Another chapter! Woo! Been waiting for it? Good to hear, glad you really want to know what happens next.
Well, thanks in advance for reading guys.
Special thanks to the reviewers: Celestia's Paladin, crazy reader, Bonar, Noel the mermaid, and TrippyToastersAndABagOfChips for their reviews and kind words.
Well, then, let's get to it, shall we?
The shining moon outside only increased her worries. Memories of her night with Felix continued to flood to the forefront of her mind. There were more clouds filling the sky but they occasionally gave a glimpse of a perfect night. Isaac helped her up as she asked for another chance to walk around the room. All that Mia could think of though, were ebony-earth eyes. As she was gently set back on her covers she thought back to the meeting of the two parties of warriors.
The tiny house was freezing, blustery, and claustrophobic. That wasn't even the truth of the small space though. The cold, strong, enrapturing winds weren't present. No, that feeling came from the tense air that all four of them brought with them. Mia's eyes delicately scanned the forms of her three friends
Isaac's fists seemed primed to draw blood through his gloves as he clenched them tighter with every second. He stood rigid, still with rage, so still that the slightest movement would result in some quake or rift in the earth beneath them. His eyes stared directly at the door to the house, watching carefully. He waited for his former friend, the power-mad traitor bent on world-destruction to walk in and try and justify what he was doing. He would kill him.
Garet seemed slightly more relaxed, his face was focused in some amount of rage, his hands simply hung at his sides though. Garet was usually the one who was quick to anger, but maybe he had seen or thought something that perhaps Isaac hadn't. Or maybe, he just wanted to believe that his old friend wasn't evil and that Jenna wasn't working with him. Maybe there would be some magical fix to it all. He was optimistic… but even that outcome seemed like a stretch to him.
Ivan leaned against the wall of the house with his eyes closed, he would have seemed perfectly normal if not for the frown replacing his ever-present boyish grin. His silence though… it was so eerie. The boy was never quiet, he always did what he could to be heard, but now, in the constricting silence of the room, his silence put all of them on edge. It wasn't odd for him to get premonitions or visions in his dreams, but they had never seen him receive one during his waking hours. Perhaps now was one of those times… and they all hoped it did not spell out doom.
Mia looked down at the hems of her robes, she didn't want to admit it but she was angry. Because of Mercury and Venus' ignition people had died. Their combined force had caused a giant tidal wave and earthquakes. All the coastal towns they had seen had been devastated, scores of empty graves were filling them. So much destruction and pointless death… why was Felix doing it? What purpose did it serve?
How could Felix live with himself after all he had caused?
The next moment the flimsy wooden door swung open. A girl with scarlet hair rushed in and crushed both Isaac and Garet in a tearful embrace. She immediately made the connection that this had to be Jenna. The two friends, disregarding all their anger for those moments hugged their friend back, squeezing her closer to them. It had been so long… she had been one of the reasons they had agreed to this insane quest. This moment really was worth it for them. Jenna then quickly backed away to the other wall.
A blonde girl, who Mia recognised with a joyous heart as Sheba, entered afterwards and silently moved to Jenna's side without a sound. Mia wanted to smile to the girl, to run to her and hug her, so glad that she was alive, that she had survived that horrid fall from the Lighthouse. She hadn't thought it possible, but when the glimpse of her upon Jupiter lighthouse sparked that hope, Mia couldn't have been happier to see that Sheba was alive.
Another entered, ancient deep lines set into his face around kind eyes and thick white hair, who had to be Kraden. The scholar smiled to his former pupils, offering them a humble nod of the head before he moved to the opposite side of the room where Sheba and Jenna were. Kraden was quickly followed by another.
Mia was quickly shocked into horror by the similarity. He had long azure hair, and was clad primarily in blue. It wasn't a second afterwards that her fears were alleviated. It… it wasn't Alex… thank Mercury, it wasn't him. Mia didn't know what she may have done if it had been him, she might have cried, run to him and beat him, crushed him under ice, frozen him, anything… he had betrayed her… left her alone to fend for the helpless, dying, winter hamlet of Imil. She noticed the kind features of this new man though, this possible descendant of her own Clan, his peaceful smile, bright topaz eyes, and the immeasurable mystery in his youth.
Then the air sank into heaviness, coldness, and dusk, as he finally entered.
Mia shivered with fear and anger. He seemed all too evil as he walked in. She was forced to look away from his cold, dead eyes as he glared furiously at his two previous friends. He moved to the centre of the room, standing defiant in front of the four who would see him dead. There was no fear in his eyes… there was nothing in his eyes. All he had was hate, and all of it was being directed at the four heroes.
The two parties stood on the opposite side of the room. A heavy oriental rug separated them like a chasm. Silence hung over them as the leaders glared each other down. This was eventually broken by an unsuspected voice.
"I believe you deserve an explanation."
Everyone's gazes snapped to the old man on the other side of the room. Quickly the eyes of everyone snapped back to where they were, silence falling quickly again. No one could move, no one dared, the very act seemed like it would cut the delicate thread holding together the fabric of angered peace between the groups. Then, the one person who could step forward, the one whose existence was so important to the two leaders, moved and spoke up.
"Felix, Isaac, please." Jenna pleaded to the two most important men in her life, "You'll get nothing out of this. Felix just explain to them, they'll understand."
Isaac, never one not to listen to Jenna, exhaled a deep vehement breath through his nose. If Jenna was helping Felix voluntarily there had to be a good reason. He hoped to hell she was helping him voluntarily. Felix still did nothing.
"This will be simpler if you calm yourself, Felix." The voice from the blue-haired man came.
Felix exhaled slowly, the air becoming cold with his breath. Piers was his closest advisor and confidant. He knew that what the Lemurian spoke was true, but that didn't mean he should relent. He couldn't show weakness now. It was the only way to stop his two best friends and two strangers from being dragged into this.
"Why, Felix?" Isaac asked, very slowly. Mia could see him struggling to keep his anger in check.
"We had to!" Jenna cut in before Isaac had finished.
Mia could see tears in her eyes. They weren't being shed, they just clung to the lids, illuminating the bright whites and vibrant reds of the Mars' Adepts eyes with a sad sheen. She saw both Isaac and Garet respond with mixed feeling of sadness and anger at the outburst, the latter for Felix.
"If we don't we're dead!" She cried again.
"He's threatening you!?" Isaac shouted back. Both he and Garet took a dangerous step toward the dark man. Felix did not move.
"Wait…" A quiet voice drifted out, "It's not like that. We're doing it willingly."
Everyone turned to look at Sheba. Her eyes were fixed on a point in the wall opposite her.
"Perhaps I should explain." The topaz eyed man started, "I am Piers, a Lemurian."
Mia and her friends were forced to stare directly at him. They had been looking for Lemuria as well. To meet a resident of it, a resident helping Felix, was impossible. So… this man was a Lemurian, a man who may have seen the world since the Golden Age fall from its former glory. It would make sense that he would want to see the previous world restored to how he remembered it… he had motive to go along with Felix's insanity. Jenna and Sheba though? Their cooperation was still a mystery…maybe they were being forced, threatened, by Felix.
"My King sent me out to explore the world and chart the land. He believed that since the sealing of Alchemy, the world was dying. A tidal wave blew me off course and… long story short, Felix, Jenna, Sheba, and Kraden, helped me. When we returned to Lemuria we confirmed that the world had shrunk considerably since the Golden Age. Essentially, if Alchemy is not returned we will all eventually die."
"Moreover, now that three Beacons have been lit," Kraden piped up, "the world is unbalanced. If the Mars Beacon is not lit the world will slowly freeze as well."
Mia froze suddenly. What? What!? Felix was the one saving the world!? Him!? She and her friends were the bad guys? Felix was the flawless hero!? She was evil!? That wasn't right! That was not true! Felix could not be good! Not after all he had caused. Not after Venus Lighthouse. He was evil! He was just lying to confuse them so he could kill them! He couldn't be the hero. They were the heroes! That was how it worked!
"Do you expect us to just believe you?" Isaac shot sardonically.
Mia smirked, internally of course. At least she wasn't the only one feeling the horror of the lies the others were spouting. But, she shied away, afraid of the conflict that was soon to arise. She didn't want to fight. Surely that meant having to fight Jenna and Sheba. Isaac and Garet wouldn't want to fight Jenna or Sheba, doubtful they would fight Felix either. She would though, he couldn't trick her.
"Ivan, confirm this." Isaac ordered.
The young boy looked up, fearful. He didn't want to read the minds of unfriendly Adepts. They were capable of harming his mind with their Psynergy as he probed. He could be rendered comatose or worse.
"It's okay, Ivan." The quiet voice of Sheba spoke.
Mia narrowed her eyes wondering why Ivan should trust her, or why she should trust Ivan. They might both be Jupiter Adepts, from what she knew, but that was no reason for blind trust. Regardless, Ivan stepped forward and the two met at the centre of the room. They held their hands to each other's faces and their glow enveloped them. Mia's eyes caught the sight of shadows cast on Felix from the light and was forced to look away from the soulless man.
After several minutes the glow finally faded. Sheba retreated back to the safety that was behind Felix and Ivan retreated behind Isaac.
"They're telling the truth." He muttered quickly.
"She could easily have lied, Ivan." Isaac responded quickly.
"Would I, Isaac?" Jenna asked, stepping past Felix.
Isaac shot around to look at the girl. Faint sounds escaped him before he hung his head in defeat. He couldn't argue with both the words of his mind-reader and his best friend. He grumbled and Jenna pulled him into a hug.
Nothing was made better though, Felix was still silent. He had something to say, and whatever it was might not be pleasant.
"I don't want your help." Felix barked harshly, "Go home, all four of you. Take Sheba and my sister with you. I'll finish this."
"No chance." Garet smirked, "We're in this, man. Whether you like it or not."
"Go. Home." Felix repeated clearly.
"Felix." Piers said suddenly, "Be reasonable."
Felix turned to scowl at the Lemurian, "You were given this quest, Piers. I can't tell you to go home."
"Surely, the fact that I've been banished helps?" Piers smirked.
Then Mia saw something shocking. From the shadowed surface of whatever she could see of Felix's face, she saw his mouth. She saw it quirk upwards, only slightly, but it definitely happened. Which meant that… Felix could smile? Even someone like him could smile and show happiness?
"Yes, you're here for it. I can't get there without you. Well, your ship." Felix returned, his small smirk still present.
Felix? Making a joke? What was happening?
"Let them join, Felix." Piers stated, "If they want to, of course."
"Hey, entire reason for this was to save the world." Garet smirked wide, "I'm in. how 'bout it guys?"
"Alright, I'll do it." Ivan said with a small smile, "I'm just here for fun anyway."
"I'm in." Isaac stated. All eyes turned to Mia. She was reluctant, though she wouldn't admit it. Her entire reasoning for joining the others was to stop Alex, and he was gone. What else could she do?
"I suppose I don't have a choice." She mumbled, trying to hide her reluctance behind humour.
Smiles broke out across several faces. Isaac, Garet and Jenna beamed to each other and moved to a corner to quickly catch up. Ivan and Sheba began talking together. Piers, Felix, and Kraden, were whispering to each other in another corner. Mia leaned against the wall, staring at the floor. Her hair hung over her face, hiding her frown. Eventually her thoughts became blank and focused on the functions of her body. She became interested in the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed or the swish of her dress as she moved. She focused on it, moving her legs to sway the fabric differently.
Then she felt something. There was someone beside her. She looked up with a hopeful smile. This quickly died as Felix's dark eyes came into view. She shuddered, trying to hide it, and struggled to keep her smile.
"You're uncomfortable." Felix stated simply.
Mia tried to respond, but she was afraid and still angry.
"I don't blame you." He continued, "Perhaps you should try and acquaint yourself with the others."
He gave a humble nod and made to leave. She couldn't lose to him. He couldn't be nicer than her. That was cheating. So she spoke up.
"Um… hi." She said bashfully.
Felix turned around with an inquisitive eyebrow. There seemed to be another semblance of a quirk of the lips. He leaned on the wall next to her. They were mostly silent, but they spoke to each other occasionally. They talked more when the others joined them.
"Well, looks like you'll be getting visitors."
Isaac's voice broke her from memory. She felt guilty that maybe he had been talking to her and she had been too absorbed in her thought to respond. She heard hurried footsteps outside and Isaac was looking out the window.
"Who?" She asked.
Her question was answered a moment later as the two Jupiter Adepts wandered in casually, smiling wide to each other. The moment they realised Mia was better, all there was were colours and movement in a loving flurry as they leapt to her side, pulling her into a hug. Mia, incredibly surprised by the sudden constrictions and movements the younger Adepts pulled her into, did her best to return the hug and assure them she was okay.
"I can't believe I wasn't here when you got better!" Sheba cried out, Mia swore she felt a wet patch grow on her arms where Sheba's face was.
"Sheba was the one looking after you while you were out." Isaac explained.
Mia nodded and turned to the girl who was still buried in the hug, "Thank you, Sheba."
Mia didn't really know, nor would she ever, how Sheba felt now that Mia was better. After all, she had betrayed poor Mia, she had run and left her to face what she was going through alone, because she had been too weak to help her. She had been too weak to even imagine facing what Mia was, let alone having to face it herself, so she had run away, when Mia was helpless. Now she was better though, and it was okay. Even though Mia never knew of the betrayal and she could never forgive her because of the lack of that knowledge, Sheba felt better.
Sheba nodded into the hug, before she pulled away, also allowing Ivan the room for freedom as she did, "You're welcome." The young girl beamed as fully as she could, hoping the glint of tears in her eyes wasn't overly noticeable.
Ivan smiled to his friend as he took a seat at the end of her bed, "It's great to see you back, Mia. We were all on edge without our darling healer." He laughed, bringing the same from the rest of them.
"Thanks, Ivan." She smiled, her full angel smile, "What were you two doing out so late? Romantic night?"
Sheba tried not to blush, thankfully Ivan was quick on the defence and had a story ready, "As I said, we were all on edge. It was very emotional for the past few hours. I needed to take a walk to calm down a bit, make sure I didn't overload. Sheba had done the same. We met up and just talked, helped each other get over whatever we might be feeling. I'd say it was good for us, cleared our heads, you know?" Ivan explained, gesturing to Sheba, "Plus, it was a good way to get to know each other."
Isaac glanced between the two of them, clearly expecting more to have happened. He didn't say anything though, as Mia seemed to feel guilty about causing such feelings amongst everyone, once again Ivan was quick to answer this.
"Hey, don't worry about it. If it was anyone else it would be the same, and Felix is that someone else right now. Don't blame yourself." He said brightly, though it had that sombre quality of the entire situation carried with it.
Mia smiled, accepting Ivan's words. She knew it all to be true, if it had been another and not her who was hurt they would probably be going through the same. Then again, if she wasn't hurt, she could have healed whoever was with Piers and there would be no problem… she hoped Felix was okay… that he would last until she could save him.
"Hey, Mia, I'm going to go check on Jenna. Hopefully these two can keep you entertained almost as much as I did." Isaac smiled wide, to which Mia responded with her own and a nod, and he moved to Ivan's side, bringing his mouth to his ear, "What happened?"
"Nothing, sorry to disappoint you." Ivan responded dryly, not at all amused by Isaac's attempts, "And for future reference, I'd prefer if you'd stay out of my personal life."
Isaac was slightly put off by Ivan's response, but didn't question it, "Sorry. I just wanted someone to be happy today."
"I get that, but, that's not the way to do it. Go cheer up Jenna." Ivan said, pulling away and smiling to Isaac to hide the argument.
Isaac nodded to the three others in the room before he went to find his two oldest Isaac walked from the room he heard light-hearted chatter and laughter behind him. And, for the first time since the accident, Isaac was able to smile fully. In his smile was complete relief at last, true there was still the tension and worry for Jenna and Felix, but the immediate weight from his shoulders was lifted.
Garet didn't know what to do for his friend. Since seeing Felix, Jenna had been dead-silent, just letting the tears drip from her eyes and into her lap. He knew it wasn't a good idea to let Felix be seen in that state by Jenna… but they had hit that point, the point where it was futile to deny her that privilege. He hated having to do it, to let her see her only family scarred and broken like that. She had been through so much pain when it came to Felix… this was just another emotional scar for her soul… an already much too scarred soul.
Garet caught sight of Isaac running down the stairs. He raised his arm for the man as he glanced around in search of them. Isaac rushed over faster than it seemed possible and was in the seat closest to Jenna in a heartbeat. He took one long sad look at the girl then quickly glanced at Garet.
Garet leaned closer to whisper to him, "She's pretty bad. Seeing Felix like that really shook her up, she hasn't spoken since we came down here. I tried what I could… nothing works she just… she just stares…"
Garet didn't know what to say or do. This was Isaac's expertise, he was always the one to help Jenna through everything… Garet just didn't have the knack for it that Isaac seemed to. He rested back in his seat, watching the scene carefully, waiting for Isaac to work his magic and bring Jenna out of this. If there was anyone who could do it, it was the man who always had.
Isaac reached across, placing a tender hand on the girl's sunken shoulder. He gave it a light squeeze, hoping that one gesture would let her know that, no matter what, Garet and he would always be there for her. She just shuddered slightly at his touch, took a slow glance at his hand and returned her gaze to the floor. Isaac took another glance at Garet, who shrugged with an expression that told he had tried that and received the same response.
"Jenna?" Isaac spoke softly, "Jenna, will you please look at me?"
Jenna slowly lifted her head. Her crimson locks fell over her eyes, becoming slick and stuck to her face as the multitude of tears ran through them from her eyes… her eyes. They had lost that spark, that one of life and brightness she always had, they were just empty and glassy… so alike her brother's.
Isaac brushed the hair out of her face and smiled sadly, "Jenna, I know that must have been very difficult for you to see, but please try and be strong." Jenna, said nothing in response, turning her gaze back to the floor, just not hearing, or choosing not to, the words Isaac tried to reassure her with, "Jenna? Don't worry. Mia's making a fast recovery. Soon she'll be able to help Piers heal him, you'll see. By tomorrow Felix will be awake and be able to talk."
At his words, Jenna's face shot up to stare at him, the Fire of Mars exploding back into her eyes. Isaac withdrew his hand from her shoulder, the livid rage at the words coursing through her, "How could you possibly know that?" She croaked, her voice more hoarse than ever, "Did you even take one look at my brother since we found him? Have you seen him at all? Even if Mia and Piers use all of their Psynergy they'll ever be able to heal him fully."
Garet backed away a little, trying to escape notice as Jenna's rage was fixed on Isaac. Psynergetic rings began to slowly travel up the course of her body, sparks crackling and devouring oxygen pockets around her. Isaac could not back away, not just because it could never escape notice, but because it would not be right. Trying his best to seem understanding and reasoning, Isaac attempted to calm the girl down.
"Jenna, please calm down, everything will be alri-" Isaac started.
"DON'T TELL ME EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!" She screamed, full flames sparking around her. All of the occupants of the lobby had been eyeing the scene with some interest, and upon seeing the fire ran from the inn.
Isaac reached his hand out again hoping to calm her, "Jenna-"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
Her Psynergy peaked causing the table and Isaac's chair burst into flame. He jumped off his chair just in time, his tunic singed by the flames. Jenna burst into tears as Isaac just left, turning away and marching back upstairs, tears trailing to the floor behind him. He cried for Jenna he couldn't imagine what she'd been through.
Garet stood up as Jenna ran away, running to escape the pain, slamming the door of the inn behind her. He took a quick glance in Isaac's direction, the man had stopped at the stairway, before marching on. Garet sighed deeply, chasing after his friend, needing to be the stronger man in this case and go after his friend, not try to get Isaac to be the one to do it. It would be what Isaac would want anyway.
Within a second he was outside the inn, looking around in the torch-light of the town for any trace of his best friend, but she was gone. She could be gone anywhere, and it was exactly this that put Felix and Mia in their situation earlier. None of them needed Jenna suffering that too. Garet didn't let thoughts enter his head as he ran, all he had was finding Jenna. That was it. He didn't dare think of what may happen if he didn't get to her in time. He wasn't a healer, and Mia and Piers would not be able to save her. He had to find her.
He had to find her.
Piers struggled to keep himself conscious. He could feel himself slipping into the very same realm that Felix currently occupied, but if he did fall into that world, Felix would not be there for long. Every moment that passed Felix's condition worsened, slowly deteriorating and dragging Piers' first real world friend into death. Piers tried to force his Psynergy to continue, not to falter, to persevere and stay strong for the man who had so much weighing on his soul.
He couldn't lose another. Not after he had lost his mother. He couldn't lose Felix too. Not just for him, but for Jenna, for all of them. Whether they knew it or not, they all needed Felix for this quest. Only he could properly lead them to the unwelcome end that waited for them at the precipice of the Northern Lighthouse of Flame. Isaac was a competent leader, ass was piers himself, but neither of them had the sheer strength of will and conviction that Felix so easily possessed. That same force that turned him into what he was now.
That same force that was driving him into the fate he seemed to welcome without any care.
He looked up suddenly, widening his eyes in his attempt to keep conscious, only now realising that Isaac was at his side. The man's hand was squeezing his arm tight and the Valean accent was shouting his name. He looked around as best he could, keeping all of his focus on the man beneath him. The mental healing hold he had within his body was deteriorating around him, all his work crumbling away.
"Piers!" Isaac was swimming before his vision, he barely even heard the voice now, "Stop… I'll… Mia… heal!"
Piers shook his head, blearily returning to his work, unsure of what the man had said. Without prior warning, or maybe there was and it had escaped his notice, Piers felt himself fall backwards into the wall. The contact woke him up slightly, but he was still in no condition to return to healing. Isaac had stolen his place, his Psynergy flaring in powerful waves as he forced his lesser healing powers through Felix's broken body. He didn't realise he did not have the potential nor the knowledge of how to heal the leader.
Mia was standing, supported gingerly by the Wind Adept's miles away on the other side of the bed. Mia and Sheba looked down, he thought, but their faces were entirely blurred by the haze which his exhaustion had brought on him. He felt himself sliding down the cool wooden panelling of the wall, but he did not reach the floor. Instead, his body found a shoulder to which all of his weight was applied, before he was unceremoniously thrown onto the nearest empty bed.
And he would have slipped away right there, if not for Ivan. The boy utilised his Psynergy to send sporadic shocks of energy through his body accompanied by very prominent slaps to the face. This did nothing more than serve to keep him alert though, his Psynergy was nowhere near capable of helping Mia or Isaac save Felix. All of his Djinn were completely spent too, so even if he managed to recover his Psynergy, he would not be at his usual level. Time would be needed, time they did not have, for his Djinn to set themselves into their powers again.
The twin Jupiter spirits of Ether and Aroma spun around his form, rejuvenating much of his lost Psynergy, but that made nothing better. Indeed, he was no longer on the verge of collapse from Psynergy-exhaustion, but he still did not have the capabilities to heal Felix to the extent that was needed. His Djinn hadn't even begun to reset themselves yet.
Mia watched tentatively as Isaac slowly let Felix's life slip further and further away. Isaac should have known that he could not even begin to try to save him. Already Mia could see the obvious signs of fatigue and exhaustion raging through Isaac's body. All she was allowed do, being forced back down every time she tried to intervene, was watch as Isaac continued to fail and wait for Piers' and her Psynergy to reach the necessary levels.
She tried not to let any tears show. She so wanted to just push Isaac away and take over, give Felix some hope for survival. While she tended to him, Piers and Isaac could work, Kraden may be able to create some potion as he did for her, maybe the town healer could complete the work. But, what if she couldn't hold out for long enough? What if, because of her actions, her impatience, her stupidity, Felix died? What if he died because of her, before she could save him from his horrible fate? She'd prefer to die if that was the case.
She blinked twice as Isaac's Psynergy sparked and cracked as it began to wane. He looked up, his eyes looking directly meeting Mia's. He swallowed hard, coughing out whatever air his tired lungs allowed. Mia stood up, gesturing to Piers. The man, recovered enough to stand and move without support, ran to Isaac's side. Isaac glanced around twice, looking everyone in the eye quickly, and his Psynergetic-aura took on a golden-yellow hue for the last few seconds.
Isaac collapsed to the ground, before quickly being carried away by the two Jupiter Adepts. Felix, he was conscious now though. His body writhed in whatever horrific pain he was suffering. His eyes open but they saw nothing, they stared upward, a film of dull grey confusion clouded over them. Mia and Piers' Psynergy had exploded into action at the very moment Isaac's failed. It seemed to do nothing for him though, his form continued to spasm under whatever he was being subjected to.
Mia tried desperately from the very beginning. Tapping into the strongest Psynergies her body would allow, searching deep within her spirit for lost powers from the lost age. Moving through Felix's life force she saw the damage everywhere, not just to his physical form, but to his mental, emotional, and spiritual state. She could see all the pain that the man had suffered in his lifetime and wanted more than anything to search through it all so she knew what to do when the time came to help him out of it. So much of it was stained with the colours of rot and hopelessness.
She couldn't though, she had to heal him. What use was it to know what had turned him into what he was if she was unable to stop his death now? She shook her head, returning her focus to the physically damaged parts of Felix, all she hoped for him would have to wait. There were the tears and gashes to tend to, the faint current of electricity that was still present in his bloodstream which kept the toxin strong and lively. She had never encountered poison such as this before, none of them had been poisoned in the Lighthouse, so she was unsure of how to face it. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Piers was here as well. It would be okay if she just took a moment to think.
The poison would have to be destroyed first, all other healing attempts were void if they didn't cure him of this. Running every anti-toxin Psynergy she knew through the tainted blood, Mia strained to find something that had an effect. Growing increasingly frustrated as her Psynergy only served to slow the poisons, Mia's hope finally ignited when at last she discovered the correct power. She manipulated it around the bloodstream, searching out whatever trace of the venom remained and utterly purging it. The sickly green glow within Felix's life-force slowly diminished, replaced by the mixed tones of Mercury's cerulean and his own dark greens and browns.
Feeling much more secure in the fact that Felix was now recovering thanks to herself and Piers, Mia pressed on, searching out the physical damage. Each tear and cut was a black rip through his internal essence, a void that slowly expanded as it devoured life. She often met Piers force at a wound and they worked together to heal and close it before dashing off to find another. They moved quickly doing what they could, but Piers' Psynergy was failing fast and she could feel the same happening to her.
The Jupiter Adepts behind them could do little but sit there in awe and fear. The healers had done such a wonderful job so far, and the Psynergetic rings that were running from head to toe were growing weaker to battle this. They wished they had any Psynergy crystals left, but all of them had been expended when they had assaulted the Lighthouse yesterday. Unfortunately, no shops, mistaking one for a jewel or pretty trinket, had any to spare. All they could do was watch and hope. They sat, squeezing each other's hands believing that everything would be alright.
Then, something happened that everyone had seen coming, but not so soon. Piers' entirely collapsed, his Psynergy and Djinn completely used and exhausted. The two Adepts jumped to his side and rest him on a bed. Mia though, Piers sudden departure from healing Felix reverberated around her. It was painfully obvious that she was now the only one tending him. She refused to believe that she would fail now though. Together they had done so much, and now so little was left to do for the young healer. Her Psynergy fought this belief though, its potency was declining fast, so it was really a test of which would win the race. Healing or exhaustion?
Time passed and all wounds were healed save for the large one that was created to save her. And now Mia was on her last legs. Her physical state, viewable by Ivan and Sheba, was terrible. She had slowly fallen to her knees, she squeezed Felix's hand in hers, sweat pouring from her, and her Psynergetic aura continued to decline. The spiritual healing state within Felix's body fluttered and cracked with the effort to keep itself rooted in that world. She came to the wound to find the daunting task that lay before her, the dark rift, so close to the beating pulse of his heart revealed so much. It showed the wound, the giant dark chasm that needed to be repaired, but she could see the areas near his heart. They were so stained and weakened, not in any physical way, yet there was one source that was foreign, but not malignant. It was a white light, thin and small, but it seemed to be fighting off all around it and growing. It wasn't what once remained of his hope… no, it was something new.
Inspired by that small light that was fighting so much darkness Mia turned to the chasm and forced all that she had at it. The blues and whites of Mercury poured into the nothing that was there, bringing back form and essence. The chasm gained a wall which slowly came closer to the surface and met the natural area. It was still separated from all other parts of Felix's life force and still stained as a wound, but Mia's Psynergy was fighting that fast. Felix's life began to reattach to the wound, and in the physical world flesh and muscle was returning, and the colours of Mercury began to spill into the centre where they worked to purge the wound.
Then, Mia lost all consciousness.
Sulking and loathing among the small tufts of grass around the Anemos Crater was what had possessed her for the entire time. She knew she shouldn't have exploded like that. Isaac had been so patient with her, everyone had, they were all so supportive and understanding. They had endured her voicing her fears and worries repeatedly and still comforted her. She sniffed and wiped her nose with her sleeve. The entire situation was made worse by the knowledge that no one had chased after her, trying to calm her and reassure her. They must have thought that perhaps she would like some time alone or, even worse, had just given up on her.
A choked sob escaped her throat as the thought entered her mind. Was that really how they might have felt? She couldn't help but think so. She had been nothing but another source of worry in the already strained situation. She gently glowed with Psynergy and watched as her hand engulfed itself in flame. She wished that the flames she produced could hurt her, so that she could feel something other than the pain of sadness. She picked up a lone flower amidst the grass, watching, with little care, as the flame engulfed it and it fell from her hand as nothing more than ash.
Pressing her hand against her face, she felt the familiar strange sensation run over it. The feeling of a warm sheet gently wisped against her skin as the flames softly wrapped around her. She stood up as her tears evaporated in the flame and slowly stumbled down into the centre of the immense crater. Alone with her thoughts, she walked as nature slowly left her behind and she now was only surrounded by the discarded rocks of the ancients. Her mind was numb as she lay down on the jagged floor beneath her, so much so that the pain of several protruding spikes of earth digging into her didn't register with her mind. She completely engulfed her body in flame, always wondering how it didn't hurt her or reduce her clothes to cinders. She stared up to the sky, replete with thousands of tiny diamonds, if she had been with anyone at that moment and if all was well, it would have been an incredibly romantic night, but her thoughts were on darker things.
Her mind tried to find the last moment when she had shown she cared for Felix, told him how much she cared, or hugged him, anything. She couldn't remember and the cracked, strained dam that had kept her emotions at bay collapsed and the chaos that ensued flowed from her eyes. She batted angrily at her eyes, as the occasional choked breath escaped alone, with nothing but her torn emotions, no one would come to help her, no one could help her, and it was her fault. The last words she could remember saying to her brother were a simple 'Good morning'.
Choked sobs and spluttered wails escaped her and echoed off the rocks of the crater. What kind of person was she? What kind of sister? All she had thought about since Felix was injured was that she'd be alone and she'd have no one. No worry about what Felix was leaving, just her. She hated herself at that moment and more silent tears flowed from her eyes only to evaporate as they left her eyes from the intense heat of the flames that engulfed her. She wished she had a shoulder to lean on, a comforting hand to reassure her or monsters to fight, anything to distract from what she felt.
Eventually her senses grew numb from the constant barrage she had dealt to herself. She couldn't cry anymore, tears wouldn't form, her voice had long since given away and she couldn't make a sound. She lifted her hand up to the sky and fired showers of sparks from her fingers, not for entertainment, not a signal to someone or something to do, she was barely aware that she was doing it. They got caught on the wind and were carried toward Contigo.
"JENNA!"
She turned her head slightly. She was almost sure she had imagined someone calling to her.
""No one's gonna look for me… stupid."" Her mind sighed.
"JE-NNA!"
She sat up slightly and looked around, that seemed a little more real. It was then she became aware of the pain the ground had caused her and she jumped up. Then she caught sight of the tall, spiky hair of Garet around the rim of the crater. He continually called to her as she climbed back out of the crater, barely extinguishing the flames engulfing her, before reaching the grass and flowers again. The night's chill became painfully apparent as the warmth that enveloped her vanished and freezing winds bit at her.
Garet pulled her into a hug immediately, holding her close, whispering that he was so worried for her. Then, just as quickly, he released her, grabbed her arm and began running, no words or explanation, just running, running toward the inn that she never wanted to be near again.
That inn where everyone hated her.
That inn where her brother would die.
Felix's body jerked upward, his breathing fast and deep. Fresh clean air flooded into his lungs with each breath, renewing him with each and every one. It actually hurt to feel so alive after being in a state of such near death for gods only know how long. He gasped twice, feeling a shooting pain like fire in his chest. Seeing a ghastly star that stretched across his chest that still bled, Felix worked as potent a cure his body could muster. The yellow orbs of Venus' healing Psynergies swirled around his chest before fusing into and entirely sealing the wound. If it hadn't been fully healed then that meant…
Wyvern attacking Mia…
"Mia!" His mouth somehow managed to shout.
He looked around desperately before Mia's collapsed form beside him finally reached his view, that and the tingle of her hand sliding out of his with his movement. It registered somewhere in his mind that two voices were calling him and that there were four other bodies in this room. He didn't care though. He rolled onto his side bringing himself closer. The movement caused him to fall off the bed and crash down beside Mia.
The cold wood of the inn floor was like icy knives stabbing into each contact point. He disregarded the pain, reaching out to shake Mia's body. She was unresponsive. He shook her more frantically, hoping to the gods that she was alright. There was no sound from her, and Felix began to panic. He brought his hand in front of her face. A joyous sigh of relief escaped him as the reassuring feeling of warm breath against his hand let him know she was alive.
Then she was lifted from his sight and carried away to some out of focus area that may as well have been all the way back in Imil. Felix lay on the floor, closing his eyes, finally feeling the fatigue of his battle, his healing and his recovery. As long as everyone was okay, it was fine. He could rest easy, as easy as he was ever allowed anyway, for the time being. Two voices began to enter his ears again, and opening his eyes and looking through his hazy vision the forms of Ivan and Sheba appeared.
"Are you okay?" Sheba asked as she kneeled beside him.
Ivan crouched across from her, "Later, Sheba. Help me get him back in bed, Jenna'll flip if she finds out we let him fall. C'mon Felix," Ivan joked as he tried to lift him from the ground, "I know you're tired but try and help a little here."
Felix pushed himself up from the floor as best he could, feeling the arms of the two Wind Adepts snake under his. The comfort of his bed returned to him quickly, and he moved himself into a sitting position, Sheba quickly rearranged his pillow for him. Looking around the room once again, Felix took in the sights of everything. Sheba was beaming to him, tears were in her eyes. Ivan was smirking at him and had his arm around Sheba, saying that he told her 'there was nothing to worry about'. Piers, Isaac, and Mia were all lying down on the other beds of the room. None of them seemed as though they had chosen that.
"How are they?" Felix asked, gesturing to the three Adepts.
"Well, you're fine for a start." Ivan said, "That's something, huh? Those idiots all passed out because they wouldn't listen to me. I told them a little electroshock treatment was what you needed to get better, but nooooo, that was too much of a 'radical' approach. They wanted to go the 'traditional' way of 'healing' you. They're no fun at all." Ivan laughed, but Felix was not amused, "And I take it you're not gonna be much fun for about ten minutes, so I'll let Sheba do the talking."
Sheba was giggling to herself, finding Ivan and Felix's reaction to him very amusing indeed, "They're all fine Felix, don't worry. They've been through worse than having to heal you. You should rest though, we'll go get Jenna and the others, okay?"
The two Adepts left to search for those absent from the group at the minute. Ivan continued his speech and reasoning to Sheba that his idea of electroshock would have been a fool-proof method. Sheba simply responding that the only problem was that the fool-proof' idea had been spawned by an absolute fool. Their argument continued until their voices escaped Felix's current hearing capabilities.
He looked over to Mia. She was so pale. He wondered what had happened during his absence, or what had happened to her after he had lost consciousness down on the plains. Had she been injured too? Had he led her to some unnecessary misfortune? Maybe he had torn this new group apart so soon after they joined.
Frantic footsteps came into earshot, but by the time Felix had time to turn the door had already swung open and his sister had pulled him into a hug of such force it threatened to return him to unconsciousness. He wrapped his arms around his sister as best he could, acknowledging the return of Ivan and Sheba along with Garet and Kraden.
"You idiot!" Jenna fumed, banging her fists against his shoulders, "What the hell's wrong with you, going and getting hurt like that!? Did you forget how much I. Care. About. You!?" She yelled, landing a fist into him with each word. She buried herself into the hug again, her words spent.
Felix smiled a little, "Sorry, Jenna. I didn't mean it." He turned his eyes to the others at the door, "Hello Garet, Kraden."
"Good to see you back, man. You missed some crazy shenanigans while you were out." Garet smiled, saluting the Venus Adept.
"Shenani-what?" Sheba interjected, "What kind of word is that?"
"It kinda means crazy stuff that happened." Ivan explained, "He uses it every now and then. Just ignore him and he'll go away."
"Ah, hush it, squirt." Garet laughed, waving away their comments.
"Well, I'm not sure if the message is clear, but we are all glad to see you well, Felix." Kraden commented, "It was quite the bonding experience amongst everyone as I understand, you'll be happy to hear, aside from some heartache and angst."
Felix nodded, understanding all that, Jenna was still crushing him in a loving hug after all. It was rather obvious what she had been through over the course of his absence. He placed his hand atop his sister's head, ruffling the locks of crimson hair. She brought her face from the hug, tears streaked along it but she was beaming fully. Felix smiled back a little. The rest of the group said their goodbye's stating they were returning to the lobby.
"Don't worry me like that again." Jenna stated, furrowing her brow a little.
Felix tilted his head a little, Jenna often got like this whenever he was injured, "Were you okay?"
Jenna shook her head, sighing through her nose a little, "No… but Isaac and Garet really did their best to help me through it."
"Like old times then?" Felix asked.
Jenna nodded, smiling fully, "Yeah… yeah it kinda was. Hopefully the next time something's like the old days it will actually be fun. Don't suppose you'd be joining in on that physical flashback though?" She asked, knowing of Felix's usual distaste for doing something fun nowadays.
Felix shrugged, "I might see my way to doing something stupid and fun… 'might' being the key word of that sentence."
Jenna laughed and pulled her brother into a hug again, "It… it's good to have you back, Felix. I don't say this enough but… I love you. Don't do anything stupid like that again, or I'll have to kill you myself."
Felix smiled, hugging his sister closer, "I love you too, Jenna. And I won't. I promise."
Jenna squeezed into the hug for a second or two before she released him, "Well, I'll let you get some rest. I'm expecting better apologies and apologetic gifts and food and stuff from you when you're better in the morning, got it?"
Felix nodded, sliding down into his bed again. Jenna moved his pillow and tossed his blanket over him. She beamed to him as she tucked her own brother into bed, laughing and acting as though she was their mother. Then, whispering a final good night to him, she extinguished the lantern in the room and left.
Felix, fully smiling to himself, turned onto his side and shut his eyes. Maybe getting himself injured wasn't the worst thing to happen the group, maybe it had actually been something positive after all. With that thought, Felix drifted into the first restful sleep he had managed in a long time.
And that's chapter five! Woo! Making progress!
This chapter went through some major revision and I'm glad it did, because I think it's far better now.
Sooooo? What did you think? Please drop a review and tell me, they're always good fun to get and read.
Anyway, I suppose me asking won't sway you're decision for reviews,
Until next time guys,
Your friend and writer,
Droory