Chapter 44

“Now people watch the skies, removing doubt and all fear.

For they know with all their hearts the Guardian will someday Appear.”

Chief Justice Resin, year 2004

Change

Kimberly stood inside the Justice Hall as she looked at a monitor mounted on the wall. She bit at her thumb as she watched the live broadcast.

The man who rescued her the day before spoke into half a dozen microphones placed on a metal podium with the Justice Hall depicted behind him. The damage from the bomb could still be seen on the building’s face. Its broken windows and blackened marble somehow seemed an adequate setting for the long-awaited fourth Appearance of the Guardian of Magic.

“Oliver Kapur,” Kimberly muttered. “The Guardian of Magic…”

The realization continued to churn her brain ever since the night before. My ex-boyfriend who hates trees and ridiculed me for becoming an Arboler and believing in the foretold Appearance of the Guardian and who debated against me at a national level that the Guardian is a myth… is the Guardian?

It made absolutely no sense.

But she couldn’t deny that he was the Guardian either. The magic he used was real. He saved her life and put an end to the violence at the Capital Grove. There was no debating that, which left her stumped.

“It’s insane, isn’t it?”

The male voice made Kimberly jump. She’d almost forgotten that Terick Oakley stood beside her, watching the monitor just as intently as she. He was dressed in a gray business suit, white shirt and tie, and polished brown shoes that matched the color of his skin. He glanced at Kimberly. All the menace from the night before had gone from his face and was replaced with shock. He swallowed hard and returned his attention to the monitor

He must be as stunned as me, Kimberly thought. We both knew Oliver well. Or at least we thought we did. And Terick didn’t even believe in the Guardian.

“I know this will be hard for many of you to accept,” Oliver said into the microphones. “Most of you know me as the Secular Branch Leader, and now I come to you as the Guardian of Magic. If you find that difficult to believe, then don’t worry; I can relate. It took me a long time to believe it, too.”

He then told a remarkable story of time travel, a mage named Silas, the reality of magic, the Age of War, Lennox Elmson, and the Tree of Life selecting him as the Guardian of Magic by giving him the Staff of Life. It was a story that seemed far too fanciful for anyone—especially Oliver—to come up with on his own, and it was a bizarre yet logical explanation as to where he’d been for the past week, and how he suddenly appeared with magical abilities. Kimberly and Terick watched without a word.

There were several parts of his story that raised concern in Kimberly’s mind. It seemed to make sense, but it was troubling because there were a few things that went against the core beliefs she’d held onto for years. But nothing shook her more than what he said next.

He looked out at the crowd and spoke slowly. “I believe some important clarifications are in need. Let it be known that I am not the Ascended Guardian. I am not the Guardian Reborn.”

Kimberly’s eyes bulged.

“But I am the Guardian of Magic, and the Tree of Life is a divine being who chose me as her protector. Time travel is the secret, and it is the means by which I will likely journey to the Age of Monsters and the Age of Greed.” He paused. The crowd was embedded in a deep hush. “Wood is sacred, and it does contain magic. However, it is acceptable, even, commendable to cut trees.”

That statement stirred up some whispers.

Kimberly and Terick shared an awkward, jaw-dropped glance with each other. He almost looked sympathetic at her, as if he didn’t want to say out loud that he’d been right all along.

How can this be? She thought. Is everything I believed and fought for pointless? Is this just Oliver’s opinion? Can he really be trusted?

She took a step closer to the monitor, inspecting Oliver more closely. He looked… older. More responsible. He wore an ancient-looking green robe with the hood pulled back and a sash around the waist. The white staff in his hand looked majestic. The confidence and reverence in his tone were persuasive. She recalled the spectacular display of magic he produced the night before.

He’d healed her.

He is the Guardian.

She wanted Oliver to repeat his words to make sure she heard right, but he didn’t. Just those few points were enough to debunk her religion and her entire argument in the lumber debate. A huge chunk of her life and efforts had gone wasted!

He didn’t have to back up his statements; he was the Guardian of Magic. Whatever he said was doctrine. They were his Holy Instructions.

“My hope is that the hate between our different Branches and factions will cease to exist for centuries,” he said. “The violence I witnessed last night must come to an end. Today, there will be only Arbolers. No Seculars, no Ascendists, no Reborns, no Followers of Life. We as a people will be unified, and not just as Salverians, Verencians, or Forencians, but as humans… creations of Life.”

When Oliver was the Secular Branch Leader, the crowd would cheer after his every sentence. But, here, today, in front of a much, much larger crowd, the audience watched and listened in complete silence. This speech wasn’t motivational.

It was sacred.

“I don’t know how long I will get to stay among you,” he said. “But while I am here, I will strive to build the unity between us as a people. Life send that we will accomplish it.” He held up a bundle of ancient scrolls. “One way I intend to do that is by teaching the entire world how to Carve and Cast magic. I believe this is one of the ways I am meant to fulfill my role as the Guardian of Magic… by restoring that magical knowledge which has been long lost. Thank you.”

Oliver smiled, waved his white staff, and walked away from the podium. After a moment of stunned silence, a cheer erupted from the crowd, which reached across the entire Magen City square. Kimberly thought she heard a few boos as well. It was understandable that not everyone would immediately accept him as the Guardian. Not everyone saw him use magic. And even among those who did, some may have come up with their own theories and rationalizations.

Even Norman and Marissa were hesitant to accept the truth the night before. Kimberly wondered what they thought of Oliver’s speech.

“That was… unexpected,” Terick said. He coughed to clear his throat. “Oliver basically dissolved the entire Secular Branch in one speech.”

“And my sect,” Kimberly said, still glued to the monitor.

They fell silent, their thoughts running a thousand miles per second.

“This is going to change the world.” Terick turned and walked down the hallway.

Tell me about it. Kimberly fidgeted with her fingers as she thought.

Terick turned back. “Kim, I’m…” he paused. “I’m sorry. I obviously was wrong.”

Kimberly looked him in the eyes, catching his sincerity. “I was wrong, too. Please accept my apology, as well.”

Terick nodded and began walking down the hallway. “The best news is… Oliver is still alive. Our friend is back.” He walked around the corner.

Kimberly stared back at the monitor as the hallway remained quiet for a long moment. That is, until the sound of two footsteps accompanied with a wooden thump came around the corner.

“Kim.”

Her heart leapt into her throat as she turned. The Guardian of Magic stood at the other end of the hallway. “Oh! My… uh…” she stammered. “My Oliver—no—that is…um… my lord.”

Oliver smiled warmly at her. “Just call me Ollie.”

She struggled to recompose herself, unsure what to do with her hands. Eventually, she held them still by clasping them together just below her waist. “So…” she said. “You’re the Guardian.”

His smile turned into half a smirk. “Believe me. I know how hard it is to believe. It took me a few weeks and a good whack in the face before I accepted it to be true.”

“But it is true?” The tone of her question wasn’t an objection. It was more of a plea.

“It is, Kim.” Oliver’s sincerity was impossible to fake.

Kimberly inclined her chin, rubbing her forehead. “It’s just… a lot to take in. Your Appearance and your speech basically put me out of a sect and out of a job. I don’t know what to do anymore or who I’m going to be.”

“I know. Sorry. Though, I’m confident things will work out. I think… you just don’t know who you really are yet.”

She laughed. “Did you just use my own words against me?”

“I certainly did. They worked on me.”

“Well… it seems you’ve discovered who you are, Ollie, The Guardian of Magic.”

He took a deep breath, looking slightly overwhelmed. “And I’m still trying to figure out what that means.”

They fell silent, looking at each other.

She admired the humbled look in his eye. He’s changed, she thought. I don’t know what he’s gone through, but he’s come out a different person. A better person.

“So, what’s next?” she asked.

“Well…” Oliver strolled closer to her, one hand on his white staff. “Next, I begin teaching the world how to use magic.” He stopped just a few paces in front of her. She felt her heart begin to involuntarily thump harder against her chest. He looked her in the eyes. “How would you like to be my first pupil?”

She shifted her weight and cleared her throat, considering her answer. “I think… I would like that very much.”