Deep in the nervy act of waiting for Grove Cornelius to ready his majestic carriage for their departure, the Greenhouse's guests had separated off into discussions of the forthcoming future - all eyes discontent at the sea of clouds in the sky, spitting down a tempest of turmoil. Following Victoria with hesitation, Alsop had chosen to spend his final minutes at the Greenhouse with her. His breaths grew anxious for the weather, the journey home, the future but he was reassured by Victoria that there was something of importance that would pique all his worries into calmness. Thus, he entered a dormant room of the Greenhouse with a hopeful heart. Yet, his anxious ails could receive no serenity at the sight of Victoria becoming a strange statue before him.

"Well then, Ms Magika. May I find out why you summoned me here?" Alsop finally asked.

"Tell me, Alsop..." Victoria carefully grabbed his palms. "...what do you plan to do back in Bournington?" She asked.

"Ms Magika...I..." Alsop stuttered in surprise. "I suppose...I suppose I will hope to find the Tree of Life." He said.

"Alone?" Victoria had cushioned her soft blue eyes into his hazel pair.

"Yes." Replied Alsop.

"No! I cannot allow that..." Victoria quickly told him off.

"What!?" Alsop exclaimed. "You're not in charge of me!" He scowled defensively.

"Alsop, you cannot go for the Tree of Life alone." Victoria blushed.

"I have everything I need to find it in here." Alsop pounded his chest.

"Don't be silly Alsop, what you need is this." Victoria had removed her glove to reveal her metal arm, but she had opened the arm itself to reveal a dried flower.

"I need a flower?" Scoffed Alsop.

"This one has been used. But it serves as a good lesson for you. To reach the Tree of Life, Alsop, there are treasures that must be found first." Claimed Victoria.

"Treasures?" Alsop's eyes had lit up in astonishment.

"This is a Rose of Repair. Another of the artefacts is named the Light of Location." Said Victoria.

"What!?" Alsop had been bewildered.

"A lot to take in. I know. I'm sorry." Victoria said. "I must go back to my home. I will be heading to Columbus soon." She confessed.

"What is in Columbus?" Asked Alsop.

"A tower. It carries something I need, and something you will need. The Light of Location. It is a stone that will help you discover the items you need to find the Tree of Life." Said Victoria.

"I didn't expect this quest of mine to be so large, Ms Magika..." Alsop said with an overwhelmed expression.

"Fear not. You have help all around you. BUT, Alsop Dusseldorf, you do well to listen to me. The knowledge I have just given, it must be kept a secret. To nobody shall you tell it." With an incisive stare, Victoria ordered.

"Of course. I am in search of a selfish desire." Nervously chuckled Alsop.

"If you come back with me to Astrea, you can come and collect the artefact from me?" Offered Victoria.

"Ms Magika, I really would love to, but I can't leave Bournington. Will you come by to visit with the artefact?" Suggested Alsop.

"Well. I had no plans to, but I promise Thomas and I will come to Bournington soon then." Victoria smiled warmly.

"Thank you for all of this. For this gift of knowledge." Alsop hugged his benefactress for information with a leap of happiness.

"Careful now! The others may hear!" Victoria chuckled.

Her worries were likely aimed at the ongoing conversation across the hallway. Thomas had taken Maxwell and his companion, little Elsa, into a similar spare room. Elsa had been clung to the back of Maxwell's blazer since lunch, as her reserved shyness compelled her to keep away from the assertions of the others. Though she could not see, she knew Maxwell was a blessing to be around.

"Well, Thomas, what is this about?" Maxwell asked, his arms crossed with impatience.

"I need you to find the other guardian." Sighed Thomas.

"Roslo!? I haven't seen the man in months!" Exclaimed Maxwell.

"That's why he needs to be found." Pale-faced, Thomas replied.

"Very well, I trust your urgency. But why me? Why not ask Fred or Chadwick?" Questioned Maxwell.

"The other two guardians aren't as friendly as you." With a warm smile, Thomas admitted.

"Heh, well I'm flattered. You're quite the friend to Fred though. This might not sit well with him." Warily, Maxwell claimed.

"Fred is not fit for a task of this intensity. Besides, you will be going north. He will not bode well there at all." Thomas had instantly returned to a deeply serious expression.

"North? My father despises - despised the north." Elsa fearfully clung to Maxwell tightly.

"Yes, the north is quite the wasteland. Don't worry Elsa, I will always be by your side when we go." Maxwell said softly.

"My father said my mother ran away there." Shaking her head with disapproval, Elsa said.

"It can't have been recently, the borders to the north have been sealed shut." Thomas said with a raised eyebrow.

"My mother left us a few months ago." Elsa said.

"Her surname is Marielle. Thomas." Maxwell shifted his head in Elsa's direction.

"It is likely a coincidence. Nothing more. It won't impede your mission." Said Thomas.

"Who is asking me to find Roslo then?" Asked Maxwell.

"The King. King Marielle. He insists we must find Roslo, it will lead to restoration." Thomas pressed the matter with deep intensity, as the rain outside also coincided.

"The King, you found him? And restoration, you say? How is the King so sure of this?" Maxwell asked in a chain of curiosity that shook Thomas and lightly nudged Elsa aside.

"Maxwell! Slow down!" Thomas shouted in awe.

Thomas had caused the conversation to go into a deep silence while he carefully played with Elsa's blonde locks of hair - the smoothness, the strands of colour, the style of hair bearing a slight resemblance to King Claude Marielle in his eyes. He had made sure she was settled well again, and then they rejoined Maxwell. The two men had stared out a dust tinted window of the room, the tremendous amount of rain doing the cleaning of the window on the outside. The thunder could be seen easily. It was severe. Maxwell had raised an eyebrow of concern, but before he could voice anything, Thomas had placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, I have found the King. And I have no clue about this restoration, I just know it is confirmed." He confidently said.

"Thank you, but I'm sorry. That wasn't a great show of behaviour from me." Said Maxwell, a pounding of guilt dancing within his heart.

"It's fine what you asked. I was just startled by your tone. I don't want to see you end up like Chadwick, or Fred either." Said Thomas.

"What do you mean?" Asked Maxwell.

"Chadwick is horribly ill-tempered and rude. And Fred...he is troubled with that conflict of his past. And you. You lack many faults, Maxwell." Smiled Thomas.

"I am no angel, don't speak so sweetly about me." Maxwell insisted.

"Perhaps, nobody is perfect. But you are the best of the guardians, that is my point. You are the representation of what a guardian should be." Thomas said with his eyes all over Maxwell.

"Well, yes." Maxwell coldly accepted the words as he stared out the window. "I know that. And I hate it." His eyes had cast onto a charred tree that had split in quarters by a strike of lightning.

"What? How come you dislike it?" Asked Thomas.

"I hate it. Not dislike." Maxwell quickly corrected him. "I'm the youngest guardian, and I'm the example to follow? Isn't that strange?" He questioned.

"So? Isn't that great?" Thought Thomas.

"It is strange, Thomas. I want to be guided, not a guider. I hope…I hope that both Chadwick and Frederick lose their status. I want their mantle to be handed over. Is that sinister of me?" Maxwell pondered with guilt.

"No. You're frustrated and alone. But perhaps not for long, ey?" Thomas had directed his glance towards Elsa.

"Perhaps not." Maxwell smiled.

"Now. For this task of yours, you must go see a blacksmith in Bournington. Just ask around for the 'Doom Forger'." Thomas smirked.

"Very well. But is visiting him so necessary?" Asked Maxwell.

"The King told them where Roslo is exactly." Said Thomas.

"Ah, fine. Is this blacksmith a nice fellow though?" Sighed Maxwell.

"Haha! Is this blacksmith a nice fellow? Hmm..." Chuckling, Thomas lost himself in thought.

"Ahem!" A loud thud banged the door. "Are you two done already?" It had been the voice of Victoria.

"Yes, we'll be out in a minute, my darling." Replied Thomas.

"Okay, be quick." Victoria scuttled off.

The two gentlemen in the room had given each other a look of acceptance as they eyed for the door. Maxwell clasped Elsa's hand and helped her out the room, as the three traversed the hallways in almost entire silence - the only harsh sound coming from the beating winds. But suddenly, Maxwell had sniggered. A snigger that rifled into laughter.

"What is so funny?" Thomas turned to him impatiently.

"Darling?" Maxwell chuckled. "I didn't realise you two were together like that." He said.

"Yes, I'm planning on asking her to marry -!"

"You what!?" Maxwell erupted, instantly interrupting Thomas.

"Well, Maxwell." Thomas fully paused in anger. "What is the next step to take, other than marrying her?"

"No, no, no. I am just surprised, it's so soon!" Maxwell reasoned.

"Ah right, you see. I don't want to waste my time taking forever to bond with her." Said Thomas. "We don't have all the time in the world to do minor things like marriage." He added.

"Huh." Maxwell became dumbfounded. "You seem to be implying you don't have long left?" He suggested.

"What could you possibly mean?" Astonished, Thomas pondered.

"I don't know - are you sick?" Asked Maxwell.

"Sick? No. Why would I be?" Thomas replied.

"You're just rushing into things, it seems like you don't have any certainties about your future." Maxwell inferred.

"No, I can assure you, I am fine." Thomas proudly said as he began to walk ahead.

"Then," Maxwell stopped, "is she doing well?" He asked.