Golden Sun: Dark Element: Chapter Four
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"I really think you should stay a little longer."
"Sheba, please," Felix tugged at the corners of his bed and turned to face her, "I'm perfectly okay," He forced his long green cloak out of his worn canvas bag, swinging both over his shoulders.
"But it's only been a few days. We should make sure you're healthy."
"But I am." He brushed past her and hurried down the stairs. He crossed the prayer room and then heaved open one of the overly large wooden doors.
"Felix, you need to stay in the sanctum until you are well," he glanced back to see Mia standing beside Sheba, her hand on the younger adept's shoulder.
He produced a fake smile and turned toward Mia, "I've been well for days," he just wanted to go home, "I'm fine, really."
"I don't think so," Sheba said, "I don't think this could be over so quick." He ignored the blonde, focusing his charm on the priestess.
"Really," he tried to reassure her he was right, "all I need is to get back home; I can't rightfully relax on these lumpy pillows and hard beds."
Mia's stern frown began to melt and she turned toward Sheba, "He doesn't seem too sick me..." she suggested, "We could have someone check in on him if you're that worried."
Felix's fake smile faltered. All he had really wanted was his privacy. Sheba had spotted his smile flicker, "Fine," she said, turning from Mia's grip and running for the stairs; she would not be deceived by his lies. He had never even confided to her his last dream. He refused to talk to her about it. If he wasn't going to let her help him, she might as well just quit trying.
Mia blushed, hesitating. Should she let him go and talk to her friend? She looked after the stairs and then back towards Felix, "You can leave," she said, smiling and blushing a little deeper before chasing Sheba up the stairs.
Once her back turned, his fake smile became a sigh. If only they would listen. He slipped out the door to begin his long walk down the hill to the rest of the village. The frosted grass crunched under his thick leather boots and the air whispered lightly and ruffled his tunic. He saw the village below; buildings nestled closely together in neat little rows.
Vale had grown since he had been away in the sanctum. The town looked nearly finished. Felix paused, taking in the village. Not nearly finished...He squinted, chocolate eyes scanning every detail. No, the town was completely finished.
Vale was finished. And Vale being finished meant...
Sheba would be leaving.
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Piers' hand hesitated at the door. He heard the crunching of frosted grass and turned to see Sheba walking up behind him. The blonde's eyes widened.
"Piers," she said, stopping suddenly, "what..." she looked him over and then at the hotel behind him, "What are you doing here?"
He followed her gaze to the large wooden house, "Looking for a place to rest." Sheba's gaze narrowed and Piers fought off the urge to chuckle, "I know what you meant, I was only joking. I have grown weary of my home, but..." Piers looked over the large building behind him, "Shall we go inside first? We can talk where it is warm."
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"A free room," Piers sighed happily as he opened the door to his room, "how nice."
"Well, you are welcome here anytime." Sheba pushed the half-closed door with her shoulder. Piers took the luggage from her hands and placed it on the nicely made bed.
"Thank you for your help," he said.
Sheba just waved it off' "That's alright." She watched him for a moment as he walked about the room, putting his things in proper places, "So…" she began.
"I felt a pull," he said.
"What?"
"The reason I came here. It was like I was needed for something." He looked up at her and smiled gently, "I really can't explain it."
She shivered a little, though it wasn't due to the cold. This is…some kind of sign or omen, she thought.
Something bad is going to happen. No mistake, a prediction had just been made by the Jupiter adept. It was so vague though, as if her power had hit some sort of barrier.
"I think I know what you mean," she said. He looked at her expectantly (she was a Jupiter adept of course), "Piers, something's wrong with Felix."
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A rapping of knuckles against the hard wood cut through Felix's thoughts. He grumbled under his breath as he reached for the door; something about mothering, smothering, and checking in.
The door opened partly with a twist of the handle. He had opened his mouth to say something like "I'm fine, now leave me be," but his brows just rose under his unkempt mess of bangs instead. Of all people, he had least expected Piers to check in on him. He was almost too surprised to answer back when the blue-haired man asked, "How are you, friend?"
"Shocked, I think, is a good word for this emotion," Felix finally said. He opened the door further to wave Piers inside
"Your health, I mean." Felix gave his friend a scrutinizing once over as he shut the door behind them.
"You've been talking to Sheba." I wasn't a question. Strange, as I could have been anyone else in the village, but he just kind of…knew.
They reached the kitchen table and Piers pulled up a chair across from the Venus adept, "She tells me you've been more than sick. She is worried," Piers said, "and I am somewhat worried as well."
Felix waved this remark away, "She's just being paranoid," he explained, "do I look sick to you?" He held his arms out, "Believe me, I've been fine for days."
"I don't think wind adepts get paranoid, Felix. She must have a reason for her concern?"
"My health is not my greatest concern, Piers." I have greater things other than fever to fret over, he thought.
"Then what is?"
Felix frowned, avoiding his friend's eyes.
"What's going on, Felix?"
He's your friend. Why not tell him?
The echo...that voice that wasn't there. Had it returned? It was calm. It knew the right response. He could trust it.
But why should he listen to the voice? He glanced up at Piers, sitting, waiting for his answer.
He could tell him everything- the dreams, the predictions- or...
Or what?
Another thought had entered; unlike the other one, it was sharp and concise. It too, talked sense. Perfect sense. Don't be silly, the tone of it suggested, what's the point in telling him?
Indeed. Why tell him? Nothing would come of it. The sharp voice spoke truth. He would trust it.
Felix puffed the hair out of his face, "It doesn't concern you," he told his longtime friend.
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The sharp voice continued to speak, though not to Felix. The owner of the sharp voice looked up at the endless white sky, his silver hair waving in a non-existent breeze, "Luna," he crooned, "have you really gone so weak?"
Luna did not reply, yet it did not stop the one dressed in black to continue calling out.
"Pathetic waste of power! Your effort to save him is only in vain. Do you not yet understand?"
"I can show you again, if you still haven't figured it out!" A pale smile spread across the dark one's face, "I can show you just how useless to the world you are!"
Your monologue does not threaten me, Garcia. Stand down with this useless display.
"Ha!" Garcia snorted, "You have absolutely no control. I would tell you to stand down if only it wasn't so funny that you try in the first place!" The silenced continued when Luna did not reply. The one called Garcia frowned, how boring the god of the moon was.
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Felix sat at his table rubbing his right temple. An awful headache had set in and he didn't feel the best in mood to deal with company.
"I'll be fine," he told Piers, "it's merely a headache."
Piers did not seem convinced.
"It'll pass," Felix insisted, "What brings you down here, anyway?"
Piers' face did not brighten like he'd expected it to. Instead, it only got more serious, "I think it is a sign," he said quietly, "I felt…as if something needed my attention." He paused, thinking, "like someone needed my help."
It makes sense
…
Ridiculous, what a stupid reason.
Felix really didn't really know what to think. It was as if his mind had spoken for him. As if Felix was unable to think for himself. He groaned and dug his knuckles into his forehead.
Go away, he thought. Leave me be. His teeth grinded against each other. The pain in his head felt hot and blinding.
"Felix," Piers began slowly, "I'm beginning to think that's you."
"Don't be stupid, Piers," he said, "You can't help me."
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Piers watched a puff of white breath rise in front of his face. He leaned against the rail that separated his room at the inn from the street below.
"Don't be stupid, Piers," he had said, "You can't help me."
Was it some kind of coded plea for help? Felix had been denying all this time only to say he couldn't be helped? Why say it as if he had some kind of problem?
You can't help me.
He didn't say, "I don't need help." It was like he thought any help would be useless.
Piers sighed, "Maybe I'm over thinking this." He gazed up at the moon as he spoke to himself, "Maybe I'm the one being paranoid." A knock came at the door. He looked back at it, curious. Who would visit at this late of hour?
"I heard you'd come," said Isaac as he opened the door, not waiting for Pier's invitation. He looked clearly smashed. He stumbled happily through the doorway, "You gotta come down…stairs," he managed, "The town is done!"
"Done?" Piers asked, "How do you mean?"
"Jus come to the party," Isaac continued, "We're partying!"
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END OF CHAPTER 4
Oh boy, I'm finally done editing. If I missed anything or something fails to make sense, please let me know. I'm doing my best here, but I know I can do better with a little help from you guys.
Thanks.
~riais