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"So this Maria wants to talk to us?" Amber repeated Blake's statement. Layla looked just as confused. Blake had approached them at school the next day during lunch and mentioned about Maria wanting to meet them.
"Yes. You can trust her, actually. She's a Guardian," Blake clarified.
"She is?" Layla asked excitedly, "Awesome! We can get some answers!"
"But why does she want to meet with both me and Layla? Isn't she a Guardian?" Amber questioned.
"Well, since Layla can actually see Ires, she can help with crowd control," Blake answered, "Since she can see where they are, when you and I both confront the Ires, Layla can help keep everyone else away from the area to avoid too many casualties." Layla smiled, glad to hear that she could be of some use.
"In that case, it would be best to meet her during the summer break starting next week," Layla suggested, "Since summer break is about two months, she can have all the time in the world to help us catch up."
"Then it's settled. I'll let her know you guys are coming then," Blake said with a smile. Things were starting to come together, and now she didn't have to fight Ires alone. With the aura manipulation of a Guardian and the combat expertise of a Knight, Blake was more comfortable with fighting Ires. Alongside with that, Layla could help to keep innocents away from harm, which meant that Blake didn't have to worry about anything else while fighting. In a situation that Blake usually had to go up against Ires, she had to be mindful of other people in the surrounding area as well as to try and keep herself hidden away from them.

Summer break couldn't have arrived sooner to the three girls. Amber and Layla made it to Blake's apartment on the very first day of their summer break. Layla seemed calm and eager. Amber, on the other hand...
"Come on, Amber, you've been a nervous wreck ever since this morning. Let's go," Layla dragged her friend along in irritation. Amber had been extremely nervous to even step foot at the bottom of the apartment complex. Is this really that nerve-wracking for her, Layla wondered. As soon as Layla managed to get Amber up towards Blake's door, the girl began entering hysterics.
"Maybe we can come another time just not right now because I have to do something back at the school so please please please head back with me come on~," Amber quickly spat out in one breath. Layla didn't even bother with answering her and rang the door bell. All at once, Amber shut up, stopped worrying, and began to glare at Layla as if Layla had done something extreme to upset her. Layla looked back at her nonchalantly.
"You realize we were going to have to be here sooner or later," Layla said in annoyance, "Just get this first visit done with and then we can both get on with our lives." Just as Amber was about to shoot a retort, the door swung open to reveal Blake standing there in a black bra and basketball shorts. Layla even noticed that Blake's normal bandages were missing and her tattoo was in full view.
"Hey guys! Glad you came," Blake greeted them, stepping out of the way, "Come on in. The person I want you guys to meet is in the living room."
"Thank you," Layla replied in kind. Amber and Layla headed over to the living room and spotted Maria. She wore a pure white sundress with lace sleeves, looking almost like an angel in the sunlight. She spotted the two girls approaching and stood up from the couch, her lush brown hair flowing with the morning breeze.
"You two must be Amber and Layla. My Blake here has told me much about the two of you," Maria curtsied. Amber murmured something about "mother of God she is gorgeous" while Layla's breath hitched. Her Blake? Layla questioned to herself.
"Allow me to introduce: this is Maria. My mother," Blake explained as she walked around Layla and Amber to stand by Maria's side. Both girls initially nodded their heads in understanding. Moments later...

"WHAT?!"

Blake burst out laughing, and even Maria couldn't help but to giggle as well. They figured that a reaction like the one they just witnessed would need some explaining, since Blake and Maria almost looked similar in age. Rine watched from the bedroom as he claimed that he didn't want any part of being involved with them as long as he had Maria. Plus the fact that he clearly stated the night before that he promised Blake that he wouldn't try to hit on them straight off the bat.
"Anyway, yes it is true: Blake here is considered to be my child," Maria confirmed for the two dumbstruck girls. Blake walked over and stood in between the two, placing an arm on each of their shoulders.
"She isn't my mom from blood, but she was the one who raised me when my birth mother died to Ires," Blake explained for them, a wistful smile on her face. Layla remained slightly dumbstruck, but Amber was the first to notice Blake's smile. It made her heart ache a bit inside to see that the one she idolized so much had lost someone so precious at a young age. She took Blake's arm from her shoulder and squeezed it with both hands. Blake looked over and gave a smile of appreciation to the small gesture, unknowingly making Amber internally squeal from fan-girl overload.
"Um, well then," Layla regained her composure, turning to Maria, "I remember Blake telling me that you had something to talk to us about?" Maria smiled and nodded.
"Yes I do. And that involves you and the friend you came with," she replied. At this point, Ryne emerged from his hiding spot and made his way towards Layla and Amber with a very... creepy look in his eyes.
"Well, well, well. It seems I just can't keep myself away from delicious ladies like you two," Ryne spoke lowly, nearly growling. Layla and Amber were both taken aback by the sudden introduction and remained that way as Blake flew past them to land a foot on Ryne's face. With a solid grunt of pain, Ryne went flying and crashing through her front door to which Maria quickly fixed right after. Moments later, a scream from a woman echoed throughout the hall outside and multiple crashes of broken furniture being thrown around indicated that Blake had kicked Ryne hard enough to break into the room across from her, making Ryne look even more like the pervert that he was. Ryne opened the door in multiple cuts and bruises, a very salty look on his face, and a pantyhose hanging on top of his head. Layla and Amber remained speechless as Blake and Maria began to laugh quite loudly.

"Blake," Ryne growled menacingly. Blake calmed her laughter to glare back at Ryne with a murderous expression on her face, sending chills down Layla's spine and causing Amber to audibly gulp in air. Blake stepped backwards until she placed herself directly in front of Amber and Layla. "I'm not letting you lay a hand on my Guardian," Blake fired back to Ryne with the same venom in her voice. The two continued to stare off for a few more moments until Ryne began smiling like a proud father. Blake smiled as the hostility in the air went away, walking over to Ryne with her hand outstretched in good faith.
"I may treat you like a little turd but I'm glad I taught you well," Ryne told Blake, taking her hand in a firm handshake. Amber gave a sigh of relief as Layla looked on with almost a saddened expression on her face. Maria took interest in Layla's expression almost immediately. She walked over to Layla and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Blake is just doing what a Knight must for their Guardian," Maria whispered, "Don't misunderstand her actions." Layla spun around to face Maria, a slight blush growing on her cheeks.
"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" She blurted out quickly in her flustered state. Maria laughed at the sudden reaction, giving Layla a look of 'you know exactly what I mean.'

For the next two hours, Maria explained to Layla and Amber everything that she knew of Ires, Knights, and Guardians to the best of her ability with the help of Ryne and Blake on occasion. Maria even went so far as to help Amber with using her own aura, which appeared almost pinkish in color. Layla watched her friend in amazement as Amber formed her first aura shield as well as the first time Amber used only her aura to help her levitate in the sky for a few seconds. Blake helped to show off her skills as well, creating an almost pitch black armor surrounding her body as well as Layla. Blake even formed a stable weapon for Layla to use in case of an emergency; a long range gun that could shoot at a medium range.
"Well! That's quite impressive," Maria complimented at the sight of the weapon and armor for Layla, "That's going to be really helpful in the near future."
"Yeah, but it would be nice if I could give her something a bit more permanent," Blake said, examining her work, "Something that will keep working for her against the Ires if anything happens to me in the middle of a fight. I won't be able to keep this up for too long, either, so there's another problem..." As Blake and Maria discussed the use of the aura armor, Ryne decided to make his move towards Layla, who was busy examining the armor and her gun that Blake had made for her. The armor felt almost weightless and very comfortable, as if it was a jumpsuit over her normal clothes that didn't trap in heat. The armor covered her entire body save for her head, and her weapon was interesting as well. It looked to be completely separate to the armor even though it was also made from Blake's aura. The range that the aura bullets went was also very impressive from being separated from the original owner. Layla was so focused on trying to understand everything that she didn't notice Ryne sneaking up behind her until he was full on groping her.
"You ain't the Guardian so you're fair game, eh?" Ryne whispered to Layla with a wide smile.
"Ah! Get away from me!" Layla screamed out loud, shutting her eyes and instinctively aiming her gun at him. Before she even had a chance to fire, a pinkish stream of light stretched forward and struck Ryne right in the face, effectively knocking him onto the ground. Layla opened her eyes in time to see the pinkish light flow back to its owner, Amber, who had her arm aimed in Ryne's direction. What surprised Layla more was that Amber, who was usually a very playful and cheery person, held a cold glare in Ryne's direction.
"She isn't 'fair game', guy, and you'd best keep your hands to yourself," Amber said in an uncharacteristically cold voice. She walked to stand in front of Layla protectively, keeping Ryne in her sights. Maria and Blake both looked on with interest.

"Blake, that's your Guardian, yes?" Maria asked Blake.
"Yes, ma'am. Although, she usually isn't like this. Color me impressed," Blake replied, keeping her eyes on her Guardian.
"In that case, things are going to be rather interesting," Maria cut their conversation at that, walking over towards Ryne, who suddenly looked as if he was about to die as Maria approached him with her typical cutesy smile.