So, I decided to hold off on firing off Chapter 3, so I could release both 3 and 4 instead of leaving you guys hanging. Hope ya enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing...

Please R and R...thanks much!

Golden Sun
Curse Aether

Gondowan - Lalivero - Dawn Gondowan - Lalivero - Dawn

Mia let her azure gaze travel over Lalivero's earthen houses and walls. After two years, the city had gone through few architectural changes, save for a small memorial to Lord Babi standing resolutely beside the front entrance. Seeing the statue standing tall and solid before the town brought back nagging doubts about her own charge. She was the healer of Imil, and in a way, it's protector. The thought caused her to drop her gaze, clasping her hands together with a frown clouding her features. She had allowed Alex to steal the Mercury Star, and even though the end result was ultimately saving all of Weyard, she had failed in her task. It seems, that failure in their duties was a trait she shared with Babi. Sheba slightly glared at the statue as the passed, remembering well her virtual imprisonment at the hands of Tolbi's ruler.

Mia looked up in the same direction as well. However it wasn't the statue or Lalivero's buildings that held the female Mercury Adept's attention. Everywhere in the city, there were soldiers: swordsmen, spearmen, archers, sailors, and even a few mages - judging by their jeweled staves. The town was in a state of war; had it not been for Isaac's status as Tolbi's Champion, the defenders of Weyard may not have gained entrance to the city.

Lalivero had a grim, foreboding feeling to it. Mia felt a warm arm wrap around her shoulders, knowing that Garet was to her right, feeling the same way. She smiles and opens her mouth to greet him, but stopped short when she felt another body bump into her. Mia's gaze shifted to her left, regarding Riven with a look of mild surprise. The Lemurian's eyes widened as he realized what happened. With hands clasped behind his back, the mariner bowed his apologies to his fellow Adept. Mia smiled again, understanding the accident, not knowing what was taken from her knapsack.

"By order of Lord Faran with recommendation from Lord Iodem of Tolbi, make ready to defend the city…" Sheba whispered as she found the reason for the influx of warriors via Mind Read.

"All of Lalivero's ships are to be made ready to set sail with full compliments of marines and fighters…" Ivan added, following his counterpart's method. Felix felt a frown beginning to tug at the corners of his mouth. Could this be the reason why King Hydros wanted us back? A glance at Piers only confirmed the question in his mind. The Lemurian was conversing with Riven who had no answers.

"Come! We have no time to waste, our ships are moored together." Riven said while leading them on through the unnaturally congested beaten earth streets. What met the adepts at the Docks were the two ships, side by side, being made ready to sail by the same soldiers they'd seen earlier.

"We have seen fit to have supplies brought to your ships. May the wind be at your backs, Captains." said a passing Sailor. Piers gave the man a quizzical look.

"Who gave you the order to stock and make our crafts ready?" the aqua haired mariner asked, stepping forward.

"By order of Lord Faran. He received word that your group would have need of the Wings of Anemos very soon. They should be fully equipped by tomorrow; we were not expecting you so early." was the explanation that followed. Piers bowed to the Dockmaster and looked up to his ship. It had been so long since he had traversed the sea. He was ready for a voyage, no, he was destined for one. A sun of Lemuria always finds his way back to his home.

"I think we'll have to pay Lord Faran a visit." Isaac said from the back of the group. "This seems a little odd, Lalivero gearing up for war and voyage. Now, even our ships are being fitted for travel. Something is going on, which we haven't been fully informed of yet." All eyes fell on Riven, who matched their expressions with an exasperated sigh and a slight bow.

"I do not wish to repeat myself again. I have no answers; I am just a messenger and an Adept." He looked to Ivan and Sheba, "Search my thoughts, I have nothing to hide." They complied, but found nothing. Jenna now spoke up; she had had enough of waiting.

"Then it's settled, let's go see Faran. I've had enough of walking and talking for today, thank you!" Isaac grinned as he found his hand clasping hers.

"It's not even mid-day yet, Jenna" Isaac whispered into her ear. Jenna turned a slight shade of pink as the realization hit her.

"I knew that, Isaac..." She delivered a friendly punch into Isaac's side for good measure. The Mars Adept was starting to remember why she didn't like journeys so much...

--

Half an hour later, the company stopped at the door of Lord Faran's abode. However, as Felix reached down to push the door in, a pair of guards slowly opened the entrance to meet them. "Lord Faran is very busy. He cannot meet with any visitors this time." They said, with spears and bucklers in their hands. Sheba came forward, knowing that she would have the best chance to get past the guards.

"Surely Faran wouldn't turn me away?" the Jupiter user asked. The guards shared a look of recognition; perhaps they had forgotten about Sheba after all those years. Unfortunately, they still shook their heads.

"I am sorry to tell you, Lady Sheba, but Faran cannot be disturbed. He is overseeing the mobilization of Lalivero's militia and navy. We expect to receive reinforcements from Tolbi within the week." Sheba frowned at the answer. Garet turned a corner of his mouth up, his Mars alignment getting the better of him.

"How could Faran simply ignore the girl who was like a daughter to him? What's so important that he "can't be disturbed"?" The guard looked at the Mars Adept with a glare.

"Lord Faran does not ignore Lady Sheba or you, Master Garet. But he received word that there was a threat arising in the East. From which people he received it, he has no knowledge, but Iodem of Tolbi also received a similar contact." Isaac and Ivan gave Riven a sidelong glance, questioning thoughts in their gazes. Piers came forward now, looking irate.

"What threat is this? You say you don't know what people you got the tip from, but can you describe the messenger." The guard shifted his focus to the Lemurians, recognition dawning on him.

"A lot like yourself and the blue haired one behind you. He arrived two days ago. Since then, life in this city has been rather…hectic."

Riven took the break in the conversation to speak up. "I could not have known about this…I arrived on the mainland four days ago and I did not linger in the city. It took me a day and a half to find the Teleport circle and another two to gain my bearings on Angara."

Sheba nodded to the messenger before looking back to the guards. "Well, thank you for the information. Would you tell Faran we are grateful for the supplies?" They nodded in agreement and retreated back inside.

Felix looked to the party, heading off the question of what to do next. "Let's head to the Inn. That teleporting must've taken a lot out of you three" he started, looking to Riven, Sheba, and Ivan, "and we're all going to need the rest."

Gondowan - Lalivero Inn - That night

Evening came on slowly. One by one, the Adepts headed off to bed, not really in the mood for fun or dinner. Felix sat with legs propped up on another chair, letting the last sip of his drink wash around unspent in his glass. He was the last to stay up, memories of the past quest and questions of the present one keeping him from sleep, keeping him from noticing the Inn Keeper's absence. Or the silent entrance of a cloaked form.

He didn't remember the party this somber, even at the Inn during their stay in Prox before their supposed final battle. Then again, the goal was simple, fire the beacon and save the world. Now, with the world safe from psynergetic starvation, it falls prey to itself. It's as the Wise One said, have we really saved the world? Now was one of the few moments that the swordsman missed Kraden. The old man always had a lengthy explanation for any question.

Felix grinned at the thought, knowing it was for the best of the party's sanity if Kraden was left behind on this trip. Then again, he hadn't seen the elder Valean in a long time, not since a half a year ago…always deciding to remain "that hermit on the edge of town," according to fellow villagers.

He passed the forming question off by downing the last of his drink and got up to pour himself another round. Brown eyes passed over Ivan's knapsack. The Jupiter Adept had left it open with trinkets and items staring up at him temptingly.

"What's this?" he asked aloud while his gloved hand found its way to a Weasel's Claw. Even as the item ended in Felix's pocket, he felt a chill at his back. He looked down to the empty glass and barreled out of his chair. What met the worn tabletop was a spiking dagger strike that was surely meant for his back.

Anger flared in Felix's gut as he balled up his fist. He ran his brown eyes over his assailant. Its entire form was veiled in a dark violet cloak that seemed to spew shadow with every movement. Even now, the light emitted from the Inn's candles seemed to be swallowed up when ever the attacker drew near.

"Who are you? What's with the dagger, friend?" Felix practically spat the word final word.

"Sol must be silenced...the Golden Sun must be extinguished...for the glory of our Cause..." The cloaked form answered in a hiss, "...you must die..." Felix steeled his mind and body for a confrontation but when his opponent attempted to pry its weapon free, the blade only twitched at the effort, impaled too far into the wood to pull free.

Grinning, the Venus Adept threw the punch – aiming for the shadow fiend's hooded head. The assassin countered with a sharp thrust kick to Felix's stomach, sending him staggering back into a glass-laden table, overturning it in the process. Several glasses fell to the floor, saturating the floor in shattered table contents. Felix glared at the assassin, who now brandished a Darksword in its gauntleted hands. Sol Blade screamed out of its sheath as the opposing blades clashed with each other as well as the various pieces of furniture in the Inn's common room. Felix stopped during a weapon lock to hazard a glance at his sword. Sol Blade's blood channel was glowing with a yellow/orange light. Another hiss escaped the darkness of his assailant's hood as Felix stepped in and forced the attacker backwards.

As Felix gained the upper hand, he landed a quick, glancing slice across the assassin's abdomen. Its darkly clouded visage erupted in angered coughing and wretches that made Felix's insides curl. The Venus swordsman took on a look of disgust as he watched what happened next. Instead of blood flowing out of the wound, a black/purple mist seeped out, stagnating the air, transforming it into a musky essence that choked the Adept's lungs.

"Felix! What's with the racket! Go to sleep already!" chimed Jenna's annoyed voice. That grumpy order proved to be enough of a distraction for the Adept that the assassin managed to rush in close land a pair of knees to Felix's stomach, kick him through the Inn's door and out into Lalivero's darkened streets. Jenna's eyes widened, as she screamed "Felix!!" again. She retreated back to her room to retrieve her Atropos Rod.

She was joined by Garet, Isaac, and Piers on the way out into the streets, all three grasping their weapons shakily in their sleepy hands. Otherwise though, all were fully alert and awake. What awaited them outside was a continuation of the earlier fight.

Felix managed to get back to his feet and meet the assassin in total darkness, Sol Blade's glow giving him some visibility. Isaac was the first to snap out of the shock, casting Spire to break them apart. The assassin, knowing it was outnumbered five to one, dropped a smoke bomb and turned tail.

"Oh no you don't…" Felix whispered as he rushed through the smoke pulling the Weasel's Claw from his pocket midstep. Holding Sol Blade above his head, the Venus Adept activated the Claw, channeling Jupiter Psynergy into the weapon's blade. He grunted as he swiped down, sending razor sharp crescent waves of air at the retreating cloak. What met them though was an earthen wall; the assassin had turned a corner just as the Claw's attack closed the gap. The air waves crashed into the wall and dissipated, leaving a slight dent in the structure. A frown came across the teen as he stood to his full height.

"Felix, what was that?" Garet asked, sheathing his Firebrand. Piers looked back into the Inn; he heard Ivan, Sheba, Mia, and the rest of the Inn's patrons gathering in the totaled common room.

"I don't know…what I do know is, there is something at work here." Felix answered as he sheathed Sol Blade. He glanced down, noting that its blood channel had lost its yellow/orange glow. The man suddenly felt weary, his knees threatening to give out. Felix slowly strode back into the Inn, ignoring the looks he received. He only stopped twice, first to drop a small bag of coins into the hands of the Inn's gawking owner and another, making sure to pat Ivan's shoulder on his way through.

"Thanks for the Weasel's Claw…it was…helpful." were the words he had for the sleepy Adept before closing the door to his room. Sleep finally found the Venus Adept that night, and all it took was an attempt on his life…