Chapter 7: "I've finally found it!" ----------------------------------- Akfek glanced at the creature sleeping comfortably in the bed. Akfek looked over to the innkeeper and asked, "Do you know who is in that bed?" The innkeeper replied, "Just a dweeb. Just look at his feet - we ought to call him big-foot. Put together, his shoes are taller than he is." Akfek walked closer and felt something strange - he could feel something coming from the bag sitting next to the creature's bed. As he approached the bag, the creature woke up. "Yawwwwwnnnn. I'm tired. Hey, you stranger - what're you doin' so close to my bag?" Akfek, not wishing to arouse his suspicion, quickly answered, "Oh, little one. I just dropped a coin by your bag and I was going to retrieve it." The Sprite looked at him in a puzzled way. "I don't see a coin. Mister, you sure your eyesight is okay?" "Oh, why of course. I picked it up before you awoke." The Sprite looked at his hands and noticed there wasn't a single coin in them. "Hey, wise guy, you tryin' to trick me?" Akfek smiled and said, "No, of course not. It's in my pocket right now. Would you like to check?" The Sprite dug his hands into Akfek's pockets and withdrew 5 GPs. Sure enough, the Sprite believed everything said by the stranger. "Keep it, young one. It's a token I'll pay you for disturbing your sleep." "Thanks, wise guy. I think I'll go get something to eat." The innkeeper looked over, but did not understand what all the commotion was. "Hey, you, the one with the extra large feet." The Sprite looked over and answered, "Who, me?" "Yes you! Our village elder would like to talk to you. I'll let you stay another night if you go and have a chat with him." The Sprite paused, thought about this request, and quickly responded, "Sure. You gotta feed me too. And no veggies - I want all meat. Put a soup on that too. Oh, and a pie and a..." The innkeeper interrupted him. "Yeah, yeah, just do as I say." The Sprite smiled and said, "Deal. I'm going over now," and he left the inn. Akfek walked briskly over to Sascha who was partially surprised at Akfek's gesture. "Sascha, stay here. I'll be back very soon." Sascha, who was used to Akfek's erratic behavior, replied, "Sure." Akfek left the inn and saw the Sprite enter a house nearby. Then Akfek rushed behind the house, pressed his ear against the door, and listened. "Greetings, my little friend. I'm expecting you. May I see what mischievious things you have in your bag there?" "You wanta look at my friend? Its name is Undine. It's pretty shy though. Who's that other guy sitting with you with the funny looking face?" The village elder laughed a cheerful laugh. "He's just a friend of mine. No need to worry." The elder opened the bag and saw a blue creature within it, sleeping peacefully. He then spoke to his aged companion. "Do you feel it? The magical force around it is incredible. This creature is a pure source of magic." "I don't understand," remarked the aged companion. "I thought all magic had disappeared after the final battle." The elder looked over at the Sprite again. "Where are you from, my little friend?" The Sprite twirled his eyes and responded in a sarcastic tone, "I don't know where I'm from. When I woke up, I was lying on a rock and Undine was right near me. Before that, I don't remember." "Is it possible you aren't from this world?" questioned the baffled elder. "I guess. The average person around here has small feet and is twice my height. I'm still searching for answers to my past. Do you know anything about my past?" The elder laughed again. "Oh no. If I do, I'll inform you right away. Do you have any more friends that look like Undine?" "Not that I know of," the Sprite answered. "Maybe I should ask Undine." The Sprite lightly knocked on the elemental's head. "Hey, Undine. Wake up. Nobody is allowed to sleep longer than me!" The elemental opened its eyes and looked at those who surrounded it. "It's getting hot in here. Why did you wake me up, Lile?" "Just had a question. Are there any more weird looking elementals here? I mean, where's your family?" The elemental yawned and replied, "I don't know where they are. You mean there are others that look like me? Lile, I think I've lost my memory too." "What help you gave us! Now go back to sleep," uttered the disgusted Sprite. The village elder glanced over to his aged friend again. "There is a strong possibility others like Undine have come to this world." The aged companion thought and agreed. "Perhaps there are others like Undine. I've heard rumors about magic surfacing again through Magitek Armor. If there are others like this creature, that would explain why the Magitek Armor posesses magic again." The elder meditated and replied, "I've also heard rumors of a 'strange- looking magical creature' sighted in the forest west of Thamasa. Could it be possible? Could this 'magical creature' be a relative of Undine?" Akfek lifted his ear from the door and contemplated, "Magic? I thought I sensed something extraordinary originating from that bag. Perhaps I should steal that bag? No, that would arouse suspicion of my actions and that young little fellow appears like a formidable fighter. I shall come after this creature called an 'elemental' later. Now, I will head to the forest west of here and search for the other magical creature." Akfek entered the inn where he saw Sascha scrounging through her bag. Afkek walked up to her and quietly said, "Sascha, we must leave immediately." "Where are we going?" "Do not ask. You will know soon." Akfek's eyes glared. Within his mind, he was repeating, "I shall soon exceed my brother's abilities..."