Will materialized in an unfamiliar room. It was a small bedroom with pastel walls and rustic furniture. Naturally, she was baffled as to why she was in an unknown location. But before Will could fully comprehend her surroundings, she heard a hushed conversation behind the door, and then an elderly woman entered, carrying a woven basket.

'Oh, you've arrived at last. I began to fear that you would not appear. I grew weary of waiting.' She stated this flatly, placing the basket on the table and emptying its contents. Various bottles and herbs were pulled, releasing a gentle aroma throughout the room.

'Girl, why are you staring at me this way? You catch flies. Please take a seat,' the gray-haired woman grumbled with a hint of irritation.

'Pardon me, but who are you?' Will inquired, her voice tinged with suspicion.

'I am a village healer, and my name is Alma. Your companions brought you to the rebel base.' The elderly woman explained politely.

'I see...' Will sat on the bed, suddenly exhausted from the previous few hours and unsure how to feel. Everything Phobos did puzzled her, but one thing she had to reluctantly admit was that they had an attraction to each other in the most basic way. The things he could make her feel with just a touch were overwhelming. She could vehemently deny it, but the pull was there, especially when he looked like a walking sin. Will bit her lip, imagining the possible consequences if she stopped struggling with her own decision to stay away. It was tempting. Sensing his incredible power beneath the skin and how easily they merged their magic. The forbidden kiss melted her from the inside out. The fact that Heart of Kandrakar responded to him led her to believe Prince Phobos was something else. There was no hint of hidden malice in their interactions. Yes, he was quick to anger and enjoyed cruel games, but evil... Will was uncertain.

'Guardian, if you don't mind, I would like to check for any lingering after-effects. Mind magic can be a delicate subject.' Alma sincerely requested standing beside her.

'Go ahead…' Will sighed. It would be helpful to get a second opinion on things. The healer's hands softly glowed, landing on her head. The magic felt cold and pure, like spring water flowing through, if not a little intrusive. The healer tutted and tapped her on the chest. Will shuddered, as if an ice cube had slid down her back to her toes and made her sensitive soles start to burn and itch. Glancing at her feet, Will saw a few glass shards falling out. She didn't know why she hadn't noticed them sooner, but she was too exhausted to care.

'Well, everything seems to be in order. The Prince sure knows his craft. He's always had a knack for it… Pity, these days he's more into destruction than creation…' Alma muttered in evident disapproval. Caught off guard Will flinched out of the woman's arms, standing in a defensive position, panicking inside. Was her secret discovered?

'How do you know that?' she inquired, her eyes narrowing.

'Easy there, girl, your secret is safe with me. The moment you were brought to me, I had to perform a health check, and your thoughts were so ungraded that it was extremely easy to slip inside. However, mind magic is beyond my capabilities. That being said, only a few people are capable of it, and some of them would disagree on principle. You might have died. Imagine my surprise when I learned that was not the case. I covered your disappearance, so stop doubting me and come, I prefer serious conversations with a cup of tea.' The healer turned around and motioned to follow, still a bit uncertain Will accompanied her.

The house was modest and cozy, reminiscent of village cottages, with soothing colors and rustic furniture. In the kitchen, the fire burned in the fireplace. Even when there was a more sophisticated stove, the kettle hung above the fire on an old-fashioned hook. Alma rummaged through the pantry, and soon there were two mugs of berry tea and buns with a vegetable filling on the table. The elderly woman relaxed sat down on the wooden chair, and took a sip of the pleasantly aromatic tea. Will anxiously followed suit.

'Don't be shy, you must be famished after spending so much magic,' she said, motioning to the food on the plate.

Will bit into a bun and was pleasantly surprised by the rich taste. The filling was hearty and spicy, while the dough completely melted in the mouth. As she ate, a comfortable silence filled the room, with only the crackling of the fire and the rain outside to be heard.

"When I was considerably younger than I am now, I served as a medical apprentice in the castle and witnessed a variety of things.' Alma started the story, and Will leaned closer in obvious interest.

'Prince Phobos did not have the easiest childhood. Since he was male and therefore ineligible to inherit the throne, the court held him at a distinct disadvantage from birth.'

'What? Why? That just doesn't sound right...' Will frowned at the social inequity.

'Does it differ on Earth?' Alma naturally inquired, intrigued, about life beyond her planet.

'Historically, it was the inverse. Only male heirs could inherit the titles, which we no longer practice. In a few countries that have royalty, the title usually goes to the firstborn, despite their gender. Women and men are equal. Leadership and authority are determined by society. The distribution of power between equal members regulates the authority of our leaders, which is not absolute. They act as both advisers and legislators.' She attempted to explain and simplify modern life, imagining it as a novel concept for monarchy-ruled people.

'It's amazing how differently the world operates... To you, we should appear archaic. You must realize that the society of Metamoor is matriarchal. Queens has always been in charge of us, and as time went on, some laws became more female-centric. It does not indicate that our men are in any way inferior. They merely have other responsibilities. Now where was I?' The old woman wondered, lost in her memories.

'Phobos childhood…' Will gently prompted her.

'Yes, well... The prince was an active child, and despite the court's grumblings regarding the firstborn son, everyone liked him. After all, he spent the majority of his days playing in the gardens, so I had to heal the scratches on his legs and arms on a regular basis. Everything changed when Phobos was six years old. I don't have the specifics, but there was an assassination attempt. After that, Queen Weira was beside herself and granted her son the ancient magical protection, or so we were told after noticing the royal seal tattoo on his neck. However, the boy I knew changed. Gone were the charming smiles and childish exuberance, they were replaced with calculating glances and calm manners. He spent most of his time in the library, reading mountains of books, learning from private tutors, and observing people. It was as if he saw the world in a different light. And his eyes... no child deserves such a look... Every so often, I wondered what happened to him to look more mature than any child while also being so full of wonder at the world...' Alma sighed, slowly taking a sip of the pleasantly warm tea.

'Why are you telling me this?' Will was a bit puzzled. She wanted to hear more than the crumbs everyone knew. Nobody ever told them about their lives, possibly because the Guardians were unfamiliar with Meridian culture. Yet there sat an elderly woman, eager to recount her memories.

'I am old, Guardian, and we elderly people are more than willing to share our life stories with the young listeners. Furthermore, I have unintentionally violated your privacy, and you could use some advice. If sharing my knowledge could help, there are no disadvantages to that.' The healer smiled reassuringly.

'I'm more than confused… Everything I know is fighting with my desires… What should I do?' Will admitted, hiding her face by resting her head on her arms. It was too much, too quickly. The conflicting emotions were tearing her apart.

'I'm afraid I can't provide a satisfactory answer. You must choose between feelings and duty.' Alma shook her head, looking at the Guardian. The girl was young, but she appeared to be carrying the world on her shoulders.

'What happened after that? How did he come to be so despised?' Will asked in a tired voice.

'That is a grim tale… It started when Queen Weira announced her second pregnancy. However, the Royal Consort's untimely death dampened the festivities. A hunting accident. Many people suspected foul play, but there was no evidence to back it up. The Queen was miserable, and her health deteriorated after the grand funeral. The court waited, holding their breath. Who would take over if she died without a suitable heir? If a girl was born, there would be a new ruler. She will, however, be too young to ascend to the throne, necessitating the appointment of a Regent until the child reaches the age of majority. Queen Weira had a brother and a son, both of whom were rejected as unsuitable for their gender, so the plotting began. We were not permitted to attend court as healers, but an infirmary is an excellent place to overhear conversations. According to the rumors, factions were easily formed and disbanded because everyone was competing for their noble rights, even if the Queen was still alive.'

'Sounds awful…' Will trailed off, lifting her head and listening intently. The house was quiet, and the pitter-patter of rain had finally subsided to a gentle drizzle.

'It was, believe me, there is nothing worse than a room full of cunning women. The standstill ended the night the princess was born. It was a difficult night. My teacher, the royal doctor, myself, and a midwife delivered a healthy baby girl, but the queen was weak. We left the bedroom after ensuring that everything was in order, leaving them to sleep peacefully. I still have no idea what happened after we departed. The only thing I know is that an explosion rocked the entire castle in the early morning hours. It was a violent backlash from the eruption of magical power originating from an unexpected source, our prince. I discovered him hysterically screaming and crying amid the rubble. The room around him was wrecked except for the bed where his mother's cold, dead body lay. As soon as Phobos saw me, he changed as if a switch was flipped, becoming silent and emotionless... There were no signs of the princess, and we feared the worst...' An elderly woman pressed her wrinkled hands against an empty cup. She slowly stood up and went to rekindle the dying fire, bringing firewood from the wicker basket with her. Will sat frozen in the chair, trying to comprehend things. She didn't know the whole story, but it was easy to imagine such a tragedy. No wonder Phobos was so difficult to understand; the sheer trauma he experienced would have had serious consequences for anyone. Was it the only reason for his actions? Probably not... Either you become evil, or you are born evil. Perhaps there were deeper layers to Phobos' character that she had yet to uncover. Will wondered if there were other factors at play, hidden in the shadows of his past, that contributed to his enigmatic nature. Something niggled at her mind as she watched the flames flicker and dance.

'How old was he?'

'Eight…' Alma replied as she added herbs and hot water to her cup. She continued after sitting down and getting comfortable.

'It only took one night to completely ruin the Royal family. Our beloved Queen had died, the princess had gone missing, and we later discovered Weira's brother's body in the rubble. Phobos was the only one who survived. The court came at him like an angry, hissing nest of snakes, accusing him of allegedly murdering his own family. There was no tangible evidence of Prince's guilt, but by being discovered there, he became the sole witness and suspect. Malicious rumors and lies were spread both outside and inside the palace. A monster, the devil's spawn, a killer—those were just a few names they called him, and Phobos took it all in frigid silence. An eight-year-old boy who had lost everything. Was he responsible? Nobody knows. The prince never spoke about what happened that night, so his silence was interpreted as proof of the crime. The Court waited a week before issuing an order to throw him into the dungeon in order to get rid of the last member of the royal family. The thing is, everyone expected the Prince to go down willingly because he was only a child. Oh boy, the old foxes were surprised when, on the day of his mock trial, Phobos showed up with an army on his heels. It was a coup. A child took command of their army and turned it against the Court. The magical power he excluded that day was astounding. Their worst nightmare became a reality. The overlooked child was more powerful than any woman in the palace, possibly except the late Queen. As the last royal, Phobos ascended to the throne. It was his right—not by birth, but by the magic he could control. The young Prince's first act was to abolish the ancient laws that allowed only women to inherit noble titles. He promised that to the army in exchange for their assistance in the coup. Phobos surrounded himself with young, eager Lords who were too pleased with the changes to oppose him. Lord Cedric was one of them, a bright young man who rose to power solely through his intellect. Another was General Vathek, a capable swordsman whom men trusted. You can only imagine how the ladies of the ruling class seethed in their juices. A male child sat on the throne, violating their birthrights and traditions. It was like spitting in their faces.' Alma paused, wetting her dry mouth and allowing Will to form her own image of the chaos that reigned in the Meridian. It was easy to imagine, given that she had written many historical papers on Earth's Kings and Queens. Things Will only knew from reading actually happened here not long ago. The differences in their worlds just became even more apparent as this elderly woman witnessed history being written.

'I still don't understand... Why can't Phobos rule? I mean, he has royal blood, so without a doubt, there exists a possibility?' Will asked, thinking about it from a historical point of view.

'It mostly has to do with our beliefs and traditions. Every female ruler receives the title 'Light of the Meridian' in addition to the crown. Phobos could not claim that title because it only works on women. The Light of the Meridian is not just a noble name. The title grants a boost to magical abilities gifted by the Divine Guardian. We believe that the first queen received her magical powers from a Sentinel born from the planet itself and that they have passed from ruler to ruler ever since. The Divine Guardian is a God in whom we believe. The earliest texts indicate that he is a man, others believe it is a woman, and some claim it is a genderless entity. Whatever form people choose, everybody believes in our Guardian and Protector. The second reason is Kandrakar's interference. The next day after the tragedy, the Veil surrounded us. Meridian people are travelers, and we had traded with other kingdoms, and it was gone. The Veil's sudden appearance cut off our connections with the outside world, leaving us isolated and unable to continue our trade. The people of Meridian were left to rely solely on themselves for protection and sustenance. We still don't know why they restricted us, but it gave the nobles even more reason to hate the new ruler.

The third reason is that Phobos took away the nobles' power in a matter of years. The first to go was inheritance laws, then land ownership, and finally higher taxes on the wealthy. Everything combined broke the overboiled pot. A rebellion was organized, but no matter what the old nobles threw at him, Phobos remained steady, and his magic grew even stronger. They eventually crossed the line. After a few assassination attempts, he executed half of the opposition, while others were imprisoned for high treason. Surprisingly, the execution was held privately, but the remaining family members received mementos confirming their deaths. After that, everyone feared being next, so things calmed down.

Years passed, and the boy I knew grew into a man. He became detached, cold, and calculating, relying solely on himself. His once warm and compassionate nature seemed to have vanished completely, replaced by a hardened shell. The prince no longer trusted anyone and viewed every interaction as a potential threat. But I'm not surprised given what he's been through. Strange occurrences began to occur all over Metamoor. Droughts, unexpected storms, magic disappearing in certain areas, and crops withering—everything hit the people hard. In the shadows, rumors spread about Phobos being a tyrant and usurper of the throne, the bringer of disasters. They talked about the missing Princess, the rightful heir until she became a shining hope. The disgruntled noblewomen silently sparked the unrest once more. The cat and mouse game began anew. Sometimes I thank the Divine Guardian that our princess is missing. In this position, she would have become a pawn between two opposing factions, which is not a good situation for any child. The rest, they say, is history. Kandrakar sent you Guardians to tip the scales for better or worse, I do not know… Is your boundless curiosity satisfied?' Alma asked, concluding her story.

'Thank you for telling me more than I could have asked for.' Will gratefully nodded to the elderly lady, 'But I have a question... How did you end up here?'

'Oh, I retired...' I'm too old for a stuffy castle with many stairs. I want to spend the rest of my life in peace.' She burst out laughing.

'Yet, after everything, you're assisting the rebels?' Will could not comprehend her reasoning. The old healer appeared to be fond of Phobos, but he lived in the rebel village.

'I work as a healer. When it comes to helping those in need, I make no distinctions. It makes no difference whether they are rebels or soldiers. They just happened to choose my hometown as a base. I guess it's far enough away to go unnoticed... Your friend, the blonde girl, could be a decent healer; she has the magic for it, but her character...' the old woman shook her head disapprovingly.

'Cornelia...' Will was not surprised, the girl always mended their injuries, but with her high and mighty attitude, she was a bit difficult to get friendly with. 'I could talk to her about the opportunity…'

The sound of small feet running down the corridor and the loud bang of the door interrupted the conversation. Soon after, a young village boy stormed into the kitchen, panting for air.

'Missus, we need you! The Air Girl is back, and she brought a friend.' He captured the sleeve of the healer's dress, tugging on it in a hurry.

'How many times do I have to tell you to knock before entering, Thomas?' Alma stood up and gently lowered his hands.

'She said it was urgent!' The boy complained with a pout.

'Where are they?'

'By the well. I better run to my mom. Thank you, Missus!' The child smiled and was gone like a bolt of lightning. They heard another bang as the outside doors closed.

'I swear, that child never learns.' Alma said in expiration.

'Hay Lin returned?' Will stood up, wanting to go out but not knowing the way.

'It seems like it. Let's take a look. Shall we?' Alma led her outside, offering well-worn leather sandals for her bare feet. She followed the woman, oddly grateful not to have to walk barefoot.

The rain finally stopped, and Will saw a few bright sunrays tearing through the dim cloud cover. The air smelled fresh, and there were puddles scattered across the uneven rock road. Wooden and rock cottage houses spread in all directions, covered with vines and flower pots outside the windows. A peaceful existence for hardworking people, while armed men marched down into the fields. War. Is this what they brought down to their doorsteps? Perhaps it was better if Elyon remained hidden, even if only for a short time. People would gather under her banner, but the princess was nothing like they expected. What would happen if Phobos was defeated? Are the old rules better than the new ones? Just how much did the Guardians change things with their influence over the skirmishes? And why does the magic seem so thin in the air? Will suddenly felt her mouth go dry. Did Phobos murder his family? Her mind churned as all the facts she had seen and heard clashed inside her like angry rhinos.

'Will, don't overthink it…' Gentle hands landed on her shoulders, and she looked into the kind face of the old healer.

'I just don't know what to believe anymore...' Will choked out the only thing she could at the time, feeling as if the world was closing in on her.

'If you ever need a piece of advice from an old meddling woman, you know where to find me. My doors will be open. Now focus, your friends need you!' Alma motioned to the small square, where Will saw an exhausted-looking Hay Lin sitting down on the pavement with her back propped against the wooden wall of the well. Taranee was lying beside her, her head resting on the girl's legs.

'Hay Lin! Taranee!' Will dashed to her friends, relieved to see them again. Unconsciously, she knew they were alive, but seeing and believing were not the same thing. She should have been with them, and the guilt gnawed at her heart. Will knelt on the muddy ground, checking them over. Despite being soaked to the bone, both girls appeared healthy, with no visible wounds.

'Oh, my god! Will! You are alive! I was so worried…' Hay Lin opened her eyes and smiled with her whole face. 'I brought back Taranee and Cornelia, and Irma should be on the way here. The rain was just a cherry on top for the flying…' The dark-haired girl tried to explain why she was so tired. 'Help me, please. We need to check on Taranee…' She closed her eyes again.

'It's ok, Alma will help…' Will trailed, allowing the healer to properly examine both girls. Her hands glowed as the healing magic flowed down into their bodies.

'Aside from good old magical exhaustion, nothing is wrong with them. Good food and rest should take care of things. Common, up we go!' She helped Hay Lin stand, offering her a shoulder to lean on. While Will carried an unconscious Taranee on her back. Slowly, the procession reached the house, and Will helped both girls settle down. Will helped to gently dry Taranee, while Alma provided towels and hot tea.

'Let's go to the kitchen; it will be warmer there.' Will offered, looking at how Hay Lin patted down her long hair, catching any lingering moisture. She was too tired to use air magic on herself. The peace was broken again when two other girls entered the room, just as they were settling into the comfortably warm space with hot tea in their hands.

'Will!'

'You okay!'

'Where is Taranee?'

'How are you feeling?'

'Hay Lin, are you okay?'

The noisy room was filled with never-ending questions. Hugs and smiles were exchanged as the girls were finally together, comforting each other in their own friendly way.

'What's happening? Why are you so loud?' another drowsy voice asked from the doorway. Taranee stood there, rubbing her eyes and staring at the bewildered girls. And the cacophony resumed with squeals and ramblings as they confirmed that everyone was alive and well.

'Girls, can you be a little bit quieter?' Alma requested, placing food on the table. 'Sit and eat, that's an order from a healer.' She said sternly, reminding them of Yan Lin, another kind and wise grandmother.

As everyone sat and ate the offered meal, praising the cook for the delicious food, they talked about their experiences, sharing stories from their own perspectives. Even though everyone's eyes were clouded by exhaustion, the atmosphere was cheerfully brimming with friendship and love, despite the troubling events. For a moment, the girls were alright…