chapter 16 my way

A month has passed since the events of Lime Dann.

"Not bad! You're improving so fast," Mrs. Dean compliments.

I sit on the sidelines, watching Chris move. I hate to admit it, but he looks great. Compared to before, he's filling out muscle-wise.

"THREAD MAGIC!! FIBER WHIPS!!"

The whips wrap around him, lifting him into the air. He grins, flashing his now-famous arrogant smile. His eyes glow red as two magic circles appear mid-air by her threads. Fire blasts from them, destroying the threads. He falls but lands smoothly.

Mrs. Dean claps her hands. "Very good, Chris! I've seen great improvement in you," she praises.

Luca and I just roll our eyes.

"Do you two want to get some practice in? I outdid myself and made 20 bots," Mr. Stone says proudly.

I stand up with a yawn and stretch, and Luca does the same next to me.

"Good luck, you two!" Madison cheers loudly.

"For the past month, these two refused to train with me. Let's see what they're made of," Chris complains as he walks to the side.

Crystal hands him a towel, a bright smile on her face. "Chris, you did an amazing job as always! I can see so much change," she gushes.

He stares at her blankly, then turns to the other two, ignoring her completely. She follows his gaze.

"They're super strong. I doubt they'll have any trouble with this amount," she says sweetly.

Chris gives her a side-eye. "How do you know what they're capable of?" he questions.

"Madison and I have watched them train on the days you would go out on a jog around town," she confesses.

He grins, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "So, she goes out of her way to train when she knows I'll be gone, huh?"

"We're putting them on the third-highest level, so don't lower your guard," Mr. Stone warns.

We nod, getting ready. As he activates the bots, they instantly take off. Luca summons a strong wind to wrap around us. They were forced back. Seizing the moment, I sprinted forward, using his back as a springboard. My feet pushed off, launching me high into the air. As I flipped, a surge of icy energy coursed through my veins. I extended my hands, and shimmering blue magic crackled to life around me. In a single, fluid motion, I conjured razor-sharp ice javelins, their jagged edges gleaming in the dim light.

With a flick of my wrist, the projectiles hurtled through the air like frozen comets. They spiraled toward the enemy, slicing through the atmosphere with a high-pitched whistle. Upon impact, an explosion of frost and mist erupted, shrouding the battlefield in thick, swirling smoke.

We held our breath, waiting for the dust to clear. Slowly, the outline of a massive form emerged from the haze. As visibility returned, my eyes widened—our enemies had merged, their bodies fusing together to form a towering, mechanical behemoth. Its gleaming metallic arms crossed in front of it, having completely blocked my attack.

"That's new," I muttered, clenching my fists.

"You've been hard at work, I see," Mrs. Dean noted, adjusting her glasses.

"I found the time," he joked, flashing a grin.

The robot loomed over us, its steel plating groaning as it shifted. Then, with a deafening boom, it slammed both hands down, aiming to crush us. The ground quaked beneath us as I sprang to the side, rolling to safety just in time.

Luca was already moving. He thrust his hands forward, his emerald eyes glowing with intensity. A vibrant green magic circle materialized in front of him, humming with raw energy. A sudden pressure filled the room, and then, with a sharp exhale, he unleashed his spell.

A violent twister erupted from the circle, spiraling upward like a raging storm. The air howled as the cyclone expanded, twisting and coiling like a living entity. Chairs and debris were yanked into the vortex, spinning wildly before being flung aside. The sheer force of the wind pressed against my body, forcing me to brace myself. The others shielded their faces, their clothes whipping in the storm's fury.

But the robot stood its ground. Its heavy feet locked into place, anchoring it against the powerful gale. It didn't so much as budge.

"That didn't work?!" Luca shouted, eyes wide with disbelief.

My mind raced. If wind wouldn't move it, maybe something else could. I stretched out my arms, summoning every ounce of my magic. A deep blue magic circle flared to life beneath me, glowing like an ocean under moonlight. The temperature in the room plummeted.

A moment later, a tidal wave of water surged forth, pouring from the circle in an unstoppable cascade. The air filled with the scent of fresh rain as the roaring current crashed onto the robot, engulfing it entirely. Metal groaned under the sudden weight, sparks flying as circuits overloaded.

I clenched my fists and twisted my hands, shaping the water with my will. The fluid began to crystallize, freezing solid in seconds. A thick layer of ice spread rapidly, locking the mechanical giant in place. Its limbs stiffened, frost creeping along its joints like veins of white lightning.

"HEY, LUCA!" I called out, my breath fogging in the cold.

He was already moving. He dashed toward me, grabbing my hand without hesitation. A rush of wind coiled around us as he used his magic to propel me upward. My body shot into the air, weightless for a moment as I soared toward my frozen target.

The robot twitched, straining against the ice. I couldn't let it break free. Summoning all my strength, I twisted midair and launched a devastating kick straight into its head. The impact sent a thunderous crack through the battlefield. The ice groaned, and then—

BOOM!

The entire bot shattered into a thousand frozen shards, fragments raining down like shattered glass.

Silence followed. Then—

"Whoa," someone breathed.

Everyone's jaw had dropped. I barely had time to process before I started falling. But before I could hit the ground, a gust of wind caught me, Luca's magic softening my landing. I stumbled slightly but remained upright.

"Are you alright, Dom?" Madison asked, practically launching herself into my arms.

"How the heck did you do that?" Luca blurted, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.

"You were incredible!" Crystal cried out.

I looked around, suddenly hyperaware of all the praise. My cheeks flushed.

"Was that part of your magical ability?" Mr. Stone mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Chris lingered in the back, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Our eyes met, tension crackling between us. We stared at each other for what felt like forever before I finally turned away.

He stepped forward, pushing past the others. "Guess you're not a damsel after all," he said with a smirk.

I narrowed my eyes. "And why would you think I'd be a damsel?"

"You're a girl," he said, his tone cocky.

Madison scoffed before I could answer. "I assure you, she's quite capable."

I smirked, crossing my arms. "How about you, Mr. Level 5? You good enough to hang with me?" He frowns harder, then laughs and steps closer. We stare each other down. He's grown taller, so he looks down at me. I also notice more bass in his voice as he continues to insult me.

"I'm not surprised a manly girl like you could smash it," he sneers.

His gaze sweeps over me, lingering uncomfortably long on my chest.

"If only you were more feminine," he adds, disappointment lacing his tone.

I flush red with embarrassment. "Why I oughta—" I raise my hand to slap him.

However, before I can, Mrs. Dean grabs my wrist. "Let's calm down. Why don't we go get some lunch?" she suggests, trying to de-escalate the situation.

I shoot him a dirty look, bite my lower lip, then turn to leave. Madison, Luca, and even Crystal chase after me.

"You should really be mindful of your comments, Chris. Petty fights will only slow our progress," Mr. Stone scolds.

"Even if you two don't like each other, you need to get along before our enemies show up," Mrs. Dean adds.

Chris sighs and follows the others.

"Are you hungry? I can make you my famous soup," Crystal offers sweetly.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my rage, and glance at her. "What makes it so famous?" I ask, focusing on something pleasant.

"All the maids loved it! It was my father's recipe," she explains happily.

"Oh, that sounds good! I'll try it," Madison sings.

"I'll try it too," Luca adds.

I shrug. "I'd love some," I tell her.

Crystal heads to the kitchen while the rest of us go to the dining room to relax after training. We chat until she eventually returns with the food. She places the soup in front of me, and we dig in.

It's very watery, with a light vegetable flavor and a lot of meat, but aside from salt, it isn't very seasoned. I struggle to eat it and push it away, earning giggles from Madison and Luca, who exchange knowing looks. Crystal stands there, frowning.

"Is it not good?" she asks, worried.

"Dom never eats the food here unless she makes it," Luca explains, defending me.

"Yeah, please don't take it personally. My taste buds just aren't used to this world's food," I confess.

She accepts my excuse, though a sad look lingers on her face. "I'm going to cook something for myself."

"Oooh, make me some pickles, please," he begs with a playful tone.

I smile slightly and nod before heading to the kitchen. I decide to make tenders with a side of potato soup. Cooking helps me clear my head, and before long, I have a plate of eight tenders and a thick, hearty soup.

As I go to carry my plate, I bump into Chris.

I frown upon seeing him, but he just smirks, his gaze flicking between my face and the food in my hands.

"Seems like you know how to be womanly after all," he mocks, his tone dripping with amusement.

I stiffen. "Shut up and get out of the way," I snap, still irritated from earlier.

He ignores me completely. Before I can react, he snatches a tender off my plate and takes a bite. His expression shifts from smug to satisfied as he quickly wolfs it down.

"What the hell are you doing?" I yell, my irritation flaring.

He licks the sauce off his lips, grinning. "This is amazing! What is this stuff?" he asks excitedly, as if he didn't just steal my food.

"It's called 'get your own damn food,'" I say flatly, yanking my plate away and walking off.

Unbothered, he follows me to the table and plops down beside me without invitation.

"I don't remember saying you could sit there," I bark, my patience wearing thin.

He waves off my remark, his eyes flickering back to my plate like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. Across the table, Madison and Luca frown, but Crystal's glare is different. Sharper. Not just irritated—but tense. Like something about this scene rubs her the wrong way, though she won't say it out loud.

"Give me some, Dom," Chris says, leaning in slightly, his smirk lingering. His voice dips lower, too playful, too casual—but there's an edge beneath it.

"I'm so fucking done," I mutter, my tone dry and hostile.

Chris takes it as a challenge. His hand snakes around my waist, pulling me closer until our faces are inches apart.

I freeze, my grip tightening on my plate. He's too close, his gaze flicking over my face like he's waiting for some kind of reaction. His smirk deepens, filled with something smug, something unspoken.

The room falls silent. Luca's mouth hangs open. Madison's eyes widen in shock. And Crystal—though I can't see her face fully—I catch the way her fingers tighten around her fork, knuckles white. She's turned two shades of red, but not in embarrassment. It's something else. Something ugly.

Chris leans in just a fraction more, like he's enjoying the tension, feeding off it.

Yeah. I'm done. "You should cook for me," he whispered in a husky voice. I stayed silent as I slowly placed my hand on his chest. He grinned. "Are you finally going to act cute?" he mocked. I then shoved him with all my strength. He flew into the next room, hitting the wall and cracking it. He coughed up blood and passed out. I dashed out of the house in a rage. Madison and Luca called after me as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Before I knew it, I had reached Market Street. I kept walking until I found myself in front of the royal palace.

I huffed and puffed from exertion, glancing up to realize where I was. My heart began to race. The pull was immediate—a deep, overwhelming force tugging at my very core. It wasn't just the sight of the palace. It was the undeniable sense that something, or someone, inside was calling to me. My mind screamed to run forward, to break through the gates and find out what lay beyond them. The air around me seemed to hum, alive with a strange energy that only amplified the desire within me. The feeling wasn't just a curiosity—it was a longing, like a missing part of me had been waiting here all along.

Just then, a guard wandered over to wave me off.

"Excuse me, how does one meet the royal family?" I asked curiously.

He scoffed at my question. "Only nobles or high-ranking officials can place a request to see them," he informed me.

"Well then, I have a request to see them," I boldly said.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're a noble?"

"No, more like a high-ranking official," I replied, exuding confidence.

"And just what would a kid like you be an official of?" he mocked.

I bit my lip and paused, my mind racing a hundred miles per minute. Did it matter at this point? I didn't think I'd get over this feeling anytime soon. I needed to be bold in my choices, and right now, everything in me screamed that I had to get inside this palace.

"Try 'Legendary Guardian,'" I finally confessed.

He raised an eyebrow. "I don't have time for pranks. Move along," he ordered in a menacing tone.

I didn't back down. The surge of energy within me intensified, and my hand shot forward. I released my magic, feeling it pulse through me like a storm breaking free. The air around me thickened, crackling with raw power. My magic surged outward, pushing the guard back, and he fell to his knees, the force of it too much to resist. Sweat poured from every visible spot on his body, his face contorting in pain. The power radiated from me like a wave, pushing against the very ground beneath our feet. The guard's weapon slipped from his hand, clattering to the cobblestones, but it didn't matter. He gasped for air, struggling under the weight of the magic I had unleashed.

The people around us staggered, some falling to the ground as though the weight of my power had overwhelmed them. Others collapsed, unconscious, unable to withstand the pressure. The street turned into chaos as bystanders cried out, some scrambling to get away while others simply crumpled into the pavement. The energy in the air was suffocating, thick with the aftermath of my magic.

"Would you like me to continue, or did you catch the point?" I said, my voice cold and commanding. My tone carried the full weight of my power, and I felt the guard beneath me struggle to remain conscious, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

He fought against the pressure until I allowed the magic to recede, his body slumping in relief as he steadied himself. The surrounding people slowly began to stir, waking from the heavy haze my magic had inflicted on them. Some groaned as they regained their footing, while others were gently dragged away by loved ones, their faces pale with shock.

"I had no idea. My mistake," the guard managed, his voice strained and breathless.

"I don't care about your weak ass apology. Just get me an audience now," I demanded, my voice unwavering.

"Right away, miss. Where should we deliver the response?" he asked, his tone more nervous now, his earlier bravado completely gone.

"Send it to the Everwood Manor," I instructed, my voice sharp and firm.

He nodded quickly. "And may I have your name?"

"Dominique Candies."

He bowed hastily, his movements hurried and unsure, before rushing off to fulfill my command. Here's your passage with added details about the guild:

Madison and Luca arrive seconds later. "Hey, are you okay?" Madison shouts, her voice filled with worry. "We felt your magic power. What happened?" Luca asks frantically.

"I'm fine, guys. I just had to flex my muscles a bit," I say, folding my arms.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through the mess Chris caused," Madison says, hugging me. "We were just shocked he did that. Otherwise, I would have hit him," Luca roars, cracking his knuckles.

"My dad and Mrs. Dean forced me to heal him, but I only fixed his ribs, not the pain," she admits with a pout.

"I poured water on his unconscious body," Luca confesses with a shrug. I roll my eyes.

"I'm not in the mood to deal with him. In fact, I'd like to blow off some steam," I huff, walking away.

"We can just walk around until you feel better," Luca says, chasing after me, lost in thought. I wonder aimlessly, my thoughts scattered everywhere but on peace.

I stop in my tracks.

"What's wrong?" Madison asks curiously.

"I have a crazy idea. Let's join a guild," I suggest.

"A guild? Why?" Luca raises an eyebrow.

"We need real-life experience, not robots in a basement."

"Sure, I mean, we are free to do whatever we want. So, I'm okay with whatever you want, Dom," Luca says with a playful smile. "As long as you pay me in pickles," he laughs.

"Did you want to head over there now?" Madison asks sweetly.

"Yeah, do either of you know the way?" I reply.

"I do," Luca says, leading the way.

We arrive at a large building that seems to pulse with energy. The guild hall is an imposing structure, with tall stone walls and large, arched windows. A mix of people from all walks of life—warriors in armor, robed mages, and travelers with their packs—move in and out of the entrance. There's an air of excitement and anticipation as those entering chat with each other or laugh over shared experiences. A faded banner hangs above the entrance, reading "The Guild of the Infinite," its once-vibrant colors now softened by age.

Inside, the main room is bustling with activity. Long wooden tables line the right side of the room, and a large bar occupies the left, where a few patrons are enjoying drinks and talking about quests. The floor is covered in worn but comfortable rugs, and a large staircase leads up to a balcony area with more seating and a few doors leading to unknown rooms. Several bulletin boards are posted around the room, each covered with different job postings—everything from simple delivery jobs to dangerous monster hunts. People crowd around the boards, reading the missions and talking excitedly.

We head to the counter, where a lady with black hair greets us warmly. "Hello, how may I help you?" she asks politely.

"We'd like to join and take on work," I say.

"Sure, please fill out this paperwork," she says, handing it to us. I glance over it but can't even begin to read the language. I hand it over to Luca, who looks it over.

"Let's go sit down and fill it out," he suggests. We go to a vacant table and huddle up.

"The first question is asking how many members are going to be in our party?" he reads aloud.

"Three," I answer. He writes it down.

"The next one asks about years of experience."

"Technically for thousands of years. Realistically, a few months," Madison says, laughing.

The next few minutes are spent answering each question until it's done. We then hand it in.

"Alright, good. Now, please place your hands over this orb," she says, pulling out a large crystal ball.

"What's this for?" I ask, confused.

"This is to measure your magical power, so we know how to rank your group," she explains. Sure! Here's the revised version with added details about the orb shattering:

Luca and I looked at each other. "Whenever you're ready, go right ahead," she instructed. Madison went first, holding her hand over the orb. It turned blue.

"Is that a good color?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's pretty great. Here, we have a ranking system using colors: from weakest to strongest, it goes white, yellow, green, blue, red, and gold," she explained. "Hers is on the higher end of the scale, as you can see."

She ushered the next person to go. I shrugged and placed my hand over the orb. At first, it glowed faintly white, then shifted to yellow, then climbed higher, passing through green and blue, until it finally reached gold. But instead of stopping there, the orb continued to glow brighter and brighter. The light intensified, becoming almost blinding. I felt a strange energy pulsing from it as if it were growing unstable. Suddenly, with a sharp crack, the orb shattered into a thousand glowing fragments, scattering across the room.

The lady screamed in shock. Everyone in the building glanced up, and the room fell silent for a moment. Other staff members rushed over.

"What happened?" one of them asked. The lady explained, and they quickly started cleaning up the glowing shards before bringing in a new orb.

"We don't know what happened," the lady said, her voice shaking. "Here, try again."

Luca placed his hand on the orb next, and the same thing happened. The orb flickered as it began to glow intensely, then it cracked. This time, the shards exploded in all directions with a loud crash. The staff looked on, puzzled.

"What is happening?" the lady asked in confusion.

"Go get the guild master right away," she commanded. "Please wait here while we try to resolve this." She asked politely.

Madison smiled while Luca fought back laughter.

A few minutes later, the guild master arrived. He was a silver-haired man who looked to be in his late twenties. He greeted us with a smile.

"Can I ask the three of you to follow me to my office?"

We nodded and followed him around the counter to a back room. Once inside, we took a seat on a couch.

"So, not one but two of our crystal orbs broke," he said with a concerned smile. "The fact that it happened back-to-back tells me it's not a coincidence." His tone became more serious. "May I ask who you are? Even the most powerful nobles have never managed to destroy our orbs."

Madison and Luca looked at me, their faces searching mine for what to do.

"We're a few of the legendary guardians," I confessed.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"My word, you're not lying, right? Because if you're not, this is simply incredible," he said. "Might I ask why your kind has reawakened after all these centuries?" He asked eagerly, almost jumping from his seat. "The landlords seem to be causing a lot of problems throughout many planets," I say, remembering JoJo's handiwork firsthand. "We need to get as much experience as possible before our next encounter with them," I add, grimacing at the thought. It's a matter of when, not if, he'll show up. "The landlords are a planetary threat that we don't have the means to deal with," I continue. "But if it's the Guardians, then I believe they can be dealt with. Just tell me how I can help," he says, his eyes sincere.

"Firstly, don't tell anyone who we are. We don't need to be bothered when we come here for work," I say. "And secondly, just accept all the jobs we request. Nothing's off the table—from assassination to escorting, we'll do it all."

He nods, agreeing to my demands. He issues us guild cards and gets us all registered. We say our goodbyes and leave.

As we make our way back to the manor, Madison sighs and trails behind me. "This has been an eventful day, to say the least." "I'm going to take a bath, then lay in bed eating my pickles until I pass out, fat and happy," Luca says with an excited grin on his face.

"Yeah, I wish I had some coffee to suppress my appetite," I mutter, a hollow feeling inside me growing stronger the closer to home we get.

"Coffee!?" they both repeat in unison. I smile at their confusion, a small flicker of something normal inside me, but it's short-lived. The weight of my thoughts presses down again, harder this time.

Eventually, we get back and are greeted by the maids and Mrs. Dean.

"Welcome back," she says, repositioning her glasses.

"Hey, if you'll excuse me, I need to throw a sandwich together quickly, then head off to bed," I say, trying to scurry off to my room as fast as possible. I just want to escape the moment, to hide from the emotions swirling inside me.

"Can we talk while you do that? I'll only take up a few minutes," she asks softly. I sigh, trying to push the feelings away. "I guess."

"Well, that's my cue to leave," Luca says, walking upstairs. "I'll see you in the room, Dom," Madison says, waving and following after him.

We head to the kitchen. I pull out everything I want, my hands moving mechanically as I begin to build my sandwich. The familiar motions should calm me, but they only make everything feel emptier.

"I heard what happened with you and Chris earlier," she says, her voice soft and quiet, almost hesitant. The mention of Chris makes my stomach turn, a wave of anger and frustration rising in me, but I bury it beneath the surface. I don't want to deal with it right now.

"What about it? As you saw, I took care of it," I say dismissively, my words sharp, but they don't feel right. The bitterness I want to direct at him, at the world, is twisted inside of me, and I can't seem to untangle it.

"Maybe, but Mr. Stone and I had a long talk with Chris when he woke up. I think we came to an understanding that he needs to stop with the sexist behavior. He was very quiet, but he looked like he got the message," she reassures me, her voice almost maternal. It's meant to comfort me, but it only makes everything worse.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that," she says gently.

I shrug, trying to suppress the lump in my throat. "Not like it's anything new I haven't dealt with before," I say, rushing through my words, trying to finish the sandwich and get out of this conversation.

"Have men done unwelcome things to you before?" she asks carefully, almost as if she's afraid of the answer.

I shrug again, keeping my eyes on my food. I can't look at her. "So what if they have? It's not like I'm worthy of any other love," I shout, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall. My chest tightens, and I feel like I can't breathe.

I just want this conversation to be over with. Every word, every glance, feels like it's pulling open old wounds I've tried to bury. I wish I could pretend I don't feel the sting of the memories, but it's impossible. It feels like I'm drowning in them, like I'll never escape the weight of everything that's happened to me.

"I'm not ready to talk about this. Please, I feel ashamed, dirty, and gross," I say, my voice trembling. Tears finally fall, streaking down my face as I try to wipe them away quickly. I don't want to cry, but the hurt is too much.

She hugs me before I can protest, her arms holding me tightly. I stiffen at first, not used to this kind of comfort, but something in her embrace makes me crumble.

"What does one do when it's their own father doing the unwelcome things?" I ask through sobs, my voice barely above a whisper. The words are like acid in my mouth, but I can't take them back. The truth is out, and it burns me more than anything else.

I feel her tears hit my forehead as she holds me close, her grip gentle but firm. It's as though she's trying to hold all the broken parts of me together, but I know it's not enough.

"I'm going to bed," I say, pulling away. I grab my plate, feeling the weight of my actions dragging me down. I leave without looking back, I more or less maybe ready to confront JoJo, but for sure, I'm not ready to confront that.