Chapter XXI
Lies and Illusions
With the incident at the bridge now behind them, Jenna, Felix, Kraden, and the two Proxians continued on into Gondowan.
Jenna felt a strange mix of emotions. She had never journeyed more than a day or so from Vale before her abduction, yet here she was, now on an entirely different continent. She had never thought, nor really intended, to journey so far from her home, and yet she couldn't deny that even in her current circumstances, it was exciting.
She knew so little about the lands beyond Angara, and the scarce few stories she had heard of Gondowan were of a land of barren wastes and mountains, full of savage people who danced before fires and performed rituals of human sacrifice. Yet, as they reached the village of Suhalla, it looked little different from any of the sleepy Angaran towns they had already passed through. It was a so small and alone in the vast empty fields around it; more a scattered handful of houses than a village proper.
A wall stood by the edge of the town, half-crumbled from years of disrepair; Alex was waiting for them beside it.
"What did you see ahead?" Menardi asked him.
"Something very interesting," Alex said, grinning. "I think you'll like this."
"Tell us as we go," Saturos told him. "Will the desert be a concern?"
"Not to us."
They drew together and spoke in their usual hushed tones, just out of earshot of Jenna and the others. She watched as they continued on away from the village, in the direction of the rocky desert valley in the distance.
Felix, Jenna, and Kraden followed behind, the Proxians never even looking back to be sure they were following.
"Truth be told," Jenna said, "I'm getting really tired of these private conversations of theirs. What could they possibly be discussing about the desert that we can't know about?"
"It's simple," said Kraden. "They don't trust us."
Ever since Mercury Lighthouse, it felt like a division had been growing in the group. Saturos and Menardi hadn't exactly been talkative with them at any point in their travels, but these days it seems they never had anything to say unless it was a direct order.
"Why would they?" Felix asked.
Jenna turned to her brother. She knew him well enough; he'd been troubled all day, ever since they had crossed the bridge.
"What's bothering you?" she asked.
"Saturos has the Elemental Stars," Felix said quietly.
Jenna and Kraden both gave confused looks.
"What about them?" she asked.
"He gave them to me, back at Mercury Lighthouse," Felix said. "He knew Isaac's group was close behind, and he didn't want to take any chances. So when he stayed behind to fight Isaac, and sent us away..."
"Yeah," Jenna concluded for him, "he was holding them back, so we could get the Stars away. What about it?"
Felix frowned thoughtfully. "I imagine he'll do something similar at Venus. He'll need me to open up a door or something for him, and then he'll tell me to take you and go wait at the next rendezvous point."
Kraden nodded. "We stay back, and the three warriors go in to do the fighting."
Felix took a deep breath. "When that happens, Jenna, I'm going to leave. I've decided I'm not going to travel with them any more. I will take the Jupiter Star and go to the next lighthouse on my own."
Jenna blinked in shock. "Felix, are you sure about this? They'll be furious..."
"For sure," Felix said. "They won't trust me to be able to complete the quest on my own, and they will pursue me. I want you to think about this carefully, and decide what you want to do."
"What I want to do?"
Felix nodded. "Isaac and Garet will be nearby. You will have no better chance to go back to them. If that is what you want, then I understand. Or..."
"Or I go with you," Jenna said for him. "We work together, on our own, to light the last two beacons, unleash Alchemy, and bring back our parents."
Felix nodded again. Turning to Kraden, he said, "This goes for you, as well. I'm not going to force anyone to take risks on my behalf."
"I'm doing this for my own reasons," said Kraden. "I want to see Alchemy returned. I knew what I was signing up for when I made that choice."
Jenna frowned, looking away.
To go back to Isaac, or stay with Felix and help bring their parents back...? At one point it would have been an easy choice. But so much had changed now, and she wasn't sure if she was able to be honest enough with herself to know what her answer was.
Kraden continued, "Felix, let me ask you... why now?"
"When the Proxians wanted me to help them with this, I had only two conditions," Felix said. "Other than them not getting in the way of me resurrecting my parents, I did not want any innocent people to be hurt. I didn't want there to be more boulders; more needless deaths. They were not happy about it, but they agreed, so long as it was easily preventable. That was the best I could get from them."
"And then Alpine Crossing happened," said Jenna. "And the guard at the bridge today..."
"And in Tolbi Saturos was more than ready to refuse to let us do the research we needed," said Felix. "Their promises to me mean nothing; it's only a matter of time before they break them. And if they do decide after Venus Lighthouse that I'm not worth the trouble any more..."
Jenna hadn't thought of that. Indeed, the entire reason for saving Felix's life four years ago, bringing him to Prox, and along with them for the mission, would be for his powers in Venus Lighthouse. Once they were done, and that beacon was lit, they would no longer need a Venus Adept at all.
"It would seem a splitting is inevitable," Kraden said. "Though our goals are the same, our philosophies and methods are at odds. The more time we travel together, the more clear that becomes to both parties."
Very faintly, in the distance, the peak of Venus Lighthouse was just barely visible over the rocky heights of the Suhalla Desert.
Worry suddenly gripped at Jenna's heart.
The next morning, after a long and restful night of sleep, Isaac and his friends went once more to meet with Babi.
The Lord of Tolbi looked unusually lively today, all but giddily pacing on his cane. As they entered the study, he turned to them, grinning.
On the table behind him were a large bag of coins and the sheathed Gaia Blade.
"There you are," he said. "I must thank you for entering Colosso. Both of you, actually. That was one of the finest shows I have seen in... well, decades."
"You were able to see all the Psynergy?" Ivan asked him.
"Indeed! The fire, the earth, the explosions of power. It was marvellous!" Babi considered for a moment, and then added, "I have heard rumours from my guards that I was not the only one, either. Word is spreading; more and more attendees are saying they could see more than their friends and families."
The Adepts exchanged uncomfortable looks. Isaac hoped that he hadn't made a terrible mistake.
"In any case, do not let me delay you. You have a very important mission ahead of you, after all."
Isaac wondered if Babi had somehow learned of the Elemental Stars, before realising he was talking about finding Lemuria.
"Per your request," Babi said, indicating the items on the table. "The gold within that bag is enough to last for three years of travel, should you need it. The Gaia Blade is your prize as the Colosso Champion. And as for the ship, Iodem will meet you in Lalivero, where it is docked, and explain the details."
"And that girl from Lalivero?" Isaac asked. "Sheba, right?"
"Yes, I had her release arranged as soon as our conversation yesterday was over," Babi said. "She is on her way back to Lalivero with an escort of my soldiers now."
"You said Iodem will be waiting in Lalivero for us?" Ivan asked.
"Yes, he will act as liaison for me in this matter," Babi said. "Once your business in the area is concluded, you will meet with him at the docked ship and board it together."
To make sure we stay on task, Isaac thought. He doesn't trust us not to run off with his boat and leave him to die.
"And what happens if we don't make it back in time?" Mia asked. "Or we're not able to reach Lemuria at all?"
Babi frowned, crossing his fingers around his cane, and leaning forward.
"I expect you to do all in your power to keep that from happening," Babi said slowly. "My people need me. I cannot imagine what would happen to Tolbi if I were to pass away. It would be disastrous. So go, and be swift; my life is in your hands."
Isaac frowned, wondering if that had been meant to be a veiled threat.
They said their quick goodbyes, and left, taking the gold and sword with them. Once the Adepts had left, Babi turned to the large oak grandfather clock by the fireplace. He had spent so many hours in this study, reading, working, signing laws in effect, that the ticking of that clock was one of the most familiar sounds he knew. Once, it had been a comforting friend to him.
Now, he dreaded the sound of it.
"Please," he said softly, whispering despite being alone. "I beg any gods who may listen. I just need more time."
But he was alone, and the clock continued to tick.
Strong winds tore through the desert, the sand lashing through the air, stinging Jenna's eyes and face.
Despite their distance in the fields before, the group of six were now closely huddled together out of necessity; if they were to fall too far behind, they would become lost in the orange haze before them. The two Proxians led the way, seemingly fearless of the storm, with the others following close behind.
While Lamakan Desert had been unbearably hot, even with the shield of Psynergy the Proxians had used to protect them, the Suhalla Desert was somehow cold. Though it was only midday, it felt as if it were the dead of night.
"Keep up!" Menardi shouted at them, loud over the screaming winds.
"How much farther is it?" Saturos asked Alex, who was just behind him.
"We're nearly there now," Alex answered. "Just up ahead over this hill!"
Whatever it was he was leading them to, Jenna prayed it would be some sort of safety away from this storm.
After cresting the hill, they walked down the sand into a valley of stone structures, packed so closely together that they formed a series of small tunnels.
As they got closer, Jenna could see they were ruins. Whatever sort of structure they had once been, a temple perhaps, the roof had long ago collapsed, and the walls had been eroded by the heavy sandstorms. Still, they offered enough protection to stop the bulk of the winds, and muffle their incessant howls.
"Gah," said Kraden, spitting out a mouthful of sand. "I have made the trip from Tolbi to Lalivero many times, and I've never seen a storm like this."
Jenna welcomed the relief. She had sand in places she didn't even want to think about. Beside her, Felix shook his head like a dog, freeing sand and turning his ponytail into a shaggy mess.
"Normally, I would say we should stop here and wait for the storm to subside," Alex said. "But I have a feeling we'd be here a long time."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Felix asked.
Before he could answer, a sudden voice drew their attention. "Halt! Who goes there?!"
Three soldiers, wearing the plate armour of Tolbi and holding spears, surrounded a campfire in a dark corner of the ruins. At the sight of the party, they quickly climbed to their feet and stood, warily.
Behind the guards, huddled close to the fire for warmth, was a small girl in white and violet robes, with a round bob-cut of blonde hair, and deep violet eyes.
"Easy friends," Alex said, as the guards approached them. "We mean you no harm."
"What are you doing in a place like this?" one of them asked.
When the Proxians said nothing, Alex continued, "We are travelling through the desert on our way to Lalivero, same as you."
The first guard, evidently the leader, eyed them warily. He was a man in his middle years, with a few greys in his hair, and hard lines of age in his shaved face. "And what business do you have in Lalivero?"
"Oh, you haven't heard?" Alex said, in faux surprise. "Our good friend Kraden here has a special secret mission to the ruins, from Lord Babi himself."
Jenna exchanged looks with Felix and Kraden. It would seem the Proxians had told Alex about that on the way.
"We just left Tolbi yesterday," said the captain. "I was told of no such mission."
"It came so quickly, and is of such importance, that I'm not surprised," Alex said. "Only those who absolutely needed to know were told."
"Then why did you act surprised a moment ago that I didn't know about it?"
Kraden hesitantly took a step forward. "Perhaps I can-"
"Stop," Saturos said suddenly. "Enough of this."
Beside Jenna, Felix tensed up again.
"And you are?" asked the captain.
"A warrior from a distant land," Saturos said, pulling back his hood and revealing his scale-covered face. "We are escorting Kraden through the desert. The details of our mission are of no concern to you... just as the details of your mission is of no concern to us."
The guards, though shocked at his unusual appearance, held their ground.
Menardi pulled back her own hood. "You are escorting that girl, aren't you?"
"How do you know about that?"
"It is obvious enough," she answered.
"She is none of your business," said the guard. "And as the desert is impassible right now, you cannot go on. So it would be best that you turn back the way you came and forget we ever met."
"Because of the sandstorm, correct?" asked Alex.
The guard, though he did not lower his spear, did seem to relax a bit. "I am not a devout man, but this storm is the work of an angry god. It drives back any who try to pass; one of our number has already died to it. It is like nothing I have ever seen."
"What if I said we could help you?" Alex offered.
"What could you do against something like that?"
"May I?" asked Alex, holding up his hand. His Psynergy flowed, and cold water gathered in his palm, forming into crystals of ice.
The guards stepped back in shock. Behind them, the girl by the campfire gasped.
"We have special abilities," Alex said. "And I know exactly what is causing the sandstorm."
The guard, though still eyeing them warily, was considering it. "And in return?"
"Nothing," Saturos said. "We're going that way anyway."
"I just see no reason to fight when we can work together," Alex said. "Just show us to where the storm is strongest, and we will take care of it"
Jenna looked to her brother. Felix was watching all this unfold with the eyes of a hawk, his expression unreadable.
"Very well," said the captain, finally lowering his weapon. "Let's go at once, we've wasted enough time here already."
The Tolbi soldiers went back to the campfire, and gathered up their things. The blonde girl watched in silence, casting nervous glances at the strangers.
Saturos gave Felix a quick glance, but said nothing, turning and walking towards the other group, with Menardi following.
"What was that all about?" Kraden asked. "We don't need their help to find the source of the storm, so why did he offer it?"
"Well that soldier wasn't going to back down," Alex answered. "So we said what we needed to say."
"And so our party grows to ten," Kraden mused.
Jenna looked to Felix, but again, he said nothing.
Once both groups were ready to go, they stood together at the edge of the ruins, the raging sandstorm only a few strides away.
"We'll take point," said the captain, "Once we get closer, you'll know."
Jenna turned to the blonde girl, who looked terrified to be going back out into that nightmare.
"Hey," she said to her, with a friendly smile. "My name's Jenna, and this is my brother Felix. What's your name?"
The girl hesitated a moment before answering. "I'm Sheba."
With Colosso finally over, many of the attendees had already left to return home. The streets of Tolbi were increasingly sparse, and the few vendors still left were proclaiming the discounted merchandise that had only yesterday been full price.
At Garet's insistence, they stopped to get one thing: a shirt that had the words "I went to Colosso and all I got was this stupid tunic" printed on it. And then they made their way out of the city's front gate.
As the Adepts followed the path out of Tolbi, Ivan cast a glance at the dirt path that led away from the city towards Silk Road, where little more than a day before they had said goodbye to Feizhi.
"I can't help but worry for her," Ivan said. "And Master Hammet. I don't know what's going to happen there, but I still feel like I didn't have enough time to train her."
Mia giggled. "You sound a lot like Master Hama."
"Yeah, I guess I do." Ivan said, with a slightly sad smile.
"She'll be okay," Isaac told him. "They all will. Feizhi, Hama, and Hammet."
Ivan looked a little relieved. "Thank you."
Outside Tolbi, green fields stretched on for miles, broken only by rivers and the occasional hill. It was remarkable how peaceful it seemed.
"Though the land here is technically part of the Gondowan continent, the border is officially at the river ahead," Ivan explained. "The borders shifted back and forth a lot before they settled where they are, largely out of convenience. Though Tolbi is a relatively small region, their influence extends far, and there are military stations all throughout the northern half of Gondowan."
"Kalay traded with Tolbi a lot, right?" Garet asked. "What kind of relationship did Hammet and Babi have?"
Ivan frowned. "We did not speak of it often, and I was not present at any of their meetings during our visits. But I know that Hammet was personally not fond of the way Babi ruled."
"In what way?" asked Garet.
"Well, I guess that's a really complicated political question," Ivan said. "They both take care of their own people and lands first. But Hammet saw other lands and peoples as a chance to trade, to grow and learn. Babi sees them as a resource he can use for his own purposes."
"Like us?" Isaac suggested.
"Perhaps," said Ivan, looking at the bag of gold coins that he was carrying. "There was a time in my life when I admired Tolbi for its success, and wished for Kalay to be even grander. But I think, after all these adventures, a part of me has changed. We've seen so many ruins and relics of civilizations that used to exist but are now almost completely forgotten, it makes me sad to consider what was lost. If Babi lives forever, how many more ruins will be build towers on top of?"
"Some might say that it's inevitable," Isaac pointed out. "The world is always changing. Look at how much has changed already since we set off on this adventure. Eventually old things will vanish and be replaced with new. Isn't that just the way life is supposed to work?"
"There are so few of my clan left," Mia said. "Eventually our blood will be spread too thin, and it will be gone. Our ways will be forgotten. Already only a handful of us could even use Psynergy, much less become healers. It's sad, but I accepted a long time ago that it was inevitable."
"Isn't our quest, by it's very nature, us resisting an inevitable change?" Ivan asked. "We can't undo the beacon on Mercury Lighthouse now that it's been lit. We can't even return the Stars to Sol Sanctum now. If others know about the Stars, won't others come to Vale to try to steal them again? Perhaps it would make more sense to accept the world's fate and just… let it happen?"
"We're trying to stop the world from being destroyed," Isaac said. "Not from it turning into something else."
"What if they're the same thing?" Mia asked.
Isaac thought about it. "All we can do it what we have the power to do. If the world is fated to die eventually, then it will happen no matter what we do. But we do have the power to save it now, and after that, whatever comes down the fine, we'll deal with that too."
They were quiet for a while, dwelling on that.
Eventually, Garet spoke, breaking the silence.
"I'm hungry."
The soldiers lead them through the winding passages of the Suhalla Desert, the vicious sandstorm only growing stronger the farther in they went. Conversation was minimal, and limited mostly to the soldiers shouting instructions to them.
Eventually, the rocky tunnels opened up back into an expanse of sand. As they made their way over the dunes, they passed a half-buried statue of a man in a grand headdress; perhaps some sort of king over whatever ancient people had dwelt there.
Out in the open, the storm was at its strongest.
"It is ahead," said the captain. "Be careful; it is very fast. We only narrowly managed to escape it before."
The soldiers and Sheba lingered at the edge of the rocky cliffs, while the others went ahead.
They trudged their way into the open desert, the howling winds growing and strength and coalescing.
"There!" said Menardi, pointing.
In the distance, the winds formed into a cyclone, swirling viciously and tearing up sand on the ground in its wake. It seemed to have purpose, because it was now moving in their direction.
"What do we do to it?" Jenna asked.
"It does not like water," Alex said. "Stand back."
They moved away to give him space. He focused his Psynergy and let loose a stream of water, but the rapid winds diverted its path; the water hit Felix, soaking him from head to toe.
"Ah, my apologies," Alex offered. "It seems I have to get closer."
Felix glared at him.
The cyclone was drawing nearing, and the winds were so powerful that Jenna felt she was about to be pulled off the ground.
Alex walked calmly to the cyclone, allowing himself to be lifted into the air. Before long, he vanished within the swirling obscurity. Moments later, a burst of water from within the cyclone abruptly ended it, along with the storm.
As Alex hit the ground, he was joined by a large bipedal green lizard, standing twice as tall of a man, with a head surrounded by large frills.
Saturos and Menardi moved into action, while Felix and Jenna stayed back with Kraden.
The lizard tried to go after Alex first, perhaps furious at having had its cyclone disturbed, but its progress was quickly halted when Alex used his Psynergy to freeze the water still covering it. It struggled against its restraints, making a few cracks, but it ultimately could not move.
The two Proxians cast their powerful Mars Psynergy at the lizard, and being stuck where it was, it could not defend itself; the battle was over in moments.
When they returned to the Tolbi soldiers, they were in awe.
"I have no idea how you did that, but it was incredible," said the captain.
Sheba's eyes were wide, but she said nothing.
"Let's get moving," Alex said. "I believe that was the only one, but there could be more hiding in a corner somewhere."
They resumed their journey, the desert being much easier to traverse without the swirling sandstorm and deafening winds.
"Excuse me," Sheba said quietly, moving next to Felix and Jenna. "Those abilities you have... are you all able to use them?"
"Everyone except Kraden here," Jenna answered, indicating the nearby sage.
"What sorts of things can you do with them?"
"All kinds of things," Jenna told her. "Fire, water, ice, moving things without touching them, making plants grow..."
"Our Psynergy differs by element," Felix added. "Each of us has a different element we can work with."
"Psynergy..." Sheba repeated. "Do any of you have a... Psynergy to read minds?"
"I don't think so," Jenna said, exchanging a look with Felix. "I wish I did. That sounds amazingly useful."
"I see..." Sheba said, sounding at once both disappointed and relieved.
"Why do you ask?" Felix said.
"I was just curious," Sheba replied, in a tone that was not at all convincing.
Isaac and his companions reached the bridge at Gondowan Crossing by noon. The bridge had already been lowered, and several groups were making their way across, doubtless people who were going home after Colosso.
They had made their way halfway across the long bridge when they were stopped by a familiar voice calling to them.
"Master Isaac!"
They stopped, turning to see Babi's minister approaching them.
"Iodem?" Ivan said. "We were told by Lord Babi that you would be waiting for us at Lalivero."
"Yes," the bearded man said, a dark expression on his face. "But I received some concerning news here that I felt I should bring to your attention."
"What news?" Isaac asked.
"Come with me," he said, turning, his fine silk cloak billowing behind him. "It would be easiest to hear it right from the source."
The befuddled Adepts followed him, where he lead them into the guard barracks.
Upon entering, a guard stood at the sight of them, saluting. "Sir!"
"At ease," Iodem said. "Tell them what you told me."
The soldier turned to them. "A group of five passed through here yesterday. Kraden, one of Lord Babi's scholars, was with them. He told us that they were on a secret mission on Lord Babi's orders, so I lowered the bridge and let them through."
"Despite it being Colosso, and entry through the bridge being forbidden," Iodem pointed out.
"I'm sorry, Sir," the guard said. "I recognized him, and I figured if he was back in Tolbi it had to be for a good reason."
"You made the wrong call; those people were fugitives," Iodem said harshly.
"But I thought Kraden-"
"He was clearly put up to this scheme under threat!" Turning back to Isaac, Iodem said, "The messenger bird we sent arrived this morning. They just barely slipped through before word spread."
"You said there five of them," Isaac said to the guard. "Can you describe them?"
"Aside from Kraden, there were two younger people. He said they were his apprentices. The other two wore thick robes. I could not see their faces, but he claimed they were his bodyguards."
"So Alex was not there," Mia noted.
"Did anything else interesting happen?" Ivan asked.
"They said they were on their way to Lalivero," the guard said. "Another group came through only an hour before them. They were transporting a girl, Laliveran I think. They did had officially signed documents, though."
"Yes you fool, because that group was on official business at Lord Babi's orders!" Iodem shouted. "The second group is wanted men, and you just let them stroll through!"
"I'm sorry, Sir! I figured they were related!"
"Save it. When I return to Tolbi, this will be reported. Expect a pay dock and reassignment, if not outright termination. Now begone."
"Yes, sir!" the guard scurried off.
Isaac considered this. "They're less than a day ahead of us. If we hurry, we might be able to catch up with them before the lighthouse."
"Then let's waste no further time here," Iodem declared, immediately starting off.
"You're coming with us?" Garet asked.
"Yes. If these villains you pursue are only an hour behind Sheba, I must hurry to Lalivero post-haste and ensure her safe return."
They followed Iodem onto the bridge, having a little trouble keeping up with the aggressive pace he set.
The rest of the journey through Suhalla Desert passed without incident. As the golden expanse of the desert began to disappear behind them, the terrain shifted to rough hills and cliffs. On the horizon, the towering height of Venus Lighthouse drew all attention; it was now less than a day's march away.
"I'm glad to finally be out of there!" Kraden exclaimed. "I think I'll be picking sand out of my clothes for months!"
The Tolbi captain said to Saturos, "We're nearly at Suhalla Gate. When we arrive, we will part ways. I thank you again for your help."
"That sounds good," Saturos agreed.
Sheba smiled for the first time. "I can't wait to be back home. It's been so long since I was taken."
"Taken?" Felix asked.
One of the guards, who was walking in front of Saturos, turned his head back and asked, "So... where was it you said you were from again?"
Saturos answered by drawing his sword and plunging it into the man's chest.
Everyone stopped in their tracks.
The man coughed up a mouthful of blood, staring in shocked confusion at the blade which had pierced through his armour like it was nothing. A second later, he was dead, sliding off the blood-soaked weapon.
"NO!" Felix screamed. Instinctively, he charged at Saturos, but he made it only a single step before he was trapped in place by a solid block of Psynergetic ice, formed by the water on his clothes.
The other soldiers sprang into action. The other had his spear raised, backing away from the group, but he had no chance; Menardi closed in and swung her scythe. The guard's head rolled away, down the hill, followed shortly by his body.
"NO!" Felix screamed, thrashing uselessly in the block holding him. "STOP!"
"Get back!" the captain shouted, pushing Sheba behind him.
"You cannot protect her," Saturos said, slowly advancing on him.
"I will until my dying breath, you beast!"
Saturos raised his hand. "I'm counting on it."
Flames gathered around the man, trapping him. Sheba, just outside of the fire, could only back away in terror. When the man started to scream, she collapsed, burying her face in her sleeves.
"You were mistaken, Captain!" Saturos taunted, shouting over the man's screams of agony. "The storm lizards were not the angry gods that have cursed you!"
The flames rose up, engulfing him. When the screams finally ceased, they flickered out, leaving only a blackened skeleton before Saturos' red eyes.
"I was."
Menardi approached the trapped Felix, who was still struggling to break free. He stopped when her scythe, still wet with blood, was pressed to his neck.
"It's time we had a little chat," Menardi said.
Jenna, having been paralysed with shock until then, sprang back to life at the sight of her brother being threatened. She ran at Menardi, tackling her off the ground before she could react, her scythe knocked aside.
"How dare you, you little-?!" Menardi was silenced by Jenna punching her in the mouth.
"DON'T! TOUCH! MY! BROTHER!" Jenna screamed between blows. Suddenly nothing about the quest, the difference in power, or the danger they were all in mattered to her. She was suddenly in a blind rage, this woman who she hated so much, who was constantly threatening and hurting people she loved, was pinned beneath her, and she could unleash all the anger that had been building for an entire year.
Jenna struck her again and again, and though it must only have lasted a few seconds, it felt like an eternity. By the time Saturos had grabbed her by the back of her clothes and pulled her off Menardi, her fists were bruised and covered with blood.
Saturos tossed Jenna on the ground, and stood between the two women.
Menardi drew herself up, wiping blood from her face with the back of her hand. "You're dead, girl! DEAD!"
She drew her dagger, and started towards Jenna.
Saturos grabbed her wrist. "Stop!"
"Saturos, she-!"
"I saw it. Let it go."
"'Let it go'?! No, not after that, she crossed a line-"
"I said LET IT GO!" Saturos screamed at her.
Furious, she turned on Alex. "You were standing there the whole time! Why didn't you stop her?"
"You only told me to stop Felix," Alex said simply.
"Useless!" Menardi spat blood at the ground, before storming off.
Jenna slowly drew herself up, hands shaking and her heart pounding. Saturos approached Felix and stopped in front of him.
"Why did you do this?!" Felix demanded. "They didn't do anything!"
"They were soldiers," Saturos replied. "And they were in our way."
"They were innocent!"
"Felix, please," Alex said. "You have a very charitable view of local politics if you think the military of Tolbi is 'innocent'."
"We had a deal!" Felix screamed.
"Hmm," said Saturos. "I suppose I could say something clever and try to justify this under some stretched interpretation of our agreement. But the honest truth is I just don't care any more. I've had enough of these games: no more hiding our faces, no more sulking around in shadows, and no more running from our enemies. We are proud warriors of Prox, and if anyone wants to try to stop us, well..."
He looked over to the charred body of the captain, where Sheba was still cowering in tears.
"You're a monster," Felix spat.
"Yes," Saturos said, with a wicked grin. "A monster unlike anything your nightmares could ever conjure up. I was too lenient with you; I let you forget that. I know you've been conspiring against us; you never did realise just how well our Proxian ears could hear. Whatever plans you had before, they are over. You are our prisoner. When I give an order, you rush to do it, like a good, trained dog. Understand?"
"Why would I willing cooperate with you after this?!"
"Because if you don't, I will kill her." Saturos pointed to Jenna. "Slowly, and in front of you. And after that, I will kill the old man. And after we are done at Venus Lighthouse, I will kill you. But if you behave, I will let you all live, and even release you once all the beacons are lit. Sound good?"
Felix glanced at his sister, and then looked away, defeated. "Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, sir."
Saturos smiled. "See, you haven't forgotten how things work, after all. Alex, let him go."
The block of ice holding Felix dissipated, and he fell to his knees.
Saturos turned and walked away. Jenna rushed to Felix's side, but he did not move, his face buried beneath his thick hair.
Sheba gave a shocked cry, noticing the tall shadow of Saturos suddenly over her.
"Let's go, Sheba," Saturos said to her. "Venus Lighthouse awaits."
"Felix," Jenna said. "Are you okay?"
When Felix finally looked up, rather than defeat in his eyes, they were burning with hatred and determination.
A/N: And here's another chapter. One of, if not the very first, to focus more on the Felix/Jenna/Proxians story over Isaac's group. This was a relatively straightforward chapter, not too much to say honestly. I had a specific idea of what I wanted it to be, sat down and banged it out mostly in one sitting, and was pleased with how it turned it after some minor edits. Rarely is my writing process so easy and simple.
Most of the chapter is buildup to that final scene, where so many boiling tensions finally exploded. I didn't want to drag it out too much, because the tension is there and we all know how it's going to end. But I did want the moment itself when Saturos attacks them to be sudden and jarring. Saturos could have easily killed those soldiers right away, but he was choosing to be cruel specifically as punishment to Felix. Even without overhearing their conversation, he had to have known something like this was coming. As Kraden said earlier, a splitting was inevitable. So he decided that he no longer needed to hold back, and he had his fun.
If Jenna's aggression seems out of character, please keep in mind that she's been travelling with these people for over a year, the same people who caused the deaths of her parents and her friend's father, have threatened her friends time and again, have abused and threatened her, etc. Essentially, she had a meltdown and all that anger came bursting out. Even though the Proxians are ultimately doing something good for the world, they are still very cruel and violent people at heart.
On a lighter note, Alex's comment about there maybe being another lizard hiding somewhere is a reference to the other cyclone you can find, which takes you to Crossbone Isle, and is a slightly tougher version of the first boss if you choose to fight it.
The scene with Iodem at the bridge was also important. I've included every chance I could at showing the imperial culture of Tolbi, as its quite different from anything the Adepts have encountered so far. There's been a lot of small things: them taking the Gaia Blade from the lighthouse and using it as a tournament prize, Iodem viewing the people of Lalivero as savages, the implication that criticism of Babi in Tolbi could result in punishment, and more. Iodem tearing into that guard for allowing Kraden and the other through shows that such mistakes are not tolerated.
Not too much else to say about this one. Things are moving quickly now, there's only four chapters left in the Broken Seal portion of the story!
Next chapter: Venus Lighthouse!