I don't own GS or any characters from it.

Chapter 2

The minute I was done with my work I rushed up to the mountain, where I knew Felix would already be waiting, probably with Garet too. As I ran, I glanced around the town of Vale, which had been rebuilt slowly over the four years that had passed since its destruction. Everything, even the local sanctum, was exactly where it had stood before the appearance of the golden sun over Mt. Aleph. The town also seemed to have grown a bit larger, but that was probably because after the appearance of the golden sun many outsiders had been drawn to the area as though by some invisible force, and now lived on the slopes of the mountain.

"It's about time!" Garet's voice snapped me out of my contemplation. "I thought you'd never get here."

Felix shook his head with a smirk. "Always the impatient one," he said before turning toward me. "You ready?"

I merely nodded in response, finding myself in one of my silent moods, and started up to the mountain. We had done this many times since Mt. Aleph mysteriously made its reappearance on the landscape of Weyard, and by now we knew the path very well.

"Let's race" Garet started into a sprint as he spoke, drawing cries of protest from Felix and me before we started after him, our feet pounding up the rock slope. The feeling was exhilarating, and soon all three of us were in a neck to neck sprint that caused our legs, and lungs, to burn as they hadn't done since our adventure. We were about halfway up the mountain when suddenly something caught my attention to the right and I stopped suddenly, causing both Garet and Felix to run into me and tumble to the ground.

"What the hell?" Garet was on his feet in an instant, and not too happy. Felix followed him quickly, his own attitude leaving much to be desired, but I ignored the glares they gave me and pointed. "Look."

Following my gaze, they almost immediately saw what I had only a moment earlier. There, on the slope of the mountain, was an opening that we knew had not been there the day before when we climbed. It was a large opening, wide enough for perhaps five people and tall enough for at least two, and couldn't possibly have been missed in our previous ventures. Somehow, I knew what it was, and I could tell by their silence they were thinking the same. Sol Sanctum had returned.

Garet was the first to break the silence. "Let's go check it out!" he was moving even as he spoke, and I followed somewhat reluctantly, Felix close behind. I had a bad feeling about this, as though something were terribly wrong.

We rushed up to the opening and then into the sanctum, easily finding the passage to the inner sanctum, still intact as though nothing had ever happened, right where it had been many years ago. Everything was the same – even the trap still remained, and was still disabled. The only difference, we found as we finally reached the statues, was that the elemental stars were still gone.

Garet looked around, a look of awe on his face. "This is awesome guys! It's just how I remember it."

I frowned slightly, the small portion of the power of alchemy bestowed upon me warning me that something was not right. "I think we should get out of here."

"Aw come on." Garet didn't like the idea. "You're always too serious."

"I don't see the harm in checking it out." Even Felix seemed somewhat excited to rediscover this place. I sighed as they moved carefully across the slippery rocks to the statues, then stopped at a sudden tremor in the ground.

"So you have come." A figure floated over the sea around us. His hands, appearing more creature than human from scarring and other deformation, clutched an ancient looking staff that emanated psynergic power. His features were similarly unrecognizable, appearing charred and burned beneath the red hood that hung low over his brow. "I have been waiting."

"Who the hell are you!" Garet didn't wait for an answer, already going through the motions of an attack. "Liquifer!"

The unknown man laughed, lifting a hand. The powerful psynergy stopped as though it had come in contact with an invisible force and was flung back at Garet. With a cry, Garet fell back to the stone, groaning slightly before going completely limp. The voice spoke again, this time angry.

"Do not try that again." The harsh tones were a stark contrast to the smooth and even voice used earlier. It was then that it struck me.

"Alex. What is it you want?"

I saw Felix preparing something out of the corner of my eye. Whatever it was, I knew he wouldn't be able to penetrate Alex's defenses, and I tried to motion for him to stop. He seemed to be unable to see the signals, though.

"It is very simple." Alex's voice was smooth and even again, holding melodic undertones. "You know my dream has always been to rule the world. I can't very well do it like this."

I understood what he wanted immediately, still furiously trying to stop Felix from attacking. "You know we can't do that."

"Surely you cannot be so foolish as to believe you can defeat me." His voice held an odd mixture of appeal and threat. "If you do not join me, I will be forced to kill you."

Felix finished his preparations even as Alex finished speaking. "Grand Gaia!" A barrage of rocks shot up from the ground under Alex, their speed and size both improved with practice, but shattered on his defenses. Felix wasn't done, however, as he came up just under the attack, following it with blinding speed and lashing out with his blade. He might as well have hit a steel wall, for not only was his sword deflected but he himself was thrown hard to the ground, where he lay still also.

"You see, you are the only one left. There is still time to save them, and yourself."

I closed my eyes, shaking my head slowly. I reached out to my unconscious friends, focusing all my energy in extending my psynergy to their bodies. Alex must have seen what I was doing, because his eyes narrowed and a great beam of ice emitted from somewhere in the air. I spoke the word quickly. "Teleport!"

In an instant we were back outside of the mountain, standing on the slopes. It quaked below our feet for a moment as I picked up Felix and Garet, using my psynergy to aid me, and ran swiftly down the slopes. As I reached the town I felt Alex's voice in my mind. "We will meet again soon. And you shall not escape so easily next time."