chapter 8 a plan of attack

The sun hit my face, and I heard birds chirping as they soared past the window. I woke up sore and groggy. Madison was asleep next to me. I smiled slightly and sat on the edge of the bed.

Yesterday's fight replayed in my mind, leaving me feeling empty and overwhelmed with emotions I couldn't yet verbalize. I walked over to my closet, pausing for a moment as it hit me—I had my memories back.

Honestly, I felt numb about it. That life seemed so distant, almost like it belonged to someone else, especially after everything that had happened. I opened the closet door without hesitation. The people from my past couldn't harm me anymore. The threats I faced now were far scarier and more dangerous.

I grabbed a pair of high-waisted shorts and a pink top, put them on, and headed to the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth and did my hair, I heard a cheerful voice behind me.

"Morning, hero."

I turned to see Madison smiling.

"Hey, how did you sleep?" I asked, my tone flat.

"I'm okay. Still shaken up, but... okay."

I nodded silently, unsure of what else to say noticing my indifference, she stepped closer and held my hand. "What's on your mind?" she asked worriedly.

I waited a moment before answering. "I got my memories back and just need answers," I explained softly.

Understanding my viewpoint, she nodded in agreement. "Let's go see my dad," she suggested.

I followed her out of the bathroom and toward the front door. "Won't your dad want to rest after last night?" I asked, confused.

She brushed off my remark. "Rain or shine, that man has never missed a day of work."

We walked the usual way, chatting as we went. When we arrived at his office, we knocked on the door, and a stern voice invited us to enter. Inside, Mr. Stone and Mrs. Dean were talking.

"Hello, girls. How did you sleep last night?" Mrs. Dean asked, leaning against the wall.

"Fine," I replied abruptly "I came here to ask about the events that happened before you guys came to Earth and after my memories were sealed," I requested boldly.

They looked at each other, then back at the two of us. "We were just deliberating on our next move, so we can explain everything up to now," he continued.

"Where to start?" he quizzed.

"How about where this all began?" Mrs. Dean interjected.

Madison and I looked at them quietly. He sighed, then began. "Ten years ago, I lost my wife during a raid in the Kingdom of Halo." He paused to steady his voice but continued. "The invaders were residents of the planet Onyx."

"Allow me to interrupt and educate you about Onyx, Dominique," Mrs. Dean said. "Onyx is the third planet in the Magic Solar System. It's a place where we send criminals from every planet," she explained.

She went on, "Onyx's environment is harsh half of the planet is desert, and the other half is barren. Growing food there is very difficult. We send people there to ensure they can't escape easily." She hesitated, then added, "But we didn't expect a planet-level threat to arise, like the Landlords."

Mrs. Dean spoke worriedly, and Mr. Stone nodded in agreement before continuing from where he left off. "The first attack was ten years ago, as I said. They go on killing sprees from time to time," he noted while readjusting his glasses. "When I lost my wife, I threw myself into My work and eventually it led me to some old passages about the Guardians," he said, catching my attention. My eyes widened when he mentioned them—I wanted to know more.

"It took me a few years and some specialized magical tools I created to translate the ancient text," he confessed, an exhausted look on his face. "Even after six years, I was only able to translate a few words."

The room fell silent, everyone waiting for him to continue. He sat back in his chair, gathering his thoughts. "Xoria Forgotten Temple."

Madison and Mrs. Dean exchanged surprised looks when he mentioned it.

"I'll bite—what's that?" I asked, feeling left out.

Mr. Stone leaned forward to explain. "Unlike other planets, you need permission to go there," he said. "It's because it's a holy planet where 100% of the population worships the Most High," he added. "So, it makes sense that the last Guardians died there. I went under the guise of wanting to study their ways," he confessed.

"Upon my acceptance, I spent three years commuting between Alice, to take care of my daughter, and Xoria, to search for the temple." "My last week there, I had given up hope. The natives and their records didn't show anything useful about this hidden or forgotten temple," he begins. "Then one day, I went with the high priests to pray on the mountains. We got separated in the jungle at the foot of it," he remains composed as he retells his past.

"I wandered for a while until I stumbled upon a cave. When I entered, I discovered the lost temple," he continues. "There, I found the stones embedded in a stone slab behind five tombs," he muttered. "I knew what they were—not only by their appearance but also because of the unexplainable amount of magic that poured out of them. I grabbed them and fled," he says somberly.

"I then used my magic tools in combination with the stones to find the life force similar to the last guardians, which led us to Earth—and to you. I left the stones in the classroom, hoping you would find them. My tools pointed to you while you were unconscious," he explains.

"JoJo changed our plans, but we all came to an agreement on what to do with you and the affected humans," he continued. "Since our arrival and confrontation with JoJo, three months have passed since your memories were sealed."

I take in everything he says, my mind racing with an overload of information. Seeing my overwhelmed face, Madison holds my hand.

"It's okay, Dom. Take your time. For now, just focus on learning to use your magic," she suggests sweetly. I sigh at her. "You sure like physical touch, don't you?" I ask half-jokingly. She tilts her head in confusion. "Is that unusual for Earth natives?" she asks. I shake my head in defeat. "Yes and no... I'll tell you later," I mutter embarrassedly. Mrs. Dean interrupts our conversation as she walks toward the door. "Girls, focus. What's the plan, Dr. Stone?"

He stands up from his desk and walks toward her. "The plan is to make you stronger and find the other guardians, so we will be going to the magical world tomorrow morning."

My eyes widen, and my heart races. I feel anxious—I didn't think I'd be going so soon. I steel my resolve again. Now isn't the time to cower in fear. I'm not scared, and I'm not going to run. I promised myself and these guys that I won't lose heart.

"But for today, I'll be training you" Mr. Stone says. "And what will you be doing while I take care of this?" he questions Mrs. Dean.

"I have an old friend I will get in touch with so we can have a safe house to stay in when we arrive." With that, we all dispersed. I march down the hall behind Mr. Stone. "Where are we going?" I asked him curiously.

"To the basement. I want you to get some practice in," he said in a monotone voice.

Climbing downstairs, we arrived in the cold basement.

"Alright, ready? Spatial magic! Artificial room!" he called out. A dome appeared around us, creating a familiar scene.

"Now, go wild," he commanded. I nodded and raised my hands, remembering that the magic followed my mental directions. I thought about water emerging from my palms, and it obeyed. Endless water shot out, falling onto the floor. I smiled at this small accomplishment.

I began to play around, curiously waving my arms in a figure-eight motion, moving them horizontally, forward, and even upward.

"Try attacking these," Mr. Stone said, walking over to a bag. He took out five metal circles and added his magic to them, making them float in the air.

I turned to face them, lifted my hands, and motioned for the water to rush toward the targets. I hit them, but it seemed weak.

"Try adding more magic to the water, or molding its shape," he instructed.

I nodded in understanding and gave it another go.

I focused deeply, wondering how I could make the water hit harder. The small puddle I made wasn't enough—maybe more? I released more water onto the ground until the basement was ankle-deep. Then, I gathered a large ball of water and launched it at one of the metal circles. I then pushed the whole pool forward, creating a wave that washed the tools to the floor. I glanced at Madison and Mr. Stone. "Not bad. However, your enemy won't stand by and let you fill up the room with water," he said sternly. "You need stronger attacks and faster execution. Again!" he demanded. He lifted his hand, which began to glow orange, and the metal objects sprang back into place.

Palms at the ready, I threw my hands up in the air wildly, causing the water to shoot up like geysers under the tools. (I see, so the more water around me, the quicker I can attack.) I shared my thoughts with them, and after a little more training, my control improved significantly.

"Why don't we call it a day? We don't want you to run out of magic," he lectured. I shrugged. "I don't really feel tired or drained in any way, though," I reassured him. He frowned; his curiosity piqued. "I wonder how big your magic reserve is," he mused, resting his chin on his knuckles. "I have a device that can help estimate magic levels, but that can wait until tomorrow," he said, pleased with the amount of training I'd done.

"Get lots of sleep tonight. We need you to be prepared," he warned. "Madison, are you spending the night with her again?"

"Yes, I love sleeping over at her house," she says with a smile while wrapping her arms around me. I blush and turn away, embarrassed. We say goodnight to Mr. Stone and head home, skipping along the path, arm in arm.

"By the way, I wanted to ask you about your comment on me touching you too much," she says, her voice tinged with worry.

I sigh, a hint of pink coloring my cheeks. "It's just... I'm not used to anyone showering me with physical affection. I don't know how to process anyone hugging me," I explain somberly.

I feel her hand squeezing my arm tighter. "Why?" she asks, almost in a whisper.

I hesitate before responding, "I wasn't really loved by my adoptive family," I mutter softly.

She halts immediately, her eyes locking onto mine. Sadness creeps across her face as tears well up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry you weren't loved, Dom. I'm so sorry," her voice trembles with hurt. I turn away, a hint of shame in my expression.

"I'm... used to it, so don't worry about it," I announce in a dismissive tone.

She walks over and clings to me again. "If you're okay with it, I'll love you and be the family you deserve," she asserts. I think about it as we continue on our way.

"If you want," is all I can manage to say, my voice barely a whisper. The words feel hollow in my throat. A lump tightens, and I fight back tears. I tilt my head, pretending I'm fine, but I can feel the sadness creeping through me.

Unaware, she cheerfully chatters on. "We need to find you a boyfriend, too, that way not only me, but someone else can love you as well." Her giggles fill the night air, but they only make the emptiness inside me feel louder.

"...You think so?" I say, my voice quivering. "Maybe... if my heart allows room for him." The words are heavy, and I don't know if There's space for anyone else in my heart at least for now.