Grace groaned as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes to clear them and took a look at her surroundings. She was in a cell. Another knight was pacing in front of her cell. He was wearing a helmet, so she couldn't see his face. She noticed how he was in shining gold armour, which was different from all of the other knights, who wore silver. She didn't know what to say, so she figured it was better to remain silent, rather than to say something wrong, or stupid.

The knight noticed her. She knew by how his head fixated on her. 

"Are you okay?" He asked, which surprised Grace to the point of complete silence. "Are you hurt?" She shook her head. 

"Where is my friend, Rachael? She is blonde—"

"Yes, she is alright. Please, walk with me." His reply was unconvincing to Grace. He slid the door until it was ajar, which made Grace wonder if it was actually closed to begin with. 

"Where am I?" The knight didn't bother to reply. She got out of the cell. She found the pendant still around her neck, but she didn't dare use it. Not when she was surrounded by knights everywhere. 

The knight, whose armour was made of sparkling gold, escorted her outside of the dungeons and to a great hall. 

"Where are we going?" She asked. Without turning his head to look at her, he replied. 

"Queen Elena. Act nice." Grace suddenly found herself in front of a huge door. The two guards suddenly jumped in the air and held the two door knobs and turned them, pushing the door inside. Grace walked unaccompanied in the huge hall. She stopped a little before the staircase that led to a giant floating throne. She looked upwards, curious to see who was sitting on such a throne. 

A lady sat elegantly on the throne, with dark blue pixie cut hair and eyes alert and observing. Her head was raised up high in arrogance, and her giant peacock-like wings were spread beside her. Grace shakingly bowed to her presence.

"Grace Anderson," The queen greeted, her voice powerful and unwavering, "A human girl of fifteen years of age. The girl.. who stole the heart of Aneroma." Grace winced at the harsh accusation the queen threw at her like a dagger.

"Your majesty—" Grace failed to object, as the queen interrupted her. 

"Yes, yes, you cannot steal what is already yours, I understand." Queen Elena said. Grace opened her mouth to say something, but she retreated. 

What does she mean when she says I can't steal what is already mine?

"In all honesty, I find your boldness fascinating. You threatened my knights with your sword, you demanded them to let go of your human friend, you took a glowing pendant from the ground. You have bravery and also, selflessness for those you care about. Sometimes foolish, but bold." Queen Elena stood up and brushed her long gown. "Those are the qualities I need in a Guardian." 

"A Guardian?" Grace asked.

"You are destined to guard our world from evil. You know, I could have killed you and your little friend the moment they turned you in, unconscious. Aside from the fact I am doing a favour for a friend of mine, who was keen on keeping you alive, you are the one the prophecy is talking about. You are the chosen one, Grace." Grace chuckled nervously. 

"I think you've got it all wrong, your majesty," Grace shook her head as she watched Queen Elena go down the stairs. "I am just.. Grace. I am the school's biggest loser and the clumsiest person you will ever encounter. I can't do whatever you want me to do, I am not the person you are looking for." Grace took off the pendant and handed it to her. "Just let me and Rachael go. I need to go back.. for my father. He must be worried sick about me." She said pleadingly.

Queen Elena took the pendant and threw it very far away, across the hall and before it made contact with the ground, it disappeared. Grace felt something grow heavy around her neck. She touched her chest and found the pendant wrapped around her neck again. 

"This is your destiny, Grace. Fate has planned for you all along to find the pendant upon you. It chose you, at the right time, at the right place. It is only you who shall save us from the most evil force in the universe, and stand against anybody who will oppose you. There is only one Guardian, and that Guardian is you, and you only." Grace looked away, eyeing the huge hall she stood in. 

She focused her eyes on the series of giant crystal chandeliers. On the wall blue flaming torches. The walls were decorated elegantly with patterns and different colours. The throne room did not feel like something that could be found in the human world. It was far more magical than any creation a human could do. 

But Grace didn't pay attention to any of that, despite her artistic taste. Her thoughts clouded her vision. Many questions swirled in their head. 

"Are you feeling well?" Queen Elena asked. Grace was startled by her sudden seemingly uncharacteristic question. 

Are all fairies that considerate, or is it me who doesn't look well?

"Sorry, this is just.. a lot to take in." Grace raked her short hair with her fingers. "Who.. am I supposed to protect, exactly?" 

"Oh, forgive me. I forgot to introduce you to Aneroma, The Fairy World." Queen Elena walked across the hall to the doors. The guards allowed the Queen and the new Guardian outside. 

"I am sorry, your majesty. I can't do this without Rachael." Queen Elena smiled and gestured with her hand at a staircase. Rachael was talking to a fairy with wild baby blue hair that had faded into green. Both laughed with each other and even high-fived, which sparked something inside Grace's heart. 

"Splendid, Alexandra seems to have created a strong bond with your friend. She can give you a tour of Aneroma. It is a huge world, so she can show you how things work in Syndioma, this city. Get back when you are done so we can do a few things before you go. I will have Samuel 'tag along' as you youngsters say." Queen Elena said, despite having a straight face with a hard expression, as hard as rock. Grace nodded. 

"Thanks." Grace bowed for her and watched her retreat to the throne room before being engulfed into a tight hug from behind that almost broke her ribs. 

"Grace! I was worried sick about you! What is going on?" Rachael asked in her high-pitched voice. 

"Oh, Rae, there is a whole lot I need to explain, huh? I will explain on our way home. I guess we need a tour of Aneroma first." Grace said.

"Grace, this place is like heaven! Guess what? Unicorns! This world has unicorns! They are my favourite! Alex promised she would show them to me in the stables." Rachael squealed in excitement as she jumped on her toes. Grace smiled at her enthusiasm. She couldn't help but share her excitement. It's not like you get to see fairies, unicorns and a whole new world every day. 

"Let's meet Alexandra then." 

"She doesn't like Alexandra so call her Alex." Grace and Rachael caught up with the fairy Rachael was talking to earlier. 

"Hello, Grace, right?" Grace nodded as she shook her hand, "You must be the new Guardian! It is so weird to have a Guardian so young." Alex said. 

"How old were they? The normal guardians?" Grace asked as they got out of the castle. 

"You shouldn't call them the 'Normal' Guardians. You are one of them, too. We prefer the term: 'Past Guardians'," Alex realized she hadn't really replied to her question. She continued, "They ranged from twenty to forty years. History has never encountered anyone older or younger than that, so you are special." Alex gave her a wink. Grace was happy she was being accepted by the fairy society so far, by one weird Knight, one scary queen and one girl more hyperactive than Rachael. 

Grace slowed down when she caught the sight of what was outside of the castle. 

Gardens of different flowers Grace had never seen before spread at the two sides of the rocky path ahead. Farmers watered the plants as they remained in the air, but not with any garden hoses. They slowly opened their hands to reveal an orb of water. When they launched it in the air, it exploded into water droplets that descended on the plants and the soil. The plants glowed healthily. It was a fascinating sight. 

"Did you see that? He has water powers!" Grace pointed at him. The farmer looked up and gave her a friendly smile as he continued to work. However, Alex seemed uninterested. 

"Oh, yeah. Water holders are rather common here. Each fairy has a core. Their core holds their power. Since each core is different, it holds different powers. There are Earth Fairies, Water Fairies, Phoenix Fairies, Crystal Fairies and Dark Fairies, but Dark Fairies are in the Realm In The Dark. Somewhere.. dangerous." Alex explained.

"Which kind of fairy is Grace?" Rachael asked. 

"You are certainly a Crystal Fairy. I mean, that's what most Guardians and knights are."

"Woah, I have a lot of catching up to do." Grace said. 

"Don't pressure yourself. You'll eventually get used to it." A new voice joined the three girls. They turned to find a tall knight of probably thirty years of age, with flowing blonde hair and a charming smile. "Hello, girls. You must be Grace." Grace shook hands with the knight. 

"Grace, Rachael, that's Sam, my brother." Alex smiled. 

"Queen Elena has filled me in. Good news, I might be your mentor." Sam said with a handsome smile. 

"Mentor?" Grace asked.

"Each Guardian had a mentor to train with and come back to for help. Especially since you are young and also new to this world, you need one." Grace nodded and gave him a smile. 

"It would be an honor, Mister Sam." 

"Oh, no. Please don't ever call me that. Just Sam." The girls chuckled. 

"Come on, brother." Alex escorted them out of the gates of the palace and to the city. 

***

Grace and Rachael returned after the tour. They got to see Wingmarket, which contained clothes, weapons, armour, food and candies. Rachael and Grace tried the candy but it was bitter and they didn't enjoy it. They did enjoy the play they saw in the mini-theatre, though Sam and Alex laughed at them because it was made for kids to teach them about the history of Aneroma. 

Houses of fairies were floating in the skies and on the ground, outside of Wingmarket, which amazed the two human girls. 

They returned back to the palace and Queen Elena gave Grace a pen that opened up portals and a crystal that lit up during emergencies. She also told her that she would be expecting her to return to discuss a few matters and to start training. 

Grace and Rachael called it a day and returned to the human world using the main portal, in the outskirts of Syndioma. It was like a swirl of energy. Once they had stepped inside it, they found themselves in the human world, in the forest beside their school, near where Grace had found the pendant. 

"Tell me I am not dreaming." Rachael said. 

"I really don't know." Grace shook her head. 

"So you are supposed to fight evil and stuff because you are a Guardian?" 

"That's what she told me." Grace replied. They walked in the forest, which was soaked with sunlight. It was bad news for Grace and Rachael. That meant they almost didn't get an ounce of sleep, and that they were probably late for school. 

"What are you going to do?" 

"Well, if I am really destined to protect this world, then who am I to stand against my destiny?"