Part Three:
Night Storms
Saturos looked around the room of the Inn. It was one large room with only four beds, one in each corner of the room. Light poured in cheerily from the window to his right, illuminating the room rather brightly. He turned to watch Siad dump the large bag he carried on the bed to the left of the doorway, Menardi close behind, the other men following.
"There are only four beds," Menardi said, stopping in the doorway, a few of the other men entering by squeezing past her.
"What?" Siad asked, pushing his black hair away from his face.
"There are seven of us and only four beds," Menardi repeated, worry clearly on her face. "We're three short."
The group murmured among themselves. Saturos, again, took in his surrounding, counting the beds once more, coming up with the same number yet again. His eyes scanned the shelf in the center of the back wall for cots or perhaps spare mattresses they could lay out on the floor, but found none.
"Is everyone comfortable?"
The group turned to see a woman standing in the doorway, a thing called a human, so they had been told. They were strange looking creatures with smooth, silk-like skin that came in different shades of pink and browns. They had flat teeth, which made Saturos wonder how they could possible eat meat, though he heard they did. And they always had a sort of glimmer in their eyes. Saturos couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could have sworn it was something along the lines of fear. He couldn't understand exactly why anyone would be afraid of a Proxinian. They did not look frightening, not when compared to the humans, anyway, with their pale colored, smooth skin, and flat teeth.
The human wore her long, bright-red hair pulled tightly back into a ponytail. (Strange, considering the woman was older, no doubt in the prime of her life, and to wear one's hair back in Prox was a sign of youth and immaturity.) She had a tan colored skin, but it was strangely pale- almost a grey- and her fingers had turned an almost blue color. She was rubbing her hands together rather rapidly, trying to hold eye contact with Saturos, but constantly breaking away to look either at the floor or the ceiling.
"Actually, there's a slight problem," Menardi confessed to the woman, wincing at having to make a request when they had already been treated so well.
The woman paled. "P-problem?" she stammered, her green eyes (a very odd color for eyes!) darting quickly between Saturos, Menardi, and Siad. "Wh-what is this... problem?"
"There are only four bed, and there are seven of us," Menardi replied, motioning to their men with her hand, the woman noticing her fingernails were more claw-like than fingernails were meant to be. This caused her to pale again.
When the woman said nothing, only continued staring at Menardi's extended hand, Siad ventured slowly, "Do you have anymore rooms?"
The woman jumped slightly, turning to look at Siad. "Rooms? N-no... Vale has so few visitors we only keep this room running.
"Then perhaps some spare mattresses," asked one of the men hopefully.
The innkeeper shook her head carefully, that glimmer in her eyes becoming deeper. "No, Sir..."
"Cots?" Siad asked.
"No..."
"Extra blankets?" asked Roken, his voice having a bit of an edge to it.
"No," the innkeeper said, staring down at the floor. "We've never had more than two people come to Vale at a time before. This is very abnormal for us."
"We may not be here long enough to use the room anyway," Saturos sighed in exasperation, sitting on the corner of a bed. "It all depends on how quickly your council wishes to meet with us."
This news seemed to greatly relax the innkeeper, who met Saturos's gaze. "The mayor began immediately toward the Elder's Sanctum, Sir. He is most likely discussing this with him now..."
"Good," Saturos said, smoothing out the bit of tunic below his chest plate. "When will we know their plans?"
"I will contact you as soon as I have word," the innkeeper told them, bowing deeply. She turned to leave when a thought crossed Saturos's mind.
"One moment," he said, standing.
The woman paused in the doorway, one hand reaching up to grab the door frame. He had startled her by speaking. She turned around, trying to smile slightly, or at least look pleasant. "Yes?"
"We are studiers of Alchemy back in our village," Saturos began conversationally. "We have heard that Vale is home to Sol Sanctum, the rumored resting place of the elemental stars." Saturos had not noticed yet that his words had caused the innkeeper's face to go even more grey than it had been previously. "Perhaps while we wait, we could go and look around this Sanct-"
"NO!" shouted the innkeeper, thrusting herself back into the room. The Proxinians stared at her in shock, unsure of what to make of the outburst. The innkeeper's face flushed momentarily, and she shakily restated, "N-no..."
"Wh... what?" Saturos asked, chuckling mildly. "Wh... why not-?"
"It is off-limits," the innkeeper explained quickly, staring at the ground. Her voice had a rough, almost angry edge to it as she spoke. "Mount Aleph is off-limits to nearly everyone, even those who have lived in Vale their whole life..."
"But we have heard so much of it," Saturos pressed. "Surely it isn't that much to let a few beings up to this remarkable sight?"
The innkeeper looked up, straight into Saturos's eyes. Whatever fear there had been in them a few moments ago was gone, replaced by something quite different.
"The rumors of Sol Sanctum are nothing more than that, and if they were true," she added before Saturos could counter her, "It is blasphemy for you to expect to allow us to let mere... tourists and students trod on such sacred ground."
Saturos sat in shock at such a blunt statement, quite offended that she did not realize they were Adepts. "I apologize, lady, but I had only hoped we could-"
"You are not to leave this inn until the Elders have sent their word," she said harshly. "That was what they told me."
"Will we not even be allowed to see Mount Aleph?" asked one of the men in shock, a few of the others talking amongst themselves.
"You will do only as the Elders say you will do," she said darkly, her green eyes burrowing like emerald daggers into Saturos. "Now," she said, her tone only slightly less acrid. "If you will excuse me..." And with that, she swept out of the room.
A shocked silence reigned momentarily before finally, the door closed behind the woman, and the shouting began.
"What does she mean we aren't allowed to go see Sol Sanctum!" one of the men shouted angrily. "Does she not understand what is going on in the outside world?"
"No one knows but us," Menardi barked at him. "Besides, they live near the center of Weyard. How could they even see Gaia Falls, let alone the erosion."
"Menardi is right," Siad said over the noise. "We came here to warn these people and tell them it is time to unleash the power of Alchemy once more!"
"Easier said than done, Siad," Saturos murmured, the men instantly quieting to listen to him. The two days trip on the boat had brought the men close to him; respect him. They listened to him very intently, and commented on his thoughts openly and earnestly, which Saturos did not mind at all. They respected his voice, and asked questions which he gladly entered. But most importantly, they listened to him.
Saturos stood from his spot on the bed, one of the men taking a seat, soon, all in the room sitting save Siad who remained standing near the doorway. "This seems to be more complex than the Elder or Puelle imagined..." he began softly. "Either the Valeans have not been told the legends of Sol Sanctum, or they are under the impression that no one else has heard them."
"She seemed to know, Saturos," Menardi said quietly. "It was like she... didn't want us to find out something..."
"I do believe she meant it when she said no one is allowed up to Mount Aleph," Saturos murmured. "She wouldn't lie about that. She seemed offended when I asked if we could see it. Perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?" Bihnde asked, his ears perking up with curiosity.
"Perhaps the Valean Elders have not told the people about Sol Sanctum's true power," Menardi ventured. "Am I right?"
Saturos shook his head, the silvery-teal hair falling again into his eyes. "Deeper than that... Perhaps the Elders do not even know the truth about Sol Sanctum..."
"What?" Siad asked with a laughed. "Saturos, are you suggesting that these people stand as the only guardians of Alchemy's seal and they have no idea?"
"No!" Saturos snapped at him. "It is much more complicated than that!" He turned toward the window, staring out at the plaza below. "No, Siad... No, the Valeans know that Sol Sanctum hides a great secret... The Elders may even know that it hold the seal of Alchemy..." He looked over his shoulder to Siad. "But what if they have a very different idea of Alchemy."
"What do you mean?" Menardi asked.
"What if they think it is dangerous?"
"Alchemy? Dangerous?" one of the men spat. "Ludicrous!"
"Not necessarily," Saturos corrected him. "In studying the Elder's books, it seemed as though when the ancient sages sealed Alchemy away, they were... frightened of it..."
"Why would they be frightened?" Menardi asked.
"Alchemy was rampant then, Menardi," Saturos sighed, looking out the window again. "The power that we have right now would be ten-fold should Alchemy be released again..." He paused thoughtfully, staring blankly at the sky. "Who knows how powerful some of these beings would have become? What sort of awesome and terrible power they could wield?"
"Incredible," Roken said to himself.
"Exactly why the sages would have been afraid," Saturos continued. "If they were frightened enough when they sealed it away, they might not have told the Valean Elders the whole truth... They hoped to seal away Alchemy forever-"
"Then why build the lighthouses?" Siad asked. "Why bother preserving the Elemental Stars?"
"I don't know," Saturos said. "I don't think the sages ever expected Weyard to begin to kill itself..."
The room grew quiet again as Saturos's words sunk in. "Well," one of the men finally piped up. "We'll just have to explain to Vale's Elders everything that is going on."
"It won't be that easy, Ranti," Saturos said. "If they've been taught that unleashing Alchemy is evil for all these centuries, they won't just allow us to waltz up to Sol Sanctum and take the Elemental Stars."
"Who knows, Saturos," Menardi said, standing and crossing to him, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Maybe they will understand... Maybe they'll let us have the stars without any trouble."
Saturos glanced at her hand momentarily, then looked back out the window. "I hope..."
"I'm going downstairs," Siad sighed tiredly. "This room is too small for seven people."
"We'll come with you," Bihnde said, motioning to Roken. "These Valeans act strangely toward us... We don't want any trouble."
Siad, Roken, and Bihnde left the room, leaving Ranti and the other Proxinian guard, Addun, to discuss their own thoughts on the other side of the room.
Saturos stood at the window still, Menardi sitting on the corner of the bed next to him. He shook his head, his face full of concern. "Look out there, Menardi," he said softly.
She peered out the window at the plaza below. "What is it?"
"It's empty..."
Menardi straightened herself, making her a little taller, and looked out the window again. "What? Impossible... There has to be... someone... out there..." Her eyes scanned the area, seeing absolutely nothing. No merchants, no carts, no people, no animals, no children... nothing.
"What do you think is going on?" she asked Saturos, he not meeting her gaze, just staring blankly out at the plaza.
"They are afraid of us," he said softly. "I could see it in that woman's eyes... Fear." His eyes scanned the plaza again, looking at the closed shop doors and covered windows. "I am afraid that there is more to this mission than we thought, Menardi."
"You mean... complications?" she asked, one of her blonde eyebrows rising.
"One could call them that," Saturos murmured. "But one thing is certain, we must remember our primary goal: saving Weyard."
"Yes," Menardi agreed softly.
"And we will do so at any cost..."
Menardi looked up at Saturos. His face had gone rigid again; proud, like it had when they spoke at the Elder's home all that time ago. "Saturos?"
He finally looked away from the window and met her gaze. "Yes, Menardi?"
She stared at him for a long while, then finally looked down at her hands in her lap. She held her gaze there for a long while before opening her mouth to speak.
"Sir?" Siad called from the doorway, the two leaders turning toward the Adept. "The Elder just arrived... They will meet with us now."
"Good," Saturos replied, turning from the window. "We'll be down in a moment..."
Siad nodded and went back down to the main area of the Inn.
"Now, Menardi," Saturos said, looking at his counter-part. "You were going to say something?"
Menardi paused momentarily, her mouth still open as though to speak. Finally, she closed her mouth, looking at the ground and shaking her head. "Nothing," she murmured. Then a little less certain, "nothing..."
"I'm bored," Jenna murmured, playing with a small wooden horse their father had carved a long time ago. She made it trot across the table, stopping in front of Felix who was reading a book, half falling asleep. He reached out with his hand and brushed her away, leaning his elbow on the table and resting his head on his hand.
"And it's not even dinner time yet," Jenna said as thought Felix was listening.
"Uh-huh," he replied, flipping over the page.
"I wish Isaac were here," she continued, holding the horse up in front of her face.
"You mean Garet," Felix grinned from behind his book.
Jenna flushed furiously and threw the horse at Felix's head, clipping him squarely in the jaw.
"Ow!" Felix shouted, setting down the book and grabbing for his jaw. "What was that for?"
"Nothing," Jenna replied bitterly, staring at her now empty hands.
"You didn't have to throw it at me," Felix muttered darkly, reaching down for the wooden toy and thrusting it back at his sister.
"You deserved it," she retorted.
Felix said nothing to this. He probably did deserve it. He scratched his nose boredly and turned back to the book he was reading.
"Are you two fighting again?" their mother asked, re-entering the room.
"No, Mom," the two children chorused in unison.
"I hope not," she murmured, checking the pot on the fire. She sighed, adding another log to the fire, watching it carefully. "I know it's hard being stuck in the house on such a beautiful day, but you have to remember, it all for the protection of Vale."
"Here we go again," Felix murmured to Jenna who had already set her head down on the table, red hair pouring out like a fountain onto the wooden surface.
"Our people are the protectors of an ancient secret," Felix's mother continued, he mouthing her word for word. "Visitors of any kind are always troubling. No one outside of Vale knows about Psynergy. If any of us were to reveal that we were Adepts, can you imagine the reaction? People might become frightened and attack us, or they could try to climb Mount Aleph and break into Sol Sanctum! The Wise One said that if anyone were to break open that seal, they would be cursed for all time. We can't allow anyone to find out about Alchemy or its existence here in Vale. It would be dangerous to us all."
"Are you lecturing the children again?"
Felix turned as his father entered the room. Felix was the spitting image of his father; dark, brown hair and light, honey-colored eyes. His mother, however, looked more akin to his sister, both having long, dark red hair and auburn eyes. Both their parents were young, but Felix's father sported a well-trimmed beard, making him look much older than he really was. His mother wore her hair, which normally went all the way down to her waist, pulled back into a tight bun. She was cooking so often that she had to keep her hair pulled back all the time to avoid the fire.
"They aren't lectures, Charles," she sighed deeply. "It's the truth. And these visitors sounded even more dangerous than those Colloso Warriors that stopped here once when we were children."
"They'll be fine," his father said, standing behind their mother and putting his arms around her. "They're good kids. They don't get into any trouble..."
"Unless you count that time Felix nearly got himself killed up by that old cave," Jenna said, her head rising with such speed that her hair went flying wildly, like a willow in a wind storm.
Felix wished Jenna hadn't said anything about that. Memories of that day still haunted him. He, Isaac, and Garet- despite Garet's sister's warnings- had decided to explore the small cave in the west of the village. Felix had fallen from the edge small edge of the cavern to the floor below, breaking his ankle. Isaac had sent Garet for help and then tried to reach Felix. Felix had fallen too far down and the two boys were stuck a good distance from each other. That was when it happened.
Felix and Isaac had never told anyone their story. It was too frightening for them to retell it. Somewhere in the cave, they had heard growling. Felix kept telling Garet it was probably his stomach, considering the boys hadn't eaten before they left, but when it was just Isaac and Felix, alone and stranded in that cave, they learned what the growling really was; a full-grown male wolf.
He came from a cavern on Felix's side, a chasm and a steep drop separating him from Isaac. Felix was alone with the wolf, unable to run, and unable to fight. He managed to back himself against a wall, the wolf cornering him, ready to strike. Somehow, Felix had never been able to figure out how exactly, but Isaac had managed to jump from his place above Felix, over the chasm, and onto the same ledge as Felix, unharmed. The wolf did attack Felix, but Isaac threw a rock at the beast. The wolf turned its gaze on Isaac then, the boy somehow managing to fight off the wolf, kicking him into the chasm on the other side.
Isaac had saved Felix's life that day, though the two boys had never breathed a word of this to anyone. Everyone assumed Isaac's arm had been injured when he fell as Felix did. No one guessed the scratches were from where the wolf had bit his arm.
"Felix is older now," his father said admonishing his sister gently. "He's much more responsible and smarter now, too."
"But you still need to be careful, Felix," his mother said. Her voice was still filled with worry.
"I'm not going to do anything bad, Mom," he said. "It's Jenna you guys should worry about! She gets away with everything! Just 'cause she's a girl!"
"Nu-uh!" Jenna protested. "You get into just as much trouble as I do-"
"You, Jenna, Garet, and Isaac get into trouble all together," their father finally intervened, chuckling. "You four are terrible."
"It's lucky you two are always with Isaac and Garet," Felix's mother sighed, going back to her cooking and pushing their father away gently. "You all seem to watch out for each other."
"I think they've heard enough, Anne," their father said in one of those ending tones as he crossed to the side of the home, looking out their window. "By the elements," he murmured as he reached the window. He folded his arms across his chest as the family all stopped, turning to look at him.
"What is it, Charles?"
"The visitors... They're coming."
Felix and Jenna sprung from their seats, rushing to the window to see. Sure enough, crossing the bridge at that moment, lead by the mayor were seven people. No, not people. They were still too far away for Felix to see specific details, but he could tell the two at the front- the tall, strong looking ones, wearing the ornate armor- had to be the leaders.
"That was fast," their father murmured as their mother joined them at the window. "The Elders never meet with anyone so quickly."
"They hardly look like anyone, dear," their mother whispered, taking a hold of Jenna's shoulders. The group disappeared behind a grove of trees momentarily, then appeared on the path leading right past their home. "Are you sure we should be looking?" their mother whispered quickly. "The mayor said to keep hidden in front of them..."
"I just want to see them, Anne... See if the mayor was telling the truth..."
"Why would he lie?" their mother snapped.
"He wouldn't lie... He just may have stretched the truth..."
Felix pushed his sister over a bit so he could have a better look, Jenna not particularly happy about being jostled, but said nothing nonetheless. The group was coming closer, and Felix could now see the scales on their shoulders and arms. There were two at the front, a male and female, talking to the mayor, smiles on their faces. (Felix couldn't tell if their teeth were sharp yet.) But though they seemed pleasant enough, the mayor seemed to be becoming more and more troubled with every word they said.
"What do you think they're talking about?" their mother whispered as the group drew closer, nearing the cottage.
"I don't know..." their father murmured watching the group draw dangerously near. Felix's eyes were glued on the male creature, watching his mouth intently. Finally he was close enough to see. Felix watched, waiting for him to smile again... Waiting... waiting.
Then the male turned and looked right at him.
Felix stood, frozen in fear, for seemingly eternities as the male creature looked at him. Suddenly, a thick, white, blur cut between Felix and the creature's gaze. He jumped, startled, and turned, looking where his father stood, holding the cord that released the curtains.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day," he said breathlessly.
Felix silently agreed. He didn't care anymore whether or not the creatures that visited their village did or did not have sharp teeth. He had confirmed the two other traits; the scales and the red eyes. Those eyes...
Felix felt as though that thing had seen right into his soul... Those eyes... As red as Isaac's arm had been after they fought that wolf almost two years ago... Like blood.
Felix shivered slightly, turning away from the window and hurrying to the table and his book. Whatever desire he had to see these beings before was most certainly gone. Anything that looked like that had to be dangerous... right?
He turned back to his book, trying to forget about what had just happened, but even staring at the white pages of the book, he kept seeing eyes of red staring back at him.
"Again," Saturos said as their group reached the small sanctum at the top of the village, "We thank you for your hospitality."
The old man said nothing, just continued walking toward another elderly man. This one was much older, and Saturos had seen Elders such as this one in Prox before; master healers on journeys of goodwill. He wore ornate blue and gold robes and a headdress which, from under, white hair fell to about half-way down the man's back. He had a thick, full beard, and a low, rumbling voice like thunder as he spoke to Saturos.
He bowed deeply over the alter at the center of the sanctum. "Welcome, wanders..." He rose, looking directly at Saturos. "What is it you seek?"
Saturos took in a deep breath, trying to shake out any nervousness he felt. It didn't help much, but his voice didn't shake when he spoke, which was a plus. Everything seemed to come out in a rush of words, thoughts flying so fast he had no time to organize them. He only hoped he was making sense to the Elder. He spoke of Gaia Falls at the edge of Weyard and how it was eroding. He told them of how he had studied these past years about Alchemy and the seal placed upon it by the sages so many years ago. He told them the Elder's theory of the seal on Alchemy being to blame for Gaia Falls erosion, then he paused to take a breath.
Breathing hard, he managed, "We have been sending you letters for the last two years-"
The Elder nodded sleepily. "We know."
"We don't understand how they didn't reach y-" Saturos stopped mid-sentence, the Elder's words sinking in. In a deadly voice, he said, "What do you mean... you know?"
"We have received every one of the letters your elder and chieftain have sent," the Elder responded placidly, his near-sightless blue eyes not showing any emotion.
Saturos felt a rage suddenly build in him. His muscles grew tense. He clenched his fists so hard, his fingernails began to dig into his palms. Finally, unable to contain himself for much longer, Saturos bellowed, "You KNEW!" He was furious, rage issue from every pore of his being. How dare they! All these years they had been aware that his people were in urgent need of assistance; that Weyard was in urgent need of assistance, yet they had done nothing? Not even a word in response? Saturos wanted to blurt all this out at once. He wanted to take the elder and shake him until he had explained why they had not responded. He wanted to hit something; kill something.
Menardi put a gentle hand on the fuming Proxinian's shoulder, but Saturos violently shook her off, glaring furiously at the Elder. "You have known all this time of the impending danger of Prox- no- Weyard, and you have done nothing! You didn't even have the decency to pen a note in response!"
"Our silence was response enough, we thought," the Elder said softly, unphased by Saturos's outburst.
Saturos paused a beat. "What does that mean?"
"The Wise One has made it clear what we are to do in this situation," the Elder began.
Saturos was a bit taken aback. "The Wise One? Weyard's Guardian?" The Elder nodded, and Saturos's head pulsed again with the pain of confusion. "You mean to tell me you have actually spoken to The Wise One?"
"No," the Elder said. "We have records from when the sages originally entrusted the Wise One with the protection of Weyard. They made it very clear the conditions of removing the Elemental Stars from Sol Sanctum, as well as who would be allowed inside."
"What are the conditions?" Saturos asked. "Surely we can meet them..."
The Elder smiled slightly. "The conditions were never, and no one."
Saturos and his group paused, letting this sink in. He was the only one to react. It started as a smile, which became a snicker, then a laugh. "Never and no one..." Again he laughed aloud, his men chuckling nervously behind him. Saturos looked at the Elder, smiling pleasantly. "Now really, Elder, what are the conditions?"
The Elder stiffened angrily, his voice booming inside the tiny stone sanctum. "NO ONE SHALL ENTER SOL SANCTUM, AND NEVER SHALL THE ELEMENTAL STARS BE REMOVED FROM THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE! THESE ARE THE WISE ONE'S ORDERS!"
All the good-will was gone from Saturos's face. He stared blankly at the Elder, his face as hard as stone. He pursed his lips, taking in a deep breath through his nose. "I don't think this... Wise One... is a very good guardian if he does not understand that in giving such orders... He is killing our people! Not only our people, but all of Weyard! You as well will perish if you do not give us permission to go to Sol Sanctum and get those stones!"
"How dare you speak of The Wise One in such manner!" roared one of the younger Elders, his curly brown hair trembling with rage.
"How dare you call yourselves guardians and turn a blind eye from those who need you most!" Saturos barked at the man, no doubt older than he. "I do hate to inform you, but if you will not give us permission to enter Sol Sanctum, we shall do so ourselves!"
"Oh, shall you?" another young elder snapped.
"We shall."
Saturos reached for his blade, but the young Elder to his right was faster. He outstretched his hand at, pointing at Saturos. A loud gust of wind sent him flying into the wall to their right. In a flash, Menardi had taken the rod from her back in both hands, moving with unnatural speed, and unleashing her scythe. She had moved so the blade was pressed tenderly against the fleshy under of the elder's chin, her red eyes flashing dangerously as Siad and Ranti rushed to help their leader to his feet.
"That was not wise," Menardi growled, pressing the tip a little harder to the man's flesh, causing him to gasp. "Not a move!" she warned the advancing elders, freezing them in their tracks.
Saturos stood with the help of Siad, the wind knocked clean out of him, more surprised than anything. The elder must have been a Jupiter Adept, controlling the power of wind. Saturos pressed a hand to his chest as he tried to slow his breathing, coughing hard from the blow. He recognized a rusty flavor in his mouth, and spat into his hand, seeing the slightest trace of red to the saliva.
He glared at the Elder, furious. "You do understand what this means?" he growled softly.
"It means that you will leave our village immediately and never return," the Elder snapped. "We should never have let your kind in here in the first place. We shall not disobey The Wise One's orders..."
Saturos's face twisted into an angry wince, bitterness flooding his whole being. He shook off Siad angrily, and ordered Menardi to leave the elder be. He stepped forward to the alter, Menardi at his heel. "So be it," he hissed. "Damn yourselves for all I care."
And with that, he turned on his heel and left the sanctum, his men following closely behind.
"So is that it?" shouted Menardi to Saturos as they exited the town of Vale, the gate starting to disappear in the distance. "We just leave and go tell the council we failed?"
"Of course not," Saturos called back to her, turning around and looking at the mountain behind them.
"Then why did we leave?" she demanded, pointing at the town. "Sol Sanctum is in there! We are out here!"
"I must admit, Commander, that does present a problem," Siad quietly agreed as they all caught up with Saturos. He wasn't looking at them. He was staring at the mountain; at the trees; at the obstacles leading to the grey, temple-like area halfway up the peak.
"Do you honestly believe they would simply allow us to walk up to Sol Sanctum after what just happened?" Saturos demanded of Menardi, glancing momentarily at her scythe.
She flushed. "We could have simply forced our way up," she replied, beginning to put away her weapon.
"We promised not to shed blood frivolously," Saturos said softly.
"They seemed rather willing to shed ours," Roken muttered resentfully, his face full of hatred.
"They don't understand," Saturos explained. "I cannot simply condemn them for that... Not yet, at least..."
"So, what now?" Menardi asked as Saturos walked across the grass, staring to the east of the village. "Do we go back to Vale? They won't let us in. Do we go home? They'll just send us back."
"We go and get what we came for, Menardi," Saturos growled softly. "Over there..." He pointed to an area, beginning to walk toward it. "We can climb up the mountain here, keeping our distance from any homes so we don't get spotted. We can work our way so we come around Mount Aleph, reaching Sol Sanctum, which I assume is that temple-like area up there..."
"Won't it be guarded by Elders?" Siad said.
"No," Saturos grinned. "Remember what that woman at the inn said? No one is allowed up there... Even the Elders."
"So all we have to do," Menardi smiled, "is walk up there, into the Sanctum-"
"And out with the stars," Saturos finished. "A simple plan. And Vale's Elders will never know what hit them..." Saturos turned to face their group, staring at each man in turn. "What we seek is almost within reach, men. We start toward Sol Sanctum at sundown."
"They already left?"
Garet nodded at Isaac's question, the four friends lying on the wooden pier just outside of Felix's home. It extended a short distance across the river and was a good spot to just come and talk. Felix's grandparents- as well as his aunt and uncle- lived across the river. It was nice to be surrounded by friends and family, but at the same time, Felix wished he could get away. Of course, Valeans were never allowed to leave the village. The secret of Alchemy was too great to risk being released.
"They left right after meeting with Grandpa," Garet said worriedly, bringing Felix back to the moment. "He came home, white as a sheet... He told us they actually attacked the Elders!"
"I knew they were dangerous," Jenna murmured. "They looked so frightening when we saw them outside the window."
You didn't have one staring at you... Felix thought to himself. He thought, honestly, he should be telling them about how that male was looking at him. Even though it was hours ago, Felix kept seeing those blood-red eyes wherever he looked. The thought of coming across one of these creatures kept tugging at his mind, causing fear to go running up his spine in an icy chill. Even staring at the cool, blue river, those eyes peered back up at him...
"Felix?"
He jumped slightly, looking immediately over at Isaac who was sitting with his feet in the water, Garet next to him, lying on his stomach. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Felix said quickly. "Just... thinking, I guess."
"Right," Garet said, exchanging glances with Isaac. "But, anyway, what did you think of them, Felix?"
"I think they looked dangerous, and we got proven right," he said, sticking his hand in the water, drawing circles on the surface.
"What did they want?" Isaac asked Garet. "Did your grandpa say?"
Garet nodded excitedly, pushing himself up on his elbows. "Didn't I tell you?" he asked rapidly.
"No," Jenna said. "You never breathed a word of it to us."
Garet looked around warily, making sure there were no adults around to hear. "Grandpa sent us away," he said softly. "But I listened outside the kitchen window. He told my mom and dad that they were trying to get into Sol Sanctum..."
"What!" Jenna gasped as Isaac and Felix paled. "No one's allowed up to Sol Sanctum! Even the Great Healer!" she exclaimed, referring to their High Elder.
"I know," Garet whispered excitedly. "But, here's the thing, when they found out they weren't going to let them up, that's when the male reached for his sword, but one of the young healers used psynergy against him and knocked him against the wall. Then the female took out this long pole with a blade at the end," Garet said standing, now making large gestures with his hands, "and she pressed it to his throat. Grandpa said he has a little mark, right here," Garet pointed to a spot under his chin, "where the blade actually cut through the skin. Somehow, they got those beasts out of there, and they watched 'em until they left Vale."
"And that's when they told us we could come out," Isaac finished for Garet. "Wow... I wish I had been in that meeting and seen what happened."
"I don't," Felix muttered. Isaac looked over at him, his eyes full of question. "Well, it could have been one of us that the female attacked, and none of us knows any psynergy yet."
"I've been practicing moving things," Isaac admitted. "So far, I can't really get it."
"I'm starting to," Felix sighed. "But it is real hard."
"Do you know what kind of Adepts you are, yet?" Garet asked. "Mom seems to think I'm a Mars Adept. Everyone in our family has been. I guess the fire psynergy just runs in the family."
"Mom's a fire Adept," Jenna said. "But Dad's an earth Adept... So I guess Felix and I could go either way."
"Both my parents are Venus Adept, like your dad," Isaac said. "So I'll probably be a Venus Adept."
"It will take so long to learn all the psynergy," Jenna sighed, lying back against the wooden pier. "And even then, we'll be stuck here in Vale our whole lives. Wouldn't it be great to explore Weyard, using our psynergy in secret, and seeing new places?"
"Yeah," Felix chuckled, looking up at the sky. "And have some sort of a quest. Something so great, that our names would go down in books like the ones the Elders read about the ancient ages."
"That would be neat," Isaac smiled broadly, Garet nodding in agreement.
"Felix, Jenna," their father called from the doorway. "It's time for dinner."
"Mom probably has dinner ready, too," Isaac said softly, the four beginning to rise.
"My family is probably getting ready, too," Garet said, running a hand through his red hair. "We'd best be getting home."
"Yeah," Felix sighed, stretching his arms behind his head. "Well, see ya."
"See ya, too, Felix," Isaac said, waving a bit as he and Garet walked past Felix's father and started through their home toward the door. Felix and Jenna followed close behind, their father closing the door behind them. Isaac and Garet were already out the front door and their mother had just finished setting the table.
"Oh, no!" Jenna muttered as she and Felix walked toward the table.
"What?" Felix asked as he reached his chair.
"I left my crystal out there!" she hissed as they sat down. Jenna's favorite thing in the world was her necklace. It was a long leather cord with a crystal shard attached to it. The crystal was part of the psynergy stone that Jenna had found broken off years ago. The only time she ever took it off was if she was afraid the leather would get wet. Whenever they were out on the pier, she would hang it on the corner of an uneven board near the center of the pier, wedging it between the two planks.
"We'll get it later," Felix assured her as their parents joined them at the table.
Jenna frowned, but decided this was a good enough answer. Their mother gave them both large portions to eat, but Felix could hardly down any of it. His thoughts were still on everything Garet had said about the murderous visitors, and he couldn't seem to shake off the memory of those eyes.
His mother asked him if he felt well. He lied and said he was feeling fine, but he just wasn't hungry. However, mothers can always sense when their child isn't well- and when they are lying- and decided it would be best if both he and Jenna went to bed early.
"You've had enough excitement for one day," she said, pulling the covers up around Jenna's shoulders. "Tomorrow will be much more normal." The soft sound of rain on the roof of their home worked as a lullaby, almost, and Felix felt himself quickly becoming drowsy. His mother blew out the candle on the nightstand between Jenna and his beds. "Goodnight, my darlings," she cooed, then began out of the room, leaving the door open just a crack.
Felix felt sleep coming quickly to him. The last thought he had before he drifted off to sleep was why it would be raining when the skies had been so clear all day. Then he submitted to rest.
The marble was colder than ice and smoother than a rock worn clean by a river over hundreds of ages. Each curve and edge was precise to measure. The ample folds of the garments were shown with such elegance, carved into folds which draped around the slender figures. Saturos worked his fingers into the groove of the marble, carved to be a robe on the statue. He let his finger slide along the impossibly perfect carving. Not a bump. Not a scar. Just smooth. Never had Saturos felt anything this perfect and flawless.
"We should be just above the Luna room now," announced Menardi as a few more of the men filed down the stairway, carrying torches which they placed on the wall sconces. Saturos lifted his fingers from the marble, staring up into the eyes of the statue, half expecting it to look down at him, yet unsurprised as it continued to stare into the distance, past the walls of the sanctum. He turned his back on the carving, staring at Menardi. The open window-area behind them showed a storm brewing. It had begun the moment they crossed the seal in front of Sol Sanctum. It was empty, as they had been suspecting it would be, and the rain storm had missed them completely.
"I wonder..." Saturos said, turning back to the statue, pressing one hand to the woman's foot.
"What is it?" Siad asked, hanging his torch on the wall.
"It's a puzzle," Saturos said, studying the room. There were four statues, standing on corners of a square pool, all of them unsealed to the ground, standing beside colored tiles with a circle in the center of each. In the pool was a raised dias, showing the symbol of the moon, Luna, separated into four different panels, one near each of the four statues.
The statues held large, crystal balls, pointing them downward, almost at the tile in front of them. Saturos studied them carefully, wondering how the puzzle was to be solved.
"I think I understand, now," he murmured, stepping away from the statue. "By changing something here, something in the Luna and Sol rooms will change."
"What do you mean?" Menardi asked.
"If we move these statues onto the colored tiles, I suspect these crystals will do something to that picture," he said, lifting himself up onto the edge of the fountain. "Siad... Help me move this one."
The Adept did immediately as he was commanded. He stood up on the edge with Saturos, the two shouldering the weight of the statue, pushing it left, toward the tile Saturos spoke of. They pushed the statue onto the tile. Stepping away from the statue quickly, wondering what would happen.
Outside, lightning flashed violently, and a loud clap of thunder caused even Saturos to jump. A high-pitched, whirring noise split the air, as the crystal in the statue's hands began to glow. The tile of the dias also began to glow, changing from the symbol of Luna, to Sol.
The storm raged outside. Menardi did not speak a word to Saturos, but she could have sworn it was getting worse. The tile continued to flash in change, Luna, to Sol, to Luna again, then back to Sol, more and more rapidly. The rain grew louder and puddles began to form on the windowsill. Saturos and Siad did not look up at the storm, the two staring fixatedly at the changing tile.
Suddenly, the tile changed back to Luna. The statue Saturos and Siad had just pushed slid backward to it's previous place, and the storm outside quieted, the rains now falling lightly outside.
"What?" Saturos muttered to himself. He jumped up again on the fountain's edge, staring at the dias at the center. He spun around, looking at Siad. "What happened?"
"I..." Siad said softly, his voice fading in his confusion.
Saturos sighed through his teeth, his frustration beginning to surface. "It was working!" he hissed, punching a fist into his open palm. "What did we do wrong?"
"Maybe we have to move all of the statues at once," one of the men suggested, moving to stand by the statue across from Saturos.
Saturos paused thoughtfully. "That would make sense..." he murmured. "Roken, Bihnde, Addun, Ranti," he ordered, pointing at the four. "I want you to all stand by those statues. You, there... Yes, and you, here... No, Roken, I want you on this one... Yes, that's perfect..." He stepped away from the fountain, moving to stand next to Menardi. Siad joined him.
"Now, men," Saturos said. "On the count of three..."
"Wait, Saturos," Menardi said, grabbing his arm. "You said that the rooms downstairs would change."
"Yes," Saturos murmured, confused as to what she meant.
"What if the change is so quick, we don't make it up there in time?" she asked.
Saturos and Siad exchanged quick glances. This was something they hadn't thought of. "What do we do?" Saturos asked Siad, then looked at Menardi to indicate he asked her the question as well.
"I'll stand at the bottom of the stairway," Siad said quickly. "You and Menardi stand at the top in the Luna Room. I'll call the count loud enough for you to hear, and if anything happens up there, we'll assume you've found the Elemental Stars. However, if something goes wrong," he said softly. "I will come up and help you."
"Nothing will go wrong," Saturos smiled at the Adept. "I am sure this is how we solve the puzzle. We are so close to the Elemental Stars..."
"We will be waiting for you," Menardi said, patting Siad's shoulder. "We will get the stars and return to Prox... And Vale will never be the wiser."
"Good luck, Siad... Men," Saturos said, glancing over at the four Adepts, all prepared to push the statues on the signal. Saturos looked at Menardi and nodded, the two starting toward the stairway, Siad right behind them.
"Just a little longer now, Sir," Siad sighed deeply.
"Yes," Saturos murmured, starting down the stairs, Menardi in front of him. "Now, Siad... Begin the count."
"Yes, Sir..." Siad turned his back on the stairway, Menardi and Saturos now racing down the stairway.
"READY! AND... THREE!"
Saturos rushed down the stairs, his knees shaking from the force of landing on each step, holding his balance so he wouldn't fall.
"TWO!"
"Saturos," Menardi breathed hard. "We aren't going to make it!"
"We'll make it!" Saturos shouted to her. "Just keep running!"
The Luna Room's floor was in sight now.
"ONE!"
"We're almost there!" Saturos shouted. He noticed he had to scream at the top of his lungs now. The sound of roaring wind and rain was now racing through the tiny stairway, thunder booming in the distance.
"NOW!"
Saturos and Menardi burst into the Luna room just as Siad gave the booming command. The windows outside were darker than pitch. They couldn't see the rain, but they could most certainly hear it. Lightning flashed in violent patterns across the sky, lighting it for a moment before becoming dark again.
The soft blue glow of the Luna Room flashed white for a moment, thunder rumbling outside...
Or was it inside?
Menardi stared at the Luna symbol on the floor as the room flashed white again, the symbol changing momentarily to Sol, then the room returned to its blue glow and the Luna symbol. The lightning flashed outside, seemingly just outside the window. Thunder echoed now, but it occurred to Saturos that it was not coming from outside... It was from inside the room.
Under the Luna symbol.
Menardi stepped back, bumping into Saturos who took her shoulders, both staring at the room. This time, instead of flashing white, the room flashed red, the symbol at the center showing a picture of a pit full of skeletons, all lying in contorted ways they could not have possible died in. Menardi gasped, looking away, but Saturos could not manage to tear his gaze away from the thorny grave of death. Then the room went back to being Luna. The storm was louder now than ever.
"Saturos!" Menardi called, her eyes shut tightly. "Something is wrong!"
"But the puzzle!" Saturos yelled back. "There was no other way! There was-"
A bolt of lightning struck at the center of the room, a flash of red again, and more bodies lying in the grave. Menardi gave a slight scream, drowned out by the roar of thunder in the room."Commander!"
Saturos turned as Siad came flying into the room, his face pale, fear etched into every curve of his face.
"Siad," Saturos murmured. "What's happened? Where are the-"
"Dead, Sir," Siad said quickly. "I... I have no idea how it happened... They pushed the statues... And then..."
Another flash of red illuminated the room, the grave appearing for a long period of time where the Luna sign had been, Saturos now recognizing the new bodies in the grave.
The four men...
"Iris preserve us," he murmured, unable to look away.
"What in the name of the elements," Siad murmured. "That's..."
Another flash of lightning inside and the room changed to Luna once again. Siad touched Menardi's shoulder, causing her to open her eyes. "We need to get out of here now!"
They didn't have to be told twice. Saturos lead Menardi along by her shoulders, the three running from the Luna Room. They didn't look back as the room flashed red again, but the Sol Room in front of them flashed black, the same grave flashing in front of their eyes, but more gruesome than before. Even Saturos looked away this time. He could only imagine what Siad had seen in the room above them. He didn't dare open his eyes, too frightened he'd open them to see that grave again.
"It's gone, Commander," Siad said, pushing him forward. "Hurry, before it returns!"
Siad pushed the two through the Sol Room, Menardi shaking terribly. They reached the hall, running as fast as they could. Dust fell from the ceiling as the stones ground against each other, creating a terrible rumbling noise. Somewhere behind them a loud crashing and crunch was heard. Something had collapsed.
"That sounded like the last hallway!" Menardi shouted, breathing hard.
"It doesn't matter!" Siad screamed at the two. "There's no time!"
They whipped around the corner, hurrying down the hallway, stuck staring at the choice of two doors. Saturos looked from one to the other.
"Which one did we come from?" he panted, looking at Menardi.
She shook her head. "I... I don't remember!"
A loud crack came from above them. Saturos looked up at the ceiling, everything seeming to go into slow motion. The stone was cracked in several places and began to slid out of position. Saturos was frozen in place, unable to move. He was going to be crushed.
Somewhere in that moment when he saw the stone coming toward him, and the instant he should have been crushed, something happened. Saturos remembered nothing. He felt a sharp pain in his back, and he realized he had just hit the wall next to the doorway. He blinked away the stars that blinked in front of his eyes, wondering why he wasn't under the stone, dead. Then, his vision cleared.
"SIAD!"
Saturos jumped to his feet, digging through the large pile of rubble that had cut them off from the rest of the sanctum. Somewhere underneath this pile had to be the most loyal of all his men. Saturos couldn't leave him.
"Saturos," Menardi murmured, grabbing his shoulder as he frantically threw stones away. "He's gone-"
"NO!" Saturos screamed. "HE CAN'T BE! H-he's... He can't be-"
"He saved your life, Saturos!" Menardi shouted, turning the man to face her, shaking him violently. "If you stay here, he'll have died in vain! We have to get out of here now!"
Saturos stared down into Menardi's soft burgundy eyes, staring pleadingly back at him. She was right. He knew the moment he hit the wall Siad was dead. Siad had done as Saturos would have done for him, and if he didn't leave now, Siad's death would be for naught. The council at least deserved to know what had gone on here, and the families of the men needed to be informed of their deaths.
"Let's go," Saturos said shakily, grabbing Menardi's hand. "This way," he murmured, hoping he had picked the right path.
They hurried down the staircase when suddenly, another booming crash came. Saturos instantly pulled Menardi close, shielding her and looking around to see which wall was crumbling. When he saw nothing, he carefully took Menardi's hands, pulling her away.
"What was that?" she asked.
"I don't know," he murmured, half to himself. He shook off the thought, looking at Menardi. "Come on," he said quickly, pulling her along. "The storm is getting worse."
"IT'S FALLING!"
"GET EVERYONE TO THE PLAZA NOW!"
"FELIX! JENNA!"
Felix sat straight up in bed, looking around frantically. Jenna was already up, her face pressed to the window of the bedroom. Lightning was flashing all around outside. The rain now fell violently against the roof, thunder roaring every other moment.
"Felix," Jenna said, turning from the window. "What's happening?"
"Felix! Jenna!"
Their mother burst into the room, tying a shawl around her shoulders, her long red hair pulled sloppily backward as though she had been running. "Get dressed! Hurry!"
"Mom!" Felix gasped, getting out of bed. "What's happening?"
"No time to explain!" she said, throwing a cloak at him, Jenna already beginning to slip into her own. "The Mount Aleph boulder is falling!"
"What!" the two gasped.
"The storm knocked it loose," their mother told them, helping Felix into the cloak. "The Elders have been using up all of their psynergy to hold it back. They want as many villagers as possible to help hold it until everyone is safe at the plaza."
"Mom, I can help!" Felix insisted. "I've been practicing the 'move' psynergy for a month now, and I-"
"No, Felix," she said, taking him by the shoulders and looking him in the eye. "You are going to take your sister to the plaza, and you will both stay there until your father and I come and get you."
"But, Mom, I-"
"Anne! We need to leave now!" their father screamed from downstairs.
"Felix, promise me," his mother said, looking at him desperately.
"Anne!"
"Promise, Felix!" she repeated. Felix could feel her hands shaking.
"I... I promise," he said quickly.
"Anne! The boulder!"
"Coming!" his mother shouted. "Now I want you two gone, now! Go as fast as you can, and don't give me that look Jenna. You are both too young to help. Now hurry, both of you."
"Yes, Ma'am," the two chorused as they watched their mother run out the door and down the stairs. They heard their parents speaking in soft voices, then the door closed behind them.
"Come on, Jenna," Felix sighed. "We need to get to the plaza."
The two hurried down the stairs, about to take the door that would lead the to the path to the plaza, but Jenna grabbed his arm. "Felix! My necklace!"
"What?" he gasped.
"Please, Felix!" she said, pulling on his arm. "I don't want to leave without my necklace."
Felix looked at Jenna, unsure of how to react. She stared up at him, her eyes full of desperation. She really loved that necklace...
"I'll get it, I promise," Felix told her, looking at the door on the other side of the house.
"Felix," Jenna sighed, following him to the door. "Be careful..."
"Don't worry," Felix said, turning the nob. "I'll be back to give you your necklace... I promise."
Felix pushed through the door, wind ripping at his clothing. He could hardly see with the winds being so strong. Water flooded over the pier, the rain having caused the river to flood slightly. Felix shielded his eyes, trying to see the wood of the pier, unable to tell the difference between the boards. Finally his eye caught it, flapping wildly in the moderate water current flowing over the pier. He took a step toward it, sliding slightly, but catching his balance.
His second step wasn't so lucky. Felix slipped and fell, face first onto the wood. He didn't move for a moment, stunned from the force of the impact.
"Felix!" his sister called from the doorway. "Be careful!"
"I've almost got it!" he screamed back. "Stay inside!"
"Just be careful!" Jenna shouted.
Felix ignored her, reaching out for the necklace, grabbing the crystal and tugging hard. It refused to budge. The leather band was still stuck on the wood. He managed to pull himself forward, then up on his knees, holding tightly to the leather strap. He grabbed the wooden plank, trying to pull the necklace free. It was still stuck.
"Felix!"
Felix looked to the river's edge, seeing his father standing there by their home, looking panicked. "You were supposed to take Jenna to the plaza!"
"I'm getting something!" Felix yelled back.
"Charles?" came his mother's voice. "Charles, what's- Felix!" His mother had now joined his father. "Felix!"
"What is he doing! The river is flooding!" another male voice shouted.
Dora and Kyle, Isaac's parents were suddenly at his father's side. Both men looked extremely worried, but the mothers were panicked.
"Felix! Don't slip!" his mother screamed to him, trying to hold the shawl around her shoulders.
"I won't slip!" Felix screamed, pulling on the necklace.
"Felix! Get inside now!" his father screamed over the rain.
"I promised Jenna!" he shouted back.
"Felix! You can't risk it!" Kyle called at him. "Do as he says!"
"I made a promise!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, not looking back at the two, focusing on how to get the necklace loose.
"I'm going to get him!"
"Charles! The boulder! Charles!"
There was the sound of the front door opening somewhere beneath the pounding rain. Felix ignored it, trying to work the necklace free and still failing. A small wave of water washed over him, he holding tight to the wooden board and the necklace. Jenna still stood in the doorway, her face filled with fear as she stared at her brother. Suddenly she was pushed aside, and the door was opened wide. His father appeared in the doorway, soaked to the bone, looking furious with Felix.
"Felix! Get in here now!"
"I've almost got it!" the boy snapped. "Give me one more minute..."
"Felix!" Now his mother had joined his father in the doorway, looking stricken with worry. "Come back inside!"
"I've almost got it..." Felix murmured to himself. He tugged harder than ever, the wooden board coming up from where it was nailed and the board coming loose. He looked at his father, holding the necklace high above his head, smiling broadly. "I got-"
It was all a rush to Felix. It wasn't like jumping into the water all those times with his sister and their friends. It was more like a brick wall had slammed against him; a wall of water, to be more accurate. A huge wave had knocked him from his knees. He had felt the grain of the wood under his leggings, then it was suddenly gone. His legs kicked frantically as water rushed all around him. Unlike when swimming, the current was too fast for him to control himself. He couldn't seem to reach the surface. He couldn't breath. He felt as his head began to spin, going short of air. Somewhere in that black abyss of confusion, something hit him. Felix, blind and panicking, grabbed at the thing, holding it tightly, still kicking his legs.
He felt something give near his shoulders. He had surfaced! He took in a deep gasp of air, and a mouthful of rain, realizing he was holding onto a broken pole. He wrapped his legs around the pole tightly, his hands clasped on top of each other. He opened his eyes, hardly able to see with all the water around him. Though his lungs were stabbing him with each breath, he managed a tiny smile momentarily.
He still had the necklace.
"Oh, no! My brother!"
Jenna's cry echoed in his head. He had to hold on, for Jenna. He held the pole tightly, another wave of water pushing him under for a moment, but he stayed close to the surface.
"Felix!" his father called. Felix couldn't see their faces, his eyes closed to protect them from the water, so he tried to determine who was speaking by their voices.
"I'm-" he tried in hopes of giving him family some comfort, but another wave nearly knocked him from the pole, so he said nothing.
"Hang on, Felix!" screamed Kyle. "We've got a rope!"
Felix opened his eyes, seeing Kyle throw the rope. It floated a few inches away from the pole. Felix grunted, trying to hold onto the pole with one arm, thrusting the other toward the rope. Another wave knocked at him again in that moment, forcing him under the water, into that dark abyss where he never wanted to be again. His arms flew wildly in the water, trying to find the pole again. He barely did, surfacing after what seemed like forever. He coughed, water coming out of his mouth. That time had nearly done him in. He could hear his father and Kyle talking in the background with Dora.
"The rope won't reach," Kyle said tiredly. "We could use psynergy. Do you have any left."
His father murmured, "I've used up all mine. What about you, Kyle?"
"I'm drained from helping the other villagers..."
"We have to get help," Dora said firmly.
"But can Felix hang on long enough for us to find help?" Kyle asked.
Felix wanted to scream out to them that his hands were slipping, but the water kept coming in right over his mouth, and he didn't dare speak.
"There's nothing else we can do for him, is there?" Dora had murmured softly, but loudly enough for Felix to hear.
Felix shut his eyes tightly, feeling water coming from inside them now. He wanted to cry, but the water was too fast. He could only hold on tightly, praying for someone to come quickly. Infinities went by, and no one returned. Felix felt his arms going numb from the ice cold water. He no longer could feel the rain on his face, only numbness from being there too long. He felt his hands slipping and pulled together the last of his strength to hold on. He had to hold on... He had promised Jenna he'd give her back the necklace.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Jenna and Dora's voices talking to each other. He heard Isaac, too. Something about finding someone. Felix opened his eyes, looking over his shoulder at the bridge behind him. His sister, Isaac, and Garet with a man running toward their home. He felt relief flood him. Soon he would be safe. Soon he would give Jenna her necklace, like he promised.
Then it came. A deafening roar.
"THERE IT GOES! TAKE COVER!"
"EVERYONE RUN!"
A pain like Felix had never felt entered his head at the same moment he heard his mother scream. He was pushed under the water again, this time for good, a blinding pain entering his right shoulder. Everything was silent under that water, the screams he had heard were now silent. Something was pushing him deep into the water, crushing him. He knew this was the end. He could feel the air leaving his body. He would not surface this time. He would not survive this. But worst of all... He had broken his promise to Jenna.
The pain grew greater as he was pushed further downward, or maybe backward. Felix couldn't tell anymore. But the darkness was deeper than it had ever been before. He grew dizzy, frantic, wanting air, and finding none.
Then all went black.
Saturos burst past a bush, falling onto his knees, coughing hard, looking back over his shoulder to where Sol Sanctum had been. Menardi appeared as well, holding a hand to her chest, breathing hard.
"Something fell," Saturos said quickly.
"A huge rock," Menardi murmured. "It must have killed many villagers..."
Saturos stared at the muddy earth beneath his hands, taking in two huge handfuls, angrily remembering their meeting with the elders. "And our people... What about our loss?" He pushed himself to his feet, stumbling forward slowly, pain in every step. They had failed. They were now to return to Prox empty handed, and with news of dead men. Saturos quietly cursed under his breath, hoping Menardi couldn't see the tears through the rain. "Only the two of us survived," he murmured to her, she walking slowly behind him.
"How could we have anticipated Sol Sanctum would unleash such a fury?" she argued, reaching out for his shoulder. Saturos put his hand atop hers, not looking at her, staring at the ground.
"It's a miracle that even the two of us were spared," he admitted quietly. The two stood there for a moment, Saturos giving her hand a squeeze, then shaking her off, walking again down the hillside.
"That switch..." Menardi wondered aloud. "It must have been a trap."
Saturos nodded, angry that he hadn't seen it sooner. It had to have been a trap. "But to think it could conjure up a storm this powerful!" he shouted angrily, swinging a fist at the air.
Menardi walked in front of him, a small smile on her lips, the rain causing her hair to stick to her face. "... Another demonstration of the awesome powers of Alchemy," she said cheerily, managing to find some good sign in the storm and the loss.
Saturos sighed, pointing a finger at her. "Regardless," he said firmly. "We must not fail next time we challenge Sol Sanctum."
"Next time," Menardi said, the smile gone from her face. "We shall certainly-"
"Isaac! Wait up!"
Saturos and Menardi stiffened, Saturos running to the edge of the hill. He looked down at a tiny tree; using psynergy, he tore the whole thing from its roots, revealing a tiny boy, who skittered out from the tree as it went flying.
"Saturos," Menardi murmured, her eyes wide as she saw the boy, a second one coming to the first.
"You," Saturos said breathlessly, fear and anger tightening his chest. "You were eavesdropping on us just now, weren't you?"
"N-no, Sir," the boy stammered, the second one with red hair helping him to his feet.
"Isaac," he whispered frightenedly.
Saturos turned to Menardi. "That boy heard every word we've just said... He'll tell the Elders we were here... It could mean war..."
"We can't let that happen!" Menardi hissed quietly to Saturos.
"So what can we do?" Saturos said.
"You must forget everything you heard," Menardi called down to the boy.
The boy stared at her a while, speechless.
Saturos drew his sword. "Don't worry... We'll help you forget."
Saturos leapt down, Menardi right behind him. The blonde drew a short, poor excuse for a sword, Saturos swinging his blade around and moving it at the last moment to avoid the boy's neck. Holding the blade's handle, he quickly slammed it to the back of the blonde's head, knocking him cold.
"Isaac!" the red-haired one shouted, jumping toward the blonde's falling body, but Menardi had grabbed her staff, catching the boy around the neck and holding him close. The boy grabbed the staff, struggling to free himself, but his face began to drain of color. His movements slowed until, finally, Menardi released him, the boy lying motionless on the ground.
"We really should kill them," Saturos murmured quietly.
Menardi shook her head. "They are just children. Who would believe them if they did tell what they've seen."
"True," Saturos sighed. "Well, then... We'd best be getting back to Prox..."
"Yes," Menardi murmured. "To Prox."