Part 2: Stone of Legend

Chapter 7: Wizards

"Well, here we are!"

Irises of violet swung around the area in fascination. "Woah…"

If Jacob and Alyssa were setting this up, then they were doing a very good job of it. The chamber's walls, floor and ceiling were all made of fresh, dirt-brown bark, with vines snaking up along the walls and leaves gently swaying down to the floor.

The only flaw Riley found were all the small tents pitched around the walls. Numerous people, with odd hair colors and clothing, mulled about. Almost more people than the chamber could hold…

Alyssa arrived by her side shortly. "Like it?"

Riley nodded rapidly, as if she were a puppy about to receive a highly anticipated treat. "Heck yeah! But…" she looked at her, "why is it so crowded?"

The diviner sighed. "Because it's one of the only places in the Spiral that has been wholly untouched by the darkness. Wizard City is… some people…"

Riley got the message. She nodded, not saying anything more.

Thankfully the awkwardness was interrupted quickly. "Alyssa? Jacob?" First the voice was questioning, then evolved into relief. "Alyssa! Jacob!"

Both Alyssa and Jacob were snapped awake by the voice and someone dressed in blue clothes clamoring up the steps to greet them.

Jacob's golden eyes enlarged while Alyssa smiled like a maniac. "Ian! You're alive!"

With that, the boy finished climbing up the steps to the platform- Riley was immediately amazed.

Waves of lush, ocean blue hair rippled over his head, and enticing pools of green pulled her in. He was tall and sturdily built, and his jutting chin seemed confident yet humble at the same time.

For a second that seemed to hold an eternity, the only word that dared entered Riley's mind was Hot.

"And so are you," he smiled, wholly taking in Alyssa and Jacob. Then he noticed Riley. "Who's she?"

Riley would have introduced herself had she not been so tongue-tied at the very sight of him.

"Her name's Riley," Jacob said. "She's a theurgist."

Shock sent his friendly expression askew. "A- a theurgst?!"

"That's right!" Alyssa placed her hands on her hips, spine erect and thin lips smug. "Oh- and Riley, this is Ian. Ian Frostsword. He's a thautamerge- an Ice Wizard."

Everything but the hot guy's name washed over Riley's mind. She licked her lips a few times, her tongue almost too inflated to speak. "H-heh-h-hi there-"

Ian chuckled- music to her ears. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Hey Ian, do you think you can- wait… is that…"

Ian threw his head over his shoulder. "Sure is, Grace!"

This snagged Jacob's attention. "Wait, Grace?"

A girl bounded up the steps, taking her place right alongside Ian. Long, light purple hair wreathed her diamond-shaped face, and brown eyes hid behind square spectacles.

"Alyssa? Jacob?" the girl pushed up her glasses to the top of her nose.

"No, it's Malistaire." Jacob's voice dripped with sarcasm. Then he released a hearty laugh. "Of course it's us!"

The girl smiled and dipped her head. "I am truly glad to see that you're well- and looking victorious, for the matter! Did you somehow beat- wait a moment…" she squinted, then when that obviously didn't work, looked around. "Where's Valdus?"

All happiness drained from Alyssa and Jacob's faces. They exchanged looks, hesitant of how to break the news to her.

"He…" Alyssa's throat tightened, unable to say anything more without ultimately breaking down.

"Betrayed us," Jacob finished.

Both the girl and Ian took a step back in surprise. Like Alyssa and Jacob, they looked at each other, both holding the same pain in their eyes. She rested her head on Ian's shoulder and covered her face with her hand so the others wouldn't notice her tears.

For a moment, Riley forgot about Ian's hotness and allowed her stomach to twist into a knot. Why was this Valdus so important? He took part in Sabrina's death! She felt no sympathy for Valdus.

"But on a good note," Alyssa said quickly, "we found a theurgist!"

Something inside the girl snapped. She stopped her crying, quickly ran her hand across her face, and faced Alyssa. "R-Really?"

She smiled and gestured toward Riley.

Everything negative seemed to melt away in her. "The last theurgist," she spoke softly. Then she regained her composure. "My name is Grace Dreamblood."

Riley smiled, hoping to cheer Grace up somewhat. "Pleased to meet you, Grace."

"Grace is a truly rare wizard," Ian began. "Her primary school is actually the Moon School- not something that's very common." He lifted his eyes up the ceiling, then added as an afterthought, "Oh yeah- and she's my girlfriend."

All air was knocked out of Riley as if she'd just been punched. Suddenly she didn't feel so pleased to meet her.

"Cool," she barely managed to get out through gritted teeth. "I'm Riley."

Grace gave a small smile. "Riley. That's a nice name. Well then, I hope we'll get a chance to get to know each other better."

But Riley didn't want a chance to get to know her better. Man, if all wizards were like Ian and Grace, than she was going to go nuts.

A/N: Hey, sorry I haven't updated for a while. You know how RL gets. . . ^.^ The next update will be a lot quicker, I promise.