As I watched the trees pass beneath us through the helicopter window, I could feel the hole being drilled into the side of my head. Looking at her in the reflection, she looked angry, afraid even, and I wanted to explain, but the two pilots in the front might overhear us. As we flew over the wall, I saw the citadel, where people resembled ants scurrying about the camp, illuminated by floodlights, with dawn still several hours away.

  Disembarking from the helicopter, we remained silent while a member of the hotel staff waited off to the side to escort us in. I was thankful to bypass all the usual procedures we would have had to endure; it was certainly better than getting a lift back with the soldiers. Once we were brought to Mum’s room, as soon as the door clicked shut, I swiftly pulled Meadhbh’s crystal out and handed it to her, grateful that she was immediately drawn into her core, catching her crumpling body and ensuring the crystal stayed in her grasp.

  “Who do you think will win?” Ashley chuckled, glancing at the two on the bed.

  ‘Do whatever you need to, quickly; she’s already panicking and smashing things,’ Meadhbh cried out. I laughed; nothing could truly be destroyed as it was nothing more than a solidified mirage.

  “It feels surreal,” Ashley remarked as she joined me in the shower, sitting on the floor to rest while the water cascaded down on us.

  I sat there in silence, massaging the foot she'd placed on my lap, my eyes unfocused as I tried to decide what to tell Mum. There was no concealing the truth, but should I reveal the whole truth? Feeling her pull her foot away from me, I snapped out of my trance as she crept across the floor to sit on my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck. Embracing her eagerly, I moved my hands over her as our lips met, feeling her push herself against me.

  “What are you thinking about? It’d better be me.” She chuckled mischievously, but I understood what she meant. I could sense her playful emotions, a curious feeling that guided me on where to look to see her and understand how she was feeling. I couldn’t read her thoughts, but I could certainly feel how she felt.

  “I’m not sure how to explain us to her. How can I describe these sudden emotions we experience? Everything else seems fairly straightforward, but us?” I pleaded, gazing into her eyes.

  “Then don’t. Just tell her that we’ve been through something that has benefited us both. We’ll maintain a bit of distance between us as we learn to understand everything about what this means for us.” My heart ached as she spoke, and I held onto her tighter, not wanting to let her go. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to run off on you. Or were you thinking we’d run off, get married, and find a forever home after just a week together? You haven’t even taken me out for dinner yet; I like Italian, by the way.”

  “Well, I kind of made you dinner, so that doesn’t count?” I asked, pouting playfully.

  Leaning in to whisper, she made me shiver as her lips brushed my ear. “No, you’ll have to do better than that. I still want to enjoy all the fun things that other couples do before you think you can drag me into the same bed again.”

  As she gave me one last lingering kiss, I felt her tongue glide down my neck where she nibbled on my shoulder before rising to her feet. Wiggling her bum at me, I chased after her, getting a towel thrown in my face for my efforts. As I paused to admire myself in the bathroom mirror, I marvelled at how much I had changed over the past few days. As I flexed my arms, the muscles bulged noticeably, revealing a clear definition in my abs as well. Puffing up my chest, I cupped my boobs, they definitely felt bigger, at least a whole cup, while Ashley had definitely gained almost two. I could barely see the resemblance to the woman I had been before our trip, standing in this very same spot.

  As I prepared to confront Mum after wrapping myself in a towel, Ashley stopped me in the doorway, stealing one last kiss before I took Meadhbh’s crystal from Mum’s hands. As her consciousness returned to her body, she looked around, frightened, while we sat beside her, and I could see tears glistening in her eyes.

  “What? What’s that? Who are you? What’s happened to you both?” The questions began to pour out almost immediately as she shuffled away from us on the bed.

  “It’s a long story,” I said hesitantly; it’s probably easier if I show you part of it. Standing up, I opened the portal to my core, and Ashley practically danced inside, eager to rummage for clothes. We had returned with almost nothing; the clothes Freya left were filthy from yesterday, and I had very few items suitable to wear now.

  “What?” she said nervously, but I gently pulled her up as she half-heartedly attempted to resist. I managed to guide her through it as she paused, glancing at my Guardians who sat patiently nearby. Vonga had already trotted over to Ashley’s side, perched there and waiting for her customary head pats, but she was too busy rummaging through the wardrobe I had spent an hour dragging from my apartment into here.

  “This is my true ability. I can take mana stones and give them a body to live again, sort of,” I explained, keeping my arm wrapped around her to prevent her from running away. As I filled in the gaps of the story surrounding my escape, I recounted whatever I could while Meadhbh subtly reminded me if I forgot anything. In an attempt to skip the first half of the trip, Ashley revealed that I had punched her on the train, much to Mum’s shock. However, I decided to play dirty and tattled on the time she struck me on the back of the head with her staff.

  As I tried to explain what had occurred when we merged our essences, Meadhbh fortunately reappeared just as Mum looked ready to strike her. I couldn't help but wonder what had transpired between the two of them, but Meadhbh had fortunately overheard our conversation and offered an alternative explanation. We all shrugged when she asked about how our bodies had changed, with Meadhbh suggesting that the level of power we had dealt with must have rejuvenated our bodies and resulted in a growth spurt.

  “So what, are you now some hero who has to save the day?” she asked, tears welling in her eyes as my story concluded.

  “No,” Meadhbh interrupted before I could respond. “Ascendants aren’t heroes who flit about solving people’s mundane problems; they’re leaders, generals and diplomats, rights bestowed by the Spires. This world will belong to them. A good ruler leads her people effectively and stands at the forefront of its defence.”

  “You hear that, Sadie?” Ashley asked with a cheeky grin. “You need to be diplomatic, which means no punching people for saying rude things.” I tried to lift my middle finger and stick my tongue out, but Mum intercepted me, and I retracted my tongue bashfully.

  “What if I don’t allow it? You’re my baby; I can’t lose you like I lost your father,” she said, holding my hand and looking at Meadhbh before turning to Ashley. “And what about your parents? Are you going to tell them as well?”

  “Nope, absolutely not. Not in a million years. Have you seen my mum’s butchery skills? I’d much rather enjoy living!” she replied dramatically, crossing her arms to form a large X. “At least you suspected something and noticed some subtle changes; she won’t have that same advantage.”

  I chuckled at her reaction, feeling my stomach rumble as I flushed red. “I reckon we all need a hearty breakfast," Mum suggested, and I nearly died from happiness upon hearing those words.

  After standing there for an hour in just my towel, I finally got dressed in an old sundress that now fell above my knees; it at least fit, even if it was out of season. Over breakfast, we attempted to figure out what to do next, from choosing clothes, to training and my desire to increase my number of Guardians. In the back of my mind, I pondered the idea of returning home, to Grandfather and the estate.

  Leaving Dublin was surprisingly quiet as Mum subtly managed the affairs surrounding our rescue, using her influence to keep the interrogators at bay. As I watched the city fade into the distance, I looked up along the horizon where it had all unfolded, feeling a twinge of nostalgia that prompted Ashley to seek me out. Linking her arm through mine, we stared in silence at the ship’s wake, the propellers churning the water below, mirroring my emotions.

  “Don’t worry, you have me now,” she said unbidden, and I felt a little better as we rested our heads against each other, Mum at least two decks below in one of the first-class lounges, learning all she could from Meadhbh.

  Immigration in Holyhead was an unusual affair. The officer was initially hesitant, but after unexpectedly receiving a call and being unable to interject before hanging up, he quickly sent us through, casting furtive glances back at us. Mum and Ashley also noticed, but we continued to the train and breathed a sigh of relief once we were in our cabin. Leaving Meadhbh in Mum’s care, they became fast friends once she realised how to project her thoughts. I had been a bit nervous about leaving the two of them together, but Mum was simply curious about what life on other worlds was like.

  Ashley sat opposite, absorbed in the romance novel she had picked up at the ferry terminal before we boarded. I had jokingly asked if she was looking for study material and offered to suggest a few books if she fancied, which earned me an elbow to the waist behind Mum’s back and a flushed scowl. Scrolling through my phone, I felt the train brake suddenly, bringing us to a swift stop again. I looked outside, realising we were half out of the last station before London. Straining against the window, I couldn’t see anything, but felt Ashley tap my leg. Turning to look at her, I saw Terence standing in the corridor, staring in.

  “Good afternoon, ladies. May I take this seat?” he inquired as he slid the door open to enter the cabin just as the train began to pull away again. Without waiting for any of us to respond in our stunned silence, he seated himself next to me, though not uncomfortably close.

  “Who are you?” Ashley finally asked, glaring at the intruder.

  “Mr Waters, what an unpleasant surprise. I didn’t realise the company had oversold the cabin; I shall make my complaints known,” Mum said, her tone dripping with displeasure as she glared at him.

  Reaching inside his suit jacket, I clenched my fist, prepared to strike if he attempted anything, but I relaxed as I noticed the white corner of a sheet of paper. I read his name, written in exquisite penmanship, as he flipped it over to reveal the contents. “Yesterday morning, a Caretaker intruded in my office to hand me this. They also issued a warning that we are not to harm you in any way.”

  Furrowing my brows in confusion, I snatched the letter he presented and read it, feeling a chill shoot up my spine. Passing it to Mum, she shared my bewilderment as she read it too.

  ‘Well, don’t leave me in the dark; what does it say?’ Meadhbh called from inside Mum’s handbag, which she clutched in her lap. I relayed the contents to her as she asked. ‘Damn it, I specifically told them to wait a week so you could acclimatise to your new bodies.’

  “Well, there goes our four-day weekend,” I said bitterly. I had intended to shower and bury myself in a proper bed for several days, but it looked like they had other plans for us.

  “Are you in any danger? Is it connected to the sudden change you both have just experienced? Are you the potential threat?” I could hear the concern in his voice as I glanced out of the window, catching Ashley’s gaze in the reflection.

  “They had three or four days to spirit us away while they guarded us as we slept through the change, so no, I don’t think we’re in danger. I believe the warning was meant to prevent you from making the wrong assumption and attacking us for no reason.” I answered calmly, watching his reflection as he listened, the drops of rain on the window moving sideways as we picked up speed.

  “May I ask what has happened? Such a change in such a brief time frame is quite alarming. A part of me even questions whether you’re the same two people who left a week ago.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Look, Mister, we’re the same. We didn’t get switched or anything, or are you going to demand we have a DNA test to prove it?” Ashley growled at him, and I turned around to look at her.

  Sitting back, he raised his hands defensively. “I’m sorry, Miss Burbit. There are a lot of questions being asked about you three at the moment. I hurried to meet you here to assess whether we should concede to their demands or not.”

  I chewed on the inside of my cheek as we sat in the sudden silence that had fallen. I could see Ashley’s expression softening as she lowered her aggressive stance. “While their method is peculiar, I don’t see why we should dismiss them. What do you girls think?” Mum suggested, and I couldn’t find any reason not to go, aside from general fatigue.

  “We’ll come with you, Mister, but on our own volition, I will not wear cuffs like some criminal,” Ashley remarked as I attempted to stifle a snort.

  Pulling out his phone, I listened as he called someone who had an escort waiting for us in London. The rest of the journey passed in an awkward silence as we communicated through projection, completely excluding him from our conversation. While shocking, the revelation that Ashley was also an Heir gave me a sense of relief, no longer worrying about shouldering this burden alone. I chuckled to myself as she had claimed selfishness for wanting to follow through with this, and now she was standing on the pedestal right next to me.

  As we waited in our cabin while the other passengers disembarked, I watched them ushered off the platform, several squads of armed guards discouraging them from lingering about. Shrugging his shoulders at my questioning glare, I realised that Ashley’s suspicions were not as misplaced as I had initially thought. Upon receiving confirmation that it was clear, we finally disembarked and were escorted to the front of the station where a line of black jeeps awaited, blue lights flashing at the front and rear.

  “What, no prison van?” Ashley asked as Mum shushed her. I climbed into the back of the open van in the middle of the convoy. It was spacious inside, with two rows of seats facing each other, and I pulled Ashley to sit beside me, while Terence followed us in and sat next to Mum, opposite me.

  “So, since we have a bit more privacy here, would you mind telling me what is going on? The Caretakers don’t just suddenly start asking to see or guard random people, so why are you so special? I don’t mean it in a bad way, but there was nothing particularly remarkable about either of you that stands out. If you had S-Tier potential, it would be more understandable, but individually, neither of you is exceptional.”

  I felt Ashley stiffen as a sharp intake of breath whistled through her teeth, yet I remained calm. Knowing what he did, I couldn’t dispute his reasoning. I had already been ready to lead a plain, unassuming life until my accident. “You wouldn’t believe us if I told you," I replied calmly, gripping Ashley’s hand and squeezing it, hoping she would remain silent.

  “Try me,” Terence replied, leaning forward as his seatbelt strained and he removed his sunglasses, revealing his piercing blue eyes to me.

  “So basically, a bunch of aliens from other worlds rebuilt our civilisation after all life was scoured from the planet after a massive war, and they have been guiding us through history, masquerading as gods. Now the time has come for mana to re-emerge, and they are fulfilling their Master’s wish, finding his replacement after he got a beat down in his last match-up. We’re those replacements. The Spire didn’t just suddenly appear, it’s always been there, they’ve always been there, forty thousand years of waiting. They’re training us with the rifts, not to farm us, but to prepare us for the war raging beyond the borders so that we can join our neighbours and stand at their side. F?r Rhea, the Lord Ascendant of this world, refers to us as his Heirs, the next in line to succeed him. We’re not alone, there’s a vast community of worlds who don’t know we exist, yet, but those bridges to other worlds will open soon, and we’re not ready.”

  After taking a deep breath following my lengthy monologue, I had provided a quick and dirty summary of everything, omitting nearly all the minor details. I had been formulating this explanation, as spending another hour as I had with Mum was not an option every time. If I were to publicly broadcast this, I know I would be crucified by the media and the public, and almost certainly hauled off to a padded cell by someone like Terrence.

  “You were warned that you wouldn’t believe us.” Ashley chuckled as he sat back in stunned silence. “Sure, it’s a lot to take in at once, but you’re only receiving the bare minimum, and once you hear the full story, it begins to make sense.”

  “It’s true,” Mum shrugged her shoulders as he turned to her, mouth agape.

  Leaving him in stunned silence, the rest of the trip was brief as we received VIP treatment, driving through all the traffic and down into the depths of the Ministry to its underground facility. More guards waited at the door where we pulled up, but they weren’t visibly armed—less like soldiers and more like a protective detail.

  Upon entering the building, we were guided through several twisting corridors, maintaining the extended silence from earlier. Terence had gathered his thoughts after reflecting on my explanation, yet he did not utter another word about it. It felt strange to walk these corridors, as office workers hurried to make way for our group as we passed.

  The Customs hall was packed with people queuing, and I recalled that an important auction was set for this weekend. I recognised one or two famous faces in the crowd, flanked by bodyguards and associates, enduring the same as the rest of us did whenever we crossed over and back. This time, we were on the other side of the glass walls, walking down the employee corridor, avoiding everyone.

  “Anything to declare?” Terence asked as a gate opened, granting us direct access to the rift connecting to the Isle, with a large queue waiting to pass through once the other side was clear. Noticing my raised eyebrow, he simply nodded vaguely and let us through, his feeble attempt at humour falling flat.

  As I climbed the steps, I could feel everyone’s eyes upon us as we bypassed all the usual procedures and went straight to the front of the queue. Casting one last glance at Mum and Ashley, I took a deep breath and stepped through. I had done this hundreds of times, but this felt different. They had called for us, and I didn’t know what awaited on the other side.

  The bright light of the false sun temporarily blinded me as I blinked for a few seconds, attempting to regain my bearings. It was quiet—too quiet—but I could still hear the bustling noise of hundreds of people; however, the usual shouts and calls were absent. The dais with the rifts was elevated above the courtyard at the bottom of the steps, and I had a perfect view of precisely why they were so quiet.

  A ring of Caretakers had cleared a space near the fountain that dominated the courtyard, creating a cordon around the lone individual who stood masked and robed at the centre. The Caretakers looked different, wearing the heavy chestplates I had seen in the armoury that one time, wielding long polearms and shields as they faced the crowd. When I noticed the main figure’s head swivel in our direction, I instinctively ducked my head, hoping we remained unnoticed.

  ‘Why are you trying to hide?’ I heard a woman’s voice, and I knew we had been discovered. ‘You ought to take pride in yourselves.’

  ‘Hell no!’ I straightened up and glared at the masked woman over the heads of others. ‘You get to hide behind a mask; I don’t fancy being frog-marched to the Spire in front of tens of thousands. I’ll head to the shop where I met Freya, the one with the secret armoury.’

  ‘Very well,’ she sighed with discontentment, and I felt my eye twitch from the weight of her projection.

  As one, the Caretakers spun on their heels as the group began to march back down the avenue towards the Spire. I could hear the hushed murmurs of the crowd as they watched them depart, and the tension began to ease as people started to move again. After a few minutes, I led our group down a secondary route, aiming to avoid the main thoroughfare. It was easy to spot groups of Caretakers trailing after us, but I tried to disregard them until we reached the abandoned shop in the narrow alley.

  As we opened the door, we were greeted by a tall woman at the centre of the room, and I wondered if she was the person from earlier, as she had removed the mask and robe. Part of me felt slightly underwhelmed, as she was dressed casually in jeans and a plain white hoodie, but her features strikingly resembled Meadhbh’s. Framing her figure, I noticed the gentle swirling of a rift slowly spinning behind her.

  “Athena?” I ventured, guessing as the four of us stepped through the door, while the few guards from the Ministry held back slightly up the alley.

  “Yes,” she smiled faintly, but I didn’t sense much warmth in it. “Thank you for complying with our request.” Her eyes shifted away from me, settling on Terence, who stood awkwardly to the side.

  “Of course,” he stuttered, clearly unsettled by her appearance. “They’re not in any trouble, are they? As British citizens, I have a duty of care towards them.”

  “Mr Waters, you can dispel any notion that we intend to harm them. There are matters we must discuss, and today was meant to demonstrate that they have our support, but it seems Sadie here has an aversion to attention, for the time being.” Turning her head to look at me, I felt my face flush red from embarrassment.

  “So, it’s true, what she said earlier about aliens and other worlds and all that?” he asked slowly, attempting to stand a little straighter, unwilling to cower beneath her gaze.

  “Yes, I suppose, but I’m not entirely sure what it was she told you. I hope it was the truth. I’m sorry, but I cannot grant you admittance to the Spire at this time, as our conversation is not meant for you.” Dismissing him, she turned and left the building through the rift, and Terence muttered his goodbyes before stepping outside again.

  Nervously glancing at Mum and Ashley, I was uncertain of what to say, yet I cautiously followed Athena through the rift, attempting to settle the unease I felt. Freya had been kinder than she, and I now understood Meadhbh’s dislike of her.

  Stepping through the rift, we emerged into an almost empty room, and I was surprised to find that the dark exterior did not extend into the Spire. The room was bright and spacious, but I was immediately confronted by several large statues—no, Guardians—but I couldn’t discern their species. They resembled trolls, though less brutish and more dignified, adorned in heavy armour and wielding strange weapons that appeared to be similar to guns resting in their arms. As we arrived, they stirred to life, the air trembling as they slammed their fists against their chests, bowing their heads before returning to their previous frozen state.

  “Zhujar,” Athena explained, looking up at them affectionately and resting her hand on one of theirs. She barely reached their chest, resembling a small child beside it, and I felt even smaller. “Welcome to the Spire. This is the waystation; we use it since we have the coordinates locked between here and hundreds of places around the world. They are here for those occasional incidents where something might follow us back.”

  “Why did you call us today?” Ashley asked, nervously staring at the Zhujar.

  “Not here. We shall speak in a more comfortable place.”

  As she opened a door, we followed her into a wide hallway, where a Caretaker stood beside an open door nearby, hood down and mask off; they looked human. “How do you have colour in your skin?” I asked, glancing at Athena and the Caretaker. At the sound of my question, like a mirage, the colour vanished, revealing the dark, crystal-like bodies beneath, with blue lines running over them, pulsing gently.

  She lifted her sleeve, revealing a golden bangle adorned with intricately carved runes that glimmered. “Nothing fancy, merely a little trickery to deceive others. Each one is crafted specifically for the bearer, sufficient to confuse the eyes, but those with a heightened sensitivity to mana will be able to detect it. A handy tool that allowed us to blend in during our interference.”

  “Probably too much to ask for a few,” I mumbled, mostly to myself, as I leaned in closer. I couldn’t recognise any of the runes, yet I could definitely see a stylistic difference between them and Grandfather’s.

  “In time, perhaps.” Her voice had softened since earlier as she pulled the sleeve back over her wrist and led us into a conference room. A large wooden table filled the centre of the room, surrounded by plush seats. Awe-inspiring paintings of different worlds decorated the walls, and I let my eyes wander over them. “We grew bored at times, so some took to painting memories from home.”

  “They’re incredible," Mum said, her excitement evident as she looked at them.

  ‘The whole Spire is filled with murals like this; I have two or three of my own scattered around. I shall present them to you another time. Now, Athena, why have you summoned them here today? Freya and I both agreed they needed time to rest after their growth.’ Meadhbh proudly proclaimed before her tone dropped as she addressed Athena.

  “We were instructed to ensure that you both completed the Embrace, so we assisted it along as best we could while preparing for the aftermath. In simple terms, the Spire lacks the power to sustain Master as an Ascendant along with two Heirs.”

  As I listened to her, I felt the wooden table chip and splinter beneath my nails, leaving deep gouges. “You’re planning to separate us?” I hissed.

  Taken aback by my vehemence, Athena shook her head. “No, it can be one solution, but it is an impractical one. There are plenty of Ascendants out there who would gladly take you under their wing, some literally, and raise you into a warrior worthy of carrying on Master’s legacy, while Ashley stays here with us and we rear her here on Gaeia.”

  “No,” I growled, my voice lowering as I rejected her suggestion outright.

  “As I mentioned, it is impractical because you need each other. This discussion will necessitate your understanding of the entire truth—everything about what you are and the reasons for the secrecy—but for now, it will remain a secret. Once we have talked about how you wish to proceed, all memories of this conversation will be sealed away until the right time comes.” The cheerfulness in her tone had shifted to a sombre one, with the smile having long since faded.

  “Why?” Ashley asked. “Why all the secrecy? How can we grow if we do not know the truth?"

  “Some secrets are too terrible for you to know, as we fear that they will negatively affect your actions. We will watch from afar, lending our assistance and guidance where needed, but these early days will be focused on you building the foundations for your growth.”