"It's a long story," said Arisa, making herself comfortable on the bright sofa. "But I'll try to summarize everything. In a short answer, we're here to recruit you for a special quest."
Thelma's brows raised and she tilted her head lightly. "A special quest?"
Arisa replied with a nod. As a short silence fell, Thelma shifted lightly from her seat, looking sideways thoughtfully. Arisa's heart sped. Despite knowing that Thelma wouldn't mind risking her life to save the worlds, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
"This quest must be really tough for you to need my help." Thelma broke the quick silence.
"It is." Kazuya folded his arms. "We're not sure if the five of us will be enough to accomplish it."
Thelma frowned. "The five of us?"
"Yes," replied Arisa. "We'll need as many Guardians as we can to defeat the obstacles we'll meet on our journey."
Thelma shifted her view to Arisa, her dark brown eyes brightening with curiosity.
"Don't tell me you were able to convert some of those bad guys to the good side," she teased.
Arisa giggled. She knew that it would be impossible to convince those Guardians to join them. After all, they did terrible things to stop her awakening. Despite that sad truth, she couldn't help but laugh at Thelma's joke.
"No." Arisa shook her head. "The five possible Guardians that will hopefully fulfill this quest are Kazuya, you, Caris, Garoh and me."
Thelma's eyes widened. For a few seconds, she looked at Arisa, her mouth agape.
"So, in the end, you really were one of the real chosen ones," said Thelma cheerfully. "I knew it!"
Arisa smiled at Thelma's energetic reaction. She remembered how happy Thelma and Nala were at the theory of her being a possible Guardian. Her heart wrenched, remembering the team's lovely healer.
At the thought of the Lunarian, she wondered how Garoh must be doing after a month of losing his lover. She curled her fingers, remembering how broken he was after the battle against Taurus.
"Caris and Garoh became Guardians too." Thelma's voice washed away Arisa's thoughts. "I can't believe I've been hanging out with my fellow colleagues all this time. Since I'm sure Caris is the Guardian of Pisces for obvious reasons, I guess Garoh is Capricorn. This means that Aries was the one that chose you, isn't it, Arisa?"
Arisa's lips curved up. "Yes; I'm Aries."
A smile spread across Thelma's face as she rubbed her chin.
"Caris would make a perfect Oracle," Thelma teased. "All her theories about you ended up being true."
"Yeah," Arisa agreed.
Memories of her first encounter with the curious looking Oceanian flashed in Arisa's mind. Caris had called her Aries even before Arisa could ask her what her name was.
Arisa remembered how fascinated Caris was with her aura. She even mentioned that Arisa and Zen could be the stars themselves as their auras resembled them. Back then, Arisa thought that it was impossible for her to actually be Aries. But in the end, everything that Caris had told her ended up being true.
Her heart raced, pumping sorrow as she remembered him.
"Then that means you were the candidate those despicable Guardians were looking for," said Thelma. "I wonder what threat you represent for them to desperately hunt down every candidate in that world."
YOU ARE READING
The Challenge of the Masters
Fantasy♈ - Book II of the Astral Guardians Series - ♌ A princess who has the fate of the worlds in her hands. A prince who has to prove himself to his people. And mutual feelings that clash with their hearts. ♐♑♓ Arisa's dream has always been to live in a...
