(no subject)

[venusadept_2]

Felix materialized on the Aerie telepad with the others. The blizzard was worse up here, though whether that was due to the height or to the passage of time was uncertain.

"Felix, what are the Djinn doing with your sword?" asked Sheba.

Felix looked down. There were, in fact, several balls of light circling his scabbard. "Nothing. It doesn't matter. Onward!"

Ivan shuddered. "Something's going to happen. Set Djinn." They all did, and trooped up to the Aerie proper.

As Felix approached the hole that would soon support the beacon, a strange voice called out, "Betrayers, you have arrived!"

"Who said that!?" shouted Garet, looking around.

"The wind's too strong! I can't see anything!" called back Mia.

The whole group joined in the inspection, but no one could see the speaker. "Felix! Quick! Cast the Mars Star in before anything has a chance to stop us!" yelled Piers.

As Felix approached the hole, the wind increased, pushing him back. He struggled, but couldn't make any headway. The voice spoke again: "So, you are still intent on lighting the beacon of Mars Lighthouse?"

Isaac started forward, his face intent. "Who said that!?" he shouted.

The voice seemed almost mocking this time. "Have you forgotten me so soon, Isaac? And you, Garet?"

Everyone looked at each other in puzzlement. "It seems to know you, Isaac... Do you have any idea what it is?" wondered Ivan. Isaac shook his head.

The voice had apparently lost patience. "Then search your heart, boy!"

Kraden gasped. "That voice..."

At the same moment, Garet recognized it. "The Wise One!"

Indeed, the floating ball of rock became visible. Isaac turned around and began to explain. "When Saturos and Menardi stole the Elemental Stars, they also triggered a volcanic eruption. The Wise One prevented Mt. Aleph from erupting so that Garet and I could escape."

Ivan was confused. "But...wait. Mt. Aleph did erupt! There was a huge explosion! We saw it all the way in Vault!"

Garet shook his head. "But it would have erupted with us still inside... There was no way we could have escaped in time."

"The Wise One held off the eruption until we could escape... He even halted the lava flow," agreed Isaac.

Mia blinked. "I can't believe it... Nobody has the power to do that..."

Piers nodded. "If it can do all that, this Wise One seems more like a god than an Adept!"

The Wise One was apparently annoyed at being ignored. "I did not just save you. I also tasked you with recovering the four Elemental Stars. Why have you disobeyed my command? Why hae you come to light the beacon?"

"Because Prox will be destroyed if we don't! We can't let that happen," shouted Jenna, beginning to flare.

The Wise One bobbed in unconcern. "Prox? They have brought this disaster on themselves."

Sheba was also becoming distressed. "Are you saying we should just abandon them to die? What did they do to deserve that!?"

The Wise One focused on Sheba for the first time. "The people of Prox have committed an unforgivable sin. They must pay the price."

"For lighting the lighthouses? Is that their sin? Does that warrant total destruction?" yelled Isaac, beginning to reach for Flint.

"If we don't light the beacon, Gaia Falls will eventually erode away all of Weyard!" pled Mia.

"We have fought for so long to save all the people of our world, and now you would stop us?" continued Piers.

"Gaia Falls is growing. It's consuming more and more with each passing day!" called Sheba.

"How can you just allow the world to crumble into nothingness?" demanded Jenna.

"The seal needs to be broken! The world will be destroyed if it's not!" finished Sheba.

The Wise One's eye opened wide. He looked at each of them in turn, then spoke. "You have learned far too much."

Kraden adopted a pleading air. "Wise One! You can't continue to protect the lighthouses! You know what's happening! It is your duty to protect all of Weyard! If Weyard is destroyed, you will have failed us all!"

After a moment, Jenna called, "Why won't you answer us, Wise One?"

The Wise One narrowed his gaze. "If Alchemy is unleashed, mankind may well destroy all of Weyard itself."

"But we can combine our strengths, ensure that Alchemy not be used for evil!" insisted Kraden.

The Wise One shook himself. "It is inevitable. In time, one man will seek to rule over all. It is human nature, inescapable." He paused and looked into the distance, simultaneously casting some Psynergy. "And it shall come sooner than any of you think."

Kraden looked confused. "Why do you say that?"

"The Water Adept who climbs to the peak of Mt. Aleph even as we speak... Is he not a friend of yours?" asked the Wise one. After a moment, he went on. "Alex is his name. Surely you have not forgotten him?"

Jenna scowled. "Alex!? What would he be doing on Mt. Aleph?"

The Wise One gave a great sigh. "He understands far more than you do. He knows that when the four beacons have been lit... Their light will gather at Sol Sanctum."

"But what would he gain from being there?" wondered Kraden.

"When the final beam of light reaches the peak of Mt. Aleph, the Golden Sun will rise," explained the Wise One.

"The Golden Sun?" Kraden repeated. "What is that? And what would Alex want with it?"

The Wise One rolled his eye. "When the four beams merge into one, they form a golden light, bathing Mt. Aleph's peak."

"Is that Alchemy? I mean, pure Alchemy made real, at the heart of its power?" asked Ivan in amazement.

"And it's that light that gives shape to the Stone of Sages?" wondered Kraden.

The Wise One cut off his Psynergy. "This has been Alex's one true desire from the very start."

Piers looked offended. "Alex planned all of this? Then he must have been after this power all along!"

"We've been duped! He used us all! Oh, you'd better believe he's not getting away with this!" ranted Garet.

Mia looked at her feet. "Alex... How could he do this? He's... He's one of my own people! I feel sick... disgusted..."

Isaac raised his head, his eyes steely. "None of that matters right now. We still have to light the beacon. We don't have any choice. If we don't do it now, Prox will be destroyed." He looked to Felix, the leader. "Felix... we have to, right?"

Felix hadn't uttered a word since stepping off the telepad. He merely nodded, eyes on the Wise One. Fortunately Sheba was more than willing to speak for him. "You bet we do! The Wise One will have to deal with Alex on his own."

The Wise One merely looked at them. "I cannot interfere in the actions of mankind."

Jenna sparked. "If you can't interfere, then how about getting out of our way so we can light the beacon?"

Garet nodded. "I don't like doing exactly what Alex wants, but it's looking like we've got no choice..."

Felix started forward to toss the Star under the Wise One. The Wise One began to flash with something like Psynergy, but not the same. Felix was thrown backward into the others.

Piers scowled. "Wise One! Didn't you just say that you aren't allowed to interfere in our actions?"

The Wise One blinked. "That is correct. I cannot stop you. But... What if some miracle were to occur? One that prevented you from igniting the beacon?"

Piers looked skeptical. "Miracle? What are you talking about? What kind of miracle?"

There was a sound like shattering glass. The Wise One's gaze narrowed. "If you can defeat a miracle, only then can you ignite the beacon's flame."

Kraden stepped back. "The Wise One's up to something! Be wary, everyone! We don't know what he's capable of!" he warned.

In the distance, a jagged shape appeared. It swiftly grew and became more distinct, until a three-headed dragon landed on the Lighthouse, just in front of the Adepts.

Sheba scoffed. "A three-headed dragon? That's your miracle?"

Piers loosened his Fire Brand. "So you would have us fight for our future? Fine, then fight we shall!"

"What's he thinking?" wondered Garet. "We already beat a two-headed dragon. How much tougher can this one be?"

"I don't care how many heads it has. Nothing's going to stop us now!" proclaimed Mia.

"Let's do it!" shouted Ivan. "For Prox! For the future of Weyard!"

As the Adepts spread out to engage the dragon, Kraden seemed to be thinking through something. "Wait a second... Wasn't that two-headed dragon actually... So that means this three-headed dragon must be..." He jumped. "Felix! NO! You mustn't fight that dragon!"

"Too late, Kraden!" called Garet. "We can't get away from it now!"

"Felix, don't! Stop!!!" shouted Kraden, but the battle was on.

It was a fierce fight, nearly as much as Dullahan had been, but soon enough the weary Adepts were victorious. The dragon's heads lay on the ground, while the headless body steamed where snowflakes hit it. Felix panted, hands on knees, attempting to regain his breath. The world whirled around him...