Isaac remained silent as he prayed over the body of a slain man. The
Cerberi had taken a total of seven lives that night; no small loss in the
close-knit town of Imil. Others stood weeping as Isaac and Sheba finished
their last rites on the final body. Even the squire's eyes were reddened
with tears; something that had only happened to him once before. As he
rose, his eyes locked to Sheba.
"Now then, what should we do about Mia?" He asked.
"Well. . ." Sheba staggered off. "I'm sure she's at the old ruins. . ."
"So, let's go after her, then!"
"Isaac, I think you should go, alone."
"What?"
"I think it should be you alone who sees her."
"But you're like her younger sister! You should see her more than me!"
"I'm afraid you wouldn't understand, Isaac. Just go see her; I have things to take care of right now." Sheba said, turning and walking away.
"Sheba, wait!" Isaac called as she disappeared around a corner. He sighed. There was no use fighting her statements; she could be as stubborn as Mia was about her patients. Either way, he had to find Mia, so he dashed off in the direction of the ruins.
***************************
He reached the darkened ruins minutes later. Only the full moon provided any illumination at all. The eerie white light washed over the ruined and crumbling walls, revealing some of the detail within the ancient site. Isaac wasn't sure exactly where to begin looking in the large and sprawling ruins, so he decided to listen to his instincts and senses. He paused briefly, trying to pick up any sort of human sound. After a moment, he sighed, realizing the only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing. The squire began searching through the ruins carefully and quietly, not knowing if any creatures called these worn buildings home after nightfall. His search was extensive and exhaustive, starting with the grounds, and then slowly moving to the center of the ruins. After roughly twenty minutes of looking, Isaac's keen sense of hearing finally picked up a faint sound. It was definitely human, and it sounded sad; it had to be Mia. He trained his ears for the sound again, listening carefully if it sounded again. His ears didn't have to wait long; the sound was heard seconds later. Isaac recognized the sound as a soft sob, so he jogged in the direction of the sound. Within moments, he came to the main temple; or rather, what was left of it. He peered over one of the ruined walls and saw Mia, illuminated by the moon. The Mercury Adept was on her knees, sobbing softly in the center of the temple; her back was turned to him. The Venus Adept swallowed hard, and then walked in quietly. Mia didn't stir as he approached. When Isaac was within arm's reach of Mia, he laid his hand on her right shoulder softly.
"Mia?" Isaac said, trying to see if she was coherent to the outside world. She responded only by placing her left hand atop his right. Isaac slowly moved so he would be in front of her, careful not to take his hand off her shoulder until he was fully around. "Mia?" He repeated. She didn't look up, so Isaac placed his hand back to her shoulder. After a few moments, Mia surged forward and planted her face in Isaac's chest, sobbing heavily. Isaac put his arms around her in a gesture of comfort, but Mia didn't relent in crying. "It'll be okay, Mia. I'm here for you right now." Mia's crying slowed somewhat, and she looked up at Isaac.
Tears were still streaming down her cheeks, and the whites of her eyes were now completely red and bloodshot from crying. The color of her irises contrasted the red, giving her an even more sorrowful look. She managed to form words between sobs after a moment.
"Thank you, Isaac." She said, sniffling. Isaac wiped a couple of tears from her cheeks before he replied.
"None are necessary, Mia." Isaac said, soothingly. "Tell me, though. . . what were those creatures?" Mia tried to regain herself a little more before she replied.
"Those creatures. . . the Cerberi; they have been the bane of my existence my entire life. About ten years ago, those beasts attacked Imil for the first time. I was only a seven-year old healer in training, and I was learning my trade from my parents. The night those demon dogs came will remain burned in my mind for the remainder of my life. The first victims those two hounds took were my own parents; my father died protecting my mother and I, and my mother died making sure I was in a safe place. Then those creatures took the lives of three more people in the village before they finally left. Unfortunately, the hounds had wounded some, and given the fact that I was only a trainee healer at the time, there was little I could do to help them. Two more died of their injuries that night. Just when we thought the nightmare was over, the next night, the hounds returned, but this time, with a floating cloaked figure with them. They obeyed the figure's every silent order. Eight more perished that night trying to fight off the beasts. Then, the creatures and their summoner, took their leave. They didn't return until the following year. The cycle has been repeating itself every year since then." Mia's eyes began to swell up with tears again before Isaac pulled her into a calming hug. "And then, three years ago, those beasts returned, and. . . they. . ." Mia was beginning to lose her composure again. "killed Sheba's parents." She stated, before another round of sobs racked through her body. Isaac continued to console her, and he finally managed to get her to gain some of her control back.
"How did this start happening? And did you ever send to Vale for help?"
"It started from out of the blue, Isaac. And every messenger we sent to Vale disappeared without a trace, so eventually we stopped trying." Isaac was silent for a few moments, letting Mia shed whatever tears she had left in her.
"Mia, I wish you would've told me about this sooner. . ." Isaac trailed off. "I was about to leave without doing a thing to help. . ." His eyes began tearing slightly; he hated to see anyone so heartsick. His heart ached for Mia's sorrows; he couldn't just leave now. Besides it being his duty to help those in need, his heart wouldn't allow him to leave her in this position.
"I know, Isaac. . . I just. . . I couldn't have asked you to help us."
"Mia, that is what I'm here for. That's what all Paladins are there for; to help people."
"Isaac. . ."
"And Mia, don't say anything." Isaac put a finger to her lips. "Mia, I promise you; as long as there is still life in my body, I will destroy those creatures and their abomination of a master." Isaac stated, both firmly and consolingly. "They will see justice for their deeds; that I promise you too." Mia's facial expression changed; the look on her face indescribable.
"Isaac, no. . . please don't." Mia cried. "Those beasts have taken so much; I don't want to lose anyone else I'm close to!" Isaac's mind jumped for a moment. She considered him close to her? Did that mean that the dream Mia he knew wasn't so different from the real deal after all? He smiled at Mia, and again wiped away one of her tears.
"Mia. . . I can't stay away. My heart tells me to help you, and I cannot turn away from that. Besides, if I don't stop them, who will? And then how many more innocents will die? Mia, I must do this. You have to understand. . ."
"You're only helping because it's your duty!" Mia snapped. She caught herself, and she turned her head away, ashamed. Isaac put his hand beneath Mia's chin and gently guided her face toward the direction of his.
"It may be my duty, Mia, but I'm doing this so you can finally be put at ease. I'm doing this for you, and Sheba, and all of the others in Imil who have lost loved ones. This isn't just duty, Mia. I'm doing this because again, my heart tells me to."
Mia nodded slightly, and she buried her face against Isaac's chest again. "Thank you, Isaac."
"Don't mention it." She pulled her head back and rose to her feet, with Isaac doing the same a moment later.
"Normally I hate playing the damsel in distress." Mia laughed lightly. "I still do. Isaac, I won't let you face them alone. Sheba and I will stand against them as well; we'll all fight together, side by side."
"A fine plan, Mia." Isaac smiled. "Now, come on, let's get you back home so we can get some rest for tomorrow." Mia nodded, and then yawned heavily; she was exhausted from her crying bout, which had left Isaac's tunic remarkably wet. "You look terribly tired. . . do. . . you want me to carry you home?" Isaac asked, politely.
"I wouldn't want to give you trouble, Isaac."
"It's not any. Just climb on my back, okay?" Isaac stated, kneeling down. Mia sighed and accepted, and in no time, Isaac was carrying Mia home on his back. It wasn't long before he could hear the Mercury Adept softly sleeping in his ear. Isaac smiled, contented that he at least made her feel better. He continued on back to Imil, his mind now focused on how to defeat the two hounds from Hell the following night.
*********************************
Felix and company rode into the city of Kolima, one hundred miles from the town of Imil. This town was famous for its logging industry, and also strangely, its ecological awareness. The policy of Kolima's logging was to plant one tree for every one cut down; the forest remained flourishing even with the lumberjacks. The rest of the town was built inside hollowed out trees, making Kolima a unique addition to the nation of Angara. The very first thing the new arrivals did was to see the mayor of the town.
"I'm sorry, Lord Felix. We've received no reports of the sort from Imil, or anywhere else for that matter. I mean, there are not many people who travel to Imil willingly these days." The mayor responded to Felix's first question.
"Great. Tell me, how long should it take us to reach Imil?"
"Well, given the fact your horses are exhausted, I'd say you could make it there in about five days. Two days of rest, three of travel."
"Very well." Felix sighed. He didn't want to wait, but even at full running speed on foot, it would still take five days to reach Imil. "Can you recommend a place for us to lodge until then, sir?"
"Well, the Kolima Inn is probably the best place in town, and considering you serve the king directly, they may give you a heavy discount. Lord Felix, since you will be in town, may I ask something of you?"
"What's that?"
"Several days ago, an artifact was stolen from the city treasury. I'm concerned about it."
"What kind of artifact was it?" Ivan inquired.
"It was known to us as the Jupiter Star. The strange orb always glowed with the purple powers of the wind; it was a beautiful and one of a kind stone."
"The Jupiter Star?!" Ivan jumped. "The Jupiter Star is made of the very essence of the Jupiter Element! If it falls in the wrong hands, there's no telling what havoc could be set forth." Ivan exclaimed, pacing back and forth.
"Ivan, aren't there four Elemental Stars?" Dargon asked. "I know where the Mars Star is kept; it's held in Vault, and the Venus Star is held in Vale."
"What about the Mercury Star, Dargon?" Garet asked.
"I'm not sure where that one is."
"No one is, Dargon. Countless souls have searched far and wide for it, but no one knows where exactly it is." Ivan stated. "It may be buried in the sands of the Suhulla, it could be under the deepest of lakes, or it could be in the coffers of a miserly dragon."
"But, what can those stones do?" Garet asked.
"Their power's limits are not known, but if someone possesses all four, it could mean the end of the world." Felix replied. "Now, were there any clues as to the identity of the thief?"
"No; the crime scene was cleaner than a bone. Whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing, knew exactly what they were after, and knew how to remain silent. All of the guards were knocked out without seeing a thing."
"Wow. That's impressive." Garet awed. "The thief must really be something."
"Lord Felix, would you and Lord Dargon investigate the grounds?"
"I doubt we'll find anything, but we shall give it a go over. Let's go, guys." Felix stated. "Thank you again, sir."
******************************
The castle around him was dark, and lit only by the occasional torch. He sat upon his throne, reading a book on dark magic and curses, laughing in contempt at the simplicity of them all. He fiddled with a glass of red wine in his other hand, his mind at somewhat of an evil ease. There came a knock at the far door in the chamber; it echoed all through the empty room. The figure looked up from his read.
"What is it?" He demanded. A skeleton sorcerer appeared at the door and clearly replied to him.
"Sir, Darkfire has returned." It said. The figure sneered.
"Send her in." He ordered. The skeleton gave its equivalent of a nod, and ushered in a female figure, clad completely in black. Her face was masked; all but her eyes were masked by a black covering of sorts. Her eyes burned a deep purple. Upon her back was a katana, and at her hip was a small bag, which obviously held something.
"Were you successful, miss Darkfire?"
"Of course." She said, removing the bag from her belt and tossing it idly into the air. "By the way, I'm doubling my price. This assignment was an insult to my intelligence and abilities. I'm an assassin, not some petty thief. Keep in mind, I'm only doing this for the money, so you had better be ready to cough up or I'll be returning this to Kolima." A smile crossed the evil figure's face.
"You'll get your money, Darkfire, I promise you. Servant! Fetch our guest her money, right away! Double the original price."
"Of course, sir."
"Small wonder why I keep taking jobs from you, Saturos." The female said.
"Ah yes. . . and I still only know you by your false name." Saturos replied. "So, the job was easy?"
"Too simple. I didn't even have to draw my sword once. The guards were moronic, alarms nonexistent, no attack hounds, no traps, no danger at all. It was like going to the market to pick up fresh bread."
"Ah, truly it was an insult to you."
"You're lucky you pay me so well, or I would've left long ago." She stated, a smile curling beneath her facial covering. The servant returned into the chamber, carrying a small bag. The skeletal figure handed the assassin the bag, and she promptly opened it. She reached in and produced a large and flawless ruby. "Ah, perfect. No wonder I like working for you so much. This just about makes up for the bore of the run."
"Now, I want what I paid you for." Wordlessly, the assassin pitched the bag containing the spoils of her work at Saturos, who caught it effortlessly in his left hand. He opened the bag, and pulled out a small purple sphere. "You are as good as your word, Darkfire; as I've come to expect. I may have another assignment for you soon. . . I'll contact you when anything comes up."
"No, I'll contact YOU." Darkfire replied, cooly. Saturos chuckled as he placed the Jupiter Star on the pedestal where he already had secured the Mars and Venus Stars. Acquiring them through bribes and such were easy enough.
"Of course," He stated, slowly turning back around. "fare-" Saturos cut himself off as he realized his hired assassin had already disappeared. He smiled; as much as he hated giving money away, he knew his money was never wasted on her services; she was truly the best of the best. Unfortunately, she knew too much. She knew the location of his spire, she could've deducted his plan, and she knew the soldiers he possessed. If his plan was to succeed, she was to be eliminated; however. . . the Mercury Star still remained absent from his clutches, and he would certainly need her help to acquire that artifact. Saturos returned to his throne and his reading, pondering over how he would complete his plan.
*****************************
"Are you hurt, Mia?" The angel asked her.
"No; I'm okay. . ." Mia still stood, mystified at the angel that was Isaac. His presence was calming and soothing; how did it feel so familiar? "And how do you know who I am?"
"I just know." The angel smiled. "There's no need to fear me."
"I'm not afraid of you." Mia stated softly. "Tell me, is your name Isaac?" The angel smiled again.
"Indeed you are a wise and knowledgeable one, Mia. That is my name."
"I knew it. . . but, why are you here?"
"I'm here to protect you; did you forget I will always be here for you?"
"No, I didn't forget." She said, realizing she was dreaming; strangely, she didn't awake. "Isaac, are you the Isaac I know in the real world, or are you just a painting of him in my mind?"
"I am both." The angel Isaac replied, his voice other-worldly. "And I'm neither. You must determine whether I am fiction or reality. I could be the Isaac you know, but I might not be."
"Speaking in riddles, are we? Fine." Mia replied. "Next. . . do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"I am not one of Jupiter, but I still know. Mia, you are currently thinking how much you love the Isaac you know in the real world." Mia smiled and blushed. "And I know your next question, too. Your next question is how could the two of you ever possibly work together, correct?" The healer nodded. "There is another who could answer you better than I." Isaac stated. "Close your senses and open your mind; let the light take you." Mia closed her eyes and obeyed. She suddenly felt engulfed by a blue light.
She found herself in a blank space, nothing stretching everywhere at once. She surveyed her new surroundings very carefully, but there was nothing to see; just empty space as far as the eye could see. Mia stood, and then she was partially blinded by a blue light; after its initial appearance, the color became soft and cool. Mia found herself staring at a woman, clothed in robes of white and blue, her face shrouded by the blue light. Two feathered wings protruded from her back, and the aura put off from her was purity, knowledge, love, joy, honor, wisdom, and truth. Mia could feel her power and instantly knew who she was dealing with; Luna herself.
"Greetings, my daughter." She stated.
"What?" Mia asked.
"You seek answers, do you not? I will give them to you, Mia. You seek to know why you've fallen in love one who is forbidden to do so." The Mercury Adept nodded shyly. "Love has no logical answers, Mia; when it happens, it happens. I know you are concerned that you will shame yourself and Isaac if you admit your feelings to him. However, who forbids him to love?"
"The Code of Sol; the code written by Sol himself."
"That was the answer I expected from a mortal of your time, Mia. Your wisdom of your time is commendable, albeit incorrect."
"Beg your pardon, Luna?"
"Sol was not the one who wrote the code of the Paladins. Do you wish to know why I know, Mia?"
"Why?"
"Because Sol and I were in love. We remain as such even to this day, young Adept. Sol understands the importance of trusting your emotions and your heart. We both understand that; so should you."
"Then how come the Paladins don't know this?"
"Because, the Paladins are traditionalists the bind to their written code heavily. Though powerful and wise, all of the Paladins are misled by their own code; love doesn't serve as a distraction from helping people. It serves as a boost to the spirit. Sol has not reached out to them, because they must discover the mistake they have made on their own."
"I see."
"You must do as your heart tells you to do, Mia. You can do no more, and I expect no less. Now, you must return to the world you know and make use of what I have taught you. Farewell." Luna said, as she vanished back into the emptiness from whence she came.
"Now then, what should we do about Mia?" He asked.
"Well. . ." Sheba staggered off. "I'm sure she's at the old ruins. . ."
"So, let's go after her, then!"
"Isaac, I think you should go, alone."
"What?"
"I think it should be you alone who sees her."
"But you're like her younger sister! You should see her more than me!"
"I'm afraid you wouldn't understand, Isaac. Just go see her; I have things to take care of right now." Sheba said, turning and walking away.
"Sheba, wait!" Isaac called as she disappeared around a corner. He sighed. There was no use fighting her statements; she could be as stubborn as Mia was about her patients. Either way, he had to find Mia, so he dashed off in the direction of the ruins.
***************************
He reached the darkened ruins minutes later. Only the full moon provided any illumination at all. The eerie white light washed over the ruined and crumbling walls, revealing some of the detail within the ancient site. Isaac wasn't sure exactly where to begin looking in the large and sprawling ruins, so he decided to listen to his instincts and senses. He paused briefly, trying to pick up any sort of human sound. After a moment, he sighed, realizing the only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing. The squire began searching through the ruins carefully and quietly, not knowing if any creatures called these worn buildings home after nightfall. His search was extensive and exhaustive, starting with the grounds, and then slowly moving to the center of the ruins. After roughly twenty minutes of looking, Isaac's keen sense of hearing finally picked up a faint sound. It was definitely human, and it sounded sad; it had to be Mia. He trained his ears for the sound again, listening carefully if it sounded again. His ears didn't have to wait long; the sound was heard seconds later. Isaac recognized the sound as a soft sob, so he jogged in the direction of the sound. Within moments, he came to the main temple; or rather, what was left of it. He peered over one of the ruined walls and saw Mia, illuminated by the moon. The Mercury Adept was on her knees, sobbing softly in the center of the temple; her back was turned to him. The Venus Adept swallowed hard, and then walked in quietly. Mia didn't stir as he approached. When Isaac was within arm's reach of Mia, he laid his hand on her right shoulder softly.
"Mia?" Isaac said, trying to see if she was coherent to the outside world. She responded only by placing her left hand atop his right. Isaac slowly moved so he would be in front of her, careful not to take his hand off her shoulder until he was fully around. "Mia?" He repeated. She didn't look up, so Isaac placed his hand back to her shoulder. After a few moments, Mia surged forward and planted her face in Isaac's chest, sobbing heavily. Isaac put his arms around her in a gesture of comfort, but Mia didn't relent in crying. "It'll be okay, Mia. I'm here for you right now." Mia's crying slowed somewhat, and she looked up at Isaac.
Tears were still streaming down her cheeks, and the whites of her eyes were now completely red and bloodshot from crying. The color of her irises contrasted the red, giving her an even more sorrowful look. She managed to form words between sobs after a moment.
"Thank you, Isaac." She said, sniffling. Isaac wiped a couple of tears from her cheeks before he replied.
"None are necessary, Mia." Isaac said, soothingly. "Tell me, though. . . what were those creatures?" Mia tried to regain herself a little more before she replied.
"Those creatures. . . the Cerberi; they have been the bane of my existence my entire life. About ten years ago, those beasts attacked Imil for the first time. I was only a seven-year old healer in training, and I was learning my trade from my parents. The night those demon dogs came will remain burned in my mind for the remainder of my life. The first victims those two hounds took were my own parents; my father died protecting my mother and I, and my mother died making sure I was in a safe place. Then those creatures took the lives of three more people in the village before they finally left. Unfortunately, the hounds had wounded some, and given the fact that I was only a trainee healer at the time, there was little I could do to help them. Two more died of their injuries that night. Just when we thought the nightmare was over, the next night, the hounds returned, but this time, with a floating cloaked figure with them. They obeyed the figure's every silent order. Eight more perished that night trying to fight off the beasts. Then, the creatures and their summoner, took their leave. They didn't return until the following year. The cycle has been repeating itself every year since then." Mia's eyes began to swell up with tears again before Isaac pulled her into a calming hug. "And then, three years ago, those beasts returned, and. . . they. . ." Mia was beginning to lose her composure again. "killed Sheba's parents." She stated, before another round of sobs racked through her body. Isaac continued to console her, and he finally managed to get her to gain some of her control back.
"How did this start happening? And did you ever send to Vale for help?"
"It started from out of the blue, Isaac. And every messenger we sent to Vale disappeared without a trace, so eventually we stopped trying." Isaac was silent for a few moments, letting Mia shed whatever tears she had left in her.
"Mia, I wish you would've told me about this sooner. . ." Isaac trailed off. "I was about to leave without doing a thing to help. . ." His eyes began tearing slightly; he hated to see anyone so heartsick. His heart ached for Mia's sorrows; he couldn't just leave now. Besides it being his duty to help those in need, his heart wouldn't allow him to leave her in this position.
"I know, Isaac. . . I just. . . I couldn't have asked you to help us."
"Mia, that is what I'm here for. That's what all Paladins are there for; to help people."
"Isaac. . ."
"And Mia, don't say anything." Isaac put a finger to her lips. "Mia, I promise you; as long as there is still life in my body, I will destroy those creatures and their abomination of a master." Isaac stated, both firmly and consolingly. "They will see justice for their deeds; that I promise you too." Mia's facial expression changed; the look on her face indescribable.
"Isaac, no. . . please don't." Mia cried. "Those beasts have taken so much; I don't want to lose anyone else I'm close to!" Isaac's mind jumped for a moment. She considered him close to her? Did that mean that the dream Mia he knew wasn't so different from the real deal after all? He smiled at Mia, and again wiped away one of her tears.
"Mia. . . I can't stay away. My heart tells me to help you, and I cannot turn away from that. Besides, if I don't stop them, who will? And then how many more innocents will die? Mia, I must do this. You have to understand. . ."
"You're only helping because it's your duty!" Mia snapped. She caught herself, and she turned her head away, ashamed. Isaac put his hand beneath Mia's chin and gently guided her face toward the direction of his.
"It may be my duty, Mia, but I'm doing this so you can finally be put at ease. I'm doing this for you, and Sheba, and all of the others in Imil who have lost loved ones. This isn't just duty, Mia. I'm doing this because again, my heart tells me to."
Mia nodded slightly, and she buried her face against Isaac's chest again. "Thank you, Isaac."
"Don't mention it." She pulled her head back and rose to her feet, with Isaac doing the same a moment later.
"Normally I hate playing the damsel in distress." Mia laughed lightly. "I still do. Isaac, I won't let you face them alone. Sheba and I will stand against them as well; we'll all fight together, side by side."
"A fine plan, Mia." Isaac smiled. "Now, come on, let's get you back home so we can get some rest for tomorrow." Mia nodded, and then yawned heavily; she was exhausted from her crying bout, which had left Isaac's tunic remarkably wet. "You look terribly tired. . . do. . . you want me to carry you home?" Isaac asked, politely.
"I wouldn't want to give you trouble, Isaac."
"It's not any. Just climb on my back, okay?" Isaac stated, kneeling down. Mia sighed and accepted, and in no time, Isaac was carrying Mia home on his back. It wasn't long before he could hear the Mercury Adept softly sleeping in his ear. Isaac smiled, contented that he at least made her feel better. He continued on back to Imil, his mind now focused on how to defeat the two hounds from Hell the following night.
*********************************
Felix and company rode into the city of Kolima, one hundred miles from the town of Imil. This town was famous for its logging industry, and also strangely, its ecological awareness. The policy of Kolima's logging was to plant one tree for every one cut down; the forest remained flourishing even with the lumberjacks. The rest of the town was built inside hollowed out trees, making Kolima a unique addition to the nation of Angara. The very first thing the new arrivals did was to see the mayor of the town.
"I'm sorry, Lord Felix. We've received no reports of the sort from Imil, or anywhere else for that matter. I mean, there are not many people who travel to Imil willingly these days." The mayor responded to Felix's first question.
"Great. Tell me, how long should it take us to reach Imil?"
"Well, given the fact your horses are exhausted, I'd say you could make it there in about five days. Two days of rest, three of travel."
"Very well." Felix sighed. He didn't want to wait, but even at full running speed on foot, it would still take five days to reach Imil. "Can you recommend a place for us to lodge until then, sir?"
"Well, the Kolima Inn is probably the best place in town, and considering you serve the king directly, they may give you a heavy discount. Lord Felix, since you will be in town, may I ask something of you?"
"What's that?"
"Several days ago, an artifact was stolen from the city treasury. I'm concerned about it."
"What kind of artifact was it?" Ivan inquired.
"It was known to us as the Jupiter Star. The strange orb always glowed with the purple powers of the wind; it was a beautiful and one of a kind stone."
"The Jupiter Star?!" Ivan jumped. "The Jupiter Star is made of the very essence of the Jupiter Element! If it falls in the wrong hands, there's no telling what havoc could be set forth." Ivan exclaimed, pacing back and forth.
"Ivan, aren't there four Elemental Stars?" Dargon asked. "I know where the Mars Star is kept; it's held in Vault, and the Venus Star is held in Vale."
"What about the Mercury Star, Dargon?" Garet asked.
"I'm not sure where that one is."
"No one is, Dargon. Countless souls have searched far and wide for it, but no one knows where exactly it is." Ivan stated. "It may be buried in the sands of the Suhulla, it could be under the deepest of lakes, or it could be in the coffers of a miserly dragon."
"But, what can those stones do?" Garet asked.
"Their power's limits are not known, but if someone possesses all four, it could mean the end of the world." Felix replied. "Now, were there any clues as to the identity of the thief?"
"No; the crime scene was cleaner than a bone. Whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing, knew exactly what they were after, and knew how to remain silent. All of the guards were knocked out without seeing a thing."
"Wow. That's impressive." Garet awed. "The thief must really be something."
"Lord Felix, would you and Lord Dargon investigate the grounds?"
"I doubt we'll find anything, but we shall give it a go over. Let's go, guys." Felix stated. "Thank you again, sir."
******************************
The castle around him was dark, and lit only by the occasional torch. He sat upon his throne, reading a book on dark magic and curses, laughing in contempt at the simplicity of them all. He fiddled with a glass of red wine in his other hand, his mind at somewhat of an evil ease. There came a knock at the far door in the chamber; it echoed all through the empty room. The figure looked up from his read.
"What is it?" He demanded. A skeleton sorcerer appeared at the door and clearly replied to him.
"Sir, Darkfire has returned." It said. The figure sneered.
"Send her in." He ordered. The skeleton gave its equivalent of a nod, and ushered in a female figure, clad completely in black. Her face was masked; all but her eyes were masked by a black covering of sorts. Her eyes burned a deep purple. Upon her back was a katana, and at her hip was a small bag, which obviously held something.
"Were you successful, miss Darkfire?"
"Of course." She said, removing the bag from her belt and tossing it idly into the air. "By the way, I'm doubling my price. This assignment was an insult to my intelligence and abilities. I'm an assassin, not some petty thief. Keep in mind, I'm only doing this for the money, so you had better be ready to cough up or I'll be returning this to Kolima." A smile crossed the evil figure's face.
"You'll get your money, Darkfire, I promise you. Servant! Fetch our guest her money, right away! Double the original price."
"Of course, sir."
"Small wonder why I keep taking jobs from you, Saturos." The female said.
"Ah yes. . . and I still only know you by your false name." Saturos replied. "So, the job was easy?"
"Too simple. I didn't even have to draw my sword once. The guards were moronic, alarms nonexistent, no attack hounds, no traps, no danger at all. It was like going to the market to pick up fresh bread."
"Ah, truly it was an insult to you."
"You're lucky you pay me so well, or I would've left long ago." She stated, a smile curling beneath her facial covering. The servant returned into the chamber, carrying a small bag. The skeletal figure handed the assassin the bag, and she promptly opened it. She reached in and produced a large and flawless ruby. "Ah, perfect. No wonder I like working for you so much. This just about makes up for the bore of the run."
"Now, I want what I paid you for." Wordlessly, the assassin pitched the bag containing the spoils of her work at Saturos, who caught it effortlessly in his left hand. He opened the bag, and pulled out a small purple sphere. "You are as good as your word, Darkfire; as I've come to expect. I may have another assignment for you soon. . . I'll contact you when anything comes up."
"No, I'll contact YOU." Darkfire replied, cooly. Saturos chuckled as he placed the Jupiter Star on the pedestal where he already had secured the Mars and Venus Stars. Acquiring them through bribes and such were easy enough.
"Of course," He stated, slowly turning back around. "fare-" Saturos cut himself off as he realized his hired assassin had already disappeared. He smiled; as much as he hated giving money away, he knew his money was never wasted on her services; she was truly the best of the best. Unfortunately, she knew too much. She knew the location of his spire, she could've deducted his plan, and she knew the soldiers he possessed. If his plan was to succeed, she was to be eliminated; however. . . the Mercury Star still remained absent from his clutches, and he would certainly need her help to acquire that artifact. Saturos returned to his throne and his reading, pondering over how he would complete his plan.
*****************************
"Are you hurt, Mia?" The angel asked her.
"No; I'm okay. . ." Mia still stood, mystified at the angel that was Isaac. His presence was calming and soothing; how did it feel so familiar? "And how do you know who I am?"
"I just know." The angel smiled. "There's no need to fear me."
"I'm not afraid of you." Mia stated softly. "Tell me, is your name Isaac?" The angel smiled again.
"Indeed you are a wise and knowledgeable one, Mia. That is my name."
"I knew it. . . but, why are you here?"
"I'm here to protect you; did you forget I will always be here for you?"
"No, I didn't forget." She said, realizing she was dreaming; strangely, she didn't awake. "Isaac, are you the Isaac I know in the real world, or are you just a painting of him in my mind?"
"I am both." The angel Isaac replied, his voice other-worldly. "And I'm neither. You must determine whether I am fiction or reality. I could be the Isaac you know, but I might not be."
"Speaking in riddles, are we? Fine." Mia replied. "Next. . . do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"I am not one of Jupiter, but I still know. Mia, you are currently thinking how much you love the Isaac you know in the real world." Mia smiled and blushed. "And I know your next question, too. Your next question is how could the two of you ever possibly work together, correct?" The healer nodded. "There is another who could answer you better than I." Isaac stated. "Close your senses and open your mind; let the light take you." Mia closed her eyes and obeyed. She suddenly felt engulfed by a blue light.
She found herself in a blank space, nothing stretching everywhere at once. She surveyed her new surroundings very carefully, but there was nothing to see; just empty space as far as the eye could see. Mia stood, and then she was partially blinded by a blue light; after its initial appearance, the color became soft and cool. Mia found herself staring at a woman, clothed in robes of white and blue, her face shrouded by the blue light. Two feathered wings protruded from her back, and the aura put off from her was purity, knowledge, love, joy, honor, wisdom, and truth. Mia could feel her power and instantly knew who she was dealing with; Luna herself.
"Greetings, my daughter." She stated.
"What?" Mia asked.
"You seek answers, do you not? I will give them to you, Mia. You seek to know why you've fallen in love one who is forbidden to do so." The Mercury Adept nodded shyly. "Love has no logical answers, Mia; when it happens, it happens. I know you are concerned that you will shame yourself and Isaac if you admit your feelings to him. However, who forbids him to love?"
"The Code of Sol; the code written by Sol himself."
"That was the answer I expected from a mortal of your time, Mia. Your wisdom of your time is commendable, albeit incorrect."
"Beg your pardon, Luna?"
"Sol was not the one who wrote the code of the Paladins. Do you wish to know why I know, Mia?"
"Why?"
"Because Sol and I were in love. We remain as such even to this day, young Adept. Sol understands the importance of trusting your emotions and your heart. We both understand that; so should you."
"Then how come the Paladins don't know this?"
"Because, the Paladins are traditionalists the bind to their written code heavily. Though powerful and wise, all of the Paladins are misled by their own code; love doesn't serve as a distraction from helping people. It serves as a boost to the spirit. Sol has not reached out to them, because they must discover the mistake they have made on their own."
"I see."
"You must do as your heart tells you to do, Mia. You can do no more, and I expect no less. Now, you must return to the world you know and make use of what I have taught you. Farewell." Luna said, as she vanished back into the emptiness from whence she came.
