I'm not exaggerating.
I've finished writing it and it is long. Longer than the other two. Now, if I told you it was longer than the other two put together, I would not only be exaggerating but also lying. But it's long. I'll tell you that. Long-winded. And long. And just generally long.
Please, just hang in there. There's a party at the end. With sweet water. And lots of it.
A short refresher course in my desperate attempt to justify Magus being so incredibly out of character. He's trying to stop being antisocial and learn to get along with people. Besides, he has his sister and his cat. He's happy. Okay? Bear that in mind for when he comes back in… um… lots of chapters' time.
And another thing – there is always another thing when it comes to me – thanks heaps to my reviewers. That'd be wingnut, Jynxfreak Neo, Azalai, Yuffie-Girl and Unachieved Nirvana. You guys make me feel all warm and fuzzy! I just love reviews, but who doesn't? Thanks again!
Chapter Five – The Otherworld
"Kerrelei and Jhyskar. They have to go together. They always have."
Frog nodded a little distractedly, eager to get going. "Art thou rested, Mage?"
"You were the one who suggested that we stop," Kelke pointed out acidly, getting to his feet.
"Yes, that is true."
Frog had only suggested the rest in order for Kelke to recover. The path had become both rockier and thinner, surrounded on both sides by some sort of lava, and the Mage of Shadow didn't appear to be taking it well. Frog wasn't sure what was wrong, but he didn't want to have to ultimately leave the Sorcerer behind. He couldn't have said why he was so determined to help Kelke get out as well, considering the evil wizard had tried to kill Frog and his friends. Kelke had, apparently, saved his life back there, and Frog was determined to pay back the debt.
Then again, if it weren't for the Mage, Frog wouldn't have been there in the first place.
"Where was I?" Kelke continued as he once again took the lead. "Kerrelei and Jhyskar, that's right. Water and Fire, respectively. Second and Third Mages, you know. Siblings. Very close siblings. Sometimes we wonder if they're a little too close. If you get my meaning."
"I would prefer not to do so," said Frog stiffly.
"Have it your way," Kelke shrugged. "They're only a year or so apart in ages. Kerrelei is the oldest. Their family tended to prefer to keep to itself. Quite self-sufficient, I hear. Their father was an excellent farmer. Their mother was rich. They grew their own food and made occasional trips into the closest town for material to make clothes and such. Kerrelei was twenty-three – that makes Jhyskar twenty-two, if you're wondering – when they were called to Altrisiac. At least they had a place to go to. Unlike Jandegar, who built it all himself. …How you doing back there?"
"I am coping, and thou?"
"I'll get by. Why does it have to be so damned hot in here? I'd be all right if it weren't for the heat! How long have we been walking, anyway?"
"I would make it three minutes, at the most."
"I meant in total," Kelke snarled.
"In that case, I do not know."
"Typical. Typical. Anyway, so the two of them went to Altrisiac and Jandegar taught them the basics of how to use their power. He also got it wrong. When Tarreiz showed up, she set them straight, and of course I needed very little teaching… but Tarreiz comes later. Next week on everyone's favourite show, The Mages. I'm several days after that. …How much do you know of the Mages themselves? In general?"
"I must confess to a large degree of ignorance."
"You know there are seven of us? There's meant to be eight, but the eighth obviously hasn't been called yet. It usually happens in dreams. The calling."
"Is it possible for thee to describe that in greater detail?"
"No, actually. It's… really quite difficult to talk about. I think it was a little different for each of us. Jandegar had to be shown the way in which Altrisiac would be made, of course. The others only had to be told how to get there. It's like… well, it's a call. Like you're being guided to the only place in which you'll ever belong." Kelke laughed bitterly. "I haven't found it yet. I'm not welcome in Altrisiac. For some odd reason, people don't like the idea of hanging out with evil. Don't get me wrong. I'm not asking for your pity. I don't need that. It's just… Frog! Watch out!"
Thanks to that warning, Frog was on his guard when the twisted creature fell on him. The swordsman reached instinctively for the Masamune, but of course it wasn't there. He thrust a hand out in the hope of finding a suitable rock, but his fingers touched instead the smooth, cold hilt of a small dagger. Snatching this, he drove it into the beast, which was enough to make it at least get off of him. The creature was not used to being attacked and, after being stabbed a couple of times, fell back a little. Frog made use of rocks as projectiles until the beast slunk off.
With that done, Frog looked around for the Mage. "Thou might have helped!"
Kelke did not look as though he would be helping anyone any time soon. He was down on one knee, also using his hands to support himself, and appeared to be having some trouble breathing. Frog went to him, concerned. "Kelke? What is wrong?"
"Magic is so much harder here," Kelke rasped. "And I am drained already."
Frog could do nothing but wait. Kelke took only a few minutes out before getting unsteadily to his feet. "I'm fine," he snapped irritably at Frog, who had risen with him. The Mage ran one hand through his blonde hair, then nodded to the dagger that was still in Frog's hand. "Usually, my blades are of better quality, but this was the least I could do for the time being."
"Thou created this dagger?"
"Where else would it have come from? Daggers don't appear out of thin air. Swords are my speciality. Maybe I'll show you one day." Kelke glanced up at the mountain that seemed so far away. "If we ever get out of here."
"When. When we get out of here," Frog corrected him. He personally could not wait to leave this place.
"Your optimism sickens me, it really does."
"There is always a time for hope."
"I don't see it that way. Hope is quite useless, if you ask me. It gets nothing done."
"That is a very sad way to live."
"You know nothing of the way I live," Kelke pointed out quite rightfully. "Anyway, these little discussions are getting us nowhere."
"Art thou ready to continue?"
"Art thou concerned about me, Frog?" Kelke mocked. "I can look after myself, thank thee mightily. I've been doing it all my life."
"I am concerned about thee, Mage. Thou said it thyself. We stand a better chance if there are two of us. Besides, thou art the one who knowest to where we travel and how to reach our destination."
"You need me," said Kelke doubtfully.
"Yes. I need thee." It was probably true, and if it got Kelke going again, then so be it. The sooner they started off, the sooner they were out of the Otherworld.
"Well, in that case," was the Seventh Mage's almost bright response, "let's get going!"