It had been six long years since the spell had been cast. Or was it seven? It had become hard to tell. The last time he had been sure of himself it had only been three. No, it was six. Six years of imprisonment in the center of the world. Six years since the power of alchemy had returned. He wished he could see it! The civilisations of the world, he assumed, were well on their way to returning to greatness. And he, Alex, the reason it had all happened, wouldn't be there to see it.
It was Felix's fault! Or was it Isaac's fault? Perhaps it was Saturos who was to blame. No, it was all of them. Every one of them had failed him: Saturos, Felix, Isaac, Menardi, Agatio, Karst, Jenna, Sheba, that Lemurian he never learned the name of, Kraden, Garet, Ivan, even Mia. He shook his head when he thought about that. Mia, the only person he thought he could always trust, had contributed to his downfall.
Where had he gone wrong? It had started so well! He discovered Saturos and Menardi in the north as they made their way from Prox to Vale and they had let him join with them. They had gotten the elemental stars, well three of them anyway. That had been his first mistake. He should've waited inside the Sanctum and gotten the Mars Star. He was strong enough. Or failing that, he should've taken them at Mercury. He was right there, standing in front of a weakened Isaac! Why hadn't he taken them then!?
After Mercury, there was Venus. He'd made his next mistake there. Had he stayed with Saturos and Menardi rather than going with Jenna, they wouldn't have been defeated. Isaac would've been killed, probably, and if not, he'd have been unable to continue his quest. And then came Daila. Why had he left Felix and Jenna behind? They were far more reliable than Karst and Agatio proved to be.
And then there was Jupiter, where for once things went as planned. The lighthouse was lit with minimal hitches, and he'd finally been able to acquire the Mars Star. All he regretted was leaving Isaac alive. Felix could've joined with Karst and Agatio and defeated the dragon of Mars easily. But with Isaac and Felix, the dragon severely weakened them. They were unable to keep the Wise One distracted. No, that was silly. The Wise One had turned them against him.
Bah! There was no time for this. He needed to escape, and he'd though of a way. All he needed to do was lure someone to the ruins of Mt. Aleph. Surely with all of his power he could do that, even from where he was. It wouldn't be easy, but he could do it.
"Perfect," he said to no one in particular.
It was Felix's fault! Or was it Isaac's fault? Perhaps it was Saturos who was to blame. No, it was all of them. Every one of them had failed him: Saturos, Felix, Isaac, Menardi, Agatio, Karst, Jenna, Sheba, that Lemurian he never learned the name of, Kraden, Garet, Ivan, even Mia. He shook his head when he thought about that. Mia, the only person he thought he could always trust, had contributed to his downfall.
Where had he gone wrong? It had started so well! He discovered Saturos and Menardi in the north as they made their way from Prox to Vale and they had let him join with them. They had gotten the elemental stars, well three of them anyway. That had been his first mistake. He should've waited inside the Sanctum and gotten the Mars Star. He was strong enough. Or failing that, he should've taken them at Mercury. He was right there, standing in front of a weakened Isaac! Why hadn't he taken them then!?
After Mercury, there was Venus. He'd made his next mistake there. Had he stayed with Saturos and Menardi rather than going with Jenna, they wouldn't have been defeated. Isaac would've been killed, probably, and if not, he'd have been unable to continue his quest. And then came Daila. Why had he left Felix and Jenna behind? They were far more reliable than Karst and Agatio proved to be.
And then there was Jupiter, where for once things went as planned. The lighthouse was lit with minimal hitches, and he'd finally been able to acquire the Mars Star. All he regretted was leaving Isaac alive. Felix could've joined with Karst and Agatio and defeated the dragon of Mars easily. But with Isaac and Felix, the dragon severely weakened them. They were unable to keep the Wise One distracted. No, that was silly. The Wise One had turned them against him.
Bah! There was no time for this. He needed to escape, and he'd though of a way. All he needed to do was lure someone to the ruins of Mt. Aleph. Surely with all of his power he could do that, even from where he was. It wouldn't be easy, but he could do it.
"Perfect," he said to no one in particular.
