Multiverse of Magic & Mistakes (Completed)

Part One - Deceivers and Guardians - 2.1.1 Chapter 1

Bath, UK, Earth, October 2019

Violet Talloway had to admit that despite everything, she was excited by the prospect of visiting another one of the parallel worlds. She wondered if she eventually would end up visiting all six? Ashien would be her fourth. And until very, very recently, she had thought it to be just scorching desert.

"Mages are incorrectly taught that Ashein is uninhabited," Middy had said, to Vi and Rho's amazement, and Lily's confusion, earlier that day. The four of them had been sat around Lily's dining table, trying to figure out what to do next. "It is actually the secret home-world of the Guardians. We live deep underground, out of the heat, and hidden from anyone who may decide to pay us a visit..." Vi had smiled, realising that there were things that even Master Reynold, the Governor of Verdyn College, did not know.

Vi showered quickly, washing away the dirt of another world. The shower did little to stop the earlier conversation and thoughts of recent events from circling around her head. She could not get the thought that this whole damn mess was her fault out of her head.

She was briefly distracted by a familiar old dilemma – what to wear? What should she wear to visit a desert realm to desperately request help from Middy's seniors in rectifying the chaos she had unintentionally unleashed on the world?

Nothing she owned was purchased with such an occasion in mind. Vi flicked through her wardrobe and settled on some light cotton trousers and a loose lilac top, and her comfortable trainers. As always, her mages necklace, a long string of beads, each one inscribed with a tiny rune was looped around her neck. She dried her hair with a charm and neatly braided it back. She also took the time to hastily re-pack her bag before portalling back to Lily's kitchen.

Rho jumped as Violet stepped from the air and into his arms. He was again wearing clothes borrowed from Lily's brother, a black and white shirt for a metal band Vi had never heard of, and a loose grey tracksuit. His black backpack, which had somehow survived the attack from the creature in the red crystal cave, and his time floating in the void, was by his feet. They were alone, still waiting for the others to return.

"Rho..." Vi asked quietly "You know I didn't mean for any of this to happen, right? I only ever wanted to bring you back from the void. I had no idea what else would happen when I opened all the portals..."

He took her hand gently in his. "I know Vi. You did the only thing left that you could have done.."

"Would you have done it?" she asked seriously. "If I had been trapped, and Reynold said opening the portals was the only way to pull me back?"

"Yes." Rho didn't hesitate. "I would have. You had no way of knowing what the consequences would be..."

"Really?" she asked softly

"Yes, really. " He hugged Vi tightly as he spoke, repeating what the four of them had discussed earlier. "You didn't know what Reynold was planning.. that he had been manipulating you..."

Vi took a deep breath and squeezed him tightly. She wished that they could just stay like this forever, her and Rho, whilst someone else put things right. But there was no one else. She had caused this mess, and she would have to be the one to put things right.

"What about if you knew the consequences?" she asked.

A conflicted frown crossed Rho's face, and she knew he was picking his next words carefully. "I love you Vi, but is saving one person worth helping to start a war? Especially when the void is, well, nothing. By chance, I could have fallen into a door eventually..."

Vi nodded, grateful for his honestly. Rho had said what she had been dreading and unable to say. That if she knew that opening the portals would lead to this potential war then she would not have done it. She loved Rho with all her heart, more than she ever thought it was possible to love another person, he was the most important part of her life now... but saving him played right into Reynold's warmongering plans. She leaned in and kissed Rho deeply. Forever glad that despite the fallout they were together.