Rainbow Guardians Chapter 3

 Chapter 3: Rakish Blob!

Something was lightly soaking my face and chafing it. I gingerly opened my eyes; its purrs were getting louder. It was none other than my cat, Pineapple.

I looked at the clock and sat up. It was six o’clock in the morning, Pineapple's feeding time. Except there was a  tiny detail: I forgot to take her emergency kitty pack from the capsule. I facepalmed. How could I miss a necessity like that? Pineapple was a predator, but she was a tamed one. She was relying on me for her care. I took the juniors' handbook from my desk and read the part about pets and plants in the dorms. The manual was stating that each student was allowed to have three living things. Also, these living creatures had to be suitable for the dorm environment. I finally found the feeding part in the rules. It was told that pets such as dogs and cats only could be fed before breakfast and dinner in the cafeteria. I rechecked the clock. It was six fifteen, which meant there was still some time left. My hands touched (‘held’ works too)my forehead. It was as if bells were chiming in my skull. My body had goosebumps all over it. They were almost dragging my whole nerves down to the Earth. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth to ignore the pain. Then, I took Pineapple to the cafeteria. There was a spot designated for cats and dogs. It was surrounded by paw-shaped fences, and there were two cats like Pineapple. One had pure white fur, blue eyes, and short legs. The other cat was a tabby with emerald green eyes. They all sniffed each other, forming a ring of cats. Then, I gave Pineapple a can of salmon. "Be a good kitty. OK?" I patted her head.

*** 

An hour later, the dorm began to wake up. I spruced myself up, particularly my hair. I rearranged my loose ponytail and star hair clips. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a mental note from Anny. It read: “Hope you got a good night’s sleep. Meet me in the cafeteria in ten minutes.” 

“I had a good sleep. I’ll be there.” I formed a mental note back.

I went downstairs once more and took Pineapple away. In about fifteen minutes, the breakfast was going to start. I carried my kitty back to my room and returned to the cafeteria. I waited for Anny for a while. The students were gingerly filling the hall. Among them, a wavy, ginger-haired girl with a purple dress and freckles appeared. She was smiling at me.

“Hi, Nelly. Are you feeling better?” 

“Hey. I’m a bit sore but better than yesterday,” I replied.

“Glad to hear that. You gave such fright yesterday.” She cooed, crossing her red brows.

“Yeah, sorry Anny,” I explained, biting my lower lip. “I’m still getting used to that disaster.”

“It’ll be OK. I promise.” Anny responded.

I just nodded at that. I hoped I could find a way to set my country free. I also had to try to contact them somehow. Additionally, there was an academic year before me that needed my attention. Ugh, why did the chain of catastrophes need to come in a row? The hand of fate was reversing the dominoes of fortune against me. I had to be stable. I had already ruined my image in front of the other people I barely knew. I should have been standing up for myself and Starland. I should have been stronger. I frowned harshly.

“Nelly… Nelly…  NELLY!” Anny called me.

I shook my head and looked at her. Her grass-green eyes were focused on me.

“O-oh, sorry. I was just thinking.” I told.

"It's OK, Nelly. I was saying that the girls shall arrive soon."

Meanwhile, Neesha, Shanya, and Julia arrived near our table. Shanya sat next to me while  Neesha and Julia placed themselves across the table from me.

"Good morning, everyone," said Shanya. "You seem totally better Nelly."

“Thank you,” I answered, smiling. “What happened to Alyra?”

"She is safe; don't be afraid. I left her in the pond."

“Thanks to Almighty.” I sighed. Alyra had been to the wild before so she could handle herself as long as there was grass for her.

“Well, since we all are here, I wanna talk about something,” said Neesha.

“Go on.”

“We have a day before the lessons. Why don’t we explore the dimension more?” expressed Neesha.

“This is legitimately a good idea. I really wanna see showcases of the Earth” said Anny, applauding.

Everybody, including me, began to chuckle. Anny pouted and blushed a little.

“What? I love different trends.”

“Indeed. Where are we going?” I asked.

“Let’s begin with the Spectral City!” replied Shanya. “I’d love to be your guide.”

“That seems decent,” said Julia, staring at her nails. “I will honour you with my presence.”

I rolled my eyes. Why did she have to be like that? She was so unbearably snobby. I wondered how I was going to get along with her. The other girls seemed to find Julia's words repellent, too; however, this atmosphere lifted when I saw her weird expression. Her brows were knitted; her eyes had a sullen look. It was like the look of a grumpy baby. Haha. Oh, the Almighty, I-I cannot tell it straight. Y-you should have seen her face. Shanya, Neesha, and Anny joined my abrupt laughter, too. We laughed for a good few minutes. Her face became more like a huffy granny, but we stopped after we saw she was on the verge of tears. Still, it was entertaining. My head and body became lighter.

Once we finished our breakfasts, we all headed towards the Spectral City. It was not very far away from the campus. I think it was only about a mile or two away. The Rainbow dimension was a pocket dimension where most natives of the Earth lived. These inhabitants were calling themselves' nymphs.' According to what I heard from my dad, there were three significant clans of them here: the forest, water, and stone clans. Mistress Persephone was the head of all tribes. Nevertheless, Shanya had a different appearance than them. From history classes, I remembered that they were described as pointy-eared, long-haired, and tall people. Finally, we arrived in the city. I think it would be unfair to call it a town. It was more like a modern town. The city had tall buildings like the pillar I encountered earlier. They had a nearly gummy-candy surface with geometric patterns; the Spectral town was a 'U' shape. At the town square, there was a statue. Guess what? This statue probably belonged to a former leader of Persephone's clan! While I was studying it, Shanya and others stopped in front of the sculpture.

“Welcome to the Spectral City!” said Shanya. “This city is named after Mistress Persephone’s ancestor Spectra.”

“Interesting, but is there a mall here?” Anny inquired impatiently.

“Yes, but why don’t we see  other places first?” Shanya replied unsurely.

“Yeah, we can go there later. I wanna learn more about the city,” said Neesha, fixing her glasses.

"Pretty please?" asked Anny, and she grabbed me. "I think Nelly, and I need a wardrobe change before school."

"H-hey!" I reacted, removing her hands from me. "I'm wonderful with my clothes."

“No, no, Nel. You need some accessories. You’re plain as a board!”

I gave a light snort. She was telling the truth in a sense. The clothes on me were like plastic bags. I seemed to like more of a wretch than a student.

“Fine. Let’s go.” I said.

“Well, there are many things we can do in the mall,” Shanya joined in, rubbing her right arm. “If Neesha and Julia agree, then it’s OK with me.”

“Alright,” said Neesha and Julia in unison, and they smirked at each other. 

We all walked to the shopping centre. Swirl’s Mall was written on the entrance.

*** 

I was drenched in sweat, and that ball under my arm was getting heavier. Finally, I had reached my destination, even though I was going at a snail’s pace. Swirl’s Mall… It was the only place I could find some serenity. I went in. The centre was buzzing with people. Most of them were unfamiliar to me. Probably they were pupils of the Rainbow Academy. I headed towards the teleportation spot. 

I was teleported to the second floor, right in front of my usual chilling place. It was a small book cafe. Inside there were plush cushions, several terraces, and a vast library. I sat on a patio, nestling inside a big cushion.

"Hello there, 'Lexie. How have you been?"

“Hey, JK. I’m good. You?”

“Same,” he replied, handing me the menu. “Do you want your usual or something else?”

“Well, I’ll go with the usual,” I responded.

JK shook his head and went to the kitchen. He was a close friend of mine and was working as a part-time waiter in the cafe. The cafe was called Jasper's Book Cave, and it's been my personal space for about two years. I discovered it when I was in a mourning term. The coffee of this place could cheer me up whenever I was upset. My special was the caramel crunch latte foam or 'crunchy foam.' JK brought me that coffee. I thanked him and savoured the crunchy foam heaven. Its smell was intoxicatingly pleasant. While I was gazing outside, I noticed a turquoise spark. A pair of aqua-blue eyes captivated me. It wasn't the actual eyes themselves but an illusion of it. That colour… left me speechless. I returned to reality when I sensed some hotness on my skin. Despite my blushing, I followed the eyes until they got lost. I took a wet wipe and cleaned a spot on my knee. It was burning a little, but I didn't care at all.

I finished my coffee, took my ball, and went out. Those eyes… I wished to see them again. I had to see them again. I began to wander around like a lost stranger who was seeking out an oasis in a desert.

***

We passed many stores, yet Anny found an excuse to avoid all of them. According to her, they were not 'trendy' enough or too 'cliché.' I didn't give a freak at all! My legs were wobbling like instant noodles; Anny was dragging me along as if I was a toy dog.

At last, she stopped in front of a store. She ruminated on the exhibition clothes, and I stayed outside the shop, leaning against the glass. Anny pulled me inside. I looked at the glass and noticed a very cosy-looking cafe. An image of a boy got my attention. He was sitting with his arms and legs spread like a drunkard. There was a silly smirk on his face, and his eyes were half closed. I frowned at his position. Why weren't people checking themselves in public? His posture awakened awkwardness inside me. Then, he stared at me for a very long while. I felt like I was a freak or an animal in a circus. 

Anny touched my shoulder; I instantly winced and glared at her. There were some accessories in her hands. One was a choker, and the other was a set of bracelets.

“Nelly, could you try this on for me?” she asked, her green pools sparkling.

“OK,” I said, trying them on. The choker was a pink ribbon with green pompoms, and the bracelets had rhinestones on them. She also handed me some armbands. They had the same colours as the choker. I put my hair on my right side and looked in the mirror. Anny was absolutely right about ornaments.

“Well, I have to admit I look better than before.”

"Better? No. You look fabulous, Nel!" she said again, starry-eyed.

I let out a small chuckle and tried my best to carry all the outfits she chose for herself. I hoped Julia, Shanya, and Neesha had better luck than me. They were at the far end of the Mall. We decided to explore separately because of Anny's fashion craze. We were going to meet them at the meal floor; however, Anny's daintiness was making it nearly impossible. My phone buzzed. I could hardly reach it with the pile of dresses in my hands. It was from Shanya; she was stating that they were waiting for us in front of a cafe. I attempted to have a peak to find Anny. She was holding a T-shirt and a jean onesie.

“Which one should I buy?”

“Could you please choose one already? The girls are waiting for us!”

“Fine. I’m taking both. How can I leave these cuties behind?”

I deeply sighed and went outside. While I was taking a step out, I stumbled on something round. Several seconds later, I found myself on my haunches. I gingerly moved my right foot to stand up, but I couldn’t. I stared above and recognised the person who was beside me. That weirdo…

"Are you alright, miss?"

***

My wish was granted. I saw those turquoise orbs once more. They were throwing me wild waves; their cyan rings were almost glowing. She was like a Scandinavian nymph. Her sunray hair was flowing, each strand gleaming. However, her face had a piercing expression.

“Are you here to take my x-ray?” she yelled, trying to get up. “You rakish blob!”

“Oh, the Almighty! Nelly, what happened?” Another girl joined her, throwing her packs.

"I accidentally tripped on this blob's ball, and now my foot hurts," she grunted. The other girl helped her up, taking her arm.

“Please, let me help you,” I offered.

“We can handle this, mister,” replied the other girl.

“There is a cafe I know here. We can get some ice there.”

I lead them to Jasper's Book Cave, placing the Scandinavian nymph in the nearest seat. Then, I requested some ice from JK. I started to apply it gingerly. There was a massive bump on her right ankle. I didn't know the reason, but my heart sank a bit. She groaned. Meanwhile, her companion called someone.

"I am really sorry about everything. It's just you reminded me of someone dear to me," I expressed, trying to make things up.

“What happened had happened,” she replied, turning her gaze away. “I apologise for the way I reacted.”

“Well, it’s fine.” I extended my hand as an olive branch. “Would you honour me with your name?”

“I’m Nelly. Nelly Starland.” She took my hand; her face was almost pink.

“Alexander Megavoid.” I kissed her hand politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

We gave each other small smiles, and her eyes shifted direction. Then, three girls came to our table; they had worried expressions.

"Oh, my! What on Earth happened here?" asked one with navy blue hair.

“Nelly tripped accidentally and hurt her ankle,” explained Nelly’s companion in a single breath.

The three girls put their hands on their lips. They quickly settled themselves around her.

“I’m good girls, really,” said Nelly, removing her foot from the table.

I treated Nelly to a coffee and an earth cake and left her with her friends. I found myself leaning against a wall beside the cafe. Why was she so similar to her? Just why was she making my whole body tingle? My knees were buckling; my vision was like the opal glass. I felt each of inch my being was scorched by her image.

“My darling boy, don’t let anybody bring you down. You truly are a special person.” Friggia caressed my hair one last time.

Tears rolled down my face. She was a fragile dew on the grass. She was fading into the warmth of the morning. I grabbed her hand. She could barely inhale. Friggia had a lifeless look in her blue eyes. Her hair looked like pale blonde ivies, sprawling around her form. She gave me a sad smile and slowly closed her lids. My dearest nanny, my second mother, and the brightest person in my life were gone. Forever…

I returned to reality and by screams of people around me. Giant, lizard-like creatures appeared everywhere. There were also spider-bee monsters swarming the ceiling. The security team of the Mall surrounded each floor and tried to evacuate the area. There was also a woman in leather flying. She had a pair of laser harrows. I ran to the nearest teleporting station, splitting the crowd. I prayed that my Scandinavian nymph would be alright.

***

“Hmm… I smell some chemistry between certain people,” Anny said, winking at me.

“What the heck are you talking about?” I brushed off her, grumbling.

Anny rolled her eyes, showing the tip of her tongue.

"I totally agree with her" added Julia, raising one of her eyebrows. "It was so compelling that I sensed a spark."

“He seemed like a good guy.” Shanya joined her. “I’d give him a chance.”

"Oh, hell, no! I barely know him."

“Uh, girls, look outside!” Neesha pointed out the securities. 

They lead us to the nearest teleport station; however, a group of monsters attacked us from both the air and the ground. A lizard monster with a scorpion tail sprayed an acidic fluid, and a flying spider spread a type of poisonous gas. The security team fell on the acid, lying unconscious.

I took my core charm and activated my weapon. "Starlight Shower!" I yelled. A massive beam of blinding light appeared, turning into a rain of rays. The girls closed their eyes. The monsters withdrew themselves.

Shanya had used her weapon too. I saw a huge barrier encircling us. “That is Ceres’s Wall,” she explained. “That will protect us for a while.” We all went to the other station to get out of there as soon as possible. Julia and Neesha added some extra features to the barrier. Neesha used crystals to strengthen it up, while Julia was placing sort of mini firebombs. 

Despite our barrier, the number of monsters was increasing every second. The worst thing was that we were a bunch of rookies who were using the core energy. Our powers would fade out in a short time. We really needed a miracle to escape.