Sorry for the delayed update. I ran out of ideas, so I couldn't write for some time…

Wait, that was my excuse the previous time! XX But it's true…

Also, I seem to have done an OOC in this one cries Please give me the constructive criticism I need if so!

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Black Demon567: I guess I don't really know you then… -;

Princess Viv: Thank you! I'm not sure if this chapter is so good… Like I said above, someone seems to be OOC….

Spirit Seer: Thank you!

Jake Delfeir: Yeah… And you know what's worse? I completely forgot about bringing a camera. pulls face And thanks! I didn't think it was that good!

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Chapter 4: Air's Rock

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"Can't you just use your psychic powers to find the Elemental Stars?" Garet groaned, wiping sweat off his forehead. Ivan shook his head.

"I can't peer into a crystal ball and see whatever I want to see. Premonitions come to me randomly," Ivan explained patiently.

"Hamma seems to be able to," Isaac pointed out. They had been walking around Contigo for the past four hours, and there was still no sign of the Jupiter Star.

"Yes, she uses a crystal ball, but it doesn't work all the time, 100 clear. Besides, the future can be changed," Ivan said. "I'll try again."

He closed his eyes. Almost instantly they popped open.

"That way… To the Air's Rock!" Ivan exclaimed. He started to race off. Garet groaned again and forced himself to run.

"Can't we get the djinn?" he panted.

"They're still on recovery," Isaac replied. "Except Mia's…"

The water adept continued running along, her face pale and expressionless. Isaac sighed.

The four went on until they exited Contigo and came to a fairly large plateau. Here the psynergy crystal began to glimmer softly.

"Inside," Ivan said confidently as he cast Reveal, opening a small entrance in the side.

Immediately after entering, they were greeted by a big stone face. It was brown, covered with moss, and had several vines hanging down loosely from it. It lay flat against the ground, with a pointed nose and a crack for the mouth.

"Garet? Do you have Burst?" Isaac asked.

"Are you asking me if I have Burst?"

"YES."

"Isaac, you have no sense of humour…" Garet muttered, raising his hand. A fireball appeared on the crack and exploded. A groan erupted from the statue, and part of the mouth fell away, revealing stone teeth and opening the mouth.

Ivan climbed onto the statue and peered into it. The psynergy crystal clamped tightly in his hand started to flash.

"In here!" he called. His free hand reached into the statue. Immediately, the teeth of the statue clamped onto his arm.

"…OWWW… You know what? OWW!" Ivan cried.

"Ooookay…The mystery of the biting stone statue. So, how do we free him?" Garet asked.

Isaac focused his psynergy onto the lower jaw. "Move!" It did not budge. Garet laid his hand on the stone as well. It still stayed stubbornly on Ivan's arm.

Ivan groaned. He tosses the psynergy crystal to Garet and put his hand on the statue. It glowed.

"What does it say?"

"Well, it's protecting something. Only a Jupiter adept can get it out. Probably the Elemental Star, of course. But I have no idea how I'm supposed to get it out," Ivan replied. He cast Whirlwind on the statue. The vines and moss disappeared, and the mouth opened.

"All right!" Garet joyfully reached in. His fingers closed over a tiny solid and he pulled it out. It was small and purple, similar to the one Alex had held.

Suddenly, there was a gushing sound. Water rushed out of the mouth of the statue. The exit slammed shut. With a strangled yell, Garet rushed off. He climbed up stone steps leading to a ledge near the top of the plateau.

"I HATE WATER!"

"Quick, let's go!" Ivan raced for the steps as water began to flood. Isaac grabbed Mia and followed suit.

Standing on the ledge, they watched the water level rise swiftly.

"Let's get out of here," Ivan said shakily. Garet nodded, then suddenly gasped and gave a hollow cough.

"Guys, I'm sorry but… I dropped it."

He pointed at the stone head. On top of the fully submerged statue was a shiny jewel. The Elemental Star.

"Great, Garet. Really great," Isaac sighed, smacking his forehead.

"Parch," Ivan said immediately. "It's the only way to get the star and escape."

He turned to Mia. "We need you to cast Parch right away."

Mia's head was lowered. "Once Alex gets all the stars he wants… He'll release Kristopher," she said. "I want to save Kristopher."

"Mia, give yourself a knock on the head!" Garet exclaimed, exasperated.

"You don't understand how I feel!" Mia exploded, turning to him with flashing eyes. "Your daughters haven't been kidnapped!"

"Excuse me, but we're trying to save the world here! Your son can wait!"

"That's enough," Isaac interrupted. "Mia, I want to help Kris too. But we can't leave the elemental star here for Alex to take. There's no guarantee that he'll release Kris after he gets the stars."

Mia shook her head stubbornly. "I know Alex. He'll definitely release Kristopher after he gets the elemental stars!"

"Mia!" All three were getting desperate. The water level was close to the ledge by then.

"I can't stop you from taking the star, but I won't help you take the star away from Alex," Mia repeated.

In a flash, Isaac's hand connected with her cheek with a loud smack. A shocked silence followed.

"I don't believe this is you, Mia," Isaac said quietly. His hand was stinging from the impact, and so was his heart. "You were always extremely considerate and caring, even about people you don't know. Why do the lives of others not matter to you anymore? They're innocent!"

Tears rolled down Mia's face. "Kristopher, he's innocent too! He hasn't done anything to deserve it!"

"Kristopher would ask you to save the star. He inherited your love and concern for the people. He would rather die for them," Isaac said firmly. He wrapped his arms around Mia and hugged her gently. "Please understand. Find the heart you threw away."

Slowly, Mia nodded. She closed her eyes. When they reopened, spirit shone in them like before.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't even thinking straight," she whispered. She walked towards the edge of the ledge and raised trembling hands. "Parch."

The water in the plateau started to disappear swiftly. The statue's mouth closed and soon all the place was dry.

Ivan leapt down and picked up the Elemental Star. Isaac waved his hand towards the closed exit and cast Spire. It opened immediately.

Before they could leave, however, the statue began to speak.

"Adepts with the elements, hear my warning. You must work together to keep Weyard safe. Take the elemental star and go."

"Um, so does that mean that the Jupiter Star was meant to be here? I thought it was in Sol Sanctum years ago," Garet said, rubbing his nose.

"Let's just get out of here," Isaac said. All four adepts ran out of the plateau.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired and starving. So how about a bit of light training, dinner and then bed?" Garet yawned.

"Garet. You do realise it's the middle of the afternoon?" Ivan said.

"Let's go visit Hamma, then," Isaac suggested. Ivan made a face.

"Isaac, one day you will find out what Hamma is doing. But not now," he replied. "Let's go to the inn and rest. Besides, you still have something important to do."

Isaac nodded. As Garet ran off for food, he slipped his hand into Mia's.

"We need to talk."

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Well, yeah. Mia acted funny, didn't she?

Thanks to Jake Delfeir for beta-reading!