Mayako felt astoundingly lightheaded after it all. All she could do was stare at the medallion in her hand, hoping to Saqin that it would remain there forever and ensure whatever just happened to her never ever happened ever again.

"I . . . I . . ." Mayako stammered when Fenix suggested they go back to the church and rest.

How could she rest after that? There were . . . things . . . sprouting out of her back! Silver fiery things! Just what the heck was that?! Fenix didn't know and Emma didn't know (Mayako glossed as much when she looked at Emma desperately, only to find Emma looking hopelessly confused), and if they were all at a loss, then what'd that mean? What'd that mean for her? For all of them?

She longed for something like this to happen to her once before, to suddenly become useful to a certain boy's organization so she may join him there, but Mayako never once considered how it felt to suddenly experience it. Anything beyond the scope of the human body, that is. Anything fantastic or supernatural or . . .

Fenix only got half-way through his inquiry when the girl fainted. Emma, being the closest to Mayako, stepped in fast to catch her.

". . . guess that answers that," Emma sighed.

"Yeah." Fenix moved to help Emma carry her inside. He'd been sort of hoping that he could at least get Mayako in a chair before she passed out, but alas...

"First time using magic tends to drain you. Well, under one's own power, anyway." On that note, as they brought her back inside, it did give him the chance to talk to Emma privately. As much as he didn't want to bring it up, the incident in Galaens was a bit too big to ignore.

"To be sure, she didn't get wings after I was knocked out or anything, right?" Really, that was the troublesome part. He knew Mayako had a power like this, but the wings...that surprised him. And unsettled him. He'd never encountered another person with magical wings before, let alone a pair that were nearly identical to his own save for color and shape.

"I was . . . really, really hoping nothing would come of that," Emma sighed.

She was referring back to Galaens, back to the time when she and Fenix and everyone else became aware of the existence of something supernatural within Mayako Takamine's heart. But that was the problem. Emma knew people with power. She knew what they were like before and after they had power, too. Granted, the power itself, regardless of what, never ceased to make her shudder with apprehensions somewhere within the recesses of her soul, but she still knew a couple of people, and she knew that they had a certain emotional capacity to handle it.

Mayako, though?

"No," Emma shook her head as she and Fenix carried Mayako in, "Honestly, that's the first time I've seen them. I'm . . . I'm curious, I gotta admit, but . . ."

She paused and bit her lip. No, Mayako couldn't handle something crazy like this. She wasn't the kind of person who could.

"I hope it's the last."

"She can't just wear the medallion forever. But I should be able to teach her how to control her power, so they don't come out unless she wants them to." Though, it did make him wonder what he'd do if she wanted to learn more than that. What if she wanted to learn how to defend herself using her power? It was difficult picturing Mayako wanting throw fire at people, but it wasn't impossible that she'd want to learn more than just enough to ensure she never had to deal with it if she didn't want to.

He suddenly wondered what his mentor must have thought the day he'd asked him to teach him not just control, but combat. He'd been younger than Mayako, but not by much. Did he hesitate to teach someone so young so dangerous? He could only hope that the silver flames Mayako had weren't as deadly as his own black ones.

"The wings bother me though. I don't know what they mean." Which, Emma might pick up on, could only mean he didn't know what his own meant either.

"I guess," Emma said about the medallion.

In theory, Mayako could have worn it forever. People could have a piercing in for their entire lives, and rich folk in Castle Warheit, people that could afford to buy their fiancees rings, could wear their wedding rings for their entire lives, too. Mayako could just wear that medallion most of the time. It meant Emma's loot, specifically the mystical item she got with the memory of her brother in mind, would be forfeit to someone else, though.

Emma shook her head, "I'm not comfortable with any of it. The whole thing bothers me."

Fenix didn't know Mayako well, at least not as well as Emma knew her. She and Mayako had both changed a lot in the last couple of months, but there were some things that just did not change about a person, that she was absolutely certain of.

"You don't understand," she intoned with slight exasperation, "Mayako can't handle holding a gun -- or even a knife. She's not a warrior like my brothers. Or even like Sarah. She just . . . she caves under the pressure. There's no way in hell she can handle having something like this."

He didn't really understand that; there was a difference between a warrior and knowing how to defend yourself if necessary. It was true he couldn't see Mayako fighting any grand battles or anything, but even knowing something simple like how to make a guy who won't take "no" for an answer regret it would be useful.

But ultimately it wasn't his decision to make. "She needs to learn how to control it, so it doesn't come out at random. She doesn't have to learn anything beyond that if she doesn't want to." Though he wordlessly recommended it.

Emma tried to refrain from groaning at Fenix's insistence, but she failed at it. Ultimately, it really was up to Mayako, but Fenix was still the one willing to teach her.

"Fine," Emma relented, "But if you teach her something she regrets later . . ."

Honestly, Emma hadn't the slightest clue what she'd do to Fenix if that ever happened, but it'd probably include a knife and his torso. She was all right with Fenix and all (actually, he was a pretty decent and trustworthy guy), but Emma was extremely protective of Mayako. It was the same sort of protectiveness Mayako felt for Emma whenever she was hurting. Emma might have found it funny if she knew it.

"Anyway," Emma paused to look around her. They'd been walking for awhile and she really had no idea where she was going, or where she was right now, "Where are we taking her?"

"Inside the church, to a guest room. Watch your step." Since Emma was walking backwards she couldn't exactly tell, but it was really the only place of shelter for miles.

Once they returned (passing by Seth picking up his firewood again), the trio of girls looked concerned. "What happened?" Alicia asked.

"First time using magic? She's probably just exhausted," Val answered in place of Fenix. Shanna nodded in agreement.

"Which room's free?"

"This one, over here." She led them off to side. While the actual part of the church dedicated to worship was about as large as the church belonging to Mayako's family before it was destroyed, the Church of the Holy Goddess was actually larger due to the numerous side rooms shooting off of it.

The room itself was pretty spartan; a few beds, a small desk, a dresser for those staying a while. Fenix guided Emma so they could set Mayako down on one of the beds.

"I hope you two don't mind sharing rooms," Alicia said to Emma. "Normally we could give you separate ones, but all our guests rooms are actually full at the moment."

"Who's in the other ones?" Fenix asked curiously. They normally didn't get enough guests for their to be space issues. Being technically in what was called "Uncharted Territory" travelers were uncommon at best.

"Well...Mr. Juto's still here, and Val and Shanna are sharing one while they're back. Someone arrived here a few days before you, too--apparently he used to live in the town before it was destroyed."

Fenix wasn't terribly thrilled at the thought he'd run into a face familiar from that long ago, but it was just something he'd have to put up with.

They had Mayako in a bed, so all was well. For now. She was probably going to wake up soon enough, panicked and tired, and then they'd have to deal with it all some more then.

"It's fine," Emma shrugged her shoulders at the notion of them all having to share a room. "I had to share a bed with this smelly bastard my first night out of town. It could always be worse."

There was a hint of playfulness in her voice, but she was still in a fairly bad mood from all the issues earlier, so it probably didn't come off as playful as she intended it.

So apparently there were quite a few people staying at this church. What was it, an inn? Run by children? The whole notion was actually kind of interesting to Emma. She liked the idea of people her age being able to take care of themselves. It gave her a little hope for herself, actually. Still didn't buy her confidence in Val, though. She knew the place, but she still seemed flighty and annoying. There was also something she said earlier that had been grating Emma a little. Everyone had been so nonchalant about this magic issue, and it was starting to irritate Emma.

"So, what," Emma scowled, "Is someone 'using magic for the first time' common around here?"

This seemed to catch Alicia a bit off guard. Ostensibly she knew that the church was kind of an unusual place, but she only had hearsay to go on for just how unusual it was; unlike Val and Shanna, she'd never left.

"It's not common, but it's happened a few times. I can't use a lick of it, but Val studies magic at an academy and I think Shanna might have picked up a trick or two somewhere. And Seth's a natural...for better or worse."

It would probably come as a shock that three of the four people she'd just been introduced to knew at least a little magic, so Fenix decided to explain. "Zach has a soft spot for orphans. If we ran into one while traveling he'd try and set them up somewhere...but if he suspected they had some kind of power he usually brought them back here. People in Algeroth tend to be suspicious of the supernatural so they can have a tough time. It's not exactly easy living here, but at least no one's going to treat you like a freak."

"That doesn't mean everyone here can use magic, mind you," Alicia added, "But most probably have the potential. Though apparently not me." She seemed a little sour about that.

So . . . that's how it was, then. The supernatural was common here. These were kids that were all used to it, or had some connection to it. Suddenly Emma felt more uncomfortable about this.

"There's a reason we're distrustful of it," Emma remarked under her breath, though perhaps regrettably audible to everyone else in the room.

Not that it truly mattered in the end. Emma wasn't ever going to apologize for how she felt about something, especially if she felt as strongly about it as she did the issue of the supernatural. It was all stronger responsible for taking away a lot of her loved ones, and when it wasn't, it served only to make everyone's lives more difficult. Emma didn't often feel connected with her countrymen, but knowing the rest of Algeroth distrusted (and disliked) the supernatural as much as she did, she felt a small level of kinship with them. Enough to regard herself as one of them, for once.

"Anyways," she looked up to Fenix, "Thanks." Emma paused for a second, then motioned to Mayako, "For helping me with her. She's heavier than she used to be."

"Might be putting a little muscle on, with all the walking we're doing," Fenix observed. Probably not much, but as petite as Mayako was any change in her physique was going to be noticeable.

He didn't bother accepting the thanks; whether on the road or here, he still considered both of them under his care. He didn't need to be thanked for helping them. It was a view that was almost certain to continue until they parted ways, whenever that might be.

While he wanted to discuss what happened with Mayako, he'd have to sort his thoughts first. In the meantime there were other concerns on his mind. He turned to Alicia. "I don't suppose you've heard from Zach..."

She shook her head. "Last we saw him was when the two of you left with that samurai. Zhent went looking for him awhile back, but last we heard he still hasn't found any trace of him." After a short pause, she asked, "You don't think he's..."

"I don't know." He was powerful; Fenix could only think of two reasons he wouldn't at least contact them: he was in some trouble and didn't want to bring it back to the church, or he was physically incapable of contacting them.

Knowing him, it was probably both.

Weeks ago, Emma would have just flat out told Fenix that his mentor was probably dead, and that he should move on or give up and get it over with. In fact, weeks ago, she had said something to that effect. She didn't feel like repeating that to him, though. Not now, not ever. That now struck her as kind of a cruel thing to say to a person, most specifically Fenix. She could be abrasive towards him, but she lacked the will to be cruel.

Emma briefly stood by the bed they'd dumped Mayako onto. Mayako looked like she was sleeping peacefully. Good. If she rested well, it'd make the next discussion with her all the easier. Emma stood up straight and rejoined Fenix with the others.

"Any ideas where he might be?" Emma chimed in.

From what she knew of Fenix's mentor, he was similar to Remmy in a number of respects. In fact, though they fought each other the first time they met, they carried themselves in a way that almost guaranteed they'd have been friends had Remmy not . . .

And if he was the type of man that could befriend Remmy . . .

Emma cleared her throat before anyone could respond, then amended her inquiry: "That's not absolutely ridiculous and utterly unreachable?"

Fenix couldn't help but smile a little; for someone who'd only met the man very briefly, Emma seemed to understand the problem with looking for Zach Kaiser.

"Shipwrecked on a deserted island, the captive of an evil cult, stuck in an ancient ruin...in other words, no." This caused Alicia to laugh a little.

That was the heart of the problem; it wasn't just that they had an entire world to search, it was that the person they were looking for wouldn't need finding if he were in an easily accessible part of it. He surely would've come back by now if it was just a matter of distance--a well traveled guy could cover a lot of ground in nine months.

This only caused Emma to groan.

"Should've figured," she remarked under her breath.

Well, now that she knew not to wait up for him, Emma thought back to other issues. Namely herself--and Fenix and Mayako by extension. She'd come this far for Fenix, essentially. She was leaving Hillcrest anyways, and he was going north. That decided her direction. And Mayako? She only tagged along out of a want to be helpful. Which she had. A couple of times, at least. But now where else was he going to go? He was home. He was probably just going to remain at home. But this wasn't Emma's home, and it wasn't where she wanted her home to be.

"So . . . now what?"

Emma didn't even both to care that there were others in the room to hear her and Fenix talk, or if they'd feel uneasy about the idea of Fenix or others leaving again.