Whoa, didn't I take forever to write this chapter! Gosh, I'm sorry. Hope this makes up for it. Without further ado, here's Chapter 4. Do enjoy! Feel free to comment; I appreciate your appreciation (even if your comment is constructive criticism you still appreciated the story enough to review).

Chapter 4: Muster

Apojii Islands

The chants fell like rain, fast and heavy. Jenna could hear their sound forcefully pound in her ears like a drum. The words were foreign to her, and although she imagined their good intent, she felt a great disturbance in her core. Still, the words washed over her like waves, dragging her deep into the matchmaker's rhythmic song. From their weight, Jenna's eyes closed involuntarily.

Mad singthi yu khuaamsao laenai hak. Singthi phuakhao ngeuonkhai sokha phuakhaooadcha aelkpian.

The witch began chanting clearly, but her speech eventually became more and more slurred. Jenna could not see it, but the witch was starting to convulse. She invoked the names of the strongest spirits she knew, spirits whom she had never invoked before. Little spells, they did not require much, but this – this was something personal, and she was willing to pay any price.

Seuong badaeph heoananru saaedng haikhaochao kuaang, aet mad huamkan singthi phuakhao ngeuonkhai aelkpian, she blabbered madly.

Just as the magician's eyes rolled to the back of her head, Jenna began to see, though her eyes were still closed. She saw him. He was skinny, tall, and tan. His hair was dark and to his shoulders; it was overdue for a trim, as it was falling in front of his brown eyes. Akketch was on the beach, covering his friend with wet sand. The two boys were laughing heartedly. Then, a girl came, tapped Akketch on the shoulder, and ran away. In turn, Akketch tagged his partly buried friend and followed the girl, leaving his comrade struggling to free himself from the sand and tag the others before they were long gone.

It was as if it were flowing through her veins, the happiness. There existed so much substance in the feeling, but it made Jenna feel wholly free. It tugged so hard on her zygomaticus muscles that a smile was formed, and so great it was, so great this feeling of joy, that she cried.

She felt it also, the witch. In fact, she was the wellspring of the emotion, which merely transferred from her heart to Jenna's during the incantation. The woman opened her mouth and loudly pronounced:

Mad singthi yu khuaamsao laenai hak.

The vision of Akketch faded. In its place came one of someone whom Jenna recognized.

Isaac! she thought. Her heart seemed to jump at the mental sight of him. It was quite unexpected and came as a shock to Jenna, who had not brought forth his image of her own accord. Regardless, she implored the vision for information.

Isaac, please tell me where you are! We have travelled to so many places without sign of you.

However, the vision did not reply; Isaac still casually stood with a glint in his eyes and a half-smile on his face. Although Jenna did not realize it straight away, the vision was derived solely from her memory and could not tell her anymore than what she already knew. Once she had come to this conclusion, she decided to take a different approach. In that case, Jenna wondered, this could be an opportunity to discover what I really feel. Thus, she spoke from her heart, hoping it would generate a reply.

Do you know what you mean to me? She asked with the intention to discover what her true feelings about Isaac were, neglecting her affections for Piers. This was it, was it not? It was the chance to learn the unbiased answer to her question of friend or lover.

Jenna's procured image of Isaac tilted his head. Gently, Isaac chuckled. Don't you know? asked he. Jenna suddenly became worried that the vision would not reveal to her what she wished it would; yet, alas!, Isaac continued to speak.

I, along with Garet, am your greatest friend. Since you and I were little, I've been your rock. And, although we are apart, I am still your rock, whether you know it or not. Isaac paused as he shot Jenna an innocent smile.

The flame-user's expression fell. She averted her eyes and winced. Oh, the pain in her heart! How it swelled exceedingly at the sound of Isaac's voice – that beautiful voice. Even months from the last time Jenna had heard Isaac's voice tenderly brush across her ears, she knew it well. Then, it had filled her with such imponderable joy that not even the biggest smile could be content in its expression. Yet now, that very voice tore apart every trace of self-satisfaction that Jenna had built up with her lies.

Jenna turned to face Isaac's imitation once he began to speak again, saying, You know you mean much to me, so much so that, if my quest did not involve protecting Weyard, I would still search for you until I found you and freed you from your captors. You know in your heart that I would rather die than see harm done to you. And so would I fight for you; I believe you would fight for me, too. Isaac's eyes burned into Jenna. This sudden conviction seemed more to her like a question of faithfulness to her confidant.

Isaac lowered his head. You would fight for me, wouldn't you? Perhaps if it weren't for the fellow who has replaced me in your heart. At that, the apparition gave Jenna one last look – a look filled with despondency – turned, and solemnly walked away without as much as a muttered "good-bye".

Shattered was how Jenna felt. At the sight of Isaac's retreat, like that of a downtrodden vagabond dismissed from shelter, she felt herself tearing at the seams. The sadness that fell with each of his steps hammered into the now miserable maiden. As Jenna grew overwhelmed by it, the melancholy constructed a vision for the matchmaker. This vision worked to elicit an equal amount of pain and gloom in the woman, which it accomplished in the depiction of Akketch's corpse being returned to the lady.

Having decided she had seen enough, Jenna forced herself awake. Ripping her eyes open, she came to face a puffy-eyed version of the matchmaker. The older woman was still caught in the trance, giving Jenna the impression that this was the perfect chance to escape. The Adept struggled as she tugged her wrists out from under the magician's tight grasp; however, the more Jenna tried, the more potent the islander's fingers clasped. Finally, Jenna had had enough. In concentrating elemental fire to the area that the matchmaker was holding, the Adept found herself free in seconds.

The incessant burning sensation alerted the woman to her senses rather rapidly; her eyes shot open in time to catch her attacker pause before leaving the tent. With clenched fists, she babbled something to the effect of a warning, but it was too late, for Jenna had slipped away in search for distance between herself and the seemingly lunatic woman.

Once Jenna had stepped outside, she jammed her eyes shut. By gosh, was the sun bright! Jenna stood for several minutes covering her eyes as she exposed herself to the heat of the sun. Being a Mars Adept, Jenna had a naturally high threshold for heat. Even so, she was not accustomed to such humidity. Just a couple more minutes, and I'll be fine, she thought. Then, she took her hand away from her eyes and looked to the sky and the smoldering sun with squinted eyes.

It was about four years ago when Jenna last saw a sun equally as brilliant on a day just as beautiful. She had been reading a book outside on the grass when she fell asleep. The sound of birds chirping that springtime lulled her and within minutes, she was dreaming.

"Is it that boring?" came a voice from over Jenna's head. Upon opening her eyes, Jenna saw Isaac's face. His head blocked the sun in such a way that the star's rays looked as a halo around her friend's head.

Jenna laughed softly and turned her face away. As it was, Isaac was leaning over her, his face rather close to hers. "Wait, get up. I can't move," Jenna said. When all Isaac did was respond with a raised eyebrow, Jenna added, "You're too close!"

The Venus Adept smirked and moved in closer with a taunting "Is this too close?" To this, Jenna blushed very slightly, but did not oppose Isaac's wit. The girl enjoyed these rather flirtatious moments together with Isaac, and she felt unexplainably comfortable around him whenever moments such as these arose. Yet, by the time her and Isaac's noses were centimeters apart, the girl playfully pushed him off her.

The two Valish kids sat in the grass smiling and gazing at each other until Isaac broke the silence. "So, what are you reading?"

Jenna made a funny face of slight embarrassment and turned to her book, which rested behind her in the grass. She reached out for it and moved it closer to herself as she reported, "Oh, nothing really. Just some light reading."

Isaac let out a short breath of air. "Oh," he joked, "it's one of those books."

Jenna shot her head around. "What kind?" she retorted.

Leaning back in the grass with his forearms supporting him, Isaac rolled his head back and looked at the clouds. He replied, "You know, one of those romance books."

Jenna bit her lip. Her eyes slowly drifted towards the direction of her book. She worked to hide her girly novel behind her back as Isaac continued. As he spoke, Jenna casually returned her eyes to him.

"Honestly, I didn't think you would read them." At that, Isaac rolled his head forward and caught Jenna's glance.

Jenna opened her mouth to lie and say something like "My friend wants my opinion on it, but I don't like it. It's stupid," but she could not lie, especially not to Isaac. In truth, she began to read the book on her own accord and enjoyed it. In love stories, she could imagine herself as the sweetheart of someone as handsome, strong, understanding, and loyal as Roy, the hero in the novel she was currently reading. Therefore, she closed her mouth and lowered her head.

Isaac laughed lightly and smiled. A gentle breeze blew spontaneously and ruffled his hair. Under the trees as he was, it was rather cool, almost chilly. So, he picked himself up and moved into the sunlight. He chose a spot next to Jenna and rested on his stomach. He supported his chin in his hand and waited for Jenna to speak.

For a moment or two, nothing was said between the two adolescents. Eventually, the silence got to Isaac, and he asked jokingly, "Were you dreaming about me?"

To this, Jenna laughed greatly. Isaac laughed too, in her company. The sight of the girl's face reddening from so much amusement elicited this. Yet, his snorts subsided to merely a grand smile, which arose from the sight of Jenna's happiness. Isaac thought of her beauty, one so intensified only by the smile and giggles that she fully presented before him. Life, he believed, could never be as perfect as this day was. It was spring, and he and his best friend were basking in the gentle glow of the sun on a field of pretty daisies, yet no more stunning than Jenna was.

"What makes you think I was dreaming about you?" said Jenna, her eyes twinkling.

"Well, considering you were reading a romance novel, you must've been thinking about some love of yours. Seeing as there's a fifty-fifty percent chance it was either Garet or me, I'd like to know. So," Isaac smirked, "was it me?"

Jenna smiled playfully. "I'm not telling."

"But, do! You know I don't like secrets."

"It's true; you don't."

"So then, tell me."

"I shan't."

"Are you afraid of hurting my feelings?" asked Isaac with an eyebrow raised.

"Perhaps."

"So it was Garet."

"Maybe." This time, Jenna raised her eyebrow mysteriously.

"So it was me," Isaac smiled.

"Mmmm, I dunno about that," Jenna joked.

"That's it!" Isaac leaned back and chuckled. "It was me!"

"No it wasn't!" Jenna made a move to protect herself, but it was a little too late. Isaac had already run away like a child, his face beaming with joy. He turned his head back every once and a while to see if Jenna would follow him, and follow she did. In truth, she really had been dreaming about…

Jenna gasped.

While she was daydreaming about her past, she had been strolling around town mindlessly with her head down. Piers had noticed her and called out to her, but she did not hear him, for she was deep in thought. Now, she stood in the middle of the village with her hand in his and her mind back in the present.

"Jenna, did you not hear me calling you?" asked Piers.

The girl had stopped moving. Caught in shock, she only stared at whatever was directly before her. Before long, however, she snapped back into reality from the feel of someone else's skin and the ensuing goose bumps that crept up her arm. She spun herself around, her hand still in Piers', and saw the Lemurian. His yellow eyes mesmerized her.

Piers looked concerned. "Are you all right?" he implored.

Jenna blinked. "Sure, just." She forced a half-smile. "What's up?"

"I've finished looking about. I would like to speak with you, if you've the time."

The flame-user swallowed hard. What could he want to talk about? No, that couldn't be it, she thought in response to her fear the Piers was about to confess some hidden love for her. She clenched her free fist and closed her eyes. For Isaac, I must… Yet, her hand remained comfortably in Piers'.

"I was actually going to find my brother, ask what our plans are." Jenna's eyes dropped to her enveloped hand. With some effort, she managed to pull it out of its embrace. Looking to Piers' face, she saw his saddened expression; her heart sank.

"Well," he brushed it off, "suppose you help me find Sheba, then?"

"It's the least I could do."

The two friends set off in search for the Jupiter Adept and found her only moments later. Sheba was resting in the shade of a palm tree, fanning herself to keep cool. She smiled when Jenna and Piers approached.

"So you finally asked him, eh?" Sheba sang when the others came near.

"Asked me what?" Piers looked at Jenna, who was turning red from embarrassment and anger, questioningly.

"Yeah, what did I ask him, Sheba?" Jenna rested her hand on her hip accusingly. She turned to her right to see Piers' expression. Luckily, for her, his detachment from the obvious made him completely oblivious to the fact that Sheba was calling Jenna out on her affections for the Lemurian. In seeing his confusion, Jenna allowed her temper to cool. "If you read my mind, you'll find I'm telling the truth."

Sheba sighed. "Not necessary. So," she cooed, "what'd you need?"

"I have long since finished wandering," replied Piers, "and I would like to see the shoreline. Jenna has business with Felix, so you are my last hope."

Sheba sat up abruptly. "Of course I'll go, but really, Jenna. Whatever 'business' you have with Felix can wait, can't it?" She pouted and begged, "C'mon! Let's see the beach!"

"Well…," Jenna began. She turned and faced the sea, the salty air blowing gently through her hair. Before her, Piers smiled delicately. "Perhaps —,"

"— Great!" Sheba chimed in. "I'm sure Felix will understand," she said with a wink. Then, Sheba stood, grabbed Jenna and Piers' hands, and ran in the direction of the ocean, laughing.

Minutes after the three reached the shore, they waded into the water and relaxed in the sand. As he admired the gorgeous weather and blue sky, Piers thought back to his childhood. When he was a boy, his mother would take him to the ocean to enjoy the refreshing water and swim. He would jump from the grassy cliff into the welcoming waves of the sea, screaming delightfully all the way down. But that is a story for another time. Right now, Piers was thinking of how Jenna could figure into that memory.

…

Felix stepped out of the inn, cracked his back, and made his way around the town in search for his peers. He was about to turn the corner when the sound of raucous voices caught his attention. Is that… Jenna? He stopped abruptly and waited to hear the shouts again. Nodding, he turned and walked in the direction of the noise.

Stopping at the edge of the town, just before the beach began, he looked onward to the faces of his allies. The girls were splashing each other and laughing hysterically; Piers was trying to keep himself out of the line of friendly fire, but was rather unsuccessful.

Guess nobody thought to invite me, Felix grunted to himself. He sighed and lowered his head. Of course not; I'm a killjoy, aren't I? He brushed his hair away as he raised his face to the sky. A few seagulls flew overhead. Felix smiled, They're so free on the wind, so free and without care. If only…, he clenched his fists, if only I could be so lucky. He turned his face away and looked to the ground. We should get moving, before the sun is low.

Felix approached the shore and called out to his comrades, ushering them to the inn. Once there, the party of four met with Kraden and ate dinner over a conversation of what they had each discovered. As it was, Apojii's popularity was due in part for the island to the south, namely Aqua Island. Said island is guarded by several moai statues. According to island tradition, young boys participate in a coming of age ceremony, which comprises swimming from Apojii's shore to the distant southern island. It is believed that the Man of Great Fortune will be granted passage by the moai to the core of the sanctuary, in which is hidden precious jewels — or so the Apojii say.

"So we mean to leave by morning to search this place," Felix said. "Yet, I'm not sure how we intend to enter."

"I do." Piers immediately caught the attention of the group. "Several villagers pointed out the teardrop stone as a kind of key. I took the liberty in examining it; almost needless to say, it reacted to my psynergy." Piers frowned slightly and said, "I'm still unsure if I was successful. I suppose we will have to go to this island and see for ourselves."

"What do you mean by 'it reacted," Piers?" questioned Sheba. "Did it glow or something?"

Piers chuckled lightly. "No, a mist formed around the stone. I, too, was engulfed by the fog. When I stepped out of it, I experienced an unexplainable gravitational tug in the direction of the stone."

"Sounds promising," cheered Jenna.

Felix, now armed with more elaborate maps (thanks to a group of travelers that he met at the inn hours before), made plans for the group to leave after resting aboard the ship for the night. The Adepts shared their excitement. Whatever lay in the pit of Aqua Island would be theirs for the keeping, so as long as they could get their hands on it!

"Hey, Piers," Sheba whispered. "What if this island held a treasure similar to the one Air's Rock guarded?" Piers furrowed his brow as Sheba continued. "If I'm right, whatever is inside must be for you, since you're a Mercury Adept. Makes sense, doesn't it?"

…

Piers' Ship

That night, as the Adepts were entering their chambers and saying their goodnights, Piers pulled Kraden aside. Jenna's image was fresh in his mind, as it had been all day since a villager commented on the flame-user's beauty. How true it was, a fact the Lemurian could not shake from his mind. As he gazed upon her countenance, he asked himself, How long has it been since I've come across a lady of equal strength and beauty? Years, surely, and even then, I have not felt as I do now. What is it, this uneasiness I feel? Whatever its origin, of ill or good, it must not carry on; it distances me from my cognizant mind.

"Master Sage," Piers whispered once the others had gone to their rooms, "there is something that troubles me. You are wise in years, I know, and might understand. If I could but have an hour —."

Kraden raised his hand as if in protest. I'd have thought as much, he thought, smirking. "No more. Come away and we will talk awhile."

And so I leave you all with Piers expressing his feelings for Jenna. How grand.

Anyway, thanks for reading, commenting, favorite-ing and the like. I hope you'll forgive me for taking forever on this chapter. In short, school is like a black hole to my time.

As always - Tem