The house in front of her was huge - a two-story villa surrounded by a high stone fence and an iron-wrought gate. It had a small but beautiful garden in front with a large maple tree, flower beds, and bushes tastefully arranged along the paved path. The facade was painted a creamy yellow with carved wooden shutters and planters hanging underneath the windows. If it were summer, everything would be in full bloom, but the garden was bare except for various sedges swaying in the wind. The only sign of color in the bleak winter landscape was the presence of pink and white heathers. Will wished for snow to cover the desolate yard. She double-checked the address on the paper slip, unsure if this was the right neighborhood. The street and house numbers were correct. Will took a deep breath and crammed the note back into her jacket pocket before opening the gate and walking to the front door. Feeling nervous, she pressed the bell button and waited for the melody to play somewhere deep inside the house. Soon the lock clicked, and the door opened.
'Good morning, Wilhelmina. Nice to see you. Come in. Don't stand in the cold.' The smiling figure of Mrs. Rudolph, dressed in a red sweater and loose brown pants, greeted her, offering an invitation to the house.

'Hello, Miss Rudolph.' Wil answered, stepping inside. She undressed her outerwear and hung it on a wooden hanger before slipping on the spare slippers. The interior of the house appeared to be very inviting. The rooms were painted in warm colors and decorated with earthy undertones and wooden furniture that was a little worn but looked cozy to sit on.

'Come in. I thought we would be more comfortable in the kitchen for our lesson. I've got cookies and tea.' Mrs. Rudolph smiled as if admitting some conspiracy.

'Thank you,' Will followed the teacher into a room with old-fashioned kitchen counters and a large wooden table by the window. The flower pots had spices happily growing in them. It seemed Mrs. Rudolph had a bit of a green thumb. Will recognized rosemary, parsley, and basil; the rest of the plants looked like carefully arranged green islands. Everywhere she looked, the rooms gave the impression of being lived in, with wood and other natural elements incorporated into the decor. While Miss Rudolph was getting the tea, Will placed her backpack on the chair, taking out a few books, a notebook and a pencil case.

'Shall we begin?' The teacher asked with a kind smile. The following hours they spent lost in numbers and equations. Will did not count how many cups of tea they had consumed, and when she reached for the cookie plate, they were gone. Her head was fuzzy from all the information crammed in. Will could acknowledge that Mrs. Rudolph was an excellent teacher. If only she had the time to be this good pupil more often and not disappoint everyone with failed grades. Will groaned and scratched her head in frustration.

'I believe it is enough for today, don't you think?' Mrs. Rudolph said with a chuckle. 'Now that the lesson is over, I have to address something more pressing in an official capacity... Will, Guardian of the Heart.' She said, inclining her head in deference.

'What? I have no idea what you mean!' Will was instantly on high alert.

'I mean you no harm, Guardian. However, I have a message from Caleb.' Mrs. Rudolph put her hands in the air. 'Let me explain…' she added calmly. 'My name is Galgheita, and I am from Metamoor'.

Will was suspicious, but her teacher transformed before her eyes, proving her point. It seemed like her skin slowly melted away, revealing a brown-striped layer beneath; her arms and legs became thicker and shorter, and her overall figure changed to a stouter one. The main difference was in her face. It was round, with protruding eyebrows, saggy cheeks, and intelligent brown eyes. Two large horn-like ears protruded from the mane of reddish braided hair. All in all, she was a pureblood Metamoorian.

'I know this is a surprise, but if you could reserve your judgment for later, Caleb has urgent business with you.'

'I'll hear you out.' Will nodded, shocked. It was difficult to believe her teacher hid her true nature under their noses. She had an inkling of what Caleb wanted but still feigned concern. After all, Phobos had informed her about the refugees. Seeing him beg for his subject's freedom did something to her that Will could not explain. It sowed a seed of hope deep within her heart. That evening they spent together felt like a dream, blurry and warm - a respite between people who had no right to enjoy it. It was a risky gamble she played, but love made fools of them all. Even if Will did not want to admit it out loud, there was something between them—a red string of fate.

'We have a thirty-person group who wish to cross between worlds. The majority are women, children, and elderly people fleeing poverty and Phobos regime. Caleb wants you to protect their passage from your side. Everything else, such as their placement and admission into this world, has already been planned. I have a group of people who aid refugees, but we need the Guardian's agreement to help. My kind has an innate ability to adapt to any environment on unfamiliar planets if desired, so you will not have to worry about alien appearances in your city. I realize it is a lot to ask, but please help my people.' Galgheita pleaded.

'You should already be aware I cannot decide on my own... I have to tell the girls.' Will bit her lip in worry. After all, this had never happened before: an official agreement to accept the people of a different world. She had a slight inkling it was against Kandrakar's rules, but Will did not care, feeling immense responsibility. She already agreed before they even knew, only because Phobos asked. People's lives were at stake.

'They are coming here this Wednesday. You have two days to plan your course of action.' Galgheita elaborated.

'Would you mind explaining it to the girls? I don't think we should keep them in the dark about your identity, and it would be nice to see the evidence right in front of them.' Will inquired, feeling a bit apprehensive. At this moment, their friendship was strained, and she wondered if they even wanted to meet with her. A solid confirmation of the facts would push them to act quicker, hopefully without arguments. If the girl's agreement meant swallowing her pride and begging - so be it. If the most arrogant person in her life could do it, she could too.

'It could be arranged. Thank you for your consideration. Tell me when you contact the girls, and I will try to be available.' Mrs. Rudolph agreed, looking relieved, and puttered to the stove to put the kettle on.

'I know you have questions.' She said after a few minutes, setting a fresh pot of tea on the table, followed by cucumbers and ham sandwiches. 'I was wondering if you wanted anything else than sweets,' the woman smiled.

'Yes, thank you very much.' Will took a small bite, relishing in the fresh flavor that filled her mouth. 'Can I ask when you moved to our world or would that be rude of me?'

'Get comfortable, Wilhelmina. I'll tell you my story. It is a long and complicated one. I did things I'm not proud of, but in my defense, I had good intentions.' Mrs. Rudolph sighed and polished her glasses.

'You don't have to…' Will shook her head. 'I have no right to know about your personal life.'

'Perhaps not, but I know you won't misuse this knowledge. You have a good heart, and there are some things you should know just because you're the Guardian.' Galgheita agreed but continued.

'I used to work as a maid in a palace when I was younger. It was a difficult job, but the pay was good, and I could send money to my mother in the village. Metamoor was not always the way it is today... Queen Weira was a just and kind ruler. Even before her, the kingdom had been prosperous for decades. However, prosperity brings stagnation and a desire for power in people. Cracks began appearing in some areas, starting with higher taxes or longer working hours in the homes of select nobles. At first, it seemed insignificant, but soon everyone wanted everything, and Queen Weira struggled to keep the unruly nobles under control. It all culminated in the poisoning of the Prince.'

Will leaned in closer, listening with trepidation as the teacher sipped her tea. Healer Alma said something along those lines, and the only thing it made her feel was a pity for a child she could never meet and his stolen innocence. The Phobos she knows is guarded by thorns and armed with jagged edges, there is nothing innocent about him.

'Queen Weira? Are you talking about his mother?' Will inquired, intrigued by the person who had raised the prince.

'Yes.' Galgheita said this, narrowing her eyes and frowning. 'Are you unfamiliar with our history?'

'Barely… We had a crash course in the history of your world, but not everything can be taken at face value. I'm interested in an individual, not a ruler.' Will fidgeted.

'Well, dear, I am not the right person to ask, being of lower status, but maybe someone can share their stories if you are so interested.'

'I guess…' Will trailed off, attempting to appear thoughtful and not overly curious. It was not good to cause any suspicion to the messenger of Caleb. 'So what happened next?' she deflected, already knowing this part of the story from Alma but curious about a different outtake.

'Phobos survived, barely. I believe it would have been better if he had just died because he brought only misery into my world.' Galgheita spat, and Will felt her heart tremble. She knew most rebels thought like that and was also guilty of having such notions before… He was cruel even to her, but looking back, it seemed strangely forced. Will had glimpses into his duality and knew he was capable of more. She still had no idea what it was.

'In any case, whatever the Queen did to save his life was successful.' Galgheita continued, oblivious to Will's inner turmoil. 'After that, the palace became a subtle battlefield of influence and power until the Queen was expecting again. It was a joyous time, especially when it was determined the baby would be a girl, a new heir to the throne. Then, all of a sudden, everything changed in a single day. Just a few weeks after the message of a new heir spread through the kingdom, the Prince Consort, or Phobos' father, died. They called it a hunting accident, but there were whispers of murder. The Queen was devastated. She had to plan a birth and a funeral in a few months.' Mrs. Rudolph reminisced.

'I never heard much about his father?' Will frowned, trying to remember anything about him but coming up short.

'I'm not surprised. Prince Consort Zayden was not a people person; anyone rarely saw him, as he preferred philanthropic and military work over being in the spotlight. He left it to Queen Weira, appearing only on required occasions and acting as her advisor, as was appropriate for a male Consort. I know some portraits of him in hang in the palace - a striking man with pale hair, dressed in finery and wearing a silver circlet crown' Mrs. Rudolph shrugged.
'Does it, I don't know, come across as a little sexist?' Will skirted the subject, trying not to sound offensive.

'Perhaps, when measured by Earth's standards. My culture is different, or it was… We value different aspects of men and women and their roles in society. Yet, Phobos changed much of what I knew before.' She sighed. Will wanted to say that change was not necessarily a bad thing, but remained silent, fearing her opinion would be unappreciated.

'While the kingdom mourned, Queen Weira prepared for a new child, but her health started to fail. She appeared weaker and more withdrawn than before and then came the moment of childbirth. I remember it so vividly because I witnessed the event.'

'What do you mean?' Will was confused about where the story was going, wondering if Elyon knew anything about her history in Meridian. It was strange listening to events that changed history and being aware they happened in the present time to people she knew while sitting in the modern kitchen.

'Someone has to know what I did. You, being a Guardian, have given me a reason to share my misdeeds. I did it for a good cause, I'll tell myself every day,' Galgheita looked right into Will's eyes. 'I'm aware Elyon is a princess because I was the one who brought her to Earth.' She dropped the bomb.

'What?' Will was taken aback. 'How come Caleb does not know her identity? Who are her adoptive parents?' She had so many questions floating in her mind. 'Wait, if you brought Elyon here, do you know what happened to her real mother?'

'Yes and no.' Mrs. Rudolph nodded. 'I will tell you because Elyon is your friend, and I was too cowardly to share my story with her while hiding their identities, hoping that Phobos would never find them. Until it was too late... I hope you will share it with her someday because I am too ashamed of my crime. What I did was considered high treason.'

'Please continue' Will sat on the edge of her chair, trying to wrap her head around the new information. For one, she knew this information had to remain secret because traitors to the Meridian Crown had a death sentence. Another life depended on her ability to lie. Will took a sip of tea, suddenly feeling her mouth dry.

'Where I was… ' Her teacher continued, 'in the evening of delivery, the palace did not sleep; everyone was anticipating the birth of the new princess. The head maid assigned me to the same wing where the Queen gave birth. We served refreshments to the nobles who had gathered in the sitting rooms, all waiting for the big moment. However, because Elyon did not want to come to this world quickly, it took a long time. The nobles are fickle creatures. They were tired of waiting, and the majority of them left. Nevertheless, the servants waited on a few ladies, most of whom were close friends of the queen. We received word in the middle of the night that the princess had been born, and everyone rejoiced. There was a sense of anticipation in the air with the successful birth of an heir. With the happy news, they sent me away to get more wine from the kitchens. In the middle of the night, the palace appeared empty except for the many guards stationed around the wing where the Queen was resting. I had to pass through most of them to get to the lower levels of the castle. One of the guards, Randall, offered to accompany me. We joked and laughed on our way down. Everyone was merry, and the staff was already preparing a feast for breakfast because everybody knew the festivities would continue all day. I took bottles of the finest wine, and Randall helped me carry them. Yet, when we reached the top floor, something was amiss. There were no guards, and I knew something had happened because they never left their post; even when shifts changed, they stayed in the same spot. Randal tensed, ordered me to hide behind a marble statue, and drew his sword, searching for hidden threats. Nothing happened until we heard raised voices of a heated argument. I couldn't understand what was said because the thick walls did not carry the sound well enough. Randal rushed to check on the Queen, but could not enter through the locked door. Then something strange happened. My ears popped, the air pressure changed so suddenly that I almost passed out, and after a second, everything exploded...
That idiot guard saved my life because the statue absorbed most of the damage while he was crushed beneath it. Rock, debris, and dust rained on me. It was difficult to see and breathe. My ears were ringing. I don't know how much time passed after I crawled out of my hole. What I saw was devastation. The whole place broke when the walls imploded. I could feel the breeze on my face and noticed that some of the ceilings were gone. As the wind cleared the dust, I heard a cry. A baby's cry and a green glint in the dark. I clambered through the rubble into the queen's room, and what I saw took my breath away. Elyon was glowing green, and when I closed my eyes, it turned white and disappeared altogether. The dust settled, leaving most of the room spotless as if something had shielded Weira as it exploded outward. The Prince was slumped on her bed, seemingly unconscious with bloody hands on the sheets, and the queen... was dead.' Mrs. Rudolph paled and once again polished her glasses in a nervous habit.

'I could not stay there. I was a witness, a lowly maid with no protection. In that moment of clarity, my princess cried again. I could not leave her in danger, suspecting murder. I took the baby and fled, hiding away with my newlywed friends, Alborn, the Commander of the Guard, and his wife Mirialed, telling them what happened. They intended to return her, but when news from the palace came that Phobos was to blame, we decided to flee to Earth. The rest is history. We hid and adapted until Elyon began asking questions they could not answer. Until Cedric exposed my friend's identities, kidnapping Elyon away. Now I work to help refugees, occasionally with Caleb. I did not tell him any of this in fear he would decide to rescue Elyon, and people would die in vain.'

'Why did she never mention knowing you?' Will asked, trying to deflect the real question burning in her mind. Was she wrong about him? The evidence was damning enough. Will was nauseous, feeling there was something wrong with the whole picture. The only person who knew the truth was Phobos, and Will was too cowardly to ask him outright. Is she a bad person for wanting to see some good in him? Her hands trembled, so she hid them under the table. It was not the time for a moral crisis. Will focused on Miss Rudolph's voice, pushing everything away.

'Well, I was just a family friend and visited only when Elyon was little. The princess was such an unruly child, full of magic that caused tantrums. The more she used her powers, the more unstable she became. Her parents didn't know what to do. In desperation, we drilled it into her that magic was not real. Eventually, Elyon forgot, dismissing it as an active imagination. I tried keeping the visits to a minimum so that our combined power would not cause mishaps. I do not use my powers in this world, but as you can see, nature loves me. I am nothing like the Earth Guardian, but it is nice to have a little magic in my life.' Galgheita gestured to the plants placed around the house.

Will's smile was a bit strained. 'Mrs. Rudolph, I believe you. I'll try convincing the girls, but it is quite late, and my mom is waiting for me…'

'Oh, I'm sorry. I did not mean to keep you for so long.' She looked apologetic. 'Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I'll keep an eye out for your message. However, this does not change anything at school; I still expect you to be on your best behavior and learn math, even if I treated you like an adult for the past hour. Galgheita tutted, hiding her true nature beneath a layer of skin, and Will chuckled as the world returned to normalcy. Mrs. Rudolph followed her down the corridor, watching how she dressed and opened the door.

'I hope to see you and the girls tomorrow," she said, standing in the doorway. Will could only nod and walk out into the cold evening air. The chill in the air promised the first snow. It cleared her mind and lifted the heaviness in her heart. Will knew there was no getting away from reality. The next time she saw Phobos, they had to talk and not avoid painful topics. She must either trust him or end whatever connection they have once and for all, no matter how much it costs.

Will sighed, seeing her breath in the air. She took out her phone and posted a message to the girls in the group chat. It was up to them to decide when and where they met. Will hopped onto the nearest bus heading home while waiting for the answer, thinking about what the next day would bring.