Chapter VII
Chosen
Keiko performed a spell and a huge bubble enveloped the chosen youths. The bubble rises from the ground and ascended higher than the tree tops giving them a picturesque image of the land.
They couldn't contain their admiration of the magnificent view everywhere they look. They get to see the scenic arrangement of colors of the green patches, the top view of the trees and the bodies of water with sparkly surfaces. What captivated them most are the floating masses of land forms of various sizes. Some of these small islands suspended in the air held plants and flowers. Others are with water bodies or both or a simple plane of green grass. From time to time, butterflies and birds pass them by and they couldn't help but notice their unique forms and coloration.
Sometime during their magical travel, Maiden fell silent. Belle noticed and took this chance to approach her.
"Uhm...Maiden.", Belle starts as she inches closer to Maiden.
"Huh...-hi..." Maiden responds and nods to her.
"T-Thank you for earlier. I'm Belle." the redhead says quietly extending her hand to shake hers.
Maiden offers her right hand distractedly recalling what she has done to warrant the gesture.
"I know you were trying to help me earlier." Belle says flashing a shy smile.
"Oh." Out of the corner of her eye, Maiden caught the dark-haired schoolmate stealing a sideways glance towards them.
"I didn't do a thing...actually." Maiden shrugs.
"Still! I thank you, Maiden!" Belle insists feeling her cheeks heat up as she takes Maiden's hands with both of hers but felt her cold.
"Eh?" Belle looks back to Maiden who avoids her gaze. Puzzled, she searched the blonde's face. She noticed she's stiff, slightly paled and awkwardly keeping her head up. She leaned closer to whisper near her ear.
"Are you...alright?"
A startled Maiden only nodded frantically.
Hikaru only smirked to himself as he observes the two. He seems to pick up what's bothering his classmate.
Who would have thought?
Only when Forg moved to stand closer to Maiden did his secret grin faded.
"We will be at the Sacred Temple of the Goddess Deity in a short while." Keiko announced.
Hikaru calls out the fairy's attention telepathically. She only smiled at this and then weaved her magic to blacken the bottom of their bubble ride. He muttered a quick 'thank you' and threw a glance at Maiden who marginally relaxed with Belle and Forg staying on either side.
Hikaru went back to his thoughts. Ever since that fateful night he dreamt of a warrior, sword and dragon and the inevitable turn of events that befell him and Colleen, he could not help but worry. He worries about the mission and the dangers that await them once they set off this journey. He worries about his sister and her safety. He wonders if their magic and battle training in their kingdom will be good enough to help them get through this mission.
He was in the middle of his internal musings when he unconsciously laid eyes on Maiden once more. He also wondered why and how a guardian heart would manifest from individuals with no warrior or magical lineage. How will it work for them? On one hand, they possess innate skills that set apart from the rest of their kind but what is the extent of their powers? If anything, this mission held a greater danger for both Maiden and Forg than the rest of them. He strongly feels as though he should take responsibility for their inclusion in the group.
Forg.
He is a headstrong person who is always determined and has potential strength and will always be there to protect those who are dear to him.
Maiden.
The girl seemed to hold mysteries about her he could not fathom. Her manifested skills, as he may put it, are more of the defensive rather than offensive however, that may change once her guardian heart awakens her true powers. For now, being able to protect her own self from harm will come handy.
He was in too deep thought when he noticed Maiden turned to look back at him. He has been too absorbed in his musings; he probably appeared to be staring at her too much.
He let his eyes linger on hers a little longer as if trying if it'll help him find answers but then Maiden frowned at him.
He sweat dropped and mentally gave a watery laugh to himself realizing they weren't faring well in that conversation at the rooftop and the girl might have been holding it against him.
She turned away from him clearly looking annoyed.
He made a mental note to talk to her later.
Soon enough, a pristine structure sitting in the middle of a vast floating mass of land came to view.
"We are here." Keiko confirms their thoughts.
"Wow. This island is the biggest of them all." Traxor exclaimed.
All eyes are set on the sacred temple as they draw closer.
They set down in an open area with fountains on either side. They are faced with eight imposing life-sized marble statues of warriors stood on elevated platforms that appear to guard the entrance to the temple.
"Who are these people?" Reinjenna asked.
"They are the first guardians to protect Adeniss about a hundred year ago." Keiko answered promptly.
"Guardians? Like us?" Traxor asked as he pauses from playing with more floating metal balls.
"Precisely." says Keiko.
Hikaru stopped by the foot of one of the figures.
This person!? Hikaru suddenly recalls the warrior who appeared in his dream the night before he and Colleen were summoned by Keiko. It wasn't just a dream then, it is a premonition of what is to come.
He wondered what could have occurred to Adeniss the time before them that required the aid of guardians and what happened to them after but saved the question until they meet the Goddess.
He went to observe their surroundings instead.
The silvery white flooring and walls make the temple appear like it's glowing from afar. Beyond the towering statues is a wide staircase that seems to go on and on towards a huge double door at the top. Pillars embellished with gold and silver ornate line up on either side of the stairs. Judging the length of the staircase, it does seem like a long climb.
"We should get going." Keiko tells them.
Hikaru agrees and he starts walking toward the stairs with Colleen by his side. The others followed suit enthusiastically with the exception of Maiden who lagged behind on purpose.
Her brows furrowed looking at her companions gathering at the foot of the stairs. Forg slowed down in his pace until he halted to look back at her.
"Maiden?"
She only looked back at him looking annoyed and worried at the same time.
"Maiden, come on." Forg walked back to her.
"How can you be fine with this? Our parents will be looking for us." Maiden questioned in low voice.
"I know but there's no way we can go back... for now." Forg answered his voice lacking certainty which furthered Maiden's worry.
"We'll play along... or maybe we can convince this Goddess to bring us back." he said as he gently tugs her by the wrist.
From his place up in the stairs, Hikaru looked over his shoulder seeing their exchange. His eyes fell on the hand on her as he coaxes her to walk with him. His lips involuntarily set to a firm line as he turns back to his path.
Almost an hour passed by when they finally reached the top of the stairs.
"I didn't feel tired at all, hah!", Traxor announced proudly.
"So did us." Hazel responds, offhandedly as Reinjenna and Belle nods in agreement.
Traxor looked around him and noticed everyone seemed relaxed not feeling exhausted at all as though they hadn't climbed a long flight of stairs.
"That's a total of three thousand five hundred steps." Hikaru wondered out loud prodding his chin with his index finger.
"Eehh?!" Reinjenna exclaimed. "You really counted them all?!"
Hikaru only nodded.
"Amazing," Reinjenna says beaming at him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hikaru saw Maiden walked past the rest of them towards the huge double door. She kept her head down and never looking over her shoulder unlike the others who stopped to marvel the sight of their distance from the foot of the stairs to where they stood.
She seems restless at times, though he supposes her current demeanor supports his earlier observation of her in their bubble pod.
The rest of his comrades shortly walked to stand beside the huge double door adorned by an intricately carved sword emblem.
"From here on, it will be on you Keiko." Naoru spoke quietly.
The fairy turned towards him "Yes, it is and thank you for all the help."
Hearing this, the guardians looked back to the both of them.
"You're leaving already?" a saddened Belle asked. They had been posing as student and teacher for a long while and had moments working during their search for Forg and Maiden.
"I have duties to fulfill in my village." he says in his tiny dwarf voice and then he looks up to the last two additions to the circle of guardians.
"I have not apologized to the both of you yet." Naoru starts and then he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck.
"I'm partly to blame on, let's say, certain' circumstances." he went on feeling guilty at his admission.
"Naoru..Sir- Naoru." Forg starts feeling confused as to how to address the dwarf. "
"Wait a second..." Maiden speaks up. "You are the one who gave me the note?"
Forg looked back at her as she steps towards the direction of the stairs and Naoru.
"You...?"
Naoru who was rather tensed could only nod at the young lady. As relieved as he is at being able to help bring the guardians together, he couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that washes over him when it comes to the last of the females.
He could see from her reaction that she had realized what came about from the time Forg got injured to the moment she had been trapped in the secret hall not remembering anything that occured therein.
Naoru sweat dropped. "I should get going!" He performed a spell and disappeared with a 'poof' and smoke.
"Wait a second-" Maiden's fists balled to her sides clearly annoyed at being cut halfway the conversation.
" Uhhh..Maiden I apologize about that..." Keiko speaks. "Dwarfs are full of mischief by nature and even us fairies have to put up with them," she adds rubbing her temple.
"You are well aware that we could have been hurt badly had his magic tricks gone wrong, aren't you?" Maiden asked in exasperated tone.
"We have controls in place to avoid greater harm." It was Hikaru who answered her.
"Oh,yeah? That is why Forg had to get hurt...in my place." she answered back. Her annoyance from earlier in the rooftop revived now that Hikaru is speaking up again.
There was a pause and the air felt thick around them.
"Like I said, we have counter measures to prevent and cure harm within the group. You included."
"You can use magic. Your skills are obvious." Maiden went on. " I cannot use magic neither do I have abilities that can help you. You might be mistaken so just let us go."
Hikaru couldn't argue on her reasoning. That is just the same thing that has been worrying him but he could not give it to her this time. There is a reason why each of them has been chosen and the fact that Maiden is with them in this very place proves that they are not mistaken.
After all, only the chosen individuals can enter Adeniss.
Hikaru pursed his lips and walked towards her.
Maiden's foot took an involuntary step backwards seeing his grim expression. Forg went to her side and stood protectively partly covering her.
Hikaru paused seeing his stance but was not deterred. He took Maiden by the wrist and easily snatched her away and walked her to the double door.
"Big Brother!" squeaked a panic-stricken Colleen
"Let me go!"
Hikaru's expression remains passive. He only pressed her hand gently against the door. There was a sound of clacking metals that echoed from the other side and a ray of light passes between the parted double doors. Hikaru did let go of her while the door pulls wide open.
"Big brother! You're scaring her!" Colleen exclaimed as she walked to stand beside Maiden who had her eyes pressed tightly. She wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist in an attempt to wipe out her tension.
Belle shortly followed and put an arm over Maiden's shoulder.
Maiden opens her eyes to the brightly lit interiors of the temple.
"You have magic. You have powers. You can see it yourself." Hikaru says. "Only the guardians are able the foot on the temple floors and gain access the entrance...
And even if Forg wasn't able to save you, you will remain unharmed."
Hearing this, a displeased Forg motioned to step towards Hikaru but Reinjenna was quick to stretch her arm in his way to stop him.
The bespectacled girl thought the same about Maiden but felt wary of Hikaru giving away too much. She has never seen him almost losing his cool in a conversation.
Belle on the other hand, couldn't help but worry about how Maiden is taking these pieces of information and how she is fully unaware of what is going on around her or at least to herself. Listening others speak about foreign subjects and things she ought to have known about herself can be straining and downright confusing.
"Welcome my dear guardians of Adeniss." a musical voice resounded breaking tension among the chosen youth.
"Come inside." Keiko says. "The Goddess is waiting for you."
Everyone moved to step inside with Hikaru on the lead.
Colleen and Belle remained by Maiden's either side as they followed suit.
Once everyone is inside, the huge double door slowly closed in its own accord.
"Come here."
Hikaru followed the direction of the voice and his eyes fell on a tall figure of a woman standing by a pool of clear water under a curtain of flower vines.
The woman turned towards them and from a distance, they could see the visage of an ethereal beauty. She is wearing long chiffon dress that reaches past her feet. Her neck down to the chest area is adorned by jewels and gems over sash that extends around her upper arms. Her long thick hair that reaches past her hip has the same shade of dark green as Hikaru and her eyes is an unearthly shade of green and mesmerizingly beautiful.
The Goddess walked towards them in elegant strides meeting them halfway.
"It is a pleasure to meet the new guardians of Adeniss." she says. "My name is Deity.
Thank you also to you Keiko for all your help on this."
The fairy bowed her head. "It is an even greater pleasure to be of help to you."
"You are the Great Goddess of Adeniss." Colleen says in awe.
It is no stranger to her since she and her brother have read about the beautiful and powerful pillar of Adennis in the books in their castle library. "I finally met you." she added gleefully.
"I am most glad that you are here." The Goddess returned the sweet smile of the young princess but her eyes immediately caught sight of the beautiful young lady with the long blonde hair beside her. She couldn't help the nostalgia that washed over her being and as memories flashed in her mind's eye.
'Mistress. Look!' the young Deity coaxed her mentor to look at her magic work.
The young woman in turn would smile sweetly and gently touch her cheek. "Very good, Deity! You are doing a great job." and then her younger self blushes and leans to her touch feeling warm and happy at the compliment.'
"Goddess Deity." Hikaru's voice broke her off her stupor and she quickly collected herself.
"Young Prince of the Northern Kingdom, Hikaru." she acknowledges him. "I know you have many questions in mind. Come along. "
A prince..? Maiden caught the Goddess' words but kept the thought to herself. She stole a sideways glance to Hikaru and then furrowed her brows looking down at her feet.
The Goddess momentarily glanced with amusement at her reaction which went unnoticed. She reminded herself to look into something about the girl for later and instead looked ahead and led the small crowd to the clear pool of water.
The clear luminous water seems bottomless in its calm appearance but as the Goddess approaches, it began to ripple until images of four emblems appeared together with beautiful landscape.
"This...this is Adeniss." Reinjenna remarked.
"Wow...Is that so?" Traxor asked his eyes never leaving the image on display.
"I have been traveling with Hazel for some time now and we have this image set in our magical orbs to guide us. "
"What are those four symbols around Adeniss?" Hikaru asked.
"Those are the sacred emblems that make up the Ninkimono."
"Ninkimono? A star?" Colleen follows through the conversation.
"Yes indeed. The Star that lights up Adeniss. It is the source of vitality that sustains life and fortress of peace and security. "
Long time ago, a group of seraphs, priestess and warriors set on a mission to secure the four emblems and find the first guardians who will fight to save and protect Adeniss. "
"The figures of warriors outside the temple..," uttered Hazel.
"That is correct. They are your ancestor guardians. They are the ones who fought the Evil Emperor who attempted to invade and destroy Adeniss just before I came in as the pillar," the Goddess confirmed picking her line of thought.
There was a pause. The tension from each one of them rises again as soon as it diffused. If anything, the answers they get only generate more questions.
"Hikaru. I see that you wish to ask something else," Deity proceeds.
Hikaru once more collected his thoughts. "Didn't the first guardians defeat the Emperor? What happened to Adeniss to warrant this summoning of the guardians in the present?" he asked referencing her earlier mention of the first warriors having fought this evil.
The Goddess suppressed the sadness that makes its way on the facade she puts up with all she have. It pains her to recount the sorrows of her kin's past especially that a great reminder of it is right in front of her.
But she cannot allow those pain take over the present, not when a more pressing concern is at stake.
"A God being let himself be taken over by this evil power. In an attempt to control the Dark Soul, He made himself contain the enemy but the evil emperor found a way to overthrow his consciousness. In the end, when the God being was able to momentarily regain himself, he requested the guardians to ultimately seal his body together with the Dark Emperor. "
Everyone fell silent as the feeling of heaviness wrung their hearts.
"The guardians with all their combined strengths placed a powerful seal upon the God and the Evil Emperor but the latter is not truly defeated.
Over time, he managed to slowly regain his power and somehow utilize that of the God being whose body hosts his evil soul."
The image in the pool has changed. The brightly lit overview of Adeniss became tainted with darkness.
Belle and Colleen held on to each other as if sensing the cold darkness that looms over the image of Adeniss that they are seeing.
"Our greatest enemy has returned and only the chosen Guardians are capable of defeating him. Only your powers can ultimately summon the Ninkimono sword that will defeat the evil and revert the Ninkimono to its former glory.
Also, not only did Adeniss need your help but your presence here together is a far better option to protect you. The moment our enemy finds out that the Guardian Hearts existed, they will track down the bearers and we cannot risk letting this crisis extend to your worlds."
"Track us down?" Belle queried.
"Evil covets power. The enemy will either destroy it or lay claim on it." the Goddess answered.
Maiden felt anxious. She couldn't believe what she's hearing. It just meant that she had no choice over the situation and returning to her world is indeed not an option. At least not now but she worries that she cannot be of help to this undertaking. What do she and Forg know about magic or battles?
"Goddess Deity, if you allow..."
Eyes turned the direction of the voice. The woman addressed only nodded approvingly.
Maiden takes a step forward picking up the courage to finally ask questions.
"How are the guardians selected? How do you know if someone is a guardian of Adeniss?" she pressed.
Hikaru vaguely know the answer to this and this is also his concern since the early part of the mission to gather the group.
"I am most glad to answer that." says the Goddess.
As if on cue, the image shown in the water changed. The four emblems around the pool were replaced by eight spheres covered by diamond-shaped crystals. The lights from each sphere vary in color and glow but nonetheless mesmerizing on their own.
"A Guardian of Adeniss is one who possesses the heart of power..." The Goddess answered, solemn eyes never leaving Maiden's determined ones. "These lights represent the guardian hearts within you. It is the source of your unique abilities and your will. "
"How is it possible to own a Guardian Heart?" Forg seconded the query.
"It is embedded in your being and in your soul. They may have faded from the constant cycle of death and rebirth but through time, they continuously seek the rightful soul and grow therein." she continued.
"That is to say, 'The Guardian Hearts chose you, long before you are born and chosen as guardians of Adeniss.' "
"Goddess Deity. When the first guardians perished, did their souls lived within us that gave us the Guardian Hearts?"
At Traxor's innocent question, the Goddess' momentarily felt the fleeting remorse she felt the first time she had seen Maiden.
"No. You own the Guardian Hearts regardless of the soul within you. It is not unique in your soul. On the contrary, it makes your soul special, "the Goddess went on.
"Maiden, Forg." the Goddess called out.
"I know how these matters sound foreign to you and I understand your worries but know that I will be here to guide you and everyone. Your Guardian Hearts house your abilities that are going to be of use to this world.
"As much as Adeniss needs you as the guardians, you also require the help of this world to nurture and strengthen your powers.
"What does it mean?" Forg queried.
"Adeniss is a core magical world. All the worlds you have come from may or may not wield similarities but harnessing the energy of the land will awaken and further the power of your guardian hearts.
Aside from your current abilities, you will discover more about your guardian hearts as you go on."
At this, Maiden's demeanor changes and she nodded at the Goddess. The latter smiled at the young lady. It warms her heart to see that face brighten up... just as she remembers it.
Watching their exchange, Hikaru hopes that Maiden is finally enlightened with the Goddess' words. He wishes not to have any more antagonism from her about the situation at least. The girl can be scary at times with those sharp eyes.
"How can we be of help to this situation?" Hikaru asks feeling the need to make a stand on the guardians' side to serve the purpose of this gathering.
The Goddess looked back to Hikaru. He is truly a reminiscent of his fated ancestor Saber. Aside from his magical and warrior skill, his pure heart is inclined to the welfare of those around him. He took care of the mission to gather the guardians and he did it very well, saved for the circumstances beyond his control.
"It's an honor for me to become part of this objective. I will restore the Ninkimono to Adeniss." Hikaru further says. "
"We will!" Traxor says enthusiastically.
"I support this too." says Hazel.
"We will join you, Hikaru."
" I will also like to take part in this. I am prepared to save Adeniss." says the ever silent Kaze having listened to the words of the Goddess
"I will join you. We will do this together. She says to Hikaru and then glanced at Maiden. "Right, Maiden?"
At Belle's innocent taunting, Maiden eyed Forg. He only grunted and nodded at her relaying his resolve and then turned to the Goddess.
"We will join you in this quest," he says earning a smile from the Goddess.
Forg looked back at Maiden who was looking at the image of Adeniss in the pool.
"You will travel Adeniss to seek yourselves first before you are faced with the enemy. The elements of this world will help you come to terms with your powers. Along the way, beware of the perils of this land now that evil has made its way around but remember that there is nothing you cannot achieve when you do it for one another's sake.
"Alone, a Guardian Heart bearer is prone to great dangers but together, you are a stronghold."
The Goddess Deity paused from her speech and Keiko raised her right arm and chanted a spell.
Above them appeared a collection of various weapons. There are long swords of various shapes and size, flail, halberd, bow and arrow set.
"Wow! Are those ours?" Traxor gleefully jump near Keiko but abruptly stopped when one of the weapons came down to him at eye level. The weapon glowed and was reduced to light and diffused inside his chest.
The same happened to all the other weapons when they reached their respective owners.
"T-The weapons..." Maiden uttered disbelievingly as soon as the most beautiful bow and arrow set came to her and disappeared in her chest.
"The weapons that represent your being; they will reappear in your hands once you required them, " the Goddess said and she turned back to the pool of water and vanished.
"Goddess Deity!" says a startled Colleen seeing her disappeared.
"She's standing in the water!" Belle exclaimed.
One moment the Goddess was standing near the edge of the pool, the next, she is in the center of it.
"My dear Guardians, you may please walk on this water and stand to the spot I shall assign to you. "
"Can we do that too without sinking?" Forg inquired apprehensively.
"Worry yourself not. The water here is enchanted. The bearers of the Guardian Hearts will never sink."
Before anyone speaks a word, Traxor suddenly yanked Hazel by the arm and pulled her for a run towards the water.
He grinned widely, frantically waving towards the seven others as soon as they stood a a few meters away from the edge of the pool.
"Look! This is amazing!" Traxor exclaimed the biggest smile painted on his face a distressed Hazel by his side recovers immediately looking down at her feet in awe.
The rest of the guardians exchange glances and finally yielded. Colleen cheerfully waltzes towards the water pulling Hikaru by the arm. Reinjenna followed them and went beside Hazel.
Belle took Maiden by the hand and both girls threaded carefully to the edge of the pool and stepped to the water surface.
Maiden tried not to look down. The pool runs deeper than she thought and feared she might sink if she dared rough footing but watching Traxor carelessly hop around gave her relief.
The Goddess called them one by one and they fill their designated places around the great emblem of Adeniss. Each spot corresponds to the guardian heart symbols. Hikaru was the first one to be called and he stood in the northern point. To his right is Reinjenna followed by Traxor and then Belle. Next to the redhead going to the right and directly opposite Hikaru in the south most point is Forg followed by Hazel. The Goddess called on Kaze next and finally, Maiden was the last to fill the circle. Hikaru tentatively watched her take her spot next to him.
Colleen stood in the center together with the Goddess.
There is a quiet anticipation among the guardians and once everyone has settled, the Deity spoke once more.
"Close your eyes and speak your name."
The guardians did as they were told. Their voices echoed clearly around the temple as though the air and water rippled to the sounds of their names listening to them, capturing them and resonates them to the walls.
Bright beam of light shone off the emblems under the water and enveloped them and again, the voice of the Goddess reached their ears.
"Open your eyes. This light will not dazzle you."
When they opened their eyes, their sight was greeted by the very same balls of light they have seen glowing at the base of the pool.
Maiden felt the calm and serene sensation in her being as she looks into the light. She never felt this much being drawn into the something. Her arms involuntarily lifted themselves welcoming the light in an embrace but she only felt most willing to do so as if a part of her is highly anticipating for this.
'Maiden...,' calls a voice. She felt startled not knowing whether or not it is from the light or within her, she could not have known. She tried to look around but she cannot move.
'Maiden' the voice called her again and again until it fades as the light goes nearer.
Slowly, the light embraced her and entered inside her chest. Her eyelids pressed together following the slow rhythm of the closing distance.
She felt soft wind surrounded her body for a few beats and the brightness from all around dispersed. When she opened her eyes once more, the first thing she noticed is the change in her garb so with the other guardians.
She inspected her look in her reflection in clear water.
Her shiny brown school shoes and long black socks were replaced with white leather boots, lined with gold in the triangle-shaped hems grazing below her knees. Her school uniform was changed to a short dress with skirt of alternating black and dark yellow pattern in soft velvet reaching mid-thigh. She could also feel the soft layers of petty coat fabrics underneath. Her top is a matching dark yellow V-neck, a pair of crossing straps strewn over each other and covers the top of her chest connected to short puffed sleeves. Her forearms are snuggly covered with black leather bracers similar to the ones she wore in her archery classes. The dress was firmly secured with a black leather belt hugging the small of her waist.
"Wow! Maiden, Belle and Colleen you all look so pretty!" Reinjenna exclaims.
She took notice of her new attire as well but her look seems more donned for battle. Her uniform was replaced by a two-pieced blue and white top garment with short sleeves, an armor slung across her torso cupping her left breast. Only her wrists are covered with a thick arm band with a texture similar to her armor and she also wore a knee-high boot similar to hers only with a blue lining along the knee area. Her eyes travelled back to her dark-haired girl's blue mini skirt and noticed a fluff of furry length hanging from her behind.
A tail.
Wait...a tail?
Forg seems to notice to as he is eyeing Reinjenna's cat ears as well but she held back her thought as everyone else seems to be oblivious of what she has noticed.
Hazel walks over to Reinjenna and said something along the lines of having missed their travel clothing. The only difference in the look of their garb is the color. Hazel's are green.
Belle approaches her and she immediately noticed that their new attire are also of the same design as hers but she has blue that highlights the features of her coloration as opposed her dark yellow that compliments her blonde hair.
Maiden's eyes softened at that. The shy girl would always seem fond of her company and she knew a thing or two about very close friends deciding on having matching outfits.
Colleen also joined her shortly. She is wearing a pretty red tunic over a silky hanging top with long bell sleeves with a matching dress pants with sash drapes hanging in the crotch area. She noticed a beautiful looking rose gold wand she held in one hand. She indeed has the look of a sorceress.
Her eyes found Reinjenna once more curious of her look and the girl together with Hazel smiled and made a move to walk over to them. To the far side, she caught sight of Hikaru who appears to be staring at their small group. In place of the uniform, he now wears a white-based garment with some odd fashioning of medieval times she could not name-something along the likes of a surcoat with elaborately designed deep scarlet along the hems.
Their eyes met and somehow, it gave her an impression that he is rather staring at her the entire time and not their small crowd but she decided to assume otherwise.
She quickly turned her attention towards the direction of the Goddess at the center of the pool upon hearing her speak.
"The anointing of the new guardians has been completed. It is my pleasure to honor and welcome you this realm."
Determination she never knew she had filled her and from the looks in the faces of everyone else, she knew they felt the same.
The males gathered around them as well. Traxor began jesting with Forg who looks handsome in his dark green vest doublet over white long-sleeved shirt and matching pants and dark green boots reaching his shin.
Keiko flew to their direction.
"Everyone, dinner is ready. You will also have to stay the night. I have prepared your bedchambers," the fairy announced gleefully to Traxor's excited cheers for the food.
Sometime after their dinner, Hikaru steps back in the room with the pool. The place was dimmed and the only source of light is the glow of the image of Adeniss in the bottom of the enchanted water.
The Goddess awaits him at the edge in the same spot they found her standing. The glow from the light of the water reflects to their faces and casts their shadows to the temple walls.
"You called upon me." he said as soon as he made his stop a few meters from Deity.
"Thank you, Hikaru," the Goddess' eyes lowered looking back to the spot in the northmost of the circle where the young man stood early on. Hikaru noticed her eyes shifted to the right and he followed her line of sight and then she looked back at him with faint look in those green eyes, mingled with what he thought as worry. Her mental voice is also quiet and never giving away her thoughts so Hikaru waited.
"There is something I must tell you-something I could enthrust only you...for now."
****End of chapter 7****
Author's note: Not been updating quick. I've been busy with things. Hahaha. I decided to retain their initial clothing design from the original comic series because I feel like it's been part of their identities. I debated whether or not I should keep them in their school uniforms for the journey but I realized they should be dressed to fit into the realm they are in. Also, yes, the guardians with the exception of Maiden and Forg have seen Reinjenna in her humanoid sphinx form. As for the last scene, any guess on what the Goddess Deity is talking about?