Chapter 3: the mercury lighthouse

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The party of four rushed out of the cottage, thanking the lady as they left. Mia led the way, worrying about Imil and her people. Isaac followed along with Garet and Ivan. He knew that this was down to Saturos and the others who had kidnapped his friends. They soon arrived out side the lighthouse, only to find that their path was blocked.

"We can't get in, our path is blocked by that statue." Mia looked worriedly at Isaac. "I've never entered the light house before. It hasn't ever crossed my mind. I don't know how to enter."

"Don't worry. I have an idea." Isaac thought aloud. "I'm not sure, but I think this will work."

Isaac stepped forward, stretching out a hand as he used his psynergy "move". The statue slowly moved out of Mia's way revealing a door. Mia stared at it with wonder before approaching the door and casting ply. The same cool mist surrounded the door, opening the entrance to the mercury lighthouse.

"Mia.are you an adept?" Isaac asked, looking at her.

"What do you mean?" She replied, looking back at him. "I'm not sure what you mean by an adept."

"You used psynergy. That must make you an adept of the mercury clan. Only an adept can use psynergy unless they have privileges. An adept is some one elemental who can use psynergy." Isaac looked at her assuring her.

"Well, if you put it like that. I suppose I must be an adept." Mia still looked slightly confused. "I always knew I was from the mercury clan. But.that must make Alex an adept too. He uses psynergy."

"We know Alex. We met him in Sol Sanctum." Garet chipped in. "He isn't all that friendly is he?"

"I've heard of him, but I've never actually met him." Ivan mentioned, looking at Mia. "What is he like?"

"Well.as Garet so kindly mentioned, he isn't that friendly. He doesn't really speak much except to order people around. He used to work with me as a healer." Mia looked at the door. "I think It's about time I went."

She waved good-bye to them as she stepped inside the lighthouse. Isaac hesitated for a while, watching after her as she left. Garet and Ivan were watching too. He turned to them. He looked worried.

"I think we should follow her. Make sure she's ok." Isaac reckoned. "We need to find Jenna and the others anyway. They are defiantly up there. We my not get another chance like this."

" Yeah. It could be ages before we get a chance like this." Garet agreed. "We should go now."

"I suppose your right. We should go now." Ivan added, agreeing with his friends. "These people need our help."

"Ok. Then we're sorted. Follow me." Isaac ordered leading them through the door into the lighthouse.

Isaac led the way through the entrance hall, admiring the statues as he went. He had never imagined the lighthouse to be like this. Their footsteps echoed as they stepped making it sound slightly eerie despite its beauty. Isaac looked up ahead of him.

"Mia." He called to her from where he stood. "What's going on?"

"Oh. Isaac, it's just you." Mia gasped, looking at him with relief. "I'm fine. I thought you were someone else. I would be well ahead by now, but I bumped into a monster. I can't pass. I've tried so hard."

Mia put her head in her hands, sighing. Isaac summoned the others to follow him. The monster stubbornly blocked their path, hissing at Isaac and his friends. Isaac jumped in to fight with earthquake. The ground shook crushing the enemy with tons of rocks. Ivan rushed over in straight after to assist him with powerful plasma draining the monster of most of its remaining energy. Garet finally finished with a scorching flare wall, diminishing the monster to ashes. Mia watched, surprised, as they battled. She approached Isaac from her hiding.

"Thank you." She whispered, quietly. "I really appreciate all that you've done for me. I would never ask what you have done of any one I barely knew, but it seems like I've known you all of my life."

She looked into Isaac's clear blue eyes, they were so understanding and kind. His golden hair shined under the soft lighting of the chamber. He smiled at her cheerfully, blushing slightly. Mia loved the way Isaac made her feel safe, a feeling that she rarely experienced.

"Well, it's the least I can do, bearing in mind that you saved my friends life." He smiled broadly. "It's the least we could do after what you did for us."

"Thank you again." Mia turned away from him. "I can't stay here. It's important I go now. I don't expect you to help me out any more if you don't want to. I don't want you to feel pressured."

Mia left for the next chamber before Isaac had time to reply. He wanted to go on helping her. He didn't mind a bit. He needed to get to the top any way. Following Mia wouldn't hurt at all. He was sure that Mia's ply would be greatly helpful to them in the lighthouse.

"I think we should follow her." Isaac said, looking at the entrance to the next room. "She might need our help, and I'm sure that we'll need hers in return. It would be best for all of us if we went with her to the top."

"Mia has very useful psynergy." Ivan agreed. "I'm sure she'd be grateful if we decided to help her. She won't make it easily through here alone, I don't think we would either without a mercury adept."

"Ok, we'll follow her. We've got nothing to lose." Isaac announced, making Garet's mind up for him. "Let's go. She could be anywhere by now."

Isaac led them on to the next chamber. He kept turning things over in his mind. If he could get Mia to join him in their quest, she would be a great help to them. Isaac knew some healing psynergy, but as he was a venus adept, he was not as good at it as Mia. They soon found Mia, her path blocked again by another statue. Hearing their footsteps Mia turned to face them.

"Isaac, Garet, Ivan." She called to them. "You didn't have to come after me. You've done enough already as it is."

Isaac looked at her smiling at her kindly. She calmed down slightly, allowing him to pass her, though she still felt reluctant to more help from such a sweet person. He held an out stretched hand towards the statue, steadily releasing his psynergy. The statue steadily came towards him, dropping into the hole in front of them. Mia watched in silently.

"You've helped me again." Mia whispered. "I don't seem to be getting very far alone in here do I."

She smiled guiltily, hiding her face in her hair as she turned away from him. Even though she wasn't facing him, she could feel Isaac's eyes looking at her. She blushed, her pale cheeks flushing scarlet.

"You're doing just fine." Isaac replied, encouraging her to go on. "We don't mind helping you out when you're stuck."

"I'm not doing fine." Mia answered sadly. "Without your help I'd still be out side the lighthouse." She looked at them sadly and smiled. "That's why I've decided to come with you on your quest."

`"But what about the people of Imil? What would they do with out you?" Ivan asked.

"Now that the beacon is lit, the fountain outside the lighthouse will provide the town with Hermes water. They won't need me anymore. So can I join you?"

"Well, if you're sure you want to come." Isaac looked round from Ivan to Garet, who shrugged at him. "Then of course you can come with us. We'd love to have you helping us."

"Thank you." Mia smiled at them. "Come on, we need to get going and find whoever lit the beacon."

Isaac couldn't stop smiling as he led the way through the lighthouse. Neither could Mia, she had never felt so happy before. They were a lot quicker with Mia in their party. Isaac led the way through each of the rooms, on the way to the top.