Will Vandom panted as her magic began to dry, attempting to fight a squad of soldiers who had surrounded them. The other girls fared no better than her. They were all dirty and battered. The Guardians were too close to the castle, and the soldiers just kept coming. She knew they would lose if this continued any longer. The girls did not have enough strength to fight anymore. Their mission was practically over - the only thing left was closing the gap between their worlds. Will shouted a direct order as the last person entered the portal. 'Guardians, hurry up! We are done here!'
The girls darted around the soldiers, running as fast as they could, but the swirling portal was too far away. They needed more time to escape safely. Will could feel her heart pound in her chest as she summoned the last of her strength, determined to protect her friends from harm. With fierce determination, she unleashed an energy ball that sent soldiers flying in all directions.
'Come and get me, freaks!' Will yelled, sprinting closer to the castle in order to get more cover. A few dozen monsters gave chase, trying to shoot down her fleeing form.
'A little bit further...' she thought, desperately trying to reach the wall for a better hiding spot. Yet, Will was too slow and too tired. It took a second to look back to see the girls vanishing into the portal. That single glance was her mistake. Unexpected pain rocked her body, spreading fire in her back. Will screamed, suddenly slipping on the muddy ground and hitting a wall with a thud. An arrow protruded from the butterfly wing, piercing straight into her shoulder. She moaned as the wound aggravated with each movement. Gritting her teeth and swallowing a scream, Will yanked the arrow out of her body. Blood gushed from the wound, making her dizzy, and Will knew she had to act fast and find safety before too much was lost.
'Just a little longer...' she rallied and started scaling the wall, having no choice but to go up despite the hot blood flowing down her uniform. Maybe it was unwise to remove the arrow, but it limited her movements, and the Guardian's healing ability would not allow her to bleed out. The enchantments hidden in the rocks vibrated when she touched their rough surface. By chance or luck, the defensive magic did not activate. It felt odd, but there was no time to think about such things in such a dire situation. Will could hear the arrows hitting and falling without finding their intended target as the rigid rocks sliced into her palms. A few soldiers pursued her, but they were too heavy and slid down the damp surface. Will ascended out of sheer stubbornness, panting and taking huge gulps of air through the pain. The world tilted after reaching the top. Will stumbled awkwardly and allowed herself to fall across a castle wall. The Guardian dropped like a stone, hoping to survive the descent. The wind was howling in her ears as she plummeted towards the ground, her heart racing with fear. The green grass below was the last thing Will saw before closing her eyes and bracing for impact.
When the awareness came again, Will burned with fever, aching all over. Her chest hurt, and pricking stabs between the ribs made each breath feel like agony. She coughed and choked, trying to breathe - blood bubbled behind her teeth, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth. Tears leaked from her eyes, but Will could not open them properly as they swelled. Is that how dying feels?
The magic hummed beneath the skin with an urgent warning. She was not alone. Someone was walking on the lush grass without making a sound, stopping beside her. Terror and fear coursed through her being. If this presence represents an enemy, she would be killed or tortured to death. Tears started to fall faster, blurring the view - there was no control over them. She did not want her life to end this way. A gentle hand covered her eyes, blocking her vision. Will panicked, trying to escape the unexpected touch, coughing up blood and gasping for breath, but getting none.
'Shhhhhh…' A silky, deep voice soothed with comfort, putting pressure on her chest that softly held her in place. The agonizing pain gradually subsided. A faint but pleasant fragrance eased her mind. Will felt warmth spreading through her body as her consciousness faded.
'What a lovely smell…' she thought. 'Sandalwood and exotic spices, sugar, and roses…' A soft sigh escaped pale lips, and Will knew no more.
The second time she awoke, the sky was dark. Her mind was racing, and her ears were buzzing - it was hard to think clearly with a headache. It felt like she had conveniently forgotten something. The strange sensation nagged at her mind. The ground was damp, and a chilly breeze blew in small gusts, stirring the grass. Will groaned in discomfort, feeling her wet clothes and body aches. She carefully stood up, favoring the left side, and looked around. It seemed more than a few hours had passed since the battle because there was no sound of soldiers moving nearby. She landed in an empty garden just beneath the wall. It was enclosed by tall bushes that seemed to shield it from the rest of the world. Will took a few steps inside, and the clearing revealed itself in all its pristine glory. Rosebushes surrounded her with beautiful flowers of various colors. Black, rosy pink, deep crimson, and brilliant blue. Other flowers were peculiarly colored. Some she had never seen before — roses so tall they towered above her. Others were tiny seedlings that had sprouted from the ground. The evening dew glistened on the blooms - sparkling crystal drops on the delicate petals, and the intoxicating, sweet fragrance almost hypnotized her. The luscious grass was so vibrant and soft that Will wanted nothing more than to lie down and marvel at the rare beauty around her. She closed her eyes, savoring the scent of roses and admiring their splendor. The calming sound of a waterfall could be heard in the distance. It cascaded from the rocks and gurgled joyfully into the stream. Will gently caressed the delicate rose. Its petals were velvety and supple — flawless and perfect as if made from pure imagination.
'Magic! This entire garden is made by magic!' Will's heart raced with sudden realization and an awareness of a powerful hum filling the air. Her abdominal muscles tensed as if preparing for a fight-or-flight moment. Even the air seemed to be vibrating with eager anticipation. Only one person in Metamoor was capable of such marvelous feats of creation. Will did not have enough strength to oppose him when her energy level was at an all-time low. Then, calming the hum in the air, the garden relaxed as if heaving a sigh of relief, and Will saw Him. A barefoot man walked into the clearing, his long, pale hair trailing on the ground. The edge of his bluish silk robe touched the dewy grass, but not a speck of dirt or dust was on him. An otherworldly aura surrounded him, and his cold, unforgiving gaze pierced through her. Will could not help but feel intimidated by his presence - she knew he wielded power beyond her understanding in his hands.
'Guardian,' the unmistakably captivating man welcomed her with a small nod of the head and a slight smile. It did not reach his icy blue eyes. When Phobos openly unleashed his overwhelming power, intentionally changing the pressure in the air, the Hearth of Kandrakar pulsed underneath her uniform. Will gasped, trying to breathe, but the tension only increased, squeezing her on all sides. She refused to fall to the ground, even though her legs shook uncontrollably from the strain of staying upright, and her vision became blurry. She refused to give him the satisfaction of winning. Will summoned all her strength and glared, determined to keep standing no matter what.
'Interesting…' he smirked, and the pull lessened. 'To whom do I owe the pleasure of seeing you this lovely evening?' Phobos curiously inquired. 'No greeting? Where are your manners, Guardian?' he questioned, raising his perfectly sculpted brow.
'Phobos…' Will muttered through numb lips, defiantly looking straight at him, wanting to appear braver than she felt inside.
'Oh, such reckless courage… It would do you well to remember your place!' He chuckled with delight as if reading her mind. 'You will address me as Prince!' Once again, the overpowering magic filled the air as his eyes glowed from within.
Without a warning, Will was flying backward. When she slammed into the wall with full force, the air escaped her lungs with a painful scream. Blood dripped on the ground from the freshly opened wound on her back. As he came closer, the invisible force held her in place. Tutting in displeasure, Phobos seized Will by the throat, hoisting her up to his eye level.
'I should kill you here and now. You, Guardians, are a thorn in my side. It would be so easy to extinguish your light...' He deliberately squeezed her neck, restricting the airflow while tenderly whispering in her ear. Will tensed up like a string, unable to move as her legs dangled in the air. She was entirely at his mercy. Never before had Will been this vulnerable, yet with each difficult inhale, so alive. Goosebumps raised on her skin as his breath tickled her neck. The pain in her back was as sharp as a knife, sending stings through her body. Yet, Will could feel the softness of his palm and the warmth emanating from his body. The power dynamic between them was palpable, and despite the danger, Will found herself drawn to him in a way she could not explain. The conflicting emotions made it difficult to think clearly. The seconds ticked by, and her battered body felt strained with the stiff muscles and the intensity of the unfamiliar feelings. Will could not move an inch, yet the Hearth of Kandrakar stayed silent on her chest as if there was no imminent danger. Her mind came to a sudden halt when Phobos stopped the pressure, looking directly into her eyes as if searching for something. At that moment, a strange understanding passed between them. Whatever he saw reflected in her eyes shifted the mood, and his head gently thumped on her shoulder. Will felt his silky hair tickling her cheek and could not shake off the feeling that something significant had happened. Phobos sighed in dismay, lifting his head.
'Run, Guardian! Return home before I change my mind…' he whispered, relinquishing his hold. Will slumped to the ground, staring at him in confusion, trying to understand what had occurred. He turned around and retreated into the garden with an unreadable expression on his flawless face. With this granted opportunity, Will ran into overgrown greenery, disappearing from sight.
'Interesting...' Phobos thought, lightly caressing a blooming rose. With each touch, the innocent-looking petals cut into his elegant fingers. Crimson blood trickled to the ground, settling on the grass like red rubies. He licked the last drops, grimacing slightly at the iron taste, and returned to the castle.