Here's the second Chapter. Reven is having second thoughts about leaving, but eventually decides to leave Lemuria. His father recommends he starts with the Mercury Lighthouse, But fate has (or rather I have) other plans for Reven.

Chapter 2

Lightning flashed. Thunder roared. The rain was falling in sheets. It was the worst storm the island of Lemuria had seen in years. Which meant Reven couldn't sleep. He stood by his window looking out at the giant waves that where forming in the ocean. Unlike Reven, Shade was lightly dozing on the floor next to him. Reven was doubting his decision to leave Lemuria. He knew he would have to go alone and would also need other Adepts to access the different lighthouses. His thoughts were interrupted by a light knock at the door.

His fathers voice drifted into the room. "Reven are you awake?"

"Yes," he said. "Come on in."

The door opened and his father stepped inside. "Reven, I'm sorry if this is bothering you. You can still back out if you want. No one will hate you for it. We'll just find someone else to take the job."

"I can't back down now, I already told you I'd do it. It's just I don't know what to do. Sealing away Alchemy will be no easy task. And how exactly do I contain the elements?"

"I will explain all that later. For now please sleep. Tomorrow's a big day, so sleep as long as you need. I know you well. For you this quest should be easy. I believe in you."

Reven lied down on his bed. Some how it seemed much more comfortable than before. "Thank you, dad." And he drifted off to sleep.

Reven immediately wished he hadn't. He was standing on the deck of his boat in the middle of the ocean. A huge storm was looming on the horizon. He frowned and spun the wheel at the helm of the ship. The ship slowly turned to the right, but the storm was still in front of him. He turned it more, but the storm was still in front of him, and coming closer. He panicked. He tried running from the storm but it was always where he was trying to go. He could see giant waves in the middle of the storm. Within seconds the storm was upon him and he found himself being tossed back and forth by the giant waves. The rain poured and there was thunder but no lightning. He held onto the helm with his life. He looked up and saw the biggest wave he had ever seen about to fall on top of his ship. Suddenly a great bolt of lightning flashed and he was sent into total darkness.

Reven opened his eyes, and quickly shut them again. Sunlight shone directly into his eyes, coming in from the window. He sat up and blinked off the bright light. When his eyes finally refocused he noticed that he was drenched in sweat and shaking. He put his head in his hands and sighed. This day hadn't started off well, but even with his nightmares, he still felt rested and refreshed. He found that Shade had moved to the end of his bed. He smiled and pet the Djini on the head. As usual, the Djini felt cold but that was normal for a Mercury Djini, after all it was a water elemental creature.

"Wake up, you lazy water beast." Reven said.

The Djini opened his eyes. "It's too early, more sleep." He said, then he closed his eyes again.

"Oh no you don't. You've already had way more sleep than I have, now get up." Reven said, then paused. "If you don't hurry you might miss breakfast."

Shade got up. "Alright, fine. I'm ready." He mumbled.

"Good let's go." Reven said, and left the room. He walked down the stairs to find the dining area empty. His father must have left to make preparations. He sat down and ate breakfast, making sure to set some food aside for Shade. Once he had finished he went back upstairs and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to leave, there was another knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Reven called.

"It's me," said a voice. " Kurt."

Reven hastily opened the door. There he saw Kurt standing at the door. Kurt was a little younger than him and they often hung out together. Kurt tried to control the elements, but for some reason he just couldn't. He was the only Lemurian who couldn't, but he didn't really care too much about it. Then Kurt spoke up.

"What's going on around here. Your father and a lot of other old healers are wandering around making preparations for someone to leave. He asked me to come and see if you were awake. Do you have any idea what this is all about?"

Reven hesitated. No one had told him not to tell anyone. If he just left then someone would notice him gone. So I guess it would be okay to tell Kurt he was leaving.

"Uhh, Kurt. Sorry about the short notice but I will be leaving for a while."

"Where are you going?" Kurt asked. "And why so soon?"

"I'm going to sail to the main continent for a little while. I'm leaving before another storm arises."

"Why are you going to the main continent? That's a long way away. What will you be doing out there?"

"Look Kurt, my dad's sending me on some... family business." Reven said, carefully choosing his words. "And I must go alone. It will be dangerous... at sea, I mean."

"Oh..." said Kurt. "Sorry if I was prying."

"It's fine." Reven responded, then added. "When was the last time you saw my dad?"

"He was on his way to the sanctum, if I remember correctly. I'll find him and tell him your awake."

"Thanks. Go ahead, I'll catch up with you in a minute." Reven said,and Kurt walked of towards the sanctum. Reven went back to his room to grab his gear, when he found Shade sleeping on the bed again. Reven sighed.

"Get up already!" He yelled. "I can't have you loafing around the whole time! If we get into trouble then I'll need your help. Now get up!"

"Hey, you don't have to get all angry with me now." Shade said, now fully awake. "I was just taking a light doze."

"Light doze? You could have slept through another one of last nights thunderstorms."

"What thunderstorm?" Shade asked.

"See?" Reven said triumphantly, then continued. "Anyway, we need to get going. I'm all ready to go, are you?"

"I use what you use." Shade replied.

"Then lets go." He said.

Reven left his house behind. His father had said it would be an easy journey, but he still wasn't too sure. He didn't think he'd be home for a while. He decided he had one more thing to take care of. And he needed to do it completely alone. He looked down at Shade, who was walking along next to him. "Shade, go to the sanctum and meet dad. There's one thing left I have to do. Someone I have to visit."

Shade nodded. "I understand." He said. They knew each other so well that Shade knew exactly who he was going to visit. Reven turned down a different path and continued walking until he came upon a field. It was completely different from the crowded and lively city. This field was empty except for a rows of marble tombstones. He was going to visit his mother. He stood silently next to his mother's grave. She had taken ill a few years ago, and no one could figure out what was wrong, even his father. There was nothing to do but watch her slowly waste away. He remembered watching her die in his fathers arms.

Reven shook those memories from his head. He was not here to bring back those painful memories. He was here to say goodbye.

"Mom? I'm leaving now. The fate of the whole world is in my hands, can you believe it? I just wanted to say goodbye before I left, so... goodb..." Tears welled up in Reven's eyes,and he sank to his knees. He knew he couldn't say goodbye without crying. He just sat and shed his tears, until a hand rested itself on his shoulders.

"I miss her too, son. But I know if she were here she would be proud, just like me." Reven jumped up and hugged his father tightly. They embraced each other for the next few minutes, when Reven finally let go.

"Now I'm ready." He said. "Now I know what I must do."

"Good. Now come with me to the sanctum. We will discuss the rest of the plan with you there." His father said.

Reven and his father made their way through the streets of Lemuria, back to the cities sanctum. Once they arrived, they entered the same room as the night before. All of the representatives were present, as well as Shade who was sitting next to an empty seat. Reven sat in the seat, which turned out to be opposite to his father. Then his father began speaking.

"Once again, we are all present. I shall leave it to the Anagran representative to fill Reven in on the last details of our plan." When he finished, he sat down. Then the Anagran representative looked over at Reven and said;

"Four of the Sages among us have volunteered to complete the finishing stages of this plan to seal Alchemy away. Your job is to get the essence of the Four Elements from the four Elemental Lighthouses. We will provide you with four vessels to transport them in. All you need to do is reach the lighthouse aerie and transfer the beacons power into the vessel. It would be a simple task for an Adept of that same Element."

"I recommend that you start with the Mercury Lighthouse to the north. Seeing as you are a Mercury Adept, it would be a good place to start for you. I'm sure along the way you will meet other Adepts that will be willing to help you." His father said.

"Once you are finished, you must take the four vessels to Mt. Aleph, in Anagra. There the four of us sages will seal away Alchemy in the Ancient Sol Sanctum. But there is a problem. Once you remove an elemental essence from a lighthouse, you have taken that element's alchemic presence from the world. The other Elements will become unbalanced so you will need to hurry. Is everything clear?"

Reven repeated everything that the representative had just said. After that they all nodded.

"Now, Reven, the time for you departure has come." His father said. "We shall all meet at the docks."

Reven stood up and left the room, with Shade following behind him. Reven slowly walked down to the docks, getting one long, last look at Lemuria. He would miss the tall white buildings that made his home look so majestic. When he finally reached the dock he wasn't the only one there. Kurt was waiting for him.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Reven and Shade at the same time.

"I just came to see you off." Kurt replied. "Come back safe, okay. I'll see you around."

With that, Kurt left. It wasn't too long before all the representatives arrived. They gathered around the dock that led to Reven's boat. Then the Anagran representative stepped forward.

"Take these," He said. "These are the vessels you'll need to harbor the elemental essences." He handed Reven a Mythril sewn bag that contained four crystal clear orbs. Reven nodded and tied the bag to his belt. Then his father stepped forward.

"This is a gift from the King. He wishes you luck on your quest." He handed Reven a small square blue stone, that felt cold to hold. Reven could feel a strange aura around it. "That is a Frost Gem, as long as you hold it you have the power to freeze water solid. Now go, sail due north from here for about a day and a half. If you do you should come across the nation of Ankhol. Find a port and then travel far north to the Mercury Lighthouse."

Reven stared at his gift. Straight from the King, too. He clasped his hand around it. "Thank you all for your support. I will not fail you." He said, and stepped aboard the ship, along with Shade. Reven pulled his black crystal orb out of his pack, which he used to control his ship.

"Alright Shade," he said. "Let's go." He grabbed the helm and used his control of water to direct his ship to sea. He looked back and saw the council shrinking in the distance. He waved one last goodbye, then piloted the ship northward. Reven sailed the ship across the peaceful ocean, unable to contain his anxiety about the world he has yet to explore.

Coming up next: Reven encounters other Adepts outside of Lemuria, but not in the way he expects...