-The Hub, Sunday-

The members of Guardian gathered in the conference room to connect with their leader from Galvania. On the monitor, he congratulated Selen-ja on her return and success before listening to the briefing on the incident a day prior. Expressing concern about their journey in the mirror world, he felt relieved upon learning that the Radiant defeated and arrested the Count. After the end of their report, he exhaled sharply, happy to hear the incident did not spread further than the small town.

"Have the full detailed report sent here by the end of the week," said Zeracakja. "Luka, I know you have a lot of work, especially with the three incidents during the months. First, the people of Parkerville. How are they?"

"They continue their daily activities and have not shown dire side effects." She crossed her legs and rested her arm on the knee. "I have studied and heard about those who previously harbored animosity toward a person or thing, and the intensity of their anger seems to have diminished since the incident. They may still experience anger, but it won't be as intense as before. Almost as if they forgot the feeling of what initially provoked their anger. Tanya has informed me of encountering a subject she knows on three occasions who has not displayed intense anger toward her compared to before having her rage removed. The rest of Radiant shared similar experiences."

"Interesting, so they won't be as angry as before at their past targets?"

"From what I have seen. No, their past ire needs to perform an action that reminds them why they were mad at them initially. I'll send my notes and files to my associates if they want to come here and examine them, but I deem them no longer in danger." She had a pouted expression. "Unless to themselves, oh dear."

"Rage always finds a way to light a spark in the heart." smirked Reinstar.

"Unfortunately true," The Leader of Guardian nodded. "And the victims of having their desires taken?"

Luka's expression turned more solemn. "The dead remain dead. Some of the coma victims have died, from either their body failing or loved ones deciding to remove life support." Her smile grew a little. "So far, for those in the prior two categories... three people who have lost their desires have regained them. Some remain unfocused, a few... took it upon themselves to..." She grasped her face. "Dreadful."

Jin clenched his fist. "That dastardly fiend's actions are still felt."

"Jack wants to release his sister next month to check on her."

"Let's hope she's number four." boasted Javo.

"Indeed." responded the elderly leader. "And the victims of the recent event, what is their condition?"

The mood in the room appeared to have dropped. Luka lowered her head with sadness while the others looked angry. Zeracakja narrowed his eyes, not liking the results he would receive.

"The lifespan of the entire town has dwindled. As you know, people without training and minimal mana affinity have enough to sustain them throughout their lives. The Count stole half of their reserves to increase his power. Now, their days of living have shortened." She lowered her head. "That's not the worst part."

"If we had known then, we would've thought of a different plan." Javo vehemently growled. "The Radiant and Reinstar distracted the speculums while I journeyed inside. As I jumped in, the Radiant and Reinstar had to defend themselves." He slammed his fist on the table, causing a dent. "The actions they unknowly made had consequences."

"I witnessed it inside the Mirror Dimension. Any damage caused to the speculums was reversed when they absorbed the mana from the trapped civilians." Selen-ja had a hollow tone. "That added to the complications of Count Edgar taking half their mana away to become more of a challenge to the children. If we had known, we could have tried a different approach. I should have asked at the time if the mana would return, but a day has passed, and so far, their mana has not been fully replenished."

"An entire small town has been cursed with less time," said Zeracakja, his expression grim as he understood.

"Unfortunately," The physician spoke up. "One of the civilians, an elderly man, died four hours ago." She covered her eyes. "W-we have not told the Radiant about the death, but they are aware of the diminishing lifespan of the civilians."

"You must tell them and remind them it is not their fault."

"Yet, those that distracted the speculums do feel responsible." said Jin. "They had a day to reflect and plan to have a meeting. The Lightning Radiant is thinking of ways to lift their spirits, and the Light and Water Radiant are planning several activities. The Shadow Radiant, though."

"I have spoken to her." said the noble. "I reassured her it was not her fault, and she helped defeat the Count in time to prevent further trauma."

"We told them no training until after the fifth day." smirked the shinobi. "I locked the room, hid the code, and threatened to hang them by their ankles if they disobeyed my direct order, tee hee."

"Don't threaten them to obey," said Luka, a small smile displayed. "We don't want them to be too fearful."

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"Awe, where is the fun in that? You saw Sam's look, he was terrified."

"Heh." Javo chuckled. "It would be good to get their mind off it."

"They are still children," sighed the leader of Guardian. "They will learn and grow under your tutelage. However, about the Count, have you all interrogated him?"

"We're moving to it. We couldn't due to how tired we were. I plan to," The shinobi had a dark frown. "I know a few 'tricks' to get him to talk."

"No," ordered the Guardian Head. "I want him with all body parts. Someone needs to accompany you."

"I will," said the elegant noble. "He might be willing to speak to me. Although I doubt he has anything else to say, I want to know more about his origins."

"If his power was gifted from the manuscript, we must locate it," said Jin. "Or we already have it. That abomination in the lab is probably the same one that empowered him."

"I would like to send it away as soon as possible." The physician shivered. "Knowing the horrid thing is in the lab makes me uneasy."

"The children must know what they are up against." Selen-ja voiced her concern. "Pilot wanted all nine assembled to show them. Now that they are here, when do you plan to show them?

"We can show them in a few days. They are tired after spending all night safely displacing the civilians and leaving behind evidence of someone sabotaging them with drugs. Also, setting up a fake party without recollection of why and how." scowled Javo.

An uncomfortable silence lingered in the air after the last word left his mouth. What happened to the civilians was terrible, but unfortunately, it was not the only situation they had seen where a life was cut short due to circumstances. One of their mantras, 'You can't save everyone, but you can damn sure neutralize the threat before it worsens.', was a reminder for situations like this. They saved the civilians but delayed their inevitable demise. They stopped the crisis from reaching beyond the small village. They will be there to guide the children when they tell them the news and hopefully learn from it.

"Any news from Pilot?" inquired Jin.

"No, he can't contact us from his current location. Not until after he completes his assignment."

"Him and Jarlon, in the same vicinity, trying to find the man that betrayed our unit," Jin growled. "And cruelly killed our closest companion. Pilot is probably on a rampage."

Selen-ja covered her face, uncharastically clenching her teeth. "I would bring about traitor's demise and his beneficiary. Nothing made sense about his sudden turn."

"It does not matter how sudden it is, either arrest or kill. Those are the two options." grumbled the blonde knight. "Justice will be done."

"On another note." Zeracakja wanted to change the conversation. "Unfortunately, I cannot visit you all to meet the Radiant. It will have to be when they arrive here. Apparently, everyone wants me here because it is unprofessional for the boss to be off-world unless it is a crisis."

"Too bad, old man," smirked Reinstar. "The Head should do what they want."

"A leader should show an example to all proud warriors." boasted Jin with a proud smile. "Proud warriors should always follow a respectful and trusted leader."

Javo nodded. "Absolutely!"

Zeracakja smirked at them. "But the princess will visit alone in the coming days. I persuaded her father and her guards she will be safe in your care and the Radiant to be on their best behavior."

"Ha! I will be here!" Jin stood up and slammed his fist on his chest. "There is no need for those amateurs when I pledge my knighthood to keep her safe." He scowled. "Especially that constant nuisance that ridicules everyone. Glad he's not coming."

"Her father forbade him. After that, he became bedridden for days to come. One of her guards told me, subtly, it was one of them. You know he wanted to come and judge the children's worth to be in the princess's presence."

Jin laughed out loud. "Ha! I can always count on them!"

"The children don't need his critique." said a scowling Javo. "I almost launched him through a wall after his last rating. Property damage happens; can't always be neat and clean."

"Could have hung him from the balcony," muttered Reinstar.

"We will welcome her." smiled Selen-ja. "It's been a long time since we had tea."

"Right." Zeracakja smiled. "I don't have more important news to deliver at the moment. Good work, everyone. No matter how dreadful the days are ahead, we will remain vigilant and ready. Remember. The barrier remains stable because..."

"Guardian is the foundation." The group roared in chorus.

"Excellent, that is all."

The monitor shuts down. The group looked amongst themselves.

"That went well." Reinstar stood up. "When do you want to interrogate?"

"In an hour." Selen-ja slowly stood up. "Please let me speak first before you do. Mocking him won't be appropriate."

"Fine, I won't burst his blood vessel. Oh, the humans have a saying. 'Good Cop, Bad Cop.' I want to be the bad cop."

"You are terrible." The noble giggled. "Just be ready. He will insult you for not being a noble. Prejudice is in his being."

"I love the classics."

"While you two do that, I will be immersing myself in a game about a blue speedster fighting against an obese man." Javo stood up with a jolly smile. "I love it."

"I'll join you on the couch," Jiin said. "Christina lent me a book about the fall of the Roman Empire. It is an intriguing read about obsolete civilization."

"I will send reports to a few colleagues about the patients." Luka's melodic tone was absent as she stood up. "Another set of eyes could stimulate a different opinion." Her expression turned to a deep frown. "Maybe I made the wrong conclusion about their lifespan being permanently split."

"I want them to have their mana recharge, too." said the shinobi. "Those creatures, even if they helped us in the end, still permanently ruined their lives. Their mana should have regenerated by now."

"Even an elderly person should have their mana regenerated to fit their lifestyle." scowled the physician. "What did you do with the gate?"

"I plan on sending it home tomorrow." The noble reassured the avian woman. "It's locked and sealed in a box. They will never grace this world or any world unless someone says so. You have my word."

"I want it broken and destroyed." Luka's feathers puffed up, showing signs of her displeasure, while approaching the door. "The sooner it is removed, the sooner I will feel better." She angrily stamped out of the room.

A frown marred the jolly man's face. "I have not seen her this angry before."

"Perhaps she should interrogate the fiend." said the blond knight. "Trifling with her is a death warrant, given her skill set."

"I have," said Reinstar. "Same asshole who critiqued. He said something that made her almost wring his neck until someone stopped her."

Selen-ja nodded. "She follows the medical oath to the letter." She crossed her arms. "Plus, the 'Crimson Damned' still plagues her. All those people."

"Tragic." Jin lowered his head. "Very tragic."

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Luka stepped into her lab and sat in her chair. She covered her, trying to hold back tears. "Please, don't let something like that happen again." She reached into her feathers and raised a locket. She opened it to reveal a young Aviana couple and a hatchling. She closed her eyes, holding back her tears. "I will do what I can to ensure no one shares your fates. Mother, father."