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nder the night sky, the loud clangs of silver cups and plates could be heard. A group of nine sat merrily around a fire. Small torches were planted around them in a circular fashion

to ward away pesky bugs. The beach would’ve been peaceful, had it not been for the jolly festivities of the Judges.
“To Darek!” Everyone shouted in acclamation.
They feasted on huge chunks of crabmeat and chugged down sweet, cool beverages. Every morsel and sip did not have to be savored; it just had to fill them up sweetly. Darek eyed the meat before digging in. After his tongue tasted its rich flavor, he chomped away. It was so good that he would smack and lick his lips after every single bite.
Darek had never eaten so much crab in his life; it was almost sickening. Even the giant pincer was enough to be considered three meals for the average person, yet for this small group of Judges, one crab was barely enough for the night.
“Enjoy this,” said Slade, beaming. “We don’t eat it much. But today, we have a reason to celebrate!”
“Thanks,” said Darek, feeling pleased to be so welcomed and accepted. “I didn’t think you guys would take me in so easily.”
“What are you saying?” said Elize. “We’ve been waiting for this day for such a long time. We knew you’d return. It was just a matter of when.”
“Yeah,” said Slade. “No offense, but even though you’re a good friend, we wouldn’t have saved you from the Federation otherwise. We only stick our neck out for one of our own.”
“I didn’t need to know that,” said Darek. The memory of almost being executed was firmly burned in his mind.
“Hey,” said Slade, “it all worked out in the end.”
Darek looked around, as though he were looking to find something or someone.
“I’m curious. I thought there were twelve Judges. Where are the others?”
Slade explained, “The three others always hide within our headquarters. They don’t fight like we do; they only make decisions and monitor the situation in the real universe. They are called the Conclave. I’ll explain later. We’ll begin training you tomorrow.”
“Great,” said Darek with a broad smile.
“We even have a job lined up for you when you’re done. We’ll need your help to hunt down the traitor that left our ranks. He’s been making it hard on us, but once we have our full team, we’ll be able to work more efficiently.”
Darek said nothing, staring at his own reflection in his cup of water.
Slade said, “Is something wrong?”
Darek licked his lips clean of any bits of crab. Emotionless, he said, “No, no. Everything is perfect. I just find it hard to believe that I’m actually sitting here right now with you guys. It’s almost like a dream.” He glanced over at Slade and Elize to find them looking concerned. He chuckled. “I don’t know how to really explain what I’m feeling right now. It’s like a void has been filled. All this time I’ve been searching for my home, and now that I’ve found it, it’s unbelievable.” He held up his cup and shouted, “To make the universe a better place!”
“YEAH!” Everyone around the fire agreed and they drank in unison.
After the feast had ended, everyone dozed off in the sand. Though they were the hope of the universe and though they fought day in and day out, back in their home, they were laid back and took the time to rest, without a care in the world.
It was during this night that Darek was lying in the cool sand, gazing above. The world above was shrouded in darkness, impossible to be seen. There were a few specks of light that abruptly sprang up in the sky. Seeing that stars would be impossible in Lacuna, he guessed that, somewhere in the other world above, people were lighting up fires or switching on the lights in their homes.
He lay there in silence, still finding it hard to come to grips with what had happened. Up until a few days ago, he would have never considered the existence of another place separate from their universe. Yet there he was, now inside the Lacuna, a place that seemed so mysterious and mystical. Darek was still feeling a bit incredulous about the whole concept. How does this patchwork of varying lands exist? If there is no sun, then how can there be different seasons and how can there be night and day? The existence of this place was utterly impossible and ludicrous. Yet it did exist and he was able to see, feel, and hear everything about it.
But that wasn’t the only thing on his mind. It seemed ironic. Just a few weeks ago, he was sitting on the roof, looking at the sky, and thinking about what Slade and Elize were doing. However, it was different now. Slade and Elize were right beside him. But he couldn’t help but wonder if Azura and Sorren were okay. For some reason, whenever he gains friends, he loses some and that thought made him feel a bit melancholic. Why couldn’t everyone be together?
He was also afraid to meet Sorren again. If what Windzer said was true, then Sorren would never get along with the Judges. If they were to meet again by chance, it would be as enemies. Darek decided that should the day ever come, he would show no mercy to Sorren, just as Sorren did not show mercy to him.
But is that the right way to think? Surely, you could give him a second chance.
“I don’t know,” said Darek. “I would like to think otherwise, but it’s just hard, you know? He just doesn’t seem like the type to listen to reason.” Darek turned around, thinking someone was talking to him. He saw no one. “Hello? Uh—Is someone there?”
No one in particular, said the strange voice.
“All right,” said Darek nervously. “You’re freaking me out. Show yourself!”
I would, but that’s something you must help me with.
“What?”
Touch the campfire. Go on.
“Not this again.” Darek said mockingly, “Go on and touch the exploding core. Go on and drink the water of death. Go on and wander into enemy territory alone. Go on and put your hand in a roaring flame! Can’t I ever get a break with this nonsense?”
Darek reluctantly walked over to the fire. He figured he might as well get this over with. Too afraid to look, he shut his eyes as put his hand inside the flame. Gloves mysteriously reappeared on his hand and all the flames flared higher as if it was sprayed with oil.
A man suddenly emerged from the flames and stood before Darek. “Hello.” The man was literally clothed with the fire, though it did not look like he was actually being burnt. His facial features were smooth, his brows were long and fuzzy, and his plump nose was short and crooked.
Darek had never seen this man before, yet his face was familiar. “Do I know you?”
The man said, “We’ve spoken momentarily before. But I did not have time to properly introduce myself. My name is Chrovel. You’ve met my servant, Ios.”
“What? Then you’re—”
“Yes,” Chrovel replied. “I am the core—or rather, I was the core, until you freed me.”
“Ah,” said Darek, “so it’s you. No wonder you looked familiar. Why are you here?”
Chrovel said, smirking, “It’s not like I have much of a choice. You absorbed me, after all. I am now a part of you.”
“You’re—a part of me?” Darek looked thoroughly perplexed. “What? What are you anyway? Are you really a core of a planet?”
“What am I? You’ve met my kind, I’m sure. I am a Guardian, one spirit of many.”
“What was a Guardian doing inside the core of a planet?” asked Darek.
“It’s a long story,” said Chrovel, not seeming pleased to have to recount it, “but I’ll try to keep it short for you. In the beginning of time there was a great war. Some of the Guardians believed that humans needed to be erased for the problems they caused, and these wayward Guardians became known as the Coranites. The Coranites were defeated by an alliance between man and Guardian. All of the Guardians and Coranites that were ‘killed’ during the war were thrown into the Great Core, the place of no return, or so we thought. After being tossed in, I thought I would never be seen again, but for some unknown reason, I had become imprisoned inside a planet, locked away for two thousand years.”
“Do all cores of planets have spirits within them?”
“No,” replied Chrovel. “I’d estimate that there are only about several hundred thousand planets with Guardians and Coranites locked within their cores.”
Darek fell back into the sand and stared at the dark sky above with its starry lights. “Wow, that’s still quite a lot. They must be pretty bored, having to stay in one place for so long.”
Chrovel laughed at Darek’s comment. “Yeah, I was bored out of my mind!”
“I wonder if they’re waiting for me to free them,” said Darek. “I was imprisoned for a short time and hated it. I can’t imagine being imprisoned for hundreds or thousands of years.”
“A word of advice,” said Chrovel gravely. “Never consider freeing another core.”
“What? But I freed you, didn’t I?”
“And I’m grateful for that. But I only accepted that because your life was in danger. Had you been able to escape on your own, I would have never told you to absorb me. We were imprisoned for a reason. We should not be freed so recklessly.”
“But why?”
Chrovel replied, “Many defeated Coranites also reside within cores. They may have once been Guardians, but now they are full of hatred and jealousy. They are dangerous and should never be allowed to set foot in the universe.”
“Not that,” said Darek. “I meant to ask, why does my life matter so much? You want to save me while others, like Dionus, want to kill me. What’s this all about?”
Chrovel explained, “There are differing prophecies about you. Some say you will save the universe while others say you will destroy it. Though it borders on both ends of the extremes, your existence is necessary because the universe, as it is, is in trouble. I, and others like me, will not allow you to die until your purpose is complete. Maybe the fate of the universe is in your hands, but it may also be your decision about which way it goes. At least for me, I think you will make the right choices.”
Darek smiled. “I don’t even know you, but I’m already starting to like you.” Darek paused for a moment. “So you won’t go back to the Guardians? You’re going to stay with me?”
“Even if I wanted to leave, it’s not that easy, so I’ll stay with you for now. But I will try to be helpful. You can borrow my spirit energy, though the amount you borrow will be dependant on how well you can control it. You’ve already borrowed it once. I am a Guardian of fire so my abilities will grant you the power of flame.” Chrovel turned around and stepped back into the fire. “I’ll be around, waiting inside your mind. Call me if you need me.”
“Wait!”
Chrovel stopped. “What is it?”
Darek said, “Is Ios all right? Is she okay?”
“She is fine. She is a part of me, just as I am a part of you.”
Darek scratched his head with a clueless look upon his face. “What does that mean?” But before he could say anything else, he blacked out. He was completely unaware of it, but bringing out Chrovel’s form wasted away his strength. It felt like he had fainted for only a second. But when he awakened it was bright as day and everyone else was already up and about; most of the Judges had already left, leaving only Slade and Elize sitting on the sand, looking into the ocean.
Elize saw that Darek was awake. “Oh, you’re finally up. I was starting to get worried.”
Darek let out a long yawn. “Where’d everyone go?”
Elize folded her arms. “You’ve been asleep for more than a day! No one’s going to wait around for you. If you’re going to be lazy, do it in a safer place.”
Darek blinked in amazement. “A day? I guess I shouldn’t be doing it that often.”
“Doing what?”
“Oh…I um…” Darek’s voice trailed off as he decided on the spot to keep Chrovel’s existence within him a secret. Elize would probably think it was creepy; there was no point in scaring her. “It’s nothing. I was just saying that the party was pretty tiring.”
“Speak for yourself. Only you were out like a brick.”
“Enough about that,” said Slade, standing behind Elize. “We’ll be starting in a bit. Freshen up and get changed.” He handed Darek his new attire.
“Why? What are we doing?” said Darek.
“The training,” answered Slade.
“Oh yeah, the training…how long does it take?”
Slade shrugged. “Depends on the trainee. Anywhere from three months to a year.”
“That long?” said Darek, surprised.
Slade nodded. “That’s why you should hurry up!”
Darek walked to the ocean and splashed the cool water on his face. He looked far past the ocean and saw many strange and wondrous lands before him. Darek wanted to explore as far as he could see because he had been feeling more adventurous ever since his long journey began. But that would have to wait. He had finally made it to where he was longing for: a real home.
As he looked across the vast dimension, he knew that Sorren, Azura, Merdon, Rathos and Thedes were all out there, somewhere. He didn’t know how he knew, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that everyone else was safe and alive, possibly starting new lives like he would.
There were many things he still wondered about, but for now, he cast aside all worry and embraced the peace—at last.