Clothes, Evander had always thought, should be chosen for comfort rather than the gaze of others. He slipped into a grey t-shirt, one that he had tailored himself to sit perfectly on his broad shoulders, paired with loose shorts that reached just above his knees.

Stepping into the lounge, the only company he found was Seraphina, her delicate fingers flipping through the pages of a digital book. The others, he assumed, were still in the throes of unpacking their suitcases. He met her eyes, her gaze fixated on his casual attire, and greeted her with a smile and a wave. Her eyes, those mesmerizing icy orbs, widened dramatically, as if his appearance was somehow shocking.

As he strode towards the door, her soft voice cut through the stillness of the room. "Where are you going dressed like that?" she inquired, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and something else he couldn't quite discern.

He halted in his tracks, turning around to face her, feigning innocence. "Dressed like what?" he asked, glancing down at his own clothes as if seeing them for the first time. He had already swung the door wide open, one foot stepping over the threshold when her words hit him like a gust of wind.

"You can't seriously be going out!" she protested, her tone teetering between exasperation and concern. Evander shot her a sly grin, his brow raising in mild amusement. "I did walk back from your place dressed like this, didn't I? Why the sudden concern?"

His words hung in the air between them, punctuated by a silence that stretched on a beat too long. Then, almost reluctantly, she spoke, "Well, because... because you're my man now, and I...I care."

Evander grunted in response to Seraphina's declaration, a wave of bemusement washing over him. He mumbled under his breath, "Nobody told me that," a hint of a teasing grin playing at the corners of his lips. He exited the house, the door shutting behind him with a soft thud, leaving Seraphina and her declaration behind.

Strolling along the paved path, he took in the scent of blooming flowers, the buzz of tiny insects hovering over the blossoms, and the gentle whisper of the wind. It was a moment of peaceful solitude, a stark contrast to the boisterous presence of the women he had left behind.

Suddenly, the tranquility was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps, the soft patter growing louder as the source approached. He turned his head to see a sight that brought a sparkle to his eyes - the five women, jogging towards him, some gasping for breath while others still managed to maintain their composure.

Without uttering a word, he broke into a jog, his muscular legs easily increasing his pace. Laughter bubbled up within him, a boyish delight overtaking him as he glanced over his shoulder to see the women struggling to keep up, waving their arms in a bid to stop him.

Evander's eyes danced with mischief, the corners of his mouth curling up into a devilish grin. A wild goose chase, he thought. That's what this would be. His pace quickened, his stride lengthened, and he reveled in the game that had suddenly taken place.

The path weaved its way through the dense trees, and he twisted and turned, his laughter echoing through the foliage. His heart pounded in his chest, a symphony of exhilaration and excitement as he continued to dodge and weave through the forest. Each breath he drew was laden with the scent of the forest, the mossy undergrowth, and the pungent aroma of the pine needles.

His stride was graceful, every movement seeming to blend into the next as he continued to outpace his pursuers. The world was a blur of greens and browns, the trees forming a moving wall as he left the women further behind.

As Evander jogged through the forest, a cunning idea blossomed in his mind. He intended to use a new skill he'd been practicing, one that held a certain sense of awe and wonderment for him. Time compression, he mused, should come in handy now.

The world around him seemed to pause as he slipped into this time-altered state, a realm where thirty seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. His surroundings blurred into an indistinguishable kaleidoscope of colors, while everything else seemed to slow to a glacial pace. The women, who moments before were hot on his heels, now seemed frozen mid-stride, their faces etched in a tableau of surprise and effort.

Taking advantage of this temporal distortion, Evander quickly doubled back, his footfalls eerily quiet as time remained his captive. The once lively forest had become a dream-like landscape, frozen and silent. He moved among the still figures of the women, noting their confused expressions, their outstretched hands reaching for an Evander who was no longer there.

Time compression, he mused, feels like cheating. It's incredibly powerful. A thought he brushed aside as he dashed in the opposite direction, away from the forest and towards the mall.

Exiting the time distortion was like coming up for air after a deep dive. Time rushed back into its rightful place, and Evander materialized amidst the hustle and bustle of the city with the same suddenness as a lightning strike piercing the sky. His appearance was startling, a figure who seemingly popped into existence from thin air, his laughter echoing in the cityscape, a lingering testament to his gleeful escape.

The trees of the forest were replaced by the outer buildings of the mall, the chirping of birds by the cacophony of city life. He shook his head slightly, the transition from the tranquility of the forest to the city's chaos jarring, yet exhilarating.

His breath hitched as he surveyed his surroundings, the women lost in the labyrinth of time and space, quite a ways away and none the wiser.

Evander strolled into the bustling mall, the smells of popcorn and leather goods intermingling with the chatter of a hundred different conversations. His eyes scanned the multi-tiered expanse, heading for the magical shop nestled among other stores on the lower level. Just as he began descending the sleek, chrome escalator, a brisk, authoritative voice sliced through the ambient noise.

"Hold on there, young man. Where's your guardian or protection?"

Evander turned to see a policewoman striding towards him, her uniform crisp and her face stern. She bore down upon him with a no-nonsense air that made Evander pause. He was no stranger to this mall; never had he been questioned about a guardian before.

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What's changed? he wondered, his brow furrowing.

"I've been here multiple times. No one's ever asked for a guardian," he responded, his tone measured.

The policewoman looked relieved, as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. "The institute affiliated with this mall has issued a new rule. All boys must have protection, especially now they have partners."

Her remark seemed like a veiled compliment, though Evander was puzzled. He scratched his head, glancing around as he attempted to absorb the new information.

The policewoman's gaze dropped to his clothing and a flicker of recognition lit her eyes. "Aren't you the one who caused a disturbance here before? With this... attire?" Her words held a subtle accusation, and Evander could sense the mounting tension.

He was about to protest when a chorus of voices echoed through the mall. He turned to see Seraphina, Emma, Lily, Joy, and Amara weaving through the crowd, breathless and a little flustered. Their timely arrival brought relief washing over him. Their expressions were varied; Seraphina and Emma's faces twisted into frowns while Lily, Joy, and Amara looked concerned.

As they arrived, the women swiftly established a protective formation around Evander. Seraphina and Emma, like prowling lionesses, shielded him from the front, their eyes unyielding and stern. Lily, Joy, and Amara had his back and sides, forming a human wall.

The policewoman's stern gaze instantly left Evander and bore into Emma, who was standing with an assertiveness that was hard to ignore. "Are you his guardians?" she demanded, her voice reverberating around them.

Emma nodded without hesitation, her hand extending towards the other four women. "We are," she declared with a confidence that surprised Evander.

A protest was bubbling up in Evander, but Amara beat him to it. She gently tapped his shoulder, her face grave. "Let it be, Evander," she cautioned him, her voice hushed. "You'll just make it worse."

The policewoman then began her lecture. She remonstrated the five women, her voice stern, her words sharp. She stressed the importance of being responsible guardians, of never leaving Evander unattended or allowing him to wander about in inappropriate attire. Her criticism seemed endless, and each word was like a lash stinging Evander's pride.

By the time she issued a fine and a strict warning, Evander's face was a mask of humiliation. His cheeks flamed a deep scarlet, the heat of embarrassment flooding him. He felt exposed, chastised in front of everyone. This is mortifying. His pride was severely bruised, and he could feel a mixture of frustration and mortification simmering within him.

The policewoman had barely disappeared from view when Amara, the seemingly most level-headed of the group, approached Evander. She possessed a maternal quality that instantly enveloped him in a comforting presence. "Calm down, Evander," she implored softly, her words soothing balm to his scorched pride.

Emma, on the other hand, seemed to be channeling the wrath of an angry goddess. Her face a thunderstorm of frustration, she stalked off, her furious strides echoing off the mall's cold, marble floors. Evander could almost see the sparks flying from her, her rage almost tangible in the air.

Seraphina, ever the pragmatist, turned to Evander, her voice as matter-of-fact as her gaze. "Evander," she began, her tone devoid of any reproach, "your actions have consequences." Her words hung heavy in the air. "Perhaps it's best if you don't run away from them."

Emma returned, her stormy disposition undiminished. "And you could get kidnapped!" she snapped, her words laced with a worry she couldn't mask. She took in his attire, her gaze critical, almost accusing. "Especially looking the way you do."

In the meantime, Joy had taken the opportunity to disappear into a nearby shop. She returned bearing an overcoat which she gently draped over Evander's shoulders. "It's best if you wear this," she suggested kindly.

He muttered something under his breath, a soft grumble that spoke of his displeasure. He appreciated their efforts, he truly did, but he still bristled at their insistence on regulating his attire. I should be able to dress how I want, he mused defiantly, a surge of stubborn resistance flaring within him. He held the coat in his hands, his thoughts battling between appreciating the gesture and resenting the underlying implication.

Clad in the newfound cloak that obscured his toned form, Evander began the descent towards the mall's lower levels. His destination was a peculiar little shop he had noticed during his first foray into this labyrinth of consumer delights. The echoes of his footsteps reverberated through the vast expanse of the mall, a chorus to his thoughts.

He felt a pang of dejected irony at his current situation. Just days prior, he had been a simple observer, a bystander taking in the spectacle of a man shielded by a throng of women. Now, he found himself at the center of a similar tableau, the pivot around which these women revolved. It was an experience as bizarre as it was jarring. Is this what it feels like to be important? He pondered, his thoughts colored by a sense of whimsical resignation.

The formation of the women around him had a military precision to it that was both reassuring and disconcerting. To his front, Seraphina and Emma had positioned themselves in a vanguard, their gaze constantly scanning the environment. Seraphina was the stoic one, her eyes a well of calm and focus, while Emma's fiery demeanor flickered with every passing moment, a living, breathing embodiment of intense vigilance.

To his sides, Joy and Lily formed a protective flank, their presences a strange blend of warmth and caution. Joy's smile never wavered, her countenance radiant like the name she bore. Lily, on the other hand, was the picture of quiet resolve, her every movement silent and controlled, a dance of disciplined grace.

Lastly, at his rear was Amara. She was the rear guard, the last line of defense. Her gaze was firmly set on their backs, her every sense attuned to potential threats from behind. Her posture was alert and her movements calculated, painting a picture of steady strength and quiet determination.

The entire formation gave the distinct impression of a fortress, a human stronghold that seemed to state with a silent voice, "he is under our protection."

The peculiar shop at the mall's lower levels was a treasure trove of magical oddities, a beguiling blend of the ancient and the modern. The tantalizing scent of age-old parchment mingled with the sterile hum of magical gadgets. Evander found himself both enthralled and somewhat overwhelmed. His gaze roved over the shelves packed with phials of rare elixirs, stacks of grimoires, and an assortment of arcane artefacts.

He selected the needed magical supplies with practiced ease, his choices reflecting a beginner's understanding of the arcane. It was while he was at the counter, ready to pay, that the familiar tug of discomfort returned. His new status, it seemed, refused to remain unnoticed.

Let me at least pay for this, he thought, attempting to assert some semblance of independence. As he reached for his wallet, however, a slender hand intervened, intercepting his movement. It was Lily. Her face held an expression that was somewhere between firm resolve and soft reproach.

"Evander," she began, her voice as gentle as her grasp, "you don't need to pay. This... this is our responsibility."

His brows furrowed at her words, his mind quick to rally against the notion. "But it's my purchase," he countered, his tone laced with vexation.

Before he could press further, he felt a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder. Turning, he found Amara standing beside him, her calm gaze meeting his. "Evander, we insist. It's... it's just how things work here," she said, her voice carrying a note of finality that left little room for argument. Her gaze softened as she added, "We've got this, okay?"

He wanted to resist, to assert that he wasn't some helpless individual in need of constant care, but the earnest expressions on their faces made him reconsider. Emma and Seraphina, too, nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting a shared sentiment. Joy offered a comforting smile, her light-hearted demeanor acting as a balm to the simmering frustration.

As his resistance gradually ebbed away, he found himself silently acquiescing. He backed away from the counter, leaving Lily to handle the transaction.

As they made their way out of the shop, the magical supplies safely stowed in a bag held by Emma, he was left to ponder the strange turn his life had taken. He was guarded, protected, and now, even his purchases were paid for by others.