Lately I've been wondering if I'm really useful to the team. Back in the good old days, when it was just me, Isaac, Ivan and Mia, I was the only Mars Adept on the team. After we joined up with Felix's crew, though, that alone doesn't get me very far. Jenna's gotten really strong since we left Vale: her Dragon Fume's just about on par with my Liquifier, and my Guard and Protect Psynergies aren't very impressive compared to her Aura techniques. The only real advantage I have over her is that I'm stronger in physical combat, and we've already got enough warriors on the team.

But it's not just combat and Psynergy I'm worried about. Everyone else has an interesting history, too. I mean, Isaac's dad and Felix and Jenna's parents were alive all these years, and then they fused into that three-headed dragon. Okay, so the Wise One did that, but still... And then there's Mia. She's from the same clan as Alex, who orchestrated the whole thing (just in case you're reading this, Mia, I'm not trying to blame you or anything). Sheba fell from the sky (and survived, how is that NOT impressive) and Piers is a freakin' Lemurian. And Ivan, man, where to begin? His sister is now the leader of Contigo and predicted years in advance that he'd help us save the world, not to mention he was raised by Master Hammet and entrusted with the Shaman's Rod. Even Kraden has something going for him. He was taken in by THE Babi at a young age and has spent most of his life studying Alchemy. Heck, he's probably the smartest person I've ever met.

Compared to the others, I'm just...ordinary. I mean, sure, my grandpa's the mayor of Vale, but that's just pure luck on my part. It definitely didn't mean anything while we were out trying to stop Saturos and Alex and the others. In the end, there's really nothing special about me. I'm just plain old Garet.

Garet, the one who thinks with his gut. Garet, the guy who eats "all the time." Garet, the butt of everyone's jokes. Garet, th

"Hey Garet, are you," the door opened just enough for a girl to lean her head into the room, her blond hair cropped short enough that only single lock fell in front of her face, which she promptly blew away, "*pff* done writing in your diary yet?"

Garet looked up from his writing but didn't even bother turning to face his uninvited, though not unexpected, guest. "For the hundredth time, Sheba, it's a journal! There's a difference!"

"Suuure there is," the young wind Adept said as she walked into the room, only to beat a hasty retreat to dodge the object her teammate threw at her. "A pillow? Really?" Sheba hid in the hallway, keeping her eyes on the door. "What is this, a slumber party?"

"Gimme a break, it was the first thing I saw." Garet rose from his desk and looked around. The desk he was writing at was beneath the window, with the doorway on the opposite side of the room. The pillow had hit the doorframe and was now in the middle of the floor. He picked it up and tossed it onto the bed to his right. The bunk bed just barely fit in the room; the bottom bunk was neatly made, while the top one was a complete mess. Ivan'll be on my case again if I don't make my bed, he thought as he left his room to face his intruder. "Besides, a Fireball on a ship would've been too dangerous."

Sheba just shrugged, "Fair enough." Then a grin spread across her face. "After all, we wouldn't want a repeat of what happened in Yampi Desert."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

She shrugged again, "Probably not."

Garet sighed, "What did you want, anyway?"

"Oh yeah!" Sheba clasped her hands together and started to turn around. "Get your stuff together and come up to the bridge, 'cause we're almost there." With that she dashed up the stairs to the upper deck. A moment later she came halfway down the stairs, "Oh, and Ivan wants Phaeton's Blade this time," and right back up again.

Garet went back into his room and put on his gloves, which were laying next to his journal. Growing suspicious of Sheba's ruses, he hid his journal under the pillow of his still-unmade bed. Garet's axe was leaning against the side of the closet, which was against the wall across from the bed. He hooked his axe to a strap hanging from his belt and opened the closet, easily spotting Ivan's sword, fully sheathed, amongst all the clothes.

Garet climbed the stairs, sword in hand, and turned to enter the main room of Piers' ship. Piers was looking out the lef-port window - He's a real stickler when it comes to nautical terms - while Mia was sitting on the bench reading a book - Hasn't she read them all by now? The rest of his friends were grouped around the table, except for the two that were missing: Felix - Probably steering the ship, as usual. Does that guy ever take a break? - and Jenna - I thought it was Isaac's turn as lookout. Isaac and Kraden were at the side of the table nearest the door outside, studying a map laid out on the table. Sheba and Ivan were on opposite sides of the table, with Sheba between the two Mercury Adepts and Ivan being the one closest to Garet. The fire Adept came up next to his roommate and handed him the blade. "Sheba tells me you're in a sword mood today."

"Not really," Ivan said, but he quickly tied the scabbard onto his belt. He then glared at Sheba, who was trying not to smile, "but I'm going to need it if someone doesn't give me my staff back."

Sheba looked away, "Well, my mace is getting blunt and Mia's staff doesn't have a special attack."

"I thought maces were supposed to be blunt." Even while he said this, Kraden kept his eyes trained on the map.

"They are," Piers said as he turned to face the group. "She's probably referring to the spikes. Where's Jenna?"

Garet leaned across the table to look at the map. "She's in the crow's nest, right?"

"No, I was." Isaac turned the map - much to Kraden's frustration, as he nearly lost his place - so Garet could get a better look. "I came down to make sure we're at the right island. Which, of course, would be a lot easier if it wasn't an uncharted island."

"As far as I can tell, this is the place," Kraden said as he looked up and silently counted the number of people in the room. "Sheba, I thought you said you'd get Jenna, too. Where is she?"

Sheba shrugged. "Maybe she can't find her sword?"

"I'll go look for her," Mia said as she put her book down and reached for her staff.

"NO!!!" Everyone turned to look at Sheba, who's sudden outburst sparked everyone's curiosity. "I-I mean, y-you really seem into that story. I wouldn't want you to have to stop right when it's getting good."

Garet placed his palms on the table. "Where is she?" Throughout the trip Garet had said that Sheba and Jenna were planning something, but everyone had brushed him off. Until now.

"I-I don't know. Honest!" Sheba had raised her hands in defense and took a step back from the table.

She soon found herself held firmly by Piers, who had easily snuck up behind her. He then looked at Ivan and Isaac in turn. "I know we don't normally allow mind-reading on teammates, but…"

"Don't bother," Garet turned to go below decks again. "I think I know where she is."

Garet took the steps two at a time, and could hear the boards creaking under his weight. He entered his room and, sure enough, there was Jenna. She was half-leaning over Garet's bunk, with one foot on Ivan's bed and the other in the air. In her left hand was Garet's pillow, and in the right was his journal.

Jenna looked over her shoulder when she heard the door open. "GARET!" The girl lost her balance, letting go of the pillow to grab hold of the bed frame. "W-what are you doing here?"

Garet crossed his arms. "Well, this is my room."

Jenna got down from the bunk bed and faced her friend, hiding her hands - and the journal - behind her back. "I meant, shouldn't you be upstairs?"

"I was. Why weren't you?" Garet knew the answer: Sheba was stalling so Jenna could find his journal. Still, he wanted to see what excuse she could come up with.

"W-well..." Jenna looked around the room, trying to find something to work with. Then she got an idea. She took a few steps towards the door, unable to escape until Garet moved out of the way. "I was just making your bed for you, since Ivan's so picky about neatness and you're, well...not."

Garet looked at the ceiling for a moment before responding. "Fine," he stepped back to let her pass, but just as she was about to leave he put his arm across the doorway, "but first give me back my dia-journal." Garet mentally kicked himself for that slip-up, because he knew what was going to happen next.

"Ah-ha!" Jenna ducked under Garet's arm and snuck past him. "So you admit it's a diary!" She opened the book to a random page while running towards the stairs, with Garet close behind.

"N-no," Garet fumbled the words out, trying to salvage whatever piece of his reputation she was on the verge of ruining for him. "But Sheba calls it that all the time. I just goofed up. It happens." Garet scrambled up the stairs, but Jenna was already in the main room.

He could hear Jenna taunting him, no doubt in front of everyone. "Oh, Feizhi, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."

"You're making that up," Garet entered the room and was relieved to see that it was less crowded than when he left. Isaac, Piers, and Kraden were gone, as well as the map - They must be helping Felix navigate. Mia had gone back to reading her book, while Ivan was trying to keep Sheba and Jenna from meeting up - At least someone's on my side.

"True," Jenna dodged Ivan's attempt to retrieve the journal and slid up next to Sheba, "but I did read the part about the shopkeeper in Apojii."

"What? She's hot." Garet walked around the table, blocking the exit and leaving the two girls between him and Ivan. "Now give that back."

"You want it?" Sheba grabbed the book from Jenna's hands and climbed over the table, bypassing the boys entirely. "Come 'n get it."

Garet lunged at Sheba, who dodged right into Ivan's path. Not wanting to accept defeat so easily, she tossed the book over her fellow wind Adept's head. Jenna caught the journal mid-flight, but almost had to roll to avoid Ivan's reach. She headed towards the door outside but Garet stepped in the way, so instead she turned around and tossed it to Sheba. "Keep away!"

Mia, who was trying to read The Rise and Fall of Ankohl, looked up to see Jenna and Sheba tossing a book around the cabin while Garet and Ivan tried, and failed, to take the book from them. Mia just rolled her eyes and resumed her reading, wanting no part in their foolishness. Or at least that's what she hoped they would think, but she occasionally stole glances at the quartet, silently rooting for Garet. She actually had to hide a smile behind her book when Jenna nearly tripped over Ivan.

This "game" continued for several minutes, with the wind Adepts occasionally using their Psynergy to change the course of the book mid-flight. Eventually, Sheba found herself cornered by the boys again, so she tossed the book to Jenna, unaware that the door had just opened. A ghostly hand appeared in the air and caught the book just before Jenna could. Everyone (including Mia) turned and saw Felix standing in the doorway, his left hand outstretched and glowing slightly. The Psynergetic hand floated gently towards Felix, who grabbed the book with his right hand before dispelling the technique.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, keeping a firm hold on the book.

Garet stepped towards the Venus Adept. "Thanks. That's mine." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder, "Sheba and your sis were trying to read it." He then held his hand out to take his journal back. "Can I have it back now?"

Felix looked at the book and raised an eyebrow. "Is this the diary I keep hearing about?"

Sheba and Jenna giggled, but Garet just ignored them. "Journal, actually. It's kinda private, of course." Hearing no objections, Felix returned the book to its rightful owner. Garet then held his free hand in front of him. A red glow appeared in his palm, which soon grew into a small creature. It was mostly red with a yellow underbelly and blue eyes, and almost resembled an armless kangaroo. It was a Mars Djinni, one of the elemental spirits.

"Fever, I want you to hide this in a place even I can't find." Garet handed his journal to the Djinni, who, lacking hands, used the same spell as Felix.

"Aye-aye, sir," the Djinni said before hopping to the floor.

As Scorch half-ran-half-hovered downstairs, Felix addressed the rest of the group. "We'll be stopping soon, so everyone come up on deck."

-*-*-*-

It turned out Felix was wrong. The island was surrounded by dense reefs, almost as if the island itself was trying to ward off potential treasure hunters. Even though the ship had been equipped with the ability to fly, the reefs reached too far up for the boat to safely Hover over, so the heroes had to find a sea-based route instead. Isaac and Garet both acted as lookouts, but even with the extra pair of eyes it took the crew half an hour (and some help from one of their summons, Procne) to chart a safe passage through the coral. They spent another fifteen minutes navigating the tricky passage, which took them halfway around the island. Even after passing the reefs they were unable to make landfall, as much of the island's "coast" was steep, rocky cliffs, reaching far higher than the reefs. Finally, Isaac spotted a small beach on the south side of the island, which they docked their ship at.

The island was relatively small, the most notable feature being the reefs that surrounded it. There were two mountains to the north, with forests fringing the east and west cliffs. A small plain between the woods acted as a path to the mountains. The heroes began climbing down the ladder built into the side of the ship, with Isaac and Garet still getting down from the crow's nest. The beach was made up of fine-grained sand, almost as white as snow. Waves lapped against the shore lazily, most of their impact being absorbed by the reefs. Likewise, the sharp cliffs on either side of the beach sheltered the crew from the wind. A few seagulls, which had accompanied the boat for the last few hours, were further down the coast scavenging for food.

Jenna, one of the first to climb off the boat, looked out to sea. "It's really nice here. Maybe we should come back for a vacation sometime."

Mia came up next to her. "It is beautiful, isn't it? I just hope civilization doesn't come and ruin a paradise like this."

"Don't forget why we came here," Felix said from farther inland. "Briggs' crew found a lot of treasure here, but they couldn't get all of it."

Kraden was sitting on a piece of driftwood that somehow made it past the maze of coral. "Still, what they did get brought Champa back from the brink of poverty. Hopefully the money we make from this trip will be enough to pay for the repairs to Vale."

And the money we owe Vault for all the people that still have to stay in the inn, Garet thought as he touched down on the sand, with Isaac right behind.

"I just hope it doesn't turn out like our trip to that cave in the Yampi region last week." Felix went to meet his childhood friends, only realizing what he said when he saw the pained look on Garet's face. "I-I meant the money we made from that trip. Wasn't a lot, after all."

"Yeah, yeah." Garet walked past Felix and headed up the beach. He knew Felix was sincere, but even the slightest reminder... "I think I saw a cave where the mountains meet. That must be where the treasure is."

"Well then, let's get to work." Isaac motioned for the girls to come along, but had little success. While the others were discussing the mission, the girls, even Mia, had begun splashing around in the water.

"I'll get them," Piers said. "You guys just go check out that cave."

-*-*-*-

The walk to the cave only took a few minutes. Kraden opted to wait for the girls, so Isaac, Garet, Felix and Ivan peered into the cave and saw that it soon turned to the right. Having had plenty of experience exploring caves, the Adepts knew there would be less and less light the deeper in they went. While the four were searching for branches they could use as torches, their other companions caught up.

"Jenna and Sheba I can understand," Piers gave Mia a quizzical look, "but you?"

"W-well, water is my element. I guess I just got...carried away." Mia kept her eyes on the ground, too embarrassed to look up. "Besides, they started it," she muttered.

Ivan walked up to the approaching group and gave each of the five a dead, but sturdy, branch. He stopped when he saw Kraden was out of breath. "Are you feeling alright? Maybe you should wait on the ship."

"Nonsense! I've been through hell and back traveling with you children. I won't let a little hike slow me down!" Kraden picked up his pace as he marched towards the cave, huffing and puffing the entire way.

Isaac, having overheard the conversation, caught the scholar at the cave entrance. "At least let me do this." Isaac held his hand out and cast Cure. Kraden felt his fatigue fade away, and thanked Isaac for his help. Garet then used Flare to light Kraden and Mia's torches, and the reunited party entered the cave.

The walls of the cave were damp with water of a curious consistency; it seemed almost like mucus, though nobody dared make such a comment. The air proved far more saturated than expected, and the torches flickered in the humid cave. Garet and Jenna both cast Flare, holding the Psynergetically maintained flames in their palms to further enhance the group's vision. The nine treasure hunters walked down a winding path until the cave branched in two directions. The left-hand path proved to be a dead end with a number of pre-opened treasure chests - Guess this was the treasure Briggs found.

The right path opened into a large room filled with water, which reflected the light from the torches. As the water rippled incessantly, the light filled the room (allowing the Mars Adepts to cancel their spells) and appeared to dance along the walls. A conveniently large number of stones jutted out of the water, rising enough that the miniature waves only occasionally spilled over the edge. Some stones were large enough to act as platforms, evidenced by the treasure chests sitting on them. Most of the stones, though, were hardly big enough for a single person to stand on, although they would still serve well as stepping stones. Regardless of size, all were flat along the top and, oddly enough, some of them had patterns engraved on them.

Kraden leaned over to study one of the platforms. "Someone must have lived here once, a long time ago."

"Hopefully they don't anymore," Isaac said as he hopped across the stones, with his companions close behind, "otherwise we'll have to ask permission to take all the treasure."

Soon Kraden and Felix were the only two left at the entrance. They were about to follow, but the entire party froze in their tracks upon hearing a loud KA-THUNK, followed by a grinding noise, like stone rubbing against stone. They soon discovered the source of the noise, as several of the stone platforms rose out of the water. They didn't stop rising until they were at least eight feet high, about halfway to the ceiling. Kraden's first thought was that the platforms resembled icebergs, which are much larger beneath the water than they are above (or at least that's what he heard, as he's never actually seen one lifted out of the water).

Of course, Kraden was the only one enjoying the display of ancient mechanics, as several of the risen platforms were occupied. Ivan managed to keep his balance, but Sheba and Mia both fell off their platforms, landing in the water. The pool turned out to be much deeper than anyone had imagined, as the two Adepts disappeared under the surface. Almost instantly, shouts of "Mia!" and "Sheba!" echoed about the room, but everyone's fears were allayed when the girls surfaced.

No sooner had Sheba caught her breath than: "Garet, what did you do!?"

"It wasn't me!" As worried as he was a moment ago, Garet almost found himself wishing she had stayed underwater.

Fortunately, Piers spoke up before the two could argue any farther. "Actually, I think it was me." He lifted his foot out of a depression, which quickly rose until it was flush with the rest of the platform. "Looks like I tripped the same trap as the Champans."

"Don't worry," Felix began digging through his pockets, "I think I can Grind these back into place." He pulled out a small brown stone that fit perfectly in his hand. The stone began to glow as Felix prepared the Psynergy recorded in it by arts long forgotten. "It might make some waves, though, so everybody out of the pool."

Jenna helped Sheba out of the water, but before Mia was within reach of a platform she felt something brush against her leg. "Aahhh! What was that?"

"What was what?" Garet hopped around one of the raised pillars to help Mia out, only to see her vanish under the surface again. At this point, just about everyone shouted Mia's name. Everyone except Garet, who, out of sheer instinct, dove in after her.

As soon as he was under the surface, he saw Mia being dragged down by a Pyrodra, a three-headed serpent with pink scales and a blue underbelly. The Pyrodra had Mia's leg in its rightmost pair of jaws, with its central mouth free and the last biting down on a...stick? (Later, Garet would realize it was Mia's torch, which fell in the water with her.) The monster was slowly backpedaling towards the deepest part of the pool, which was too deep for Kraden's torchlight to penetrate.

Mia was beating the head that held her, but the Pyrodra's free head grabbed her staff and tried wrestling it from her. Keeping hold of her staff with one hand, Mia used the other to cast Glacier, which didn't have the desired effect. Normally water vapor would converge around the target, then a blast of frigid air would fly from the Adept and encase her target in ice. Since they were already underwater, though, ice began forming just in front of Mia, and quickly expanded to seal her casting hand in a sphere of ice.

Garet, meanwhile, due to his heavy armor, was sinking more than swimming. Mia and her assailant were out of range for Garet's axe, and he soon realized that his fire-based Psynergies were fairly useless underwater. Still, he used the only technique he thought was strong enough to not fizzle out by the time it reached the Pyrodra. Garet reached for his axe with one hand and with the other cast Heat Wave. A large bolt of fire shot out from just in front of him, leaving a trail of vaporized water in its wake that bubbled to the surface.

The stream of fire certainly grew smaller and weaker as it traveled towards the monster, but, since it was reinforced with Psynergy, it managed to reach its target before completely disappearing. The Pyrodra was more or less unharmed, but it still felt the attack and locked its middle pair of eyes with its attacker. Mia took advantage of the monster's distraction and smashed her ice-encased hand on the beast's head, shattering the ice and causing the Pyrodra to release its grip on Mia's staff. Another near-depleted Heat Wave graced the head that held Mia's leg, which released Mia when it decided the slowly sinking Mars Adept would make for easier - and meatier - prey.

So far so good, Garet thought as he gripped his axe in both hands. Mia was swimming to the surface while the Pyrodra, after biting the torch into splinters, swam towards him, all six eyes focused on their new target. Now I just have to stay alive until the others come up with something. The Pyrodra rammed Garet with all three heads, and the Mars Adept saw bubbles rising to the surface. The salt water flowing down his throat told him it was his own breath he saw. And not pass out.

Garet swung his axe at the monster, which gracefully dodged over the sinking warrior and came down behind him. The Pyrodra clamped down on Garet's left arm with its right head and turned the Adept around to see him face to faces. Garet's free arm drifted from his axe and began glowing red. Maybe, now that it's closer... The monster's left-hand head lunged for Garet's other arm, only to receive a Heat Wave at point-blank range. Though they also specialize in fire-based attacks, Pyrodras are still Mercury beasts; the monster shrieked from all three mouths and released its grip to swim away from its opponent, the attacked head singed black on one side.

Garet was having a hard time without air, and his vision was getting blurry. Soon, though, he noticed a burning sensation where he was bitten. Checking the wound, he noticed a green liquid floating around his arm. It didn't take him long to realize what it was:

Poison!

Garet returned his gaze to the beast responsible, but it had already moved. The water then lit up with an ethereal blue glow, and Garet turned as best he could to see what it was. He could vaguely make out two shapes near the surface, one the Pyrodra and the other much larger, before the venom and the lack of oxygen caught up with him and he passed out.

-*-*-*-

Darkness.

That's all Garet could see. He looked around, but everything was black. When he tried to move, it felt like his entire body was bound. As he tried to move, to see, to think, something caught his eye. A lone figure stood illuminated in the dark, a girl whose image had grown all too familiar over the past few days.

"Sheba?" Garet mouthed the words, but no sound came out. Still, he knew she could hear him. "Where are we? Where are the others? What's going on?"

Sheba seemed to look straight through him, as though he wasn't even there. "You really are stupid, aren't you?" Just the tone of her voice, let alone the content, chilled Garet to the bone. He knew Sheba liked to tease her friends sometimes, but she was never outright cruel.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"That's what I'm talking about! You never think. You only act."

Garet's mind raced back to the Pyrodra. "I had to do something! Mia could have died! I know it wasn't very smart, but if I didn't-"

"Just forget it." Sheba had turned and began walking away. "You're so insensitive." She stopped mid-step and spun around. "Have you ever once considered someone's feelings before opening your big fat mouth!?"

Now Garet was stumped. "Okay, seriously, what are you-"

"I said just forget it!" Sheba fought back a tear, but Garet knew she was upset about something. She turned away again, but didn't go anywhere. "Just...just go back to your big old family. At least you know..." Then, as if a fog was rolling in, Sheba began to fade away.

"SHEBA!" Garet rushed towards the vanishing girl, breaking whatever invisible bonds had been holding him back. He reached out to grab his friend, but what was left of her disappeared like a puff of smoke.

He didn't have time to mourn his lost friend, though, as he heard another familiar voice, a light soprano that pierced the darkness:

"--me o-, --eas-, -on- -ie. P---se, G--et, --ke up!"

-*-*-*-

"Come on, please, don't die. Please, Garet, wake up!"

Mia leaned over Garet's unconscious body, her arms glowing as she concentrated on her spell. A small fairy, the manifestation of the ancient healing art Ply, flew back and forth across the nearly-drowned fire Adept, sprinkling him with Psynergy particles that were absorbed by his body. The two were outside the cave, with their weapons leaning against a dead tree. From the branches hung most of their clothes, drying in the sunlight. Both were still wearing their undershirts, with Garet in his boxers and Mia wearing white stockings. Her hair, normally tied back in a ponytail, now resembled a waterfall as it fell down her shoulders and brushed against her comrade's skin. One of her turquoise locks happened to tickle Garet's nose, bringing him back to the world of the waking. The waterlogged warrior began coughing up water, which startled the healer out of her spell.

"Garet! Are you all right?" Mia lifted him into a sitting position, which helped his lungs clear out faster. His hair, which normally stood straight up for reasons even he didn't understand, was now limply hanging down, sticking to his skin. Mia brushed his hair away from his face, which was still slightly pale.

Garet took an couple uneasy breaths before speaking. "Mia? What happened?"

The Imilian breathed a sigh of relief. "You jumped into the water to save me from a monster." Mia looked down, a slight blush growing on her cheeks. "O-of course, I was worried, since water isn't really your element, s-so I summoned Neptune to bring you back to the surface."

"So that's what I saw." Garet looked around, and noticed the two of them were alone. "Where are the others?"

"Oh, they went back inside once they were sure you were alive." Mia glanced back at the cave, her face growing redder by the minute. "I stayed here to fix you up." Garet saw faint white marks on his arm, the only indication that he was ever bitten. "I'm glad I did, because it took me a while to realize you were poisoned. F-for a moment there, I was worried you w-weren't going to make it." If he had looked, Garet might have noticed tears welling up in the Mercury Adept's eyes. "Y-you weren't waking up, and..."

"Well, I'm fine now." Garet stood up, then remembered something from the battle. "Wait, what about your leg? You were bitten too, weren't you?"

"Ah!" Mia's face was almost a deep crimson now. She glanced down, and Garet followed her gaze to her stockings, which now sported a series of holes outlining where the Pyrodra bit her. The area around the holes was slightly bloodstained, but the skin underneath didn't appear to be punctured - Guess she healed herself already. "I-I wasn't poisoned, s-so don't worry about me."

"Are you sure? Your face is really red." Garet put his hand on Mia's forehead. She wasn't hot, but her face grew even redder (if that was possible). "You've been stuttering a lot, too. Maybe you should head back to the ship and get some rest."

"N-n-no, I-I'm just fine. B-besides," Mia stood up and looked her friend in the eyes, "I haven't p-properly thanked you f-for rescuing me."

"Meh, it was nothing special." Garet walked over to the tree to see if his clothes were dry yet. "I'm sure someone else would have if I hadn't." He picked up one of his boots - What's the point in drying clothes if you don't pour the water out? - and tipped it over so the water would drain. "Besides, I got my butt kicked. Not all that praise-worthy."

"B-but still, you risked your life to save mine. Just like back at Jupiter Lighthouse."

"Oh yeah. I nearly forgot about that." Garet looked up and noticed that the fingers of his gloves were rather...full. "Of course, both then and now you wound up saving me after I tried to help you." Sure enough, there was still plenty of water in his gloves. As he poured the water out, he turned to face Mia. "If you think about it, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

"Oh, n-n-no." Mia's face had nearly regained its normal color, but quickly reddened again. "I-I'm a healer. I've sworn to help people everywhere. Th-there's no reason to thank me."

"If you insist," Garet shrugged and turned back to his clothes, "but thanks anyway."

The two stood in silence for a few minutes. Garet was taking inventory of his still-soaked clothing - I probably shouldn't touch Mia's - while his Mercurian friend was mentally arguing with her Djinn companions.

You should ask him out.

"No way! W-were just friends. That's all!"

Yeah right! It's obvious you like him.

Totally!

"Y-you stay out of this, Balm! Fizz, tell them they're imagining things."

Actually, I'm with them on this one.

"B-but…"

C'mon, it's easy. Three simple words: "I. Love. You." Just say it.

"NO!"

"Huh?" Garet turned to look at Mia, who had accidentally shouted her denial out loud. At the moment, Garet happened to be holding Mia's robe. "I was just moving it to a different branch."

"Oh, n-n-no," Mia half-stretched her arm out, as if that would help put either of them at ease. "It's not you, it's-"

Garet hung her robe back up. "Djinn?"

"Y-yes." Mia withdrew her hand, holding both close to her chest and staring at the ground. "Mostly Spritz and Tonic. They were... Never mind. It's personal."

"M'kay." Garet picked up his axe and turned it around in his hand, worried it might start rusting. Then, seemingly at random, he asked a question that had been nagging him ever since he woke up. "Hey, Mia? Do you think Sheba hates me?"

"W-what!?" Mia's head snapped straight up. She certainly wasn't expecting that question, although it made sense: Sheba had been taunting Garet a lot since the Yampi incident, which didn't end well for her. Or anyone, for that matter, but Sheba especially had a rough time when Garet... Wait, what if he...

Sounds like you've got competition.

"Shut up, Hail." Mia muttered under her breath. Then, to Garet, she said, "I don't think Sheba hates anyone. Why do you think she would?"

Garet just stared at his reflection in the axe. "I saw her in a dream, just after the Pyrodra attack. She seemed really mad at me. I know it was just a dream, but..." He looked up, spotting a cloud that reminded him of a Vermin for some reason. "I think she said that I 'don't think before opening my big fat mouth.' She also said something about my family, but that's about when I woke up, so I didn't catch all of it."

"Oh, Garet." Mia walked up to her companion and put a hand on his shoulder. "It... I'm sure it doesn't mean anything." Garet turned his head to look at Mia, but didn't have a chance to respond.

"Awww, how cuuute."

Both Adepts turned to see Sheba emerging from the cave. She was holding a near-extinguished torch in one hand, and in the other was a sack slung over her shoulder. The others followed close behind, each carrying similar sacks - At least they found the treasure - and Ivan carrying another torch in the same condition as Sheba's. Piers came up to the Jupiter Adepts and cast Douse to extinguish their torches. Jenna held a Flare spell in her free hand, which she cancelled as she emerged from the cave.

Sheba walked up to the half-dressed Adepts, tossing her dead torch on the ground. "Were you two about to make out?"

"W-what!?" Garet dropped his axe, which luckily enough didn't land on his foot. "No! What makes you say that?" Mia, of course, lit up brighter than Rudolf's nose, drawing her hands up to cover her face, too embarrassed to say anything.

Sheba just sported a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on. You two just had to be having a good time while we were gone." She then turned to look at the Adepts still emerging from the cave. "Besides that, it's not nearly as much fun as it used to be to tease Jenna about Isaac."

"Sh-Sheba!" This time it was Jenna who blushed, though luckily for her Isaac was just out of earshot. "Y-you promised you'd stop that!"

"Sorry. It just sorta came up." Sheba trekked past Garet and Mia. She made a brief comment on Garet's hair and gave a wink to the Mercury Adept, which of course just made her blush all the more.

Felix walked up to the duo. "Well, we found a lot of treasure, but there's still more of the cave left to explore. Think you guys are ready to get back in the action?"

"I'm fine, but I'll need to get some dry clothes from my cabin." Garet pointed his thumb towards Mia, "I think she might be coming down with something, though."

"N-n-n-n-no, I-I-I'm fine, I j-just…" Mia didn't want to slow her friends down, but at the same time she was worried they might need her help. "Can I have a moment alone first?"

Felix shrugged. "Sure, I guess. We need to load this stuff into the ship anyway."

Garet gathered his and Mia's clothes and followed Felix and the others back to the boat. He looked back long enough to notice Mia summon a couple of her Djinn. He thought about asking what they were talking about, but decided against it. I didn't want Jenna and Sheba reading out of my journal. Mia probably doesn't want us to know what her Djinn were saying.

-*-*-*-

Author's notes:

Alternate title: Mia the Red-faced Adept.

Well, this is my first story/submission. Maybe it's awesome, maybe it sucks, but I'll never know unless you tell me what you think. Constructive criticism only, please; even if you think it's the worst thing ever, you can still be polite about it.

You should know, though, that this is only the first of four chapters. I suppose just this one chapter could serve as a decent story all on its own, but we haven't even gotten to the main event yet! In fact, when I first pictured this story, most of this chapter didn't exist. I guess I just got carried away, but I think the story's better this way.

I was actually working on the story over Christmas break, so the next two chapters are already written out. Still, I want to hear what you guys have to say, plus I don't want to upload the whole thing at once, so chapter two won't come until at least a week from now.

Until next time!

~The world's hungriest paperweight

Note: The last paragraph sounded a bit akward, plus I noticed I said "Mia" instead of "Sheba", so I tweaked it a bit.