"Soooo, now what?" Pica asked as they ate breakfast in Ibi's mess hall.

Helian shook his head with a chuckle. Her bubbly nature became even more pure with them surviving her trial and her becoming the Light Elemental. The trial hadn't been that difficult, to be honest. Other than that first section, when the Fangril demons attacked them, he had expected it to be dangerous overall. It had mainly tested the unison among the Elementals.

Geryon had said he couldn't remember anything about his past two tries with the Elementals, but Helian wished he did so he could ask how their group compared to the others. Did they struggle through the trials? Maybe because Helian's group had sailed through it, meant they were stronger and better unified...

Since both the sun and moon reflect light, he and Zelenia had helped her experiment with what she could do now. Pica could steal and restore light, increase it to painfully blinding and dimming it, and manipulating it into whatever form she wished—she would never run out of ammo from light being molded into bullets.

She used her newfound powers to play with the other Elementals as well: she stole light out of a hallway a lot of times to get exclamations of shock or hear a thud as whoever ran into a wall. Tegen could see well in the dark, so she whined that he wasn't much fun. Kalisa was the only one to appreciate the darkness. Pica didn't play her prank on Geryon, though—afraid he wouldn't think the jokes humorous.

When Pica threw light toward him, Helian's golden armor absorbed the energy, restoring his strength and stamina, and he could also blast the light outward—like he was the actual Sun. Nearly the same happened with Zelenia: she became refreshed and could reflect the light shone at her, but in a whiter hue. Until Geryon was dubbed by Fire, Helian's light couldn't produce heat.

Becoming the Light Elemental only changed her physically in one way: her eyes. Even in complete darkness, they glistened. Like in the main chamber, her eyes seemed to be a combination of all light. Her cheerful personality received a boost, and her confidence had improved.

His eyes swept the table—he assumed all of them would receive similar blessings from their Elements when appointed: a brightening or deepening of the color in their eyes, an increase in their individual powers, and an improvement in their personalities. Maybe a lightening of Renuo's doubt—make him more optimistic—or a settling in Geryon's temper... Well, maybe that was hoping for too much.

"We go to Estys," Tegen answered.

Everyone turned to him. The green Kemiji spoke little, other than to spout out directions or offer some sort of history on a landmark or place. So, for him to declare their next location was unlike him—he wasn't assertive; he was suggestive.

"You were shown, like Pica?" Zelenia asked.

He nodded. "A vision."

"So, the next temple's in Estys," Helian said. His imaginations ran wild. The temple surely had to reflect Earth—there were probably a lot of trees and flowers. One of the tasks in the trial had to be growing a plant. That sounded boring.

This already sounded like it would be even easier than Light's to complete.

Tegen shook his head. "I was not shown a temple; just my village."

"Why?"

"I have to retrieve my strength there."

Pica frowned. "You seem pretty strong to me."

"This is a different strength I must find again."

She opened her mouth to ask further questions, but Geryon stopped her. "Strength isn't just physical."

Helian glanced at the older man, knowing that there was some statement in the firm way he said it. In the corner of his eye, he saw Tegen looking at Fire, too—some understanding passed between the two.

Being left out irritated him. Helian was the Sun, and they were his elements. And he was a warrior, too! He knew how to fight! As more of a fighter than the withdrawn Tegen, he should've been included in the shared look. Why didn't he understand whatever Geryon's look passed on?

A cool hand grabbed his, and his anger cooled. He looked over at Zelenia; she gave him her sweet smile. Because of their relationship and her telepathy, she knew what he felt and didn't judge. He chuckled softly, embarrassed now because of those ridiculous thoughts. They were what an immature boy would think; not how a man with the responsibility of the world on his shoulders should think.

"So, what's the plan for getting past the Koquas?" Renuo asked.

Well, crap. Helian had forgotten about the desert Rovaneim. It looked like everyone else had too.

"I can take care of them," Pica proclaimed, her entire body beginning to glow.

"Not all of them," Geryon said, deflating her.

"We don't know how many will be out there waiting; we don't want to ask too much of you, Pica," Zelenia said.

"If the Koquas were here to threaten Ibi, there has to be a defense," Kalisa said.

"This place doesn't look like it's equipped to repel an attack," Aeris said. The gypsy bristled; she opened her mouth to argue when Air held up her hand. "I'm not disagreeing with you, Kalisa—there's got to be something here to help. Your words just may need to be changed. Instead of 'defense', perhaps 'offense'."

"What do you mean by 'offense', Aeris?" Zelenia asked.

"A way to get by them."

Pica hopped up. "Let's look!"