Blood is Thicker than Water

They were 3 sisters and each had exceptionally extraordinary abilities in combat.


The first was very skillful with knives and swords. The second had strength in archery and was good and using arrows and spears. The youngest was flexible and had excellent coordination, balance and upper body strength.


Their abilities were made known the monks of a mystical temple. These monks summoned the sisters and offered them a position as the Temple Warriors. In return they will be given a place to stay, plus they will be paid for their services.


They would have to train and be alert as they had to protect ancient scrolls, magical artifacts and many other mystical objects that held secrets only the monks knew about.


They accepted the offer in a heartbeat. Although life as Temple Warriors were not as modern as the lifestyle they were accustomed to, who would reject an offer to be paid to do something you're natural at? It like being paid to breathe.

***

The temple also trained Guardians of Elements. They had abilities to manipulate elements of nature and their duty was to maintain the balance of nature.

The Guardian of water approached the second sister. He confessed his admiration towards her and they both started a relationship.

The Guardian of Light approached the first sister. Although she was very flattered, she rejected his proposal and insisted they kept their relationship strictly professional.

***

A few months after accepting the monks offer, a permanent offer was given to the first sister. She was given a permanent position as Temple Warrior and was selected as the leader of the 3 sisters. It was later known that the position was intended to be offered to the second sister. However, the monks agreed that she has been distracted lately. Although her abilities did not deteriorate, they believed she could serve better had she not been so distracted by her emotions towards the Guardian of Water.

After finding out about the situation, the second sister was furious. She was upset and angry. She needed someone to talk to. She searched for the third sister. She was shocked to find her laughing and giggling by the lake with the Guardian of Water.

The second sister felt so betrayed.

She planned and attack on both her sisters. She ambushed them while they were meditating.

Her sisters were shocked. They tried to defend themselves.

It was a difficult battle. The second sister was fueled with anger and rage. Her intentions were purely to harm her sisters. This gave her an advantage to fight.

Her sister however, were trying to defend themselves and were trying not the harm the second sister but simply buying time to calm her and rationalize the situation with her.

"You know the both of you are my priority! I would have shared the money they paid me! I will take care of the both you. No matter what happens," said the first sister.

"I can't believe you would think I would steal him from you! I would never go after him. In fact, I'm quite surprised you would go after him. He's not all that great. He's quite lame actually," said the youngest. "He was just helping me with combat."

"Liars! You two are ruining my future!"

During the battle, the Guardian of Light tried to slip in weapons for the first sister to make it an easier fight.

Suddenly, the second sister stopped. For some reason, she started running. Running towards the forest. She kept on running till she disappeared.

Time

Have you ever done something that you wish you didn't, and wish that someone could have stopped you before you did it? Have you ever said something that you wish you could have taken back?


She was on a camping trip with her family. Father, mother and her little brother. They were in a forest and they had just finished swimming in the lake. It was not a perfect day, but it was nice to spend it with her family.


The wind was blowing. She could hear her parents just a few feet behind her, chatting away. Her brother who the most excited was way ahead, rushing into the lush forest.


"Woahh," he said. "Look what I found."


And suddenly there was a loud bang.


Everything went silent. Like she was deaf. The next few moments felt like a daze. She felt like she was experiencing a moment where you are outside your body, and watching yourself go through what was coming.


There was an explosion. Her brother had accidentally triggered an old bomb. The bomb had blinded him and cause severe damage to his skin.


Forever scarred.

***

5 years later, she is proud of how both her brother and mother have managed all these year given the condition of her brother after the accident.

He was still his jolly and cheerful self, if not he was even more optimistic now. Even though his eyesight was gone, she felt like he could see even more now. Not with his eyes, but his heart.

Everyday, he would tell her something wise or something that leaves her thinking, pondering, wondering.

Their father had left them not long after the accident. He said he needed time alone. He basically couldn't handle the pressure of raising a son was disabled. He disgusted her, and yet she still longed for her father to walk through the front door, give her mother a big kiss, pick her brother up and give her those massive and warm hugs that she misses.

She also often feels regret and painful guilt.

Why hadn't she been more responsible? Why didn't she walk with her brother? She should have been there to take care of him. She should have been watching him.

He tells her it was meant to be. He told her to think of it as a blessing in disguise. He was willing to accept it as a gift, as had he not triggered the bomb, he would have not appreciate life as much as he did today. Or perhaps, the authorities would have not searched to forest to discover 17 more bombs that could have cause danger to others.

***

Everyone could see she was unhappy. Her bother's accident had put her in a state of depression.

She would walk through the town running her errands everyday with the same hollow look on her face. She repeats everyday with the same routine. Going to school, then to work to earn some extra income as her mother could not get a stable job as she was taking care of her son who was not only blind but suffered extensive skin corrosion. She then would buy supplies from the market place from the same stores, buying the same things from the same people.

Until one day, they lady who sold dairy could not take it any longer.

"My dear," she said, "Let me help you."

"I have a friend who can help you with your sorrows, she can help you. She can give you second chance."

For some reason, she agreed to accept the offer. What other choice did she have? Anything is better than the current situation.

She followed the given address and ended up standing in front of a posh looking building. She went in and was amazed by the decor. It was like a set of a photo shoot for fashion magazine.

She asked the receptionist to see if this "friend" was available.

She was directed into a hallway which had plush purple carpet stretched all the way to the end of the hall. At the end of the hall was a door.

She pushed through the door and inside was a woman. She was old but glamorous. She had big orange hair and bright make up. There were four other people in the room all busily taking notes as the woman was talking, They too were dressed in a "unique" style.

She was so awed the she tripped and accidently pushed the woman causing her to lose balance and her orange hair fell off. It was a wig. Everyone gasped. Without it, she was just a plain old lady.

"I was going to make a trade in exchange for my services. But given the circumstances, and how you ambushed me, I guess I will have to help you for free," said the old woman.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see if your brother had not been in an accident, you would not be depressed, the milk lady would have not referred me to you and you my dear girl, would have not clumsily pushed me to embarrass me in front of my staff and ruin my image of someone who is known with an eccentric yet admirable appearance."

She continued "Blow this whistle and time will turn to the moment you wish to be in. You can stop the explosion, you can reverse the mistake."

***

The wind was blowing. She could hear her parents just a few feet behind her, chatting away. Her brother who the most excited was way ahead, rushing to the lush forest.