A/N: Thanks everyone for continuing to read this! It makes me happy! I'm really sorry it's taken me so long, but my other story that I have is pretty much first priority right now...lol. When I finish it I'll spend more time on this and hopefully it will be better. For those of you who don't know (and you should by now) I've taken a bit of liberty with Chaz's character. Well, his language. I don't care what anyone says, but living with Alys would make me want to be a jerk too lol. I figure he's better than he was as a little kid, but Alys isn't exactly a language and manner role model now is she?
Anyways...enjoy! ^.~
Chapter 3
Alys stretched her arms into the air and yawned, lifting her face into the morning sun. "Hey Chaz, isn't it great to finally be up in the morning?" She emphasized the last part with a smirk.
Rubbing tired eyes with a limp hand, he forced a smile. "Yeah, it's wonderful Alys."
Hahn laughed. "I'm used to it. The academy never lets anyone sleep past eight or so."
"Well isn't that amazing."
"Chaz, don't be a smart ass."
"...fine then."
Alys took a sip of water from a small canteen around her neck and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "The least you could do was enjoy the scenery... I mean, look at the mountains! It's a shame that because of the monsters, a lot of people don't get to get out and take it all in."
Chaz made a face. "That's because no one really gives a damn. Motavia's crap and you know it." He kicked at the cracked dusty ground. "There's hardly any water, nothing can grow except in obscure places...it's a wonder Parmanians lasted this long."
Alys turned and placed her hands on her hips. "You know, you're really pessimistic Chaz. It's not healthy to think like that."
Hahn nodded. "Yeah kid, really. Lighten up."
"I'm not a kid."
"Well you sure as hell act like one!" Alys snapped turning away from him.
Chaz angrily unscrewed the top of his canteen and downed almost the whole thing in one large gulp. "And you, Hahn. You're a freakin' scholar. You know how much of a dump this place is, right?"
He nodded. "It's true, this place is taking a turn for the worse..." He turned to Chaz and closed his eyes, nodding. "But it keeps us going to hope that people will learn to conserve things and nurture the land, and make this a better place."
"Most people aren't that smart."
"But some are, and that's a start, right?"
Chaz shrugged. "Tch...whatever you say Mister Mahlay."
"Hey, you guys, chill out, save your energy for any monsters that happen to come around." Alys said jovially, swinging her canteen on her arm.
"I don't know, Alys. I haven't seen anything for..." Hahn started, then immediately stopped.
Alys laughed. "Don't jinx yourself again, Hahn my boy."
"Have we ever been to Zema?" Chaz asked.
Alys looked back, glad to see he wasn't brooding on the deterioration of the planet anymore. "Well, it's the town right next to the bridge we used to get down here from Aiedo. We didn't stop by though..."
Hahn clenched his fists. "Do you really think that Zio guy turned them all to stone? I mean...can we even remedy that?"
Alys shrugged. "Who knows, maybe the Dean was kidding around. He seemed like a rather odd man."
Hahn shook his head and ran a hand through his dark brown hair. "I don't know Alys..." He sighed. "Yeah, he is odd, but he's really not a liar." Brown eyes narrowing, he remembered the way he had laughed. It almost seemed mad. "I don't know, it just feels like something's wrong..."
Chaz ran in front of Hahn and stared at him with wide emerald eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Ah...you finally have his attention." Alys laughed.
"It's not a laughing matter. I don't know what's going on, but this attack is just one of the strange things that's been happening these days..."
"You think it's all because of Zio?" Chaz asked.
"Okay okay," Alys said placing a hand on Chaz's hair and tousling it. "I don't think it's that serious, I mean it's just some monsters and a crazy man running around..."
"Turning people to stone Alys, STONE. That's just as bad as killing someone!" The boy cried.
"Well..."
"He's right." Hahn said.
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Well there's nothing we can do until we get to Zema now is there?"
Chaz took another swig of water and looked down. "Yeah I guess so..." Screwing the cap back on, he let it hang from his neck and smiled. For the first time as a Hunter, well, even as a trainee, he was getting excited. He knew Alys was feeling the same way. Things were happening and it was up to them to stop it. It was like a show or something. He didn't know why, but it was the first time, in his entire life, he began to feel...a bit needed.
* * *
"Well, this is odd..." Alys said as they approached the entranceway of Zema. "I could've sworn this place hand guards posted at the front...I mean it does contain Birth Valley."
Hahn nodded. "You're absolutely right. Come on, let's go in."
"My, aren't you feeling brave, now that your precious Professor might be in trouble?" Alys snickered.
"I said before, he means a lot to me. He'd do the same for me." He said without looking back.
Alys' smile faded. "I was just kidding Hahn, I mean don't you remember back at the basement when you were all holding onto Chaz's arm and..."
"Oh my God, Alys! Hahn! Come and...look...." They heard Chaz cry.
"Damn, he always finds things first..." Alys grumbled scowling, but her expression was soon changed to one of shock as they neared what the boy was yelling about.
A statue of a person was standing near the door of a house. Cold stone eyes stared fearfully into the sky as the mouth hung, wrenched open. The person was reaching out, out of fear or mercy, they could only imagine, fingers curled into painful looking positions. "Holy fuck Alys...! He...the Dean wasn't lying..." Chaz whispered, reaching out to touch the frozen being.
Immediately, Alys snatched his hand away. "Don't touch it!" She hissed. Chaz pulled his hand back with wide eyes. "Damn it..." She cursed and turned to Hahn. "Hahn come on, we have to..." She stopped when she saw his face. He was staring, motionless, at a little girl on the ground. She was on her hands and knees, her eyes squeezed closed. One of her hands was outstretched and half closed, like she was holding onto someone's leg, trying to get help, begging for mercy.
Hahn clenched his fists. He was shaking and his eyes were wide and trembling. "The Professor..." He whispered shakily. "We have to get to the Professor..."
Alys nodded and grabbed Chaz's arm.
* * *
It was like huge a grotesque piece of art. The entire city, every inhabitant was turned into stone. Each were reaching out, each looked as though they had some horrible story to tell. At every one they passed, Chaz and Alys closed their eyes. Hahn continued to let more hatred flow within him. By the time they got to the entrance of Birth Valley in the very back, he was about to cry. Chaz stood back and took in the strange cave-like structure. The people of Zema had built columns on either side of the walkway, and allowed the natural waterfall behind it to flow in beautiful manmade pathways covered in lush greens and flowers of every color imaginable. It was like...a shrine.
Alys reached out and grasped his arm again. "Come on Chaz, we have to go."
His wide green eyes darted back and forth. "Alys...I don't think this is a good idea..." He said softly.
"And why not?"
He felt his teeth start to chatter. Why did that always happen in these situations? "I...it doesn't feel right..." He whispered. "I don't think this place...was meant for anyone to be..."
Alys scowled at him. "What the hell are you talking about, Chaz? You're being really weird."
He pulled his arm away, not caring that it hurt like hell when he did so. "I'm not being weird! I'm serious! This place is a fucking shrine to life Alys! Do you not understand?" He cried.
"You know better than to used that kind of language towards me, Chaz." She said softly. "Now, I don't know what you're blabbing about, but Hahn's already gone in. Who knows what's in there. We have to go in for his sake, alright? I promise we won't be in there long."
Reluctantly, and to his surprise, Chaz nodded. For some reason, when Alys said anything was okay, it immediately...felt okay. Closing his eyes and trying to ignore the almost overwhelming feeling of dread swirling in the pit of his stomach, he followed her into Birth Valley's rocky depths.
* * *
"Geez, this place really is a bit creepy." Alys said, her voice echoing loudly in the wet misty cave. Chaz pulled his foot from the mud covering the floor. "I told you, Alys. I really would like to go back now..."
"No, Chaz, we have to stay with Hahn." She hissed at him.
"But...this is stupid, we saw that the people in the town were turned to stone. We know the Dean wasn't lying. Why does Hahn want to see the Professor as a statue?" He asked sliding his foot on a rock in an attempt to rid it of the mud.
Alys gazed after the darkened shadow of Hahn's back in front of them. She didn't think he heard Chaz, if he had, he sure wasn't saying anything. "I..." She whispered. "I think...he believes, deep down, that the Professor may have found a way out..."
"I don't think so. You saw the expressions on those people's faces. That man showed no compassion whatsoever. There's no way he'd let anyone escape. You know that, I know that, and I'm pretty sure Hahn knows that. He's a smart guy Alys, he..." He stopped suddenly when her hand met his face. Stumbling backwards, he clutched his stinging cheek and fought back a few embarrassed tears. "What the...what the hell was that for Alys?" He cried angrily.
Blue eyes wide and blazing, she returned her hand to her hip. "Have you forgotten hope, Chaz? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Just because I'm telling the truth that's not a reason to hit me Alys!" His voice was beginning to shake. She had never hit him. Sure, she yelled and shit, but never, never had she laid a finger on him. He watched, eyes burning as she turned from him to catch up with Hahn. So what. So what if she was pissed. Her and Hahn both were blind to the truth. That Zio guy was a monster, anyone who would do those things to innocent people and children even was a sick monster. There was no way the Professor would have gotten away. He spat on the ground, watching it fall into a puddle. Just because he was living in a dreamworld... Chaz snorted. A world where everything is alright and nothing bad could happen... That was a fool's world. He didn't think a scholar would be so dense. Clenching his teeth, he quickened his pace to catch up with them.
"This is strange..." Alys and Chaz both looked up at the sound of Hahn's voice. "There's mist...everywhere. Can you see it?"
Alys peered into the darkness. Sure enough, there was a hint of fog. "That is odd...if there's supposed to be an ancient civilization here, then why...?"
A loud screech filled the air, cutting Alys off from her sentence. Hair flowing out in front of her, she bent back, just as something soared past her. Hahn jumped back and dropped his canteen. Chaz reached back and unsheathed his sword, the loud metallic scrape echoing. Alys pulled herself up and took out her slasher. "What the hell was that?" Hahn cried.
The sound of leathery wings could be heard in the distance, Chaz clutched the hilt of his sword tighter. "Something big, it sounds like!"
Alys lifted her slasher to her lips and smiled. "This should be fun."
"Fun?! What the hell is wrong with you...ah....!" Hahn jumped back as the thing came out from the darkness. He cocked his head and squinted "That's the biggest insect I've ever..." The fly moth thing turned towards him and opened its mouth. He shrieked.
"Its got a mouth?" Chaz asked making a face at the way it was salivating. He followed the greenish dribble to the ground with his eyes and then gasped. The stuff was sizzling in the water! "Hahn! Look out!" He cried. "That thing's spit is fucking acidic!"
"Chaz! For God's sake if you don't quit using that word I'll....!" Alys cried running towards Hahn. The scholar reached up and grasped her hand and stood. She turned and pushed her hair back. "Chaz! Go after it!"
The blonde boy shook his head. "No way in hell! That thing'll burn me alive, Alys!"
Clenching her teeth, she glared at Chaz and then brought her slasher back. The monster eyed the glinting metal and pulled its wings back. "I'll throw it only if you make a hit first."
"What?!"
Hahn glanced back at Alys. She was now staring up at the monster, determination in her wide blue eyes. "Alys, are you...mad?" She remained silent.
"Alys! There's no way in hell, I just said that! Now all you have to do is throw that thing and you know it and you better do it....ALYS FOR GOD'S SAKE THROW IT!" Chaz screamed as the monster dove towards her.
Hahn's fearful eyes moved from the monster, to Alys, and back again. "A-Alys...I...I...you just really listen to him...you should...Alys...!"
Growling, Chaz started to run. Feet pounding into the mud and sword arm pulling back, he screamed. "Damn you, Alys!" Bringing his arm forward, he hurled his sword at the swooping insect. Hahn cried out and covered his head. Alys remained still, lips curling into a smile.
It was a clean cut, the sword barreled straight through the monster and stuck into the adjacent wall. Blood and acid spraying, the monster dropped to the ground, writhing in agony. Alys brought her arm down and stabbed it when the end of her slasher. It twitched once, then relaxed. She nodded in aprovement, then glanced up at Chaz. "Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
He was covered in blood and sweat, his blonde hair matting against his head. Eyes half closed, he wiped the greenish liquid from his face. He spat and realized it was green too. "Damn...you..." He rasped slowly. "That...was not funny..."
In the corner, Hahn gagged at the bloody pulp in front of him. "Hey...Alys, someone come get this thing away from me, I can't..."
"Oh, Hahn, chill out." Alys said reaching down and grasping one of its spiney legs. "It's just a small monster, nothing Chaz and I couldn't handle." To Hahn's disgust, she casually tossed it away. "Alright, Chaz, get your sword and come on, we have to get to the Professor."
Still glaring at her, Chaz walked to his sword, which was still vibrating from the throw he gave it. He grasped the hilt and steadied it and then with one hard pull, released it from the muddy wall. Hahn nodded at Alys. "She's right kid, let's get a move on. Professor Holt's waiting!"
Pulling the sword back and swinging the mud off of it, he sheathed it. "Damn the both of you..." He mumbled to himself, following them deeper into the cave.
* * *
Alys shivered and rubbed her arms with her hands. "Does anyone else notice that it's getting really cold down here?"
Hahn nodded. "We should be close, though. I don't think this place goes down much farther..."
Suddenly his eyes widened and he broke into a run. Alys and Chaz followed. They skidded around a corner and then stopped. Chaz gasped. In front of them, was the biggest metal door he had ever seen. He could've stood on Alys' shoulders and still not be able to reach the top. "Geez, that is the biggest door I have ever..."
"Professor!" Chaz turned to see Hahn drop to his knees in front of a standing up statue of a heavy set bearded man. He closed his eyes and shook his head, thinking about saying "I told you so." But as he stared at Hahn's agonistic face, he thought better of it.
"Hahn, they all are gone." Alys said pointing around the room. Chaz looked up. Sure enough, in almost every dark corner of the cave, a statue was clawing at the wall.
"The research team..." Chaz said softly.
"Alys...we have to do something." Hahn said staring up at the Professor's wide eyes. "Is there any way we can cure them?"
She sat down on a rock near her and brought her hand to her chin. "Well, I do remember hearing about a medicine called..." She narrowed her eyes. "...Alshline...I think, that can transform stone back to living flesh."
Hahn stood quickly and balled his fists. "Alright then, where is it? I mean if it's close we can go today and we can save the Professor and..."
"Hold up, Hahn." She said holding out a hand. "When I heard about it which was a...long time ago, Hahn...It was in the Motavian village of Molcum."
"Where's Molcum?"
She sighed. "Very far south from here. It'll take awhile to get there."
"Alright well let's get going!" Hahn cried.
Alys smiled. "Alright then, if you want to go to Molcum, Chaz and I will protect you for only a low fee of five hundred meseta!"
Hahn sighed and started to walk back into the darkness. "Whatever, you devil, just you and the boy come on. We have no time to waste."
Chaz leaned over and smiled at Alys. "Hey, I think you finally got to him."
She shrugged. "I don't care, I just want money for this. It's a hell of a lot of walking, and you know I absolutely despise exercise...if it's not fighting that is."
Chaz laughed.
* * *
The trip to Molcum ended up being pretty short. Chaz knew Alys was a big liar. She just hated to travel anywhere on foot. Except for that time she was sent on an assignment that caused her to run to Nalya and Aiedo back and forth after this thief...then it was a blast.
He sneered at her as they reached the entrance of the Motavian city of Molcum. She scowled back and gulped down some water. "Hey, it was kind of a long walk." She said bending over and grasping her knees.
"Maybe you're just getting old."
"Wh-what...? I am NOT getting old you little....!"
"Hey, you guys, stop bickering! Something's really wrong here..." Hahn's voice floated over to them.
Alys looked up. The entranceway was...empty. No one. No guards, no...anybody. She walked to the gateway and placed her hand on it. It sizzled and she yelped, snatching it away and blowing on it. Chaz's hand clutched the hilt of his sword. "Does this remind anyone of Zema?" He said softly.
"Holy shit, that thing was hot..." Alys mumbled, continuing to nurse her now blotchy red palm.
Hahn took off his backpack and shoved it against the gate. It smoked and sizzled, but he pushed against it anyways. With a loud groan, the black wire gates swung open. Smoke billowed out and Hahn pulled his pack from the gate, lifting it to shield his face. Chaz took out his sword and ran into the smoke. "Chaz! Stop! You don't know what's in there!" Alys called at his disappearing form. Cursing under her breath, she followed.
"Hey! W-wait you guys! Maybe we should have a plan... Guys!" Hahn cried waving. When he
received no response, he swung the now halfway charred pack onto his back and ran in after them.
* * *
"Oh my...God...." Alys whispered as the smoke began to clear from her vision.
Beside her, Chaz sheathed his sword. "Scratch that...this is a hell of a lot worse than Zema..." His bright green eyes darted from one pile of ash to the next. There was nothing else to look at. The entire town was burnt to the ground; wasted. Alys walked forward and kicked at some rubble. A doll's head, still smoldering, rolled out. She caught it, not caring that it hurt like hell to do so.
"It's atrocious, is it not?"
Her eyes widened and she glanced up. Out of the thin wispy smoke came a tall man, clad in a green suit under a snow white robe. His long blue hair was bound in a low ponytail that he had swept to rest on one of his broad shoulders. He smiled a handsome smile and lifted a black gloved hand into the air. Alys dropped the doll's head. Chaz's eyes moved from the stranger to her, and back again. He clenched his teeth. "Who are you?" He asked. "And why are you here in the middle of this dump all by yourself? Doesn't that seem a bit suspicious...? I mean..."
"Rune..." Alys said softly. Chaz looked back at her.
The man known as Rune's smile broadened. "It's been a long time, Alys."
Hahn burst through the smoke behind them, hacking like crazy, and stopped beside Chaz. Through bloodshot watery eyes he glanced up at the blue haired man. "Well...who's...this?" He wheezed.
Chaz put a hand on his back. "You okay, Hahn?"
Hahn nodded. "Just a little allergic to smoke, no...problem." He coughed.
Chaz looked up from the convulsing scholar to see Alys still staring at that man. "Hey Alys, you know him?" He asked pointing.
She nodded. "From a real long time ago..."
Rune placed a hand on his hip and ran the other through his bangs. "Alys, is shorty over there your new partner? I didn't know you were into boys that young." He said with a haughty laugh. "He's still a kid."
Chaz growled. "I'm not a kid!" He cried eyes wide.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever kid."
"Alys!" Chaz cried. "Who the hell does he think he is?!"
She placed her hand on her forehead and clutched it, closing her eyes. "Alright, there's no time for this, Rune. What's important is why are you here? I didn't think your travels would bring you by here so soon. Do you know what's going on?"
"Yeah, why the hell are you here? Did YOU do this?"
"Chaz, stop it! Rune isn't like that!"
Rune coughed and turned, robe billowing in the wind, and spread his arms. "Zio."
"Damn it! Here to?" Chaz cried. "First Zema and then..."
"Wow, your little sleuth figured it out. Hey Alys, not too bad, for a sniveling little brat." Rune said slightly rolling his eyes.
"You lousy rude son of a...!"
"Chaz! Watch your language! Rune's a very important man where he's from!" Alys cried.
"Yeah, I'll bet..."
Alys shook her head. "Anyways, Rune. Do you even know who this Zio man is? Why is he doing all this?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, but after seeing this, I sure as hell want to find out."
Hahn ceased his coughing enough to grasp Chaz's jacket. The blonde hunter handed him his canteen and he gulped it down. "So it's destroyed...but...how are we going...to get the Alshline...?"
Rune perked up. "Oh, you're looking for Alshline?"
Alys nodded. "The people of Zema can't stay statues forever you know."
He laughed. "Always the comedian, I see." She blushed slightly. He turned and pointed towards the east. "If you want that stuff, you need to go to Tonoe."
"Where's...that?" Hahn wheezed.
"It's the only other Motavian village on this planet. It's deep in the mountains North of Krup. It's kind of far."
Suddenly, Hahn straightened. "Um...we don't have to pass by Krup now...do we?"
"Why?" Chaz asked eyeing him.
"Well, it's just...we don't want to go there...It's really just a dump."
Rune glanced over at him. "No it's not...It's a very beautiful village! One of the most attractive in this god forsaken planet."
"Ah...well...Alys, come on. Let's head straight to Tonoe! We have all the stuff we need right here!" Hahn said shakily, looking around.
"I haven't decided." She muttered.
"I don't know about you, bit we're almost out of Monomate and I'd sure not like to be anywhere without a big load of that stuff." Chaz said rummaging through his backpack and frowning.
Rune smiled. "I'm going to invite myself to go with you."
Chaz's gaze snapped up. "What? What the hell, no! You are not allowed to go, Alys!" The blonde hunter took one look at her and his eyes widened. She was...blushing? "Alys!"
"I've got some business in Tonoe, and I'm sure I'd be a great asset to you guys, what with my 'mature' skills." He gave a wink at Chaz who fumed.
"Alys, I...!"
"We'd enjoy your company." She said softly.
"Alys! No!"
"Good! It's all set! And hey, Shorty." Rune crossed his arms. "Try not to be a bother, alright? I'd rather not be babysitting today."
Chaz clenched his fists so tight they cramped. "You shut the hell up and you call me by my name you no good mother..."
"Chaz, is that it?" He mused. "Well, quite a stupid name if you ask me."
"Alys...I don't want to deal with this...this...troublemaker!"
Rune laughed. "Oh, I won't be in anyone's way..."
"You already are." She said grabbing Chaz's arm and pulling him towards her. "Come on, let's get going."
"What, it's not like the Professor has anything else to do, but stand there." Chaz muttered.
"I'm going to pretend that heartless comment did not come from you, now come on! Hahn!"
Hahn plunged his hands into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of Monomate. He took a swing and then coughed. "Ah...Alys, I'm coming!" He cried, then immediately added. "If you still want to know, I would rather not go to Krup! Alys! Listen to me!"
