The morning was a tense affair. Her mother was firm in her decision, and the silence was awkward and full of unspoken things. The uncertainty in the air was palpable as both of them tried to avoid eye contact, each lost in their thoughts. Will buried her face in a cup of coffee, attempting to conceal the consequences of yet another sleepless night. Half of it was spent restlessly turning over in bed, trying to come up with an explanation for her actions but coming up with nothing believable except telling the truth. Will knew that the truth would be difficult to swallow, but she also understood that honesty was the only way to mend the broken trust. However, what mother wants to hear her child endanger her life on a daily basis? She never asked to be the Guardian. The responsibility was entrusted to her, and now, knowing the whole other world was on her shoulders, she could not refuse. It would be selfish and irresponsible, but so much easier. Discretely looking at the pendant in her palm, Will wondered, 'Can she even refuse the magic?' It had seeped right down to her bones, and even if she could, it was a ridiculous idea. The fate of not only herself but also those around her depended on her ability to embrace the magic and fulfill her role as the Guardian. The weight of the pendant reminded her of the immense power it held, a power that could protect or destroy. As much as she longed for a normal life, Will couldn't turn her back on her duty. Not after everything. The blood and tears she spent on missions and the bonds she formed after arriving in Heatherfield, not to mention the tangled mess of her relationship with Phobos and the never-ending discrepancies of uncovered secrets. She knew almost nothing about him, but the inexplicable bond they shared burned in her blood. Every time they met, it ignited everything around them, stealing her conscious thoughts and making her prone to risky decisions. With just the touch of his fingers, he led her to feelings she didn't know how to grasp. Nothing made any sense anymore. In just a few months, her perfectly normal life fell apart. How do things get so confusing? Will had no idea. It began only after their faithful meeting in the garden. After a while, everything seemed to slip through her fingers. The school, the job, her friendships, and the Guardian's issues. She found herself struggling to keep up with her responsibilities, constantly overwhelmed by the weight of her chaotic emotions. The once-clear path she had envisioned for herself became a hazy blur, leaving her feeling lost and disconnected from the world around her. It was unfair. It hurt. Even now, she had to be strong because lives depended on it, and the constant mental strain was exhausting. Will sighed, looking at the dark liquid inside her cup—it was bitter, just like her life.
Susan observed her daughter in between salad bites. The girl nursed the coffee cup as if her life depended on it. Not the healthiest choice for breakfast, but she clamped her lips, not wanting another argument after yesterday. Maybe she was overly strict, but Will had never caused so many problems before. Susan was at a loss for words. It left a bad taste in her mouth as she tried to figure out what had gone wrong. This graceful creature abruptly took the place of her daughter, who had previously been an ugly duckling. Susan could have blamed puberty, but that was not the case. It felt like Will had the entire world on her shoulders, yet she had been so resolute to continue despite everyone saying otherwise. Susan couldn't help but wonder if there was something deeper going on with Will—something that she hadn't yet discovered. She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was a hidden struggle causing her daughter's sudden change in behavior. She had to intervene to help in some way. Nonetheless, it has resulted in disaster. She didn't want to make the accusations, but the sudden scare of the drugging and ending up in the hospital on Halloween, followed by not finding Will at home, was the final straw. Maybe it was a guy thing, but the only male Susan knew was Matt Olsen, and Will stopped talking about him. If only she could figure out what the problem was. She silently sighed, seeing no way out.
'We will have some new rules from today,' she began, seeing Will wincing in her coffee. 'After school, you will go straight home unless we agree otherwise with your part-time work. No more swimming or meetings with the girls.' Susan's heart sank as she saw the disappointment in Will's eyes. She knew these new rules would be tough to accept, but she couldn't ignore her recent behavior any longer. She hoped that by setting these boundaries, she could finally uncover the root of the problem and help her daughter through whatever was going on.
'But, Mom, a championship is coming soon.' Will trailed but did not continue, avoiding starting another row.
'When you get your grades up, we will attend to that. I'll have our doorman confirm your return time, so don't expect to get out of this.'
'Fine, but sometimes I have remedial math lessons with Miss Rudolph,' she replied glumly.
'All right, send me your schedule after you get it in order. I'm not doing this to punish you. You must take responsibility for your actions. If your grades continue to fall, your graduation date may be pushed back. Is this what you want?' Susan asked her daughter.
Seeing her slumped shoulders made her resolve falter. 'Will, I know you are trying, but what happened? Why are you skipping school? Is it a boy's problem? Are you in some kind of trouble?' She tried prying into her daughter's life with genuine concern.
Will nibbled her lip. This was the moment. The truth should have come out, but she couldn't do it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and lied, feeling like a fraud and a terrible human being.
'No, mom. I'm not in trouble. I'll try harder, I promise. I have to go to school. We meet in the evening.' Will ran away with a reason to avoid more questions. She grabbed her backpack, put on her jacket, and stepped outside into the cold air. Winter was approaching. People walked huddled in warm clothes, and the promise of snow was in the air. While she waited for the bus, the barely illuminated trees stood bare against the dark sky. It was too cold to ride the bicycle, and Will didn't want to risk slipping on icy roads. As the bus arrived, Will boarded and found a seat near the back, where she could watch the city pass by through the foggy windows, hoping that today would be a better day at school. She was exhausted and sleep-deprived, trying to come to terms with her latest death experience. Once again, Phobos saved her. How many times has he done that? She lost count. Somewhere along the way, she succumbed to his persuasion and could no longer deny this, no matter how much she wished her feelings were false. It was a fatal attraction. Her heart betrayed her. He was getting under her skin and into her mind, chipping away at any defenses she had put up. The only issue was trust. No matter how many times he saved her, Will was still unsure if it was for his benefit. She had the nagging doubt that Phobos had ulterior motives for saving her. The thought lingered in her mind, causing her to question his true intentions. Despite the uncertainty, there was an undeniable connection they shared, leaving her torn between trusting him and protecting herself from potential harm. Would it be so bad if she let herself slip a little? To let someone else carry the burden... Phobos was still an enemy, and she should remember that, but questions plagued her mind. Why did their magic meld like kindred spirits? Why her? Why now? She required answers. No more hiding, no more distractions. Will was determined to get the explanation and then decide how to proceed. She felt better after making the resolution, but her mood plummeted again when she arrived at school.
Students milled about the corridors, waiting for the lesions to begin. She put her clothes in the locker and went to get the books she needed for history class. Everything else happened very quickly. She saw Taranee walking toward her, with the other girls right behind her, and then her cheek hurt. Will winced in pain as she touched her face, realizing that Taranee had slapped her.
'How could you!?' Her eyes blazed with angry fire. 'Do you know what you did?' She hissed. 'Nigel is not speaking to me because I ignored him for three days! And you know why? Because only you knew about us, but my copy overlooked that minor detail. If your relationship with Matt went down the drain, it should not mean we should suffer with you! Also, how can you be so selfish and abandon me on Meridian for so long?' Her angry rant continued.
'What?' Will asked, looking confused. Her friend slapped her across the face. She had no idea what was being said. Her mind had gone blank.
'Are you kidding me?' Taranee's frustration reached its peak as she couldn't believe Will's apparent cluelessness.
'Taranee stop! Think what you are saying!' Hay Lin steered the enraged girl away as her yelling attracted the attention of others.
'Sorry, Will, I don't know what's happened to her.' Irma apologized, and the two of them dragged Taranee away, trying to calm her down. Cornelia traced them with her eyes and adjusted her already-perfect hair.
'There is some truth in what Taranee said. You are quite selfish,' she began, raising an eyebrow. 'We almost died that day. Also, The Heart of Kandrakar did not allow the girls to touch it when we needed you the most. I don't think you realize how much power that thing has over us. You could let us in on your decision-making. Perhaps then so much trouble would not have occurred.' Cornelia trailed, eyeing the medallion hidden by her sweater.
'Why are you blaming me? I was unconscious most of the time when you rescued Taranee. I would have helped otherwise. She was the reason I was out of commission. Do I blame her? No! So, I don't understand what the problem is?' Will was trying to comprehend why suddenly her best friend was so angry. She did not forget about Nigel on purpose. She didn't even understand how the copy worked in the first place. They only needed to conceal her disappearance, and the magic helped. Will was so done the day. Feeling the beginning of a headache, she strode to history class.
'We should have a meeting about this?' Cornelia offered, following her through the students. Will glanced back at Cornelia, appreciating her concern. 'Yeah, maybe we should,' she replied, grateful for the support. 'I just hope we can clear things up and get back to normal.' With a sigh, she pushed open the door to the history classroom, ready to face whatever awaited her inside. 'However, I'm grounded. My mom found me missing after our excursion, so no more free time.' Will tiredly sighed.
'Really Will? How can you be so irresponsible? What about our Guardian duty?' Cornelia was clearly annoyed with her. 'Some leader you are! I can't believe this…' She huffed and stomped away.
The bell rang, and the students began to file into the classroom, taking their seats and preparing for the day's lesson. Will slumped onto his desk, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration. Will was numb. How did this happen? It seemed like everyone was suddenly against her. She sat in class, listening to the teacher through the fog of confusion and hurt. Kandrakar's Heart warmed against her skin, and she clutched it through the cloth, squeezing it like a lifeline. She was not selfish. Will gave and gave pieces of herself until there was nothing left. How can they accuse her of something like this? Just once, she wanted to be free of the responsibility of deciding the fate of others. It would be simple to abandon obligations and let the girls decide what to do. Maybe then they'd realize what a burden leadership was. If they could see how much she had already given, they might empathize with her.
'Phobos would understand...' entered a sullen thought into her mind. He was responsible for the entire kingdom. He would know firsthand the weight of leadership and the sacrifices it demanded. Was it as much of a burden on him as it was on her? Will wanted to know. The sudden need to see him was new. She was sinking deeper and deeper into their hidden connection. 'Fine. For a change, I will be greedy. I will see him and ask for answers...' she thought, suddenly feeling angry at the world and trying to smother the guilt about her decision.
Deep within Kandrakar's tranquil palace, the endless swirling of the Aurameres shook and came to a halt for a split second. The colorful balls flared and continued their perpetual cycle, slightly faded compared to before. An invisible disease was spreading from within. Endarno smiled, sensing a disturbance in the otherwise serene magic. Everything was going according to his plan. At the moment, all he has to do is wait and deal with Oracle. He chuckled silently as he imagined tormenting a certain prince with long-overdue vengeance. It will be so sweet to rub salt into his wounds and to enjoy his suffering and struggle to endure. He knew every plan the prince concocted was a futile endeavor. He will have everything in the near future, and no one will be able to stop him. Not the Guardians, and certainly not some spoiled little prince. The figures were moving in his favor, and he was the puppeteer, waiting for them to fall. His patience will pay off because he meticulously orchestrated each step to ensure his triumph. The prince's arrogance would be his downfall, and Endarno relished in the thought of witnessing his ultimate defeat. With a sly grin, he relished in the knowledge that his power and control over the unfolding events were unshakable. Any feeble attempts to resist would only serve to amuse him further, and he reveled in the certainty of his impending victory...