Wow. I mean wow. Has it really been an entire year since I've updated this fanfic? Whoops. ; I guess I kind of forgot about it. I suppose there goes updating it within 7 months. Gomen nasai! Please forgive me!
Well, besides that. I suppose I've been a little busy. Or lazy, depends on which one you choose. I was busy with all my geology stuff last year at college. Sadly, I'll be changing my major. I have no idea to what, but...um... yeah. About that... Besides that, most of my free time has been going into another story I've been working on, which may consider publication. I'm still unsure about it yet, but Akiko has been encouraging me too. It's a long way from finished, but it's been fun I'll eventually be posting that on And I just got a new nice dell laptop Which I'm quite happy about. Now it makes updating fanfiction and whatever else easier.
Ahem. And for all those newbe's who are discovering this fic. Keep in mind, I began writing this story LONG before there was even rumored to be a Lost Age. This was also back when I couldn't write. So, yeah. Please forgive the Metal and Spirit adepts. I know there are none in the game, but as I said. This was written where anything could happen. So no complaining that I can't use this idea. I know they do not exist, but I'm keeping my original plot going. Thank you!
And special thanks to Akiko for going through this on such short notice So, sorry for keeping you all waiting , and I apologize for it being kind of short. But at least it's an update and not dead!
Chapter 6
Controlling the mind of a Jupiter Adept is one thing. Doing it safely from a distance is another. A kind of job that takes talent, patience, and it was dangerous; very dangerous. If either of us messed up, it would be painful for both of us. Perhaps even fatal.
Faythe watched Ivan from safety as he entered the building. Only time would be able to tell from this point on.
Garet glanced up from the chair he was sitting on. He was sipping hot tea, as he enjoyed the warmth of the fire. The creak of a door opening was heard.
He placed his cup on the edge of his arm chair as he stood up. He heard footsteps coming towards him. "Mia? Is that you?" Garet froze as he saw the figure wasn't walking towards him. "Wait, Ivan?"
Ivan continued to approach him, with a dazed expression upon his face. It looked as though Ivan himself had seen a ghost. He stopped, and stared dazedly up at Garet.
"Ivan! Mia and I have been looking everywhere for you! What happened!" Garet nearly shouted as he grabbed his blanket off his chair. Ivan was soaked to the bone from the rain. He paced quickly towards his younger friend as he wrapped the blanket around him.
"Garet?" Mia said as she came around the corner. "What's going on?" She stared amazed, Ivan had actually returned. "Ivan! You're back! Are you hurt?" Mia asked worriedly.
Ivan remained silent as he glanced at them. "I'm fine." He finally replied quietly. "Just tired."
"Ivan, are you sure? You don't seem like yourself." Mia walked over towards him. His voice seemed different, it was shaking slightly. She placed her hand on his forehead, only to have it smacked away.
"I said I was fine." He replied sharply. "I'm going upstairs."
Mia and Garet watched in silence as Ivan turned and began going upstairs. "What was that about?" Garet asked when Ivan was out of hearing range. "That didn't seem like him at all."
"He said he was tired." Mia suggested.
"He didn't even mention Isaac, which means he could still be out there. I'm not liking this, first both Ivan and Isaac go missing. Ivan's acting strange, and Isaac's gone without a trace." Garet said, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"Garet, calm down. Anything could have happened to Ivan. Maybe he just needs some rest, and he can tell us in the morning."
Garet sighed. "I'm sorry Mia. This isn't like me. I didn't mean to snap."
"Well, you need your rest too. Perhaps Isaac will come back during the night. Besides, it's Isaac. If any of us can take care of ourselves when we're alone, it's him."
"And if he's not back in the morning?"
"Then we set out and find him." Mia replied.
"You're right. I'm just going to stay up a while longer." Garet said as he moved back towards the fire.
"Good night then." Mia said as she headed back towards her room.
Ivan glanced around the room, looking for anything. He opened a small drawer in the desk next to the window. Various items were placed inside, along with a plain, simple gray bag. He opened it. It contained the item he was looking for. It was simple, a little too simple to get the item.
"Take the item." Faythe's voice rang in the boy's ear. Ivan obeyed as he quickly grabbed the pouch, and placed it in his pocket.
"Ivan?"
Ivan turned around to face Garet standing in the doorway. He froze, not responding.
"Ivan, what are you doing?"
Faythe didn't have much of a choice. If he was going to make a safe get-a-way, it would have been now. Run, get out of there. He ordered. As long as Ivan was inside the building, he had no control over the situation. If he was outside, he had a better chance.
Ivan obeyed as he darted around Garet. Being small had several advantages.
It took Garet a moment to realize what had just happened. "Ivan!" He shouted. What was he doing with the Mars Star? "Ivan, wait up!" He bolted down the stairs after him, nearly stumbling on the last few.
He followed Ivan closely, hoping not to loose sight of him. Ivan was fast, he knew that for a fact. "Ivan!" he shouted again. "Wait up!"
It was difficult to see. The darkness and the rain made it nearly impossible. He had already lost Ivan once, and he wasn't about to again. Something was wrong with him. Ivan wouldn't just steal the Mars star, something must have possessed him too.
"Spark Plasma!"
Garet stepped backwards as the attack struck him. He remained standing as he looked up. Ivan was standing before him, no it couldn't be. Ivan would never attack him. "If you know what's good for you, back off now before I have Ivan kill you." A male voice spoke. "I'll give you credit for keeping up with us, but your line ends here."
"Who are you?" Garet asked. All he could make out was a clocked figure, and he was carrying a staff.
"I have no intention of giving my name." He replied.
"Then what have you done to Ivan?"
"He's under my spell. He has been under my spell this entire night. If you do not back off, I will order him to kill you without hesitation."
"Order Ivan to kill me?" Garet smirked. "Ivan wouldn't. He's my friend."
"Well, we'll see about that." He waved his staff, as Ivan prepared for another Spark Plasma. Ivan raised his hand in the air as he called it forth. Garet dodged it as he sprinted forward.
"Ivan, stop it. It's me, Garet."
Ivan continued to cast Spark Plasma. Garet had a feeling his plan would work. Ivan didn't attack nearly as well as he did on his own free will. He was casting blindly, while the other guy was his guide. He had to get through to Ivan somehow.
"Useless struggles." Faythe muttered. He used Ivan's tornado spell to knock Garet to the ground.
"Ivan."
"Finish him." Faythe's voice echoed in Ivan's mind.
"Finish?" Ivan questioned. "I can't."
"Ivan?" Garet looked up. Ivan's eyes were becoming clearer again. Was he regaining consciousness?
"You will obey me. Kill him."
Ivan stared down at Garet, confused. "Finish him off." The voice kept repeating.
"No." Ivan shot back. "Get out of my mind."
Garet saw Ivan stumble backwards, fighting something. "Ivan?" He quickly stood up, given the chance. It had to do with the boy, he was controlling Ivan. He turned to see him having a similar fit as Ivan. What was going on?
"Get out of my mind!" Ivan shouted back at him. A sudden pain was shot back at him as Ivan nearly collapsed to the ground.
Faythe stumbled as he used his staff for balance. "No, you can't break my spell. You'll kill us both."
Garet drew his sword as he sprinted forward towards the cloaked figure. Faythe looked up just in time to see the sword swing at him, crashing against his staff. It flung from his hand, and span into some bushes.
"Fool." He collapsed to the ground breathing heavily.
Garet held his sword to the boy's neck. "Release Ivan, and I might let you live."
Faythe could hardly hear his foe's request. Garet stepped back as the boy screamed in pain. He turned around to see Ivan fully collapsed, and unmoving to the ground.
"Faythe!" Garet froze as a second voice was heard. Before he knew it, a woman was standing in front of him. "I need a healer. If you want your friend to live, I would suggest getting one."
"What happened?"
"No time to explain! If you value your friend's life, you will do as I say."Yes, I know I'm mean leaving it off there. But, at least it'll make it easier for me to update I'm not sure where this is going to lead us, so it'll be interesting for all of us! And I'll try not to take a year to update this fic this time. No guarantees though! And yes, I know I'm not the best with battles ;
Melinda: Thanks for the suggestions! If you hadn't reviewed yesterday, I probably wouldn't have updated at all. And today's the one year anniversary for not updating! Go me!
GSS: Well, I would add Sheba. But it wouldn't make sense at the moment. Considering the crowd I'm following don't worry, she'll make an appearance sooner or later. No idea when though.
Midnight C: You think everyone should finish what they start. Laughs nervously Um.. yeah, 'bout that ;;;;