"Alex!"
He looked up at the sound of his name. Mia was stalking towards him, looking remarkably like a large and angry lioness. She stopped just short of him, putting her fists on her hips.
"Good morning, Mia," he smiled, rising from his sitting position on the porch.
"It's four o'clock in the afternoon," she pointed out. "You told him, didn't you."
The abrupt change of subjects from time to tattling startled Alex enough that he took a step back. Despite the fact that Mia was a good head shorter than him, he was finding her rather frightening in this mood. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You told him," she jabbed her finger into his chest to emphasize each word, and he retreated even more until his back met the wall. "You said you wouldn't! You promised!"
"Ooh, that," Alex tried to smile, but the attempt was weak. "Sorry, it slipped."
"It SLIPPED?!"
"Well, yeah," he scratched the back of his head nervously. "Oh, c'mon, Mia! Garet and Ivan cornered me and threatened to first burn me to a crisp and then mind read me so I had to tell them!"
"So he knows," all of Mia's anger fled and she sighed. "What did he say?"
Luckily for Alex, Garet chose that precise moment to round the corner, and he didn't have to answer. "Mia!"
"Oh, good morning, Garet," she smiled weakly at the Mars Adept Alex took her momentary lapse of attention on him to edge along the wall towards the door. "Did you want to tell me something?"
"Well, first of all, it's four o'clock in the afternoon."
Alex managed to sip into the school and close the door before he could hear anymore. He turned to head to his room, and nearly ran into Felix, who had been heading for the porch. The Venus Adept stopped and stared at him. "Is something going on out there that I should know about?"
"A meeting of potential significant others," Alex ran his fingers through his long, blue hair. He needed a haircut.
"Ah, Garet and Mia," Felix gave him a sympathetic look from behind his bangs. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Alex replied, deducted that despite Felix's hair tie, he needed a trim, too. "For all I know, Mia and I are related. Now, Jenna, on the other hand hey, don't give me that look."
Felix started. "What look?"
"That 'you-break-her-heart-and-I'll-break-you' look," Alex explained as if to a very small child. "The look you give me whenever I even MENTION Jenna."
"I do NOT."
"Do too."
"I don't even have a 'you-break-her-heart-and-I'll-break-you' look," Felix defended himself. "I have a 'don't-touch-my-sister' look, but I normally reserve it for that creepy guy with the cart."
Alex laughed. "He is creepy."
"Creepier than you, even."
"Hey, I'm not a little sixty-year-old man that drives around in a cart trying to court seventeen-year-old girls, now, am I."
"What are you boys talking about?" Hama's voice floated down the hallway.
"Nothing, Hama!" they chorused.
"Oh, then it must be your tangled love lives," Hama walked into the lamplight, which highlighted the silver streaks in her hair, and deepened th lines underneath her eyes. "I suppose Garet is admitting some things to a certain Mercury Adept."
"And she's admitting just as much," Alex supplied.
"You can't allow your heart to become confused, Alex," Hama warned him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "The war is coming, I'm afraid this school will not be overlooked by some commanders."
"You mean Isaac," Felix wasn't asking a question. Hama stiffened, even nine years later she still often prayed for the Venus Adept.
"Yes, I mean Isaac," she said softly.
***
By the end of the week, Garet and Mia had tied the knot.
By the end of the week, Alex was tired.
He was tired of having only Ivan and Felix to talk to. He was tired of chasing the elusive Jenna. But most of all, he was tired of Mia and Garet walking down the hall holding hands, Mia giggling and Garet blushing almost constantly.
Which was why he was on the roof.
There was an immense oak growing on the edge property, and it's branches offered an easy access to the roof. He used to sit up there when he was being taunted by any of the other Adepts, or simply wanted to be alone. Which had been a lot, until he had become fast friends with Mia and Felix.
And now Mia was with Garet, and Felix was busy spending "quality family time" with Jenna. He had no idea what Ivan might be up to, and he decided he really didn't want to know. The story that Ivan tortured small fuzzy things instead of picking on the Adepts that Garet had told him never faded away. He hadn't looked at Ivan the same way again.
All of these were the reason why he saw them first.
There were four of them. Three of the riders were huge. They were wearing breast plates and short capes, broadswords at their sides.
Their muscled arms were left bare, their features hidden by helmets.
The rider in front appeared to be younger than Alex. But whatever his age, he carried himself with the air of someone who was used to leading. He was wearing a blue and white uniform, gold bars embroidered on the shoulders, and indigo cape spilling over the black and silver saddle. The white horse beneath him didn't even fidget under his hold. From where Alex was, he could only make out that the rider had blonde hair.
The younger one, whom Alex assumed was either a noble or their leader, made some motion and they dismounted as one. The now obvious leader handed the reigns of his horse to one of his followers, and strode towards the doors of the school.Alex backed up slowly until the backs of his knees touched a branch. He turned and leapt lightly onto it, holding the branches above him to keep him steady, and slowly walked towards the trunk.
He was half way there when one of the soldiers yelled. He began to move faster, and was glad he did when a twang rent the air and something brushed past his cheek. And arrow thudded into the wood just behind him. At the sounds of more bowstrings being released, Alex ducked, hearing the impact of the arrows where his head had been moments before.
*If I jump they'll get me. If I stay here I can at least dodge the arrows, maybe * he crouched down between two large branches, his head between his knees. *What a day to die.*
***
"C'mon, you old hag," Isaac knocked harder still. "Open up the door."
The sound of a crossbow being drawn and shot behind him was unmistakable. Isaac whirled, to see his men shooting at something in the trees.
"We're not on vacation," he said. "Put those away and leave the squirrels alone."
"There's someone in the tree, General," on of the men explained, calmly sighting along the shaft of his arrow and releasing it. "We didn't want him to run and give word to the other Adepts."
"You're shooting at some kid in a tree," Isaac glared icily at the man. "Do you have no sense of honor?"
"General."
He pounded one mail fist into the man's chest. "Have you learned nothing? Whoever is in that tree can't move, you should surround the trunk and order a surrender."
"But, if it's an Adept."
"IF he's an Adept, I'll deal with him later," Isaac said. "Just keep your crossbows loaded. When he makes a move, and ONLY then, you can shoot him, got it?"
"Yes General."
Isaac turned on his heel and stalked towards the back of the school. If no one was answering the door, they were probably all in the back, with no idea to what was going on.
***
At the back of the house, the Adepts were relaxing. Hama had taken a vacation to visit the Lama Temple near the Lamakan Desert, leaving her students to themselves for the next few weeks. Mia and Garet were talking, partially paying attention to a chess game between Jenna and Felix. Alex was probably sulking, and Ivan had gone off to do something.
*As long as he isn't torturing small animals, I don't care what he's up to,* she decided. She leaned up against Garet's shoulder, for the moment perfectly content.
"He's back."
Ivan's voice made them all jump. The Jupiter Adept had appeared out of nowhere, looking grave.
"Hello, Ivan," Mia managed to keep her voice steady. "Where have you been?"
"Who's back?" Garet asked.
"He's back," Ivan repeated, quieter. "Isaac."
"I-Isaac?" Mia choked, sitting up strait.
"Yes, Isaac," Ivan nodded. "He's here, with four guards. But don't rush off like a fool, Mia. He isn't here because he's missed us all of these years. He needs recruits for Angora's army. Oh, and Alex is trapped in that stupid tree, by the way."
Garet swore loudly.
"We have to save him," Jenna went pale.
"Alright," Mia forced her emotions under control. "Jenna, Felix, follow me. Garet, you and Ivan go to the other side of the house. If we're lucky, we'll catch them by surprise."
"Let's hope," Ivan said softly, so soft she wasn't sure if she was supposed to hear it. He nodded, however, and followed Garet to the right-hand side of the house. Mia motioned to Jenna and Felix, and dashed to the left.
And ran right into Isaac.
Isaac stumbled, pulled one arm around her to keep her steady, then promptly fell over, pulling her with him. They landed in a heap over the edge of the porch.
"Mia!" Garet's voice said from somewhere above her. She wondered vaguely why he wasn't in position. She felt his strong hands gripping her arms, and pulling her back onto the porch.
Isaac sat up, looking dazed and rather silly with leaves and flowers stuck in his hair. He stood up, brushing off his uniform and shaking out his cloak. He forgot about his hair. "Hi, Mia."
He was still shorter than Garet, but once he climbed on the porch, she could see that he was rather taller than her.
"Hi, Isaac," Mia managed. "I'm sorry are you alright?"
"Yeah, I have a hard head," he grinned. She found herself blushing, unsure what to say to him. "Are you alright?"
"You managed to save me," she smiled, trying very hard not to cry.
"What are you doing here?" Garet glared at him.
Ivan backed Garet. "More importantly, what do you want?"
"What do *I* want?" Isaac's eyes went distant. Mia noticed with a shiver how cold his eyes were. He wasn't the Isaac she knew. "What I want I want" he seemed to compose himself, but his eyes didn't lose their hard, cold quality. "What I want is of no significance. I am here for Angora's need, nothing more, nothing less. And right now, we need more Adepts to fight against Gondowan. I believe that answers both questions.
Mia felt like crying, but not from happiness. Isaac, who had always been so fun loving, Isaac, who had always been so ready to smile.
That Isaac was dead, and this empty shell stood before her.
"Of course," Garet's eyes narrowed.
"And do we have any choice in this matter?" Ivan asked.
"Everyone has a choice to live or die," Isaac's grin this time looked more predatory. Mia went completely cold. "What are your choices?"
"RUN!" Garet yelled, casting Heat Wave as he did. Mia didn't question him, she leapt off of the porch and ran into the undergrowth, the others not far behind. Garet didn't follow.
***
Alex crouched among the tree boughs, straining his ears for any sound that would betray his captor's presence.
Not a leaf stirred. He edged himself up carefully, trying very hard to not make any noise. A hissing noise was the only warning he had. Feathered death met him before he could move away. The thin shaft slid under his collar bone, near his throat. He choked at the sudden gush of blood, staining his vest and shirt a deep crimson. He tried to call out, for anyone, for any form of help. All that came out was a small, strangled noise, and then he was falling.
He hit the ground, hard. He lay there, trying the blink away the dark spots swimming across his fading vision. One of the guards leaned over him, shaking his head.
"'E's dyin'," he shrugged his muscular shoulders. "One less Adept, I suppose."
*I can't die.*
He was beginning to feel light headed and dizzy, and it was very hard to control his body. He lifted his left hand, which seemed to take an eternity. Everything around him was becoming fuzzy and out of focus.
He pressed his hand against the wound, screwed up his remaining energy, and cast Pure Ply just as everything faded to shades of grey.
Everything snapped back into focus, full color restored to the world around him. He closed his eyes to shut it all out, breathing evenly. He was healed, but he was exhausted.
"Go get Master Isaac!" one of the soldiers barked, and something sharp pressed into his throat. "He'll want to know about this."
***
Isaac drew his sword, cutting the Heat Wave attack in half, trying not to flinch when the two separate fires brushed past him. He had never been very good at trying to fight other Adepts, and opportunity that didn't arise very often in Xian, particularly Mars Adepts.
"I'll do anything to keep them away from war," Garet explained, softly. "But I won't go quietly."
"I would have been disappointed if you had," Isaac replied.
Garet smiled bitterly. "It's odd I never thought I'd have to fight you."
"Nor I, you," Isaac chose that moment to cast Ragnarok. In a sheen of golden light a broadsword appeared in the heavens, hitting Garet head on, and disappeared in a shower of sparks.
The Mars Adept cast Pyroclasm, not even fazed by the Venus attack. Roaring torrents of flame erupted from the ground, exploding through the floor boards of the porch and scorching the side of the house. Isaac dropped to his knees, shielding his face from waves of overwhelming heat with his arms, his lungs seared by hot air and smoke.
Al at once the flames receded, leaving only vapor and ashes floating on the air.
Before Isaac had time to think or act more fire was coming at him in the form of Inferno. The blazing spheres shot in every direction, a few grazing him. On a normal human the effect would have been painful. On a Venus Adept, it was pure agony.
"Do you surrender?" Garet asked, unaffected by the effects of the fire that had caught on to the porch and back wall of the school. A corona of heat surrounded him.
"I-I don't give up," Isaac managed to get his feet under him, holding a sword that now was little more than a blob of twisted metal on a pretty hilt in front of him. "I NEVER give up."
"Your choice," Garet shrugged. "But everyone has the choice to live or die."
The hot air around Garet ignited, forming into a long stream above him. A numb sensation began to take control of Isaac's senses, rendering him paralyzed.
*He's going to use Dragon Fire,* he realized, suddenly finding that the air was escaping him. *He's going to use Dragon Fire and I I I'm going to die.*
It was at that moment that one of Isaac's guards came around the corner. He took one look at the situation and decided that he needed to take action. "Master Isaac!"
"No! Go away!" Isaac tried to wave him on. "I'm FINE! I can HANDLE it!"
The soldier took no heed of his words. He drew his own sword and charged Garet from behind with a yell. The Mars Adept released the unfinished spell quickly and spun around, drawing a pair of long knives from his boots as he did. He held them up, blocking the fatal downswing on the larger man's broadsword with a clang.
Isaac didn't see it. His vision was filled with a column of fire rushing towards him, roaring as if it were a real dragon.
***
Garet was strong, but his opponent was stronger, taller, and more experienced with a blade. The older man was forcing him back, any moment his shoulder blades would hit the wall, or some other obstacle.
Instead, he was backed through fire.
*Must of over done it, but this works out nicely*
Psynergy encircled him, the fire around him catching on to the colored energy. Flames surrounded him in lazy arcs, expanding with ever turn. The soldier, fear in his eyes, backed away.
Strait into one of the unsteady support beams.
The soldier's scream when his cloak caught on fire did nothing to mask the audible crack of burning wood.
*The roof's gonna give out Isaac!*
He stepped out onto the burning porch, just as part of the roof came down, right on top of him. His legs were trapped, there was no possible way that he could move.
**I'll survive this,** he reminded himself. **Isaac doesn't have a chance**
He looked up, and saw that the Fire Dragon had done as he had asked, encircling the Venus Adept in a ring of fire, growling softly. Isaac appeared to be unconscious. Garet banished the dragon with a thought, and racked his brains for a solution.
The roof creaked under the strain.
"This could be difficult," he muttered to himself, holding out one hand. Again Psynergy came to his beck and call, and he cast move.
Isaac rolled onto the grass.
The support beam fell as did the roof.
***
"Felix, Jenna, stay here," Mia ordered the siblings once she had caught her breath. They had gotten far into the woods before they realized that there was no pursuit, or any sign of Garet. "I'm going back."
With that, she turned and ran off.
"Mia! It's too dangerous!" Ivan ran to catch up with the Mercury Adept. "Garet can take care of himself! He's fine!"
Mia whirled on him. "Ivan, leave me alone."
She turned on her heel and continued her headlong dash back tot eh school.
"Mia! Listen to me! Please!" Ivan managed to grab the back of her vest, stopping her in her tracks. "Garet's my friend, too, but he can take care of himself!" Ivan stood there
Mia turned again, to slap him hard across the face.
"Don't you dare assume how I feel," she hissed, voice deadly. "And don't even dare CALL yourself his friend."
"M-Mia."
When she continued to run, Ivan didn't stop here. He leaned against the trunk of a tree, putting one hand up to the tender skin.
There were tears on his cheek.