chapter 11 feelings on the wind

"We're back, Dad!" Madison yells throughout the foyer. The maids meet us at the door and take our bags.

Mrs. Dean and Mr. Stone march down the stairs. "I know it's late, but I'd like you to get at least an hour of training in," Mr. Stone says.

I sigh, exhaling in exhaustion. "Okay, well, I'm ready now. The sooner we start, the better." I know he means well, so I can't be mad—JoJo can attack at any given time. I push away my fatigue, reminding myself that this is life or death, despite the calm days I'm currently in.

"Lead the way," I tell him.

The four of us head down to the basement. The stairs creak underfoot, the wood old and worn from years of use. The air grows cooler, and a musty scent lingers in the stone walls, thick and damp. The floor is uneven, covered in worn rugs that have seen better days, while iron lantern sconces hang from the walls, their flickering light casting long shadows. The basement is dim and slightly oppressive, with low-hanging beams, heavy oak supports, and a vast stone hearth long unused. Pipes twist along the ceiling, some rusted with age. There's a deep silence here, broken only by the faint echo of our footsteps.

Finally, we reach a large opening. "Give me a second," Mr. Stone says, rummaging through his bag. He pulls out a tool and activates it, instantly illuminating the entire room.

"Alright, this lesson will be a bit different," he explains. "We will be training with magical abilities, not magical aptitudes."

I frown, clearly confused.

"Let me explain," Mrs. Dean chimes in, noticing my lack of understanding. "To help you get it, I'll use the royal family as an example—since it's no secret what the king can do."

My eyes widen with intrigue. After walking past their palace a few times, my curiosity about them has only grown. She continued, "The king's magical aptitude is summoning infinite blades of steel, while his ability, called Boost, allows him to enhance his speed, magic, and strength." She adjusted her glasses. "Oh, one more thing: not everyone has an ability on top of their aptitude, and you only get one."

"The question is, what is yours?" Mr. Stone asked, cutting in with his interest piqued.

I nodded. "What do we need to do to find it out?" I asked, full of energy.

"A lot of the time, you'd go to holy temples, and either a high priest or the grand priest would use their holy magic to tell you," he explained. "But since your existence is supposed to be a secret for now, we can't do that."

Madison and I exchanged glances, remembering what had happened the other day. The L, who I had casually told, was no longer a secret for the most part.

"So our only option is to train you in different ways until we figure it out," he continued. He pulled three small boxes from his bag, walked over to the other side of the room, and placed them on the floor before backing away.

"Spatial magic! Artificial room!" He added magic to the boxes on the floor, and suddenly they began to transform. The once innocent-looking boxes sprouted mechanical limbs—metallic arms and legs that whirred to life as they stood upright, ready for action. Their eyes, if you could call them that, glowed a cold, eerie blue. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of unease.

"Try fighting them with a weapon," Mr. Stone said, tossing me a bo staff. The wooden staff felt unfamiliar in my hands, heavier than it seemed, like it carried more weight than just its physical form.

The bots rushed toward me, moving slower than I expected, but their movements were sharp and calculated. The first one lunged, its arm extending like a blade. Reflexively, I swung the staff to block it, the heavy wood colliding with the metallic limb with a loud crack. The force of the impact vibrated through my arms, and I stumbled slightly, the weight of the staff still not quite feeling natural.

"They're set to a low level," Mr. Stone announced, but it didn't seem to matter. Even at a slower speed, I had no idea what I was doing. The second bot came at me, its legs shifting with mechanical precision. It aimed a punch toward my chest, and I barely had time to react. I used the staff to deflect the blow, but it wasn't enough to stop the force behind it. I was thrown off balance and nearly fell, but I caught myself just in time.

I realized quickly that my staff wasn't enough to keep them back. The bots were fast, despite their slow pace, and their sharp, needle-like hands looked like they could tear through flesh. I pushed the staff in front of me, trying to shield myself, but the metal hands reached around the staff, trying to grab me. Panic surged through me, but I fought to keep it together.

Instinctively, I summoned a burst of magic, feeling the flow of energy through me like a sudden, electrifying current. The air grew cold and a blast of water bursted out pushing the bots back slightly. It was just enough to give me space to breathe. I didn't want to rely on magic, but in the heat of the moment, it was my only instinct. The staff clattered to the ground as I summoned a shield of energy, creating a glowing barrier between me and the bots.

The training dragged on like this—me struggling with the staff while desperately trying to keep the bots at bay with bursts of magic. It was a mess of awkward movements and instinctive magic use. The bots kept attacking, relentlessly trying to overwhelm me, but I did what I could to fend them off.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally collapsed on the ground, breathless and exhausted, my muscles aching from the unfamiliar movements.

"Let's stop here for today," Mr. Stone suggested. I didn't need any more convincing. I nod as Madison comes over to check on me "So, no luck finding it this time, huh?" Mrs. Dean sighed. Madison offered her hand to me, and I took it.

"Have a good night, girls," she said as we nodded and headed upstairs to bed. "I must say, as much as she's getting better, I'm still worried," Mrs. Dean states with a drained expression.

"I agree; however, we have the unfortunate task of defending in this case," he explains while packing up his things.

"Do we even have a real plan for finding more guardians?" she asks, walking toward the exit.

The basement remains silent, the only sound being water running through the pipes.

"I don't know. I've resigned myself to trusting Dominique," he admits.

She turns her head in surprise. "Edward, that's very unlike you. Besides, we need to have a plan," she begs.

"I do have goals. I'd like to go into town tomorrow and do some reconnaissance," he proposes, throwing the bag strap over his shoulder.

"Oh? And what did you have in mind?" she asks curiously.

He walks past her, carrying the lantern, his back to her. "A lot of things, starting with the nobles."

"I take it you also mean the royal family?" she questions.

"They say to be well-informed, one must be well-researched."

He walks away, leaving her alone in the dark, thinking about their conversation.

The night comes and goes. In the morning, we dress to go into town. I wear a blue T-shirt and jeans, securing my fanny pack full of stones. Keeping them close has become routine at this point.

A maid knocks on the door and lets herself in. "Girls, Doctor Stone and Lady Dean are waiting for you downstairs," she announces gracefully.

"You ready to go?" Madison asks with a cheerful grin.

"Yeah." She grabs my hand, and we walk down together.

Turning the corner, we see the two of them by the door, waiting.

"Hey girls, today we'll be hitting the town," Mrs. Dean says.

"What's the occasion?" I ask curiously.

"We need to look for more leads on the landlords... and other things," Mr. Stone says, not wanting to disclose more. "What are you going to have Dom and me do, then?" Madison questioned.

"Nothing. You two can hang out around Market Street," he says.

We both shrug, not caring to argue. I don't know this place well enough to contribute much outside of fighting, so it didn't matter to me. We headed out the usual way and arrived at the familiar busy streets.

"Alright, girls, we'll meet here in four hours," Mr. Stone says. He kisses Madison, then gives me a hug before walking away.

"Girls, try not to get into trouble and lay low, okay?" Mrs. Dean adds, heading in the other direction.

I exhaled, exhausted. The day had just started, and I already wanted it to end.

"So, what do you want to do, Dom? We have four hours to burn," Madison asks sweetly, wrapping her arm around mine.

"I'm starving. I didn't eat anything last night—I need food," I say, rubbing my stomach.

"We still have money left over from yesterday, right?" she asks.

I nod.

"Let's go shopping."

We pace through the crowds, weaving through the bustling market. The air is thick with the scent of grilled meats, fresh bread, and spices. Booths overflow with colorful fabrics, handcrafted jewelry, and trinkets from all over. Madison gets distracted by a stand selling silver rings with delicate engravings, slipping one onto her finger "how does this ring look" she asks i giggled "your prince will give you one someday" she sighs while putting it back. Further down, we find a clothing stall, where Madison holds up a flowing blue dress against herself. She twirls dramatically. "What do you think?"

"Too fancy for us," I say, smirking. We make our way over to a butcher's stand. The vendor, a broad man with a thick beard, greets us with a grin.

"Fresh cuts today. What'll it be?"

I glance at the selection and point at a few strips of marinated meat. "How much for these?"

"Fair price for lovely ladies like you," he says, wrapping them up in parchment after we pay.

Next, we stop by a produce stand, picking up some ripe tomatoes, a bundle of fresh herbs, and a few potatoes. Madison eyes a selection of cheeses, eventually settling on a small wheel of something soft and creamy.

"This is going to be good," she says, grinning as she tucks it into one of the bags.

After nearly an hour of shopping, we're loaded down with supplies.

"Is there a park or something around here?" I ask impatiently, shifting the weight of the bags in my arms.

"It's not a park, but I know a quiet place you two can go," a familiar voice says.

We turn and see none other than L. He approaches us with his usual curious grin. Madison, upon seeing him, frowns in clear disapproval. I notice his slight discomfort at her reaction.

"Hey, L, you know a place?" I ask, trying to break the tension.

"Yeah, it's this way," he says, his smile returning.

We follow him a few blocks until we reach a grassy opening. Children play and run around while families have picnics. There are designated spots with fire pits.

We sit around one and take out the contents of our bags—matches and a pan. I leave the food inside, not wanting it to touch the ground. "Aghhh, I just remembered we don't have wood," I say, disappointed.

"Why not grab sticks from the trees?" L suggests, pointing toward the ones spread out across the field.

"Okay, lead the way. Madison, watch our stuff—I'll be back," I instruct him before walking to the nearest tree. It's tall, but I'm no stranger to climbing.

I pull myself onto the first branch and start breaking off limbs.

"Why not use your magic to cut some down?" he asks with a playful white smile.

I continue pulling on the branches, dropping them down to L. "My powers are technically supposed to be a secret for now," I explain. "The landlords are after me, and I need to stay hidden while I train first."

"Do your parents know you're a Guardian?" he asks.

I pause, thinking about my Earth life. "No, and honestly, they probably wouldn't even care if I died or never came back," I say, my tone dry and unemotional.

I peek at his face. There's a hint of sadness, and his hands are trembling. Sweat forms on his brow. Was this an extreme form of empathy—or experience?

"For now, I need to survive and fight. That's all that matters," I say, trying to bring us back to surface-level conversation.

"Do you like being a Guardian?"

His question takes me off guard. I honestly don't know how to answer it.

I climb higher, having already pulled a large amount of branches. "What about you? What's your magical power?" I ask, changing the subject.

Silence.

When I look down, I see him rubbing the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

"I don't have magic," he says, ashamed.

I move higher, having stripped the branch below. I absorb what I just heard. I wasn't aware that people could be born in this world without magic.

"You were born without any kind of magic?" I ask, needing confirmation.

"Yeah, but it's not the Absence Disease," he says defensively.

My ears perk with curiosity. "The Absence? What's that?"

"It's a term the nobles use to further the divide, when in reality, it affects everyone."

"But what is it?" I press.

"It's a disease that attacks the magical vessels, making it so you can't produce magic naturally." I begin to climb down until I reach the ground. He collects the majority of the wood while I grab the rest.

"So, you were just lucky, huh?" I say sarcastically.

He flashes an amused grin. "I've never felt lucky. Not in a long time."

"Oh, are we sharing trauma? Ew," I joke.

He bursts into laughter.

Suddenly, my fanny pack starts shaking, making me jump.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

I adjust the bag. "Nothing," I say, walking back to the pit.

We finally sit down and throw all the wood into the fire pit. It takes a long minute, but we finally get the fire going. I pull out the butter, drop it in the pan with the eggs, and start cooking. I tear the bacon into bite-sized pieces and mix it into the eggs. Then, I pull out the plates and divide a fair amount onto each one. After buttering slices of bread, I place them in the pan and toast both sides. Once everything is ready, I combine it all together.

We eat in peaceful silence.

"Mmm, this is super delicious," L says, shoveling piles into his mouth.

It never fails to amaze me how the simplest meals impress them. But with that thought, I don't have to struggle against the urge to throw up stomach.

Eventually, we clean up and put the fire out.

"That was good. I'm stuffed," L says with a cheeky grin.

"We have two hours to kill. What are we doing, Maddie?" I ask.

"We still have 100 gems left. Let's go shopping," she says, wrapping her arm around mine as we turn to leave.

"Can I come too?" L asks hesitantly.

I glance at Madison, who looks like she wants to pounce on him for even asking. Honestly, I don't understand why she hates him. Then again, I've never asked.

Something about him pulls me in—some kind of connection, no matter how small. And I think it's mutual. There's an unspoken curiosity between us, and I want to explore it, even if it leads to nothing.

"Sure. Show us around," I say with a slight smile.

His face lights up, and his shoulders relax. He squeezes the fabric around his stomach. "Thanks, let's have fun!" A brilliant smile plastered across his face, and I found myself with two people's arms wrapped around me. We moved from stall to stall and store to store, looking at anything and everything we could get our hands on until, finally, we were exhausted.

"That was fun! The stores are different from the ones on Earth," I said, resting on a bench off the sidewalk.

"My dad should be heading back to the meetup place, Dom," Madison said, leaning on me.

"Yeah, that's right," I replied, glancing at L, who looked sad to see us leave. Feeling bad that he might be left alone, I tried to cheer him up. "Hey, before we go, how about I buy you something as a thanks for showing us around?"

He gave me a small smile and nodded. "Anything in mind?" I asked curiously, ignoring Madison's eye-rolling, which I assumed was at the idea of doing something nice for him.

"Ah, yeah, this way," he said, leading us down the street to one store. We entered and looked around as the employee greeted us.

"It's not here, let's go," he said, speeding out. Madison and I followed quickly as he led us in and out of several stores.

"ENOUGH!" Madison yelled. "What is your game?"

He grew quiet, and his gaze fell to the ground. "I-I, uh..."

"Well, well, well, look at what the wind blew in," a voice suddenly called out. The three of us turned to the sound, only to see the group of men who attacked us the day we first arrived in town. But now, there were twice as many of them.

"Don't cause a scene. In fact, don't do anything stupid," the first one commanded.

"Now be good little prey and follow us," the next one demanded. Surrounded, we complied and were led to the same isolated back alleyway.

"Déjà vu," I muttered under my breath as they shoved us to the ground.

"Was this your doing? You rat!" Madison grimaced while glaring at L.

"I had nothing to do with this!" he yelled back.

"We owe the two of you for last time," one muscle-built man scoffed angrily. "You for whatever illusion magic you pulled on us," he said, pointing at me. "And you for not giving us the money and calling the police on us."

"You muscle-brain, I never called the cops!" L protested, and the group burst into laughter.

"It doesn't matter. We were planning on killing you anyway," one of them chuckled. "And to make sure nothing goes amiss this time, we hired mercenaries," another grinned.

This is not good. There are about 15 people here. I'm going to have to protect and attack at the same time, and I'm not sure I'm skilled enough for that. "Grown men bullying children? Now I've seen it all."

All heads snapped toward the voice. Mrs. Dean stood tall, an air of confidence radiating from her as she adjusted her glasses. Relief flooded me—I almost cried upon seeing her.

"Who the hell are you?" one of the thugs barked, stepping forward.

She didn't flinch. Instead, she stared him down with unwavering authority. "Their designated adult."

Purple magic pulsed around her hand, crackling with energy.

"THREAD MAGIC!! FIBER WHIPS!!"

Glowing threads erupted from her fingertips, slicing through the air like living serpents. The thick cords snapped toward the men, aiming to ensnare them.

"SCATTER!!" one of them roared.

They reacted just in time, diving and rolling out of the threads' reach. The moment they moved, Mrs. Dean sprang into action, leaping to our side with a precision that made it clear she wasn't new to combat.

"How'd you find us?" I asked, my breath uneven from the tension.

"I was gathering information at the local guild when I overheard rumors—something about killing children with illusion water magic," she explained, her tone sharp with disapproval.

"About that—" I started, but she cut me off.

"Later. Focus on the matter at hand."

Across from us, the men regrouped. One, clearly in charge, smirked darkly.

"If possible, grab the two girls. I'm sure they'll fetch a good price."

"And the other two?" another asked.

"Kill them."

The order sent them into action. They lunged at us like a pack of wolves.

Madison and L darted behind me and Mrs. Dean as the first wave of attacks came.

"THREAD MAGIC!! BINDING COILS!!"

Mrs. Dean's magic surged forward—dozens of thick, glowing cords whipped outward, twisting and spiraling around the attackers. Some barely managed to dodge, rolling and flipping away from the threads. But one wasn't fast enough—the glowing fibers locked around his arms and torso, squeezing tight. He grunted, struggling against the bonds.

"MUSCLE MAGIC!! HEAVY MASS!!"

One of the thugs roared, his body bulging as his muscles expanded unnaturally. Veins pulsed along his arms as he grabbed a handful of Mrs. Dean's binding threads and yanked, his sheer strength ripping them apart.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I moved. My fingers flexed, and water rippled at my feet, responding to my call.

"SPEED MAGIC!! DASH!!"

Another opponent blurred into motion, vanishing from his spot in an instant. My heart clenched as I realized where he was headed—straight for Madison.

The assassin's dagger gleamed as he closed the distance in a heartbeat. My mind screamed at me to move, but I was too far.

"MADISON!!!"

The blade plunged downward.

But it didn't hit her.

L had thrown himself in front of the attack. The dagger embedded itself in his side, and blood spurted out. A strangled gasp escaped his lips before he crumpled to the ground.

"L!!" I screamed, my vision tunneling.

"Why did you do that?!" Madison sobbed, falling to her knees.

Rage boiled inside me. The speedster turned toward her again, but I wouldn't give him another chance.

I slammed my hands to the ground, and magic surged through me. The earth groaned as ice burst forth, freezing the battlefield in an instant. The speedster's foot touched the slick surface—and he slipped, his momentum sending him crashing onto his back.

Mrs. Dean didn't hesitate. Her threads shot forward, wrapping around his limbs and pinning him against the ground.

"Madison, heal him!" I barked.

"Already on it!" she cried, pressing her hands against L's wound as a warm glow surrounded her palms.

I turned back to the enemy. My fingers curled, and the water responded—rising, shifting, shaping into deadly spears of ice.

A sphere of water wrapped around the remaining attackers, trapping them inside.

I thrust my hand forward.

The ice javelins shot like bullets, tearing through the air toward our enemies. Some dodged while others were hit.

"Dominique, stop holding back! I'll take responsibility," Mrs. Dean shouted over the chaos.

I nodded in agreement and released a surge of magic from my palm, causing heavier water to flow out. Two small blue magic circles appeared on my hands, and the air grew colder. I whipped a large stream of water like a snake, zigzagging through the battlefield, collecting the men into my magic like fish caught in a net.

"I got the stragglers," Mrs. Dean said, swiftly tying them up with her fibers.

"Madison, how's L?" I asked, glancing back anxiously.

L lay motionless, his face pale and slick with sweat. But as I watched, color slowly returned to his skin, and the bleeding had stopped.

"He's stable now, but you still need to rest," Madison insisted, her voice gentle but firm.

L gave her a weak nod, his chest rising and falling with unsteady breaths.

"What do we do with them?" I asked, still maintaining the water stream, my arms starting to shake from exertion.

"Hang on, I'll bind the ones in the water too," Mrs. Dean said. She extended her fibers, wrapping all the men securely. Only then did I allow myself to release my magic. The weight of the spell lifted from my body, leaving exhaustion in its wake.

I rushed to L's side, my heartbeat quickening. Kneeling next to him, I reached for his hand. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked, my voice softer than before.

L blinked a few times before muttering, "I think so..." His voice was weak, almost unsure, as if he himself couldn't quite believe he was still alive.

I turned to Madison, but she wasn't looking at me. She was staring at L, biting her lower lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Madison?" I called her name gently.

She took a shaky breath before speaking. "Why did you save me?" she asked bluntly, her voice barely above a whisper.

L looked down, avoiding her gaze. A shadow passed over his face, and I could see the tension in his jaw as he struggled to find the right words.

"I've been thinking ever since I met you two..." His voice was quiet, uncertain. "I was jealous of the bond you have. When you leave, I feel lonelier than I was before I met you." He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His lips trembled as if he were holding back everything he had been burying deep inside.

"When I'm with you two, I feel like I belong. Like I won't be thrown away." His voice cracked. He took a sharp breath, but it did nothing to stop the tears from slipping down his cheeks. He was trembling now, his body betraying him.

He squeezed his eyes shut. "I saved you because... because I wanted you to trust me. I wanted you to accept me."

A lump formed in my throat. Slowly, I reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his. "L..."

He swallowed hard, his breathing uneven. "I've been running from my past for a long time now, but when I'm with you..." He hesitated, then finally looked up. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw past his usual guarded expression. There was no sarcasm, no bravado—just raw, unfiltered emotion.

"I feel strong enough to face it."

Before I could respond, my fanny pack shook violently. A sudden pulse of energy sent a chill through my body.

I opened the pouch, and the green stone inside was glowing intensely. I looked at L, whose expression had gone blank—his eyes clouded, distant.

"L?" I called his name, but he didn't respond.

He reached out as if compelled by something beyond his control. The moment his fingers made contact with the stone, an explosion of magic tore through the battlefield.

A blinding green light erupted from his hand, consuming everything. I barely had time to shield my eyes before the force of the magic sent a violent shockwave rippling through the air. The trees swayed dangerously before uprooting completely. The nearby buildings groaned under the high winds their windows shattering, debris flying in every direction.

I felt myself being lifted off the ground. The wind roared in my ears, my body spinning uncontrollably before I was slammed into something hard. Pain shot through my ribs as I tumbled onto the rooftop.

I coughed, gasping for breath. My vision blurred, and for a moment, all I could hear was a high-pitched ringing.

Then, as suddenly as it had started, it was over.

The wind died. The magic dispersed. The battlefield was silent except for the settling dust and the occasional groan of broken structures.

"Girls, answer me!" Mrs. Dean's panicked voice rang through the air.

I groaned, forcing myself up. My body ached, my limbs felt like lead. My fingers dug into the rough rooftop as I tried to push myself up, disoriented, and checked my surroundings. I had been blown onto the roof.

"I'm up here!" I called out, my voice hoarse.

"I'm here," Madison's voice was weak as she crawled out from beneath the debris, coughing.

We scrambled toward L's unconscious body. His chest rose and fell in slow, shallow breaths. But something was different. His veins still pulsed with an eerie green glow, like liquid magic flowing just beneath his skin. His fingers twitched slightly, his expression peaceful, as if lost in a deep slumber.

"What just happened?" Madison asked, dusting off her skirt with shaking hands.

I swallowed hard, still trying to process it. "We just found the Guardian of Air... that's what happened." My voice came out hoarse, my breath uneven.

"FREEZE! NOBODY MOVE!"

A sudden burst of panic filled my chest as I looked up to find ourselves surrounded by the police, their weapons drawn.

"Now what?" I whispered, my hands trembling.

Mrs. Dean exhaled sharply. "Pray that Mr. Stone gets here fast," she said as we all slowly raised our hands in surrender.