Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mature themes. T-rated version on FF

I've been meaning to do a CHYKN story about how and what led to the tragic events of Cassidy's death and I'm finally doing it! Let me in on your thoughts.

xoxo,

jimelization

Episode 1: It Begins

January 14th, 1965

The five young girls talked, laughed, and giggled together. It was a late afternoon; the sun was almost down. The coastal city of Heatherfield was dominated by low temperatures and moderate snow.

The Dragon, the Lin family restaurant was closing. Not that it had been a busy day; although relatively new and at a good location, the Chinese restaurant wasn't doing too great. Hence it was going to be bought by a richer, more eminent Chinese family, who were to do with it as they pleased.

"You girls know how we've struggled, ever since we came to the US." - the eldest, Yan Lin, spoke, smoothing out her short dark hair by habit. "But financial struggles are just...not groovy at all. This might be our last chance to stay afloat."

Her four friends all looked at her, smiles gradually fading, as the conversation shifted to a more serious topic namely their emigrant friend's future.

Yan Lin was two years older than them but she was also in her sophomore year because of moving continents and lost academic records.

She and her family had moved to Heatherfield from China three years ago, seeking new opportunities and better life.

Yan Lin had soon been enrolled at Sheffield Institute with Nerissa, Cassidy, Halinor, and Kadma - all thirteen at the time. And they had quickly become the best of friends.

And more than that.

They shared and supported each other like few others out there could brag about.

They were guardians together for over three years now. Guardians as in very special chosen ones, wielding the five elements. Guardians of Magic and Infinity, protecting the Infinite Dimensions. Guardians of Kandrakar, a Fortress realm beyond time and space. Kandrakar was at the helm of balance in most of the many, many known worlds out there.

It was quite a big deal but, somehow, by now, the five teen girls had accustomed to the great responsibility and power that they were in charge of.

That didn't mean that nothing could get to them, however. Not all, especially not 'normal people's' everyday problems and life hardships.

"Yanny, don't get me wrong, I hope that you will manage to keep working and living here, I really do."- Halinor, a soft-voiced blonde bombshell with long, big curly hair and heavenly blue eyes spoke. "I just wish that it didn't have to be for the sake of your freedom...I wish we could've helped."- and she looked down, almost ashamed. Ashamed because her daddy refused to give one of her best friends' family a hand, no matter how much she pleaded.

Even though he had more than enough money. Chace Clarkson, her father, was not a generous man by any means.

"Don't sweat it."- Yan Lin smiled at her friend. "You all tried to get your families to help but my family? Oh, they wouldn't just accept financial help like that anyway, you know how they are. They're so fond of their tradition and dignity. Moreover, I am almost eighteen. You know that girls my age have to think about their future with their husbands anyway..."

Kadma and Nerissa exchanged indignant looks at that. Not because they didn't understand or judged what their friend had to do but because the mere thought of settling down for a man at 18 was something neither of them would ever consider.

Contrary to the social order, which was changing anyway.

Thirty years ago, it may have been necessary for their parents to be more accommodating, but now the world was changing. It was making progress. And even if that were not the case, the two friends would oppose everyone in their way, if necessary, in the name of their own values.

Even though Kadma's mother was from India, where marriage was part of culture and belief, and Nerissa's mother was a fanatical religious nimrod, as Nerissa herself often called her.

"My offer still stands."- Kadma said seriously. "My family knows of my dream to start a foundation that helps people deal with life hardships and shapes them as individual pillars of society. Because society needs to be more individual and less judgmental. If you want out of your folks' wants and demands, you can be my very first protégé! How about that!"

Yan Lin smiled at Kadma. Her enthusiasm for feminism and equality, making society better for both men and women...

It was always inspiring and empowering to see her like that - perfect dusky matte skin, beautiful features, sterling violet eyes, and long dark hair caught in a messy side braid.

"Thank you so much, my sweet Kads, but I have to stand by my family in this. I don't want out. I know that if I do decide that I want that change I can turn to you, though."

"Not just her, Yanny, you can count on all of us."- Cassidy, the baby of the group, youngest by months, said earnestly, taking the Asian's hand in her own.

Yan Lin smiled and placed her second hand on top, beholden.

All her friends were beauties.

Cassidy with her ginger hair, blue eyes and freckles, and her sweet, almost child-like innocent glow. Kadma was an exotic vision. Halinor - picture-perfect, the beauty queen type. Even she herself was pretty cute and smart with her knowing warming eyes and petite figure.

But Nerissa was perhaps the most captivating to look at.

It was not just her perfect proportions, voluminous long black hair, and chiseled cheekbones. Nor her cat-like green eyes and strong female-Fatale energy.

She was their leader.

She carried herself exquisitely and in a one-of-a-kind fashion and she knew how to make everyone and everything be the way she wanted it.

She had always had talents in this regard, perhaps that is why the Heart had chosen her for its keeper in the first place, but the last three years of her holding it had only further shaped her into this distinctive persona that she was today.

Moreover, turn her into something she didn't even suspect she would become yet...

"Let's keep our mellow."- Nerissa spoke for the first time since the topic of Yan Lin's future was brought up. "See how it goes. See this boy that the Zhen family will offer. If he and Yanny get along, then fine, if not? We can always change things to be by our taste."

Yan Lin smiled but couldn't help twitching at the firmness with which the other girl had said it. Nerissa was two years her junior but she often looked and sounded much more mature.

"We're the guardians. We're CHYKN. We can do anything together."

Enlai Zhen was actually more decent than any of them had expected. A few years older than Yan Lin, Liberal arts and sciences student at Connecticut College in New London, a few hours away from Heatherfield. He and Yan Lin were getting along quite well. She had been nervous and anxious at the beginning but she quickly became comfortable around him, discovering his more mellow and well-balanced personality. He was cuter than expected too, and that was always good!

With the passing of time, they became a normal couple, despite the circumstances their union had come to be around.

The Dragon was now called the Silver Dragon at the request of Enlai's mother who was the new owner. The Lins were still working and living here but they were now part of the Zhen family's staff.

And the major drama at the restaurant itself as well as all the financial problems were quickly abating. Who knew that the summer season would attract more clientele under Nian Zhen and her husband's marketing?

"I am so happy for her. It's so groovy that they don't have to go back to China. The immigration services really had them cornered with these debts."- Halinor commented lively, sitting back on the large sofa.

"True."- Kadma agreed, removing some invisible fine particles from her friend's hair. "That would have made our guardian job very much harder. And we'd miss her, of course. Thankfully, I didn't have to vouch for her and fight her family but I was ready to if they were getting deported!"

Halinor smiled and rested her head on Kadma's shoulder.

"I know you would, Kads. You're so brave and determined to set everything right. But yes, I'm glad things are sorting themselves out, with how busy we've been with missions lately, we didn't need more pressure."

The two friends were in Halinor's family drawing room, a large and well-furnished space with floral patterned décor, many pastels, and good lighting. The 60s dream home drawing-room, really.

"Halinor."- a third voice interfered and the two girls turned around.

Halinor immediately recoiled:

"Claudia?"- she exclaimed softly yet reservedly. "I thought you have gone out, I-"

"I did go out but I've forgotten my wallet. Came back for it."- the woman who had appeared from the other entrance to the drawing room explained, lips pursed.

She didn't miss to pierce her stepdaughter with a hateful glare. Then she looked at Kadma, who was still on the sofa, not even deigning to look back.

They all knew Claudia very well by now - Halinor's stepmother who had mistreated her for years before the Heart of Kandrakar, her best friends, and their powers had come along to put her in her place.

Claudia was resentful but primarily tamed ever since. She didn't dare cross Halinor and the other girls ever since that fated night when they had turned her into a literal toad. But that was a story for a whole other time.

"I am wondering when will other things come out too, you know?"

Halinor flinched at that line but didn't say anything. She just stood there, like a frozen sculpture.

"Anyway. I'm heading out. Don't stain the couches, please."

Claudia gave both girls another resentful cap-a-pie look before leaving the room.

"She's talking about our powers, isn't she?"- Halinor whispered to Kadma. "She knows we have extraordinary abilities at the very least...Oh, why doesn't this woman just leave us alone already!"

Kadma just crossed her arms on her chest and didn't say anything. She was vexed by the situation and the comment from Halinor's evil witch of a stepmother but Halinor's overly disquieted reaction annoyed her even more.

"Who cares what she says."- she murmured in the end. "She's an otiose person even your father pays no attention to these days."

Halinor shook her head to herself as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Claudia herself didn't make it far. She was headed for the backdoor when someone rang the bell over the main entrance.

Annoyed with another unannounced visit, Claudia threw her pretentious platinum blond bob back and went to open.

When she recognized the visitor, however, she instantly paled and shut her mouth.

"Hang it."- was Nerissa's simple order when she boldly entered the house and unceremoniously threw her denim jacket over the older woman's head on her way to the open drawing room.

"Girls, I have news."- she began but dropped it when she saw her friends' faces.

She immediately knew. Their mood had been spoiled. Probably by the worthless hanger she had just walked by. She was always to blame when around.

"Wait...toothless Lady Tremaine-wannabe didn't say something to you, did she?"- Nerissa exclaimed, pointing behind herself.

Halinor shook her head:

"Oh, no, Rissy, don't bother, she's just-"

"She's just opening her mouth when she shouldn't even be around here."- Kadma interrupted her, finally standing up as well. "I thought she promised to never upset Hal again. But look at her. She did it. Again."

Halinor tried to say something but it was evident she was indeed upset. Nerissa didn't even need to ask why. Claudia's presence alone was enough to make anyone's blood boil. It was an unfathomable miracle Halinor and her deluded father could live in the same house as her.

"Hey, you!"- Nerissa shouted, turning back towards the entryway, where Claudia was just about to go through the door. "Yes, you. I'm talking to you, fool. Is there anyone else around here that could possibly fluster Halinor?"- she then pointed at the floor. "Close the door and come back here."

Claudia pursed her lips even tighter but did as she was ordered.

"Rissy, please let her be."- Halinor came running towards them. "She was going out, I just don't want to-"

"Yes. And I just asked when will other things come out too."- Claudia interrupted, anger inside her boiling.

Anger and hatred for these brats who were mistreating her whenever she said something that rubbed them the wrong way. Oblivious or at least pretending to be oblivious to the fact that this kind of treatment was exactly what she had deserved by ill-treating her stepdaughter for years.

"Is it so bad? After all, I haven't said anything wrong about anything that's...wrong? Is it now?"

Halinor twitched and Kadma sulked, but Nerissa just scoffed:

"Are you trying to be witty, you school dropout sucked her way up to the upper class? You?"

Halinor and even Kadma, with all her power to remain stoical, gawked at that line. Claudia gasped in indignation but Nerissa didn't leave her a chance to interrupt:

"Listen, Claudia, I try to avoid talking to you because you disgust me. You disgust me so much even when you're just around longer. You make me gag. And I don't usually gag."- she added meaningfully, raising her eyebrows in a derisive fashion. "Don't make me have to warn you again that you're only still here because we pity you. We pitied you in return for your absolute non-participation in Halinor's life. Perhaps you needed me to jog your memory, hence you asked that today. Is that it? If it's just that and you apologize, you can go."

But Claudia couldn't swallow it all back this time. Not again. She had already swallowed back so much, for three years in a row. She just exploded:

"Don't talk to me like that, you little bitch! I've never, ever seen someone as impudent and disgusting as you, let alone that someone being a girl your age! You're just sixteen, look at yourself! You look and act like a damn whore, and you will never, ever get anywhere in life with that kind of attitude-"

Nerissa pushed her back unceremoniously, making her fall back in the corner. Claudia screamed, and Halinor screamed with her, due to her shock, but Kadma had seen it coming.

"You really should've sucked it up. At least that's something you're good at."- Nerissa whispered minacious as she knelt down to be on her level. "Supposedly."

Claudia tried to get back on her feet, absolutely shook up, and possibly flee. Nerissa grabbed a hold of her and swung her across the entryway, making her get slammed into the opposite wall with a painful sound slipping from her lips as a thin streak of blood came running down her nose...

"Nerissa, no!"- Halinor screamed. "You know that this will get us reprimanded, we-"

"Did you hear what this worthless woman said, Halinor?"- Nerissa interrupted, pointing down at the said woman, who was once again struggling to get up and move away as fast as possible.

"We were human to her, allowing her to keep living under the same roof as you after how she's been mistreating you for years and she not only passes comments and tries to poke into tender spots but questions? Questions us? Our characters? She talks back at us?!"

Her voice just built up that full of wrath high-pitched "us."

Even at this still young age, Nerissa was unfaltering. With deep values and beliefs of her own that didn't stand almost anyone crossing her in such a way without getting a serious punishment...

Halinor's twisted stepmother? She was on the top of the list of people who would face dire consequences if they crossed her as she had, and it would be just karma!

Kadma carefully put her hand around the tall girl's wrist, sensing things could go south if she didn't interfere too.

Nerissa had always been intimidating and well-founded with her enemies but lately, she was losing her temper more and more often, and the others were growing worried that she'd cause unneeded harm in a fit of rage.

"She's not worth the nerves, Nerissa."- Kadma assured her. "I'll take care. Go back to the drawing room with Halinor, have something to drink, and then when I join you guys, you'll share your news with us, OK?"

Nerissa wasn't ready to drop the topic but Claudia rushed out of the house the moment she felt the attention on her was slightly reduced.

"Yes, run, Claudia! And better yet don't bother coming back!"- Nerissa yelled after her. "Because next time I see you I will crush you like a bug!"

"Nerissa, come. Forget her, let's go."- Halinor ushered and Kadma closed the door before following them back to the drawing room.

The dispute was over just like that but Nerissa was still fuming:

"How can you tolerate that scum, Halinor! She's not your parent, she's no one! We should've just ridded you of her years ago! I can't bear to look at her loathsome face, knowing how she hurt you-"

"It's OK, Nerissa, it really is."- the blonde said, sitting next to her. "While I hold your friendship and your protection in the highest regard I can, I don't want any of us abusing their guardian powers because of an insignificant thing such as Claudia."

"We made sure she knows how things stand. Those occasional moments of her acting up shouldn't faze us."- Kadma agreed.

A few minutes later, when the keeper's emotions simmered out, Halinor gave her some orange juice and brought a bag of "Humpty-Dumpty" potato chips for all three of them to enjoy.

"So, what are the news, Rissy?"- Kadma asked again, attention shifting to some of the potted flowers in the room.

She trained on them, making them grow, bloom and wither, and then grow again. It was a useful and relaxing practice.

She was the Earth guardian after all, and after three years of practicing with her element, she had noticed that often concentrating on visibly smaller areas really helped her with her control and flair.

"The school is going to offer Yan Lin a chance to graduate earlier. Graduate with the rest of the seniors this upcoming year. A year earlier than us."- Nerissa picked the conversation up again.

"Really?"- Halinor exclaimed in surprise. "Why that's great!"

"Who told you?"- Kadma wanted to know.

"It's always been a bummer for her that she's held two years back! Did Adam tell you?"- Halinor suddenly clicked. "Because I think Todd mentioned something about credit requirements being more flexible this year. Maybe Yan Lin's eligible for the aptitude program and finals for early graduating."

"Who the heck's Adam?"- Kadma asked again, absolutely unacquainted with inner school life and news.

She had the full potential to be among the popular kids, like Nerissa and Halinor but she simply didn't care about all that.

"Nerissa's boyfriend, Kadma, how can you not know that- "

"Yes, he did tell me about the program, and yes Yan Lin is eligible for it. But he's hardly ever been my boyfriend, sweetheart, I had almost forgotten his name."- Nerissa tsked. "We went on that one date a few months back and that was just because your boyfriend at the time was looking to hookup his dorky friend- "

Halinor blushed and Kadma rolled her eyes. Halinor's endless boyfriends and breakups were something she wasn't exactly fond of.

People were long talking about the Fire guardian being promiscuous but Kadma guessed she preferred the rumor over her being...

"No, it wasn't a sexual chat, Halinor, I don't exactly find him attractive or exciting for that matter. The idiot just wanted to talk to me again. Apparently, being on the student council doesn't exactly land him many dates. We shouldn't tell Yanny yet though. Not before the high school counselor reaches out to her family."

"I'm sure she'll immediately take them up on the offer."- Halinor said. "Yanny has always wanted to be able to pursue higher education sooner as to-"

"Now to be able to go to the same campus as her boyfriend."- Nerissa cut her off, slightly annoyed. "Yes. It makes perfect sense."

"You're not delighted with that?"

Nerissa was up from her seat again, going over to the windows and skittishly busying her fingers with the curtains.

"It's not...that."- she said at the end. "It's just that Connecticut College is hours away from us. How are we to correctly uphold our guardian duties if she moves there for the next three to four years?"

Kadma and Halinor exchanged glances. It was true, that type of change would affect them as a group but it was something they had all known would eventually come. After all, Yan Lin was going to be an adult soon.

"Adult life is different, Rissy."- Halinor reasoned. "We'll have to think of a way to make it work, no matter what change we go through."

Nerissa just nodded at that but didn't say anything. As the leader of this team, change from within wasn't something she ever favored, and if she could stop it in its infancy, she wouldn't hesitate.

The rest of the day was pretty normal. Nerissa left Halinor and Kadma to their daily assignments for Cassidy, who was waiting for her near the school gates.

Cassidy, the baby of the group, was a playful, always smiling girl, who could make anyone drop their worries and just seize the moment.

That's what Nerissa counted on.

They went to catch a movie in the local movie theater, something they always enjoyed. Ironically enough, "Psycho" was one of Cassidy's top picks. Yes, she loved the horror genre, something no one usually guessed by her upbeat personality and appearance.

Then they grabbed a bite at their favorite diner.

The "swinging" sixties were definitely an interesting time to be a teenager. The western world saw a flourishing in art, music, fashion, and a number of significant social movements. The old tenets of the world were shaking and breaking, and teenagers all around were embracing their freedom, experimenting with relationships and taboo-deemed activities much more openly than ever before.

By the time they reached Sheffield again, the sun was already setting down, into the water in the distance. Cassidy had to grab some stuff she had forgotten in her locker after swim practice. She was on the school swimming team and she was one of the best.

Nerissa waited for her in the hall.

The school was almost completely empty, open only for some of the club members that used it for training, like the swimming team. It was still summer.

Nerissa leaned against the lockers in the hall, bored as her friend was taking longer than expected when she noticed someone sneaking out of one of the rooms. It caught her attention. She was always very attentive.

"No, Chong!"- a female voice said. "I cannot have Lin take this chance away from me. You and I both know that only one Chinese person will get to graduate earlier."- the voice spat bitterly. "Revolutionary times or not, the school board will never do more than one. They don't care for us, they care about their image."

Nerissa immediately matched the voice to Baozhai, a girl from her chemistry class. Apparently, she and her friend Chong, another Chinese girl she was unfamiliar with, had snuck into the school administration... But why? And what were they talking about Yan Lin?

Nerissa made a few silent steps, hiding behind one tall bookcase nearer to the two girls, still oblivious to her presence.

"So, you want to steal her file?"- Chong exclaimed. "Baozhai, that's a lowly and disgraceful act, I didn't know we were coming here to do that! What will that even achieve?"

The files, Nerissa thought, suddenly an idea forming in her head. Of course...If all of Yan Lin's files aren't present in her student record, she cannot take part in the upcoming aptitude program for early grads...She cannot graduate earlier either.

"The school counselors could simply give Lin time to reissue her missing documents. Why are you so sure that they'll just cut her off?"

Baozhai snorted:

"Image, Chong, they just want to keep their image. They won't bother with waiting; they'll simply give a chance to the next Chinese in line. I know because that is exactly what happened to me last year! I didn't have all my documents in the school record and they cut me off. I'm a year older than Lin. I cannot waste more time in high school..."

"Last year was different, this year they're introducing a new program- "- Chong tried to reason but Baozhai didn't want to listen.

"No, don't try to talk me out of it! I will not waste my years just because people don't really care about other nationalities around here-"

But Baozhai couldn't tear up the paper she had taken out of Yan Lin's folder, because someone grabbed both from her and it wasn't her friend.

It was Nerissa. The two older girls screamed in shock. Then they got angry. Then they realized who exactly had counteracted them like that and just fell silent.

"I'll take that, darling."- Nerissa said confidently, smiling down at the shorter girl. "I'm sorry, I hope that your problem gets resolved. But not for my friend's sake. You realize what would happen if anyone was to catch wind of what you were trying to do here today, don't you? I'm afraid it would be disastrous for your future..."

Baozhai flinched but her friend Chong acted out quickly:

"N-no! Please, don't tell anyone anything! You can have the file, take it back, or do whatever you want. Just don't tell anyone about what Baozhai...what we were trying to do...Please."

Nerissa smiled self-gladly:

"I'll keep quiet if you do. But if you decide to act smart or talk too much, I'll drag you down to a pit so deep, you two will never make it out, unfortunately."- she added darkly. "Unlike me. We're really not in the same position around here, are we, girls?"

Baozhai and Chong exchanged looks and some words in Chinese. Then Baozhai turned to Nerissa and nodded dryly:

"Understood. We never met today. Nothing happened. I'm...I'm sorry that I tried to sabotage your friend. Please don't...pursue any revenge.

Revenge. Nerissa smiled. Everyone long knew not to mess with her. She was never a typical mean girl. She was just righteous. Maybe self-righteous at times. But she was well-balanced. She knew when to fight and when to display humility.

"Please. I am desperate to leave high school sooner."

"All is forgiven. Go."

Nerissa watched the two leave the crime scene hastily, shook up and dissatisfied, and then looked down at Yan Lin's school record. The terrible thought from the moment she had laid eyes on it, insisting in her head.

That same night, the Crossnic family manor was overtaken by a heated argument. One that Nerissa hadn't found herself in the midst of in a long time.

Not that her parents didn't fight all the time, for so many different reasons. With time, with her growing stronger and more attached to the Heart of Kandrakar, her parents gradually got off her case. She had won that privilege. Because she was different. Stronger. More steadfast. More dangerous. And even her awful father would be afraid of her, very soon...

Of course, Nerissa didn't get along with her parents. Never had. Never would, most probably...

Her mother was a religious fanatic, someone who prayed and took every slap by turning the other cheek not so much because of her stoic fate but because of her cowardice and idiocy. Nerissa loathed that in her. Katherine was beautiful with her dark hair, pronounced cheekbones, and Mediterranean exoticism. But that's where all her pluses came to a head, meeting all her sorry and pathetic disadvantages.

Nerissa swore to herself many times she'd never. Never resemble her mother's repugnant weakness.

She wasn't a good woman. She wasn't a good mother or wife.

Of course, having such a sick-making husband sure helped.

If she was ever married to a man like her father, Nerissa was certain she'd much rather murder him than put up with him. But since he was her father, she kept swallowing his bitter mistreatment. Her mother's disgusting nonchalance too.

He was almost everything she hated in a man and unlike most girls who saw their future partner resembling their father, Nerissa swore she'd do everything possible and more to keep her future and her father apart. Forever.

His image, his behavior, everything about him that she despised, and rightfully so.

Tom Crossnic was an abusive and cold monster she had wasted so much time trying to impress. Even today... and she hated herself for it.

He was made of impeccable ice. His cold blue eyes were made of ice. His salt-and-pepper slicked-back hair and his strict features. The imposing frame of his body towering over those he barked at with his emotionless, capable only of rage voice.

Oh, what she hadn't been willing to do for just a little respect and recognition from her father's side. But no... It was as if he'd rather take poison than treat her fairly. Treat her as an equal. At least treat her like a daughter...

"I don't fathom what were you thinking. How dare you taint our family name by engaging with that simple woman!? By displaying your foul character's ways and making me look like a bad parent? A weak man, someone who, despite all his efforts, could not ever give you proper manners and attitude!"

Tom's cold and livid voice echoed in the walls of the big house.

Claudia. Claudia had actually complained about her to her father. And she had done a great job at undermining her. Finally getting back for years of oppression.

Oppression I've learned from home...

Nerissa was shaking on the inside. Shaking with anger, hurt, and annoyance, because her father's harsh words still got to her, even after everything she had been through as a guardian.

His constant discontent. His lack of love. His abuse...

You've taught me so much about how to be cold and hostile, daddy, how could you focus on proper manners with all that, Nerissa thought bitterly as she stoically waited for Tom's anger episode to end.

But it took longer and more time and inner strength than anyone expected. Obviously, Claudia's spiteful words had rubbed him the wrong way. Big time.

What had that revolting bitch said about her anyway and how dare she? She was going to regret it!

"You're going to regret defaming me like you constantly do, Nerissa, with your overbearing arrogance! How many times must I tell you, you're not a man!"- Tom roared and grabbed a hold of the back of her neck.

Nerissa gasped and took a step back but he held her tight. He was getting physical for the first time in a while. She hadn't expected that. She hadn't expected to still shake and wait for his hit like a damn child!

She clenched her teeth. She was not a child! She was a guardian! She was...

"All that will become of you is an ill-fated whore! That's the only thing you're good for! If you do not tame yourself and start acting like a proper woman."- Tom barked, tightening his hold on her scruff.

"Stop looking at me so insolently! Stop!"- he warned her but she couldn't.

Nerissa glared at her father's cold eyes with her reddened from the held-back tears green orbs, and just said:

"A proper woman? Like the one who raised you to be an abuser? Or like the one who stands there, doing nothing?"- she nodded at her mother, who was mumbling something to herself, in the bottom of the drawing room.

Tom Crossnic, despite his cold and soulless core, was once again taken aback.

These words that left his teenage daughter's mouth. Such strong words, such confidence, and temerity?

Words even more greatly fueled by the Heart...

He hated it. He hated that he couldn't break her and make her be what he envisioned and that was had always sent him over the edge:

"I will never be that, daddy, I will never back down not for society, not for that wretched Claudia, not for anybody! I'd rather be a whore in hell than be your nauseating depiction of properness!"

He finally slapped her. For the first time in probably a year. A hard, painful slap that sent Nerissa to the floor.

Tom was breathing like a dog. He attempted to pick his daughter up and hit her again and again, but something stopped him and he just left her to lie on the hard wooden floor.

Nerissa breathed anger and pain but kept her face down. Her cheek stung. But her heart and her soul were on fire.

Her own tenets, her beliefs that family was supposed to be something divine? Something real. Something made of love?

How was she even able to still believe in all that when her family was just the opposite of everything she wanted.

"From this day on you will not dress like that."- her father's voice demanded and she knew he was talking about her skirt and the tight shirt that barely held her breast in.

Of course, he disapproved. Nerissa liked the way her body looked. Society finally approved too, a lot more after Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood stars paved the way in the new times, but not her father.

Had that been their only problem life would've been perfect.

Her father was a controlling maniac and a man incapable of love.

And that had unfortunately marked her forever.

Nerissa didn't listen to what else he had to say, she remained on the floor until Tom decided to leave the house. Probably to go pretend he was not a piece of human trash, somewhere downtown.

Katherine barely waited for the door to slam after him. She rushed to her daughter and pulled her back to her feet only to start hitting her and trying to claw her:

"You...you hellish girl! Why! Why do you refuse to repent!"- Katherine wheezed as she kept trying to inflict pain on her. It wasn't working. At least not physically.

Nerissa was pushing her hands away resiliently, barely containing herself from doing something she'd regret at this point. She was taller and stronger than her mother, nonetheless. She didn't fight back, hoping that whatever Gods Katherine prayed to continued to protect her as they did. (not from Tom, obviously.)

But at least from Nerissa herself.

Katherine soon got exhausted and started breathing hard, leaving her daughter.

Nerissa looked down at her, a mixture of anguish and disgust.

Was that it? Her mother really was something. A fool, that was.

She was so much stronger than her, she could send her to sleep with a slap, but her heart wouldn't allow her to.

Damn, with her power she was stronger than most.

She could do horrendous things to defend herself if she wanted to but she kept holding back.

Hoping that one day.

One day she'd be able to change her repulsing parents and more. Do more. So much more. She wanted to change so many things for the better...

"You enjoy making this family suffer, don't you? You enjoy abolition? You have the devil in you, you lay with the devil, you-"

"Leave me alone!"- Nerissa snapped. "Don't you worry about who I lay with, I sure know better than you. Don't bother me tonight. Not with whatever gunk you've cooked. Not with your prayers, nor your husband! I will not be in this house much longer, so don't you worry about how I contribute to this wretched family's disastrous life!"

Katherine flinched at the firmness and watched her daughter head for the stairs.

"You don't even cry anymore, Nerissa!"- Katherine yelled after her, tears streaming down her face. "You've lost your soul in your madness and intent disobedience! You will be the end of both of us!"

Cry, Nerissa thought before slamming the door of her room. I've cried because of you and daddy, for longer than any child should. I've suffered! I'm done with crying.

But despite that promise she gave herself, the minute she threw herself on the big bed and buried her face in her pillows, the tears and the bitter cries forced their way out of her, the detested sound of them making her feel even more alone.

Claudia Clarkson didn't know what had driven her to come here, in this unknown forested area. In the dead of night. It was like she had sleep-walked her way to here.

Everything was dark and all she could see were trees and more trees. She was on a small meadow though, one surrounded by thicker forest. Illuminated by the almost full moon.

Now that she looked around herself, fretful and disturbed, trying to make sense of what was happening, she was beginning to suspect.

She had been bewitched.

And the witch responsible for it emerged from the forest unperturbed.

Claudia stared open-mouthed as Nerissa Crossnic met her eyes.

Sixteen yet she looked twenty. Tall. Slender but agile, full breast exposed in the plain summer dress she wore. She looked divine. But also...

Dangerous...

With a dark trench coat on. And red lips. Nerissa Crossnic held her eyes for so long, Claudia was beginning to feel weightless.

Powerless...

Unable to turn back and run, even though everything inside her demanded that.

And as the girl took a step towards her, the woman took a step back and yelped, falling to the grass, finally getting to her senses a tad more surely.

"W-what am I doing here? How did you bring me here?"- she whimpered.

If anything, she knew. She knew Nerissa had made her come here.

"The same way you bad-mouthed me in front of my father."- Nerissa replied. "By crossing a line. I've been meaning to try this spell out. I read it in the Forbidden Wing months ago. Just had to reckon all your evils and take a risk. I'm not meant to misuse my power; you see, but thankfully I'm very close to my Heart and it understands me. Agrees with me. It agreed that you are an evil. An evil that needs to be vanquished."

Claudia's head was spinning. Spells. Powers!? She had known it! She had been right all along. Nerissa really was a witch. And her friends were witches too...

"N-no, I'm not evil! I'm not EVIL!"- Claudia screamed, horror-stricken eyes following the guardian's every move. "I didn't mean to come in your way! I didn't know you're this p-powerful..."

"No, you didn't."- Nerissa agreed. "Even though you've known we're not ordinary girls ever since we stopped your terror over Halinor."- she added darkly. "But that's not why you came in my way even yesterday. You know why you did it? Because you're just mindlessly evil. I'm done with you. Tonight, I'll purge you from Earth,"

"NO!"- Claudia screamed and fell to her knees. "P-please don't! Don't do this! I will do anything!"

"I'm sure you will, just like you did anything you could, a gory punishment after another, humiliation after humiliation, treating Halinor like dirt for years for no reason!"- Nerissa listed in a loud, angry voice. "You're a sadistic bitch and an awful annoyance in our lives! You shouldn't have wasted your last chance by going behind my back as you did!"

Horrified, Claudia gave up on pleading. She just rose up and ran. Ran for dear life.

"You're a sadist! A sick woman! You enjoy making little girls suffer! You belong in hell with the other wretched demons for all the pain you've brought to my friend!"

Nerissa's voice followed her like an echo, no matter how hard she ran through the dark forest. Her head was throbbing and she was crying out loud from fear. But it was pointless. She had already been bewitched.

To her pure horror, the ground beneath her started opening, hot red flames spiraling from within. Terrible sounds echoing in the night.

Claudia screamed one last time, unable to jump over the speeding crease that followed her, and then fell inside the burning hellfire.

"Goodbye, wicked stepmother."- Nerissa whispered to herself and opened her eyes. Everything around was quiet again.

"Tomorrow no one will know what has gotten into you and why you've so eagerly decided to take a leave during the night. And hopefully, somewhere out there you will get your just desserts because this is still too mild of a punishment for you..."

The dark-haired guardian was interrupted by the sudden bright space fold that opened behind her. A space fold that glistened with deeper, almost violet colors.

Kandrakar, Nerissa realized tensely and walked through it, always putting her guardian duty first.

Her friends were already there. Each escorted to the Fortress of Infinity by an individual fold. Usually, when they were needed on Kandrakar, the Heart alerted her first, and then she gathered the others but apparently this time it was different.

Nerissa smiled at Yan Lin, Halinor, Kadma, and Cassidy.

Just like her, they were already transformed into their guardian uniforms. Something they long could do without her shouting to the Heart to basically gear them up.

After three years, they were not novices anymore. But they still had a lot to learn.

Thankfully, Kandrakar prided in their studies and training, making sure that they'll become the strongest and most efficient guardian version of themselves.

Like usually, they started their traditional training session with some of the elders that came to meet them after a few private minutes in the Anteroom of the Congregation.

Kandrakar often called them up for training during the night, so they had to keep their energy levels up magically, without messing with their biological clocks.

After approximately two hours, they were done. Tired but very toned.

"Well, that was a little bit odd."- Cassidy commented once Althor took their energy-increasing bangles off and told them they could go now, with a smile. "We didn't have a training session scheduled for today, did we? I keep track of our Kandrakar schedule-"

"Obviously you haven't really."- Kadma teased. "This is not the first surprise session they call us for recently. I feel like we're getting ready for something...something bigger."

"Yes, but what?"- Yan Lin murmured.

"We will have to wait and see. And be positive, right?"- Halinor concluded, throwing her arms around their shoulders, as they all walked towards the big fold that was opened for them near the exits.

Nerissa was lagging behind them and was about to say something when Tibor, one of the main elders, appeared in her way, stopping her:

"The Oracle would like to speak to you, Guardian."- he said in a solemn tone. "In private."- he added, stopping the others.

"Oh."- Nerissa exclaimed meeting Yan Lin's bepuzzled glance. "Fine...I will be with him in a moment. You girls go, finish your sleep. I'll talk to you later."

And so they parted. Already suspecting what this was about, Nerissa followed Tibor to the Room of the All-seeing Water, one of the places Himerish, the Oracle, seemed to enjoy most in the Fortress of Infinity.

"Your Excellence."- Tibor then excused himself, leaving them alone.

Himerish sat in the lotus position, in the center of the water basin, levitating above the surface.

For a few moments, he didn't speak or react and Nerissa just waited tensely, not knowing what to say to start the conversation.

Thankfully, the Oracle began first:

"Greetings, Nerissa. I've expected you all day. How is all?"

"It's...fine, I guess."- the brunette replied, still uneasy about the nature of this conversation. "Fine as always."

That was a fucking lie, they both knew. They both knew that things were seldom fine back at the Crossnic manor but she had long insisted that's personal. Personal for her to deal with.

A part of her knew the Oracle had to have called her about Claudia.

But Himerish turned to her, sterling, nonjudgmental, inviting smile. Not even a trace of reprehension or dissatisfaction with her actions he undoubtedly was already aware of.

He looked so young and handsome with his broad shoulders, sterling eyes, warm smile, and soft yet manly features.

Each time he smiled at her, Nerissa felt a strange sensation under her chest. Was it...butterflies?

Yes, because he was so attractive, so powerful and so tender with her. Something no one else could be. Not even her friends, for they were after all girls. Himerish was a man. How could she not appreciate it?

She quickly chased the thought away and struggled to give herself a more serious look.

She was the Keeper of the most prominent Heart of Magic, after all. The Heart of Kandrakar. She was supposed to be a professional always.

But all professionalism left her when the seer reached to take her hand and led her towards the center of the water basin.

Nerissa felt her heartbeat go faster and just looked down, blushing ever so noticeably. She was walking over the water instead of through it with his help.

"Tell me more about tonight's events."- Himerish ushered her softly once she was sitting next to him.

"I cast a mind-affecting spell."- Nerissa recited confidently, already expecting the question. "Used it to install fear in Claudia during her sleep. She never really was in the forest with me. But she must have already woken up and left town. In fact, I know she has. That's what the spell promised to achieve and it had many examples to support its thesis. It's not an easy spell but the Heart of Kandrakar helped me cast it."- she added carefully. "I apologize if I've crossed a more serious line, Oracle, but the Heart agreed that Claudia is a menace, and she really is, she is twisted and-"

"This spell you've found in the Forbidden Wing, no?"- the man interrupted softly, holding her green eyes with his warm gaze.

Nerissa looked down somewhat ashamed that she's been caught again. But he knew she often entered the Wing. He didn't really mind it, otherwise, he would've done something to stop her...

"I would like to come there with you from now on. To help you choose and learn all that you're interested in as the most promising guardian of Kandrakar."- Himerish said, surprising her.

"You listened to your leader instincts and ousted the enemy in the face of Halinor's cruel stepmother. Without hurting her as you've gathered she undoubtedly deserves."- he averred. "It is my strong hope that you'll always listen to your strong instincts and will keep protecting everyone around you, Nerissa. I am quite proud of you."

Nerissa looked up at him again, this time shocked. Did he just say he was proud of her? She couldn't believe it.

"B-but I. I almost crossed-"

"But you didn't. You didn't hurt her physically or abuse your power for direct personal gain. And since the omnipotent Heart agreed with you, who are we to disagree?"- Himerish smiled again. "You're stellar in my book."

Nerissa smiled back. Whether she had realized it or not, hearing such words was exactly what she had needed.

"Thank you, Oracle. I remain your humble student. I will never disappoint you."

The man put a tender hand over her head and softly caressed her hair.

"I concur. Because I will be by your side, guiding you, every step of the way."

Nerissa couldn't be happier. She wanted to embrace him but she knew better than to ruin the moment.

The Oracle's faith in her was one of the main things that motivated her. His kind and warm words melted her heart. His perceptions of the Universe matched hers.

He was everything she wanted in a man.

But she knew she wasn't supposed to think all that. Not so near to him, where he could probably sense her thoughts.

"Another thing, Nerissa."- Himerish spoke again, this time in a serious tone that indicated his feelings about the new topic. "I haven't told you directly yet but you already see it. These additional training sessions that we host for you have tipped you. I sense darkness coming. Darkness that you and your guardian team will have to overcome together. Darkness so powerful, nothing will ever be the same if we mishandle it."

"We will."- Nerissa nodded confidently. "We shall not fail. We'll prevail. Like we always do, we've vanquished so much evil already, Oracle, I'm confident that we can overcome anything fate throws in our way."

Himerish looked at her, testing and expectant, before relaxing his face muscles again.

"I know that I can count on you. Together we will preserve the balance in all known worlds. Just brace yourself. It begins soon. Very soon."

Nerissa nodded solemnly and joined him for his meditation, closing her eyes and yielding to Himerish's guidance and power.

*End of Episode 1*

Nerissa's back story will make you think more about her fate. Was she a victim? What made her who she was the night of Cassidy's death? Stay tuned!

Chapter Text

A/n: The chapters of this story are all episodes that are somewhat of a reference to some of the original WITCH episodes but there are big differences too! For example, Sub Rosa starts after the third year of CHYKN as guardians, and the themes are different and more mature. There is also a big difference in the way Kandrakar accounts for their guardians? Why? You will soon find out. Keep me posted about how you like it! xoxo

Episode 2: It Resumes

The end of summer was near and that meant the start of yet another school year at Sheffield Institute was right around the corner.

Nerissa didn't particularly care about it because she had always done fine, academically, without even trying.

Most of her peers were already starting to dread senior year which was just two semesters away but not she. She didn't need to worry about college life either because she was going to inherit her father's textile business. Because she dreamed of becoming a famous singer too, but everything in its right time.

The family company, NC Enterprises, specialized in textiles, shoes, and accessories, supplying some of the largest names in the states.

It was a business worth millions, keeping the Crossnics extremely wealthy for many years, and all she had to do to properly get into it was spend some time in business school once she graduated from Sheffield. Everything else was going to be easy. Or so she imagined. She imagined that, given she appreciated fashion, she'd do well in that sphere.

Her father? It was mind-boggling he was associated with anything of the sort, given he hated having to choose a tie himself. But then again, Tom Crossnic settled there where was profit.

As far as his daughter was acquainted with his work history, he had wanted to be in the petrol business (no surprise there) at first but his partners had screwed him over, leaving him no other choice but to start developing in a different niche.

It's what he deserved, undoubtedly, the brunette thought, applying dark red lipstick.

She was about to head out and go school supply shopping with her friends, at the new suburban indoor mall downtown.

For years, they went to Roseville, a small neat shopping town near Heatherfield, because Halinor, in particular, preferred it with all its small shops, boutiques, and vintage places, but the new indoor mall was a big deal for Heatherfield and they had to be there for the opening.

With all the other bored teenagers and young families, desperate for somewhere to be on a rainy day.

Nerissa took a step back to admire herself in the three-leaf standing mirror. She had chosen a fabulously groovy, crochet pattern summer mini-dress for her outfit today. A simply shaped shift dress, with short sleeves and an openwork pattern that she had paired with rectangular, knee-high white leather boots with five-inch-thick heels.

She looked amazing with her long legs and even longer, raven-colored puffy hair. She was breathtaking. She knew it and she reveled in it. Her looks were something she had always been very proud of.

She grabbed an apple from the kitchen before heading out. She spotted her mother with the corner of her eye, in the Victorian-styled living room, praying as usual.

For a moment, Nerissa wanted to go to her and hug her, tell her that she was going out and just bond with her like she had seen Cassidy bond with her sweet mother Emily countless times. But then she recalled Katherine calling her a 'devilish whore' just two nights ago, trying to scare her off with a pan, because Nerissa had, as according to her mother, 'purposely lured boys back at church with her immoral antics'.

Nerissa frowned. There were sweet women like Emily who adored their children. And then there were nutcases like her cold mother.

I don't need someone like you, Katherine, the Keeper thought, looking away and exiting the house without saying a word.

The mall was packed, as expected. It didn't take them too long to get all they needed for the upcoming school year - textbooks, pens and pencils, art supplies, binders, and whatnot other sundries.

Then they explored more interesting locations like all the new clothing and cosmetic stores.

Halinor was ecstatic - she was all about bellbottoms and polo shirts, like the combination she wore today, but she also liked flowy blouses with bell sleeves in vibrant colors and patterns, and all the stores they went in seemed to have something she wanted for her wardrobe.

It was what was modern. It looked amazing on her but she only had as much allowance money.

"You can always work for your father as I do."- Kadma said, matter-of-factually when the blonde spent her last dollar on a few vibrant soft mini scarves. "I help the family business and get an extra salary to add to my allowance. Then again, I don't spend as much as you do on wardrobe..."

"Because your mother buys you clothes all the time, Kads, and you know how daddy is, he's blind for these things."- Halinor rolled her eyes.

"What is he not blind for."- Nerissa didn't miss to point out Chace Clarkson's incompetence as she tried one of Halinor's mini scarves. It was white and it went with her outfit.

"I'll keep this one for the day, Hal."

"...besides, your folks own half of Fadden Hills! You can choose from many options. Sure, Rissy, take it."- Halinor briefly acknowledged the other girl before turning back to Kadma and their heated discussion. "I've been thinking about a job...I just don't know what I'll do best at."

"You'll never know if you don't start trying things out."- Cassidy remarked and winked at the face the blonde gave her.

She had yet another part-time job she was wanting to keep this summer. It would be her third. This time, she was helping out at the zoo's aquarium. Cassidy didn't waste her time, she found things she liked and started doing them. The fact that she didn't want to burden her widowed mother financially played a big role in it too. Her family had never been nearly as wealthy as those of Halinor, Kadma, and Nerissa, who were all loaded.

"Ask your father, Halinor."- Kadma insisted somewhat strictly. "He's a director! He can use help with all his paperwork, I'm sure. Forget the job, you need to have a communication with that man, he's your father! Claudia's not around anymore to get in your way, so don't fool around-"

"Thank me later."- Nerissa interjected again, flipping her hair to the back.

They were all walking together, holding their shopping bags, but Halinor and Kadma were so immersed in their own discussion, they barely acknowledged the other three guardians:

"...if he doesn't oblige, maybe my parents can offer you something."

Halinor stopped walking:

"You know what."- she shook her head. "That's actually not a bad idea at all!"

"Good girl. I will see what can be done!"

Yan Lin almost laughed at that. She loved her friends and all their little interactions. Finally, Fire and Earth were reaching an agreement, after each and every one of their silly bickering. Not that this was necessarily bickering, it was just the way they talked to each other, being as close as they were, almost like sisters. Or best friends, which they actually were. Or a married couple even.

"So, Yanny, honey."- Nerissa began playfully, throwing an arm around the shorter guardian's shoulders. "I can hardly wait for that dinner. Finally meeting Enlai after so much time of you two being a couple. It's exciting, isn't it, girls?"

The others quickly agreed with her, teasing Yan Lin about it a little more than they were supposed to but it was all in a friendly and lovable spirit. Yan Lin blushed, red as a tomato, and eventually replied:

"It's this week, isn't it? I don't even know what I will put on..."

"I think Halinor bought enough things for all of us to wear if we needed to, honey."- Cassidy joked making Halinor roll her eyes, amused but sassy:

"Quiet, Cassidy!"

"Quiet, Cassidy!"- Nerissa mimicked her girly exclamation and laughed, pecking her cheek before the other girl could take umbrage if any at all.

Their group was just too close-knit. They could joke, hug, fight and still be one. Nothing could break them...

"Oh, look at Riss being sweet."- Kadma chuckled, watching the blonde and the brunette lock arms together like old ladies.

"As sweet as a balloon fish she is, usually."- Cassidy remarked evilly and Nerissa just smirked, ruffling her hair.

"Besides, I'm sure Enlai would much rather Yan-Yan wore nothing."- Halinor pointed out scandalously and that line really brought the conversation to a new degree, with the girls gasping and squealing, and Yan Lin, as red as ever, just sheepishly trying to escape them while laughing it off.

The entire floor was already looking at them and their frivolousness but nobody seemed to mind. What was there to mind? Just a group of beautiful girls, grasping attention, having one more fun day this summer vacation.

"We haven't been...together like that yet."- Yan Lin admitted. "But maybe after that dinner."

"It's high time, you little devil, you. I know you date the guy to marry and everything but it's important. You don't buy a car without trying it out first, am I not right?"- Nerissa teased as they all erupted in emotional exclamations and giggles again.

The night of the fated dinner came faster than she thought it would. Yan Lin stood in front of the mirror in her room, getting ready.

She had chosen a set of traditional Chinese dresses in red and white, in the end. Her short hair was neatly styled and voluminous for the night too.

It was going to be the perfect night.

Her parents were out of town and Enlai's parents were giving them space for this dinner Yan Lin had wanted to have for a long time. A dinner during which she'd have the boy she really, really liked meet the most important people in her life.

It was actually going to be a pretty fateful gathering for real.

If things went as they were supposed to, one day Enlai would have to learn of...her secret.

And that was a big deal.

She might as well have him on best terms with the other four holders of the secret from now.

Yan Lin put on more perfume just to make sure no one could tell she had been cooking all afternoon just by smelling her. Even though she had taken a shower...She was suddenly self-conscious.

Tonight was going to be a special night.

After the girls leave, she and Enlai...they were going to have...

Sex.

They were going to have sex. Her very first time. How could she not be nervous?

She blushed at the thought again and took a deep breath. She had put great effort into making sure everything would be perfect. Now everything was in the hands of higher forces.

What was meant to be would be.

With a young heart flustering of many and mixed emotions about her future, Yan Lin headed for the stairs that led to the restaurant.

An hour later, everyone was around the beautiful table Yan Lin had set herself. It was supposed to be a casual setting but, as usual, the girls had gussied up.

Enlai Zhen was actually nicer and more handsome than they had imagined. He wasn't as short as some had perceived him either.

He smiled and was a little more reserved in the beginning, mainly because he wasn't that communicative in his everyday life, but with the progression of the night, he was opening up more and more.

Cassidy smiled and flickered her eyelashes happily every time she caught the young man and Yan Lin exchanging gazes or little smiles. To her, that was evidence they were falling for each other more and more and would be happy together.

Kadma went right in with her serious questions about equality and the roles of the man and the woman according to Enlai. He seemed to have passed her test with his answers because she dropped the austere look soon enough and started to look at him with different eyes.

Enlai's dream was to be a famous chef and have a quiet but successful family business with his future wife, sticking together through thick and thin. Having kids and grandkids. It was hard to disregard that, especially as opposed to so many young men thinking about their careers and how much money they could make at most before anything else these days.

Halinor's spicy talk animated the entire table more than once. Her racy words and ideas obviously made Enlai uncomfortable on more than a few occasions and Yan Lin kept shooting her rebuking glares.

"Perhaps that's enough drinks for you tonight, honey."- Nerissa remarked with a little smile as she took the glass from the blonde.

Nerissa had been more pacific throughout the evening. She didn't really engage too heatedly which wasn't very typical for her.

Tonight, she preferred to get to know Enlai by observing him and his interactions with the others.

So far, she didn't have any reason to question his character and intentions.

He was smiling, warm. Charming in his own way. He had a kind face, was medium-built, and had a relaxing aura to himself. He was cute. Obviously clever and not too plain or too glamorous, something that could create problems among many people.

Enlai and Yan Lin actually had...chemistry and looked good together. They could actually work and she was seeing it. Not to say she wasn't happy for her friend, but Nerissa hadn't exactly expected her simpleton parents to make such a fitting connection from the first attempt.

"You're all so different and exquisite, ladies."- Enlai said during dessert. "It makes sense that only someone as special and equally as fascinating as Yanny could win you all as friends and that during her first year here." - Yan Lin blushed at that. "God, I remember when I first came to the US, I couldn't start a single reasonable friendship for years.

The girls looked at each other with smiles. It was true. It wasn't often, even now in the swinging sixties, that a group of so many different individuals was as close-knit and loving as theirs.

"With the native kids, of course."- Enlai added with a smile. "I had Chinese friends. Not that...our own community here is the finest either."

Baozhai and her friend testifying for it, with their eagerness to throw just about anyone, even someone they are supposed to relate to under the bus, Nerissa mused.

"Well, it may be because, unfortunately, too many people still discriminate against just about anything."- Cassidy spoke up cautiously. "And we've never made difference between any human being. We're all advocates for human rights, equality, and whatnot, if you can't already tell- "- she chuckled whilst holding Kadma's amused glance.

"You bet."

"For justice too."- Nerissa added, wiping the corners of her mouth with а napkin. "We're all about justice and balance. We don't just pardon people for being people, we have distinctively-outlined beliefs and therefore causes we support. I guess that brought us all close quite fast."

"Shared outlooks on so many things."- Yan Lin agreed.

"Mind and spirit."- Halinor added. "And maybe a little bit of magic."

"Groovy! I love your friendship!"- Enlai exclaimed. "And I will be thrilled if I can get your blessings for being your eldest friend's significant other."

"He's cute, isn't he?"- Halinor gushed, twenty minutes later when she, Cassidy, Kadma, and Nerissa headed out, leaving the young couple alone.

"I like him."- Cassidy agreed. "He's fit to date our Yanny."

"For now."- Kadma added, always mindful and critical of people and their possible future mistakes.

Halinor's palatial house was in Hellenic Heights, an upper-class neighborhood that was nearest to Nerissa's manor, on the outskirts of town. Cassidy lived in a suburban area almost an entire hour away from them while Kadma's penthouse was in the heart of the city, closest to Yan Lin's residence above the restaurant.

Strategically, their homes were scattered all around Heatherfield, but thankfully, the girls long didn't rely only on bicycles for transport.

"Get in, we'll drive you."- Kadma offered, opening her family driver's car.

Her father George Starlighter looked after her the best he could, even with his constant business trips. He loved her mother and her dearly and was easily the most decent of fathers of the group (given Cassidy's dad was dead and Yan Lin's was...quite traditional and strict. Yet still. Quite caring too.)

Nerissa felt a spark of jealousy each time she saw that; a good parent being a good parent. But she was quick to remind herself that this was good. This was exactly what she wanted to see, especially for her friends. They deserved a healthy home environment. An environment that made them strong guardians and even more steadfast elements that would keep her fluctuations in check, even if they didn't fully realize it.

The ride home was not too long. They dropped Cassidy first and then it was her turn. Halinor would be last and then the driver would take the shortest road back to the city center.

"Thanks for the ride."- Nerissa gave her friends a quick hug. "See you tomorrow."

"See you at school!"

The manor was barely lit when she entered. She glanced at the big clock in the living room. It was midnight. Perhaps her parents were asleep.

Nerissa picked up the skirts of her long, pleated dress and headed for the large stairs. That was when she saw him.

Her father.

On the antique stationary phone on the second floor.

Nerissa hesitated for a moment. Should she go back and take the back stairway to avoid any possible confrontation?

No, that's what her child self would do. And she was long not a child. She wasn't afraid of some slap or harsh punishment. Tom Crossnic knew better than to challenge her too much nowadays.

But when she attempted to walk past him, he grabbed her arm and made her a sign to stay.

Nerissa recoiled but obeyed.

Her father then removed the telephone receiver from his ear and covered it with his palm:

"Are you sober?"- he shot.

The young woman opened her mouth in surprise.

"I don't drink alcohol."- she just said and looked up at her father again.

Well, looked at him, nonetheless. She was almost taller than him in these heels. He didn't look like he believed her about the drinking matter but obviously, that wasn't the point; he gave her the receiver and made her a silent sign to talk.

Talk? Who could he want her to talk to at this late hour?

"It's Nerissa."- she just said as confidently as she could.

Tom watched her with a strange little light in his otherwise inhumanly cold eyes. He watched her talk for a few more seconds before whoever was on the other line offhandedly hung up after hearing:

"What? Fly to Hamburg tomorrow? I start school tomorrow, plus I am going to be a serious artist! I don't need your plane, Frank. I don't need you either."

"Are you out of your mind?!"- Tom roared and grabbed the phone receiver but it was too late, the caller had cut the call.

Nerissa smiled bitterly:

"I told you that I'm not going to be a sellout, daddy. Especially not like this."

"You just turned down Frank. Sinatra!"- her father huffed like a bull. "Have you any idea what it cost me to even arrange this phone call?! To have a famous singer like him show interest in your little numbers? You're such a colossal stuck-up brat!"

"And what do I care? I never asked you to call any of those perverts."- Nerissa snapped, confounding her father once again.

She had actually drunk and this situation was getting on her nerves. She wasn't about to be tossed around by anyone! Especially in exchange for short-lived success. She had long reconciled with the fact her own father was willing to hook her up with the next bigger name in exchange for money, no matter the price she'd have to pay personally.

Her dignity? Her free will? None of that mattered to Tom Crossnic. He actually thought that just because a famous singer wanted to bone her on his plane, she was going to be happy with it and all.

"As if you're a humble young woman with an infallible moral compass!"- her father's cold ridicule echoed in the walls of the manor. "You're always talking about how you'd become a famous singer and pop star; I'm truly doing all I can to make that happen because maybe just maybe there's some talent and potential in you for that! But no! You remain ungrateful and stubborn; you turn down every possibility out of spite."

He staggered. Had he been drinking too? Heavily perhaps? Nerissa narrowed her wet eyes. Probably. Very probably.

Her father looked and sounded terribly tonight, and it was different than usual. He actually revealed some emotions; negative but still, emotions.

"I am confident that I will one day impress people and achieve my dream to be a singer and performer."- Nerissa crossed her arms on her chest. "Without being someone's trophy."

She enjoyed being able to stand up to Tom and set him back as he had her, for so many years of mistreatment.

Now, with every next day, she was growing stronger and more unwavering, and that was scaring her father for whom nothing was holly.

"I can do whatever I want alone, can't you see? I don't need you either."

"Alone? I doubt it!"- Tom sneered and smashed his fist in the telephone table but this time she didn't flinch.

She looked up at him unbothered. Tonight, she was unbothered. Strong. Even in front of her father, for the first time in years.

"What did I not give you, Nerissa? You're spoiled by money. You never listen and your attitude never mellowed, despite me trying to discipline you with such fortitude! Why? Why do you never obey me?!"

She blinked. Where was this coming from? What had triggered Tom's ice shell to this point?

But her anger prevailed:

"Many things needed, daddy, you never gave me!"- she snapped. "Now what do you expect? Why are you so urgent for me to occupy myself professionally anyway? Weren't you telling me how I'm too young just a few months back?"

Tom didn't answer. He seemed to have regretted losing his ice shield in front of her because he collected himself and just headed for his room, still staggering on the way.

"Is this about money?"

He stopped and turned around, shooting her a spiteful look:

"No."- he said in a low voice. "It was about you. I don't know what made me think that I could...support this dream of yours. I don't what tricked me into forgetting that you'll never become anything. You're just a...vain, shallow rebel girl who isn't going to make it too far in life. Probably won't make it to a decent marriage either."

"A decent marriage like yours?"- Nerissa sneered. "Thanks, I will gladly pass on that."

"You little b-"

"Don't you dare raise your hand at me again!"

Her father stared at her in utter shock. He had hurled back and attempted to slap her like he did when he could no longer verbally battle her, but she had caught his wrist roughly. She caught his wrist in a relentless fashion and met his wide eyes with her burning ones.

"If you ever try that again."- Nerissa hissed, voice soaked in contempt. She had had enough. She had endured her father's behavior for 16 years. She wasn't going to be silent anymore. "If you ever try to hurt me or your miserable wife ever again, I will bring you unimaginable pain! I will crush you like I crushed Claudia! Yes, daddy, I made Chace Clarkson's revolting second wife flee the city."- the brunette hissed in her father's face. She saw his rage being stifled down even more, for this had shocked him. She had purposely described her like that because she knew that was how her father would get the message best.

"You're drunk, aren't you?"- Tom roared and pulled free of her grip. She could see it in his eyes. He believed her. And he was fearing the worst... "What the fuck are you talking about? What did you do to that whore. Did you-"

"No, I didn't murder her as much as a child molester as hers truly deserves it! But I made sure she never gets back here again."- Nerissa stated darkly. Something in her had been unleashed tonight. Something that ensured nothing would ever be the same in the manor she had primarily suffered her entire life. "You're an abuser. A bit lower in the charts in comparison to her. Be wary of what you do from now on, daddy. You have no idea who your daughter is anymore."

Normally, Tom Crossnic wouldn't let that be the end of it. But tonight something just made him retreat without further objections. Something in his daughter's eyes made him fear her, for a change, for the first time in his life.

"Girls! You're not gonna believe this. It's soo groovy!"

Yan Lin was overly-enthusiastic the next day at lunch, she basically jolted to her friends' table.

"The school counselor called me and my parents earlier this morning. They want me to take part in their new aptitude program! If I ace it, I may be able to graduate high school this year!"- she cried. "I still can't believe it! And my school records? I didn't even know that all my documents are so perfectly organized there, the counselor said that I've been the easiest choice and that the entire school administration is rooting for me to achieve this."

Yan Lin stopped talking to take a breath but noticed the meaningful smiles that her friends exchanged upon hearing her story.

Yan Lin was naturally clever and these little body language signs rarely evaded her:

"Why do I have the feeling that you already knew?"- she smirked, crossing her arms on her chest. "Halinor, are you by chance dating the counselor now?"

"Ha-ha!"- Halinor rolled her eyes with pretend irritation as the others laughed. "Save that originality for your college essay, senior girl"

"We were sort of tipped off but nothing more is to be revealed."- Kadma said mysteriously, crossing her hands in the air. "I'm sure that you will not disappoint."

"We also know that you'll ace everything, honey."- Cassidy agreed, smiling at her. "Kadma's right."

Yan Lin's smirk morphed into a genuine smile of gratitude and love.

"Thanks, girls, I'm more confident with you around."

"We know about your academics but how was last night after we departed, hmm?"- Halinor changed the topic with a sly smile. "You have to hit us with the details now to display your confidence."

Yan Lin blushed but before she could reply the entire cafeteria's attention was diverted to the doors that opened loudly.

Heads turned around at the sight of the girl that just walked into the cafeteria. Long feminine legs, short breezy white skirt, and а tight red shirt with cutouts on the shoulders. All silk and cotton.

Тhe whole cafeteria was quickly engulfed in whispers and exclamations as everyone stared.

The boys all amazed.

"She's so sexy..."- some boy said a tad too loudly, creating even more chatter after himself.

"Damn, I want to date her..."

"In your dreams, dude."- another one laughed.

On the other hand, the girls, especially the "popular" ones were envious. Big time.

Just another school year for the Guardian of the Heart.

"Look at her...did she get even bigger tits over summer? I hate her..."- one girl said just loud enough for Nerissa to hear.

"Did she become taller?"

"I heard she has experimental plastic surgery abroad to maintain this look."

OK, that was the best one yet.

But their whispers and comments weren't given any recognition.

Nerissa flipped her long puffy raven-colored hair in the gossiping girls' faces and confidently walked towards the guardian table.

"Do you have to do that every school year?"- Kadma smirked once the other brunette was seated.

"Every goddamn year since puberty."- Halinor sighed dramatically.

"What?"- Nerissa feigned innocence. "I just came to have lunch with my friends. I didn't mean to become center of attention."

"Tell that to those heels."- Yan Lin winked.

"And that waistline."- Cassidy added. "Nerissa, you don't even really exercise and still pull all this off...Don't pretend you're not a big brag about it."

"Alright, alright, mellow out."- Nerissa finally admitted and smiled at them. "You know, every year that brings me closer to complete magical maturation feels better than the previous. I feel stronger. More confident, more beautiful with every passing month... I suppose I did become somewhat of a swank about it. You know I wasn't always like that."

It was true. At the beginning of their guardian days, she had actually been quiet. A bit of a bookworm. Cautious and just more moderate than now.

Now, she was still very studious but primarily about magic. And she could be as rigorous as the old Emperor himself if she wanted to.

Nerissa had always been pretty and everything but not like she was now. Definitely not.

She had gradually turned into the drop-dead, confident femme fatale she was known as today.

The Heart and puberty had somehow made her blossom faster than anyone else and no one had even noticed how and when.

It just seemed like the most natural process and it probably was.

Because she was long not just a pretty girl. She was turning into the strongest Heart-holder and most prominent magical wielder across the dimensions. She was Kandrakar's most preeminent guardian. The Oracle had said that himself...

Himerish...

An unbidden smile rose to the guardian's lips as she thought of him. She often thought about their superior and teacher.

About his knowledge, wisdom, and fair-dealing. About all his views of the world and how well they complimented hers, and how outrageously good each part of his body looked.

Well, some parts she had only visualized in her wet dreams but she was sure they were accurate enough...

"Complete magical maturation is exciting. But here we have Yan Lin."- Halinor's voice took the brunette out of her daydreaming. "Soon she will reach hers and she'll tell us all about it!"

Magical maturation - the point of a magic user's life when they're expected to achieve their complete potential. Usually, that would be one's 18th year.

As guardians, the CHYKN girls did have some advantages. Their guardian forms were more mature, agile, and transcendent since day one. But that didn't make them completely magically mature and potent during the entire time.

The Oracle told them, as Yan Lin's birthday was right around the corner, that their magical maturation would be a more significant event.

Their human forms would merge with their guardian ones on an entirely different level, connecting them and their elements for eternity, even beyond death.

Connecting in new ways, like never before too.

Honestly, all of them were excited about the new powers and abilities, and the brand-new reality Himerish promised them.

Their magical maturations would bring along things they had never imagined before...

"Umm, Rissy?"- Kadma trailed, elegant brow raising. "You said you're here for lunch... Shouldn't you be going over there to get some food eventually?"

A wicked smile spilled over the Keeper's face as she nodded towards something behind herself. A group of boys was already taking care of the matter, getting her food ready.

"You didn't put a spell on them, did you?!"- Yan Lin exclaimed in a low voice.

The delegation was approaching them.

"No, of course not. They just think that paying court to me could possibly make me interested. You know how boys are. I'm always just another intermediate trophy they would like to claim but I like it as it is."- her green eyes shone like those of a wild cat. "I like remaining the grand prize no one really gets to."

"Such exquisite gentlemen."- Kadma mocked as the boys surrounded their table readily.

The rest of their day was quick to pass by. Not much happened academically speaking first days anyway. Yan Lin was called to start her participation in the aptitude program that would allow her to graduate earlier. Being part of that endeavor would probably mean she and the others chosen for it would have more additional classes, separate from the other students.

She didn't want to be separated from her friends for most of her days here but it was what it was.

Nerissa followed her with a smile as Yan Lin walked out of history class.

She was grateful she had resisted the urge to sabotage her in the name of the group. Now that she thought about it, she couldn't fathom how had she ever considered it. Purposely setting Yan Lin to fail would have been disgusting.

Thank God Nerissa had taken the right decision and had saved her from Baozhai's attempt at sabotage too.

By the time Cassidy's swim practice started, all the girls met again at their usual bench. They always watched Cassidy and cheered for her when they could.

"So, I was thinking."- Halinor started smoothly once they were all seated. "We already had our Leader's Missions, right? What will come next in our guardian progress? We still have time to kill until we reach complete magical maturation. "

Each girl had her own so-called Leader's Mission during their third year of being guardians. A Leader's Mission was an important part of becoming a master guardian -it involved a different dire situation that had to be resolved in a different realm, specifically fitting each girl's individual power and skills.

Thus far, all five of them had gone through with their and that successfully.

"Apart from responding to cries for help from across the Universe? I'd say that this darkness the Oracle warned us about a while ago may be finding its way to us sometime soon."- Kadma pointed out, far away from optimistically as always. She was grounded and realistic. She had no time for pleasantries and sugar-coating.

"I get the chills when I think of his warning."- Yan Lin confessed. "What could possibly concern Kandrakar this much?"

"We've fought a lot of dark entities already."- Nerissa interjected. "I for one have full confidence in us and our abilities. Whatever comes in our way, we will take care of it efficiently."

The others stared at her, hoping she was right.

Nerissa was confident and capable, Halinor just prayed that strong faith and decisiveness wouldn't have them trip somewhere along the way in dealing with this new threat that was looming above them.

"I did not expect for your father to take on such a wrongly-understood initiative when I delicately suggested for him to be more supportive and doting."- Himerish sighed, half an hour after their scheduled training session in Kandrakar was over.

As usual, in recent times, Nerissa stayed after the others were gone for some additional one-on-one...She loved that the Oracle asked her to. Spending time around him was always inspiring and...all other sorts of pleasant.

She shook her head and crossed her arms on her chest, looking up at the pacing seer. The topic they were discussing now wasn't something she really wanted to discuss, even if her initial assumption was wrong.

Tom Crossnic's sudden interest in her dreams of the future wasn't his own idea, he had been nudged by the Oracle. He had misunderstood, of course, managing to put everything through his own twisted prism yet again:

"It's not your fault, Oracle, you wanted to help. But I've told you before, I don't need help with my family. My family is beyond that...there's no hope for them."- Nerissa said flatly. "No hope whatsoever."

Himerish sighed more to himself than to her and mumbled softly, eyes flowing into the distance:

"I could change so much for the better had it been sustainable. But it is not. It is not acceptable for me to interfere in the ways of fate, precisely due to holding the position I do hold. Even that subtle impulse I sent your father was violating."

That caught Nerissa's attention even more, though she was always closely listening to her mentor's words anyway.

"Is it? The Council wants you to...be more indifferent than you are, I know."- she began cautiously, approaching the man whose back was turned to her.

They were in the room with the fountains, like most of the time. With time and with these meetings between her and the Oracle becoming kind of regular, she had quickly learned to be more relaxed and flexible despite his intimidating presence.

"Many disagree with your undue involvement with us, as they put it. They think it's wrong how fond you are of the guardians."

The Oracle turned to face her with a soft knowing smile. They had never discussed this, but he knew she was aware. She was usually aware of even the smallest details, despite not having his seer powers.

"My elders want the best for Kandrakar, as do I. It is not untrue that I'm...more than a mere observer when it comes to you and your guardians, Nerissa, however, that is simply because I have full faith in your adequacy and I want it to prevail over all darkness and evil that comes your way, threatening the balance we strive for here, in Kandrakar."

"Oracle but you're not in the wrong here."- Nerissa couldn't contain herself. "We wouldn't be as strong or stalwart as a team without your commitment and care. Imagine five teenage girls starting to fight the forces of evil without a mentor? It would be disastrous,"

Himerish's warm soft green eyes reflected hers and held them for a long minute before he replied:

"I concur. Some of the elders do not. But all shall be resolved. Do not worry about that, Nerissa. It's my responsibility to lead the Fortress of Infinity and bear with everything that may or may not lead to."

Nerissa nodded. She knew that. And she knew that he would. It was just that he was, even more, captivating up close...

His features, his smile, and his soft scent. What was that, cotton? Cotton and musk and something she couldn't name that smelled like peace...

"Still and all, they shouldn't doubt you. No one should. After all, it's not really a coincidence that you're the first Oracle in quite some time in Kandrakar's history, managed to establish and perfect such a, not to sing my own praises by any means, but magnificent team of guardians."

She closed her mouth as quickly as she had opened it to shoot that confident statement, already regretting it. Why was she so eager to show him she had researched not only magic history but Kandrakar's history, and that many times?

Nerissa knew the answer to that question and it was hidden in the specific smile the seer gave her after her last words. She wanted to impress him, badly and all the time, and if she had to trust her intuition which was usually as sharp as a Swiss clock, she was doing a pretty good job at it.

His smile was that of an impressed person. Proud teacher and maybe...maybe something else but Nerissa was too smart to consider that yet.

It was early. Too early to say whether or not the Oracle would ever look at her like she wished he would.

It was after all pretty wrong if you put your mind to it, your feeble mind. Only a vast mind would see through, all the way up to the kernel of it.

Ostensibly, if the Oracle ever felt something for her, he'd be a teacher, grooming his student; he, who was a magical-born denizen much older and experienced than her despite his young looks, and she, who was just a magically-burdened teenage girl.

Only, she wasn't just a teenage girl.

She was the Keeper of the Heart, the future queen of the realm of Kandrakar, even if no one would word it like that; it was true.

And a queen was worthy of a divine seer whose wit and power she would one day match and maybe even exceed...

"My colleagues' doubt aside. I sense something else is on your mind?"

Himerish's warm hand caught hers and she almost gasped.

"Oh, that's right! My friends were a little agitated earlier, they keep thinking about the darkness that you predicted."- Nerissa then said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

She was desperately trying to slow down her racing heart but she couldn't. Not only did he not let go, but he also inspected her hand now, juicy lips sealed.

"You're a tad agitated yourself."- he noted. "Come with me. The Circle of Knowledge may be able to give us answers. Perhaps together we will manage to read the small letters better."

"Yes...let us try."- Nerissa managed almost breathless as he led her towards the Circle.

The entire time her mind was a mess. Himerish spurred the feelings inside of her when he did things like that. When he wanted to help, with her father, when he openly trusted and felt proud of her, when he touched her...

Nerissa was well aware that this attraction was one-sided. He wasn't attracted to her like she was to him. Attraction that was no longer only physical...it had been born out of awe, respect, and admiration, and each act of care and recognition on Himerish's part fed those feelings of Nerissa's over the years, gradually turning them into a major crush and a desire for more...

She looked down at his hand holding hers. Why not? Why not try to gradually make him respond to her feelings? It wasn't impossible. She had done many things deemed impossible already, so why not this? Himerish was a man, no matter his status and greater power. He wasn't a being deprived of emotion and she wasn't a flame that could be disregarded.

Nerissa threw her soft hair to the back and graciously tightened her fingers around his.

*End of Episode 2*

Chapter Text

They were crying when their sons left, God is wearing black
He's gone so far to find no hope, he's never coming back
They were crying when their sons left, all young men must go
He's come so far to find the truth, he's never going home

"All of you have been getting ready for years now. You have the rare chance to take benefit of the most adequate and most extensive magical schooling in the Universe."- Luba narrated strictly. "No guardian has ever had such a golden opportunity before. You're all destined for greatness. Do not take any assignment lightly."

She paced around and ran her eyes over the five girls that stood solemnly, listening to every word she utters.

Luba was the Keeper of the Aurameeres- the physical, magical essence of the Guardian's powers. Each Guardian is connected to their element's Auramere. The Aurameres transmit their magic powers through the Heart of Kandrakar which Nerissa held. If something was to happen to them, their powers and abilities could be severely affected.

Luba wasn't their most ardent admirer but she was doing everything Himerish asked of her, hence she assisted the guardians' training sessions from day one. Especially the more one on one combat practices where magic wasn't too involved.

Given she was from Basiliade, a dimension birthing some of the greatest warriors across all the dimensions, Luba was skilled in her craft. More than skilled. She was without peer.

Unfortunately, the girls were not naturals at the said craft and hence they despised every session with Luba during which she basically hurled them all over the place, leaving them in bruises.

Today was one of those. Luba's days. And after beating them up, as usual, she was mad at them. Again:

"Weak performance, guardians!"- she snarled. "We've done all this countless times over the last years, yet you have little to no progress! You're as stiff and weak as ever!"

Yan Lin and Kadma looked at each other in annoyance while Halinor just huffed exhaustedly.

"Cut us some slack, Luba, we're the Guardians of Magic, not some warriors."- Cassidy was protesting but somehow sounded friendly as always. That's why they often left her to be their spokesperson. "Besides, you're unsurpassed! I mean, at least we fight off the enchanted dummies better than before, right?"

The catwoman looked down at the redhead from her high horse and snorted.

"I can do backflips and Kadma packs a mean punch!"- the Water guardian went on with her rousing speech. "And Yan Lin is fast! Hal is, uh, flexible and Rissy, she-"

"Too occupied by her colored nails!"- Luba noted jaundily, glaring at Nerissa who was, indeed, looking at her manicure in boredom. "Are we interrupting your musing, oh, supercilious Keeper?"

"I didn't say anything!"- Nerissa rolled her eyes when the others looked daggers her way.

But Luba just smiled sourly and roared:

"All of you, down for another set of hundred pushups! Now! Nerissa, you and me. Duel now."

The others girls' groans were interrupted by the last part. Now their glares turned into sympathetic looks for their friend who tried to evade the punishment to no avail:

"But I don't-"

"No buts! Hand-to-hand! Now!"- Luba ordered. "You go first! Come on, Nerissa, we don't have all day! Attack me!"

Nerissa cursed in her mind as she got ready for the humiliation. She hated fighting without magic. She wasn't built for it anyway! She was not an animal like Luba herself.

Her friends could only sluggishly do their pushups and watch the entire thing unfolding before their very eyes.

As expected, Luba blocked all her hits easily and with a straight face. Nerissa clenched her teeth and tried something else; her fists weren't going to prevail. But the minute she tried to kick her opponent, Luba caught her leg mid-air and threw her back.

Nerissa landed on her back painfully and that motivated her to lash at the catwoman again, this time more aggressive. But Luba blocked all her attacks again and stroked her down with a lazy move.

"Pathetic, Nerissa. You're the weakest link in the group when you're not resorting to your magic."- Luba narrated. "Your laziness is beyond compare! You haven't even unlocked Xin Jing's heightened strength yet! You concentrate on magic and only magic, and that will sabotage you in the future; you must be in touch with your inner warrior, you lazy girl! Show me more! Hit me!"

"You can do it, Rissy!"- Cassidy cheered her on. "Don't give up! Attack her!"

"Yeah, strike her for us too!"- Kadma added, throwing a dirty look at Luba.

Nerissa took a new deep breath as her friends all rooted for her. Luba was just smirking, challenging her even more. She despised these training sessions with her! It wasn't fair. Even if she did karate in her free time and was a black belt, it would still not be enough to defeat the Basiliadian like that.

She was born with a natural talent for fight, damn it! While she was born with one for magic...

Nerissa squinted her eyes and stood up again.

Nothing would ever be enough for Luba, the self-glad keeper of their Aurameres and she knew it. She knew it and reveled in it, rubbing it in their faces all the time while she forced them to fight her without their powers. As if she enjoyed their suffering!

Not that Nerissa didn't neglect the martial arts aspect...but her friends, especially Cassidy and Yan Lin? They tried; they were trying their best for years now. They tried for years but nothing they could ever learn in that department would be good enough to knock the dirty kitty out.

Nothing... Except maybe... Maybe this technique the Oracle himself had shown her during their one-on-ones?

It was a little difficult to pull off, but she had practiced it because of him.

Nerissa threw her long ponytail back and finally gave the catwoman a confident look:

"Isn't blocking, oh, I don't know, easier than attacking?"- she challenged. "Maybe you should attack me instead of just standing there, doing nothing in actuality, teacher Luba."

The girls gasped. Was Nerissa out of her mind!? Luba could break her into two if she was to attack her!

But Luba was interested in that statement:

"In theory."- she said dryly. "But you're too weak to block me."

Nerissa smiled:

"So, you admit that it is an unfair match, each time you ask us to fight you?"

"I ask you to fight me together! Five on one equalizes the bets, don't you think?"- the catwoman said with her cutting voice. It was obvious that Nerissa was getting on her nerves.

"Come at me."- Nerissa just hissed and Luba didn't wait for a second invite.

And she didn't hold back, acting the prude. She jumped over eight feet in the air and struck a mind-boggling blow that was sure to knock out Nerissa if she hadn't been ready for it.

She did just what the Oracle had taught her. She channeled the unlimited life force inside her and called to the Heart. It was basically cheating but she didn't care. Luba wasn't fair either.

Life force manipulation was something she had read about but Himerish was helping her master it. It was a practice that could do so many things beyond one's imagination. Nerissa couldn't wait to advance in it. And she could, better than anyone else because she was the Fifth Guardian.

Like now, the life force she manipulated took in Luba's blow. She didn't feel the pain of the impact, despite her friends' gasps.

This technique was difficult to perform and useless in real combat because it required a lot of concentration, but it was perfect for the occasion. In this case, Nerissa used a trick, provoking Luba, preparing to knock her down with a single blow from the technique shown by Himerish.

As expected it caught their teacher off guard. When the energy unleashed from Nerissa's body and gave her the ability to strike back, turning her hand into a magnetic weapon, it went through Luba's defensive hand-positioning. It even made her fly back and lose her balance, ending on the floor.

The other guardians cheered, elated. This was a first. Luba getting whooped down on her ass. It was biblical!

"Biblical!"- Kadma yelled, putting her palms around her mouth as if to form a funnel.

"How did you do that!?"- Luba raged once she was back on her feet again, over the shock.

Over the shock and visibly livid.

Nerissa only smirked and shrugged:

"Told you we should switch it up. I guess I'm just better at contra-acting offense."

"Good job, Rissy! That was a meaner punch than any of us could give!"- Cassidy cried.

But Luba wasn't fooled. She narrowed her eyes at the girl and came closer, almost sniffing her like an animal.

Nerissa frowned. Well, technically the keeper of the Aurameres was partially an animal but even she couldn't just determine what tactic she had used like that.

"You manipulated life force levels, didn't you?!"

Or could she...

Maybe she could. Her friends exchanged confused glances in the background and Nerissa herself didn't know what to say. She did what she always did to get out of a situation; she tried to turn it around the other way:

"I did what? I don't know what you're talking about, Luba, maybe you're playing with your life force to be able to do those little stunts of yours. I just blocked you and you tripped, is it that difficult to take in?"

"I cannot even dream of doing such a...such a lowly, dangerous act! I'm incapable of exploiting life force! But you..."- Luba's cat-like irises almost burst into flames focused on her. "You have any idea what this can do to you?! You senseless guardian, you could lose your human shell if you weren't connected to the Heart! You could turn rotten! Not to mention it was a fraud on your part. Don't ever try that again, understood?!"- Luba shouted. Then she made her a sign to return to her place.

"Now again. I attack. Let's see you block my blow WITHOUT cheating."

Visibly peeved due to being caught, Nerissa could only wait for the smirking Basilidian to attack her again.

She was so over this lesson already.

All she could think of was what Luba had said. What had given her off? Her eyes? Something about her breathing that Luba could hear?

Probably. Himerish had walked her through many of the downsides of life force manipulation, her newest power she was most fascinated with.

No matter. I'll just have to do better from now on, Nerissa thought. This power can help me use my magic in an entirely different way. It can help me create. Ruin. Help the worlds that need me like never before... I will not give it up because of your stupid unasked advice, Luba...

Luba attacked her, lazily at first. Nerissa barely managed to escape her fist but she wasn't stupid enough to strike back. She kept moving back, trying her best to not be stricken down.

"This is stalling not fighting, Nerissa!"- Luba mocked her, coming at her again. "Fight me, you sloth! Fight me!"

This hand-to-hand duel was exhausting. Unneeded. Humiliating...

As usual, it played out all the same but this time Luba was even more spiteful because of being pushed down, even if for just a few moments; she grew especially vicious in her attacks and her daunting martial arts techniques kicked Nerissa to the curb, sending her in the dust, covered in bruises in a matter of minutes.

"Your turn, scared kitties,"- she then turned to the other four girls.

Cassidy and Yan Lin attacked her together while Kadma and Halinor took defending positions behind, around their fallen friend.

They managed to hold off Luba for an entire minute but did not really have any impact on her.

One by one, she targeted their weaker sides and kicked them all down as always.

As always she smiled self-gladly and snarled at her exhausted students:

"You're just five grandmothers in that aspect! I've seen senior citizens fighting better than you do!"

"That's because your people have a whole different biology and lifespan, Luba, give it a rest already!"- Halinor snapped. Her lips were bleeding after the last punch she had eaten.

Kadma turned to her to fix her up with her healing powers.

"Ya, we're magical warriors, not martial arts gurus, Luba."- Yan Lin frowned.

"This is not fair."- Kadma declared harshly as well.

"Enough,"- Luba stopped them strictly, looking down at them. They were becoming more and more impossible over the years. She couldn't fight them all together anymore, verbally, that is. "Class dismissed; get out of here and do better next time instead of complaining. Because your enemies will always have the better of you as long as you're all such prodigal wimps!"

"I can't stand her! How does she have the audacity to dress us down over anything? We've battled evil forces she has only read about, and we've won. That cat lady is just a big bitter loser."

Kadma stopped her rant to look at her tired friends. Her healing magic, an Earth Guardian-gift she had unlocked around her 14th Birthday, had patched them all up but it couldn't quite take away the usual tiredness or negative emotions post lessons with Luba.

They were back at her penthouse, a beautiful home in the heart of the city, furnished in agreement with the latest trends.

The apartment opened into a foyer on the 37th floor, encompassing a 32-foot-long great room anchored by a wood-burning fireplace. It had a private elevator, of course.

The home featured hardwood floors, built-in bookcases, and a winding sculptural staircase built from walnut and surrounded by panels of leather wall covering. Four bedrooms and an office, but with all the space, it could easily accommodate at least one or two more bedrooms.

Yes, the Starlighters' home in Heatherfield was easily one of the best units that all realtors dreamed of selling. At least once in their career.

"Not to say that I don't appreciate Kandrakar's choice when she's in question but I don't like her. At all."- Yan Lin declared, lying flat down on her back.

"Luba is a pain in the ass but let me tell you, Kandrakar is really treating us the best way possible."- Halinor said yet again as she filed her nails. "There are divisions, other elders, living in a different parallel. They are not in the fortress but are in charge of lesser matters, such as other people with lesser abilities on Earth and their battles with the forces of evil. From what I hear, these people with lesser abilities don't even get to meet their elders, they just receive orders from above they must follow-"

"Woah, how do you know that, Hallie?"- Cassidy asked what they all thought. "And you, madam, how did you learn to do that, whatever Luba said you did when you knocked her down?"- she turned to Nerissa, who had just returned to the living room with a steaming cup of coffee.

She blinked and looked between her friends.

"Oh, that little thing?"- she feigned innocence. "Just a new power I've been testing. I just haven't quite mastered it yet."

"Life force manipulation or whatever."- Yan Lin murmured, meeting Kadma's skeptical glance.

They both had more questions to ask but Cassidy outstripped them:

"I have the feeling that the Oracle calling Rissy and Hallie wasn't just a one-time thing."

Halinor blushed:

"I...I talked to the Oracle and someone else about this, yes."- she confessed. "He's been meaning to introduce us to someone, someone close to me. It's a nice surprise, really, girls, have some patience and you'll soon get to know more."

Nerissa smiled softly as the others seemed content with Halinor's statement. Now she didn't have to dive into stuff, explaining about her meetings with the Oracle.

She was content with Halinor's statement herself; after all, at first, she had thought that maybe the Oracle is more interested in the blonde than in her, but the reason he was calling her for had justified it all.

It was a silly thought. Himerish still had to work with the rest of the guardians, she wasn't the only one who needed guidance. They were a team. They needed each other to be ready to roll in every situation.

And still what she needed she needed from Himerish alone. Her friends and CHYKN were her life but maybe just maybe there was a spot for him too, somewhere there.

"Anyway. I have swim practice in an hour."- Cassidy renewed the conversation.

Nerissa smiled and threw an arm around her shoulders:

"I'm coming with you."

Kadma couldn't come along because she had to go shopping with her butler. Her parents were out of town yet again and she was in charge of running the household. (Not that she minded or that she found it hard, especially with her father's bank account at her disposal.)

Kadma was responsible and practical, and her parents trusted her.

Halinor? Well, not so much. She had a complex relationship with her father, especially after her mother's death.

She had been the love of his life, or so he claimed. Losing her had broken Chace Clarkson like nothing before, not even the death of his elder son from his very first marriage.

Leonard Clarkson, died as a hero in World War II. Just a few years before she was born. Halinor often thought about the brother she never knew. Often saw him in her dreams, she saw his face and tried to talk to him but he just turned back and ran away or simply disappeared every time.

And now she knew why.

"Thanks for coming with me, Yanny."- she turned to her friend gratefully. "It's still hard to comprehend that this is all happening."

"Hey, I understand, Hal, this must be a lot to take in."- the older girl replied. "I mean, that's your brother. And he has been what? Not really dead, a companion to good witches for years..."

"A Light Bearer."- a new male voice corrected her. "I'm more of a guide, I suppose you can say."

The two guardians turned around in surprise, gazing at the man that had appeared behind them.

A good-looking man with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimpled cheeks. He was well-built and moderately tall, and, to Yan Lin's surprise, wearing casual clothes.

He could as well pass as any other handsome college student.

"Leo!"- Halinor exclaimed earnestly, rushing to go and give him a hug.

She had imagined this meeting over and over already and she felt it in her heart hence it didn't feel forced or weird, even though she had practically never met the man before.

Leo smiled and hugged her back.

"I'm sorry."- Halinor shook her long blonde curls. "Where are my manners? I'm Halinor and this is my friend Yan Lin."- she introduced, pointing back at the Chinese girl, who waved. "The Oracle said that I should wait for you near your, er, grave. I don't mean to intrude myself on your or be a downer-"

"No, it's alright, Halinor."- Leo assured her with a smile. "You're my sister, after all. I'm jazzed about meeting you! Not to say awed too. You girls are elemental guardians of Kandrakar... Frankly, the most powerful wielders I've ever been associated with as a Light Bearer."

"Nah, no need to perceive us like that. Just think of us as your little sister's best friends."- Yan Lin interfered, laid-back and optimistic as she could be.

"You're gonna meet the others soon. Something tells me that they'll be pretty jazzed by you themselves."

Halinor couldn't help but smirk at that. It was true, her brother was rather handsome. Her brother. She had been an only child up until a few weeks ago when the Oracle revealed that Leo was in fact a Light Bearer to her.

"I was a military doctor during the war. When my tent was blown up that rainy night, I knew I was going to die. I had already accepted it would eventually happen when I left with the army. I've always wanted to be able to help others and it's what I've always done... So, I imagined that my death was untimely but at least worth it. Only I didn't die...instated I was given a chance in that intermediate realm I found my terrestrial body and spirit in. I was given a chance to continue to live but as someone with a higher selfless purpose. To be a Light Bearer."- Leo continued his story, two hours later as he, Halinor, and Yan Lin met up with the others at Shell Beach.

They camped out near their favorite cave; it was cold and dark out already but Halinor started a nice big fire for them.

Cassidy used her waterkinesis to catch some deep-sea fish that Yan Lin deboned, seasoned, and got to cooking right then and there, over the campfire.

Their makeshift late dinner was everything.

"A Light Bearer is what exactly?"- Kadma asked a tad skeptically, tapping her fingers against her cup. She had brought a thermos full of tea and cups "Like a guide for low-rank witches?"

"Well, Earth witches are different from you. Very different."- Leo replied. "They usually have one limited power with potential for unlocking more over time and learn to write spells and do potions to survive. Most Earth witches are supposed to protect the innocent around them while surviving the vicious attacks of demons, warlocks, and other warriors of evil, whose one and only goal is to wreak havoc. That's where Light Bearers come; we're assigned to different witches on Earth and look after them, guide them, heal them when necessary."

"All that is obviously very much needed and a helpful structure for Earth witches."- Nerissa pointed out. "How does it tie to us, however?"

"Yeah, no offense or anything, Leo, you seem like a great guy and I'm sure you're a great Bearer too, but Kadma already has healing powers."- Cassidy added with a small apologetic smile. Then her eyes lit up: "Hey, if your job still is to be around us, maybe you can be my date to the Winter Ball-"

"OK, mellow out, Juliet."- Halinor cut her off before she could fluster her brother even more. "Kandrakar revealed my brother's truth to me after so much time. It can't be without cause."

Leo smiled and patted his sister's back. She had hugged him and wasn't letting go.

Halinor was already accepting him as a part of the family. Something she had never truly had with her father and Claudia after her mom's death...

"I am sure that the Oracle Himerish didn't introduce us for no reason. He wants us to work together while overcoming this new darkness that his powers have sensed."- Leo said. "It will be beneficial to all of us either way. We can all learn much from each other, wouldn't you agree?"

Kadma and Nerissa exchanged glances. That was probably correct. Besides; Halinor's lost brother over Luba they'd all take eagerly. Any day.

The next day at school, Kadma arrived with a high ponytail and an even higher turned-up nose.

"When I agreed to give Leo one of the spare rooms at the penthouse, I didn't know that he'll be orbing around every room as he pleases."- she opened her locker abruptly and threw her bag inside.

"You didn't see him naked, did you?!"- Cassidy exclaimed, her eyes widening.

Kadma gave her a dirty look:

"No, Cassidy, I didn't. Control your hormones, by the way, mellow already! You're going to scare him off before we've even begun working together."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Kads."

"His bosses are calling him all the time, from what I gathered."- Yan Lin reasoned. "Has to do with all his so-called charges, the witches he has to assist."

She and the other two had picked up all their books for the next period and were now walking down the hall on the way to their respective classrooms.

"And his "orbing" is basically like our teletransportaion, so I suppose he has to learn his way around your place first, Kadma. In order not to mix up the rooms when he does it and all that jazz-"

"I guess you're right, Yanny."- Kadma rolled her eyes. "Still, I volunteered to shelter him because no one else has the room or opportunity; My parents are fine with it as long as Graham is around, and he spends most nights at the apartment already."

"Which is kind of a downside, if you think about it, your ancient butler being there all the time halts from having guardians talks in peace."

"Yeah, well, it is what it is, Cass."- the Earth guardian said. "It's important that Halinor's father doesn't see Leo anywhere because he's the only one who has known him before the Clarksons moved to Heatherfield, obviously."

"And with how much he's absent, that shouldn't be hard."- Yan Lin pondered. They had reached her classroom first, so she said goodbye and parted from her friends for the first period.

Kadma and Cassidy waved her goodbye before heading for the science lab for their first class of the day.

"You're going to be the new nurse assistant here, Leo. Isn't it wonderful?"- Halinor exclaimed as she showed the school nurse's office to her brother. "This way you can practice what you preached even before becoming a Light Bearer and be at a stone's throw away."

"I've never thought that it could be possible again after the war."- her brother exclaimed. "Kandrakar did this if I'm not mistaken-"

"Yes."- Halinor beamed. "I talked to Tibor through a mental link this morning and he told me that they'll fill you in later. You see, we're the guardians, Leo. We're responsible for you in Heatherfield, not like with your witches. We have to take care of you and get to know each other."

Leo smiled and nodded. It was a welcome change from what he usually did. He and his sister had already talked a lot; about their father, their families, life, and the supernatural turn they had been preordained to take.

They still had a lot to discuss. Hopefully, they'd have plenty of more time to do that.

"OK, I have to go to class now, I'll see you later, is that groovy? Great. Bye, Leo!"

"Bye, Halinor."

She hadn't made it far. She was fixing her hair when suddenly a large ball of fire hit her and razed her to the ground.

The pain was shocking at first but it didn't burn her skin. Fire was her element. It would rarely hurt her.

Halinor was still dazed when she opened her eyes and looked up at one of the ugliest, most-revolting humanoid creatures she had seen:

"It's time to die, witch!"- the demon creature seethed in her face.

"Halinor!"- Leo's horrified voice echoed in the empty hall.

Thank God it was empty. Classes had started. But this battle wasn't going to help stop others from coming their way. And as her brother rushed to her side and the demon seethed again, Halinor took things in her hands:

"I'm not just any witch, you ugly downer. Go back to where you came from!"

Before Leo could do anything to help with his powers, and before her assailant could react, Halinor's blue fire ignited him, making him burst into thousands of little pieces.

"Leo-"

Slightly stunned but determined, he nodded quickly and orbed them out of there just before the first door opened and someone came to witness what was this commotion all about.

"The future Queen is very young; she will need protection and guidance as one day she will be on the throne after her grandmother Queen Winona. Despite her mother's decision to leave the royal life for a commoner, her daughter is still of the royal lineage. We must not take her upbringing lightly."- Resadora, the Ancient Mage of Meridian spoke in her awe-inspiring voice.

Her slender figure towered above the little village nestled between the hills. Her long platinum hair flew back with the wind.

She stood all tall and mighty on top of one of these hills and looked down at one specific little house.

The commoner she had spoken of resided here. Together with the Queen's daughter who had forsaken the title and their small daughter.

Her upbringing was never up to her parents because of the kingdom's interests, Nerissa thought. She often pondered what the higher good truly was and how many people truly knew how to achieve it. That child's future is already preordained...

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she blenched.

His hand.

He smiled at her and she smiled back without realizing it.

Himerish had personally taken her here and now stood by the Ancient Mage, smiling at her rather than looking down with determination like his colleague.

Resadora was Mage of Meridian, adored and worshiped by the commoners, the royals, and the Meridian Council who she ardently refused to join due to their 'depraved' ways.

She, however, had direct relations with Himerish and was his friend of many years, thus she and Kandrakar worked together on many occasions throughout history.

Now the Oracle had brought his most promising protégé here, in front of the Mage, to help her learn from her knowledge as well.

Nerissa glanced up at the Mage; she was quite taller than her, even in her guardian form. She was taller than Himerish as well and she was definitely awe-inspiring.

A true goddess.

So beautiful and powerful but also wise...

The top of her head was covered by a crown-like Metamorian hat and an actual golden tiara-like headpiece went around it, bedecked with jewels that could be seen down her cloak dress as well.

A heavy green dress with wide sleeves and even heavier golden embellishment ornaments on it, following her slender body perfectly.

The Mage looked divine. Her arched eyebrows framed her sculpted face and her fair green, almost white eyes glowed with all her power.

Nerissa had met Resadora before on a few occasions with the other girls and she was astonished every time by everything the Mage embodied.

Everything that she would one day embody if she progressed as she planned to, as the Head Guardian of the Universe and unnamed Queen of Kandrakar.

"Reese and I had a discussion and we think that perhaps spending time with the young future Queen would be rewarding to both, Nerissa."- Himerish spoke warmly.

Nerissa, who was still overwhelmed by the fact that he had just addressed the great Mage as 'Reese' was quick to nod as confidently as she could.

"Do you think that you can do that?"

"Of course, Oracle."- she said firmly. "I'll take great care of her."

"Not so fast."- Resadora stopped her, focusing her big eyes on her. It felt testing and measuring, and it was exactly how it was. "Tell me all that you know about her Highness first. Tell me what is required for her upbringing!"

The Mage wasn't about to let just anyone near the future Queen. Even if that someone was Himerish's protégé. She had to prove her worth in front of her.

Nerissa smiled, this time her confidence shining through. If Resadora thought that she of all people wouldn't do her 'magical' homework, she was in for a surprise. A pleasant one that is.

Because Nerissa never failed to learn every last piece of information when it came to magic and magical history, or the history of the realms she visited as a guardian. She was a hardcore bookworm when it came to that because she was just fascinated with the world of magic and her powers.

"...This is why it's important to accommodate the future Queen. Queen Winona is growing old and weak and nothing is affecting her poor health as a remedy."- the brunette wrapped up her analysis. "Her granddaughter is the only rightful heir who can take over the kingdom that can only be ruled by a woman. The Star of Threbe situation must not be repeated again. The crown princess must be ready to take over the kingdom in the near future but that mustn't be with corrupt regents. She has to learn everything single-handedly."

A small smile crept on Resadora's lips as she listened to Nerissa. She was a great guardian indeed, the Mage had to give it to both her and her teacher.

"Very well, guardian. You may now go and fetch her Highness Weira from her parents' house."

*End of Episode 3*

Chapter Text

Episode 4: Ragorlang I

"So, that thing that attacked Halinor was a demon of some sort?"- Yan Lin sought clarification.

It was the end of the day. They had gathered in the Silver Dragon to have dinner together and discuss the latest things that had happened.

Like Halinor getting attacked on school grounds by a thing that they hadn't quite dealt with before.

A demon sent from a hell-bound plain somewhere between their reality and that of the afterlife.

As guardians, CHYKN had faced a lot of things already but this was new.

"Demons are foes faced by most of my charges; Earth witches."- Leo explained. "The one that ambushed Halinor has probably sensed me; whenever they sense a new charge around a Light Bearer, they try to take them out while they're still unable to protect themselves. In most cases, the Light Bearer stops the assassination attempt on time..."

"And in other cases?"- Kadma interrupted, accusatory tone activating like always when someone wasn't mindful enough around those she cared about most. Her violet eyes pierced the man: "You didn't make us familiar with all risks that come with our alliance with you. What if Halinor was hurt seriously?"

"Kadma, I'm fine, really, don't worry- "

"These demons will know better from now on; they're not a match for any of you. I promise. No more risks in that department. My bosses agreed with that."- Leo assured them. He turned to his sister once again and smiled apologetically: "Sincerely, Halinor, I'm so sorry that-"

"No, Leo, don't sweat it. I already told all of you, I had this one in the bag; I vanquished him without having to try."- the blonde said self-gladly. "This isn't a huge deal, girls. After all, this is what we do anyway. Villains, monsters, demons, tyrants - we defeat them in the name of Kandrakar and the name of good."

Cassidy and Kadma exchanged glances again but didn't say anything. It did make sense, in the end, what their friend was getting at.

They were guardians.

Risk was never out of the equation.

Yan Lin brought more food to the table just when Nerissa entered the restaurant and headed for their table:

"Rissy? Where were you, you missed our nightly conference?"- Cassidy turned to her.

"Not to mention the appetizers."

Nerissa tried to get her distractedness in check as she focused her green eyes on the group and replied:

"I had an appointment. Dentist."- she lied. The Oracle and the Mage had asked her to be as vague as possible.

Her additional training was not something the rest of the guardians had any business with knowing of as for now. And even though she wasn't that eager to keep her friends in the dark about almost anything, she obeyed them.

Obedience is crucial, Guardian, Resadora's words engraved themselves in her mind. Obedient elements always accomplish the end goal much more easily and accurately.

"Halinor got attacked by a demon."- Kadma informed her. "One of those demons Leo said we wouldn't have to deal with. I think that his brain is taking too long adjusting to our world with all that orbing around and hence his statements are so hazy-"

"Kadma!"- Halinor scolded her. "Drop it already, we discussed this."

Kadma crossed her arms on her chest, testing, scrutinizing gaze on the Light Bearer.

Nerissa moved her eyes between the two guardians and then stopped them on Leo who smiled at her somewhat nervously.

"We can handle demons."- she assured everyone confidently, coming behind the man and putting her hands on his shoulders. "We can handle anything."

The next week passed in an ordinary fashion. Almost no guardian business except for the girls' usual training sessions and Nerissa's private, secret ones.

And, of course, training to integrate Leo into the team as much as possible.

The rest was just day-to-day stuff but that didn't mean all sugar and roses.

On Sunday, Katherine Crossnic insisted on attending another one of her weekly liturgies and even Emily Chacon joined her, given they were going to the same church for years.

Nerissa and Cassidy walked behind their mothers, pretending that they didn't hear Emily struggling with participating in the conversation the other woman initiated.

Nerissa made a face. Even the Father had a hard time with her mother. She had the rare ability to make even highly religious people uncomfortable with the extent of her own obsession with the church and God.

In all honesty, it was probably what many of them deserved. A taste of their own medicine.

Nerissa herself couldn't care less about religion of any type. She was an atheist, much to her mother's horror; she believed in the will of higher forces, of course, given she was a guardian of the elements.

She had witnessed the elements proclaim their will many times before; energy and magic, and sources of magic, demanding the way the planets revolve and their inhabitants live.

That was the concept behind most religions anyway and it was the mere truth; so, perhaps, Nerissa wasn't that atheistic after all. She believed what she saw and what she knew for sure, and all that, she had witnessed many times. Higher forces did exist and shaped the Universe. She was no stranger to admitting that, just like so many others.

With the small exception that religious people were wary and afraid of the higher forces. She? She had a deep respect for them but hardly any fear. Driving power couldn't be good or evil, it was just power. It didn't punish or praise anyone just because.

Just because all power, be as it may be celestial or universal, could be harnessed, one just had to know the right way to do it.

"Hey, Rissy, smile a little, will ya?"- Cassidy said in her ear. "We can always send in our Astral Drops and go catch a movie or something instead. Hey, I think that the boys from the soccer team are practicing behind school today."- she suddenly remembered and winked at her friend: "Wanna go cheer them on?"

Nerissa chuckled softly. That was why she adored Cassidy so much. She was always diverting.

Later that same evening, the Crossnics were at the big dinner table. It was... depressing, as usual, the atmosphere in the manor was cold and unpleasant but Nerissa was excited and couldn't care less.

Her parents ate their dinner in utter silence which was preferable in comparison to another one of her father's outbursts. Not that he had entertained them with one of those recently. Recently everything was just rather...lukewarm in the house but Nerissa didn't mind it.

When he wasn't infuriated and spitting poison and flames, Thomas Crossnic usually kept silent.

When she wasn't at church and there was silence in the house, Katherine was also in a world of her own.

That much better for Nerissa, who was slowly but surely losing all hope that her family would ever be good for anything in the formation it was now. After 16 years, it was probably time to accept the facts.

But tonight she wasn't thinking about any of that.

She was sneaking out tonight; she and her friends were about to go to a night festival, out of town. Everyone from Sheffield and the regional high schools was going to be there. It was going to be a big night, one of the last that allowed a festival of this magnitude to be done outdoors with music and all sorts of other fun; everyone was looking forward to it; after all, it was getting chillier with every passing day as they got closer to October.

"Going somewhere?"

Nerissa jumped out of her skin. She had caught herself sidetracked by puffing her hair and making sure her appearance was perfect in the mirror; she hadn't heard her father entering her room.

But here he was now; standing at the frame of her door, watching with her with feelingless blue eyes.

"No, daddy, whatever gave you that impression?"

She puckered her lips at her own temerity; she had said that while fixing her lipstick. She was all dressed up and ready, it was obvious she wasn't just going to bed but she didn't care.

Hence, she hadn't bothered locking the door.

With every passing day, Nerissa stopped caring and fearing the dysfunctional family she was born into, and why wouldn't she? Why should she keep being that scared little girl when she was the most powerful guardian of all time?

"I know you're going out whenever you decide to now. I've caught you before. I suppose that's why you're so unfazed by it nowadays."- Tom Crossnic stated icily, irked by his daughter's overall smugness.

But his daughter reveled in that.

She turned to him and smiled all imperturbable and glamorous:

"I suppose you're right, daddy. Is that all?"

"Do not presume to test my patience, Nerissa."- her father said through gritted teeth, walking toward her warningly. "I will not manage to give you the benefit of the doubt much longer. I know that you're doing something that makes you believe that this can go on, but that's not the case."- he seethed. "Boys, drugs, perversions, whatever hippie nonsense you've gotten involved in, it's going to end badly. Very badly."

Nerissa held his eyes with her own and kept silent. For a second, her heart had stopped. Her father appeared to be onto something about her. About her secret... and then he had gone overboard, trying to explain what was happening with his own perceptions.

Boys and drugs.

Hippie nonsense, Nerissa huffed under her nose. It was good, it was good her father's thoughts took him in such a different direction. As far away from her truth, but she still had to be careful.

She didn't need such exposure to handle right now.

"Did you hear what I said, Nerissa? Get a grip of yourself. While you still can."

"As if you've ever given a damn about me, personally."- Nerissa snapped coldly and pushed his hand away. This was so out of character for this man, to pretend he cares.

To try to touch her shoulder like a caring, strict but loving father. Everything he wasn't and never would be. He disgusted her.

"This is just your enfeeblement speaking, isn't it, daddy, the wounded ego of the iron-fisted Tom Crossnic who's failing at keeping his only daughter, can you imagine, under his thumb."- Nerissa let out a bitter chuckle as she watched him take a step back; literally taken aback by her spite and the power of her voice... "You're so desperate, you're actually trying out diplomatic tactics. Ha!"- she stopped for a moment to admire the effect she had achieved.

Tom was kicked back into his corner; he was outside her threshold again. Normally, he would've slapped her for even talking back but he didn't even try after their last bigger confrontation.

Now he didn't even try to bark anymore, like an old guard dog that has recognized the new owner of the house, he could only stare at her harshly and pull back whenever she set her foot toward him...

Nerissa smirked, bitter but emboldened.

"You hate me."

It was an observation, not a question and it caught her off guard. She raised her eyebrows at him:

"Excuse me-"

"No, it is fine."- Tom shook his head. "I will earn it. I will make you hate me even more. I will not put up with your shit."- he whispered. "This is my house. This family is mine to navigate. I will return you to Earth one way or another-"

"What's the matter, daddy?"- Nerissa interrupted him. He had disappointed her again. For a moment there, she had thought that he would somewhat open up honestly. "Why so many words, do your fists feel too mellow, or do they hurt?"

The man growled something under his nose and turned his back on her, walking away.

Nerissa remained to stare after him, consumed by her own negative emotions yet again.

Thirty minutes later, she got in the car, or rather the Zhen family van they usually used to make their deliveries for the restaurant. Enlai was driving, with Yan Lin in the front.

Kadma, Halinor, and Cassidy had taken the seat behind them which left place for Nerissa to sit with Leo in the back.

Then they were all on their way to the festival.

"Is everything alright?"

Nerissa looked over at him absently; it took her a moment to register Leo was talking to her.

She scanned him quickly before replying:

"Can't get any better than this."

The young man didn't look too convinced and rightfully so; she hadn't even tried to sound convincing.

She was still pissed after her head-to-head with her father and it was obvious that she wasn't in a good mood at all.

Leo gave her somewhat of a concerned look before saying:

"You know, whatever it is, I advise you to not let anything cloud your judgment. It's not worth risking your destiny."

"What?"

Nerissa looked at him gruffly.

"I'm just saying that the negative approach-"

"Nothing can cloud my judgment as leader of the guardians, Leo."- Nerissa cut him off, having felt her friends turning their heads to listen and watch whatever was going down between them.

"Don't worry. In fact, what I need is just some fun time tonight and I will lose the... negativity."

Leo nodded and smiled it off but she didn't look away from him for a few moments after the conversation was done.

She remembered how his "bosses" watched all the time, even more than Kandrakar. Whoever these beings were, perhaps another council or simply "the good guys", they could get Himerish into trouble, right? After all, many were against his strong involvement in the guardians' business. Against him making her his protégé, which was still kind of kept under wraps, even from her friends...

The thought stayed with her for a minute. Then she decided that she shouldn't underestimate the Oracle. He knew what he was doing. He was the Oracle, after all. A single man trusted with the observing and preserving of so much of the vast Universe.

But Leo's words bugged her. Nerissa stole a glimpse of him again. She had to be careful with him around.

The last thing she needed was being outed by another one of Halinor's relatives.

The entire night was a happy blur. The festival was a total success and CHYKN were there to stay with most of the other teens, all the way until the sun started rising.

There were ruckus and laughter shaking the small forest late into the first morning hours.

Festivals like this one were the place to dance, drink, eat and have a blast; yes, some of the lewder individuals used the opportunity to do other things too, but everything was in tolerable proportions. The entire purpose of the event was to wind off and feel outta sight in the spirit of the swinging sixties and all the exciting novelties they had introduced.

There were little tents all around the big meadow in the forest, where this entire thing had taken place. Not that most of the partying people here bothered to use them; some had left with the first morning rays, others had simply wasted themselves out so much, or were just feeling frivolous enough to lay down on the grass and sleep under the stars. Literally.

Cassidy yawned and crawled out of the tent she, Nerissa, and Yan Lin had got in for a quick nap somewhere around 4:30. She hadn't slept a lot, it was probably almost seven by now.

Kadma was already out of the one she and Halinor had called bets on, enjoying the peace and the cool morning air.

"Morning, Cass,"- she smiled at her.

"Hey, Kads,"- Cassidy beamed tiredly and sat next to her, next to the remains of the small bonfire they had had between their two tents. "Last night was boss but I feel like a rag now! Did you manage to get any sleep at all?"

"No but you're right, it was a righteous night."- Kadma agreed. "I didn't sleep but I laid down for a few hours, I'm good to go."

Cassidy groaned and leaned in to snuggle into her:

"Lucky you. Where are the boys, by the way?"

"I sent them to get the van ready. I'm giving them about...ten more minutes to reach it and then we'll set off to meet them halfway."- the Earth guardian said, patting the other girl's messy ginger head.

Cassidy nodded.

Since their car was bigger and the ways leading to the big meadow, they were at were narrow, they had parked it in a more open space, a few miles behind, together with other people's vehicles, avoiding any unnecessary transportation problems.

In other cases, Leo could've orbed them or something, but since Enlai was here, they had to stick to more normal means of moving around.

"Wait, I have coffee in my bag."- Kadma remembered. "Maybe we can brew some before we wake up the others-"

"I'm already a step ahead of you, honey. All awake and brewing."

The two friends turned around to see Halinor getting out of the tent with a smile and a big thermos in her hands.

The coffee and water were already inside of it, all that was left was to apply heat, which the blonde did effortlessly with her powers.

Less than a minute later, their steaming beverage was ready.

"Groovy."- Cassidy grinned as Kadma pulled cardboard cups out of her bag and Halinor proceeded to fill them with the coffee.

"Yeah, except that it's Monday."- Halinor sighed. "First period starts in two hours-"

"Disgusting,"- Kadma agreed sullenly.

"Oh, noo, is it really Monday?"- Cassidy whined. "Ugh, now that I think of it, it should've occurred to me that Nerissa's mom didn't just invite us to church on a random day yesterday-"

"Speaking of Nerissa,"- Yan Lin's interference attracted their attention. "Morning, girls."

"Morning. Is Nerissa still asleep? Wow, we're not too quiet, she must be-"

"No, that was what I was going to say,"- Yan Lin shook her head. "Where is she? She's not in the tent even though she did enter with us earlier, didn't she, Cass?"

"Umm, yeah, I'm fairly sure."- Cassidy nodded, confused. She did have more beer than the rest but still, she was sure that Nerissa had been in front of her.

Halinor and Kadma exchanged looks with Yan Lin who crossed arms on her chest, a small line of worry forming on her forehead.

"She said we should wake her up because she's so tired, she'll probably fall asleep but it looks like she didn't fall asleep at all."

"That's strange, I've been out here for over twenty minutes and I didn't see her come out."- the Earth guardian said.

"I'm calling her."- Halinor decided, touching her temples in order to expand the frequency range of her telepathic powers.

"Yeah, do that, Hal, because we have to go,"

Rissy. Rissy, where are you? Halinor felt the other girl picking up on her telepathic call but she still didn't answer back. Rissy, don't give us a scare this early in the morning, please,

Then the tent flickered from within and Nerissa emerged from it, frightening Yan Lin who stood in the front. She had teletransported.

"Eek!"

"Sorry, honey."- she apologized, standing up to her full height.

She dusted her knees off:

"Rissy! Where were you-"

"I was a few yards away, I just wanted to grab some air, I guess."- she quickly replied. "When you called, I gathered that it's time to leave and that's why I just teletransported back. I'm ready now."- Nerissa smiled gaily. "With my stuff and everything. Are you?"

The others seemed relieved and content with her statement. Only Halinor looked at her testingly on the way to the van.

Nerissa felt a slight itch of concern on the back of her neck:

"Hal, what's the ma-"

"Nerissa Crossnic, did you by chance wander off with a boy after we all said good night?"

Nerissa couldn't help but chuckle. Trust Halinor to assume just about anything was boy-related.

My adorable little hopeless romantic, Nerissa thought as she stroked her cheek. I guess you could say I was with a boy...the Oracle, that is, she finished in her mind, making sure to close all her channels that Halinor could catch the thought through.

"You got me,"- Nerissa smirked at the following reaction:

"Who was he? Do I know him?! You have to tell me everything!"

"It was your brother. We made out."

Halinor stopped walking, shock taking over her entire body.

The others stopped too, a few feet ahead.

"W-what? Leo-"

Nerissa burst out laughing:

"I'm kidding, Hal, I'm kidding, don't worry. See, I got you good this time for prying, didn't I?"- she smirked at the blonde who let out a squeal and pretended she was nailing her shoulder with her fist:

"Oh, my God, Nerissa! You're the worst!"

"You always get her good."- Kadma pointed out, amused as the others giggled ahead of them. "Not that it would surprise me if that brother of hers tried his luck,"

"Oh, shut it, Kadma! Leo accepts us all as younger sisters. Besides, he isn't allowed to be intimate with those he's been assigned to work with!"- Halinor claimed, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Sure as eggs is eggs,"- Kadma rolled her eyes at her.

"Boo you, snob!"

Nerissa smiled, even more, getting between her two friends and throwing both respective hands around their shoulders as they walked and kept arguing in a friendly yet passionate fashion.

"Finally, I was beginning to get in a tizz."- Enlai greeted them when they reached the van. "What took you, girls?"

"Told you they're probably packing and doing...morning routine stuff."- Leo smiled knowingly meeting his sister's eyes.

"Girl stuff, Enlai."- Kadma declared. "Don't pry."

"OK,"- the man laughed, holding his hands up defensively. "Let's get going, shall we?"

"Let's bug out."- Yan Lin agreed.

They were ready to go, they were already in the van with all their stuff when they heard the unsettling scream. It came from the very same makeshift parking lot they were still in.

"What the-"

The guardians and Leo didn't think twice; they jumped out of the vehicle and ran in the direction of the scream. Enlai was the only one who needed a hot minute to get moving, following them.

They reached a girl about their age, kneeling in her lavender dress and crying above the body of a boy behind one rusty-looking car.

When she noticed them, she immediately started tugging on the ends of their clothes, begging them:

"P-please, you have to help me, Alan, m-my boyfriend, he's not breathing! I just found him like that, I-"

"Enlai, can you please take her away? She's panicking, she's all over the place."- Nerissa immediately went into leader mode, seeing that they had no time to lose.

The boy was going to die if Kadma and Leo didn't use their healing magic immediately, but that was not possible, especially with Enlai around:

"B-but what are you going to-"

"Leo's a medical student."- Nerissa said calmly and her friends nodded. "Go, give him some space!"

The girl whose boyfriend lay lifeless on the ground sobbed but took off with Enlai who offered her his hand.

Once they weren't watching, Leo and Kadma immediately got down to business:

"What's the matter? Why isn't he waking up?"- Cassidy asked, almost an entire minute spent in tense silence later.

She and her friends could only stand and watch but nothing was happening. The boy didn't move, despite the healing magic that they could all see and feel.

"I don't know, it's like he wasn't even hurt, he's just...just."- Kadma shook her head in confusion. "He just went out-"

"He's dead?!"- Yan Lin gasped.

"Wait, he just 'went out' as in he died due to old age or something!? How is that possible, he's eighteen at max!"- Halinor exclaimed. "God-"

"Kadma's right, there's simply nothing to heal. He's gone."- Leo confirmed grimly. "I don't feel a heartbeat anymore-"

Cassidy let out a small cry and hugged Yan Lin who looked down in defeat, holding her friend back.

"This is terrible,"- Halinor covered her mouth with her palm.

"Wait."- Nerissa instructed them and knelt down in her turn. She knew that they could do more than this. They had to. She couldn't believe that this young boy could just die like that.

That's why she used her powers like a medical electric shock.

"Quintessence."- she grabbed the cool hand of the boy and let her magic flow through his body, waking up all his organs and his blood.

Soon enough he took a sharp breath again, coughing his way back to life.

That's when the Heart of Kandrakar started burning in her chest.

Nerissa ignored it and let Alan squeeze her hand. She smiled at him:

"You're OK, now. Take it easy."

"Goodness!"

"He's back! Rissy, how did you-"

"Did you just reanimate him?"- Leo's somewhat strict tone interrupted the girls' happy exclamations.

"I-I suppose, why?"- Nerissa looked up at him, not liking his tone.

At first, she was genuinely confused by the reaction but then she registered what this was about even before he said it, twenty minutes later.

Alan was sent off with his girlfriend, still weak but alive. They were going to go to the hospital just in case while the guardians, Leo and Enlai left for town.

Enlai dropped all six of them at the Silver Dragon where the girls were going to get ready before rushing to the school.

"You shouldn't do things like that. This is...looked down on."- Leo's voice caught up with her and she frowned.

Her friends were already upstairs; she was still in the living room of the Lin residence together with him.

Leo looked at her with his blue eyes both strict and torn. A part of him was happy that Alan could go on with his life, but his professional side had to say:

"Reanimation, in general, is considered a dark magic practice. An impossible one for most... A demonic thing in most cases... Once your Innocent has died, you shouldn't interfere with-"

"Neither was that boy my "Innocent" nor am I one of your witches, Leo."- Nerissa interrupted him, annoyed. "I just made his heart start beating again, they do that even in the hospital, with voltage, just like I did with my power; why should you make such a big deal about it?"

"I'm just telling you. In this case, it might be overlooked."- Leo sighed. "In some cases, it is, but the way your powers are capable of bringing things to life, it's..."

"It is what?"- Nerissa snapped again, putting her hands on her hips. "Commendable? Extraordinary? Well, in case you haven't noticed, I am the sole Keeper of one of the most powerful magical sources in the Universe, my magic is expected to be like that! Capable,"

"Exactly because of that using it as erratically might be very bad for you."- Leo exclaimed. "I'm trying to give you a friendly piece of advice here, Nerissa, I just want the best for you and the girls."

"Fine."- the brunette replied coldly, slowly taking his hand and moving it away from her shoulder. "I will put it in my textbook, teacher. Now, if that's all, I will see the others in school; tell them, please."

Leo watched her walk out and sighed. He put his hands behind his back and walked through the window; as he had expected, he didn't see Nerissa walking down the street. She had teletransproted.

There's darkness and light in you, Nerissa, the man thought. I can feel it. Almost anyone can feel it...it's scary at times, how dark you can be for one of the good guys... I just hope that you will be able to keep up the key balance with the progression of time and the tireless attacks of evil.

"Asshole! Gadfly! You're going to come to head with me now, huh? You-you Light Borer! We had perfect harmony before you came along, why did we need you at all?"

Nerissa cursed under her nose and decided to stop talking to herself out loud before any more people turn around to stare at her like she is a dancing bear or something. The interaction with Leo had ruffled her up.

Now she just roamed the streets of Heatherfield, trying to clear her head a little.

All she had cared about was not letting an innocent boy die, and he, he who was always after "innocence", supposed to take part in protecting it had criticized her actions. What did he want, anyway? It wasn't just today; Leo was breathing down her neck from the moment he had shown up.

He was onto her.

As if he knew that she was progressing as a guardian, ahead of her teammates even, and didn't like it. Or he just didn't like her, Nerissa deemed that possible as well; many people, especially men didn't have an easy time with the way she was her own boss and made the decisions.

Her friends didn't always approve of her decisions and actions as well, and they had fought about them many times, but they had somehow achieved harmony over the years.

So much was earned and learned.

They were equals despite her being their leader.

Harmony was very important for the five guardians and Leo's constant presence was just not doing it justice.

Nerissa huffed and sat down on the first bench that came in her way. She better calm down and not let this one person not agreeing get to her. It was stupid, really, why did she care that much? She didn't even necessarily like Leo, to begin with. He had been OK but not her type.

His so-called advice isn't going to get me a second time, Nerissa vowed. Then she felt the need to get the Heart of Kandrakar out herself for a second. She usually carried it absorbed into her chest, where it fit like a part of her own heart, but it was especially warm and even burning ever since she had helped Alan return to life.

This better not be a sign giving credit to Leo's words, Nerissa thought grimly but she knew that it wasn't... this was something else.

The Heart wanted to let her know something.

What is it? What do you want to tell me? Nerissa asked knowing that she wouldn't receive an answer in words. Only this time, she did.

She gasped when she heard that voice so clearly in her head. Usually, she made sense of what it had to tell her with her intuition and some sixth sense that worked in symbiosis with the Heart of Kandrakar, but this time she heard it loud and clear:

Ragorlang...

With that, the Heart just went back into her and she could see flashes of images in front of her eyes. Nerissa gasped, leaning back against the bench. Images of moments that had transpired in the forest earlier, unbeknownst to them.

Images of formless eerie beings summoned into the night, surrounding a terrified Alan...

Creatures...

Ragorlangs, Nerissa immediately made sense of what the Heart had called them.