I'm very, very, very, very, very, VERY sorry that this update took so long! I have a good reason for the delay though. I won't go into the agonizing details, but the gist of it is that I've practically been living at the library for the past two and a half weeks working on my EVIL senior thesis (i.e. the last major hurdle towards getting my BA), and therefore I had very little time to do much of anything fun. The good news is that my thesis is due on the 28th, and I'll basically be done with school after that. I hope this chapter is worth the wait!

And for any GS newbies, Picard is Piers's original Japanese name. Frankly, I think Piers is a pretty crappy substitute (stupid Nintendo), so I will forever be referring to our Lemurian friend as "Picard." ^_^

*Static*

"This was outside in the shrubs," Tristan said, holding up Picard's shining sword.

"That's it!" Garet cried. "We have to find this creep and blow him to pieces before we all disappear off the face of Weyard!"

"Picard…" Sheba whispered, staring at the blade. "Oh no! This is all my fault! If only I could pinpoint the source behind all of this!"

Ivan started to go to her but Tristan got there first. "It's all right, Sheba. We'll find them somehow."

Sheba hugged him and Ivan fumed to himself. Then he saw a huge mark in Tristan's staff. It looked like a chunk of the wood had been sliced away…

"What's that, Tristan?" Ivan asked, pointing to the mark.

Tristan fidgeted ever so slightly. "Oh look at that! I must've scraped my staff against something in the marketplace. Pity."

Ivan narrowed his eyes. There was no way a mark of that significance had come from a mere scrape. He was about to point this out but then thought better of it. If he played his cards right, he'd finally have the proof he needed to expose Tristan for the phony he was.

Once everyone else was asleep, Ivan got up and tiptoed across the living area to where Picard's sword lay on the table. He picked it up with both hands but failed to appreciate the weight of the weapon and fell over with a dull crash. He held his breath for a moment to see if anyone had heard him, but Garet's snoring had successfully masked the noise and no one stirred. Ivan frowned at the weapon and picked it up again, this time more cautiously. How the heck did Picard manage to fight with this thing? It weighed a ton!

Silently, Ivan crept into Tristan's bedroom and found the staff in question. He carefully took the sword by the hilt and held the blade up to the crack in the staff. The two fit together like matching puzzle pieces.

I knew it! Ivan exclaimed to himself. This slash mark was created by Picard's sword, which means the two of them must've sparred. Tristan does know something about these disappearances, and it wouldn't surprise me if he concocted the whole thing to get to Sheba!

He regarded the snoozing Jupiter Adept carefully, debating whether or not to try a Mind Read. No, that was too risky. Better to wait until tomorrow when he could present this evidence to the others.

************

Sheba sat in the grass outside of Tristan's house trying to focus her power. Why couldn't she figure out what was going on? What kind of Child of Jupiter did she make? No matter how hard she tried to feel out a disturbance, everything just came up blank. She opened her eyes and sighed loudly, frustrated and hopeless. What had happened to the others? Were they even still alive?

A familiar pair of feet came into her field of vision and she gazed up to meet Ivan's violet eyes. He smiled slightly and sat down across from her. "Can we talk?"

"I guess," she replied. "I'm so worried about the others. Why can't I figure this out? Tristan said I'd be able to!"

"Sheba, I have something to tell you and I know you're not going to like it, but please--hear me out. It's important."

"If it's more of your wild stories about Tristan, I'm not interested."

That was a low blow, Ivan thought, trying not to let the hurt he felt reflect on his face. He bit his lip and spoke carefully.

"When have I ever lied to you, Sheba? We've been traveling together for a long time now and I thought we trusted each other completely. I know I trust you."

"It's not that, Ivan. You're my dearest friend of all and I'll never stop caring about you or respecting you. But this is different. I feel a connection to this place, to Tristan, and I can't ignore that."

"He's deceiving you, Sheba," Ivan said. "He's been deceiving all of us. Last night, I compared Picard's sword to the mark on Tristan's staff and they matched perfectly. He knows something about what's going on!"

"Stop it!" Sheba insisted. "Just stop!"

Ivan leaned forward and grasped her hand. "Listen to me! Remember that weird feeling we kept getting while we were on the ship? The one we couldn't figure out?"

"It was the sea dragon."

"No, I don't think it was. I think it was about this place and Tristan. I've had a strange feeling about him since we met him and it won't go away. He has to be hiding something!"

She yanked her hand away and stood up. "I don't want to hear another one of your lies!"

He kept on her heels as she walked away and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Don't you get it? This is exactly what he wants--to erode our bond of trust! He's trying to get to you!"

All of a sudden, Sheba whirled and slapped Ivan square across the face. Stunned, he stared into her watering eyes still as a statue.

"I thought you understood," she said in a quiet but clearly upset tone. "I thought that you'd be happy for me, Ivan, but I guess you're not the friend I thought you were." Eyes still watering, she turned and ran away into the village.

"Sheba…" Ivan whispered as he touched his throbbing cheek. "What's happened to us?"

Tristan was idly pacing about town when he saw Sheba lurking behind one of the buildings. He approached her slowly and heard her drawing in sniffles. "Sheba?" he asked in concern. "What's the matter?"

She turned to him, wiping furiously at her tears. "Oh Tristan. Forgive me. This whole situation has me worked up."

"I understand. Is there anything I can do to help?"

For a brief moment, Sheba looked into the emerald green eyes and thought she felt something. Ivan's words came flooding back to her and a small wave of doubt crept into her mind. "Tristan…I…"

"What?"

"You said the other day that you had something to tell me. Something else that I should know. Please, what is it?"

He smiled slightly. "Are you sure you want me to tell you? It could change a lot of things between us."

"Yes. I have to know."

"Very well." He paused a moment and looked pensive. "It is a custom in this village for mates to be chosen by their parents. And when you were born, Sheba, it was determined that there was only one boy powerful enough to be fit for the Child of Jupiter."

"What are you saying, Tristan?"

"Our parents decreed it, Sheba. You and I were betrothed."

Silence. The revelation was almost too much for her. Again, Ivan's words resounded in the back of her mind for a split-second, but they were quickly pushed aside by the happiness she felt. This had to be right! Without another thought, she leaped into Tristan's arms and started to laugh.

"I can't believe it!" she cried. "It's just too perfect!"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yes! Tristan, this is the best possible news you could've given me right now!"

He grinned broadly as he returned her embrace. "Does this mean you'll stay with me, Sheba? Forever?"

"Forever!" She gave him a peck on the cheek and then slowly moved into a longer, more meaningful kiss. She settled contentedly into his arms, unable to stop smiling. It was all so right.

"You've made me the happiest man alive, Sheba," Tristan said honestly. "Thank you so much."

"No, thank you for helping me find my real place in this world."

They remained in their silent, euphoric embrace for several minutes, and then parted slightly. "Sheba," Tristan began. "Now that you've agreed to stay, there is something I would like to show you."

"Oh?" Her eyes lit up. "What is it?"

"Come with me." He gripped her hand tightly and led her away from the village towards a high, rocky cliff. Sheba stared at it a moment in confusion before Tristan pulled her right through the wall and into the open chamber within. "This temple was built long ago by our ancestors. Isn't it amazing?"

Sheba paced a few steps in wonder. "I've never seen anything like this. It's…incredible! But how did you disguise it so perfectly?"

Tristan smiled. "A trade secret. The illusion is so flawless that even the power of Reveal cannot see through it." He went towards the door at the far side of the chamber. "Come. There are even more surprises within."

He pushed open the door and Sheba stepped into the vast, white-stone chamber. She walked along the purple carpet, unable to take all of it in. Above, there was a skylight revealing the setting sun. "It's so beautiful."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Tristan tapped the floor with his staff and four white columns slowly sprouted out of the floor close to the throne at the far end. Sheba watched in both delight and awe, and then she saw that chained atop three of the columns were three very familiar figures.

"I-Isaac?" she gasped in disbelief. "Mia? Jenna?" She ran closer and gazed up at her friends. None of them moved and their bodies pulsed with a dull purple light. "H-how can this be? They were here the whole time?"

"That's correct," Tristan said, coming up behind her. Sheba whirled, fury in her eyes.

"What have you done to them?! Let them go this instant!"

"I cannot do that, Sheba."

"Why?" she demanded, her voice rising. "And where is Picard? What have you done with Picard?"

"Ah yes, the Lemurian. He didn't go as easily as the others, but I wouldn't have expected anything less of a warrior from that ancient race." He lifted his hand and light suddenly shone from above the throne platform. Picard was there on the floor beside the throne, also chained and also enveloped in the dull purple light. "I only kept him around so that I might extract some information from him. It is not everyday that one meets a real Lemurian."

Sheba was fuming. "I demand that you set them free! How could you do this to me, Tristan? How could you trick me this way?!"

"It wasn't a trick, Sheba. I've done all of this for your benefit, and very soon, you shall understand why." He looked directly into her eyes and she was suddenly aware of a dark cloud invading her mind and she could feel herself about to pass out. As a last-ditch effort, she sent out the loudest telepathic cry she could manage, but then everything went black.

************

IVAN!

The frightened cry echoed in Ivan's mind like a shotgun blast. Sheba? He tried to call back, but there was no response. He couldn't even sense her mental energies nearby, as if some sort of wall were blocking her off. Sheba?! His heart jumped to his throat and started pounding loudly. Where was she? What was happening to her?

"Felix!" he called, seeing the Venus Adept nearby. "Have you seen Sheba?"

"Not since earlier when she was meditating. Why?"

Ivan knitted his eyebrows and walked briskly through the village streets, bumping into Garet as he went.

"Where's the fire, Ivan?"

"Have you seen Sheba?"

Garet thought a moment. "I saw her a short while ago with Tristan. They looked like they were heading out of town."

"Which way?" Ivan asked desperately.

"That way." Garet pointed in the direction and Ivan took off. "Hey Ivan, what's going on?"

But Ivan didn't stop to answer. He ran as fast as his feet would carry him, looking for some sign of Sheba. Above, the sky darkened as black clouds began to gather. Felix and Garet met up in town just as a flock of the blue-black, two-headed bird creatures descended from within the clouds.

As soon as Ivan came to the high, rocky cliff, he knew there was something suspicious about it. He cast Reveal and to his surprise, saw no change. So he touched the wall instead and discovered that his hand went through it. Cautiously, he walked through and found his way to the white-stone chamber. Discovering Isaac, Mia, Jenna and Picard was enough of a surprise, but then he saw Sheba there too. She was sitting up perfectly straight on the throne and staring dead ahead of her. But her eyes were clouded and weren't actually seeing anything.

"Sheba?" Ivan questioned as he approached her. "Sheba?" No reaction at all. Her eyes continued to stare ahead blankly. He was about to try Mind Read when a flash of purple light caught his attention.

"At last you're here," Tristan said. "I knew you'd come as soon as Sheba sent her distress call."

Ivan glared at the other Jupiter Adept and brandished his staff. "What have you done to her--to all of them? Tell me!"

Tristan smirked. "They're safe, but they won't be much longer. I merely used a combination of Psynergies to bind their powers and hold them in trances until the time is right."

"What?"

"Tonight is a new moon," Tristan began wistfully, pacing about the room. "And I must perform my ceremony again, just like I have once every twenty-five years for the past three centuries." He turned to face Ivan. "And you, Ivan, are the last required ingredient."

"Ingredient, eh?" Ivan inquired. "Sounds like you're trying to cook up a recipe for disaster. Let my friends go or prepare to fight me."

"You're not worthy of my time!" Tristan scoffed. "You're hardly a master of your element--you can't even cast Spark Plasma!" He smirked again. "But there is plenty of time before I must perform the incantation. Show me what you have, child."

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Yup, another cliffhanger. But what did you expect when we're working towards the climax? Next chapter--the decisive battle between Ivan and Tristan (as well as a whole lot of revelations)! Who will survive? ^_^