Chapter 3: Troublesome Treasure Hunter

The Crystal Forest was a sight to behold. The trees and the ground were crystallized. It was almost as if the entire place was forged from crystals.

"So this is Crystal Forest." Chloe mused. "I wonder how this place was crystallized."

"That is one of the mysteries about the Legacy that still hasn't been solved." Will said. "There have been theories but none of them had evidence to be backed up."

"Save the history lesson for later." Senel said. "We should focus on rescuing Shirley."

"AHHHH!" A scream suddenly echoed through the forest.

"What was that?" Chloe asked.

Just then a girl around age 16 came into view. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a yellow long sleeve shirt, a yellow skirt, yellow boots, and a yellow hairpin. She also had a purple purse strapped to her arm.

The girl then skidded to a stop. She then turned to face the group.

"Ah, hey! You there!" The girl wailed.

Just then loud footsteps were heard. The girl turned to her left, gasped, and ran away.

A green spider like monster came into view. Its abdomen, legs, and claws were coated with crystals.

Senel, Chloe and Will got their weapons ready. The monster studied them for a few seconds, then ran in the direction the girl had taken.

"What was that?" Chloe asked.

"A crystarantula." Will answered. "They look fearsome but they're actually quite gentle. They don't normally attack other people."

"It sure looked like it was attacking her." Chloe said.

"Well…they tend to show no mercy to those that enter their nests." Will explained. "Crystarantulas have a habit of collecting shiny objects. Treasure hunters often run into trouble with them."

"Is that who she was?" Chloe asked. "A treasure hunter?"

"Most likely." Will replied.

"Well we can't just abandon her." Chloe said. "Let's go after her."

"Then this is as far as we go together." Senel said.

"Why?!" Chloe asked in confusion.

"I'm going to find Shirley." Senel replied. "I'm not interested in that girl."

"It's not a matter of interest!" Chloe gave Senel a look of disgust. "You know, you are incredibly self-centered!"

"And you can't keep your nose out of other peoples business." Senel retorted.

"The nerve!" Chloe growled. "I swear your as stubborn as a mule!"

"What did you say!" Senel raised his fists into battle position.

"That's enough you two." Will said.

"Humph." Both Senel and Chloe looked away from each other.

"We're all headed in the same direction." Will said. "Rescuing Shirley should be our first priority, but we'll keep that girl in mind as well."

They then proceeded deeper into the forest.

--

Moses, Giet, and Csaba had been on the run ever since the hideout had been captured by enemy soldiers.

Moses tried his best to ignore the pain from his wounds he received in battle. He seriously had underestimated the lady leading the assault. Moses bent down and rubbed his knee.

"Oww." Moses groaned.

"Moses, are you alright?" Csaba asked.

"Damn horn wearin', street wannabe dome…" Moses grunted in pain. "We aren't done yet, baby. Not by a long shot."

He got up and continued to run. Giet and Csaba followed. Once they regrouped with the others, he'd teach those soldiers a lesson they'd never forget, especially that lady who lead the assault on the hideout.

--

"This place is a maze." Senel said. "I wonder how were supposed to find our way around?"

"I got a map and a compass." Will said. "We shouldn't be worried about getting lost."

Just then the girl that had been chased by the crystarantula earlier walked toward them.

"I can't believe you guys!" The girl pointed at Senel, Will, and Chloe accusingly. "Why didn't you help me?!"

"Uh…" Chloe tried to think of what to say.

"So heartless!" The girl pouted. "Oh, why are people so cruel? I can't take it!"

"Perhaps you could first explain why you were being chased by that creature." Will crossed his arms.

"Um…" The girl tried to think of an excuse.

"If I had to guess, I'd say you got caught ransacking its nest." Will said.

"Ah, well…" The girl said nervously.

"Bingo." Chloe said.

"Well, she's an easy read." Senel remarked.

"Maybe you should go look at yourself first before accusing others." Will suggested.

"Oh come on! That's different!" The girl protested. "When you see a cute little girl in trouble, don't you think you should do something?"

"Not really, no." Senel shook his head.

"What?!" The girl gasped in disbelief. "You know what, I don't like you. You're cold."

Senel decided not to answer her.

"Or…maybe you don't like cute girls…" The girl said.

"No!" Senel was taken off guard. "I mean yes, I…"

"Whatever." The girl shrugged. "Whether it's all cute girls or just me, it really doesn't matter now."

This girl must be nuts, or maybe her brains scrambled. Senel thought. And all this time I thought Chloe was bad enough.

"Hello." The girl waved cheerfully.

"Who are you waving at?" Chloe asked.

The group turned around and saw a very ticked off crystarantula.

"Looks like he wants to play with you guys." The girl said. "He's all yours. Have fun." She than ran off and hid behind a tree.

"Why that little…" Senel began to say.

"Focus on the battle ahead." Will said.

Senel, Chloe, and Will drew out their weapons.

The crystarantula angrily rushed towards the group. They managed to get out of the way of the attack.

"Demon Fist!" Senel launched a burst of energy from his fist.

"Demon Fang!" Chloe unleashed a wave of energy from her sword.

Both attacks struck the monster head on. The crystarantula buzzed angrily before firing a blast of ice from its mouth.

Senel and Chloe managed to evade it.

"Lightning!" Will fired a bolt of electricity scoring a direct hit. The crystarantula hissed before launching a blast of ice at Will.

Since Will wasn't able to move immediately after casting a spell, the ice blast struck him head on knocking him to the ground.

As Senel ran towards the crystarantula, his fists began to glow.

"Take this you oversized spider!" Senel shouted before delivering a flurry of punches into the beasts face.

The crystarantula angrily grabbed Senel with its front claws before making an attempt to sink its fangs into him.

"Gargh! Let go!" Senel struggled to break free.

"You crystallized bug, take this." Chloe severed one of the crystarantula's claws with her sword.

The crystarantula roared in agony and released Senel from its grasp.

"Are you okay." Chloe asked.

"I will be once I beat the stuffing out of that thing!" Senel growled. "Denom Fist!" Another burst of energy slammed into the crystarantula's face.

Senel wasn't finished yet, he rushed towards the crystarantula and slammed his fist right between its eyes. The crystarantula buzzed out in pain. Desperate, it began to spew ice blasts all over the place.

Seeing the monster beginning to weaken, Chloe rushed toward the oversized spider evading the ice blasts. The crystarantula attempted to swat her away with its remaining claw. Chloe impaled it with her sword causing the oversized bug to shriek.

Will, who had gotten back to his feet, fired another lightning bolt at it. The crystarantula collapsed on the ground, it lifted its head up in defiance and prepared to fire an ice blast at Will.

It didn't get the chance though since Chloe thrust her sword into its head, impaling its brain in the process. The crystarantula convulsed for a few seconds, then rested on the ground completely lifeless.

"Phew." Senel wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Is it finally dead."

"Yeah." Chloe pulled her sword out of the monster's head. "Its gone."

"That was a tough battle." Will panted.

The girl then came out of hiding,

"Thank you so much." The girl said affectionately. "You all fought for little old me."

"No, we didn't!" Senel, Chloe, and Will shouted in unison.

"I didn't expect all three of you to be erens." The girl said cheerfully. "You should have told me that sillies."

You have got to be kidding me. Senel thought.

The girl walked up to Senel. "People need to help each other out, you know?" The girl said. "It feels good to be useful doesn't it?"

"What are you babbling about?" Senel asked.

"I've made up my mind!" The girl announced happily. "I'm going to let you join my party!"

"What?!" Senel, Chloe, and Will all shouted in disbelief.

"I've been looking for an eren I could get some mileage out of." The girl explained. "Finding three at once is more than I could have possibly hoped for!"

"Whatever." Senel said flatly.

"What's your name?" Will asked.

"Norma Beatty!" Norma said proudly. "And since you asked, I'm a world-class treasure hunter, if I do say so myself!"

"I didn't ask." Will said, a bit disturbed.

"Awe come on." Norma pouted. "Listen-"

"Norma, did you see a man flying through the sky near here?" Will interrupted. "He would've had a girl with him."

"A flying man?" Norma asked. "Are you stupid? If you want to se acrobats, go to the circus."

"Who are you calling stupid?" Will walked up to Norma and whacked her on the head.

"Ow!" Norma yelped.

"We don't have time for this." Will said. "We need to get going."

The group then walked away.

"Hey, wait! Hold up!" Norma shouted. "Hang on a sec! Guys?" She then chased after them. Within seconds, she caught up to them.

"Come on, lets work together!" Norma begged. "Let's be a team!"

The group ignored her.

Oh god, please make her go away. Senel thought.

"Join my team and let's be friends, dammit!" Norma yelled.

"You're not the one who should be getting mad!" Senel yelled back.

Just then they spotted a large crystal wall blocking their path.

"It looks like the path continues past this wall." Senel said.

"We should be able to use a ladder to get to the path, but it looks like someone didn't want that to happen." Will gestured to a nearby broken ladder.

"This has to be the flying mans doing." Senel growled. He then walked up to the wall and pounded on it.

"Hmm, so you want to get through here." Norma mused. "Say Senny."

"Senny?" Senel asked.

"Why don't we make a deal?" Norma offered. "I'll make it so you can pass through here and in exchange, you'll join my team!"

"Like you can actually do that." Senel scoffed.

"Oh? You don't believe me?" Norma raised an eyebrow. "You'd flip if you knew how good I was!"

Senel took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

"Here watch!" Norma said. "You two, also! Uh…"

"Will and Chloe." Senel introduced his two partners.

"Hmm." Norma mused. "Glasses…bossy…'Teach'!" She then turned around and pointed to Chloe. "And your C."

"Hey!" Bothe Chloe and Will shouted.

Nick names? She's going to give us nick names? She has got to be kidding. Senel thought.

"Now that that's settled, allow me to blow this wall to kingdom come." Norma's nails began to glow.

"Her nails are glowing!" Chloe gasped.

"You're an eren too?" Senel asked.

"Crystal eress looking nice, as usual." Norma answered.

"No, don't!" Will shouted, realizing what was going to happen.

"Grave!" Norma shouted.

A huge stalagmite burst out from the ground and shattered the wall.

"Heh heh." Normal giggled. "See? Piece of cake!"

Will walked up to Norma and bopped her on the head.

"Ow, what was that for?!" Norma shouted. "That hurt!"

"You idiot!" Will shouted. "You just ruined a valuable display of natures beauty!"

"But-" Norma began to protest.

"Come with us!" Will demanded.

"We're taking her with us?" Chloe asked in disbelief.

"There's no telling what she'll do if we let her roam free." Will said. "I'm keeping her with me and watching her like a hawk."

He's got to be kidding. Senel thought. Either that or his brain is fried.

"Hi." Norma waved.

"Whatever." Senel sighed.

They then continued down the path towards their destination.