Chapter VII: Stories Untold

-If given the chance to defend thyself instead of death, then trust in thy ability, and defend thyself!

-Ivan, Warlock of Jupiter

"You…you're…alive?" Bewilderment wore itself all over Xavier's face.

Roxas chuckled. "C'mon now, my friend. You didn't think I'd die that easily, did you?"

Xavier shook his head in confusion. "But…how did-"

Roxas held up his hand. "Xavier, we can talk a bit later. Right now I have….business to attend to." His gaze shifted to the Champan warrior.

In a flash, Roxas unsheathed his…curiously dark blade. Leo growled and slowly stood, his affinity (wind) whistling through the cave. "Hmph. Thought you were dead. Very well then."

His blade resonated a dark red color. Xavier stepped before Roxas. The violet-haired wind adept lowered his malicious blade. "Roxas…what are you doing…?"

The hairs on the back of Xavier's neck prickled the moment Roxas chuckled darkly.

"My friend, do you know why I'm here?"

"What are you-"

"Lemme give you a hint, Xavier." Like lightning striking the earth, the rogue wind adept flashed across, whipping just past the surprised earth adept's left cheek, and causing him to flinch back. A thin line of blood appeared on Xavier's face.

By reflex, the shaken Dual Adept unsheathed his element-imbued blades. Roxas laughed hard. "Well well! Looks like someone's been through a bit of training. Tell me, Xavier." He raised his ominous blade. "Do you know what this is?"

Xavier examined the sword. The blade itself resembles but a simple silver-steel. Yet the glow around the sword is an evil black shade, deeper than the deepest night. The hilt of the sword is ashwood oak decorated with several different colored symbols, all pulsing strangely. "Roxas…you can't be-"

"Can't be what? Your enemy? Well, that depends on you. Anyway-"

"What do you mean?" Xavier growled.

Roxas sighed and resumed his explanation. "This sword's is called 'Assassin', my friend. It got its name for, well, what it does," he said. He stepped back from Xavier, eyeing the fuming Leo to his left. "Hmm. You should keep that one in check. I don't want him to die just yet…since he survived."

Xavier turned his gaze to the angry Leo. "Leo-"

"Quiet!" he yelled. His body was shaking with fury. "You don't know…who he is, or what he has done!"

Xavier shook his head. "What are you-"

"He lead this massacre on this village!"

Horror crept itself slowly on Xavier's face. Now Xavier started shaking. What is this feeling? Was it anger? Sadness? Terror? What….What's goin on? He thought.

"Xavier…this blade got its name for a reason. First of all, I am the Second General of the Silver Queen's army of the Moon. Second." A wicked grin crossed his face.

"The blade's full name is 'assassin of adepts'. My mission is to wipe out the Jupiter adepts."

-

Ivan screamed in agony as Mei applied the healing spell. Her breath was ragged, as she had been applying the same spell in his left side to no avail. He staggered to his feet, eyes focusing on the three entities down the stone hall. "Ivan don't strain yourself!" Mei pressed.

He grunted and shrugged her cool hands off. He motioned towards the others. "You….you all need to leave….now!"

Mei regarded the wounded wind adept. "What about you!? You're wounded!"

He glanced at his wound, memories flashing back to all those years ago. This is the same type of wound Jenna had before…

Ivan cracked a small grin. "I'll…I'll be alright dammit! You just go!"

She flinched a bit, then withdrew her hands from the battered adept. Ivan slowly started his way down the hall towards the others. He glanced back. "When I give the signal…grab those two and run!"

Mei nodded. As he turned away, Mei noticed a look of resignation in Ivan's eyes.

-

"General? Assassin of adepts? Roxas, what the hell is goin on!?" Xavier said.

Roxas sighed. "It means as it sounds, Xavier. There's no in-between meaning here. Weyward's a bigger place than the Andarn and the Gondowan continents once it's been restored. You know who your mom was, correct?"

"What of it?"

"She, my...Ivan and Sheba, as well as Garet, were part of the party who relit the four ancient elemental lighthouses; thus restoring the balance in the world. So Weyward experienced almost two decades of prosperity and rebirth.

"But that wasn't the only effects of their actions. Again, I had said Weyward experienced rebirth. This meant not only the rebirth of the world itself…but rebirth of ancient civilizations. Rebirth of renewed power. Rebirth of greed, sorrow….life. The act of the Gods Iris and Acheron were completely reversed by mortals. The stories of ancient heroes who quieted the four lighthouses with their lives in an attempt to stop the war on Weyward….they are only partially true. Yes there were heroes. Yes, they quieted the lighthouses. Yes, they gave their lives…to become Balance."

"What do you mean 'Balance'?" Xavier asked.

"I mean that they became the watchers of adepts. Protectors of Psynergy. Gods of mankind.

"These heroes were related; born of noble blood. They were of the Sol kingdom, known as the prince and princess. Sol laid on the Southern continent, the one mostly consumed by the void. The southern continent, once known as Haven, was once known as the 'promised land' for its sheer beauty. In the middle of Haven laid the kingdom of Sol. At the head of the kingdom stood King Remnas Xavier Solia, his queen Lady Elena, and their children; Eris and Iris. All loved the royal family, as well as the prosperity of the country.

"But all was not as it seemed. King Solia kept his country in order…and confined, according to another. This was none other than his own son, Eris. Eris saw that the country would eventually fall into damnation if it did not expand. To him, expanding the country would ensure the safety and the long rule of their kingdom. King Solia, however, stood in his way. Eris valued the land more than a petty family. He had no choice; he began to plan a coup d'etat his own family. You see my friend; Prince Eris was a man who had the amazing ability to attract people. He harnessed this ability; used it to bring together a vast army within the country. Eris also had another ability, a unique ability, one that changed all forever. Eris could use forbidden arts, "dark psynergy" if you wish to call it that. With this Eris could call upon demonic arts, imbue any with supernatural strength and prowess, a "dark blessing". He had another fearsome ability. He could tear the power of an adept in two, either completely ridding one of their elemental powers, or kill an adept by placing a seal on an adept's soul's ability to regenerate.

"He called it the "Elemental Curse".

"With this power known only to him he knew he could bring down anyone who stood in his way.

"He named his army 'the army of the Moon'. Iris began to suspect her brother, however, and went to mention this to her father the king. She noticed too late, as the attack had already begun. She burst into the throne room to find her mother and father dead, and at the throne sat Eris, the king's sword Levatine resting across his lap. She watched helplessly as her brother declared himself king, his ruthless army of the moon taking down those who stood in their lordship's way. He renounced the name of "Solia" and named himself Eris D. Acheron, lord of the Kingdom of Luna. His coup was flawless….all except for one simple thing; letting Iris escape.

"A decade passed as Lord Acheron expanded his kingdom around Weyward. It was he who ordered the construction of the four pillars of light, known as "lighthouses" to us, Xavier; Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars."

The two friends paced each other in a circle, both eyeing each other warily. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you need to know, my friend. The truth. And," a thin flickers of crimson lightning flashed out of Roxas's palm and circled around Leo. "They need to know as well. Do not worry, wind Adept. You will live, so long as you don't touch those. One touch and your soul is drained from your body completely, leaving you lifeless like that woman over there." He motioned towards the angry Champan's mother.

Leo's howled in great fury, but did not move.

"Now then, I will continue.

"The day Iris escaped she vowed that she would one day reclaim the throne in the name of Solia. While Acheron's kingdom was expanding around the world, there was one place in the middle of the world that Acheron could not reach. That was the Andarn Highlands. Mount Aleph. It was that very place that the princess fled to. She climbed Mt. Aleph to its peak…and found a power almost unrivaled."

"The Golden Sun," said a shaky voice.

Ivan approached the two, leaning on Swift. Behind him approached a tired and angry Mei, Trident drawn and ready. Ivan drew in a deep breath and stood up, quietly grunting due to the abnormal wound. Xavier's attention flashed towards the battered Warlock. "Ivan-"

He held up his hand. "Remove the barrier around the Champan, boy."

Roxas regarded him for a moment, eye twitching at the sound of 'boy', then smirked, realizing the reasoning through Mind Read. "Very well then, so long as you do as you say."

Ivan nodded.

-

Within a split second, the flickers of light were gone, and Leo quickly tensed itching to sever the monster before him in half…at least before he heard the voice of Ivan in his head.

Eoleo…do you remember me?

Leo's eyes drifted slowly towards Ivan. He flashed back in his mind to the ship…and the messy top of golden hair…and a hand placed on his head. He nodded.

Ah…you've grown. I remember you all those years ago in your mother's arms. Young one, you matter here more than you think. Calm yourself. You need not die here. It will be your job to help them on their journey. His eyes flashed to Xavier and Mei.

But what about you? Leo returned by thought.

Ah…my journey will end here, unfortunately, for I wish to see much more unfold. Please still yourself for now, and leave with them when the time comes. Your mother…she wishes that.

Leo flinched.

I am sorry young one for your loss. I have the ability to sense not only the mind of the living but also…the dead. Her body yet lives, but it is as he says. Her soul no longer resides within. She loves you, young one, and will always be in your heart.

Leo turned his back, dropping his ax, and let silent tears trickle down his face, away from everyone else.

Ivan turned his focus to Roxas. "I will tell the rest," he said.

Roxas nodded and sheathed his sword. Xavier looked to Ivan. "What are you-"

"It is time you knew." He looked from Xavier to Mei. "It is time you both knew."

"Before I continue this tale, know that many years ago Alex did not receive the true power of the Golden Sun, but a small blessing, one that he has lost now for being in favor of Acheron.

"The power of the Golden Sun was vast indeed, giving Iris the strength needed to combat her brother. She spoke to the people of the highlands, pleaded for their help. Seeing that she received the ancient power of Sol, they obliged. Within that decade that Eris essentially ruled all of Weyward, Iris both mastered the power of the Golden Sun, mustering a small but powerful army in the Andaran Highlands, called the 'Army of Sol', and established a city known as Valys, the town of Vale.

"It was on the first day of the first year after Eris Acheron's decade of prosperity that Lady Iris and her Sol-blessed knights descended the Andaran highlands into Gondowan. Within days, her army tore through the Gondowan Continent, taking the Venus Lighthouse as well as several other establishments around the land. She met the Champans here, hidden in the rocky cliffs of Gondowan. She showed them a kindness unbeknownst to many in that age. They followed her, falling in deep love with her passion not only for taking her home back, but also for any who fell victim to the wrath of Eris Acheron. She became known as "Merciful Angel Iris". Her kindness rallied many rebels who called against Acheron and his powerful Adept army.

"Because of this being the Golden Age, everyone was a type of adept, which meant powerful psynergy was used by many. Iris and her Army of Sol poured onto Haven, clashing with the army of the Moon. The battle was a stalemate, continuing for years to come. All of Weyward was consumed in war for seven straight years. This was the "War of the Elements", named for the catastrophic power unleashed by those many, many adepts. Near the end of those years, Eris, married to a silver-haired maiden, you know her as proxian, had a daughter. He named her Catriona; purity. As he held her, he realized what he had done. All of Weyward laid in ruin before him and his sister. He realized his selfish ambitions placed the very world in jeopardy. He turned his own sister away from him, causing a useless war. He brought a child into a war-torn world. It was time to end it.

"He called a meeting with Iris on middle ground; the free country of Lemuria. Lemuria was the one country who stayed hidden behind its veil, shadowed from the effects of war. It was there the siblings agreed to seal the elements away within the four lighthouses. Doing so, however, would forfeit the lives of four great adepts.

"Four happily stepped forward. Queen Leylia Garess Acheron sealed the Mars lighthouse. Sol General Isaaks rested himself within the Venus lighthouse. Lord Rumidas Picard of Lemuria, despite his noninvolvement in the war, went ahead to the Mercury lighthouse for the safety of the world. Wandering hermit Shiva Chiros offered herself to the Jupiter lighthouse. Together with those brave soldiers' lives the four elements were sealed from humanity. Everything could not live in balance, however, for Iris and Eris remained. Iris ascended into heaven through a forbidden portal deep within an ancient palace in the void of the Sol Sanctum. This was known as the hidden Sol lighthouse. With her she took the power of the Golden Sun. Eris placed his daughter in the hands of his general, Charon, asking him to give her a better life, and sealed himself deep within the Amenos Sanctum, in another void, named "Luna Lighthouse" for reference. So began the Age of Rebirth.

"This wasn't the end, however. Charon saw his king strong for his decision, yet he saw a greater future with the child. As promised, Charon raised the young child, giving her the name 'Sonja' to shadow her cursed name. As she grew, Sonja resembled her parents more and more, both in psynergy and in looks. Charon taught her the many basics over the many years. She was raised in Lemuria, where her age would not alter her looks, and so the general could teach her one hundred years of knowledge. The old general served both king Solia and the the late king Acheron, pledging himself for the kingdom and not just for the king himself. He was a large, intelligent man, known later for his enormous black beard. Charon wished to see the Moon Empire grow once again, yet he could not tutor her forever, for his age far surpassed that of the silver-haired child. So the old General used the last of his power received from his former lord to place his very soul within two final gifts to the daughter of the Luna King."

Ivan's eyes flashed over. "One was his right hand silver blade, 'Assassin'. The other was the sword of the Solian king, Levatine. It is said that whomever uses these weapons will receive the will of the late General as well as the will of a King. Roxas…" he glared at his once son.

"Roxas has Assassin. Meaning he is second in line of the throne, correct?"

He nodded.

"And Levatine…rests with Felix." Roxas finished.

Xavier rolled his mind around the idea, and came out confused on two subjects.

"You said Roxas is in line for the throne….because he owns a different sword!?"

Roxas's lips curled into a smile. "No, that is not the reason."

Ivan's eyes drifted away. Roxas stared at him hard, then turned his attention to Xavier. "I am not Ivan and Sheba's son."

Ivan and Xavier flinched. Xavier shook his head. "What are you talking about? We were raised at the same time!"

Roxas blinked at Xavier in surprise. "You…do know I'm a bit older than you….right?"

"Well yeah…but-"

"Xavier," Ivan interjected.

He looked at him. "A year before you were born, we found…a child on the Gondowan coast. His hair…resembled that of my sister's, but was darker, richer. As you and he grew, you probably didn't recognize this because you were too young, but he performed exceptionally powerful psynergy at such a young age. You did as well, Xavier. As you became well powerful with fire and earth…Roxas was not only perfecting the art of wind…but….the art of water as well."

"What does that have to…" Xavier drifted off, understanding where this was going. "Ivan…you don't use water."

"No, I do not," he responded solemnly.

"What was not mentioned in the legend is that quietly Catriona slipped her blood down the path of time. In the end…Roxas is the result."

Mei gasped.

"Are you saying that he's-"

"Yeah. I'm the descendent of the Silver-haired Princess." Roxas said.

"The next after my Great Grandmother is me!"

Xavier shook his head in disbelief and started to question it until he heard a voice in his head.

It is true, infortunately, Xavier. But do not dwell on that now. That is for another time.

He looked over to see Ivan staring at him. He slightly nodded.

"One more question," Xavier said.

"Go for it," Roxas said, amused.

"Is not Felix a general as well?"

Roxas nodded.

Mei sensed where this was going. "The legend is said to have taken place three hundred years ago. Then…your queen is-"

"Bout time you figured it out. Queen Catriona Acheron will rebuild the Moon Empire."

For a moment, an ominous silence beheld the cavern.

Xavier broke the silence. "T-that can't be!?" Xavier exclaimed. "How!?"

Roxas chuckled. "Did you not hear? She resided in Lemuria, deep within the city. Long has she waited for this era…the era where she would reclaim what is rightfully hers."

Mei shook her head. "But what about the will of her parents!? Why would she go against what they fought so hard to stop!?"

"It won't be the same, for her. Her power is one that nobody could stop," Roxas replied. "It hasn't been anywhere near a century since the resurrection of the elements. And…she has a way…to strip the world of elements."

Ivan frowned. "What do you mean 'a way to strip the world of elements? She means to wipe out all adepts!?"

"In a way…yes. But, that's all I can tell you, for…ah, that brings me to my other mission." Roxas turns to Xavier.

"Do you know why you are so powerful now, my friend? Why fighting these powerful soldiers are like fighting fodder? I assume you are quite strong as well, no?" the Acheron general drifted his eyes towards Mei.

It was Xavier's and Mei's turn to frown, as neither understood where this was going. Another smile crossed Roxas's face. "I was surprised myself….Lord Ivan, care to explain? I assume you've never told them." he said mockingly.

Xavier looked at his longtime mentor in psynergy and history. "Ivan…?"

The old wind adept looked away. "I had hoped this would never happen. That's why I…we set out for this." His eyes met Xavier's head on. "Xavier, you….Mei, and you as well Eoleo….you are the Chosen. You are the adepts who hold the true power of the Golden Sun. You were born with the power of the Goddess Iris."