They landed in a heap on the outskirts of the humble village with wooden houses and a tent field. People were bustling around, going about their daily lives, like hanging laundry on a rope or carrying water in buckets to the gardens. They even had farm animals in the pens. A herd of sheep, a few cows, pigs, or chickens were grazing or roaming freely. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from a small bakery, enticing passersby with its warm and comforting scent. It always seemed like a village from another era to them. There was nothing like Earth except in history books or small villages far from major cities. The villagers cherished their simple way of life, untouched by the hustle and bustle of modernity. The absence of technology and urbanization allowed them to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of their surroundings on a daily basis. Even though Meridian lacked technology, they made up for it with magic. Even the poorest people had running water in their homes, collected from rain or rivers and distributed via pipes. Instead of electricity, enchanted objects were used. The spells that run this world were designed to take care of basic things like light, food storage, and simple chores. Meridian was similar to Earth, yet so different. Coming there felt like being in a fairytale.
Cornelia was the first to stand up, patting down her skirt to remove dirt from the road. As Irma struggled to untangle herself from Will's body, Hay Lin simply grinned at her and stretched on the ground.
'Will, get up. You are heavy!' She pushed her friend away, but Will didn't answer, her head lolled to the side.
'Will?' Come on. Don't do this.' Hay Lin shook her friend's body before taking her pulse. 'She passed out...' 'Great, just what we needed...' Cornelia huffed, trying to appear nonchalant. Deep inside, she was worried because without Will everything could end in disaster. 'We should have thought about some blanket or something...' she muttered to herself, looking at her friend's barefoot feet. Their troubles were solved when a familiar figure approached their group.
'Guardians, I was not expecting you.' The man smiled and nodded. He was tall, with a mop of spiky chestnut hair and green eyes. His skin was speckled with green stripes, indicating he was half-blood. He wore a simple black shirt tucked into thick-looking cargo pants and sturdy hunting boots. It was all hidden beneath a long brown coat with wide-open lapels and a gray scarf wrapped around his neck.
'Caleb!' Cornelia sighed in relief. 'We need help!' she motioned to the unconscious figure in Hay Lin's hands.
Caleb's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the unconscious figure. He quickly stepped forward, fear etched on his face, and asked. 'What happened? Were you fighting?' He asked, glancing around for any invisible threats. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Caleb removed his coat and covered up the fallen Guardian. He gently lifted her body, concealing Will's bright red hair beneath the fabric.
'Come on, let's find a more private place for conversation.' He said to the girls, turning his head and looking at the people who had just begun to notice them. They moved through the village's back gardens, dodging curious looks. Even if villagers sympathized with the rebels and housed their tents in the fields, betrayal was always a possibility. After reaching a plain wooden house with a steep rooftop by the forest, the group came inside. There were men gathered in the kitchen, and many of them greeted the girls in a friendly manner. Caleb grunted in response and entered an empty room, where he placed an unresponsive Will on the bed and wrapped her in a knitted blanket. Turning around to face Cornelia, he frowned. 'Explain?'
She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing away the red hair from Will's face and examining her health. 'Caleb, first of all, can you call for a doctor? Will, have a slight fever.'
'I see… I'll be right back.' He nodded and went out of the room.
'So, what are we telling him?' Cornelia sought the advice of her friends, who were silently waiting around the room.
'The truth?' Hay Lin shrugged. 'It's not like we know much…'
'It will look very good in his eyes, informing him about how we lost Taranee.' Irma said with a sarcastic tone.
'Do we have a choice? Without the Heart, our powers are limited. I can't help her. Whatever ails her, I don't know how to fix it...' Cornelia sighed bitterly and clasped Will's hand, attempting to send healing energy inside her body. She felt incompetent. Now it was up to her to make the decisions as the oldest member of the Guardians since Will was incapacitated. Her heart sank as Cornelia realized the weight of the responsibility that now rested on her shoulders. She knew that the fate of Taranee, and possibly even their entire mission, hinged on her ability to make the right choices in Will's absence. The pressure was overwhelming, but she had to stay strong for the sake of their team. There was a slight commotion behind the doors. Soon, Caleb entered followed by an elderly, hunched Meridian woman dressed in blue clothes. Her snow-white hair was rolled up in a bun on top of her head, and she held a basket filled with pouches and bottles.
'This is Alma, our village healer.' Caleb introduced the elderly lady. 'You don't see her around much because she's the head of our hospital, but Alma has a lot of knowledge...' He scratched his chin awkwardly.
'Boy, if you live as long as I do, you will learn something too!' The woman playfully chastised him. Her voice was pleasant, as if not touched with age. 'Now, the Guardians… not the first time I encounter your kind...' She looked at each girl with keen brown eyes etched deeply into her old green face.
'Air, always with a head in the clouds, sometimes things on the ground are more interesting... Never stopping, Water rushes through life, not thinking about others... Earth is steady and grounded, but with too much pride in her blood. Girl, you could be a decent healer with lesions of the craft and a bit of humility. Where is the Fire? With a passion for life burning brightly within, but too quick to anger and stubborn to the core... and then there's Her...'
'Hey!' Irma began to speak but was silenced by Hay Lin as she shook her head and listened to the old woman talk. It felt like she had knowledge beyond her years, and Hay Ling always respected the elders.
'I am not insulting you, Guardians. I am merely observing what I see…' The woman silently laughed. 'Forgive this old lady for her ramblings…'
She set her basket on the table and uncovered the sick Guardian on the bed. As Alma began to examine their friend, the girls gathered around her. Will's body was bathed in a soft blue glow from her hands.
'So much confusion and discord in this one, and strength...' she closed her eyes in concentration, moving her hands in slow motion from the legs to the head. After reaching the temples, the healer's hands started to glow white. At that point, against all odds, the old lady snorted. 'Oh, my...' She opened her eyes and looked at Will up and down. Her lips thinned with seriousness, but mirth danced in her eyes. The girls exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to make of the healer's reaction.
'Well, then, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for her except provide basic pain and fever relief. There is magic at work here. Your Guardian friend is connected to another being through an empathic and telepathic link. She is absorbing its pain, fear, and other emotions, but her mind is overwhelmed. If I brutally severed their connection, the ensuing backlash would kill them both. There are a few beings in the universe who can do such delicate work, but you don't want either of them poking inside her head. If, on the other hand, the person who established the link disconnects it, everything returns to normal.' Alma cleared her throat, explaining the situation to the Guardians. She could see fear in their eyes as if they had encountered an impossible mission.
The elderly lady rummaged through her basket, taking out a few bottles and pouches and spreading the pleasant aroma of herbs. Using a spare glass to combine the ingredients, she poured the mixture down Will's throat, gently massaging her neck until the girl swallowed the liquid.
'I need to get a few things from my house for medicine. I'll be back shortly. Till then, take good care of your friend.' She bowed and left the room. Breathing in the fresh air, Alma walked down the cobblestone road. As the house faded from view, she started to giggle. It quickly turned into a full-fledged laugh. The things she saw in the mind of that young Guardian. Prince Phobos will not know what hit him. She remembered the little boy in the royal infirmary with scraped knees... Maybe things will change for the better because love can work miracles. Alma hoped and prayed that the world would not be too cruel to them. The laughter had lifted a weight off her shoulders, reminding her that joy could still be found in unexpected places. Wiping away the escaped tear, the healer returned home to bring the necessary herbs, wondering if she would even need them.
When the old lady left, the girls slumped into each other for comfort as Caleb paced around the room. His restless movements mirrored the anxious thoughts running through their minds, each step a reflection of the uncertainty that hung in the air.
'We have to go to Kandrakar. They have to help.' Hay Lin suggested it in a weary voice.
'Without Will, we cannot travel freely. Even if there is a way, it may be too late!' Irma cried out. Everything will be over for them if they lose both Will and Taranee at the same time. The last few months had been a series of disasters, and she was tired of losing.
'We must try!' If one of us takes Kandrakar's Heart, it should help!' Cornelia took a step closer to the bed, looking determined. She reached down and extracted the pendant from Will's t-shirt. An angry red light flared from the Heart. It streamed between her fingers like fire.
'Ouch, it burned me!' Cornelia yelled, staring at the slightly raised pink skin on her palm. The injury rapidly disappeared as her healing powers kicked in.
'Let me try.' Irma shoved her away and grabbed the pendant. 'Damn!' She swore and shook her blistered hand.
'I guess that leaves me…' Hay Lin muttered and carefully touched the object. The pendant lit up again, and an angry buzz filled the air. Hay Lin's hand tingled with strange energy as she held the pendant. She felt a surge of power coursing through her, and the angry red light intensified.
'No, not working…' She tilted her head, looking as the Heart of Kandrakar gently settled on Will's chest. 'I guess we are not going to see the Oracle…'
'Thank you, Captain Obvious! Why isn't this working? Cornelia huffed, crossed her arms, and glared at the medallion. 'Will is incapacitated. We should be able to use it! It's not fair that only she gets those powers!' She began pacing, but Caleb grabbed her elbow and stopped her in the middle of the room.
'Would somebody finally explain what the hell is going on?' He asked with evident irritation. Cornelia slumped her shoulders. 'Alright, but can we get a cup of tea or something first…'
Caleb sighed, recognizing Cornelia's need for a moment to collect herself. 'Sure, let's take a quick break, and then you can fill me in on the details.' He suggested, leading her towards the kitchen where they could find some tea. As they waited for the water to boil, he wondered if there was a way to help Will.
Seeing no other option, the girls sat around the kitchen table and discussed what happened in the previous month. Tempers flared as the group argued, shouted, and planned rescue mission. Despite the tension in the room, everyone remained determined to find a solution and bring Taranee back safely. There was only one thing they could do. The plan was to cause trouble in the city so that the girls could sneak into the castle. Given Caleb's valuable information, they knew the most dangerous prisoners were in the dungeons rather than the prison on the hill. With the decision made, the group left dressed in dark brown cloaks, giving a few guards in the house a strict orders only to let the healer in the Will's room. As if sensing the clear coast, the Heart of Kandrakar hovered above its Keeper's chest, engulfing her in bright pink light. Will vanished from the room, unaware of the soft flash of magic accompanying her disappearance.
Phobos paced around his chamber, attempting to read a manuscript in his hands. Realizing he had already looked at the same page twice, the book sailed through the room, hitting the wall with a satisfying thud. He was unsettled and irritated with himself. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the Heart of Kandrakar and its Keeper. Their kiss was a profound mistake—a careless action that cost him peace of mind. The feeling of her in his arms lingered, haunting him day and night. He couldn't shake the memory of her soft lips against his, the way her body fit perfectly against his own. It was a dangerous game he played, indulging in forbidden desires that could only lead to destruction. Yet, despite his best efforts to forget her, he found himself yearning for her presence more and more with each passing day. Those inexperienced touches through his hair and her taste. It drove him mad. Everything happened far too quickly. It was an error in judgment. They were both aware of it and accepted the consequences, but her eyes spoke volumes to him. He didn't want to feel this way, and he never imagined it would happen. After all, he did not deserve such feelings. For all one knows, maybe this was a punishment—to yearn for a girl he could never have.
The protective magic in the garden triggered an alarm. He had many spells on private spaces, from offensive to defensive, and everything was woven into a tightly-knit connection across the entire castle. But this particular alarm was different. It was a warning specifically designed to alert him to any potential trespassers. As Phobos rushed towards the garden, his heart raced with worry, fearing something or someone had breached the protective barriers he had meticulously set up. Silent whispering reached his ears.
'Guardian… Guardian… Help!' The roses murmured in many unique voices. Altogether, it sounded like whispers in the wind. He hurried his steps, wondering why she was here, as the girl had promised that they would never meet again. His heart was filled with anxiety. Something was not right. Phobos avoided the servants by entering the garden through a secret door and sprinting to the spot where the flowers guided him.
The first thing he noticed was a dome of roses surrounding the prone form of the red-haired girl. They swayed around her body in a protective circle, tugging on her clothes and caressing the skin. The flowers liked her, or perhaps his hidden feelings manifested in the blooms. With a wave of his hand, the roses parted, allowing him to kneel beside her. She was dressed in simple, thin clothes, barely enough to keep her warm in the chilly weather. Her red hair stood out, splayed on the grass, and her blue lips trembled from the cold. Taking off his robe, he enveloped the girl in the warm fabric. When wrapping the garment around her shivering body, Phobos couldn't help but remember the day Will stumbled into his life, covered in mud and blood, trembling on wet ground. Her eyes, once filled with fear and despair, now held a glimmer of attraction as she looked up at him. He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his heart sinking at the sight of her lifeless expression. Phobos frowned gathering the Guardian in his arms and lifting her as if she weighed nothing. The Prince weighed his options as he tucked Will deeper into the warmth. He needed to get her inside and figure out what was wrong. The Guardian would not have come unless there was no other option. Or perhaps the annoying piece of jewelry sent her. It would not be the first time this happened.
Flaring a bit of magic, Phobos inspected the enchantments inside the palace. After all, the castle was centuries old, and generations upon generations had added spells to its walls, creating a spider web of wards. Combining it with his sorcery was the best decision ever made. He discovered early on that with the right amount of magic he could investigate what was going on in specific areas of the castle. There were only a few servants and guards in the corridors. Without fear of being seen, the Prince entered with the precious cargo in his embrace. While making his way through the dimly lit corridors, his heart pounded with anticipation. Phobos knew that the enchanted wards would shield him from any prying eyes or unwanted intruders, but the unconscious girl in his arms was a constant reminder of the risk he was taking. He carefully navigated the labyrinthine hallways, relying on his knowledge of the castle's layout to avoid detection. The silence was eerie, broken only by the soft echoes of his footsteps and the occasional distant creak of a door. As Phobos approached his chambers, he wondered how the Guardian had become so vulnerable once again. His resolve to protect her grew stronger with each step, overshadowing the lingering worry that threatened to consume him. The intensity of his feelings surprised him, as he had always prided himself on his detached and calculating nature. He had spent centuries honing his emotional control, and yet this spitfire woman had managed to unravel him in a matter of months. It was both infuriating and exhilarating—a contradiction he could not quite wrap his mind around. But deep down, he knew that he wouldn't have it any other way. With each encounter, Will ignited a fire within him, reminding him of the passion and humanity long forgotten. As he reached the door to his chambers, Phobos couldn't deny the undeniable truth: he was falling for her, and it terrified him.