Chapter 5: a fight for life

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"Isaac." Mia called to him, hoping deep into her heart that he would answer her. "Are you ok? I'm sorry. Please don't leave me."

She knelt down beside him, her face buried in her hands. Her tears trickled between her fingers as she sobbed. Isaac lay calmly beside her as if he were simply asleep. His eyes remained shut, his face cold, but even though he seemed to be dead, Ivan could see that he was still breathing.

"Mia." Ivan called, almost delighted as he ran to tend to Isaac. "Do you have any water of life or at least herbs, he still stands a chance."

"No." she replied, rubbing the tears from her eyes hurriedly. "I used them all during battle, but, I suppose Isaac could have something. He won't mind us borrowing."

"If he does have something, he'd have saved his own life." Ivan remarked as he searched. "He'll be fine. Don't worry."

Mia watched Ivan as he searched through Isaac's items. She was not convinced, but what made it even worse was that she never had the chance to tell Isaac how she felt about him. Now he would probably die, blind to her feelings for him.

"Mia." Ivan called a second time. "Mia, he only has a couple of herbs. That's hardly enough to heal him. We'd need at least twice as many as that to heal him."

Mia sobbed out loud, once again burying her face in her hands. Ivan put an arm around her in an attempt to stop her tears. He hated to see her cry. He thought about the situation. They need to find something quickly to heal their friend; an idea came into his head.

"Mia." He called to her softly.

"Yes." She replied shakily, slightly muffled by her hands, which were still covering her face.

"Didn't you say at one time that when the beacon is lit the fountain flows outside the light house provides Imil with Hermes water?"

"Yes." She replied, taking her hands from her face. "And it can heal someone fully when they drink it. It's just as effective as revive. It would surely cure Isaac if we could only get hold of it and bring it back here in time. But we have to stay with Isaac. We can't just leave him here."

"Garet." Ivan called, beckoning him over to where he sat with Isaac. "Come here. It's important."

"What now?" Garet replied, striding over to him. "I'm really not in the mood right now. So this had better be good."

"Garet, your friend is dieing. Isn't that a good enough reason?" Ivan stared at him in disbelief. "Really Garet. I only have a favour to ask of you."

"What kind of favour?" Garet asked uneasily. "It's something involving Isaac, I know it."

"Garet. Don't be so selfish. I would like you to collect the Hermes water from the fountain at the bottom of the lighthouse." Ivan asked, slightly annoyed with Garet's self centeredness. "You have to go. It's Isaac's only chance of survival."

"I'm sorry.couldn't you go, or Mia." He moaned. "I'm tired from battle. I can't go all the way down there and back."

"We have to stay and look after Isaac, and before you say anything, you don't have any healing psynergy so it would better for all of us if you took this bottle and collected the water."

Ivan handed Garet the bottle. Garet opened his mouth to speak but decided against the idea. He left leaving Ivan, Isaac and Mia behind, grumbling under his breath as he went.

"He will make it back in time wont he?" Asked Mia, looking back at Isaac worriedly. "He will survive."

"I think so." Ivan replied. "But don't get to hopeful. There's always a chance he may die."

Mia kissed Isaac on the forehead before she whispered, "Please don't die. It would be more than I could bear."

While Ivan and Mia looked after Isaac, Garet was on his way out of the lighthouse. His footsteps echoed as the mars adept ran from the lighthouse. Just as Mia had previously told them, the fountain was overflowing with clear, sparkling water. He paused, it didn't look that special, to him it just looked like normal water. Nevertheless, he collected some before he re entered the lighthouse.

"Hurry up Garet." Ivan begged. "It's no use, I have nothing more to help him. All we can do is wait."

"Oh Garet, please hurry." Mia cried.

Ivan cuddled her close hoping she wouldn't mind, but he was sure she'd be glad of the comfort. Mia hugged him back; they were friends after all so they were doing nothing wrong.

"Whoa." Came a familiar voice. "I'm not interrupting anything I hope."

Ivan and Mia pulled away from each other quickly. Garet laughed at their uncomfortable situation. Ivan blushed, his cheeks turning deep crimson.

"No. I just thought she needed some comfort that's all." Ivan replied. "There's no harm in comforting a friend."

Garet laughed again, handing Ivan the Hermes water. Mia was blushing too. They had not planned for Garet to come at such an awkward time, but they were thankful anyway. Ivan gave Isaac the water; each of them praying that it wasn't too late.