Part Four:

Strangers in Prox

Saturos dejected trudged over the muddy pathway along the river. Mud caked his boots all the way up to his knees. It covered his hands and spotted his face. It was the same with Menardi. The spots of mud stood out on her pale skin, and the skirt of her dress was torn and tattered all along the bottom. Saturos had long taken off his cloak and the breastplate of armor. It had been dented inward, and caused a sharp pain on his skin when he breathed, so he decided simply to remove it.

The sky seemed unbearably cheery, sunlight peeking over soft clouds of pure snow. It was mildly warm, causing the dirt on their clothing to dry. Saturos reached up and scratched his cheek, trying to remove the dried mud from his face and failing. His feet seemed heavier as more mud piled on top of the last layer.

"Ugh... Saturos?"

Saturos turned at Menardi's call, seeing her standing in the mud, pulling on one of her legs, looking desperately at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, turning back toward her.

Menardi looked at the ground, almost embarrassed. Finally, she forced herself to look him in the eye. "I'm stuck."

Saturos smiled tiredly at her, walking over to help her. He stood next to her, Menardi putting her arm over his shoulders, and he, hers, to balance her. Using her other hand to hold onto the arm around her shoulders, Menardi pulled her leg upward, trying to unstick herself. She pulled and pulled against the mud. She gave a final tug, the hardest she'd tugged yet, both she and Saturos falling backward, landing on their backs in the mud, more mud splattering their faces, and in Menardi's case, her hair.

Menardi dazedly sat up, looking in front of her where her boot still stood upright, stuck in the mud. She looked down at her bare leg, the skin of pink snow now covered in the dark, brown mud.

She said nothing, only began to stand, turning her face away from Saturos so he wouldn't see her tears. Was this how they were to return to their homeland? Dirty? Alone? Failures? She pulled her hair over her shoulder, trying to wipe the dirt off, only managing to smear it on the long golden strands, making them brown and some even black. She felt the mud seep between her toes as she shifted her weight. So this was how the "chosen ones" would return to Prox? Not only have we shamed ourselves, Menardi thought, but the Elder. She knew the people would begin to doubt the Elder and Puelle if this was how they returned to Prox.

She carefully lifted a hand up, trying to brush away a tear without Saturos seeing, feeling mud smear under her touch. She had felt something stir inside her when the Elder spoke of them being the ones destined for this quest; something as though it were true, and she could feel it inside of her. Now, she felt empty. Was she, too, beginning to doubt the Elder?

Not even the Adepts that accompanied them had supported the Elder's decision in the beginning. The people of Prox, themselves, would probably be worse. When she and Saturos would return like this- defeated, alone, and empty-handed- the people's trust in the Elder would only continue to wane.

"It's stuck for good, I think."

Menardi turned to Saturos, seeing him standing, trying to pull the boot out. He shook his head and retrieved his things from the mud, looking up at her. "I guess we'll have to leave it."

Menardi managed a nod, swallowing hard to choke back the tears. She wouldn't allow the Commander to see her like this. She was supposed to be his protector, his third arm. Even a moment of weakness could not be allowed.

Saturos wiped his brow, more dirt smearing over him. He was almost covered in mud now. Menardi felt terrible, as it was her fault he had fallen with her. He was even dirtier than she, because he hadn't been wearing his cloak. She sighed and unclasped her own, heavy with dirt and grime, folding it inwards and slinging it over her shoulders.

"How long have we been traveling now?" she asked softly, staring at the ground, watching as her foot became covered in mud.

Saturos looked up at the sun, shielding his eyes momentarily, trying to determine the time. "It's just after the high sun," he sighed. "We should reach the boat by sundown."

"I'm surprised the storm reached this far," Menardi commented, as she stepped again into the mud.

"I don't think it did," Saturos murmured. "This is a branch of that river that ran through Vale. I don't doubt there was some major flooding last night."

"How much longer do we have to follow the river?" Menardi asked tiredly.

"Another hour, at least," Saturos told her quietly. He paused. "I'm sorry, Menardi..."

"For what?" Menardi asked concernedly.

"If I had been thinking about that puzzle, this wouldn't have happened," Saturos said, his words coming at a blur. "I should have seen the sign when Siad and I tried to move that statue. The storm got a little worse then. I should have know it would only get even worse if we tried to move all of them..." He eyed the ground, his step faltering as he stopped. "It's... It's my fault that they're all-"

"Don't say that!" Menardi snapped, hurrying to stand beside him. "It's no one's fault. How could we know how to solve the mysteries of Sol Sanctum? There are no records, no instructions, no runes engraved on the Sanctum's walls!" Menardi paused, her tone softening. "You did all you could... And our men..." She nodded to herself, her throat tightening. "They did all they could."

Saturos shook his head. "I only wish-"

"Please, no... Don't let them be dead..."

"Calm down, Charles..."

"They can't be dead... Not both of them..."

Saturos and Menardi looked up.

"Did you just..." Saturos began softly.

A loud cough sound came from behind the hill in front of him.

"Thank the gods!"

"She's breathing..."

Saturos began running, Menardi at his heels, toward the top of the hill.

"Saturos," Menardi hissed. "Come back!"

But he payed her no heed. He reached the top of the tiny hill, looking down at the voices they had heard. Menardi, breathless from running, joined him there, gasping quietly at what they saw.

"Humans," she murmured.

And so they were. Two human males, kneeling next to a female. They were just as dirty, if not more so than Saturos and Menardi, but the mud didn't stand out as much on their peach-colored skin. Saturos watched intently, but Menardi watched from over his should, a little afraid of the humans.

"Is she alright, Kyle?" one human- the dark-haired one- asked the light-haired human.

"It's shallow, but she's breathing," light-hair responded.

"And Felix?" dark-hair asked, his eyes desperate.

Light-hair paused for a long while, then he slowly shook his head, looking over beyond the body of the female. A tiny male human lay on the ground, his pale colored tunic soaked with red up around his shoulder and down his arm. Unlike the woman, whose chest moved up and down slowly, the child was motionless. Saturos turned to Menardi, looking at her desperately.

"They have a child!" he gasped. "He's terribly injured."

Menardi knew exactly what the tone in Saturos's voice meant. "Saturos! They're humans!"

"We're probably the reason this happened," Saturos murmured softly. "Don't look at me like that, Menardi... They probably aren't from Vale... Just some riverside community."

"Saturos..." she pleaded, grabbing his arm. "We can't just go up to them... What if they're... dangerous?"

"They're injured, Menardi," Saturos said firmly. "They wouldn't be that dangerous..."

"But-"

"Now you can stay back while I go to them, or you can accompany me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Menardi shook her head, frustratedly. "I hope you're right, Saturos."

Saturos smiled slightly at her, starting down the hill toward the people, Menardi following behind him; very behind him. He walked toward the humans, looking at them curiously, they not yet seeming to notice him yet. He stepped a little closer, now near the body of the small male, looking at dark-hair, he seeming to be the male to whom the boy was offspring.

"Excuse me..."

The two humans looked up at Saturos. Fear suddenly registered in their eyes and they scrambled to their feet.

"W-wait," Saturos said, stepping forward.

Dark-hair pulled out a small hunting knife from his belt, displaying it as though he intended to use it. "Y-you get away from him!" he snapped shakily. Saturos looked down at the child by his feet, guessing the human spoke of him. He looked back up at the human, raising his hands slightly, trying to be peaceable.

"Listen to me, please, human," Saturos said gently, stepping forward again. "I only want to help."

"You get away from him!" Dark-hair shouted, stepping forward. "I-I'm warning you!"

"Charles," Light-hair murmured.

Saturos slowly began to get down on his knees, his hands still up in peace. "I'm only here to help you..."

Dark-hair kept his knife pointed at Saturos as he knelt near the human child, Light-hair talking softly to him.

"Let him try, Charles. He won't do us any harm..."

"Kyle! They attacked the Elders! How do we know they won't attack us?"

Menardi stood next to Saturos as he reached over to the child's neck, taking his pulse; faint, but present. He carefully touched the child's bloody shoulder, the tunic covering the wound. Saturos couldn't tell what was causing the child to bleed. It was clear that the humans didn't trust him, but Saturos didn't dare draw his own blade to cut the fabric away.

"May I borrow your knife," he asked Dark-hair, who he was now assuming was Charles. (A strange name indeed!)

Charles looked at Saturos as though he was mad.

"I only need it to cut away the child's tunic to see why he's bleeding," Saturos said desperately. "If I don't cut the tunic away, I can't treat him! He could be bleeding to death!"

"Give them the knife, Charles," Light-hair, or Kyle Saturos guessed, told Charles.

Charles looked at Kyle, his eyes wide in shock. "What!"

"I think we can trust them," Kyle told the human calmly. "Give him the knife..."

"But..."

Saturos looked up at Menardi, whispering, "Can you sense the child's life force?"

Menardi shut her eyes momentarily, concentrating on the human at Saturos's feet. They snapped open. "It's very faint, and fading quickly."

"What do you mean?"

The two looked up at the human called Charles. They hadn't meant to speak loud enough to be heard.

When neither replied, the man asked again, "What do you mean? His life force is faint?"

Menardi and Saturos exchanged glances, then Saturos, looking the man in the eye, replied, "The child is dying..."

The human's face fell his grip on the knife faltered slightly. "H-he's dying?"

"But he isn't dead yet," Menardi said quickly. "Saturos is trying to stop him from dying..."

"And your female needs my attention as well," Saturos said quickly. "But the child is drawing dangerously near to death. If you want me to help him, I need that knife, now!"

Charles looked at Saturos, their eyes locked for a long while. He then looked at Kyle, who nodded. Reluctantly, Charles stepped forward, extending the knife, handle first, to Saturos. Saturos carefully took it from the man.

"Thank you," he murmured, nodding at Charles. Then he turned back to the boy.

"Can you really help him?" Menardi whispered, almost silently.

Saturos sighed deeply, gently taking the tunic in his grip, beginning to cut it straight down the front. "I hope so," he said tinily as he finished cutting it open. The shoulder was only partly exposed, so gently lifting the material around the arm, soaked and heavy with blood, he began to cut the material down the arm. It was just as he thought. The arm was broken in several places, and the area between his shoulder and his chest cut open, bleeding profusely.

Saturos licked his lips, thoughts flying through his head. "Menardi," he said suddenly. "Get me a large stick to set this arm." As Menardi rushed toward a group of shrubs, Saturos reached down in the mud for his cloak. He thrust it at Charles. "Wash that. I can use it to help stop the bleeding. And you-" he said, referring to Kyle. He cut off a large piece of the boy's tunic, wrapping the knife in it and throwing it to the human. "Tear that into strips so I can set the child's arm."

Kyle nodded, and Saturos began to check for any other injuries the boy would have. His breathing was terribly shallow, and his skin gone nearly white from all of the blood loss. What Saturos wouldn't give for a salve to rub on the wounds. He wasn't familiar with the vegetation in this region of Weyard, so the natural healing herbs of the area were unknown to him. The child was lucky to be unconscious. The pain from wounds such as these would be more than any mortal could bear.

"Are any of these long enough?" Menardi asked as she returned, handing Saturos three choices of branches.

"This one will do fine," Saturos said, handing two of the sticks back to Menardi. He looked over at the human called Kyle, Charles at the river, washing the cloak. "Have you finished a few strips?"

The human held up five long strips of fabric, Saturos feeling relief come slowly back to him. Menardi walked over to Kyle, taking the strips from him, then hurrying to Saturos's side, holding the strips as he carefully straightened the child's arm. Saturos lifted the child's arm, placing the branch beneath it, then lining it up with the arm, wrist to shoulder. He carefully began to tie the fabric strips, holding the arm to the stick so the boy couldn't move and disrupt the bones further.

"I'm done," Charles said, holding out the cloak as Saturos finished tying the child's arm to the stick.

"Good," Saturos said, taking the cloak, wrung dry, trying to determine the best way to treat the child. He knew he needed to apply enough pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding, but how to keep it on? And how to help this child heal? Saturos could only stop the child from further wounding himself, and natural healing would take longer than it would for disease to set in the injury. All these thoughts spun around Saturos's head as he worked with the wound, taking quite some time before Saturos had finally finished. He sat back, looking at the strange way he'd bandaged the boy.

"Is he..." Charles asked hopefully.

Saturos rose to one knee, and pushed himself up to his feet, nodding. "He's going to be fine. The bandages will hold until I can further treat him..."

"Further treat him?" the human called Kyle asked. "What do you mean? Aren't you on a journey?"

Menardi nodded. "Home," she said, a bit bitterly as she looked down at the now hardened dirt all over her skin.

"We don't want to keep you," Kyle continued. "We'd just best be getting home..."

Saturos and Menardi exchanged quick glances, Saturos swallowing hard as he turned to the men again. "Do you... know how far away from Vale you are?"

"How far?" asked Charles.

"We had been traveling since the middle of the night until the time we found you," Menardi confessed.

"What?" Charles asked in shock.

"And with the child so injured, it would take two of you to carry him all the way to your village. You'd have to wait for the woman to come to," Saturos added. "Also, she's gone into shock. She needs to be treated soon, or she could stay in this way for days... Maybe months."

"So..." Charles began thoughtfully. "What do you intend to do?"

Saturos took in a deep breath through him nose, looking at the two men. "I would like to take the two back to our ship. I have a collection of healing potions and herbs there. I should have brought them, but I-"

"Are you..." Kyle murmured, looking confused. "Are you saying that you're going to take us home with you so you can treat them on your ship?"

"That would be best," Saturos said quickly. "I know quite a bit about healing, but the child maybe worse than I had thought... If that's the case, only the Elder can save him."

"How far is it to your ship compared how far it is to Vale?" Charles asked softly.

"It'll be a five hour journey... Maybe seven with us carrying the injured," Saturos murmured. "However, it might take you days with only the two of you trying to carry his female and child..."

Charles pursed his lips, looking at the other human. "You can go back to Vale, Kyle," he said softly. "You don't have to come with us."

"I'll come," Kyle sighed. "I'm not going to go until I know both Anne and Felix are safe..."

"An and Fe-licks?" Menardi asked, struggling to pronounce the names. "That is what they are called?"

"The woman is Anne," Charles explained. "The boy is Felix. I am Charles... And this is Kyle."

"We are called Saturos and Menardi," Saturos told him, pointing to himself then Menardi.

Charles nodded at them, Kyle bowing slightly.

"So," Charles murmured. "Which way to your ship?"

The darkness was all around... There was something deep in him, rushing through his bones... Through the darkness, eyes stared at him ... Red eyes... They had been haunting his dreams for so long now... And they would not let him be...The pain again... White-hot now... It would expand and fill his entire being... Even the vast darkness could not contain himself any longer...

Felix slowly opened his eyes. If he had any strength, he would have bolted straight up. Unfortunately, he had not the strength. The dream had frightened him. It seemed like he had been dreaming forever, that darkness never lifting.

His eyes slowly began to adjust to the dim lighting in the small room. This was not his room. What had happened? He stared at the wooden ceiling, trying to remember. He remembered a storm, bigger than any he'd ever seen. He remembered going outside to get Jenna's necklace...

Then the water...

He remembered being thrown over the edge of the pier by a huge wave. He remembered Kyle and his parents trying to help him, Dora and Jenna had gone for help. He remembered hearing his mother scream just before he was lost in that dream of darkness and an endless abyss.

His eyes were still heavy with sleep, he feeling tired all over. He hardly noticed that someone was rubbing a salve onto his shoulder, but when he did, he carefully turned his head to look at them.

"So you're awake."

Felix felt his skin go colder than it had been before. It couldn't be... The creature he had seen following the mayor... It was sitting beside him, rubbing something into his shoulder. It smiled at him, displaying the sharpened incisors in his mouth. Felix had no strength to run or defend himself. He tried to move away, only managing to move his head backwards. When he tried to scream, all that escaped his lips was a soft groan.

The creature frowned a little, looking very concerned. It reached forward, pressing a clawed hand to his forehead. Felix groaned again, fear pulsing through him as he wondered if the retracted claws would suddenly tear into his throat.

The creature removed his hand, looking at Felix with something along the lines of caring in its eyes. But Felix wasn't fooled. He would have bet the creatures ate humans, and this one was just waiting to devour him whole.

"Do not be afraid," the creature said softly. "And don't try to move or speak... You're wounded quite terribly..."

The creature moved to dip his hand into the small bowl he held, then reached for Felix's shoulder. Felix managed to twist away from it, though pain went spiking through his body. What was this creature doing?

It frowned again, the red eyes from his dreams staring down from behind the sky blue markings on it's pale silver skin. "Please,do not move. You will only injure yourself further." It reached again for Felix's shoulder, Felix managing to blurt out a tiny, "no..."

The creature withdrew its hand, setting it back in the bowl with a sigh.

"Is he awake?"

Felix looked where the voice came from. Standing in the doorway was his father. Had he been captured as well?

"Yes..." the creature murmured, nodding.

His father walked over, standing next to the creature, looking at Felix tenderly. "Good morning..."

"Dad..." Felix groaned softly, looking at him desperately. What was he thinking? Talking to the creatures? Was he insane?

"He's afraid of me," the creature told his father with a chuckle. "He won't let me rub the salve into his wound. He keeps flinching and twisting away. I don't dare try while he moves like that."

"Felix," his father said softly, looking at his son with care. "I know what you're thinking. This is Saturos, one of the people of Prox that came to Vale. They have been helping to heal you for the past two days."

Felix managed a questioning grunt.

"Please, Felix," the creature, Saturos, murmured. "Allow me to help you."

Saturos dipped his hand into the bowl again, then reached for Felix's shoulder. Felix watched him carefully, allowing him to rub the salve into the large gash on his shoulder. A soothing sort of feeling rushed under his skin, a warm and cooling sensation that almost completely removed the pain. The creature, Saturos, sighed gratefully, and continued to rub the mixture onto his wounds. Felix stiffened at first, but when he saw his father, watching over him, relaxed.

"How is Anne?" his father asked as Saturos continued to treat him.

"Better," Saturos murmured. "She came around a few hours ago, but she's still a little weak. She's made good progress so far."

"May I see her?"

"She's sleeping now," Saturos told him as he started on Felix's arm with a new salve, a light green color. This one stung slightly as Saturos poured it onto his arm. Felix winced, but said nothing aloud.

Footsteps came from behind the door, and it swung open, the female creature entering the room, standing at the foot of his bed, looking at Saturos. "We're coming up on Prox..." She paused, looking at the floor. "Puelle and the Elder are already out there... Along with half of all Prox."

Saturos sighed, setting the green ointment aside and standing. "Swell..." he muttered and turned toward Felix's father. "I've done about all I can do for him, Charles. The Elder is a much better healer. After Menardi and I explain all that has happened, I'm sure he'll be glad to help Felix."

"Thank you both so much," his father replied, looking from Saturos to the other creature. "I don't know what Kyle and I would have done without your help."

"It's the least we can do to make up for all the trouble we caused," the female at the bottom of his bed replied. "Everyone must have been frightened when they heard of our bout with the Elders."

"But remember," Saturos said firmly. "They struck the first blow."

"I know," his father said tinily. "And for that, I apologize... But they were right. The Wise One had said that the power of Alchemy was never to be released. The world will end if it is..."

"And this is what he told you?" Saturos asked, a little stunned.

"Yes," his father said as though any other idea would be ludicrous. "And The Wise One is Weyard's Guardian. He would do nothing but wish for the good of our people."

Saturos andthe femaleexchanged a sudden glance.

"There is more to these stories than you know, Charles,"she said softly. "If Alchemy is not released, the world will end anyway..."

"You don't know that," Charles said with a shrug, turning away from them.

"We do," Saturos firmly stated, following him. "Our lands are eroding away at unnatural speed. If you don't believe us, we can prove to you that the lack of Alchemy is destroying Weyard."

"What?" Charles said, turning to face Saturos. "That isn't possible..."

"Can we discuss this later?" the female murmured. "We're coming up on the dock right now."

"Stay below deck until I've had a chance to talk with them," Saturos said quickly. "I don't know how our people will react to humans... After all, you are a little..." He made aface. "Strange-looking..."

Puelle watched the ship intently as it slowly sailed back toward their docks. "Less than a week and they already return with the Elemental Stars," he beamed. "Forgive me for ever doubting you, Elder. Saturos and Menardi must be chosen born children-no - Adepts."

The Elder shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Something is wrong... There is a dark aura surrounding the ship..." He shut his eyes for a moment, going into deep concentration. Puelle watched him patiently, the Elder slowly opening his eyes. "They don't have the Elemental Stars."

Puelle felt his heart drop into his stomach. "What?"

"There are six aboard that ship... I only recognize the two of them; Saturos and Menardi... The other four are alien to me... They aren't our kind..."

"What has happened?" Puelle murmured as the ship pulled into the bay, stopping at a nearby dock. Puelle and the Elder were the first to be at the dock, the Proxinian people remaining at the snowy edge of their village. The two watched as Saturos and Menardi walked down the ramp toward them, both looking terribly worn, and slightly injured. Mud covered their clothing, faces and hair, and their eyes were filled with despair.

"Children," Puelle murmured worriedly. "What happened?"

"They wouldn't listen," Saturos said tinily, swallowing hard as he eyed the ground. "We tried to enter Sol Sanctum, but it was full of traps..." Again, a long pause. "All the others are dead."

"No," Puelle breathed quietly. "And the stars?"

Menardi slowly shook her head. "We barely escaped with our lives..."

Puelle glanced at the Elder whose eyes were shut as he took all this in. He spoke, his eyes still shut. "And... The others on your ship?"

Puelle's eyes shot to Saturos at this statement from the Elder. What had the two young Adepts brought home with them?

Saturos swallowed hard again, bowing his head. "When we failed at Sol Sanctum, we triggered a huge storm... Four Valeans were washed away in the storm, two injured, one near death..." He looked up at the Elder. "I-I had hoped we could help them... It is the least we can do after causing such damage."

"You brought humans back with you?" Puelle breathed in disbelief. "But... they're dangerous!"

"No!" Menardi said quickly. "No, they're perfectly safe! They trust us, and we trust them..."

"The injured one is a little child," Saturos added desperately. "His father is grief-stricken. He needs your help immediately, Master..." Saturos looked at the Elder, urgency in his eyes.

"Humans in Prox?" Puelle murmured. "It's unheard of..."

"Please, Elder," Saturos said. "I have a plan, but we need to keep the trust of the Valeans... Please?"

The Elder stared for a long while at Saturos, unsure of how to respond. Finally, "Our people will not take well to any of this news..."

"If we hope to get any of the Elemental Lighthouses lit, you must trust my judgement," Saturos snapped. "We need these humans... And we at least owe them the life of their child."

The Elder sighed, looking to Puelle for some sort of confirmation. "It is your decision," Puelle murmured, looking at the Elder worriedly.

The Elder nodded slowly. "Bring the child to my home. Puelle, tell our people to go to their homes, that we do not yet have the Elemental Stars. As for the deceased Adepts' families, take them to your home and tell them the news. Tell them we shall learn more of their deaths later, but..." He looked toward the ship where two male humans, men, now stood. "I must tend to the human child."

Puelle looked up at the two men, worry flooding him. "I hope you are right about this, Saturos..."

"Don't worry, Puelle," Saturos said. "Charles and Kyle are good men... I trust them completely."

"That is what worries me," Puelle said softly.

It had been a week since they had returned home. Menardi had taken up residence in the Elder's home in a room in the upper level of the home. This allowed her to confer with Saturos on a daily basis, and kept her busy tending to the needs of Kyle, Charles and Anne. Young Felix was still in recovery, and would not speak to them, though he talked very animatedly with the other humans, more specifically, his mother. Menardi tried to speak to the boy a few times, but he only answered in "yes" or "no" or he would look away and not respond at all.

She had been very busy, almost too busy to visit with her family, let alone her friends. Her mother still wasn't speaking to her, but Menardi didn't mind. Her mother would only argue that the risk of these missions was too great, and refuse to allow her to go with Saturos ever again.

That day, Agatio had found time to visit her. She had hoped he would remain steadfast in the Elder's words and assurances, but...

She could see it in his eyes as she told them about her time in Vale. Agatio would sigh and shake his head, looking grim. This happened quite often when she spoke of Saturos.

"I thought you didn't trust him," Agatio finally said. "That he was too quiet."

Menardi smiled and shook her head. "I was wrong, Agatio," she sighed. "He's so much different than I imagined him. He's incredible... a genius, really. The way he speaks... It's like listening to Puelle or the Elder, a little of both. He sounds so commanding, yet... He can be gentle at times, too. When Siad died..." Menardi looked at the ground, shaking her head. "He was so broken... We both were... It was horrible, Agatio. Seeing the men dead, like that. Saturos was so comforting. He understands our goal better than I do... I only wish I had the kind of courage and devotion that Saturos-"

"It almost sounds as though you fancy him," Agatio murmured bitterly.

Menardi looked up in shock at the tone he had used. "Wh-what?"

Agatio looked at her, a bitterness in his gaze that she had never seen before. "The way you talk about him... You do, don't you?"

Menardi nervously rubbed her hands together. "I don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about, Agatio," she snapped, looking at the floor.

"Oh, don't you?" Agatio responded. "Then why won't you look me in the eye?"

Menardi swallowed hard, anger flooding her. "Is this some sort of inquiry?" she asked hastily.

"I just want to know if I'm wasting my time waiting to ask for your hand," Agatio replied curtly.

Menardi looked up at him, shocked. "Agatio-"

"Menardi," Agatio said, moving closer to her, taking her hands. "You know how I feel about you..."

"I know, Agatio," she whispered. "I feel it too."

"But Saturos..." he murmured. "Menardi, it isn't right for a woman to be running around all of Weyard with a man if her heart supposedly belongs to another..."

Menardi shook her head. "It... It isn't like that, Agatio..."

"Isn't it?" he murmured softly. He turned her head to look at him. "Menardi... If I ask for your hand, I don't want you to go anywhere without me there with you."

"Saturos and I agreed we're not going to put anyone else into danger," Menardi instantly replied. "We aren't bringing any more Adepts with us..."

"Then don't go!" Agatio pleaded. "Stay here with me... It's safe here..."

Menardi looked at Agatio, her eyes slowly filling with tears. "If you are asking me to stand by and watch as Weyard devours itself, Agatio, then I cannot do this..."

Agatio bowed his head in despair, letting out a deep breath. "Menardi... I just..."

"I know, Agatio," she replied, placing her hand on his. "But if you want to ask for my hand... You'll just have to wait until we've accomplished the task we've set out to do..."

"You will end up falling in love with him," Agatio murmured. "I know it."

"Our relationship is strictly business," Menardi said quietly. "Saturos feels nothing for me and I..." She swallowed hard, suddenly realizing she did feel something. But she didn't want to hurt Agatio. Suddenly, she was stuck where she didn't ever imagine she'd be, and only now was she realizing it. She looked away from Agatio, not meeting his gaze any longer. "I feel nothing for him," she quietly murmured. Saturos probably feels nothing for me, she thought to herself. Agatio has been there for me for nearly all my life. He cares for me and I him. Things would never work out between Saturos and me anyway...

Agatio's eyes were burning hard on Menardi. "Do you mean that?" he asked.

Menardi continued to stare at the ground. "I don't know, Agatio..."

Agatio took in a deep breath, slowly standing. "Menardi... Are we over, then?"

"I don't want us to be," Menardi said quickly, standing in front of him. "But I don't know what I feel right now... And I don't want to hurt you."

"Then what do we do?" Agatio asked her.

Menardi shrugged, pursing her lips. "I don't know, Agatio."

Agatio wrung his hands together, trying to think of what to say next and nothing coming to mind. "What if... in three years... if Saturos does not make any advances toward you... would you consider my hand then?"

Menardi smiled tiredly. "Agatio, I don't even know that Saturos feels anything for me."

"Then you'll consider it?" he asked hopefully.

"I will," Menardi said, taking his hands again. "But I'm going to be gone off and on for those years. I don't know when we'll complete the task the council has given us..."

"I will wait," Agatio assured her, looking into her eyes. "I will wait forever if it means you'll marry me."

"Three years, and then you will ask for my hand, then," Menardi smiled. It sounded simple enough. If Saturos felt anything for her, it would show within three years. But then again, maybe with Saturos it was strictly business...

She shook off the thought, showing Agatio out of the Elder's home, just as Karst was coming to visit.

"Good afternoon, Agatio," Karst said, giving a small nod in the Adept's direction, Agatio returning the greeting. Karst bounded up the steps, giving her sister a huge hug. Menardi felt her spirits soar.

"Karst!" she chuckled. "It's wonderful to see you!"

Karst pulled away, looking at her sister with the largest grin on her face. "How are you doing?" she asked quickly, suddenly becoming somber. "We heard about what happened?"

Menardi's face fell, and she nodded slowly. "Yes... It's been hard without..." She fell short of words, her sister reaching out and placing her hand on her forearm. She smiled sadly, motioning for Karst to follow her into a sitting room. She hurriedly switched subjects. "But Saturos has been gathering information, preparing to leave again."

"For Vale?" Karst asked, taking a seat on the plush red chair.

Menardi shook her head. "No... He feels that we should look at the lighthouses before we attempt to get the Elemental Stars again..."

Karst looked around warily, then whispered, "What about the humans? I've heard... rumors."

Menardi stared at her sister in shock, smiling slightly. "Your thirteen-year-old mind is running wild again!" she laughed. "The humans are completely docile, kind even."

"But they look so... frightening," Karst murmured quickly. "Aren't you afraid of them?"

"Of course not," Menardi chuckled. "They aren't dangerous..."

Karst looked at Menardi carefully. "Well, if you say so..." The two fell silent, Karst playing with the edge of her scarf which she had neglected to take off. A pregnant pause followed. Menardi slowly opened her mouth to break the silence when Karst suddenly blurted out, "Mom's still upset with you."

Menardi didn't look at her little sister. "Is she?" she asked curtly.

"I'm not," Karst quickly added. "But if Mother knew I was visiting you, she'd be really upset... She's been saying all sorts of horrible things about you and Saturos..."

Menardi's ears twitched at this. She licked her lips slowly, feeling upset. "What sort of things."

"Like that Saturos was too stupid to lead the group, and the Elder was wrong, and that you've been foolish," Karst exploded in a hurried rush, looking terribly nervous. "And the worst thing she keeps saying..." Karst fell silent.

"Yes, Karst," Menardi prompted. "What is it?"

Karst eyed the fire in the fireplace, her magenta eyes going glossy. "She... She says that the humans aren't the strangers in Prox... But that you and Saturos are..."

Menardi felt her heart stop momentarily. She wouldn't have felt so hurt if the words had come from any other Proxinian, but this had come from her own mother. She felt hurt and betrayed all at once.

She took in a shaky breath, trying to choke back her tears. "What... What does she mean by that? I mean, 'We're the real strangers.' What is she trying to imply?"

"I don't know, Menardi!" Karst said hurriedly. "I didn't say it! I haven't even been listening to Mom! I leave whenever she gets like that. I come here and practice with the Elder."

"Has he taken you as a student, yet?" Menardi asked, glad to get off the subject.

"No," Karst murmured tinily, then a spark of hope in her voice, "Soon, I think..."

Menardi smiled. "I think he'll take you in as soon as Saturos and I set out again."

"What about the humans?" Karst murmured. "What are you going to do about them?"

Menardi paused. She hadn't even thought about that. What were she and Saturos going to do about the humans? Technically, they were under Saturos's leave, not hers. But had he even thought about what they were going to do with the Valeans?

A horrible thought entered her mind. While they had been in Vale, Saturos mentioned something about a war; A war starting between Proxinians and the Valeans. They had made the horrible mistake of bringing not one, but four Valeans home with them. They now knew how to find Prox.

But the humans trusted them. They saw that the people of Prox were as normal as their own in Vale...

However... the humans still failed to believe that Weyard was dying. They still believed in what their elders had been teaching them all their lives. They would continue to listen to their Elders, and their Elders were convinced that the Proxinians were dangerous. Would the humans turn them over to the Elders? Could they trust them that much?

Menardi looked at Karst, trying to shake off these horrible thoughts. "Um..." she stammered, pressing her fingers to her forehead in thought. "S-Saturos hasn't told me yet..."

"Will you take them home?" Karst asked.

"I'm not sure, yet," Menardi replied, suddenly troubled. "I suppose Saturos and I will talk about it later this evening."

Karst sighed, knowing she wouldn't get any further on this topic. "Mother will be coming home soon," she said, looking toward the window worriedly. "I should go home before she knows I've been visiting you."

"Yes," Menardi murmured. "I don't want you to get into any trouble."

Karst stood, gathering her scarf around her neck. "It was good to talk with you again, Menardi," she said quietly, Menardi following her to the door.

"You, too, Karst," she replied quietly.

Menardi watched for a while as Karst hurried away, then slowly closed the door behind her. She needed to talk to Saturos, and fast.

"And the child is almost fully recovered," Saturos said worriedly to Menardi, the two sitting across from each other at a table in the Elder's library. "We're going to have trouble explaining to the humans why they can't leave." He folded his hands together, letting out a long breath through his nose. "And Puelle has already promised to return them to their homeland."

"Did he say when?" Menardi asked quietly.

Saturos shook his head. "Only he would allow them to return." Saturos closed the open book in front of him, sighing deeply. "It is good to know we've been having the same thoughts on the Valean issue."

"Yes," Menardi agreed. "I just thought of it when I was talking with Karst a while ago."

"It's too dangerous to allow them to return to Vale when they are still blinded by the teachings of their Elders," Saturos murmured faintly. "They'd be caught up in the moment when the Elders begin inquiring them, and before you know it, soldiers from Vale would be breathing down our necks."

"So we can't allow them to leave," Menardi sighed.

"Not until after we've gotten the Elemental Stars..." Saturos traced the impression on the book's cover, going into deep thought again. His jaw set, and he spoke. "There is another reason to keep the humans here."

Menardi looked up in shock. "What do you mean?"

Saturos opened the book again, turning a few pages, not taking in anything, just occupying his hands. "Do you remember when we were talking about the Elemental Lighthouses? One for each of the four elements?"

"Of course," Menardi replied, looking at him and becoming quickly confused. What did the humans have to do with the Elemental Lighthouses?

"Did I ever tell you that in order to get into the lighthouse, you must have an Adept of that element?" Saturos added quietly.

Menardi gripped the edges of the table. "We have to what?" she snapped. "How many tricks did these ancient sages place on the seal to Alchemy!"

"That's where the humans come in," Saturos said calmly, motioning for Menardi to calm herself. "Anne is a Fire Adept, I sensed it the moment I first saw her. Both Kyle and Charles are Earth Adepts, which is one of the elements we will need on this journey."

"Kyle and Charles are too set in their ways, Saturos," Menardi argued. "There's no chance that they'd ever agree to help us."

Saturos smiled at Menardi. "Then there's the boy."

"Young Felix?" Menardi asked softly. "He's hardly fifteen. He's had no training in becoming an Adept, let alone knows any psynergy-"

"I will teach him," Saturos suddenly said. His voice was calm and steady. Menardi looked at him in shock, her jaw gone slack.

"You?" she asked, her red eyes narrow.

Saturos tilted his chin up proudly. "Yes. Me."

Menardi tried not to laugh aloud, but a smile did reach her lips. She tried to hide the disbelief in her voice, but that, too, failed. "Saturos... You know nothing about training Venus Adepts... You, yourself, are hardly a Mars Adept!"

"We won't need him to be exceedingly powerful!" Saturos snapped at her. "Just get his powers to the point where they'll be detectable."

"And Anne and Charles?" Menardi asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you really think that they will allow for you to train their child to do exactly what they want to prevent?"

Saturos stopped instantly, his face falling. Obviously, this thought hadn't crossed his mind. He thought for a long while, Menardi wondering if she should apologize for being so blunt in her statement. She kept quiet for a long time, then finally, guilt overwhelmed her silence.

"Saturos, I'm sorry I-"

"No, no," Saturos said quickly, holding up a hand to quiet her. "You're absolutely right. I completely overlooked that detail... They don't even realize we are aware that psynergy exists. Anne and Charles would never willingly allow me to train Felix."

Menardi didn't like the way Saturos had said "willingly." She watched as he shut the book, standing to pace the room. "Saturos..." she murmured worriedly. "What are you thinking about?"

Saturos didn't pause, the troubled look on his face growing greater as the silence grew. When he spoke, his voice had a strange edge to it, that fire Menardi had heard before and had grown to worry about. "We need a Venus Adept, Menardi," he said quietly. "At all costs, we must have one."

"Saturos..." Menardi quietly breathed.

"Felix is our only chance to get one," Saturos said quickly, words now coming in a rush. "He won't be as set in the traditions of Vale. He'd be young and willing to accept the truth. He may be a little late in beginning training, but I do feel he'd be a great asset to our group." Saturos turned, looking straight at Menardi, his face like stone. "We must take him at any cost, Menardi..."

"Saturos, I don't know what you're talking about," Menardi said quickly, starting to stand. She placed her palms on the table, leaning forward to watch him. "We can't just tear him away from his parents... can we?"

"Puelle can order them to turn Felix into my custody," Saturos said, his arms behind his back. "I hate to use Puelle's power against Anne and Charles... but we have little choice."

"You're talking blackmail," Menardi said flatly. "Puelle will not approve-"

"Of course he won't!" Saturos said angrily, throwing his hands in the air and turning his back on her. "Even I don't approve! I'm disgusted we have to resort to this! But, Menardi..." He turned to look at her, crossing to the table and leaning on the back of a chair. "We have no choice... Puelle with understand that either we cause these Valeans a little pain, or we allow ourselves to die by either Gaia Falls or the hands of the Valeans." He sighed deeply, shaking his head. "I wish it was different, Menardi, I really do. I wish we could let the humans return to Vale. I wish we didn't have to use the boy in our plans. I wish Weyard wasn't killing itself." He paused, looking deep into Menardi's eyes. "Menardi... Wishing will never do anything. If we don't do this... If we pretend this isn't happening, everything I hold dear-"

Saturos cut himself off, realizing he had just placed his hand on Menardi's. Their eyes held for a long moment, neither speaking. Saturos quickly withdrew his hand, looking away from her.He swallowed hard, trying to clear his throat of the rising lump. "I-I mean... Everything we hold dear... will be destroyed."

Menardi was still frozen it seemed, for she jerked from thesubconscious state she'd been in with a light gasp. "Yes... yes," she said quickly, tucking a blonde lock behind her ear. "And... we can't allow that to happen."

"Yes," Saturos said, still eying the ground nervously as though there was something very interesting about the wooden floor. "And Puelle will understand that... One day... Charles and Anne will understand."

"What if the boy refuses to come with us?" Menardi asked. "What happens then?"

"We tell him that he is jeopardizing his parents existence," Saturos said softly. "That's all we can do. I don't want to threaten him into helping us, Menardi," Saturos said, guilt running deep in his voice. "I want to befriend him."

"He's frightened of our people," Menardi sighed. "That isn't your fault. We just need to show him that we're not bad."

"Yes," Saturos said. "A-and another thing, we should separate him from his family. They'd try to teach him the Valean teachings, and that would be the last thing we need."

"So we'll give his parents and Kyle a new home," Menardi said, agreeing with Saturos.

"One to the far north of town, away from our dwellings," Saturos said quickly.

"We'll move them there, then tell take Felix back," Menardi said. The two were finally formulating a plan.

"I'll go to Puelle's at once, tell him we've both discussed the matter and agreed that they are not allowed to leave until we've lit the Elemental Lighthouses."

"And that we need to have Felix," Menardi said. "But really, Saturos, you can't cut him off completely from his family... A visit once a month, at least..."

"Once a month is almost too much," Saturos argued instantly, but then softening from Menardi's words, let out a sigh. "Once every two months, and less as the time goes by. We can't afford to lose him to the empty teachings of Vale."

"This is going to be hard on him, Saturos," Menardi murmured worriedly. "He's scared, he's young, he's far from his home..." Menardi looked up at Saturos. "How can you hope to console him on those nights when he cries himself to sleep?"

Saturos stiffened angrily. "Do you think I don't know what he'll go through? Do you think I don't understand what it's like to be suddenly removed from my home, to be treated as an alien in my surroundings? To be all alone save the presence of my teacher? I know exactly what he's going to feel, Menardi, because I was there, too! I've been afraid of my surroundings, and I've cried myself to sleep more times than I can count, and you know what, Menardi? It has made me stronger. I've grown my whole life as this boy will for the next maybe year or so. He will only understand a degree of what I went through..." Saturos stopped, breathing heavily from talking so passionately. Then, as a bitter afterthought, Saturos muttered, "At least he still has his parents."

Menardi went silent. She had forgotten what Saturos must have gone through as a child. So often, she thought of his past being something akin to her own; good home, close family, no abnormalities in his life... But then when Saturos spoke of it all, she remembered. She remembered how different their lives really were. Not only had his past made him strong, Menardi now saw, but it gave him that fire that frightened her. The one that occasionally surfaced when he spoke.

She said nothing as Saturos calmed himself, clearing his throat gently. "Well, then..." he said softly. "I'm going to talk with Puelle."

"I'll stay," Menardi said quietly, not looking at Saturos as he began to leave. "Watch the humans..."

"Alright," Saturos murmured, wondering if he had somehow hurt her feelings. He pushed the thought away and whisked out the door into the wintery summertime air. Hopefully, Puelle would handle this by the end of the night.

Felix sat on the floor near his mother's feet, listening to her hum as she rocked back and forth in the rocking chair. He loved listening to his mother sing, and it was a nice way to pass the time. Kyle and his father sat at a table nearby, talking quietly and playing cards. The loudest sound in the room was the sudden pops that the fire occasionally spat out, but they were ignored by the humans, as the Proxinians called them. Felix had never considered himself another species before. He'd always assumed that humans were the only part of mankind; species that could think advancedly and develop great civilizations.

They had been living in a small home adjoined the the chieftain's cottage for nearly a week now. His arm was completely healed, as well as his shoulder, which meant, according to the chief Proxinian that had been visiting them, that they would soon be going home. Felix was glad. This land was far too cold for him, and although the people of Prox were very kind, he was still a little frightened of them. He couldn't wait to return to Vale and tell Jenna, Garet, and Isaac about his whole adventure.

Felix reached up mid-way to his chest, pulling the crystal on a leather string to dangle in front of his face. And he could keep his promise. That was one thing Felix would never do, never in his life was to break a promise. He had promised Jenna he would return to her and give her this necklace. He was lucky to have managed to keep it all through the storm. The Elder had found it in his fist. Apparently, Felix had never opened his hand since he had retrieved the necklace. He didn't know what he would have done if he had lost it. Something in his mind must have kept a hold of that necklace as the storm tossed him around. Either way, now that he was all better, he would soon be returning to Jenna and giving her back the necklace. He could only imagine what the people in Vale were thinking. They probably thought they were all dead, caught in a storm like that, the Mount Aleph Boulder fallen on them all. Surely, the Gods were watching them that night.

Felix dropped the necklace, it falling again to his chest, as a knock came at the door.

The men looked up from their game as his mother's song suddenly stopped.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Kyle asked softly, walking toward the door. He opened it, the chief Proxinian standing in the doorway.

"Good evening, Master Kyle." The chief looked back at Felix's father. "Master Charles..." Looking back to Kyle, he said quietly, "Would you... mind if I came in. There's something I need to speak with you about."

Felix's heart swelled in his chest. So they were going to go home! Why else would the chief come and speak with them so late at night?

"No, not at all," Kyle said quickly, swinging the large door open wide so that the chief could enter the room. Felix guessed that the chief was something like the mayor was in Vale, but the chief seemed to be a much more dignified position.

The Proxinian Chief, or Chieftain, was a huge being with a wide masculine body. It seemed that was the way with all the male Proxinians... except for the one Felix had met at his window and later helped heal him. He had seen the male occasionally when the door to their private room was open, and for that reason, Felix had never left the room.

The chieftain, Puelle he was called, looked terribly frightful, with markings like the other Proxinians against a light-colored skin, yet he didn't frighten Felix. He talked with a soft, warm voice and he didn't move his hands much when he spoke, keeping to himself. Felix liked the chief; both the chief and the elder.

He leaned back against his mother's leg, now stilled from rocking, listening intently as the chief took his seat and began to speak to them. "Now, I don't want any of you to get excited," Puelle said in a slow, calm voice, his face having no emotion on it. Felix struggled to contain his emotions. They were going home!

"I knew it," his father beamed, clapping his hands together, and gripping his mother's shoulders happily. "I just knew it. This is about us going home, isn't it?"

Puelle looked at him, his eyes filled with sadness. "Yes... but it isn't going to be what you think..."

"What do you mean?" Felix heard his mother ask, he looking over his shoulder to see her. She had reached up and taken one of Father's hands, holding it tightly. "You said that when Felix was healed that we would ready to go home..."

"And he has healed wonderfully," Puelle said, smiling with sharp teeth at Felix, he unable to help smiling back at the chief. "You humans seem to take better to our medicines than our own people. And yes, I did say that when Felix was well, we would discuss your going home..."

"Isn't that why you're here?" Kyle asked, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

Puelle's face became sad again. "...In a way."

Felix looked up at his parents who exchanged worried glances.

"What does that mean... "In a way?"" Charles asked nervously.

Puelle took in a deep breath through his nose, looking momentarily at his hands in his lap, then back up at Felix's father. "You cannot return, Master Charles..."

"What?" Charles instantly blurted. "Do... do you mean-"

"All of you," the chieftain cut into his words. "We have decided that as long as the Elders of Vale hold us as enemies, we cannot allow you to return to your village, as much as we would like to."

"What do you mean?" Anne asked, picking up where Charles left off. "Th-that the Elders would mean to attack you?"

Puelle nodded grimly. "And unfortunately, you now know our location."

Kyle shook his head, slowly at first, then violently. "No... No, there must be some mistake!" Kyle stepped forward standing just behind Felix's family. "I have a wife and son at home, Chieftain... You can't forbid me from ever seeing them again-"

"And our daughter, Jenna," Anne added desperately. "She's all alone now without us. Her grandparents are probably caring for her now... We need to return to her as soon as possible-"

"I apologize," Puelle said, hardly lifting his hands to hush the humans. "I must be making you think one thing while I mean another... This is hardly permanent."

"Then how much longer until we can leave?" Charles asked, his temper slightly flaring.

Puelle shrugged slightly. "We don't know... But we do know the events that must take place before your release."

"What are they?" Kyle asked, Puelle pausing trying to think of how to answer.

"I don't think you are ready to know that," he said. "You still believe that Alchemy, if released, will destroy Weyard."

"So said The Wise One," Anne debated. "He is Weyard's guardian... He would only want the best for all of the inhabitants-"

"This... "Wise One" is killing the people of Weyard by ordering Alchemy to be sealed away," Puelle said, for the first time sounding harsh. "We've been trying to explain that to you since you arrived. Gaia Falls is too dangerous a journey for you until we find out how to properly shield you from the cold, so we cannot prove to you what is happening, and you turn away our pleadings because you refuse to consider that the Elders are wrong..."

"They can't be wrong!" Kyle shakily exploded, sweat forming on his forehead. "I-I know what you're planning, Chieftain Puelle... You plan on taking the Elemental Stars..."

Puelle said nothing for a moment, his face as blank as usual. Finally, he replied, "Yes. We need the stars to ignite the Elemental Lighthouse and release Alchemy once more."

"It's madness!" Charles breathed, shaking his head slowly, staring at Puelle in shock. "You'll destroy us all!"

"Weyard is dying without Alchemy to keep it alive," Puelle argued. "It is now killing itself. The only way that Alchemy would destroy the world is if mankind allows it to!"

"How do you know that?" Anne murmured. "How do you know the world won't explode the moment you light these Lighthouses?"

"How do you know Alchemy is evil?" Puelle replied softly. "How can you say that when you control the very powers which Alchemy is composed of?"

Charles paled considerable. "How do you know about psynergy?"

"Do you honestly believe that you are the only ones who control the elements?" Puelle demanded. "That the reason you control them is because you are the "guardians" of Alchemy? No... the people near any elemental sacred place are known to possess some of the powers imbued there by the ancient sages. That is why there is a collection of Adepts in your village, because you live near Alchemy's source. It is also the reason why all of us here in Prox are Fire Adepts; because we live near the Mars Lighthouse. Same with the Anemos and Imilians; all living near a strong concentration of psynergy."

Kyle shook his head. "But the Elder said-"

"Your Elders have done no wrong," Puelle assured Kyle. "They have only told you what they know. Unfortunately, this Wise One is trying to shield you from everything around you. Haven't you ever traveled outside of your village?"

"No one has," Anne murmured. "It's forbidden..."

"So you are the first to see that there are others with the same knowledge of psynergy and Alchemy," Puelle stated quietly. "The same knowledge... and further knowledge."

"This is too much at once, Chieftain," Charles said, beginning to look sickly. "Please just tell us why you're here, and what is to be done with us."

"I've already told you why I've come," Puelle said.

"To forbid us from leaving," Kyle muttered.

"Until Alchemy is restored to its old place in the world," Puelle replied curtly, correcting Kyle.

"So are we to stay in this tiny room for the next week? Month? Year?" snapped Charles as his brown eyes grew dark.

Puelle shook his head. "No. We are giving you a house up at the North of the village. It's private, and far from the rush of the town. We thought if we must keep you here, we owe you at least that much. I also have several of the tailors looking into making you clothing that will keep you warm. For us, we are immune to the cold. We hope to find something before the winters come."

"This isn't winter?" Kyle asked tinily.

"Gods preserve us," Anne murmured.

"Don't worry," Puelle said. "We've found a cloth that will generate heat and thereby keep you warm. We just need to make enough of it and then make the clothing."

"So when do we leave for this house?" Charles asked softly.

"As soon as you like," Puelle said.

"Good," Charles murmured. "We'll gather our things and leave immediately."

"As you wish," Puelle said, standing and giving a deep bow. "I will wait outside your quarters."

Felix entered the house, greeting by the rush of hot air against his face, warming him almost instantly. The house was a cozy little place, a fireplace in front of him on the back wall, and three beds lining the walls. Felix payed no attention to this significant detail as he leapt onto a bed, his scarf falling loose as he laughed to himself.

Kyle was walking to the bed at the very end of the room, but Felix's parents had stopped at the front of the room, Puelle right behind them.

"There's only three beds," he said softly, his arm around Anne. He turned to look at Puelle over his shoulder. "Is there another downstairs?"

"No," Puelle murmured, his eyes locked on Felix. "There are only going to be three people residing here."

Charles and Anne looked at Puelle, their eyes full of question.

"Am I going to have other quarters, then?" Kyle asked, assuming that their families would be separated for privacy.

"No," Puelle said, still looking at Felix. "I'm afraid it's a bit more complex than that."

Anne could see it in Puelle's eyes; the instinct of a mother is often strong in such ways. She pushed away from Charles, throwing herself in front of Felix, the boy getting on his knees and looking over his mother's shoulder, unsure of what exactly was going on.

"You will not take him!" she snapped at the chieftain, a long red strand falling loose from her bun, hanging in her face. Her auburn-colored eyes flashed with fire as she stared at the chieftain.

"Anne!" Charles gasped. "You can't just assume that he-"

"No, Master Charles," Puelle sighed. "I'm afraid that your wife is absolutely correct."

Charles whipped around, looking at Puelle in shock. He said nothing as he slowly backed up toward his wife, moving to stand behind Felix and Anne. "You... you've tricked us..."

Puelle said nothing, only continued to stare at Felix, Felix unable to look away.

"You got us to trust you, and now!" Charles bellowed. "I won't allow you to take our son!"

"We don't wish to cause him any harm," Puelle sighed tiredly.

"We have no guarantee of that," Anne hissed, stepping back, or trying to. She was pressed completely against the bed, her arms spread wide to protect Felix.

"He will not be harmed, I swear it on my life," Puelle pressed. "We have decided he must be taken and trained. You are doing nothing to channel his psynergy."

"You intend to make him into some kind of weapon?" Anne asked angrily. "To train him to use his psynergy for evil?"

"He will not use it for evil!" Puelle snapped. "We have been training our children for eons, and they are taught never to shed innocent blood or use their powers for a wrong cause."

"How can you do this to us!" Charles screamed. "Felix is our son-"

"Felix may be the key to our people's salvation and your key to returning home," Puelle said.

"You think we would risk his life to help ourselves?" Anne demanded, going into hysterics. "You can't take him!"

"Madame Anne," Puelle said quickly. "I do not want to have to use force."

"You can tear him from my dead arms before I will allow you to take him!" Anne roared furiously, tears of rage entering her eyes. Felix hid behind his mother, still looking at the chief, wondering what he had to do with any of this.

"I do not want to resort to violence, Madame," Puelle replied, his voice developing an edge. "But if you do not allow us to train the boy, then I am afraid we not allow his existence to continue any longer."

"Are you saying that if we don't let you train Felix, you'll kill him?" Charles snapped.

"And if the boy refuses to be trained," Puelle continued. "Then we will be forced to terminate you as well."

"What?" Felix said, speaking for the first time to someone other than his parents and Kyle. He felt fear chill his insides like when he had seen those red eyes, which all the Proxinians had. Tears began to well up in his eyes. "If I don't go with you... then... my parents-"

"I am sorry, child," Puelle said softly. "I was hoping your parents would be more cooperative."

"You might as well kill us all!" Anne shouted, unmoved from her position in front of Felix. "We won't let you take him!"

"Anne," Puelle whispered quietly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Don't make me do this..."

"I won't let you have him!" she roared hysterically. "So go ahead and kill me!"

"NO!"

Felix pushed his mother aside, tumbling off the bed and landing on the floor at the chieftain's feet.

"Felix!" Anne shouted, trying to rush to his aid, but Charles caught her by the arm, holding her back.

"Stay back, Mom!" Felix screamed, staring up at the chieftain. He slowly rose to his knees, then stood, eyes locked on the chieftain's, who towered far above him. He breathed softly and heavily, nervousness and adrenaline dashing through his body. He gathered what little courage was in him, and said softly, "I-If I agree to go... You'll leave my parents alone, right?"

The huge Proxinian leader nodded slowly, looking down at him. "Of course."

"A-and they won't be harmed?" Felix asked quickly.

"Felix! No!" he heard his mother scream behind him.

"We would never lay a hand on them."

Felix looked over his shoulder, seeing Kyle and his father holding his mother back, she now collapsed on her knees, crying terribly. Reluctantly, he asked the question that burned inside of him. "Will I ever see them again?"

"Once every two months for the first year," Puelle whispered. "Then... no. You will focus on your quest."

Felix looked up at Puelle questioningly. "A quest?"

"Your master will explain it all to you tonight," Puelle said gently, reaching out and putting a large, meaty hand on Felix's shoulder. "Are you ready to go then, child?"

Felix continued to look at Puelle, not daring to turn to see his family. He'd want to run back into his mother's arms and tell her he'd never leave her. But he couldn't promise that. Not now. And he would never make a promise he wouldn't keep.

Felix swallowed hard, reaching up a hand and grabbing the crystal there, remembering his sister. If he was what would get them home, he would do whatever was required of him. He took in a deep breath through his nose, blinking the tears from his honey-brown eyes, and nodded.

Puelle smiled at him in something akin to relief. "Good. Do you wish to say goodbye to your family?"

Felix clenched his jaw to fight away the fresh tears, and shook his head.

Puelle looked concernedly from Felix to his family, then back at Felix. "Very well," he finally whispered, reaching down and pulling the scarf tight again around his neck. "We leave now."

He put his hand on Felix's back, gently pushing him toward the door. Felix felt the tears on his cheek turn to ice as his mother's sobs silenced with the close of the door. He didn't know where he was going, nor what these people intended to do with him. He was terribly frightened, though he refused to show it. He only followed the path which the chieftain's hand turned him to.

Saturos looked up from the book as the sound of the door opening filled the home. Menardi looked up as he hurried out of the room.

"Is it..." she began, but her voice faded as Saturos entered the main room again, finding Puelle standing near the door, the boy with him beginning to unwind the scarf around his neck, his eyes reddened- from crying, no doubt- but they had done it.

"Puelle?" Saturos asked softly, stepping forward, his eyes asking the question.

Puelle nodded slowly, the boy handing him the scarf which he hung on the rack near the door. "He agreed to come." Puelle helped the boy take off the thick sweater, which he, too, hung on the rack. He turned his attention completely to Saturos, his red eyes intense and full of concern. "The boy in now under your care, Saturos..." He reached for the door handle, pulling it open yet never looking away from Saturos. "I only hope you know what you're doing."

Puelle swiftly exited, closing the door behind him, leaving Saturos alone with the boy in the large training room, staring at each other, the little boy looking frightened.

Saturos swallowed. "Uh... would you like to sit by the fire?" he asked the boy, motioning to the fireplace to his right.

"I'm okay," the boy murmured meekly, not moved from where he'd stood with the chieftain.

Saturos sighed, walking forward slowly. "How old are you, child?" he asked softly.

The boy reached up and scratched his nose. "Fifteen."

"Awfully small for fifteen, aren't you?" Saturos asked, trying not to grin.

The boy's nose wrinkled in anger. "I'm growing," he snapped in response.

Saturos shrugged, indicating they would discuss this no further. He paused to think of what else to say to the boy, however, the boy spoke first.

"Are you the one who's going to be my... master?"

"Yes," Saturos said, kneeling on one knee in front of the boy so he was just under eye level of his student. "I will be training you to hone your psynergy."

"Puelle said you know about psynergy, too," the boy said, his face tense but showing no emotion. "I thought only my people knew about psynergy."

"There are many races still knowledgeable about psynergy, young one," Saturos explained. "The Anemos, Imilians, and Proxinians... maybe Lemuria, if it still exists."

"But the Elders said only we knew about it," Felix insisted, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Then they were wrong," Saturos said. "I can control the element of fire, just as you can the element of earth."

"How do you know I can control the earth element?" Felix demanded softly.

Saturos refused to break eye contact with the boy. He was obviously hoping to shake Saturos in some way. But Saturos refused to be broken. "I could see it in you the moment I met you," he said openly. "Menardi, my partner, sensed it in your life force."

"How do I know you're really a Fire Adept?" the boy snapped challengingly.

Saturos glared at him, his temper flaring for a moment, then calming before Saturos spoke again. He took his left hand, holding it out in front of him, a small fire dancing on his palm. The boy's eyes widened, all insolence immediately gone from his face.

Saturos sighed. "You humans are all the same. You demand evidence before you'll believe. Do you know nothing about faith?" He clenched his fist tightly, extinguishing the flame. He rose to his full height, turning and starting toward his room.

"What do you intend to do with me?" Felix called after the Fire Adept, his scurrying steps echoing in the room as he hurried to catch up with Saturos.

"Train you to become an Earth Adept, or a Venus Adept, whichever you prefer," Saturos said casually, walking toward his room, attempting to take his leave of the boy, but he continued to follow him.

"What about my family?"

Saturos opened the door to his room, stepping in. "Puelle already told you about that: they won't be hurt, you can visit them twice a month-"

"But-"

"Look, boy," Saturos said, closing the door just enough that the boy couldn't squeeze in.

"My name isn't boy," he snapped angrily, staring at Saturos through the crack in the door. "It's Felix."

"Saturos," Saturos responded shortly. "We've met before. Felix, it's late. You should rest before we continue any more discussion of your training."

Saturos tried to close the door, but the boy stuck his foot in, pushing it back open. "But where do I sleep?"

Saturos head began to ache. This training thing was much more difficult than he had imagined it would be. "Where were you sleeping before?"

"The upper level... Some spare beds were brought from the Inn."

"And they were just taken away," Saturos groaned, leaning his head against the door. "This isn't how this is supposed to work..."

"So where do I sleep?" Felix asked softly, trying to push into Saturos's room, Saturos not allowing him in.

Saturos knew there was no other option. Groaning and mumbling, he opened his door, letting the boy in. "Take my quarters," he sighed, pushing the boy in, standing near the doorway.

Felix turned watching as his new master began out of the room, closing the door. "W-wait!" he said quickly.

The Proxinian sighed in exasperation, turning and poking his head in the room again. "Yes, Felix?"

Felix eyed the ground momentarily, then looked back at Saturos. "Where will you sleep?"

Saturos rolled his eyes and shrugged. "I dunno..." he mumbled, closing the door. He started up the steps, sleep now hanging heavily on him. Who would have guessed that taking care of a fifteen-year-old human boy for hardly five minutes was so tiring?

"Saturos? Er... um... Master? Master Saturos, sir?"

Saturos turned around seeing Felix standing at the bottom of the steps. Frustration wracked his brain. "Yes, Felix?" he tiredly murmured. "And just call me Saturos."

"Right... Saturos... Um..." the boy murmured, eyeing the ground. "I was wondering..."

"Yes?" Saturos prompted.

"Well, Puelle said something about a quest... And I was wondering... what exactly did he mean by that? What's this quest-thing all about? Are we leaving Prox?"

"Not anytime soon," Saturos said, taking a seat on a step. "At least not until you've honed your skills a little."

"But where are we going?" the boy pressed. "And why? Is that what this quest is?"

"Felix," Saturos grumbled tiredly. "It's late at night... And I know you probably have a thousand questions to ask me, but, please... Can they wait until morning?"

Felix eyed the ground, nodding slowly. "Yes, Sir."

"Good," Saturos sighed. "Now get to bed."

The boy looked at Saturos, then slowly began back to his- or Saturos's- room. Saturos waited until he heard the door close, then let out a sigh of relief. It was finally over. The boy was going to sleep.

He stood from the stairs, starting once more up them toward the upper level. He crossed into the library where Menardi still sat, studying a book. She looked up as Saturos opened a closet, beginning to take out a few blankets. "Where's the boy?"

"Felix has taken up residence in my room," Saturos told her, trying not to show the exhaustion in his voice. He bristled as Menardi began to laugh. He closed the closet door, his lips pursed in frustration. "I'll just take the chair by the fire," he muttered, walking into the main room, Menardi's laughter fading the further he went into the room.

Saturos pulled the chair a little closer to the fire, leaning back in the chair and resting his feet on a nearby table. Throwing a blanket over him, he began to drift off to sleep. It came sudden, like a heavy musk on his sense. His eyes fell shut, and...

"Saturos?"

Saturos let out a gasp, starting at the sound of the voice in his ear, his feet falling from the table, knocking him off-balance, causing the chair to topple backwards, tangling Saturos in the blanket. He must have gotten some sleep, because the room was now dark, lit only by the fire. Saturos struggled against the hold of the blanket, and pushed away the chair, his eyes adjusting as he realized what he stared up at as he lie there on the ground.

"Felix?" he questioned in incredulity. He began to stand, shaking the blanket off of him. "What are you-"

"It's cold down there," Felix said, a blanket pulled tightly around his shoulders.

"I've lived down there my whole life, almost," Saturos sighed tiredly. "It isn't co-" Then he remembered. Humans felt cold nearlytwice aseasily than Proxinians. Saturos took the blanket from the ground, shaking it out and putting it around the boy's shoulders.

"Here," he sighed. "Sit by the fire. It'll keep you warm."

"Sorry for waking you," Felix said softly, sitting on the edge of the fireplace as Saturos straightened the toppled chair.

He took a seat in it. "Not a problem," he lied, leaning back in the chair again, shutting his eyes and trying to go back to sleep.

"Saturos?"

"Yes, Felix?" he sighed, not opening his eyes.

"Can you tell me about the quest now?" he asked softly.

Saturos opened his eyes in shock, then looked out the nearby window. The moon wasn't even fully risen to the sky. "Felix, it's early in the morning..."

"...right," the boy whispered.

A door closing and hurried footsteps was suddenly heard.

"Saturos!" someone across the room hissed.

For a second time, Saturos fell out of his chair and to the ground. Felix hurried to help him along with the figure in the darkness. Saturos reached his feet, behind him Felix straightening the chair again, Saturos looking at Menardi, a nightdress pulled tightly around her slender frame, her eyes wide in fear.

"I heard a crash and a scream," Menardi said quickly. "What happened?"

"I didn't scream!" Saturos hissed softly.

"Yes you did," Felix said, scampering to his master's side.

"What happened, Saturos?" Menardi repeated, looking at him intensely.

Saturos looked down at Felix, sighing deeply, then pointing at Felix. "He happened."

"The boy?" Menardi asked skeptically.

"I was cold," Felix said, sounding a little hurt.

"You should have known he'd get cold down there," Menardi admonished her friend.

Saturos stared at her in shock. "I didn't mean to freeze him, Menardi!"

"That isn't what I meant Saturos," Menardi sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head.

"Will you tell me what sort of a quest Puelle was talking about?" Felix piped up suddenly, wedging himself between Saturos and Menardi, looking up at her, his honey-colored eyes large with excitement.

Menardi looked at Saturos. "You haven't told him yet?"

"It was late when he got here!" Saturos argued. "I thought he'd be tired."

Menardi chuckled lightly. "Apparently not." Menardi looked down at Felix. "So you want to know why we're training you."

Saturos cleared his throat loudly, Menardi looking up at him and rolling her eyes.

"Why Saturos is training you," she corrected herself. Felix nodded energetically, Menardi smiling at him. "Well, then..." She lifted her hands in the air, lighting the candles in the room, bringing a full light up.

"Menardi?" Saturos muttered. "Not this early, surely..."

"What better time, Saturos?" Menardi smiled. "The sooner the teaching begins, the sooner we'll have finished what we set out to do." She patted him on the shoulder. "You go get the books. We'll study here."

Saturos sighed, reaching up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. This was going to be a long night.

No, he corrected himself. This was going to be a long year.

(A/N: Yay! Finally finished this chapter! About freaking time... I need to make a little prior apology, specially directed to Vyctori, who I'd like to thank for all her support. As quickly as I have been trying to update the story, there have been several complications, more specifically detailed in my now updated bio.

Basically, I have a blood disorder. That doesn't mean I'm dying or anything, heaven forbid. But it does mean I'm in serious trouble. I'm going in for surgery sometime next week, we think, which means I'm not going to be posting or writing for a while. Plus, I'll be returning to school, which is no fun at all. Homework will cut into writing time. However, I will try to post what little I'll have written of Part Five, where I'll finally get to Alex and how he meets up with Saturos's gang. Yay! I'll try to write quickly, but I can't promise anything. Continue to R&R! Pleeeeeeeeease! Luvs and such!)