Chapter XXIII
The Warriors of Prox
The winds howled as they struck at the golden stone of the aerie of Venus Lighthouse. From the height of the tower's peak, one could see Lalivero and Babi's unfinished tower by the sea, and even Tolbi itself was faintly visible on the very edge of the horizon.
Three figures stood by the well that was build into the centre of the tower. The two Proxians, having finally discarded their heavy brown cloaks, stood at the edge, contemplating.
Saturos stared thoughtfully at the Venus Star, now removed from the mythril bag, his blue hair covering half his face.
"I half-expected they would be here waiting for us," Saturos said.
"We didn't see them," Menardi pointed out. "Perhaps we outpaced them after all."
"Perhaps," Saturos said quietly.
Menardi gave him an amused look, brushing her blonde hair back behind her pointed ears. "You sound almost disappointed. Eager for a rematch after all?"
Saturos did not answer her, instead looking back at the elevator they had ridden to the aerie.
"Only two lighthouses remain after this," Menardi told him. "We are halfway there."
"Mars Lighthouse will be no challenge," Saturos answered. "We've both seen it countless times already. Really, it's only Jupiter that's still unknown to us."
Menardi frowned. "I suppose that's true. There really is only one trial left after this."
Their new captive, Sheba, was standing quietly some distance away. She hadn't spoken a word since they had entered the lighthouse.
"You keep trying to read our minds," Menardi told her. "You think we haven't noticed?"
She shrank back, her face paling.
"Those skills will be put to good use at Jupiter Lighthouse," Menardi said with a grin.
Saturos looked again at the elevator, and upon noticing it was moving, he smirked.
"Finally," he said.
The two Proxians turned, as the stone platform of the elevator rose into place, carrying its sole passenger to the aerie.
Felix stepped off wordlessly and crossed the distance of the aerie to the others.
"I was beginning to wonder if you would show," Saturos said.
"Why haven't you lit the beacon yet?" Felix asked, noting the empty well.
"We're waiting for the others," Saturos said. "The beacon was to be a signal to them. But it would seem they haven't shown yet."
Menardi cast a glance at the expanse of ocean on the horizon. There was a revealing flicker of worry in her eyes.
Felix said nothing, his face carefully impassive.
"I suppose I should be angry with you," said Saturos. "We told you to take Kraden and your sister and go to Idejima and wait for us. Even after my warnings, you defied us again."
"You knew I wouldn't."
"I had my suspicions," answered Saturos. "But what can I know for sure about you anymore? I never expected you would plot to betray us."
"You betrayed the deal we had," Felix countered.
Saturos scoffed, and stuffed the Venus Star back into the mythril bag on his belt. "What were my exact words? I told you I would not kill any innocents if it could be avoided. And I kept that promise, despite the delays and difficulties in travel it has caused us."
"Exact words?" Felix shouted. "How about 'the honest truth is I just don't care anymore'? Even before you killed those soldiers, you were already looking for an way to break your end of the deal!"
"And?" Saturos asked. "It was a foolish request to begin with. You think a task such as this can be achieved with no loss of blood?"
Felix clenched his fist. "There was no need to-"
"Those men had their orders," Menardi pointed out. "They would have tried to kill us, without hesitation, had they realised who we were."
"Whether you liked with my terms or not, you still agreed to them!" said Felix.
Saturos glanced at Sheba, who was shrinking in fear and confusion. He scoffed, shaking his head. "As I said, I honoured the deal it until it could be avoided no longer."
Felix followed his gaze to their terrified captive.
"She's an Adept, isn't she?" Felix asked.
Saturos looked back to him, smirking. "Yes. A Jupiter Adept, even."
"Those are quite rare, you know," Menardi said. "Convenient that we would happen to find one here, when our next stop is Jupiter Lighthouse, isn't it?"
Felix looked back to the Proxians, with a growing mix of anger and understanding. "So then, none of this was about me or Jenna after all? You killed those men and took Sheba hostage all because you need her for the next lighthouse?"
Sheba, though still keeping a frightened distance, was now watching with an undeniable interest.
"Yes," Saturos answered plainly.
Felix didn't know what to say to that.
He wanted to object, to tell that that it wasn't right, that it was too far to go. And yet...
"You didn't tell me because I would try to stop you," Felix said quietly. "I would have even warned them if I could."
"And we would not have the Jupiter Adept we need to complete our quest," Saturos said, narrowing his red eyes. "You think you and your sister can run off on your own and light the remaining lighthouses? What would you have done at Jupiter Lighthouse when you could not progress without a captive like Sheba? Or for that matter, what would you do when you needed the Mars Star? Because I promise you that Isaac will never hand it over willingly. What was your plan to deal with that?"
Felix said nothing. He couldn't give Saturos an answer because he didn't have one.
The truth, which he had been so reluctant to admit to himself, was that he had so far avoided thinking about that. Just as he had avoided thinking about how to tell Jenna the truth of their parents. He did not know what to do, so he had pushed these things out of his mind, resigning himself to his own inability to do anything about them, and carried on waiting for the problems to come to him instead.
Saturos, like always, could read him like an open book. "You don't want to face the truth of things. You aren't even capable of killing a stranger, how could you possibly kill your childhood friend? Even if it was to bring your parents back, you could never do it."
Felix glared at him.
"You need us," Saturos continued. "You always have, loathe as you are to admit it. And do you know why? Because we're the monsters that you hate so much. You love us for that."
Felix stepped back, caught off-guard. "Wh-what?"
"We're not afraid get our hands dirty, even while you stand behind, proud of your own passivity. In truth, your hands are bloody too, by throwing your lot in with us. At least we hold no illusions of what we are."
"That's... that's not true...!"
"You want to bring your fallen parents back to life? Your naive wish betrays a child's heart," Saturos sneered. "If we were not there to help you, what would you have done? Somehow I doubt you would have stolen into Sol Sanctum yourself, risking a violent confrontation with the people of Vale. And after that? The first time you were forced to make a choice between your mission and your ideals? We were your protection from that. By standing in our shadow, and letting us make the difficult choices for you, you were able to keep those questions you are so afraid to ask yourself at a comfortable, safe distance."
Felix felt as though he had fallen face-first into icy water. He could offer no denial, or refute, to Saturos, because he knew deep down that the man was right. Every word of it was true.
He'd told himself time and time again that he was willing to do whatever he needed in order to light the lighthouses and bring his parents back to life. But he knew that had been a comforting lie. He couldn't kill Isaac, or Garet, or even the two Proxians in front of him who had caused his parents' deaths in the first place. He had secretly prayed that it would never come to that, that his convictions would not be tested.
He had been so sure that, when the time came and they had no choice but to take the Mars Star from Isaac, a solution would have already presented itself one way or another. Perhaps he wouldn't have liked it, but if it was the supposedly the only option, he would be capable of looking the other way while the Proxians took care of the unpleasant part.
Felix was naked to the truth: he was a coward.
"He's speechless," Menardi remarked smugly.
"Felix," Saturos said directly. "Do you remember the day you last tried to escape from Prox?"
He nodded, still too struck to say anything.
"I caught you miles away from Prox, hiding from the storm in a cave," Saturos said. "And do you remember what I did?"
Felix did. He would never forget it.
"I gave you the beating of your life. I left more bones broken than not, and then when you could no longer cry or run away, when you were an inch away from death, I dragged you through the snow back to Prox. And do you remember what I told you?"
"You said..." Felix managed. "That if I had nothing left to live for, I should just give up and die in that cave. But if there was anything I wanted in that moment, anything that was worth living for, I would have to fight to live for it."
Saturos nodded. "And what kept you alive that day?"
Felix clenched his fist. "How much I hated you."
Saturos smiled. "That was my gift. I gave you something to live for when you were at your lowest, given up and ready to freeze to death in the wilderness. Do you see? I've always played the villain for you."
"You're just trying to justify your actions!" Felix shouted. "You say you don't lie about who you are, but here you are trying to cloak your actions in this... 'tough love'! You took me away from my home! You destroyed my family!"
"And it's made you into who you are today," Saturos said, crossing his arms. "Accept my gift or not; that's your choice. But you're at a crossroads now: either continue with us as we light the remaining lighthouses... or run away and become an enemy just like Isaac. It's up to you."
Felix stared at Saturos, waiting to see if he had anything more to say. He did not, simply waiting with his arms crossed, for Felix to answer. As for Menardi, she was simply following Saturos' lead as she always did, and casting the occasional glance at the sea.
Some part of Felix was tempted. It would certainly be easier to continue to follow in their footsteps, letting them take the risks and do the dirty work he didn't want to do. But his mind was already made up; it had been for a while, ever since the conversation with Jenna in Tolbi's inn. No, he could not go back to them. Not after what they had done. And Jenna was waiting for him; he could not betray her trust again.
Even after everything Saturos had said, and the difficult realities he would need to grapple with now, nothing had really changed.
He didn't have the answered yet... but he would figure that out when the time came.
Felix decided that he had had enough of the Proxians' lies and manipulation. It was time he finished what he had come here to do, and return to his sister.
"Sheba!" he called out, reaching his hand out to her. "Come, I'll take-"
He froze in shock as the girl flinched from him.
Of course she was afraid of him. He was no different than the Proxians to her; another stranger who had come to destroy her life.
In that scared expression Felix could see himself as a child, terrified and alone in Prox, surrounded by horror.
He wasn't going to let them destroy her innocence too.
"Sheba," he said gently, "it's okay. I'm not like them. I'm not going to hurt you."
Her expression softened just so slightly.
"If you can trust me," Felix continued. "I'll take you home, back to Lalivero. I'll keep you safe. I promise."
Saturos scoffed. "So after all that, you're willing to throw everything away?"
"I'm not going to let you treat this girl like a pawn," Felix said. "Not like you treated me."
"Well, you're too late," said Saturos, looking to the other side of the aerie. "We have company."
Felix turned at the sound of grinding stone, as the rising ancient elevator clicked into place, carrying with it Isaac and his three companions.
The two groups of Adepts stared at one-another in a tense silence.
On one side, the two Proxians, standing just beside the well of the aerie. Saturos had his hand on his belt, right beside the mythril bag that contained the Venus Star, while Menardi waited, her scythe drawn and held like a walking stick. Near them, Felix stood protectively beside Sheba, between both the Proxians and the other group.
On the other end of the aerie, Isaac stood at the head of his group, his golden scarf whipping violently in the wind. Garet, Ivan, and Mia were waiting, ready to draw their weapons.
They waited, expecting a repeat of the events of Mercury Lighthouse, that Saturos would quickly throw the star into the well and light the beacon before they could stop him.
Isaac had his hand on the sheathed Gaia Blade. He knew his Psynergy much better than he had all those months ago; he could strike with a casted Ragnarok in an instant if Saturos made a move for the well. Not enough to stop him, perhaps, but it would slow him down enough and give them the precious time they needed to cross the distance.
"Well," Saturos finally said, with a slight smirk, "it looks like everyone's here."
"Where's Jenna?" Garet asked from behind Isaac.
"Safe," Saturos answered. "She's waiting for us with Kraden and Alex."
Isaac noticed Felix's expression, and the tense way he was standing.
"Seems like we interrupted something," Isaac said under his breath, just loud enough for his companions to hear.
"Something with Felix?" Ivan whispered back.
Isaac considered the way the other Venus Adept was standing, as if he was shielding Sheba from the Proxians.
"Well," said Saturos, "you're here. Let's talk."
Isaac scoffed. "Now he wants to talk."
"Why not?" Saturos answered.
Isaac glanced at the aerie well. "I can't help but feel like we did this already. And I remember that conversation ending with you saying that if the elders of Vale couldn't understand you, how could children."
"Indeed," Saturos said. "We went to your elders, and we tried to reason with them. But they would hear nothing of what we said. They were old, set in tradition, having never known a world beyond the borders of their home. But you've travelled across Angara, seen things they couldn't imagine; you might listen where they couldn't."
"Why?" demanded Garet. "Why should we listen to anything you have to say after everything you've done?"
Saturos considered it, casting a quick glance at Felix, before answering, "If you give us a chance to say what we have to say, I will allow Jenna to go with you."
Felix cast a sharp glance at him. "Saturos, what-?!"
"We don't need her anymore," he said, interrupting him with a sharp look. "She's become more trouble than she's worth, after that incident earlier. So if everyone plays nice... she can go."
Felix looked like he was about to say something, but after a moment of consideration, he let it go.
"After all this, you'll just let her go?" Isaac countered, sceptical. "Just for us listening to what you have to say?"
"I give you my word," Saturos said, maintaining unblinking eye contact. "Jenna will not be our prisoner any longer."
Menardi gave Saturos a curious look, but said nothing.
Isaac frowned. "That's fine and all, but we're not just here for Jenna. You need to free Sheba as well."
"Oh?" said Menardi. "And why do you care so much about this girl? Who is she to you?"
"It doesn't matter," Isaac answered. "Let her go too. Those are our conditions."
Saturos looked to Felix and Sheba, who were silently watching all this unfold. Then he looked back to Isaac's group with an amused chuckle.
"Very well. When our business here is done, Sheba is free to go."
"No tricks?" Isaac asked.
"I do not lie," answered Saturos. "Lies are the weapons of a coward."
"Fine," said Isaac, taking a step forward. "We'll shake hands on it."
Saturos cocked an eyebrow. "Is this some sort of Angaran tradition?"
"It shows me you mean what you say."
"Very well."
As the two leaders crossed the aerie to shake hands, the others watched in uncertainty.
Sheba, having little idea what was happening, looked to Felix for explanation.
"Just stay close to me," Felix told her quietly, as he watched with a frown.
Once Saturos and Isaac had shaken hands, and nothing happened, the others relaxed somewhat, taking their hands off their weapons.
"Alright," Isaac said, stepping back but still keeping a careful eye on the Proxian. "Tell us what you must."
"When our group went to Vale, we met with your elders," Saturos began. "At first they greeted us kindly. They knew of our home Prox from their ancient texts, but they had assumed we were lost long ago. Since those days, the northern lands had grown barren and cold, and Prox had dwindled from a great city to only a small village with so few of us remaining. We told the elders this, and we made our request of them."
"You wanted to light the lighthouses and restore Alchemy to save Prox," said Isaac.
"Wrong," Saturos answered coldly. "We wanted only the Mars Star from Sol Sanctum."
"What?" Felix said, looking up suddenly. "You never told me that!"
"Why just the Mars Star?" Isaac asked.
"Prox sits in the shadow of Mars Lighthouse," Saturos continued. "Our clan has always kept the stories of our ancestors alive, passing the tales on from one generation to the next. We knew the world was not always as it is now; that the lighthouse had once shown bright and illuminated the fields for miles. However, there are no fields... the edge of Weyard is right beyond Mars Lighthouse."
"The... edge of Weyard?" Isaac asked. "As in the literal end of the world?"
Saturos nodded. "Every child of Prox has seen it. A day's walk and you can peer our into the abyss. There is nothing beyond it but darkness."
Isaac said nothing. He couldn't even image that. The very thought of it was chilling.
Saturos continued. "We took the longest rope we had, tied it to a marker as close to the edge as we dared go, and measured the length. The next year we returned to that same marker, and repeated the test. And sure enough, our suspicions were confirmed: the edge had grown closer, by an alarming amount.'
"Something needed to be done. Though we knew the legends of Alchemy, and how it had been sealed away to save Weyard from destruction, we knew its power could save the lighthouse, and by extension Prox. So we went to Vale, and we made our request of the elders: to be allowed into Sol Sanctum, so we could take the Mars Star with us back to Prox. The others could remain, and so Alchemy would not be fully unleashed, but enough power would be freed to save Prox."
Isaac bit his lip, a growing suspicion building. "But they said no."
"Of course," Saturos growled. "They gave us every excuse: that we had no proof this was really happening, that the seal had to remain in full, that no one could be trusted with even one part of Alchemy's power; none of it mattered because they were condemning our people to die. And if the abyss grew enough that it consumed even the lighthouse... then it would be swallowing any hope of ever undoing the seal at all. We explained all of this to them, and they had the audacity to tell us that, if it happened it would be the will of the gods."
"No..." Garet said softly. "My grandfather was on that council. I can't believe he would say that."
"Believe it," said Saturos. "It's the truth. I was there."
Menardi turned her gaze back to them and said, "Their decision was unanimous, except for one of them; a brown-haired man of middle-years. I remember his clothes were dirty from yard work when he joined the others. He was the only one to express any distaste for the condemnation of us all."
Kyle, thought Isaac, with a stab of grief to his heart. Of course my father would be against such a thing. And he paid for that compassion with his life.
"You know the rest of it," Saturos said spitefully. "We made a show of leaving, set up a camp by the river, and then returned under cover of darkness. We were caught by the traps of Sol Sanctum, and only Menardi and I survived of the group that was there. We left, found Felix in the river by our camp, and regrouped to try again in three years."
Isaac couldn't help but think back to the conversation in Vale, right after their return from Sol Sanctum. The Great Healer had shown clear guilt, speaking of how the elders' inaction had brought about the storm that had killed Kyle and Jenna's parents. He'd felt that perhaps they had earned a divine punishment they were facing.
Though he had not said it then, it was clear in hindsight that this was why. They had had the chance to reach a compromise with the Proxians. And they had made the choice to turn away and let them all die.
"Whatever blood was shed that night was on the hands of your elder," Saturos said to him. "Hate me all you will, blame me for your father's death... but the truth is what it is. We were not going to simply return home empty handed."
Felix was standing in the same spot, his gloved hands clenched in tight fists.
"Something changed though," Isaac said. "When you returned three years later, you went after all the stars. You're not just trying to light Mars Lighthouse to save your village, you're going after all of them. So what happened?"
"Well, our original offer to Vale was a compromise," said Saturos. "We asked for only the Mars Star because we hoped it would be all we would need. When the people of Vale turned their backs on us, why was there any need to continue compromising? So we answered their closed hand with a fist."
"We had grown complacent," Menardi added in. "Desperate in our weakness. We could not afford the chance of another failure. So we would not leave it to chance again."
"Don't listen to them!" Felix cut in. "I know what they really want!"
They turned their attention to him.
"Oh?" said Saturos. "Are you going to accuse us of lies again?"
"No, you don't lie," Felix said. "Not directly, but you spin half-truths and convenient interpretations to your own benefit! Alex would be proud of your work here."
"Then what is it, really?!" Isaac demanded. "You've been awfully quiet so far. What do you have to say?"
Felix pointed an accusing finger at the Proxians. "They're part of the warrior caste of Prox. They act like they're noble protectors, but they're bloodthirsty killers. Did you pass by the entrance of the lighthouse, and see all the bodies they left there?"
Saturos folded his arms and scoffed.
"All this talk of trying to negotiate with the elder of Vale might not even be true," Felix continued. "They certainly never told me about it. But I have overheard conversations of theirs, where they talked about how eager they were to return Prox to its former glory."
Isaac turned back to the Proxians. "Former glory?"
Menardi answered, "In the Lost Age, Prox was a proud and mighty empire. Our warriors were the most feared force in the north of Weyard. No nation dared invade us."
"In their foolishness, our leaders offered their aid in sealing Alchemy," said Saturos. "And more than any other land in Weyard, Prox has suffered for it."
"They don't care about helping anyone, not even the villagers of Prox," Felix exclaimed. "What they want is to use the power of Alchemy for revenge."
Saturos was silent for a moment. Then, he answered, "Yes."
Isaac glowered. "Revenge? Against who?"
"The traitors," Saturos answered slowly. "Each of them... beginning with Vale."
"Our people kept old records," Menardi said. "Writing from centuries past... even trade records with lands long gone. We had treaties signed by each of the nations that worked together to place the seal. We were allies once, a long time ago, and those documents promised aid if we would ever need it."
"We brought the treaties with us when we went to Vale," Saturos said. "Your elders denied that such records could have ever existed. They refused to even look at them."
Garet shook his head. "I can't believe this..."
"Mia," said Ivan, "your clan dates back to the Lost Age as well. Did Imil have any records like that?"
Mia frowned thoughtfully. "We had a lot of old books and papers. Some so old I couldn't read the language they were written in. But I never had the time to go through all of it, and my father never told me anything like this."
Isaac shook his head. "Those were... thousands of years old! You can't have expected the descendants of the people who wrote them to-!"
"Why not?" demanded Saturos. "Those treaties were signed in the blood of my people, and yours both, when we worked together to create the seal in the first place! We kept our side of agreement, and you left us to die!"
"Spoken like a true warrior," Felix scoffed. "Begging to be saved by another."
"Be silent!" Saturos shouted. "It was the only option we had! We were not proud to do it, but what other choice did we have?!"
"Our ancestors sealed away Alchemy for a reason!" Isaac insisted. "I understand the situation Prox is in, but there has to be some other way save them than to break the seal and risk the devastation of the world!"
"And what would you suggest that be?" Saturos asked, before chuckling in spiteful amusement. "That we abandon the lighthouse to the abyss and settle in some other land? If so many of us making such a journey over frigid tundras and the sea were even possible, what land would welcome us? Would Vale welcome us?"
It was clear enough that they didn't think it was a possibility.
"If the abyss swallows Mars Lighthouse, it might not be only Prox that suffers," Menardi said. "Are you willing to take such a risk, just because freeing Alchemy might put the world in danger again?"
"It will," Isaac insisted. "You want Prox to be a powerful empire again? You want to destroy Vale for wronging you? You aren't the only ones who crave that power. There are others in the world with enemies."
"And we will crush them as well," Menardi stated, her chin high.
Isaac frowned. The two Proxians returned his stare, proudly silent. They had said what they wanted said, and they were waiting now for his response.
At his side, Garet was perhaps more quiet than Isaac had ever seen him; he was devastated from what he'd learnt. Ivan and Mia, whatever their thoughts on this were, they were keeping quiet and giving Isaac room to handle this as the group's leader.
As for Felix... he was standing where he had been, a bulwark between the frightened form of Sheba and everyone else.
"Alright..." said Isaac. "You said that Jenna and Sheba could go free after we heard you out."
Saturos nodded.
"However that leaves the matter of this lighthouse, and the beacon. So what happens next?"
"I suppose that's up to you, Isaac, isn't it?" Saturos answered.
"You weren't expecting this story along would convince us to join your side?"
"What do you take me for?" Saturos asked, with a mirthless shake of his head, "a naive child? I simply expected you might have more sense than the old fools who sent you out on this mission."
"Sorry if we disappointed you."
"Actually," said Saturos, the edges of his lips curling into the shadow of a smile. "This is exactly what I was hoping for."
Isaac waited for his proposal.
"Perhaps a truce?" Saturos suggested. "A temporary stay of our conflict."
"How?" asked Isaac.
"You give us the Mars Star," Saturos explained, "thus honouring our original request of your people. And in return, we will show our good faith by giving you the Venus Star and leaving this beacon unlit."
"What?!" Felix exclaimed.
"You would do that?" Ivan asked, not sounding like he believed it.
"This beacon is not our immediate priority," said Saturos. "It was simply the next stop on our way. So if you will cease your pursuit of us, we will return home to Prox and light the Mars beacon instead. And you can return to Vale with Jenna and-"
"No!" Felix shouted, stepping away from Sheba and closer to them. "Saturos, have you lost your mind?!"
"Back off, Felix," said Menardi, stepping between them, her scythe still drawn and ready. "The adults are talking."
"Saturos!" Felix demanded.
The other Proxian gave him a scornful look. "You came back here to save Sheba from us, didn't you? Well, we're releasing her. So take her and go."
"But the beacon! Saturos, it has to be lit!"
Isaac asked him, "Why do you care so much if the beacons are lit?"
Felix glared back at Isaac. "That is my own business."
"Well, I don't care anyway," Isaac answered, turning back to Saturos. "So we exchange Elemental Stars, leaving the beacon unlit, and we part ways?"
"That's right," the Proxian answered.
"Isaac," Mia said. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Well," he answered her. "I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea of just giving up on Mars Lighthouse, but this will keep Venus from being lit, it will get Jenna and Sheba freed, and it will keep their people from dying. I can live with that."
"I can't just let you do this!" Felix exclaimed. "I need Venus Lighthouse lit!"
"Well," Saturos said to him, with a toothy grin. "You're more than welcome to try to take the star from Isaac's group after we make the deal."
"Please do," Isaac said, glaring again at Felix. "I'd be more than happy to stop you."
"Let's shake on it," said Saturos, pulling the mythril bag free from his belt. "And then you can have this."
Isaac considered for a moment.
This was a mistake, he felt. He could feel the burning gaze of the one-eyed stone in Sol Sanctum, already displeased with him for failing to stop Mercury Lighthouse from being lit. Now here he was, making a deal with the devil to give up one lighthouse for another.
But if nothing else, this would accomplish their immediate goals. And it would save the people of Prox.
Isaac reached out his hand.
"No!" Felix screamed.
A rush of Psynergy filled the air, and Isaac had only a second to react, jumping back as a blade of Psynergy came roaring down from above, striking at the very spot where he and Saturos' hands were about to meet.
The Proxians moved away in time, but the mythril bag was freed from Saturos' hands, flying into the air, before landing on the floor of the aerie.
"I'm not going to let you just throw everything away!" Felix exclaimed.
"Well," said Saturos, drawing his sword. "It seems you've been training after all."
"Stay out of this, Felix!" Isaac shouted.
"Or what?" Felix asked. "Are you going to team up with the man who killed your father and kill me? Do you really think he meant a word of what he told you? It's all lies and manipulation!"
"Felix!" Isaac said. "You're starting to really piss me off!"
"What do you think is going to happen?" Felix demanded, laughing. "That Jenna is going to run back to Vale with you? She has the Jupiter Star, waiting for me at Idejima!"
"What?" Isaac stopped.
"She doesn't want to go back to Vale with you, Isaac!" Felix said. "She had the chance, and she chose to stay with me."
Isaac did not move for a moment.
And then, he drew his sword free.
"I've had enough of you!" Isaac shouted. "Enough! I don't want to hear another lie come out that traitor mouth again!"
Felix shook his head. "Isaac, what-"
"I said shut up! Not another word! Jenna would never do that! She would never betray me the way you did! I was there for her when no one else was! When she was alone, when she was on the verge of giving up, I was there for her!"
"She doesn't need you anymore!" Felix countered. With no weapon of his own, all he could do was back away. "If you hurt me, you would be one hurting her now!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Isaac screamed, moving to strike.
He brought his blade down, only to be met with another sword.
Saturos glared back at him.
"What...?" Isaac blinked in shock.
"Felix," Saturos said quietly. "Take Sheba and go, while you still can."
Felix hesitated. "But... the beacon."
"We will take care of it. The rest is in your hands now."
"Guys!" Isaac shouted back to his companions. "Get the star!"
Near the aerie, where the mythril bag had fallen, Garet heard Isaac and immediately made a move for it. He was only a hair away from grabbing it when Menardi's scythe swung in an arc, catching the mythril bag on its end and leaving a slash in the golden brick floor.
The bag, which was torn to pieces, caught on the wind, while the glowing Venus Star fell into Menardi's hand.
Wasting not a moment, she made a move for the well, only to be stopped by the a forming wall of ice.
"I don't think so!" Mia shouted.
Menardi turned back, a wicked smile crossing her lips.
"Finally," she said.
Back at the other end, Felix was stepping back, over to where Sheba was waiting, while Saturos and Isaac were facing each other, each eyeing the other carefully.
"None of this was ever serious, was it?" Isaac asked. "You were going to kill us as soon as we let out guard down and take the Venus Star back, weren't you?"
Saturos smirked. "Perhaps you aren't as dumb as I thought."
"Fine," Isaac said. "We'll deal with you, and then we'll go after him and stop them from lighting Jupiter or Mars or whatever we need to do. If Prox dies, then its on your hands."
"If you can stop us," Saturos mocked.
Isaac brought down his sword.
A/N: This one took a while! I wrote this and the following chapter as a single large chapter, and then split them in editing. A part of what took so long to get started on it was the big confrontation between Felix and Saturos. Not to get too personal, but as someone who grew up with abusive parents, it was hard not to find parallels between experiences I had, and the justification Saturos has for the way he treated Felix. I wanted to get into Saturos' head, and explore the twisted father/son dynamic the two have. Perhaps I could have gone further with it, but it wasn't easy to write at times, and there was a lot of ground to cover. Hopefully it makes sense and it doesn't feel like there was anything left out.
I thought about having a moment when Menardi realizes that Jenna stole the Jupiter Star from her, but it didn't feel like it could fit anywhere without drastically changing the following conversation. So I decided to just leave it ambiguous as to whether they realized or not.
The in-game conversation at Venus Lighthouse is very heavily Sheba-focused. I was never a huge fan of this, as Sheba isn't introduced as a character until the 11th hour of the first game, and everyone at the lighthouse talking about her so much kinda sidelines the actual conclusion of the first game's story arcs. Here, I tried to strike a balance, not neglecting her importance (as a lot does ride on getting her home safely) but focusing firstly on the characters we've been following this whole time. Sheba will, after all, get plenty of focus in the TLA half of the story.
I deliberately left it ambiguous as to whether Saturos' offer to Isaac, and his story about the elders of Vale, was ever genuine or if it was simply manipulation to drive Felix to attack. Consider his conversation with Felix at the beginning of the chapter, and the tensions that have been building between them, and come to your own conclusion.
You might notice a pretty important plot point from the game that was missing from the chapter. Don't worry, I didn't forget about it (far from it) but it's just something that will be addressed later, when it becomes relevant again.
Only two chapters left in the Broken Seal half of the story!
Next chapter: Saturos and Menardi's last stand!