Guardians Of The Zodiac

Chapter 10

"How did your first case as an official team go?" Master Ventis met us at the Guild doors as we walked inside.

The sun was beginning to set and most of the guild members had gone home for the day or were still out finishing other jobs that would take a few days to complete. There was only a soft lull in the air among those who were still around and it made me miss the chaotic atmosphere from this morning.

"It went great! I'm starving!" Hazel cheered as she rushed into the kitchen.

"Tara learned to do some magic," Cooper added, following her.

Instantly the Master's gaze fell hard on me but I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye.

"No big deal. It was about time she learned to fend for herself," Naudia commented as she made her way over to her usual table where Miranda was there to greet her with a grin that was as bright as the sun.

"It was really cool. I'm glad we got to help those people," Ryder smiled at me.

"I am too," I nodded.

"Serena, I think Dillon is playing a new game in the backyard and I would greatly appreciate it if you went out there to make sure he doesn't leave any harsh marks or imprints in the lawn. The Misses likes her grass green and flat," the Master addressed her directly.

"You can count on me, sir!" she saluted and then raced toward the back door.

"A new game? I want to play!" Iris cheered.

"Hey, wait for me!" Trinkette quickly followed.

"What do ya say? Wanna go see if we can find new ways to kick Dillon's ass?" Ryder asked me and I wanted to say yes but I could feel the Master forcing his magic essence onto me.

"I'll catch up. I think I'm gonna grab something to eat first," I told him and he nodded before following the Sprites out the back.

Then, my eyes finally met the Master's and he had a concerned look on his face as he walked past me and back out onto the front steps. It was like his essence had a hold on me and I couldn't break away from it so I obediently followed him. He took a seat on the first step and gestured for me to sit beside him so I did.

"You are aware of the magic of a Guardian, are you not?" he asked me, sternly.

"I am," was all I said as I focused my gaze up at the stars.

"Then, why would you open your magic valve so recklessly? You're still technically in training, Tara, and a Guardian's magic is unpredictable. It can bring about chaos to the Guardian, to others around them, and that chaotic energy could set the whole universe off-balance. That's why you have Handlers, is it not?" he wondered, incredulous, but he kept his eyes focused on the night sky as well.

I finally snapped my eyes over at him in a glare and I wondered how he could possibly scold me about something like this.

"First of all, Ryder was the one who opened my magic valve..."

"How do you mean?" he widened his eyes.

"If I'm being honest, I'm not quite sure. He just knew how to help me access my magic..." I paused to consider how Ryder was able to so easily access my magic. "And second of all, for the longest time I didn't even know I had my own magic valve. The Dodeca kept it a secret from me and I had to discover it on my own! They don't exactly cover it in our lesson syllabus. And even when I did find out, they all acted like it was no big deal..." I ranted, suddenly feeling enraged by how naive and a little bitter I truly was about my own power and my old life at the Estate.

I had no control over my life whatsoever and I was just trying to gain some of it back.

"Because you are the Thirteenth Guardian. They were afraid," he assumed in a way that understood the Dodeca's reasoning which annoyed me even more.