Chapter 5: Strange Occurrences and A Journey Begins

Several decades past since Babi's miraculous escape from Lemuria. Lunpa was shocked that his friend and colleague had abandoned him. Nevertheless, he continued to give me swordplay lessons. After a while, I had noticed something odd about Lunpa. It wasn't the fact that he was a very talented warrior bereft of Psynergy, even though in Lemuria that can be kind of odd. It was not even the fact he was the only person from the outside world who lived in Lemuria. It was the fact that ever since his arrival, Lunpa had not even aged a day. I consulted King Hydros about this, and he, in his great wisdom, supposed the Psynergetic powers that allow time to pass by more slowly in Lemuria may have also slowed Lunpa's aging. When I told this Lunpa this, he said, "I wondered why it seemed like I have only been here a few months and it's been a bit longer than that!"

A few weeks later, a huge volcanic eruption occurred. So huge, it had scattered some kind of strange stones were scattered all over Weyard. Several more weeks after that, a bright blue light shined from the far north. A few minutes later, a small earthquake rumbled throughout Weyard. Not long afterward, the king summoned me to the palace. As I approached the throne room, I heard two voices: one was King Hydros, the other was surprisingly Lord Conservato. "It would seem Mercury Lighthouse has been rekindled, Hydros." I heard him telling the king.

"Yes, it would seem so, Conservato." King Hydros agreed, which was often very rare.

"What do you suppose it means?" Conservato asked the king.

"It means... someone wishes to unleash Alchemy upon the world again." the king said with an unusual mix of triumph and graveness in his voice.

"You seem awfully pleased about that." Conservato said, somehow detecting that subtle note of triumph.

"And, why shouldn't I?" King Hydros demanded. "It also means Weyard won't be in a state of decline anymore!"

"No, Hydros..." Conservato said, his voice shaking with anger. "It means all of Weyard will be destroyed by people abusing Alchemy again! Surely, you were alive when it happened last time?"

"My memory is as good as it has ever been, Conservato," the king said delicately. "But now I believe, your memory as well as the rest of Weyard is declining!"

"Enough!" Conservato roared. "But, I tell you this, the senate will not allow you to send that boy to the outside world on whatever kind of mission you have been preparing him for!"

"What I have been preparing Piers for, Conservato..." King Hydros roared back. "IS HIS DESTINY!"

"Destiny, my foot!" Conservato said disbelievingly. "You know, I never did believe that old prophecy, nor the fact that Piers would be the one to fulfill it! It's absurd!"

I was furious at how Conservato was being so delusional. Now, you have gone too far, you old bastard! I thought.

Without thinking, I drew my sword and burst into the throne room. I put my sword near Conservato's throat. "Take it back." I said to him, remarkably calm, considering how close I was to ending his life right then and there.

Dead silence followed. King Hydros was shocked; both by my entrance and by the fact I was willing to kill Conservato. "Take it back!" I said, this time a little more forcefully.

"I'll take it back only if you lower your sword." Conservato said, acting as if he was in no mortal danger.

I could see it in his eyes that he was afraid, but I sheathed my sword all the same. "I take it back, young man..." Conservato mumbled.

I accepted it. My anger was fading, anyway. I turned to King Hydros. He still looked shocked. "I apologize for losing my temper and bursting in like this, your highness, but..." I said, trying to make amends but my voice trailed off.

"I understand, Piers," the king said. "But, had you taken Lord Conservato's life, you would have been in very deep trouble."

"Yes," Conservato said. "You're lucky that I am not going to charge you with 'Attempted Murder'!"

He turned toward King Hydros. "I take my leave, Hydros." He said brusquely. And, with a swish of his cloak, he left the throne room.

After he left, I turned back to the king. "I have a few questions, your highness." I said.

"Fire away, Piers." King Hydros said.

"First of all, why does Lord Conservato call you 'Hydros' instead of 'your highness'?" I asked, wanting to get that out the way first.

"Lord Conservato and I were old friends, Piers," the king said. "But, unfortunately, we have since parted because of our views on Alchemy and most particularly the state Weyard is in right now."

"Secondly, What is 'Mercury Lighthouse'? I had heard Lord Conservato mention it, but I am a little confused."

"Piers, do you remember that talk we had several decades ago about Alchemy and the four elements?" the king asked me.

"Yes, sir." I said.

"Well, there a few minute details I left out, but will tell you now." he said. "You see, after Alchemy was sealed away, four elemental lighthouses were constructed, each one in a different part of Weyard, and also each one with more complexity than the one before. The one that is now lit was the first one built: Mercury, the Lighthouse of Water. Following that one was Venus, the Lighthouse of Earth. Then Jupiter, the Lighthouse of Wind was constructed. And lastly, Mars, the Lighthouse of Fire. It is said, after all the lighthouses were built, four stones fell from the sky, and each of them the same color as the lighthouse the fell near. Because they fell from the sky, they were christened the Elemental Stars. Then they were taken, and sealed in sacred sanctum atop Mt. Aleph."

"Mt. Aleph? What's that?" I interrupted. "Sorry..."

"It is all right, Piers." King Hydros said, seemingly grateful for the interruption. "Mt. Aleph is a legendary mountain peak said to have stood since all of Weyard was formed. Ever since, we have in a world bereft of Alchemy. However, it is said, if the Elemental Stars were used to lit the lighthouses, Alchemy would be unleashed upon the world once more."

"It this why you summoned me?" I asked.

"Exactly, Piers." King Hydros said. "I want you to go to the outside world and not only try to find the Adepts that are trying to break the seal and join them if you can, but also I want you to explore much of the Eastern Sea and see if Weyard is surely declining, like you heard me telling Lord Conservato earlier."

"Do you really think Adepts are trying to break the seal?" I asked.

"They must be," the king said. "As far as I know, no one else could have gotten into the sanctum without a little Psynergy. But there is something else I wish for you to find."

"Something to find?" I asked. "What?"

"It's a special weapon, called the 'Trident of Ankohl'." King Hydros said. "It should make your journey easier. But, locating it could prove difficult."

"Why is that?' I asked.

"I have heard that the trident was broken into three pieces and they were scattered across the Eastern Sea." King Hydros explained. "However, even if you do find all three pieces, you will have to find someone to restore it to it's original form. Do you understand?"

"I understand." I said. "Where are the pieces?"

"I know that one of them is hidden in the Shrine of the Sea God, on the continent of Indra." King Hydros said. "However, you will need a jewel called the Sea God's Tear to obtain it. As for the location of the other pieces, I do not know. But, I do know this: It is said that once you obtain one piece, it will guide you to where another piece rests."

"I see." I said. "When will I be departing?"

"You will know soon enough, Piers," the king said. "For now, I suggest you go on home. Mention what I have told you to no one. Understood?"

I nodded and left the throne room. I did not make good on the promise I had made to King Hydros. I had no choice. I told my uncle. Well, not all the details. Just the fact the king wanted to send me on a mission across the Eastern Sea. He felt very proud of me, but also he was worried. "Piers," he said to me after I had finished my story. "I want you to know, no matter what happens while you're out there, I will watch over your mother."

"Thank you, Uncle." I said. "I would appreciate that."

Several weeks later, King Hydros sent me a message. It said:

Piers,

Prepare yourself. It is almost time to begin your journey.

I cannot say much now. Conservato is very determined

to prevent your departure, by any means necessary.

I shall come for you in two more days at the most.

King Hydros

Sure enough, two days later, King Hydros came for me. My mother was saddened, but soon calmed herself down, considering the last health scare she had. Soon, we were escorted to the Lemurian Docks, where I had been so many years ago, to see my father off. If only I had stopped him. I found myself thinking as we approached the docks. King Hydros picked out the fastest, sturdiest, and all around best Lemurian ship in the entire fleet. He handed me this black orb as I boarded the ship. "What's this?" I asked.

"It's, shall we say, the fuel that makes the ship go." King Hydros replied.

We went down into the bowels of the ship and set the black orb on a special pedestal. King Hydros quickly got off the ship. "Godspeed to you, Piers!" he called out me, waving goodbye.

I quickly sailed through the Lemurian Docks and into the Sea of Time, the source of all the perpetual mist surrounding Lemuria. Not long after I arrived, huge waves crashed against my ship. I tried fighting the waves, but they just too powerful. Suddenly, my worst fear materialized. A massive whirlpool had formed and rising from it was... Poseidon!

I tried to fight him, but with no success. He just cast this enormous tidal wave and it carried me far, far away from Lemuria. All I remember was a terrible pain in the back of my head. Before blacking out, I saw a bright yellowish-greenish colored light shining from the north.