Guardians-A word that Norris Peregrine never even thought of. Guardians, in her mind, were just a mere fairy tale. A children's story. Yet, a strange phenomenon occurred, in which a single person would have a Guardian that would come in any form. Th...
The cold air swept across the people as they were getting ready for the Christmas season. Everyone was happily walking with their friends, family, and even with their significant others. Everyone was already feeling the lovable air all around them.
Except for one person.
Black hair that reached her shoulders with piercing black eyes, always wore anytying oversized or at best sometimes even semi-formal clothing with inspiration from television, book, and/or anime series. Her footwear were either boots or sneakers, and you would always see her with bluetooth earphones and blue-framed glasses. That girl, was Norris Peregrine.
Norris was always alone—her old friends had basically deserted her after they found out she was an orphan. But honestly, she didn't mind being alone. Heck, being alone was often peaceful.
But there was one thing that made her stood out from others.
"Another day, another moment of seeing things." Norris muttered under her breath.
Norris can see others' Guardians.
She didn't know when it started, but Norris knew she could see them. Normally, only those who have them, aka "Hosts", can see them while the rest are oblivious. Yet Norris could see them as clear as day.
Most Guardians have an original form while others take the form of their source of happiness like a character or a celebrity. Norris could see all of it—and it was a blessing and a curse for her.
🎵Ah, mawatte, mawatte, mawari tsukarete Ah, iki ga, iki ga kireta no🎵
"I should change my playlist." Norris muttered, pressing a few buttons on her headphones as she turns it off, putting them in her bag and she catches a jeepney on the way. Quickly hopping on, she paid the fare and the vehicle drove off.
She arrived home an hour later due to the traffic. Her home? Well, it was an old theatre house than was turned into a "watch house bar" when she turned ten. Norris didn't mind it—in fact, she was pretty happy that she lived a life of being alone and full of obstacles that would come.
But the question remained in her brain—Why didn't she have a Guardian?
Maybe it was because... her mother was a former Guardian before her death? Who knows. All she knows is that her mom and dad died due to supernatural causes. Norris didn't really believe that at first, but after seeing proof of magical elements in the mixture of blood and glass, it was true.
"Welcome home, Nor." Norris puts her bag down as Marchs Flotera hands her a glass of iced-coffee. "Did you see anything you'd like at the mall?" She asks sweetly.
"No... I did see a lot of Guardians." Norris answered with a shrug. "And most of them are weird."
"You're nineteen now, right?" Marcus sighs at this, seeing that Norris's face was clearly showing disappointment. "Look—you'll have one sooner or later. At least only you can see them and... not anyone else, really." She reassures. "Just wait! You'll get one sooner or later!"
"I did wait." Norris clenches her fist. "For years."
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(December 8th, 2020)
"My dear... you're grouped with her? She's Soulless!" "And an orphan!"
'Too bad I don't have the damn ability to touch them.' Norris thought angrily as she eats her lunch. A school day was still a school day... even though there were a bunch of Guardians.
Elites University was famous for its motto, "Equal Rights are Equal Lives". Norris knew better, though. That motto was nothing more than a lie. If everyone were equal, then how come she was the main joke of the school because she didn't have a Guardian? Why weren't the staff doing anything about it? Right, they didn't care as long as you had the connections, status, and money. While Norris had the money, status and connections were the things she didn't have.
"Ms. Peregrine, please come to the principal's office right this instant."
'...what the fuck?' Norris scrunched her nose, finishing her food. She was rarely called to the office, and if she was called, it would await good news.
Judging from the tone of the intercom, what awaited her was bad news.
"Hah! Serves her right!" "Maybe she'll finally be expelled."
"Miranda, Amelia," Norris turns around, glaring at two girls. "If you have something to say to me, say it. Don't let your Guardians do the work."
Whispers were being circled around as Norris left the cafeteria in a huff, startling Miranda and Amelia. The walk to the principal's office was a long one—but eventually, Norris made her way to the door and opened it.
The principal was a woman in her mid-thirties, and she had a soft spot for Norris. And was probably the only one who actually liked her. "Sorry for the sudden call—Please sit." She gestures to the seat in front of her.
Norris closes the door and sat down. "So... did they finally decide to expel me, Mrs. Jones?"
"Well, yes." Mrs. Jones sighs. "But you're a bright student. I obviously rejected it... they came to a compromise after a heated argument." She says.
"Lemme guess—It's because I'm a Soulless." Norris asks.
"Just because you don't have a Guardian... look, I'm sure you're bound to get one!" Mrs. Jones says with a smile. "And the compromise—well... you'll be studying in the library, away from the public eye. Your lesson plans will be emailed to you and you have to study on your own."
Norris shrugs. "Better than nothing." She stood up now.
"Ms. Peregrine—"
"Thanks, Mrs. Jones. And about the Guardian thing, I should stop hoping."
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Norris went home that day, dejected. She went straight up to her room and leaned on the door once she had closed it. "Fuck them." She muttered.
Her fist hit the bookshelf, and fell down a figurine—it was a blank figurine: no colors, no face. It was just a blank statue.
"Maybe you'd be my Guardian—a blank slate." Norris chuckled dryly, standing up and putting the figurine on the windowsill.
She really did wait for a Guardian, but it never came.
