The Legend of Valmyle Story by Isaakian Adept
CHAPTER I: "Guys, wake up. Hey, guys!" Isaac crouched over his three companions. Mia was the first to stir.
"Isaac? What happened? Oh, my head!" Isaac smiled.
"You three were knocked out. The rockslide, remember?" Mia looked puzzled. The night before, the four had been climbing Mt. Easu. As the approached the peak, a large beast appeared. It gave an evil grin before kicking a huge boulder. This caused a landslide, headed straight for the Adepts.
Isaac used his power to avoid being hit, but the others, Garet, Ivan, and Mia, weren't so lucky. Isaac watched in horror as they were carried down the slope in a wave of dirt, rocks, and grass. He knew he was the only one who could save them. He tried in vain to stop the avalanche, only making it worse. He slid down the mountain after his friends.
He found all of them on a ledge a short while later.
"Garet, are you OK? Ivan? Mia, wake up!" Isaac tried over and over for them to awaken, but they remained still. He pulled out a bottle filled to the rim with Hermes' Water, and poured it into their mouths. He knew it wouldn't kick in until morning, so he decided to set up camp.
He fired several large spires into the wall of rock and created a shallow cave. Since Garet was out, he couldn't light a fire, so he huddled the other three close to him and fell right asleep.
"Oh, I kinda remember. How are the other two, and how did you survive?" Mia broke the silence of her thinking. Isaac had dozed off while he waited, but her sudden comment surprised him and he sat up straight.
"Oh, the Garet and Ivan are still asleep, I think. They're back in the cave." He peeked in the large hole and saw the two bodies on the floor. "I hope they're OK, you guys have been asleep for over ten hours now!
"You still didn't answer my question." Mia said with a low tone, as if someone else was listening.
"Oh, well, isn't it obvious? Being an Venus Adept, I'm used to rocks, mud, and grass. I simply created a barrier and stood there." He seemed a little annoyed that Mia hadn't already known.
"Hey, having a party without me?" The two turned around to see Garet staggering out of the cave. He still looked like he was half-asleep. "What's up Isaac? Madam." Mia rolled her eyes and Isaac high-fived Garet.
"We were wondering when you would get up, sleeping beauty" Isaac joked. It was unlike Isaac to be anything but serious, but he had his occasional not-on-an-important-quest times. This was obviously one of them.
"Well Mr. I-think-I'm-so-funny, I'll have you know I'm not the last one up this time, Ivan's as lifeless as a..." Just as Garet finished, a call from the sky was heard.
"Nope, sorry Garet, you must have been sleep walking again. I awoke right after Mia." It was Ivan, as he zoomed through the air. A month or so ago, the party had learned that Jupiter Adepts also have the ability to fly, if they train enough.
"But, I was sure you were still in the cave, you must be lying!" Garet's complaints were ignored, as they usually were. He sighed, and walked over to the woodpile Isaac had gathered earlier that morning. "Here, let me take care of that fire." He said as he tossed a fireball into the wood. It ignited immediately, and moments later them four were cooking eggs for breakfast.
As they finished eating, they heard a blood-curdling scream, followed by a shout.
"Help, please save us!" Isaac jumped up and began barking orders.
"Ivan, go see who's calling. Mia, put out the fire, but let Garet get those last eggs off first." Each did as they were told instantly. They were used to following Isaac, they had for several years.
Ivan returned a minute or so later. "It's a man in brown robes and a girl in red and black leather. They're being attacked by some weird looking man, dressed in silver armor. I think he's some sort of guardian or knight." Isaac ordered Ivan to lift the other three up to where the couple was being attacked. Ivan nodded and started waving his arm. Soon, they were all shooting through the sky to a hidden mountain.
"Look, there they are!" Mia sighted the two first. At first, it appeared that they were throwing rocks and burning sticks at the night, but then Ivan noticed something odd.
"If they're throwing rocks and sticks, how come there are none around them?" Isaac noticed this too and realized what was happening.
"They must be Adepts. That boy must be a Venus Adept, and the girl a Mars! Come on, we should help them." The group sped towards the clearing and returned to the ground. Even know they didn't know who they were helping, they fought their hardest anyways. Mia shot concentrated sprays of water at the armored man, knocking him over. Then Garet and Ivan created a fiery tornado and picked up the knight. Isaac finished him off with an earthquake as the man was dropped to the ground. He stood up, put his hands together, and disappeared.
"Who was that? He sure didn't fight well." Ivan tried to act discouraged with the simple fight.
"Hah! You four don't know whom you were dealing with, do you. That was a Silver Guardian. A legendary being that protects the lost kingdom of Valmyle." The girl seemed to know exactly what she was talking about.
"How do you know about Valmyle? Who are you?" Isaac questioned the couple. He only knew of a few other people who had been told of the legend.
"I am Medius, the Venus Foriendor, and this is my acquaintance Alice, a Mars master warrior." The boy explained.
"Your majesty, I had no idea it was you!" Isaac seemed to know exactly who Medius was. "Why are you not at the palace. And why are you traveling with a Mars warrior, not a Venus?"
"Isaac, do you know something we don't?" Mia asked softly.
"Yes, and no. Medius is the Venus' clan Foriendor."
"Isaac, we know what a Foriendor is, but how do you know the Venus Foriendor?" Mia was becoming quite curious
"Remember when I disappeared for a month, a long time ago? Well, a week before, I had been called to the Venus Palace. I was told to arrive alone and as soon as possible. Once I arrived, I was sent directly to the Foriendor. Medius told me of the legend, and instructed me to tell you three when I returned. I discovered that my father had once been the Foriendor, and that made me a lord."
"Isaac, why didn't you tell us all of this? We only knew of the legend!" Garet was angry, and yet happy to have learned of Isaac's disappearance. He easily hid the feeling though.
"I instructed him to do so. As for your Mars warrior question, I travel with her as to not raise any suspicion of my identity." Medius explained. "I have left in secret to find several missing adepts. Lady Asu and Jase of the Mercury clan, Aaron of the Jupiter clan, and Erok of the Venus clan." When Mia heard the name Jase, a look of horror appeared on her face.
"Did you say Jase?" She asked. When told she had heard correctly, she panicked. "No! My brother, gone?"
"You mean you are Mia, the great healer of Imil?" Alice piped up. "Jase has said so much about you! You must feel awful!"
"What are you talking about? Where has my brother gone?" Mia was beginning to get frantic.
"You mean you didn't know?" Alice seemed surprised at Mia's ignorance to her family's whereabouts. "Several years ago, he left in search of Valmyle. He still hadn't returned a year later, so his lover, Lady Asu, went in search of him. She also disappeared. Ever since we lost such an important person, searching for Valmyle has been forbidden." Ivan looked surprised.
"You mean we aren't supposed to be looking for it right now?"
"No, I said it was OK for Isaac and his friends to search for it, since you are all such great warriors." Garet grunted, and everyone turned to see him sleeping.
"I guess he woke up a little too..." Isaac couldn't finish. The Silver Guardian they had fought with before reappeared, this time as a dragon. It was a gargantuan monster covered with silver scales, as hard as diamonds. It sparkled in the light, it's beauty unbelievable. However, it was as dangerous as it was spectacular. Ivan leaned over and slapped Garet on the chest.
"Huh, what the..." Garet snapped awake, but shrieked when he noticed the huge beast hovering above them.
"Get ready everyone, here we go." Medius pulled out his golden sword and began swishing it around. The other five pulled out their weapons, and the battle began.
The Silver Guardian started off the fighting with a fireball, glowing with some odd white light. It created it in its mouth, then blew it at the six adepts. Ivan flew up into the sky and dodged it, while the two fire adepts created a barrier around the others. As the flaming ball hit the barrier, however, it broke right through and hit the five.
"What, but that was a fireball! Our barrier should have stopped it." Alice said angrily, spitting at the ground.
"It wasn't just any fireball, it was a silver flame-ball. A kind unique to the Silver Guardians." Medius explained it as if it was a common fact. "If we are going to defeat it, we'll have to use some new tactics. Ivan, you attack from the air. Alice, you work with Garet on a sneak attack. Mia, you can attack unless someone it hurt, you can heal them. Isaac, you'll work with me on a forward attack. OK, let's go!"
Ivan shot up into the air and immediately began attacking with plasmas and strong winds. Garet and Alice went directly under the beast and waited to attack. Mia, Isaac, and Medius began using their own elemental attacks on the armored dragon. The silver plates and helmet easily reflected the attacks, only angering it more. Medius knew even the six of them, some of the most powerful warriors in the world, were no match for a Silver Guardian. Still, he knew it was their only chance of survival, so they continued to attack.
"Now!" Isaac shouted to Garet and Alice. "Attack the belly, it has less armor!" The two did exactly as they were told, but in vain. It seemed to only tickle the monstrous dragon, causing it to attack even more rapidly. Ivan was the first to go down. He flew right past the dragon's nose, right as it shot out a blast of burning steam. Ivan screamed for a moment, then tumbled towards the earth.
"Catch him, someone!" Garet was closest to where the small Jupiter Adept was falling, so he ran out from under the monster and reached out. Ivan dropped right into Garet's arms. With Ivan in his arms, Garet couldn't defend himself against the attacking Silver Guardian. The monster fires a blast of shining energy right at Garet, knocking him out as well.
"Garet! Are you all right? Garet?" Alice tried waking the boy up, but he was unconscious. She had no other choice, but to continue fighting with the others. Mia attempted to jump up onto the guardian's back, but tripped on her robes when she landed. The beast noticed her immediately and began flying all around until he finally shook her off. She landed right on a large rock, which cut deep into her arm.
"Mia! What happened?" Medius ran over to the Mercury Adept to care for her. With his back turned to the Silver Guardian, he was hit square in the back with a blast of silver fire, also knocking him out.
"Isaac, we're the only two left standing, we can't win! We have to retreat." Isaac knew Alice was right, but he had an idea.
"WAIT!" Isaac stood in front of the Silver Guardian waving his arms. "Just listen to me. I am Lord Isaac; the legendary Venus Warrior of Vale. I ask that you..." The dragon didn't let him finish.
"Lord Isaac, is that whom you said you are?" The beast suddenly calmed down; it landed on the ground several meters in front of Isaac and Alice. "I, I have been told of your coming." This worried Isaac, and yet, it made him feel safer.
"What do you mean you've been told of my arrival? Who told you this?"
"I can not tell you, but I can show you. Let me heal your companions, then you may pass and enter Valmyle." As the beast finished speaking, it began to glow. As it brightened, Ivan, Garet, Mia, and Medius all began to glow too. Then they just stopped. All four awoke with a start. The guardian stopped glowing more slowly. When it stopped, it was a man once again. He touched each of the injured's heads, and disappeared. Garet was the first to speak as the knight vanished.
"Whoa! That was so weird. He touched my head, and then I knew everything he had just told you, Isaac." The other three nodded in agreement.
"Well, if that monster granted us permission to enter Valmyle, we'd best be on our way." Now Isaac was the one taking orders, just like everyone else. No one argued, not only because Medius was a Foriendor, but because they all agreed. If they were to find the missing Adepts and Mia's brother, they needed to hurry. Isaac also wanted to learn of how his presence was expected.
Ivan waved his arms, creating a strong wind, which picked up the others. They headed into the forest, not knowing what to expect. Hoping they would leave with at least their lives.
***
"I can't believe this! We've been in this forest for a week now, and we haven't even seen a clearing of trees." Garet was pacing around the camp, cursing and shouting.
"Oh shut up Garet. If you hadn't demanded on being the navigator, we'd be out by now. Plus, you've been eating all the food. We barely have any left!" Everyone was in a bad mood, and Garet and Mia were constantly bickering. Mia was especially grumpy. She hadn't been able to sleep; she was too busy worrying about Jase. He had always been an adventurous and rebellious man. She wondered what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into this time.
"Come on, you two. Let's get to bed." Medius and the others were trying to sleep, but the arguments and fights had been keeping them up. Garet yawned and climbed into his tent. Within seconds, he was snoring, fast asleep. Mia, on the other hand, was, once again, sitting by the fire, thinking about Jase and Valmyle.
"Everything alright, Mia?" Isaac was also having trouble sleeping.
"Oh, it's nothing." Mia looked deep into Isaac's eyes. They sparkled a beautiful blue in the moonlight. Their eyes locked, but Mia quickly turned away.
"Mia, you must accept the inevitable. Jase is gone. Whether he's dead or not, I don't know, and unless you get to sleep, you won't either." Mia didn't want to listen. She knew he was right, but just couldn't accept it.
"Oh Isaac, I'm so frightened. I don't know what to think anymore." She let out a long sigh. Isaac reached his arms around her. At first, she fought it, but then let Isaac embrace her.
"Mia..." She put her finger to his lips and silenced him.
"Don't talk, feel." And she kissed him. Not a long slobbery kiss where it looks like they eat each other; just a long, but clean kiss. When their lips met, an odd sensation went through their bodies. Isaac pulled Mia even closer to him. As quickly as it began, however, it ended. Mia pulled her head back and turned beet red.
"I...I shouldn't have done that! I should go." She rushed into her tent. Isaac could only smile. He knew that she had enjoyed it as much as he had. Maybe she would feel better about it in the morning. Isaac crawled back into his tent, and fell right into a deep sleep.
***
Another week passed before the six Adepts reached the edge of the forest. The days had all been the same, wandering around and fighting monsters. They had encountered a few apes, but nothing they couldn't handle. The nights had also been similar. Mia was sleeping fine now, perhaps because Isaac was moving so close to her. She still didn't know if she liked the relationship she was forming, but she didn't worry too much about it now. She had bigger things on her mind.
"Well, two weeks later and we're finally out. God Garet, do you always have to save the day. You knew you had no idea where we were going. Good thing Alice found that map." Mia may have been sleeping better, but her fights with Garet were still going strong. Isaac sighed.
"Quit your fighting you two. Come one, we have to find that cave that leads to Valmyle." Medius nodded and motioned for the others to follow him. They all started walking, but Alice remained where she was.
"Medius, maybe we need some new leadership." Medius looked over his shoulder.
"You mean Garet? No, I would like to actually know where we are." Alice seemed used to Medius' sarcasm.
"No, I mean Isaac. He is the one who has traveled all of Angara. Besides, he's a warrior, while you are a Foriendor. You should not be fighting, let alone traveling." Medius began to get angered.
"Now just because I'm a Foriendor, it doesn't mean I can't fight. I have every right to be out here in the open world."
"Yes, I know you majesty. But Isaac is an experienced fighter. He has been on the road for four years now. You have left only a month ago, and have battled only a few times." Now it was Ivan's turn to speak.
"Your majesty, I don't want to offend you, but I agree with Alice. Isaac is more experienced than any of us. Plus, he's a very experienced leader in the wild. He is a quick thinker, and knows exactly what to do in almost and danger. That is all, sir."
"Hmmm. I guess you're right. Well. Oh, I don't know. I guess it would work out. Yes, Isaac, you may take over." Isaac looked a little worried.
"Well, thanks for the flattery, but I think Medius should remain our leader. After all, he is the Foriendor here." Medius smiled, but frowned again right away.
"No, I understand what the others were saying. I would be honored if you took my place as the leader of this 'mission'." Mia smiled sweetly.
"Yes, Isaac, you should lead us. I agree with all that has been said. Please Isaac, do it for me." Isaac paused, then nodded and went to the head of the group.
"Well, we'd better get going then." He started walking, his blade drawn. The others followed closely, ready for anything. Or so they thought.
As they walked, Isaac occasionally thought he saw something flash in the distance. On top of a snow covered mountain, sparkles and flashes were not uncommon. What Isaac saw, however, was much bigger than the average snowflake-sparkle. When he next saw the flash, he decided to ask the others if they had also spotted the odd glint.
"Hey! Did you see that?"
"See what, Isaac? Are you hallucinating again?" Garet always claimed that if he didn't see it, anyone who did was hallucinating. Even if he stood alone.
"No Garet, I'm not. It was some weird flash or something. I looked like light reflecting off of a blade, or some sort of armor."
"Look! I saw it too. Right over there, under that..." Ivan didn't finish. A tall boy jumped out from underneath a fir. He had no weapon or armor, but he did have some odd sort of metallic breathing device.
"Oh, who are you?" The all boy seemed quite friendly.
"I am Lord Isaac, a Venus Adept. These are my friends: Mia, Garet, Ivan, Alice, and the Venus Foriendor, Medius." The boy thought for a moment, and let out a relieved sigh.
"So you aren't bounty hunters. Good, I was afraid I had been discovered." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small-engraved stone. "You're probably wondering what I mean, right?" He didn't let anyone answer. "I am prisoner 1284, but you can call me Aaron."
"Aaron, of the Jupiter Clan? The one who disappeared two years ago?" Medius began to get excited upon hearing the boy's name.
"Yes, I am a Wind Adept, and I did get captured two years ago. How did you know that?"
"I am Medius, you know, the Venus Foriendor. I have left Venus Palace in search of you and several other adepts. What did you say about being a prisoner?" The question seemed to make Aaron a little uneasy, but he answered anyway.
"Um, well, I was out flying around looking for some fun, when I saw some weird knight by this mountain. I landed near him and shouted to him. I guess he got mad or something, because when he saw me, he came over to me and started to glow." Garet interrupted Aaron.
"Then he turned into a huge silver dragon and whooped you, right?" Aaron nodded and continued his tale.
"So anyway, when I awoke, I was in some stone room with chains on my arms and legs. There was a bar door, and small window, also barred. Another one of those weird silver guys came over to me. He didn't say a word, he just handed me this stone and left. I have no idea where I was, all I knew was that I was in some sort of jail cell." Isaac opened his mouth to explain, but Mia started before he could utter a word.
"Aaron, you were a prisoner of Valmyle!" Aaron gasped.
"Valmyle? You mean that legendary kingdom that sank into the earth? Wow! Wait'll my friends back in Bilibin here about this." He started to summon some winds to carry him home, but Ivan created a strong wind that held the boy in his place.
"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere. Listen to us, this is more important to her than any of us." Ivan nodded and Mia continued.
"As I was saying, you were a prisoner of Valmyle. You, along with three other Adepts disappeared there. One of which, was my brother. We were on our way to rescue all of you, but it seems you've taken care of yourself. Well, let's go!" Everyone could tell Mia was angry with Aaron's "rude" behaviors.
"Wait, don't leave me here. What if they catch me?" Aaron was reacting just the way Mia had wanted him too. She continued.
"Well you sure didn't seem worried about that a minute ago." The others chuckled and Aaron frowned. He had realized what Mia was doing.
"Sorry about what I said did earlier. I didn't realize you were trying to help me. Mia accepted his apology and forgave him.
"It's OK. We all screw up sometimes." Aaron nodded as he walked up to Medius.
"Your majesty, would you mind if I joined up with you guys? I really could use some protection." Medius considered it for a moment, then nodded with approval. "Gee thanks. I hope I'm not too much of a hassle or anything. If I bother you at all, please, just let me..." Medius was now annoyed.
"OK, I get the point. Please, just shut up!" Aaron looked a little hurt, but new that the Foriendor was just in a bad mood. It had always seemed that way about royalties. Aaron's mother had once been a Foriendor, but she and her husband had been assassinated. Aaron had recently lived with his Grandfather, but had left in search of Valmyle.
The Adepts continued trudging through the snow, which continued to fall harder as the ascended the peak. Soon, it was almost up to their waists. The snow soon stopped falling, but it was so deep they could barely move.
"What is up with this snow! It feels like I'm frozen." Garet, being a Mars Adept, was weakened greatly by the snow. He was sick and tired of being stuck.
"Well, do something about it. You're the one with heat powers!" Even Ivan was in a bad mood. Garet thought for a moment, then smiled. He put his hands together then slowly spread them out. As he did, all the snow his hands passed melted. After all the snow around them was gone, Isaac noticed something.
"Hey, is that a cave over there?" Medius went over and peeked in. He called back.
"Yeah! I think it's the path to Valmyle." Aaron looked around and agreed. They were so close to their destination, and yet so far. The path was long and dangerous. Whether they would make it was up to the Gods.
CHAPTER I: "Guys, wake up. Hey, guys!" Isaac crouched over his three companions. Mia was the first to stir.
"Isaac? What happened? Oh, my head!" Isaac smiled.
"You three were knocked out. The rockslide, remember?" Mia looked puzzled. The night before, the four had been climbing Mt. Easu. As the approached the peak, a large beast appeared. It gave an evil grin before kicking a huge boulder. This caused a landslide, headed straight for the Adepts.
Isaac used his power to avoid being hit, but the others, Garet, Ivan, and Mia, weren't so lucky. Isaac watched in horror as they were carried down the slope in a wave of dirt, rocks, and grass. He knew he was the only one who could save them. He tried in vain to stop the avalanche, only making it worse. He slid down the mountain after his friends.
He found all of them on a ledge a short while later.
"Garet, are you OK? Ivan? Mia, wake up!" Isaac tried over and over for them to awaken, but they remained still. He pulled out a bottle filled to the rim with Hermes' Water, and poured it into their mouths. He knew it wouldn't kick in until morning, so he decided to set up camp.
He fired several large spires into the wall of rock and created a shallow cave. Since Garet was out, he couldn't light a fire, so he huddled the other three close to him and fell right asleep.
"Oh, I kinda remember. How are the other two, and how did you survive?" Mia broke the silence of her thinking. Isaac had dozed off while he waited, but her sudden comment surprised him and he sat up straight.
"Oh, the Garet and Ivan are still asleep, I think. They're back in the cave." He peeked in the large hole and saw the two bodies on the floor. "I hope they're OK, you guys have been asleep for over ten hours now!
"You still didn't answer my question." Mia said with a low tone, as if someone else was listening.
"Oh, well, isn't it obvious? Being an Venus Adept, I'm used to rocks, mud, and grass. I simply created a barrier and stood there." He seemed a little annoyed that Mia hadn't already known.
"Hey, having a party without me?" The two turned around to see Garet staggering out of the cave. He still looked like he was half-asleep. "What's up Isaac? Madam." Mia rolled her eyes and Isaac high-fived Garet.
"We were wondering when you would get up, sleeping beauty" Isaac joked. It was unlike Isaac to be anything but serious, but he had his occasional not-on-an-important-quest times. This was obviously one of them.
"Well Mr. I-think-I'm-so-funny, I'll have you know I'm not the last one up this time, Ivan's as lifeless as a..." Just as Garet finished, a call from the sky was heard.
"Nope, sorry Garet, you must have been sleep walking again. I awoke right after Mia." It was Ivan, as he zoomed through the air. A month or so ago, the party had learned that Jupiter Adepts also have the ability to fly, if they train enough.
"But, I was sure you were still in the cave, you must be lying!" Garet's complaints were ignored, as they usually were. He sighed, and walked over to the woodpile Isaac had gathered earlier that morning. "Here, let me take care of that fire." He said as he tossed a fireball into the wood. It ignited immediately, and moments later them four were cooking eggs for breakfast.
As they finished eating, they heard a blood-curdling scream, followed by a shout.
"Help, please save us!" Isaac jumped up and began barking orders.
"Ivan, go see who's calling. Mia, put out the fire, but let Garet get those last eggs off first." Each did as they were told instantly. They were used to following Isaac, they had for several years.
Ivan returned a minute or so later. "It's a man in brown robes and a girl in red and black leather. They're being attacked by some weird looking man, dressed in silver armor. I think he's some sort of guardian or knight." Isaac ordered Ivan to lift the other three up to where the couple was being attacked. Ivan nodded and started waving his arm. Soon, they were all shooting through the sky to a hidden mountain.
"Look, there they are!" Mia sighted the two first. At first, it appeared that they were throwing rocks and burning sticks at the night, but then Ivan noticed something odd.
"If they're throwing rocks and sticks, how come there are none around them?" Isaac noticed this too and realized what was happening.
"They must be Adepts. That boy must be a Venus Adept, and the girl a Mars! Come on, we should help them." The group sped towards the clearing and returned to the ground. Even know they didn't know who they were helping, they fought their hardest anyways. Mia shot concentrated sprays of water at the armored man, knocking him over. Then Garet and Ivan created a fiery tornado and picked up the knight. Isaac finished him off with an earthquake as the man was dropped to the ground. He stood up, put his hands together, and disappeared.
"Who was that? He sure didn't fight well." Ivan tried to act discouraged with the simple fight.
"Hah! You four don't know whom you were dealing with, do you. That was a Silver Guardian. A legendary being that protects the lost kingdom of Valmyle." The girl seemed to know exactly what she was talking about.
"How do you know about Valmyle? Who are you?" Isaac questioned the couple. He only knew of a few other people who had been told of the legend.
"I am Medius, the Venus Foriendor, and this is my acquaintance Alice, a Mars master warrior." The boy explained.
"Your majesty, I had no idea it was you!" Isaac seemed to know exactly who Medius was. "Why are you not at the palace. And why are you traveling with a Mars warrior, not a Venus?"
"Isaac, do you know something we don't?" Mia asked softly.
"Yes, and no. Medius is the Venus' clan Foriendor."
"Isaac, we know what a Foriendor is, but how do you know the Venus Foriendor?" Mia was becoming quite curious
"Remember when I disappeared for a month, a long time ago? Well, a week before, I had been called to the Venus Palace. I was told to arrive alone and as soon as possible. Once I arrived, I was sent directly to the Foriendor. Medius told me of the legend, and instructed me to tell you three when I returned. I discovered that my father had once been the Foriendor, and that made me a lord."
"Isaac, why didn't you tell us all of this? We only knew of the legend!" Garet was angry, and yet happy to have learned of Isaac's disappearance. He easily hid the feeling though.
"I instructed him to do so. As for your Mars warrior question, I travel with her as to not raise any suspicion of my identity." Medius explained. "I have left in secret to find several missing adepts. Lady Asu and Jase of the Mercury clan, Aaron of the Jupiter clan, and Erok of the Venus clan." When Mia heard the name Jase, a look of horror appeared on her face.
"Did you say Jase?" She asked. When told she had heard correctly, she panicked. "No! My brother, gone?"
"You mean you are Mia, the great healer of Imil?" Alice piped up. "Jase has said so much about you! You must feel awful!"
"What are you talking about? Where has my brother gone?" Mia was beginning to get frantic.
"You mean you didn't know?" Alice seemed surprised at Mia's ignorance to her family's whereabouts. "Several years ago, he left in search of Valmyle. He still hadn't returned a year later, so his lover, Lady Asu, went in search of him. She also disappeared. Ever since we lost such an important person, searching for Valmyle has been forbidden." Ivan looked surprised.
"You mean we aren't supposed to be looking for it right now?"
"No, I said it was OK for Isaac and his friends to search for it, since you are all such great warriors." Garet grunted, and everyone turned to see him sleeping.
"I guess he woke up a little too..." Isaac couldn't finish. The Silver Guardian they had fought with before reappeared, this time as a dragon. It was a gargantuan monster covered with silver scales, as hard as diamonds. It sparkled in the light, it's beauty unbelievable. However, it was as dangerous as it was spectacular. Ivan leaned over and slapped Garet on the chest.
"Huh, what the..." Garet snapped awake, but shrieked when he noticed the huge beast hovering above them.
"Get ready everyone, here we go." Medius pulled out his golden sword and began swishing it around. The other five pulled out their weapons, and the battle began.
The Silver Guardian started off the fighting with a fireball, glowing with some odd white light. It created it in its mouth, then blew it at the six adepts. Ivan flew up into the sky and dodged it, while the two fire adepts created a barrier around the others. As the flaming ball hit the barrier, however, it broke right through and hit the five.
"What, but that was a fireball! Our barrier should have stopped it." Alice said angrily, spitting at the ground.
"It wasn't just any fireball, it was a silver flame-ball. A kind unique to the Silver Guardians." Medius explained it as if it was a common fact. "If we are going to defeat it, we'll have to use some new tactics. Ivan, you attack from the air. Alice, you work with Garet on a sneak attack. Mia, you can attack unless someone it hurt, you can heal them. Isaac, you'll work with me on a forward attack. OK, let's go!"
Ivan shot up into the air and immediately began attacking with plasmas and strong winds. Garet and Alice went directly under the beast and waited to attack. Mia, Isaac, and Medius began using their own elemental attacks on the armored dragon. The silver plates and helmet easily reflected the attacks, only angering it more. Medius knew even the six of them, some of the most powerful warriors in the world, were no match for a Silver Guardian. Still, he knew it was their only chance of survival, so they continued to attack.
"Now!" Isaac shouted to Garet and Alice. "Attack the belly, it has less armor!" The two did exactly as they were told, but in vain. It seemed to only tickle the monstrous dragon, causing it to attack even more rapidly. Ivan was the first to go down. He flew right past the dragon's nose, right as it shot out a blast of burning steam. Ivan screamed for a moment, then tumbled towards the earth.
"Catch him, someone!" Garet was closest to where the small Jupiter Adept was falling, so he ran out from under the monster and reached out. Ivan dropped right into Garet's arms. With Ivan in his arms, Garet couldn't defend himself against the attacking Silver Guardian. The monster fires a blast of shining energy right at Garet, knocking him out as well.
"Garet! Are you all right? Garet?" Alice tried waking the boy up, but he was unconscious. She had no other choice, but to continue fighting with the others. Mia attempted to jump up onto the guardian's back, but tripped on her robes when she landed. The beast noticed her immediately and began flying all around until he finally shook her off. She landed right on a large rock, which cut deep into her arm.
"Mia! What happened?" Medius ran over to the Mercury Adept to care for her. With his back turned to the Silver Guardian, he was hit square in the back with a blast of silver fire, also knocking him out.
"Isaac, we're the only two left standing, we can't win! We have to retreat." Isaac knew Alice was right, but he had an idea.
"WAIT!" Isaac stood in front of the Silver Guardian waving his arms. "Just listen to me. I am Lord Isaac; the legendary Venus Warrior of Vale. I ask that you..." The dragon didn't let him finish.
"Lord Isaac, is that whom you said you are?" The beast suddenly calmed down; it landed on the ground several meters in front of Isaac and Alice. "I, I have been told of your coming." This worried Isaac, and yet, it made him feel safer.
"What do you mean you've been told of my arrival? Who told you this?"
"I can not tell you, but I can show you. Let me heal your companions, then you may pass and enter Valmyle." As the beast finished speaking, it began to glow. As it brightened, Ivan, Garet, Mia, and Medius all began to glow too. Then they just stopped. All four awoke with a start. The guardian stopped glowing more slowly. When it stopped, it was a man once again. He touched each of the injured's heads, and disappeared. Garet was the first to speak as the knight vanished.
"Whoa! That was so weird. He touched my head, and then I knew everything he had just told you, Isaac." The other three nodded in agreement.
"Well, if that monster granted us permission to enter Valmyle, we'd best be on our way." Now Isaac was the one taking orders, just like everyone else. No one argued, not only because Medius was a Foriendor, but because they all agreed. If they were to find the missing Adepts and Mia's brother, they needed to hurry. Isaac also wanted to learn of how his presence was expected.
Ivan waved his arms, creating a strong wind, which picked up the others. They headed into the forest, not knowing what to expect. Hoping they would leave with at least their lives.
***
"I can't believe this! We've been in this forest for a week now, and we haven't even seen a clearing of trees." Garet was pacing around the camp, cursing and shouting.
"Oh shut up Garet. If you hadn't demanded on being the navigator, we'd be out by now. Plus, you've been eating all the food. We barely have any left!" Everyone was in a bad mood, and Garet and Mia were constantly bickering. Mia was especially grumpy. She hadn't been able to sleep; she was too busy worrying about Jase. He had always been an adventurous and rebellious man. She wondered what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into this time.
"Come on, you two. Let's get to bed." Medius and the others were trying to sleep, but the arguments and fights had been keeping them up. Garet yawned and climbed into his tent. Within seconds, he was snoring, fast asleep. Mia, on the other hand, was, once again, sitting by the fire, thinking about Jase and Valmyle.
"Everything alright, Mia?" Isaac was also having trouble sleeping.
"Oh, it's nothing." Mia looked deep into Isaac's eyes. They sparkled a beautiful blue in the moonlight. Their eyes locked, but Mia quickly turned away.
"Mia, you must accept the inevitable. Jase is gone. Whether he's dead or not, I don't know, and unless you get to sleep, you won't either." Mia didn't want to listen. She knew he was right, but just couldn't accept it.
"Oh Isaac, I'm so frightened. I don't know what to think anymore." She let out a long sigh. Isaac reached his arms around her. At first, she fought it, but then let Isaac embrace her.
"Mia..." She put her finger to his lips and silenced him.
"Don't talk, feel." And she kissed him. Not a long slobbery kiss where it looks like they eat each other; just a long, but clean kiss. When their lips met, an odd sensation went through their bodies. Isaac pulled Mia even closer to him. As quickly as it began, however, it ended. Mia pulled her head back and turned beet red.
"I...I shouldn't have done that! I should go." She rushed into her tent. Isaac could only smile. He knew that she had enjoyed it as much as he had. Maybe she would feel better about it in the morning. Isaac crawled back into his tent, and fell right into a deep sleep.
***
Another week passed before the six Adepts reached the edge of the forest. The days had all been the same, wandering around and fighting monsters. They had encountered a few apes, but nothing they couldn't handle. The nights had also been similar. Mia was sleeping fine now, perhaps because Isaac was moving so close to her. She still didn't know if she liked the relationship she was forming, but she didn't worry too much about it now. She had bigger things on her mind.
"Well, two weeks later and we're finally out. God Garet, do you always have to save the day. You knew you had no idea where we were going. Good thing Alice found that map." Mia may have been sleeping better, but her fights with Garet were still going strong. Isaac sighed.
"Quit your fighting you two. Come one, we have to find that cave that leads to Valmyle." Medius nodded and motioned for the others to follow him. They all started walking, but Alice remained where she was.
"Medius, maybe we need some new leadership." Medius looked over his shoulder.
"You mean Garet? No, I would like to actually know where we are." Alice seemed used to Medius' sarcasm.
"No, I mean Isaac. He is the one who has traveled all of Angara. Besides, he's a warrior, while you are a Foriendor. You should not be fighting, let alone traveling." Medius began to get angered.
"Now just because I'm a Foriendor, it doesn't mean I can't fight. I have every right to be out here in the open world."
"Yes, I know you majesty. But Isaac is an experienced fighter. He has been on the road for four years now. You have left only a month ago, and have battled only a few times." Now it was Ivan's turn to speak.
"Your majesty, I don't want to offend you, but I agree with Alice. Isaac is more experienced than any of us. Plus, he's a very experienced leader in the wild. He is a quick thinker, and knows exactly what to do in almost and danger. That is all, sir."
"Hmmm. I guess you're right. Well. Oh, I don't know. I guess it would work out. Yes, Isaac, you may take over." Isaac looked a little worried.
"Well, thanks for the flattery, but I think Medius should remain our leader. After all, he is the Foriendor here." Medius smiled, but frowned again right away.
"No, I understand what the others were saying. I would be honored if you took my place as the leader of this 'mission'." Mia smiled sweetly.
"Yes, Isaac, you should lead us. I agree with all that has been said. Please Isaac, do it for me." Isaac paused, then nodded and went to the head of the group.
"Well, we'd better get going then." He started walking, his blade drawn. The others followed closely, ready for anything. Or so they thought.
As they walked, Isaac occasionally thought he saw something flash in the distance. On top of a snow covered mountain, sparkles and flashes were not uncommon. What Isaac saw, however, was much bigger than the average snowflake-sparkle. When he next saw the flash, he decided to ask the others if they had also spotted the odd glint.
"Hey! Did you see that?"
"See what, Isaac? Are you hallucinating again?" Garet always claimed that if he didn't see it, anyone who did was hallucinating. Even if he stood alone.
"No Garet, I'm not. It was some weird flash or something. I looked like light reflecting off of a blade, or some sort of armor."
"Look! I saw it too. Right over there, under that..." Ivan didn't finish. A tall boy jumped out from underneath a fir. He had no weapon or armor, but he did have some odd sort of metallic breathing device.
"Oh, who are you?" The all boy seemed quite friendly.
"I am Lord Isaac, a Venus Adept. These are my friends: Mia, Garet, Ivan, Alice, and the Venus Foriendor, Medius." The boy thought for a moment, and let out a relieved sigh.
"So you aren't bounty hunters. Good, I was afraid I had been discovered." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small-engraved stone. "You're probably wondering what I mean, right?" He didn't let anyone answer. "I am prisoner 1284, but you can call me Aaron."
"Aaron, of the Jupiter Clan? The one who disappeared two years ago?" Medius began to get excited upon hearing the boy's name.
"Yes, I am a Wind Adept, and I did get captured two years ago. How did you know that?"
"I am Medius, you know, the Venus Foriendor. I have left Venus Palace in search of you and several other adepts. What did you say about being a prisoner?" The question seemed to make Aaron a little uneasy, but he answered anyway.
"Um, well, I was out flying around looking for some fun, when I saw some weird knight by this mountain. I landed near him and shouted to him. I guess he got mad or something, because when he saw me, he came over to me and started to glow." Garet interrupted Aaron.
"Then he turned into a huge silver dragon and whooped you, right?" Aaron nodded and continued his tale.
"So anyway, when I awoke, I was in some stone room with chains on my arms and legs. There was a bar door, and small window, also barred. Another one of those weird silver guys came over to me. He didn't say a word, he just handed me this stone and left. I have no idea where I was, all I knew was that I was in some sort of jail cell." Isaac opened his mouth to explain, but Mia started before he could utter a word.
"Aaron, you were a prisoner of Valmyle!" Aaron gasped.
"Valmyle? You mean that legendary kingdom that sank into the earth? Wow! Wait'll my friends back in Bilibin here about this." He started to summon some winds to carry him home, but Ivan created a strong wind that held the boy in his place.
"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere. Listen to us, this is more important to her than any of us." Ivan nodded and Mia continued.
"As I was saying, you were a prisoner of Valmyle. You, along with three other Adepts disappeared there. One of which, was my brother. We were on our way to rescue all of you, but it seems you've taken care of yourself. Well, let's go!" Everyone could tell Mia was angry with Aaron's "rude" behaviors.
"Wait, don't leave me here. What if they catch me?" Aaron was reacting just the way Mia had wanted him too. She continued.
"Well you sure didn't seem worried about that a minute ago." The others chuckled and Aaron frowned. He had realized what Mia was doing.
"Sorry about what I said did earlier. I didn't realize you were trying to help me. Mia accepted his apology and forgave him.
"It's OK. We all screw up sometimes." Aaron nodded as he walked up to Medius.
"Your majesty, would you mind if I joined up with you guys? I really could use some protection." Medius considered it for a moment, then nodded with approval. "Gee thanks. I hope I'm not too much of a hassle or anything. If I bother you at all, please, just let me..." Medius was now annoyed.
"OK, I get the point. Please, just shut up!" Aaron looked a little hurt, but new that the Foriendor was just in a bad mood. It had always seemed that way about royalties. Aaron's mother had once been a Foriendor, but she and her husband had been assassinated. Aaron had recently lived with his Grandfather, but had left in search of Valmyle.
The Adepts continued trudging through the snow, which continued to fall harder as the ascended the peak. Soon, it was almost up to their waists. The snow soon stopped falling, but it was so deep they could barely move.
"What is up with this snow! It feels like I'm frozen." Garet, being a Mars Adept, was weakened greatly by the snow. He was sick and tired of being stuck.
"Well, do something about it. You're the one with heat powers!" Even Ivan was in a bad mood. Garet thought for a moment, then smiled. He put his hands together then slowly spread them out. As he did, all the snow his hands passed melted. After all the snow around them was gone, Isaac noticed something.
"Hey, is that a cave over there?" Medius went over and peeked in. He called back.
"Yeah! I think it's the path to Valmyle." Aaron looked around and agreed. They were so close to their destination, and yet so far. The path was long and dangerous. Whether they would make it was up to the Gods.
