Golden Sun: the First Adventure

by Detective Dorian

Isaac and Garet are thrust headlong into a quest to save the world from Alchemy. Rated T for fantasy violence and mild swearing. Novelization of the first game. Constructive criticism, please.

2. Chapter 1, Three Years Later

Author's Note: Alright, something of note here. This chapter is long. Not counting the Author's Note, it's almost five times longer than the prologue. I had originally split the entire Sol Sanctum segment into three chapters. But, I feel like it should all be together just to get it all out of the way in one go. So, here it is, all together for your enjoyment. Please, please, give me some constructive criticism. And don't worry, I don't think the chapters following this one will be quite as long as this one once Garet and Isaac actually leave Vale.

Three Years Later

It was the brightest, clearest fall morning that Vale had had in over a year, now. The sun beat down on the men and women as they rebuilt the houses that had been destroyed on that fateful day three years previously. The landslides had only recently been cleared and the stairs that allowed the villagers to travel up and down the levels of the town had been rebuilt just last month. The trees around them were of warm golds and reds. Even with Psynergy, gathering supplies took a long time, and using them for efforts to rebuild was a task in and of itself.

"Good morning," said Jenna, smiling to a woman, who paused a moment to smile back. Jenna had grown in three years, now holding a staff a little shorter than she was tall that had a wooden crescent mood on one end of it.

"Ah, Jenna," said the woman, inclining her head a fraction so as to keep from tipping over the urn she was carrying on her head. "How are you?" she asked, her eyes becoming slightly concerned as she stared at Jenna's face.

"I'm fine, ma'am," replied the girl a bit more firmly than she'd intended, brushing her red bangs out of her brown eyes. "I'm heading off to visit Isaac and Garet."

"Oh, good." The woman cleared her throat and adjusted the urn, nodding. "Don't let me keep you, then. Have a good day." Jenna gave a respectful bow, and the two parted ways, Jenna heading up the stairs.

"Do you have the roof fixed yet, Isaac?" called a towheaded woman standing in front of a cottage in front of the stairs' landing. Jenna paused a moment, looking up at the roof and bringing her hand up to block the morning sun.

"Almost done, mum!" called down Isaac, the edge of the roof hiding him from view. "I have to lace these bits of hay together." Dora's roof had gotten several holes in it and they'd had to use pieces of wood to block the rain for a few months while they'd helped rebuild the rest of the town.

"Okay, dear, just tell me when I can come up!" replied Dora, adjusting her apron, and Jenna smiled, walking around the house and getting behind it to walk further north. Once she'd climbed the next set of stairs, she stepped up to the next house to knock on the door when she heard a loud yell.

"Haah!" Jenna jumped, turning and peeking around the corner before stifling a giggle. Garet stood with a deep frown in front of a large stone that was taller than he was, and that was saying something. Not counting his red hair which he'd spiked at least four inches from his scalp, Garet had grown even taller than Jenna or Isaac. The teenager lifted both hands, and blue rings appeared around his body. With sweat dripping down his brow, his hands began to glow. "Haah!" he shouted again, and a massive, ghostly white hand appeared, pressing against the rock. With what looked like a massive effort of Garet's part, the rock began to slide away from the teenager. Jenna saw several pretty flowers getting crushed under the weight of the rock.

"Training hard there, Garet?" asked Jenna as she stepped up to her friend. Garet jumped, and lost his concentration, the ghostly hand disappearing. "You'd figure that you'd be able to lift it and throw it into the river from here by now." The taller boy blushed.

"You know Isaac and I haven't had a lot of time to train." Garet lifted his large arms to cross over his chest. "What with all the rebuilding, and… Stuff. We've barely had free time for the last three years…"

"I wasn't talking about Psynergy, Garet," said Jenna, placing her hands on her hips and smirking at him. "You're built like a barn."

Garet's face became about a shade darker than his hair. "W-well, that's what happens when you carry all that… Wood around and… Rocks." Jenna giggled, walking over and cuffing the larger boy on the shoulder.

"You put your heart into your work and your training," she said, looking at the stone Garet had moved. Walking slowly up to the flower garden, Jenna leaned her staff against the stone. "Hey… What happened to you and Isaac?" she asked, glancing to Garet, who blinked, looking confused. "Three years ago, I mean. Isn't that why you two have been training so hard in your free time?"

Garet blinked again, then looked away, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, well… I…"

"I appreciate your concern," said Jenna, and she looked back at the rock, rubbing over the mossy surface. "But my family's never coming back, and neither is Isaac's father…" Garet looked back at his friend, his brows furrowing. "I just want to forget that day," Jenna continued softly, her hand gripping into the grooves of the stone as her eyes became slightly misty. "I wish everyone else would…" Jenna took in a long breath. "Anyway, we'd better pick up Isaac and-" She froze, blinking at Garet, for the taller boy had started saying something, but cut off. He blushed, closing his open mouth and looked away. "What?"

"N-nothing," deflected Garet said, suddenly becoming very interested in a bird than had landed on top of the rock he had been training with.

"You were about to say something," pressed Jenna, her head tilted slightly as she stared at him.

Garet shook his head. "It's nothing," he repeated. Jenna frowned, her hands placing themselves on her hips again as she watched him.

After a few moments of silence between the two of them, Jenna grabbed her staff and turned her back on him with a scoff, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't be so weird…" Garet blinked, watching as her purple cape swayed slightly in the breeze. "Whatever…"

"Jenna…" Garet stepped forward, reaching out to her. "Are you mad at me?"

Jenna tapped a frustrated finger on the crescent of her staff, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter," she mumbled. It was Garet's turn to frown, looking concerned. When he'd opened his mouth, Jenna said, "Come on!"

Blinking, Garet's mouth hanging open slightly, he tilted his head, looking very much like a confused puppy. "Huh?"

Jenna turned back to Garet impatiently. "We have to go pick up Isaac, remember?" She rolled her eyes and began walking around Garet's house.

"But, Jenna…" Jenna let out an exasperated sigh, turning to Garet and frowning. He blanched, and the message seemed to finally sink in. Garet turned, grabbing up the short sword he'd been saving up his allowance to buy and strapped it to his belt as he followed Jenna.

Back down the stairs, and south toward Isaac's house, the two of them paused just before turning the corner to the front. Or at least, Jenna paused and Garet ran into her. The two whispered at each other for a moment before going silent as Isaac's long, yellow scarf billowed above their heads from the roof. They could see their friend's hair over the edge of the thatched hay roof and the blue glow of Psynergy as he picked up and made a pile of tied hay float over to one of the holes, lacing it over the hole in his roof.

Isaac did this two more times and called down to his mother. "Alright, come on up and check it out!" Jenna and Garet peeked around the corner as Dora, who was a bit thinner than she had been three years ago, climbed up the ladder that leaned against the outside wall.

"Very good, Isaac," they heard Dora say. "Nicely patched and strong enough to keep the rain from drenching us at night…" Jenna pressed her finger to her lips as she walked slowly toward the ladder, Garet following behind her. "You're all done," continued Dora, a patting noise coming to their ears as she seemed to test the patches. "So reliable." Jenna paused as Dora's voice became softer. "Just like your father."

On the roof, Isaac blinked his blue eyes, sitting back on his legs as he looked up at his mother. Dora smiled warmly down at her son, and he let out a soft sigh. "I miss him," he said, tugging on the yellow scarf around his neck. On his back was a short sword much like Garet's

"I thought you might." Dora stepped over to Isaac and kneeled down, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. Isaac hadn't grown quite as much as Garet in terms of muscle mass, but he still had a fair bit of strength to his arms. "It's why you and Garet have been studying Psynergy so hard these last few years, isn't it?" Isaac stared at his mother for a few moments, then, with a small twitch of his head, he looked away.

"I just feel like… If I were stronger then, I'd have… And Jenna's parents, and Felix… And Dad…" Isaac gripped his hands on his knees, and Dora pulled him into a tight, warm hug. After a moment, the teenager returned it, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You mustn't blame yourself dear. I was devastated when Kyle died…" She leaned down, kissing his head. "I felt all alone." Isaac looked up into the eyes of his mother, tears beginning to form. "It's taken some time… But I'm better now. I have you, after all." She ran a thumb under his eyes to wipe away the tears. "Almost seventeen, and so much like your father when he was young. I look forward to seeing where life takes you."

Isaac smiled, wiping away the tears and nodding. "Thanks, mum." As Dora stood up, pulling her son with her, Jenna climbed up the ladder, poking her head up.

"Ma'am!" she shouted, and the two on the roof jumped slightly, looking to the girl. Jenna gave no indication that she'd heard anything, but Isaac coughed and turned his head to look down at the patch he'd made.

Dora, meanwhile, looked slightly flustered. "Oh, Jenna! Good morning!" A small pink tint was traveling slowly up her cheeks as she and her son exchanged a look as the unmistakable spiked red hair bobbed up from the edge of the roof. "Oh! And Garet, too." Garet was blushing a bit darker than Dora, wringing his hands once he'd straightened up. There was an uncomfortable silence, broken up only by the tweeting of birds in the distance. "So!" said Dora. "Where are you planning on going today?"

Garet, who looked glad for a subject away from what he and Jenna had heard, replied. "We're going to Mt. Aleph, with Kraden." Dora's eyebrows raised, and she looked between the three of them in turn.

"Mountain climbing with Kraden?" she asked. The three teens nodded. Dora's arms crossed over her chest and she let out a soft huff. "Children and their games…"

"No, it's part of our studies!" said Jenna quickly.

"Yeah, you know," added Isaac, "alchemy."

"Ah, yes," murmured Dora, fiddling with the length of greed beads around her wrist. "Alchemy… The foundation of all Psynergy…" Isaac's mother looked at all three of them in turn again. "And you three know Mt. Aleph is the greatest source of Alchemy." The three exchanged glances, and nodded again. "They say Kraden's the best teacher around, you know." Dora turned her back on them and walked up the slight incline of her roof, looking up at the peak of Mt. Aleph. "I have to wonder what use it all is," she mused. Turning back to Isaac, she frowned. "I'd prefer to see my son grow up to be a happy, normal man."

Isaac blushed, but didn't look away. "I still want to go," he said firmly, and Dora laughed.

"You'd probably go even if I told you not to." Dora suddenly frowned. "You're as stubborn as your father!" She stamped her foot down, but suddenly, she lost her footing and fell backwards onto the other side of the roof, her arms flailing.

"Mum!" shouted Isaac, but it was Garet you lunged forward.

"Be careful ma'-" Suddenly, Garet's foot sunk into the hole Isaac had just patch up, and he fell up to his knee.

With what looked like a bit of effort, Dora pulled herself up from the other side of the roof, laughing giddily. "Well, that was exciting!" Not noticing Garet, who was trying in vain to free his foot, Dora climbed to her feet and stepped up to Isaac. "Sorry I scared you." She patted him on the shoulder and looked to Jenna, who was staring with her hand over her mouth. "What…?" Dora turned, and finally spotted Garet, whose face was now the same color as his hair. "Well!" The woman placed her hands on her hips, looking sternly down at Garet, who blanched.

"I-I'm sorry ma'am, let me just…" The larger boy grabbed his leg behind the knee and pulled with all his might, getting to his feet and taking a few steps backwards.

"Garet, wait!" yelled Jenna, but too late. The redhead's other leg sunk into the other hole Isaac had patched up.

"Oh, Venus," Isaac's hand slapped into his face, while Jenna turned away, trying to hold in her laughter. Dora, meanwhile, threw her hands up in frustration.

"Oh, nevermind!" Dora's arms crossed over her chest again and she heaved out a deep sigh, looking to Isaac. "Help your friend out of the hole and get moving. I'm sure you don't want to keep Kraden waiting." Isaac looked up at his mother, who was smiling with a soft twinkle in her eye. "Besides, if Garet stays here any longer, he might cave in my whole roof!" Isaac and Jenna walked over to Garet, grabbing each arm and heaving him up out of the hole. "You can fix it up tomorrow, Isaac," she said as the three teenagers started climbing down. "Or I might ask one of the Elder's apprentices to help me later." Once they were all off the roof, Dora smiled to her son while Garet's face hadn't lightened up.

"Thank you, ma'am," said Jenna, once her hysteria had died down.

"Please, call me Dora," said Isaac's mother, smiling warmly to the girl.

Jenna nodded, and turned away, the other two following her as they started walking up the hill. Once they were out of sight, Isaac punched Garet in the shoulder. "Why'd you have to break the roof again?" he demanded, though he didn't look as angry as he sounded. "I'd been working all morning on that!"

"S-sorry, buddy," stammered Garet. "Hay roofs aren't meant for people to be jumping on…" Jenna and Isaac rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry about it," Isaac said, cuffing Garet gently across the shoulder. "If Mum can't get it fixed today, I'll-" He cut off, all three of them pausing. There was angry yelling in the distance.

"Oh, Mars, that's my sister," muttered Garet, peeking around the corner of his house. "Oh, yeah, that was her flower garden…" The larger boy slapped his forehead with a gloved palm, letting out a soft grunt.

Jenna and Isaac exchanged amused glances, Isaac grabbing Garet by the shoulder. "Come on, we'll go the long way around, then."

While the trip to Kraden's was fairly uneventful for the most part – aside from Jenna pausing to watch some puppies playing – it did give them time to converse and wonder what all they could learn from Sol Sanctum in Mt. Aleph. After all, none of them had been in there.

It was when they'd gone between the two cliffs that the three of them paused, listening. Two voices were talking around the corner.

"…don't permit anyone to go into Sol Sanctum," a man's voice was saying. Isaac blinked, feeling a prickle of anger that had nothing to do with anything clench his stomach. There was something familiar about that voice that Isaac couldn't place.

"Can we use that old man?" asked a woman's voice, and out of the corner of his eye, Isaac saw Garet press the heel of his palm into his forehead, wincing.

There was a brief pause, then the man said, "His knowledge is no meager thing… I believe we can."

"He's much more stubborn than we expected," muttered the woman, sounding a bit frustrated. Isaac's frown deepened, and he stopped an angry growl from getting past his lips.

"But he is quite cunning," continued the man's voice.

There was the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. "If he won't go willingly… Well, I could always-" The woman cut off suddenly.

Quick footsteps moved in their direction, and a tall man and woman appeared, both looking quite angry at finding eavesdroppers. "You! What are you doing here?" growled the blue-skinned man, his scarlet eyes narrowed at the three of them. Jenna gripped her staff in her hands, taking a step back.

"What are we doing here?" asked Garet, his brow furrowed as he took a step forward. "We should be asking you that."

"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" demanded the woman, her white hair seeming to billow, even though there wasn't much of a breeze. Both Isaac and Garet clutched their heads.

Why was this so familiar? "N-no," grunted Isaac.

"Don't lie!" screeched the woman, stepping forward with scythe in hand, but the man stopped her.

"Wait, Menardi," he said, staring at Isaac with a strange look. Was that recognition? "Are you three here to see the old man, then?" asked the blue man, eyes still narrowed as he looked from one teen to the next.

The three teens were still and silent for a few moments, then they nodded. The woman, Menardi, looked confusedly at her companion, whose face was slowly starting to split in a smile, his red eyes glinting. "Saturos?" she asked.

"Let us not keep them from their appointment, my dear sister," crooned the man, stepping back a few paces. "After all, our business with the Alchemist is done." Menardi blinked, then, slowly, a grin started playing across her own lips as she stepped back as well, giving the three room to pass.

"Go on, then," purred Menardi, shouldering her scythe. Hesitantly, Isaac and his friends walked away, all three of them watching Saturos and Menardi over their shoulders before reaching the stairs that lead to Kraden's home. The two didn't follow, and soon they were out of sight.

"What was that all about?" asked Garet in an undertone as he, Isaac and Jenna climbed the repaired stairs, looking over his shoulder.

"I don't know," said Isaac softly. He felt slightly out of breath, rubbing his forehead before looking to his friend. "Garet did they-" The teenager cut off, looking forward as he noticed Kraden pacing back and forth in front of his house.

The old man had white hair and a matching beard that he was currently stroking. He was wearing a long, brown cloak and looked like he was deep in thought, which wasn't a surprise, but Kraden seemed quite concerned about something. "They know more about Sol Sanctum than even I know," Kraden was saying in his soft, deep voice. Isaac, Garet and Jenna paused, listening. "The elements… They plan to set them in motion?" Kraden turned and looked up at the peak of Mt. Aleph like Isaac's mother had earlier. "Alchemy…" His musings fell into quiet muttering, and the three teenagers stepped forward.

"Hey, Kraden," said Isaac, frowning. The old man jumped, looking over and adjusting his spectacles.

"Oh, Isaac," he said distractedly, looking to the other two as well.

"You seem bothered, Kraden," said Jenna, looking a bit concerned herself.

"Do I?" asked Kraden, pulling on his white beard again, trying to look nonchalant. "Ah, well…"

"It was those two," grumbled Garet, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the man and woman they'd passed on the way there. "Saturos and Menardi…" The large boy rubbed a place in the middle of his forehead with a frown, wincing again.

"Are they still out there?" asked Kraden, and Garet shook his head.

"No, I can't see them. I think they left." Garet kept rubbing at his forehead with a grimace.

"They are quite persistent," mused Kraden inwardly, frowning.

"Did they want something, Kraden?" asked Jenna, looking over her shoulder as well and gripping her staff.

"That seems to be the case." Isaac watched as Kraden adjusted his cloak, as if he were shrugging it off.

Garet and Jenna looked to Kraden, both of them tilting their heads in confusion. Isaac blinked. "'Seems to be'?" all three of them repeated at the same time.

Kraden's frown seemed to deepen as he pursed his lips. "They spoke of Sol Sanctum as if they'd seen it with their own eyes," he mused, curling the end of his beard around a finger.

"That's really strange," muttered Isaac. Kraden, Garet and Jenna looked at him. "I mean, the elders don't even let us in and we live here."

"You can't go in without a very good reason, and you have to clear it with the Great Healer," agreed Kraden. "And even then, you have to be accompanied by an elder. Unless…" Kraden coughed, and Isaac raised an eyebrow. The old man blushed through his beard.

Jenna wasn't watching Kraden. "Unless they snuck in secretly. Which means…" The boys' eyes widened.

"They might be thieves!" cried Garet.

"We have to tell the elders," said Isaac, and all three of them turned.

"Wait!" shouted Kraden. They froze, and turned to look at him, confused. Kraden was looking slightly embarrassed, but there was another expression mixed in that Isaac couldn't place. "I still don't know how accurate the things they told me were. And besides, we can't tell anyone unless we confirm what they said."

"You mean…" Isaac blinked at the old man. "We'll have to sneak into Sol Sanctum, too?"

Kraden was silent for a few moments. "Yes."

All three teenagers blanched. "But…" Jenna looked from her friends to Kraden. "Isn't that… You know, impossible?"

"Why would it be?" asked Kraden, and there was a suddenly very mischievous glint in his eye as he regarded Jenna. "Just because it's forbidden without permission?"

"Well…" Garet stared at Kraden. "…Yeah?" The teenagers exchanged glances again, and Kraden smiled.

"We're just going to see if they've been in the mountain. Surely…" Kraden tapped the side of his nose with a wizened hand. "…that would be acceptable!"

"Well as long as they don't see us…" Jenna gaped at Isaac as the boy rubbed his chin, looking to Garet. The taller boy smirked.

"If those two can get in, we can," agreed Garet. The boys and Kraden looked to Jenna, who looked between the three of them with a timid frown.

"Well… We were going anyway, and I suppose… Um… It'd be nice to go without having to be escorted."

Kraden let out a laugh, clapping his hands together. "Then it's decided!" The old man looked to Isaac. "You'll be the leader, then?" he asked. Isaac blinked, feeling his cheeks starting to heat up.

"Uh…" Garet clapped his friend on the shoulder, smiling widely

"Come on, you'd make a good leader." Jenna nodded.

"Yeah, you're more cautious than Garet is. He'd probably lead us off the cliff," she said, smirking at the tall boy.

Garet's smile slid off his face, and he frowned at Jenna. After a moment, he pouted and crossed his arms over his chest sulkily. "You don't have to be so mean about it," he grumbled. Jenna grinned, reaching over to poke Garet in the arm with her staff.

Isaac was smiling as the two of them bickered behind him. "I'll do it," he said loudly, and Kraden smiled, letting out a soft chuckle.

The wizened man suddenly got a thoughtful look on his face as Jenna and Garet turned away from each other. "One moment," he said, and turned away, going into his house. The three of them exchanged brief looks before Kraden stepped back out, stuffing something shiny into the inside pocket of his cloak. "This is our best bet," he said, looking expectantly to Isaac with a smile. "Shall we go, then?"

Isaac, Garet, Jenna and Kraden were halfway across the bridge that lead up to the Healer's Sanctum. Isaac had to pause, alongside Garet, to look down at the river that lead to the waterfall. Both boys stared at the spot where four men had stood in a line to defend their home from a massive boulder three years ago.

They let out a low sigh, turning to move on, but Jenna held out her arm to stop them. "We have a problem." Jenna pointed out across the bridge, where an elder in his long, blue robes was standing near a tree, right in the middle of a path that lead to Mt. Aleph. Kraden was stroking his beard, a small frown on his face.

"Hm," he murmured, glancing southeast. "Garet, is that your sister?" Garet, blinking, looked as well. Sure enough, his sister was visible across the cliffs, still quite livid. "What is she so angry about?"

"Um…" The tall boy blushed, rubbing the back of his head. "I kinda pushed a large rock over her flower garden," he mumbled. Jenna rolled her eyes.

"Do you have a plan, Kraden?" she asked. The old man, twirling the end of his beard around a finger, nodded.

"Perhaps. Wait here." Kraden walked across the bridge, right up to the elder. They couldn't hear what Kraden was saying, but he made some gestures in the direction of Garet's sister. After a few moments, the elder hurried off, not giving the bridge a glance, toward the angry girl. Kraden motioned to the trio, and they hurried after the old man.

"What did you tell him?" asked Isaac with a wide grin as they walked single-file along the narrow passage that connected Vale to the base of Mt. Aleph.

"Oh, just that Garet's sister was making a large fuss and kindly asked him if he would play peace-keeper," said Kraden nonchalantly, looking a little bit pleased with himself all the same.

"I could've done that," muttered Garet once they reached the other side, crossing his arms over his broad chest with a soft grunt.

"I don't know," said Isaac thoughtfully. "That elder might have gotten suspicious if either of us tried. Jenna might have been more successful…"

"I doubt it," said the girl with a sigh. "He'd have probably asked me to come along to help, and if I'd declined, he'd get suspicious anyway." All the while, Kraden's smug grin widened.

"Oh, please, Kraden, don't be so modest," said Isaac, smirking. "At any rate, we're here," he added, looking up at the mountain. It'd always been an utterly massive landmark, but now that they were right at the base, it loomed above them, seeming to cast a shadow so dark, it was almost a blanket. In front of them was a pair of large, heavy-looking white stone doors, like the Healer's Sanctum they'd walked past earlier.

Isaac in front, the group of four stepped up to the entrance to Sol Sanctum, he and Garet pushing hard on a door each. With a great heave, they shoved the doors open, loud scraping noises filling their ears. Before entering themselves, the boys bowed, extending their arms graciously to allow Kraden and Jenna to walk in. They all got a good laugh out of that, and once everyone was in, Garet and Isaac pushed the doors almost closed so the elders wouldn't be suspicious, but open enough so that they could open the doors quickly and get out if they needed to.

They all looked around, Kraden especially looking quite awed. "I've never been in here," said Isaac.

"It's an important relic of your past." Kraden walked over to a wall, running a wrinkled hand over the hard stone. "Take a good look, and remember…" The old man looked up, smiling wistfully. Isaac allowed him a few moments, then cleared his throat. Kraden coughed. "Er, right! Isaac, it should be a fairly straight shot, so if you would please…" The Venus Adept let out a soft laugh, and walked ahead, Garet beside him and Kraden and Jenna bringing up the rear. "Oh, we should be careful, by the way," spoke up Kraden. "There are various monsters here. Luckily, you three are young and strong."

"Right, we're going to do all the work while you get to sit back and watch," grumbled Garet, but he had a glint in his eye as he fingered the hilt of his sword. "Don't worry, we can take care of it, Kraden."

"Oh?" said the old man, eyeing Garet and Isaac's swords. "Are you any good with those?"

"I'm alright," said Isaac, shrugging. "These were the only things we could afford. The blacksmiths would never give us discounts, even though we live here. Personally," he added, looking down at the short blade with a small frown, "I'd have preferred something with more range..."

Garet drew his own sword, weighing it in his hand. "I was fond of that axe that was in there. Did you see that thing?" he asked Isaac, who let out a low whistle.

"I bet you could have chopped that stone you were training on in half."

"I know! That thing is so expensive, though…"

"That mace was pretty nice, too."

"Yeah, but it's really personal preference. Do I want to chop something in half, or crush it into oblivion?"

"Well, you could just turn the axe around and use the blunt end," Isaac pointed out, drawing his own sword once they entered another room.

"Yeah," mused Garet, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But it might bounce off and get me in the shoulder, or worse."

"True, maces are more likely to stick into a target-"

"You're starting to sound like your mothers shopping for clothes," cut in Jenna, reaching up to ruffle the boys' hair. Kraden was looking quite amused. Isaac and Garet blushed deeply, ducking away from Jenna's hands. Once they'd gone ahead a few more paces, they spoke in an undertone.

"Though we could use some armor as well… I'm getting tired of bats tearing up my shirt," muttered Isaac. Garet was about to respond when something hot whooshed past their heads, colliding with something in the air. There was a shrill screech before something black and charred landed on the floor at their feet. The boys turned, looking at Jenna, whose hand was still giving off a red glow.

"Try to pay better attention, won't you?" she asked, blowing away a bit of smoke that rose from her fingers with a smirk. "I have to watch you boys' backs, not your fronts. That's your job." The boys blushed, but suddenly, Isaac blinked at something behind Jenna and Kraden, and he slammed his foot on the ground. There was a rumble under their feet as Jenna and Kraden spun around, a pillar of earth sliding seamlessly back into the floor. Above them, however, was a massive rat, falling back down to the ground with a heavy thud, where it lay unmoving.

Kraden adjusted his glasses bemusedly. "Well," he said, "I think you three are even, now." The teenagers all blushed, and nodded, Isaac and Garet leading the way further into the Sanctum, Jenna averting her eyes from Kraden as he allowed a smirk to play across his lips. It wasn't too long until the group reached a dead end. It was a fairly large room, with three large statues resting against the far wall. Kraden stepped forward, cleaning his spectacles on his cloak and looking around. "It's strange…"

"Yeah," agreed Garet, finally sliding his sword back into its scabbard, "all that walking and we end up at a dead end?"

Isaac and Jenna were frowning, staring at Kraden's back as the old man looked around. "While Garet has a point," said Jenna, walking up beside the wizened man, "I don't think that's what you meant, Kraden."

After a moment, Kraden shook his head. "No… I've been in here before, with an elder as an escort, to study the Sanctum, but…" He turned to Isaac. "This place is called Sol Sanctum, yes?" Isaac nodded, and Kraden smiled. "It's strange that this is the furthest we can go, and yet there's no picture, or glyph, to indicate it as such." The three teens blinked, exchanging glances with one another.

"Then…" Isaac rubbed his chin, frowning. "You think there's maybe something more to this room?" he asked. Kraden nodded thoughtfully, and walked over to the middle statue. Isaac turned to Jenna and Garet. "Split up and look around, I suppose."

After a few minutes of looking around in vain, Isaac walked by the statue to the far right, and felt his scarf billow slightly in a soft breeze. "Hey…" He walked over to the large stone knight, crouching. "Hey! I think I found something!" he called, and the other three stepped over. "I can feel a breeze here. Garet, help me push this." The larger boy stepped forward and pressed his shoulder to the side of the statue, and along with Isaac, they pushed. After a few moments, the statue finally gave way and started sliding to one side, revealing a hole large enough for them to step through.

Kraden's eyes were twinkling, and he looked giddy. "Good job, Isaac!" he exclaimed, running through the tunnel. Garet and Isaac straightened up, Jenna patting them on the shoulder.

"Hurry up and let's follow after him before-" Suddenly, Kraden ran back the way he came, rushing past the three Adepts. On his heels, a white, floating spirit was zooming after him. It had a pair of red eyes and a gaping mouth, and its arms were detached from its main body. "-something attacks him," finished Jenna, running after Kraden as Garet stood, blue rings surrounding his body.

Isaac simply ran forward, as he and Jenna were faster than Garet. Kraden had jumped behind another statue as a fireball collided with the white creature's back. It didn't burn up or fall, but it did turn nasty, malevolent eyes on Jenna and Isaac. "Be careful!" called Kraden, as if he were reading out of a book. "That's an Amaze. They're described as spirits, and are quite powerful, but they can still be struck by conventional weapons."

"What, chucking fireballs at them isn't conventional?" quipped Isaac as Garet stepped up, flanking him with Jenna, whose own hands were starting to glow, the Amaze gazing at the three of them in turn.

"You're complaining about being able to hit something?" asked Garet, and he rushed at the white creature. It dodged his sword swing, countering with a swipe of its claws. It slashed at the taller boy's shirt, but didn't draw blood. Taking the opportunity, Jenna hurled another fireball, which the Amaze was ready for this time, swaying to one side and slamming into Garet with such force to send him onto his back. The fireball instead collided with the statue Kraden was hiding behind.

"Sorry, Kraden!" she shouted, but Isaac ran straight for the white creature, which had turned its scarlet eyes on him with a loud screech, its arms extended, and what looked like red transparent skulls slammed into his chest, sending him flying back into Jenna. It felt like he'd been punched by a giant.

"Damn!" coughed Isaac, sitting up. "Thanks for the cushioning, Jenna." The girl let out a pained groan.

"No problem…" Garet had stood up again, going on the offensive against the Amaze, where it dodged every attack the large teen swung its way. It was backing away towards the wall, giving Isaac an idea.

Blue rings started to form around his body and he gave off a yellow aura. "Garet, back off!" he shouted, and Garet paused from his assault to look over his shoulder. The Amaze raised its arms again, but Isaac slammed his foot on the ground and with a rumbling of earth, a pillar of rose again. The Amaze couldn't move back, since it was right against the wall, and forward mad it closer to Garet, so the pillar collided and sent it flying upwards at the ceiling. Jenna had gotten to her feet as well and ran forward as the Amaze drifted slowly toward the ground in a daze. She leaped, raising her staff into the air before bringing it down hard onto the Amaze's head.

It flickered, and swayed. Lifting its arm one last time, it didn't get a chance to attack as Garet brought down his sword, chopping the white monster in half. The two halves disappeared, and the three Adepts let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. Kraden, who only had a slight burn on the hem of his cloak, emerged from behind the statue, scribbling onto a small journal. "Amazing. Good teamwork, you three. Are you hurt?" he asked once he put the book and pen away.

"Shirt's ruined, but I'm alright," grunted Garet, rolling his shoulder. "I still say I'd have been better with an axe. I keep overswinging with this tiny thing."

"I'm fine, Kraden," said Jenna, brushing dirt off of her sleeves from when Isaac had been thrown into her.

Speaking of Isaac, he had his eyes closed, pressing a glowing hand to his chest where the Amaze's attack had hit him. "Probably got some nasty bruises. Nothing a little healing won't take care of…" Kraden smiled at Isaac.

"Having Cure Psynergy must be nice," grumbled Garet, looking at his torn shirt. "Look at this. My mother's gonna kill me."

"Feel lucky you hadn't been gored," snapped Jenna.

"It doesn't matter," said Isaac, and turned toward the tunnel. "We'd better get moving before something else attacks us."

The two paused from their bickering, and Kraden nodded. "He's right. Please, lead the way, Isaac." Through the tunnel, they emerged into a large, square room. It seemed to give off a warm, pleasant glow. In the middle was a picture of the sun. "This is it!" cried Kraden, running into the middle of the room and crouching down to run a wizened hand over the yellow stone. "This is the true heart of Sol Sanctum…"

The other three, meanwhile, were gazing at the four statues that surrounded the sun. They were goddesses, holding crystal urns in their white hands. "What's this all about?" asked Garet, reaching out to poke the urn gingerly.

"This is what those two described to me," Kraden was saying, pulling out his journal again and a pen.

"Wait, so if they knew about that secret passage," Jenna mused, looking at one of the goddess statues herself, "that means…"

"That means that those two were thieves!" growled Isaac.

Garet's face darkened in a frown. "We have to go to the elders!"

Before any of them moved, however, Kraden spoke softly, making them freeze. "We're so close…"

The three young Adepts froze, and stared at Kraden as he climbed back to his feet, twirling his beard around his finger again. "Close to what, exactly?" asked Isaac.

Kraden didn't answer. Instead, he walked toward the other hallway, where a soft blue light contrasted with the current room. After a moment's pause and exchanged looks, the three of them followed Kraden into the neighboring room. It was almost an exact mirror image of the previous room, aside from the floor holding a picture of the moon, rather than the sun. "Luna," muttered Kraden, crouching down again. "There's something about this room." The old man stood up, walking to each of the goddess statues in turn, scribbling frantically on his journal.

"Kraden?" asked Isaac hesitantly. The old man jumped, blinking at Isaac as if he'd only just realized he was there.

"Oh! Isaac, I was only thinking… It wouldn't do to leave this place now." Kraden snapped the book shut, letting out a soft cough. "You never know, there might be something more here…" The old man placed a wrinkled hand upon the arm of one of the goddess statues. "Luna and Sol… These two rooms are connected, don't you think?" Isaac and the other two didn't answer. It seemed Kraden was asking the goddess herself rather than the three of them, anyway. "Isaac!" Kraden said suddenly, making them jump. "We must traverse a little further. Please?" he added, even bringing the wizened hands together as he regarded Isaac.

Jenna and Garet looked to their friend as he pressed a palm to his forehead. "Ugh, Venus help me." Letting out a deep sigh, he looked to Kraden and nodded. "Fine. Come on." He walked off to the side, toward the entrance to a hallway they hadn't gone down yet.

"Excellent! I'll stay here and study this room," called Kraden, and Isaac lifted a hand to show he heard him.

As the three teenagers walked, Isaac couldn't help but let out a groan. "I feel like Kraden just wants to be left alone so he can study the moon."

"If he wanted to do that, wouldn't he have just waited until midnight? That's what he usually did when he showed us the planets." Garet drew his sword and looked at it. It was already nicked in some places, and he frowned at it. "Cheap bit of metal," he grumbled as they walked up a flight of spiral stairs and followed the hallway

Jenna was watching Isaac, though as they emerged into a massive room, her brown eyes beheld a familiar sight. In the middle was a square platform with a picture of Luna like the one downstairs, except without the blue glow and surrounded by water with four goddess statues standing around it. However, there were dark, empty squares on the corners from the platform.

"Well, this is simple," said Garet gruffly, and he stepped forward, getting to the side of the goddess statue and pressing his shoulder to it.

"Wait!" yelled Isaac suddenly, reaching up to clutch his head. This time, Garet froze.

"Was that switch the trap?"

Isaac's heart started beating against his chest as he looked at the darkened tile the goddess statue was standing next to. "Don't push that statue," he said, rather hoarsely as Jenna and Garet stared at him.

"Why?" asked Jenna, but Isaac shook his head.

"Just… Don't. Not yet." Isaac walked toward the opposite hallway entrance, emerging into a neighboring room almost identical to the one with the picture of Luna, but again like the room directly below it, this one had Sol again.

The main difference was a fifth goddess statue towering above the other four. She held a large bowl on her head, balancing it with her hands. Isaac saw that there were two dark tiles like the ones in the previous room next to the large statue. "Isaac?" asked Garet tentatively.

"Garet, push that statue onto the tile," said Isaac, pointing to the far corner of the room while he moved around to the closer one.

"Are you sure this time?" asked Jenna, jumping onto the middle platform with Sol and looking up at the face of the goddess.

"Yeah," said Isaac, and he meant it. He didn't know what exactly had made him stop Garet in the other room, but something in his gut made him think that something horrible might happen if he hadn't.

The two boys pushed hard on the statues, and they slid onto the brown tiles. Beams of light issued from the crystal urns in their hands onto the ground at the fifth goddess' feet. After a moment, a hole, wide enough to engulf the goddess statue, appeared where the beams of light met. The boys jumped onto the middle platform with Jenna, glancing into the hole, then up at the goddess, and finally at each other.

Nodding, they lifted their hands, pointing their palms at the fifth statue as blue rings surrounded their bodies. After a moment, their hands glowed, and another pair of massive, ghostly white hands appeared, grabbing the statue before them. With heaves of effort, they pulled, and the statue slide forward into the hole with a loud, resounding crash.

Click.

The three of them looked at each other. "I think…" Isaac glanced toward the neighboring room, lowering his hand.

"I get you," said Garet, and the trio hurried into the next room. It was unchanged, but the horrible feelings that had twisted Isaac's stomach were gone, and he stepped up to the nearest statue. With a heave, the carved stone deity was pushed onto the tile. Immediately, another beam of light shone onto one corner of the platform, where the section the light hit began to change. That one section now resembled the picture of Sol.

"Do you think something happened downstairs, too?" asked Jenna, and sure enough, a moment later Kraden burst into the room, looking both excited and shocked.

"What happened?" he demanded, looking at the three in turn.

They explained, briefly, what they'd done, Kraden examining the room that now had a twelve foot goddess statue in a hole. "Amazing. I was wondering what that loud noise was," murmured the old man, and he looked fit to burst with excitement again. "Isaac, the picture of Luna downstairs changed as well. Who knows what will happen if all four statues are on the tiles?" The teens glanced at each other again, even though they were all as curious as Kraden, who turned away, scribbling madly in his journal. "I'll be downstairs where it's safe. Come back down when you have all of them in place!"

Once Kraden was gone, Jenna, Isaac and Garet blinked. "'Where it's safe'?" repeated Garet, frowning at the empty hallway, then shook his head. It seemed he couldn't be upset by that long, for he walked over to an unmoved statue, looking expectantly to the other two.

Isaac glanced to Jenna as well. "Think you can move one?" he asked.

"They don't seem too heavy," she said, shrugging and shouldering her staff, hopping over to the other side of the room and regarding the statue with a small incline of the head.

Sure enough, Isaac was able to push the last statue with relative ease, and once all statues were on the tiles, there was a great rumbling from all around them, and the middle platform had turned fully from Luna to Sol.

Feeling quite excited himself, Isaac ran down the hall and downstairs, Jenna and Garet on his heels. Once they reached the Luna room, they saw Kraden standing in the middle of Sol, the warm glow turning his hair and beard almost as bright red as Garet's hair.

"Incredible!" he exclaimed, stuffing his journal into his cloak. "Come on, you three. If my suspicions are correct…" Kraden ran to the neighboring room, the three teenagers following. Sure enough, the room was now a cool blue, juxtaposed from the yellow behind them. The major change now, however, was a beam of light casting from the middle of Luna to the far wall. Kraden stepped up to the wall and pressed a shaking, wrinkled hand against it. After a moment, a wide oval of light expanded from the point where the beam of light landed, glowing even brighter than Sol. Kraden was breathing heavily, his beard bristling.

The three teenagers walked forward, staring in awe at the oval of light. "Kraden… What is this?" asked Isaac breathlessly.

"This, Isaac," replied Kraden, extending his hand toward it, "is a gateway." Isaac, after a moment's pause, stepped toward the gateway, glancing imploringly to Kranden, who bowed his head slightly. The blonde-haired teen pressed his palm into the white oval, and felt himself get pitched forward into it.

For a while, all he could see was white.

Isaac felt his feet land on something hard and solid, and he stumbled clumsily for a moment before straightening up. His blue eyes widened as he looked out at the expanse of black all around him. There were stone pillars and platforms all around him, including the one he'd just dropped down on, and they were all an eerie blue color that gave off a gentle, cool glow, like the Luna room he just left.

"Where are we?" asked Garet as he landed soon after Isaac. "Are we still in the Sanctum?"

"I don't know," replied Isaac, stepped over to the edge of the large platform he stood on and looked down. What looked like water rested smooth and black, like sheets of glass, below.

"Mars," gasped Jenna, her brown eyes glittering as she looked around. She'd landed a fair bit more gracefully than the boys. "Isaac, this place… Do you…?" Isaac shook his head and they all turned to the gateway as something dark formed in the middle, at first very oblong before becoming the shape of Kraden, who dropped to the ground in a slight crouch. Once he'd straightened up, he blinked.

"Amazing!" he exclaimed, taking off his spectacles and wiping them with shaking hands as he ran to the edge of the platform as Isaac had done. "…The ocean?" he muttered. The three teenagers blinked confusedly. After a moment, Kraden frowned, placing his spectacles back onto his nose. "No, the ocean has waves. We must still be deep under Mt. Aleph…"

"Uh, Kraden," said Garet, interrupting the wizened man's musings, "what's that?" Kraden blinked and looked at Garet, confused. "The… 'Ocean'. What does that mean?"

"Oh," murmured Kraden. "Of course, you've never seen it. I won't be able to explain it properly… I'd have to show you. Just imagine… A pond, but stretching out for hundreds of miles." The teens looked confused and Garet especially disbelieving.

"Could that much water really exist somewhere?" he asked, a smile starting to form. "I don't think I could imagine that." Garet let out a soft scoff, shaking his head. "The ocean…"

"Really, what is real in the world these days," muttered Kraden, turning his back on the three and looking out into the darkness. "Maybe someday I'll show it to you three myself… Wait, what's this?" Isaac and the others followed as Kraden stepped over to one corner. It seemed that the darkness all around them was starting to dissipate, revealing more about the massive chamber the more they looked. In the distance, on another large platform like the one they were standing on was a statue of a goddess, this one giving off a warm yellow glow.

As he and the others looked around, more glowing statues appeared through the darkness, all of different colors; Purple, blue, and red. "The Elemental Stars," breathed Kraden, now breathing hard and fast. "They exist!" Kraden's wrinkled hands shaking, he ran from one corner of the platform to the other, looking out at each statue in turn.

"Didn't you teach us about those?" asked Jenna, and Garet had a uncharacteristically thoughtful look on his face as he rubbed his chin.

"Earth, Fire, Water, Air… Everything in the world is made up of those elements, even us." He looked to Isaac. "…Right?" he asked in an undertone. Isaac nodded, smiling to his friend, who grinned. Kraden, meanwhile, turned to them, his eyes glinting manically.

"Exactly! Legends have stated that the Elemental stars contained the pure essence of each element it represents." Kraden swept over point at the yellow glowing statue. "Venus Star, the element of Earth!" He waved his hand in the direction of the stone glowing a deep, hot red. "Mars Star… Glowing red with the power of Fire!" Kraden very nearly skipped as he ran to another corner, pointing to the statue with the blue glow. "Mercury, blue with Water and Ice!" The wizened man almost ran off the edge of the platform, groping longingly at the final, purple glow. "Jupiter, representing Wind's fury!"

The teenagers exchanged worried glances with each other, blinking at Kraden. "Kraden," said Jenna softly, "why are you getting so excited?"

Kraden turned, suddenly looking stern and frowning deeply at them. "How can you stand there so calmly? You're in the presence of physical legends! The very source of all Alchemy!" Kraden extended his arms wide, taking in all the various colors making his body almost glow all its own. "I'm sure I've told you about it," he said softly, looking to the three of them again. Isaac racked his brains, and the other two seemed to be thinking hard themselves.

"I think so," murmured Isaac, a bell starting to ring. Garet sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Must've fallen asleep during that lesson, then…" Jenna frowned at the taller boy.

"It started with the search for the Wisdom Stone," said Kraden patiently, pacing slowly back and forth from one corner of the platform to the other.

"Right," said Isaac, his memory coming back. "It can turn matter into gold, right?" Garet suddenly became much more interested, leaning eagerly at Kraden as the old man nodded.

"Yes. It can even thwart death," he said softly, twirling his beard around a finger.

Jenna's eyes were locked onto the red glow of Mars. "I don't get how they work," she said, "but they're supposed to hold enormous power, aren't they? The Wisdom Stones, I mean."

"Beyond enormous," replied Kraden, walking up to a single tower that was level with the one they were all standing on. "Why, with a single Stone, one could rule the world!" All three of them blanched, looking aghast.

After a moment's silence, Garet let out an unconvinced scoff, though he still looked worried. "Don't scare us like that! Like… Like someone could take over the world…" He looked to Isaac, but Isaac's eyes were on Kraden, his brow furrowed.

"Who can say what the truth is these days," he said again, walking to the very edge of the platform and leaning slightly toward the flat tower before him. It looked as if the platforms were stone bridges at one point, but had eroded greatly over time. "That's why I've been searching all these years for the Elemental Stars, to find the truth." Kraden suddenly leaped over to the platform, his feet slipping slightly. Isaac, Garet, and Jenna ran forward, but he was already walking. "And now here they are... Ahh!" His foot slipped off the edge, but luckily, he caught himself.

"Kraden, get back here!" Jenna cried sternly, reaching out with her staff to hook it onto his cloak.

"But…" Kraden turned, looking at her with an almost pleading look. "I must study the Stars." With a little more coaxing, he jumped back over to the main platform and almost seemed to whine. "They're so close…"

Jenna let out a frustrated sigh, glancing at Isaac and Garet before blinking up at them, smiling. "Make the boys get them," she suggested.

The result was immediate. Kraden spun around, a smiled stretching his features. "I-I couldn't ask…" His spine bent slightly in a small bow, looking up at the boys. "Would you?" Garet and Isaac exchanged glances, then let out simultaneous, deep sighs, and nodded. Kraden actually bounced up and down on his feet, clapping his wizened hands together. "Here," he said, reaching into his cloak and pulling out four small, metallically shimmering bags with lengths of leather twine to tie them closed. Isaac accepted them, holding them up to examine them more closely.

"What are they?" asked Garet, voicing Isaac's question exactly.

"Didn't you bring those from your cottage, Kraden?" asked Jenna furrowing her brow at them. Isaac wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was.

"They're bags woven from Mythril. I had them prepared for just such an occasion," he said, still bouncing slightly on his feet.

"'Prepared'?" repeated Isaac and Jenna, but Garet shrugged his larger shoulders.

"Come on, Isaac, let's go grab these things already." After an exchanged glance with Jenna, Isaac followed his friend to the edge of the platform, and together they jumped across the broken paths to the first Star, the one that glowed a bright, warm yellow. Looking a bit sheepishly at the goddess, he turned one of the bags inside-out, reached in with a hand, and reached up to grab the Star. It was a yellow orb that was fairly normal-looking, aside from the glowing, but gave off an underlying power that Isaac could feel travel down his arm, even through the Mythril. Pulling the bag normally again and tying it off, the yellow light disappeared.

"Good!" yelled Kraden, waving to them. "Get the others!" Isaac and Garet rolled their eyes as they happed across small platforms to the next statue, which held the purple Jupiter Star in her hand. Once it was safely in the bag, Kraden shouted again. "One two left, boys!"

"You'd think we didn't know how to count," grumbled Garet as they jumped toward the blue Mercury statue.

"I dunno, you couldn't count past twenty until you were twelve, Garet," teased Isaac, earning him a cuff across the back of his head once they reached the statue. "You want to grab this one?"

Garet nodded and took the bag, still grumbling to himself and dropping the purple orb into it with a sigh. It took them a few moments to realize that Kraden had gone completely silent, the boys blinking and looking toward the central platform. Isaac took in a sharp gasp.

Saturos and Menardi stood on the platform with Jenna and Kraden. The blue-haired man smirked at Garet and Isaac while Mendardi scowled, her hand clamped over Jenna's mouth as she struggled against her. "Looks like we've been found out," said Saturos, his calm voice carrying to the boys near the statue.

"It's a shame," grumbled Menardi, letting Jenna go, since there was no point in keeping her silent any longer. "I was hoping they'd have all the Stars before they realized we were here…"

"No matter," said Saturos, walking toward the edge of the platform, but Kraden suddenly spoke up.

"You mean to steal the Stars!" Saturos paused, looking at Kraden.

"I'm sorry," said Menardi sweet as venom, her hand gripping her scythe threateningly, "but wasn't it you who stole our information to get here?"

"What are you going to do with us?" asked Jenna, moving in between Saturos and Kraden, her hand spread. Isaac only just noticed that her staff lay a few yards away, broken in two.

"Nothing, if we're given the Elemental Stars," said Saturos, his red eyes flashing in Isaac's direction.

Isaac, feeling anger twist his insides again, shouted, "Are we supposed to believe that?"

"I'm sure they'll do us in once they no longer need us," sneered Kraden over Jenna's shoulder.

"Relax," said a new, deeper voice as someone dropped from the white gateway. He had a long cape hanging down one shoulder, and long, brown hair that hung down on either side of his face in curtains and down his back in a long ponytail. On his face was a brown and green mask. "You will not be harmed, as long as you cooperate."

Jenna backed away from the masked man, still holding her arms out to protect Kraden. Menardi, meanwhile, turned to Isaac, calling to him. As she spoke, Garet rubbed at the middle of his forehead with a wince. "You hear that? If you give us the Elemental stars, your friends will not be harmed."

"What guarantee do we have that you'll let us go?" asked Isaac, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Guarantee…" Menardi bit onto the end of a long, sharp nail, then smirked. "I have one." She turned slowly to the masked man. "You will have to take off your mask." The man blanched, his head turned in Jenna's direction.

"But…" For the first time, the man was fidgeting, tugging at the gloves on his hands, his head now turning in Isaac's direction.

"What kind of guarantee is that?" demanded Jenna.

"Under the circumstances, we have little choice." Saturos turned from Isaac and Garet, looking at the man. "Felix, remove your mask."

"Felix?" repeated Jenna, now staring at the masked man. "That… No… Felix?"

The masked man stood as still as the statue Garet and Isaac stood next to. Garet was staring at the masked man with his mouth agape. "Wait, did I hear that right? Felix… Wasn't that Jenna's brother?" He looked to Isaac, who nodded, looking from Jenna, to the masked man, to Saturos and Menardi in turn.

"Yeah, but he died when the Boulder…" Isaac's breathing had quickened his heart pounding against his ribcage.

"But…" Jenna's eyes were starting to well up in tears. "Felix… He died! He was washed downstream with my parent's and Isaac's…"

"I'll do it," said the masked man, and he turned his back on them. He reached up, and gripped the chin of the mask with his thumb, pulling it from his face. The brown and green mask was thrown to the side, where it shattered on the hard stone. Slowly, almost hesitantly, the man turned around, and faced his sister. She gasped, clapping both hands over her mouth.

His brown hair was longer, and his face wasn't as round as it was three years ago, those eyes were unmistakable. Jenna's brother Felix stood before them, staring blankly at Jenna. "But… You can't… You're alive?" she whispered, though Isaac could hear her. Felix dipped his head once in a nod. "But… Our parents? Isaac's dad?"

Felix's eyes closed, and he turned away. A lead weight dropped into Isaac's stomach. Tears were streaming down Jenna's face now. "I was lucky to survive," he said, now looking at Saturos and Menardi. "These two found me, and took care of me for three years." His voice was soft, almost deadpan.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she screamed at him, Menardi walking over to grab her by the arm before she could run at Felix. "Why did you leave me? I was alone! For three years, you were gone!" Jenna's voice seemed to echo deafeningly around the room, ringing Isaac's ears.

Felix's own eyes began to tear up as he turned to his younger sister, reaching out. "Jenna…" Saturos grabbed Felix by the wrist.

"We must save this teary reunion for later," said the blue-haired man, and Felix pulled away, still watching Jenna. The girl had fallen to her knees, her face in her hands as she sobbed. Saturos turned toward Isaac and Garet, smiling nastily. "Is that good enough, then?" he called to the boys. "Felix will not allow us to harm you or his sister. That is our guarantee, now hand us the Elemental stars!"

Isaac and Garet stared daggers at Saturos for a few moments, then turned away. "It doesn't look like we have much choice, buddy," whispered Garet.

"No, it doesn't," murmured Isaac, running his fingers through his hair. "Alright, give me the Star and I'll…"

"No, I'll do it," interrupted Garet, holding out a hand. Isaac opened his mouth to argue, but there was a fire in the larger boy's eyes that Isaac had rarely ever seen. He nodded, dropping the two bags into Garet's hands and the larger boy turned, jumping over along the broken trail towards the large group on the platform. Once he was halfway there, there was a flash of light, and other tall, blue-haired man appeared, standing before Garet.

"I'll take those off your hands, shall I?" he asked in a calm voice and a small smile. While his hair was blue like Saturos', it was much paler, resembling a waterfall during the spring.

"Oh, Alex!" called Menardi. "You're late!"

"Alex is with us," said Saturos. "Give the Stars to him."

Garet hesitated a moment, then sighed, holding out the Mythril bags. "After all the work we went through," he grumbled softly.

"I'm afraid I must apologize in advance," said Alex as he accepted the bags, looking genuinely apologetic. "We require the fourth Star as well." The man nodded to Garet, and his body began to shimmer. After a few moments, he rose, unsupported, from the platform, floating silently towards his comrades.

"Wait!" called Garet, and Alex paused, turning back to him. "We have to get the last one, too? They said they'd let Jenna and Kraden go once we gave them the Stars!" The large boy pointed in Saturos and Menardi's direction, Alex looking over with an eyebrow quirked slightly.

"No, you silly boy," said Menardi, speaking slowly and clearly. "We want you to bring us all the Stars." Garet's hand had come up to rub at the middle of his forehead again, grimacing. "Stop grumbling and get moving!"

After a moment, Garet turned away, jumping back toward Isaac. "Fine."

Alex bowed at Garet's retreating back. "Thank you for your cooperation," he said politely, and floated down to the platform to join his comrades.

Garet, his hands on his hips, let out a soft sigh once he reached Isaac, who was frowning in the direction of Saturos and Menardi. "Venus help me, I'm gonna throw him into a deep pit," he growled, reaching up to rub the back of his head, where a dull ache was starting to throb.

"Make that double for Menardi," whispered Garet, rubbing his forehead before following Isaac as they jumped over toward the final statue, which was glowing a bright red. "Let me grab this one." Garet took the final Mythril bag, and reached up to grab the red orb with it. Once the red glow disappeared, there was a moment's pause before the ground began to shake.

"What?" shouted Menardi in surprise.

"No!" yelled Saturos. "Not again!" Isaac and Garet turned, falling onto their knees as they looked over to the others. Kraden was holding Jenna, who had stumbled to the edge of the platform away from the others and looked down.

"The water's gone!" she shouted. Sure enough, when Isaac looked, only glowing red fissures were visible now, and it appeared that the black water had drained away.

"Without the power of the Elemental Stars," cried Alex, looking worried for the first time, "the chamber is collapsing!"

A sharp stalactite fell, clipping the edge of the platform and crumbling as it fell to the ground below. "Is this…" Kraden was looking shocked, holding Jenna protectively. "…'Terrible retribution'? Or… More of Alchemy's power?"

Slowly, the rumbling came to a stop, and everyone let out a sigh of relief, Menardi brushing her long hair over her shoulder. "Finally, it's over."

Jenna scrambled away from the edge again, and pointed. "What is that?" she demanded. Isaac and Garet looked up. A massive round stone floated before them. It was white and seemed to shine.

Everyone across the gap was staring at it with mouths agape in a mixture of amazement and fear. "What is that?" asked Garet.

"It looks like a giant floating rock," said Isaac.

"I know that!" snapped the larger boy. "It looks like someone's using Psynergy to lift it." Suddenly, the rock turned, and Isaac's breath caught in his throat. A large eye was fitted in the middle of the rock, and it blinked a stone lid at them. They blanched away from it, scrambling backwards towards the Mars statue.

The rumbling began anew, this time shaking the entire chamber with much more ferocity. The stone with the eye floated upwards toward the ceiling and disappeared. "Such power!" exclaimed Menardi, clutching her scythe.

"We have to get out of here!" shouted Felix, but as the rumbling grew louder and louder, Isaac could barely hear what the group as saying.

He saw Saturos and Menardi arguing with Felix, and Alex speaking as well. Kraden shouted something, perhaps in defense of Jenna, but Saturos talked him down. Finally, it seemed that everyone relented, Menardi picking up Jenna and shoving her at Felix, who yelled at the woman as he caught her. Jenna, however, pushed away, yelling at him.

Another stalactite fell feet from him and he didn't see any more, scrambling over to the goddess statue and crouching under her hands with Garet. It wasn't a whole lot of protection, but it was better than nothing. A few seconds later, Isaac thought he could hear Jenna's voice. "Isaac, Garet!" He looked up, and saw her cupping her hands around her mouth. "Don't die!" She waked to the white gateway, and disappeared into it. One by one, the others left, leaving only Alex to stare at Isaac with those cold blue eyes.

He stared right back, and after a few moments, Alex broke the eye contact, disappearing into the gateway himself.

It took several minutes, but slowly the rumbling died down again, until it was a small tremor. Isaac and Garet stood up, the larger boy frowning at the central platform. "Well, we're in a tough spot here…"

"Yeah," agreed Isaac, running his fingers through his hair again. "Jenna and Kraden…"

"You don't think they'll hurt them, do you?" asked Garet, turning back to his friend.

After a few minutes, Isaac shook his head. "No. Felix wouldn't let them."

There was a spike of violent tremors, and the pair of them stumbled, Garet even falling onto his rear. "Right… We have to get out of here…" As Isaac helped his friend up, they looked around. The platforms they'd used to get to where they were had started to crumble away. "Damn…" Garet walked toward the edge, looking across the gap. "You think you could use your Psynergy to make a pillar long enough to send us over?" asked Garet. Isaac didn't answer. After a second, Garet looked over to the blond teen. "Isaac?"

Isaac was staring at the floating white stone. It had come back down from wherever it had gone, staring at Isaac with its single eye. Garet followed Isaac's gaze, and blanched, nearly falling off the edge. "Why are you two standing around?" asked a deep, rumbling voice. It echoed in Isaac's mind, but he was sure it was coming from the stone "This place has become dangerous."

There was another spike of rumbling, and Garet found his voice. "Y-you're the dangerous one here!" he shouted at the stone.

It fixed Garet with its one, blank eye. Isaac wasn't sure, but he could almost read confusion from that look. Below, a fissure began to give off a brighter glow, hot magma seeping out of the hole. Isaac and Garet ran over, watching as the giant stone hovered over the fissure. After a moment, blue rings began surrounding the stone, and a wave of energy washed over them. The fissure closed, and the rings disappeared. The stone looked at them again. "The volcano will erupt soon. I cannot hold it long." It floated back towards them, looking down at the boys. "You must leave this place."

Suddenly, several lights popped up around the Mars statue. The stone's one eye widened as the lights disappeared again, flashing upwards toward the cieling. "The elemental Djinn… They have returned." Garet and Isaac exchanged confused looks, both of them thinking the same thing. Djinn? "Take out the elemental star," said the stone suddenly to Isaac. The teenager hesitated a moment, then took the bag from Garet, gripping the stone from the outside and letting the bag fall open once he loosened the tie on it. Briefly, the stone made blue rings surround itself and did… Something, to the stone. "Return it to its bag," instructed the stone. Once Isaac did so, the stone rotated slightly, its eye looking up at the ceiling. "The Elemantal Stars are… Moving away from here. Without the Stars to contain it, the magma flows freely once again, and this chamber is collapsing."

As the stone spoke, more lights appeared on each of the other statues in turn, seeming to be escaping from their captivity within the chamber. "With no chamber for the Stars to return to, the world will be exposed to the threat of Alchemy."

"Alchemy…" Garet stared blankly at the large stone.

"A threat?" asked Isaac, and the stone, which had been watching the lights disappear, seemed to nod.

"It can be a dangerous power if it is misused," the stone explained. "If the Elemental Stars ignite the four lighthouses, the power will be released." Isaac shuddered, trying not to imagine what someone like Saturos might do with such power. "As long as the lighthouses remain unlit-" It cut off as the chamber began rumbling anew, and some magma began to seep out of another fissure. As the stone began to close the fissure up, a third one opened. "It's erupting. You must flee! Now!"

Isaac and Garet turned to the central platform, which was too far away for them to jump. "How?" asked Garet.

The stone looked as well, blinking its single eye. "Ah, I see… I will assist you." Once again, blue rings surrounded the stone, and it began to glow a bright white. Isaac looked down at himself as he and Garet began to do the same. For a split second, there was nothing but silence and white, before the boys fell with a thud in the Luna room.

The place was trembling violently. One of the statues had already fallen over, the crystal urn shattered on the floor. "Did that thing just save us?" asked Garet as he stood, helping up his friend.

"I… Think so," muttered Isaac, turning to look at the wall. The white oval of light had disappeared. There was a sudden heave, the ground beneath their feet pitching them forward.

"Yeah, right…" Garet and Isaac ran. "Let's not let its efforts be in vain, shall we?"

"Our mums are gonna kill us!" shouted Isaac as rats and bats scurried away from them.

Garet didn't answer. They simply ran. Out of the secret passage, through the hallway, past various creatures and monsters that simply ignored the two boys rushing past. The white stone doors were opened and they emerged in the bright sunshine, pulling their arms up to block it from blinding them.

"How long were we in there?" asked Garet, staring at the narrow path that lead back to Vale.

"Who knows," muttered Isaac, and the boys walked forward, across the natural bridge. The sky turned a dark, hellish red a few times for a few seconds, and they looked over their shoulders at the peak of Mt. Aleph. It had split in two, and there was a red glow emanating from it. "What have we got ourselves into?" asked Isaac softly, tearing his eyes away from the mountain peak, and walked south, Garet on his heels.

Emerging near the rear of the Healer's Sanctum, the boys spotted what appeared to be most of the population standing on the stairs. The Great Healer, a man as old as Kraden but with blue silk robes and a tall hat, was watching the peak of the mountain through his large eyebrows. He stroked his long, white beard.

Isaac's mother wrung her hands worriedly, speaking to one of the elders. "Isaac said that he and his friends were going to the mountain with Kraden. I thought they'd have an elder to escort them," Isaac heard her say. The elder Kraden had distracted shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Weren't they studying Alchemy?" asked the Great Healer, turning to Dora.

"Well, yes," she said, looking confused. "But what does-"

"Hey, there they are!" shouted Garet's sister, pointing. The mayor turned stern, brown eyes on the two boys, and they walked slowly forward, looking downcast.

"There you are!" said the mayor, looking over their heads. "Where are Jenna and Kraden?" Isaac and Garet exchanged looks, then turned away.

"It's complicated," said Isaac, glancing to the crowd. The mayor leaned forward, and Isaac whispered to him.

"They've been kidnapped?" he demanded loudly, and a ripple of muttering cut through the crowd behind him. Isaac winced, looking to the old man in blue robes, who was slowly and calmly stroking his beard.

"I think," said the Great Healer, "that you two will have to explain to us exactly what happened. Into the Sanctum, please." As the Great Healer walked past, he turned to Dora. "You too, I imagine you want to hear this."

One by one, Isaac, Garet, Garet's grandfather, the Great Healer, the two elders and Dora stepped into the sanctum, the stone door closing with a heavy thud.

Isaac didn't know how long he and Garet told the story to the rather large crowd in the sanctum, but they told it to the best of their ability. They tried not to leave out any details that were probably important, and Dora was especially shocked at the news that Felix was still alive.

Once they'd finished, the room was silent for the longest few moments Isaac had ever say through. Dora stared at Isaac, as if burning to ask a question that he felt he knew was coming eventually. Garet's grandfather was pacing slowly back and forth, his cane thumping on the stone floor. The two elders stood still and silent, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, the Great Healer himself stood facing the wall, his head bowed and his eyes closed.

"Isaac," said Dora softly, and he looked at her. His mother was quiet for a few moments. "They won't… They won't hurt Jenna and Kraden, will they?" Isaac blinked, surprised, but not complaining. Still, this only meant it was delaying the inevitable.

"I don't think so," he said. "Felix is there, so…" The mayor stopped his pacing, clutching his cane.

"I had no idea. None of us… The true Sanctum… Below us all this time…" Garet's grandfather ran a wrinkled hand through silver hair. He glanced around at each of them in turn, though when his eyes fell on the blue robes of the Great Healer, he blinked. "Are you alright, Great Healer?" he asked. "You've been so quiet this whole time."

All eyes fell on the old man's back as he looked up at the shrine on the far wall. "That hovering stone… The one you and Garet described," he said softly, turning to Isaac. "I have seen it before, in my dreams." Everyone stared, silent and listening. "It appeared to me again, just now…"

"Just now?" asked Garet, stepping forward.

"It must be the Wise One, the guardian of the Elemental Stars…" The Great Healer paced slowly up to the shrine, looking up at the small statue it held.

"Did it say anything to you?" asked the mayor. "About the eruption?"

"Is Vale going to-" Dora didn't finish, wringing her hands together.

The Great Healer was silent for a few moments, almost seeming to shimmer in the light from the candles. It almost looked like he was giving off his own light. "It's impossible to stop the eruption now," he said finally, and everyone in the room let out a soft moan of dread. "But, Vale will be safe. The Wise One has promised to redirect the lava and keep it from reaching us." He went silent again as everyone let out a soft sigh of relief, his head bowed at the shrine. This time, Isaac definitely saw a distinct shimmer, as if something was casting a pale light upon the old man.

"What is it?" asked the mayor, stepping toward the Great Healer.

"Vale is going to be destroyed… Isn't it?" asked Dora, letting out a small whimper.

The Great Healer shook his head. "Something much worse than the destruction of Vale looms ahead," he said softly, turning to the room at large now.

"What could be worse…?" Garet ran his fingers through his massively spiked hair, his brows pressed together in a long line.

"The Elemental Stars house an incredible and terrible power. This village has been guarding these gems." The Great Healer stroked his beard as he spoke, his own impressively massive white eyebrows pushed together as well and obscuring his eyes. "The elemental lighthouses will lose that power upon the world. Once that power has been released the world…" The old man actually shuddered, clutching at his chest with a soft sigh. The mayor stepped over to pat the Great Healer gently on the back.

"The Wise One," said Dora. "…Does it want us to get the gems back?"

"The world is ours," replied the Great Healer, standing a bit straighter, "to save or destroy. Our inaction may bring about its destruction."

"Then what can we do?" asked Isaac's mother, who looked like she was about to start crying.

"Acquiring the Elemental Stars," continued the Great Healer, his head turned directly to Isaac and Garet, "is their fate alone."

The boys froze, staring blankly at the Great Healer, while everyone else's eyes fell on them. "Are you suggesting," began Dora, her voice now a whisper, "that we set the fate of the world… On the shoulders of Isaac and Garet?"

The mayor looked stern, his eyes glancing from the Great Healer, to the boys, then back again. "Garet is only a child! You can't expect him to…"

"The Wise One has spoken," said the Great Healer, turning his back on everyone and bowing his head again. The mayor's voice faded, and dropped, while Dora was staring at her son and Garet with teary eyes. "Each of you shares responsibility for this," he continued. "Now, each of you must make your decision." The old man straightened up. "Isaac. Garet." He didn't turn around to face the boys. "Will you accept responsibility for the fate of the world?"

Garet blinked, glancing to Isaac. "I-I don't know… I can't… Isaac, you decide."

Isaac closed his eyes. There was a weight, much heavier than any sword or cloak, pressing down on his shoulders. He thought of Kraden and Jenna. How long would it take for them to defy Felix? Felix. How long would he be able to protect his sister from Saturos and Menardi? Isaac's hand clenched into fists, and he suppressed a growl. Saturos and Menardi. They did this. They were the reason for all this.

Isaac looked up, his face almost twisted in a deep, darkened frown. His blue eyes glittered as he said, "I will."

"Isaac… You can't…" Garet stared aghast at his best friend, but his grandfather tapped the ground with his cane impatiently.

"You chose to leave your decision for Isaac," he pointed out sternly. "There will be no further discussion."

The Great Healer raised his head, staring up at the ceiling and lifting his arms. "O Wise One," he said in deep, resounding tones, "these two have accepted your quest. Give us your next command!"

What happened next, Isaac couldn't put into words. From the ceiling, a transparent, much smaller image of the Wise One sunk down, staring at all of them in turn with its one eye. "You two are quite brave to take on this quest," it said, speaking loudly. Everyone in the room stared, amazed, at the stone. "I shall be watching you. Choose your destiny wisely, young ones." With that, the image of the Wise One closed its one eye and shrunk down into nothingness.

The Great Healer relaxed, very nearly stumbling into the shrine. After a few moments, the wizened man straightened up and turned to the two boys. "That was the Wise One," breathed Dora, still staring at the place where it had disappeared.

"The Wise One said Isaac must unlock the power," said the Great Healer, breathing deeply. "Find the lighthouses. The Elemental Star you possess will lead the way."

There was a moment's pause as everyone's eyes fell upon the Great Healer. "…Then what?" asked Garet.

The Great Healer's eyebrows raised, blue eyes falling on Garet. After a few moments, he stroked his beard. "Seek out the Djinni. They will prove helpful."

There was another long, uncomfortable silence. "Is that all?" asked Dora.

"Yes," replied the old man, inclining his head to her. "That is all."

The mayor stared at the Great Healer in astonishment. "Surely, Great Healer, there must be something else!"

The Great Healer shook his head. "I'm sorry. That's all I can tell you." The old man looked directly at Isaac. "I leave it to you, Isaac. Garet," he added, doffing his tall, blue hat to them and revealing he was quite bald on top of his head. Returning his hat back to its place, he walked past them and pushed the stone door of the Sanctum open, leaving them all behind.

The two elders stood staring at the open doorway before mumbling something about meditation and leaving themselves. The mayor was livid, nearly pounding his cane on the stone floor. "Preposterous!" he exclaimed. "Sending off children with no help or direction, on a journey that could very well cost them their lives?" He grumbled to himself for a few moments before Dora let out a soft sigh.

"I agree, Mayor, but… They didn't give us any other choice, did they?" Dora looked over to Isaac, and he tried to put on a smile.

"Then, when should they go?" asked the mayor, and Garet looked up from staring at the floor.

"I don't think they can afford to wait," murmured Dora, looking now to the mayor.

"Tomorrow, then?" offered Garet's grandfather.

The adults looked to the boys, and they exchanged glances before nodding. "Tomorrow sounds good," said Isaac.