Chapter 11. Fragile and broken.

Being alone in total darkness scared the shit out of Grace. Walking around aimlessly with no significance. Amidst her despair, she saw Malcolm in front of her, She was filled with hope and relief. Finally, she wasn't alone.

"Sir. Where are we?" we were just at your place. How did we get here? What happened? " Grace kept ranting on in panic.

"Relax, " Malcolm held both her shoulder to calm her. "There's nothing to be scared of. We are not lost, we are simply in your head" Malcolm elaborated.

Grace was confused "My head? What do you mean? "

"No matter how powerful you are, without a strong mind will, you are nothing. When I say mind, it means your memories, which is yourself and who you are".

"I don't understand. " Grace asked him.

"From what I can see, you have no foundation that's why anyone could go in and out of your head without you realizing it. You are a guardian which makes you one of the most powerful being on earth. And the fact that someone was able to sneak or rather, walk inside your head freely is very disconcerting. We don't know what he was looking for, or what he took".

"Now, I'm going to teach you how to protect your mind to stop anyone from sneaking into your head. First of all, I need to you concentrate, find a place safe enough to hide your memories where no one can can go through".

Grace closed her eyes and tried to find a safe spot. After a few seconds, a white box materialized in front of them.

Malcolm looked at her with surprise. Wondering if it will be strong enough.

"Are you sure about your choice? " Malcolm tried to verify from her.

"yes," Grace assures.

"Okay, it's just for training anyway" Now imagine a particular memory and put it inside the box". Malcolm instructed her.

"Okay"

In an instant, a memory of Grace at the age of twelve running around the orphanages, appeared in a big screen in front of them like a 3d video.

"Not bad, for a first timer. Malcolm said with a nod.

Grace stared at the memories feeling nostalgia. That was one of her happiest moments. It was the day she took first place in her class. The nuns made a feast to celebrate her position it was a happy occasion.

Grace reluctantly held both ends and folded it together before putting it inside the box.

"Why are you going through all that stress when you can just do it with your mind" Malcolm said in frustration.

"Well, I think you forgot to mention it first, so you can't blame me". Grace refuted.

"Okay, I can see you are quite the stubborn type".

"You're right," Grace said giggling.

"and... I'm done"

"Are you sure they are safe in there?" Malcolm asked her.

"Yes of cause".

......

"Are you sure she's alright?" Stave asked Malcolm's subordinate while waving his hand in front of Grace who wasn't responding.

"Don't worry, she's fine. Malcolm knows what he's doing".

"Are you sure?"

"Oh come on little guardian, since you have trust issues with us, why don't you trust whoever it is that sent you ".

"Maybe, you're right. I don't trust you guys but I do trust Joseph ". Stave said the last part mostly to himself before going back to his seat.

"You see? That wasn't so hard. I don't just get why you guardians act so mighty all the time " the subordinate said with detest.

"Well, I also can't comprehend why you witches always start a fight you can't finish". Steve replied while playing with his sword.

"Do you want to find out? " the subordinate said in a daring tune. "I always love a good fight".

"With all pleasure "Steve replied with a grin.

If Grace was to see this, she would have been stunned to see the usual composed and reserved stave having this competitive side to him .

"Will the both of you stop this nonsense? " they both turned their head in the direction in which the voice came from.

"He's our guest Damien, moreover what will Father say if he finds out that you are disrespectful to his guest? "

"Wait! He's your dad?" Stave was baffled.

"And what is wrong with that? " Damien glared at him.

"Nothing. I just thought you look nothing alike, moreover you've been addressing him as if he was your boss". Stave said.

"Big bro, it was his fault. He started it" Damien lamented like a child.

"I don't care. Don't let this repeat itself again".

"I'm sorry". Damian said with a sullen look.

......

"The greatest battle you will ever fight is with your mind, so you have to build up your mind like a fortress to prevent any intrusion" he lectured her with both his hands behind his back.

Malcolm then, walk to where box is, He placed hand on it and it shattered into pieces in an instant.

"How. How did you do that? " Grace asked him.

"This? Easy. It's because your mind is like this piece of glass, fragile and broken. How are you supposed to defend humanity when you allowed some creature to take a front roll in your head".

"I didn't " Grace refute him. "how was I supposed to know when I just got dragged into this a few months ago? ".

"it's happened because you are flippant with everything. That's why you are not suitable to be guardians. You are a disgrace to your ancestor".

"Stop. Don't say that" Grace said feeling hurt by his word.

"I will stop when you know how to suck up your attitude and realized that it's not just about you. You have to realize that everytime you made a mistake or hesitate, someone's life will be at risk".

At that moment, she had a recap of the event that happened back at the orphanage. The rage she felt, the blood of the other kids, and how she enjoyed their screams.

She held her head with both hands in denial.

"no no no. Stop. Please stop it" she said in a pool of tears.

But Malcolm kept going on and on.

" I.. Said... Stop...." she cried with a scream.

.......

Stave and others were shocked to find themselves on the other side of the room. When they finally regained themselves, they saw Malcolm bleeding from the nose while trying to get up from the ground and Grace, who was still lying unconscious on the floor.

Stave ran up to her without caring about his own pain.

"Grace, Grace, wake up"

"Don't worry, she will be fine. She will wake up in a few minutes. You can take her home, l will see you guys next time" Malcolm said wiping off the blood from his nose.

"if you say so" Stave calm himself down and carried her out in a Princess style.

Malcolm cough out a few times after they left.

"Dad, are you okay? " both his son asked in unison.

"Don't worry about me I'm fine" he assured them.

"What the hell happened back there? " his eldest son asked.

"let's just say, things didn't go the way I hoped. You boys should go on I need to get some rest". Malcolm said to them before he close his eyes.