Disclaimer: Golden Sun is not mine to own.
I'm sorry for the long wait in updating; my schedule was busy this week. Now without further ado, the next chapter.
A Tale of Two Views
A cold wind blew as Felix started his narration, his eyes glazing over as he recalled the past events of the years, "During the final battle of the Alchemy War, just as you had left to obtain the Golden Sun, I and the rest of the Venus Clan fortified ourselves at the base of Mount Aleph, preparing for an attack. There were very few of us left after the long fights to reach Vale, but we were ready to defend that spot to the end." Felix paused, his eyes betraying the great sadness that gripped his heart.
"What happened to them after I left?" Isaac frowned, already guessing the answer.
"The four clans came at each other unrelentingly, there were very few adepts who survived the first battle, but still everyone fought on. That was when it happened, a bright flash illuminated the sky, stopping everyone instantly. Every adept there dropped their weapons, some falling down to their knees. As soon as the light vanished, the survivors rushed to the summit, only to find that the Golden Sun was gone. The war ended after that, each country signing a treaty and returning home. However, the clans experienced a great many losses on that day, reducing even the Venus Clan to one small town by the Venus Lighthouse," Felix paused, turning his back to Isaac. "I left Lalivero after that, and headed north. I met Hama, and we have both lived together peacefully since then. Now enough of my boring escapade, tell me what happened to the Golden Sun."
"The power of Sol..." Isaac stared off into the setting sun, letting his eyes become inflamed. "I found what we had been looking for," a smirk crossed his face, "but its cost was too high."
"What did it do to you?" Felix turned and grabbed Isaac by the shoulders, shaking him.
"The Golden Sun was powerful. When it entered my body, I felt as though I was slowly being ripped apart, little by little. It ended after what seemed like an eternity, and I was exhausted, too tired to even move. After that I blacked out and reawakened on the bottom of Mount Aleph. I met Garet when he ran away from his clan, and he helped me recover."
"Does he know about it?" Felix frowned.
"No, he just knows about my darker side, produced by the corrupting power of the Golden Sun. We wandered around Weyward for many years, not really having a care in the world. I even visited Lemuria," Isaac smiled, remembering the peace that the island had brought him.
"Why did you come to Imil?" Felix asked.
"I sensed something strange drawing me ever closer to Imil, so I decided to visit. Then I somehow was entangled in a kidnapping plot that didn't exist."
"Interesting," Felix shifted his gaze to the stars that were slowly appearing in the clear sky. "Let's go in and eat before your friends eat it all."
---
"So what do you do for a living?" Hama asked Garet as he scarfed down her stew, making him go into a sudden choking fit.
"A mercenary," Garet answered, feeling that he couldn't lie even if he tried.
"What good is that job in this day and age?" Jenna condescended Garet, stirring her stew idly. "There are no more wars to fight."
"Someone has to be ready," Garet reasoned, "or there will be no one to stand against attackers."
"He is right," Felix walked in, looking at his guests. "We have an old barn further south from here for you three to stay in. It is warm and far from the road, making it a better place to hide than in the house. Isaac already left for there and is waiting."
"Alright," Garet stood and started out the door. Mia started after, but not before thanking her kind hosts.
---
Mia and Garet walked through the white meadow, the loud crunch of snow sounding with each step. The land around them was quiet, no animals uttering their cries. The strange silence was lost to the two as they slowly stepped southward. Mia broke the resounding silence with a question, "Why did Felix call Isaac 'Robin'?"
Garet halted in his steps, thinking silently, "Prince Robin of the Venus Clan was lost during the Alchemy War when he tried to scale Mount Aleph. I don't know if Robin gained the power of the Golden Sun, but I know that he and Isaac are the same people. Not even I understand why he changed his name though."
The silence resumed as the two continued their silent march, until they came upon the old barn. "This is it?" Garet remarked sarcastically, looking at the many holes in the roof and side of the structure. Even the red paint was peeling with old age, not a good sign. He turned and smiled at Mia, "I guess beggars can't be choosers."
---
The old wooden doors creaked open loudly, allowing entrance into the archaic barn, as Mia and Garet ambled into its cold corridor. Again Garet found room for a cynical remark clutching his arms to his side, "Warm he says."
"I think it's quite nice," Mia commented, staring around at the hefty amount of hay. Her eyes suddenly jumped to the ceiling, sensing a dark figure's descent.
"At least it's far from the road," Isaac commented as he stood, his body covered in a black cloak. "Sorry for scaring you."
Garet turned his back, embarrassed at being caught by surprise, "I'll go ahead and go to bed if you will take the watch." He barely waited for a nod before he rested against the straw, soft snores following him.
"You should go to sleep to, Lady Mia," Isaac pulled the cloak from around his shoulders and wrapped it around her body.
"Thank you," Mia blushed indecisively, before lying down in the hay, letting the long black cloak cover her body.
Isaac sat down silently, listening to his companions' peaceful slumber, a small smile forming on his lips. The smile quickly faded though, as he primed himself for a long night.
---
Mia sat in the blackness of her subconscious, feeling the empty despair of loneliness. Nothing seemed to penetrate through her mind; no light could glow in the eternal darkness, leaving Mia to fight her demons alone. Suddenly, many bright streaks of light shot through the gloom, illuminating the shadows to erase the dark, letting Mia sleep in peace.
---
Isaac sighed complacently as he listened to the stale barn around him, nothing seeming out of place. A faint shifting of the straw alerted his senses, making him turn to the source of the sound. His cobalt eyes widened as they were caught in a sea of sapphire, bathing him in a gentle glow. "What are you doing up, Mia?" Isaac found he could talk after a time, his mind slowly regaining control.
"I couldn't sleep," Mia smiled as she sat beside Isaac, taking the cloak from her shoulders. "Would you like this back?"
Isaac shook his head; his eyes roving Mia's face absentmindedly, "No thank you. I am used to the cold."
A light smile graced Mia's face as she drew the cloak around her shoulders again, relishing in its earthly scent. Night slowly passed as the two adepts sat there, aware yet not acknowledging the other's closeness. Their thoughts wandered wildly, trying to stay away from there bodies.
"What do you..." Isaac paused in mid-sentence when a sudden light pressure rested against his shoulder. Mia had laid her head in the crook of Isaac's neck before she had fallen asleep, her cerulean hair making him tingle. Isaac awkwardly reached his arm around Mia's shoulder, pulling her close for warmth, and soon joined in peaceful slumber, a peaceful interlude to the oncoming storm.
---
Piers, Alex, Ivan, and Sheba strolled through the streets of Imil, looking high and low. Nothing seemed to detour their path as the four slowly winded down the town streets as if Imil was empty.
"Do you sense them anywhere?" Alex turned to Sheba, a malicious glint in his eye.
"No," Sheba looked around furtively, "they may have left the city already."
"Our search is not doing well now," Piers reasoned. "Why don't we try again tomorrow."
"Fine," Alex turned in a huff, storming back toward the castle. "We will start first thing in the morning."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Shadowranger- Isaac is not evil, he is just uberpowerful. Thanks for the reveiw
PyroDragon88- Did the FelixHamma wierd you out. Blame BTFreek, he got me into the Oldersiblingshipping.
Thanks for the review.
The 8BTFreek- Its your fault that I'm into Oldersiblingshipping. (Joking) Thanks for the review.
magical-flyingdragon- In the Japanese version anyway. Hama is the lady you met at Lama Temple just before you entered the Lamakran Desert. Thanks for the reveiw.