'Richard knock him out.'
William couldn't react and was knocked out by Richard.
Richard set William down on the couch next to Marika.
'I really hope for that insolent thing it's important of else…'
Marika started to get in a meditative state and enter Williams mind.
'So what is so important that you had the nerve to disturb my sleep and wake me up.'
"Guardian, can you please let him awaken?"
'Why?'
"Because all the guards of the guardian have already awakened."
'Ohh… and who are they?'
"Michael the Yellow dragon, Levi the Red Dragon, Canus the Black dragon, Rex the Green dragon, Carl the Brown dragon, Lux the White Dragon, Genus the Azure dragon."
'Hold up, your telling me that white coat, Genus is a guard of the guardian? But he has no battle experience, he can't even hold a sword.'
'Not to mention William.'
'And Levi and Michael… they don't possess a dragon form.'
"That's not true, the red and yellow dragons do possess that but subconsciously. Didn't they fly to you when you called for all the dragons?"
Marika was thinking back and then remember seeing red and yellow dragons.
'You got a point there.'
'But still…white coat?'
"I do understand your confused but being the guard of the guardian doesn't mean necessarily that they would be fighters."
"We each carry a mark that represent our duty as the guard of the guardian."
"Each of us play a different role, while I am a scholar, I can use portal magic to transport the guardian to visit places or to bring you to safety."
"Genus is a doctor and is tasked with the health of the guardian."
"Each of us have a different role."
'Then what about Lux and Carl?'
"Carl, teacher and advisor, Lux messenger."
"The rest of them are very well versed in combat. Michael should be on pare by now with you when it comes to planning and strategist"
'Alright… I get it… I get it.'
'But why do you need to awaken now? I mean I am going to a little war but everything is already planned out and there is nothing the guards can help me with.'
"It's not at the war you need us, but after it."
'After it?'
"Yes, when you get back from that place that is holding my brothers and sisters of the blue clan."
'Ah I get it, you guys are going to help me ruin the forced wedding between my husband and that b*tch and going to show the Astrum clan they should back off and never go against me again.'
"That sums it up."
Marika was thinking for a moment and thought it wasn't a bad idea, and between now and over roughly a year William should have had enough time to be well adjusted in his dragon form.
'Well…since you have been a good boy… I let it slide this time for waking me up like you did just now, next time there will be consequences, and I will allow for you to awaken, but on one condition.'
"And what is that?"
'You have to wait a few days, because I can only help out William when I have my magic back.'
"Really…that's it?"
Marika nodded.
"Alright I accept this condition."
Marika patted the dragon, 'Do you have a name?'
"No but you can call me Will"
'All right Will.'
'I'll talk to Genus to lift the blockage so when it's removed you know you can come out.'
'I still can't believe white coat is a guard of the guardian…'
Will laughed and nuzzled her.
"I really like you, you're a funny guardian."
'Oh one more thing Will, I hate it when my sleep get disturb, but I also hate it when people disturb me when I eat.'
"Thank you for the warning, and I'm sorry to disturb you sleep for something like this."
'Well I forgive you this time because you didn't know.'
'I got to go now, be good and wait for a few days.'
Will nuzzled her again and promised to wait.
Marika came out of her meditative state.
She then stood up and rushed to the door.
"Where are you going?" Richard was a bit surprised.
'White coat!'
Richard smiled and waited for William to come to his senses.
Marika kicked down Genus door and grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out site.
"Little girl what's up with you?"
'Show me.'
"Show you what?"
'Your final form, show it to me.'
Genus sighed a little but transformed, at first she didn't see a mark but when she turned her eyes in the eyes of a dragon she saw a mark on Genus shoulder.
'Wait he wasn't kidding', Marika walk up to Genus and touched his mark.
"Hey little girl?!"
'Ahaha this is too much…'
'Why you of all dragons.'
Genus changed back.
"What do you mean?"
'You are a guard of the guardian…'
"Well I do understand that it's a lot to take in because at your first calling I wasn't there."
Genus patted her head. "For you to call upon the guards you need a different roar pitch."
Marika looked confused.
'But Carl was there and Lux and Lex were also drawn to the call.'
"Well I'm more sensitive, so I could tell you were trying to call for all the dragon kings and princes, Canus will come to you no matter which pitch you use, but some of us will not because we are tuned in to a different sound pitch."
"As for Carl… he tagged along because he had something urgent to tell you. As for Lux and Lex… since I don't know their color or back ground I can't explain it to you, maybe it's because your mixed in the call of the guard with the call of the kings."
William and Richard looking from the side and saw how Marika was being taught by Genus.
"Well normally or redder, before the great war, just before the guardian passes away they would put the knowledge in to a memory stone so the new guardian could learn from the previous about the callings and spell that could be beneficial to them. But since that knowledge doesn't exist you have to figure it out on your own."
"But little girl, you pulled of your first calling on your own without any knowledge that in itself is a great feet, so don't rush it, you'll figure out the right pitch for the guards."
"By the way little girl, who told you that I'm a guard of the guardian."
Marika pointed at William 'Will did.'
"William told you?"
'No not William, Will… his dragon.'
Genus looked at William and then at Marika "Didn't you tell his dragon to stay put?"
'I did, but he woke me up from my nap and said that all the other guard had already awakened and asked if he could as well?'
Marika then laid down in the grass, 'Well he did have a point so… I agreed that he could come out with the condition he had to wait for a few more days.'
"But why now, all of a sudden?"
'Because he told me I need the guards when I return from my little war.'
'And given the time you need to adjust to your new self it would make sense to let him awaken sooner than redder later.'
Marika then sat up again.
"Well you have a point little girl but why in a few days?"
'Well…its so I can deal with any upcoming body issues he could suffer, when I have my magic back and I…'
Genus patted her head "Alright I get it…I'll lift his blockage then. But you better not overdo it or I call for Caelum to come down and scold you."
'Please spare me uncle white coat Genus.' Marika teased him.
"If I had a niece she would be way cuter then you are.
"But my younger brother is to absorbed in his work, so he should still be single." Genus shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
'Well look at yourself your 30 years old and your still a single dog.'
"Well aren't me and your brother Alex the same age?"
'He is a lost cause…but at least he is raising two kids so he knows what it means and feels to be a father.'
"If he were to hear you say that he would cry."
'Not so much as Luca…'
"Why?"
'I have no expectation he will ever get married or raise a child or two.'
"Your such a cold sister."
Marika laughed.
Suddenly a man appeared in front of them
"Is it alright for the wife of the king to spend time with another man like this."
Marika didn't guard up because she knew Richard was nearby and she was at his castle so soldiers would come if needed.
"Well it is, since I am her doctor, and aren't doctors supposed to care for their patients."
'Pfft.'
Marika needed to keep in her laugh.
'So…who the f*ck are you and what the hell do you want?'
"Now…now My Queen calm down…I know these bats are bothersome but you shouldn't get worked up like this, you already had a stressful stay at The Blood Castle."
'Your right doctor Genus.'
The man handed over a letter and an Marika started to read and Genus looked over her shoulder.
As she was done reading it 'William, could you come and have a look at this?'
William came over and read the letter.
"My Queen what is this?"
'I think it's a declaration of war…'
"Are you sure? I looks more like a letter that was written by a child who is throwing a fit."
William handed her back the letter.
Marika then started to write something down on the back of the paper and gave it back to the man.
'Here is my reply.'
The man suddenly had his sight set on William but Richard pulled his sword.
"Don't think about it, or it will not be Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi but Lunae Lumen who will wage a war with Cruentus."
The man backed off and left the castle grounds.
"What did you write down as a reply?" Richard asked her.
'Hey preschooler, redo it because I won't take this as a decent declaration of war.'
They all started to laugh.
"I can already imagine the look on his face."
"I bet he will be searing with rage."
"I bet he will be bald in no time."
Marika laughed 'Too bad we can't see that for ourselves.'
It was in the middle of the night when Marika was woken up.
'Mom…mom… wake up.'
'Uhm Regina…why are you here?'
'Mom grandpa Consilium send me to tell you it was time.'
Marika instantly woke up and knew what it meant.
Richard had also woken up "Sweetie do you need me to come with you?"
Marika hurried and dressed herself.
'You can come whenever you want I'll be heading out first.'
Marika opened the door to the balcony and jumped down transformed and took off together with Regina.
Richard woke up Kevin and Dante by telling them that there sister will be at The Forest of Eternal Night to say goodbye to Consilium.
"Alright we will take Socius to get there as well but we will keep our distance."
"See you there."
Richard got dressed and left a note for William telling him that the pain and sadness he will feel was nothing worry about and that he was with her.
Richard also took off to the sky.
Marika arrived and changed back to her normal self and ran up to Consilium, Agrius, Ferox and her children.
"He fell asleep big sister."
Marika sat down and laid Consilium head on her lap and started to pet him while humming a tune.
A few hour had passed and Consilium woke up again.
"Ahh child you are here."
'Of course I am, I promised you; didn't I.'
'Are you in any pain?'
"No, that went away ever since you came here."
"Ever since these youngest came, I heard many stories about you and that Catlaster has become a father himself."
Marika smiled 'Hum…Silva is a wonderful mother, she is now with her kids at The Moon Wolf Clan to help out my daughter.'
'When I told my daughter she is pregnant she was so anxious and fearing that she would be a bad mother. So I asked her if it would help her if Silva came over so she could get use to pups and Silva could teach her about motherhood.'
"I knew from the moment we met you were a great child, who is wise and would bring change for the better."
Marika noticed that Consilium heartbeat slowing down by each minute.
'Old friend thank you for taking care of my children and keeping them save for me.'
"Ahh the three of them really made me enjoy my last days in this world, they took good care of me and I can tell you did a wonderful job raising them."
Khai, Regina and Nova sat down next to Marika
'Thank you for teachings grandpa.'
"We really liked it, you were staying with us…"
"Thanks to grandpa we were less lonely."
"Kids always listen to you parents and grow strong and healthy."
'We will grandpa.'
"I'm sorry child but this old wolfs is a little tired, I'll be taking a nap if you don't mind."
'That's fine…'
Consilium fell asleep and after a few minutes he breath out his last breath.
Agrius and Ferox let out an howl, and tears started to drip from her eyes.
'Sleep well my friend.'
Marika sat there for half an hour until she was finally calm again.
Richard, Dante and Kevin were standing in the distance keeping an eye on her.
"It seems sister has calmed down."
"Let's just stay here, she will come or call for us if she needs us."
Marika took the body of Consilium and buried it under a tree near the house and placed some flowers and a stone.
'Consilium please watch over this place and us.'
'Kids it time to come with me to Moon Castle.'
"Are you going to get your magic back?"
Marika nodded 'Is that going to be a problem?'
"No mom, not at all."
'We are ready whenever you are.'
Marika looked at her children although it hasn't been a month, she could tell her kid's had grown a lot.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
'Ahh if you're going to act like grownups even more you're going to make your mother cry.'
And she hugged them.
'We can't stay childish forever.'
'Why not? I know a vampire who is an adult but still act as a child'
Richard, Kevin, and Dante came up to them.
And the 3 of them hugged Marika.
'I am alright…and thank you for coming.'
'Let's go home.'
On her way back to the castle she told Khai about the incident in the village.
'I'm sorry Khai, I told you never to act like a living shield; because I wouldn't do that, but I broke my word and I still did it.'
"Mom…if you didn't do that then the baby would have died, and don't apologize for something like that. You did everything so an innocent life wouldn't be lost."
"Mom what happened with the 10 survivors you mentioned?" Nova asked.
'The 6 pups are living in the human world and the 4 adolescents are in Cruentus.'
When they arrived at the castle they were met with William who look a little anxious.
Dante and Kevin noticed and knew he still wasn't use to the bonding spell so they walked over to him and said she was fine.
"You'll get used to it."
"She is still mourning but silently."
"If you say so…"
"She is going to be fine, don't worry."
As they all went inside Marika told them to go to dining room and Marika went to the kitchen.
There she was greeted by the staff and she thank them for the meal that they prepared for her dinner party she had with the soldiers and asked them to help her with making breakfast.
In the dining room Richard filled the others in on her war with Cruentus, but he left out her complete plan for breaking the barrier.
After half an hour Marika and a few servants came in with the breakfast.
As they were eating Marika asked her children how their training went?
"We made a lot of progress and our magic abilities and spells our have grown a lot."
'I can use both offensive and defensive spell, and my offensive spells are long ranged so.'
'But barrier spells are my specialty.' Regina said proudly.
'And what about you Nova?'
"While I can cast barriers, they aren't as strong as strong as sister Regina's, but my offensive spells are stronger then hers."
'And how is your magic coming along Khai?'
"Well while they trained there magic, I focused on my body and learned to channel my inner energy better when healing."
"Mom can we go to the training ground after breakfast?"
Marika nodded.
'Mom…can I and Nova go to Ignis after breakfast.'
'Sure why not…but don't create trouble for uncle Cillus.'
"Then I leave the palace in you capable hands sweetheart."
'Where are you going?'
"With the kids to Ignis."
'Alright, but don't complain to me if your castle is in a state of disarray, when you come back.' Marika teased him.
Marika and Khai saw off Richard, Regina and Nova.
They then walked over to the training grounds, where the met a few soldiers training.
"Good morning My Queen."
'Good morning, how is the training going?'
The soldier told her they were doing good and that some were still had some difficulties in some aspects.
'Alright…'
Marika told the soldier to round up the man that were struggling.
As the soldier did that she told Khai to wait for a moment and she would be done soon, but also use it as a learning opportunity.
All the soldiers were gathered around and Marika didn't say anything and charged at them.
As they were fighting her, she knew exactly where the problems lied.
'You, you and you sit down and start to meditate, and you watch there breathing.'
'You, you, you, and you; you let your other senses control you too much, blindfold them and have them sit down.'
'The rest of you are going to observe me and my son Khai.'
Marika gave Khai a pair of training swords and they started sparring.
Marika was smiling throughout her sparring session with Khai, he was a master over his body completely and he mastered her and Richard's move set to perfection.
They were at it for half an hour but Marika wanted to see where his limit lied so she kept sparring with him. Another hour had past and Khai started to show signs of fatigue , she estimated he could stand for another hour if he had the sheer will power.
Marika stopped. 'Alright that's it for today.'
Khai stood down but still had his guard up, Marika noticed he hadn't dropped his guard what was a good sign.
[Ignis castle]
Richard, Nova and Regina arrived at the castle
Cillus came up to them and greeted them.
"How is Mari doing?"
'Mom is doing fine under the current circumstance.'
"Ohh what happened?"
'Early this morning her friend past away of old age.'
"Hey sis don't talk about that." Nova whispered.
"Nova it's fine, if she doesn't tell him he will be more worried about you mother."
'We were all sad because grandpa Consilium passed away, but even because mom knew it was his time, it still hurt her deeply.'
"Well Regina, saying goodbye to our loved ones and dear friends is never easy even if we know it's there time to leave us."
Regina hugged Cillus and cried softly while he patted her head.
Richard had a warm smile on his face because she behaved a little like Marika.
Canus came running out side
"Nova!"
"Why are you here?"
"We came to fetch that women."
"Already…but aren't you a week to early?"
"Well you go complain at mom about that."
"Hell no!"
And everybody started to laugh.
"Where is Lenis?"
"He is with Luca, he has his regular health checkup."
"Alright."
"Kid's why don't you go and play with Canus since he seems bored."
"Alright dad, hey uncle Canus shall we go explore the rest of the castle."
Canus nodded "Regina are you coming with us?"
'Sure, let's see if we can find even more secrets.'
The three of them left.
"How is Regina around Canus and Cinis?"
"Pretty much the same as with me, she view's me as an uncle and Canus and Cinis as her brothers, just like her mother."
"But I have to say while she likes to do things with Canus, her bond with Cinis is a little stronger."
"How so?"
"Well while she can fight and defend herself, she found that spending time with Cinis and learning from him was more suitable to her."
"My daughter went from a raudy little girl to a calm one?"
"She did tell Cinis that she was frustrated she couldn't keep up with her brothers, so he told her he was the same when he was younger but after some time he found that even if he wasn't as strong as Canus, he found a different way to support his brother."
"If he couldn't do it by physical strength then he would study hard and support him from the shadows with his mental strength."
"This helped her to overcome her frustration, but still she barged in to my office like her mother would if she was stuck on something or just needed a change of passe."
Richard and Cillus arrived at Lenis room and knocked on the door.
"Lenis you have a visitor."
Lenis opened the door and saw Richard. "How is Marika doing?"
"She is fine, but it's time to go back, Marika is speeded up her magic recovering plan with a week so…."
Lenis looked happy "Really? When do we leave?"
"Well that will be tomorrow morning, since Nova and Regina are also here, I don't think they want to leave anytime soon."
Lenis nodded and went out of the room, since he heard that Regina and Nova were also here.
"What is my sister up to this time?" Luca asked.
"Because Alex called me the other day and sounded like our sister was going to die soon."
"Well… she is not going to die…only disappear for a year."
"And how is that not as bad as dying!?"
Richard started to explain what she was going to do.
"Really???"
Richard nodded.
"What the hell is wrong with her!!!"
"Calm down Luca, you know Mari is The Guardian of the 3 Worlds, she can't ignore this you know that."
"But still…"
"I don't like it either… but when I was told what Solis had seen of her future, it's better this way."
"How is this better?"
"Well she alter her plan in order not to get trapped in that place by herself and all alone for many years. When she finally got out I was married already to someone else even thought it was forced she felt betrayed even when she knew very well I was forced, she left for seclusion, only our children knew where she was, and by the time I finally got out of that marriage your sister had died of an broken heart."
"But this changed all thanks to Khai splitting of his soul and put it in her and meeting Lenis what opened up the truth behind everything she went through. Now she will battle in her fully restored magic and not in her current condition."
"She is determined to get rid of the problem including the root."
"And when this is all over, she then finally obtain her true desire."
Luca was speechless "Fine but she will be locked up after everything is over."
"Ahaha good luck with that brother in law."
"And you don't have to yell at her because I already did."
"But please do pretend you know nothing and think your sister is off to die, because that is what she wants her enemies to think."
"But why is she going alone?" Cillus asked Richard.
"She is not, me and Canus are going with her and a army."
[Next day]
Richard called Marika
"Sweetie you need to leave the castle…"
'I already left, I'm at the mansion right now training Khai.'
"Alright but you are not allowed…"
'I know that woman will be there in the dungeon.'
'I'll be a good girl and stay here.'
'You just have to let me know when I can come to the temple to retrieve my magic, everything else is up to you and the kids.'
'Just don't take too long, because I still have to go to Ignis with the children of the village, and we don't even know what the side effect will be once I get it back not to mention since my battle magic is starting to grow back we don't even know if it's going to be a problem, so you have to plan out everything tightly because you only have an window of 10 minutes to work with.'
"Well if you like we can start in 3 days."
'Really!?'
"While you were at Ray and Julia I already, already had my preparation done at the temple. The only thing that was left was to wait for you and the kids."
'Alright, give me a call when I can come over.'
Marika ended the call.
Khai gave Marika a hug attack.
"Mom we know it's going to hurt a lot because Regina told us what she had seen. But I'll be there to ease the pain for you."
Marika hugged Khai.
'Hum…thank you, but your mom still can't seem to shake this fear.'
"Mom we will all be there so it's not like the time they stole your magic when you were alone and trapped. We will give you back what was stolen and then you can walk out of the room with us and nobody is going to stop you."
[Moon castle]
Lenis was talking to Richard and he would help him guide to retrieve the magic and how to mend them together.
"While you were away for your revenge, Marika's battle Magic started to grow again. But we don't know how much and if it will cause a problem."
"While I had my revenge I had a good look on Marika's magic that is inside that woman," he drew up what he saw.
"We are extremely lucky that the magic in that woman also didn't mend together."
"But I need to have a look at Marika's magic to see if any problems can occur, so we can look for a solution beforehand instead of on the spot."
Richard called for William.
"William, Marika is now at the mansion to train Khai, could you bring Lenis over to her."
William opened a portal for Lenis.
Before Lenis went through, "Don't worry, because when this is all over, there is nothing that can threaten her life anymore."
Richard smiled at these words, but knew he still had one more obstacle to overcome without her, but she gave him the knowledge to do it.
So he was determent to succeed at it.
[Mansion]
Marika was cleaning up the training area together with Khai when she got a hug attack from Lenis.
'Lenis, how have you been? How is your health?'
"I'm good, I'm also almost fully recovered."
'That's great news.'
'Did you get your revenge?'
Lenis nodded "Her mind is completely shattered."
Marika smiled 'Well in a few days I'm going to shatter her body.'
'Lenis did my brother talked to you about what he had discovered about the facility where we were trapped in?'
"No…what did he discover?"
'Well let's talk inside, but I want you to know this will be very hard for you, and taking it all in… just let me know what you need and I make sure you get it.'
Marika told Derick to bring up some tea and then they went to her room.
Marika told him what Luca had found out about her and what they did to her.
'I was there for a year and was brought back to the exact point in time they took me, I at first thought it was a nightmare.'
'Not long ago I encountered a dragon who also got his magic stolen and suffers just like me, we regress when our body's undergo an great amount of stress.'
'But you are a total different story, so I asked a friend of mine to come by, because you yourself should hold magic and a form. I also explained to him about your eyes and if this could be any problem when you place your hand on a orb of recognition.'
'He told me that it should not affect or interfere. So are you curious about your own color and form?'