Chapter 2

What the?

Isaac woke up from the yelling that Garet and Ivan were doing. "Huh?" Isaac said in a really groggy voice, turning his head to the left, where he heard Garet yelling. "What are you guys yelling about? I'm trying to sleep!" Isaac yelled at them.

"Your acting kind of strange Isaac, don't you remember? We're out in the frozen tundra!" Ivan yelled as he tried to push Garet into a pile of snow, though he was unsuccessful because of the difference between his and Garet's size. Isaac's eyes opened wide, shocked. "What do you mean were out in the-" Isaac cut himself short, only because the small boy was right. Isaac jumped to his feet startled "How the heck did I get out here!" Isaac yelled, he was afraid because the last thing he remembered was going to sleep in his on bed in Vale.

"Did you hit your head?" Garet asked now walking over to Isaac. "NO! I know what I'm talking about! Last night I went to sleep in my own bed! Is this a prank!?" Isaac yelled at Garet, stomping his feet. It was unusual for Isaac to get this angry, let alone act like this.

Garet looked to the white at his feet with a sad look on his face "Vale…" Garet sighed. Isaac crossed his arms, his face turning red "That's not funny!"

"Isaac! Stop and think for a minute! You and Garet left Vale a few weeks ago; you've been on a quest to stop Felix." Ivan said to Isaac, popping out of nowhere as he stood between Isaac and Garet trying to stop a fight.

"Ha! First of all Felix died a long time ago and second-" Isaac tried to say, but for some reason he started having strange visions; the Sol Sanctum, Felix and Jenna, leaving Vale; could these be his memories? Isaac went pale and fell to his knees. "Isaac!" Garet yelled and quickly aided his sick adept. "Hey are you gonna be alright? What was that anyway?"

Isaac tried to answer Garet's questions but couldn't, with out much warning Isaac keeled over and threw up. Garet quickly backed off, avoiding getting it on his shoes. Ivan was the one doing the aiding now. "Isaac are you ok?" Ivan asked worried, leaning over near Isaac.

Isaac's eyes opened wide as his memories started coming back to him slowly. He gasped for air, and thought for a few minutes. It took about five minutes for it all to sink in, five quiet minutes. "What happened?" Isaac said quietly and tonelessly.

"Well you see, in the Sol Sanctum we were gathering the elemental stars when-" Garet explained, he was planning to tell Isaac the whole story, even though they were out in the middle of nowhere.

"No, what happened recently!?" Isaac shouted at Garet, but paused for a minute and realized he was being rude "How did we get out here?" Isaac asked again trying to be a little nicer.

"We've been traveling; we're trying to find Imil. A little while ago you passed out." Ivan told Isaac, trying to be reassuring, though it didn't sound reassuring at all. Isaac slowly stood up, the look on his face told Garet and Ivan that he was feeling better. "So you're ok now?" Garet asked, scratching his head. Isaac shrugged his shoulders and slowly shook his head yes. "I'll be fine, but we should be pressing onwards to the lighthouse." Isaac said. His face was still a little pale, but he was getting used to the fact that all of this happened. It was almost like reliving the Sol sanctum and everything again. Though this time less pain, the short journey had already made him stronger.

Ivan and Garet looked at each other, still unsure about how Isaac was feeling, though a few seconds later Isaac showed them that he was feeling better. He made a snow ball and threw it right a Garet. Garet tried to dunk but since he was so tall the only thing he really did was give the snow ball a sure shot to his face.

The snowball melted off Garet's burning face in a mater of seconds. "I'LL SHOW YOU!" Garet screamed grabbing two handfuls of snow and throwing them at Isaac. Only problem was, he didn't make a snowball, and the unpacked snow gently fell to the ground in individual flakes before it even reached a quarter of the way to Isaac. "WHAT WAS THAT!?" Garet shouted, getting mad at the snow. He threw his hands in the air, and started stomping the snow. Before Garet knew it he was struck again, this time from the back. Ivan had landed a snowball right on the back of Garet's head. "WHAT IS WITH YOU TWO AND HITTING ME IN THE HEAD!?" Garet yelled to the sky and picked up two more piles of snow, this time actually making them into snowballs.

"Uh-oh!" Ivan said running around Garet and taking cover behind Isaac.

"I'M GONNA GET YOU!" Garet yelled again, throwing both snowballs at Isaac. One hit Isaac's shoulder and the other his face. Isaac looked shocked that Garet had fired back. Isaac paused for a minute, and then got a huge grin on his face "IVAN LETS TEAM UP!" Ivan quickly agreed, and the three adepts started making snowballs and forts.

"You guys will never penetrate fort Garet!" Garet yelled at the other two adepts across the way, standing up, his shield of snow no longer being able to protect him. "Hahahaha it in inevitable, admit your defeat now Garet!" Isaac yelled back, but being the smarter one he stayed behind his and Ivan's fort.

"You'll never take me alive!" Garet yelled back, getting to caught up in the moment, pointing his finger at the two snow hidden adepts a few yards away.

A moment passed then Isaac shouted "Now Ivan!" The two began to throw multiple snowballs at Garet, who was now completely bombarded and defenseless against the oncoming snow that hit him like frozen water balloons. "Alright! Alright! I surrender!" Garet shouted, covering his head with his arms.

The snowballs stopped and Ivan and Isaac came to aid Garet, or until they realized how much they had one by. "Hahaha, hey look Isaac, Garet's on his hands and knees." Ivan said, laughing so hard he fell to his knees.

"Why you little!" Garet shouted, getting up quickly and running after Ivan. However Ivan couldn't recover quickly enough and was soon for fitting as well between Garet's butt and a pile of snow. "You're crushing me!" Ivan gasped; his head and arms sticking out from under Garet.

"Not too comfortable down there, is it?" Garet asked, crossing his arms and legs, getting his sweet revenge.

"Ok that's enough, let him go Garet." Isaac said walking over to Garet. Garet gave Isaac a childish look that cried "But I don't wanna get up", but finally Isaac talked Garet into letting Ivan go. Ivan quickly slid out from under Garet, rolled on his back and gasped for air. It took a few minutes for the color to return back to Ivan's face. "What are you trying to kill me!?" Ivan yelled. It was the first time Garet or Isaac actually saw Ivan get mad. It was scary for both of them, Garet knowing what's best for him shook his head no, and didn't say anything so he wouldn't get on Ivan's nerves anymore.

Ivan quickly turned around, made a perfect snowball, and threw it directly at Garet's face. Garet wiped the snowball off his face slowly, raised his eyebrow and asked "Do you feel better yet?" in a toneless voice. Garet was slouching his shoulders, his knees were slightly bent, and his arms hanged lifelessly at his sides.

Ivan fell to his knees and started laughing so hard his face turned bright red. Garet crossed his arms, feeling there was no win for him in the situation. He felt like sitting on Ivan again, but didn't want to anger him again.

"HAHAHAHHAHAHA, ahhhhhhhh hahahah!" Ivan tried to gasp for air, but it was rather difficult with all the laughing. Isaac was slightly laughing himself. Garet watched Ivan, and he felt completely defeated. He heard Isaac laughing slightly as well, and in futile attempts to change the subject and to feel better about himself he turned to Isaac cocked his eye brow "uhhh Isaac, are you... are you giggling?"

Isaac laughed for a few seconds more, crossed his arms and kept his cool while saying "No, technically I was mocking you, girls giggle, not boys. It can be a common misconception for someone in your situation." Isaac said this, still kind of laughing while still watching Ivan, who was not rolling around in the snow laughing.

Garet raised his finger as if he were about to say something, but needed a moment to think of a come-back... finally it hit him but before he had a chance to say it Isaac continued "Say aren't we looking for some town or something, Iil, Likkl, Iifl?"

Ivan rolled around and sat upwards, still laughing but trying to control himself Ivan tried to say the word Isaac was looking for "I-i-imi-l" Isaac quickly interrupted "Ahh Imil, thats it. Thank you Ivan." Isaac said crossing his arms, and closed his eyes as he knotted his head. Ivan now 90 recovered wiped a tear from his eye from laughing so hard and said "No problem Isaac."

The humor passed and it was time to get back to business. As each of the adepts sat in an uncomfortable silence, they felt slightly overwhelmed with the task ahead of them. But each of them slowly started moving toward their destination, doing so in silence. Garet and Ivan grabbed their backpacks and took their sweet time strapping it onto their backs, showing the reluctance that engulfed them. Then slowly started walking, since Isaac's memory was still slightly foggy, he followed Garet and Ivan. A silent hour passed, night had fallen. Luckily they were all prepared, they weren't shivering anymore, they weren't cold.

As Isaac looked up at the dark clear sky, he let his memories sink in a little more. But he still had questions, why did he pass out? Wasn't he cold a little while ago? He felt as if he was forgetting something... something important "Hey Garet?"

"AHH!" Isaac's voice has startled Garet from the silence that lingered over them. "What is it Isaac?" Garet asked turning toward Isaac, his eyes slightly drooping.

"I was just wondering, do you ever feel like you've forgotten something?" Isaac asked, scratching his head and trying to pinpoint what was eating at him. Ivan laughed and answered for Garet "Yeah, I'm sure someone like Garet forgets all the time!"

Garet's hands turned into fists and he quickly turned toward Ivan to give him a piece of his mind "Why you-" but Garet cut himself short, Garet also quit walking. Isaac and Ivan stopped as well and turned toward their slow paced adept.

"..." Garet's eyes stared off into the abyss. "Hey whats wrong with you Garet? I didn't mean to offend you!" Ivan asked looking at the slouching- wait a second... for once Garet wasn't slouching, and the warm glow in his eyes- wait another second... warm glow? Once Isaac saw what looked like light reflecting in Garet's eyes, he quickly turned to see what he was looking at. "IMIL!" Isaac shouted! Ivan quickly turned to see and Garet was snapped out of the trance he was in. With out hesitation the three adepts began to run to the city. The closer they got, the more the snow glowed with the reflection of the light from Imil. It took them about five minutes to get their running at fast pace. Once they neared the town they stopped and looked at the small town surrounded by a small snow covered fence. A sign over the town said 'Welcome to Imil' in fancy letterings. Each of the adepts were engulfed in joy as Isaac threw his hands in the air. Garet fell down to his knees and looked as if he were about to cry. Ivan, being a wind adept and full of energy started running around in circles. "Warm beds!" Isaac said.

"Nice hot fire!" Ivan said.

"FOOD!" Garet yelled.

But as they were rejoicing a passer by watched the three and soon gave them a strange stare. All three of the adepts pulled themselves together and marched onward into the town. This town was a small beautiful town that looked like Christmas was taking place all year around. The snow made travelers very happy, well at least if they got their without difficulties 'from' the snow. However the towns people were used to it, though it didn't bother them, they didn't rejoice ether at the sight of falling snow. Adaptation had helped the towns folk to live in harmony with the snow, hahaha adaptation-adepts... sorry, authors notes that I just had to point out. The three adepts on the other hand were overjoyed that they found the town, and enjoyed the sight of light, filtering on the snow. The candles and fire places that shinned through the window made the town look as if were glowing with warmth. All three adepts knew what they were looking for, the Inn of the town. After that experience out in the snow, relaxation for a night was something they could afford. They would get a jump start in the morning and go to the Mercury Lighthouse. As each of adepts scanned the town for the Inn, they also made good note about where everything was, so they could immediately head out in the morning. Finally they passed by a sign that read 'The Imil Inn' in fancy yet slightly faded letters.

"Yes! The Inn!" Ivan said in joy, throwing his hands in the air and imagining a nice warm bed to take a good nights sleep in. Garet crossed his arms and made a smart remark to Ivan "Duh! What is it with you? Do you think we can't read now!?"

"Could have fooled me Garet." Ivan said, smirking slightly.

"I'll show you!" Garet started running toward Ivan, about ready punch him on the top of his head. But luckily Isaac stopped them, the last thing they needed is the town blowing away in a horrid tornado that a wind adept caused.

"Alright thats enough!" Isaac yelled pointing his finger at the two and balling his other hand up into a fist "Stop it, I've had to travel all the way here hearing you two bickering. Garet I know we just met Ivan, but he's a part of our group now. Now get used two it or I'm leaving you both!" Isaac was very angry, and he didn't mean to act like a mother with two young fighting children, but he was tired of it. Both Ivan and Garet got a sad-defeated-childish look on their faces because they now knew they had to put their feuds aside. Isaac turned around quickly, his boiling red faced cooling down. Isaac stopped at the doors at the inn with his hand placed on the handle. He had stopped to cool down and to get his face the color that it usually is... then he slowly walked in.

Garet and Ivan stayed behind and Garet said to Ivan "He should stop treating us like we're three." Ivan, being mad at the moment knotted his head yes in agreement. And just as the two began to make their way into the Inn, a giant clod of earth bursted out of the ground and had writing on it 'Then stop acting like your three' Both Garet and Ivan stopped in their tracks and looked at each other, it was only at that time did they decide to leave their immature feuds buried in the snow.

"Sorry Isaac we'll quit now." Ivan said rubbing his arm, feeling a little ashamed. Garet walked around the stone and said "but that was pretty cool Isaac."

!!

Now that the two adepts had begun to treat each other with respect, Isaac started acting like their friend again. As the two made their way into the Inn, they saw Isaac talking with the clerk. He finished quickly and turned around and greeted the two with a kinder response "Hey you two, our dinner will be up soon and I got a room with a fire place." This made Ivan's face light up with excitement and joy, and it also made Garet's face light up as well... and made his stomach grumble...

The door that lead into the inn was immediately stopped by the counter where wary travelers pay for a good nights rest. Behind the counter, a chair in case the clerk were to wait out behind the counter, but this night headed into a room on the left side of the counter (from Isaac's direction, it would be to the right side for the clerk). On the right side sat multiple tables and a large fire with comfortable seats waiting for travelers to cozy in and fall asleep in front of the fire. The look of the fire made each of the adepts look very happy. It was as if they were just realizing how happy and lucky they were to finally get a good nights sleep near a warm fire and in a warm bed. On one of the tables two men sat drinking and talking about their journey, but other than that it looked like their was no one else on the bottom floor. On the far side of the wall behind the back of the counter was a set of stairs leading up to multiple rooms. Once you had paid you were able to roam everywhere in the inn except in the countered area and the mysterious room behind it. The three grabbed their luggage and headed up to their room, and as they did the mysterious room behind the counter made itself known as the kitchen. A waitress brought two steaming plates of food to the two men sitting at one of the tables. The sight of the food made Garet stop and drool, which seemed to insult the waitress... (hey, go figure that one). Ivan snapped Garet out of it and helped him get up the stairs without him jumping on the plates of food and eating it all.

Once up the stairs a long hallway leading to multiple doors, all which were closed. Isaac looked at each of the doors until he came across the one that read 'Room 4' above it, which Isaac was informed that it was their room. "Aha! Here we go." Isaac said opening the door to reveal a very nice room. 4 beds, two on each side of the door, and two on the far wall, with a large window above both beds on the north side of the wall. The walls weren't painted, thought the wooden brown color greeted each adept and welcomed them in with open arms. It wasn't really their favorite color, but it was a break from the purple, red, and green color of each of their tents. The floor was a blueish color carpet which was very nice as well. The windows gave a lovely view of the town and also showed a great long ranged view of the Mercury lighthouse. On the west wall a roaring fire warmed the room. a rectangular shaped 'coffee table' was placed in front of the fire with for comfortable armed chairs around it.

Ivan immediately dropped his bag on the floor and ran to one of the beds on the north side of the room. This bed had attracted him the most because it had purple colored blankets on it. He jumped in the air and landed comfortably on the bed "This-is-so-GREAT!" Ivan yelled with excitement, but... a few minutes later settled down because tiredness had overwhelmed him. He hugged the pillow and was about ready to fall asleep.

Isaac walked over to the other bed on the north wall "Are you sure you don't want to have dinner first Ivan?" Isaac asked looking at the pooped out adept on the bed lined with purple colored blankets. Just looking at Ivan made Isaac tired.

"I'll eat it!" Garet said plopping on the bed on the south side of the wall near the fire. He lied down and placed his arms under his head, waited a minute then continued "So do you want your food or not Ivan?" Garet asked, getting a little agitated at the fact that the other two adepts did not jump on his command.

Ivan yawned and said "Yes, I'm going to eat." He hesitantly got up grabbed his bag, and let all 5 djinni come out. Garet got a sad look on his face and said "but I'm hungry..." Garet leaned up in his bed and looked at the warm orange colored blankets on his bed.

Ivan flopped over in the chair about ready to fall asleep again "Don't you have your own meal?" Ivan placed his hands under his head and looked as if he was about ready to fall off the chair. At this point Garet got angry and made his hands into fists, as his face started to turn red he remembered that Isaac had told them to stop fighting. So Instead of taking his anger out on Ivan, with his anger controlling him he decided to take it out on Isaac. He looked over at the adept on the far side of the room and noticed him dropping his supplies at one of the beds over there. "Ohh I see, don't want to be near your best friend is that it Isaac!?"

"Garet shut up! Besides do you even know what you do in your sleep?" Isaac asked making himself comfortable and looking out the window. Ivan started laughing, which seemed to wake him up. He sat upright in his chair and watched the fire. Garet's head throbbed, and he yelled back "NO! I don't!" Ivan started to laugh more.

Still looking out the window Isaac started to say "For starters you snore, and on occasion you-" Isaac stopped in mid sentence. The view out the window had stopped him. For he was looking at a angelic form, a young woman with aqua hair. She wore a long cape and a long sleeved shirt with stockings and a long skirt. All her clothes were blue with similar markings on them. Isaac remembered what happened. "She-" Isaac stuttered looking out the window as the young woman kept walking to her destination, Isaac's body went limp. This woman was the one that had saved them! Looking at her made Isaac remember what had happened out there... why he was lying on the ground, that Garet and Ivan had actually died, that this woman had given them their life back!

"Hmm? What are you talking about Isaac?" Ivan asked as he turned away from the fire and looked at Isaac, his face was turning red...

"Yeah, she? She who?" Garet got off his bed and walked to the window to see what Isaac was looking at, Ivan soon followed. The two adepts looked at the aqua haired girl. "Do you know her Isaac?" Ivan asked looking again at the burning red adept. No response, Isaac didn't move, he didn't even blink.

"Uhh hello? Isaac?" Garet asked waving his hand in front of Isaac's face as he continued "Are you listening?" Still no response...

The young woman soon passed from sight, and only then did Isaac start to talk "She-she saved our lives!" Isaac stuttered again.

"Huh?" Both Ivan and Garet asked. They looked at each other then looked at Isaac again. With out much warning Isaac jumped up from the bed and ran out the door shouting "I have to meet her!"

Ivan and Garet couldn't stop him, he was to quick. "Hey wait up!" Garet yelled running to the door and watching Isaac race down the stairs and out of sight. It was futile, Isaac didn't even listen to him. Ivan walked to the door and looked at Garet "Well, I guess he's gone."

"I can see that!" Garet yelled back at the wind adept at his side. The waitress walked up the stairs, holding a tray that carried three steaming plates of food and three hot chocolates. At the sight of Garet she got a frown on her face... he started drooling again. The waitress quickly walked to the two and shoved the plate of food to Ivan, and quickly made her way down the stairs. Ivan, feeling confused said "I wonder what her problem is?" Then looked up at Garet who was drooling all over himself, looking at the food. Ivan yelled down the stairs "Wait! Don't feel bad! It wasn't you, it was the food!" Ivan said placing his hand around his mouth so his voice could reach farther. But since Ivan had taken one of his hands off the tray, it made it much easier for a larger adept (cough, Garet) to grab it. Garet soon followed as well, he quickly grabbed the food and ran into the adepts room, slamming the door behind him. Ivan still shocked and confused at what had just happen took a few seconds to react. Finally Ivan was able to interpret Garet's plan, he was going to eat all their food! "GARET!" He yelled pounding on their room door, which Garet had Barricaded shut.

!!

Meanwhile

Isaac raced to where he last saw her. But she wasn't in sight, she must have reached her destination. Isaac sighed with a little bit of pain, as he stood their for a minute, he swallowed what he had really felt. He felt unsteady as he assets his true feelings. She had rescued them and not asked for anything in return, she was a beautiful angelic woman, and Isaac had feeling for her! He started to breathe hard, the run had tired him out, though it took a while to catch up with him. He looked around to see where she might have gone. But nothing, he stood there for a few more minutes, then he decided to look around a bit more. He slowly searched parts of the town, though he found nothing. Night had settled onto the sky, all snug, just like he should be in a bed. It took him quite a while to get back to the inn, but when he got back to his room, he was quite surprised to see food flung on the walls and around the room. He also saw Ivan trying to attack Garet, which was unsuccessful. Garet was holding Ivan back with one arm, while picking the food out of his teeth.

"Whats happened here?" Isaac said, walking to the far side of the room, and plopping onto his bed which, luckily had no food on it.

Garet pushed Ivan away and looked at his fellow adept who had been absent for the ordeal "Hey Isaac, uhh... where were you?" He slouched as he normally did, but a tired and confused look engulfed his face. Ivan, on the other hand was wide awake for the moment.

"Yeah Isaac!" Ivan butted in "You missed seeing Garet eat all our food!" Ivan said, quickly recuperating from the push, and the fall. Ivan had fell onto the floor, Garet's brute strength compared to Ivan's size made him easily fall to the ground, which was the reason why this small adepts was shocked awake.

It took a minute for Isaac to respond, he was lying on his back, with his hands under his head, picturing the young woman who saved them. "I was looking for someone." Isaac responded as he turned to his side, and placing his hands under his face, using them as an extra pillow, and preparing to fall asleep.

"Hmm? Who Isaac, you know someone here?" Garet asked now sitting down on his own bed. Ivan was cleaning up the food around the room, although he was getting tired. Once again it took a minute for Isaac to respond "You don't remember?"

"Ummm... no" Garet responded slowly, looking at his fellow adept with confusion. He scratched his head, then crossed his arms. Garet didn't remember anything... well any "Why... uhh... don't you tell us your... uhh... knowledge." Garet said, trying to be smart and use big words. Garet crossed his arms and knotted his head, as if he had said the whole sentence flawlessly.

Isaac thought for a minute, he didn't know how to put it into words. He leaned up out of his bed, and started to take of his scarf and gloves. His memories, the young woman saving them. "I-I don't know how to say it."

"Its alright Isaac, you can take your time and try." Ivan had completely finished cleaning the room, he pushed off his shoes, and retired into his bed.

Isaac lied back down in his bed "Alright I'll tell you."