Half-proxian, so his assumptions from earlier was correct. She wasn't from the village. In that case Cale mildly wondered who her parents were. He put it out of his mind at the moment as he waited for Iodem to speak.

Iodem walked down the line glancing at the adepts, peering back further to see Isaiah after he had moved to the back of the room in a huff. When he reached Marta and one of the guards reprimanded her, he held up his hand for the guard to be at ease before gently extending his hand to the girl, palm up.

"Ah did you? They are quite the delicacy aren't they? They're not actually from Tolbi, however. They're shipped in from islands out in the southeastern part of the ocean. They're a popular snack of Colosso. May I have some?" He asked with a smile. Regardless of her response, Iodem would then turn to the rest of the group.

"Yes, but as to why I've asked you here it's quite simple really. I have a proposition for you, one that is important to Tolbi and Suhalla's safety. Maybe even all of Gondowan." Iodem explained. Cale crossed his arms and took a relaxed pose. He already had an idea of what Iodem was going to ask. He had heard the rumors, and now that the ruler of Tobli was asking for adepts the conclusion seemed logical to him.

"This has to do with the adept raiders doesn't it?" Cale asked. Iodem nodded and gave a sigh as he moved back to the center of the room. One of servants appeared from the side of the room with a parchment, moving forward and handing it to Iodem before going on her way.

"You are correct. You've probably heard the rumors. There's been cases of natural disasters cropping up in all parts of the world recently. Wildfires, earthquakes, blizzards, tornados, you name it. Some in climates that wouldn't even support such a thing. People have been able to avoid them for the most part, but in recent months they've been getting closer to population hubs. We had our first reported death a month ago out in the ocean near Lalivero, only two miles off of port." Iodem explained.

Isaiah had enough of this boring chatter. "SO we need to go investigate, boom boom pow, bam come back and be on our way? I'm getting kind of restless and itching for a fight against someone and this seems like a perfect outlet. Let's get going." turning to head around for the exit, Isaiah glanced back wondering if anyone was going to follow.

Noticing Iodem's grim expression isaiah sighed heartily. "Fine what else is there? what's so bad about it?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

Marta offered some of her seeds to the elder, who took some for himself and kept them, he turned out to be more sympathetic than she expected. After listening to the talk between the proxian Cale and Iodem, the girl had to admit that it was the first time she had ever heard of such things as natural disasters happening, although that was understandable as she had been living isolated from the rest of the world. After hearing the interruption of Isaiah, she decided to interrupt herself

"Sorry, I'm getting a bit lost, what do these adept raiders have to do with the natural disasters? Are you implying these adept hunts are causing the phenomenons?"

"To be honest, I don't know for sure what is causing these disasters be it adepts or something else. My scholars tell me that when Alchemy was released, it caused an upheaval of the powers that govern our world, changing many things. It's how the beastmen of Morgal came to be for example. I've tried to resolve this matter myself, but it seems I need an adept's touch." Iodem said in response to Marta and Isaiah. Iodem gave a sigh and rubbed his eyebrows with his index finger and his thumb as if in contemplative thought before Cale spoke again.

"No offense milord, but it seems kind of odd to me that Tolbi would come to adepts for help when they tried so hard to stop us during the lighthouse incident." Cale said. Iodem looked up at the man and nodded before answering.

"If you recall, we actually requested the help of a certain famous group of adepts in that incident. We're not opposed to seeking outside help when we need it. Only a fool would do otherwise." Iodem corrected.

What Cailan wanted to say in this situation was something along the lines of how a fool would send a group of people to kill the only two people trying to save a dying world, but he held his tongue. Unlike Isaiah, he actually knew when to keep his mouth shut. Still, he didn't like this, working for this man. The subject of the natural disasters interested him though, so if this was a means to an end of finding out what was going on, he was in.

"So to repeat Isaiah's question, what should we do?" Cale aked. Iodem perked up a bit and took his proper stature again as he addressed the group.

"Go south across the bridge and to the woodland region before Suhalla. That was the last known sighting of a wildfire, along with a rockslide. Strange occurrence. Go there, look around and see if there's any signs of psynergy being used. That's the reason I need adepts, I know firsthand that only adepts can detect when psynergy is being used by other adepts. If it's a normal fire, then that's just what it is, but I want to be sure." Iodem clarified before continuing. "Then, go to Suhalla and check in with one of my scholars, Jared with what you find. You will be well compensated for your help. Do we have an agreement?" Iodem asked.

"I have no problem helping with these incedents though I would have a personal request for you to do while I'm helping," she places the end of her sword on the ground, "I'm looking for my sister if you could use some of your resources to get me some information on where she might be," she then turns to look at the other Proxian, "Saturos didn't exactly inspire trust in other people in his quest."

Looking at Iodem again, "The info is my only price."

It was tiring Isaiah at this point. Too much talking and not enough getting to business. He marched up to Iodem and declared "Nice to meet you blah blah blah I'm gonna go get this over with. I hope the others decide to help too. The more time we sit here, the more people that die. Give me some food as a reward when I get back." Isaiah turned around and marched out the palace, bought a map to suhalla, and headed on his way.

Leyya looked at the young Isaiah rushing of after accepting the request. "He is a brainless fool? You don't just cross Suhalla that recklessly, it was a dangerous place before the Golden Sun and it remained so until today," she though for a moment before turning her attention to Iodem's request and answered: "I have no problems helping you in a exchange for nothing more then your cooperation with my study of the lands and the people of Weyard and that I am considered Tolbi's guest each time I cross into the lands under it's rule, if that is acceptable for you Lord Iodem. Also I think that us four Adepts should work together to clear this matter faster, if that is alright by them." She sent a look at each of the three Adepts beside her still in the room: Cale, Marta and Sayuri. This was a dangerous and hard task and them working together would both make it easier and less perilous. She waited for the rest of the Adepts to ask something from Iodem or to say that they have no problems with working together.

"Information? Food? study? How lame! You better pay me with tons of money, mister minister Iodem, and maybe a cute dress, nevermind, I'll be able to buy one myself."

She was actually willing to pay to go such adventure, but who would refuse the opportunity of being paid for doing something that you like?

"In fact, we could do well receiving a pre-payment. If the quest is as dangeróus as I think it is we better go as prepared as we can be."

Okay, maybe now she was overdoing it.

"His methods were wrong, but it doesn't change the fact that if he hadn't acted none of us might be standing here now." Cale said with shrug to Sayuri's comment. She wasn't from Prox, she didn't know how desperate their people had been driven. He didn't expect her to understand or care.

Iodem didn't react to Isaiah's outburst, though his guards probably wanted him to. After he rushed out of the palace before anyone could stop them, Iodem gave a sigh and a shrug before pulling an envelope from his pocket.
"I wouldn't worry too much about him. The bridge is closed off currently due to these incidents. Without the proper paperwork with my seal of approval, he'll never make it to the next continent. Whether or not you decide to bring him along is your own choice." Iodem said, walking forward and handing the envelope to Cale. Cale blinked in surprise, why was he giving it to him exactly? No one had been declared leader here. Iodem saw the confusion and smiled.

"I desire to trust your people, so I hope you can trust mine." He said. With that, Cale gave a sigh and took the envelope. He didn't want to work for this man, but he didn't deny that he did seem like the honorable sort at heart.

"I would like access to any records you had during the lighthouse incident. That is my price." Cale said. Iodem nodded and returned to his original position.

"All of these requests are acceptable, though I'm afraid I can't offer any upfront compensation, dear Marta." Iodem said, looking to the girl for a moment. "You see we are pouring a great deal of time and money into Colosso. Rest assured, you will be paid after the job is done, but I just need time to find out where the money will be coming from. If there is nothing else, you are all free to go. Go, investigate and then head to Suhalla to seek my scholar." Iodem ordered before moving to his chair at the back of the room and taking a seat.

Cale turned to the rest of the group. He liked Leyya's idea of traveling together, it would get the job done much faster. He wasn't sure about these people though. They all seemed very intense, well except for Marta of course. Then again, he couldn't really talk in that department. Hopefully they would either complete this job quickly or get more comfortable in each other's presence.

"Shall we be going then?" Cale said as he started to leave.

Isaiah tried for the who knows time to convince the guards to let him pass.

"I'm sorry kid we can't let you. Orders from Iodem to not let anyone pass." the guard informed him.

Isaiah sat down in a huff. "Fine but i'm gonna bother you for who knows how long until I'm able to pass. Hope you like kids who sit down near you." He knew he was going to look foolish when the other adepts came but he really didn't care either way. As long as he got to fight something, he didn't mind at all.

Leyya said, as she walked towards the exit: "Yeah, we should make haste, but let's not rush, we need to take water and supplies, get clothes suited for the desert and any other equipment that we might need. I have most of what I need but I doubt the same goes for you, I have been traveling the land alone for years and have, together with learning some basic survival from my teacher, learned upon my own, numerous, mistakes. So let's do a quick shopping for what we need and then head for the desert, if the experience from Lamakan desert holds true in Suhalla desert traveling at twilight and night would be much smarter as long as we clothe ourselves with enough layers of fur and sleep trough the day." She came up to the doors and said: "Well then let us go."

"Wait s..."

Marta was about to jump with the "big sis" again, but she reconsidered it after having looked how a bunch of party poopers her companions were, now, if she had only paid more attention she could be able to remember her name, but since she had her mind in the clouds at the moment she couldnt remember it

"Eh... Don't you think you are jumping ahead of time? True, a dessert seems to be the most suited place for the adept raiders to hide, but we are not sure that we'll even have to go there. And even then no matter how many supplies and equipment we carry, we still wouldn't know where to head for in that dessert (if there is one, that is, I've never been there..."

The girl then remembered thay Iodem had mentioned something about a collosus thing that was the reason why they weren't going to be sponsored in their journey

"What is this collosal thing you are putting money into? Is it like a giant statue or something?"

Sayuri pulls a piece of paper of paper out of her pocket and hands it to Iodem, "This is a description of my sister. Please gather the information while we're doing this for you. In written form please," she looks at Marta, 'What a vain little girl. Does she think of nothing but valuables?'

Shaking her head she turns to follow Leyya, "I doubt we would need to go into the desert. Though preperation is a good idea. Anything we should be careful of while we're out there?"

"Yeah, for now I also think we should just head out. I believe that Suhalla is located before the desert anyway, correct? We can pick up supplies there if needed. If anything we should catch up to Isaiah before he gives the guards at the bridge too much trouble." Cale said with a sigh. He hated to imagine those poor men having to up with that kid. It would be bad if he blew his lid and only reinforced those adept raider rumors. Then again, they hadn't confirmed or busted that rumor yet anyhow. As the group moved through town and onward to their destination, he decided to answer Marta's question.

"Colosso is a large competition that Tolbi hosts every year. People from all over the world come to watch and participate. It's a test of physical strength for the most part that involves tests and combat." Cale explained as they left town.

"Hey guards i'm gonna go to sleep so don't mind me." Isaiah muttered. It had been an eventful day and even though it was still sunlight, he was tired and decided to nap it off. It seemed as though the adepts were still a little ways away. "Hey if you guys need anything, wake me up. I may be grumpy but i'll probably help out."

Isaiah took out some rags and wrapped his broadsword, set it beside him, and placed his head down in the dust, closing his eyes.

"That' quite a funny name for a fompetition... Oh, I know, we should totally participate! Nobody will know that we are adepts and with our psynergy it will be eaaaaaasy peaaaasy to win."

When they were arriving to the bridge, Marta looked in the distance and noticed how the two guards were looking at something on the ground, at first it did only look like a dead animal, but when they got closer she saw that it was a short human sleeping with a broadsword, she knew who probably was that person and with a malicious smile on her face she grabbed a piece of wood from the ground and said

"Anyone with mars psynergy mind charring this into charcoal? He he he..."

"It's an idea. How do you know other adepts wouldn't enter though?" Cale said as they walked along. He had to admit, the idea of entering Colosso entertained him, but that would mean sticking around Tobli or getting back here in a few weeks. If he had time for it maybe, but the idea of staying in one place too long wasn't his ideal plan.

As they approached the bridge and found Isaiah sleeping, Cale smirked and nodded to Marta. Just like putting out a candle, only in reverse, Cale took his thumb and index finger and touched the piece of wood, charring it lightly.

Leyya kept silent most of the journey - she had no reason to speak up, and just followed the rest to Suhalla town. She had no idea that there was a town here - she still had no chance to get her hands on a map or description of northern Gondowan so only Tobli, Suhalla Desert and Liverno were known to her and even that was only trough hearsay from Kalay merchants. "Well, I guess that I cloud learn more about this land in Tolbi when we return. After seeing what they have written down I guess I will be able to start to write the chapters about this lands in my own book," she thought as she observed Cale and Marta preparing to do something to the sleeping Isaiah. She didn't care so she just stood and waited for all of them to go on with the task at their hands.

Other adepts? Indeed, she hadn't though of it. While Cale was burning the wood as requested, Marta kept an eye on the sleeping Isaiah as she said

"No problem, if we catch anyone else using psynergy we can tell that they are cheating. Now, the trick would be us cheating without them noticing..."

Just when the girl though she was going to burn her fingers with the silly prank, Cale finished and she had now a small piece of charcoal blacker than night which, upon being rubbed with her fingers, these were painted black, although it was still hot so she used a little of her water to cool it down. Armed with the burnt wood, Marta jumped ahead of the group and when she was closer to the person laying on the ground, and confirming that it was indeed Isaiah, she chuckled trying to repress her laughter and started to think what to draw. An eye patch? Nah, the eye could wake him up, a scar? Yeah, let's put a scar on his left cheek.

Isaiah was having the same dream again. He was in his village cold and alone, with the full moon above, and the cloaked figures moving around him. "Stop it!," he yelled, going as far as yelling in his sleep for everyone around him to hear, "stop mocking me!" This time the dream was far too real. As the figures moved around, one walked straight to him. It was his mother, he could feel her hot breath in his face. As if to add insult to injury, she took looked straight up to the moon, and without saying a word, transformed into a werewolf.

He had had enough. with a guttural roar, he took his sword and swung at her, stopping inches from her when he realized he his dream was fused with reality, with him stopping just barely short of injuring marta, who had what seemed to be a surprise look on her face. His breathing was heavy and he was covered in sweat.