The journey through the Aleph Mountain Range was bleak and uninteresting. The skies were coloured a dull grey throughout most of the trek, this seemed to fit with the downcast atmosphere surrounding the group. The little conversation that occurred consisted of Robin trying to get Garrian to ask about her. Garrian, however, was not too liberal with his thoughts. He merely agreed or nodded to whatever Robin said. After a few days though, conversation ceased all together. Several days passed with nothing of interest, although Isaac did notice that the closer they cam to their destination, the heavier and more ominous the clouds looked.

After what seemed to be an eternity of crossing mountains, Isaac and his two young allies arrived the place foretold to him by The Wise One. As they stood before the entrance to Alex's location, a number of expressions crossed their faces. Isaac, grimacing at the thought what lay ahead, began to step towards the entrance. Garrian, grinning widely, and gripping his sword tightly, confidently strode after Isaac. Robin, however, was fearful of the enthusiasm Garrian showed. She slowly waked in the wake of her father, and prayed silently that they would all be okay somehow.

Upon entering the ominous cavern, Isaac and his young companions found themselves in what appeared to be a sanctum of similar architecture to that of Sol Sanctum. The walls and pillars where tinted blue, images of the sun were depicted in various locations, and the cracks in the walls and ceiling seemed to glow with an unnatural light. Isaac found this a bit unsettling. Sol Sanctum was a hallowed placed of immense power, and having Alex reside in a similar place did not make him feel any better. Walking through this sanctum proved to be relaxing compared to the mountainous terrain the group had become used to. There were a couple minor puzzles and a few monsters here and there, but all in all Isaac thought it was a pretty calm dungeon. Calm until they entered the central, and largest, chamber.

As Isaac, Robin, and Garrian strode into the massive chamber, they noticed Alex sitting quite comfortably about a hundred feet away, He sat in a simple, yet comfortable chair situated directly on the stone ground ten feet above Isaac. Alex looked across the chamber and down at Isaac, he smiled a little before he spoke.

"Isaac, what a pleasant surprise," Alex greeted warmly, "Please, have a seat."

Robin began looking around for a place to sit. Isaac and Garrian, however, never took their eyes of Alex.

Alex rose from his chair as he spoke again, "Come now Isaac, is this anyway to behave around old friends? You should be ashamed really; you haven't even introduced me to your charming companions."

At this Alex effortlessly warped behind Robin and continued to speak, "Now my dear, what might your name be?"

Robin jumped a little and spun around quickly. She stepped slowly backwards as she responded, "I-I'm Robin… Hi…"

Isaac gripped his sword tightly and strode over to Alex, who waved a hand and stopped Isaac in his tracks. Robin ran over to Isaac and tried to help him, but he was frozen in his position. As this happened, Garrian cast a concerned glance over at Isaac and Robin, but returned his focus to Alex. Grinning widely, Alex moved over to greet Garrian. Garrian simply stared at Alex; he looked into his eyes and saw himself reflected there. Garrian could not help but wonder at this, but just as he began to ponder it, Alex spoke to him.

"Ah, you resemble an old friend of mine. His name is Felix, perhaps you know him?" Alex said fondly.

"The Felix of whom you speak is my father. I am Garrian, his eldest son." spoke Garrian fluidly, "You also knew my mother, Sheba."

Alex stared for a moment into Garrian's eyes. He felt as if Alex was staring into his very soul. After a moment, Alex seemed to snap out of it, "You are the child of my dear friends Felix and Sheba! This is quite magnificent; surely your parents spoke of me?"

"Indeed, although not much was said," Garrian answered thoughtfully, "Though I know not why."

"Interesting indeed." answered Alex darkly.

A heavy sort of atmosphere seemed to weigh upon Garrian when Alex said this. Garrian thought deeply as to why his parents so rarely mentioned Alex, and as to why Isaac has come to defeat him.

As Garrian brooded silently, Alex glided over to Isaac and Robin and released his bind on Isaac. Immediately, Isaac drew his sword and swung at Alex. Alex, however, had already warped back to his chair a hundred feet away, and ten feet above.

"Alex!" roared Isaac, "Return at once!"

Alex glared coldly at Isaac as he spoke again, "Isaac, you should join me. We share a mutual power that will be quite crucial in the coming days."

Isaac needed to time to think of a reply. He loudly declared his feelings, "You jest! I would never consort with the likes of you!"

"I thought not," said Alex offhandedly, "However, I am sure there is one among who would."

"Robin would never-" began Isaac, but Alex interrupted him.

"I was not talking about Robin, Isaac!" declared Alex smugly.

Isaac, in sudden realization, noticed Garrian striding towards Alex. Garrian seemed not the least bit concerned over what he was doing, thus Isaac was sure it was some sort of trick. Isaac demanded that Alex release Garrian's mind from whatever illusion he was under, but before Alex could respond, Garrian had a few words to say.

"Sorry Isaac, I am under no enchantment. I do this of my own will." declared Garrian as he strode forward, "I desire power. This person can provide me with a means of obtaining that power, and therefore I will side with him. I do not know or care what he plans to do, but until I have the power I desire, I will collaborate with him. A person without power is hardly a person at all."

Isaac was speechless. He could only stare as Garrian arrived at Alex's side. Robin, however, was not so silent.

"Garrian, you can't do this!" screamed a tearful Robin, "I don't want you to leave me!"

Upon hearing her voice, Garrian got a look of confliction in his face, but struggled to remain resolute.

"I am sorry Robin," spoke Garrian barely loud enough for her to hear, "It torments me to see you in tears, but I will do this. How am I to protect you and my siblings, with the little power I have? So you see, I must do this, until I am stronger."

Robin struggled to find words to convince her dear friend, however she was unable to summon any words at all. As Robin wept helplessly, Isaac demanded that Garrian return to his senses. Garrian, however, shrugged of Isaacs demands as if he had never heard them. Isaac, gripping his sword so tightly it hurt, rushed towards Garrian declaring that he will drag the youth back if he must.

Alex, not wanting to jeopardize his new ally, warped in front of Isaac and knocked him back with a torrent of water summoned through psynergy. As Isaac managed to stop himself from buckling under the intense water pressure, but he found himself slightly wounded. Alex holding his right hand out in front of him, called back the spent water off the floor and compressed into the shape of a long sword.

Robin, who had been watching from afar through crying eyes, gazed at Alex's new sword with horror. Its image stuck in her mind as she thought of her father. The sword was about five inches in width, and the blade was four feet in length. The sword had no guard, and the hilt was wrapped in blue velvet. Robin saw her father's image reflect briefly in the sword. At seeing this, ran to Isaac's side and tried to help him run. Robin gasped as Alex launched another torrent of water in their direction. She shut her eyes as the mass of water streamlined towards them.

Isaac, knowing that if Robin were to be hit by such psynergy she would surely be killed, threw himself in front of her and took the full force of the attack. He was slightly dazed but he still managed to counterattack by burying Alex beneath tones of stone with a flurry of Venus psynergy. With Alex temporarily unable to act, Isaac turned to Robin and spoke.

"Robin," he said breathlessly, "I want you to run. Get back to Vale and tell everyone what has transpired here. It is worse that we feared."

"I cannot simply leave you and Garrian!" she yelled helplessly, "We must all escape together!"

"Garrian is lost to us." Isaac breathed softly

"But if we could just-" Robin began sadly.

"Robin," Isaac commanded, "You will flee. Now! I will handle things here, and take care of Garrian. Get moving!"

Robin's tear stricken face showed a myriad of emotions, fear, sadness, loneliness, but Robin gave her father a forced look of happiness, then turned her back and ran towards the chambers entrance. As she was running, she looked back and saw that Garrian was no longer present. As memories of Garrian flooded her mind, a loud explosion shook the chamber. Robin was thrown from her feet by the shockwave. She looked behind her to see that Alex had erupted from the earthen prison Isaac had forced upon him. Alex, absolutely radiating with power, gripped sword in hand as he stalked towards Isaac. The last think Robin saw as she fled the chamber, was Isaac struggling to block Alex's endless attacks.

Robin raced through the familiar sanctum. Passed all the now solved puzzles and through all the unlocked doors. Bypassing all the monsters, Robin emerged from the sanctum in a flurry of tears. As she stood outside the sanctum, she gazed out at the Aleph Mountain Range, and began to make her way back to Vale.

The return trip through the mountains was harsh. Robin had little supplies remaining, and it was several days to Vale. Robin, however, persevered and managed to return to Vale, exhausted and in dire need of food. As she struggled to carry herself through the gates of Vale, she collapsed in the Town Square. She thought she saw a familiar face as she drifted into unconsciousness.