A/N: Thanks Tom. I'm glad that you find this story is intriguing. Seriously, I'm not exactly sure where it might end up with, but hopefully it wouldn't be so much of a drag! Hehehe… Anyway, hope you'll enjoy this update! Please review…I feel like no one likes my stories at all TT
Chapter 3: Reunion
"My plan is finally on its move. Very well done my servant, you shall be rewarded handsomely."
A deep, hoarse voice spoke out harshly before emitting a short bark of laughter. Its blood red eyes gleaming as it stared into the crystal orb in front of it. Slowly, the dark, mysterious creature twisted its mouth into a sinister smile as it waved its bony hand to the darkened figure behind.
"Thank you, master…"
"Remember, never speak a word about this to anyone. Do as you are told and nobody shall be hurt."
"Yes master. I shall do as you ask."
"Very well, you may leave. Scout the city of Prontera for rebels and report to me as soon as possible. Any whiff of threat, leave the city immediately. I do not wish to expose myself, not yet at least."
The servant bowed once more and took his leave. Alone, the cloaked creature gazed at the fog-filled crystal orb and observed the shadowy figures moving in it.
"Alyssa Quayshua, you shall never escape and you know that. The Light will soon be mine, and no one's going to stop me. Not even your pathetic sister that calls herself a huntress could harm me now," it whispered manically, followed by a loud burst of hysterical laughter. The sound echoed horrifically in the dark cave.
Just as sudden as its burst of laughter, it stopped. Growling softly, the sinister creature stared at the orb, unable to believe the sight. "No, this cannot be! He should be dead, not alive! No, no! He shall perish again, I'll see to that. He shall not disturb my plans anymore!"
With that, it snapped its bony fingers and muttered something. A purple fog began to form in front of him, outlining a shape that looked like a mutated horse. Gradually, the fog faded off and an outburst of eerie neighing filled the air. The undead creature smiled in satisfaction and whispered softly, "Go, my spooky servants. Go and extinguish the flame of life in that wizard."
A wave of scepter greeted its order and vanished into thin air. The creature stared momentarily at the empty space before focusing back at the orb.
"You will never live the day when Rune Midgard is mine!"
"Oh, no! I don't believe it! I'm lost, again!"
Frustrated, Alyssa consulted the battered map she was holding and glanced at her surroundings. Finally, releasing a growl of defeat, she flung the map down and plunked herself onto the grassy riverbank.
"How am I going to get there, when I'm so lousy with my bearings?" she muttered angrily as she plucked the leafy greens fiercely. Releasing her pent up feelings with a huge sigh, she rested her head beneath her crossed arms and stared deeply at the azure sky. Oh, Constance, what happened? What happened eighteen years ago that you find it so hard to explain it to me? Who did all of this? She silently cried as questions raced rapidly in her mind. She dimly recalled the first few years of her life. Her first memory was the sound of cries somewhere and glints of metal everywhere. She remembered how she crouched below the bed in fear. Worst of all, she remembered the horrified screams emitted from her mother before she crashed onto the wooden boards, forming a puddle of blood around her.
"Stop it!"
Alyssa tried to block her memories as she stuffed her fingers into her ears, as if trying to stop the haunted screams. Tears streamed from her eyes unnoticed. She could never forget the day she saw her parents being slain by an unknown creature.
"What is yours is now mine, Nexxon Quayshua. Hand it over now," the creature had demanded.
Alyssa frowned thoughtfully. What was so important about 'it' that the creature was anxious to claim? Slowly, she took out the worn out package from her pocket. She gently unwrapped the crusty cloth, only to reveal a startling radiance that blinded her momentarily. Stunned, Alyssa quickly covered it and peeked at the blinding, multicolored light between the layers of cloths instead. "Wow," she murmured, dazzled by the beauty of it. It was like a bejeweled stone, full of radiance. Yet Alyssa could feel something powerful hidden within it, something that felt like…energy.
"So that's what it wanted. This," she whispered as she pocketed it once more. Suddenly she tensed. Something was creeping up from behind her. Slowly edging her hand to her weapon, she readied herself for any sudden attack. She peeked a look from the corner of her eye and noticed that it was a bedraggled archer. Surprised, she called out, "Hey, you! What are you doing hiding like a lunatic between the bushes?"
Startled, the archer jumped and stared at the alchemist, as if noticing her for the first time. "Eh, so sorry. Didn't realize anyone was around," she stammered. Then she did a double take, staring hard at Alyssa. "What?" the alchemist demanded, "Something wrong with the way I dressed today?"
The archer pushed her limp, lavender hair away from her eyes and said slowly, "Alyssa…Alyssa Quayshua?"
Alyssa's eyes widened. How did she know her name? She looked closely at the archer before crying out in delight. "Earilith Sensedriell! Omigod, I didn't know it was you!" she cried as she rushed to hug her.
"Man, you've grown a lot since I last saw you, Lyss!"
"Hey, you've grown too! Never thought you would be an archer, though. I thought you're always keen on sword playing."
"Well, life's not as we planned it to be, is it? I gave up trying to be a sword player once I knew my strength was in long range attacks."
Alyssa grinned. "So, what are you doing here? And why are you so pathetic looking at the moment?"
Grimacing, Earilith looked at her soiled clothes before replying sarcastically, "Gee, thanks a lot. I got stuck being dirty thanks to my missing party. I've been searching for them since daybreak!"
The alchemist raised her immaculate eyebrows. "Party? I haven't seen anyone around this area for ages," she said. Sighing, Earilith slumped on the ground and muttered, "Figures."
"Ah, cheer up Lith! Maybe they had gotten lost somewhere else."
"Great, more walking!"
Alyssa stared at her friend thoughtfully. "Hey, Lith. How about we stick together till you find your party? It's kinda boring traveling alone, and the Morrocan desert isn't exactly tiny," she queried.
The archer's eyes brightened. "Great! Plus this would give us time to catch back on our friendship," she added mischievously. Laughing, Alyssa stuck out her hand and pulled up her friend.
"It's great to have you back, Lith!"
"So, what brings you out here, Lyss?"
Alyssa hesitated. "I'm training," she said shortly.
Earilith sensed her friend was not telling her the entire truth but she did not push it. After all, what is hers to keep shall be hers to tell, when the time is right.
"You know, you've really achieved a lot in a few years. Fancy you being an alchemist now and me still a low-class archer!"
The raven-haired alchemist laughed and shrugged at the same time. "Ah, Lith, it wasn't easy. I had to train endlessly to get to where I am now."
"Hey, maybe you could help me train as well while I'm searching for my dumb party! I'm just about ready to apply for a job as a huntress, only I want to test my skills just a bit more, just in case."
"Sure, why not? It would be fun watching a long-lost pal being promoted."
Earilith laughed. She playfully nudged her friend and picked up her pace. Out of the blue, a piercing wail filled the air. Startled, Earilith exchanged glances with the alchemist.
"Wha-"
She didn't manage to finish her word when suddenly something soft flapped at her face. Frantically, the archer pushed the material away, only to find herself face to face with a beautiful maiden. Well, beautiful wasn't exactly the right word at the moment. The creature's eyes were glowing red on her lily-white skin, her face contorted into an unbecoming snarl. It was a sohee.
"Sohee! What's she doing in Morroc?" Alyssa wondered as she raised her axe, ready to attack the maiden.
"Heeeelp!" came the muffled cry as the creature continued to entangle Earilith with her endless strands of silky blue ribbons. Dashing forward, Alyssa quickly motioned her axe at the black-haired maiden, narrowly avoiding her friend. Taking out a reddish bottle of liquid, she muttered a few words and threw it towards the sohee. A cloud of dust burst and a curious, carnivorous flower emerged. "Flora, attack that sohee!" she commanded. Flora obeyed and began to snarl and bite the sohee.
Not wasting any time, Alyssa rushed by her friend's side, who was unconscious at the moment. Taking out another bottle, filled with orange liquid this time, she murmured a few words and gently poured the liquid into Earilith's mouth. To her relief, the archer stirred weakly. "Earilith! Thank goodness you're okay," she said.
Earilith groaned something unintelligible and her eyes suddenly widened as she stared at the sohee. "Err, Alyssa? I think you're creature's dying," she stammered out, pointing towards the weakening flora. Alyssa looked behind and cursed silently.
"Right, are you strong enough to fight now, Lith? Yes? Good. I want you to attack that sohee as I try to summon more floras to help. This is a great opportunity for you to train yourself before attending the huntress' examination."
Nodding her head grimly, the archer positioned herself in front of the sohee and began showering it with a multitude of sharpened arrows. Her aims were precise and the red-eyed maiden wailed in pain as more and more arrows embedded itself to her body. Although weakened, the sohee continued to try to attack the archer, only to be stopped by three floras this time. Her wails pierced the atmosphere as the truly defeated sohee fell ungainly onto the floor, her clothes tattered and bloodied.
Sighing in relief, Earilith looked at Alyssa and grinned crookedly, "Well, I think that's enough training for now." Alyssa barely noticed her as she stared at the fallen maiden.
"Why would a sohee come this far to the Morrocan desert? Aren't sohees supposed to haunt inside the caves of Payon?"
The archer frowned. Her friend was right. Sohees, by right, do not travel away from their homestead. They prefer the darkness of their dwelling and are fiercely protective over it. So what made this lone maiden travel far and wide? The unspoken question filled the air as both alchemist and archer stared thoughtfully at the carcass of the maiden they had just killed.