Chris: Another chapter to the fic I created, just because I felt like it!

PMOHWinters: Yep, they're really crazy. But crazy is funny. In the right context, of course.

mystique-goddex: Glad to see you like it. And I'm sure Selena will like the fact that she has a fan. And yeah, Sairan's a wizard. And if you want the new one to be an alchemist, I believe I can accommodate your request. I was having trouble deciding between a blacksmith and an alchemist anyway, so since you want it, the next one's going to be an alchemist.

Disclaimer: I own the Crystal Soul guild and all its little members. I don't own Ragnarok Online. Also, note that the thing that's at the beginning is not a flashback. It's just something that's happening in a totally different place. Italics just makes me look more mysterious.


Chapter 2: Knowledge Seekers

"But Mistress!" A female voice cried out in the darkness.

"No buts. I must see what the world is like, and why people act the way they do." The answering voice, also female, seemed the carry the weight of finality in its tone.

"But you'll be killed! And what will we do then?"

"Don't worry. I have no intention of being killed."

"But Mistress…"

"What have I told you about buts? I'm going, and that's final."

"…Then at least let me accompany you."

"What! Why?"

"Well, at least I'll be able to see if you're safe. And if you should ever be in danger…"

"Hmph. I don't know."

"Please Mistress!"

"Fine! Just as long as you don't call me Mistress out there! I don't want anyone figuring out who I am."

"Of course, Mis-my lady."

"Sigh…I guess that's as good as I'm going to get. Very well. You may come along, but don't bother me!"

"Thank you, Mistress!"

"What I have to put up with, being the master around here." The first voice sighed, and the two figures vanished.

--------------------------------

"Ah….The city of Payon! Land of booze, arrows, and bar fights!" Whirlwind spun as he walked around, laughing.

"That's not exactly right, Whirlwind." Sairan raised an eye at Whirlwind, who ignored him.

"So what?" Whirlwind smirked. "Come on! Can we go play now? Please?"

"Sigh…Fine. Everyone can go around doing whatever he or she wants. We'll meet up tomorrow at Payon's town square. And you better not be late!" Sairan smirked.

"Yeah, yeah! We know!" Whirlwind jumped happily. "Drinks time!"

"Except for you, Whirlwind." Sairan grinned evilly at the assassin, who stopped in his tracks.

"What?"

"You get us some new guild members. Then you can horse around." Sairan mock saluted him. "Good luck. Remember everyone! One whole day to do whatever you want!" He clapped his hands, and everyone dispersed, going about their individual tasks.

------

"Recruit some guild members!" Whirlwind copied Sairan's words in a realistic impersonation of the wizard's voice. "Hmph. Stupid Sairan. How come I can't have any fun?" His green-hair shook as the assassin angrily slashed at an offending tree branch that was five feet away. The assassin spotted an announcements board and decided to post his own message. Snatching the pen that was tied to the board, he wrote down the following message.

"The Crystal Soul guild is recruiting more members! Join the strongest guild in all of Rune-Midgard. Strength, power, and magic all a plus! And if you're crazy like us, that's even better! Contact Whirlwind or Sairan for details. Whirlwind is the hot, green-haired assassin. Sairan is the evil, tyrant taskmaster wizard. Contact Whirlwind first. Or else he might kill you. Whirlwind will probably be located at the nearest bar or tavern. Most likely Heaven's Gate, because they serve the best spirits in all of Payon."

- Whirlwind

Whirlwind smiled at his handiwork. "All done!" Whirlwind dusted off his hands and ran off towards Heaven's Gate, intent on using his hard-earned zeny to get totally bombed.

-----------------------------------

Rahal, the guild's knight, was doing what he always did when Sairan gave him a break. He walked right into the Payon Caves and began killing the zombies and skeletons in there. While they were hardly a challenge, the knight hated to relax when there were chances to fight. It would strengthen his muscles and his fighting instincts, and to the gray-haired knight, that was all he needed to know that all was right in the world.

"Stronger, stronger, stronger!" Rahal roared fiercely as he swung his sword through a throng of skeletons, scattering them into piles of chalky bone. The knight used his free hand to rip the head off a zombie that had staggered towards him. He smashed the rotting head into another zombie, killing that one as well.

"Train your body and train your spirit! Nothing will stand in your way!" Rahal roared again as he swung his sword into the cave walls, gouging a deep scar into the stone. The knight smiled. This is what taking a break is all about.

-----------------

Selena smiled seductively as she sauntered down the main street of Payon, attracting gazes from some of the blacksmiths and merchants who had set up shop there. It was actually quite cruel of her, Selena decided. She shrugged mentally. What did she care? Just as long as they gave her stuff and bought her things, it was all the same to her. But today, there was something more important in her mind.

She stepped up to the Payon mayor's house and waved aside the guards, who bowed to her. Selena stepped into the mayor's office and smiled, her red hair falling down her face. "Hiya Daddy! What'd you want?"

-----------------------

Sairan sighed as he wandered throughout Payon. 'This city is so boring. There's nothing to do. No monsters to roast. No spells to perfect. No duels going along.' The wizard looked around, unaffected by the various sights and sounds ringing against his eyes and ears. 'If only there was a place to see how good I really was…' Sairan looked up to see a bright sign in front of him. Sairan squinted as he read it, scratching his dirt-brown hair.

"Come! Test your skills in the Payon Arena! Win money or compete to show off your strength! Five-hundred zeny to join! Good luck, and may the best fighter win!"

- The Payon Advisory Board

Sairan smiled. Now this was a place where he could test his skills. He was eager to show off his new spells, the Lightning Whip and Flame Fist. The wizard chuckled to himself, stroking a flame to hover above his finger. Moving quickly, he burned a message into the poster, which read,

"And that best fighter is me, Sairan Pyrestrike!"

--------------------

Kristin strolled through another section of Payon, amusing herself by unleashing her new move on various things on the ground. While that earned her stares from various passerbies, she was too busy perfecting the technique to notice. The black haired monk whistled tunelessly to herself as she continued on her 'training' session. The monk felt at home within the dense forests and trees of Payon.

Kristin continued on her walk, smiling inwardly. Her friends back at Prontera would be so surprised to see how powerful she had gotten.

-------------------

"Look, my lady!" A young, blond-haired girl pointed to a sign erected on an announcement board.

"I see it, I see it." Her companion, another girl who was slightly taller and had brown-blond hair walked up and examined the sign. "This…Crystal Soul guild. They seem very confident of themselves. Definitely what I am seeking." The girl smirked. "Looks like they also have a sense of humor."

The first girl looked worriedly at her friend. "But…my lady!"

"Will you stop calling me that? My name is Flora Riati. Not 'my lady'." The second girl whirled on the first, her eyes flashing.

"O-Okay, Flora! I'm sorry!" The first held up her arms to shield herself from any blows.

"Sigh, that's okay. Come on, we'd better find this Whirlwind." Flora brushed back some of her hair and blinked her sky-blue eyes. "It's time to see what we can find out. The alchemist, Flora Riati, and her acolyte friend, Vanessa Kaeltal, are ready to join this Crystal Soul guild!"

"Yes, my lady!"

"Will you stop calling me that?"

"S-Sorry!"

----------------

Whirlwind was busy sipping some of his drink and watching a bard/dancer duo perform when he spotted two girls enter the tavern. Whirlwind's eyes rose when he saw the two. One was tall and slim, with blond-brown hair and sky-blue eyes. She wore an alchemist's cape and wore a simple green shirt and blue skirt. The alchemist also wore a strange staff at her side and gazed through the bar with a disgusted face.

Her companion seemed quite different though. While she also had blond hair, the resemblance ended there. Her eyes were actually a dark crimson and she was trembling in fright. She wore a plain white mantle that draped around her shoulders and the traditional acolyte's garb. The girl looked scared just stepping inside of the tavern. Whirlwind wondered how the two people became traveling partners.

The alchemist walked up to him. "Are you Whirlwind?"

The assassin smiled. "And if I were?"

"Well, we'd like to enter the guild you advertised on that sign." The alchemist looked at him as if the answer was completely obvious.

"Ah! I see it caught your attention!" Whirlwind brightened. "If you want to join, you're going to have to beat in battle!"

"Oh, okay." The alchemist whipped out her staff and clonked Whirlwind on the head before hitting him in the stomach. The assassin toppled out of his seat, winded.

"That…wasn't fair." Whirlwind struggled back into his seat, clutching his stomach.

"You just said to beat you in battle. I won." The alchemist shrugged, her face emotionless.

"M-My lady…Are you sure that was honorable?" The acolyte walked up to the alchemist, her hands shaking as she brought them up to her chest.

"Honorable, schmonorable. If you want to be the best, honor is only second in your priorities." The alchemist shrugged. "So do I get in?"

"Well, of course! I'm sure you'll be a fine addition to our little group." Whirlwind brightened.

"Just as long as my friend comes in too." The alchemist put an arm around the acolyte, who looked at her gratefully.

Whirlwind raised a skeptical eye. "Is she good enough?"

"Oh, she's quite strong. Don't let her timid demeanor dissuade you from the fact that she is quite talented."

"Very well. I'll take your word for it." Whirlwind patted the acolyte on the shoulder. "Stay with me for the day. I'll take you to the guild leader and tell him of how you defeated the dashing and invincible Whirlwind with one blow." The assassin pounded his chest with his fist, looking regal.

The alchemist cracked a smile and the acolyte laughed shakily. Whirlwind smiled.

"Heh, now that that's settled….Names? Sairan's gonna need your names." Whirlwind took another drink from his glass.

"I'm Flora Riati and this is my friend Vanessa Kaeltal." The alchemist sat next to Whirlwind. "Care to treat a girl to a drink?" Flora looked at her companion. "Make that two girls?"

Whirlwind smiled. "I think I'm going to like you two. Yo! Barkeep! Two more ales here! And make it fast before I poison the money I pay you!" The green-haired assassin turned and looked at the two of them. "Glad to have you two join me! Come on! Toast to power, freedom, and-! Urp…Hurling!" Whirlwind turned and threw up onto the floor.

Flora laughed again and Vanessa joined her. The alchemist smiled at the assassin's antics. "Yes…I'm sure both of us will enjoy being in your guild."


Chris: Well, there it is! The two new recruits! Do you know who they are? Huh? Huh? Well, if you have guesses, put it in a review! And if you don't, review anyway!

And yeah, this chapter is shorter.