Chapter 3: The Third Member

Matt had to process what he saw. Emi, on her balcony, with wings as white as snow.

“You’re a-“ …Venti. She was a Venti. One of the sky children, a race of winged humanoids that lived in the mountains.

Emi leapt across the balconies and pressed her hands over Matt’s mouth.

“Emi? Are you okay?” Serena called from the hall. “I heard you scream!”

“I’m fine!” She shouted back. “Just a bug! I’ll be out in second!”

She turned back to Matt, her eyes wide with terror. “You can’t tell anybody! Please! They can’t know I’m a… you know. Okay?”

Matt nodded. The last time Emi got embarrassed she’d flung herself off a cliff. He didn’t want to know what she’d do if this got out.

Emi let out a sigh of relief and stood up, flapping her wings and returning to her room. She glanced back at him and vanished from sight.

Matt was shaken. He walked out into the hall and joined the girls. Emi had her cloak on again, her wings were hidden from sight.

As Serena led them down the hall, he heard Emi whisper, “tonight,” in a quiet promise.

The last stop on the tour was a room on the third floor that Serena called “The Playroom”.

“Why’s it called that?” Matt asked.

“Because it’s where we can play, duh,” Serena laughed. The room was large, even bigger than the common room was. Weapons hung from the walls, and Matt wondered what kind of “play” she was talking about.

Serena kicked off her shoes and led them inside. The floor was soft woven fiber, and felt strange beneath Matt’s socks.

“Here we can practice,” she explained, lifting a wood staff off the wall. “Some jobs are dangerous. It’s not all picking up litter and helping old ladies cross the street. If you fight Emergents, you’re going to want to be ready.”

Emi began to shake. “D-Do I… do I have to?”

Serena walked over and placed a comforting hand on Emi’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do any job you don’t want to, okay?”

Emi felt a little better about that.

Serena turned to Matt next. “And you?”

“I’m prepared to fight Emergents,” was his answer. He’d never seen one of the beasts before, but if his brother could do it, so could he.

“Then do you mind if I test your Naturia a bit?” Serena stepped back and swept the staff to her side, tapping it against the mat. She nodded at the wall.

Matt glanced at the selection of weapons, but didn’t take any. He approached her cautiously. She may have looked like a supermodel, but her stance didn’t expose any weak points. She was a seasoned fighter.

But Matt knew a thing or two! The academy’s combat training was unparalleled. He lunged forward, fist raised.

Serena stepped to the side and her staff struck him in the leg, tripping him up. Matt fell flat on his back.

“M-Matt!” Emi gasped.

“Come on, they taught you better than that!” Serena laughed.

“Th-This isn’t fair,” Emi protested. “He doesn’t have a weapon…”

“Don’t need one,” he muttered, sitting up. “She caught me off-guard, that’s all.” He stood and took a fighting stance.

“I like boys with guts,” Serena smirked, twirling her staff. “Tell you what, if you manage to make contact, I’ll give you a kiss.” She winked.

“Bueeh?!” Emi sputtered.

Matt was so blown away by the offer he didn’t know how to react. She caught him upside the head next.

“Oww!” He hit the floor again, rubbing his jaw. “That was a dirty trick.”

“Stay focused,” Serena teased. “Don’t get… tempted.”

“I was surprised, not interested,” Matt grumbled. “I have a girlfriend.”

“Well I’m glad I didn’t break your jaw then. Wouldn’t want to ruin your kissy time.”

Matt’s face was hot. He scrambled to his feet. It was obvious she was trying to bait him, so he kept his temper.

“This is a Naturia test, Mathew. Don’t just punch.”

Matt lunged forward again, fist raised. She tried to trip him again, but he dodged, stepping back to get out of range of her staff. She came to him, bringing her staff up into his stomach.

He didn’t feel a thing. He grabbed the staff and stepped in, startling her. He pushed her shoulder and brought her down to the mat.

“…Not bad,” Serena admitted.

Matt had her pinned, but he wasn’t pleased. He got off of her. “You overstepped, so I could knock you off your balance. You let me push you over.”

Serena sat up, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry, it’s the big sister in me. Seeing a little boy trying his hardest just makes me want to spoil him.”

“Isn’t he a little old for you?”

Willow was standing at the door, not amused.

“Hey Will! Welcome to the party!”

Willow crouched down next to Matt and held her hands up. They were glowing green. He scooted away from her.

“Don’t worry,” she smiled. “I’m going to take care of you.” She reached up and cradled his cheek. The pain in his jaw began to disappear. Emi gasped as the redness disappeared.

“That’s… huh?” Her curiosity got the better of her and she approached.

“My Naturia is Nature’s Gift. I can stimulate cell growth. Bruises are a simple matter. Your ribs, though… oh?”

Willow pulled her hands back, confused.

“My Naturia,” Matt lifted his shirt to reveal the patch of dark skin underneath, “is Combat Gear. I can turn my skin into a shield. That last hit didn’t even hurt.”

“Whoa, that’s cool…” Emi was awed. She wasn’t Gifted, but she thought their abilities were cool.

Serena hopped up and brushed off her dress. “Not bad, Matt. Gotta say, you really caught me off-guard with that one.”

“Serena, it was reckless to have a practice match with him without knowing what his Naturia was. What if he flung a fireball in your face or something?”

Serena shrugged. “I’d deal.”

Willow’s eye twitched.

“You’re fine,” she said, clapping Matt on the shoulder. “I’m gonna go get something to eat.”

Serena helped him to his feet and hung up her staff. “You two can use this room however you want to practice for jobs.” She clapped her hands. “And that’s the tour! Don’t be afraid to tip your guide in compliments.”

Emi giggled.

“Lunch should be in a few hours. In the meantime, make yourself at home!” She headed out, leaving Matt and Emi alone.

Matt walked over, feeling a little awkward without Serena around to ease the mood. “Hey, Emi…”

Emi glanced warily up at him, keeping her distance.

“About that… Venti thing…”

“N-No!” Emi waved her hands frantically. “T-Tonight! I’ll come to your room! J-Just… I’m not ready yet, I’ll die!”

She turned and ran out of the room. She was gone for a few seconds before she peaked back inside.

“Um… Matt… I-I wanted to practice my magic, so…” She was too sweet of a girl to ask him to leave, but he got it. He smiled and left, heading to go put his room together. He had a lot of unpacking to do.

…

Matt was too anxious to eat lunch.

“We try to have our meals together.” Sarah was sitting at the head of the table. Ryan was the only one absent; apparently, he was going to pick up the third newcomer.

Sarah took a bite of her sandwich. “Delicious as always, Serena.”

“I went all out for our new friends. You should see what dinner is like,” she proudly replied.

“So our third member is another girl?” Willow changed the subject.

“That’s right,” Sarah said, taking another bite. “Chloe Rosenthal.”

“Too bad,” Serena sighed. “I was hoping for another cute guy.”

“Keep it under your skirt,” Willow scoffed, rolling her eyes. Serena flashed her a teasing smile in return.

“She’s a mage too, right?” Serena asked. “Not a Gifted like us?”

Sarah shrugged. “You guys, Nick, Kayla, Ryan, we’re full of Gifteds. I thought ‘hey, maybe we could bring a mage or two in!’”

Emi sunk down in her seat a little.

“Well, if she’s as cute as Emi is, I’m all for it!” Serena said, patting the brunette on the back.

Emi was still too nervous to speak up in front of so many strangers, but inside she was hoping that this Chloe would be nice.

Matt had his own question. “Is… no, never mind.” It wasn’t worth it.

“Huh? No, go ahead!” Sarah urged him. “Don’t be shy!”

“I’m not shy!”

“Good. Because when you two set foot in Strayhaven you became as much a Guardian as any of us. You’re not newbies. You’re Guardians.”

Sarah had a gentle way of talking that made Matt feel relaxed. He could see how she’d gotten her position.

“Is that… why you guys made the decision to accept three people?” He asked. “I… I’d always heard that you guys were really selective about… who you let in.”

He didn’t know who he was asking the question for. Emi? Himself? He suspected she’d only let him in because of his brother, and-

“Nope!” Sarah chirped. “I only commission people who I know are the perfect fit!”

Emi shared in Matt’s confusion.

Sarah’s grin lit up the whole room. “You guys are my family. I only let people into my family when I know that they’re right. It’s as simple as that.”

Matt’s doubts were washed away. That look in her eye told him he wasn’t here because his brother was Kanone Hearthome. Sarah wanted him. She saw something in him, whatever it was.

He wanted to live up to that.

Matt bit into his sandwich. It tasted delicious.

…

It was just past dinner by the time Ryan strolled into the common room with a big grin on his face. Matt and Serena were watching a movie and Emi was curled up in a big chair reading.

“Hey guys, you miss me?” He called. “I’ve got someone for you to meet!”

“You’re back! What took you so long?” Serena asked.

“Well, let’s just say that our newest member is a little… unusual,” Ryan said. He beckoned her inside.

Matt took a good look at Chloe as she entered the room. Her long brown braid was neat, but the rest of her was a mess. Her face had the sloppy expression of someone who’d been woken up one time too many, and her clothes were all rumpled. Her bleary gold eyes stared off into space.

“…Hi…” He waved at her.

She didn’t even notice. She yawned, walking far enough into the room to get to a couch. She flopped down and promptly went to sleep.

“She’s… interesting,” Serena laughed.

“She was like this the whole trip here, I found her sleeping at the bus stop,” Ryan said. “I practically had to carry her up the stairs. I don’t think meeting Sarah’s in the cards tonight.”

“Well, I’ll go get a blanket.” Serena got off the couch and headed for storage. “I made pasta tonight, Ryan, you must be starved,” she called over her shoulder.

“Mmm, for your cooking? Absolutely!” Ryan said, patting his stomach and heading for the dining room. That left Matt and Emi alone with the snoring Chloe.

“So… wanna talk?” Emi asked, her face sunken with resignation.