Aquardas, in the castle

Edward came in Karesh's room, determined. It was a huge room, much larger than his apartment in Heatherfield. Karesh was walking up and down, thinking about who knows what, while a long table was lavishly for him and the boy.

"Edward!Good to see you again, after all this time! "exclaimed the king, hugging him affectionately.

"It's nice to see you too, uncle," Edward replied with a smile.

"But please, sit down, eat something. You have to tell a lot, about what you did over there! " Karesh smiled, inviting him with a gesture to sit down at the table with him.

Edward sat down, and only in that moment saw Serke, almost camouflaged with large window curtains in front of him. He always had the sensation that he always looked at him in hatred, for no apparent reason.

Edward ate the roasted chicken thighs, while explaining to Karesh everything that had been on Earth and what he had learned.

"The truth, uncle" began "Is that I could do whatever I want, with the guardians. Everything. With all of them. Except with one of them. I already told you that, I think ".

"Yes, you've mentioned" Karesh said, with some concern.

"I'm looking for a weak point, anything, in order to make her mine. But, for now, I haven't found it. And, regarding your considerations on the keeper of the heart, well, I don't trust having to manipulate only four guardians out of five. If the girl would understand my intentions, everything will be more complicated" continued Edward taking another chicken thigh.

Karesh stood up, and began walking up and down the room. "You're right, nephew. One weak link can be fatal. So, in addition to this, you don't know anything more? ".

Edward didn't answer, he took a glass of water and began to drink it, keeping the eyes fixed on Karesh, who immediately understood the negative response.

"Maybe I could destroy even one of them," he suggested.

"Good!Good my grandson!So the other four guardians would lynch you, and hang your corpse by your balls, and the wrath of the Oracle will kill everyone on Aquardas without letting us escape! " Karesh violently hit his fists on the table, spilling some dishes on the ground. "Think before you act, Edward, think!That's not how you can impose on people ...you should have a rigid mind and as cold as ice as well".

Edward was frightened for the reaction of Karesh, and after the surprise, he lowered his head, and apologized. "Forgive me, uncle."

Karesh made a frosty and mocking smile, watching his nephew completely submissive to his authority. Then he relaxed, and resumed walking, thoughtful.

"The guardians will be here sooner or later. And will fight. But if you could manipulate them, Edward, this would be a big step forward, because we could more easily defeat them! " Karesh looked at him, panting a little. "You are the greatest asset to this world, Edward. You are the key. Without you we'd be lost. I'd be lost. And you'd be maybe willing, boy, to see the land below which the bodies of your mother and father lie, in foreign hands? ".

Edward stiffened, and ground his teeth. "Never".

Karesh smiled, pleased.

"Well. You can go then. You know what you must do" the king ended, and Edward made his way to the door.

"Ah, Edward" Karesh recalled him. The guy turned silent to his uncle. "You have the same eyes of your mother".

The guy lowered his head, and walked away.

Karesh continued staring at the door, and then glimpsed at Serke, who looked back at him.

Edward walked into his room and shut the door behind him. He sprawled on the bed, exhausted, and took a picture from the night table. It was a picture of his mother. His father took that in the gardens behind the palace. The woman, during her last days of pregnancy, smiled at her husband, while behind her there was a beautiful spring day. Taken a few days before giving birth, a few days before she died giving birth to her first child.

Sometimes I wish you were here, mom, thought Edward, just to tell me how I should behave with girls, and tell me if there is one good for me. You know, it's complicated. Now I'm tailing the guardians of Kandrakar. The Oracle wants to take control over Aquardas. Well, I guess you already know. You know, they appear so normal, mom. But maybe I shouldn't trust appearance. And then there's this girl, that is different from all his other mates. She's very thoughtful, and eyes full of herself. Eyes that remind me a little bit of you. It's funny, I know. Indeed, it's not funny, it's unfair, I have to remind myself of you glancing the eyes of a wicked person. But I don't know how much justice there is actually in this world, mom. I do not know. She lost her dad, you know? I have never told her that I have lost both my parents. Perhaps, it was the only time where I could perceive something strong and sensitive, by her own. Something that I could not hold up. Who knows why. Maybe because I didn't used to think that my pain could also be present in another person. Who knows. Now I have to go, mom. Talk to you soon.

Edward leaned her photo on the nightstand, and fell asleep.

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Heatherfield, 2.30 a.m.

Nerissa constantly turned in her bed, wrapped in her sweat, with continuous and exhausting stabs across her chest. That evening she was thinking about what the Oracle had told her. She was very uncertain on what to do, and, if on the one hand she wished to keep on playing her role within the group without having to surrender to physical pain, on the other hand, she thought it would have been stupid to lay an important mission, as it could be the one on Aquardas, on the line, just for her stubbornness.

Her indecision, however, was short-lived. A few minutes later, she began to feel the same pain that was accustomed to feel since a long time, and she learnt how not to care about them. Usually, these stabs used to disappear in some minutes.

But this time, it was not so.

A stitch began, faint at first, then became much more intense; as if someone increased the intensity of the pain with a button, she was almost unable to breathe. As if her chest had stiffened, as if it couldn't move, paralyzed, and an intense burning sensation across the whole body, as if she had fire in her veins. Her head was bursting, it became heavy, couldn't get more to keep it up, and it seemed ears could bleed. The muscles were contracted, like a foil on fire, she squirmed on the bed like burning plastic that shrivels on itself. She couldn't scream, more importantly, because her parents would never have had to discover the cause of the pain. With that little lucidity that remained in her head, she tried to think of a way to get to Kandrakar, the only place where she knew that her problem could be solved.

As if someone else had thought for her, and had expressed her will, she found herself in the room of the Council, lying down on the floor, with her throes.

Endarno and Luba tried to hold the girl.

"Guardian, what's happening?" cried Endarno worried. But she was unable to answer, without being able to scream, because the pain was so intense that even yelling would have been impossible.

The Oracle ran towards Nerissa.

"I think I know what" the Oracle said, looking at Nerissa.

The girl was now in the grip of convulsions.

"I'll take the Heart out of her" the Oracle decided, under the appalled gaze of his companions.

"Oracle, you know that isn't allowed!" Luba admonished him.

"There is no other option" the oracle continued determined, bringing a hand over the heart.

"YOU CAN'T OPPOSE AT HEART, HIMERISH!"

"IT'S JUST A GIRL!" Oracle yelled then, regardless of Luba's opposition.

Endarno dragged Luba away from the place.

The Oracle looked at the girl.

"Ok, listen. I'll take you the Heart out of you. You can scream whenever you want to ".

He put a hand on her chest, and with an intense energy, the Heart began to come out of the girl's body.

The Oracle took heart in his hands, while Nerissa finally collapsed, fainting, pale. He didn't know what to think, he neither could understand this behavior of the Heart.

Endarno and Luba returned into the room of the Council, and the woman rushed over the fainted girl, looking furious at the Oracle. She took her in her arms and then took her into another room, looking again at the Oracle with rage.

Endarno glanced down.

The two stood silent for a long time, as if they felt guilty.

"How could we make such a mistake?" Endarno wondered, shaking his head.

"Although I'm feeling a certain pain now, I don't think it was a mistake. We have always respected the Heart, and at the time it wanted this. I fear however that there has been a change ... a radical change of situation, "replied the Oracle.

Endarno stood still, thinking.

"We have to gather the Council," said the guardian of the Tower of Mists.

The Oracle nodded. He remained there, thinking, probably searching for something in his conscience and trying to think of what could have been done to prevent all this. But he couldn't perceive the change which could be the cause. The girls had matured a lot since had become guardians. Maybe more than they should. But understanding what had happened, it was a completely different story.

The Oracle gave a look at Endarno. But said nothing. It was one of the few times, perhaps the only, that he could perceive truly human sensation on his skin. As the sweat that ran down his face.

"I need to see her," he said at the end, and left the room.

Nerissa opened her eyes. It was all white around her, and in the middle of white saw the Oracle, bent over her. He took her hand.

"How are you?" he asked.

Nerissa didn't answer. She looked around again, then closed her eyes, and managed to utter a single word, frowning and taking temples with her fingers. "Better".

The Oracle observed her. "Nerissa, you have a mission now. Remember? ".

Nerissa nodded weakly. "it's like I had an elephant in my head ...".

"Listen. We have no much time. We'll have to choose another keeper of the Heart now. And we must do it before dawn, for the guardians to still have their powers when they'll wake up. Now you are completely powerless, and we must act quickly, before the news of what happened here spread somewhere else. You understand that, right? ".

Nerissa nodded again. "Yes".

"Now we'll gather the Council. And there will be a vote for the new heir of the heart. There will be another keeper of the Heart tonight ".

"A vote?But I thought it was the heart to choose his owner! " Nerissa found, confused.

"Well," the Oracle replied with a smile "we are wise. And we never vote randomly ".

When he got into the room, they were all there. They were discussing about the event, between anger and astonishment; then the Oracle spoke.

"You don't need me to tell you what just happened. Nor need me to remind you what we need to do, now, so each of you present here, understands the gravity of the situation ".

The Oracle gave a look to Luba and Endarno, before resuming his speech.

"It never happened in the history of Kandrakar, I understand your astonishment. But it is more necessary than ever that we act quickly. The guardians are now completely powerless, and we must act before the dawn rise and before this news can reach any other world ". The Oracle stopped to take a breath. Meanwhile, Endarno came into the room, bringing with him a huge globe, sculpted in bronze, depicting the most significant images of the history of Kandrakar. "You'll say the name of the guardian to the Globe of the Truth, and at the end of your vote, it will give us the name of the new keeper".

The members of the Council looked a bit perplexed, despite this though, did as the Oracle had prescribed them to do.

While everyone was busy approaching the Globe of Truth, Endarno got closer to the Oracle.

"Just to satisfy my curiosity" he began to say "I thought the heart was the one to choose his owner, not the members of the Council ".

"It is so".

Endarno was amazed. "But you said to the members to vote for one of the four guardians".

"Yes, it is correct".

"So ... What's the point of this vote?Everyone will say a name, but the heart will decide for itself ".

The Oracle turned to Endarno. "What did you say to the globe?".

"What the heart of Kandrakar wish, nothing more nor less ... that's what I said".

The Oracle smiled. "If all of us will be as wise as you are, old friend, everyone will answer the same, and the Globe of Truth will consider only what the Heart wants. And by making its decision, will tell us the name of the new guardian of energy ".

"But then, if we all..." he began, before being stopped.

Luba was indeed behind, and continued the speech. "Maybe I understood. We don't know why the Heart has hurt its bearer. It may have chosen by itrself, or it can be ... been led. In which case, if someone within this fortress would specifically like to give the Heart to another guardian, he would say to the Globe of Truth the girl's real name, turning out guilty. "

The Oracle nodded.

Endarno looked dismayed at both of them. "But we don't know if this is due to a member of the Congregation."

"Pure precaution, Endarno" the Oracle replied, cold "I don't like even a little what have just happened. A girl risked to die. And if the cause was someone inside Kandrakar, you can be sure, that won't be so wise to stay here much longer ".

Luba felt that there was something else that worried the Oracle. He could tell that by his expression, by the way he looked out the window.

"Is there anything else that upset you, Oracle?" asked, quietly.

He turned to her, worried.

"I'm afraid".

Everyone had voted, and quivered, waiting for the result.

The Oracle approached the Globe of Truth with caution, before it caught fire. Suddenly, a small piece of paper flew in the flames, fluttered in the air, and fell to the ground.

The Oracle picked it up.

Everyone was anxious.

The Oracle picked it up. And read it.

The Council was still waiting for the response.

The Oracle read.

Read well each letter.

The councilors began to murmur.

The Oracle began to sweat, and his hands shivered.

"Let's repeat" he mumbled.

"Let's repeat the vote!" shouted and tore up the piece of paper.

The Council was shocked.

Endarno was confused, and ran towards the Oracle. "Oracle, what does it mean?".

The Oracle looked at Endarno with a cold gaze. "It means ... that we repeat the vote".

The same actions were repeated. Everyone had approached the globe, everyone had made his choice.

Everyone returned to sit once again, and once again waited for the verdict.

The Oracle again approached the Globe for Truth, with shivering hands, with the blood palpitating in his temples, with a pang in his heart. He looked at the Globe of Truth, panting, under the concerned gaze of Luba and Endarno.

The Globe of Truth caught fire again.

The Oracle closed his eyes.

A small piece of paper flew in the flames, fluttered in the air, and fell to the ground.

The Oracle picked it up. And read it.

Read well each letter.

The whole Council looked at Oracle in trepidation.

The Oracle looked his advisors, one by one. He looked at his friends and more loyal collaborators. He looked at the piece of paper. And sighed.

"Cassidy Cohen".

The whole Council stood up and clapped, smiling.

Endarno approached the Oracle. "We must call her now. We finally have the new keeper!".

Oracle looked angry at him. "She's the youngest". Then left.

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She was alone, confused, without her friends. She wasn't even sure if it was a dream or reality. She stood in the middle of the room, in her guise of guardian, all eyes fixed on her.

It seemed as if something important was happening, everyone smiled, pleased. Less the Oracle, expressing a half smile, but nothing more. But what could be so important to exclude her friends?They were guardians just like her!And then, why she?She was not the keeper of the Heart. She was the guardian of water. Of course, very important. But if it was something so important, that they must have called Nerissa, not her. Where was her friend?Why wasn't she there?Why all this confusion, all these secrets?

She looked at the Oracle, with staring eyes, frightened, in search for answers.

The Oracle looked thoughtful, perhaps a bit surly (that was Cassidy's sensation).

"Come closer" the Oracle said.

She approached cautiously, still looking around.

She didn't understand anything. And not understanding unnerved her. Immobilized her. She just had to do what was asked, without understanding the reasons. She seemed to move as in a china shop, blindfolded. Her legs were shivering a bit.

She arrived at few steps from the Oracle, when he gave the order to stop.

She stopped.

She looked at him anxiously, breathing deeply. An anxiety however intended to increase, when she saw the magical pendant hanging from his fingers. What had happened to Nerissa?Why did he have the heart of Kandrakar?Why nobody said nothing?

"Kneel" the Oracle ordered.

Cassidy looked at him, confused and lost.

The Oracle swallowed, before repeating the order. "Kneel".

The girl knelt down, slowly, not gracefully, without look away from Oracle.

It seemed an execution.

Cassidy closed her eyes. She didn't remember if she had done something wrong. She didn't remembered if she had broken any rule. Maybe she had been a little rebellious, yeah ... but she couldn't believe to be able to get that far. And, anyway, why was the heart in the hands of the Oracle?

"At the presence of the Council" began the Oracle with a loud voice, without looking away from the girl " I, Oracle in Kandrakar, observer of infinite worlds, bringer of peace, balance key, I declare you, Cassidy Cohen, former guardian of water, the new guardian of the energy and the new keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar".

Cassidy held her breath. At that moment a great thunder broke through the skies of Kandrakar.

The girl looked at the Oracle, in a look that was a mixture of surprise and terror.

In the background, the clapping of Councillors.

The Oracle looked cold, trying to disguise the anxiety and sadness. Then, put the pendant in her hands.

Cassidy looked the pendant as it dissolved and gave new energy in her body.

Cassidy didn't care much about this.

She looked at him again, confused.

"Where is she?" she asked, frightened.

The Oracle didn't care the others who were clapping and got out the room. "Follow me".

They reached a small room.

Nerissa was laying on a bed, her eyes closed.

"Rissa!" Cassidy shouted, getting closer to her.

The Oracle left.

Nerissa opened her eyes to see her friend. Cassidy was merely crying and hugged her friend. "What happened to you!" she cried.

Nerissa burst into tears. "I wished I could have told you!But it was all too fast!" Nerissa cried, hugging Cassidy stronger.

The redhead kept silent some minutes more, keeping on hugging her friend. She looked afraid, more than ever; and closed her eyes.

"It's over" she said "I have it now".

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Heatherfield, Shell Beach

"What?!" Kadma shouted, angry. "Why didn't you say it before!".

"Kadma, calm down ..." Halinor said, trying to lay a hand on her friend's shoulder. She squirmed, and with a gesture of anger declined Halinor's advice. "I won't calm down!The Oracle is always the same, the usual puppet master who likes to shake his puppets. And now makes that merely til death!I want to see if someday one of us will be killed because of him!It will be the day I'll insult him! ".

"Don't even say such these things" Yan Lin yelled at her.

Nerissa glanced down. "He tried to help me ...".

"And how, risking to make you die!I don't give a fuck how he has redeemed himself!That's enough! " Kadma screamed again, irate.

"You're gettin angry for nothing, shut up," Cassidy said.

"You speak, Cassidy!But do you know what it means to hold that thing!You dont realize that!Ah, but maybe that's why they chose you, Cassidy, naive as you are, you would be driven by anyone! ".

"This is not true, you know, we all know" Yan Lin contradicted her.

Kadma opened her lips to say something else, but no words came out. A rattle, better a snarl, and began to tremble.

Halinor placed both hands on her shoulders. "Kadma, stop".

But the girl continued to tremble.

"Kadma, stop!" Yan Lin shouted, but it was too late.

There was a flash, a few milliseconds long, and in place of the girl a large lynx appeared, with auburn fur and green eyes, that growled dangerously. The girls fell to the ground.

Cassidy quickly got up and placed herself between Nerissa and Kadma.

She moved with extreme caution. She knew that that kind of transformation could be dangerous if not controlled by reason.

"Ok, calm down now," Cassidy said, quietly. "Don't make me angry".

Kadma made a leap forward, roaring.

Cassidy took a step back, quietly.

"You know you can't compete with me. You know, what I am ".

Kadma cast a dare glance at her.

"Do you really think this will change anything?" the red haired girl continued her speech "Do you really think that this is really the right way to express your thoughts?".

Kadma looked at her again, growling.

"I personally don't think so. And I think you know that too".

Kadma shook her head.

"We weren't born to fight, Kadma. Nor to follow some stupid rules. But our ability to do what we have to do, thinking with our heads, that makes us stronger. Not the force itself. Not anger or rage ".

Kadma stopped growling.

"I am the new keeper, now, you like it or not. I like it or not. But I'm not here to discuss why. I'm here because we have a mission now. And we must be aware of its risks. What was is past, you can't go back. But we can move forward. And that's what I want from you. I want us to be united, not just individual beasts. It wouldn't help anything, for anyone. It's clear? ".

Kadma quieted instantly and sighed, resolute. Then ran away.

Halinor and Yan Lin looked confused and their friends.

Cassidy looked at them, determined. "We have to think about a mission, now."