A broken heart

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Chapter 1: the fever

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Isaac had been travelling for days, leading Garet and Ivan up north to the snowy village of Imil. His feet ached with the weight of his sword. He could tell the others were as tired as he. They had not slept since their stay at the inn in Bilibin. How each of them longed to lie back on a soft comfy bed, sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. Ivan stumbled, his psynergy completely drained. He fell to the floor unconscious, frozen stiff.

"Ivan." Isaac muttered as loudly as he could manage. He knew it was useless and that Ivan couldn't hear him any way, but he kept trying, desperately trying to bring him back to a conscious state of mind. "Get up. We're nearly there. I can see houses."

Garet pulled him up limply by his arm and slug him over his shoulder. He groaned under Ivan's weight as he stumbled after Isaac. Unaware of what he was doing, Ivan twitched suddenly now and then, causing Garet to trip and struggle. The journey was getting harder as they progressed. The further north they climbed, the colder the scolding breeze became, freezing Isaacs fingers and toes. Ivan's face was ghostly white, yet his forehead burned. Worriedly, Garet slung him onto the snowy floor, bending over his companion.

"Garet, what's wrong?" Isaac asked tiredly, backtracking to take a look at Ivan. He bent over his frozen friend with Garet, holding a frost bitten hand to his forehead. "What happened? Is he ok?"

Garet looked up, a distant glint of worry in his eye, "I think Ivan has a fever." He replied quietly, looking back at him sadly. "But, we have nothing to cure him with. We used our last healing items days ago, and psynergy is out of the question." He shook his head sadly. "I doubt he'll make it to Imil alive."

"Garet, don't say that. We must be strong. There is still hope for his survival. I heard that there is a girl in Imil who possesses great healing power. If we can get him to her then we have hope, now quickly, before it really is to late."

Isaac pushed him self unsteadily to his feet, turned back in the direction of Imil. Garet sighed deeply, sending clouds of his breath floating over the snow-capped mountains of Imil. He gently lifted Ivan up from the snow-covered floor, leaving a small hole where Ivan had been. Supporting Ivan with his left arm, he picked up his sword and steadily followed Isaac through the snowy wilderness.

They made good progress after that, knowing that they had to if they wanted Ivan better again. It was desperately cold. Garet pressed his ear to Ivan's chest. He was relieved to hear a sharp raspy breath trying its best to keep Ivan alive. Isaac turned to see how Ivan was doing. Garet gave him a small forced smile and nodded at him. Isaac nodded back with relief as he turned to enter Imil's embrace.

Isaac soon realized that Imil wasn't the paradise they had hoped for the whole journey. It was just as cold as the journey there. The river had frozen leaving a sheet of ice covering the surface. Snow lay thick on the ground, untouched. The streets were empty so that it appeared almost a ghost town; the only footprints that had been left were by Isaac and Garet. They looked round speechlessly at the empty village, taking in every unwelcoming feature.

"We need some where to stay." Announced Isaac, looking round for an inn. He glanced towards the opposite side of Imil. "I recon it's somewhere over there." He pointed to the spot. "But I think it's a bad idea to carry Ivan all the way down there. He's been through enough."

Garet looked up at Isaac. His pale face was fixed firmly into a frown, portraying that he was thinking deeply about the situation. Garet remained solemn through out. Looking slightly hopeful towards Isaac's brilliant mind. He looked over to a nearby house. A merry fire crackled within, sending cheerful dashes of light across the snow.

"Isaac. We could ask the people in that house if they could lend Ivan a bed while we go and find Mia. We could bring her over to him then." Garet looked back at Isaac from his friends frozen body. "We can't keep him out here much longer while we ponder our fate."

Isaac looked up, smiling slightly, "Your right. If we are lucky.they will have a spare bed, and Ivan can stay there until we are ready to collect him. Well, come on."

He strode confidently towards the house, where he waited as Garet gently lifted their new friend from the icy floor. By now Ivan was covered in snow, he was frozen from head to toe. Garet knew it would be painful for him when he finally came round. He carefully carried him over to Isaac as he rapped at the door several times.

"Come in Mia, love," a lady called warmly from within her home. "The door is open, I have my hands full right now. I know you have plenty of other people who need seeing to, but my husband is terribly sick"

Garet and Isaac looked at each other, puzzled. "Mia. Do you think that's her? The young healer, the mercury adept." Garet shrugged.

The door opened. A wizened old lady stood, blocking the door with a wooden spoon in her tight grasp. Her face creased up as she examined the adepts with wonder. She seemed a bit annoyed, but warm and welcoming despite the surprise that met her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I thought you were our Mia. We have been expecting her for a while now. I sure she has business to attend to at the moment though. What's wrong with the dear lad? Has he caught the fever that's been going round?"

"We're sorry for turning up like this, but our friend has a fever and we need somewhere for him to stay while we find the healer of this village."

"Oh, you mean Mia. Of course, come in." she said, leading them into her home. "It would be great if you could find her for us. My husband has a fever too. I can sustain him with the few healing items I have but Mia has an amazing power. Without the Hermes water, the whole town relies on Mia and her companion."

Isaac looked round at the small residence they were to leave Ivan at. So many different jars and barrels, most were empty. There were two beds to his left. Her husband laid barely conscious in one, the covers wrapped tightly round him, but it seemed to make him even worse that way. Garet laid Ivan down on the other as the lady rushed over with healing herbs and potions. Stroking his forehead with a damp cloth.

"These items will hardly save him, but they will keep him alive until Mia comes." she said, looking up at them from Ivan. "Now go find Mia. Your friend, Ivan was it, will be perfectly fine here. I suggest you go and stay at the inn for a bit before you go. You should find her outside the mercury lighthouse. Now go."

Isaac nodded in Garet's direction. He led the way out of the house into the snowy streets of Imil. He and Garet scanned for the lighthouse. The structure of the tower stood clearly silhouetted against the pale blue sky. The snow had finally settled. A man stood outside the shop.

"There's a fever going round," he called over to Isaac. "It's best you stay outside though. It doesn't like the cold much."

"Come on. Lets go now. We need to get Ivan better." Garet told Isaac, nodding at the man to show that he'd heard. "The mercury lighthouse is over there. We need to find Mia."

Garet turned in the direction of the lighthouse, looking up at the beautiful building. Even though Garet was trying to sound sure of the long journey that lay ahead of them, Isaac could see the worry in his eyes. Isaac was worried to. He hated the thought of two close friends being taken from them, especially when there was a chance that they may not come back alive. Isaac slowly led the way towards the inn.