~ Jaden got stiffly to his feet, and stood still for a moment while his head spun.
"You ok?" asked Takyle.
"Yeah, just a little dizzy." Andrew came quietly to his side and placed a steadying had on Jaden's elbow.
"Maybe you should lay back down for a bit?" Takyle urged.
"I'll be alright in a second," he murmured to the ground. He glanced up at Takyle's face and, to his surprise, saw worry there. The only other time he'd seen that was when Andrew had almost drowned.
Huh.
He leaned on Andrew for a moment more, then, straightening up and trying his best to look manly doing it, he headed over to Andrew's scribbling.
"So, uh, what were you thinking?"
To the left of Jaden there was a blinding flash and a bang. They all stumbled back and grabbed for their knives, the only weapons they had to hand. The haze of smoke cleared and there stood the wizard.
"Hello," he said mildly. Andrew fought visibly to keep his thoughts to himself. Väinämöinen gazed at him innocently.
"Why do you freakin' do that!?" Andrew demanded through clenched teeth. Väinämöinen ignored the question.
"Congratulations. You have chosen the easier route in this case," he told the team.
"How so?" asked Jaden. Väinämöinen stared seriously at him.
"Your companions were right in keeping you from continuing as you were. Ultimately, odds are, you would have reached the same place, but it would have been at great cost. As it is, by proving their fidelity to you, you team secured a different path." Andrew elbowed Jaden.
"Told you," he stage whispered. Jaden tilted his head.
"Wait...So my collapsing was part of the test to see what they'd do? That was intentional?"
"That is correct, young one."
"And since they stopped me from doing the "essence" thing again, they passed?" Väinämöinen nodded.
"By restraining you in the face of your anger and insistance, they proved themselves."
"Yay, us," Jaden heard Andrew murmur to Takyle.
"Indeed," added Väinämöinen.
"Ok then...What now?" asked Andrew.
"Now you come with me," Väinämöinen stated succinctly, looking directly at Takyle. She looked surprised and pointed at herself.
"Just me?"
"Yes. Come." Takyle started towards him but Andrew grabbed her arm.
"Wait, wait, wait just a damn minute. What about the rest of us?" Väinämöinen cocked his head.
"You will wait here," he stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Andrew retained his grip on Takyle.
"I'm not sure that I am completely comfortable with that arrangement, to be perfectly honest." Väinämöinen raised an eyebrow.
"I was not aware that your level of comfort had any bearing here...This task is for one member of you team only, and that member is her." The wizard dipped his staff in Takyle's direction. Takyle pulled away from Andrew.
"I'm sure it's fine. You two wait here. Get some more rest Jaden." She stepped forward boldly. For a moment Jaden thought that Andrew was going to protest further, but his jaw clenched tight and he remained silent. He did however, direct a pretty impressive threatening look at Väinämöinen.
When Takyle had reached him, Väinämöinen waved his staff and the their two forms began to shimmer and fade. Takyle glanced over her shoulder just before she vanished from sight and smiled in what Jaden took to be a reassuring fashion.
With the wizard went the light from his staff and the clearing was once again plunged into disconcerting darkness. Jaden heard Andrew moving about and mutturing to himself.
"...damn wizard, can't just walk away like a freaking normal person..." ~
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