"So, you're telling me that the reason Frost is losing control is because he's absorbing Silvemist's hatred so she wouldn't be consumed by her emotions and ended like the first human staff?" Ezekiel repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. He needed to hear it again, just to make sure he understood the magnitude of what East had revealed.
"I mean, I thought Silvemist was the first one?" Ezekiel gestured to Silvermist, sitting quietly in front of her beside Sebastian.
"That's what we all know, until our eldest brother revealed a god-forsaken-tale recently," East replied, his lips curling into a small grimace.
He leaned back slightly, his eyes flickering towards Silvemist, who sat frozen in place, staring off into the distance with a vacant expression.
Ezekiel's gaze followed East's, and he noticed how deeply affected Silvemist seemed by everything happening around her. It was hard to imagine her carrying such a heavy burden, let alone the weight of Frost's turmoil, but East's words made it painfully clear.
"It's a complicated matter," East continued, his tone growing heavier. "This isn't something that started in our lifetime. This... this goes back to before I was even born. And strangely enough, Frost had a much clearer understanding of it all."
Ezekiel's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? What knowledge?"
"Ah, that's the problem," East said, his gaze darkening. "Frost has been carrying this knowledge for longer than anyone cares to remember. No one talks about it, and it's something that's been considered a taboo for as long as we can recall. The history of it all... no one wants to bring it up. But I'll tell you this: It's something that could unravel everything we know, and no one wants to be the one to start it all over again."
Ezekiel was silent for a moment, digesting East's words. What kind of history could there be that was so dangerous? It sounded like it could shatter the very foundation of the Guardians' world.
East's gaze turned to Silvemist again, his eyes narrowing. "And as for you, Miss Evermore," he said, his voice firm, "I believe you can do better. You were naive, utterly foolish to trust empty promises—especially coming from Sandman's apprentice? Unbelievable!"
Ezekiel tensed, instinctively glancing at Silvermist. He knew she felt the sting of East's harsh words, but to his surprise, she didn't shrink away. She didn't look down in shame. Instead, she nodded slightly, a calm resolve settling over her features.
"I'll do my best..." she said, her voice steady, and even though her words were quiet, there was an undeniable strength in them.
"Good," East replied, his gaze unwavering. "You should. You're not just dealing with Frost's burdens now—you've inherited your own. So, it's time to face them head-on. You've already set this whole thing into motion. You have to fix it."
Ezekiel sighed, heart heavy with the weight of what Silvemist had to endure. There was no doubt she'd made mistakes, but East's condemnation felt unnecessarily harsh. Still, Ezekiel understood. In some ways, East was right. This mess had started because of a single moment of misplaced trust, and now they were all caught in the storm.
"For now," East said, suddenly turning his attention to West, who stood obediently at his side, his posture stiff. "I need you to take on Frost's appearance from time to time. Keep the apprentices from suspecting anything. But make sure you don't interact with them. Just... be there when needed."
West froze for a moment, his expression darkening at the command. Ezekiel could see the weight of the task hit him like a physical blow. It wasn't just a simple matter of impersonating someone. West's talent for shifting was impressive, but it drained him—each shift drained him so severely that he'd need to sleep for days to recover.
West looked like he was about to protest, but a single glance from East silenced him. West's lips parted, but no words escaped. His eyes, usually filled with an air of superiority, now betrayed a flicker of reluctance. He was trapped in a command he couldn't defy, one that would leave him utterly exhausted.
"Understood, Master," West muttered after a long pause, his voice low and resigned.
Ezekiel exchanged a glance with Sebastian, both of them understanding exactly what West was facing. To bear the weight of Frost's appearance, even in passing, was no small task. It wasn't just the physical toll of shifting—it was the mental and emotional strain as well. West would need every ounce of strength to keep this up without slipping.
East gave a nod, his gaze sweeping over them all, clearly satisfied with the arrangement. "Good. This will buy us time while the situation unfolds. Keep your eyes on Frost, and don't let any of the apprentices catch wind of what's really going on. No one else can know the truth, not yet. Not until Frost decides what he's going to do next."
After a long, heavy silence, Silvemist finally found her voice. "Is there any chance that I can see him?"
The question hung in the air, sharp and fragile, as though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer. East's brows furrowed, his expression unreadable for a moment.
"He's reacting to you, Missy," East said, his voice tinged with something between concern and frustration. "Unless you're looking to experience what happened back at the auditorium again, and risk the lives of those around you once more, I'd suggest you think carefully."
Silvemist's stomach churned at the words, her chest tightening. She couldn't bear the thought of putting anyone else in danger because of her. But the desire to see Frost, to understand what was happening to him, to know what part of herself she was still unknowingly connected to, burned inside her.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "If there's anything that I can do, please let me know."
East's expression softened for the briefest moment, a flicker of something like pity crossing his features, but it vanished just as quickly. "It's fine. You've done enough, Miss Evermore." He hissed out a breath, his patience running thin. "Now, go back to your training, and don't leave Ezekiel's side. Not until further notice. Until then..."
Before she could respond, East rose from his seat, his presence somehow filling the room with an undeniable weight. With a flick of his hand, he vanished into the air, leaving only a fleeting scent of Jasmine lingering in the atmosphere. It was a scent that somehow seemed to carry both the sweetness of memories and the bitterness of unresolved burdens.
"Holy heck..." West cursed loudly, causing everyone in the room to turn and look at him. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
Ezekiel, on the other hand, pressed his lips together, barely containing a grin at the scene.
It had only been two days since West had last shifted into East back at the auditorium, and the process had completely drained him. He'd barely had time to recover when East had thrown a new mission at him. He was clearly not amused.
With a deep sigh, West turned and glared at Silvermist, his eyes narrowing with dramatic exasperation. "You!"
"What?" Silvermist asked, blinking innocently and purposefully looking away, her expression the epitome of confusion. She was doing her best to act oblivious, but the slight twitch in her lips betrayed her.
"Don't what me," West groaned, slumping in his chair as he dramatically wiped his forehead. "I've barely recovered from my last shift, and now this? I feel like I've been through a wringer."
Silvermist couldn't resist a snicker, her hand covering her mouth in a feigned attempt at restraint. "It's not like I told you to do that."
West stared at her for a moment, the look of disbelief almost comical. "Oh? Is that so?"
Ezekiel chuckled, finally letting the grin escape that he'd been holding back. "Maybe you should start charging for your shifts, West. You know, like an Uber ride."
West shot Ezekiel a look, too tired to properly retaliate, and then slumped back in his chair. "If I get a free ride out of this, I'm taking it. No more hero shifts for me."
Silvermist leaned forward, her expression mock-serious. "At least you'll have a good story to tell when you're old and tired."
West shot her a look that was equal parts deadpan and exhausted. "If I live to be old, that is and could you please stop talking to me?"
Silvermist grimaced, her lips tightening into a thin line as she quickly averted her gaze. The last thing she wanted was to engage in a long, drawn-out argument with West. She knew the dynamic all too well—he didn't like her, and she certainly didn't have any fondness for him either.
The tension was like a storm cloud, and Silvermist wasn't about to stick around to get caught in it. So, with a swift motion, she turned to Ezekiel, eager to leave the room.
"Well, we have more training later," Ezekiel said with a grin, his tone upbeat as always. "How about joining me for dinner first?"
Silvermist nodded without hesitation. At least she wouldn't be stuck here with the sulking, grumpy West. "Sounds good," she replied, her voice soft but genuine.
With that, they stepped out of the office, leaving Sebastian and West in their wake.
Sebastian crossed his arms, his brow furrowed as he watched them go. "Did he really just leave us for that woman?" he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with disbelief. The words were directed more toward West, but it was clear he wasn't expecting an answer.
West didn't even flinch, his gaze fixed ahead, seemingly uninterested in the question. "Why do you care?" he finally asked, his voice as cold as ever.
Sebastian blinked, a bit taken aback by the bluntness of West's response. "I—" He paused, realizing it was a pointless conversation. West had always been like this—shut off and indifferent. "Never mind."
The silence hung between them for a moment, the air thick with the unspoken. West let out a soft sigh, rubbing his temples. "Just focus on your own damn problems, Sebastian."
Sebastian opened his mouth to argue but closed it again. What was the point? West was impossible to deal with, and it was clear nothing was going to change.
With a huff, Sebastian turned away, following the others out of the office, already dreading whatever training they had next.
The moment Silvermist, Ezekiel, and Sebastian entered the cafeteria, all eyes turned to them. Whispers swirled, mostly from the girls, judging her closeness to Ezekiel's circle.
Silvermist ignored it, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Adeline and the others in the corner.
"Over here!" Mila waved excitedly, her voice carrying across the room.
Before they could move, a tall woman approached, her presence commanding attention. She wore the same uniform as the rest but with an air of regality that made her stand out. Silvermist couldn't help but stare as the woman spoke with quiet authority.
"Kiel, I need the names of all apprentices and their masters before tonight's training."
Silvermist's gaze lingered on the woman—blue hair cascading to her knees, sharp features, and piercing purple eyes that reminded her of Adeline's, but colder, more commanding. And this one do have the universe's blessing for having such great body figure.
Ezekiel nodded with respect. "I'll have that ready for you, Amethyst."
The woman's lips curled into a faint smile. "Thank you. I'll expect it before the evening session."
With a turn, she left, leaving behind a chilling, cool air. Silvermist couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease.
"Amethyst Stormhunt? Zephyr's apprentice?"
Ezekiel glanced at Silvermist and shrugged nonchalantly. "That's the Wind Guardian's apprentice, and tonight, we will be training with them."
Silvemist almost choked at her own saliva. Her blood run cold as if her entire body knew something bad would happen later.