The boy’s words echoed in Trinity’s brain. Protector. Protector of Light. The new Protector of Light.

  She was the new Protector of Light.

  “I…I’m the what?” she finally managed to say.

  On the other side of the room, Marina stepped back. “The Protector of Light?” she said, voice cracking. Spinning around, she snatched the hat off Dior’s head. She threw it in the air and snapped her fingers, a sparkling jeweled mask appearing on her face. A beam of light shot from the mask into the hat. It spun two more times before crystals poured from it. The gems took the form of a pink human-like creature, various hats floating around it. “Take care of them!” Marina shouted.

  Looking between her, the monster, and the boy, Trinity became dizzy. She was sure she was dreaming. “This isn’t the time to be daydreaming!” the boy shouted. “You must use your magic and fight.”

  Swish!

  Trinity jumped as a hat whizzed by her ear. It hit the boy in the arm. Wincing, he knelt on the floor while holding the wound. “Oh my…are you alright?” Trinity said.

  Swish!

  Trinity looked up fast as the monster threw another hat. Jumping before the boy, she put her hands up. Suddenly, warmth spread through her body to her hands. A circle of light appeared before her, a star in the center. The hat hit the circle, shook for a second, and exploded. “Oh my Goddess.”

  “That’s your magic,” the boy said, standing. “Use it to raise the Curtain.”

  “Raise the what?”

  “It is a barrier so non-magical people cannot interrupt the battle.” Trinity’s head nodded to the side, and the boy pinched his nose. “Look, just repeat after me. Aria, watch over our fates.”

  “Aria, watch over our fates?”

  A rain cloud began forming on the ceiling. “Curtain, rise.”

  “Curtain, rise!”

  A flash of light shot from Trinity’s hand, making her shut her eyes. When she opened them, the room had changed to bright blue, lines of electricity on the wall. The noise from outside the shop was gone, and she could only hear her breath and small sparks. Philly and Dior lay on the floor, their bodies so still Trinity wondered if they were breathing. Looking down, she gasped again. Her plain shirt and pants had changed to a sparkling blue blouse and white skirt, gold on the seams. A white vest covered the blouse, gold bands on her arms. The star from her bracelet had grown and had moved to the center of her chest. Spinning around, her blue tinted bangs bouncing her eyes, Trinity smiled wide.

  If it was a dream, it was the best one ever.

  “That armor will protect you during the battle,” the boy said, stepping back. “Now that everything is complete, defeat that monster.”

  Trinity faced said monster as it growled. Making a fist, she sprinted. She threw a punch, hitting the beast’s arm. Her fingers cracked at the crystal impact. “Ow!” she yelped, rubbing her hand. The monster threw a hat which hit her shoulder. Trinity winced as it threw more hats. Putting her hands up, her light shield blocked the attack. “How do I beat this thing?” she called. “Punching did nothing.”

  “Use your magic and find its weakness,” the boy said.

  “That’s not helpful at all!” Trinity shouted as hats hit her barrier. Arms aching, the light faded. The monster’s attack shot at her, and she ducked. It took the hat off its head and threw it. Trinity rolled on the floor to dodge. She kicked the monster in the knee, and it keeled over. “I got it!”

  The first hat flew back to the monster’s head as Trinity tried another kick. The legs were rock hard, and she yelped. Limping away, Trinity put up another shield as the barrage of attacks came again. “Is it…that hat?” she muttered. The hats multiplied, her arms aching again. “Come on, magic! Do something!”

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  The light shield shot out, destroying each hat and pushing the monster back. Left in Trinity’s hands were two spinning balls of electricity. She blinked before throwing one of them. It zipped through the air and into the hat on the monster’s head. It exploded, the beast screeching. Throwing the other electric ball up, Trinity kicked it into the monster’s stomach. It shook as sparks spread across its body.

  And with a pop, the monster disappeared, leaving a burnt hat in its place.

  Trinity panted as she lowered her hands. “I did it?” she said. A smile spread across her face. “I did it!”

  “Of course,” the boy said, stepping forward. “It is your duty.”

  Trinity’s smile grew when she heard something fall. Turning, she jumped back, Marina having knocked over a shelf. A shaky glare was on her face. “Her Majesty won’t like this,” she said.

  Snapping her fingers, crystal surrounded Marina. After a second, it shattered, leaving nothing and no one behind. The blue hue and storm cloud vanished, Trinity’s clothes changing back to normal. She could hear the sound of crickets from outside along with small whimpers. Looking down, she saw Dior beginning to wake up. “We have to leave,” the boy said.

  “Um, right,” Trinity said, kneeling. “Let’s get—”

  “I meant now!”

  He grabbed her arm and pulled. “Wait, what about my friends?”

  “They’ll be fine. Now, come on!”

  The boy pulled Trinity to the back of the shop and through a window. Going around a few buildings, he stopped on the other side of the square. Trinity yanked her arm back as small bells filled the air. She looked at Parkies, the owner of Chuckie’s waving over a medic horse. After a few minutes, the shopkeeper of Parkies came out. Philly and Dior followed shortly after, both with confused faces as they walked home. Sighing with relief, Trinity sat down. “Marina wasn’t really her daughter, was she?” The boy shook his head, Trinity frowning. “So, who exactly is she? And who are you?”

  After a pause, the boy sat next to her. “My name is Alexander Espinor, and I am the Protector of Change,” he said.

  “The Protector of Change?” Trinity said, jaw dropping. “But you’re just a little kid.”

  “I’m twelve!” Alexander said with a huff.

  “You’re…we’re the same age?”

  “Clearly. After all, it is the age Protectors typically awaken.”

  “Is that why you have dog ears and a tail?”

  Alexander’s frown grew, and he crossed his arms. “It’s a wolf. I have the ability to shapeshift and detect strong magic. At least,” he looked down at his knees, “I did. But when my home was attacked, a majority of my magic was stolen by Queen Pandora, leaving me like this.”

  “Queen Pandora?” Trinity said. “Who is that? Queen of what kingdom?”

  “She’s Marina’s leader, and I do not know for what kingdom,” Alexander said, Trinity pouting at the lackluster answer. “She began her attack in the Kingdom of Ethenia and spread chaos across the world.”

  “And now she’s here,” Trinity said, crossing her arms. “Why?”

  “She is after the same thing I am.”

  “…And that is?”

  “I was given a mission to find The Heavenly Star.” Alexander looked up at the starry night sky, a small smile on his face. “It is a precious pendant said to have been created by the Goddess of Life, Aria. All Protector magic comes from it.” He glanced at Trinity. “It is locked away somewhere in Starr Palace.”

  The idea that something so magical was hidden in the palace made Trinity’s skin tingle. “Then, you already know where this thing is?” she said excitedly.

  “Yes, but only The Areiria, Aria’s chosen heir, can unlock it. That is who Queen Pandora is looking for.”

  “And who Marina thought I was.”

  “Even though you’re not, you may still be able to assist me.” Alexander stood, the moon making a halo around him. “If the enemy finds The Areiria and gets the pendant, it could mean devastation for the world. However, I believe that The Areiria hasn’t awakened their true magic and won’t until all Protectors have awakened theirs.”

  Reaching into a brown bag, he pulled out a rolled-up parchment. Untying it, he held it before Trinity. On it was a map of the Kingdom of Astellaca. A small blue star was over Atland Village, a smaller white one glowing near Southern Bridge. “This map led me to you,” Alexander said. “The next missing Protector is in Southern Bridge.” Before Trinity could question him, he rolled the map back up. “I know you have only just awakened, but with your help, I could find the last four Protectors. Will you help me, Protector of Light?”

  Trinity stared at him before looking at her feet, mind racing. So much had happened that day that she wasn’t sure what to think. She was the Protector of Light. The previous one, her hero, was truly gone. But because she was, Trinity had her magic.

  She was the new Protector of Light.

  “Of course I’ll help!” she said, jumping up. “As the Protector of Light, I’ll defeat the enemy and save the kingdom, just like her! Oh, and no need to call me ‘Protector of Light.’” She held out her hand and smiled. “I’m Trinity Starbolt, the eldest daughter of the baker and soon to be hero of the kingdom. It’s nice to meet you, Alexander.”

  He glanced between her face and hand before taking the latter. “Likewise, I suppose,” he said as they shook hands.