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Jackson made a cup of tea and cooked dinner or breakfast already. And after that, we went to bed to get some sleep before work.

I fell asleep, curling up in the arms of my boyfriend, in the safest place in the world.

The Guardians' Abode. The Commander's Office.

His footsteps were fast and silent as always. He was focused and determined. The Commander's office appeared around the corner. Eugene was running out of time, but at whatever cost he had to talk to Tol before hunting.

The Commander was not in the office. Eugene hesitated for a minute and decided to wait for him. He began to walk around the office in circles, expressing his impatience in this way.

Waiting took quite a long time, but Eugene decided that he could not postpone the conversation with the Commander. An hour later, Tol entered the office and raised his eyebrows. He did not tolerate strangers in his office without his presence. It was good that only Eugene allowed himself this privilege.

"Don't you have a mission? Haven't I explained to you the task?"

"I understood perfectly well, but Darsy wished to go home. She didn't even want to hear of staying here. People like to create their own problems. I decided not to interfere and see where their praised freedom of choice will lead."

"Eugene, if something happens while you're not around…" Tol began, but Eugene interrupted him.

"What could happen to her in bed? Or do you want me to watch her at night? Then I’m out of it. I'm not going to babysit two teenagers," Eugene screwed up his face. He involuntarily had a vague memory of those scenes that he had seen during his missions: lustful people, wandering around, making out at every corner, indulged in debauchery and other foul actions right on the deserted streets of cities.

"No, you certainly don't have to watch her by the bedside," Tol shook his head and collapsed into his chair. He had many things to do that were urgent and that he could not deal with so far.

"Why didn't you tell her the truth? Or why didn't you tell her the whole truth? Or maybe I don't know something? If my memory serves me right, the Oracle's vision said otherwise."

"What makes you think she didn't see anything else?"

"Tol, the Oracle said clearly that the young woman must participate in some upcoming battle, but you say that she is to pay the debt. She'll lose her powers as soon as it happens!"

"Eugene, you yourself brought her to me because you didn't know how to persuade a human to cooperate. And now you criticize me for me having managed to get her on our side, though hiding some part of the truth!"

"I don't criticize you at all. I want to understand why you didn't tell her about the role you'd prepared for her in all this!"

"Do you think she would eagerly agree to die in her young age because we've been unable to perform our duties as we should have? Although you're not a big fan of people, but the existence of all things depends on a completely unprepared, innocent young woman, who is not ready to hear the whole truth. She'll just be afraid of what she'll need to do. Besides, if you succeed in paying the debt, the disaster can be prevented."

"Is it what the Elders said or just your assumption?"

"Rather, the second one…"

"Though she is a human, she deserves to know the truth…"

"Enough! It's not my responsibility! If that's what you want, I give you permission to tell her everything. Go on! But if she refuses to help after that, we're doomed."

"She's just a kid!!! She will have to risk her life, most likely even die, and I think she has the right to know why and what price she will have to pay to save the Balance."

"I also feel sorry for her… This might sound weird, but she's just a victim of circumstances. But the greater good is more important. It's best not to say anything yet. Let her find out about it later, when she has no choice."

"She'll hate us…"

Tol half-arched his eyebrow as if in surprise.

"Does it bother you?"

"Sure! If she becomes powerful enough, she can make troubles. People live with emotions, especially emphasizing the revenge. Imagine what will happen if she absorbs too many powers and we are no longer able to stop her… Then, the Balance will be our lesser concern. Isn't that why Charon was locked up without a chance to leave his post?"

"Eugene, we'll tackle the issues as they arise."

"I don't really like people, but they have a good saying: 'For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest!' And then don't say that I didn't warn you."

"We'll figure this out. Now we have bigger problems."

"Like what?"

"The gate was open for almost a day due to the escape of Charon. Several hundred souls, and maybe even more, broke free. The Source is still safe. I sent off almost all the Guardians for its protection, and others are at the gate. There's no one else to defend the positions and reliquiae. Even the Oracle is left unguarded. The High Priests are nervous. They try to find out a bit more about the upcoming war, but they have to fight the newly-converted ones now and then. I understand that you need to rest, but I would appreciate it if you could help them out. We need a new prophecy, because no one knows where from the danger is expected to come."

Eugene nodded and, briefly saying goodbye to the Commander, went to the Grotto of the Oracle.

During the years of his service as a Guardian, Eugene had a chance to participate in thousands of battles against the rebels: evil spirits kept gathering in chaotic groups, uniting in small troops and trying to storm the entrance to the Source; against the rebellious demigods, who were hungry for power or pass to the Olympus; as well as against the army of the Nefarious. But every time he would come out of fights the winner, almost unharmed. Eugene never flinched and was not afraid of the enemy. He liked the battle itself and the feeling of danger, which he desired in every fight. He agreed to the craziest missions and never felt fear, only excitement. But now he was shocked by the scene.

He saw a bloody battle unfolding between not fully transformed souls and High Priests, whose ranks were thinning out every second. They desperately fought the enemy in an attempt to protect the entrance to the sacred Grotto and defend their treasure – the Oracle, who was the only creature with all the answers to all the questions.

Eugene knew that no one could hurt the souls in this state unless they would transform into something terrible. But he hoped that his Sword would help buy time for the High Priests.

"Move aside! Go to the Grotto! Seal the entrance!" Eugene screamed, pulling out his blazing Sword.

The souls hissed and recoiled. Heavenly light burned them, but did not hurt.

The High Priests rushed inside for conducting a ritual only meant for cases of emergency. There have been only two times in the history of Existence when the Seal was put on the Grotto so that no one could enter or exit it. The Seal would fall off only after the Oracle died inside the closed Grotto. The communication with the outside world was held by the High Priest with the help of the Oracle who could penetrate into the consciousness of any living creature.