Seto walked behind Steve along with Ty, the silence that echoed in the temple was a bit unnerving after the fight they went through. Ty shifted on his two feet a bit on edge, his eyes gazed at the well light temple and the images on the walls of the great war. Steve gave a signal for them to wait as he entered in a back chamber, there behind the alter was a man. He was bald, with warm brown eyes and a brown shirt to match.

Steve bowed low to him before motioning for Seto and Ty to come in also. The two bowed also as the man chuckled, "Now there is no need for that, we are all friends here." His tone was kind, like a loving and favorite uncle. "You two must be Seto and Ty, I have been expecting you both for some time now." He told them as he waved his hand and four chairs were placed at a long table.

Notch took his seat as Steve smiled and nodded to the two as he sat near Notch with Ty and Seto taking the other side. The god looked at them, "I suppose it's to be seen that when your dear friend was tainted you came to me."

Seto looked at Ty then at Notch as he spoke, "You knew we were to come here about that?" he asked, unsure.

The other nodded slowly, "I'm the only god who has came face to face with my brother tainted darkness. So, in a way I was the only one who knew the most about it. Gaia also knew about it, as it destroys most of her earth below, but she only knew so much. Thus, I was the best shot as I was closest."

Ty looked at Notch, "So you can help us?" he asked hopeful, he just wanted Adam back. His best friend, his first friend at that. Right now, Jason and Seto was the two he had strong connections with, Adam was always his go to guy also when he just wanted to talk. Without him, he felt empty inside.

Notch sighed heavily, "Sadly, I can't." he admitted, Ty's face fell at that, but Notch continued, "My reasoning I can't, is I face the same darkness, only in one I care deeply for." He told them as he rose and motioned for the two to follow him.

Steve knew he was to stay behind as he nodded to Seto and Ty, they rose and hesitantly followed Notch through a door under the alter. "What you seek is a cure to the Dark." He told them, "In the time of the great war, this Dark consumed the hearts of people, turning them wicked and evil as my brother." He gripped a torch and walked with it down the dark hallway.

"It's my brother creation, to brainwash people away from the Light, and turn them into his willing servants and minions. Which is how the Cult of Brine came to be." He explained as they came to a small room, he carefully placed the torch down, and the area was lit up as the oil lit. Seto blinked as his eyes adjusted, as did Ty, and both stared as on a small alter was a boy, seemingly asleep with a small white shield like case around him. He had soft blond hair and dressed in some rather old robes.

Notch placed a hand on the case and sighed, "This darkness has effect the one you see before you, my own son." He told the two, turning to them as Ty stared in shock at Notch then at the boy.

"What happened to him?" he breathed out as he walked over to Notch as Seto lingered behind frowning with his head bowed.

"Darkness." He explained, "Before my brother vanished, he got his revenge by tainting Ventus with his own personal corruption." Notch turned back to the boy, "To protect him, and everyone around him, Ven asked me to put him into an enchanted sleep. Locking away the aether to all, including my brother. While Nether Portals can be created, a Aether Portal was forever lost. Only Ventus soul can open the gates again. He wished not for the darkness in him to leak into the gate, he wished not to be my brother minion." Closing his eyes softly, he breathed out, "So I put him into a deep sleep, so time itself could not touch him. I have yet to find a cure, and am unable to seek out one due to my god duties."

Ty frowned as he looked at the peaceful look on the boys face, "He seems so peaceful." He whispered almost to himself, yet the god beside him heard and smiled.

"Ventus has always been so care free, even in the face of danger, in the days I was ready to give up, he remained my strength and my reason to see the world to end." He explained in a soft tone. "Hero killed my dear wife, yet Ventus, being only ten at the time, escape. Steve found him, and became his mentor. To have him in my arms, to know he was safe, I was the happiest I had ever been. Well needed in the times of the war." Notch chuckled as he looked at Ty, "Funny, he looks so much like his mother." He chuckled.

Notch shook his head, "But enough of that, there is a war stirring, my brothers bonds shatter soon. He is yet to leave his castle, or attempt to. I can only hope it was grant you time." He turned to Seto now. "While I do not have a cure, I know one who might." He turned and left to a room nearest to the Chamber of Waking, where Ventus laid.

"I have not heard from him, yet I know he lives." He sighed before Ty could ask, he raised his hand, "I am a God yes, and I know much, but I'll admit now I do not know all. My existance from the Void gave me the insight of much, and from my experiances I can only understand so much. Even the mysteries beyond my realm, to the dark below, are lost to me." As an afterthought, with the tilt of his head, he spoke, "Perhaps, this is a good thing. I do not wish to know what man, mer, dovah, and gods along fear to seek."

Ty looked at Seto who shook his head a bit, "Mer means Elf, and Dovah is Dragon." He explained to the other, "They are ancient tongues, since before even the time of my clan."

Noah nodded to them before he waved his hand and a map formed, "You seem a cure, a way to save your friend. I seek to make sure this war doesn't start again. Our interests are the same in a way. The cure you seek is in the Farlands."

Beside him, Seto let in a sharp intake, his eyes widening. "Yes, I know Sorcerer, not many dare venture that far, certainly not I or my brother." Notch admitted to him with a deep frown. "Yet, only one in our blood, my brother's and I blood, has gone there. His name is Vanitas Brine." He waved his hand as the imagine of a boy in dark red and gray armor was seen, his silver eyes glowed with power and hunger for souls it seemed. It was chilling. "My eldest Nephew, the Eldest Brine many called him, or many called him Absent-brine. This name being that all that was left of his victims was a husk Absent of its Soul." He said gravely.

Seto looked at Notch, "You tell us that this, Vanitas, lives there?" he asked softly, Notch nodded slowly as he leaned on the table as the imagine faded.

"Vanitas exiled himself after the war. It's thought in the wake of the final battle, weary of fighting, and seeing first hand for years his father's cruelty and unwillingness to change he fled in the midst of the battle, and went to the deepest parts of the farlands." He hummed softly, "Many in my ranks suspected him to take up where his father failed, yet in the four hundred years of wait, he has not made a single move." Notch closed his soft brown eyes in deep thought, "I hope that he has thought about what he has done, and sought there an escape, a way to atone for what he has done. Truthfully, I would have never punished him for wanting to please his father, no, for I know the struggles of wanting a parent's love. Sadly, my brother has none to give, Noah found his out, and he sought me out for such love, I gladly would have extended this same to my eldest nephew." Shaking his head, he sighed.

"I can not change the past, melancholy has become an easy trap for me in my old age. Vanitas has a stubborn streak in him, and perhaps the reason he exiled himself was he saw fit to punish himself for the misgivings he had in his... horrible childhood." He said lightly he raised up a bit.

Notch gazed at the two, "Does not matter, what does is that I do think the reason he never became like his father is because he managed to cure himself of that same darkness that has your friend. My judgement hasn't been wrong for a while now, and truthfully he's your only hope you have." Looking down he whispered, "And mine also."

Ty gazed at Notch evenly, "You do believe he can help us, but will he be willing to?" he asked.

"That," Notch said to him, "I do not know, it's possible he fled there also to flee his father's wraith. Should that be the case, he might need convincing to help you in your quest." He told him.

Seto nodded to this, "So this is all you can offer us?" he asked a bit sad.

Notch gave them a sad smile, "I can grant you safe passage in this realm," he closed his eyes and added to that, "however, should you go to my brothers realm, you are on your own." He turned to the door. "Steve will give you your supplies, your friend should also be healed. Should you seek to return to your castle or head out to the far lands, I will help with what I can."

Ty turned to Notch as he followed him to the door, "I would ask this much, if we leave now, I wish to send a message to Ian and Mitch, letting them know of what has come." He told Notch who nodded to that.

"That, I can do. I will tell Steve to gather you all some supplies, feel free to rest here for a day or two before you set off, you have time as time in this temple moves faster than outside by my will." He chuckled a bit with a warm smile again. "Your journey will be safe in the overworld, while I wouldn't always recommend the nether, the journey to the farlands is just that, far. The nether you move faster than in here. My brothers own perks to his realm, traveling there is dangerous, I will admit that, but it might prove useful."

Ty nodded to that, saying he'd consider it as he left down the hall. Seto lingered behind as Notch turned to him at the door. "You sought me out, in hopes I would help." He told Seto with a small smile, "I have no abandon you, nor the people. I have many others, and my own people to take care of. Do not take it personally sorcerer, it's nothing you nor your family has done." He assured him.

Seto shifted a bit, he closed his eyes feel tears start to show, "I still feel at fault." He told him honestly. He never told the others, not once, for fear of what they'd think of him. It wasn't just a coincidence that he knew what was possibly wrong with Adam. He himself was tempted once, taking the mark on his right arm of a Cultist.

A hand gripped his shoulder lightly as he looked to see the god of the Aether looking at him sadly. "I know this Seto, but I also know that it's not your fault. You escaped, and sought forgiveness, and you have been forgiven. You have long since atoned for the sins of your past, it's possibly time to let them lay. If it's a secret you will take to your grave, that is your choice, but I can promise you, your friends wouldn't fault you either." He promised to him. Seto could only manage a nod and a watery smile. He had yet to forgive himself, but he was trying. "I will confide into you what I know of this journey of yours." He said seriously. "Should Adam fall to darkness, and my brother finds out the truth. Herobrine will have the Aether."

With that, Notch left the room, Seto soon following behind. The quest seemed to long now, in his mind at least. They had only one shot, that Vanitas had what they were looking for. So much more was at stake now. He knew what Notch meant, all sorcerers of light knew about the Keepers of the Key or just The Keepers. Ventus was the key to the Aether, and the keepers where the only ones with the knowledge, whether they knew it or not, of where he was hidden much less getting to him as only a Keeper and Notch could wake Ventus.

Which was why they needed to save Adam, for Adam was the last Keeper.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Dun Dun Duhhhh!

So we are moving into the house finally, I hope to get internet back sometime this week. Updating from my college and on their wifi as I work on homework. It's not been easy, but I make do with it.

As to explain, Adam is a Keeper, who were tasked by Notch to keep Ventus's resting place deep under the temple a secret and the shield around him from ever breaking. Notch and the four keepers were the only ones who could break it. The others, safe for Adam, are dead. The original keeps was Adam's great grandfather, after his death, it was passed to Adam, without his knowing. Somewhere in his mind is the knowledge about Ventus, but until he finds out or hears what a Keeper is, he won't know it. His grandpa never told him nor his father, thus Adam nor Skybrine knows. But should he find out, Herobrine will gain access to the Aether and control over Ventus the only heir to the Aether. It's a race against time now also, as Herobrine gets closer to getting loose, the more people will be corrupted.

Until the next chapter, this is Jade signing off!

Have a Happy Halloween! :)