A/N: Another update for y'all. A little bit more violent than previous chaps, but I'm sure you're all grown up enough to handle it. If not… well, I've never been good with kids, anyway. What have they ever done to deserve being looked after? Anyway, it's divided fairly evenly between Felix and Isaac's PoVs. Hope ya like it and all.
Disclaimer: Yes, as a matter of fact, I do own it. Yep, that's right. Now, what are ya gonna do about it, huh? Sue me? Well, go ahead and try it! Seriously, call my lawyer, and I'll get back to ya… (cocks pistol)
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION
In the dry, desolate landscape of Gondowan, the tall mountains rose up high to the already hot morning sun. Dark, sun weathered rocky cliffs rose up on either side of the deep valley that was Suhulla Gate, the only pass through these treacherous mountains.
The path they followed was cracked and dry, recognisable only because it was visibly more packed down by the many feet that had travelled along it. As Saturos's party climbed up one of the steep inclines along the road, they saw up ahead there was a small guardhouse. Nearby were stationed four Tolbi soldiers that guarded the pass from monsters, bandits and perhaps these 'Kibombo' they had heard about.
From Felix's point of view, all seemed normal enough. Two armour clad men holding upraised spears standing in slumped, bored positions, two more hanging further back by the actual Guardhouse. They approached at the place set by Saturos, slow and wary, as though he wasn't sure what their intentions might be.
The guards looked to them casually, the same regard they would give for anyone else just 'passing by'. One squinted his eyes, trying to get a closer look, and then his whole body visibly tensed. He then suddenly turned to his companion and began speaking hurriedly. Felix was immediately alarmed. This was not the normal way to react. Something was definitely very wrong here. His hand warily clutched the sword at his side, beneath his green cloak.
Although they were too far away to hear, Felix managed to pick up "matching those descriptions they sent us," and "one of them's that 'Child of the Gods'.
This can't be good. His body was tensed for combat. These guards were going to attack them, he was sure. And he would have to fight, undoubtedly. He told himself that he was ready, but he didn't feel it. His heart was fluttering and adrenalin was pumping through his veins. I'm not ready to fight. Not against Tolbi soldiers, Colosso winners and expert warriors.
His companions clearly felt the tension also. Saturos gripped the sword at his side tightly, and there was a fiery, steely look to his eye that Felix hadn't seen since the confrontation atop Mercury. Menardi held the wooden handle of her scythe carefully before her, one hand near the catch that would unleash the retracted blade in an instant if needed. Alex retained his cool grace as always. Looking at him, one might have thought that he was not aware of the tension, but from experienced observations, Felix was sure that behind those cold blue eyes, his mind was running like the most efficient clockwork.
Others weren't aware. Kraden walked by his side with that distracted look in his eye that said he was daydreaming. Behind him, Jenna and Sheba were chatting lightly with one another. In the short amount of time they had known each other, they had become remarkably close friends.
Then they reached the guards, both of whom raised iron gauntleted hands for them to stop. At Saturos's order, they did.
"Halt," one guard ordered in a deep, stern voice. "We have received orders from Lord Babi of Tolbi that persons matching your descriptions are to be brought into custody without fail. Please surrender all your weapons and come with me to the guardhouse, sir." He gripped his spear tightly, expecting trouble.
"And if we refused?" Saturos growled threateningly. His hand looked ready to whip the sword from its sheath in an instance.
The guard glowered aggressively. "Let's just say that would not be in your best interest." His companion tensed for combat. The two guards from behind began marching towards them.
"Oh," Menardi said. It was all she said. Her eye flicked to Saturos who looked back. In the minute glance, they seemed to communicate to each other the same thing. The two expert Mars Adepts then returned their eyes to the pair of guards immediately before them. The moved like greased lightning.
Saturos's sword flew through the air with deadly grace to the guard before him. Menardi swung her scythe at the second one, blade retracting as it did so. A second later, the soldiers' headless bodies slumped to the ground, spurting out gallons of blood. Their heads rolled alongside them, expressions of surprise frozen upon their faces.
The approaching pair was well trained, they didn't hesitate. They charged at Saturos and Menardi with their spears raised. Saturos raised his free hand, palm facing the duo. Menardi did likewise. Two fireballs formed and scorched through the air. They exploded with deadly fury, enveloping the men in flames, burning away cloth and skin, melting metal armour. The men had barely a full second the scream before dieing.
Heaving sighs of relief, Saturos and Menardi put away their weapons and lowered their hands, the light blue glow of Psynergy about their bodies fading away.
Felix blinked in disbelief. They had killed them… and so quickly. Realising he had drawn his sword, he fumbled it back into its sheath, not wanting to look at the four dead bodies before him.
"Oh dear, oh dear…" he heard Kraden mutter in shock. Jenna and Sheba uttered screeches behind him.
"What did you do that for?" Jenna demanded in a voice of horror and disgust. Neither Saturos nor Menardi bothered to answer or even bother to look at her.
"They didn't really deserve that…" Sheba spoke up in a nervous tone. "Those soldiers were just men doing their job…"
Saturos rounded on them. "Quiet!" he snarled. Felix immediately froze on the spot, afraid to incur his master's wrath, while Sheba gasped in fright and hid behind the Earth Adept. "They were in our way and we didn't have time to deal with them. That was all." He looked up the path. "The Lighthouse is just ahead. Let's go." He walked up the path, demanding the others follow and follow at the pace he set.
"Come on, Sheba." Felix took the Wind Adepts hand and led her up the trail.
"Move it, girl," Menardi ordered.
"I'm going, I'm going," Jenna replied. Kraden was still looking at the bodies in shock, as though unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Jenna brought him back to reality by tugging at his sleeve and urging him on. Menardi followed at the rear, ensuring all behaved themselves.
Alex, Felix noticed with a mixture of confusion and concern, displayed no emotion or even a flicker of interest. As Saturos and Menardi killed the guards, he remained impassive, looking on with cool eyes. Now, he followed calmly, hands clasped behind his back, paying no attention to the bodies as though they were just merely part of the scenery. He stepped over a dead body as though it were just a dead log.
Felix looked straight ahead, and blocked everything out of his mind. Venus Lighthouse was just up ahead, and his role in the quest would soon be fulfilled.
XXX
The sun was just up over the peaks of the mountains when Isaac's party reached the guardhouse of Suhulla Gate. He saw the small stone building, the cracked dirt path, the guards…
…they're dead! He looked with horror as his eyes took in the sight. Two guards who had had their heads removed and another two who looked like they'd been burnt alive.
Oh no… they did this…
"Impossible!" Iodem gasped.
"Those bloodthirsty brutes!" Garet growled, gripping the haft of his battleaxe tightly as though he wanted to use it right then and there on something of someone.
"I can't look," Ivan said softly, averting his purple eyes. Mia rushed over, examining all the bodies with a hopeless expression. She sook her head without a word, tears forming in her blue eyes.
"This is all my fault," Isaac sighed, lowering his eyes. "I asked Babi to order his men to do this." He had hoped the soldiers would capture or at least slowdown their enemies. He should have known that they would have no chance against a fully trained party of Adepts. He'd signed their death warrants. He was such a stupid idiot. "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologise, Isaac of Vale," Iodem said with an air of authority. "They are the criminals; they will be made to pay. Let's go!" Isaac nodded. He followed Iodem along the trail, joined by Garet who fingered the curved blade of his axe restlessly.
"Ivan, Mia." The other two Adepts joined him along the windy path. After a half hour of walking, they finally saw the top of Venus Lighthouse as they approached.
XXX
Felix cowered in thick bushes alongside Jenna and Sheba, with Kraden right behind him. In this thick forest, there was plenty of cover for anyone who wanted to hide. Venus Lighthouse was surrounded by a lush green forest that made way only for the dirt path passing through, at one point branching off to head towards the Lighthouse entrance, where they must go. So close to their goal… soon, he would open the Lighthouse door and fulfil his part of events.
But, unfortunately, the area was not abandoned. Perhaps two dozen Tolbi soldiers guarded the area, ensuring no one could approach the Lighthouse, and perhaps half as many Tolbi scholars examining the ancient construction itself.
"Well, I'll be," Kraden mused fro behind his bush, peering at his former colleagues through his glasses. "Lord Babi still has this project running, even after all this time. I'll wager that they still haven't learned a single thing more."
"What are they looking for?" Jenna asked; softly so as to no alert the guards.
"A way into the Lighthouse," Kraden explained. "I worked here for a time, before being sent to Vale. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't make the doors open. No one was quite sure how."
"Didn't anyone think that only an Adept of the Venus Element could open it?" Felix asked without turning his head. He peered towards the doors of the Lighthouse. Grand slabs of stone Psynergetically sealed until an Earth Adept could unseal them. Emblazoned upon the paving before the doors was a symbol of a flourishing tree within a circle – the ancient symbol of the long lost Venus Clan.
"Well, of course," Kraden replied as though it should be obvious. "It was the first theory that we put forward. But seeing as we had no Adepts around, Lord Babi ordered us to find some other way. He spent as much money on having his scholars try and enter the Lighthouse as he has on those researching Alchemy at the Tolbi Research Academy."
"I don't understand," Jenna said. "Why does he want to open it so badly?"
"Part of his quest to find Lemuria," Kraden replied. "If someone can climb to the top and see the misty Sea of Time, then he believes it will help navigate his ships to the city."
"I thought that's what he was building Babi Lighthouse for," Sheba spoke up from beside Felix. "He enslaved my people and kidnapped me to build that thing."
"Yes, my dear, but try to understand. Obtaining the resources for the Lighthouse, not to mention paying all the soldiers and labourers in Lalivero is very expensive. He could theoretically save himself a lot of money by just using the Venus Lighthouse instead."
Felix noticed Sheba scowl from where she sat. "It's all about money and power with the man, isn't it? I sure hope he gets what coming to him some day…" Felix shushed her.
"Quiet. Here come the others." Saturos, Menardi and Alex joined them from behind. Despite the fact that none of them wore clothes that blended into the scenery, except for Felix, they had managed to remain unseen. The forest was thick, and so were the guards who didn't even look into the trees. And over the noisy conversations they had, remaining unheard had been easy.
"There's no way around them," Saturos declared decisively. Kraden looked at him in shock.
"You don't mean…"
"We have to," Menardi interjected. "There's no other way." The Alchemy Save looked to the floor in grim acceptance.
"I understand." Felix steeled himself for what was to come next. It wouldn't be easy to watch. Or to control the others.
"Wait, if they're thinking of doing what I'm thinking…" Jenna started. Felix cut her off with a hand on her arm. And clasped it tightly so she couldn't move.
"Please. For our parents." For our parents, for the quest. Saturos drew his sword and Menardi, her scythe. Sheba realised what was about to happen and looked away in horror.
"What shall I do?" Alex asked casually, as though they were simply planning no more than a picnic.
"Wait here," Saturos ordered. "Look after the others." The Water Adept nodded coolly.
"Can you handle them all?"
"Of course we can," Menardi snapped. "Against expert Adepts, ordinary men won't have a chance." The two of them strode out onto the road and into full view of the soldiers. Many of them instantly recognised them, and moved to apprehend the two.
Felix noticed that Alex looked on with no expression on his face, but in a rare moment, held a glint of emotion in his eye. Amusement.
Saturos and Menardi began to glow light blue with Psynergy, flames crackled at their fingertips, and the carnage began.
XXX
Venus Lighthouse was massive, and reminded Isaac very much of Mercury Lighthouse. Exactly the same in size and height – Isaac could only assume all the Lighthouses appeared the same – but Venus was made instead out of purple stone. High though it was, it still wasn't much higher than the mountains they emerged from. Before the party, the rocky path sloped sharply downward to the large, thick green forest that grew at the foot of the Lighthouse.
"Good, it hasn't been lit yet," Isaac nodded in satisfaction, looking at the massive purple tower.
"There's smoke coming from the forest!" Ivan pointed out in alarm. Isaac looked to where the road and the entrance to the Lighthouse would be in the forest, and saw several thick, black plumes of smoke rising.
"Saturos and Menardi," Garet growled.
"Garet, we don't know for sure…" Mia started.
"Who else could it be?"
"Never mind," Isaac cut in. "They've reached the Lighthouse. We have to hurry." Isaac sprinted down the steep descent, followed by the others.
"There were many soldiers and scholars camped by the Lighthouse," Iodem said, panting as he raced to keep up with Isaac. "If there's a fire… I fear the worst."
"Why are they all there?" Isaac asked.
"I'll explain later. The point is, I have a very bad feeling about what's happened to them." Isaac nodded grimly. "Let's hope for the best."
"Somehow, I don't think hoping is going to be enough," Isaac replied. If any of them have been hurt, I'll make them pay… even Felix.
XXX
The battle was over in minutes. Saturos and Menardi had callously cut down all the soldiers in the clearing with Psynergetic fireballs, using sword and scythe on any that got too close. The soldiers had fought bravely, none of them ran away, but against those two their efforts had been in vain. They were all dead, Felix trod carefully over the corpses.
…all dead…
But it was necessary, there was no avoiding it. This quest that Felix had pledged himself to depended on getting inside that Lighthouse. His parent's fate hung in the balance. As Alex himself once put it, "the ends justify the means." Swallowing a lump in his throat, Felix silently agreed, even if he didn't like it. He felt sorry for the soldiers, these men that were just doing their jobs, but he accepted that it simply had to be done. In the big picture of things, as Alex had also put it, these were but small sacrifices, needed for a much larger goal. Having learned the truth from Saturos, Felix agreed reluctantly.
But what he didn't agree with was the elimination of the innocent scholars around the Lighthouse. They hadn't attacked, they were entirely defenceless, but still his two masters had destroyed them too. "We can't allow any witnesses to call for more soldiers," Menardi had explained, but the Earth Adept didn't agree. Kraden had screamed and shouted at that point, pleading for mercy and Felix had had to physically restrain the old Alchemy Sage.
These people were neutral… not a part of any of this, they didn't deserve to die… they should have left them out of this. Old, innocent men, interest only in knowledge, killed as they ran, hid or begged for mercy. And Felix questioned whether or not he could really trust this man. Were his parents really worth all these deaths? If this is what Saturos and Menardi were willing to do to release Alchemy, then what would they do once they'd obtained it, Felix wondered. Was this really justified, just for some grander goal?
The two Mars Adepts stood over the last victims now, putting away their weapons, releasing their Psynergy. Their faces looked hard and grim – they hadn't enjoyed what they'd just done, but they didn't regret it either. Felix refused to look at the bodies as he approached the two, careful not to step in any pools of blood or burnt flesh.
Some of them aren't even dead…
Alex approached calmly, his expression passive as though what he'd just witnessed hadn't affected him in the slightest. Maybe it hadn't, beneath that cool exterior; Felix didn't think he really knew the Water Adept. He gave the bodies no more attention than the logs in the forest, just like back at the Suhulla Gate.
Beside him, Jenna muttered softly to herself, "…not worth it…" but that was all.
Kraden was mortified. These were men he'd known most of his life, had worked and researched alongside with for as long as he could remember, fellow scholars and men of knowledge. All dead. His head darted from side to side, eyes wide with panic as though he didn't quite know what to do. He constantly muttered, "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…" to himself.
"They didn't deserve this," Felix muttered. "They didn't have to die, they shouldn't have killed them."
Saturos looked up from the leafy dirt path. The huge purple base of the Lighthouse covered the view only a dozen or so metres away. Above weather worn grey stone steps were two large doors sealed shut, blocking the entrance. The ancient symbol of the Venus Clan lay embedded in the stone at the foot of the stairs.
"Come on, Felix," Saturos said in a flat tone. "Time for you to open the doors. We need you now." The Earth Adept nodded and made for the entrance. Alex was already nearly there, walking calmly as though he had all the time in the world. Kraden, who would normally be ecstatic at the chance to explore the entrance of the Lighthouse, was oblivious to what was happening. Felix saw the Alchemy Sage kneeling by an injured scholar that he seemed to recognise. Jenna and Sheba were with him; the Fire Adept offering comfort, the Wind standing there shocked, unsure of what to do. Felix made a detour from his way to the Lighthouse to join them.
"He didn't deserve this…" Kraden moaned softly, suddenly sounding even older than usual. The scholar wore robes similar to Kraden's own, only blue and not so worn. The man looked to be only half of Kraden's age. "I've known him for so long… I taught him when he was just a student at the Academy. He showed such potential, I thought he might even come to have an even greater understanding of Alchemy than even myself… he didn't deserve this." The old scholar respectfully removed his glasses. Tears had formed in his eyes, running wet rivers down into his grey beard. He wiped them away with a wrinkled hand. "Such a great boy, so much potential… he didn't deserve this…"
"It's not your fault, Kraden," Jenna said consolingly. "There was nothing you could have done." She looked to Felix. "Is this really all worth it? Are you really willing to do this just for out parents?" He opened his mouth to reply, but found he had nothing to say. What could he say? Sorry, but he was who he was, and this is what he had to be willing to do for the quest? He didn't want to do it, but had no choice? Nothing but useless words.
Thank goodness I'm not in Saturos' position, doing what he does and making the choices he makes. If I was in charge of this quest, I couldn't do it; I wouldn't be able to cope.
He saw Sheba looking at him with purple eyes, and the look in them made Felix turn his head away. He couldn't face that. How could she ever love someone like him, seeing the sorts he associated with, knowing that this was the sort of stuff that he had to do? It would make no difference if she understood that this was his destiny, he couldn't avoid it.
"Felix!" Saturos shouted. He, Menardi and Alex were now standing at the Lighthouse entrance, waiting for him and the others. "Hurry up and open these doors."
"We should go," Sheba said softly, moving towards them with downcast eyes. "We have to. It's our destiny." Destiny? What had she meant by that? Felix pushed the thoughts out of his mind for now. Jenna tugged at Kraden's sleeve, and pulled him away to follow Sheba. The Alchemy Sage said on final "goodbye," then followed after her. Felix looked down at the scholar. He wasn't quite dead yet. He breathed in very soft, almost imperceptive breaths. Blood smeared his clothes; wide brown eyes looked up at him pleadingly for help. Felix did know a small amount of healing Psynergy, not much, but enough to save this man's life, probably. But he wasn't experienced, it might not work. And it would take time. Time they didn't have.
"Felix!" The Earth Adept turned away from the dieing man and raced to join them. The blood of that man's death would be as much on his hands as Saturos's.
Must do whatever we have to for the quest…
"Why did you do it?" he asked Saturos when he reached him. "The scholars, you didn't have to kill them."
"If we didn't," Menardi started in a savage voice, "they might have called for help, brought more soldiers in to attack us. We can't afford that. We need to be prepared to face Isaac's party if they reach us. They defeated Saturos once, if they're able to beat us all, then the whole world is doomed." She narrowed her eyes, and the fire in them was as hot as the chill in her voice was cold. "We have a quest to fulfil, and we will do anything to see it done. Do you hear me, Felix? Anything."
Felix nodded in mute acceptance, as he began working his Venus Psynergy to open the doors. Anything. But what if he wasn't quite willing to do anything? But knowing what he did, how could he not continue the quest? And that meant that he would have to do anything to see it done, no matter what he felt. He was torn between wanting to do his duty, and not wanting to do the things that led to fulfilling it.
Anything… I'm glad I'm not responsible for this quest. I don't want the blood of these people on my hands.
XXX
Upon entering the forest at the foot of the Lighthouse, Isaac was shocked by the sight the greeted him. Dead bodies, dozens of them, scattered all over the dirt path. Several small fires were still smouldering in the trees to either side of the path. So were some of the bodies.
It was clear that they had been slain by Saturos and Menardi. This was the work of Fire Psynergists. The Tolbi soldiers had all gone down fighting. They had scorch marks upon their armour, slash wounds form sword and scythe always marked their front or side. Never their backs.
"I can't believe it…" Iodem muttered. "Our very finest… all cut down by just two Adepts. The Tolbi army is the finest in the world, all Colosso victors… how can just two people be so powerful?"
The worst were the scholars. Innocent individuals, harmless; it was clear they had died trying to run away. Their cloaks all had fireball burns in the backs, revealing the sight of burnt flesh.
"I can't believe those two…" Garet growled. "When I get my hands on them…" He stroked his axe blade eagerly, fire crackled around his fist.
"Those poor people…" Mia moaned in sympathy. "How could they do this? How could anyone be so cruel?"
Ivan was too shocked to say anything. Isaac tried to be strong, remain calm and in control.
You killed innocent people, Saturos and Menardi… I'll make sure you pay for it.
Mia gave a sudden gasp of shock and rushed over to kneel by some of the fallen scholars at the point in the path where the road forked.
"Some of them are still alive!" she called out without looking over. "Quickly, come and help me!" She began checking on the men who were still faintly breathing, albeit barely. She checked pulses and wounds, and began rummaging through her pack as they arrived.
"Mia, we don't have time for that," Isaac said. The Mercury Adept looked at him like she couldn't believe what he was saying.
"What?"
"Saturos and the others are already in the Lighthouse. We have to go and stop them. Now," he added firmly.
"We can't just leave these people!" she pleaded. "They're dieing! We have to help them!"
"If we stay here, then Saturos will light the beacon and all their sacrifices will be for nothing!" Mia looked like she was torn in two.
"But… these people…."
"I'm with Isaac," Garet said in a tone of grim seriousness. "They died trying to stop them. It's up to us to make that mean something." Isaac was surprised. It wasn't like Garet to normally think like that.
This quest has made us all grow up a bit, he reflected.
"Just cast a quick Ply on the survivors," Ivan suggested, regaining his composure a bit now that he'd gotten over the shock of the attack. "That should keep them alive just long enough for someone from, say, Lalivero to come and help."
Mia chewed her lower lip in thought. It clearly pained her as a healer to abandon someone in need.
"Okay," she replied softly. She waved her hand over the man by her knees, blue Psynergetic energy flowing into his burnt and bloodied body. She did the same for a couple of others.
"Okay, then. Let's go," Isaac said, looking towards the Lighthouse. Huge, grey stone doors were set into the purple brick walls, and they were open.
We have to hurry. They could already be halfway up for all we know.
"I'll head for Lalivero, and send help for these people at once," Iodem said, to the agreement of Isaac. The Adepts were just about to start for the Lighthouse, when the first man Mia had healed sat up uneasily and choked out, "Wait!"
They stopped and turned to face him.
"You're Adepts, aren't you?"
"Yes," Isaac replied succinctly. They didn't have time for all this.
"You're following the ones who did all of this, right?" The Earth Adept nodded. "You're going the wrong way, they aren't in the Lighthouse."
"What?" Isaac had been about to leave, but the man's words caught his attention.
"What do you mean?" Garet demanded.
"I saw them enter after they did all this…" He took a deep breath. "Kraden and Sheba were with them for some reason. They came out a few minutes later… Kraden said… that it was only the exit… that the real entrance is… underground, up north… under the ruins of Alluvion."
"You mean where they're building Babi Lighthouse?" Iodem exclaimed. The man nodded with some effort. "That means they're heading for Lalivero!" The scholar nodded once more uneasily and then lay back again, wincing in pain.
"Take it easy there," Mia soothed, kneeling beside him once more. So that wasn't the entrance? It was really hidden up north. Very ingenious, but then, Kraden had said that the ancient Venus Clan had always been clever.
I see now why Saturos kidnapped Kraden, he thought. They must have forced him to reveal all that.
"We must leave immediately!" Iodem snapped. "There's an entire garrison of soldiers at Lalivero! They might delay them some more, but…"
"…but they don't have a hope," Garet finished. Iodem shook his head sadly.
"And there are a lot of innocent people on the streets, also…" he continued. Mia's eyes widened in shock.
"No… I will not see anymore innocent people die like this." She stood up, her blue eyes like ice. "Let's go stop them," she said in a cold voice, and then, to the injured scholar, "We'll send help as soon as possible."
"Lead the way," Isaac ordered. Iodem nodded and went down the dirt path through the forest that branched away from the Lighthouse towards Lalivero, followed by the Adepts.
I won't let you get away with this, Saturos.
XXX
Lalivero was somewhat reminiscent of the town of Suhulla. The same style of architecture; yellow sandstone buildings. The people dressed the same, but Lalivero was just a bit bigger in every way. A bigger town, bigger buildings and it was surrounded by a thick stone wall, weathered and sand worn. In places it was crumbling down, evidently it hadn't been maintained in years, though they probably hadn't been needed for defence in decades. In the centre of the town, rising far over all other buildings, was a tall monument, a large stone spire a shade darker than the sand of the landscape. According the Sheba, it had been built there by the Laliverans years ago at the point of her arrival when she fell from the sky. Commissioned by Faran, it was meant as a tribute to the "Child of the Gods".
As Felix approached the town, taking all this in, he eased his sword in his scabbard. There would likely be trouble, and the Earth Adept didn't want to be going in unprepared. He made sure Sheba stayed close by his side, he didn't want her to be harmed or captured, would give his life to prevent it. She had said the townspeople would be likely to try and take her away, thinking they were freeing her, and she didn't want that, to go back to her old life. She wanted to stay with Felix, and he with her, to fulfil his destiny.
Felix had also promised to look after his sister, but Jenna had made it perfectly clear she could look after herself. "I'm no weakling, Felix; I know how to use my Psynergy. I'm about as strong as you or Sheba, and besides, I've been watching Saturos and Menardi, and I think I've picked up a few new tricks."
"What about me?" Kraden had complained. "If there's fighting, I can't defend myself! What if I get hurt?"
"Fear not, Master Kraden," Alex had assured him. "I shall see to it that no harm comes to you. After all, you're the only Alchemy Sage we have, and we can't afford to lose you." Something about the Water Adept's tone of voice seemed to suggest that he cared more for Kraden's knowledge than the individual himself.
"Quiet," Menardi snapped without turning her head. "We're near the gates. Remember, we want to try and get to the secret entrance beneath the ruins as soon as possible. No unnecessary detours." Felix nodded in understanding.
They approached an arched opening in the yellowed walls, which was guarded by two Tolbi soldiers either side. As they approached, with Saturos in the lead, neither guard at first paid them any attention. They were standing in slouched positions, chatting lazily with one another. It seemed like they might pass through unnoticed, and not have to fight anyone, not have to kill any more innocents. Then, one of the guards ran a lazy eye over them. He then asked a single question that consigned him and many others to an early grave.
"Hey, aren't these those guys Babi wants arrested?" Before his companion even had time to formulate a reply, Saturos's sword lashed out and severed the guard's head, while Menardi's scythe decapitated another. They both died with expressions of surprised horror on their faces.
"Damnit, these one are looking for us, too," Saturos growled as he wiped the blood of his blade. "Why are they after us? Is it because of Kraden?"
"But that makes no sense," Menardi replied. "How would they know? And how could they know precisely who to look for?"
Saturos shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. We'll just have to destroy whoever gets in our way. Come on, let's move!"
Already, several of the townspeople had witnessed the incident and were running off screaming, some shouting for the guards. Two armoured Tolbi soldiers were already charging at them with pointed spears. The Mars Adepts raised their hands, and the pair suddenly fell to the ground screaming in agony, enveloped in Psynergetic flames.
Oh, no. Not again, Felix thought. It's just like before… innocent people are going to be hurt again.
"Stick close together!" Menardi ordered. "Just follow us, and let us do the fighting!" With swords, scythe and fire, the two of them marched into Lalivero, followed by the others, carrying death and destruction.
XXX
Lalivero was already burning when they arrived, Isaac saw. Thick black plumes of smoke rose up into the midday sky, an orange glow of fire emanated at the bases of the columns smoke. Chaotic screams of terror wailed from inside the walls. From the town gates, a few panicked people fled for their lives.
"Damnit! We're too late!" Garet cursed. "If they've hurt anyone, I swear…"
"Let's go!" Isaac ordered, picking up the pace, which the others followed. As they approached the town, one panic stricken Laliveran ran past them.
"Stop!" Iodem called out. "What happened?" The fleeing woman didn't stop to even so much as look at him.
"Don't worry about her," Ivan said to him. "We already know what happened." They passed through the stone arched entrance in the town walls, and Isaac saw the chaos in the streets of Lalivero. Two decapitated soldiers lay just inside the archway, partly dried pools of red blood about their necks, head laying facedown nearby. Up ahead on the main street were two incinerated bodies that Isaac immediately recognised as soldiers by their scorched armour. Further along the street were several more slain Tolbi guardsmen. Panicked Laliverans were running about everywhere, completely unsure of what to do in the chaos and some seemingly just running and screaming for no reason. In groups of varying size, armed soldiers attempted to control the people and calm them down.
Isaac saw all this in an instant, before racing up the street.
"Those ruins that this secret entrance is meant to be in," Isaac started up, "They're just ahead, right?"
"Right," Iodem agreed. "Just underneath the Babi Lighthouse construction site." As he finished, a Laliveran who appeared much calmer and in control than the rest, joined up with them, and started running alongside them next to Iodem. He appeared to be of middling years, with brown hair and moustache.
"Iodem!" he said. "I'd love to say it's good to see you, but things are a bit crazy right now!" By the way he spoke Isaac assumed that he and Iodem knew each other quite well.
"Faran," Iodem nodded curtly. "Just the man I need to see. Isaac, this is Faran, Sheba's adoptive father. Faran, this is Isaac, he's going to rescue Sheba."
"I see…" Faran replied a trifle coldly. "I noticed some brutes had kidnapped her, even though some other brutes were meant to be 'looking after' her." He gave a withering glance to Iodem.
"Now is not the time to talk about that," Iodem answered. "Faran, I need your help." He stopped, forcing the others to follow suite.
"Why are we stopping?" Garet asked. Iodem ignored him.
"Isaac, you and the others go ahead."
"But…"
"You don't need me anyway; I would only get in the way. And I have business here with Faran."
"Yes, and I pray some of this business involves telling me just what on Weyard is going on."
Iodem turned to face him. "Yes, I assure you, I will explain everything when there's time. For now, we have work that needs to be done."
Faran nodded. "Right."
"So, I guess this is goodbye, then?" Isaac said.
"I'm sure we'll meet up later," Iodem smiled. "For now, just go, there's no time."
Faran looked to Isaac, and the expression on his face was one of pleading. "Please, bring back Sheba. She means so much to this town… and to me."
"I'll do my best," Isaac promised.
"Thank you." The Laliveran gave a relieved smile. The four Adepts raced down the street, past the stone spire monument and towards the north town exit.
XXX
Iodem watched the four kids rushing onward with an odd feeling of regret. From what he understood, some terrible battle awaited them when they finally caught up to this group they'd been chasing. Such a burden for such kids; powerful, though they may be. He'd grown kind of fond of them, they were friendly and honest in a way he hadn't experienced since entering Lord Babi's service. Still, they had their duties, and he his.
"Iodem? I believe you owe me an explanation. Who were those brutes, why do they have my Sheba, and why are they being attacked by your soldiers?"
"I'll explain later," Iodem replied, turning away with a sigh. "For now, we need to send as many soldiers as we can spare to Venus Lighthouse. And all the healers we can spare, too. There are a lot of injured people there."
"I don't think we can spare too many," Faran replied in grave concern. "A few are tied up here, with all the confusion."
"Then send construction workers if you have too… we need to clear that area…" They began walking back to the south entrance where the Tolbi barracks were located.
"Okay, but now you have to tell me what's going."
"Right, but it won't be easy to believe…"
"It never is." And so, Iodem and Faran quickly began making their plans, the animosity between them temporarily forgotten.
XXX
Lalivero behind them, Isaac and the others entered the construction site of Babi Lighthouse. The stone pavement before the structure was scorched black in many places. A stack of large wooden logs used in the building blazed in a huge bonfire off to one side. The entire place was deserted, not a single construction worker remained, though fortunately not a single dead body lay anywhere. It seemed that they had all managed to escape in time.
Although Babi Lighthouse was not yet very tall, it was clear the builders intended to build something to rival even the Elemental Lighthouses. The base was formed of thick red stone, worked together with the best tools known to man. Already it was high, but not high enough for Lord Babi. There was one door built into the front, and Isaac led the party through it.
Inside were two sets of stone steps. One flight led up to the top of the partially constructed tower, while another, older and more worn looking set went down. Isaac took the latter.
It led down, down underground, where it became dark and cold. Upon the walls were writings and symbols of a long dead language, and every so often they saw the ancient symbol of the Venus Clan. They were in the ruins of Alluvion, once an underground metropolis, capital city of the Venus Clan, now lost. Old passages of cracked stone branched off in several directions along the way and Isaac picked which way to go based purely on intuition.
Who knows, maybe my element will guide me.
The stone floor was covered in a thick layer of dust, with many footprints in it. Evidently, Saturos' trail. Isaac followed it. Finally, the trail they were following ended at a massive door of solid rock, with the Venus Clan symbol emblazoned upon it. Isaac guessed intuitively that this was the true entrance to the Lighthouse. It was facing in the proper direction if his sense of direction was to be believed.
"Here we are," Isaac said. They stopped before the doors. "How do you suppose we open it?" Garet walked up to them, and gave them a strong push. They didn't budge an inch.
"Well, they seem to be locked pretty tight," The Fire Adept noted. Isaac stepped up to them, and they smoothly slid open automatically.
"Each Lighthouse can only be opened by someone of that respective element, right?" Isaac said. "Well, it looks like I just opened it." Beyond the door, a long dark tunnel of ancient stone delved deep into the earth towards Venus Lighthouse. As the doors opened, white pearl like stones began glowing with white light, showing the way, like torches from Sol Sanctum from so long ago. More impressive technology from the Lost Age.
"Alright, let's go settle the score!" Garet declared.
"I hope Alex is in there," Mia said in an icy tone. "He has a lot to answer for."
I'm coming for you, Jenna.
The Adepts entered the tunnel and began making their way towards Venus Lighthouse.
A/N: Ah, and that wraps up another chapter. Man, I'm so close now! Almost there, folks! Next chapter, the Lighthouse itself… and you know what battle is coming up soon, dontcha? Are ya excited? I am! Hopefully the final showdown will be the best battle of the whole fic, at least, that's what I'm aiming to make it be. Well, we'll see what happens. Until next update, any questions, reflections, criticisms, critiques, opinions, etc. can be sent to me via the review option. Or a PM or email if you wish it to remain unread by the public.
So, until then, Adios Amigos! (is it just me, or are my a/n getting shorter, and more pointless?)