Friends and Enemies

While the teenage girl, with long platinum-white hair, ran towards the corridors, everyone whispered and pointed at her, saying stuff like:

—It's her, isn’t it?

—Her hair is so weird!

—She is not even an auroran to have colorful hair!

Adelynne, the owner of long platinum blonde hair, didn't notice the stares around her. Instead, she focused her attention on the walls. She already knew that registration for the global guardian exam had just opened. But the quickest way to register that day was to get the form for the QR code and save the website until she got home, when she could register calmly and pay the fee securely.

Her father always told her to stay safe. He didn't like the idea of ​​her being a guardian, as he thought it was very dangerous. Adelynne could sense that it might have something to do with her mother—a mother whose face Adelynne didn't even know. There were no photos of her mother anywhere in the house. What Adelynne thought most likely was that her mother was a guardian and died when she was little. But when she asked if that was the case, her father only said:

—It’s a good theory.

Nothing confirmed. Nothing denied.

Adelynne knew she had found what she was looking for when she found a crowd of students near a wall. Impatient, she ran towards the crowd, offering small apologies as she walked through the people. Finally, she managed to see the poster in its entirety. There was a large QR code underneath, an image of Markus, the Hikwa and leader of the guardians, and the words:

GLOBAL GUARDIAN EXAM

REGISTRATION PERIOD: MAY 25 (00:00) TO JUNE 25 (23:59)

EXAM PERIOD: JULY - AUGUST

REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE: www.globalguardianexam.com/subscriptions

Adelynne pointed her cell phone camera at the QR code, immediately opening the link. Then, she turned off her cell phone, saving the window with the website open. She was putting her cell phone back in her handbag when she heard a familiar, yet venomous voice:

—Cutting in line?

Adelynne rolls her eyes when she hears the voice. She turns and sees Emma, ​​the most popular girl in school, who hated her without Adelynne knowing why. Her long, blonde hair perfectly complemented her porcelain-white skin, without a single blemish in sight, already irritated Adelynne. It wouldn't irritate her if Emma didn't stop accusing and bothering her.

The students looking at the poster walked some steps behind to let Emma pass. Then, Emma pushes Adelynne aside, who takes a few steps to the side, and observes the poster. Emma smiles mockingly, chuckles and then looks at Adelynne.

—Do you really think you can be a guardian?

—You’re too weak!—Corbin, Emma’s friend, said behind them before laughing.

Corbin is also white and has light brown, slightly curly hair. He's the same height as Emma, ​​which makes him shorter than the others, but he's the best in school in super strength, so he's captain of the rugby team. Even so, despite his strength, he blindly obeyed the women he found attractive. And Adelynne was definitely not one of them.

Adelynne clicks her tongue indignantly. Emma giggles. And comments:

—That’s not even the problem, Corbin.—she turns to face Adelynne.—She’s evil.

—Oh, shut up!—Adelynne retorted.—I don’t mock others!

Emma touches Adelynne's hair, which is long and platinum blonde. Adelynne's skin is also fair, just like Emma's. But Adelynne wasn't albino: she was simply born with a rare mutation in the melanin in her hair that makes it white. Only 1% of the population has this type of mutation, which appeared after the Aurorans and magic emerged.

—Not only your hair is weird, but you think too much of yourself!—Emma let go of Adelynne’s hair.—You’re pretentious and rude, how dare you tell me to shut up? People like you aren't fit to be guardians.

—Then you can't be, you bully!—Adelynne pointed at Emma.—I'm going to be the best guardian this world has ever seen.

Emma laughed mockingly and said:

—I don't even want that. And you're a terrible person, there's no way you can be better at anything! Besides being stupid.

—Hey!—Adelynne crossed her arms—Just because I'm bad at math doesn't mean I'm stupid!

—English, math, geography, and history are subjects covered in the preliminary written exam.—Emma tapped Adelynne's forehead lightly enough not to hurt her, but enough to annoy her.—And you're bad at everything.

—Ugh, stop being so full of yourself just because you have the best grades!—Adelynne complained.

—Stop it, guys!—said a familiar voice, which relieved Adelynne.—It's wrong to mistreat others!

Emma glances at someone behind Adelynne and rolls her eyes.

—You're too soft, Lilith. I don’t know how you bear her.—Emma looks at Adelynne.—I'll only stop because she asked me to!

Emma turns and leaves with Corbin. The other students, too stunned to speak and listening to the bell that indicates another class, got out from the front of the poster, leaving only her and Lilith next to it. Adelynne felt relieved with each step they took away from her. Soon, she turns and sees Lilith, her best friend, and smiles. Lilith has fair skin, and her black hair is short, shoulder-length or even shorter. She walks up to Adelynne and looks at the poster, asking:

—What did you do this time?

Adelynne frowns. She didn’t mean to do anything. She never did, although Lilith always asked this same question every time Emma mocks her.

—I don't know, I was just looking at the poster.

—Were you staring?—she asks, looking at her friend.

Adelynne stuttered, looking at the poster and then at Lilith.

—I think so.

Lilith giggles.

—Now I understand, Addie. Emma thought that, by looking at the poster for so long, you were trying to show off.

Adelynne is a little bothered by the nickname, but says nothing. Nobody knows how to spell her name right away anyway. She always preferred to be called by her full name or Lynne. But Lilith always forgets that she didn’t like "Addie," so Adelynne only let Lilith call her that nickname.

Adelynne scratched her head and asked awkwardly:

—Oh, right.

Lilith nods.

—I know it's not your fault Emma annoys you, but you don't help either, do you?

Adelynne felt awkward, as she thought she had done nothing wrong, and stammers:

—Uh…yeah, maybe.

Lilith puts her hands on Adelynne's shoulders, smiling.

—Emma likes me. Do you want me to clear up the misunderstanding with her?

—Oh, yes.— Adelynne replies, excitedly.—And tell her I don't understand the accusations she makes.

—Sure.—Lilith says, taking her hands off her shoulders.—That's what friends are for. By the way, why are you looking at the poster?

Adelynne looks at the poster and sighs.

—I think I’ll take the global exam

—Don’t do this.—Lilith asked, with a worried face.—A guardian’s job is very dangerous. And you can save the day in videogames, which is safer.

Adelynne looks at Lilith and scratches her head.

—Do you think so?

—Yes. I don’t want to lose you.

Adelynne chuckled a little bit. Lilith have always been overprotective over her. Shortly after, Lilith's phone rings. She answers and starts talking.

—Hello? Oh, okay, I'm coming.—she hangs up.

Adelynne frowns. Lilith giggles and explains:

—It was my father. It seems I forgot my history book, I have to go get it.

—Oh, okay!—Adelynne says.—You can go, I'll let the teacher know.

Lilith hugs her, thanking her:

—Thank you, Addie.

Lilith lets go of Adelynne and runs off. Adelynne walks to her locker.

Lilith and Adelynne have been friends since they were twelve years old. They connected because of something sad, actually: both were motherless orphans, the difference being that Lilith got to know her mother. But she always went to Adelynne's house and the two played a lot. They always went out together, did everything together. They just never went to Lilith's house, which, by the way, is literally next to their high school.

Adelynne reaches her locker, opens the door, takes out her history book and heads straight to class.

------------------------

—At that time, towns began to form…

The teacher was explaining the middle ages to the class. Half of the class was actually paying attention, while the other half was thinking about the Global Guardian Exam.

Adelynne was paying attention to the teacher (or trying to, because the teacher spoke like a snail), until she looked around and saw that Lilith's desk was empty. Which was strange, considering that Lilith's house was only five minutes from school, making the round trip only ten minutes, when thirty minutes of class had passed. And also, this was a class that both Adelynne and Lilith attended.

Adelynne kept raising her hand until the teacher noticed her.

—Yes?

—Can I go to the bathroom?

The teacher clicked her tongue, annoyed, but said:

—Okay, go.

Adelynne grabbed her long-strapped bag and left the room. Even though the teacher found it strange, and Adelynne knew that leaving with her bag would probably lead to this, the younger girl didn't care. She needed to know why Lilith was taking so long. As soon as she left the classroom, Adelynne went to Lilith's locker. It was locked and there was no one around. She looked around and there was no one there, just a deafening silence, so Adelynne took her cell phone out of her bag and called Lilith. But she didn't answer. Adelynne called again and nothing. She called once more and nothing. Adelynne sighed, frustrated, and sent a message:

ADELYNNE: Hi, where are you?

ADELYNNE: Class is already halfway through, why is it taking so long?

Lilith wasn't even online. Adelynne sighed again and decided she would go to the bathroom. That way, she wouldn't lie to the teacher.

Adelynne walked a little and soon arrived at the bathroom. She entered the stall and closed the door, but soon heard footsteps and Emma's voice:

—How long are you going to pretend to like her?

—I don't know, but I won't keep pretending for much longer.—Lilith says.

Adelynne's eyes widened. She stood still, so they wouldn't notice her there.

—Addie is unbearable! I can't stand pretending to be her friend anymore!

Emma giggles.

—What did she do?

—She's a snob! She thinks that just because her dad is nice she has the right to be happy! When my dad is a drunk gambling addict!

Adelynne fought internally against the tears of disappointment that welled up in her eyes. Why? Why did she pretend to be her friend? Why did she lie about her father?

—And are you going to reveal that Corbin is your boyfriend?—Emma asks.

—Of course I will.—Lilith replied.—He does everything I tell him to. Just ask him to hit Addie, and I'll humiliate her. But that useless girl mustn't know anything about this beforehand.

Emma laughed. Adelynne felt evil in her laughter, as if she was a Disney villain or something. Then, Emma said:

—You're a genius!

—I know, right?—Lilith sneered.—Nobody but her daddy likes her anyway!

Both laughed mockingly, and that was enough to make Adelynne explode. She opened the door and yelled, looking at Lilith:

—You traitor!—Tears welled up in her eyes.—I trusted you!

Emma chuckled. Lilith rolled her eyes, not resembling the friend Adelynne thought she had at all, and then looked Adelynne up and down.

—Do you really think anyone will even like you? Do you think you can be a guardian?

—I WILL be a guardian! The best of all!— Adelynne yelled, still with tears in her eyes.

Lilith laughed mockingly and slapped Adelynne.

—I won't let you be a guardian. Even if you try, I'll be approved in your place. Then you'll become an old woman with an unfulfilled dream!

Emma and Lilith left, laughing. Adelynne burst into tears, but soon began trying to wipe them away. She looked at herself in the mirror and went to wash her face at the sink. The tap is automatic, so as soon as a hand gets close, water comes out. Adelynne washed her face once. Twice. And then looked at herself in the mirror again.

"I'm a wreck," Adelynne thought, "But it won't stay like this."

Adelynne stared at her image in the mirror. At that moment, she decided: she wouldn't let Lilith have the last laugh. She would be a guardian, no matter the cost, no matter the pain. After all, that was her dream. And no danger nor false friends, nor even illusory advice would stop her. She will stop doing what’s convenient to others who plan evil stuff, and do what she knows is right.