at the academe we used to learn these basic kinds of spells, known as the Magic Circles, as part of our curriculum."

"I see." Martin replies with a low tone in his voice as he flips through the pages of Nigel's leather book and takes a glimpse of each of the different alchemy drawn circles on each page.

"I'm sorry what Uriah did to your glasses." Nigel says as he notices Martin's quiet atmosphere.

"I-It's alright—I guess…" Martin stutters as he still scans through the book.

"Are you sure? Because it seems like you don't." Nigel reassures with a demanding tone in his voice.

Martin sighs as he closes the book on the end of the leather cover and gives the book back to Nigel. He finally has the muster to reply. "You said something I belong to your legion because I have the tattoo imprinted on me, correct?"

"You sure are, but again we're not forcing you to—"

"Do you know anything about Uriah's then?" Martin asks.

Nigel in shock and puzzlement responds an extensive silence of mere seconds between them. "So you already knew?" he finally says.

"When heard his friends bumped into me, I saw his destined tattoo on his arm when he rolled up his sleeves." Martin explain as he recalls the bullying incident that happened. "Is he part of the legion?"

"Not yet." Nigel explains in an anxious voice. "He even doesn't know why that tattoo appeared on his arm but he thought it was cool to have it anyway."

"Yet he still has it, which means he'll be destined to join anyway, right?" Martin asks with more anxiousness.

"That's right…" Nigel hesitantly gulps as he looks away from him.

"I see then." Martin suddenly gets up from the bench and leaves Nigel as he takes a few steps away from him.

"Hey! Where you going all of a sudden?" Nigel asks in confusion. "So what if Uriah's with us joins us then? Didn't you say that you never cared about what he does to you as long you have that pride of knowledge of yours? I thought you weren't even scared of him?!"

Martin stops and rotates his head slightly back at him as the sun reflects his shades that cover his eyes. "Well I do now. I'm sorry."


(During Issue 11: WITCH with Martin at Golden's)

"I'm sorry to bother you guys." Martin apologizes. 'Though I expected Irma to come, I didn't expect the 'Guardians' themselves to be here…' Meanwhile, the casual 'Guardians' eats with him at Golden's after he called them unexpectedly. He needs specifically Irma, for some certain advice yet he didn't expect a party to come, to which he gladly received it anyway.

Martin continues to explain as they eat their ordered meals. "But this is really serious. I called your folks Irma and they said you were out Will. So I called Will's place an her mom gave me her cellphone number—"

"Whatever Martin!" Irma stops her. "Start from the beginning and tell us everything you know."

"I really wanted to tell you everything at school today. But I was really scared…" Martin explains.

"Nigel had nothing to do with the theft this morning." Martin timidly explains to them. "It was Uriah who stole David's watch! I saw him!"

The Guardians look surprised as the truth finally comes out. "But…" Taranee suddenly asks. "Why didn't you say so right away?"

"And put myself up against Uriah and his thugs?" Martin terrifyingly replies. "Those guys can't kid around, but I can't let an innocent person take the blame either!"

"What do you think?" Irma rhetorically asks. "Tomorrow morning, you go straight to Principal Knickerbocker's Office and tell her everything!"

"Yeah, right." Martin doubts as he claps his hand to his forehead. "And then what'll happen to me?"

"What are you talking about?" Cornelia replies with a smile of confidence. "We'll protect you!"

"Suuuuree…And who's going to protect you?"Martin replies with doubt in his tone. 'Because with your said powers, you could…'

"Oh, we know how to defend ourselves!" Hay Lin assuredly replies and does a sarcastic strong pose with her skinny arms flexed upward.

"Don't worry, my dad's a cop." Irma slacks him off and calms him down.

"My mom's a judge and my dad's a lawyer." Taranee initiates.

"If I talk, what I'm going to need is a doctor." Martin replies as he still doubts them. "Does anyone have a relative who works in the hospital? I'd even settle for a second cousin, because when Uriah and his pals are done with me, my face will look like a pepperoni pizza!" He says a stern and anxious gag as he shows a ragged pizza on his plate. He then remembers the shivers he has when feels a presence of tension and some-kind of darkness that terrifies him to the bottom of his soul.

"Why so worried Martin?" Irma places his hand on his ram to comfort him. "No one would notice the difference!—Martin?"

'Easy for you to say!' Offended and annoyed by Irma's remark he stands up hesitantly and stops her from finishing. "I was hoping for some good advice…" he calmly says.

"We just gave it to you." Will replies. "You take care of talking to the principal and we promise that nobody will hurt you, Trust us."


(During Issue 11: After WITCH with Martin at Golden's)

"I trust you ruffians to do your job well!" Nigel sternly yells on the elevated stage on front of his coordinated and disciplined men later that night to give his final yet inspiring command. After weeks of training and serving as the head of 'Calluna Fort', it was his last day to give a somehow-motivated speech.

He walks across the stage parallel to the lined-up men as he crosses his arms and postures his body in a defying stance. "The battlefield is beyond hell than the brutal trainings you did here for the last couple of weeks! The future of Meridian lies on the skills you learned here, refined and polished! Never let that go to waste. If fear doesn't push you to fight, then let your anger rage out. Muster all the strength you all got and give it your all! Because remember, we bring the hell down to Phobos!"

"Yeah!" the rebels cry out triumphantly in a disarray of shouts as it echoes around the rest house. Yet unison when they are one in their inspired spirit to win back their freedom that has been taken away from them.

"Though I may not be truly involve in your conflict," Nigel continues. "It has been an honor of training you all!" he says as he salutes to his men on front of him.

"Thank you sir!" the rebels reply as they salute to not only their short-time leader and trainer but the respect that he deserved.

"You're now dismissed!" Nigel instructs as he walks off from the elevated stage as his men then leaves from their lines and goes to their quarters upstairs.

"That's some speech." Grantaire, covered with bandages and bruises, hisses and walks over to Nigel. "The last time I was here, the trainees are still mad about how you treated and disciplined them."

"And I thought you would never come to visit after the raid." Nigel replies. They then walk out from the rest house to the private space at the back.

"So what is it you asked of me? I never thought you would risk communicating me through telepathy." Grantaire asks.

"I'm in a tight situation right now because for some personal reason." Nigel explains. "But I have a favor to ask of you. I want you to lead the trainees in my stead tomorrow."

"Are you serious Nigel?" Grantaire asks. "And what could be possibly be important than the probable upcoming battle?"

"Look, all I ask is you to lead the men at rendezvous point to meet up with Celeb's Corps." Nigel explains. "I'll try and meet you there as soon as I can. I also told Gruul to be in charge while I'll be gone."

"Well, I won't be participating much in the battle." Grantaire sighs. "And about to transfer the men back to Meridian, should we do like the last time?"

"That's another problem that I want to ask from you." Nigel replies. "I don't know how to pull out the rebels from this place, since the nearest portal that we used before you were imprisoned has been closed by the Guardians."

"What—so you never plan this out yet?!" Grantaire shockingly says.

"That's why I'm asking your help if you have any ideas." Nigel says. "Even Eric who asked Galgheita for help doesn't have one either.

Grantaire then thinks around in circles as he tries to think about the situation. "I think there's actually a way but it will be too risky." He says as he gazes the tall rest house that still sinks to the end of the portal.

Nigel also looks up with him. "What is it?—Wait, you don't mean—"

"If all else fails, I hope our worlds will be ready for an upcoming earthquake tomorrow."