Alrighty, another chapter!
Apologies for the delay, but, other things had to be dealt with, you know how it is. That and I was somewhat reluctant to post this chapter... I'm not sure why... maybe it can be better... ah well.
Of course, a big thanks to all readers out there! And if you wish to join that special thanks section reserved for reviewers you know what to do!
Current residents of the special thanks section include:
Celestia's Paladin, crazy reader, Bonar, Noel the mermaid, TrippyToastersAndABagOfChips , and Golden Sun Guy 17
Special thanks guys!
ONWARD!
Felix stumbled blindly through the absolute darkness. He had been walking for hours, trying desperately to find the light of the Mars Star. Without it there was no hope for the world, no hope for anything, no hope. What use was getting to Mars Lighthouse without the tiny jewel? Felix finally fell to his knees, unable to walk anymore. He failed. The world was doomed. All would soon be consumed by Gaia Falls, everything would face this darkness.
From the darkness, a sickening hiss of laughter echoed around him. Felix looked up, seeing a pair of glowing red eyes swirling in the space before him, the taunting laughter emanating from it. The shadow coiled around him, moved through him, never ceasing its laughter as it whispered every fear and doubt Felix had ever faced. It showed him every vision Felix had every seen, and all of the worst were those of his friends, of his friends broken bodies. It showed their deaths to him over and over, each more horrifying and brutal than the last. And Felix felt the taint because they were his thoughts. This is what he wanted to save them all from.
"ENOUGH!" He roared, desperately hoping that it would just end, that it would kill him and be done with it.
The shadow fell silent and moved in front of him, taking the shape of an Isaac of darkness, "You can't lead. Look at you, barely able to keep it together. Everyone knows I should be in charge. All you've done is fail again and again. But, you don't fail yourself, you fail everyone who relies on you, and loves you. You've failed Jenna time and time again, constantly hurting her, leaving her alone. You make her face these horrible challenges, never saying sorry or asking her how she is. You should die. Jenna and I will make sure of it."
Felix struck out in rage, his hand swinging through the shadow and the image of Isaac dispersed, but the eyes remained. The shadow coiled and a dark Garet stood before him, "You're pathetic. Weak. You couldn't even hold your own against some wyverns. You think that just because you were fighting to save the world all this time it makes you strong? Then you're an idiot, it's made you weak. Mia deserves someone who can protect her."
He tried to beat it down again, only for the same to happen and now he was faced with a darkened Ivan, "Because of you, Mia nearly died. What are you? Even I could have saved her from the monsters, saved everyone from all the problems you caused over the past few days. You're no leader. You're useless."
He didn't try to hit it this time, hoping that it would remain as Ivan, but it shifted to a Sheba anyway, "You think we care for you? That I care for you? Why? Because you jumped for me? You were just being a selfish fool. You didn't really care about saving me, you just wanted to save yourself. I'll never care about you. So, don't delude yourself. None of us will."
He swung at it again, unable to repress his rage, only for the process to be repeated and for Piers to stand amidst the shadows, "The fearless leader? Calm, and controlled? End the façade, you are none of these. We all know you are not. You act as though you are capable of controlling everything with ease, everyone is well aware you are barely in control of yourself. No one trusts you to lead us when they see how weak you truly are, how unfit you are to uphold your promises."
Now the shadow swirled violently, excitedly, giggling and laughing maniacally. Felix's face dropped as Jenna formed within, "Did you have fun? Those years you left me? Making me think I was alone? You're disgusting. I feel sick knowing you're my brother. You came back and kidnapped me! You never ask how I am. What kind of brother are you, Felix? You can't even care for your own sister. How can we trust you? Things were better before I knew you were still alive. Isaac and I were happy. You weren't getting in the way."
"No… NO!" Felix roared, swinging at the shadow once more. Behind him the shadow swirled violently, excited whispers and demented laughter came from beneath its cloak. He turned to stare into the shadowy Mia's eyes despairingly. This shadow wanted to beat him down, destroy him, before it ended him.
"How dare you, deny me! Anyone would want me. Anyone! I could have anyone, Isaac, Garet, Ivan, even Piers. And you pushed me away? What gives you the right to deny someone like me? You can't even pretend to love. I shouldn't be surprised. Look at you, pathetic. I thought you were so strong, unstoppable. Now I see you though, you're worthless. I should have known. Isaac and Garet always told me you were no good. It seems they were right. You should die, be doomed to whatever curses you have brought upon yourself. You deserve it you miserable wretch."
Felix closed his eyes and focused his mind on his true friends. He heard a horrifying screech as he thought of them and their purity. It continued and he felt himself get knocked to the ground. He opened his eyes to see the shadow coiling violently around nothing. He turned his head to the side and saw the bodies of his friends beside him… and his sword.
He stood up, grasping the hilt of his sword tightly, focusing on his friends. The sword was already covered in blood. He brought the blade down on the shadow as it continually screeched only for the clang of clashing steel to echo through the dark world. The shadow took his form and seemed to smirk at him as it knocked him back. They stood silent, staring each other down, swords raised to the others throat.
"Can you best me?" The dark Felix taunted, "Your fears will destroy you."
He narrowed his eyes and focused on the shadow, his Psynergy would be of no use here, he knew he would have to rely on his swordplay. The shadow swung heavily at him, bringing another clash of steel. Overpowering each other was impossible, they were the same. They were the other. He countered with many quick, deft slashes that were easily avoided and countered. He swung, parried, blocked and stabbed, only to see himself do as he would.
Their battle raged for what seemed an eternity, neither tiring, neither losing ground, neither willing to fall. Then a soft murmur was heard amongst a brief silence in the battle. He quickly cast his eyes around as they locked blades, and saw Mia slowly stand. Several other murmurs rang out as the rest of them stood up slowly, and he heard what they were: calls for him. His blade seemed to shine a ghastly red, highlighting both of their features and, for the first time, he saw the shadows face. His own, but jet black and remorseless. Two blood red eyes flared as he stared into them. The blade shined brighter and he kicked the shadow back.
It started laughing at him and pointed the tip of his sword to his friends behind him. They were all ghastly pale, blood ran from their forms, pouring from every orifice it would allow. Each and every one of them had deep slashes through their bodies and their life spilled from it. Their tears were blood as they cried his name, desperately asking why. Felix felt his rage bubble as he saw his friends collapse again, entirely dead.
He leapt at his shadow, driving his sword, now a deep crimson, straight through the chest of it. He coughed violently, spitting blood and surprise from his mouth. He was looking up now, from where the shadow had just been, their positions reversed. He stared into his own body, his own face, as it slowly became the shadow. It smirked wide as it kicked him from the sword through his chest.
"Your fears will destroy you."
Felix sat bolt upright, breathing fast through the hot deluge of sweat that nightmare had brought. Taking several deep breaths and wiping tears from the corner of his eyes, Felix did his best to calm himself. Swinging his legs from his bed and standing up, trying to find a more secure footing in the world, he heard his name from somewhere nearby. Through his blurred vision he made out the form of Piers coming through the open door.
"Another nightmare?" Piers inquired as he moved to his bed and took a seat.
"I'm fine." Felix asserted as he straightened himself up. He was just glad to have fallen asleep, even if it allowed a nightmare.
"You're not." Piers interjected, "You rarely sleep, and when you do it's not a restful one."
"It won't kill me." He replied simply, as he began getting dressed. He was in no mood to discuss anything at the minute.
"It might." Piers said quickly, "Deprivation can lead to loss of judgement. Loss of judgement can lead to death."
"I'll be fine, Piers." He asserted again.
"Felix, I'm asking you to share something. You can't continue like this."
"No." He said strongly, "I have my reasons for it. I've shared enough as is and it only hurts people." He made for the door.
"What about Mia?" Piers asked quickly, standing up from his bed and questioning him even more with his yellow eyes.
Felix stopped suddenly, "What about her?" He asked cautiously. Stupid question really. Piers and Garet had sent him to speak to her last night. If Piers knew what had transpired this conversation would not soon end. Rather, it never would, it would be postponed or ignored, but always revived.
"That's what I asked." Piers answered.
"She had a rough few days, that's what was wrong last night." He dodged around the answers, "And she's a good asset to the team."
"True. But everyone knows that. You know exactly what I'm asking, Felix." Piers said with the slightest tinge of impatience.
"I don't." He continued toward the door.
"Dari ru, Felix! (Damn it)" Piers said almost too loudly as Isaac stirred on his bed, "Can't you admit to anything?"
"You've talked with Mia." Felix stated quickly, just to lay the facts out for them.
"Was I that obvious?" The Lemurian replied dryly. Piers was one of the few to ever challenge Felix like this.
"What did she tell you?" He forced himself to keep his back turned on the closest friend he'd had over the past few months.
It was Piers' turn to dodge the answers, "This and that. Now I'm interested in your side. You do realise she was incredibly upset?"
Felix nodded.
"You do realise it's your fault?"
Felix nodded again.
"How do you plan on resolving it?"
Felix shrugged.
"Patience is something I own in plenty. But now even you are stretching it thin, Felix." Piers warned, "Perhaps you should grow up."
Piers left ahead of him without another word. An air of coldness, perhaps literally thanks to his Psynergy, drifted past as he left. Felix was completely in the wrong and he knew it. Piers was the only one willing to challenge him on most occasions and usually resulted in him being right. Felix decided to remain where he was until he could clear the clouds in his mind.
Twirling her hair between her fingers, Jenna thought of her night with Isaac. The blonde Adept had been so sweet and loving. He just wanted to make up so much lost time with her, two years lost. He had cared for her, softly held her, reassured her, comforted her, alleviated her fears, and essentially just proved how much he missed her…
How much he loved her?
Jenna was smiling a little brighter, walking lighter, breathing cleaner air, tasting better food, everything suddenly seemed so much better after last night. She drifted away into a peaceful reverie of content. Or rather she would have if not for the emergence of an old man from the stairway.
"Good morning all."
"Morning, Kraden." She beamed, although admittedly disappointed that she couldn't continue in her mind's happy little world.
"My, my, Jenna, you seem quite upbeat today." The scholar smiled as he took a seat at her table and began perusing a menu for breakfast.
Jenna tried not to blush. If Kraden had noticed this, then the fact would be obvious to everyone else. She had to try and tone it down, lest she get a talking to and a teasing, "Oh, yeah, just happy everyone's okay now, you know?"
"Yes, I suppose it was a rather rough few days." Kraden responded, still scanning over the options available to him for breakfast, "Hopefully the journey to Prox will not be quite as eventful."
Jenna smiled at this. That was a nice thought, but when events concerned their little group things were never often easy. They were always very eventful and convoluted. It just seemed to be the way if you were going to save the world, "Hopefully, but first we gotta find an Element rock for me. I'm feeling left out."
"Ah, yes, Magma Rock I believe. Lies somewhere in Northern Gondowan if memory serves. With the upgrades to the ship we shouldn't need to sail all the way south to gain access to it. Provided these Wings of Anemos function as Master Hama has promised. I do look forward to seeing them and unlocking the mysteries of Magma Rock. I wonder what secrets it has for us." Kraden replied, after placing his order with the kind waitress who had come to the table, "Though, I hope it doesn't involve quite as much climbing as Air's Rock."
Jenna frowned a little to the elderly scholar, "You really shouldn't put yourself in harm's way so much, it's not healthy Kraden."
"On the contrary my dear, I believe it is quite healthy. Much healthier than sitting in a dusty room studying books by people who know nothing of Adepts or Psynergy, basing their facts off of pure mythology anyway." Kraden replied, "Though, they have been correct on a number of occasions. The books on board the ship are far more accurate, though."
"There are books on the ship?" Jenna asked, truly surprised. How had she not found any after spending nearly a year on it?
"There's a library of sorts near the lowest deck, though I've relocated most of the texts to my quarters." Kraden explained, which explained the large absence of them. Jenna had explored the ship from top to bottom after all, clearing out some rather nasty jellyfish as she did.
A small silence fell on them for a short while. Jenna smiled over to where Ivan, Sheba and Garet were sitting, laughing together. She wasn't sure why she hadn't joined them when she had first come down. Ivan and Garet suddenly started acting demented or something like that and Jenna remembered exactly why she had chosen to give them a wide berth.
"So, Jenna, are you excited?" Kraden asked suddenly, seeming much younger as he spoke, childlike even.
"For what, Kraden?" She asked quizzically, wondering what could have possibly spurred such excitement in the old scholar.
"For the return of Alchemy, my dear!" Kraden exclaimed, almost sounding shocked that Jenna was not feeling the same as he was.
"Oh I guess… I kinda just want this quest to be over though. I wanna go home." She said quietly, thinking back on everything they had gone through and how it would most likely just get much harder as they got closer to the end of their quest.
"But, Jenna, the return of Alchemy, the force that gives shape to all things, how can you not be excited?" Kraden asked, primed to jump out of his seat he was so excited. Jenna was a little amused by this, sometimes he became a little strange in his more scholarly moments of excitement.
"I suppose I'm just more worried about trying to light Mars Lighthouse is all." Jenna shrugged. It was true after all. Things had just been getting harder and harder as they came to the Great Western Sea, so it was likely to get even worse.
"Ah of course, I suppose you will be fighting through it all, I'm sorry, Jenna." He frowned as he pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, "You must forgive me, I tend to forget the difficulties since it is all of you who go through them and not I."
"It's okay, Kraden, you're a scholar, the best in the world, and it's understandable that you'd be so excited." She smiled kindly to him, "But, if you'd like we could give you a sword and you could try your luck next time a group of monsters comes at us."
"Thank you, Jenna. I'd rather not. Really, I just can't believe we're so close to returning Alchemy. I suppose I should thank Saturos and Menardi for that."
"Kraden, how can you even say that!?" Jenna said, shocked at the very thought of thanking the two Proxian warriors.
"Well if they had never taken us from Vale I never would have seen any of this."
"Well I guess… and Felix and Alex made sure we weren't hurt…"
"Precisely my dear, they weren't bad people, they were simply desperate. Their hometown is on the verge of destruction, as well as Mars Lighthouse itself. It's sad they'll never see its fire." Kraden said solemnly.
Jenna felt a slight pang of pity for the two Proxians, who now lay at the bottom of the Well of Venus Lighthouse. True they had kidnapped her and Kraden, but they never expressed hostility or anger towards them. They always ensured that they were fed and whenever possible fed well. They had extra tents for when they weren't within reach of a town for them to sleep in, and even paid for them to sleep in an inn when they were able.
Perhaps the assumption that they were evil or insane had taken root purely from her not completely understanding their motives. They had tried to kill Isaac, Garet, Ivan and Mia, but they were trying to stop them. Isaac and the others didn't know lighting the Lighthouses would save the world, had they known they would have helped. The two Proxians fanaticism about lighting the Beacons may have seemed deceptive though.
Jenna and Kraden sat in silence, mostly in respect for the two, partly because of awkwardness.
Mia stood outside the door. Piers had woken her up early, and told her that Felix was just up. He was still in his room, apparently. She breathed deeply several times. How would this even work? After last night everything had changed. She couldn't expect this to be easy. There was absolutely no chance that Felix would even entertain her, but she had to try. She rapped gently on the door twice. She had decided how to do this, it would give her the strength she needed if she did it like she planned.
Felix opened the door, "Mia-"
"We need to talk." She stated clearly, grabbing his sleeve and leading him down to her empty room. Quite frankly she couldn't believe what she was doing. She felt rather… strong. Giving orders to Felix like this, making him follow her and bending him to her whim. If she could maintain this strength, keep this momentum going, perhaps she could break though the barriers Felix had constructed around himself. Maybe she could begin to save him.
Behind her, Felix was rather astonished. He hadn't expected Mia to be so forward about this. Piers, he reasoned, was the perpetrator. He was up to a lot lately. One had to wonder about the inner workings of a Lemurian mind. Indeed, they had no need to rush, so they were patient, they could wait, but only in their world. Everything moved faster for them here, so Piers had to work faster to counteract. He was good at it, which Felix was often thankful for, sadly now was not one of those times.
"I'm sorry." Mia stated as she closed the door and placed her back firmly against it. She couldn't let Felix leave until she had made her point clear, made him understand, "I shouldn't have kissed you. I just feel really confused lately."
"That's my fault." Felix replied easily, too easily, without missing a beat, "I made you worry for me."
Mia shook her head, "It wasn't your fault. It was mine. I'm the one who followed you down there and asked you everything, remember?"
Felix did not agree with her view, "I was the one who answered everything."
"Listen to me, Felix." Mia said stepping forward, surprised by the strength in her own voice, "It's not your fault. Eventually it was all going to come out, and it would have happened at the worst time. It's better that you got it off your chest. I know you have plenty more secrets, and I'm sorry, I really am, but I'm involved now, so let me help."
"I do not need help, Mia. And if I did, I can assure you that kissing me is not the way to do it." Felix retorted.
Mia nodded, slightly put off by the tone of his voice, but she had to remain strong, "I agree. That was stupid of me, and I'm sorry. I had to show you that you have people who care for you. You have seven Adepts here who would die for you, Felix. Four, including myself, who, as recently as three days ago, were out for your blood. Let me help, tell me what's wrong. You can vent on me. I don't mind, what it is."
Felix scowled, he wasn't in the mood for this kind of talk. This is exactly what he wanted to avoid, "How about annoyance or frustration?" He asked, even though it was rare for him to feel as such Mia was currently provoking it.
"I don't mind, it can be anything." Mia said, trying her best to remain strong but show care and understanding for him, "And I'm sorry if you're frustrated with me, but that's your own fault. You're so stubborn it hurts. You've done this to yourself."
"Because I have to. I told you that."
"I don't want you to face it alone. Your curse, or your secrets, or your problems, whatever it is, all that pain, I want to be there to help you." The words were tumbling out of Mia's mouth faster than she could comprehend them, "I don't want you to be alone."
Felix bit his bottom lip to stop himself from shouting down the girl. She was just trying to help him, getting angry would give her more reason to pursue the topic. Why, oh why, did he share his secrets with Mia? Maybe the lack of sleep had been getting to him. Maybe he was just glad that someone was actually showing care for him, "Mia, I told you… I have to face it alone." Felix explained again, "I don't want any of you to be hurt. I never wanted to drag anyone else into this. It was supposed to be just Saturos, Menardi, Alex, and I, on this quest. So, please, don't continue this."
"We're in it now, Felix. Whether you like it or not." Mia stated, "We're all in this together, you can't be alone in it. I won't let you. I want to free you of your curse."
"Listen to me, Mia. You want to help, keep the others from falling apart, but leave me out of it." Felix replied, doing his best to remain courteous, "I don't need these distractions. I have enough to deal with as is."
"And you wouldn't if you let me help. Why can't you, of all people, see the logic in that?" She questioned.
Felix exhaled a breath through his nose, "Just drop it, we need to leave soon."
"Don't change the subject." Mia demanded.
He glared in response. Mia, feeling her resolve shrivel away within her, stared him down as best she could. He quickly moved past her and out the door. She pouted, feeling a familiar sensation in the back of her eyes. She wouldn't let the tears come. And if they did, she wouldn't surrender to them. She would brush them away and move on. She was strong. She knew she was. All she needed was to believe to make it so, believe and act. She could help him, she knew she could, because she was strong.
Half an hour passed innocently before everyone was awake and alert enough for Felix to address them. Felix looked around the table. Everyone looked back at him with innocent smiles and waves. He wasn't keen on disrupting the good mood that had finally settled upon the group after the recent events that had transpired, but sadly he had to.
He stood up from his seat and addressed the whole group, "Today, we set sail for the Northern Reaches. It has no mercy and if you are not prepared its harsh unforgiving weather will destroy you." He said concisely, he wanted everyone to be completely aware of the dangers that they would soon be facing, "However, weather isn't the only thing we face out there. In the Northern Reaches there are monsters far stronger than anything we have faced before. Monsters so strong even Saturos and Menardi opted to avoid them. They will come at you hard, fast and won't give up until either you or they are dead."
The group stared up at Felix, silently absorbing his words.
"As you know Gaia Falls, the edge of our world, grows and consumes more with each passing moment. We will need to make haste, the quicker we complete our quest, the more of our world we'll save. We must not allow innocent lives be destroyed by our hesitation."
They all looked at him thoughtfully, remembering the islands they had visited by the edge of Gaia Falls, the expanse of nothing that dropped down beneath them, a despairing nothingness. Darkness, emptiness and death were all that awaited those unlucky few who would never return from their fall from it. Each of them at that moment, Felix knew, silently swore not to let it consume any more of the world.
"Past the Northern Reaches is the edge of Weyard. It is on this edge that Mars Lighthouse sleeps. Within its cold walls, will be traps, challenges and dangers, determined to keep us from lighting its warming Beacon. But we must stay strong and stay together, if we don't we will fail." He paused considering his next words carefully, "I assume that when we are so close affection will form for some of us." His eyes quickly glanced over Mia with perhaps more obviousness than he had intended.
"But, in battle, these feelings must be left behind. You will all fight as we have done so far." These were the words he had not wanted to so much as utter, he had hoped that each of them would be strong enough to do the right thing, but he couldn't take that risk with them, let alone himself, "If anyone abandons the fight to try and save one of us out of feelings of love, you might just doom the rest of us. That goes for everyone." He looked around and saw them looking up at him, worried, "I know this will be hard to do, but if one of us must die to save Weyard, you must all be willing to make the sacrifice. If we are injured and you make the wrong choice over who to save out of feelings of love, you could well destroy our hopes of saving the world."
He paused and looked down sadly. He then looked around the table his sadness masked by defiance, "Have I made myself clear?" He said loudly, his strong tone spurring on the others.
"Yes, Felix!" The table resounded proudly.
Kraden began to clap slightly and the rest of the table followed suit. Felix smiled and sat back down. Mia smiled a little to him from across the table.
"Alright, everyone order some food, eat up, and get ready. We leave as soon as everyone is packed. Carriages are waiting to bring us, and the townspeople, to the ship."
They all placed their orders with a waitress that came around and ate heartily. This feeling of unity and friendship that was so strong in their group made Felix incredibly proud and happy. The close bonds each of them had forged with each other in the face of danger and death, he wasn't sure if anything could truly bring people closer than impending doom. Their determination to save each other, to help each other and, in general, to simply cheer each other up, was incredible. For once, Felix was glad that he was staring death in the eyes day after day.
The group finished eating and returned to their rooms to pack their things. They were all to meet at the ship when ready. Felix looked out the window and could scarcely make out the Aerie of Jupiter Lighthouse in the distance. Black clouds swirled around it violently as thunder and lightning roared. He knew that soon the clouds would expand and would appear in more places, causing destructive storms, lightning showers and hurricanes across the world and coupled with Mercury's power the world would soon become freezing even the deserts would feel cold, snow and hail storms would rage through the skies. Venus's beacon would cause earthquakes and upheavals of towns, pointless destruction. He knew when he ignited Mars' Beacon that volcanoes may erupt, magma may bubble forth from beneath the earth, but they would all soon die down, he didn't have a choice. He wouldn't let homes and livelihoods be destroyed by elemental disasters because of anymore delays.
Piers' thoughts dwelled on time, yet again. It had been a near everyday occurrence since he first met Felix. As far as he was concerned everyone lived for what could be hundreds of years. He realised how old he was in comparison to all of his companions and had always considered himself a child at heart. Though after the time he had spent with everyone he quickly realised that he was nothing like that. If anything he was the most mature, save perhaps Felix, Sheba was truly the playful child.
He drew his thoughts carefully away from his age and what he considered he was and thought of the meaning of time, past, present and future. Perhaps history repeated, surely what they had sworn to do in relighting the Lighthouses was proof of this, or maybe it was cyclical and everything might be repeated in the same way with the exact same players, or maybe time was simply linear with no repeat and everything that happened from this thought to the next was new.
Regardless, the time he knew of would not be the same for his friends, they did not have as much to experience as he did, had, or would. The time remaining to help Felix was waning quickly, they had but a few months to save him, and all but Mia were ill-equipped to do that. Yet, it seemed that the likelihood of her being able to get to him in time was non-existent. He was so resolutely set in his ways, into the life he had dug himself into, behind the shields he had set around himself, that the task Piers had tasked Mia with seemed to be too much of an ordeal.
But, Piers believed in the Imilian healer. He was unsure why, but he saw something in her, something that spoke volumes over what should be possible. It was something ethereal, celestial, and it made that which should be an impossible task into something that could be accomplished. There was that one voice that told him he thought too much of her, that he was just putting his last hopes on her for his first friend in the outside world, but he still believed. Of course, she could not do it alone, and he wouldn't dream of letting her, he would do all he could to help, but dealing with Felix would be something for her to do in private.
"Are we going yet, Piers?" Garet whined as they stood on the deck of their proud ship. He stared down at the beach growing tired of the inaction and repetitiveness of the past few days.
Piers opened his eyes from thought at the loud voice, "The others need to get here first, Garet. Remember, you, Kraden, and I were the first carriage to leave." He answered yet again, still amazingly patient in stark contrast to Garet.
"Ugh, what's taking them so long?" He groaned sliding down against the door to the lower decks into a sitting position.
"Patience, Garet… look, here's Ivan now." He said pointing down to the shore.
"Finally… HEY! WHERE ARE THE OTHERS!?" He shouted to the sky, unable to see the Jupiter Adept.
"They're on their way now, I saw the others as I left, they were just getting a ride. Comfy, Garet?" Ivan joked when he got on-board and saw Garet nearly lying on the deck, "So, Piers, where's our ship?"
"Stolen."
"Alex." Ivan assessed, "I doubt Karst and Agatio would have brought him with them after the incident on the Aerie. And genius here said we wouldn't need to bring our orb off the ship." He pointed at Garet, "Way to go, all my stuff was on that thing, you know. All of our stuff was."
"Hey, how was I supposed to know something would happen with them? Or that somene with Psynergy would actually figure out how to pilot it? It took us a full week before we could sail properly. Besides, shouldn't we actually be worrying about Alex?" Garet grumbled angrily from the floor, "Like, what's he really after, or what's he up to, is he evil, or just really annoying and teleport-y?"
"He claimed he wanted to see Alchemy returned." Piers sighed, "But there is most likely another motive."
The three of them nodded and stood in silence, reflecting on the Imilian Mercury Adept who had helped Saturos and Menardi and now Karst and Agatio. Piers reflected on the first time he met Alex. He appeared as a native Lemurian to him, of course he knew this impossible. He instilled an uncertainty, which brought fear, in him. He was so calm and patronizing toward everyone and he even knew about Piers, almost too much about him, before he had even met him. There was a calm evil behind his, sometimes kind others insulting, words.
"Well this looks like fun!" The voice broke the four of them out of their reflections on the Imilian traitor. They turned to see Jenna beaming at them, her arm around a smiling Isaac.
"Hey there, you two." Ivan winked.
"So," Jenna started, "what's with the weird mood?"
"We were talking about Alex…" Ivan said calmly.
"Oh…" Jenna said quietly.
"It would be best not to talk about him when Mia gets here," Isaac said, "she gets really emotional whenever we talk about it."
"Yeah, so, on the matter of changing the subject," Garet said quickly, pulling himself back up against the wall, "where are we all staying?"
"Me and Shebs are sharing a room!" Jenna cut in excitedly, "No room for anyone else, argue amongst each other!" She ran downstairs to said room before anyone could object.
"So, who wants in with me then?" Ivan asked, to which the others all glanced at each other. All were asking the same question really: 'Who could handle living with Ivan?' Thankfully they reached a consensus rather fast.
"You're with me, bro!" Garet laughed, wrapping his arm around the boy's shoulder, "If you stayed with anyone else this relationship would be over like that!" He laughed, snapping his fingers.
Isaac and Piers smirked to each other as the 'couple' went below deck, "That leaves us, Mia, and Felix… so, how's that going to work?"
"It's really a question of who would be most respectful for Mia and give her privacy when the need arises." Piers answered, preparing so much, "And seeing as Felix is the most private person we've ever known I think that makes him a likely roommate."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea… I mean, I'd stay with Mia or Felix, not like it would be a problem. Sure, Felix is private and all, but I think he's almost too private, you know? Not sure if Mia would particularly enjoy him as a roommate."
"I'm positive they will warm to each other." Piers smiled.
"If you say so…" Isaac shrugged. He was unsure of Piers' reasoning, but didn't argue. Piers would have known the Felix of nowadays better than anyone, so maybe he did know best. And, Mia could easily visit any of the other rooms without difficulty. Hell, maybe she'd even bring Felix back to a semi-enjoyable person. Accepting the fact, he grabbed his bags, and Piers' and went to claim whatever room was theirs.
Piers smirked as he remained on deck, waiting to see the approaching figures of Sheba, Mia, and Felix. He had expected more of an argument from Isaac, more to defend his friend, yet he had conceded rather quickly. Perhaps he just respected Piers' wisdom, his age, something to that effect. Either way, Piers just prayed that this would help the two along.
The sky was a stunning contrast through her window. Trails of long dark storm clouds dragged themselves across the sky, gathering around the Jupiter Beacon. The blackened swirls of rain-heavy clouds dampened a crystalline blue that went through the heavens. But her mind was not focused on the conflicted weather that would no doubt become perilous to them. It was where it had been for days, the image of purity behind chocolate eyes.
Felix had been good once, innocent even. She didn't care what he might have done since the Boulder tore him from the life he knew. It would just be something that he kept as an eternal scar for himself. So, she would have to help him, she would have to heal those scars and help him become who he once was. But he was too stubborn to shed his veil of isolation and darkness, too stubborn to ask for any help or to accept any of it. She had promised to save him and she had to get close to him to do that. Why was he so stupid?
"Hey, Mia, we gotta get going soon. We're already behind everyone else. Most of the other carriages have left already, it's just you, me, and Felix still here."
The bright voice brought her back. Sheba was smiling innocently down at her, laden with her own travelling bags. Mia's were as of yet unpacked and strewn about her bed, "Oh… I'll be right behind you." She answered, not completely truthfully.
"Do you want help with all this?" She gestured to the pile of clothes and supplies.
Mia shook her head and smiled brightly.
"If you're sure." Sheba mumbled doubtfully.
She nodded warmly, "Tell Felix I won't be much longer."
"Ooh, tell Felix, huh?" She giggled as she skipped from the room.
Mia's blush hit without warning at Sheba's words and she was glad the Adept had skipped away. Why had her slight tease embarrassed her so much? What was wrong with her as of late? Normally such small teases wouldn't have brought so much as a thought to mind, but now she was embarrassed at the mention of Felix. She had tried to kiss him, that's all it was. She was still embarrassed from that. That's the lie she told herself. She wouldn't accept what she was really thinking. It was silly.
Like him? It was ridiculous. She just wanted to help him. Who cared if he was handsome, in a dark kind of way? Who cared if his muscular body felt so warm against her when they hugged? Who cared if she had dreamt of the two of them together? Who cared if she loved his smile? Who cared if she had feelings for him? No, no feelings. She told herself quickly. The 'feelings' were just her want to help him, her fear for him. Help, that's all.
She shook her head and realised she had been folding the same robe for several minutes now. She did her best to focus on packing her equipment, clothing, and medicinal supplies correctly. She did well for the majority of it, but that thought of Felix's smile crept back to the forefront of her mind. Instead of focusing it away though, she went with it, smiling herself as she continued her work. Then she was done, time seemed to have flown. But now she was faced with four heavy bags of equipment to carry. Where was Garet when you needed him?
She let out a laboured breath as she slung two of the bags over her shoulders and their heavy weight came down on her. She closed her eyes as she tried to pull herself back into a comfortable position of strength. She reached down for her other bags only to meet another hand. Her eyes shot open and followed the arm to the eyes of deepest brown.
"Fe-Felix!" She said quickly as she quickly withdrew her hand, "S-sorry, I'll hurry up."
"Don't worry." He said simply, avoiding eye contact, picking up the two remaining bags and relieving her of the weight of one around her shoulder. He slung all three around his back and seemed completely comfortable with the extra weight, "Let's go."
Mia nodded and was tempted to hold his hand as they walked, "Thank you, Felix. I'm sorry."
"It is no trouble." He assured keeping his eyes fixed ahead of him as they pushed open the inn door, "I prefer helping."
She beamed up to him, fully thankful, "Thank you, very much." She said brightly as they travelled through the town to the carriages meeting place, "But, where's your gear?"
"I had Piers take it with him while I paid and thanked the inn staff for their hospitality." Felix answered and they continued silently on their walk.
Mia quickly grew uncomfortable beside him he was acting as though nothing had happened between them and it was as though he was simply helping a stranger. Was that how easy it was for him? Did he just disregard every past experience he didn't like and start fresh? That couldn't be right. She realised she was watching him as they walked. His hair wisped gently on the wind. An ebony current of strength and grace in harmony, it reflected him in some way.
"Felix? Can we talk?" She asked innocently.
"About what?" He tilted his head to catch her in the periphery of his vision.
"Anything?" She shrugged.
"It depends on the topic, Mia." He said quickly, concisely, "You should know that by now."
"I know…" She frowned, "It's just that-Ah!" She yelled as her foot sank into a gap in the earth. She cringed as she saw the dirt come closer and shut her eyes tight, only to fall into a soft grip. She opened her eyes and Felix's face was no more than a few inches from her own. She could do nothing about the colour that immediately flushed with her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
She swallowed hard as though trying to force her own thoughts back down with it and nodded, "Y-yes. Thank you."
"How's your foot?" He asked quickly looking to where she had tripped and assessing that her ankle may have twisted, "It could be sprained."
She looked down and rotated it, searching for any source of pain. None were present. It was then she realised she was parallel to the ground in Felix's strong arms. She swallowed again and motioned upward, "I'm fine. I just wasn't watching where I was walking."
Felix nodded and helped her to her feet and they continued silently. Now she was just too embarrassed to talk. Minutes stretched on, Felix carrying all of her equipment, in absolute silence. Mia could hear the insects in the grass around them. She desperately wished that she had been watching where she was going, at least then she could have talked with him. They climbed into a coach where Sheba was already waiting. Mia was very glad the girl was there. She could diffuse the tension, make the air light and easy. She did, and Mia smiled fully, though Felix remained silent and withdrawn. Over an hour and a half later they found themselves at the docks, surrounded by villagers waiting to see the ship of legend.
Mia's new room was nihilistically plain. There were only five bedrooms, four regular and one for the captain, on the ship and this one had to be the darkest. There were two beds, two chests of drawers and a single candle atop one. It was unbelievably bare and depressing.
"Feel free to put your equipment where you please." Felix said as he placed her bags on her new bed, "Meet back on deck when you're ready."
She watched him with a frown as he left. His room was so blank and now she was there. She marvelled at the fact that she had to share a room with him, whatever fate, chance, or divine blindness caused it. All the other rooms had been occupied before she and Felix arrived. Sheba had darted to her room with Jenna before anything could be arranged. Mia was genuinely surprised when Felix hadn't tried to negotiate a switch with anyone. She thought that after everything that had happened between them it would have been easier to make her stay with one of the others. Maybe that would have made all that had happened obvious to the others though…
She went to his side of the room and searched around, hoping to find some glimpse into the Venus Adept. She knew she shouldn't, she knew she should respect his privacy, but curiosity won her over and she did so anyway. His side was almost as empty as the rest of the room, two other pairs of neatly folded tunics were placed in the very bottom drawer the rest were empty.
He had left his travelling bags on the floor at the foot of his bed. She carefully unfastened the first, finding some quick healing items for more difficult wounds. His second held a large box. A set of armour was contained within, shining in a mix of navy and silver, along with a very decorative mask. She recognised the symbol on the armour, it was the same as the one that had adorned Saturos'. She could see her reflection in their sheen and smiled to herself. His last bag simply contained yet another tunic and several other items of clothing. She sighed as she refastened the bags.
She resigned to unpacking her own supplies and the hope that she could brighten up the dark room eventually. She organised her supplies and equipment carefully into the small space that she had. Then something caught her eye: an eye watching her through the crack in the door. It seemed ethereal. As if it had been hovering for the split second she had seen it. Fear shot through her spine like an electric joke from Ivan. It disappeared as soon as she had seen it and she bounded to the door. Her eyes darted back and forth down the hall, but there was nothing.
"Mia!" Piers announced from the stairwell, advancing toward her, but, upon seeing her, his expression changed, "Are you okay?"
She shook herself, "Y-yeah. Just thought I saw something is all. Looked like an eye."
"Hmm, that's new." Piers commented, "Usually it's a jellyfish or something. Nothing serious I'm sure."
Mia nodded, though unconvinced.
"How did your talk with Felix go this morning?" He asked, ushering himself into her room.
"Umm… strangely." She answered, fully truthful, it hadn't really gone well, "I mean, I apologised for last night. I explained that I want to help him and everything else. I tried my best to get him to understand. I tried to make him see that I care for him, that I don't want to see him hurt. He just doesn't want to hear me though. He even got a bit angry."
"Really?" Piers seemed doubtful, "That's interesting. It might be a good thing. Either way, I'm convinced that if anyone is capable of helping him now, it's you." He winked at her, "Keep at it. I'm sure you'll wear him down eventually. Maybe you can cure his insomnia and nightmares. Oh and can you get the others? Time to leave."
She pretty much had to since he had already gone back to the deck, "Okay!" She called out after him, exaggerating false distaste for it.
Frantic laughter was heard behind one of the doors as she knocked. Jenna opened the door, wiping away a tear of mirth, with a wide open-mouthed smile. Sheba and Ivan were struggling to hold off their giggling as they waited for Mia's message.
"Felix wants everyone up on the deck." She said as she smiled sweetly to them. The room was much brighter than hers. It was exactly the same, but it was homelier and more welcoming. The air of friendliness and happiness permeated through the wood. Mia found the source of the mirth at the back of the room. Jenna, Ivan, and Sheba, seemed to be watching their Djinn put on some form of show. The thing was that the Djinn were not actually doing a good job, and therein lay the hilarity.
"Alright." Ivan laughed.
"Are the three of you staying in here?" Mia asked dubiously, peeking in, noticing only two beds.
"I was gonna, but apparently Jenna isn't too keen on the idea of me sharing a bed with her. Thinks I'll be doing stuff to her late at night. That's more Garet's department. So, she made me stay with him." Ivan replied, nudging Jenna and laughing, "Hey wait, where are you staying?"
"Umm… with Felix." She muttered.
"Ooh!" The two Jupiter Adepts laughed aloud at her embarrassment, "Gonna get lucky, huh?"
Behind them, Jenna was looking away, trying to prevent that particular image of her brother.
Mia blushed furiously, "Ivan!" She squealed and punched him playfully in the arm.
"Don't worry about it, Mia." He laughed in return and winked to her, "C'mon. Let's not keep the calm one waiting."
"Coming, Mia?" Jenna questioned as she walked past.
"I have to get Isaac." She explained with a smile.
"I'll come with." Jenna smiled.
The two Jupiter Adepts had already disappeared upstairs but there laughter echoed through the still unfamiliar halls. Mia and Jenna giggled as together as they moved to the room Isaac would be occupying with Piers. Together they knocked on the door.
Isaac answered the door and smiled when he saw them, "Oh, hi. What do you need?" He asked brightly.
"Felix wants us on deck." They relayed simultaneously.
"Alright, cool. Let's go." He said.
"Why didn't you stay with Garet?" Mia probed.
Isaac answered with a dubious stare, "Mia… do you remember what Garet's room was like on our ship? No way am I staying there."
Mia was forced to recall the particularly unpleasant memory of when she entered Garet's room once, only to nearly faint because of the lack of clean air contained within. The air had been heavy with Garet's week old stench. She couldn't help but laugh and agree with him. She beamed brightly as she led the two back onto deck. Everyone was gathered in an arc at the centre. Mia moved quietly around the edge of group and caught sight of Felix, waiting patiently for all of them. As he came into view he spoke.
"Alright, they're expecting a show down there," He said gesturing to the crowd on the beach, "let's try and make it worth the wait."
"It's us!" Ivan yelled comically, "Of course we will!"
"Let's see if you can hold to that." He responded coolly, "Sheba."
Sheba nodded and produced a small jewel from her pocket. The group's eyes were all drawn to the small Psynergetic jewel. No one wanted to ask what was all on their minds. Thankfully that's what Garet was for.
"How do we do this?" He asked sceptically.
"I'm open to suggestion."
"I would believe we should do it the same we did together in the Lighthouse, only now we include our new decorations in that focus." Piers inserted, "With any luck that will give us the power to hover and move. Or we could just end up destroying my ship, in which case I will hold you all accountable and demand compensation."
Felix nodded, the group laughing, and waited for any possible objections from the group. No one seemed to disagree, "Very well, you all know what to do. I'll take the wheel." He said heading toward it.
Everyone focused on pooling their Psynergy together and then letting it flow into the ship. Mia opened an eye from her concentration to see their Psynergetic rings had joined and were slowly enveloping the ship. She shifted her mind to the Hover Jade and felt a sudden lurch. The noise of the quick downpour from the ship as it slowly rose from the waters was drowned out by the loud hum of their joined Psynergy.
The Wings on either side of the ship suddenly responded and the ship flew out of the dock at tremendous speed, followed by the quickly lost cheers of the town below. Their flight was short lived, the sudden jolt had knocked them all back and they had lost all concentration. They landed with a crash far out from the dock in the seas. Mia knew that Felix would ensure they practice until they were able to fly the ship properly and without danger.
She smiled and moved to the edge of the boat as they began to sail toward impending doom with a bright cheer.
WOO! They finally made it out of Contigo! (Took their time huh? Jeez, these kids today)
So, thoughts on the chapter? Personally I really like the first Mia/Felix section. You have no idea how many times I rewrote that section, but I'm real proud of it now, so that's all good. Oh and Piers working his maniacal plans. I did say stuff would happen and WILL continue to happen.
Does this chapter hold up to previous chapters though?
Well, keep an eye out for updates. I'm thoroughly reviewing the next few chapters, but trust me this addition to the scarce breed of Softshipping fics will be finished, have no fear.
And please review and tell me how I'm doing.
I would love criticism and corrections no matter how big or small they are, if things seemed out of place, etc.
Your friend and writer,
Droory