"- To pack," Lucca finished. She glanced around with a sigh. "I suppose not."
The others of Crono's group hadn't noticed her words, they were too busy staring around. They stood in a high room with many chandeliers scattered around the place. Coloured lights shone in from eight stained-glass windows, causing the floor to be entirely covered with them, overlapping in places and sometimes causing more colours to be created. Crono noted gold, orange, red, purple and blue before dropping his eyes to the table, surrounded by eight chairs, in the centre of the room.
"This place is beautiful," Marle whispered.
"Words don't even do it justice," Crono agreed. "A place like this has to be seen, not described, in order to get the full effect. …What is this place?"
"You are standing in the Chamber of the Mages, in Altrisiac," Ciaruse explained in her beautifully melodious voice. "This is where we meet to discuss what must be done."
"Speaking of which," Jandegar broke in sharply, "it would be best for you to get on with it. The Mages do not have a lot of time. Tarreiz? I presume that you will drop by to collect the items on your way to the mouth of the Otherworld, and retrieve the others on your way back with the Seventh Mage."
"Yes, of course," was the smooth response. "In that case, we may as well begin with you. Jandegar? The items were chosen and enchanted a long time ago."
"Indeed." Jandegar moved to Schala, removing his gold necklace as he did so. "Schala, this is for you. It will strengthen your magic, although you hardly need that, as well as giving you control over the magical spell SunLight."
"Thank you," Schala responded a little uneasily, not sure if she entirely wanted it but aware that she could hardly refuse it. Accepting the necklace, she moved with a reluctance that was scarcely noticeable to put it on. It hung strangely around her neck, and she wondered what she was getting herself into. She didn't really want anything to do with the Mages.
"Tarreiz? You should go now."
"Yes, I am going," was the irritable response as Tarreiz moved to Crono and his friends. "It would be easier to transport you directly out of Altrisiac, but I think that you would prefer to walk through it," she remarked with a slight smile, seeing by their expressions that she was correct.
"…Tarreiz?" called a voice that Marle was beginning to hate.
"Yes, Ciaruse?" queried Tarreiz neutrally.
"Be quick to fetch the Seventh Mage, and hurry back," Ciaruse advised them.
"Yes, we'd better hop to it and get Kelke," Crono agreed readily. "I mean, we can wander through Altrisiac, but once we're out of it, then we should make haste and get him safely back for Ciaruse."
"Oh yes, let's do everything for Ciaruse," remarked Marle with mock brightness. "Of course. Let's bend and scrape at her feet, too, shall we? I don't know, Crono, why don't you marry her if you love her so much?"
"Well actually – " Crono began.
"I don't want to hear this!" Marle shrieked, storming off.
"Come on, Crono," Tarreiz advised him and, taking his arm, moved him forcefully out of the room. "Marle?" she called once they were out of hearing distance of the Chamber of the Mages. "Trust me, Crono meant nothing by that display, and in fact there was nothing that he could do about it."
"What do you mean by that?" Marle demanded, although she stopped to turn to them.
"Ciaruse is a Siren and seduces men by nature. She does not know how not to. Her speaking voice alone has a noticeable effect, but you are very lucky that he has not heard her sing."
"I don't like Ciaruse," commented Crono with a small but visible shudder. "I would not care to repeat that experience."
"I will attempt to ensure that you do not," Tarreiz said. "Marle, you are also going the wrong way. It would be better for you to follow me."
Once out of Altrisiac, Tarreiz gave a small explanation.
"The Seventh Mage is in no need of your aid. Indeed, he makes his way out of the Otherworld even as we speak. To keep you occupied, we will travel to the territories of the Mages and collect the items that are necessary. There will be an item for each of you, with the exception of Crono, who will find his in your own universe."
"Because Crono just has to be different," Lucca teased.
Tarreiz continued. "There are seven Mages and seven territories. Jandegar's is that area that includes Altrisiac, and I'm very glad that we have already collected his item because you may have guessed by now that I'm not particularly fond of the man. Kerrelei's is next. We can collect both her item and Jhyskar's at about the same time. Their territories are next to the other's and their preferred cities, Quandria and Quaren respectively, well within a day's walking distance."
The Mage paused. "You have already encountered Tarkyn's territory. The Forest belongs to him, and within that, Synalair and the Grove. I will take you to the Grove, but I will not enter it."
Lucca and Marle exchanged a meaningful glance. The entire group knew that Tarreiz had had her heart broken, or something close to it, sometime in the past, but Marle had shared with Lucca her theory that Tarkyn was responsible for it.
"I am required to take you back to Jeraska in order to give you my item. Lucca, you will need to carry this. You will understand once we arrive. The only thing left is to travel to the Island of the Sirens, but we will speak of that when we must. Are we agreed?"
Crono and his friends exchanged quick glances and nods. "We're agreed," Crono responded for the group as a whole.
"Very well. It may take us up to two weeks to reach Quandria if we walk, provided that the weather is good. If it snows, then we may be further delayed."
Lucca shuddered. "I remember this place. It's always so cold,"
"Indeed," Tarreiz observed. "Come. The sooner we set out, the sooner you'll get warm. We move for Quandria, and allow the Seventh Mage to travel as he will."