Chapter 23: Trouble

Back now on the Paths of Stardust, the emerald passed from Orko to Zentarou.

"One down, three to go," Vivi quipped at the now customary whisper level.

"I've thought a bit about the cubes," commented Dregan. "They were about two hours overdue on Eternia. Before we had eight hours, two hours per white side. Perhaps we'll gain two hours for each side we set."

"Only one way to find out: We find Talsdia, set a side, and time it." Orko settled himself a bit more comfortably, feeling pretty good. Dregan grinned.

"Happy, Orko?"

"Yep. Trolly-molly, it felt good to see them again. And my wand!" Vivi laughed softly, as did the others.

"Still can't get over our little surprise, huh?" teased the Dunedi elf. The red robed mage shook his head, eyes alight with joy.

"And we'll find Talsdia soon enough," Vivi added, "and then Gaia, and Sindaya." Dregan gave him an impulsive hug from behind.

"You bet." The spirits of the Bretheren Arcanum were soaring in the wake of their double success. They all felt as if nothing was impossible.

:It's been about five hours since you last called me: Natar told them. :Would you like me to land somewhere so you can eat and rest:

"Might be a good idea," from Zentarou. "I, for one, would like to practice with my sword a bit. My hand feels a bit slow."

:Hold on.: The Twilight Dragon arced into a diamond, then landed in a nearby grassy field but by a stream or sparkling water. There the mages rested, eating from their rations, drinking from the stream, and - for Dregan and Zentarou - taking a time out to train with their weapons. Vivi and Orko were treated to quite a show, watching as the pair went through various practice katas. Both were styles built on swiftness and grace, but there was one obvious difference: Whereas Dregan's style was graceful and dance-like, Zentarou's was snappy, sharp, more force than deceptive smoothness.

"Trolly-molly!" Dregan chuckled, letting his sword slide back into its sheath.

"My teacher is much better than I am. He can use techniques that will take me years upon years to learn, perhaps even hundreds of years, if I ever do." Zentarou also sheathed his blade and the taller pair sat down on the grass with their friends. "But he's been using it since he was a teenager, and for an elf, that's very young."

"It is?” asked Vivi. Dregan grinned, nodding.

"How old do you think I am?" he asked them, a twinkle in his ruby, gold-flecked eyes.

"About twenty or so," answered Orko.

"I think you're trying to trick us," reasoned Vivi, thinking cleverly, "so I'm going to say around fifty." Zentarou declined a guess.

"I'm familiar with elves," he explained. Dregan smiled.

"I'm one hundred thirty-two years old." Both smaller mages were visibly startled. "Once an elf reaches adulthood, we almost stop physically changing until well past two hundred, and elves can live for thousands of years. Though I'll probably reach only about seven hundred or so, if I'm fortunate."

"Wow," Vivi whispered, amazed, and also thinking of the other Black Mages, and of his own uncertain future. He'd already beat the one-year lifespan of many of his fellows, had done that during his adventures with his friends on Gaia, and this sometimes left him wondering how much time he had left to live.

They remained there the full ten hours, relaxing, and on cue the cubes warped them away.

They appeared in a dense jungle, with heavy canopy overhead filtering out most light. Birds cackled in the trees, and the air was somewhat stuffy. And, most telling of all... it was hot!

"Whoa," commented Zentarou, seeming to lose some width as his fur almost instantly became matted with sweat. "Too hot..."

"Call Natar and lets get out of here," implored Dregan, wiping his forehead. The cat drew out the emerald and called,

"Natarstreyk’ikarya, we're ready to continue. And please hurry, it's hot here." They all chuckled, and watched the gold figurine.

Nothing.

"He's been at rest ten hours, right?" Vivi asked. "That's long enough. We've called him in under ten before."

"It's more than enough." Dregan took the emerald. "C'mon, Natar. Quit fooling around."

Nothing.

A noise behind them startled Vivi, who spun and reflexively lifted a hand to call forth fir...

No flames appeared.

"Wha - " Vivi looked at his hands. "Nothing..." Orko tried with his wand, with the same result.

"Trolly-molly!" They all tried repeatedly to cast.

Nothing.

"Then, finally, Vivi said what all were thinking, but afraid to say:

"My magic won't work!"