Trust Chapter Two: Awaken to Nothing
By Smurf Cat
As the sun rose, morning began to show itself throughout the grasslands between the destroyed Vale and Vault. It was on that plain where a house made of stone stood. Within, was Alex, Mia asleep by his side. Slowly, Alex's eyes opened to discover where he was. As he looked around at his surroundings, he wondered who had taken him here. His memories of the previous night were vague. All he could remember was that Mia had been there and that it was she who had saved his life. As he looked down on her, he began to admire her and reminisce on their memories. As he thought about it, he became saddened. He knew not whether she would accept him back. For all he knew, she could be planning on killing him. Trust is a delicate thing that takes time to built, but can shatter in an instant.
Mia didn't stir. Alex looked down at her, strength returning to him. He had no psynergy left. He was completely and totally void of any strength. Figuring he could walk, he slowly tried to get up, setting Mia aside and letting her sleep longer. His intent was on leaving so that she would not have to carry his burdens. As his feet found the floor, he discovered his renewed strength. He stood up slowly, holding onto nearby furniture for comfort. And as he stood up, he discovered that he could still walk. Slowly, he made his way across the floor and to the fireplace. There was no fire in it as of this morning, but the ashes were still hot and he warmed his hands on them.
He decided that he should eat, but looking around at the lack of food already, he decided not to lay that burden on Mia as well. Slowly moving to the door, he stepped outside into the faint sunlight that was hardly peaking over the mountaintops near Lunpa. There was a slight breeze that blew through his long blue hair and the sound of birds could be heard as he looked up at the sky.
He looked back at the small stone cabin, almost regretting to leave a second time. Mia had done so much for him. He had done nothing for her. He closed his eyes in guilt, but forced himself to leave. As he walked over the prairie, he looked on toward Vault, deciding to stop there for food. But then again, he was also wary, for he knew whom he might find there...
As Mia awoke, she found an empty bed. At first her heart jumped, but then saddened as she realized what had happened and who was not there. She looked around franticly only to find nothing. Alex was gone; there was no trace of him. Getting up out of bed, she quickly struggled to get her clothes on. She knew that she must catch up with him now, or never see her beloved again.
As she ran out the door, she only stopped to get one thing, her Blessed Mace, which Isaac had found for her in the Venus Lighthouse. Next she went plundering down through the grassland, following the broken stems, which formed the path of Alex. He could run, but through the grassland, he couldn't hide. Mia followed him, knowing that the path would end at Vault. She ran with all her strength as the sun rose above her. At last she reached her destination, barging through the gates as the guards, already knowing who she was, opened it.
Frantically she searched. She looked everywhere it seemed. After what seemed to be an eternity, she ran out of breath and fell to her knees in the streets that were becoming crowded. The sun had now risen above the mountains at this point. She looked out over the horizon, remembering he look on Alex's face as she worked with him the night before. She also remembered his incoherence. Her heart was worn out, but with hope, she headed toward the guards at the entrance near the gates of the small city.
She came there, she called out to them, "Have either of you seen a blue- haired man pass by?" her voice was in desperation.
The guards looked toward her. There were two of them and they knew her well. "Yes, Lady Mia." one replied. "A man with blue hair just passed here an hour ago. He asked us for food. We gave him some and he moved on. It looked as if he was headed for the foothills of Lumpa, the way he was going. We watched him until he was so far into the distance that we could no longer follow him with our eyes, but Lunpa looked to be where he was going, if that helps you any..."
"He almost looked Mercurian like yourself, Lady." Added the other. "Perhaps he was headed toward Imil..." and then he added, "toward the lighthouse."
Then it dawned on Mia. Of course he would go to the lighthouse. How could she be so stupid? He would need to replenish his psynergy and the lighthouse would be the best way to do so. She thanked the guards and scurried out of the town. She broke into a run, but before she could go very far, she was stopped by a tall man riding a black stallion.
"Mia, wait!" he called out.
As She turned around, she recognized who he was. It was Felix. His long brown hair flew around violently in the wind as he rode his stallion. As he came upon her, Mia could see his soft brown eyes looking down upon her.
"Where are you going?" he asked when he was close enough.
"To Imil." Mia replied and began to walk again. Felix trotted up to her side.
"What for?" he prodded. "It's dangerous to travel alone..." Then his voice became low. "Especially in these days, Mia."
"I'm aware of that." She replied as she walked on. "But Felix, this is important... it's urgent that I get to Imil before..." her voice trailed off.
"Before what?" Felix's voice became serious.
"It's nothing." Said Mia.
"Tell me." Felix said sternly.
"Must you take everything so seriously, Felix?" asked Mia, now she was beginning to become angry. "I told you, it's nothing!"
"If it was nothing," began Felix, "then you wouldn't be going to Imil and you know it."
Mia stopped walking and sighed. "I really can't tell you about this, Felix. It's personal.
"Have you seen Alex?" asked Felix out of the blue, stunning Mia with his question.
"Why?" Mia asked with urgency in her voice.
"Because I saw him in these grasslands only minutes ago. I would have taken him back to vault, but somehow, he warped away with that weird psynergy of his. It would seem that he had only a little left. He almost didn't get away before I would have ran him over with my horse." Felix's words were firm. "I too am traveling to Imil today. It is where he will go. The lighthouse with surely restore his power."
"What will you do to him if you find him?" asked Mia with fear for Alex.
"I'm not going to kill him if that's what you're asking. I know why he did the things that he did, even why he betrayed you. On our journey, Alex and I almost became close... like friends. He never really told me anything personal, only about you. He talked about you often. He told me about a lot of things... like why he acted the way he did, why he wanted the Golden Sun to rise... it all made sense."
"Go on..." said Mia.
"I'm going to Imil to see him. I want to know if he's all right. He was my only real friend after I was captured..." Felix trailed off. He looked down at Mia. "I know not your reasons for going, but I do know that it will be faster if you get on my horse with me."
Felix let down a hand to Mia as they both stopped walking. Mia reached up and grabbed it. They rode to Imil together.
Alex walked through the streets of Imil, trying to remain unnoticed. At last he saw the lighthouse. He was worn out from walking and from using his last ounce of psynergy to warp him into the northern regions. As he saw it and came near it, he was almost within it. Walking up the steps, he collapsed.
The people of Imil found him mere minutes later and the mayor too Alex to his house. With no idea who this man was, he set him out on the bed and called both Justin and Megan to his side. As they looked him over, they gasped with the realization of who this person was, Alex.
They did not tell anyone. They knew that Mia would be angry with them if she returned to find Alex murdered in his bed. They tended to him all that afternoon, trying to heal him. His life was slipping away. They knew that they must get Mia and soon. Otherwise, Alex would die...
As Felix rode with Mia holding onto him, they entered the icy wastelands near Imil. They could see a child, nearly grown, in the distance. "Imil is only just ahead. Ride faster, Felix!" urged Mia.
"I'm going as fast as I can." He replied. "Any faster and this poor stallion's heart would give out."
In minutes they were only about a hundred feet from the town of Imil. Now Mia could see that it was Megan who was calling out to her.
"Miss Mia!" she urged as Felix came to a stop outside the city. Mia jumped off the horse. "Miss Mia, It's Alex, he's still alive, but barely. Hurry!"
Mia ran like she never had in all her life. "Fetch some water from the lighthouse!" she yelled as she came to the mayor's house.
As she burst through the door, she could see Alex lying on the bed. A sweat was broken out on his face and his breathing was labored. Moving over to his side, she murmured the words, "Pure Ply."
He healed somewhat, but the fever was only being subdued temporarily. She needed the Hermes Water. She needed it now.
As Megan burst through the door, she forced the water at Mia. Mia quickly poured it into Alex's throat. Coughing, Alex revived. Mia looked down upon him.
"Will he be alright?" Asked the mayor as he came into the room.
The entire party of the bedroom turned to look at him, all frightened. Alex had broke the sacred laws of the Mercury Lighthouse and if the mayor were to figure out who he was now, Alex would be hanged, if not die in his own weakness.
"He will hopefully be fine now." Provided Mia, relieving the other two.
"Good." Said the mayor as he left the room. Justin and Megan did the same.
Mia looked down upon Alex as he slid his weary eyes open. "Where am I?" he asked.
"In Imil." Answered Mia.
"Why are you here... why did you save me... again?" his words were soft.
"Because I love you." Answered Mia. "I've lost you twice now. Don't run from me again." Her voice was soft and loving as well. Mia was still emotionally hurt. It showed in her voice.
Alex reached up to hug her. Mia held him, unwilling to let go. "Why do you do this to me?"
"Do what?" asked Alex.
"Run away."
"Because I don't want to hurt you." Answered Alex. "You don't have to bear me as your burden."
"Alex, I want to bear you as my burden." Mia's voice stayed steady, so filled with both love and hurting.
"I don't want you to." Said Alex. "You have better things to do than tend to me all day until I'm healed."
"The water of Hermes should restore you soon enough. Them we can leave Imil." Said Mia. "No one here besides me and Felix, and Justin and Megan know who you are. We have to flee as soon as we can. I will not leave you behind."
"You may have to, Mia." Persisted Alex. "Save yourself while you still can."
"No. You will come with me, or I will die with you here when they find out who you are."
"Then let us both leave this place, Mia." Answered Alex. "Didn't you say Felix was here?"
"Yes. He has his own stallion with him. It needs refreshing and you need to rest also. We will set out tomorrow."
"You're so stubborn sometimes, Mia." Said Alex. "I will go with you. My strength should somewhat return by tomorrow."
Mia smiled. She hugged Alex tighter and then let go.
And then Alex drifted off back into sleep. Mia watched him this time and then had Felix do the same as she slept that night. Tomorrow they would flee back to Vault where all would be explained...
Another chapter done! YAYERS!
Malik: review!
Alex: review!