Chapter 29: True Self

It was all so dark and freezing cold, but I knew I was still in Seattle and there wasn’t snow outside at all. I looked around the unfamiliar room. Without the lights switched on, I could barely see a thing. But there’s one thing for sure. I didn’t feel like myself. I tried to stretch out my arms, but they didn’t move at my command at all. How did I get here? Wasn’t I outside the infirmary? That’s when I realized that I was in my own vision. No wonder I couldn’t control my arms. I wasn’t supposed to control them yet, I think.

As I could make out from my body language and the dim surroundings, I found out that I was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall of a bedroom. My vision slightly refocused, and I realized that it was a dorm room. How? Well I kind of recognize the plasma screen television and the walk-in wardrobe that every dorm room should have. Through my ‘future’ eyes, I think I was crouched down at a sharp corner of the room right beside the study table. I was hugging my knees close to my face and could feel so many feelings crossing through my heart. Disappointment, sad and full of regret.

However, the crack of the main door opening tore me from my thoughts and there, entering the dark room was… Me!

Red hair, black sleeveless leather coat with Levis jeans were donned on my ‘future’ self. That girl, ‘Kiara’, was me in the future. So this means that I’m in the vision of someone else! But the question is, who?

My slim silhouette figure graced into the room with a confused expression plastered on my/her face. My future self then kneeled down in front of me and kept on looking through my long fringe in search of my eyes. But the body that I was in, refused to even let her see me like this and I felt my hands tighten the clench on my knees, sinking my ‘vision’ head deeper in between my knees. My/her soft hand stroked my hair and tried to bring my face up to hers, but then again, the body just rejected my/her company. And when she didn’t go away, I felt it.

The pain of a thousand volts of electricity shot through every single vein in my body. I was in agony, and I felt this person’s pain. My body, I could sense, was burning up, like as if this is the feeling of the deepest ring of hell fire. My mind couldn’t take it no more! I needed to get out of there! But the body that I was in didn’t fidget or react to the pain. Yes, whoever this was, felt the pain as much as I had. Then without warning, my hand gripped around my neck and squeezed it so very tightly that I couldn’t breathe! Let go! I demanded this ‘future’ person.

I think my ‘future’ had sensed something, because then she kept on calling a name, but my stupid ears didn’t hear anything that she had said. Maybe it was because I was concentrating too much on the pain that I didn’t care what she was saying. Then my breathing grew heavier and I started to pant. Everything felt so alien. It’s like I could feel my organs suddenly changing, molding even my internal organs, evolving into something! A new pain which was of equal quality to the previous, aroused, and this time, my heart was literally pierced by a sharp object inside of me!

I’m dying! I knew I was. If I was whoever, I would just die of the pain, and the failure of my heart would be the second stage of my horrid death. And as if in a split moment, without any last words to my ‘future’ self, the heart of the body I was in, completely… stops beating.

★

"No!" Kiara bolted up from her seat, screaming with her brown eyes soaked with tears. Jason caught her in time, trying to grip her still as she fidgeting uncontrollably. Her movements became more violent as she kicked Jason's knee. David and Cornelia also rushed to secure Kiara at her seat while Jason quickly rubbed his knee-cap. Luckily the nurse had already left and Ulrich's still unconscious behind the infirmary's closed doors, Jason thought as he stole a glance behind him before resuming. Tiadora walked up closer to Kiara and held up her right hand to Kiara's forehead, but Kiara broke loose from David's grip on her left arm and slapped Tiadora's hand away. "Stop! It's okay. I'm alright. I want to feel it," Kiara instantly calmed down but gripped onto David's hand and squeezed, "I... I want to feel the pain of death."

The other guardians exchanged glances while Tiadora's face grew serious. Kiara hesitated, staggering back straight to her seat before continuing, "Is it possible to be in someone's shoe while in a vision? And am I able to feel the feelings of that person?"

Tiadora nodded to both questions as Kiara sunk in her chair sighing. She stared at Jason, David and Cornelia who were standing beside her from her vicious struggle just now and then her eyes drew back to Tiadora, as she stammered to explain, "I wasn't in my body. It was someone's body. I knew that because I saw my future self right in front of me and no, I wasn't staring at a mirror. It happened in a dorm room. I was crouching down at a corner while suddenly the future Kiara came into the room. And when she came closer, my body felt like it was strucked by this unbearable pain. It was so painful! I wanted to scream my lungs out but that body just stayed silent, keeping the pain within him or her. I could literally feel my soul pulled out, my heart stop beating! It was so scary! Man, this sucks!"

After hearing what Kiara had to say, Tiadora slouched from her straight posture, analyzing the possibility of who that could have been the victim in Kiara's vision. Tiadora turned her gaze to both Jason and David and muttered, "Normally and most of the times, Sir Arthur's visions shows most of us guardians' future because of the connection that we have. Having a non-guardian vision rarely happens, maybe only once in a while. And if this applies to your visions, Kiara, then this is a very serious matter. Right now, I'm extremely worried. Kiara's first two visions involved close encounters with death, and that's not a very good sign. Cornelia and Kiara have already discovered their special abilities, but both David and Jason do not. However, I feel that it's more than necessary now, just in case."

"Jason, you have the ability to teleport from place to place. Your special ability enables you to travel very far distances and once you have mastered such lengths, you will be able to even teleport other people as well. All you have to do is to concentrate real hard on that particular destination, and you'll get there. With this you don't have to worry much about flying," Tiadora smiled as she recalled Jason's disability to fly just now, "And David, you have the ability to turn intangible. This allows you to walk through walls or anything, and that sometimes includes power beams. Just like Jason, you just have to concentrate and think yourself as blending in with the object. Any other questions?"

Both boys shooked their heads at her question. Tiadora glanced at the watch that Kiara had given to her. It was already seven o'clock. "I think its best if we all head for dinner. It's been a long day, and I feel that all of you would need your rest," Tiadora suggested to everyone.

"I think I'll stay and wait for Ulrich to wake up," Cornelia gave a little hopeful smile to Tiadora.

"I have to get over to the principal's office first," David said monotonously, "Then I'll meet you guys for dinner later."

"I need to see Coach Dean," Jason slapped his forehead, "I've totally forgot about him! Kiry, can you have me tell Jim that I can't see him for detention. Please and thank you!" And off Jason and David went. Leaving the three girls behind. "Why does my brother have detention?" Cornelia looked down at Kiara.

"Jason had accidentally dropped his bar of soap on the floor," Kiara described what happened, "And it so happens that at that time, Jim was patroling the school grounds and tripped on the soap. End of story. Come, Tiadora. After all this craziness today, I'm starved. Bye, Cornelia!"

"Goodbye, Cornelia," Tiadora also waved as the two girls made their way out of the infirmary and strolled along the boys' dormitory which was nearer to the cafeteria. Cornelia gave a little wave and entered the ward that Ulrich was in. During the girls' walk, neither spoke at first but then when they passed by the principal's office, Kiara sighed, "Sometimes I wonder what David's doing in there."

"Want to peak?" Tiadora smiled cunningly.

"It's okay. I respect his privacy," Kiara said with sadness in her voice.

"Kiara, I want to say thank you for everything," Tiadora suddenly spoke of her gratitude. Kiara wanted to deny whatever deed that she had done but Tiadora halted her, "I want to thank you for bearing the responsibility of foreseeing the future and the guardian of Water. And also for taking the lead in bringing Vitani to the Fudox barrier. How did you find the barrier?"

"I crashed into it, " Kiara flatly recalled yesterday, "Strangely, the barrier didn't allow me in. So I made the wave disappear. On the ground, I told Vitani to go in without me. She smiled sincerely and hugged me. For a small girl, she's got quite a grip, you know. Then before I know it she walked through the invisible barrier and vanished. But she told me something strange before that."

Tiadora brows narrowed and she stared at her for her to continue, "What did she say?"

"Vitani told me to be careful and to always stay by David's side no matter what," Kiara too sounded puzzled by the words that Vitani had warned her about, "What does that mean?"

"It means that she has sense something from the future," Tiadora's expression slightly calm, "By what she told you, I think that she means that something is going to happen to David, and he might need you by his side to overcome it. You should take this seriously."

"Initially, I thought she meant stay by his side in marriage," Kiara giggled at her thought, and looked back at Tiadora's innocent face, "You and Jason aren't doing so badly either."

"What do you mean?" Tiadora asked, confused of the 21st Century slang.

"Oh nothing," Kiara teased and nudged Tiadora’s shoulder, “I heard from Jason about you and Sir Lancelot. Are you really engaged?”

“Yes,” Tiadora answered back, but Kiara noticed that Tiadora wasn’t smiling at all at that so-called news. “You didn’t like him?” Kiara asked her again.

“I mean he’s great, strong, muscular and well-known.”

“But not romantic, I guess,” Kiara guessed as Tiadora nodded in agreement. She sighed and poked Tiadora’s waist, making Tiadora yelped. Kiara laughed and did some more until both started to poke one another. But they stopped till both couldn’t take it anymore and they practically dragged their feet towards the cafeteria. “I get it. You’re a princess, he’s a knight and you hafta marry him for some royal purposes but you don’t really love him,” Kiara smiled to herself once they entered the cafeteria, “So care to pick a boy from Kadic?”

“Well, I’m not exactly looking for love here. I’m here because Veex is holding me back, remember?” Tiadora explained, “Plus, the boys here are quite different than the boys that I’ve seen. Some are so mysterious and quiet like David and some are just so active, just like Jason.”

“So is that what you like about Jason?” Kiara said as she and Tiadora took their seats at the ‘popular’ table where the rest of them had not arrived yet, “Or is it because every girl in Kadic, except for me and Cornelia, is secretly having a huge crush over him?”

“How do you have a crush on somebody?” Tiadora asked puzzledly, “Won’t that be painful?”

“Whatever. Painful or not, love will always find a way.”

♫

"Where are ya heading off to, Vincent?" David heard the irritating voice of Austin from behind him, but he kept on walking. David knew that he should have gone the shortcut way, that was through the boys' dormitory to get to the principal's office, but he wasn't that keen on meeting the principal too soon. He quicken his pace, hoping that Austin would just leave him alone. However, David could still hear the footsteps coming closer to him. "Hold it!" Austin grabbed David's right shoulder and forced him around to face Austin.

"I'm not taking any orders from you," David slapped the huge hand away from his shoulder and turned back. But Austin wasn't letting him go easily. He fished out his penknife and opened the knife out, closing in on David once more. As silently as possible, Austin tip-toed towards David and when he was near enough, he held up the knife high above David's back. And in seconds, Austin launched his silent attack.

But within those nanoseconds, David's sixth sense triggered a reaction and he was able to dodge Austin's attack by sliding to his right. Austin didn't seem to have expected that and lost his footing in his missed attempt. But before he fell to the ground, David knee-kicked Austin square in the tummy and punched Austin's back with his elbow, sending him to the ground with such force. The knife slipped out of Austin's hands, cutting the tip his index finger. David just stared down at Austin's frail state, waiting for any kind of attack. And it came. Austin grew foolish, letting his rage get to him.

Without hesitation, he rolled on the ground, reached his knife and threw it in David's direction. Everything went in slow motion for those few seconds for David. It came flying straight to his face, but David was able to evade the impact by falling to his right. However, he didn't leave unscathered. The knife managed to slice through the surface of David's arm, about a few inches right above his shoulders. Stunned by the blood that trickled down, David had to squeeze the opening as the blood kept spilling out profusely. It didn't stop. Everything was overflowing non-stop as he staggered to his feet. Then he pushed his index finger into the wound and realised that a blood vessel had been cut as he could feel the torn edges of the tube. Ignoring the pain, David dropped his hand from his neck letting the blood just flown out freely. He wanted to tackle Austin. Get rid of him for good now! David had a thought but before he was able to execute it, there was a scream.

And immediately without warning, Edward and Ian came in between David and Austin, trying to stop the fidget. Edward held David back and willingly, he didn't resist. He knew that he didn't want this in the first place. That talk of attack was wrong. Ian held Austin back and brought both his hands together, handcuffing them. Isabella, David realised was the one who had screamed, rushed to David and rummaged through her purse for something. She pulled out two things; her iPhone and a big plaster, asking David, "Do you want the hospital or the plaster? 'Cause that looks real bad, and it may have been a vein that connected to your heart."

David realised that she was talking about his wound that was starting to stain his, actually it's Jason's, lucky light blue t-shirt. He shooked his head and held out his hand, "I'll take the plaster."

"Alright," Isabella, which David have heard from Jason that was Edward's girlfriend, said as she walked around him to his injured side and sealed the wound with the big-sized plaster. Once she was done, Isabella glared at Ian and shouted, "Get him to the principal's office." Obediently, Ian pushed Austin forward, acting like a real-life cop.
David wasn't used to it but he looked towards the couple and muttered, "Thank you."

"My pleasure! It's my job anyway as a perfect to maintain discipline in the academy," Isabella pointed out, noticingly comfortable with the fact that she's talking to a Goth and that she's one of Jason's pals. In addition, she's a cheerleader and he's a soccer player. Why are they being nice to me? David wondered. It was not often that someone had actually offered their help to him, well except for the guardians. "Well," Edward spoke after a brief silence, "I think we better eat. I'm starving. Wanna come with us?"

"I can't," David sighed and remembered what he was supposed to do, "I need to see the principal for something."

"Alright, David," Isabella smiled warmly as she and Edward began walking out of the corridors, "See you around!" But by the time she said that, David had already ran to a sharp corner and made his way to the principal's office.

♂

As lucky as always, Jason glided to the gymnasium with grace and was in coach's office in no time. But the coach wasn't there. Jason sighed at his tiredness and slump in one of coach's guest chairs, tapping his foot. He then caught a glimpse of a mirror and saw his reflection, smiling to himself. His blond hair was in a mess. The fireball that he made to 'fly' had ruined his hair-do. Luckily no girls saw me, Jason thought as he began ruffling his hair with the gel all dried up. The spell wasn't that difficult though, he said to himself recalling how he had conjured up the fire energy that he had used with Oberon's sword just now, but he had needed Tiadora's help. And I can teleport! Jason gave a cheer in his heart, it was an amazing feeling. All the power.

Now I can't wait for my dragon, he smiled at that thought. But his trains of thoughts were broken by shoutings outside. Jason ducked and closed his eyes to concentrate on the words that were being hurled. "No!" hey that's Coach Dean's voice, "Jason may be a slack-ass captain, but he's still captain, leader of the soccer team and you have to follow his orders in the game."

"But coach," an unfamiliar voice replied coach's reply. Jason couldn't think of anyone with that voice, "He's been missing practice! Three to be exact! Coach, you know that today, Jason was supposed to form a strategy during soccer practice. Plus, I bet he won't even come tomorrow. I don't think he's sense the urgency of the big game being this Friday! Even his friend, who's that girl... Kiara was there today for her cheerleading practice. Then why not him? His inability has forced me to come out to you, to change to a new captain for our team's sake. For Kadic's sake!"

No one spoke after that. Jason waited for the answer of his coach. This was getting too out of hand. True, Jason had been missing practices but he was saving the world. Well, part of it. And they didn't know. This part of the superhero thing sucks, Jason muttered under his breath. He crawled out of coach's office and managed to catch a glimpse of who coach was talking to. Jason couldn't see his face because Coach Dean's bulky body was blocking the way, but the guy, he saw, had red hair. The same shade of red that Kiara's hair is. I don't recall anyone on the team with red hair. Whoever he was, Jason didn't get to see him as he slid his way out of the gymnasium, not wanting to hear more.

♥

“Always look on the bright side of life,” and a whistle followed next as the tune echoed through the walls of the Heritage. Cyrus grew irritated of it and glared at her husband furiously. “What’s wrong, my dear? Tired of your work?” Azric cooed her.

“I’m tired of you having to sing that song!” she hissed, “It frustrating blending in with all those humans. I could just sense their veins breathing within them. All look so vulnerable. Too bad we have to be mindful.”

Azric shooked his head at her response, “I thought that guy was supposed to be your everyday meal. At least he’s willing to give it to you.”

“That’s because he’s forced to give it to me!” she seethed once more, “I’m his master! And very soon, he’ll be our first victim! It is because of those irritating obstacles that he has control over the bloodlust temptation around humans! And thus, prolongs his death date!! Xana needs that human vampire to be ripe fast!! Or he’ll be furious!!”

“You worry too much, my love,” Azric stroked Cyrus’ blond hair smoothly and noticed a weird band at the top of her head, “What’s this, darling?”

“I heard the humans call it a hairband,” Cyrus plainly spoke, “I like what it does to my hair.”

He bellowed in laughter as he found no difference to his beautiful wife’s hair. But of course, he couldn’t say anything of that sort. Instead, he decided to go back to the previous topic, “When do you think that he’ll be ripe, then?”

“My guess is this Friday,” Cyrus suddenly began to smile at her fantastic plan that began to arise in her wicked mind, “And when he is ripe, nothing can stop us! We have the power within our grasp!!”

Chapter 28: Deception
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A job well done, Tyran and Artemis. I wouldn't have expected anything less."

"But, we didn't retrieve the Amarathine and I had demanded the flower for a wish," Tyran admitted in shame, "Aren't you going to punish us?"

"By you not bringing to me the flower," Xana turned his back on them and faced a mirror, "It prolongs matters. However, the Fudox barrier won't last very long. Unaware and far from the guardians, when the time is right, we will capture her. Plus, you remembered to cast the Kaqunz spell, am I right? That is all I need right now, and praises to you, Artemis, that you didn't allow the guardian of Air to have fallen. It would have complicate the Kaqunz spell. Now, go back to your disbanded bodies. The guardians must be waiting for you."

On queue, the two boys vanished into thin air, leaving the room in silence. Xana walked towards the mirror and admired himself, until he heard someone's voice, "They failed miserably?"

"On the contrary, Cyrus, they passed miserably," Xana turned to see the pureblood leaning against a pillar beside Azric as both vampires bowed in response. Xana acknowledged and wondered aloud, "Who is your descendant in Kadic, Cyrus?"

"A cheerleader."

"Azric?"

"One of Jason's buddies."

"Marabonta?"

"A filthy nerdy student who calls himself the environmentalist of Kadic Academy," Marabonta scoffed at a lock of blue hair that fell in front of her face, "You know, Xana, for an ancestor, you and 'him' don't look alike."

"Oh yeah," Azric realised also, "Each of our descendants have almost the same features as us, but I don't see any in 'him' that relates to you."

Xana just smiled and swayed his hands, forming a dark purple cloud which showed a moving image. The setting was at the top of a hill where a young boy was seen lying down in the grass patches. "The 'boy' may not resemble my features but he will follow in my footsteps. For now, he's just our pawn in the chess set, which whom I would soon evolve into a knight."

♫

"Danny!" Cornelia yelled out for one of Jason's pals as he walked out of the biology lab, "Danny! Has Ulrich left the laboratory?"

Daniel scratched this dark brown hair at her strange question and clutched tighter onto his grey haversack. He stretched his neck before answering her back, "He took off a minute ago. I think he's heading for gym. Why? What's up?"

"I wanna confirm something," Cornelia said as she looked around the crowded corridors, "It's a complicated thing."

"Oh I see," Danny raised an eyebrow and smiled wittily, "Boy-girl relationships problems, right?"

Cornelia punched him on the shoulder, "Thanks, Danny!" And off Cornelia went in the right direction, chasing after Ulrich. It was Tuesday, the very next day of their trip to the desert. Cornelia felt so grateful that there was air-conditioner back in Kadic when they returned at night. Gaia had shrunk itself into a tiny fat fluffy zebra. It was so tiny that Cornelia had decided to make it into her personal keychain, wrapping a piece of string attached to a chain followed by a ring. She then chained the mini-sacred animal onto her wallet that now, was dangling out of her shorts as Cornelia dashed in the given direction. Slowly, Cornelia could see a lock of Ulrich's amber hair from afar. She quicken her pace, dodging every possible student that she passed by. "Ulrich!" she shouted through the crowds, creating puzzled faces among everyone. They made a gap for her as Cornelia breeze through them. When she got near enough, Cornelia tapped onto his shoulder.

Ulrich was surprised at first but greeted Cornelia with a wide smile, "Hey."

"Don't 'hey' me," Cornelia snapped at him as she pushed his shoulder, "Give me your bag."

"What?" Ulrich asked puzzled. Ever since Cornelia had laid eyes on Artemis, she has been meaning to find out if maybe Ulrich was a villain in disguise of Glamra. It was almost too coincidental, and that she must really find out the real truth. Tiadora had told them before that the Glamra effect will be deflected if the person isn't in contact with the pink contained liquid. So Cornelia thought of doing any inspection, "You heard me. Pass me your bag and take out everything that's in your pockets, shoes and chains. Watch."
Reluctantly, Ulrich dropped his bag, unclipped his watch and emptied his pockets as well as his shoes just like how Cornelia had asked him to. Cornelia felt weird asking him this and had half-hoped that he wasn't Artemis at all, but that would mean dire embarrassment. Once Ulrich was done, all he had left was his clothes. Cornelia continued staring at him, trying to figure out any other 'containing' places around him while Ulrich had been wondering. She held onto her waist and slanted her body to one side, continuing to guess. "Cornelia?" Ulrich was very confused at what prank she was playing at, "Is there anything wrong?"

There wasn't. His eyes were still left-blue and right-purple, and he still had that charming flawless face unlike Artemis' scar features. She frown and sighed, "I'm sorry, Ulrich. Here's your bag back."

Cornelia handed his things over and tried to make a run for it, but Ulrich caught her wrist in time, "No. You're not leaving without an explanation."
She sighed again and tried coming up with an excuse, "Uh..er..you see, these past few days, there's been a...stalker...yeah...stalker who has been stalking me and uh...I heard that he is able to disguise himself with this certain potion and...uh...you see, his eyes were exactly like yours but in reverse. So just now if you weren't holding onto the potion, I'll see your true form but now it looks like you weren't. Sorry?"

"You actually thought," Ulrich sounded slightly offended, "I was stalking you?"

"Er yeah," Cornelia mumbled, "but now I know that you aren't...so bye!" She ran again but Ulrich held tighter onto her wrist and pulled her closer to him. Both stared at each other for a moment until Ulrich uttered in her ear, "Come with me. Then I'll prove to you that I'm not." This time, he leaned his forehead against hers. She felt a zing of warmth flowing from his forehead to his fringe, then transmitted into hers as well. Cornelia blushed and swallowed a gulp of saliva before answering back, "Don't we have lessons to go to?"

"Bail them. It's not like we do this all the time, right?" he smiled his sly smile as Ulrich grabbed her palm, interlocking hands with hers. Cornelia obliged and ran along with Ulrich. He dashed outside of the Learning Building and through the girls' dormitory towards the clock tower. Ulrich then slowed down and walked towards the thick trees separating Kadic and the beach apart. Soon, Cornelia felt him release her hand and got even deeper. "You know there's a fence blocking, right?" Cornelia asked when she saw Ulrich trying to push through the fence.

"You do know I make a hole here to bail classes," Ulrich said just in time as he finally found the hole he was looking for. Ulrich grabbed her hand again and pulled her out of the academy, into the shore. They walked together till they reached the center, then Ulrich gripped Cornelia's shoulders with his hands. The sea's breeze brushed in between them as they held onto each other's gazes, but after a while, Ulrich turned her to the opposite direction. "Don't look," Ulrich ordered Cornelia who's back was now facing his.
Soon, Cornelia heard some kind of ruffled sound behind her. What the hell is he doing?! Cornelia thought, not tempted to turn. After a quick minute, a splash rippled in the sea and a squirt of water was spit at her leg. Irritated, she had half the mind to yell at whoever that was playing in the water, but when she looked to the sea, Cornelia saw Ulrich. In the water. And his clothes on the sands beside her. "What the fucking hell are you doing?!" Cornelia shouted at him when she realised what he was doing, "Why did you take those off?"

"Hey. Even my underwear's there, you know," Ulrich smiled jokingly at her confused look. "I'm doing this for you!"

"In what logical sense?!" Cornelia gasped and appreciated that the water wasn't sparkly clear as how it should have been. Ulrich blinked once and swam closer to the swallow water, smiling, "I want to prove to you that I'm not 'him'. I want you to fully trust me, Cornelia. So that there aren't any doubts or secrets between us. Here's the evidence."
Somehow, Cornelia felt touched that he was willing to even prove himself to her like this. She blushed and squatted down nearer, meeting his patronizing gaze, "Fine. I believe you."

"Since that's settled," Ulrich said as he swam further away, "then strip and join me in the water."

Suddenly, Cornelia felt her pale white cheeks flare red as she sucked them in with her shock as well, "What sick mind would think that way? I've got a better idea. Why don't you get out of the water and put your clothes back on."

"Okay. Okay," Ulrich uttered after Cornelia had fully turned to face the school building. From here, Cornelia thought, the school looked like a fortress. She giggled at the thought and took out her wallet with Gaia hanging out. The sacred animal tapped its two front hooves together and gave a cute little yelp. Cornelia stroke its few strands of mane, whispering its name, "Gaia, you okay?"

"If okay means," Gaia's lips parted, "being stuffed into darkness and having constant earthquakes, then yes. I'm okay."
At the time Cornelia giggled at Gaia's response, she could feel strong arms hugging her waist and lifting her body weight off the white sands. Involuntarily, Cornelia dropped her wallet before speed sent her splashing into the waters. The salt into her face as Cornelia struggled with the strong arms. After moments, Cornelia managed to get her foot free and kicked her attacker. "Ouch. Ouch. Calm down, Corny, it's just me," Ulrich splashed a wave of seawater in her face again, "At least I'm dressed."

"Whatever!" Cornelia did another wave (with a little help from her wind energy) at Ulrich before staring at the scorching Sun, "Race ya!" And so the race began, giving Cornelia a head-start. She pushed herself forward, keen on reaching wherever finishing point there was. He got in the soccer team, Cornelia analysed, and Coach Dean is very picky on his players. A competition indeed. Another surge of current could be felt from her feet. He's gaining speed, she echoed in her mind. A little air won't be a problem. Whoosh! Her feet pushed Cornelia from her feet, dashing past Ulrich. Soon, she came to a stop and waited for her opponent. Ulrich floated himself upwards and continued to splash her, "Cheater! How am I suppose to know where the finishing line was?"

"Only fools don't know where the finishing line is. Are you a fool?" she teased with a little hint of disgust. They continued splashing at one another until Ulrich stopped and looked towards the horizon. "To the stars," he breathed under his breath.

"Huh?"

"My ex," he blushed, feeling utterly abashed, "She had always been very crazy about the galaxy until her room is filled with all the different planets, unknown rocks, stars, etc. She was so addicted that it caused her life too."

Cornelia placed her hand onto his shoulders. It was quite a surprise that the silver band didn't rust. "Did you love her?"

"Truly madly deeply," he strayed his coloured eyes back into Cornelia's blues, "Veronica attended an astronomy program two summers ago. She achieved the highest mark for all the theory and practical stuff. However, when the professors asked her to demonstrate on how the fire rockets worked, let’s just say that some people didn't know that she was there."

"She got caught in the flames?"

"Yeah," Ulrich stretched his hand to grasp the Sun's rays, "You know, she was just as good as you in volleyball too."

"That's so..." Cornelia didn't get to complete her sentence as a tug had pulled her down, submerging herself totally in the waters. The sight of Ulrich immediately vanished as Cornelia could feel herself being dragged forcefully by the thing that clung onto her right foot. She stared down at the horrible beast. An enormous squid-like creature departed its huge jaws at its oncoming meal. It was even bigger than the octupus they encountered at Oceanatic. Cornelia struggled to reach for her entangled right foot, but the pressure was pushing her back too much to bear. Even her Air energy was off no use. That's when she saw Ulrich catching up with her as he managed to grab hold of her hand. He fished out a penknife from his back pocket and slashed the small blade at the scaly blue tentacle. Immediately, a purple ooze leaked out of the dispatched limb, setting Cornelia free. They headed up for the surface once more when this time, Cornelia realised that Ulrich didn't surface with her. "Ulrich!! Ulrich!!" Cornelia yelled her lungs out at the skies and looked back towards the shores, "Gaia get help!!"

As she dipped herself into the seas again, she knew that Gaia had heard her pleas. Its loud flapping of its wings practically vibrated in the waters. The squid looked like as if it was playing with its food as it tossed Ulrich from one tentacle to another. Cornelia gained up speed and tried to reach for Ulrich, but one of its legs had slammed into her, sweeping her further away.

On our way, Corny! Hand on tight!

The sense of urgency in her brother's voice fuelled her with strength as Cornelia pushed the currents with her Air energy, in hope to reach out to Ulrich in time. The squid maneuvered him sideways and let out its tongue to lick Ulrich. Luckily, its in the water, Cornelia thought as she built a surge of energy from her left palm. She knew that the only effect that Air had in Water, was a forceful push of force. That’s why she thought it was more than necessary to use all of her strength. The glow of her element dazzled wildly as Cornelia flinged the beam towards the beast. Surprisingly, the squid was pushed back with so much impact that the spot that had hit on the creature, bled.

Purple ooze juiced out of its head as its remaining tentacles caressed its bruised forehead, releasing Ulrich. Although exhausted, Cornelia caught up to him and formed a bubble of oxygen surrounding his head. With that in mind, she did for herself as well. Then only seconds later, the squid began charging at Cornelia, stretching its long tentacles. Cornelia’s fears grew as the tentacles suddenly released thick solid thorns from its limb and threw it in her direction.

With a spectra of energy left, Cornelia materialized a small enough shield for both of them. However, as the tentacles almost grazed against the walls of her shield, a red beam zapped across horizontally in front of her, slicing the tentacle smoothly. The remaining portion of its tentacle swiveled right and left above the shield, trying to fight back its attacker that’s when something splashed into the sea. “Jason!” Cornelia shouted in the water for her brother, but as her vision cleared from the bubbles, she realized that the person, who had just landed, wasn’t blond.

He had a light shade of amber lock of hair with a rather good body build. He looked like as if he was donning on a black motorcycle jacket with cool dark blue jeans. His back faced Cornelia as her savior held out his hand and muttered very soft words which Cornelia managed to make out, “Liolvs Davat!” A blade formed at the tip of his hand as he slashed the marine creature. The vibration of his attack rumbled the waters, making Cornelia clutch onto the unconscious Ulrich stronger. The squid, however, as injured pretty badly. A long deep line across the whole body of the giant squid tore open, causing large amounts of purple blood to mix with the water profusely.

The creature staggered back and wobbled, showing many signs of weakness. Slowly but swiftly, it tried to drag itself away, but the guy materialized a golden rope from his hands and did a little cowboy action. Once the rope got caught onto the squid’s arrow-head, the mysterious person swam at great celerity around the creature, wrapping its tentacles in place, trapping it. Struggled it did, but the marine life was too badly wounded to evade that it just gave up trying and collapsed to the seabed. All Cornelia could do was stare at the creature’s defeat, almost frightened. And in the mist of her thoughts, she finally heard the mysterious man speak to her in a familiar tone, “That’s two in a row. You owe me big.”

Finally, he turned around to show his face to Cornelia. “Artemis?!” she couldn’t believe reality. He had saved her twice in two days, but she was supposed to be the enemy. “Wha…what are you doing here?!” she asked again as her gaze drew to his mystifying purple-blue eyes that she knew from yesterday. So magnetic and captivating, it had a different feel than Ulrich’s reversed eyes. Artemis showed no expression. He did not smile nor frown, but his eyes were transfixed on hers as well.

But before Artemis could say something, Cornelia felt the sea lowering in level. And in a split moment, the sea parted in two, leaving the middle gap, where Cornelia, Ulrich and Artemis were, empty. Cornelia expected to fall on her feet on the seabed, but she kept on floating. The waves that parted curved upwards towards the sky at about five storeys high from her position. The poor fishes that were caught in the middle, including the enormous squid were left on the ground grasping for breath with dissolved oxygen. Cornelia looked up to the parched Sun, and saw Kiara standing on the right side of the wave, trying to control the waves.

Then, came swooping down from the sky, David glided a metallic disc on his feet onto the dry gap of the sea and landed the floating disc in front of Cornelia. That’s hen she realized that Artemis had already disappeared. He was no where to be seen. Okay, that was weird, Cornelia muttered silently to herself as she took David’s outstretched hand. With her left arm slung over Ulrich’s lean tummy, Cornelia hopped onto the disc and together, they skimmed into the four o’ clock sky, out of the dry sea. And as though it was in exchange, Cornelia caught a glimpse of a speeding fire passed by her. The warmth of the fire flashed in an instant. “That’s Jason, you know?” David shouted so that it was clear for Cornelia to hear, “He was irritated with the fact that his Fire element wasn’t related to any flight abilities, so he just exploded off into a ball of fire. Just like a human rocket.”

“Awesome!” Cornelia gasped; looking down at the stream of flames that blew passed her, “What’s he going to do?”

“Tiadora said that animals that do not belong to Xana, and who attacks innocent people, are normally possessed by Xana. Just like what happened to Oberon. Remember how after Jason sliced Oberon’s body, a black smoke came out of his body?” David prompted me. After Cornelia nodded with the memory being replayed in her head, he continued, “Well, that is the thing that controls the animal or person. In order to remove it, you’re required to cast a spell from both imagination and strength which Jason had accidentally conjured up. So both Tiadora and Jason are going to do it again.”

“Wait, how does an animal belong to Xana?” Cornelia asked aloud.

“The same way our sacred animal belong to us guardians,” David looked over his shoulder and grinned, “The animals volunteer themselves. The Balistia did.” When Cornelia finally understood, she noticed the water cascading back to its normal level and Tiadora was floating back in the air about a few feet away from Cornelia and David, holding Jason’s hand. I forgot that he can’t fly; Cornelia chuckled silently, as she saw Tiadora having difficulty carrying Jason’s eight. So Cornelia inhaled a mouthful of air and blew the wind at their direction, lightening Tiadora’s load.

Everyone managed to land back safely back to shore where both Mokona and Gaia were waiting at. Gaia had turned back into a small zebra keychain which made its size look like as if it was half of Mokona. She scooped Gaia up and kissed its tiny nose in appreciation. “Get Ulrich to the infirmary,” Jason poked Cornelia at her waist, which sent a jolt through her body. On queue, all five guardians raced back towards Kadic Academy, into the small entrance that Ulrich had led her to.

♥

“The boy’s doing well, but he has to miss lessons tomorrow. His lungs need to clear away the seawater in them,” the usual nurse explained as she gently removed her stereoscope of Ulrich’s bare chest, “I’ll inform Coach Dean about his absence for soccer tomorrow as well.”

“Thanks,” all five magical guardians spoke in unison. They had been sitting outside the infirmary for an hour after they brought Ulrich in. Since then, the nurse informed them to stay outside. Tiadora analysed the story that Cornelia had conveyed to the other guardians during the one hour. Her story sounded off. As Tiadora recalled what Cornelia said, ‘Because of the lack of oxygen in the water after I caught Ulrich, I fainted and the next thing I knew, the squid was already tied up in that golden rope and the sea was already starting to separate.’ If Cornelia had fainted, who had tied the knots on the squid?

Her brows furrowed at the thought and her mind moved back to the time when she and Jason wanted to cast the removal spell of Xana’s mark. The guardians can’t see it yet, Tiadora thought to herself. The mark of Xana has yet to be materialize in their faces. Till then, they can’t know which one is an innocent creature and which one is guilty. They have yet to mature in their powers. She felt sort of relieved when Jason was able to recall the removal spell so quickly. She knew that she could have erased the mark with a snap as the creature was already weakened, but Tiadora knew that she needed for the rest of the guardians to learn as well. To develop into true guardians as great as their ancestors were.

However, her thoughts were rudely interrupted when David had bent down in front of Kiara, shaking her hard on her shoulders, yelling, “Kiara! Are you okay? Snap out of it!”

“No, stop!” Tiadora pulled David’s hands away from Kiara’s shoulders as she could feel his body calm down. Jason and Cornelia had come to their side and stood, looking at Kiara’s wide-eyed face. “Don’t interrupt her,” Tiadora let go of David’s wrists and looked at all of the other three guardians, “She’s having another vision.”