CHAPTER 4

Babi was dead.

Upon returning to Lalivero, Isaac, Mia, Garet, and Ivan ran into Iodem who told them the news. Not long after the adepts left to find Lemuria, Babi finally ran out of his drought and passed away. Iodem became the new leader of Tolbi upon Babi's death and he thanked the adepts for their efforts in finding Lemuria even though they were unsuccessful. He also told the adepts to keep the ship because Babi had promised it to them for their quest and nobody else could control it anyway.

After meeting with Faran once again and promising to look for Sheba on their journey, the group of adepts decided to spend a day in town before making the trip to the Great Western Sea, and ultimately the Jupiter Lighthouse.

It was a hot day and the group of four walked along the roads of Lalivero, now free from Tolbi's control thanks to Iodem, and Mia was slightly uncomfortable in her heavy robes after being used to the ocean breeze while on the ship. It's odd to walk past random people in town and have them recognize you Mia thought to herself as she followed the three boys through the town. All the townspeople here are so grateful to us for defeating Saturos and Menardi even though we still couldn't save Sheba….

Her thoughts were broken as Ivan muttered aloud, "I still can't believe he's gone…"

"Who? Babi?" came Isaac's response.

"Yeah," Ivan replied softly. "He's been around forever and ever."

"I suppose you're the one who knew about him before this journey seeing as Kalay did business with Tolbi right Ivan?" Mia asked him.

"I did," Ivan said. "He was around long before Master Hammet's time as well. Nobody knew how he was living for so long. I guess it's ironic that we finally discovered his secret right before he died…"

"Well I never really liked the guy anyway," Garet said nonchalantly as Mia scowled at him slightly.

"Garet!" she admonished. "It's not polite to talk about someone who died like that, regardless of who they were or what they did in life."

"Sorry," Garet murmured in response. "He just didn't feel like an honorable guy to me I guess…"

He received a nod from his companions and Isaac addressed his point: "I think we all felt that way to varying degrees. Still…Mia's right; We should show some respect for the dead."

The adepts fell into silence as they turned another street corner and ended up at the entrance to a faire. The people of Lalivero had set up stalls and tents along the main street of the city and had all sorts of things for sale.

"Hey, this could be a good place to spend some time," Ivan told the group, indicating the various stalls around them and the rest of the group agreed that it would be nice to explore the faire for the afternoon.

Garet immediately moved in the direction of the food stalls, following his nose through the maze of shops to find his way. Isaac, Mia, and Ivan continued along together, stopping at various stalls to admire the merchandise. Eventually a sign caught Ivan's eye and he peeled away from Isaac and Mia saying, "I'm going to check out this shop. I'll catch up later."

Both Isaac and Mia turned their heads to see where the wind adept had run off to and saw him dart into a purple tent on the side of the street. "This won't end well…" Isaac muttered as he watched the blonde boy disappear.

"Hmm?" Mia inquired. Isaac pointed to a sign above the tent in response. Lalivero Psychic – Come get your fortune told Mia read. "Oh dear…" she said, sharing a worried look with Isaac. "Who knows what kind of trouble he's getting into…"

After walking a little further down the main street, Mia noticed a shop that caught her interest and she pointed it out to Isaac. "I'm going to check out the apothecary's stall really quickly," she told him. Isaac nodded to her and as they both walked up, Mia saw piles of various herbs and potions as well as an older lady behind the counter organizing her wares.

Isaac said to Mia, "I saw a shop across the way that looked interesting and I'm going to go check it out while you're looking at all these herbs." Mia nodded as he walked away and turned her attention to the lady behind the counter who spoke up after Isaac took off.

"What can I help you with today dear?" the lady asked Mia in a kind voice.

"Oh I'm just interested in looking at some of the herbs you have here," Mia told her.

Lowering her voice and indicating Isaac's retreating form, the old lady smiled and said, "Are you sure you wouldn't be interested in a love potion?"

Mia's face immediately flushed red as she replied, "Just herbs today mam."

The woman laughed at Mia's embarrassment, but let the subject go. "Just herbs it is," she said in her normal voice again. She began showing Mia various herbs, some that were familiar and some she had never heard of, explaining their various uses as she went. Mia had selected a stack of herbs to buy when Isaac came back over from the other stalls and the old lady smiled at Mia, causing her to blush again slightly.

"Thanks for the herbs," Mia told the lady as she paid for them.

The old lady smiled and "No problem dear. You two have a nice day now." She waved as they walked away.

"She seemed pretty friendly," Isaac commented.

"She was very helpful," Mia told him, avoiding any specifics. "We should probably try to find Garet and Ivan soon. The sun's about to set." Isaac looked across the horizon and agreed.

After rounding up the party and eating dinner together, they went to the local inn to rent some rooms. To everyone's surprise, Garet complained about not feeling well because he had too much food and went to sleep it off. Isaac, Mia, and Ivan talked for a little while longer before deciding that they too should get some sleep so they could get an early start in the morning and head for the Great Western Sea. Isaac and Mia went up to their room, while Ivan went to his and Garet's.

Entering their room, Mia placed her pack near her bed and began to change into her nightgown while Isaac waited outside. As she changed, her mind wandered to what the old lady selling herbs had said at the faire. A love potion huh? I wonder why she thought I would need that…Plus, that was a totally embarrassing thing for her to do to me… She pulled the nightgown over her head and began folding her clothes while lost in thought. I mean sure Isaac is handsome, and of course I feel something for him…We are good friends after all….But love? I don't know if that's what this is….Mia sighed softly before opening the door to let Isaac back in the room.

"Thanks," Isaac said as he crossed over to his bed and removed his trademark yellow scarf. He looked like he was deep in thought for a moment before turning to Mia and asking her a question out of the blue: "Mia, do you think you could tell me about the legends your people have surrounding the Mercury Lighthouse?"

Mia was taken aback by the sudden request from Isaac, but she quickly overcame it. "Sure. But why?" she asked.

"I don't know…" came Isaac's response. "Something is just bugging me about the whole thing. I don't feel like I'm sure of anything anymore."

Mia thought about his answer for a moment, but dismissed it and started talking about the lighthouse and Mercury Clan legends. She told him about how the Mercury Clan had always been the guardians and protectors of the lighthouse as well as anything she remembered learning about it in general. Isaac sat there carefully thinking over what she was telling him, while Mia recounted everything she could remember.

Eventually Isaac stopped her. "Mia, what do your legends say happens if the beacon is lit?"

"The world will end," she replied without hesitation.

"I'm looking for something more specific…Anything specific actually."

Mia thought about it for a moment before frowning. The legends never did mention anything about how the world would end…just that it would. I wonder why that is… "I can't think of anything Isaac. Now that you mention it, I'm not sure they ever said what would actually happen..," she said tentatively.

Isaac nodded. "The legends my people told about the lighthouses are the same. 'The world will end' if we light them, but they don't say anything specific either. I guess the thing is…it was easy for me to accept that Saturos and Menardi were just trying to destroy the world, but now that they're dead…Why does Felix still want to light the lighthouses and why would Jenna travel with him…?"

Mia shook her head with a bewildered look on her face. "I wouldn't know…but with everything you told me about Jenna…" she said.

"Exactly," Isaac responded. "I know Jenna wouldn't willingly try to destroy the world and I honestly don't think Felix would either…I just assumed that they were forced to help Saturos and Menardi. So what is it that will actually happen if alchemy is released?"

"I wouldn't have a clue…" Mia muttered looking conflicted.

"What if…What if we're wrong Mia?" Isaac asked in a voice that almost sounded scared. "What if the legends were wrong? They don't explain anything other than that lighting the lighthouses is bad. I know this flies in the face of everything we've done so far…but I can't help but to wonder…"

Mia didn't immediately respond or reject his statement so Isaac chose to take it as a good sign. What if we ARE wrong? Mia thought as she pondered Isaac's words. The whole idea is so foreign…so wrong….But how do we know we're right? The legends say the world will end if the lighthouses are lit…but they provide precious few details on what will actually happen. Mia frowned. I shouldn't even be having the thoughts. I shouldn't be doubting the ancient texts…but yet there are too many things that don't add up for me not to.

She finally spoke. "This is a complicated subject matter Isaac. You make some points that make sense…yet I still find it hard to doubt the wisdom of our ancestors."

Isaac chuckled despite the serious topic of conversation. "At least you aren't saying immediately that I'm wrong."

"There are some things that don't add up," Mia pointed out. "I don't think I can deny the possibility of us being wrong when there are gaps in the legends we were told. The real question is not 'what if we are wrong?' but rather 'What are we going to do if it turns out we were wrong?'"

"That's another question with no easy answer," Isaac said. The two adepts sat in silence for a moment, lost in their thoughts. It was Isaac who eventually spoke up. "I guess we'll figure it out if and when the time comes…" He watched as Mia looked over at him with a sad smile on her face.

Isaac sat there in silence with her for a few minutes, pouring over their conversation before speaking to Mia again. "Hey Mia, I almost forgot..."

"Hmm?" she said, looking at him with curiosity.

"I got you something today," Isaac smiled, walking over to Mia's bed blushing ever so slightly as he did so.

Mia tilted her head slightly to one side and looked at him questioningly. "Isaac?" she asked.

Isaac pulled a small bag out of his pack and handed it to Mia, who took it inquisitively. She tentatively unwrapped the packaging to reveal a small box. He slowly opened the box to reveal a beautiful bronze ring with a brilliant aquamarine in the center. Mia's breath was taken away. "It's beautiful…" she said, blushing and smiling before looking up to an embarrassed Isaac.

"I hoped you'd like it…" he stammered.

Mia smiled at him. "I love it! Thank you so much Isaac. I can't believe you went to all of that trouble…"

"It was no trouble at all," Isaac said sheepishly. "I saw it and it just reminded me of you for some reason…I'm glad you like it," he finished with a smile.

Mia slipped it gently onto her finger and admired how the gemstone shines in the light. "Thanks Isaac," she repeated as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I'll treasure it forever," she whispered in his ear before letting go of the hug and lying down on her bed, holding her hand in the air to admire the ring some more.

Isaac smiled as he watched her lie there with a carefree attitude and happy smile on her face. Eventually the scene had to end and Isaac knew it. "It's getting late Mia, we should get some rest before tomorrow," he finally said. Mia indicated her agreement with a nod and the two adepts got ready for bed.

As Mia drifted off to sleep her thoughts jumped from topic to topic from the day before finally landing on Isaac . He's the nicest person I've ever met…even if he is never concerned enough about his own needs or wellbeing. But that's okay…I still love him….