JUMP FOR ME

Welcome to the world of Golden Sun, where everything is as twisted as it seems.

+ standard disclaimer applied.

Getting really pissed at the vortex for its existence of doing nothing but absorbing everything thrown at it, Tyrell grabbed the glowing psynergy stone from his back pocket and whipped it at the object pointed with anger.

The star shaped item spun inside the vortex and erupted with the concentrated psynergy inside. The vortex unexpectedly puffed up with the blow, before it spit out something back out at him in momentum. Before he could recognize what it was, it landed on him and knocked him unconscious.

Oh yes, now Tyrell was sure about it. He was having a bad day.

I paused in front of the door and hesitated, my hand mere inches from the knob. I was scared to enter, that's for sure, but I knew that if I didn't, it would lead to dire consequences. I looked around to make sure that no one saw me before quickly sliding inside the door, flattening myself to the wall so that I didn't get noticed much too suddenly.

I quickly glanced around the room and found the person who had called me here, in this room filled with Adepts. He briefly explained to me that he had a sudden discovery with the Vortexes that the Saviours Of Vale and their heirs should know about.

I spotted Mathew, son of Isaac and Jenna, next to Tyrell and Rief, sons of Garet and Mia (which they had tried to keep a secret, but had soon failed) along with their sister, Nowell, and Karis, daughter of Ivan and Lalivaro's own Sheba.

"Now that everyone is here—" Kraden sent me a subtle look that I ignored, "—I have grave information to share with all of you!"

Karis was nudging Tyrell, who looked embarrassed and humiliated at the same time that he was grumbling something intangible. I resisted the urge to join them and figure out what was going on and simply closed my eyes, my hearing stretching to make sure I could still hear them, as I used spirit sense. Or as they used to call it, mind read.

I didn't mean to do it! I swear! She doesn't have to bug me so much about it! I said I was sorry—

I was ready to probe further into Tyrell's mind, that is, until a hand landed on my shoulder and had me jump a few meters in the air in surprise. I looked up at Karis' dad and dropped my eyes, ashamed, the second he smiled softly at me to stop.

"Thanks to Tyrell, I have made an amazing discovery!" He cleared his throat and sent the gaping young ones an amused glance, "A discovery about the Psynergy Vortexes!"

This sent a wave of conversation and noise across the small room. Kraden quickly called them back to order, "Silence, please, and I will explain!"

Garet was sending disbelieving looks to his son from across the room. Mia was trying to console his confused spirit.

"As he has explained to me, Tyrell was having a bad day when he spotted the vortex. He got even angrier and attacked it with anything at his disposal—a rock, stones, fireballs—until he got really annoyed and threw in a Psynergy Stone that was at his disposal. As expected, the vortex sucked it in."

"So what?" Felix probed, wanting the somewhat rushed meeting to go faster so that he could return to his business in Kalay, "It's not like it exploded."

Kraden sent me a look that most of the adepts in the room—save the impatient Venus adept—took notice too. Felix's sister nudged him and jerked her chin in my direction. Once the male's eyes settled on me, realisation dawned in his features and he turned to the old man in apprehension, "...you mean...?"

Kraden nodded solemnly at his barely spoken question, "Yes. Hayley somehow came through the Psynergy Vortex in retaliation."

A thousand eyes were on me. I stiffened under Ivan's firm grip but didn't try to get away, finding it a bit soothing at the same time.

"But doesn't the Vortex suck and absorb Psynergy?" Karis asked as her eyes finally strayed from me, "How can she be an adept if she fell through a Vortex that's supposedly anti-psynergy?"

Kraden shook his head and turned to her, "That is still undetermined. But, according to Hayley," He turned to me, "It leads to another world."

That sentence led to chaos within seconds.

"WHAT?" Garet yelled, eyes wild and accusingly on me, "How can you believe someone you barely even know?"

My eyes narrowed and I spoke as calm as I could, yet you could hear the menace seeping out, "Oh really? Then I've yet to comprehend why you trust Sheba, a girl who'd fallen off the moon and was once in my very situation."

I stopped myself from saying anymore; his face was turning red in fury.

I quickly glanced at the girl that I had spoken about. Her face was shrouded in confusion, wondering how I knew about her situation, yet without any hint of menace. I quickly looked up to her husband and notice in surprise as he smiled down at me. What was he so happy about?

"Ivan?" Isaac asked as neared, "Is this true?"

Perplexed by this sudden approach, I looked at the two of them in confusion, "What?"

The ignored my question and the wind adept nodded, finally taking his hand off my shoulder, "Yes, Kraden speaks the truth."

Exclamations shifted through the room before eyes settled on me again, only this time in awe.

I blinked in bewilderment. "How do you know that?"

Still he smiled and tapped my forehead teasingly, "I'm psychic."

Quickly assuming what that meant, I flushed at how foolish I've been. Of course he'd know of me, just like I did of them; mind read. Just by touching my shoulder, he'd skilfully gotten all the information he'd needed from me. I willed my blush to go down as I scanned the faces in the crowd, willing for a distraction yet found none. Kraden called for attention again.

"When Hayley had arrived to Weyard, she had fallen on Tyrell and knocked him out, quickly leading him to believe that she was simply a girl from another village who was traveling around and ended up bumping into him. Of course, that didn't seem plausible, since all villagers from around know to beware Mount Aleph ever since the accident. There'd be no reason for her to be found near the very cottage built to watch over it."

Murmurs. Glances. I ignored them all.

"Until further investigation, Hayley was deemed suspicious—mostly by her odd robes and even odder mannerism—until we figure out her true nature."

My gaze slipped to my wardrobe. Were they really that odd? Where I lived they seemed so normal... What's so wrong with t-shirts and jeans? I like jeans...

I picked at the hem of my shirt, suddenly wishing that I'd worn something more decent. Maybe I could go shopping while I'm here. I've only arrived but a few days ago, and it's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon. A good moment to blend in would be suffice.

"So is she trouble?" Felix asked, his piercing eyes sending me unspoken warnings.

Kraden shook his head and smiled, "But of course not! Mostly with her help—but mostly creativity—we wrote a message to her world and sent it through the vortex, attached to a cat."

"A cat?" Garet guffawed, "Why the heck would you throw a cat in a vortex?"

Mia calmed him down, chanting soothing words. The male calmed down and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, much to their children's amusement and giggles.

I bristled and sent the man a dirty look; it was my idea from the start, "We sent a cat with the note as to make sure it would arrive safely to the other side. Who knows what could be inside that vortex. Maybe Tyrell's rock and fireballs are still in there, who knows." I shrugged nonchalantly at the younger firehead who was nervously mumbling sorrys, "Suffice to say, it's better to throw in an animal, that way they would find someone and deliver the letter."

"That's ridiculous! Why would you even do such an absurd thing?"

Chuckles and then laughs erupted in the room. I shrunk back to the wall and waited for the moment to pass, but time was ticking and Kraden was failing in calming down the crowd. I was starting to get irritated at Garet, whose mission seemed to always put me down no matter what.

I snapped in his direction, making sure everyone could hear me clearly, "We got a reply!"

Silence and then more silence.

"...What?" Felix gaped.

"Someone sent a letter back to us..." I mumbled, yet it was loud enough for them to hear.

There was some more silence. A few whispers passed, mostly from Nowell and Rief.

"...Then doesn't that mean there are vortexes in other worlds too?" Isaac realized, eyes setting on Kraden, practically begging him to prove him wrong.

Kraden looked crestfallen, but he nodded nonetheless, "Yes. From what Hayley told me, there are vortexes in her world too."

"So how do we stop them?" Sheba got to the point fast, eyes set in determination. Piers nodded with her, and you could see Nowell blushing as he too got involved in the situation.

"We must find a way to stop these from destroying our worlds!"

Agreements flew across the room. My heavy spirit lightened.

"I'm sorry, but I do not know how."

Moans.

"But..."

Anticipation.

"...if we go through the vortexes to Hayley's world, we might find out more information on them then we might do here."

"Wait a second, Kraden!" Jenna intercepted, head flying above her head to state that she was talking, "We can't all go there! Who's going to watch over Mt. Aleph?"

Kraden nodded his head in agreement, "Precisely what I've been thinking. This is why I've asked the rest of Mathew's friends to join us at this meeting. I believe it would be best if the children of the Warriors of Vales, along with the adepts they traveled with, to join Hayley and I back to her world, where we will figure out the truth on these disturbances."

Amiti, Sveta, Eoleo and Himi were all standing near (but still not too close) Mathew and the others, looking a bit disoriented, save for Sveta who seemed to be the only one who clearly understood what was going on.

"Are you sure that you should be going Kraden?" Mia said softly, worry showing through her eyes, "I have faith in our children, but you're not an adept. What if the only reason Hayley survived through was because she was an adept?"

Kraden shook his head, "On the letter we got back, the person who had written told us that that the cat reached him looking dishevelled, nothing more. There's nothing to be worried about. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure about this Kraden?" Isaac asked, "It's been not long since they have returned to the cottage."

"It'll be fine. Right Mathew?" Kraden turned to the group, smiling encouragingly. The group beamed back, eager to go back into the field of battle and mysteries. I would've done the same if I were them.

"Alright." Isaac shared a nod with Garet and Felix, "If you're sure, you can set off tomorrow morning, giving enough time to be prepared for anything that might happen over there."

He glanced around the room and received nods in agreement. He turned to his son and smiled crookedly, "I guess you're going out for another journey son, I have to say I'm a bit jealous. I too want to see this unknown world." He shuffled his mini-me's hair, "Tell me all about it when you return, alright?"

Mathew beamed at the adult, "Will do, dad!"

I watched as goodbyes were made before the room cleared of adults as they returned to important tasks. All but Isaac, Garet and Piers were going back to Kalay after we go through the vortex. Piers was going to return on his ship and continue travelling around, only this time Nowell won't be with him. She'll be with us, at another world. Apparently Piers had taken her under his wing and now she was plenty capable of taking care of herself. I can't wait to see them in action with my very own eyes.

"Why aren't you preparing yourself, Hayley?" Sveta asked as she followed me to the table and took a seat. I was left alone with the group of young adepts, while the adults were out preparing for a journey back to Kalay and the sea and watching over mountains. I wished my world was as calm as it was here.

"I have nothing to my name." I shrugged, "I came here with nothing." It's true. I had nothing but the clothes I'm wearing when I arrived in Weyard. I have nothing to prepare myself with, unlike all the other adepts who were shuffling around the cottage, trying to find the items they had previously unequipped.

The girl was immediately saddened a bit. She glanced loosely at her pack, "Oh..."

"Yep."

"Hey, Sveta!" Karis chirped, glancing uncertainly at me, "I want to show you something, come here!"

Sveta nodded and followed the girl up the stairs to where I believed the rooms of Mathew and Tyrell were. Eoleo and Amiti were arguing about something, Himi trying her best to stop them without making a racket. It looked like it was working. I watched in slight amusement before I glance at the other two water adepts. They were talking discreetly among themselves, and I didn't bother joining them; they probably felt the same about me. Why speak with someone you barely even know? It's something we automatically do, no matter where we are. Isolation.

"Hayley!" Tyrell bounded down the steps and took over Sveta's previous seat, leaning back against the table as he grinned at his friends. "What are you doing all alone? Join them!"

"Uh..." I hesitated before shaking my head and looking at him earnestly, "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"...Uh... I'm not the... outgoing type..."

"Nonsense!" He declared, jumping to his feet and holding out a hand to me, "Come on! I'll teach you how to have fun!"

I was about to decline, but then his glowing features made me reconsider. Not seeing any harm in his invitation, I slid my hands into his and chanced a small smile, "Sure."

He beamed and dragged me over to his group of friends, "Let's go meet everyone then!"

Garet arrived at the cabin near midnight, having taken the first shift of watching Sol Sanctum until Isaac took over. He was dead tired, having barely the energy to walk on his feet. He didn't stagger, something he was proud of himself for, but he was slouching a bit and rubbing his eyes quite a lot. He yawned into his hand before opening the door slightly and peeking inside. He grinned at what he saw.

Blankets and pillows were strewn all over the living room, chair and tables pushed at the end. The entire group of young adepts were sleeping soundly on the ground, pooped and drained of energy. It looked as if they had some sort of sleepover pillow fight, feathers stuck in some heads of hair, while they lay scrambled in no order, whatever made them comfortable.

He looked over each face in turn, his grin turning into a proud smile when it ended on his son.

He was sprawled on his back, snoring lightly, with his hair is a mess of red spikes. Next to him was his best friend, Mathew, while on his other side was the girl who had traveled through vortexes and dared irk him, Hayley, curled up on her side, looking serene and peaceful.

A few days ago was when Hayley had first arrived. Every since then, his son and the girl became inseparable, seeing as Tyrell was the first person Hayley met in Weyard—may it be by knocking him down. She had not met Mathew or Karis until today; she had only spotted them in the distance while she was kept under scrutiny by whichever adult Adept was free. She was forced to stay inside the cottage and away from anyone else until she was deemed safe, but she wouldn't dare speak to anyone but Tyrell, which aggravated the situation further. Finally he allowed his son to see her. She finally explained her story. Their friendship flourished. And Garet knew that his son was just so honest and straightforward enough not to blow it.

He tiptoed inside and sneaked up to the stairs, but not before looking back at the entwined hands of his son and his new found friend; an endless promise locked between the two of them.

He smirked and then whipped an invisible teardrop from his eye, "My son is growing up."

Today is the day.

Today is the day I'm going back home. Where I'm leaving Wayard, a place where I've only dreamed a thousand times of traveling around.

Today is the day I go through a Psynergy vortex. Where I will no longer be a Jupiter Adept, no matter how short-lived it was, because in my world Adepts don't exist.

It sure isn't as great as it seems, mindreading. When I arrived, the power was new to me and I could barely control it. I could hear every living thing around me and I could barely tell the difference between vocal and mental. It gave me such a migraine. The only thing that didn't bother me though, was Tyrell. His thoughts were genuine and sincere and made me smile, while his dad (and his friend's too) were filled with suspicion and scepticism. It hurt a little, but I couldn't blame them for thinking that way. I do feel bat a bit for neglecting them for how they were thinking, it was mean of me.

"What do you mean, Kraden?" Amiti exclaimed from bellow, "We can't just take a leave of absence! We have duties, as the King of Ayuthay and Queen of Belinsk!"

I leaned forward and peaked down to look at them. Amiti was arguing with Kraden about what he was arguing with Eoleo yesterday, Sveta next to him as she expressed her agreement.

"We don't even know how long we'll be," She said, "I told them I was coming here for a few days. Nothing more. My village needs me, just as how Ayuthay needs Amiti."

"I never knew you were King, Amiti." Kraden offered a distraction. The boy took the bait.

"When I returned to my village, Uncle was found dead, the cause was the great eclipse."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"It's quite alright. Thank you for your condolences."

"What are we going to do about our kingdoms? The Queen can never take a break! And neither can the King!" Sveta interrupted the lower conversation to return to what mattered. "Eoleo could take how much time he wanted off, seeing as he was the boss of the pirates, and he passed the position to his grandma during the meantime. Who knows what slavery she might do to those pirates."

Amiti chuckled in amusement and then continued, "And even though Himi comes from high lineage, her dad is still in perfect health. She can come. But what about us? We can't come, no matter how much we want too."

Kraden had his brows furrowed in thought, "The reason I had first asked you to come here, do you know what that is?"

They both shook their heads.

Kraden smiled. "It was to have two adepts of each element to make sure we had no disadvantage, also adding to the fact that your teamwork is truly to admire."

"But Sir Kraden!" Sveta suddenly realized, "Nowell is going too right? Wouldn't that make for three water adepts?"

Kraden nodded and smiled at Amiti, "That's why it would be fine for Amiti to return to his kingdom, even if he has the Insight Glass."

Amiti half-bowed, "Thank you so much, Kraden!" He straightened up, "But what about Sveta?"

"I'm sure we can make some accommodations." At that precise moment, Kraden locked eyes with mine, making it known that he knew I was listening in. The others turned to look up at what he was staring at before the gazes landed on me. Sveta's widened in surprise.

Her thoughts flew to me as clear as daylight, even if I wasn't using mind read.

Of course! She knows spirit sense! That could mean she's a Jupiter adept!

She turned back to Kraden, "Are you sure about this?"

"Most positively."

I shot them confused looks, even though I knew what they were talking about, refusing myself to approach them until their conversation was done. Adding to the fact that I was blushing a bit from getting caught listening. Not that the younger adepts knew.

"There you are, Hayley!" Tyrell joined me on the roof of the home-like cottage and the others looked away to continue their conversation in hushed tones. I leaned back to my previous position of watching the shore and he joined me. "What are you doing out here?"

"Watching."

"Watching what? Seagulls?" He looked back and forth between the sky and me before it rested on the first, leaning back on his hands as he breathed in the air.

A small smile escaped now that he was next to me, "...maybe..."

He let out a laugh before we returned to a comfortable silence.

"What's it called?" He suddenly asked, eyes locked to the bay.

"What what's called?" I answered idly, keeping myself from mindreading him.

"Your home; your world."

"Uhmm..." I blushed and tried to keep my gaze steady, "Earth. It's called Earth."

"What's it like?"

I blushed further and couldn't keep my eyes away from his features, "It's okay, I guess. Not as great as here though."

He turned to me with a raised eyebrow. He wanted me to clarify.

"There are no adepts there. Only advanced technology."

"But you're an adept." He defended, his expression cutely scrunching up in confusion.

I shook my head to stop myself from touching his soft-looking hair, "Not until I came here."

He squinted at his nose, a sign that meant he was thinking, "So you aren't an adept?"

"I am!" I couldn't help but smile at how simple he was, "But I wasn't before I got sucked into the vortex!"

"Ohhh!" He sighed in relief as he understood, closing his eyes as the words settled into his mind, "I get it! The vortex turned you into an adept!"

"Exactly!"

We returned to watching the bright sky with the seagulls' squawking as the only noise besides the soft sound of the wind blowing by. I peeked at the boy next to me, and then frowned in surprise when he was staring back at me looking pale and afraid.

"What's wrong?"

"What if..." He began, unsure, "What if the vortex takes away all of our psynergy?"

Though I knew I was lying, I smiled as comfortingly as I could and patted his shoulder, "I'm sure it won't do that. Maybe I was an adept all along and coming here made me realize it. Who knows?"

He brightened up immediately, "You're right! It's gotta be a coincidence!" He hugged me quickly, "Thanks!"

"Uh..." I awkwardly smiled back, "No problem..."

"Tyrell! Hayley!" Karis waved from the bridge next to the house, everyone including Amiti and Sveta behind her, "Come on! We're all set! Show us the way to the Psynergy Vortex!"

"Got it!" Tyrell pumped a hand above his head to show he heard before he jumped to his feet and started his descend down the house. I quickly followed suit and joined them. Of course I felt bad for lying somewhat, but that's because I showed no signs of being an adept in my world. There's no way I could be. Adepts never existed in Earth. Never did, never will.

And I'm sure that vortex knows that too.

I have feeling their psynergy will evaporate the second they pass through the vortex.

But I'm not the one going to give them the bad news.

I won't be the one to say "I told you so".

Not this time.

Isaac was waiting for us on the other side of the Goma Plateau.

"What are you doing here, dad?" Mathew asked, blinking in bewilderment as he looked around for anything that could be positively upsetting.

"I'm going to lend you a hand."

"Why?" He searched around some more.

Isaac smiled in amusement at his son. "Nothing's wrong. Just look up."

The group automatically lifted their heads up to the sky and gasped. There was the psynergy vortex, larger than the usual, but not disrupting anything around it. It was almost peaceful in a way. I recognized it almost immediately from its location.

"That's the vortex I came through!" I confirmed pointing a finger.

Tyrell nodded optimistically. "Yeah! It sure is!"

We grinned at each other in amusement.

"How do we get up there though?" Karis asked, hands planted on her hips as she surveyed the climb of rocks. It was not going to be a pleasant way up.

"I can climb this no problem," Sveta said as she placed a hand on the rocks almost apologetically, "But I don't know about you guys."

Eoleo shrugged, "I can, probably," He looked down at the little girl by his side, "Want me to carry you, Himi?"

Himi smiled, "That would be much appreciated, thank you."

I watched in surprise as they all started to grab rocks and pull themselves up into a climbing formation, Sveta at the top and leading them with Eoleo not far behind. I glanced at Isaac; he looked a bit in awe, but his eyebrow was twitching a couple of times.

"There's no need for that!" Isaac finally said, shaking his head at the insistent adepts. "I know a safer way to send you into the vortex with no problems!"

The group shared doubtful looks. Mathew finally asked, "What are you going to do?"

Isaac smirked mysteriously before he placed a hand near his mouth and called up of the tall mountain nearest of the vortex, "Ivan! Sheba!"

Two full blond heads appeared from the top and grinned down to where we were. Karis waved to her parents before turning to Isaac.

"What do you need my parents for?"

"Hover!" He called up, killing two birds with one stone.

The two adepts on top of the mountain both nodded before each holding out a hand. The ground beneath us began to glow as the air around us solidified enough to force us in the middle of the air. Karis was the first to fly in the air, Himi following close behind since she was so light. Eoleo gaped at her before he followed suit. Reif grabbed the man's boot in surprise, not wanting to be left out, but that was unnecessary since he was tugged from behind and ended up doing a flip in midair. Kraden let himself be lifted with a sly grin, nodding his thanks to the Jupiter Adepts as he passed them.

One by one they started to get propelled in the vortex without warning. I gasped in surprised then watched in horror as Mathew went up, Tyrell following not far behind. Kraden was almost in the Vortex and I could start to feel the wind around me starting to pick me up. I suddenly didn't want to go anymore, feeling that the safer way would be by ground.

"HAYLEY!" Tyrell thought and called at the same time, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was holding out his hand to me invitingly and I couldn't help but feel all of my worries wash away. Fighting the psynergy used on me, I gave a running start and pushed off the ground, grabbing onto the hand that was waiting for me. I was not going to be left behind.

He flew ahead of me a couple of miles, still holding onto me as if I would disappear. I felt free and light like a bird, that I could practically do anything now that I was up in the air, which is an impossible feat for humans. I beamed at Ivan and Sheba as I passed them, before remembering those who were bellow.

I turned in midair and waved my thanks, "Thank you all so much for ever—!"

I was tossed into the vortex before I could finish.