NOT EVEN DEATH CAN DO US APART

Harmony's point of view:

My eyes are swollen, red and painful. My face is dry and so are my lips, my nose is wet and my head is painful.

My parents have moved to stay in Irene while our country gets rebuild and cleaned. My sister moved in with me at the guardian house the same day we saved Musiana (which was yesterday). There's no training, Liam is getting buried today.

Here, When someone dies, we all should wear the colour of his country, so we are all seated in my room in our pure white long dresses and white scarves over our heads. Some are seated on chairs they brought from the kitchen and my sister, Reseda are on my bed next to me.

My eyes are swollen, red and painful. My face is dry, my lips are dry, my nose is wet and my head is painful.

"I didn't know today would be the last time I'd see you, if only knew, I would've spent as much time with you as possible. You always made me fearless. You were always there to catch when I'd fall, you were my hero; the only one I loved. I'll always hold on to our memories. I'm really jealous of the people who are around you now, wherever you are. Until we meet again. I love you."

I can't think straight, all I want is to be in his arms, play with his hair…I just want him here. Can't I go back to the day we first met? Would it have hurt this much if I had just told you how I felt?

Want to know what's worse? King Michael is not allowing anyone at the funeral.

Apart from the funeral, today is selection day. As you can see, I don't have my guardian necklace, we're just waiting for the headmistress to call us.

***

SEIRABO, ALANZA

Queen Nora's point of view:

I stay seated on his bedside. All the helpers have been told to take a day off today. His father is seated by the window on his white chair decorated with gold, thinking how he's going to handle the people and keep this secret safe.

I place my hand on his cheeks, "my beautiful boy." Tears line my eyes. "your father better be right about this."

"We will tell them he wasn't actually dead, he just passed out." He concludes

***

*UNDERWORLD*

Zelda's point of view:

"You are a disgrace to me!" father shouts storming up from his throne of bones. He looks me in the eyes with his eyes of flame.

I startle.

He walks down the staircase from his throne, his long, thick, red cape sweeping the floor.

I kneel with my head down, "I'm sorry father."

"You are no daughter of mine!"

I look up at him. Tears line my eyes. My throat becomes dry. I look back down, breathing heavily, my fingers squeezing the dark, floor.

"You have lost purpose, fury, power…" he turns around facing the throne "Leave!"

I get up and walk out with my head down.

"I'm a failure."

***

Harmony's point of view:

Everyone is gathered outside the guardian building, the place is filled. All the guardians are standing in front four on each side. My parents, my sister and I are seated on the long golden chairs facing the crowd.

I loved being the guardian of music, somehow it gave me purpose, it…felt good. But I guess this is it…

"Thank you all for gathering here today," says the headmistress

Everyone in Melda is watching this.

"Melody, lead us with our Anthem," the headmistress instructs.

Melody walks up infront stands close to the blue mic and begins…

"Holi ya'a nalah

Hasi ye heva ha a nah

Mokhi Meher a iyah

Nesi Melda lahake" she ends off

"Holi ya'a nalah" everyone joins in

"Hasi ye heva ha a nah

Mokhi Meher a iyah

Nesi Melda lahake"

I feel kind of left out, not being able to speak my own language. It sound harmonious, magical and angelic.

"Holi ya'a nalah

Hasi ye heva ha a nah

Mokhi Meher a iyah

Nesi Melda lahake" They end off

Melody moves back to her place.

"As you all know, Musiana is restored, but it was at a great price." The headmistress looks around the crowd. "Prince Liam was a man of honour and he fought for our people with honour, he was a great guardian leader, a great friend and son."

I still can't believe this is happening, just a few days ago I met him under the rain. We went fishing together. He held me when I was falling.

"He will forever be an example to the future leaders, to our young people." She adds on.

"Now's when I realize that life is unpredictable. People come and go. There's not always tomorrow." Tears line my eyes. "So let's not waste time, enjoy life, go after your dreams now and say what needs to be said now. Always be grateful for life."

"He worked hard to achieve his goals and I hope you will do the same too and make Liam proud" she looks at the guardians

The headmistress takes the box, opens it and places it on a stool next to her.

"Let the ceremony begin." she moves away

The necklace rises up and stays in midair for a moment.

"Oh Liam…I lost the man I loved now I have lost my purpose…Are you happy now? You left me…alone…Are you happy?..." Tears cover my eyes again, I try to stop myself, I can't cause a scene here…I look up trying to keep the tears from falling and repeatedly I blink until they dry.

"I'll never love again."

The necklace begins to move to the crowd, searching…and searching.

I might not have wanted this life before but after what I did with the guardians… I want this life, I want to fight, I want revenge, I want to be…a guardian. Because I've fallen in love with it, I fell in love with Liam's passion for it, I fell in love with protecting people.

It comes back, floats across all the guardians then…it stops in front of me.

My heart beats fast.

"is it…me? Could it be? Oh please let it be me."

It float closer to me, then… it floats past me and to my sister on my right.

I'm already disappoint, it wasn't me? Then…who?

The necklace wraps itself around her neck.

"My sister…of course it wouldn't be me. I'm not Meldian enough. I can never be like them. I'll always be an outsider. I'll always be different. I wonder if my parents even love me…why would they? When they got a guardian as a daughter, she's one of them, she knows the language, the people. She belongs here, I don't."

Am I jealous? I don't know… I don't know.

I hear the sounds of people clapping, whistling, shouting with joy. My sister hugs me.

I can't let my anger, disappoint get to me. She's my sister either way, and it's not her fault. I'm glad it was her though, now I have a guardian for a sister.

I hug her back "I'm happy for you"

"You were amazing," Melody acknowledges, "and you will always be my inspiration."

The sky changes colour to pink with sounds of thunder, then it returns to normal blue.

All of a sudden, the crowd gasps in shock. we are all startled and turn to the crowd, but we can't see anything.

The crowd parts, making a way for someone. I'm anxious, everyone is. Don't tell me there's more trouble.

"Well, it's not my job anymore right?"

But then…my eyes light up, my jaw drops, and my heart skips a beat.

White hair, pink lips, white suit with no blazer, and his shirt sticking out on the side. His eyes fixed on me. It's like he never left. It's like he has been reborn.