A/N: Hello all, and welcome back to another exciting chapter of Golden Sun. Or something like that. Well, let's just get on with the review replies first.
Review Replies
Spirit Icana: Yes, I remember you too, now! Yes, I did take some mental notes down reading that, but I also took down notes reading a novelisation by Echokazul and another by Azul Eclipse (both since cancelled, neither updated in a year or more).
Yeah, I've been thinking of going back and completely reworking the first chapter, changing all the dialogue and stuff, but when I can. I'm glad you like all the detail and such. Yeah, "calm before the storm" is good, I don't want to just race in and stuff, I like to go into detail. Thanks for all your comments, though! I definitely plan to go this through right to the end (I have a few more chapter already written, being revised and stuff now), so hopefully real life doesn't get in the way. 90/100? Sounds like a good score, I'm proud! Hopefully I may be able to get a higher score in future, but we'll just have to see if I've worked hard enough to earn one.
GoldenSunGeek: Cool, I'm glad you don't mind Valeshipping! Yes, your chapter name was appreciated! And I'm also glad you liked my making it tougher to get in. I could have done more (probably should have) but laziness and overly long chapters made me decide not to. PS- Read your fic, you should have my review there now!
???: Ah, my mystery reviewer! :P Yeah, I already read most other novels on this site, a while ago, but I don't think I ever found a complete one (if there are any, please tell me!). Another non-mudshipper? Ah, well, just as well I'm going for Valeshipping then! Yeah, definitely too much mud on… why don't more people like Valeshipping? Thanks for reviewing!
Stormhammer: Yay, someone liked my idea of inscriptions on the walls! :D There are a little more of that in this as well, though not much. Wow, I'm glad I have your full confidence. Hopefully, I can make it this long all the time, though some things will necessarily be shorter.
K Rool: Hero? Forever? Wow, thank you! I'm even more determined to finish now! But you did bring something to my attention… this IS heaps longer than most others. I mean, in three chapters I wrote as many words as some fics have in 10 chapters! Wow, this wil;l be long when it's finished.
Cyan Light: Glad you liked it! Wow, you're full of praise! Thanks!
Okay then, that ends the review replies (obviously). Sooo…. What's MoR done with this? A long detailed description of the Events in the Star room and Isaac and Garet's desperate escape form the Sanctum essentially. I was going to put in the meeting at the end, but I liked where I ended it a bit better.
When I wrote the dialogue, I really tried to show both points of view for antagonist and protagonist, through their words. After all, isn't Isaac's whole quest to stop Saturos and co more or less a big misunderstanding of intention? So I put in a lot of misunderstandings here. At least now, Sat and Men TRY to explain themselves (I mean, why wouldn't they?). Also, a few little references to destiny reaching out and changing the course of events.
Anything else? Umm… don't think so. So, just get there and start reading.
Disclaimer: To make things simple, MoR disclaims everything. Honestly, if you saw how little he owns, it would bring a tear to your eye. Or a mocking laugh to your lips depending on your personality. So yeah, GS isn't included in my meagre list of possessions.
CHAPTER THREE
SANCTUM'S HEART
Isaac saw that a large stone doorframe surrounded the portal here, with strange runes carved on it. They were in the centre of a large stone pillar, flat top high off the ground, perfectly round, in the massive circular room made of stone. The roof seemed to look like a dead black, dark sky with many chips in it that seemed to glow, looking a lot like stars in the sky, giving them dim light. All around the stone island, it was surrounded by a massive body of water. Everything seemed to stretch away for seemingly miles. He could barely make out the stone walls that were formed the same as the roof. He noticed that the walls and roof were in fact joined to make a massive dome around them.
Placed seemingly randomly in this deep, clear motionless water were stone pillars, which jutted majestically out of the water to the same height as the island they were on. Placed evenly around the central island were four larger stone pillars, each of which had a statue of some wise looking person holding a glowing orb of some sort. Each of the four orbs seemed to glow a different colour, one was red, another blue, the third orange and the last purple. The whole atmosphere of the room seemed to be tinged with an ethereal feel to the place. The air tingled at his skin, like this was the absolute centre of all the power that was in the world.
The sight mesmerized Isaac. He looked down and saw that the water was so deep that he couldn't see the bottom. If a man fell in, it would be impossible to climb out, as all the walls and pillar sides were sheerly vertical.
"This is so beautiful..." Jenna breathed quietly. Isaac agreed with her. He didn't know what to say, he was lost for words. The silence was... strangely perfect.
Isaac couldn't shake the surreal feeling the chamber was giving him. The calm water reflected the twilight like roof perfectly. The air was cool and damp, and all was silent.
"We are… I don't believe it…" Kraden murmured ahead of them, "… the true heart of the sanctum, beyond where those thieves were… this was where they were trying to get too…it even looks like we're in an ocean." He continued having a good look around.
"Hey, what's an ocean?" Garet asked curiously.
Isaac had heard tales of such a thing before, but he eagerly listened to what Kraden had to say just to be sure.
"The ocean is a body of endless water at the end of the world." He replied "You would not understand, no matter how I explained. You can't even see the other end of it. I guess I should show you someday."
Isaac couldn't imagine what such a thing would look like, but if it was anything as beautiful and awe inspiring as this, then he would surely love to see it.
Then he gazed out upon the four glowing orbs across the water that wasn't an ocean.
"I don't believe it! It's the Elemental Stars!" Kraden breathed, amazed, "They really exist! The legends were true after all! So that's what those two were after!"
"Those are the Elemental Stars?" Isaac asked, shocked. Here in Sol Sanctum? "I thought that they'd been lost."
"The old Clans of the Lost Age must've sealed them here to keep them safe, right?" Jenna guessed.
"Indeed, it would appear so." Kraden replied, "This is the secret of the sanctum the inscriptions spoke off. The Alchemic source of all the four elements. Earth, Water, Fire and Wind. From what I know, the four elemental stars contain the purified essence of each element, drawn from their respective lighthouses. I hardly dared believe that they were actually here! I had always assumed that the four off them were scattered, hidden by the Clans somewhere to keep them safe."
He turned to look at the yellowy glowing orb. "That must be the Venus Star, the elemental star of Earth."
He turned then to the blue glow, "Then that would be the Mercury Star, possessing the power of Waters many forms."
He then looked to the red glow, a look of excitement on his face, "And the Mars Star, containing the power of the Fire within!"
Finally he looked to the purple orb "And Jupiter Star, binding the wind's fury!"
"Calm down, Kraden, why are you getting so excited?" Jenna asked him, with a raised eyebrow. "There just… Elemental Stars."
"How can you stay calm in the face of such wonders!?" He cried at her "You're looking at the very source of all Alchemy! The keys to unlocking the seal!" He sure was passionate about his studies.
Isaac nodded. He remembered hearing him talk about some sort of stuff like this, although he didn't entirely understand it all.
The full power to control the elements to unleash Alchemy was right here in front of them! That's what those two were after! And they had found it!
"And of course, the Wise One's stone…" Kraden continued, "That must be what they were referring too, this confirms it. Or more specifically, the wisdom stone, The Stone of Sages. This object's power dominates everything. It can transmute crude matter into gold, even thwart death itself. It provides limitless power and eternal life. One who wields it holds all of Alchemy at their fingertips." He paused for a moment.
"You understand now don't you?" He asked them. They all nodded uncertainly. None of them had actually heard of this wisdom stone before.
"The modern studies of Alchemy began with the search for this very stone." He explained, "Although that was long ago." He hastened, "We are in a more enlightened age now, and we wish to study Alchemy purely for research and better understanding our world."
"I don't really get how it works," Jenna started "this wisdom stone. It has enormous power, right? But how powerful? I mean, what exactly can it do?"
"What can it do?" Kraden echoed, "It's power is beyond enormous. With a single gem of this single artefact, one could conquer the world! They could have the power to do anything, even destroy the world, as nearly happened in the Alchemy War, so many centuries ago" He paused for a moment to allow this very serious fact sink into their heads.
"Now perhaps you begin to understand." He said sternly, "That dangers and implications of such objects and their discovery. Of just what this means by those thieves attempting to obtain them."
Isaac gasped involuntarily. The full power of Alchemy condensed into one awesomely powerful object, the Stone of Sages.
"So this Stone of Sages, it's reformed when Alchemy is released, by these four Elemental Stars somehow releasing their power?" Isaac asked, guessing.
"Precisely." Kraden replied, "If the Elemental Stars are cast into their respective lighthouses, then the power released breaks the seal on Alchemy, bringing it back into the world, allowing all its possibilities once more, and the Stone of Sages will once more come into existence. No doubt that is what Saturos and Menardi are after. Limitless power and life, conquering or even destroying the world… I can see why the ancients may have wanted to seal such power away…" He trailed off and said no more, instead gazing out at the four glowing orbs.
"So what are we going to do now?" Jenna asked, "Just stand here looking at them?"
"No." Isaac answered immediately, "We have to get out of here, reseal the room and leave the Sanctum. We should tell the Elders right away and have those two banished forever." Wait, hadn't Sab said that there were four of them? Must have been two other unrelated travellers too. "This place is too dangerous, we should leave right away, we know now that they were here, and what they wanted."
"Nonsense!" Kraden scolded from his view point near the edge of the island, making everyone stop and look at him.
"What are you talking about, Kraden?" Garet asked, "I think Isaac might actually have a good point."
"We simply cannot leave the Stars here." Kraden said matter-of-factly. "We opened up the door and deactivated the traps of the Sanctum. The way to the Elemental Stars is now wide open and safe. If Saturos and Menardi return, they will have no trouble removing these objects; we must take them out of here and hide them for their own safety."
"You want us to actually take the Elemental Stars?" Isaac questioned incredulously, "But that would just be doing exactly what Saturos and Menardi would have. We'd be no better than they are."
"Yeah, I don't want to be accused of being a thief!" Jenna added, "If we hurry back to the Elders and tell them about this straight away, they can fix everything up before those thieves even have a chance to get back here."
"But what they said," Kraden replied, "seemed to imply that they would be coming back in here soon… what if they beat the Elders here?" He made a good point, but Isaac could think of a better reason for moving them now. Saturos and Menardi had shown themselves to be extremely powerful, if they found the way open, they could just crush the Elders with their powers.
"I think Kraden has a good point." Isaac declared, "Maybe we should just take these things, give them to the Elders so they can hide them somewhere and we should never speak of them again."
"What did you just say, Isaac?" Garet exclaimed, "First, you're reluctant to come in here and open up the place, now you want to take the Elemental Stars?"
"Well, I agree with him, someone should go out there and take them." Jenna nodded with a slight hint of a wry smile on her lips.
"Besides, this would be an excellent chance to study the source of Alchemy, a once in a lifetime opportunity." Kraden said, "No Alchemy Sage could turn down this opportunity. I must examine those Elemental Stars."
The old man gazed out longingly at the glowing orbs surrounding them, seeming so far away in the twilight room, his gaze running along the pillars sticking out of the reflective motionless water.
Even though the pillars seemed to be placed haphazardly, they were in fact positioned so that they would allow anyone to jump from one to another from the central island to any of the other four main larger pillars to reach the Stars, and from there jump to the other stars locations.
"But I should also read these first, just quickly." The scholar said. Then he turned to look at the stone door that surrounded the portal of light that they had used to get in here. Along the edges were inscribed ancient runes that Isaac assumed were in the same language as the inscriptions inside that other room, the Luna room. Or Sol room now.
"It says more here!" Kraden gasped, temporarily forgetting the Elemental Stars that he had wanted to move. "About the Golden Light of Sol… or at least, that's how I imagine it should translate. If I were to take this literally, including changing Sol to sun, the it would read the Light of the Golden… Hmm… but that wouldn't make sense, it must be referring to Sol, as in the God. Now I understand why it also has Luna in here, to change day into night and night into day! The sacred stars of the elements, cast into the heavens, so that the light of the Golden Sun shines forth, present the wise ones stone… that must mean Stone of Sages… to the victor of the battle of the dual wielders of the Golden Light of Sol, or maybe that should be… Hmm… is this meant to be some sort of prophecy?"
"Hey, Kraden, do you know what any of that means?" Garet asked.
"No, not really… though I cannot be too sure…" The scholar mumbled in reply, "Oh, why didn't I bring my note book with me to write this all down? Ah, it doesn't matter." He looked out once more to the Stars. "We've wasted too much time as it is. We must get those Stars out of here before Saturos and Menardi come back in here."
"You would have to be careful travelling across those columns to the Stars." Jenna noted, "It looks dangerous, you might have trouble balancing."
"But we must get those Stars out of here!" Kraden complained. "And I'm far too old and unfit to be jumping around like that! Maybe in my younger days I might have…"
Suddenly, Jenna got that cheeky, mischievous look on her face, that twinkle in her beautiful brown eyes that Isaac loved.
"Make the boys do it!" She said giggling, looking towards Isaac and Garet.
"Oh, Isaac and Garet?" Kraden began, "You two are fit and strong, you could do it! Would you mind?"
"You'd be glad to get those stars for him, right Isaac?" She asked looking to Isaac with a smile on her face and her chestnut brown eyes staring into his.
It seemed to have put the two boys in a bit of an uncomfortable position. But Isaac relinquished, "I'll do it." He said. He didn't want to think that Jenna though of him as a coward. Besides, they did need to get out of here with the stars. And his heart just wouldn't let him say no to her.
"Me too." Garet added, eager to appear just as brave, if not more so, than his friend.
"Thank you." Jenna and Kraden both said simultaneously, Jenna with a big smile on her lips as she stared at Isaac.
"You will need these to carry the Stars," Kraden said reaching into his pocket and retrieving four small, finely woven silver metallic bags from his pocket. He gave them to Isaac. "If what I know from my research about these Stars is correct, then the only safe way to carry them about will be with these."
"You got those from your cottage, right?" Isaac asked remembering how he'd quickly gone in there to get something before they set out for the Sanctum.
"What are those things?" Garet asked.
"They are made of finely woven threads of Mythril." Kraden explained. Mythril! Mythril was an incredibly rare and valuable material. Selling Mythril, someone could make a lot on those bags alone. How a humble scholar like Kraden had come by them was anyone's guess. He certainly couldn't have afforded them himself, maybe someone had actually given them to him. "Go fetch those Elemental Stars and put them into these bags. The Mythril will safely contain the power of the Stars."
Isaac took the bags, they felt cold and smooth in his clammy hands. He placed the Mythril bags in his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he leapt upon one of the stone pillars standing out from the main body of land. Garet quickly followed.
He and Garet hopped from pillar to pillar till they came to one of the larger ones containing the glowing orbs. Up close, Isaac could see that this was a statue of a kind, youthful face, yet wise looking that held a blue glowing orb in its hands.
The Mercury Star, Elemental Star of Water. Isaac dared not touch with his hands, he could almost feel the power of water within it, half expecting it too break apart and melt into the blue liquid before him. He levitated it with his Psynergy into one of the Mythril bags. Unconsciously, he was aware of the change in the aura of the room; its essence almost seemed somehow less stable inside.
"Hurry, retrieve the others as well!" Kraden called out to them. Isaac couldn't believe what he was doing; they were stealing sacred objects from Sol Sanctum! The Elders better believe that what they were doing was for the best.
Isaac and Garet headed to the statue with the orangey golden glow. Isaac couldn't help thinking to himself that this was dangerous. But already, the temptation to see and learn more and maybe prevent the robbery and become heroes, blocked out all reason in his head. Besides, Kraden would take good care of the Stars, not use their power. Not like what Saturos and Menardi would surely do. Just the look of them seemed to indicate they had evil intentions.
They came up to the Venus Star, the Earth Elemental Star. It was held in the hands of a wise looking bearded statue of a man, hard and resolute looking. Isaac touched it this time, felt the enormous power contained within of Earth Psynergy. It felt like a hard rock as he picked it up and placed it in a second Mythril bag, and again, he felt the aura change, as though the ethereal feel of the room knew what he was doing, and felt the loss.
Kraden was becoming ecstatic watching all this and Jenna was trying to calm him down. They quickly put the Star in one of the bags.
They then began hopping along to the next statue along the pillars. It wasn't anywhere nearly as hard as he thought it would be. Already, he was getting good at jumping along these things. Heck, he didn't even need Garet coming along with him.
They reached the next statue. This time the statue was a calm, free-spirited, yet again wise looking women with long flowing hair, calmly holding the purple orb in her hands. The Elemental Star of Wind. The Jupiter Star. He didn't want to touch it, the wind supposedly held some sort of elemental superiority over earth, perhaps its pure power and essence within would harm him by touch alone. To his sense, it almost seemed as though it was pure air before him, no solid whatsoever, seeming real only as an illusion.
Using his Psynergy, Garet had just taken it up for Isaac and put it into the third Mythril bag when things suddenly went wrong.
They felt a change in the atmosphere of the room. It was no longer so peaceful. When he took the other two stars, it had changed similarly, but he only now just noticed it. He wondered if the others also noticed it.
He turned to his friends to show them that they'd got it, but stopped suddenly and gasped in horror.
Two mysterious figures holding their friends hostage. Two familiar people.
One in blue armour with a similar colour cape with long blue hair. And another with long, bright blonde hair and a magenta dress. It was a man and a woman, glowing brightly with the blue aura of Psynergy.
Saturos and Menardi.
Saturos forced Jenna into a position on her knees with her hands behind her back, his sword at her neck. Menardi did the same with Kraden. She placed the sharp blade of a large dangerous looking battle scythe at his neck.
Jenna and Kraden sat there, trapped between the two powerful and menacing Adepts. Then Saturos turned to face Isaac and Garet standing there on that pillar petrified. They were no warriors; there was nothing they could do to stop them now. If only they'd had more time to practice with their powers, to hold more Psynergy, they might have been able to defend themselves, but right now it was hopeless.
"I should have known they'd see us before getting the last one." Saturos muttered, his words echoing around the chamber, amplifying the volume.
"Well, we didn't have any other choice but to come in here." Menardi spoke through clenched teeth.
"You're here to steal the Elemental Stars!" Kraden cried out angrily, "You can't have them!"
"Master Kraden, are you calling us thieves?" Saturos asked, sounding insulted, "Surely someone like you must know that this is no mere petty theft, that there is good need to do this, justifying our actions."
"There is no reason to give you those Elemental Stars!" Jenna called out, "You aren't getting them!"
"You are in no position to say such things right now. Besides, you stole our information to get here, didn't you?" Menardi asked menacingly, trying to implicate her of being the more devious. "And here you are trying to steal the very Stars yourself for whatever reason. You're quite a hypocrite, girl."
"Don't call me girl!" Jenna snapped back, "My name is Jenna!"
"That really isn't important." Saturos shrugged, "We just need those Elemental Stars."
The two antagonists had them thoroughly trapped and seemed somewhat pleased with themselves. Isaac and Garet tried to refrain from doing anything that might attract their attention, although any fool could have seen them standing there petrified.
But Jenna refused to let her captors know she was scared, putting on a brave face.
"And just what do you plan to do with us?" Jenna asked softly, although the echoes of the chamber amplified her words loud enough for Isaac to hear.
"They'll probably kill us once they're done with us!" Kraden said, sounding disgusted by their actions.
"And who are you to accuse us such things?" Menardi questioned, insulted
"You don't even know us, and yet you still seem quite sure of what we want and what we will do." Saturos added, "That's rather arrogant of you, isn't it?"
"Let them go!" Isaac called out suddenly across the room, his yell echoing loudly across the dome and mirror like water, still reflecting the twilight roof. "If you hurt her, I mean them, then…" he suddenly realised the foolishness of such an attempted threat, but an idea suddenly occurred to him, "I'll drop the Elemental Stars down here and you'll never get them!" He held the three full Mythril bags over the edge, above the water that almost looked as though it contained the very roof itself, mirroring Isaac's hand holding the silver bags.
"Yeah, you won't get anything from us!" Garet called out, "If you hurt either of them…"
"Relax…" A mysterious voice suddenly said, "They will not be hurt."
It was then that a strange masked figure appeared out of the portal. It seemed sound could travel through there as well as matter.
"That was our agreement, wasn't it?" The newcomer asked, directing his words to Saturos.
This strange man wore a weird wooden mask, coloured in blue, green and copper paints, with two holes for his eyes. He had long brown hair, tied in a ponytail at the back and was of average hight. His clothing was almost entirely green, green top and green cloak. He also had a sword buckled to his belt at his side. His voice sounded somehow vaguely familiar.
"We'll have to see how well these two cooperate." Saturos stated, glancing warily at the two prisoners.
"These two will not be harmed if you hand over the Elemental Stars." Menardi called out calmly to Isaac and Garet, as though to reassure the newcomer, "Is that enough? Can you accept that?"
Saturos also turned to face Isaac and Garet abruptly.
"If you want to save you friends here, then give us the Elemental Stars, and everyone will be fine." He told them.
"We don't want to have to hurt anyone here" Menardi threatened, "So just give us those Elemental Stars and everyone gets what they want."
"No way!" Isaac called out defensively, "You're not having them!" Could he really risk Jenna's life like this, trying to do the right thing? He didn't really like the idea of it, but then, did he really want to hand over the keys of power to these two?"
"Excellent, Isaac!" Kraden called out "Don't let them get the Elemental Stars! That power must not be unleashed."
"Why would you deny us?" Saturos asked them, positioning his sword closer to Jenna's throat, forcing her to move back, "Don't you want your friends to be safe? Don't you want to see everyone in Vale, in the entire world safe? Just imagine, having the world crumble and be destroyed by forces beyond your control, watching your doom creep ever closer as everyone you've ever cared for is trapped in conditions they can barely survive in. Do you want to see each and every one of your friends, family and fellow villagers die?!" His voice seemed to be filled with an odd passion as he spoke this threat, but he paused momentarily and calmed himself, "Give us the Stars, and we can ensure that this never happens. If we get those Stars, then no-one in Vale will be harmed. We can save you if you'll just cooperate. I don't want to have to hurt these two."
Such powerful words could be nothing more than a threat. But what could he and Garet do? If they didn't give them the Stars, then Saturos, Menardi and their new friend would destroy Vale with their Psynergy. He didn't want to be blackmailed by threats, but still he didn't want to see Jenna killed by not giving them the Stars. He hesitated, unable to reply.
"You can't scare us!" Garet scoffed, "The people of Vale won't be killed by you so easily!"
Saturos said nothing in reply to Garet, merely positioned his sword blade closer to Jenna's neck, touching her skin, and Isaac could see the fear in her eyes, completely unable to defend herself and seeing that she might now actually die.
Abruptly, the unnamed, masked warrior tensed and stepped closer to her, gripping the sword at his sword tightly, gazing at Isaac almost pleadingly.
"Please… you have to do this Is-… I need you to do this." The man said from behind his mask. Jenna seemed to almost writhe in fear, she was powerless to defend herself.
The sight sickened Isaac. Not Jenna! He couldn't let them hurt her! It was all he could do not to shout out at them, not to rush over and defend her. Not that he would have been capable of doing so any way. He had no weapon and he was not strong enough Psynergetically.
"We must unleash Alchemy. Weyard needs it." Menardi stated simply. "Do this to save the world from destruction. Don't you understand about what Alchemy does to the world?" Isaac couldn't believe that preposterous lie he was hearing. Did they honestly expect him to believe them?
Fortunately Garet spoke up for him. He couldn't have said anything reasonable with the way he was feeling right now.
"Oh, we know well enough what releasing Alchemy will do to the world." Garet replied.
Menardi seemed slightly relieved. "Then maybe we can work this out reasonably. Why don't you want to see Alchemy released once more?"
"Because it's a dangerous power that can destroy the world. Kraden even says so." Garet replied. Menardi looked to the scholar kneeling before her, held by her scythe blade.
"Even he is ignorant on some matters." She sighed, "Okay, we'll make this simple. Just hand over the Stars and your friends can be released unharmed."
"Please, you have to do this." The masked man pleaded.
"Do we have a deal?" Saturos asked.
"What guarantee do we have once we've given you the Elemental Stars?" Isaac called out to them, "How do we know you won't just take them, and hurt our friends anyway? I don't see any reason why we should trust you!"
"Guarantee?" Menardi pondered aloud, "So you don't trust us? Fine, then you will need to hear it from someone that you do trust…" She hesitated a moment, then turned to the masked man. "You will have to remove your mask, in order to convince them, though."
The masked man, who was so calm before, suddenly looked very nervous. "But… that means…" he stammered, taking a step back.
"Yes, that would be a good idea." Saturos spoke softly, turning to Menardi, "Surely, they will believe him." He sighed, and then turned to the masked man, "Please, under the circumstances, we have little choice."
The masked man remained motionless, clearly reluctant to reveal his features. What was he hiding? Why was he ashamed to show them? What sort of guarantee was this?
Saturos faced the masked man, looking at him eye-to-eye for a moment, then ordered, "Felix! Remove your mask!"
The masked man seemed reluctant to obey, hands rising up, only to pause just inches from his mask. Felix?
"What's wrong, Felix?" Menardi asked the masked man, Felix, as he paused in taking it off, "Don't you want them to feel safe?" Isaac could have sworn she almost sounded sympathetic.
"Ok then, I'll do it!" Felix suddenly announced, "I'll take of the stupid mask!"
He turned away from them, as though he didn't want them to see. The man paused momentarily, then his hands moved, came back down with the mask. Then he finally turned to see them face to face.
It was the familiar face of none other than, Jenna's older brother Felix! Isaac gasped. It couldn't be possible! He had seen him die three years ago!
He looked a little older, his hair was longer, and styled differently, but it was Felix, their former friend, without a doubt.
Jenna was gob smacked. "I-its not possible…" She stammered, trailing off with tears forming in her eyes. "I saw you die! You can't be my brother!"
"I'm sorry, Jenna." Felix apologised, "It was a miracle I survived that day… these two saved me." He motioned to Saturos and Menardi. "They found me floating in the river, and saved my life. I've been with them ever since. I've been through a lot, and learned even more."
"But why?" Jenna asked, her voice choking on sadness, "Why did you leave me all alone? Why didn't you come back?" She then glared at her captors with more hate in her eyes then Isaac had ever seen, "Why are you with THEM?! What's wrong with you?!"
"Jenna…" Felix started, trying to comfort her and explain.
"You're supposed to be my brother!" She screamed out, obviously very hurt, "I thought you were dead! You lied to me! You're a traitor! You-" Her words were cut off as Saturos clamped his hand over here mouth, then he winced as she bit him on his palm, but still didn't let go.
"We have to save this teary reunion for later." Saturos told them softly, although Isaac could still hear them over the infinite silence of the chamber.
"That's right, we must get the Elemental Stars first." Menardi added, leaving Jenna to sob into Saturos' hands, and Felix standing behind her uncomfortably.
"Is this acceptable?" Saturos called out to Isaac and Garet, "Felix is one of us and he would never allow us to harm you, or his sister."
"Please, you have to do it, Isaac." Felix called out, "There's a lot you don't know about Alchemy, it's too dangerous to leave it sealed away." Felix didn't sound like he was lying, but then, how well did they even know him any more? It seemed he had been brainwashed into believing whatever Saturos and Menardi had told him. But still, if he was partnered with these two, then surely they must cooperate with one another? Maybe Felix would be true to his word and keep Jenna safe, as well as Kraden. But did that necessarily guarantee the safety of the rest of Vale?
Garet turned to Isaac "We don't have any choice. Do you think we should just give them the Stars?" He asked, not wanting to be the one to make the fateful decision.
Isaac thought for a moment. What could they do? Saturos and Menardi following them in there, Felix alive again. And Jenna taken hostage. Kraden too. And there was no way they could possibly challenge the two of them. What could they do? He just couldn't leave Jenna with them, couldn't!
Isaac sighed dejectedly. "Yes, we don't seem to have any other choice."
Isaac just wanted Jenna to be safe. He didn't want another of his friends dead, especially her of all people.
"I guess I should just take the stars over to them." Garet sighed.
"No, I'll do it." Isaac replied. Carrying the three full Mythril bags, Isaac headed over to the antagonists over the path of tall pillars. He got about halfway there, on top one of the larger pillars, when suddenly a burst of white, shimmering Psynergy appeared in front of him and a man appeared out of nowhere. A man with long, shoulder length blue hair with blue armour and cape. Isaac stepped back and nearly fell off.
The first moment Isaac saw him, he felt almost sure of something. He didn't know this man, nor had he ever seen him, but he had a bad feeling about him
"Will you please permit me to take these Elemental Stars?" The newcomer asked in a calm, nonchalant manner. Of course, this was the fourth member of Saturos' party.
"Alex, you're late!" Saturos called out surprised. "Alex is another one of our companions." He explained to a confused and shocked Isaac, "Hand the Stars to him."
The blue man, Alex, took the three silvery metal bags from Isaac before he had a chance to react. It felt like a moment of destiny had passed. Alex looked at the three Elemental Stars with a slight look of disappointment.
He then calmly said, "I'm afraid I must apologize in advance, for you will need to bring us the remaining Elemental Star as well."
Suddenly his body was filled with Psynergy, and a strange weave that Isaac had never seen before, nor could he comprehend, wrapped around his body and Alex hovered up into the air!
That's impossible! Isaac thought to himself, No-one can fly!
Even the Elders say that it's impossible to do with Psynergy! Just like it is to teleport…
"Wait a second!" Isaac called out. Alex had floated halfway back and had his back turned to Isaac. He turned around in mid air to face him, hovering where he was over the still water, midway between Isaac and Saturos.
"We gave you the three Stars. We did our part, now do yours." Isaac demanded.
"Oh, did you not understand me?" Alex asked in mock surprise. "Let me repeat myself. Retrieve the last Star, and give it to us."
"The agreement was that if we gave the Stars we had, then you'd set Jenna and Kraden free!" Isaac called out to Saturos.
"That's right, we aren't doing anything until they're free!" Garet called out to support Isaac.
"No, you must have misunderstood." Saturos sighed, shaking his head, "We want you to bring us ALL the elemental stars."
"Stop grumbling and bring us the last Star." Menardi ordered impatiently, "If we really have to motivate you…" She pressed her scythe blade closer to Kraden's neck.
"Fine." Isaac sighed, defeated, "We'll get you the last one." He had been sort of hoping that maybe they might leave with only three and not realize they had missed one. Obviously it had been a fool's hope.
"I must thank you for you cooperation." Alex said smoothly, slightly smiling, "We'll be waiting for the rest." Isaac felt like punching the calm, arrogant jerk in the face. Alex floated back to where Saturos and the others were and landed. Saturos ordered him to hand over the Stars and he did without a fuss.
Isaac hopped over the tall pillars back over to Garet, but didn't say anything. They both looked to where the last Star was, the fiery red glow of the Mars Star. The Elemental Star of Fire.
"This isn't what I had in mind when we came in here." Garet sighed.
"We have to do something to save Jenna… and Kraden." Isaac replied.
They nodded to each other and hopped across the pillars to the final Star without another word. They knew what had to be done. This one was held in the hands of a determined, violent looking statue, yet also wise and controlled looking. Isaac reached out with his Psynergy and placed it into his bag. He could feel the intense heat of fire radiating out from it.
And that was when everything started to go haywire. The peaceful aura of the room was shattered as something that seemed similar, but different to, the statue trap was activated.
The whole chamber started to shake and heat up as bits of rock fell from the roof.
Bits of the roof's stone came crashing down nearby, the starry night sky effect ruined, and intense heat hitting them from the gaps. Huge cracks appeared in the dome's walls. Isaac was forced to his knees by the intense shaking of the room.
Several of the path pillars collapsed, cutting of Isaac and Garet's only escape. The water that had flooded the chamber before now suddenly began to bubble and boil, as steam came up and began to block his view of Jenna.
Please let her be safe! He thought.
As the water boiled away, it was replaced by red-hot lava flowing up from cracks in the ground. Psynergy seemed to erratically blast everywhere in the air, as though some crazed being had released it with a mind of its own.
"What's happening?!" Menardi screamed out. For the first time she sounded afraid. "I thought those kids had deactivated the trap!"
"No! Not again!" Saturos called out, also fearing what had happened. "It's all going wrong! Just like three years ago!"
"We should have anticipated another trap in the star room." Alex said, somewhat unnaturally calmly given the situation.
Suddenly Isaac, and every other Adept in the room felt an enormous feel of Psynergetic power appear somewhere off to the side of the room
"Get off me!" Jenna shrieked, as she struggled to free herself, but Saturos regained control, and clamped his hand once more over her mouth. Isaac peered through the rising and ever thickening steam to where he felt this sudden new Psynergy source.
"No, I thought that was just a myth!" Saturos called out in disbelief.
They were looking at what appeared to be a round rock floating in the air halfway between themselves and Isaac and Garet. But it was overflowing with Psynergy! A huge power radiating form it as it hovered there above the glowing magma, rocks that fell near it breaking apart and vanishing.
"What is that thing?!" Garet breathed, "Is it that Sage Stone thing Kraden was talking about?"
"Uh, I don't think so." Isaac confessed. Although he had an idea... could it be...?
"Could that be… the Wise One?" Kraden was heard asking himself aloud.
"Such power…" Alex exclaimed clearly impressed, but not afraid, "Incredible!"
Suddenly, the front part of it opened up to reveal… an eye! It looked around at them slowly, unconcerned about the events transpiring, its gaze seeming to penetrate their very souls. Such an awesome presence and power... it couldn't be anything else but the Wise One! The legendary guardian of the Elemental Stars, supposedly the very being that gave the first Elders of Vale their teachings.
"This doesn't look good." Felix spoke nervously, afraid, "Let's just get out of here!"
"But we need the Mars Star." Menardi exclaimed determinedly, looking over to Isaac and Garet, "We can't leave it behind!"
"Are you crazy?!" Isaac replied, sounding even more shocked, "Well, I'm not going to go against the Wise One!" He threw the Mars Star to the ground, not wanting to incur the powerful being's wrath. The Star rolled towards the edge, towards the rising lava but, as though by a strange twist of fate, it seemed to stop rolling before making it.
I would have thought that would have made it to the edge! Isaac thought to himself, but he dared not touch it again, with the power of the Wise One so near. Saturos clutched at the three bags containing the Stars in his hand tightly. Well, Isaac was more than glad to let that fool deal with the awesome power of the Elemental Star guardian.
"I agree with Felix." Alex stated, nodding to his brown haired companion, "We are no match for the guardian, we must leave immediately! The Mars Star will have to wait for another day."
"But what about Isaac and Garet?" Jenna cried out, looking over to them, "You can't just leave them here! Somebody help them!"
Most of the water had evaporated by now, and Isaac was beginning to be able to see them through the now thinning fog of steam.
Saturos looked over to them, huddled on the ground. Isaac couldn't do anything. They were trapped on this platform, already it was beginning to crumble beneath them. Eventually they would be swallowed by the rising level of lava and the sinking platform.
"Forget about them." Saturos replied decisively, looking over to Jenna, then Felix, "They won't make it out alive."
"But, Saturos," Menardi expressed in a concerned voice, "We shouldn't be taking chances… remember last time, when they should have died?"
"They do seem to have a bit of luck in staying alive..." Saturos said nodding, with a sigh, "What do you suggest we do?"
The group was silent for a moment, as the room continued to crumble about them, the rumbles over bearing Isaacs ears. The Wise One looked around at them still, seemingly piercing their souls and looking into their minds, as if trying to decide what needed to be done. Perhaps that was what it was doing. Still, it did nothing for the moment.
Then the blue haired man called Alex spoke up.
"We take this 'Jenna' with us," he spoke up steadily, but quickly, indicating the red haired girl, "If they survive and escape, they will want her back. And if they want her they back, they will have to give us the Star." He finished calmly, looking over to where Isaac and Garet stood, with the item in question by his feet. Hadn't it been further away before? Must have rolled back.
"Regardless, Kraden must come with us." Saturos declared, "He is too valuable too lose."
"Alex," Felix asked, sounding like he was holding back suppressed anger, "You can't do this to my sister!" Then to Saturos, "We made a promise!"
"Conditions have changed since we made that promise." Was all Alex stated, simply.
"Jenna's not any part of this." Felix retaliated defensively, "I won't let you hurt her!"
Kraden stepped forward towards them, away from Jenna, and faced Saturos squarely.
"Do what you want with me," He told the warrior bravely, "But please, just let Jenna go!"
Jenna's eye lit up at this, in shock surprise.
"Your bravery speaks well of you, old man," Saturos replied, shaking his head, "But you cannot help Jenna now."
"If we leave Jenna, she will die," Menardi told Felix gently, "Is that what you want, Felix?"
Explosions rocked the chamber, parts of the ceiling crashed near to where the group was standing and the heat from the rising lava began to get uncomfortable.
Finally one of them had the sense to pay attention to the crumbling chamber.
"We should get out of here now." Alex suggested in calm hurry.
"Felix…" Jenna began in a strained voice, tears running down her face, as though pleading for him not to do this.
The Wise One began to stare at them intently, its omnipresent gaze seeming to pierce into their hearts desire. Even to Isaac's gaze, he could tell to power of the weight of its stare. Was it going to do something soon?
"Everyone, get out of here now!" Saturos yelled.
Menardi dragged Jenna towards the portal by her arm, Jenna following somewhat reluctantly. Felix looked on, seeming as though he was holding back his anger.
"Isaac! Garet!" Jenna called out desperately, before being pushed in, "Please, don't die!"
And with that she vanished in a flash of white light through the portal, along with her blonder haired evil captor, Menardi.
Felix went through straight after, disappearing likewise from the chamber. Then Saturos entered with Kraden, who looked as though he might have tried to say something before entering, in tow. The two of them disappeared in a flash of light, sucked into the glowing portal.
Finally Alex strode casually to the portal. Before entering, he turned to face where Isaac and Garet were trapped. He looked at the Mythril bag intently for a moment, a look of longing in his aqua blue eyes.
"The Mars Star…" He spoke softly, "It's a pity I have to leave it with you, but perhaps we'll be seeing it again someday." Then he to entered and disappeared, leaving Isaac and Garet trapped on their little island, surrounded by the collapsing of the chamber and their own imminent deaths.
The Wise One continued floating there, staring into the portal unblinking, unmoving, as tough it were trying to follow where they went with its focused eyesight alone.
Isaac and Garet sat on the crumbling platform stupefied, unable to say or do anything.
He sat there as powerful plums of lava shot up around them, huge chunks of rock falling from the ceiling into the fiery red liquid. The rumbling began to lessen. But still, parts of the chamber broke apart, pillars falling to pieces and being swallowed by the enveloping magma.
A terrible swirl of emotions went through his mind as he stared at the last place he had seen Jenna. The last place he probably ever would see her. She was gone now. And they were going to die, there was no way out now, what could they use the Mars Star for?
He didn't know what to think. He was so glad that she was safe; at least she of the three of them would live. But she had been kidnapped by those who had killed her parents... and he had never even told her that. He had never even told her how he felt about her, he had been to shy. What an idiot he had been.
And Felix... how could that be? He heard what had happened... but it seemed unimaginable. He was with them now! But why? Why was he doing this? Why had he seemed so reluctant to reveal himself? What was he doing with Saturos and Menardi?
Questions raced through his head as everything around the two boys collapsed. Neither said anything for a while.
Only now was he beginning to realise all his mistakes and regrets. They said your life flashed before your eyes before you died, but that didn't occur now. He just went over questions and regrets in his mind.
"Well… that kind of worked out badly, didn't it?" Garet said suddenly, breaking the silence between them, though he had to speak up over the din of rumbling and exploding.
That had to be the biggest understatement in the entire history of Weyard.
"And Jenna's gone." Isaac muttered, hanging his head, "I wish we could have saved her somehow… we messed up big time and I'm wishing that there was something that we could do to fix things up. I only wish we could have at the very least saved Jenna. But then, being with us wouldn't help, would it? At least they will live with Saturos and his party."
"I don't know, Isaac… Garet answered after a brief pause, "Jenna and Kraden might be alright. Felix is with them."
"Felix did say he wouldn't let them hurt her... or Kraden." Isaac muttered, "But if he's willing to betray his people like that, then I don't know how far we can trust him to help the two of them."
Isaac looked around at the room. The room was only barely holding together, the rising lava was nearly at their level, casting a dreadful red glow upon the room. Still, the room rumbled and bits of rock, collapsed. But it didn't seem like they were going to be harmed just yet. The only problem was they had lost any source of escape. Many of the pillar paths had already collapsed. In fact, now he could see that the portal they had entered with had vanished, the stone door about it collapsed.
There seemed nothing more to do but sit there and wait to die. He'd never thought he'd go this way. He was too young to have even imagined dying at all!
Suddenly they noticed that the large floating rock with the eyeball had appeared right next to them with out their noticing. The Wise One. The guardian of the Elemental Stars. Well, not much of a guardian. All it had done was sit and watch. Why?
Why are you standing there? A loud authorative, yet wise and patient voice seemed to speak to them in there minds. From where they couldn't guess, but they heard loud and clear. This place has become dangerous. The volcano will soon erupt. This is the final trap set in place, the power of the Elemental Stars held it in place. Now, without them, the volcano will erupt. I cannot hold back the power of Mount Aleph for very long. You must leave this place.
The eye seemed to focus then on Isaac.
Take up the Elemental Star. It ordered, that voice within his mind commanding obedience. Isaac picked up the smooth spherical, red glass orb from the ground where he has dropped it. It no longer seemed to radiate the heat and power it had before. It seemed now just like a smooth gem.
The Wise One seemed to concentrate on it for a moment, its awesome amount of Psynergy weaving itself around the star. The Mars Star seemed to glow warm in Isaac's hand for a moment, he could feel his body tingling with a warm, golden glowing feeling.
Return it to its bag. It then commanded, ceasing it's concentration of power. Isaac slipped the once again cold crystal orb back into the silvery metallic bag, puzzled as to why the Wise One wanted to look at it in the first place.
The Elemental Stars are… moving away from here. It spoke into Isaac's thoughts.
Without the power of the Elemental Stars to contain it, the magma flows freely once again and this chamber is collapsing. There will be no chamber for the Elemental Stars to return to. The world will be exposed to the threat of Alchemy.
"Alchemy? Exposed?" Garet questioned.
"But how? They only got three of the Stars!" Isaac protested.
You still possess the fourth Star. The Wise One explained. With this, and the others, destiny will ensure that Alchemy will become a potential threat once again. If the Elemental Stars ignite the flames of the four lighthouses, that power will be released. As long as the four lighthouses remain unlit…the world will be safe from this threat.
"But… the Mars Star isn't going anywhere… it's stuck here." Isaac protested. "Without it, how exactly can Alchmey-"
But then the collapsing of the chamber began to get worse, interrupting him. Huge plumes of lava and flame exploded into the air, large parts of the roof fell into the sea of magma, and the platform they stood began to crumble apart under their feet. There wasn't much time.
You must flee, now! The Wise One told them, it's omnipresent, powerful voice now filled with panic. You cannot die here, nor can the Mars Star remain in this room. You must leave, along with it.
"But, how?" Garet asked, referring to the missing pathway.
"We're trapped here!" Isaac called out to the floating eyeball rock.
Ah. I see. I will help you. It replied. Then it focused its Psynergy on them, and Isaac felt bright white light envelope them. Everything around him vanished in the light.
Slowly the white light faded and everything returned to normal. They were in the cold blue stone chamber that had held the portal into the Elemental Star Chamber. The shimmering portal had vanished now. All about them, cracks were appearing in the walls, and dust fell from the ceiling. The massive tremors to the floor told Isaac that the whole of Sol Sanctum was collapsing in the eruption.
"That thing saved us!" Garet breathed in shock.
"Yes, it looks like it…" Isaac replied, "Well, almost."
"Yeah, right!" Garet responded, noting their surroundings, "Let's get out of here!"
They immediately began running for the entrance of Sol Sanctum.
As they ran, the tremors in the earth continued, rocky debris blocking their path. They ran, jumped, skidded and did everything that they could to avoid the collapsed obstacles that lay strewn in their path.
As they ran down an exceptionally long hallway, Isaac noticed up ahead that the roof was slowly breaking apart and collapsing. If it fell, they would be trapped!
Isaac reached out with his Psynergy, connecting his mind with the stone that the sinking roof was made of. It slowly halted, held in place only barely by Isaac's strained effort. He couldn't keep this up for more than a few seconds. Garet ran through the gap, needing to duck his head below the roof. Giving up his strained hold upon the stone, Isaac leapt through only just in time to avoid the heavy earth crushing him. He had virtually exhausted himself with that effort.
The two boys raced through the collapsing corridors, shattered statues, lying on their sides on the floor in the rooms they passed through.
Thick dust permeated the air; Isaac continually coughed on the air he breathed. They were just guessing the way they went, neither one of them could remember the route they had taken with Kraden. But somehow, as though by a twist of destiny or by some sort of guide, they were always making the right choices.
"There are huge amounts of fire and lava coming up around us." Garet told his friend in a worried tone, "I can sense it. It's everywhere. The volcano is going to erupt; its power will destroy everything around Mount Aleph."
Isaac had to trust that his friend's affinity with fire was accurate, although he hoped that he might be wrong.
Suddenly, Garet grabbed Isaac by the back of his blue tunic, forcing him to a halt.
"Garet, what are you-"
Then, the wall cracked open and molten lava poured into the hallway covering the floor. He could have been killed!
"I knew that was going to happen." Garet explained, "I could feel it!"
"Let's find another way!" Isaac hastily said. They turned back and took another corridor going to their right, taking them to a room with several choices to go, the path on their right would lead them the way they wanted to go. Isaac didn't go that way though.
"Isaac, this way!" Garet called out, but the Earth Adept held his Fire Adept partner back.
The roof of the corridor collapsed a second later, filling the hallway with tonnes of rock.
"That was close, we would have been crushed if we'd entered!" Isaac told him. Garet mumbled his thanks, and they went straight on, behind them the roof cracking open as magma filled the room.
As soon as they could, they took a right, then another, they were back on course to the exit! Isaac and Garet took another turn to the left, and ran up the corridor.
Up ahead, they spotted a point of light showing the way. Sunlight. The entrance to Sol Sanctum was in sight! They ran with all their might towards the way out.
Saturos and his party must have left it open on their way out, but Isaac didn't care. Behind him, he could hear the Sanctum collapse, and he ran harder. They were almost there... then he noticed the roof felt unstable. It was going to collapse! And this was the only way out!
"Lava's about to come through!" Garet warned. They had to get out of here!
Reaching out with his dwindling Psynergy supply, Isaac held the stone in place as they struggled past. He utterly exhausted himself and went beyond his own limits holding it their for their escape.
Garet also focused his Psynergy onto the crack, and Isaac realized he was holding back the lava so that they could make it through.
As soon as they were past the dangerous section of corridor, Isaac let go, and the roof collapsed in. Garet did the same, and the molten lava poured in over the rubble.
He must have utterly exhausted himself then, yet he still somehow went on and used up even more of his Psynergy than he should have even had left. Maybe he really did have a lot of potential for power. Garet must have been in the same situation, holding back that liquid magma must have taken huge amounts of Psynergy.
Isaac noticed that the roof over the entrance was beginning to cave in; the walls were cracking and breaking up. They had to make it! The two immediately raced for the end without a word. Isaac couldn't use up anymore Psynergy now.
The two Adepts rushed through the exit just seconds before the hallway collapsed behind them. Sol Sanctum was sealed up now. They stopped briefly to take in a breath of the air. The air smelled of smoke and sulphur. Looking up, Isaac saw that the air was thick with ash and flying bits of magma. The sky started to glow red from the intense heat, bathing everything in a foreboding red light.
Mount Aleph was erupting. Abruptly, the sky slowly seemed to take on a faint purplish hue as small points of glowing purple were flung up into the sky.
Isaac didn't stop to think about what was happening.
"Let's go." He told Garet.
"I'm right behind you!" He replied.
Together, the two boys raced down the dirt path down the mountain and back to the village of Vale.
A/N: And that's the end of that chapter! Now that Jenna's gone, I'm going to try and amp up Isaac's desire for her… somehow. I've never actually written romance stuff before, so if anyone has any pointers on that, let me know. If you know any good valeshipping fics you think would be good inspiration, tell me!
Also, anyone recall how I once claimed to give a fair portrayal of the Proxians? It'll be through more than just changing their dialogue like this. Next chapter, we get a little chance to see things from Felix's point of view for a while, broaden the picture a little.
So then, the journey begins when I post the next one! This should be getting better now that I'm really getting into the guts of the game.
Well, after all my rambling, you should give me a nice review. Just use that little purple button down there. Thanx!