Author's Note:

Rio: Wow...

Ryu: Well I guess we underestimated some of our readers and faithful reviewers...

Rio: *is shocked* I never did! I had complete faith in them!

Ryu: Of course you did.

Rio: *hits Ryu over the head* I DID TOO! Arg... stupid unmanageable muses!


Anyway, the reviewers who looked up the title (all hail the prowess of the mighty Noah Webster, creator of the Dictionary) were right... however the metaphors were a bit off. But if you average all the responses I got... well here's the updation. Nuff said on that matter.


Cataracts of Heaven. Cataracts means a great outpour, a deluge (love this word, deluge). And Heaven... well everyone knows what that means... hopefully. So literally Cataracts of Heaven means "and deluge from Heaven". Nice. But what I was looking for was the reason why I chose this for my title. So here is that answer:


Knowing the meaning of the title and also knowing that the chapter is mainly about Picard and Felix's relationship helped a lot. If you didn't know those two things (1) I question you're reading ability about the Picard/Felix part and (2) you are pretty much stuck. Now lets talk about Felix in this chapter. Did you all notice the rambling his mind is doing? For Felix this is a virtual deluge of emotions (remember the badbadbad bit?). Now the "of" tells what the deluge is from (Cataracts of Heaven, Flood from Heaven) so who is Heaven in this chapter? Why Felix of course! How do you know this? Well think of how Picard views Felix... and Felix's childlike persona... is anyone thinking cherub here other than me? And where do you find angel/cherub peoples? In Heaven. So the title, Cataracts of Heaven, is foreshadowing of the deluge of emotions that Felix goes through when he is realizing his love for Picard. (The metaphors being all the above stuff for all you literalists out there) As I said no one got it perfect, but the average was good enough to grant a chapter... so enjoy the efforts of all your hard work!



Fantasies of the Open Mind

Chapter Nine: The End of Childhood


If Picard and Felix had been up to their usual observervational standard they would have noticed that they were watched by an amused ghost... or two... or three. However they remained blissfully unaware of their observers.

"I guess Jenna was right."

"Yup, point for woman's intuition!"

Saturos and Solinari looked at Lunitari strangely.

"But Jenna said it would take them a week." Solinari pointed out.

"Technically she 'gave' them a week, Solinari." Saturos rebuked lightly.

Lunitari beamed, sticking her tongue out at Solinari. The lighter ghost just rolled his eyes.

"Well since we figured out that they are fine both mentally and physically, we should go find Jenna and Nuitari."


The aforementioned ghost was bored out of his mind. So while Kraden and Lupna were talking he was browsing. Nuitari was not above borrowing books and never giving them back if they were more useful to him than to their previous owner, and Jenna didn't have any spellbooks of her own. He would have gladly given her his but his were buried with his body and were probably piles of dust by now. So he was looking at Lupna's. Yes, Lupna the "Righteous Thief" had acquired many spellbooks which were of no use to him at all. This annoyed the dark ghost as he floated around the shelves. Sure, the only spells he was interested in were for his kind of magic, but it was appalling to see how the books were here instead of being used by the adepts that had the power to use the spells. Nuitari frowned. An entire shelf of books on dark magic. That might take a while to steal.

"Nuitari?" Jenna had moved over to the bookshelves on the guise of looking at Lupna's books.

"Yes, I know the world is slowly going to be swallowed up and you are going to stop that by lighting the lighthouses which might destroy Wayard anyway, but I need to concentrate on this."

Jenna was looking at her guardian ghost in surprise. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"Hm? Isn't that what Kraden and Lupna are talking about?"

"No." Jenna whispered, "They're talking about inflation right now."

"Oh. Well that is what they're worried about anyway. Lupna has been talking to the King here about sending Picard off to see if the hypothesis about the world is true. Now that Picard is back here they want to talk to him but the King is "entertaining" some idiot named Convservato... or at least Lupna thinks he's an idiot. I haven't met the guy personally."

"What's up?" Lunitari head floated through the bookshelf followed by her body

"The world is destroying itself and no one told me." Jenna answered at the same time as Nuitari said, "The amount of knowledge this thief has been keeping to himself is appalling."

Lunitari took a minute to digest both sentences. "Oh well, at least Picard and Felix are enjoying themselves."

Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Wow, and I gave them a week. Man, talk about getting over hurdles."

Lunitari looked confused. She turned to Nuitari, "Getting over hurdles?"

"Overcoming a problem." Nuitari rolled his eyes.

"Yes I knew that... but I don't see the problem. Anyone with eyes attached to their brains could see that those two were falling head over heals."

"But Valian law forbids homosexuality." Jenna explained.

"Lemuria is also fairly new in its acceptance of homosexuality, given the fact that people take an annoyingly long time to die here. There are probably man older persons who are a bit homophobic." Nuitari added, still making mental calculations about Lupna's books.

Lunitari was not impressed. "Strange."

"It is." Jenna agreed.

"It goes back to the creators of the different peoples." Solinari stated, also floating through the bookshelf. "Certain deities, such as Hera, Poseidon, Zeus, and Athena were against homosexuality and tried to make sure to have their followers as strait as a line. Others, like Apollo, Mars, and Venus didn't care either way and let their creatures develop anyway it happened. The population multiplied and it got to the point where the genetics were so mixed that the heritage couldn't be figured out so the Gods just dropped the whole idea. However the laws that certain Gods set down remained unchanged in areas like Vale. As far as I know Vale is the only town to have entirely unchanged laws."

"That's also why it will be very hard for Felix to change the law in Vale. The elders take their laws too seriously." Saturos added, not bothering with the bookshelf and materializing behind the group."

Jenna was left with a lot to think about but at that moment Lupna got another visitor. It was a younger looking Lemurian who spent a few minutes in rapid conversation with the "thief". A few minutes later Lupna told Jenna and Sheba that King Hydros wanted to see Picard and asked if they knew where he was. Sheba started to reply that they didn't but Jenna interrupted that she did know. This was how Jenna found herself outside of Lupna's house with Saturos going to the cliff where it had been reported to her that Picard and Felix were enjoying the view. For some reason Nuitari, Solinari, and Lunitari remained with Lupna, Kraden, and Sheba... something about buying some books.


Picard smiled as Jenna walked slowly up to the ridge and stood there.

"I think we've been found." Picard murmured to Felix who was just returning from sleep. The Lemurian watched Felix's eyes dart to where Jenna stood. The Venus adept groaned.

"She'll never shut up about this." he murmured.

"That's what sisters do." Picard agreed, helping Felix to stand after being catamose for a few hours. As they walked towards the ridge Jenna smiled and waved at them. Felix's jaw dropped.

"She hasn't done that in Venus knows when!" Felix gasped. This was more like the Jenna he thought his sister had been. Something strange was going on and decided that he would have to talk to her at some point.


"Good afternoon, sleepyhead." Jenna greeted her brother who was still relying on the Lemurian for balance.

Felix merely raised an eyebrow and stretched.

Jenna smiled and turned her attention to Picard. "The King sent a messenger for you, but for some reason they couldn't find you."

The innocent tone didn't fool either boy but for the sake of their sanity neither questioned the Mars adept.

"Shall we go?" Jenna asked.

"We?" Picard decided to have a little fun. "I didn't think you were summoned by the King."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "It was implied..." then dropping out of sarcasm. "It wouldn't hinder you two since I know about the world situation anyway."

Felix frowned. He turned to Picard. "You tell her?"

"No." Picard looked at Jenna. "How did you work it out?"

"One of my familiars told me." Jenna said promptly.

"Familiars?" Felix asked, his brain not working properly.

"All Dark mages have at least one familiar." Picard explained and Jenna nodded. "I'm guessing that Jenna's doesn't like her not being informed."

"All three don't actually." Jenna admitted as the trio walked towards the castle.

"Three?" Felix asked. "Overdoing it a bit are you?"

"No." said Jenna. "Lunitari says two or three is usually the norm for Dark mages."

"Lunitari?" Picard looked shocked. "The First Dark Mage?"

Jenna nodded. "My other two are called Nuitari and Solinari."

Picard looked at Jenna with a newfound respect and Felix just groaned. "It's official." he said. "She's trying to give me a heart attack."

Jenna smiled. And Felix didn't even know about Saturos yet... not that she was going to tell him any time soon.



"And I thought the castle looked grand from the outside." Jenna murmured, looking at the blue stone interior of the castle. Felix nodded, taking in the tasteful decorations of the castle, all based on a watery theme of course.

"Picard! So you have finally returned!" They were greeted by a middle aged looking male with long blue/white hair and eyes that seemed to sparkle on their own accord.

Picard smiled, bowing. "Yes, King Hydros. It's good to be back."

That was the king? Felix blinked. He did not look as old as the Lemurians had portrayed him as. Also he was not as regal as Felix had pictured as the King seemed to be on amicable terms with Picard. From the way the two acted it was more of a student-mentor relationship than a ruler-subject relationship.

Felix tuned back into the conversation just it time it seemed.

"I sent messengers out an hour ago Picard. It is not like you to be late."

"I was a bit detained, you highness." Picard seemed used to the gentle chiding.

Jenna watched the King look at Picard and the way he was standing protectively next to Felix. Mars, those two were obvious, she thought.

"Well congratulations Picard." The King had also seen what Jenna had. "It took you long enough."

Felix's eyebrow raised as he turned to look at Picard who seemed to be having a staring contest with the floor, although the floor was very interesting. But Picard was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of a not so welcome visitor.



"So what is your plan again?

"We get Jenna these books. She will need scripture after all." Nuitari explained for the fourth time.

"Um... It seems to me that you forgot something very important." Lunitari said, looking at Nuitari as if he was crazy.

"What?"

"We are not solid! If you tried to take a book they would pass right through you!"

"You maybe, not me. All I need you to do is tell me when Kraden and Lupna are occupied. I can handle the rest."

Lunitari looked at Solinari and shrugged. If Nuitari said he could handle the situation, they would believe him.

"Okay." Solinari said, turning to look at the two scholars who were arguing frantically about something or other. "They are occupied now, still busy, still busy... oh is he turning, nope, still busy.

Nuitari groaned as he tapped into long dead magic and became solid enough to grab the books.

"Still busy..."



"King Hydros!" Felix and Jenna who didn't know that voice turned to see a stately old man with rapidly thinning white hair come charging into the throne room of the King. He looked to Felix as if he had just been told that all the Lemurians were now dyeing their hair pink and carried himself as if he had all the power in the world. Felix immediately didn't like him.

"Is what I have just been told True? We have let outsiders in to our city?!"

"Yes, Conservato we have." King Hydros answered, all the familiarity with which he had shown to Picard buried underneath a commanding persona.

"The SENATE does NOT approve of this action!" Conservato stopped, looking at the group of people near the King. His eyes rolled over Jenna, who stood clothed in black with smoldering eyes, to Felix, who was in a pose of indifference, his emotions masked, to Picard who stood, almost protectively, near Felix. The senator's eyes widened, looking at the pair.

"SEE, they have already begun to pollute the minds of our young people!"

"CONSERVATO! That will be ENOUGH!" The King rounded on the Senator. "Conservato if you have MORE to discuss with me then I suggest we do so now in a more private room."

The senator glared at the King but nodded and the two went off together. As the King passed Picard he added, "Picard, why don't you fill in our guests while I am discussing other matters."

Picard nodded and King Hydros left after Conservato. There was silence for a moment.

"Well he was a jerk." Jenna muttered.

"Which one?" Felix asked, an ironic smile settling on his lips.

"The senator."

"Yes, Conservato has always been a problem when it comes to reforms." Picard added. "He was violently against me leaving and I was just lucky that the wave carried me away from Lemuria so I could blame my absence on that. There are explicit laws forbidding a Lemurian to leave the way I was prepared to. Exile being the punishment reserved for them. But my leaving did prove my theory correct."
"Yes, what is this hypothesis of the King's?" Jenna asked remembering what Nuitari had said.

"Well," Picard said flicking a switch so a small section of the floor filled with light and projected an old map. "This is the last map a Lemurian made of the world before we decided to put out the Lighthouses."



"Still arguing... is that about the price of tea? I can't tell... still talking... still talking... still talking... oh, hey, they're leaving. But they're still talking..."



Both Jenna and Felix looked at the map. It was Wayard, but the continents were so close together that they didn't recognize it at first.

"Then when Lupna came he brought with him this map." Picard explained, flipping another switch so the light changed and became another map. "As you can see the continents are much more spread apart, but even this map is highly inaccurate for our times. That is what I was sent to confirm."
"And this means that Wayard is slowly destroying itself?" Jenna asked. Felix nodded.

"The Elemental Lighthouses provided the elemental energy the planet needed to survive." Picard explained. "When we took away that energy the planet slowly started to shut down, like in hibernation.

"Only 'Spring' will never come unless the Lighthouses are lit again." Saturos spoke from where he had materialized behind Jenna.

"-AND YOU LET RIFTRAFT LIKE THAT INTO OUR LAND..." Conservato's voice had risen to the point where the group could hear it. Picard winced, looking apologetically at Jenna and Felix.


"Hey, I can't see them anymore... bet they're still arguing..."

"Solinari... if it worries you so much why don't you go after them?"

Lunitari grimaced as Solinari started off after the two scholars and one very quiet Jupiter Adept that seemed to have been completely forgotten in their argument.


The King and a sullen Conservato returned from the other room shortly after Conservato's outburst, but from the way he held himself, Jenna perceived that he still didn't like them. Well that was fine with her because she didn't like him either. She was surprised to see Kraden, Lupna, and Sheba join them in the throne room, but guessed that the King had sent for them as well.

Solinari also joined her a few moments later, looking at all those assembled and staring in open shock at Conservato.

"That imbecile is still LIVING!" he shouted and Jenna flinched, but no one else noticed Solinari. She backed away from the group who were now chatting about the Lighthouses and the world so she could talk to her ghost familiar.

"What's going on?" she whispered, not wanting to attract attention.

"That, that, THING was alive in my time! He was..." Solinari was choked with rage and could not go on.

"Was what?" Lunitari had joined them, tuning into the conversation.

"He... was one of those who decided to destroy the Dark Mages. He... signed the order for my assassination."

"WHAT?" Lunitari shrieked and Jenna had to bite her lip to keep from doing the same thing.

"I'm sure it's him." If looks could kill, Conservato could have been speaking to Solinari just then because the three Dark Mages were looking at him with contempt.

"What has everyone so riled up?" Nuitari chose this moment to arrive from his perusal of Jenna's new books. After a quick explanation he joined the others in sending Conservato to Hades where he belonged. But Nuitari was struck with a stroke of genius as he thought of ways to destroy the destroyer of Dark Mages.

"Hey... Jenna... you did learn Condemn right?"


Author's Note:

Ryu: Now, Rio, this is unacceptable. It nearly killed you to update during the week this time, how do you think you can do it again?

Rio: Ryu, my personal well being has nothing to do with this! I just want to know if some readers are in honors English...(can anyone spot the sarcasm...)


Anyway... If anyone can tell me the reason I used "The End of Childhood for the title to this chapter and can tell me so, I will let them decide when I update next week. (this is in addition to my normal Saturday updation stuff) I'll spell it out in case anyone is confused.

1. Readers review with their answers. (this is a tough question so just give it your best shot) Include at the end what day you would want the updation in your review.

2. I announce who got the answer (if someone did get it correct) on my Saturday updation.

3. I review on the day specified. This means that I could be updating with two chapters this Saturday, or I could update with a chapter on Saturday and then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of next week. Pretty cool huh?


So if anyone is not totally confused by that... see what you can come up with. Maybe you will see parallels I do not...



signed,

Rio the FlowerofBlackFire