A/N: BAM! Kicked out two chapters in one week, so far. I think Anyway, I hope I'm doing pretty well. I'm glad you guys liked the last chapter as I was a bit rusty when writing it. I may not be as good as MoR(or as quick to update) but I am getting better. At least I think so.

As far as this chapter goes, I thought it was going to be a lot longer because I was going to combine the entire trip up to the temple, back from the temple, and saving the kids. I thought that would be a tad bit too much. So I'm just going to make several chapters of this side quest. Don't like it? Well, sorry but I feel that is the best way this story would progress. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 3

They crew left the town in a small scuttle. They knew what they were looking for but they were not quite sure what to expect. It was a bit odd for them. They get washed ashore from a terrible storm, meet a strange man who treats them well and now they are on a mission to rescue two children, who they have never seen. There could be lots of children running about. Who knows what's on this side of the world? All up until now, the three of them never had a thought about what existed on this part of the equator. Besides the catastrophic damage done to the area, it seemed pretty much the same as Angara. The crew headed east following another random dirt path just like all the others in Angara. One thing they were for sure of; if the land was even slightly anything like it was in Angara, then they could traverse the territory fairly well and reach Jupiter Lighthouse without many detours.

Everyone was calm and quite. No one was saying anything to each other. Felix was scoping the area making sure no surprise attacks came from any monsters in the area. He caught a glimpse of Jenna who had a calm expression. She did not look to the left or to the right. She was looking straight ahead as if she was on a mission—which they were. Felix knew she cared about kids so her expression suited her fine and he found nothing to worry about. The worst was over. She was fed so he did not have to worry about too many extra outbursts by her. Kraden looked like he could have used a massage. He was walking hunched over more than usual and his face looked like he was in agony.

"Kraden," Felix called. His face suddenly brightened up with a distinguished smile that all elderly people seem to have.

"What is it, Felix?"

"Oh. Nothing. Nevermind." Felix felt rather embarrassed. He was not one to really care about how anyone else felt except for his sister. Traveling with Saturos and Menardi somewhat drove him to that mindset. But because of his sister who was constantly threatened by Menardi, he still had a heart to help. That was proven when he dove off the Venus Lighthouse to save Sheba. It was the most heroic thing he had ever done.

He began to think back on that incident. He hen looked at Sheba who was walking tall with a strong step. Her expression did not exactly match her walk but she obviously was feeling good. That made Felix feel good. He was actually happy to see that everyone was pleased. It gave him a confirmation that he was being a good leader in some respect. The last thing he needed was too lead the group astray and have them hate him. Especially his sister. If she ever found out that he was trying to keep Isaac and her apart, it would mean instant hate against him.

"I believe we are almost there," Felix noted. They looked up at the tip of the mountain in front of them and saw a giant temple upon the tip.

"Who could have built such a thing on top of that peak?" Jenna asked perturbed.

"I couldn't tell you," Sheba replied sounding just as troubled.

"Perhaps they built it upon the peak to keep it safe from the threat of monsters," Kraden chimed in. "I'm not sure how long ago this shrine was built, but it was built in honor of the sea god." They were all looking at Kraden in actual interest as Felix led the group listening while watching where they were headed to. "Another possible reason is so they could be able to see the sea god and pay tribute to him. The peak is high enough to be able to see that far." Kraden was right. The mountain reached a high altitude possibly almost to the point where it was freezing.

"That's pretty interesting," Sheba said amused. "Do you think we could go to the top and view what it really looks like?"

"No," Felix said without turning his head toward them. "There isn't any time. This is not a sightseeing excavation. We are here to find these two kids and that's what we are going to do." Sheba did not say anything but she did make a mocking face behind his back. The three of them giggled a bit. Felix did not know exactly what was going but he paid no mind to it. It was nothing he was worried about. Kraden continued with his hypothesis.

"I think that it could be both a tower to view and it was simply placed up on the peak for protection. Despite the age of when this shrine could have been possibly built, more than just monsters could have raided the shrine. There could be a grand artifact in there…" Jenna and Sheba began to grow more interested but Felix interrupted as he stopped and stared at the towering shrine.

"We have to climb the mountain just to get in here?" None of them were very familiar with shrines on peaks. Most everything they saw, in Angara, that was important was built on the ground.

"However, another form of protection was that common thieves would not know they would not have to climb the mountain in order to gain entrance to the shrine," Kraden stated in his teaching voice spiting Felix. Felix shot a quick glare at Kraden. Jenna and Sheba looked at Kraden with confusion.

"Then where is the entrance wise one?" Kraden pointed to a cave that was protruding out the mountain base.

"I believe that would be the entrance." Felix looked at Kraden with a bit of surprise and disgust. How could a scholar who doesn't know a thing about geography possibly know that that was the entrance? Well, he has traveled quite a bit so I guess it was possible. He began to calm down so he could govern the crew with a clear mind.

"If that's the entrance, then let's go. We need to get these children and get moving." They proceeded into the well lit entrance.

They all looked in and it was not what they expected at all. In fact, it was more gloomy and grim than they could have ever imagined. The cave was filled with a stench that could wake the dead and was filled with water in some spots that went about two feet deep. It was a very deceptive cavern. Someone who wanted to get into the shrine would have never guessed to come through the cave. Felix began to be impressed with Kraden and his decision. He could tell that he was right. They were atop a ledge and they went down the nearby ladder to the floor level onto where the water was. The stench began to fill their nostrils even worse.

"Eww! This really stinks, Felix!" Jenna cried.

"Well, I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do about this. Looks like you're going to have endure if you want to save these kids." He looked up and saw another ladder that led upwards to another ledge. "Or, we could go above again…" They climbed up the stairs one by one. They saw a rope that was lying on the ground attached to a nail and a nail across on yet, another ledge.

"How are we going to get across that?" Sheba asked.

"Hm… well, if we're going to get across, we're going to have to tie this rope to the nail and walk across." He looked at the girls and smiled. "Or for safely, crawl."

"How do you plan on getting the rope across, Felix?" Jenna inquired.

"Well, I think that I can swing across and find a way to climb up and tie it around."

"I think that will work."

"Just make sure it stays tied to this nail, okay." They all nodded. Felix began to pick up the rope and searched for the edge of the rope. He found it, picked up and took a deep breath. He backed up a bit and ran and jumped off the ledge swinging very fast to the other side of the ledge. What he didn't realize was that the rope was too long and he slammed into the ledge and fell into the water.

"Felix!" Jenna screamed. They all rushed down the ladder and went into the musty water. Felix was sitting in the water rubbing his forehead as he looked at them rushing at him. Sheba couldn't help but start to laugh hysterically.

"I suppose you find this amusing…?" Felix said annoyed. Jenna was chuckling herself as she got him out of the dirty water.

"Are you okay?" Jenna asked lovingly.

"Honestly, no. I need to get back to the inn." He was still rubbing his forehead which had smeared blood on it. "I told you guys this was a waste of time. We could have just kept going…but nooo. We have to save the children…" He sighed as he tried to cease his sarcastic talk.

"It's okay, Felix. We'll leave tomorrow," Jenna replied reluctantly. Felix looked at her and thought about what she really wanted. He also began to think about what the town would say if he didn't follow through just because he hit his head.

"Okay. I will continue to search out these kids but only for tomorrow. Right now… I need some rest."

"And a bath," Sheba chimed smiling. Felix glared at her until he realized how bad he really smelled. His clothes were soaked with the musty water that covered the grounds of the cavern.

"I guess I do need a bath…" Felix said chuckling.

They re-entered the town and went straight for the inn. The townspeople could tell they were unsuccessful. The man who had helped was shocked at the appearance of Felix.

"What happened to you!"

"I got wet," Felix said jokingly trying not to be annoyed.

"I see. Well, we can get you a bath. I'll make sure you guys get a free stay if you guys are planning on staying."

"That would be much appreciated, sir," Kraden replied. The man walked over to the innkeeper on duty and began to explain what happened. It seemed like he was rather desperate the way he pointed at them. The innkeeper was simply nodding his head as if it didn't interest him but his eyes got bright at something their helper said. He walked back with pride as if he accomplished something big.

"Well, I got you guys in for free!" he smiled.

"What's the catch? I sense there's a catch…" Felix replied.

"Well, you guys have to be out at seven…"

"Why?"

"Well, the innkeeper said it wasn't right for him to do it but he said for the cause you were staying for, he could make arrangements but he said you couldn't stay longer than seven."

"I see. We can do that. Thank you for your help."

"Anytime, guys!" He walked off and immediately, Jenna and Sheba rushed Felix to the bath so he could get clean. They were afraid he was going to spoil everyone's appetite for dinner. Jenna also went and got her clothes washed as she stepped in the water to get Felix up.

Kraden and Sheba were sitting together waiting for dinner while Felix took a bath and Jenna was washing her clothes.

"Do you think we'll ever make it to the lighthouse?" Sheba asked concerned.

"Why of course," Kraden replied with excitement. "Felix is a good leader and he knows where he is going. He's got a good heart. He won't let anything happen to us."

"I know but what if we meet this Isaac guy and they try and kill us?"

"He wouldn't. At least not with a good reason."

"I think that this is a good reason to him."

"Isaac is rational. He would at least listen to us. Besides, he wouldn't want to hurt Jenna."

"They like each other?" Sheba asked getting a bit nosy.

"If they don't, it sure does seem like it. Every time we bring him up, Jenna gets a little weird."

"That is true." Felix walked in fully clothed and with a plate of food.

"I think you guys want some food, huh?"

"Hey! I thought you took a bath!" Sheba cried annoyed.

"I was. I just got dressed and went down for some food. And guess what…"

"What?"

"Everyone still had an appetite." She laughed and signaled Kraden to go down with her to get some food. Jenna walked in and noticed Felix's plate of food.

"You're greedy."

"How so?" he asked perplexed.

"You didn't even tell anyone about the food."

"There is no one else here. You were just the last to find out." Jenna grunted and abruptly went downstairs to get food.

Moments later, they all came back up with plates. They all sat down and began eating like savages. Felix was staring at them and wondering what had gotten into them. Had the journey made them that hungry? Thinking back he was rather hungry himself which is why he got the food so quick.

"This food is delicious!" Kraden said with food spewing out of his mouth. Sheba winced.

"Where are you table manners, Kraden!" Jenna screamed.

"I'm sorry," he said apologetically, food still randomly coming out of his mouth.

"Ugh. You disgust me sometimes, Kraden." Felix was laughing to himself. He was glad everyone was enjoying themselves despite the things that happened in the past.

They all finished eating and began to get ready for bed.

"Remember, we have to be out of here by seven. I don't know what's going to happen if we don't but at least we can get these kids," Felix explained. "Hm… I wonder where that guy went. He didn't even mention anything about getting the kids…"

"That's true," Kraden replied stunned. "I wonder why he didn't say anything…?"

"Well, we'll most likely meet him again and he'll bring something up." At that, Felix turned out the lamp in the room and they all went to sleep.

The next morning, they got up and packed their things ready for the adventure ahead. They all looked refreshed and well rested.

"What are we going to do, Felix?" Jenna asked.

"We need to find that man. He seems to know most about these kids from what I've seen." They were walking out the inn and began looking for the man. They stumbled across him at the shop.

"Excuse me, sir," Felix called.

"Whoa! I didn't expect to see you guys again." They all looked at him funny.

"Why not?" Sheba asked dumbfounded.

"Well, after what happened yesterday, I thought you were going to leave out of frustration of not finding the kids. They are trouble-makers, y'know." They were taken aback by his abrupt truthfulness.

"I understand but that wouldn't be right," Felix said as a matter-of-factly. "Listen, the only dilemma we have is that this rope needs to be tied on the other side and we can't get across.

"Ah." The man didn't look surprised at all. In fact, it looked like he had heard this before. "I know what you're problem is." They all looked at him amused waiting for the nest words to drop out of his mouth. "You need psychic powers!" They all looked at him like he was crazy.

"Psychic…powers?" Kraden asked disturbed.

"Yes, yes." The man wasn't even looking at them when he spoke. He was thinking of what they could do. "Hm… there is a temple not too far from here that you could go to that could teach you these psychic powers…"

"Really…explain more, please," Jenna said interested.

"The only problem is, is that it is their time of meditation. The master is not to be disturbed during this time." They all began to get nervous. "What you could do though, is talk to the gatekeepers and find out if they will let you train with the master so that you could save the children." Felix looked at them and noticed they were as lost as he was. He had no choice but to accept as he did tell Jenna he would spend the day saving the children.

"We will do it. How far is the temple?" Felix asked.

"Oh… about a two day trip from here," Felix winced at the answer. Two days? He said he would spend one day trying to find them. He began to think. His sister kept crossing his mind and how she would feel if he refused. He cast down the thoughts of dismissing the kids and took the task of the journey. He just hoped it wasn't in vain.

"I thank you, kind warriors. The Sea God does restore!" He took a breath. "The temple is south and just a bit east from this location. You can't miss it."

"Thank you. Are there any tips about the area? We are not familiar with the territory."

"Well, there are quite a few monsters at night but nothing that you guys couldn't handle. Actually, as of late, the monster count has decreased a bit but sometimes they come back in greater numbers."

"Thank you for that information."

"No problem," the man said smiling. Felix was happy to get that information. Now he truly knew what he was dealing with and so did everyone else.

"We're heading out now," Felix said authoritatively. "We need to get this done quickly because if we don't, the children could get extremely hungry." Felix noticed Jenna lit up when she heard him say that. He could tell Jenna was happy to hear that he finally excepted this detour as one of his real missions. Her face was beaming even though she was trying to hide it. That made Felix feel good about himself. Sheba even looked like she was ready and raring to go. He knew he was doing the right thing. They all headed out of the town and into the unknown land.

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Bare with me, another filler chapter is coming. Not exactly my strength but I hope that it is a good read. R&R and no flaming, of course.