Nice to see you again... or something. Anyway, next chapter, woo! Getting there slowly!
Well, as per usual, thanks in advance for reading this and a special thanks to:
crazy reader, Celestia's Paladin, Bonar, Noel the mermaid, and, TrippyToastersAndABagOfChips
for taking the time to review.
Well, then, let's get to it!
Isaac's immediate thought was one of speed. Sheba's hurried frantic call spurred him from Jenna faster than he had meant to. Jenna was in tears and he had bolted, he felt slightly heartless, but there were more important things. High pitched screams came into earshot at the foot of the stairs and that only served to lighten his feet through the air. Sheba stood beckoning frantically at the door to her room. Isaac darted in.
Mia was writhing in her bed, glass shattering, emotional screams echoing from her. He was at her side trying to hold her still and calm her unsure of whether her screams came from dreams or reality. He quickly assessed that she was in fact awake, a good sign, the only one they had had so far.
"Mia, please stop, MIA!" They roared over her screams for Felix.
Isaac shook his head desperately and motioned for Sheba to do what she could. Sheba glowed with Psynergy, and Mia drifted back into the realm of night.
"It's not easy on her." Isaac breathed a heavy sigh, answering Sheba's frown, after hours without any good news he had rather lost his patience and hope, "She's still completely drained of her Psynergy, and Piers can't help restore any lost blood."
"At least she seems to be healing, not well, but it's something. More than we can say for Felix." Sheba sighed just as laboured, "I'll stay with her, you go back to him… at least you can help heal him in some way."
"Alright, but if she wakes up again just try to calm her down, I'll be back soon to check on her."
Isaac left Sheba in the room with Mia.
Sheba's pulse began to quicken as she thought of what Mia must have been through, she couldn't even imagine it. She had been horrified after arriving on the scene with the rest, seeing Mia passed out beside Felix, his chest torn open, blood staining everything that surrounded them, electricity burning crackled paths along his body, she could barely handle it… but Mia was alone, sitting in that pool of blood, trying to save him.
"I wanna help too…"
And with that she reached out toward Mia and read her mind, her dreams.
Sheba stood beside Mia in an unfamiliar location. Mia was down beside Felix's broken form, weeping uncontrollably, trying to heal him.
Her eyes adjusted to the scene and she saw they were on the edge of a rocky outcropping above nothingness, the sky a deep red streaked with black. Horrible tremors rocked around them, splitting the land. Lightning sparked and shot around her, black as night, bringing a darkening blinding with each bolt. Thunder rang out, ringing through her mind, almost deafening, never ceasing. Fires and magma shot up from all around, burning and melting everything it touched. Fierce gale storms ferociously blew around, Sheba although not truly present in the dream, could almost feel them, powerful enough to send anything tumbling into the expansive darkness.
Sheba gripped her head tightly, trying to keep her grip on reality in the hellish nightmare she had brought herself into. This was enough to bring her to madness she couldn't imagine how Mia was coping.
She looked down behind Mia and saw many disgusting monsters clawing their way toward them, hungry for flesh. Mia was constantly whirling around, her cerulean hair flying behind her, to cast powerful ice showers to repel the monsters. She formed walls of ice, forced mighty torrents of water down the ground, but to no avail. The monsters smashed through the ice and quickly charged through the water, growing in size and tenacity with each passing moment.
Eventually, she cast her Psynergy to repel the monsters and protect Felix once more, when a tremor struck them, stronger than anything else, and broke the cliff in two, Felix's limp form, along with many monsters and boulders, were thrown from the cliff; into the expanse of nothing below.
Mia screamed over and over, a scream that would scar Sheba's memories, as she looked for Felix below her. Finally she gave up and sat upon a lone pillar of rock, separated from the cliff with the last tremor. She sat and wept on this rock, awash with Felix's blood, and she screamed and pleaded for him.
Then all vanished into nothing, Mia collapsed amidst darkness, then the scene flashed and changed. She was back atop the cliff, the monsters clawed their way toward them once more but now it was different. Felix stood strong staring down, readying himself for the coming onslaught. A barrier of light separated Mia from him she banged on the barrier and screamed for him, telling him to run. Felix turned to her, a saddening smile and remorse filled eyes on his face. He turned back to the monsters and drew his blade.
She cried and screamed as she watched him fight the beasts, trying to use her Psynergy to help him, but nothing permeated the barrier.
Then Felix fell to the monsters, being torn by their claws and fangs. Then the barrier vanished and the beasts turned their attention to Mia. She tried to fight through them to get to Felix, being clawed and slashed as she tried. She reached his bloody, mangled form, and tried to heal him, not caring of the bloodthirsty monsters closing in around her. The monsters lunged and she fell to them as they feasted on the Adepts.
The scene then flashed and changed again, Sheba wrenched herself from the dream, not capable of enduring another hellish nightmare.
"Oh, no, Mia, I'm sorry I put you back there." She was on the verge of tears, "Don't worry I'll get you out of there… it'll be okay…"
Sheba undid her spell and Mia's eyes flew open. She screamed over and over just as she had in the dream, with no bearing on reality
Sheba tried to calm her, "Mia, Mia, please, please, stop, you're safe, Felix is okay, please, Mia, stop." Sheba was crying, pleading with Mia, but to no avail, "Mia, I…I'm sorry, Mia…" Sheba used her powers again and put her back into the horrors of her nightmare, "I'm sorry, Mia…"
Piers had been wise in his decisions, everyone knew it if not for him the two Adepts would surely be long dead. He had been working non-stop to ensure Felix's survival and had been smart to not attempt to actually heal him, but rather keep his situation stable. The signs of fatigue and weariness were now clearly evident in the Lemurian's form, despite the lack of full Psynergetic use on his part. His drooping posture, fast breathing, shaking legs, restlessly twitching fingers, and the sweat pouring from his body as he taxed himself showed his ever growing weariness. Occasional jolts hit him as he nearly drifted away into sleep. His eyes, though intently focused, bore the signs more plainly than anything else, behind the intensity in them the exhaustion and weakness shone bright, a beacon of worry.
Healing was no easy task, it was a curious thing to Piers. He had never had to access this facet of his Psynergy while in Lemuria, but since leaving there it had been a near every day occurrence. It was never the same, unless by some marvellous coincidence someone was injured in the exact same way in the exact same place by the exact same enemy, it was always a new experience, something different to delve into. He was no healer for sure, but it greatly intrigued him.
Currently, he was struggling. Being mentally within Felix's body in its state was a stressful ordeal. He travelled through his blood, finding torn flesh, ripped tendons, broken bones, and the constant array of electrical disturbance that still crackled from the hole in his chest. He could see it all, as clear to him as if he was walking through Felix's body trying to manually sew together and recreate anything that was lost. At this stage, it was a losing battle. He had resigned to keeping what was intact that way, and tried his best to prevent anything from getting any worse.
Isaac returned to the room looking slightly tired, "How is he?" He asked taking a seat on the bed beside him. He picked a glass off the table and poured Piers some water, which he gratefully accepted.
Piers let out a small breath as he drank the water, "Not well, I can only do so much. Jenna's been trying to see him, but I think it's best if she doesn't. You know, she's lucky really, if she had seen him when we first found him, I don't think she'd be able to cope. She has been through an awful lot when it comes to family. You did right when you kept her away, Isaac."
Isaac thought of how she was screaming and trying to run to the body of her brother when they found him. Screaming at Isaac to let her see him, but he knew if she saw him it would destroy her. He had to keep her back. He hated himself, he held Jenna back obscuring her sight as Piers and Garet carefully carried Felix back to the inn while Ivan and Sheba carried Mia. She screamed and kicked and punched but Isaac remained, hating himself all the while, his black-eye and bruised body had been the evidence of how much she loved her brother.
"Can I help?"
"I'm sorry, Isaac, no, I'm being drained just trying to keep him alive, I'm amazed Mia could hold onto him. If we could get her to come to her senses, Mia and I could heal him… to an extent… the rest, well we'd just have to wait and see." The yellow eyed Lemurian returned his gaze to the hole in Felix's chest, along the series of cuts and bruises which accompanied it.
"You know the problem with that. She's traumatised and the Psynergy drain has only made it worse." Isaac truly was exasperated with the situation.
It was the first time he had been unable to think of any way to help at all. Even Contigo's healer was completely unable to help, conceding that Piers would do a much better job than he ever could. Isaac had asked Kraden earlier if he could help either Felix or Mia. Kraden had tried to stitch the cuts covering Felix's body, but the venom contained within made it risky and he had lost a lot of skin and flesh along the major wound in his chest making it impossible to stitch close and even that coursed with constant sparks of lightning. They had applied several healing salves and potions to the wounds and administered several different antidotes, but the damage was quite severe and made little difference. Kraden said he might know something to remedy Mia's hysteria but he didn't have the supplies, Mia had some in her bag and now he and Ivan were out searching for the other ingredients.
"Let's hope Kraden can do something for Mia then…"
Piers nodded in agreement and Isaac noticed the silvery rings crackle, only slightly, but that was enough to cause worry. He was amazed that Piers had held out for as long as he had, most likely because he wasn't focusing on healing but rather concentrating on keeping Felix's condition from deteriorating. Isaac dug through the pockets and pouches he had searching for what would help.
"Piers, here." He handed Piers a small vial of potion.
Piers let out a grateful breath as he drank the grimy, slime-like substance of the regenerative panacea, "Thank you, Isaac." Piers' Psynergy seemed glow stronger, even though the potion offered no such benefit. Nonetheless, Isaac was relieved to see that Piers' fatigue had faded somewhat.
"You think you can hold out for long?" He asked moving close and looking down into the wounds adorning Felix's body.
"Yes, do not worry, Isaac. I should be able to last for the rest of the day." He pursed his lips in thought for a moment, "If everything works out…"
"Alright, try not to strain yourself to much. I'll be back after I check on Jenna."
"She'll be glad to see you…" Piers said in his calm tone.
Isaac nodded to him, "Hang in there…" He said strongly, talking not just to Piers but the friend he had lost for years as well, and left.
"Isaac ta'iras aki'me ve'u'Ar'de, Felix-kumi." (Isaac's a true friend, Felix.)
Jenna's face and demeanour projected a clear view of what had occupied her time over the past hours. Tear streaked cheeks bore the stains from the very first moment they had discovered Felix and Mia. Her voice had grown hoarse from the constant wailing and sobbing that she couldn't, despite her and everyone else's best efforts, control. They continually flowed akin to her tears, growing more and more painful with each one sometimes causing an asthma-like attack preventing her from breathing. She had refused to eat and drink and was growing weaker and severely dehydrated with each passing moment. Everyone had tried their best with her, to cheer her up, to assure her it would be alright, to get her to eat, or at the very least get her to sleep soundly. Garet and Isaac had been her main outlets for releasing her emotions and they were more than prepared to handle it.
"I just don't know what to do… I-If I lo-lose Felix as well then I'll…be all alone…" Jenna cried into Garet's chest as he hugged her.
Garet sighed internally, she had been 'all alone' before, years ago after the horrible storm that had struck Vale and washed away her family and Felix. Garet and Isaac had dealt with a very similar situation to the current one as result and that had taken weeks to calm her down and even longer for her to come to accept it.
He knew now that if Felix didn't make it she would never recover. He forced the very thought from his head, Felix was stronger than all of them, if anyone could pull through this it would be Felix.
"Shhh, don't worry, Jenna. You won't lose Felix and you'll never be alone, don't worry." Garet was slightly at a loss for what to do; he was never good at consoling people that were this far along. So, he just sat there holding her gently, "You'll always have your friends who love you."
"P-Promise me, Garet. Promise me he-he'll be o-o-okay. Promise me he won't l-le-leave me again." She choked out and coughed.
He couldn't promise that, he never made promises he might not be able to keep, no matter the reason, and this one he most assuredly could not influence, "Shhh don't worry. Felix will be okay, you'll see. You won't be left alone, trust me."
She continuously sobbed in his arms. He just sat with her stroking her crimson hair. She rocked back in forth in his arms, crying uncontrollably. She had lost Felix before, and she couldn't bear to lose him again, she couldn't take it. Isaac ran down the stairs and was stricken with a despairing hopelessness when he saw Jenna in Garet's arms. She was no better than earlier, she was getting worse with every moment just like her brother.
"Jenna…" He breathed, walking closer holding his arms wide.
Jenna slowly turned around, tears streaming down her face, "Isaac!"
She ran over to him and flung her arms around him, still crying. She pulled him closer and closer, crushing his chest and constricting his airways, she was surprisingly strong considering the situation, and Isaac couldn't help but admire that in some way. He softly embraced her in his arms and resisted the urge to make any noise from his increasing discomfort as she squeezed him ever closer. She sobbed into his chest staining his tunic with salty tears which flowed freely from her eyes.
"Isaac, is my brother… is he… he…"
"Jenna… Felix is fine. He's recovering steadily. He'll be fine in a few days." He couldn't stand lying to her. He knew that if Mia didn't recover, Felix wouldn't survive. But he couldn't tell her that. He couldn't.
"R-Re-Really, my brother's o-okay? Can I… can I see him?" She was calming down now, almost smiling with relief, and her sobs weren't as frequent, but tears were still coming.
"He's okay, Jenna. But you can't see him. I'm sorry, but you can't."
Jenna pulled Isaac's arms away from her and stood back from him, confusion, shock and anger coursing over her face, "W-what do you mean I c-c-can't see him!? He's my Brother!"
Isaac felt horrible, seeing Jenna like this. She had been like this since they first found Felix. She had repeated the same fears, worries and questions. Isaac could only answer with the same excuses as he stalled for time. Only once had he seen her like this: almost five years ago when she lost her family.
"He's still very weak, and hasn't regained consciousness. And I don't think you'd like what you saw, he's still in very bad shape."
"B-but you said he was recovering…" She coughed, her throat growing dryer and more painful.
"He is, Jenna, just very slowly. Piers can only do so much. You'll… be able to see him tomorrow, I promise…" He smiled in a desperate attempt.
"Jenna, it would be best to leave him for now," Garet said from behind, "It would do no good for either of you to see him."
"Yeah, c'mon, Jenna, let's go back to your room, you should get some rest." Isaac said taking her hand in his.
"A-a-al-alright…" She sobbed quietly.
Jenna continued crying on the way back up the stairs and down the hall to her room. Mia was still asleep in the room, with a look of pain on her face, but Sheba was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Sheba gone? She's supposed to be watching over Mia."
Isaac looked around the room, puzzled. He looked to Garet who shrugged slightly. They brought Jenna over to her bed, and she got under the covers.
"Alright, Jenna, try to get some sleep. We'll be back soon, we promise." Garet said softly.
She nodded slightly and closed her eyes. Tears still ran from their corners as she sobbed.
"Rest well, Jenna…" Isaac whispered and kissed her on the forehead.
They left the two Adepts to rest.
She curled her legs closer to her body and cried. Her thoughts filled with the worst possible images for Felix. A choked cough escaped her as she tried to fight the images away, but they continued, worse and worse images flowing past her mind's eye. Isaac turned back one last time to look at Jenna before leaving the room. He was glad they had at least coaxed her into attempting to sleep. It eased his worries slightly perhaps they were finally getting somewhere. He closed his eyes and sighed, this situation was nothing compared to what would happen if Felix didn't survive. Not only would she be lost in despair, but Isaac feared she might blame them and resent them for it.
"Alright, Garet, we need to find Sheba." Isaac ordered decisively, "I'll search the town, ask the locals. You check outside of town. We'll meet back here in half an hour."
"You got it, Isaac."
The two searched the inn. The only occupant of their room was Piers, completely focused on sustaining Felix's life. Kraden's room, amongst the clutter of books and charts, was devoid of any sign of life. No one but the waitress and barkeeper, waited downstairs in the inn. Garet and Isaac gave each other quick determined nods and left to search the town and its outskirts.
Piers seemed so strong and resilient. Starkly contrasting the Psynergetically hidden Adept who's tears dripped silent to all else, but echoed with a great crash to her. She was amazed at his determination, despite his weakened, exhausted state, he didn't give up, he didn't quit, and he didn't run. She wished she could be more like him, but she was too afraid, it was her fault Mia was back in her hell. She had put her back there. She took a deep breath, wiped the tears from her cheeks and eyes, undid the Cloak and stepped out from the shadows.
"Nice of you to finally show yourself, Sheba." Piers smiled kindly.
"You…You knew I was there?" Sheba asked shocked.
Piers nodded and gestured to the small pool of tears that had formed on the floor. Sheba had a feeling that Piers had known she was there from the very moment she entered the room, the tears just made it obvious.
"Well, why didn't you call out to me?" She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
"You were trying to hide away. I assume you had your reasons. I figured you would reveal yourself when you felt you were ready."
"Yes…yes I suppose I did." She felt bad having asked the question, Piers was doing everything he could for Felix. Did she expect him to help her as well? To sit her down and listen to what she had to say? She didn't like the thought, but maybe it was truly how she felt, she wasn't sure. She felt so selfish, she always prided herself on her ability to help friends and those in need, but now she was willing to forgo all of that for a chance for Piers to help her.
"So, tell me Sheba, what was wrong?" He inquired, never lifting his gaze from Felix.
"It's Mia…" Sheba started slowly. She wasn't sure if telling Piers anything would help. What if just made things worse? But she felt he could help in some way, "I… I just can't believe she's going through something so cruel."
Piers raised an eyebrow in question.
"In… in her dreams… Mia's just tormented. She keeps trying to save Felix, but she keeps failing. Every time it gets worse and worse."
Sheba wretched at the memory of Mia's nightmare, and the she hated herself for having left Mia there. She always thought that she was a good friend to people and no matter what would stick by them. This was the first time she had ever run away and left a friend alone. Although she had never really had any friends before starting this quest, even if it was originally against her will, she still felt horrible.
"And you can't believe that one person would suffer such a punishment, let alone survive it?"
Sheba nodded slightly; sometimes it seemed Piers was more of a Jupiter Adept than her. He was so wise and understanding, even more so than Kraden who was sometimes easily confused, he always remained calm and controlled. She wondered if that was her problem, perhaps she simply wasn't serious enough. Maybe it was time for her to straighten up.
"You shouldn't worry, Sheba. Mia is stronger than she looks, she'll make it." He said reassuringly, "But, that's not what's really bothering you, is it?"
Sheba looked at Piers, wide-eyed, "How… how did you know?"
"Let's call it a hunch."
She stared at him and for the first time he looked up, his yellow eyes looking deep into her green, soothing her, "I was the one who put Mia back to sleep after she first woke up…" She whispered.
"And you feel responsible for what she's going through right now?"
Sheba nodded again.
"I see, well, I think the best thing for you to do is go back to her, sit by her side, talk to her, try and soothe her. Who knows, it might just help."
"I…uh… Okay." She sighed, insistent upon righting her wrongs, "I'll do what I can…"
"Good. Oh, if she wakes up, get her to eat and rest for a while. Don't let her fall asleep again, though. Okay?"
"Alright, Piers…"
Sheba left Piers to his work and returned to Mia's side. He shrugged his blue bandanna from his shoulders as he refocused on keeping Felix's condition from deteriorating.
He smiled down slightly, "SEru'as ki'mi'ag, Felix-kumi. SEru'os tIn'ske konk'tra'ag sEru'su ehnk'tra'en." (She's young, Felix. She'll work to right her wrongs.)
Two hours of searching and nothing yielded. Regrettably Isaac was forced to yield himself and resigned to thoughts of life and his crimes. He leaned against the door to the inn and replayed the events of when he, Garet, Ivan and Mia had finally caught up to Felix, Jenna Sheba and Piers. They had been chasing Felix down, willing to kill, to stop him from lighting the Lighthouse Beacons, believing it would destroy the world. He had been shocked to discover that it was truly he and his attempts to stop Felix that would destroy the world. He had killed two people, the two Proxians, Saturos and Menardi, who started the entire quest for everyone, be it through force or chase for misguided reasons.
He couldn't resist joining Felix on his quest to ignite the final Beacon, if just to redeem himself for his crime. They had the same goal and everyone was united, it seemed like it would work well, only for them to fall apart a mere day afterward, Felix was near-death, Jenna was close to emotionally breaking, Mia was suffering from hysteria and Sheba had disappeared without a trace. Isaac was barely holding together himself, the stress of the situation was weighing heavily on him and he knew the same was true for Garet. Ivan and Piers were seemingly the most composed and in control of themselves out of the eight of them.
He grew increasingly frustrated as his thoughts mixed together and simply annoyed him. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his thoughts, to try and be like Felix, but he couldn't. He sighed and resigned himself to scanning the town looking for a sign of Sheba or Garet. After several silent minutes, filled with an occasional bluster of wind, four figures appeared on the road into the town.
"Guys!" Isaac yelled, running down to them, his dirt-blonde hair blowing behind him, "Garet, did you find Sheba?"
Garet shook his head, "No luck, man, sorry. But I do have some good news."
"What?" Isaac urged, desperate for some relief from the weight on his shoulders.
"We have managed to acquire the ingredients necessary to create a medicine to cure Mia's hysteria." Kraden answered.
"Really?" Isaac asked, shocked at their first bit of good news. His mind breathed a joyous sigh of relief as he felt the tension in his chest loosen and suddenly he could breathe easier.
"Really, but it wasn't easy. There's a whole lot more monsters out there and they're a lot stronger." Ivan sighed, wiping some sweat from his brow having protected Kraden as they searched through the plains, "I'm amazed Felix took down so many wyverns before they got him."
"Why?"
"I believe I might have an answer to that." Kraden said, "I believe that the Jupiter Beacon is sending all wind aligned monsters in the Lighthouse into a craze, boosting both their power and tapping them further into their feral side."
"The overflow of Jupiter aligned Psynergy is too much for them to handle." Master Hama added, "I can sense it, they're in pain there is too much power being focused on their minds. We shall need to prepare for attacks in the future. It will be only a matter of time before they eventually attack this town."
"Well, in any case the entire area is much more dangerous now." Ivan sighed, examining a large tear that his cloak had suffered as he was out defending Kraden.
"Yes, well I suppose I should get to work with these ingredients, if you'll excuse me." Kraden walked back up to the inn, taking Ivan's cloak with him and disappeared inside.
"I wish to see how Felix is." Master Hama said calmly and left.
"Hey, Isaac, is Sheba missing or something?"
Isaac turned to see Ivan staring at him quizzically, "Uh, yeah. She was supposed to be looking after Mia, but when I went to check on her she was gone. We've been looking for her since." He sighed as the problems returned to his mind. The brief respite had been nice he would have like for it to have lasted slightly longer.
"I see, but if you've looked everywhere surely she must be using her Psynergy to hide. She's most likely cloaked in the shadows." Ivan said walking past Isaac up to the inn.
"She's probably still in the inn then. C'mon."
They silently walked up to the inn, worries filling their minds for Mia and Felix. Ivan stopped suddenly and rooted himself to the spot. The Psynergy in his body was reacting to something, trembling in trepidation. Isaac and Garet walked up to him wondering what he was doing. Just then an incredibly strong gust blew past them pushing them back, and causing Garet to fall onto his back. Ivan looked off to Jupiter Lighthouse. Even from his great distance from the immense purple monolith, he knew something was happening with the Beacon. Storm clouds and lightning bolts fired around and enshrouded the top of the Lighthouse.
"That's not what I sensed…" Ivan said staring to the sky, "We'll have to get moving. Soon." He said strongly, continuing onward to the inn.
"Yeah, no kidding." Garet said gruffly as he dusted himself off.
"Where should we look?" Ivan asked as he reached the inn's door, glowing with Psynergy.
"Okay, Ivan, you take the upstairs. Garet and I will look downstairs."
Garet nodded and produced a small ball of flame in his hand, Ivan had already cast Reveal, the air around him shimmered gently and his eyes turned pale grey as he saw what couldn't be seen.
"Alright let's go."
Her guilt soaked her cheeks yet, nevertheless, supportive whispers echoed in her ears as a scream of cruel memory. She was determined to help, but her words made her feel even guiltier with each and every syllable she uttered. She persisted though, it was her own fault and she wasn't going to stop.
"Come on, Mia, you can do this, you can save him."
She continued whispering as someone walked in behind her.
"You know we've been looking for you Sheba." A voice from behind her said.
She smiled slightly as she heard him. Turning around, she saw Ivan standing behind her, his eyes turning from pale grey to their deep purple. She had grown quite fond of Ivan, even amidst the current crisis. They had been caring for Mia together and had traded stories from their travels and he was very entertaining. He was able, when his mind was not set on a task, to lighten the mood with simplistic gestures or ridiculous outbursts.
"Hey, Ivan, yeah, I figured you might." She frowned slightly, regretting her small lapse of judgement.
"So, why did you leave Mia?" Ivan asked with a tinge of anger in his voice.
This slight tone of anger shocked Sheba, it wasn't like Ivan to display any form of hostile emotion. He always threw some passive remark or comical taunt around, frustration and disappointment wasn't something she had seen him display.
"I'm sorry I left, but here, let me show you why." She stood up looked deep into Ivan's eyes, green meeting purple, and softly placed her hands on Ivan's cheeks. They both glowed with silvery rings and Sheba's memories of what had happened with Mia were shared with Ivan. Every detail was shared in its entirety, as vivid and real as when Sheba had entered Mia's dreams.
She stopped and lightly lifted her hands away from Ivan.
"That…This is horrible." Ivan breathed, aghast, looking at Sheba and then turning his gaze to Mia.
He dropped to his knees beside Mia and held her hand in both of his. Light tears were forming in his eyes as he looked at her. Sheba knelt behind him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him. His breathing was fast, uncontrolled.
"Relax, Ivan, she'll be okay you'll see." Sheba whispered in his ear.
"It's just not fair," Ivan was on the verge of crying now, "Mia's never done anything to deserve this. She always does her best to help people. It's not fair."
"I know, Ivan, I know," She whispered soothingly in his ear, "but, don't worry, she'll be okay. Kraden will help and she'll be okay."
They knelt there for a while, Ivan sobbing lightly with Sheba holding him, tightly, lovingly. Tears slowly dripped from his eyes and collected on the floor, forming small pools, or splashing against Sheba's arms. Ivan lifted one hand away from Mia and pressed it against Sheba's arms, showing he was grateful for the comfort and support she offered. She shifted her arms slightly and squeezed his hand in her own. She gently leaned her head against his, despite the situation, she felt soothed and relaxed with him.
"Remember," She started tenderly, "crying, as bad as it feels, is good."
She smiled at the memory of the quote, and hoped that Ivan had just smiled as well, even if tears still fell. It had been him to say it first, so long ago. She wondered if he actually did remember.
Eventually Ivan stopped, his breathing slowed and relaxed. Sheba gently let him go, and they stood up. Ivan turned to Sheba, his purple eyes shining with tears. This had surprised Sheba even more, sadness, yet another emotion he hadn't yet displayed, not even when they first found Mia and Felix.
"Thank you for being here, Sheba." He said quietly.
"Don't w-"
Before she could finish Ivan's lips met her cheek very quick and very lightly, like the wind, fitting considering their element. He pulled away and she was stunned and stuck in the same position with her hand raised slightly toward him.
"Ivan…" She breathed, in disbelief.
"Thanks, Sheba…" He smiled, only slightly, and left, gone before she had even realised what had happened.
He left her there, feeling shocked. Her hand went to her cheek, stroking around the warmth that Ivan's lips had left. Had Ivan just kissed her? Why? She thought for a while before giving up and sitting back down beside Mia. She couldn't help but smile, even where she was and what was happening, she was glad to have met Isaac, Garet, Mia, and especially Ivan. It was then that the idea that she liked him more than a friend blossomed in her head. She blushed slightly as she imagined them together, childish fantasies of happiness, love and even marriage played in the theatre of her mind. She giggled slightly as she imagined children and saw Ivan restrained by the needs of parents and unable to be himself.
Once more Isaac's immediate thought was a rushed one as his feet acted before he could. This time however Garet accompanied him as the young boy's call echoed down the stairs. No screams were heard and Isaac wasn't sure what to make of that but continued toward the call, hoping for some good news. The young boy stood at the end of the hall motioning to them.
"What? Did you find Sheba?" Isaac asked hurriedly, mimicking his current advancing speed.
Ivan put out both his arms as bars to block the accelerating adepts from bursting into the girls' room and berating Sheba with criticisms and disappointments, "Yeah, she's in the room," He pushed Isaac back as the Adept tried to push past the smaller boy, "she had her reasons trust me. The important thing is she's back and caring for Mia."
Garet extinguished the ball of flame in his hand and scowled in the direction of the girls' room. Isaac glowered down the hall over Ivan's head, he didn't really care if she had or reasons or not. He couldn't imagine what would justify abandoning Mia in such a situation. They were all strained and worried as it was.
"As long as she doesn't leave Mia by herself again." He muttered, frustrated.
Garet nodded along angrily, the air around him sparking slightly with his anger, "Yeah, we care for Mia too much, Ivan. She better not-"
Ivan nodded calmly, hoping to instil ease in the two Adepts, "Don't worry, I talked with her. She knows what she did was wrong and she won't leave her side again."
Garet had not been calmed by Ivan's statement, the oxygen in the air still cracking and popping around him, "Well, she better not or else I'll-"
"Garet!" Isaac cut across him angrily, "I don't care what happens, you will not harm anyone. Do you understand!?"
Garet glared angrily at Isaac who returned it just as fiercely. They stared each other down, the tension of the past few hours ready to explode outward, both of them ready to fight. It almost seemed possible and the two of them welcomed it, an outlet to let out their frustration, be it a best friend or otherwise.
Garet let out a small sigh and raised his hands as a sign of peace, "Ugh, fine."
"Good. Ivan, you stay with… Have you been crying?" Isaac frowned, now that his anger had subsided, noticing some faint tear streaks on his cheeks.
"Oh, uh… yeah," He mumbled, quickly wiping his cheeks with his sleeve, "it's nothing."
"Alright, just take it easy, keep an eye on Sheba." Isaac said softly, patting the younger Adept on the shoulder.
Ivan gave a quick tip of an imaginary cap and retreated down the hall to the girls' room. Isaac had to wonder what had happened. It was never like Ivan to cry, even in the worst situations. He usually tried to laugh and cheer others up. Maybe he let his emotions out in private. Still, Isaac couldn't shake the feeling that something may have happened.
"Garet," He looked at his friend both seeming equally angry, "you go and entertain Piers."
"Fine." He said gruffly and walked towards their room.
Isaac quickly decided to check on Kraden's remedy situation. The sooner he was done the better. Briskly, he made his way to Kraden's room. He stared dubiously at the door to Kraden's room as he arrived. A strange mist drifted from under it and flowed out the nearby window. Slowly pushing open the door, a mass of steams and mist attacked him before escaping through the window. Coughing violently and fanning the air around him with his hand and Isaac stumbled in through the door, lifting his scarf up around his mouth and nose.
"Ah blast it, I forgot how difficult this was to make." The scholar growled as he searched through the clutter in his room, "Where did I put those…? Ah, here they are!"
He was adding different ingredients to a small pot in his room, mincing, shredding and cutting the different mixes.
Isaac's eyes stung slightly with the air of the room, he coughed as he struggled to perceive anything through the heavy, coloured air, "Whoa, Kraden, how can you work like this?" His throat felt dry in the steam as he spoke.
"Ah, Isaac, my boy, come in I'll need your help." He said beckoning Isaac over.
"Alright, if you say so…" Isaac ambled slightly in the room, not particularly favouring moving closer to the fumes that were being produced, as he walked over, "What do you need?"
The old scholar was wearing a mask of sorts as he worked, most likely to prevent him from inhaling the fumes, "Oh, nothing much, I just need you to fetch me Mia's bag of healing supplies. I nearly have this finished and Mia has the last ingredient I need."
Isaac nodded quickly to the scholar, although wondering why Kraden hadn't simply brought it with him when he started, and moreover why he beckoned him into the room only to ask him to leave. Isaac was more than happy to leave the room and ran down to the girls' room. He stopped suddenly when he saw a young blonde Jupiter Adept pacing back and forth in front of the door, mumbling to himself.
"Ivan?"
"Oh, uh hey, Isaac…"
"I thought I told you to stay with Sheba." He said raising an eyebrow. Isaac was confused, it wasn't unusual for Ivan to be restless or talk to himself, but when he was given a task these quirks were discarded and replaced by determination. So, why wasn't he watching Sheba?
"You did... but, uh about that, you see after I found out her reasons for hiding, well I… we, uh… I… you see…" He stumbled and threw the occasional glance at the door to the girls' room.
Isaac was afraid of what he might say. In the more extravagant parts of his mind he imagined that Ivan had beaten Sheba and that's why he had insisted no one go to see her. He shook the thought away, dismissing it as ridiculous, "What did you do, Ivan?" Isaac asked cautiously.
"Well I sorta… kissed Sheba…" Ivan muttered, embarrassment quickly growing from his cheeks.
Isaac's jaw dropped and he stared at Ivan, "You and Sheba…"
"Well, not really. It was just on the cheek... but I guess I kinda ruined the dynamic we had." He sighed, "Especially considering what had led to it." He finished, mumbling so Isaac wouldn't hear.
"I see…" He said scratching the back of his head there could have been a better time for that. Moreover, why would he do it in the first place? First he was crying, now he had kissed Sheba. The order of those two things had to be put straight for Ivan's sake.
The two of them stood looking around the hall silently. They both opened their mouths several times to say something but no words escaped. They both wondered why exactly it was so awkward. They both supposed that it was just with recent events it was all unexpected.
Finally Isaac remembered why he had come here, "Well I…uh… I have to get Mia's healing stuff so…"
"Well, get to it then." Ivan tried to laugh a bit.
Isaac walked past Ivan and into the girls' room, Jenna and Mia were still sleeping and Sheba was sitting beside Mia whispering to her. She turned around and smiled at Isaac.
"Hey, Isaac." She said brightly, her smile growing wider which each passing moment.
"Oh, uh… hey," He murmured awkwardly, "I just… uh… need Mia's things for Kraden. So I'll just…" Damn Ivan anyway, it was his fault Isaac couldn't think now.
He walked to the foot of Mia's bed and opened the trunk where they had put Mia's supplies. He searched through the trunk looking for the small white bag, pushing apart several pairs of the same healing robes that Mia had along with some of her more 'embarrassing' clothing items.
"Isaac, I'm sorry about earlier…" Sheba said quietly.
Isaac stood up holding Mia's supplies, "Oh, that… hey no worries… Ivan explained it so… yeah… Just keep an eye on her… please?" There were enough problems already Sheba going missing again wasn't something he wished to add to the list.
"Of course." She beamed, rubbing her arm slightly, as though debating something internally.
"I gotta get back to Kraden…" He made for the door quickly, wanting to escape the awkward situation he had put himself in.
"Ivan kissed me you know…" She said quietly as his hand rested on the doorknob.
Isaac sighed slightly and hoped it was quiet enough to have escaped her notice, "Oh… uh really? Wh-Why did he do that?" He asked, having hoped to avoid the conversation. He turned around slowly, attempting to look surprised and hoped Sheba wouldn't ask anything weird.
"I don't know really, it was just on the cheek. Nothing big I know, but... I've never been kissed by someone, even on the cheek." She nervously rustled her short blonde hair with her hand as she spoke.
Isaac decided to play stupid, "Well, that doesn't sound like a big deal."
Sheba nodded along, "I know. Guess I was just surprised, never really felt like that before." It was true after all. Ever since his lips just brushed her cheeks she felt... 'different'. It was strange. What was it?
"Oh, I suppose I could talk to him about it." He shrugged, wanting to leave and get back to Kraden.
Sheba blushed slightly, mumbling to herself as Isaac spoke, not listening "He is pretty cute and fun and all, but I…"
Isaac had said goodbye and left the room, unnoticed by Sheba. She was still caught in her thoughts, her wonder. Ivan? Could she... could she like him? She used to think she liked Felix. He was the man who jumped for her, he was the one who had sworn to protect her, he was the one who had done everything to make her comfortable on this quest. Was that just because she had been a prisoner though?
Felix had been nice... but he had never really been that kind of nice. Maybe she just thought she liked him when he was just trying to make up for her kidnapping. Then there was Ivan. She had only met him twice before: in Tolbi and then at Jupiter Lighthouse. Already she was considering...
She shook the thoughts away, thinking herself just overwhelmed by a simple gesture of thanks. Only now realising Isaac had gone. She smiled, embarrassed of herself and turned back to watching Mia.
Meanwhile, Isaac had run past Ivan, assuming he had heard everything between him and Sheba, and hurried to Kraden's room. Remembering to cover his mouth and nose before entering, and pondering if making potions in an inn was allowed or even legal, he pushed open the door and moved to Kraden's side as fast as he could.
"Here you go, Kraden. All Mia's healing supplies, as ordered." Isaac smiled, though hidden behind his scarf.
"Ah excellent, this is just what I need, I should have this finished in a short while."
"Brilliant," Isaac said relieved, "bring it up to her when it's done I'll be there."
"Yes, my dear boy, of course."
Isaac left the room and worked through the impending conversation with Ivan in his mind. He didn't particularly enjoy the thought of the conversation with one of the most childish people he had ever known. It was then that he reflected on how exactly Ivan had become so. He was far too withdrawn when he first met him.
Piers patiently awaited further development as the glaring Mars Adept stared into nothing. His eyes, though slightly unfocused, drifted from the dying Adept beneath him to the angry one across from him. Garet sighed angrily and scratched his head as he continued.
"I mean Mia is one of my dearest friends, I think I have the right to be mad at a person who left her when she was supposed to be caring for her."
Garet sat on the bed beside Felix's and tried to reason his emotions of anger with Piers. Piers didn't get it, and why should he? Piers didn't know him. He didn't know Piers. Piers didn't know Mia. Piers didn't know how much Garet cared for her. So, he wouldn't understand at all. Who else could he confide in now though? Ivan was looking after Sheba and he didn't want to be anywhere near her or Mia, going to Isaac so soon after their little stare down would be a bad idea, Kraden was old and working, and Jenna was asleep and not in the best emotional state, so Piers was the only one left. Garet Piers kept his gaze fixed on Felix with his ever present wise smile.
"I understand how you feel, Garet, but try to look at the situation from her point of view." Piers said calm as ever.
Garet didn't believe the former part of Piers' statement. No he didn't. He thought he did maybe. But, he didn't understand the sheer depth of care Garet had, no one did.
"Her point of view!? She abandoned Mia and hid away, I don't really see much else too it." He shouted, almost as childishly as some of Sheba's outbursts.
"I assume you don't know why Sheba left then, do you?" Piers said astutely, scanning the hole in Felix's chest.
"I… No, I don't." Garet muttered, frowning in embarrassment.
"No, I didn't think you did. She left because Mia is trapped in a nightmare. If Sheba wakes her up she screams and screams. If she puts her to sleep Mia relives Felix dying over and over." Piers said sadly, "Sheba was the one who put her back to sleep. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, Garet."
"Uh, sorry… I…"
"It's not me you should be apologising to, Garet." Piers looked up and smiled calmly.
"I'll go apologise to her."
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow, always trying to test his friends, testing to discover the depth of their care, or knowledge, or passion for whatever was being questioned.
"Because of the way I acted, why else?" Garet was feeling rather frustrated by the man. Why could he not just tell him what to do? It's far easier.
"She isn't aware of how you felt, Garet. So, who should you apologise to?"
Garet stared at the wise Lemurian and watched as he tried to keep Felix alive, "Isaac and Ivan…?" He asked slowly. He was completely unsure of what the Lemurian expected him to say.
Piers nodded, "Then you should tell Sheba how you felt and apologise."
"Why?" He grew more and more confused with each word that left the Lemurian's mouth.
"Humility makes great men." Piers beamed back.
Garet stared at the Lemurian, working through his last few words. He had heard them said somewhere before, and had wondered about their meaning then too. It struck him suddenly, his grandfather, the mayor of Vale, had told him off and used those very words on him. His respect for Piers suddenly shot up.
Garet patted Piers on the arm, wearing a broad smile of acceptance, "Thanks."
Piers chuckled slightly as he left, "Ta'iu'as hi'tile vi'ne." (You're a good man.)
Well, chapter three done. Two weeks until the next one.
Until then, why don't you drop a review and tell me what you thought? It's always nice to get feedback after all.
Word of warning though, if you take the time to review, I'll take the time to respond and say thanks.
And, if you're desperately trawling through dictionaries or translators trying to decipher what language Piers is speaking, don't bother.
It's a fan created language, and all credit goes to Kasuto. It is his fictional language for the Legend Of Zelda games.
I take no credit for it, it's all him, so major kudos.
You can find it at kasuto . net in the Hylian Language section.
Anyhoo, that's that,
Until next time,
Your friend and writer,
Droory.