Chapter 2
Making The Choice
"So what's this all about, Isaac?" asked Felix, a tall man with brown hair that hung behind his head in a ponytail and wearing a short blue cape.
The group of eight friends sat around a circular table in the inn of New Vale. Piers and Garet were nursing mugs of ale, and Jenna and Sheba were picking at a plate of sliced roasted potatoes. The others were either resting their heads on their hands, or leaning back in their chairs restlessly.
"Well, there's a small problem in Imil," Isaac responded as he looked around at each of them.
"In Imil?" Mia said, looking up immediately. "What's the matter? What happened?"
"You don't think it's a new illness, do you?" Ivan queried.
"No, it's impossible," Mia answered. "The lighthouse fountain cures everything…"
"But maybe it's some kind of super-disease?" Sheba suggested. "Something the lighthouse waters can't handle?"
"Well, while we're on the subject of Mercury Lighthouse," Isaac interjected, "That's actually the source of the problem."
Each member of the group looked at each other warily.
"I got a message from Imil today that revealed that the power of the Mercury beacon is losing power, seemingly for no reason."
Mia put her hands to her mouth in shocked horror.
"How can that even happen?" Jenna asked, mystified. "I thought the power of those beacons was strong enough to remain for all time…"
"Nobody knows how or why it's happening," Isaac said. "But they want me to go investigate right away, before things get really serious."
"Just you?" Piers said.
Isaac nodded.
"I think that's foolish," Piers replied. "We should all go. We don't know what the problem may be, and there's safety and security in numbers."
"I couldn't agree more," Isaac agreed. "However, the folks in Imil don't want an entire entourage of Adepts showing up; they feel it will cause too much commotion."
"They haven't told them about the lighthouse?" Mia said in disbelief. When Isaac shook his head, she said crossly, "If I were there, I'd fill them in. It's better to be informed than ignorant, I say."
"And then do you know what would happen?" Garet said. "You'd cause people to pack up and leave town, maybe never to return. Would that be better?" Mia simply turned up her nose.
"So, as it stands, I can only bring one of you," Isaac said glumly.
"Who did you pick?" Sheba asked.
Isaac looked down. "I… haven't decided yet."
Almost everybody at the table began to speak at once, all trying to inform Isaac why they were the absolute best choice. Ivan, however, bit his lip and looked down. Isaac was sure to choose Garet or Felix, or one of the big, strong friends. Isaac would never pick him… but think about if he did! Ivan knew that this trip would have been the one chance he'd have to talk to Isaac alone and privately…
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Isaac shouted, smacking his hand down on the table, and everyone fell silent. He looked over Ivan. "Ivan, you've been very quiet," Isaac said softly. "Is something troubling you?"
Ivan looked up at Isaac, the only boy he ever thought about; he gazed into his face, which now was lined with general concern for his thoughts, and something clicked in his head.
"Yes, I am very troubled!" Ivan exclaimed suddenly. "This is serious stuff we're talking about here!"
"It is," Felix agreed.
"This could throw off the entire balance of Alchemy!" Ivan continued. "Do you know what that could mean? We thought that simply rereleasing the power could destroy Weyard, but to have the power active, but unbalanced? It could be cataclysmic!"
"You're absolutely right!" Garet said emphatically.
"I mean, look around," Ivan said, gesturing in a broad sweep around him, "This all exists due to the pristine balance of the elements! If that balance is disrupted…"
"Ivan," Isaac interrupted, smiling. "Would you like to come with me?"
Ivan stopped mid-speech and stared at Isaac. "Are you serious?" he said quietly. This, of course, had been the result he had been after, but he did his best to conceal his motives.
"Yeah, I am," Isaac said, standing up and walking over to Ivan. He put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "This seems to be a huge concern to you." He looked down and smiled at Ivan.
"I…" Ivan faltered, trembling at Isaac's touch, "I… would love to go… But, I'm worried that I will only hinder you…"
"What?" said Isaac in disbelief. He squatted down so he was eye level with Ivan. "Look into my eyes, Ivan." Ivan was more than willing to obey. "Who's the only one here who can cast Spark Plasma? And Tempest? If you wanted to, you could blow any one of us here clear to Vault!"
"Not Garet, if he keeps eating the way he does," Sheba joked. "And hey! I could use Spark Plasma too, if Jenna didn't trade me all her Fire Djinn so she could have Thunder Mine…"
"Hey, that power won us the battle against Moapa, if you have forgotten," Jenna retorted. "What were you doing the whole time?"
"I was healing your pathetic butt," Sheba jeered. "If I recall, you were the one who said, 'Give all the nuts to Sheba, she's the quickest!'"
"Excuse me," Isaac said a bit loudly to quiet the girls, and then he turned back to Ivan. "Ivan, I would be honored if you would accompany me on this mission." He put his hand forward. "What say you?"
Ivan's lip trembled. Was this happening? Was it real? It couldn't be… Surely any moment he would wake from this blissful dream, and seek out Isaac only to find him sharing relations with Jenna or Mia! But here was Isaac, Ivan's angel, looking into his eyes and smiling at him, asking him for his company.
Finally, Ivan whispered, "Yes, Isaac… I will go with you." He reached out and took Isaac's hand.
"Well, that settles that, then!" Isaac declared, grinning and ruffling Ivan's hair. He stood up and said to everyone, "We're going to be leaving tomorrow morning, and I don't know how long our stay in Imil will be. So Garet, I want you to look after mom and dad while I'm gone, okay?"
"No problem," Garet said, forcing a smile.
"Well, we should get some rest," Isaac said. As Ivan stood up, Isaac smiled and said, "See you bright and early tomorrow, okay?"
"I'll be there!" Ivan said, his eyes shining. Maybe, just maybe, this was his chance.
