Author's Note:

Hello and welcome to another chapter. This one ended up a little longer than I thought, and we even get a glimpse at what Isaac and Jenna are up to. Thank you those who've shown their support and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Chapter 3

"Are we having to stop again?"

Saturos' glared at Garet, who was currently hunched over, hands on his knees, and panting for breath.

Not long after he'd awoken, Saturos and Menardi had driven the group into setting out for their next destination. Leaving the town they'd fled to from Vale behind (Garet thought he'd heard it being called 'Vault' by someone), they pushed onwards towards the east. Thanks to Kraden's continuous questions, they knew that they were actually aiming for a place named Imil in the north, but to get there they had to go east to Goma Cave, through that to Bilibin, and then north to Imil. The two Mars Adepts were eager to get there, and they pushed the group hard. Felix and Alex weren't bothered by the pace, they were probably used to it, but Garet was finding it incredibly hard.

While he could manage a brisk walk just fine normally, he wasn't used to a double time march over a long distance. If his body was as strong as everyone else's, he probably could've powered through it, but that wasn't the case for him. His body could become tired easily on a normal day and he still had to rest more than others, so this brutal march was really pushing it.

Saturos continued to glare at the younger Adept, no doubt wondering why he agreed to bring him, "We haven't got time to coddle a burden like you!"

"Now, now Saturos." Alex intervened, "As Kraden has already explained, Garet has a weaker constitution than the rest of and requires more rest more often. It is not something that can simply be forced to disappear." He smiled lightly, "Besides, our mission does have a rather generous time limit, I'm sure the lighthouses will survive us taking an extra break or two."

The Mars Adept growled, then turned away, "Fine, let him rest for a bit."

With a single look to Menardi, the two of them carried on ahead, most likely to scout their route out. Alex moved some distance away, where he could see what went on but not be a part of it, while Kraden helped Garet sit.

The teen began coughing, a sure sign that his body was feeling overtaxed again.

Kraden rubbed his back, grumbling away to himself, "Honestly, that man! Doesn't he realise that he can't keep pushing you like this, there's no way you'll keep up this sort of pace all the way to Imil, not without keeling over."

A water canteen appeared before Garet's face and he glanced up to see Felix holding it.

Since his, frankly, feeble attack on the Venus Adept, Garet had refused to speak to or even look at Felix. While he had taken in Kraden's words, he was still mad and being very stubborn with it, he'd be willing to let the older teen explain himself eventually, but not yet.

Before the boulder, Felix had been one of his friends he'd really looked up to. Though he wasn't that much older, the other boy had always had a sense of maturity and reliability about him. He would be the first to take the lead on any of their plans, and the one that would reign in any that were a bit too crazy. He would be the first to try and help one of them and the first to stand up for them.

In short, he was the one they could all trust and it had been a huge blow when they thought they'd lost him.

Garet eyed the canteen, not particularly wanting to accept it, then silently took it.

He had no supplies of his own with him, so he was completely dependant on the rest for food and water. Felix could well be the only one that would remember this, so stubbornly refusing water because he was angry was far too stupid.

Taking one or two swigs, he handed it back without a word, pointedly not looking at his old friend. Felix sighed and there was silence for a short while until he finally spoke.

"What happened? You never used to get tired this quickly before."

Garet looked away, staring hard in the opposite direction to Felix's face, silence lingered once more, with both Kraden and Felix staring at him expectantly, until the scholar sighed in frustration and answered for him.

"Three years ago, during the incident with the boulder, Isaac and Garet were somehow both knocked unconscious. While Isaac recovered just fine, for some unknown reason, Garet was left far less robust than he had been."

"I see."

Kraden continued, "Felix. Saturos and Menardi cannot keep pushing Garet like this, you must ask them to ease up on him."

"Kraden!"

Finally entering the conversation, Garet protested. He didn't want to have his weakness pressed home, not to the people who kidnapped him!

The scholar eyed him sternly, "Garet, as the one currently responsible for you, I must do what I can to keep you well and right now, Felix is about the only ally we have in managing that. Saturos and Menardi will run you into the ground if this keeps up."

His piece spoken, he turned back to Felix, "Do you think you can do that Felix."

The other boy looked at Garet worriedly, "I'll do what I can, I'll speak with them when they return."

"…and I'm telling you, that poor boy didn't look nearly well enough to start travelling. I mean, I mentioned it and everything, but they just went and ignored me…"

Jenna tuned the rest of the words of the wife of Vault's innkeeper out, having heard everything she needed to. While Isaac continued to listen politely, she instead thought about what they'd learned and what had happened.

After their escape from Mount Aleph, the Wise One whom they'd met there had asked them (via the Great Healer) to follow Saturos and his group and stop them from lighting the Elemental Lighthouses. Jenna had agreed instantly, determined to follow her brother and find out exactly what was going on with him.

Personally, she was almost certain that he was some sort of captive of Saturos and Menardi, the same as Garet and Kraden. They had to be doing something to force him to go along with them, and she was determined to save him and the others, especially Garet.

No doubt his kidnappers wouldn't care much about their captive's condition, Felix seemed to have enough sway to protect Garet from anything too serious, but they wouldn't take into account his need for regular rest and weakened constitution.

She would admit she was often worried about the young Mars Adept, his condition, mixed with his natural recklessness and carelessness, had a lot of potential for trouble, and she was determined to make sure he was alright.

"Jenna?"

Isaac's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and he gestured towards the inn stairs with his head, "We've got a room for tonight."

"Oh, I see."

She followed him upstairs and neither spoke, soon, they entered a small room with two single beds, plain and simple.

Isaac rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "Sorry, we only really had enough for one room."

"Its fine Isaac." She assured him.

She made her way over to the far bed, and sat down heavily upon it, dropping her share of their supplies on the floor. Isaac had done the same, but was now tending to his sword, checking that it was still in good enough condition to use. Jenna watched him for a short while, her thoughts starting to drift onto worrying about Garet again.

"Garet's stronger than you think, he'll be fine until we catch up."

Once again, Isaac's words cut across her thoughts, and she focused on him, "You sound really sure of that."

"Because he will be." He responded, "Kraden's there to keep an eye on him, and as I said, he's stronger than people think. Garet will be fine."

Knowing Isaac as well as she did, she caught the edge in his tone, the indication that his words were as much for himself as for her. She leaned forward, "You're worried about him as well."

He paused in the middle of polishing his blade, hesitating before answering.

"Yes."

He sighed and put the sword down.

"I worry about Garet a lot, probably as much as you. Its just, he gets so fed up of being treated like he could faint or get ill any minute, that I don't want to…over-care for him."

She nodded, "I understand." She smiled, "Let's be honest, he gets smothered enough by his mother."

Isaac laughed a little, "Do you remember when he started sneezing at Kraden's because you accidently knocked a pot of pepper over?"

She giggled, "Yes, his mom was there like a shot, convinced he'd caught some horrific illness." She shook her head, "I still don't know how she did it, I'm sure she was back at his house, how she heard him sneeze from there I have no idea."

"It was like magic." Isaac said with a grin, "Garet sneezed then…poof! She was right there."

They both laughed together, remembering the event. Eventually, their laughter petered out, and Isaac grew serious, "Do you think she's okay?"

Jenna looked down, upon hearing about what had happened, Garet's mother had been beside herself, she'd all but begged them to bring him home safely and it was clear that any worry they were feeling, hers was considerably greater.

The Mars Adept looked up, "I'm sure she's managing, she does have a whole family to support her, we just need to make sure we keep our promise to them, especially Aaron."

Garet's younger brother had told them 'to get his big brother home safely or he'd run away from home and go after him himself'. That memory brought her onto thoughts of her own brother.

How had Felix survived? Why was he working with Saturos and Menardi? What was their goal, and why did they take Garet along with Kraden?

"We'll find out Jenna."

As if he'd read her mind, Isaac answered, he then nodded firmly.

"And we'll bring all of them home."

PS-So, Garet is being very stubbornly angry with Felix still. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.