The Harbinger's Children (Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles Vol. 2)

Chapter 21: Allies

Fun Fact: Humans have already developed enough technology to reach the stars, although they are still too embroiled in their own affairs to venture into the celestial realm. Government funded organisations have already conquered the moon, and some have even detected other lifeforms on distant planets.

They left them alone.

~ ~ ~

The suit was surprisingly comfortable for something that looked like it belonged to an astronaut. The only problem was that it was airtight, and the summer heat creeping into Sirius City was not helping. Felix turned to the blue suit still examining herself beside him.

"Hey, how come your suit's blue in colour?" he asked. "It was grey before."

"Why is yours pink?" Kleopatra asked him in return. "Huh? Everyone's suits changed their colour!"

"Because it's designed by yours truly," Cicero chimed in. "Simply speaking, the suit uses your own arcani to nullify any incoming magic and act as a protective shield at the same time. That way, people won't have to worry about accidentally using magic."

"So why are we wearing this now?" Gaius complained. "It's boiling in here."

"It's just a precaution. We don't know if Aglaia's listening in with her telepathy."

"I sincerely hope you'll tweak the design, Atlas." Vulcan flapped his bright red arms like a penguin. "We look like space crew members who fell in a paint bucket."

"At least we're still pretty mobile in this." Cybele hopped around.

"What's the point of doing this?" Felix groaned. "The moment we take off our suits, we leave our minds vulnerable to whatever plan we had just discussed."

Cicero grinned, gesturing like an excited boy. "Here's the neat part. Whatever happens in here will be imprinted onto the arcani on your suit. You'll 'remember' what happened, but only because your arcani has attuned to it. The memory does not exist in your brain."

"So our souls 'remember' what happened, but not our mind?" Felix scoffed. "That's remarkably convenient."

"Our country has a great many secrets," Vulcan said. "I believe this technology was developed during Benedictus' time to protect his Secret Service agents from any telepathic espionage."

"Indeed." There was a muffled thud as Cicero clasped his hands together. "So Guardians, what is your plan to neutralise the target?"

Neutralise...

Felix pursed his lips slightly. It was such a callous word. So cold and reductive. Aglaia wasn't a mere wild beast to be gotten rid of, nor was she a simple mission objective. She was a frightened little girl. A girl with hopes and dreams. A girl who was consumed with fear and despair. Who were they to decide if she should live or die?

"...But even if that all works, we still need someone to scout out the place for us." Cybele's voice wafted through his muddled thoughts. "Especially since we're wearing the suit to prevent her from possessing our minds, we're at a severe disadvantage without our arcani to protect ourselves."

"Aglaia knows all of us here." Kleopatra nodded. "We need someone she isn't on guard for, and can slip in and out easily."

"Like a rat," Gaius added. "Or an insect."

Everyone was bowing their heads, deep in thought. Felix decided to speak up.

"I know a guy."

~ ~ ~

Felix heaved a sigh of relief as the familiar turquoise hair came into view. He silently thanked the Heavens. Of all the people who had already left, the one he needed the most didn't. He approached the meta.