++The Lovers: CHAPTER 1++

Prologue:

CHAPTER 1:


The first time I saw Isaac, was in the depths of Mt. Aleph in Sol Sanctum.

The Prox Mars Adepts, Saturos and Menardi, were currently conducting research on each of the four Elemental Lighthouses. Their aim was to break Alchemy's seal via the Lighthouses activation.
The tools to achieve this were four jewels corresponding to each Lighthouse by element, the Elemental Stars, which were hidden within Sol Sanctum. I was familiar with the legends of Alchemy, which state that mastery of Alchemy, the quintessential force that would return to the world should the four Elemental Lighthouses be lit, would equate to mastery of the building blocks of reality, allowing its wielder possession of the sort of supreme, unmatched power necessary to achieve dominion over the world.

The wisdom stone. The stone of sages. The Golden Sun.

Thus I followed their plan for my grander scheme, eternal life and limitless power. Yet, I never expected that I would fall for you.

Hovering in the Elemental Star room in the Ocean, the thing of endless water at the end of the world, I peered at the power of the Elemental Star's, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter.  The young man Garet looked up at me with flame heating from his glare, but I looked past this Mars Adept to peer at you. Windswept sandy blonde hair, piercing sapphire eyes, and that yellow scarf around your neck. A true Venus Adept. I remember that look on your face as you stood beside the Jupiter statue and I told you to collect the remaining Mars Elemental Star, little did I know that getting you to collect the last star would be my undoing.
You only agreed because of Felix, you're childhood friend from Vale who was thought to have died in the storm three years previous. Only Felix knew that Isaac's father was actually still alive and so were Felix's parents. I floated back to the entrance to watch as you went to the Mars statue. Your blue eyes locked on me when I looked away from glancing at you. Neither of us realized then how our fate was now intertwined for the rest of our lives. Forever connected by the power of the Golden Sun.

As the Mars Star was removed from the pedestal, the volcano that is Mt. Aleph began to stir. The almighty entity and protector of Alchemy's seal, known as the Wise One, emerged into our view, and it was then that I knew the power I would wield in the future.

"Such power….incredible!"

We decided to take Jenna and Kraden with us as captives because the Elemental Star's room lethal conditions; if Isaac and Garet survive they would pursue us to try to free Jenna and Kraden from our grasp, and they would bring the Mars Star if they wanted them back. That's what I said to convince Felix, Saturos and Menardi, but was that the only reason? I knew the Wise One would save Isaac and Garet's lives, so I knew you would chase after me. But, how much did the Wise One know?

"Isaac, Garet! Don't die!" pleaded Jenna before she escaped with Felix.

"The mars star...It's a pity that we have to leave it," it was a pity we had to leave you behind too, "but perhaps we'll be seeing it soon..."

Don't die, Isaac.
For the first, and last, time I would ever agree with Jenna.

~*~

And we did meet again, at the Mercury Lighthouse in my hometown of Imil. I watched as you easily defeated Saturo's and then I took my place upon the stage. There you learned that I betrayed the Mercury Clan by lighting the beacon.  

"That voice? Could it be!? Alex! Do you realize what you've done?" said Mia in utter confusion.

Yes, Mia, I knew she would be here too. Quickly I explained to her that the Mercury Clan was Adepts of Water Psynergy.

"Mia is an Adept too, isn't she?" questioned Garet.

"Yes, Mia is a /Mercury/ Adept. That's why she protects the /Mercury/ Lighthouse. Plus she's a member of the /Mercury/ Clan."

"Geez, Isaac, you knew all along, and you didn't tell us?"

Isaac glanced over at Ivan and then up at me. We both had our not impressed faces on. Clearly, Mia being a Mercury Adept was obvious.  

Ivan wanted me to explain how Saturos was weaken in their fight, I reminded them that he was aligned with Mars. Fire. Opposing element of water. Thus I bought my time to let Saturo's heal, and it gave me a more time to look at that adorable Venus Adept.
Yet you could never truly understand how happy I was to see you again, that you had survived, but I knew I wasn't allowed to have those feelings.
The Wise One did save you, didn't it?

"I won't let Saturos escape!" yelled Garet as he pointed his sword at me.

My eyes instantly went to you, "And just what are you going to do? Will you finish him off?" You shook your blonde head and I smiled, "Yes, Isaac," I said you name with passion, even if you didn't recognize it, "You seem like a smart warrior. You can't beat our combined might, now that we've seen how you fight. And I doubt you are the type to 'finish' anyone off!"

I knew you weren't ready to fight me. Yet.
I was Mercury after all, that which contains and unifies duality. The Ouroboros, the serpent-dragon that bites in his own tail, representing the circle and unity, eternity, where the beginning and the end coincide. Alpha and omega, the 'prima materia', the chaos, the rough stone at the beginning of the Great Work.

"Ah, well... i can't stay the same Alex you knew forever.."

I needed to leave now though, I needed to continue to use Saturos as a pawn. Plus there were beacons to be lit.

"Isaac, Saturos still has the Elemental Stars!" yelled Ivan.

"That's right! We can't let them leave now!" agreed Garet.

"Oh? And you want to take the Elemental Stars from Saturos?-" I jeered.

"-Menardi has the Elemental Stars..," Issac answered me. I was impressed to hear that you were no fool.

"Ha! You're right…Menardi has the Elemental Stars!" finished Saturos.

"That reminds me…Do you still have the Mars Star?" I swiftly realized I had to make sure you still carried the Mars Elemental Star. It was the only thing keeping you chasing after me.

"Yes," You had no trouble letting me know you still held it and that you would continue to pursue us to stop lighting the beacons on the Lighthouses. I appreciated your honesty then, but I knew that you and I would forever be fighting. Forever we must always remain enemies.

"I look forward to it. I shall see you soon, then. Good-bye."

Always enemies, yet, always allies. Although I hated to admit it to myself, I wanted to see you again.

Mercury and Venus. Yin and Yang. The Moon and the Sun.
Positive and negative, feminine and masculine.
Was this love or basic Alchemy?

~*~