Atlas crossed their arms and stared down at the entire group. "None of you recall the repeated times I mentioned that we needed to retrieve the orb so Astraeus and my other idiot siblings can't use it to activate their plan and enhance their magic?"

Rose shook her head. "Atlas you never said that."

"The lass is right." Xavier corroborated. "I would've remembered you mentioning something as important as that."

Tempus scratched his beard. "I recall legends of the Indigo Jewel. It's located on Heau, correct?"

Atlas nodded. "And we need to go get it. Astraeus said he was looking for it last time I spoke to him and the prophecy on Solanja told me where I could find it."

Xavier sighed but relented to Atlas's demands. "Fine. Let's just get to the ship and get going. Heau isn't far from here anyway. We'll meet you at the Azure Cove, Tempus." The two pirates shook hands and the group boarded their small ship that had thankfully remained in the calm water and therefore un-smashed.

Atlas seated themselves in the middle of the ship and watched Xavier go to work getting the boat up and running and flying across the water into the frigid part of the archipelago.

Atlas had been around the islands for centuries and the climate was decent on Solanja and the Isle of Muerend during the summer months but there was no escaping the cold for half of the year.

It was already the afternoon as they sailed across the ocean but the pirate captain seemed unwilling to use Rose's firepower and so they instead had to twiddle their thumbs aboard the boat.

Jacob admired Lumis and the new inscription onto the blade that represented the seal binding Cuthulaken to eternal slumber. Atlas quite liked the work they had done on the seal and the design of the engraving they had conjured up.

Heau was an island that was entirely unfamiliar to how Atlas had pictured it. Solanja and Heau had always had a very strong relationship being spiritual and advanced civilizations that other annoying island nations had tried to take over for themselves.

As they approached the island, Atlas was shocked to see a port city similar to the one on Centrixia but in complete shambles. Snow decorated the dirty streets and the island reeked of pollution.

"What happened to Heau?" Atlas asked aloud to no one in particular.

"Kingston happened." Jacob spat. The Guardian noticed that this time he didn't shoot a glare at Rose. "After Solanja went under, Marok pulled out of Heau which left Kingston to take it over and turn it into a colony that they mined for resources, specifically coal. The people were never treated great but after Centrixia's rebellion the hold on this island was tightened."

Xavier nodded and pulled his hat back onto his head. "Aye. And that means I need to keep a low profile because Kingston made sure Heauans blamed Centrixians for the worse treatment."

Atlas was never a fan of Kingston. The island empire had tried and failed miserably at occupying Solanja but had strong-armed them into a restrictive alliance and ever since they had thrown their weight around at every island they could.

The boat pulled into the city and the smell of pollution was overwhelming. Atlas's senses were overwhelmed by the sheer state of the city. Kingston guards in well-kept golden armor patrolled the streets and shouted at a few teenagers who were loitering.

Most of the Heauans were wearing tattered overalls and other scraps of clothing to keep themselves warm on the southernmost island and many of them were skinny or otherwise frail.

"The people here are practically starved," Jacob murmured with a hiss.

Rose hurried off of the boat and the girl's jade eyes glistened at the sight of the city. "Truly awful. You'll pay for this all, Kingston."

The group was at least able to sneak into the city without any trouble and they let Atlas lead the way to where they thought the Jewel was located.

The prophecy depicted the Jewel in the center of Heau so Atlas followed the dirt roads until they spat the group out on a trail leading into the mountainous area of Heau.

Heau was a fairly large island and much of it was made up of mountains and caves that were full of highly desirable resources and that created the mining-based economy.

Atlas came to a stop as the path branched off in two directions and the correct way was indiscernible. "Well, I'm stumped. Guess we just pick one and travel."

Xavier shook his head. "No need. You and Jacob take the right path and Rose and I will travel the left. You can teleport and Rose can send up flares of fire so whoever finds it first will let the other know and we'll regroup."

The plan made enough sense to Atlas that they didn't see any reason to object even if Jacob was their least favorite. They drifted down the path with the rebel following behind them as the path sloped downwards.

They were surrounded by barren vegetation and boulders on either side as the trail dove right between two giant stones. "What's even the point of making a trail if it's like this?" Jacob wondered as he squeezed between the masses.

Atlas shrugged. "The Indigo Jewel was a big part of the Heauan culture and if I had to guess that part of their culture was lost and these trails became less maintained."

"That'd make sense then. Why did the Heauans care so much about some Jewel though?" Jacob asked.

"The Indigo Jewel has incredible magical power," Atlas answered. "It's capable of healing many human diseases and wounds but it can also be used for offense. And it's used to communicate with the islands which is how the doomsday can be achieved."

Jacob ran ahead of Atlas up a dirt hill to peer out at what was ahead. "Surprised that Kingston wouldn't take it for themselves then since they occupy the island."

Atlas teleported up the hill and found that the trail only got more tumultuous as it continued. Weaving around a mountain with a massive drop off into a river below. "I imagine it was a secret that Heauans took to the grave and that Kingston guards weren't willing to explore these trails. Plus, Crius would've protected the Jewel if they found it. That's one of a Guardian's duties."

Jacob glanced at them. "So does every island have a Jewel?"

"No," Atlas shook their head. "But every island has special ancient artifacts crafted by the gods meant to be protected by the people and the Guardians. Most are well hidden and you have to be in touch with your island to get them. The sword sitting in your sheath is one of those artifacts."

Jacob glanced down at the sheath. "Really? That explains why I was able to do so much damage to that Cuthulaken guy."

"The artifacts were created to aid people in their fight against the Ancient Monsters who used to roam freely throughout this archipelago," Atlas explained as they continued down the path. "The sword is particularly sacred for reasons I've already mentioned."

"It only can be used by people it sees as worthy, yeah?" Jacob recalled.

Atlas nodded. "Essentially, yes. Which is why it's a big deal that it chose you. You have incredible power at your disposal that you can use to help save this archipelago."

"Sounds like a lot of pressure," Jacob mumbled. "And I can't even use its true power on my own."

"Well, Light Magic is just an enhanced form of Fire Magic. So it's easily possible to power the sword yourself. It may not be sustainable but you theoretically could." Atlas hypothesized. "Either way, you'll figure it out. You don't have much other choice."

Jacob looked off to the side and they didn't talk much for the rest of the trek. Jacob was a strange character to Atlas. One minute he was talkative the next he was completely silent.

A fiery revolutionary who wielded a legendary sword. It wasn't the type of person Atlas was used to.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination. An indigo sphere made of precious gemstone sat upon a pedestal surrounded by stone.

The site seemed to have been dug out of part of a mountain as there was a stone roof above them and vines were hanging from it which shielded the area.

Atlas also noticed another trail from the other side of the circular area which would likely be where Xavier and Rose would soon come from.

"So this is the Indigo Jewel?" Jacob admired the sphere. It reflected light and had a mesmerizing shimmer to it. "Beautiful." The boy then glanced at the wall behind the orb. "What's that?"

Atlas followed his gaze and saw engravings carved into a wall just like the prophecies on Muerend and Solanja. "That's... a prophecy." They hurried over and began reading the pictures. "This is incredible. Is there one on every island?"

"Don't be shy, what's it say?" Jacob jumped in.

Atlas spoke aloud as they translated the drawings. "It shows us seven Guardians all gathered around a purple orb. And then... another Guardian coming in, it implies that they would only arrive after the tragedy nears its beginning, and activating the orb? Is there an eighth Guardian? That's impossible! And then it shows this magic stopping the islands from being consumed underwater and destroyed. Is this how we save the archipelago?"

"No, but it's how we rule it." Crius's voice suddenly filled Atlas's ears and they whipped around to find their brother standing next to the Indigo Jewel. "Are you really shocked to see me? I guard this island, you think I wouldn't know where to find the Jewel? We were hoping you'd come and look you've even brought with you another artifact."

Crius's smugness was eminent even without a face to emote and Atlas wanted to punch it. They instead settled for drawing their sword, as did Jacob. "Leave, Crius. You don't belong in this sacred place."

Crius began to laugh and took out his mace. "Oh shut up, would you? It's our destiny to take over these islands and you're a bastard for trying to fight against that and tear this family apart. So I'm going to teach you a lesson, brother."

The hatred that Crius spoke that word with was a level of vitriol that Atlas had never experienced from their brother and it threw them off of their game. "I'm not your brother." They responded quickly before pointing their weapon at him. "Leave."

Jacob stepped forward. "It's two to one, buddy. And I happen to have a weapon that I know works especially well on your kind." Jacob charged in and swung their sword at Crius. He stepped back and snickered.

Crius slammed the spiked ball on his mace into Jacob which sent the rebel flying away. Atlas teleported behind Crius but their brother was ready and parried their attack.

The two began to battle in the small arena but Atlas just couldn't weave around their ball and chain. The ball blocked all of their advancements and could outrange them easily.

Atlas fired magic at Crius and he countered with his own. Then he swung the chain at Atlas and this time they responded by teleporting around it and behind Crius and then teleporting away again.

The rapid teleportation was a bit disorientating but Crius had to swing his head around to follow Atlas which made him forget about his weapon.

The Guardian landed a strike on Crius's side and backed away. "You never beat me when we would spar and this time will be no different Crius."

The traitor Guardian laughed. "Oh please, Atlas. Don't tell me you think this is as simple as sparring." Crius suddenly sent a wave of unfamiliar magic at Atlas that knocked them onto their feet and then struck them dead on with the sharp ball.

Atlas grunted and tried to shake it off but before they could they were hit again and this time couldn't conjure the strength to get back up.

Crius held the Indigo Jewel in his grubby hands and grinned. "You know, Atlas. This orb is powerful but to bring out its true potential it needs a power source. Which is the only reason why I've even entertained wasting my time trapping you."

Atlas tried to get themselves out of the way but the orb started to glow as Crius thrust it at the Guardian and everything went dark.