“Great Guardian Mage.. Ascendent.. Stellah... You wanted to see me?” The boy asked.

  ~The universe is a big place.~

  “Yes, Young Rikmon.” The old woman confirmed. The mage power in her veins shown through the calm light in her eyes.

  ~We know so little about what lies within our own galaxy;~

  “Why?” The boy inquired. “Does it have to do with my dream?”

  ~Let alone who else shares it with us…~

  “You are the first ‘first born’ Khrestalopian to be male in my bloodline. You have a lot to live up to. But I visit you here now because of a growing threat.”

  ~Or how much more advanced some of them could be…~

  “A threat? But you and the other Guardian Mages can stop it and protect me, right?”

  ~How much more intune with the universe they are than us…~

  “I’m certain we can, though your nightmare may be suggesting otherwise. Something I discovered last night solidifies this…” The woman revealed, making the boy react in shock and horror. By now, the first generations of Mages were thought to be immortal.

  ~And like us, they’re curious and eager to discover new things and places in the universe.~

  Later, after the ceremony, Rik scampered off to the launch area to admire the ‘greeting pods’ that are going to be sent to a neighboring solar system. He had no way to know he was about to go on a trip himself against his own will.

  “Who are you two? What are you two? You’re not supposed to be here, are you?” The young Guardian demanded as the two foreign humanoids make expressions that confirm the boy’s last question. Whatever they were doing, they were now caught.

  ~But also like us…~

  The strange man stood firm with something glowing in his hand. “I don't have time for games, boy.”

  Rik was a little taken aback. “I-I'm not playing! I'm serious! If you won't listen, I'll have to use force!” The boy said, widening his stance and gripping his amulet.

  “Oh, so the little rich boy wants to be the big hero, is that right?” The man mocked.

  “Do not underestimate me! I am Rikmon Crystal! Rekindle-er of the Crystal Family Guardian Mage bloodline!”

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  ~They can lack caution in their approach to the unfamiliar…~

  The boy, now stuck, began to panic. The space was small with no windows, and no way for it to be opened from the inside. “What was I thinking?! I should've gotten help, and now, I-... Am I gonna die..? What if the amulet isn’t strong enough?!”

  Back on the ground, the two figures were wondering what trouble they just caused themselves. “Ohhh no... Oh no no no no no..” the second, meeker strange figure named Abdulero uttered under his breath. “There must be many that saw that for sure!”

  Guards arrived to break up the fight, but there was barely any sign of Rik. One of the pods was gone too. “Who and what are you both? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”

  ~They also have their own flaws that can harm others…~

  “Whether we do or don’t, you’ll accuse and lock us up anyway.” The first stranger responded. “So I’d rather let you all know who you’re dealing with instead.” He readied his powers again, and both him and the guards initiated combat, but before long, some of the current Mages stepped in and quickly incapacitated the man.

  Rik was now knocked unconscious, barely alive in hypersleep. When he wakes up… “Who am I? What's going on?? I don't remember!”

  ~But there’s always hope…~

  “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle…” A male figure in denim and plaid said peering into the pod.

  “I swear this’a gotta be somethin’ straight out of a comic, but we ain’t findin’ much outta the ord’nary.” the earthy woman stated, looking over the boy.

  “Ya know what, Rik?” The older blonde girl later said. “You’re a pretty cool kid. You’re weird.. but you’re cool.”

  “The other kids don’t think so..” Rik responded.

  “So what?”

  ~Even in midst of uncertainty…~

  Rik, older, now felt anxiety and stress starting to build up. What was happening to him? This wasn’t a part of adolescence.

  “Where’re you going?!” The younger blonde girl asked as she saw him starting to leave covered head to toe, and with just a backpack.

  “Away from here where I won’t hurt anyone, and no one will try to hurt me! I can’t just live cooped up anymore, I’ll be found out eventually!”

  ~There is a way to overcome.~

  “You don’t know the precious gifts you have.” The kind lady said to Rik.

  ~You just have to be willing…~

  Rik took a deep breath. “... Ok…”

  ~...to accept what you have,~

  Back home, the stranger was now free, and had new allies. “I won’t make the same mistake this time.”

  Meanwhile with Rik: “Woah, what.. was that- You’re ok, right? Are you?” Rik wondered.

  The person just looked at him in shock. “I.. think so? Oh god, I just realized.. I screwed up so bad… my poor babies…”

  “... I'm sure you can make it right someday.” Rik assured.

  ~and see that it all has more uses to you than you thought.~

  Back with the antagonists: “I managed to do quite the extensive research, Master.” Abdulero said.

  The masculine figure nodded. “As did I. We need to condense it, and get to the planet called Haroznia. A new friend of mine knows a good spot there.”

  Back on Earth, Rik is starting to feel more confident in himself. “I’m remembering now…” he voiced, “and I know they’re on their way, but I don’t even know if I WANT to go home now. I have so many people that need my help here.!”

  “How they gon’ get to ya all the way out here on Earth?” the farmer asked.

  ~You CAN find a way.~

  “How do you think I got here?” Rik answered.