CHAPTER 8

It was morning the day after the events at the Jupiter Lighthouse and Isaac had just woken up to see Mia sitting on her bed apparently deep in thought.

"What's wrong Mia?" A concerned Isaac asked the azure haired girl.

"It's nothing," Mia replied with a smile to reassure him, however Isaac could see right through it.

He sighed and sat down next to her on her bed. Mia was just looking at the floor with her hands folded in her lap. The sight depressed Isaac who knew whatever was on her mind was clearly not "nothing." What could have her so shaken up like this…Isaac wondered. She looks like she's been beating herself up over something.

"Mia. I can tell something is really bugging you. Please let me help you," Isaac said as he reached out and took her hands in his own.

At his action, Mia broke into tears and Isaac could hear her quiet sobs as she pulled one hand out of his to wipe them away. Please don't cry Mia. I hate to see you like this…

"Mia…" was all Isaac could say as he embraced her fully, holding her slender body to his own.

Mia cried into his shoulder as Isaac did his best to comfort her. "I'm sorry…." Mia choked out as Isaac's shirt became slightly damp from her tears. "I'm okay," she told him after a minute, composing herself slightly and looking up to meet his gaze with a sad smile. I can't let him know what's really bothering me…Mia thought as she returned to looking at the floor. All I want is for him to be happy…I can't tell him. Not now…not ever. The words poured out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I'm still in shock that we have to light the lighthouses," Mia lied.

Isaac frowned at the response. That didn't seem to be what was truly bothering her, but he let it go with a nod. She's still got that sad smile on her face. There's something else that's bothering her but she obviously doesn't want to talk about it right now…

Mia felt guilty for trying to deceive Isaac. What am I doing? I'm lying to the boy I love…She resisted the urge to begin crying again.

Isaac held Mia at arm's length and waited for her eyes to meet his again before speaking. "I can't believe it either Mia. It'll take me time to get accustomed to the fact too," he played along while continuing to comfort her.

Mia gave him the most sincere smile she could muster. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way…" she said. "Thanks for making me feel better about it."

"Don't worry Mia. If you ever need to talk to me about anything, I'll always listen to you, okay?" Isaac reminded her. He waited a few moments until he knew Mia was feeling better before speaking again. "Come and get some breakfast with me Mia," he said, trying to take her mind off of the subject.

"I will," she replied. "Go ahead of me and give me a few minutes to get changed," Mia said, fidgeting with her nightgown.

"Ah…" An embarrassed Isaac said as he noticed she wasn't wearing anything but her nightgown for the first time. "Sorry. I'll see you at breakfast then," he told her while swiftly getting up and heading for the door to hide the blush that was creeping across his face at a rapid pace.

The door closed after him and Mia lay back in bed, letting out a sigh of relief that the conversation was over. I feel awful for lying to him but it was for the best right? Mia thought to convince herself. If Isaac loves Jenna then that's the way it is and I shouldn't try to interfere with that. I can just be his friend right? She held her hand up in front of her face and looked at the pretty ring Isaac had bought for her back in Lalivero. It seems so long ago already…she sighed. Ah, but I shouldn't keep him worrying…Mia knew. She gave herself another minute to lay there before pulling on her robes and going out to greet the others.

...

Later that day the group of adepts were sailing for the northern reaches after discovering their ship now had psynergetic wings courtesy of Master Hamma. Floating above the ocean on a ship that could fly was a first time experience for all of them and they practiced controlling speed and altitude with their psynergy.

Most of the party seemed to be enjoying themselves but the mood of a few were slightly off. It didn't take Jenna long to notice that Isaac wasn't being his usual self and she wasted no time in pulling him aside to find out what was going on.

"Hey Isaac," she said to him.

"Oh hello Jenna. What's up?" was his reply.

"Come over here and talk to me for a second," she told him as she grabbed his arm and led him off to the side of the ship. Isaac gave her a bewildered look but sat down on a barrel next to her and waited for her to speak. "Now tell me what's wrong," Jenna said.

"Where is this coming from Jenna?" he asked her in response.

Jenna sighed before turning back and watching as Ivan and Piers tried to steer the ship to the left and actually got it to change direction without much incident. "Come on Isaac," she finally answered. "It's obvious to anyone that you aren't acting like your usual self."

Isaac looked at her for a moment. Do I really want to discuss this with her right now? Jenna looked back to him and patiently waited for his response. Isaac sighed. I am worried about Mia and if talking to Jenna gives me even the slightest chance of figuring out what's going on I might as well.

With his mind made up, Isaac finally spoke. "Can promise me not to talk about this to anyone else Jenna?"

Jenna looked at him curiously but gave her response: "Sure Isaac. If that's what you want."

"I'm just worried about Mia…" Isaac began. He turned his head to watch the blue haired girl assist Ivan with her psynergy. A few seconds later Mia turned towards Isaac and Jenna, but seeing that they were looking in her direction, she hurriedly turned away and started speaking to Ivan and Garet.

Jenna smiled at the reaction, but kept her thoughts to herself. Isaac continued to speak: "Anyway, this morning when I woke up, she was extremely down about something and I couldn't figure out what it was. She told me she was still coming to terms with lighting the lighthouses instead of preventing them from being lit but I don't know…It didn't sound quite right to me."

Jenna looked back to him. "Honestly Isaac, I'd just give her some time. Finding out that everything as she understood it was wrong probably did come as a big shock to her and that's not something you can get over in a day. Hell…when I found out Felix and our parents were alive…" Jenna shook her head slowly. "That's not the kind of thing you can get over in a day. I think Mia might be going through a similar experience," she explained to Isaac with a smile.

"I suppose you're right…" Isaac replied as he began to watch Mia again.

Jenna smiled mischievously as she watched Isaac and decided to test a new theory she had just come up with. "Don't worry Isaac. If you just give her a bit of time I'm sure she'll be back to the Mia you like," she said and nudged Isaac slightly with her elbow for emphasis.

That got Isaac's attention. His face turned red as he understood the meaning and turned to Jenna, tripping over his words trying to respond. "What- What are you talking about Jenna?"

Laughing at his inability to answer her, Jenna stood up and said, "Oh nothing! I'm going to go back and join the fun." She ruffled Isaac's already awry hair and ran off to try her hand at flying the ship, leaving a very embarrassed Venus adept behind.

Later that night after the novelty of a flying ship wore off and the group of heroes had exhausted their supply of psynergy, Isaac found himself in his room unable to sleep as he recalled memories from his journey so far.

We've met so many different people, been to so many interesting places, and witnessed so many weird events. Isaac smiled as he thought back to the early days of the journey when it was himself and Garet against the world. Looking back we were so inexperienced…so not ready for what lay ahead. But then we met Ivan. I still remember how he learned everything that happened to us in a few seconds by reading our minds…it was impressive but it freaked us out at the time.

With Ivan on the team we felt unstoppable, but nothing could be further from the truth. I may have had the ability to heal, but it wasn't until we met Mia that we knew what a true healer was capable of .Isaac rolled over onto his back. I can't even imagine trying to fight Saturos on top of that lighthouse without her. I'm pretty sure she's saved my life more than a few times, Isaac remembered fondly.

Isaac rolled over to look at the empty bed next to him and sighed. That's right, she's got watch before me tonight…Ahh…I haven't had a chance to talk to her much recently and it's not like I'm falling asleep right now anyway. Maybe I should go keep her company…

Isaac lay in bed for a few more minutes before making his decision and getting out of bed. Throwing on his scarf and jacket, Isaac walked out the door of his room pausing only long enough to grab his Gaia Blade form its spot on the wall. He quietly headed up to the deck, being careful not to accidentally wake anyone up on the way. Stepping onto deck, Isaac made his way over to where Mia was standing by the railing. "Hey Mia," he said softly.

Mia must have been deep in thought because she turned and regarded Isaac with surprise. "Isaac?"

"Yep, that's me," he said with a smile. "What…did I look like someone else? A scary monster attacking maybe?"

Mia giggled and turned red as she tried to figure out a reply. "No…that's not what I meant. I was just so caught up in my thoughts I didn't know you were here until you said something," Mia told him.

Ah…that laugh of hers is so cute. It's a shame she hasn't been laughing much recently…Isaac thought.

"Isaac? Hello…?" Mia waved a hand in front of Isaac's face to get his attention.

"Ah! Sorry," Isaac said as he snapped out of his trance. "I just zoned out there for a second," he explained sheepishly.

Mia shook her head. "I noticed," she said with a smile. "So what brings you out here early? Your watch isn't for another half hour."

"What? You'd rather I be sleeping?" Isaac said, acting hurt.

He was rewarded with another giggle as Mia answered. "Of course not. I enjoy talking to you," she told him. She stepped away from the railing and sat down on some nearby steps. Mia was delighted when Isaac followed her example and sat down next to her. "So why couldn't you sleep Isaac?" Mia asked him.

Just as perceptive as always. Isaac smiled at her. "I was just reminiscing about our journey so far. We've experienced so much together."

Mia looked up at the night sky. "Yeah, we have. It seems like it all started years ago…"

Isaac chuckled. "I know that feeling Mia. Sometimes I feel like I've been friends with you and Ivan all my life."

Mia blushed slightly as she heard those words. He really considers us to be that close? That's sweet but…

Isaac leaned back and sighed. "Hey Mia, do you remember Xian?"

"Of course," she replied. "That's where you got me my silk dress," she commented nonchalantly. "Ahh…not that that's why I remember it though…" she added quickly as she blushed in embarrassment.

Isaac just laughed and said, "I remember how peaceful that town was. I'm glad we got to stop there on our journey."

"I especially liked the flower gardens," Mia recalled as memories started flooding back to her. "They had some really pretty purple flowers there," she sighed happily.

The two passed the time together speaking about all the fun times they had in all the towns and villages they visited as well as the tough times such as crossing the Karagol Sea and fighting a Kraken, or running from whirlwinds in the Suhalla Desert.

A few hours passed and eventually the pair was interrupted when Jenna came out on deck to take her shift. The redhead walked up to both of them and greeted them before sitting on a barrel near the stairs. "So what have you two been up to this whole time?" she asked them with a mischievous smirk.

Neither adept picked up on it and Isaac answered her normally. "We were just talking about all the random adventures we've had on our journey so far," he said. "Hey, now that you're out here, why do you tell us about what happened after the Venus Lighthouse Jenna? I'm sure you have some stories to tell," Isaac pointed out.

I should give them some privacy, Mia thought as Isaac finished addressing Jenna. "Ah…Goodnight you two. I'm going to bed," Mia said as she stood up and tried to take a step past Jenna.

Jenna reached out an arm and stopped her from leaving for a second. "Oh come on Mia, I just got out here. Sit and talk for a little longer why don't you?"

Mia looked back at Jenna and Isaac before Isaac also spoke. "Yeah Mia, why are you leaving so suddenly?" he asked her with a confused expression.

"I was just trying to give you two some time alone…" Mia said slowly.

Jenna just looked at her before saying, "Wait what….?"

Realizing that they were genuinely confused, Mia decided to spell it out for them. "I thought I'd give you two some time to spend with each other. Aren't you...like a couple…?" she asked meekly, turning red in the face while doing so.

Isaac and Jenna blushed slightly while giving Mia an incredulous look. Then Jenna burst out laughing. "Haha, seriously Mia? You thought that Isaac and I…." she stopped speaking and let her laughter die down as she let Isaac speak.

"I think you misunderstood something Mia…Jenna and I are just friends," Isaac explained hesitantly.

Mia's stomach did a flip at those words, but she remained baffled.

"But what was…." She started to say before trailing off.

"What was what?" Isaac asked her, still completely confused as to how this conversation was even taking place.

"I'm sorry," Mia said. "I really didn't mean to see….I guess what I'm trying to ask is what about that night in Contigo? Jenna, you….kissed Isaac and…Isaac didn't you say you loved her?"

Isaac's face turned deep red while Jenna found a new reason to laugh. "So you saw that," he said simply.

Mia nodded with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry. I was just coming out to check on you Isaac, but I ran into that scene and well…."

Isaac just sighed. "Well this is embarrassing…I guess what you have to understand is that we've known each other our whole lives," he explained to Mia. "Especially after the accident 3 years ago when we thought Jenna's family was killed and she moved in with us, she became like the sister I never had." Isaac looked down at the deck for a moment before continuing. "Jenna just sort of became part of my family and so I love her the same as I love anyone else in my family. She can be a bit crazy at times though."

It was all Mia could do to stand still listening to everything he was saying while masking the elation she felt at hearing those words. That still doesn't explain the kiss though…Mia turned to Jenna and opened her mouth, but Jenna held up a hand to silence her.

"You're going to ask me about the Kiss," Jenna said. Mia blushed a little deeper and nodded in response. Jenna laughed and said, "I liked Isaac's explanation so let's just say I love my brother." She hopped off the barrel and quickly kissed Isaac on the cheek before sitting down next to him on the steps. "See? No big deal," she said to Mia.

Isaac blushed at the action and decided to retaliate for it. "So if it's no big deal why haven't you kissed Garet yet hmm?" he murmured to Jenna.

At the mention of Garet, Jenna's face flushed a deep red and Mia's eyes widened at her reaction. Jenna and Garet…? Mia thought. Jenna pushed Isaac off the step before turning to Mia.

"Oh, Mia my dear…" Jenna said with an overly sweet voice. "I'd be quite obliged if you forgot you heard that just now."

Mia looked at Jenna and smiled. "Don't worry Jenna, your secret is safe with me," she told her.

Jenna let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. It would do my heart ill if I had to silence you myself. Now why don't you two lovebirds run along? You've already done double shifts each and it wouldn't be good to have you both sleep deprived tomorrow."

Isaac and Mia blushed at her words and avoided each other's gaze for a few moments before an embarrassed Mia spoke up. "Uh…yeah, you're right Jenna. I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight," she said before turning and heading for the cabins.

"Goodnight Isaac," Jenna said loudly, pushing the poor boy towards Mia.

"Yeah, goodnight Jenna," Isaac responded before heading inside with Mia.

Isaac and Mia walked back to their room together in silence, both too embarrassed by the conversation with Jenna to say anything at all. As they reached their room, they both walked over to their beds and laid down on them.

"Sorry about Jenna…she's just kind of like that," Isaac finally said.

"That's all right," Mia replied with a smile.

"Well goodnight then Mia," Isaac called out to her.

"Good night Isaac," Mia replied.

That entire conversation was really embarrassing, but I'm glad it happened, Mia thought, feeling her cheeks flush red as she stared at the ceiling. Thank goodness it's dark in here and Isaac can't see my face…Mia closed her eyes.

So they're just friends…Mia thought as she drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.