Multiverse of Magic & Mistakes (Completed)

2.1.3 Chapter 3

Cell 3, Guardian HQ, The Red Desert, Ashien, October 2019.

Vi had never expected to find herself imprisoned deep underground with her boyfriend and her former pet cat. The Guardians were kind jailors, regularly giving the three prisoners fresh food and water, by means of making bowls and cups suddenly appear out of thin air, upon the red sandstone floor. But none of them really felt like eating.

They had tried everything they could possibly think of to remove the cold metal handcuffs, and escape, but had, for now, temporarily given up. Middy had explained how the handcuffs were created by the Guardians finest imbuers and designed specifically to stop Guardians and Stryders from portalling away, but still, they had tried.

Rho and Vi had tried fire, and ice and transfiguration and every possible permeation of unlocking runes they could think of, the attempts sketched out in the loose sand of the floor. Middy, in a gesture of outreach, given their earlier argument, had shown the mages the Guardian's strongest unlocking runes, against which, the handcuffs were also unrelenting.

Vi sat, her head resting against Rho, his against hers, holding each other as much as their handcuffs would allow. Middy, sat silently on Vi's other side, head in his hands, staring off into space. Vi had no idea how long they had been imprisoned for – the cell was illuminated softly by a single overhead white crystal which never dimmed, and they were too far underground to tell the passing of time by any natural light fluctuations. Based on the meals provided, Vi thought it had been just over a day, but it felt much, much longer, the uncomfortable silence between the three of them stretching time into eternity.

As soon as the door had been sealed, and the three of them had been left alone and imprisoned, Rho had turned on Middy.

"What the fuck were you thinking in taking us here!" he had shouted "You must have known they would arrest us and not help us!"

"I didn't know, honestly, I'm as outraged as you are to find myself in this situation!" the Guardian has responded calmly.

"Why have they trapped us? The last thing we need is a delay, whilst Reynold and the Echelon are out there planning their invasion!" fumed Vi, "And who knows what is happening on Earth!"

"The Harmoniser usually acts rationally. Look at things from her side, first, they receive reports of sudden chaos on Earth, then my report detailing Reynold's plans... and then the two Stryders who work with Reynold turn up on her doorstep... she couldn't leave us free ... I was expecting to be questioned ... but not for this..." he gestured, as well as he could, given the handcuffs, at the cell.

"I can't believe you're fucking defending the woman who had us arrested!" exclaimed Rho, "And great job at explaining why you took us here..."

"Your report?" asked Vi, loudly speaking over Rho.

"Yes, I sent her a message, whilst I was waiting for the three of you to get ready. It's Guardian protocol to give a heads up before bringing any visitors into the realm, and I wanted to inform the Guild of Reynold's plans as quickly as possible!"

"So, you gave her all the details she needed to arrest us!" said Rho

"I gave her all the details she needed to act as quickly as possible against Reynold! All the Guardians will be gathering here to attend our trial and discuss how to confront the threat of Reynold's invasion..."

"She seemed more concerned with our individual crimes, rather than how to respond moving forwards!" argued Vi

Middy shook his head sharply, "Vi, please, news regarding Reynold is top priority around here!"