'Wake up, sleepyhead! Wake up!' an annoying voice shouted at her. 'Rise and shine! It's morning! If you don't get up, you will be late for school! WAKE UP!' it shouted in exasperation at the sleeping figure.
Will groaned under the blanket as the voices kept chattering and shouting around her. She squinted her eyes open only to find sunlight outside the window. It was Monday morning. The electronic devices around the room gossiped about her nightly run to the bathroom and how she looked like something a cat had dragged in.
'Great… Now even inanimate objects are ganging up on me.' She groaned and slowly got up from the bed. Sometimes it sucked to be a technopath. Conveniently ignoring the buzzing background noise, Will did her morning routine and went to the kitchen. Once again, no one was home. Her mother usually got to work before she awoke, but she still baked pancakes and left them on the table.
'My insides are quite empty. Maybe you should go grocery shopping.' The fridge complained in a sad voice.
Will gently massaged the temples, groaning out loud - all that buzzing gave her a mild headache. Making a cup of coffee, Will concentrated and pushed a sliver of power out of her body. A sudden electrical surge caused all the objects to go silent in the kitchen. The minor discharge did the trick of promptly shutting them up. Will developed the ability to manipulate electricity soon after getting her powers. She had to resort to it only in emergencies. This power was too risky to use regularly and could potentially cause damage to her home. It would break the circuits, frying perfectly working appliances, but small discharges were something she learned to control for her peace of mind.
Will dug into the pancakes, wondering how much magic she possessed but never testing the limits of her abilities. Could it take out the whole building's electricity, a city block, or the town itself? What a terrifying thought! She shuddered, but something in her mind whispered that she possessed more power than she realized.
The school was slow, the day dragged on at a snail's pace, and Will was bored out of her mind. She evaded the girls all morning because she didn't want to talk. Instead, Will spent her time doodling in the notebook and daydreaming about escaping the monotony of school. However, as lunchtime approached, Cornelia's glare indicated that avoidance would no longer work, so she made plans to run and hide until the break was over.
'Will Vandom, could you please stay in class a little longer?' Teacher Rudolph asked at the end of the lesson. As everyone left for lunch, Will slowly put away books and stood by the teacher's desk.
'Will, you failed another math test.' The elderly woman handed her a sheet. 'This has to stop, or you will not pass the trimester.' She slowly polished her glasses, looking at her pupil in disapproval.
'I'm sorry, Mrs. Rudolph, I'm just not good at math…' Will muttered an apology. She failed to revise for a test because there was a fight with the monsters a day before, but such an excuse would not work for any teacher.
'I understand your struggles with math, so I will make an exception and allow you to take a remedial test.' The teacher looked at her with a stern expression. 'Next time, I expect you to ask for my help. If you do not understand the material, there are many explanatory math problems to solve. It does not bring me joy to see my students fail. It makes me feel like an inadequate teacher. However, if you do not take this seriously, I will have to involve your parents and the school administration. Do not skip my lessons without adequate explanation, and give me a reason to take serious actions.' The older woman issued a warning, indicating the importance of her lessons and the dedication she expected from her students. 'You can take a test next Monday after school, so prepare adequately.'
After being dismissed, Will steered clear of the cafeteria, where the girls waited for her, and instead went to the yard. She liked Mrs. R., a kind-hearted teacher, but the math lessons were the bane of her existence. Sitting behind the tree, Will looked at the sky. October was ending, and the air was getting colder. The leaves were spotted with varied hues—yellow, red, and brown— they fell on the ground in a colorful blanket, slowly spinning in the wind. The crisp autumn air carried the sweet scent of decay, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the yard. It was a beautiful yet melancholy sight, a reminder that winter was around the corner. Taranee came out into the yard with determined steps and soon stopped beside her.
'Do you mind if I join?' The girl asked, already sitting on the grass and crunching a few leaves in the process. 'Cornelia was pissed when you did not show up for lunch, but Elyon finally joined in, so it was OK. Why are you avoiding us?' Taranee asked, concerned for her friend.
'I'm not… well, not really.' Will looked down at her feet, avoiding eye contact. 'I had an unpleasant night, so I am in no mood for gossiping or silly banter.' She softly replied, trying to erase the vivid image of Phobos from her mind. 'I just wanted to clear my head.'
'Everything okay with your mom?' Taranee asked, trying to find a reason for her distress and hoping that Will would confide in her.
'I don't know. Mom is rarely home. It's either her job or her new boyfriend, and since they go on a lot of dates, maybe she genuinely likes that guy. I still have not met with him, but Mom looks happy. It's not that what ruined my mood,' Will continued. 'Yesterday, I found that Matt has a girlfriend... and I failed yet another math test.' She sighed.
'Oh, Will…' Taranee hugged her, and Will quietly laid her head on her friend's shoulder, cherishing her company. Taranee was her closest friend out of all the girls. She never judged, was a good listener, and always offered her support. Their friendship was built on trust and understanding, which made it more valuable. Will felt guilty for hiding her encounters with the prince, especially when her life was threatened multiple times. Yet she did not want to share the experience, knowing the girls wouldn't understand that Phobos had let her go twice in a row. How could Will tell them something happened between them that she didn't understand and that she might have put everyone in danger by accidentally meeting him? The best course of action was to keep the secret and deal with the situation herself. It was a risky decision, but Will couldn't bear the thought of putting her friends in danger, especially when she did not know Phobos's intentions. Something in her heart told her it was the right choice, and Will did not want to ignore her intuition, trusting her abilities.
'So what happened yesterday?' Taranee inquired after some time.
'I overheard him talking with his girlfriend in the shop. You know, I have always had a crush on Matt. He looked so mature and cool, but after getting to know him better, he seemed quite soft on the inside. It was nice to spend time with him. I foolishly thought Matt liked me too. I did not even have a chance to date a guy.' Will sniffed, trying to prevent the tears from spilling onto her cheeks 'Also, I am tired. Juggling my life and the Guardian's secret. It is a lot of pressure…' She shrugged, cleaning up her tears, feeling it was pointless to cry. Also, she had no idea what to make of her recent confrontations with Phobos. It could only be described as intense. Their interactions left her confused and unsure of what he wanted from her, but she couldn't deny the undeniable chemistry she felt between them. It left her both drawn to and intimidated by him.
'How can you keep up with everything?' Will asked wearily, looking at Taranee.
'It's not like I do everything myself.' The quiet girl pondered, staring at the sky. 'Sometimes I am so busy I can't find a spare minute to rest. The dance lessons, school, homework, and family obligations—things get over my head. Then I go to Nigel, and he keeps me sane. I can relax around him, and troubles do not seem so heavy anymore.' Taranee smiled, blushing slightly. He was something special in her life—an island of peace and comfort when everything around her seemed crazy. 'Do not tell the girls, but he's my boyfriend as of last week. My mother is against it because Nigel has a record with the police, but she cannot tell me what to do. I like him and think it was a misunderstanding. Plus, I am old enough to make my own decisions about whom I date.' Taranee was determined in her reasoning, believing that mutual understanding could help solve her problems.
'Have you already kissed?' Will giggled, feeling happy for her shy friend and, for a moment, forgetting her issues.
'Yes, a lot…' Taranee blushed, embarrassed, and hid her rosy cheeks in her palms. 'It was lovely…' She whispered, feeling too awkward to describe the experience.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the break, and the girls had to dash back to school. Taranee came to a halt in the middle of the corridor, just outside the classroom, and looked at her with a determined expression on her face.
'I am sorry about you and Matt. You deserve someone to share your burdens with, and Matt is a fool if he doesn't see how good you are.' She said it matter-of-factly and entered the room.
The problem was that Will thought she was a complete fool. Matt never gave her any ideas. They hung out, talked, and worked together - only she wanted more from him.
She often daydreamed about what it would be like to be in a relationship with him, but she never asked if he was available. Remembering his face, Will sighed—even with a troubled expression, Matt looked cute. Those chocolate eyes and disheveled auburn hair made him attractive to most girls. But Will knew that Matt's charm went beyond his good looks. He was also kind, funny, and always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Unaware, her mind drifted to another set of eyes. Piercing blue, like a glacier, and pale skin with high cheekbones… She felt a chill run down her spine, recalling the intensity of their gaze and the way they seemed to see right through her. It was as if they knew her deepest secrets and desires, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. She could not shake off the feeling of being under his spell… Will was startled awake from her daydream. Did she just think about Phobos? Guiltily admitting that yes, she did, Will was frightened. He was a handsome man, almost sinfully so, but he tried to kill her. How can she be so stupid? Will shook her head, trying to focus on the lesion, but her heartbeat quickened at the mere thought of the powerful man. She did not know if it was from a well-founded fear or something more forbidden.
School ended without further incidents. Taranee ran interference with the girls, so she went to the pool at a sedated pace, enjoying the rest of the day. Seeing Elyon walk ahead on the opposite street, Will waved in greeting, but the girl did not notice her and disappeared into the nearby shop. Feeling curious about where Elyon went, Will followed.
It was a bookshop. The building was old and a bit rundown, but the storefront looked more like an antique shop than a place to buy books. Will peeked inside the store through the big front window. Inside, the shelves were overflowing with old books haphazardly stacked on top of each other, with numerous odd-looking knick-knacks in between. Elyon stood in front of a cashier, clearly chatting and flirting with an older, nice-looking guy. He wore glasses and had his long, blonde hair tied in a low ponytail. The man was dressed nicely in a white formal shirt and dark gray pressed trousers, with the blazer draped across the back of the chair. Will retreated, not wanting to intrude, but the guy caught her spying and looked straight at her. His eyes, filled with anger, disgustingly trailed her body as if she represented something lesser and unwanted. Will shuddered and drew away, not letting the stranger affect her mood. She went ahead, forgetting about the strange interaction, and did not stop until the swimming pool was in her sight.
Eagerly changing into her swimsuit, Will greeted her trainer and teammates and dove into the pool, feeling weightless and free—the water soothed and washed away all her worries. Maybe that was what Taranee was talking about—a safe place to be yourself. Will felt grateful for finding a place where she could escape from the stress of her daily life and be with people who shared her passion for swimming. Being in the water, she could push herself to new limits and forget about the world outside, focusing on her breathing and the muscles working in her body.
After a competitive practice, when everyone else started to leave for the changing rooms, Will swam around, deciding to stay a bit longer. Taking a deep breath, she dove and stayed underwater. When pressure clogged her ears, everything became quiet—the only sound was the beating of her own heart. The glittering lights shimmered and swirled above the surface. After relaxing, her body drifted without gravity, and the tiny bubbles slowly floated up. Water was Irma's domain. She was the Water Guardian, but Will loved the pleasant feeling of drifting and the softening of the world around her. Though she could not control it like Irma, she felt a stronger connection to the element than others.
Suddenly, a brilliant purplish light spilled from her swimsuit, illuminating the pool. With an unexpected startle, Will took a mouthful of bleach-smelling water. She coughed and sniffed her way out of the pool, clutching the warm pendant in her fist. Once more, it transmitted a wave of unexplained and vague feelings, something to do with water, urging her to explore. Will shook her head, took the towel from the bench, and went to change. As of late, Heart of Kandrakar had become very impulsive. It guided her to something, giving out riddles and feelings she did not know how to explain. It was strange because the pendant appeared to be almost sentient. Will examined the round pink crystal encased in the delicate silver casting more closely. As she held it in her hands, a faint pulse emanated from the pendant, almost as if it had a heartbeat of its own. Maybe there was more to this piece of jewelry than they knew. Deciding to look into the origins of her powers, Will exited the pool to do grocery shopping in the nearby store. Maybe Hay Lin knows something more from her grandmother, so she texted her and asked if they could discuss their magic at a convenient time. After getting home, Will cooked pasta for dinner. Her mother arrived home before the food finished cooking. As she changed, Will prepared a cup of tea and put it on the table.
'Thank you.' Susan smiled and took a sip of the delicious beverage. 'How was your day, darling?'
'It was good. I still need to work on my math, but everything else is nice.' Will answered, taking out plates. 'How was your date yesterday? You came back late?'
'He is a nice man. You should meet with him, but everything is still in the early stages. We both suffered after the divorce, but this man is kind, smart, and protective. I feel safe with him, and I hope you understand that I can finally love again. I understand it's hard for you to see me with someone else, but he respects me and wants to get to know you. He's not going to replace your father, but maybe he can bring a positive influence into our lives. Just give him a chance.' She continued, grateful that they could finally have an open conversation.
'I know, Mom, just be happy, okay?' Will worried needlessly, looking at her beaming mother. She did not want her heart to break again. Family divorce was difficult for both of them, but moving away and starting over helped a great deal. Even though it was difficult at first, they eventually worked things out. Will could not judge her mom for being in an unhappy marriage. She understood that every relationship had struggles and respected her mother's decision to separate. It was better than continuously hearing their arguments and being the unwilling mediator between them. Although it was difficult to see her parents split up, she wished her father the best of luck in life without them.
Their dinner was nice. They chatted about daily things, catching up on their lives, and Will was pleased for the opportunity to spend quality time with her mother.
Later in the evening, after her mother had gone to sleep, Will prepared a bath. She lit a few candles and put her favorite peach-scented bath foam in the tub, creating a wall of bubbles on the surface. After undressing but leaving only the pendant hanging between her breasts, she slowly immersed herself in hot water, sighing happily when her sore muscles relaxed. Will closed her eyes and let the warm water envelop her body, enjoying the sensation of bubbles popping against her skin.
Once more, the Heart of Kandrakar glowed. Will opened her eyes and saw the water rippling around her as if stirred by an invisible force. Feeling a surge of power coursing through her body, she drew a deep breath and slid underwater…