Consequences. Actions lead to consequences. These can be good or bad, but they are always there. There are old sayings like 'You reap what you sow' or recent ones like 'Karmas a bitch'. If you might regret it later, then you probably shouldn't have done it in the first place. As a child we are protected by our parents, but as adults we must take the full brunt of our actions. Sometimes we end up behind bars or crippled for something that once you reflect could easily have been avoided. Essencially, try to have your actions bring as the least possible negative-consequences in your life. Next time wear a seatbelt.

Alex gazed around the tranquil field of grass which was located in the middle of a forest, with a clear outstanding landmark streching before him. A long open structure of aged-stone, the forest seemed to give wide-berth to the structure. A large single tinted-glass depiction of men and animals could be seen near the top of the structure. Statues of scantly-clad women alined to make its outside supporting columns, they wore both skirts and bras of leaves and crowns of vines which reminded Alex of his guide. There were many entrances from what appeared to be many sides, which led to what appeared a massive courtyard or park. He could see the structure was rectangular from the open-view he had.

He also spotted a massive tree stretching high up, coming from within the building. Sweet melodic music could be heard coming from within, along with flowing water.

"Well this is certainly different from last time." Alex spoke aloud to himself, appearently he had not lost the habit.

Alex entered the building passing the large detailed-statues, which were almost twice his size. The entrances were large enough to fit twice his height. Remarkable fountains of toga wearing children whom held jugs of pouring water could be seen everywhere. He examined the tree which stretched upwards, it reminded Alex of stories of the World-tree. Though certainly this tree was lot smaller since it didn't reach the heavens.The sweet music stopped.

"I apologize for your troubles."- Melodic voice.

Alex spun quickly and faced a beautiful leaf-wearing woman. She stood at ease and was clearly a different now though, she also had a flute on one hand. Her voice was also different. She had the same green-flower eyes and aurburn hair, but she was slightly taller and slimer from what Alex remembered. She excluded a more mature charm to her this time.

"You? Can you change your appearance?" Alex asked perplexed.

"In here yes. But I am different from the last guide you met."- woman.

"Oh." Alex replied, unsure as to the situation.

The woman gave him a sad smile, but Alex was a little leery this was all some elaborate trick.

"I understand your hesitation." The woman said with a lovely voice.

"Really?" Alex asked still doubtful.

"Yes, when my little sister returned and spoke of her experience giddy. I knew she had done one of her jokes again." The woman replied slowly.

"Oh." Alex was still confused.

"Shes over there." The voice pointed to a bench by a fountain.

"Why is she just sitting down?" Alex asked as he spotted her.

"I paralysised her. Come let's fetch her. I'll ensure she doesn't do mischeif this time." The woman said.

The whole situation felt surreal to Alex, and deep down he was still a bit doubtful. The first vine-woman he met was sitting down trembling, as if attempting to move from a restraining chair.

"Vita." The second woman said and soon the first jerked foward and stumbled on the floor.

"Is that a spell?" Alex asked surprised.

"No. It's her name. Mine is Vis." the second woman said.

"Oh. I'm Alex." Alex said feeling strangely out of place, though the woman seemed to ignore him.

"So mean! Why did you do that? It was just a little joke." Vita said pouting as she sat on the floor.

"You have been lax. You agreed to shoulder this burden and so far you have made a mess of it. He was the first, but not the last. This ends now." Vis sentenced.

"Hmpffh." Vita said.

Alex thought he her mumble something like 'Can't have a little fun.' which almost made his eyebrow twitch.

Vis turnt to face him.

"Normally you would meet me much further upon your journey, when you needed a more experienced guide. But I had to put a stop to this nonesense. Our duty is sacred." Vis explained to Alex.

"..... So what now?" Alex asked.

"I will supervise Vita on this part your guidance, but later I will set someone to watch her." Vis said.

"You can't do that!" Vita shouted visibly upset.

"I can and I will. Now teach the mortal properly or I'll personally take more extreme measures. Apologize and get to it." Vis declared like an imperial judge.

"....sorry.." Vita mumbled under her breath.

Alex was still feeling a little weirded out by the whole experience.

Vis snapped her fingers and Vita jumped to attention.

"...Okay?" Alex responded completely feeling unsure of what to say.

"Okay? OKAY!? Vita said incredously.

"Vita." Vis chided.

"Fine. Come here." Vita said exasperated.

Alex approched Vita and she pulled out a wooden eight symbol.

"This is the symbol of continuity, of the never ending cycle of life and death. We can only pull from the life-side though." Vita said sounding like a grumpy child.

".....What does it do?" Alex asked.

"It restores your bodys natural energy and heals stress-fatigue within the body." Vita explained, as if quoting a book.

"....Sorry, What?" Alex said a little perplexed.

"It makes you less tired and doesn't have bad effects." Vita simplified.

"Oh. That's easier to understand." Alex said feeling alot better than last time.

"You won't be able to heal fatigue on your friends yet, that's the next power. Your spiritual 'stamina' will go up with each point in spirit." Vita explained.

"Roger, Thanks." Alex smiled at them both, happy to not be a naked-fool.

"Just like last time, imagine pulling power from the image." Vita said.

Alex remembered Sarah's disapproving look last time and remembered to ask at least one question.

"Wait!... What is the best way to get stronger for me right now?" Alex asked unsure of what exactly to ask.

"How should I know?" Vita responded sullenly.

"Specify mortal. And Vita give his question thought." Vis responded, to which Vita huffed.

Alex told them of his group and their problems.

Vis glared at Vita and she visibly looked distressed, as she considered.

"...I suppose it depends what exactly you want. If you want to be a warrior focus on Body a bit and protect your fatal areas, anything that doesn't kill you will not matter afterwards. If you want to be a full-healer focus solely on spirit, then move to Mind." Vita quickly said.

"I suggest you focus on spirit mortal. The earth-one will likely be a sturdy bulwark, so focus on keeping him and your allies alive." Vis seconded, which made Vita visibly pout.

Alex stood there considering any more questions.

'Man, I wish Sarah was here.' Alex thought as he gave up.

Alex attempted to pull power from the number eight, but nothing happened.

"Nothing is happening." Alex said confused.

"Vita." Vis ordered.

"Oh! Right!" Vita said quickly.

She turnt the eight sideways, forming the shape of infinity instead. Alex felt a little dumb. He once more pulled from the symbol and felt the power rush to him.

Alex was back with his friends. He blinked and the roots once more grew, and he felt little discomfort.

"Faster than Eian." Sarah noted dryly.

"Oh geez, don't remind me please. I think I'll dream of stairs and stone for a lifetime." Eian replied.

"Why did you take so long anyways? Pretty girl?" Jessica teased Eian.

Alex was still a little out of sorts with his experience and almost said 'yes' in his place. Eian shared his experience with them and Alex felt a little bad for his friend. Sarah then asked Alex to share his experience and he did. Of course Alex 'edited' a few parts.

"So far our guides seem to agree with each other. Well doesn't matter lets get to making this fire. We only have three expendably dry spears and two slightly wet staffs." Sarah declared finally.

All their equipment they took from to the crocodile den was slightly wet. The four spears they got after were still dry.

Sarah decided they would light the dry spears and cut the wet staffs and dry them by the fire till finally throwing them in small chuncks. In all it took them close to an hour and they only managed to cook less than half their previous batch of meat. Eian and Alex filled the newer meat in the red-bloody shirts, though it was crammed a bit. They remained with two long-spear, two short-spear, two shields, the dagger and Alex kept his lucky little fire-stick.

"Don't worry, lets eat it all. I'll be able to cook the rest in a short while." Sarah said.

"That will save alot of time and effort." Alex said, fire-starting was crappy.

"I hate lizard-meat." Jessica compalined.

"I love it." Eian shot back as he gobbled the food.

"I can see why man." Alex smiled as he savored the meat, he had vomited much of his last real meal.

"Yeah, don't forget guys. I gotta eat alot." Eian reminded them.

They quickly ate and drank from the dripping water.

"Alright people. I think we should continue exploring this way. Jessica you need to kill a few things, your supposed to be focusing on mind and it takes really long for the effect to take place." Sarah lectured.

"...We...We don't choose what attacks us." Jessica argued weakly.

"Pfh I wish." Eian grunted at the thought.

"It doesn't matter. You have to at least try to help more. You're clearly stronger than me now." Sarah said looking at Jessicas body.

"Hey now. It's not exactly a matter of physical fitness." Alex argued in her favor.

"If she can't do it. We should at least hold something down for her to kill." Sarah relented tiredly.

"I have to select body next." Eiam reminded them again.

"Okay let's keep going I want to put some more distance between us and the possibility of those human-goblins." Sarah said.

"But what about the metal entrance? Eian can move stone soon. He can just dig around it." Jessica bemoaned.

"I know, I want to get out too, but we have to wait. With my fire we won't starve, as long as we find lizards. We can't risk fighting too many of those things. Imagine a herd of ten." Sarah explained sadly.

"I hate this!" Jessica wailed helplessly.

"Jess calm down. We will find another exit." Alex attempted to cheer her up, though it clearly failed.

Eian was begining to look miserable as well. Alex tried to put in some good cheer, but even he was begining to be worn down from constant abuse. They collected their things and began moving deeper into the tunnel. This tunnel wiggled left and right like a worm, slightly-curving constantly. They spotted a few lizards and Sarah ordered them to circle around and kill them. They managed to get Jessica to kill one, though nothing happened to her tattoo.

"Guys...What are we going to do about a toilet." Eian asked.

Everyone stared at him, comprehension dawning on them.

"Again? How bad is it?" Sarah asked careful to keep her tone neutral.

"Not bad now. But give me an hour and I think I'll crap myself mid-fight." Eian said scratching the back of his head.

"Ha-ha-ha. Man.The smell will probably drive everything away." Alex laughed friendly, to which Eian smiled shit-jokes were man-things.

"Thats disgusting!" Jessica said looking at Alex with almost comic-horror.

"No helping it. Lets search for an area to make a pit-stop. We'll need to use a puddle to wash our hands." Sarah said slowly.

"Ugh. How can you say something so gross with a straight face." Jessica was looked half naucious and half disgusted.

"In the future. Eian can carve holes in the earth and we seal them with loose dirt." Sarah explained.

"Great...Just great. Spider shit. Bat bites. Stairs. Now I'm a latrine digger." Eian said sarcastically.

They selected one of the larger grooves on the cave walls. They all were told to try by Sarah, as they couldn't take a pit-stop at any minute. Sarah recommended Jessica to go first since she would probably vomit if she went after anyone else. By the end of their ordeal Sarah noticed her own tattoo had stopped glowing.

She looked over her tattoo's and remembered her last ordeal. It was definatly uncomfortable, but what could she do, but go foward? She kept her helmet on this time and selected spirit. The world once more washed away in white.