Curse of the Sages

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Chapter 4 - Alexi?

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O_o I think Selena and I have turned the Review page into a mini-forum... But that is a good thing, isn't it??

And to comment to my reviewers:

Selena - I do not believe that I ever said that the Wise One was evil, but instead, he was persuing a higher goal, or as a well-known series once put it, "The needs of the many out-weigh the needs of the few or the one." Remember, the world was shrinking whithout the power of Alchemy. But why would he need to prevent it from being sealed? Find out when I do in a future chapter!! [As you can see, I have yet to choose a reason for his actions from a list of options...]

Kyarorain - That he is... But *why* must they be killed? Find out!

Rain Child - But what is the title?? And as for Naomi... Eh, I'll sick my inner deamons at her...

And unless you reviewed after this was posted, I will now ask my puzzled comrade to do a distasteful act.

Sheba - Who the heck is Alexi??

That is what this chapter is for!!

Sheba - ??? Ookayy. MIKAA OWNS NOT GOLDEN SUN OR NINTENDO OR CAMELOT. FOR IF HE DID, HE WOULD CRUSH THE EMPIRE OF MICROSOFT AND SEND THEM BACK TO THE PC BUSINESS AND THEN TURN TO SONY AND-

[Dusts off Rod of Hisperia] That's enought, Sheba. To the Tale!

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Isaac stared at the new figure standing near Alex, puzzled at his sudden appearance. Beside him stood Felix, quiet and as shocked as he was. Alex was staring at the figure as well, the baby Mia nuzzling into his chest.

Across from them stood Alexi, a man whose attire looked Lemurian, but a little more... aged. The trident was a duplicate of the one that Piers was using when he met him at the Jupiter Lighthouse. The face, though, looked like Alex's, oddly enough...

"What do you mean, 'may have saved the world,'" spoke a stunned Alex.

Alexi turned towards the Mercurian, his icy blue eyes staring into his being. "A good question. But I would think that you would like to know *who* I am, wouldn't you?"

Isaac noticed the presence of studdering in Alex's voice. "Uh, Yes, that had crossed my mind..."

Alexi nodded, turning to Isaac and Felix. "Over a period of time long since lost, I was born. I was a native of a culture called Lemuria. At that time, the city was thriving on its trade with foreign lands. But then, Proxian visitors forced the walls of our city shut, sealing the exits and entrances with laces of our Mercurian energies. When I was sent to find out what had transpired in the world years later, I was greeted by a ship of travelers. They were seeking to light the beacons, to restart the powers of Alchemy, which had been sealed at some point during our isolation. Once the power was released, we all parted ways, until a being calling itself "Wise One" stopped me, and demanded that I kill those who would seek to seal the power, to starve the planet.

"For years, I did this, until I reached a small settlement in the north, near the Mercury Lighthouse. I was supposed to kill a child there, but I realized that the child was my beloved, reborn thanks to the powers of Alchemy that infused within their souls. I spared her, but the Wise One appeared, and upon hearing my refusal, he attacked me, claiming that I had sentenced the planet to death. I did not know it at the time, but after he left, I began to sew the seeds of doom for the world. Soon, my daughter left with a group of travelers, and they ended up sealing the power of Alchemy. I then recieved word that she died, apparently at the hands of the Wise One. Furious, I went to his supposed resting ground, in a small village near the center of Weyard.

"I called him out, and he explained that it was my price, my punishment. I had no idea what he meant, but he then told me the tale of why he did what he did. The first generation of the "reborn stage" has to be eliminated, to prevent the cycle from repeating. The only known way to prevent this is to kill the entire generation. At least, it was the only way.

"I found a way to sever the bondage that the souls have with the Elemental Stars. The belief that the Wise One expressed was that the first one's born were the instigators, followed by the "heroes." But unknowingly, when he himself killed the first back in an era long gone, he had established a link with them. The problem, though, is that he channels the power of Alchemy within himself. He is, literally, a *fifth* Elemental Star, and only by destroying him will the cycle be ended."

Alex was breathless, as was Isaac himself. Felix, on the other hand...

"But, the Wise One wants to preserve life..."

"Exactly," replied Alexi. "He does, and by killing the eight or so to stop the shrinking of the world or to prevent its destruction by those who wish to abuse it, he prevents the entire world from danger. Sadly, it has gone too long, but since there have been no deaths yet in this generation, we might have a chance."

Isaac tried to swallow with his dry throat. "What do we do?"

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O_o

Uh... Maybe I went too far...

Sheba - Yep. You are a dead man.

Ah, well... We shall see. Just hope Naomi doesn't read it...

Sheba - REVIEW!!! HE VALUES INPUT!!