3 The Old Chapel

"Used to be old Chapel, but was gone after a few fights here and there. Gillian and Ysabeau converted it into a home for all of us." The Old Chapel was huge, even for Nova's time. The walls were still sturdy, as if it had been untouched. It bore no look of war or fights but it screams of nostalgia towards anyone who came by. An upgraded cottage, if there was such a thing. Its roof had been repainted from grey to brick red. The walls from their normal grey and black colour to a nice pale white. The windows retained their design. A chimney stuck out from the building's top, the smoke indicated food was cooking.

"Wait, did you just say Ysabeau and Gillian? As in, High Queen Meslander and Headmaster Gillian?" asked Nova, as the boy ran off.

"Yea, what about it?" Raiyen paused, just outside the garden.

"How can a commoner like you be acquainted the ones who in charge of the Pentacle Arks?" Raiyen's expression took a turn for the dark side as he approached the naive little human before him.

"Don't assume that I'm a normal Time Mage just because of the way I dress. It is true that I do not come from a royal background but that does not define what my powers can do to you if I feel like it. Any one of us, the Founders of the Pentacle Arks, are capable of committing genocide for leisure. People are bigger on the inside. This will be the last time I am going to tell you this warning, so heed these words. This will come useful before your empire's downfall," bellowed Raiyen as he warned the young girl.

"Royalty is just a mere title when it comes to the battlefield. It won't help you once you've gone to war," he continued.

"I'm well aware of that. I have lost family in war before. I know that the battlefield knows no bounds when it comes to mindless slaughter," she replied, solemnly.

"How long are you two going to stand there? Ysabeau and Mav worked all night to plant those flowers, so stop killing them and get your lunch, Time Boy!" shouted a man from the doorway of the Chapel.

"Coming, Angry Man..." mumbled Raiyen, hopping out of the area. Nova went towards the cosy cottage shyly. A beautiful French lady came out to greet Raiyen, dressed in a lovely gown adorned with gems that would cost more than those on Nova's crown.

"Lady Meslander," greeted Nova, kneeling down in respect. Ysabeau looked puzzled.

"I may be second in command but I bear no title in royalty," said Ysabeau, coaxing the young girl to stand up.

"But you are the High Queen! You rank higher than an empress! In other words, you are the second most powerful!" exclaimed Nova in protest.

"All six of us who had founded the Arks are family. We do not divide ourselves into ranks, it would break our family bonds. And besides, little Mavis could easily beat me into a pulp in her full form," explained Ysabeau, leading the girl into the Old Chapel. The place had been transformed so drastically that it barely resembled a cottage, rather than a Chapel. It wasn't bad, but it felt a bit poor for Nova's test. A stone table with some chairs awaited them, with Baldwin's cooked lunch on top.

"You must be famished from the trip, eat up, the both of you," instructed Ysabeau, gently.

"Does she know about us Time Frame Hopping?" whispered Nova.

"She does, now. Great sense of hearing," said Raiyen, rather casually.

"Met Mav," said Raiyen, chomping down onto the club sandwich.

"On patrol?" asked Baldwin, eyeing at the young girl.

"She's out with the Guardians, doing a bit of sweeping. Stop scaring the guest, Angry Man," scolded Raiyen, pointing at Baldwin.

"Can't a chef be upset when the one eating is picking at her food?"

"Royal Ones..." complained Raiyen, giving another bite.

"I'm not being picky, I just don't feel safe eating in another timeline. Won't there be a paradox of some sort?"

"Someone's going to destroy you either way if you don't eat up, lassy. Starve or try something new, that's called survival," explained Baldwin, rather harshly.

"My name's Nova Orlaith, not lassy," said Nova. She sighed and gave a few nibbles on the sourdough. Slowly, she devoured the whole thing.

"So, Raiyen, are you their son of sorts? Since Ysabeau mentioned family," asked Nova, wiping her mouth.

"You can say that. And I must warn you, princess, some of us aren't human," said Baldwin, smiling dangerously.

"So it is true! Those tales from the past are real! There are others amongst the stars," said Nova, excitedly.

"But we've disguised ourselves to blend in with your kind. Imagine Mav in her true form." The mere thought of that as a reality was enough to send shivers down the two guys' spine.

"She was a child back then, so she won't be that massive," assured Ysabeau.

"You mentioned that you were a Founder of the Arks as well, how have you contributed?" asked Nova. Raiyen smiled when the rest laughed.

"Child, do you have any knowledge on how the Arks were formed?" asked Baldwin, gasping for air.

"I've heard stories from my elder sister about the Arks. A haven for Mages. A place to call home for those who are the last of their kind. From parallel universes to the stars above, their mission is adopt those fallen from their usual home in the name of exile. Just because they wield Magecraft. Led by the most powerful couple, five separate branches bloomed in order to house all Mages that came from afar, or from the Lost Organisation. Is that correct?" asked Nova.