Chapter 2: the mercury adept
-
The inn was empty when they arrived. They hardly had any customers in Imil; it was too cold in the winter. No one dared travel north because it was dangerous anyway. It was reasonably small, but cosy all the same, which was all they really wanted. The innkeeper looked at them hopefully from behind the counter as they entered.
"Excuse me sir." Isaac said as he came right up to the counter. "Can we have a room for a while please? It won't be for long, about half an hour. We have things to do."
"Of course." He replied, holding out a hand for the money. "We haven't had a customer for a while. It's nice to see someone here. That'll be 200 coins for the both of you. I take it you are having separate rooms?"
"Yes thank you." Isaac replied, handing over the money. "Come on Garet. I'm so tired."
Isaac and Garet made their way slowly up the narrow staircase. There were five rooms in all. Garet's and Isaac's were at the other end of the inn. Isaac yawned as he entered his room. Garet dropped onto his bed. He was glad of the sleep. They hadn't slept properly for days. They only had a few minutes before they had to set off for the mercury lighthouse. Garet treasured those minutes like gold dust.
"I can't believe it's nearly time to go." Isaac muttered to him self as he smoothed out his bedspread. "It seems like we've only just arrived at this inn and now we must go."
Isaac's room was identical to Garet's. The bare floorboards had been polished. Rugs had been placed onto it to cheer it up a bit. The bedspread had the symbols of sol and lunar embroidered onto it with silver as well as gold threads. The leaded windows projected frost patterns round the room like shimmering swirls, lighting up the cream coloured walls. Isaac sat on his bed in a daydream, thinking about Ivan, Jenna, and Felix.
"Isaac." Garet called from out side, slightly agitated from lack of rest. "Isn't it about time we got going. Ivan needs our help you know. We can't hang around for to long. Have you forgotten about our quest?"
"I'm coming." Came Isaac's hurried reply as he quickly packing up his items and his Gaia blade. "Your right, I shouldn't be so lazy. Ivan needs our help."
He grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder hurriedly as he dashed out of the room. Garet waited out side his room as patiently as he could manage; Isaac knew that this tolerance wouldn't last long if he kept slacking. Mars adepts can be very intolerant at the best of times. Garet scowled at Isaac disapprovingly.
"I suppose its fine for me to get up early when I'm dieing on my knees while you selfishly ignore the fact that your friends are in danger and sleep in." Garet scolded. "You know Isaac, you really need to change your attitude if you want to succeed in our mission."
"I'm sorry Garet. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just tired and I needed some."
"Oh. Enough already. You're stalling us again." Garet grumbled, annoyed at Isaac. "Now come on, before I torch you."
Garet turned away from Isaac, heading for the stairs. Isaac sighed as he turned reluctantly, to follow Garet back out of the inn. He really didn't want to leave. He had, hardly had the sleep he wanted. Half an hour was hardly enough time to restore his energy. He had no idea whether Ivan was still alive or whether they would ever find Mia at all. Garet led him back out of the inn into the cold streets of Imil.
"The lighthouse isn't far from here." Garet looked at the peak of the great building, standing gallantly against a crystal blue sky. "It shouldn't take us long to get there."
Without warning Garet started off in course of the lighthouse. Isaac rolled his eyes, once again turning to follow him. He didn't like to argue with Garet when he was in this kind of mood; he would usually just let him get on with it. Garet continued to lead the way, not looking at Isaac once. Even though Isaac felt lonely, he made quick progress through the snowy city. It wasn't long before the two warriors arrived at the lighthouse.
"Hello." Garet called confidently to an obviously empty building. "Mia. Hello, we need your help."
"I don't think she's here." Isaac called to Garet, from the bottom of the steps. "I think we're too late. Either that or she was never here because she was healing people."
"I knew that you should have got up earlier." Garet complained, obviously annoyed at Isaac. "Come on. We need to find her. Now. Ivan needs our help."
Garet moodily stormed past Isaac back towards Imil. Isaac jogged after him, trying to keep up with his stride. They searched the whole of Imil for Mia; she was nowhere to be found. Garet became more and more moody each time they failed to find her. They finally arrived back out side the house where they had left Ivan.
"This is all your fault Isaac. If you hadn't stayed in, we would have cured Ivan by now. I am fed up of your lazy attitude."
"Calm down. If it makes you any happier then I'll go and explain to all of them that Mia can't be found. It's not our fault that she has disappeared into mid air. Now come on and stop moaning."
Isaac pushed past Garet. He knocked on the door with his back to Garet. Isaac could hear him grumble as the door was answered.
"Hello." The lady answered, turning to look at them. "Oh its you two. I forgot to ask of your names?"
"Oh, I'm Isaac and this is my best friend Garet. We are sorry, but Mia was nowhere to be found, not in the lighthouse, not anywhere. We hope this doesn't trouble you to much."
"Of course it doesn't bother me. Mia is here. She is healing my husband this very minute. Your just in time, its Ivan's turn next, you can see Mia's amazing power in action. Come in."
She led them back into her cottage. Her husband was sitting up in bed, perfectly well, thanking Mia for her time. Mia was smiling, telling him that he still needed plenty of rest despite his perkiness. Ivan was conscious, but looked barely capable of anything much. Mia looked round at him kindly and smiled.
"I will do my best." She promised, approaching him. "Without Alex I can't fully heal you, so I suggest that when I'm done you stay here for a bit."
Isaac watched as Mia rested a delicate hand on Ivan's head, brushing back his damp fringe. I clear blue light swirled round her hand, shrouding Ivan in a blue mist. Isaac could see straight away that she was using psynergy. Her eyes remained shut as she concentrated her energy into healing Ivan. As the mist died down, Ivan opened his eyes, meeting a pair of turquoise ones.
"Who are you?" Ivan asked, puzzled. "Did you.just save my life?"
"My name is Mia. The healer of Imil." She explained, smiling broadly at him. "I suppose I have saved your life really. Promise me you'll have plenty of rest before you get big idea's into your head."
"I will." Promised Ivan, nodding at her thankfully. "Where are my friends, Isaac and Garet?"
"We're over here." Isaac said, rushing over to see how he was. "Wow Mia. That was really amazing." He praised, looking back at her thankfully. "How can we show our appreciation? We have a few coins, it's not much but we're thankful enough to let you have this."
"There's no need. I don't need money for what I do. I just like to see smiles on peoples faces and know that I put them there." She smiled at him, happily. "I'm always happy to help."
Isaac looked at Mia again. Her eyes were shining with joy as she looked back at Ivan, her turquoise hair resting gently on her shoulders. Her pale skin shimmered against the light as she went to brush her hair behind her. He couldn't help but stare for a while until the silence was broken by a shout.
"What's that light. Where's it coming from?" Mia rushed over to a window. "The lighthouse, it can't be. The lighthouse can't be entered without me. Unless Alex. But why would Alex want to light the beacon?"
"What's wrong Mia?" Isaac asked, joining her beside the window. "Why are you so worried?"
"Would you like to help me with something, Isaac?" Mia asked. "Its just, I need to find out who has done this."
"Of course, anything. After all you did save my friend." Isaac replied, looking back at Ivan. "What must we do?"
"I'm sorry. I don't have time to explain. We need to go."
-
The inn was empty when they arrived. They hardly had any customers in Imil; it was too cold in the winter. No one dared travel north because it was dangerous anyway. It was reasonably small, but cosy all the same, which was all they really wanted. The innkeeper looked at them hopefully from behind the counter as they entered.
"Excuse me sir." Isaac said as he came right up to the counter. "Can we have a room for a while please? It won't be for long, about half an hour. We have things to do."
"Of course." He replied, holding out a hand for the money. "We haven't had a customer for a while. It's nice to see someone here. That'll be 200 coins for the both of you. I take it you are having separate rooms?"
"Yes thank you." Isaac replied, handing over the money. "Come on Garet. I'm so tired."
Isaac and Garet made their way slowly up the narrow staircase. There were five rooms in all. Garet's and Isaac's were at the other end of the inn. Isaac yawned as he entered his room. Garet dropped onto his bed. He was glad of the sleep. They hadn't slept properly for days. They only had a few minutes before they had to set off for the mercury lighthouse. Garet treasured those minutes like gold dust.
"I can't believe it's nearly time to go." Isaac muttered to him self as he smoothed out his bedspread. "It seems like we've only just arrived at this inn and now we must go."
Isaac's room was identical to Garet's. The bare floorboards had been polished. Rugs had been placed onto it to cheer it up a bit. The bedspread had the symbols of sol and lunar embroidered onto it with silver as well as gold threads. The leaded windows projected frost patterns round the room like shimmering swirls, lighting up the cream coloured walls. Isaac sat on his bed in a daydream, thinking about Ivan, Jenna, and Felix.
"Isaac." Garet called from out side, slightly agitated from lack of rest. "Isn't it about time we got going. Ivan needs our help you know. We can't hang around for to long. Have you forgotten about our quest?"
"I'm coming." Came Isaac's hurried reply as he quickly packing up his items and his Gaia blade. "Your right, I shouldn't be so lazy. Ivan needs our help."
He grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder hurriedly as he dashed out of the room. Garet waited out side his room as patiently as he could manage; Isaac knew that this tolerance wouldn't last long if he kept slacking. Mars adepts can be very intolerant at the best of times. Garet scowled at Isaac disapprovingly.
"I suppose its fine for me to get up early when I'm dieing on my knees while you selfishly ignore the fact that your friends are in danger and sleep in." Garet scolded. "You know Isaac, you really need to change your attitude if you want to succeed in our mission."
"I'm sorry Garet. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just tired and I needed some."
"Oh. Enough already. You're stalling us again." Garet grumbled, annoyed at Isaac. "Now come on, before I torch you."
Garet turned away from Isaac, heading for the stairs. Isaac sighed as he turned reluctantly, to follow Garet back out of the inn. He really didn't want to leave. He had, hardly had the sleep he wanted. Half an hour was hardly enough time to restore his energy. He had no idea whether Ivan was still alive or whether they would ever find Mia at all. Garet led him back out of the inn into the cold streets of Imil.
"The lighthouse isn't far from here." Garet looked at the peak of the great building, standing gallantly against a crystal blue sky. "It shouldn't take us long to get there."
Without warning Garet started off in course of the lighthouse. Isaac rolled his eyes, once again turning to follow him. He didn't like to argue with Garet when he was in this kind of mood; he would usually just let him get on with it. Garet continued to lead the way, not looking at Isaac once. Even though Isaac felt lonely, he made quick progress through the snowy city. It wasn't long before the two warriors arrived at the lighthouse.
"Hello." Garet called confidently to an obviously empty building. "Mia. Hello, we need your help."
"I don't think she's here." Isaac called to Garet, from the bottom of the steps. "I think we're too late. Either that or she was never here because she was healing people."
"I knew that you should have got up earlier." Garet complained, obviously annoyed at Isaac. "Come on. We need to find her. Now. Ivan needs our help."
Garet moodily stormed past Isaac back towards Imil. Isaac jogged after him, trying to keep up with his stride. They searched the whole of Imil for Mia; she was nowhere to be found. Garet became more and more moody each time they failed to find her. They finally arrived back out side the house where they had left Ivan.
"This is all your fault Isaac. If you hadn't stayed in, we would have cured Ivan by now. I am fed up of your lazy attitude."
"Calm down. If it makes you any happier then I'll go and explain to all of them that Mia can't be found. It's not our fault that she has disappeared into mid air. Now come on and stop moaning."
Isaac pushed past Garet. He knocked on the door with his back to Garet. Isaac could hear him grumble as the door was answered.
"Hello." The lady answered, turning to look at them. "Oh its you two. I forgot to ask of your names?"
"Oh, I'm Isaac and this is my best friend Garet. We are sorry, but Mia was nowhere to be found, not in the lighthouse, not anywhere. We hope this doesn't trouble you to much."
"Of course it doesn't bother me. Mia is here. She is healing my husband this very minute. Your just in time, its Ivan's turn next, you can see Mia's amazing power in action. Come in."
She led them back into her cottage. Her husband was sitting up in bed, perfectly well, thanking Mia for her time. Mia was smiling, telling him that he still needed plenty of rest despite his perkiness. Ivan was conscious, but looked barely capable of anything much. Mia looked round at him kindly and smiled.
"I will do my best." She promised, approaching him. "Without Alex I can't fully heal you, so I suggest that when I'm done you stay here for a bit."
Isaac watched as Mia rested a delicate hand on Ivan's head, brushing back his damp fringe. I clear blue light swirled round her hand, shrouding Ivan in a blue mist. Isaac could see straight away that she was using psynergy. Her eyes remained shut as she concentrated her energy into healing Ivan. As the mist died down, Ivan opened his eyes, meeting a pair of turquoise ones.
"Who are you?" Ivan asked, puzzled. "Did you.just save my life?"
"My name is Mia. The healer of Imil." She explained, smiling broadly at him. "I suppose I have saved your life really. Promise me you'll have plenty of rest before you get big idea's into your head."
"I will." Promised Ivan, nodding at her thankfully. "Where are my friends, Isaac and Garet?"
"We're over here." Isaac said, rushing over to see how he was. "Wow Mia. That was really amazing." He praised, looking back at her thankfully. "How can we show our appreciation? We have a few coins, it's not much but we're thankful enough to let you have this."
"There's no need. I don't need money for what I do. I just like to see smiles on peoples faces and know that I put them there." She smiled at him, happily. "I'm always happy to help."
Isaac looked at Mia again. Her eyes were shining with joy as she looked back at Ivan, her turquoise hair resting gently on her shoulders. Her pale skin shimmered against the light as she went to brush her hair behind her. He couldn't help but stare for a while until the silence was broken by a shout.
"What's that light. Where's it coming from?" Mia rushed over to a window. "The lighthouse, it can't be. The lighthouse can't be entered without me. Unless Alex. But why would Alex want to light the beacon?"
"What's wrong Mia?" Isaac asked, joining her beside the window. "Why are you so worried?"
"Would you like to help me with something, Isaac?" Mia asked. "Its just, I need to find out who has done this."
"Of course, anything. After all you did save my friend." Isaac replied, looking back at Ivan. "What must we do?"
"I'm sorry. I don't have time to explain. We need to go."
