Iv.

To say the least, Miguel was getting pissed. They had spent the better part of an hour on what he was beginning to call a wild-goose chase. True, there was SOMETHING unusual in the area, because their navigation instruments were not working properly. In fact, before they had split up, he had discovered his compass kept spinning around counterclockwise. Both Lord Dilandau and Dalet reported theirs were the same.

Dilandau had then dragged the heel of his guymelef along the ground of the clearing, making a giant "X". "We'll meet here a little after the eclipse has started. If either of you find anything--or anything finds you--send some sort of signal that will not alert anyone else that we are here. I don't care what you use, as long as it is NOT a flare or insanely loud. Or, if you find the Key, return here and leave something showing your general direction if you cannot easily retrieve it on your own. And try not to wreck anything on this mission. The less noise, the better."

That was fifty minutes ago. Miguel had stopped his search to check the sky. Both of Gaea's moons were very close together. 'The Mystic Moon should eclipse the other in a few minutes, but the sun goes down at the same time. I'm heading back; hopefully Lord Dilandau or Dalet found at least a trace of the Key.' As Miguel began retracing his steps (it wasn't too difficult, since his 'melef left crushed undergrowth in its wake), his compass suddenly caught his eye. It STOPPED acting up and pointed northwest. He knew he was facing due north, because the setting sun was directly on his left and he also knew that the impeding eclipses could influence the magnetic field of the planet, but…they were rising in the EAST. Southeast, if he was not mistaken. There were only a few options left.

"I doubt this forest is haunted, so it's either the Key or a fairly large deposit of ores or energists. Either way, I refuse to go back empty handed." Full knowing that this was a bit bold on his part, he hurried off in the direction the needle indicated, changing course when necessary to avoid obstacles. He was confident enough that he was on to something big to not worry about letting the others know his position until he reached the source of the magnetism. If he at least came back with information, Lord Dilandau should forgive his hastiness.

His eagerness was rewarded, for he soon arrived in front of a cave. He didn't like leaving his guymelef, but he would not have a choice if he planned on entering. He would also miss the eclipse, which was due in a few minutes, but he needed all the light he could get before he went inside.

*************

She hadn't been hassled by the police officer, but she was still running a bit late; the mall closed a nine, but she had thirty minutes before the specialty shop inside shut its doors to the public.

Artemis checked her watch. 6:05 pm. "Ok, make that 25 minutes. I didn't want to do this, but I'm in a hurry." She took a detour off he path into the trees; next, she took off her skates and helmet, shoving them into her bag after pulling out her sneakers. She didn't bother untying the glow-in-the-dark laces before sliding them over her feet. Zipping up her bag, she scanned the area. There was no one around, so she got to work.

"Let's do this fast…" Standing up, she cleared her mind and began the warp-spell. Of course, since she wasn't paying attention, she completely missed the second beam of light shoot down on the other side of town.

*************

After concealing his Alseids, Miguel had double checked to make sure he had everything he needed before actually getting out and 'securing' the big mecha. He didn't turn on the invisibility mechanism because

A.) it would be very dark when he returned

and

B.) he did not feel like breaking his neck trying to get back in his invisible guymelef in the dark.

He'd mention a remote control or something to Lord Folken later on, just in case anyone else had or will have this sort of issue in the future. Taking out his glowstone--which he had enough foresight to recharge a few days ago--he headed into the cave with his other hand near his sword.

*************

"Magic circle drawn in light, guide me to my destination."

*************

The compass showed him the way deeper into the cave, always on a straight course despite the side-passages. The ceiling was high enough so that he could properly, and the corridor was wide enough for two. He also noticed a row of torches on his left suddenly blazed to life and a blue-life light in front of him drown out his own.

*************

At precisely the same moment Artemis drew and completed a second circle within the larger one beneath her, the moon passed between Earth and Gaea, making both worlds a little unusual.

*************

Kaoré almost dropped the tray she was carrying when she felt the third surge of power. It seemed as if Autumn had used a warp spell, but the backlash created was from a gate summon with a trace of another power besides her friend's. 'What the hell is going on?'

" 'you OK, Vari?" Coach Sera inquired from the table in front of her. "You look a bit gray around the edges."

She felt dizzy, too, plus the earring in her right ear was resonating. "I…just have a headache. I need to sit for a little, that's all." She wasn't lying, either: that damn WAS giving her a headache. Actually, it started humming a bit earlier, twice in fact, but it had stopped after a few minutes each time. Now that she thought about it, she had also felt Hitomi's power--along with that same extra something--at the same time. 'This must be that feeling we all had earlier, but what happened? I hope they're all right. Especially you, Artemis. That backlash was huge…"

Kaoré served the other half of the gymnastics team and Coach Sera before flopping down on the nearest chair. Sighing, she placed her elbows on the table and her heard in her hands to wait out the tipsy feeling. 'As soon as this room stops spinning, I'm making a phone call.'

*************

Miguel's curiosity got the best of him (despite that he jumped ten feet in the air from the scene with the torches), and the light down the corridor light was fading as fast as it had come. After checking that his compass was secured around his neck, he ran towards the end of tunnel. Since the cave was now on a slight decline, he did not have exert much effort, besides trying not to tumble down head over heels. The light was soon dimmed to a dull glow, but gradually became brighter as he neared the source.

He slowed down when he heard the echo of his footsteps grow even more hollow, and he thought he could hear the steady trickle of water around the corner. 'Must be an underground river or lake.' Miguel put his glowstone away in a pouch at his waist. He didn't know what he would find in the chamber, but he would not be caught off guard.

Keeping his weapon within reach, he cautiously edged around the corner. He could see the reflection of water on the wall in front of him, but there were no other shadows. Of course, this did not mean that there was not anything there.

In fact, Miguel had a sudden vision of a dæ mon jumping out at him and tearing out his heart…

'Get a hold of yourself. There's no such thing as dæ mons. This mission is too important to chicken out on or to become irrational, and Lord Dilandau…well…I don't even want to THINK about what will happen if he knew I panicked. Which I will NOT do.' He drew his sword and entered the cavern.