Chapter 3

They Hold You Close

Mia couldn't help but gape at the city around her. The foggy air pulsed with magic, history pouring out of each ancient building. Felix and the others had led them through the streets of the legendary city. But its splendor had not been lost on them either.

They where standing around the spring Kraden told them was the source of the long life-spans of the city's inhabitants. And each of them was having a go at the fountain, testing their luck as they tossed in coins.

"What the heck?" Garet cried as the dragon head placed a Fireman's Staff in his hands. "Is this a joke? Ivan could snap this thing in two if he tried to use it!"

"Hey!" Ivan shouted. They laughed as Garet continued to exclaim over what he called a 'Weak' weapon, and as he showed off the Fire Brand to a small crowd of people.

"Something wrong, Felix?" Isaac asked the other adept as he came down the street towards them. Mia glanced over, Felix did look troubled as he watched the small crowd. The only two children in Lemuria were both staring wide-eyed at Garet as the Mars-adept started talking about places on the other side of the ocean.

But as Mia turned to get a better view of the crowd, she noticed that when the two came closer together in order to hear, the boy's mother came up and shot a glare at the other, before stalking off with him in her arms. Mia also noticed how the people seemed divided down the middle. Her eyes went wide slightly as she realized the tension between the Lemurians.

"Apparently after we left last time, the island hasn't been so peaceful." Felix was saying. "There's been some kind of disagreement that has the whole city seems on edge, I think it would be a good idea to make our way to the palace as soon as possible." Isaac nodded and went to grab Garet. Ivan and Sheba stood near the two, with Blitz and Gust hovering near-by.

"Man, where's Piers?" Jenna complained from where she was leaning against the side of the fountain. "He told us to meet him here, so what's taking so long?"

"Patience is a virtue, Jenna." Kraden said as he cleaned off his glasses. "I'm sure he'll be coming anytime now.

Mia was getting edgy to, she really hadn't been sure of those guards. They had looked like they were hiding something, like they were going to do something they just knew they would regret…

Moving away from the pillar she had been leaning against, Mia walked over to where Felix and Kraden were talking quietly.

"I can go back and see what's taking him so long." She offered. "You said that it would be smart to get to the palace, you guys just go ahead and then we can meet up later." Felix just looked at her and seemed to mull over it for a few moments.

"Are you sure you don't want to see the rest of Lemuria, Mia?" Kraden asked, he didn't seem too fond of the idea. Mia just waved her hand as if too dismiss his concern.

"No one said I wouldn't get to see it, Kraden." She said. "I just won't see it now. I'll get a chance to take a good look around later. Besides," She continued, "I forgot to grab a few things from the ship, so I'd have to go back anyways."

"That sounds like a good suggestion." Isaac said, coming up with Garet behind him.

"Whatever gives us something to do is fine with me. I'm all out of lucky coins." Jenna said. Ivan and Sheba nodded in agreement.

"Ok," Felix said. "You two meet up with us in the Palace, or if it takes you guys to long, at Piers' uncle's house."

"Ok, we'll meet up there then." Mia said smiling.

"A Mercury-Adept who didn't want to see all of Lemuria as soon as possible. It's simply astounding." The scholar muttered, shaking his grey head as they got ready to move through the city.

"See you later, Mia." Sheba said as they parted. Mia turned back and waved.

Mia tried to set a steady pace, but whenever she saw something carved onto a pillar or the side of a building, even the buildings themselves, she just had to slow down and take a closer look.

"It's no wonder Piers always talks about his home, you can't even walk down a street without gasping at something." Gel said as she looked up from the tile that was half-buried, an intricate picture carved into the surface.

"So what, it's not everyday I get to walk down the streets of an ancient, inhabited, city, brimming with history and Mercury-Adepts." She said as she continued down the lane. She kept herself from mentioning feeling lonely elsewhere, Alex and her had been the last in Imil, and then it had only been her and Piers. However, it was difficult to think of feeling a connection in Lemuria, now that the tension had been brought to her attention, it was making her skin crawl.

Walking quickly down the steps, she picked up her pace again as she spotted the entrance to the harbor. As she made her way down the dank corridor towards the boats, she heard voices in the distance. Despite being closed off from the sky, there was still ample light to see by, such a strange island.

'That must be them.' She thought as the voices grew louder and she was able to pick out the words.

"I'm never going to forgive myself…" She heard. Pausing, Mia listened.

"We couldn't do anything else, this isn't our fault." The other spoke up.

"Damn him for making us do this… If I ever live to be a thousand, the look on his face is going to haunt me forever…"

"Like it won't do the same for me?" Confused, Mia started walking again until she was able to see the guards. One was sitting on the ground, looking dejected; the other looked like he wanted to hit something. Both looked up as she came into view, neither one able to meet her eyes.

"Where is Piers?"

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There was no sound in the cavern as Piers walked through the shadows, no sound other than the soft crunch of his boots against the gravel path. His eyes were down-cast, his shoulders slumped. But his mind felt like Sheba had used the Cyclone chip in his skull…

He's dropped the letter back at the entrance to the city, but even though he'd basically just skimmed the contents, every word was branded on his memory…

Piers,

Commander of the HMS Wave Wing,

By the order of the Senate of Lemuria, for the crimes of repeatedly sailing beyond the borders of the Sea of Time, and for purposely bringing outsiders into the city, you are henceforth banished from the ancient Island of Lemuria. You are, under no circumstances permitted to re-enter the walls of the city, under punishment of imprisonment in the palace dungeons.

You are forbidden to claim Lemurian ancestry. Your name has been stricken from Senate records.

You are no longer Lemurian.

Underneath had been signatures from almost every member of the Senate, Constervato's scrawled across the page with notable flare, beside them King Hydros had signed as well. Piers stopped walking, he was shaking all over.

"P-Piers?" Spring said quietly from behind him. Shade had gone with the others, but Spring had remained and followed Piers when he'd gone they other way. This was the first time the Djinni had spoken.

"Piers… Y-you haven't said anything. What happened back there?" the small Djinni said worriedly. Piers looked straight down, shaking with pent-up emotion.

"Damn it." He muttered. His hands fisted held straight by his side. They wouldn't even let him see his uncle again.

"Piers? Piers!" Spring cried as he bolted straight into the shadows, heedless of the spirit's cries. "Piers! Where are you going? Tell me!" Spring shouted as he vanished. Running down the passage after him, the Djinni tripped over a hidden bump and fell forwards. She tumbled over a few times before coming to a stop.

"Piers?" She asked quietly, even his foot-steps had faded into the shadows. Confused, lost, and alone, Spring just curled up against the wall.

And waited.