A/N: The musical's finally over, so I'll try a lot harder to post more often. But enough of me, here's the next fic! It finally ties into the prologue, and into the game itself. The story should go a lot faster from now on! (As if it was exciting enough before? JK!) Yay!!! ^_^ Enjoy!





Part Seven:

Nostalgia





Felix stared out at the plaza at the front of Vale, his hometown, through the eyes of a thick plaster mask embellished in green, blue and copper paints. His breath was warm and trapped inside the mask, making him more uncomfortable than he already was to be home again. Saturos led the group through the town, stopping momentarily at the center of the plaza, staring at the psynergy stone thoughtfully.

He, Menardi and Alex all had their hoods up, shielding their faces. He remembered only too well what had happened last time they were here. He would not allow this to happen again. He knew he'd promised Puelle that they would not shed innocent blood, but if he allowed the Valeans to withhold the stars from him again, the only innocent blood that would be spilt would be Proxinian. He would not let it come to that.

"Where is this Sol Sanctum you spoke of, Saturos?" Alex asked, Saturos turning to look at his companion.

He motioned up the hill. "Near the peak of Mount Aleph."

"Let's go," Alex said, turning for the mountain, but Menardi reached out and grabbed his arm. She slowly pressed her sharpened fingernails through the human's cloak and into his skin. Alex tried, and failed, to hold in a wince of pain. He tore his arm away as Menardi sent him a withering glance.

"Not so hasty, Alex," she growled. "If we go barging up the mountain, every Adept in this village would be after us."

"And we won't shed innocent blood," Felix added quickly. "We promised."

Saturos said nothing in response to that. He may have promised, but not doubt he would already be suffering eternal damnation in whatever lay after this life. No mortal was ever truly meant to touch, let alone steal the Elemental Stars.

Alex sighed, looking from companion to companion. "Fine," he spat finally. "You want to do things the peaceful way, we'll do them the peaceful way. Let's develop a plan and get it over with."

"To start things off, we need to find the man called Kraden," Saturos said.

"He's all the way in Tolbi!" Menardi gasped angrily. "What does that old fossil have to do with this anyway-"

"He's been studying the Sanctum and the elements for years now," Saturos said. "He should know something about Sol Sanctum that can help us."

"So we have to backtrack all the way to Tolbi?" Alex asked dryly. "I do not like this plan."

Saturos looked at Alex. "Actually, Kraden was just sent up here two weeks ago by Lord Babi. He's studying independently and he's taken on a few students."

"Who?" Felix asked quietly.

"Just a few locals," Saturos dismissed with a wave of his hand. He continued. "I heard he lives just on the outskirts of the village. We'll go and interrogate him later. First we have to check into the Inn."

"I'm not tired," Alex said shortly.

Saturos glared at him. "Well, some of us are."

"Perhaps," Alex said with a yawn. "I would much rather spend my time looking through the sanctum myself. Perhaps I could determine where the stars lay."

Saturos sighed deeply. "You may go, but don't touch anything. We don't want a repeat of what happened last time."

Alex only smiled and whisked away, starting up the hillside.

"And keep out of sight!" Saturos called after him, though no one in the village noticed him. The hum of noise in the plaza was too loud. Saturos shook his head slowly. "I don't know if this was a good idea or a bad idea to bring that Water Adept along," he sighed to the other two of his companions.

"We trust your judgement," Menardi said softly. She cast a weary glance to the stone stairway Alex had disappeared up. "I only wish Alex would do the same."

"He knows as much about the elements as I," Saturos replied tiredly. "I don't think he'll cause anymore trouble than I would, Menardi."

"You mean you hope not," she said as they started for the Inn.



* * *



"And your names please?"

Saturos kept his hood down just enough to shadow his face from the Innkeeper. She looked to be the same Innkeeper that had been there three years ago. The last thing he needed was for her to recognize him.

"We are but part of a chain of traveling merchants from Tolbi," he said in monotone. "The company name is Tamnua."

"Tamnua," the woman slowly repeated. "Alright, sir, that will be twenty-one coins for the night."

Saturos set down a handful of gold coins onto the desk. The woman quickly counted them out, then turned and grabbed the key from the nail on the wall. "Enjoy your stay."

Saturos nodded to her gratefully, taking the key and starting for the stairs. He stopped momentarily at the table Felix and Menardi sat at, motioning for them to follow him. The three went up the stairs to the small room above. Saturos had no sooner closed the door than Menardi threw her cloak off.

"Oh! That's much better," she sighed. "Another minute under this heavy cloak in this heat and I would have melted!"

Saturos wasn't so hasty in taking off his cloak. He slowly unfastened the clasp and, taking it off, hung it on the door. He sighed to himself, setting his bag of things on one of the four beds, the same four beds that had been there when he had last been there. It was a bit unnerving for him. He half imagined that at any moment Siad would walk through the door again. But as he looked to the bed sitting by the window at the young man staring out at the plaza below, he knew that time had passed him by. He stared for a moment at Felix, his masked face turned from the two Proxinians.

"Felix," he finally said with a light chuckle. "You can take off that mask now. We're in private."

"I'd rather not," Felix murmured quietly, almost to himself.

Saturos shrugged and turned to his bag, beginning to empty a few of the items onto his bed, namely, their armor and weaponry. Menardi had made a good point that it would be harder for them to get into the city without much ado unless they looked like nothing more than mere wanderers. They decided to stow all their armor in their luggage, all save Alex, of course, who wore very little armor to begin with. As a Mercury Adept, blessed with the power of healing, he probably guessed he could handle any amount of damage and simply heal himself.

"I think you were right, Saturos."

Saturos turned to see Felix still sitting on the bed. His voice was muffled and distorted from the mask, but even with his face covered, Saturos could see that the boy was troubled.

"What?" he ventured carefully.

"This is too dangerous," Felix said quietly. "What if someone sees me? What if I see someone... It wouldn't be as easy as I thought it would to contain myself, not now that I'm back..."

Menardi crossed the room, touching the boy's shoulder tenderly. He looked up at her. "If it makes you feel better, just Saturos and I will go up to see Kraden."

"That would probably be for the best, I think," Felix said slowly.

Saturos nodded to Menardi to begin putting out the armor. "Then we'd best be off. We'll start for Sol Sanctum when the sun begins to set."

"Should I meet you there?" Felix asked.

Saturos nodded. "I think that sounds like a plan."

"I'll do that then."

"What do you intend to do while we're gone?" Menardi asked, curious.

Felix let out a sigh. "I'm not sure."

Saturos slipped on his gauntlets and finished securing the breastplate to his chest. "Well, as long as you don't go wandering around and get yourself exposed."

"I wouldn't do anything like that," Felix said a little bit defensively.

Saturos was a bit taken aback. His apprentice had never stung him with such words before. It might just have been the apprehension and stress from returning to his hometown after all this time. He remembered how hard it had been to return to Prox after their first visit to Vale. He was on edge, too. "I apologize, Felix," Saturos said earnestly. "I didn't mean anything by it."

The boy paused. "I didn't mean to snap."

"It's alright. You're under quite a lot of pressure."

"That's still no excuse-"

"You've said enough!" Saturos laughed lightly. "You don't need to apologize anymore, or else I'll start rejecting your apologies."

Felix laughed a little, too. It sounded strangely distorted by the plaster covering his face- almost like the sound of some dark woodland creature in the night. Saturos shook it off as Menardi flung her cloak back over her shoulders and threw up the hood, holding the pole of her scythe in her hand as though it were a walking stick. (A/N: I imagine Menardi's scythe to have an almost retractable blade. Honestly, how else could she get into all these towns. I mean, if you saw someone walk into your town with a big 'ole scythe, would you be okay with it?)

She tapped it on the ground, looking at Saturos. "Ready to go?" she asked.

Saturos stared only a moment more at Felix. "Yes," he murmured. "I-I'm ready." Saturos grabbed his cloak from the back of the door, putting it back on, though it seemed rather pointless as he had taken it off only a few moments earlier. He stopped in the doorway, throwing up the hood. "You'll meet us near Sol Sanctum-"

"At about sundown," Felix finished. He chuckled. "Yes, Saturos, I know."

Saturos sighed deeply. "I know." He opened the door, letting Menardi out first. "We'll be seeing you shortly."

Felix watched as the door closed behind them. His gaze returned to the plaza as he let out a lusty sigh. "No one else here will."



* * *



Kraden was an old man, somewhere in the late stages of his life, and his looks showed that. His hair that covered all but the top of his head was shockingly white, as well as the beard he sported on his chin. His eyes were a friendly shade of sky, and his glasses rested just on the edge of his nose, he always having to push them back up and over the bridge of his nose. He knelt by a small patch of earth, clipping at the small herbs that grew in the tiny garden, gathering them and putting them in his bag.

Saturos watched all this from the stone stairway near the tiny cottage. Kraden lived in the middle of no where, whereas the people of Vale were all crowded together in their tiny homes. Anything that happened here would be unknown to those of the village, an advantage for their cause.

However, Saturos soon realized his companion did not share the same respect he did for the elderly gentleman.

Menardi cocked an eyebrow. "That's Kraden?"

"Don't be fooled by appearance, Menardi," Saturos said warily, turning away from the cottage and crouching on the stairs. "He is still the expert on alchemy and psynergy."

Kraden stood from kneeling on the ground, starting into his house, still not noticing the two Proxinians standing a short distance away. Saturos waited until the door closed to start up the staircase, Menardi a whisper behind him, allowing him to take the lead. They reached the door, Saturos lowering his hood. He reached out and gave a sharp, quick knock on the soft wood. After a moment of pattering footsteps, the door opened widely.

"Yes, who is it?" asked the old man kindly, looking up to see Saturos and Menardi. He didn't seem to be too stunned by their appearance, but after all, he had been working for Babi for many years. No doubt he had seen many things more perplexing than a Proxinian.

"We are two students from far north, come to seek your wisdom," he lied skillfully. Flattery was always the best way to anyone's heart.

Kraden nodded slowly. "Oh, I see. Well, I'm not giving any lectures today, but if you come back tomorrow-"

"We'll only be a moment," Saturos said, pushing past the man, on into the house. Kraden quickly followed after him, bleating for him not to touch anything. Menardi chuckled, closing the door after she entered.

Saturos picked up one of the artifacts, examining it in the light before Kraden grabbed in from his hand and returned it to it's place on a table. Saturos was amazed. For such a small cottage it seemed that an entire library and laboratory devoted to alchemy was present.

"No! Don't... just put that down," Kraden said, grabbing at the vial that Saturos had picked up, setting it back on the proper place on the rack. He slapped Saturos's hand as the young male reached for another item on the table to examine. Saturos recoiled, holding his hand and murmuring to himself darkly.

"Look, good sir," Kraden said hurriedly, clearly feeling inconvenienced. "I am very busy today. I am taking some of my students with me to Mount Aleph to study, and I-"

"The very thing we wanted to talk to you about!" Saturos gasped in feigned shock. "We just have a few questions about the Elemental Stars."

Kraden's face lit up. Saturos had clearly hit the spot. "Ah!" the old man said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. "The old story of the Luna and Sol Rooms." Kraden walked over to one of his walls completely lined with books, up and down and side to side. He grabbed one, pushing his spectacles over the bridge of his nose before thumbing through to the page he sought for.

Saturos slowly wandered over with Menardi to see what the old man was searching for. Finally Kraden gave a soft grunt of satisfaction and thrust the book at Saturos.

"There," he said. "That is what we believe they may look like." Saturos looked at the picture of a marble room with four statues holding the Elemental Stars. On one side, a chandlier something like a sun hung, whereas there was a moon on the other side.

Saturos turned the book to one side, gazing at the picture and wondering if it was truly what Kraden had meant to show him. "This?" he asked.

Kraden nodded enthusiastically. "Isn't it marvelous?"

Saturos bit his lower lip, trying to find the right words. "It's... incorrect," he murmured, turning the page.

"Beg pardon?" Kraden asked, his thick eyebrows lowering.

Saturos scrolled through the pages, looking for any other pictures. "Yes," he murmured after a moment and handed the book back to Kraden. "It's very incorrect, I'm afraid."

"What do you mean?" asked Kraden.

"The elemental stars are not in the Luna and Sol Rooms," Saturos said softly. "They're... somewhere else."

"What?" Kraden asked, very confused.

"Never mind," Saturos finally said. "Do you know anything about the puzzles of Sol Sanctum?"

Kraden jumped at this statement. "Wha?" he gasped. "N-no one is allowed to go up to Sol Sanctum without permission," he said softly. "Not even the Healers are allowed up there without a purpose."

"Surely you've gone before," Saturos said. "A fine Alchemist as yourself..."

Kraden pursed his lips. "Once or twice, but we've never found the Luna and Sol Rooms," he said, sound rather down.

Saturos sighed. "The maze isn't that hard to pass through," he said softly. "Are you sure you know nothing?"

The old man's gaze darkened. "How would you know anything about Sol Sanctum?" he suddenly pressed worriedly.

"Never mind that," Saturos said hurriedly. "What do you know about the Elemental Stars?"

"We are forbidden from seeing them, let alone seeking them," Kraden said. "So I haven't had a chance to learn anything more than what the ancient documents say."

Saturos held in the urge to curse. "Is that all?"

"I have never been privileged to find the Luna and Sol Rooms, so yes," the scholar said quietly. "That is all."

"Now what?" Menardi whispered as Saturos turned back around. "We're right back to where we started three years ago-"

"We'll think of something," Saturos said quickly, trying to hush her.

"They haven't even found the Luna and Sol rooms!" Menardi exclaimed quietly, her voice a little louder. "If he couldn't even do that, how could he help us with-"

"Menardi..." Saturos said, trying to silence her.

"You speak as though you've seen Sol Sanctum," Kraden murmured, eyeing the two.

"Nonsense," Saturos muttered, looking back at the old man. Menardi opened her mouth to speak, but Saturos quickly motioned for her to be silent. He turned back, nodding gratefully to Kraden then starting toward the door. "You've been a great help, Master Kraden," he said, then muttered darkly under his breath, "Perhaps we'll come back and teach you of Sol Sanctum." The two whisked out the door, Saturos starting toward the stone staircase, Menardi right behind him.

"Well, that was useless," she commented dryly, her wine-colored eyes looking at Saturos with a little less than frustration.

"He knew nothing of the Luna or Sol Rooms," Saturos muttered angrily to himself, wandering to a nearby tree. He leaned against the tree, Menardi soon after joining him. He sighed. "He hasn't seen the Luna Room nor has he seen the Sol Room, though its clear he has a strong desire to..." Saturos laced his fingers together as he pondered. "Perhaps we can use that to our advantage... His knowledge is no meager thing..."

"Kraden..." Menardi murmured. "Can we use him?"

"He will want to examine what we've said," Saturos assured her. "He'll-" Saturos's ears pricked up, suddenly ready to spring into motion.

"What?" Menardi asked. "What is-" Saturos raised a finger to his lips, listening. His ears twitched slightly, he spinning around, glaring at the forest behind him.

Nothing.

The sound of silence rang loud in Saturos's ears. Someone, or something, was near. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he sensed the energy of someone nearby.

Another sound.

The rustle of fabric as someone moved; so slight, he almost didn't hear it.

Saturos walked briskly down the path, rounding the corner. She rushed to see where Saturos had gone, rounding the corner to find three young children, sixteen or seventeen years of age, standing in shock as the two Proxinians rounded on them.

Saturos was near fuming Menardi could sense and could hear the anger even in his placid voice. "You," he said, looking at the blonde-haired boy in the front. "You were listening just now, weren't you?" he hissed softly.

The blonde haired boy didn't say anything, still a little stunned at their sudden appearance. The young girl with auburn hair stepped behind the blonde haired boy and his other companion. Saturos could not put his finger on it, but the girl looked oddly familiar.

"Isaac," she whimpered softly, the blonde boy looking over at her.

"It's okay, Jenna," he murmured, his gaze back on Saturos.

Saturos didn't move as Menardi joined at his side, staring at the children suspiciously.

"You haven't answered my question," Saturos said, his voice filled with darkness. "Were you or weren't you listening to us-"

"We weren't," the blonde haired boy replied quickly, a little bit defensively even.

"Then why are you out here," Menardi asked as tensely as Saturos. She and he exchanged momentary glances, then added, "You're all so far away from your village..."

Saturos shifted his weight, waiting for an answer. No one in their right mind would wander all the way out here without a reason, and Saturos knew the sort of reason that would be. He should have known they couldn't enter without someone seeing and recognizing them. But for them to send children as their spies? It disgusted Saturos.

But they couldn't afford to be caught. Saturos looked at Menardi who stared at him desperately, waiting for a sign of what to do. Both he and Menardi knew how dangerous this sort of business was. However, they were a safe distance away from the main part of Vale. No one would ever hear the screams of the children if they did it quickly.

"W-we have a meeting with Master Kraden," the red haired boy said softly.

"Now let us pass," the blonde said again, trying to step forward.

"Isaac," the girl said again.

Saturos stepped forward to mirror the boy, blocking his path, their chests nearly touching. He stared down at the child with harsh blood-eyes. "And this meeting is important enough that we should move?" he growled softly, the boy looking up at him fearfully.

The boy's hand moved for his tiny sword. The moment he touched the hilt, Menardi had already drawn her dagger, stepping forward so she stood just behind Saturos. The sunlight caught the silver of the blade, sending a sharp glare as she turned it over in her hand, the glare reflecting a rigid arc of light on the boy's cheek.

"Isaac..." the other boy said this time.

The boy's hand still didn't move from his blade. Saturos slowly moved his hand to his own sword's hilt. "You're very foolish... Do you know that?"

"I've been told once or twice," the boy replied curtly, his eyes darting to see Saturos reaching for his sword. He still did not move, even at that threat. Saturos had to say he was quiet amused. The boy was actually refusing to back down. Saturos began to withdraw his sword, the second boy, grabbing for his own sword. Menardi moved as quickly as lightning. Her dagger was pressed to the boy's throat.

The blonde-haired boy looked over at his friend, suddenly fixed with a choice. He looked back at Saturos, still staring at his hand on his sword. The moment was tense. All Menardi needed was Saturos's word. Their throats would be easy to cut. Human flesh was always more supple they were young. Her blade could slice through them quickly, with little mess on her hands. Saturos watched the boy carefully, waiting to see what he would do. Finally, the boy slowly let go of his sword and let his hand hang at his side. Saturos thought for a long moment, about ready to release his sword, then thinking better of it, began to withdraw it. Menardi stiffened, waiting for his order. The blonde boy stumbled away from Saturos back into the girl, the fear starting to show in his eyes.

"Saturos?" Menardi whispered, her free hand twitching tensely. Saturos continued to stare at the boy. He paused, his sword nearly half-way out. Puelle once told him not to draw his sword unless he was prepared to take a life. Saturos felt as a bead of sweat ran down the side of his face and down his jaw, hanging on his chin. He wasn't ready. Even for a quest like this with so much at stake, he wasn't ready.

Saturos relaxed, unwinding his fingers from around the sword, heaving a heavy breath he been waiting to let go for forever it seemed. He stepped backward, away from the path. He stared at the boy for a good long moment, then gave the order.

"Go," he said softly.

Menardi turned at the sound of his voice, surprised at his command. "What?" she asked in disbelief. Saturos dropped his hand to his side, his fingers still trembling at the reality of what he had almost brought himself to do.

Menardi stepped away from the other boy, the three children all gathering near, quiet with shock. "What are you doing?" she hissed quietly.

Saturos did not meet her gaze. "We do not want to delay this very important meeting they have," he said. He looked over at Menardi, his gaze shaken. "Do we?" he asked her softly. Menardi said nothing, only looked at Saturos in confusion.

The second boy was rubbing his neck worriedly, looking at the two Proxinians in shock. "C-come on, Isaac," he said suddenly, nudging both his friend and the girl. "Let's go."

The blonde boy stared at Saturos in awe for a long while as though he couldn't believe he was still alive. Finally, his friend caught his attention. They hurried past the two Mars Adepts and took off in the direction of Kraden's cottage, Saturos watching at silent attention until they vanished.

Menardi had held her tongue for about as long as she could. "What was that?!" Menardi demanded. "Those three are probably sent by the mayor to-"

"Those are the students Kraden was expecting," Saturos said to her softly. "They are of no concern to us."

"They looked at us as though they knew who we were, Saturos," she hissed. "If they tell their healers, they'll stop us before we even-"

"I couldn't do it, Menardi!" Saturos suddenly blurted, rounding on her angrily.

Menardi frowned slightly. "What?"

Saturos was breathing heavily from his outburst and his confusion. "I... I couldn't bring myself to draw my sword," he finally answered. "I... I know they are a threat to us, and if they tell, we'll be finished, but, on my word and honor, Menardi, I couldn't do it..."

Menardi reached out, touching his shoulder gently. He was trembling. She almost made a motion to hold him in her arms, but she didn't dare. She didn't know how he felt toward her. Also, their mission had only begun. She couldn't afford to complicate things anymore than they were already, what with the world ending and all.

She looked up at the sky. Orange had begun to streak the blue across the sky. She sighed, patting his shoulder as a friend and fellow soldier would. "Don't dwell on it," she said finally.

Saturos glanced up at the changing sky, letting out a quiet sigh. "It's almost sundown," he said pointedly.

Menardi nodded. "Almost time to meet Felix."

Saturos breathed in through his nose, raking a hand through his hair quickly, thinking for a moment. "Let's go," he finally said.

Menardi followed close behind him as they entered into the rough of the forest, climbing toward the peak of Mount Aleph. She didn't understand why Saturos felt shamed to be hesitant in drawing his sword, hesitant to kill. It was better a trait than he thought it was. Menardi shoved her dagger back into it's place on her belt, sighing.

She only wished she had his reluctance.



* * *



Saturos and Menardi stepped out of the forest, standing near the entrance to the Sanctum when a sharp whistle came from the nearby brush. He and Menardi turned to see Felix crouched behind a tree, standing and starting toward them.

"Have you found Alex?" asked Saturos as Felix drew near.

The young man shook his head. "No, I haven't seen him since this morning."

Saturos looked at the sanctum and sighed. "I hope he hasn't gone and done anything rash."

"It's Alex we're talking about," Menardi said dryly. "By now, the world would be in utter chaos if he wanted it to."

Saturos looked at her disapprovingly. "He's one of our companions, Menardi," he admonished her lightly. "We have to learn to trust him."

Menardi frowned. "I will trust him when he gains my trust."

"We aren't breaking the law, exactly... We're just checking to see if what they said was true."

"What was that?" Saturos asked, stiffening.

"Someone's coming," Felix said.

"Quickly," Menardi hissed. "This way."

The three quickly hid behind a ledge, then crouched under the bushes there below. Saturos peeked up over the edge as Kraden and three children came wandering up the path; he soon realized they were the same three from before.

"I don't know about this," the blonde boy said worriedly, glancing back down the path. Saturos heard Felix take in a sharp breath as the three became clearer.

"No," he murmured to himself. "Anyone but them..."

"We're just checking to see if what they said was right," the red-head said, agreeing with Kraden. "And if they were-"

"They must be thieves trying to rob the sanctum!" gasped the girl. "We can't let that happen!"

"Jenna?" Felix murmured under his breath.

Saturos pulled Felix back down as the girl glanced confusedly in their direction. Saturos held Felix's arm tightly. "You know these people?"

"The old man, no," Felix said quickly. "But the other three, yes. I knew them when I was a child here-"

"Do you owe any allegiance to them?" Saturos asked quickly, his grip tightening.

Felix gasped from the slight pain. "Saturos, wha-"

"Do you owe any allegiance to them," he growled again, looking at Felix intensely.

"What?" Felix asked. "N-no! No!" he said as Saturos finally let go of his arm. Felix held his wrist gently, wondering what had compelled Saturos to act the way he did.

Saturos on the other hand was beginning to worry. Perhaps Puelle had been right. It was too dangerous for them to trust Felix. No! What was he thinking? Felix was almost like his brother! How could he be so suspicious of him? Felix would not betray them. He said it himself; he owed these people no allegiance.

He peeked over the edge again, watching as the group entered the sanctum, the blonde following them in quiet reluctantly. "Who are they?" he asked Felix as the boy rose up next to him again.

"The red haired boy was Garet. His grandfather is the mayor. The other boy is Isaac." He paused, looking at Saturos and Menardi. "Kyle's son."

"Kyle's son?" Menardi gasped in disbelief.

"And the girl?" Saturos asked.

"Jenna," Felix said quietly. "My younger sister..."

"Oh, no," Menardi murmured as Saturos hung his head sadly.

"Your sister?" he asked, finally meeting Felix's gaze.

The boy behind the mask nodded. "Yes... She's thought me dead all these years..." Felix let out a long sigh. "If she only knew-"

"She can't know," Saturos said. "At all costs, she cannot find out that you are who you are, let alone what you intend to do."

"I shouldn't have come," Felix said softly. "I was wrong, Saturos. I'm so sorry, but you were right-"

"Don't say that," Saturos said firmly. "You are my apprentice and I will stand by you no matter what. But you are stronger than this." Felix nodded slowly as Saturos continued. "You are not weak enough to be over taken by your base desires."

"Yes, Master."

"If you want, you can remain out here while we go in-"

"No," Felix replied almost instantly. "No, I want to go with you."

"Are you sure you can resist the urge to reveal yourself to your sister?"

"I don't want her to know who I am," Felix replied. "She still believes the teachings of Vale. She still thinks we're destroying the world. I would rather her think me as a hero after the world sees what we've done for them than a villain before they know."

"That's noble of you, Felix," Menardi said quietly.

"Noble as it may be, we need to get in there and avoid running into them at all costs," Saturos said.

"Then perhaps we should wait a while," Felix said.

"What if they trip the trap again?" Menardi asked worriedly. "We know what we did wrong, so we know how to prevent it from happening again-"

"They don't have enough manpower to move all those statues like we did," Saturos said correcting her. "They'll notice something's wrong if they trip the first of the statues, and they'll probably stop."

"So should we wait?" asked Felix again.

Saturos nodded slowly. "Yes... We'll wait."



* * *



Saturos led the group down the hall, Felix and Menardi close at his heels.

"Odd," he murmured, running his hand along the wall.

"What's odd?" asked Felix.

"This was one of the pathways that was damaged during our first visit here," Saturos said, looking back at Felix.

"Why is that strange?" Felix asked.

"Because it was entirely caved in," Menardi said. "But it isn't any more..."

"Maybe someone came up and repaired it," Felix suggested.

"No," Saturos said. "They don't allow anyone up here. Not even many of the healers have been up here, let alone let into the sanctum."

"So then how was it fixed?" Felix asked.

Saturos lifted his hand from the wall, confused. "That's what I'm wondering."

"Someone else is here."

Saturos, Menardi and Felix all spun around to see Alex following them. Menardi, not realizing who it was, had already drawn her scythe, the blade aimed at his chest. Alex sighed and pushed it away as the other three let out a breath of relief.

"Where have you been?" Saturos asked quietly.

"About," Alex answered shortly, walking to stand beside Saturos. "There are others here, Saturos."

"We know," Menardi said. "Kraden and three children."

"Was this part of our plan?" Alex asked.

"Not originally," Saturos said.

"Then why are they here?" asked Alex. "I thought you two went to get Kraden to get him to show us the path into the Elemental Star Room."

"He didn't know anything."

"What?" Felix asked.

"He hasn't even seen the Luna and Sol Rooms," Menardi said softly.

Alex shook his head and cursed. "That complicates things."

"No," Saturos said. "No, it doesn't. Not really..."

"Well, how are we supposed to get the stars with four witnesses here?" Alex said haughtily. When Saturos didn't answer, he said, "You see? It does complicate things. It complicates them considerably."

"Perhaps they won't find the Luna and Sol Rooms," Saturos snapped back at him. "They don't know this place like I do. It's practically a labyrinth, and they can't teleport like you can."

"Still," Alex said softly. "I'm not sure I like the idea of us doing this while other eyes may see us-"

"We may not have a choice," Saturos snapped. "I am not leaving this sanctum until the elemental stars are in my hands."

Alex looked at Saturos a good long moment before letting out a long sigh. "Fine," he said finally. "I'll meet you at the Luna and Sol Rooms momentarily." And as quickly as he appeared, the man vanished in a swirl of water.

"I hate it when he does that," Menardi spat bitterly.

"We're not far from the rooms," Saturos said hurriedly. "Come on."



(A/N: Sorry, I hate to end this one here, but the chapter was just WAY too long with the entire scene in here. I had to cut it somewhere. I'll post it later tonight or tomorrow, depending on when I finish it. Stay tuned! R&R! ^_^)