"One can only write once the inspiration is there. Without it, the letters and words that are written down are as soulless as a stone." Refia, tuesday the 16th of January 2007. What? I had to find some excuse for waiting this long to post a new chapter.

Chapter 7: The Black Box

After I had told everything that happened, I went to bad to sleep. I was so incredibly tired. Mia was okay. The others were probably discussing the past events a bit more, or planning our next destination, but I needed sleep. Plenty of it. I didn't bother to put the blankets over me. I dropped down on the bed and fell asleep under five seconds. The world of dark dreams welcomed me with open arms.

The door opened. I didn't notice, I was sleeping, dreaming. It wasn't one of the adepts. A man with long silver hair bent down over me, looking at me with some kind of pride. His right shoulder was decorated by a huge, black wing. The person took a small, sealed black box and placed it under my arm. There was a note attached to it. The person heard footsteps. When Mia peered inside to check on me, I was the only one in the room. Because it was dark, she didn't notice the mysterious gift from the unknown visitor.

Next morning I awoke, but I still felt pretty tired. As soon as I sat up, I felt the black box leaning against me. Curiously, I picked it up. It was large, a bit larger than my hand. I tried to see what it was, or what was inside it. It was sealed. And no matter how hard I pulled, it wouldn't open. I swear I had seen this object somewhere before, but I couldn't remember where or when. Then I noticed the little note attached to it. It read:

Wherever you go, keep this with you.
Your Brother.

"It's from my brother…" I muttered. I carefully shook the box. I vaguely could hear something, but couldn't make out what it was. I jumped out of bed and attached the box to my belt. It fit nicely and didn't hinder me at all. Taking a deep breath I went to the living room to get something to eat.

The others were already up. Mia looked as good as always. She had recovered fully, that was clear. "Good morning Sephiroth." She greeted as I sat down at the table, taking some bread.

"Good morning to you, too, Mia. You look better." I replied softly.

"Thank you…" She blushed slightly. "I feel better too. Better than yesterday, anyway."

"Well, that's not hard." Isaac commented. "After all the seawater that you must have swallowed, it's only natural you felt a bit sick yesterday." I felt Ivan staring at me, again. I followed his gaze. It looked at my black box.

"Never saw a black box before, Ivan?" I asked, showing him the box a little bit better. He backed away, his cheeks glowing red.

"It's not that…" He shyly replied. He was about to add something when Garet bluntly interrupted. "Where did you get that?" He asked, his mouth still stuffed with food. Disgusting.

"My brother gave it to me." I calmly replied. They all raised an eyebrow. I gave them the little note. Isaac scanned over the paper a few times.

"Well, every other things your 'brother' gave you so far turned out to be good stuff. I bet this thing will be too." He gave the note back and I thanked him.

"What's inside it?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, Mia. It's sealed and I can't open it." I studied it again. "I swear I've seen this thing before. I just can't remember where or when…"

"Hey Isaac." Garet protested. "How can we be sure it's not dangerous when we don't know what's inside it?"

"We'll just have to trust Sephiroth." Isaac smiled, then he returned to his breakfast. I gave the black box a last look before attaching it to my belt again. Time would tell what its purpose is.

"So where exactly are we going?" I asked, starting a new subject of the conversation. Isaac shrugged. "The storm kind of knocked us out of course. According to the sea charts we have here the Apoji Islands are supposed to be close. We're making a quick stop there."

"I see… The edge of the world… I'm curious how it looks." I stood up and went outside. I didn't notice the weird looks of my companions. There were still some things they didn't understand about me. Like how I knew the Apoji Islands were at the edge of the world when nobody ever said that before?

I climbed in the lookout and sat down to take another good look at the black box. Where had I seen this before? The design, the looks were so familiar. But where? Forgetting everything wasn't always that handy. But maybe brother didn't want me to know. Yes, that's probably it. Like I told myself before: Time will tell. Still, I'm curious as to why I have to carry it with me all the time… The island had been a test. Had I succeeded? Was this black box my 'reward'? I trust my brother. But why doesn't he tell me a bit more at times? No, I have to trust him. Simply go along, walk my path and see where it takes me. He'll watch over me. He'll protect me. I'm certain of that.

For being 'close' the Apoji Islands were still far away. Too far for my taste. A trip of one day and a half. I wouldn't really call that 'close', but hey, that's just me. In those days it was the usual stuff. Fighting of some monsters who were tired of life. Every battle I noticed however, that everything I did, all my moves, my fighting, it went a little bit smoother. My skills were improving. I noticed this with Isaac and the others as well. But hey, that's to be expected when you fight a lot. Sometimes I just wish for an opponent that's a bit more challenging…

But okay, we arrived at the islands just fine. Well, fine… I don't really know what it is, but Isaac seems to be extremely tired lately. I think he's troubled. It's the quest I think. It's been more than a month out at sea. With no sign of Felix or Jenna. Of course I know we're destined to meet them at the Jupiter Lighthouse, but I can imagine how depressing it is for our leader. I can understand how he feels. He carries a huge thing on his shoulders. But I'm worried. How will he react when he'll find out the truth? That all he was actually doing, didn't really have any meaning? That Felix was the right dude all along and we a bunch of misguided, 'poor fools'? Well, I didn't really bother. My purpose is not saving Weyard. It's becoming him. And of course I'm willing to aid Isaac's quest. He's a friend. It's not that I'm going to abandon them once I have achieved my ultimate goal. No, I'll see through this adventure till the end, lending my sword to their quest.

"Don't worry Isaac. We're almost there, you can rest at the inn as long as you want." I told the Venus Adept, who looked more and more tired with every step he set towards the group of huts in the distance.

"I'm fine, Sephiroth." He assured me. I rolled my eyes.

"Right. And I can use Psynergy. Honestly Isaac, it's no crime at all to admit you're feeling extremely tired and that you need a very long snooze." I straightened my back. "Admitting a weakness is a great step to becoming stronger."

"Nice saying." Ivan smiled. "Where does it come from?"

"My head." I replied with a wink. The Wind Adept chuckled softly then darted further along the road. He turned out to be far more an energetic boy than I had assumed. Of course he was still shy and timid, and calm too, but energetic as well. Mia was also more open than I had thought she would be. A bit more relaxed, I think. She could joke just like the others. Isaac was Isaac, and that says enough. Garet wasn't really like I thought he would be, but in the negative sense. I couldn't really place it, but there's definitely something different about the Mars Adept.

As soon as we checked in the small, exotic hut that was supposed to be an inn, Isaac fell down on the bed and was fast asleep as soon as he laid flat on his back and comfortable.

"He must have been exhausted." Mia said, with a weak smile and a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Yeah, it's better to let him take his nap." Garet agreed. They quietly left the hut. I watched Isaac carefully. Yes, he was exhausted. But more then exhausted.

"Sephiroth, don't you want to see Gaia Falls?" Ivan tugged at my arm. I slowly turned away from our sleeping leader.

"Yeah, sure, let's go." I followed the Jupiter Adept outside, but my thoughts were still in the inn.

"Ivan, don't you think it's a bit strange Isaac's so exhausted all of the sudden? Only two days ago he was still fine." I hoped the Jupiter Adept would have noticed it too. That I wouldn't be the only one who found it strange, who was worried. Slowly Ivan nodded.

"Of course I noticed. I think he's just having a little depressed moment. I mean…"

"Almost two months out at sea and no sign of Jenna, I know, I know…" I sighed. "Yes, that's probably it. I hope this long rest will get him out of it."

"We can only hope…" Ivan whispered. I nodded and then we hurried after Mia and Garet.

Did I ever say what a strange feeling it is, to really see something that's endless? Gaia Falls at least seemed to be endless. They fell and fell, until they disappeared in the clouds endlessly far below. It gave me a weird feeling. It didn't feel bad. It actually was a great feeling. When you see those falls, going endlessly below you, you feel like your standing on top of the world. And in a way, I actually was. The others were admiring the scenery as well, but I don't think they did in the same way I did. I have always had a passion for things like 'Void' and 'Eternalness'. I never imagined I would ever get to see such things. But now I did. This endless falls, at my feet. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction. Like I had completed yet another task of my life. But the true task still laid ahead of me.

I couldn't stop myself. I grabbed the Black Box. I sat down and studied it yet again. I ran over it with my fingers, trying to remember where I had seen it. Trying to see if I could open it. Trying to see if I could find out its purpose.

"Brother, what other secrets do you have for me?" I whispered. "What are you planning? I trust you, more than I trust anybody else, except for her who is dead. But what are you plotting? What lies ahead of me? How can I become you? Do you already have it all planned and thought up? Only to wait for me to get to the point were I activate all your plans you have for me?"

Again, I got no answers. Silence was the only response I got. I had to trust him! But it wasn't that easy. The Black Box was a gift from him… But what did I have to do with it? I knew that time will tell, but at that moment, I really wished it would tell me a bit sooner.

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And yet another chapter complete. Next chapter we'll make a large jump forward. Just what will happen at the Jupiter Lighthouse? Will the purpose of the Black Box be revealed? Wait! This isn't some kind of TV-show with after the credits some scenes for the next episode.

Anyway, ignore this rant, read, enjoy and review please.