GRAHAM'S POV

"What.., what do you mean you can't remember?", Eric asked Tiana, while Aurora and I just stared in shock. "I remember being there and seeing them, I know I saw what they used, but I just can't remember", Tiana said looking down. "Oh God", Eric said frustratedly. "Her memory has been blocked, but we need to question our dark friends over there". She said gesturing to the darklings we tied up.

"Not, to be rude but, can I ask something?", a soldier finally spoke up, jeez these people are really strict. "Yes... Soldier, by all means", I answered in an awkward way..

"What are you people exactly?, are you like witches.., wizards or warlocks?", he shrugged. He was right, I've never really thought of what we are, guess knowing we had magical potential was enough, hmm.

"Welll uhmm, we..., are not witches and Aurora will fill you in on the rest", no way I was answering that. I smiled at Aurora's now frowning face.

"We are humans, just like you. But we're gifted with certain powers like elementals. Generally, you can call us magicians", she said smiling. No one has ever thought of what we are huh, we just knew it was magic.

"So this person that your after, he's also a magician?". The soldier asked. "What's your name soldier?", I asked him. "Marcellus brooks, call me Marcel", well, that was easy, I thought that would have been breaking a code or something if he said it. "Marcel, this person we're after, is my brother who I just found out about few days ago, and he's magic is not like ours, its dark and dangerous. Those dark clouds you saw, wasn't a storm, it was him and if we don't stop him, it'll spread and the world as you know it, won't be the same". Intense much?.. "Oohkay", was all he could say, wow.

"Nice speech there, glad you keeping up", Aurora whispered to me with a smirk before going to the darklings.

We took the three darklings we got to the manor, but not without eyes from every house we passed. But one caught my attention, nana. She looked betrayed, little kim wasn't exactly phased by it, she still said hi to Tiana with a smile before her mom pulled her inside.

We got to the manor, it was a total wreck, they were loads of damaged property, injured people. They all looked like they'd lost hope. A guard ran up to Aurora as he saw her. Seemed she knew him.

"Lady Aurora, we're so sorry we let this happen, we were caught off guard, we evacuated as many people as possible", he said calmly but troubled. "Its ok Palmer, it wasn't your fault", Aurora replied him calmly as well.

"Graham, this is Palmer, he's our head of defense, Palmer meet Graham", Aurora introduced us as we shook hands. "Heard alot about you, pleasure to meet you", Palmer said. "Thanks, nice to meet you too".

"Soo.., who are they?", he asked referring to the soldiers. "They're military, they'll help us fight off whatever is coming", Aurora answered but left out a tiny detail. "Well, that's great, we could all work together ", Palmer said. "They're humans"..

"Humans?, why would you bring them here, into all this",  he asked quietly trying not to get too much attention. I'll let Aurora handle that, I slowly walked away unnoticed to Eric who was watching the darklings.

"So what are we going with them ", I asked. "We'll figure that out later, let's get ourselves together first". We stay there for sometime when Palmer comes back

"Tell me these are not who I think they are?", Palmer asked referring to the darklings. "They're darklings", Tiana pops up in response. "Darklings?", Palmer was definitely confused. "That's what we're calling them, the people who attacked us, we caught up to these ones before they escaped, we think it has something to do with the clouds returning to normal". Too much?, fair enough I think.. "That I believe, when they were here, apart from tearing things down, they weren't really interested in anyone, more like they were looking for something".

"That would be the tunnels containing the only thing that isn't tainted by darkness", a loud voice said behind us. We turned around to see a pretty much old lady with a girl who looked younger, probably 24. "There is a tunnel under this manor, at the center, beneath where your father made the sword, a pool was created, sustained by his magic and as long as it is there, and untainted, Brandon is bound to fail",  the old lady spoke again boldly.

"Excuse me ma'am, who are you and how do you know about the tunnels?", Eric asked. "Hmm, children no longer read their history books. I'm Addylin Joseph, and I helped build the tunnel".

She can't be serious, "umm.. You mean THE Addylin Joseph, as in the one in the hall of fame?", she's soo old, the resemblance started making its way. "Which other one would I be talking about". Is it just me or Eric, Aurora and Palmer are still dumbstruck. "No offense ma'am but how are you still alive??".

"None taken. This is Davina, my daughter", she said referring to the girl she came with. "Hi everyone, pleasure to meet you all", Davina said and we all just stared. "Ad.. Addylin Joseph, right, it is more than a pleasure to meet you, I mean, we're really grateful to see one of history's heros, but if there's anyway you can help us, it'd be really appreciated. Did you by any chance also participate in the making of the sword, if not, we need to find way to get Tiana's memory back". Aurora said. "I wasn't there when the sword was made, but if you need Tiana's memory back, you need to find that pool, ASAP. You've already wasted alot of time".

"Okay can you tell us how all this relates to Brandon", I asked.

"I'll go straight to the point, Brandon may have the sword now, but he and the sword are like two different element so he can't access the full power of the sword, if we keep it that way, we'll still stand a chance against him. He is still vulnerable and weak, that's why he hasn't come here himself, and the clouds can't stay longer than they already have", she explained.

"And this pool, what happens when we find it?", Eric asked. "You mean when they find it, you and Aurora are staying, Brandon won't stop until he gets what he wants, and he'll come stronger and you need to be here to hold the defense", they all shared an agreeing look.

"Wait, I thought we caught three darkling", Eric said and we turned to see only two darklings. "Where'd he go, we need to find him", I said starting to look around.

"No, you go get Tiana, Davina will take you two to the pool, Eric and the rest of us will find the darkling. when you find it, take a sip of its water, all three of you. This is because you'll be put in a trance and you will all need to find yourselves so you can help Tiana. But be warned, the water opens your mind up to different events of the past, conditions in the present and possibilities of the future, if you wander too far, you will be lost in your minds".

"Ookay, worst case scenario, get lost in our minds and never return, I'll go find Tiana".

"I'm coming with you", Marcel said. "No you won't, its too dangerous", I protested. "Yea, staying out here is as dangerous too, but if all three of you are going to be unconscious, someone has to watch". He was right.. "Fine, you can come, but just you".

"Where's the entrance to the tunnel?", I asked. "Thought you'd never ask", Addylin said smirking. She led us to the library. "Help me push this shelve", she requested. Marcel and I push the shelve. Took a while but it surprisingly opened and revealed another room. "Okay how many more hidden places are in this town". I asked. "Just one more, she pulled out the carpet on the floor showing what was like a door. We opened it and there it was the tunnel.

Davina walked in with Tiana and went to talk with her mother, seconds later they hugged. I looked away so they wouldn't notice I was staring.

"Remember to find yourselves, its easier when you're together", Addylin said before walking out.

MARCEL'S POV

Graham had a word with Tiana before going in the tunnel, Davina followed and I went in last. It was really dark down here, but thank God for phones, though the lights could only help us see so far.

We all walked quietly for a while. "So how does it work?, the tunnel", I asked. "Its more like a maze, but as long as you're going the right way, you don't need to worry about traps". Davina answered. I and Davina where now infront, Tiana and Graham trailing behind us. "So how do you know we're on the right path?"

"My mother made me memorize the structure and yea, I have a map", she answered with a grin. "By the way, I'm Marcel"

"You might already know, but I'm Davina". Davina as a soft face, but fierce personality, she's the kind of person who'd break your hand after you've been deceived that she's a softie. She has a small baby-like face, dark flowing hair and eyes, normal height for a lady I guess, cut the crab she's short, or maybe I'm just too tall, whatever.

"So, how long have you been with your mom?". I asked

"Pretty much my whole life.., I was home schooled, so I barely associated with people".

"Ooh. Weren't you ever lonely, just the two of you".

"It did get lonely at times, but we got used to each other's company, and my mother is really sweet as she can be protective. How about you?, life as a soldier, how fun's that".

"I'll be honest, it gets really boring at times, I mean all the times", she laughs a bit. "Then why do you do it? ".

"Guess I've always had a thing for helping people, even though it means staying quiet for hours, standing for hours and having to march all the time".

"Not bad, we're here", she smirked and called out to Graham and Tiana. The was a wall infront of us with a handle at each end. "We need to twist the handles at the same time to open it", Davina said to Graham and the both grabbed a handle. "On three.., 1... 2... 3..." they both twisted the handle and the wall split open.

We found the pool, its radiance illuminated the large round room it was in. I'd never seen water glowing so brightly without a source of light before. I hear something back at the tunnel and look back. "Did you guys hear that?", I asked.

"Noo, its probably the old  mechanism here", Graham answered. "Alright Tee, you ready?", Graham asked Tiana.
"I think so", she said as they laid by the pool. Davina scooped the water with a cup and took a sip before passing to Graham then Tiana. "Don't wander to far, and find yourselves", I said to them as they went from drowsy to unconscious.

I heard a sound behind me again and before I could turn I felt something hard hit my head and I fell. Trying to get my self I look up and find the missing darkling scooping the water, he whispers something I'm sure isn't english, he drops the cup and its empty.

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