"This isn't really an antique shop" said the girl, "is it?

"No Cyan" said Mrs. Selby, "It's more like a sanctuary"

"I don't remember telling you my name." said Cyan, "How do you know my name?"

"Um, hello?" said Clara, "I asked a question first."

"W-wait," said Cyan, "So, you know her?"

"Well, yeah," said Clara, "She teaches history at our uni."

"So, you're a student!" said Cyan, "But the question is, why do I find her familiar looking?"

"Oh, do you now?" said Mrs. Selby sarcastically, "I guess I'll just stand here and wait for you to recognize me then"

"No, wait," said Cyan,

"I wasn't going to." said Mrs. Selby.

"Aren't you that lady, from the day before yesterday?"

"Ah! Finally!"

"So, what? You just randomly go consoling strangers?" said Cyan with a laugh.

"Uh, what are you talking about, exactly?" asked Clara, mainly to remind them that she existed.

"Well, I was crying the day before yesterday because my someone close to me died, and my brother got convicted for it. Then, Let's just say, I heard a strange voice..." Cyan broke off.

Apparently, she was a victim of the same voice Clara had heard. Clara felt a sense of familiarity. She decided to change the topic.

"S-so, your name is Cyan right?" asked Clara.

"Yeah!" said Cyan, looking grateful for the change of subject. "and yours?"

"Clara."

"Ahem Ahem?" fake-coughed Mrs. Selby, "Done with intros? Wanna continue with the story?"

"Oh! Yeah!" said Cyan, "Well, after the voice faded away, She came and consoled me."

Clara looked at Mrs. Selby, and a strange thought came to her mind. At first, She checked on Clara in the hospital, and now, she had helped a literal stranger! Could it be....

"So You're actually a nice person?" said Clara, her eyes widening. Cyan burst out laughing.

"Excuse me?" shouted Mrs. Selby, clearly offhanded. "How did you expect me to be? Some ruthless lunatic?"

Clara gave her a mischievous look. Yes. That was exactly how Clara and her whole class depicted her.

"Oh! Thank God Clara we're not at the uni. right now or you would have been in detention!"

"Detention at university level?" asked Cyan, surprised.

"Trust me, our university is about the only one that allows it." explained Clara, straightening her posture, trying to mimic the way Mrs. Selby looked while giving detention. "and Mrs. Selby takes full advantage of it. Gaining hate from the majority of the students"

"Have you ever thought of becoming a news reporter?" taunted Mrs. Selby.

"L-let's just skip to the main point," said Clara, "Why're we here?"

"Buying antiques?" said Mrs. Selby, Clara narrowed her eyes, "Yeah, ok, bad joke. But I can't explain anything here. We'll have to go to the next room."

"WHAT" said Clara and Cyan at the same time.

"So You're sayin' that we," Clara blurted out, "who walked nearly half a mile to get here, will have to walk more?"

"Well, I wont say half a mile, 10 minutes, give or take-"

"That's still a long walk!" Backed up Cyan.

"Ugh! What the hell is up with this generation?" complained Mrs. Selby, "When I was your age, we used to walk MILES a day!"

"Now you sound ancient." said Cyan.

"That's because I am."

"Uh, what?" That sounded suspicious to Clara.

"Never mind" said Mrs. Selby, "You'll find out in a moment, if you wanna go further."

"Which we don't." Said Clara.

"Well then what's the point of coming all this the way here?" said the professor, in her strict teacher mode. "GET OUT!"

"Okay okay!" said Cyan.

"We'll come!" said Clara.

"Good!" Mrs. Selby now looked pleased.

Cyan gave Clara a look. Is she always like this?

Clara rolled her eyes upwards. Mostly.

They both shared a surprised look, for this was eye-communication. Normally, Clara didn't feel comfortable with talking to someone non-verbally other then Jake, whom she had known for years and Coraline, who was her sister. She thought it was the same with Cyan

"You both coming or what?"

As Clara and Cyan walked, Clara noticed a lot of strange things, strange because they didn't seem ancient enough for an "antique shop", for example, there was a cracked old Walkman in a glass case, and a Gameboy color, objects from the 90s. Amidst all of these things, one picture made Clara stop in her tracks. It was a group photo, which also looked like it was from late 90s. In the center was standing a man and a women, Clara didn't know either. There were seven more people; 3 girls and four boys. What made Clara stop in her tracks was that Clara seemed to recognize some of them. There was a girl who looked exactly like Cyan; just with brown hair, Clara recognized her as Jake's mom. There was also a guy who looked exactly like Jake, her BFF. Clara recognized Mr. Clover too, Jake's dad. Clara's eyes moved to the other corner. Behind the man and woman, there were two people Clara didn't know. On the left side, there was a couple, who looked strangely familiar. With a wave, Clara realized that it was her parents.

Clara heard a small gasp; It was Cyan, her eyes wide.

"You recognize someone too?"

"My parents." She said, nodding. She pointed out two people. Jake's parents. Just as Clara was going to tell her otherwise, she heard Mrs. Selby's "Ahem Ahem"

"You both would like to keep up, I guess."

"C-Coming!" they both said at the same time.

"Um, Why are my parents in that picture?" asked Cyan.

"How do you recognize your parents?" asked Mrs. Selby.

"Why do you say that?" asked Clara, Why wouldn't she recognize her own parents? "And is that really her parents?"

"One, because these two were too young to remember their parents when they passed away." informed Mrs. Selby "and two, Yes they are her parents. Also, watch your step, the floorboards are sensitive. The last amethyst nearly put his foot through the oak back in '84."

"The last what?"

"Back in what?"

"Don't ask questions," said Mrs. Selby, "I'll explain everything later."

They both walked carefully. In the end, they reached painted in grey. Mrs. Selby opened it, and closed it being them once they had entered. Inside, Clara saw three crystals, one orange, one red and one bright yellow. Behind the table, there was a wooden door.

"Ok," she said, "I know I owe you an explanation, But first,"

Mrs. Selby snapped her fingers, and the woman who was standing in front of Clara changed. Where there was a woman in her 30s or 40s, now stood one of about Clara's age. She had jet black hair, and a very royal face. The only thing about her that didn't look as young about her were the eyes. They looked ancient.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL-"

"No swearing! I'm still your teacher!"

"That's literally the last thing you look like." pointed out Cyan, who had a little pitch to her voice, her eyes still wide.

"Lemme introduce myself properly." said Mrs. Selby, Clara noticed her voice had changed too. It had switched from the high-pitched horror it used to be, to a graver one "Hestia Ashford-Pedelton"

"I have a question." said Cyan. "How old are you?"

Hestia muttered something like why does every gen have to ask that?

"Here's the thing, I lost count."

"What? How did you manage that?"

"It's normal when you've roamed the earth for thousands of years."

"Wha-" Clara tried to say, but Hestia rose a hand silencing her.

"I'll explain later," she said, "But first, I'll grant you your Jewels."

She turned to look at the crystals on the table behind.

"Guess the third one hasn't been taken yet." she said,

"There's a third?" asked Clara. Hestia nodded.

"You're supposed to be seven in total" said Hestia.

"And what do you mean by taken?" asked Cyan, "Taken by who? The voice?"

"Exactly. Now about the Jewels."

Hestia closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Suddenly, her eyes started giving a strange glow.

"Clara Solis," Hestia said, her voice echoing. "Evil tries to manipulate you, tempting you with creating trouble. So, you were chosen to fight the evil with with creation. You will create, not trouble, but hope. Here is the Jewel of creation, You must carry it and protect it."

To Clara's utter surprise, The red Jewel rose from the table and floated towards Clara. Instinctively, Clara reached out to grab it. As her fingers touched the crystal, Her body seemed to radiate energy. Clara looked at her hands, the were giving off a red glow.

"Cyan Vance." Hestia addressed Cyan. "The evil tried to take you using the tool of protection, But you resisted bravely. So, You were chosen by the Jewel of protection. So you can fight evil with the very weapon it offered you."

The orange crystal rose into the air and floated towards Cyan. She reached out to grab it. Something about Cyan changed the moment she touched the Jewel of protection. even though her skin was still pale, it seemed to be giving a strange green glow.

"Now, I want you to put these on." said Hestia, holding out two black masks, her voice back to normal. "and follow me"

Clara and Cyan didn't question this time. The just put on the masks and went with her to the room through the wooden door.