A/N: So sorry about the late update, I was away for a few weeks without any computers in hand. Oh and so sorry about the 'sulking', I was in a weird mood at that time. Anyway, hope you will enjoy this update, although it is shorter than the previous chapter

Chapter 7: Friend of Foe?

Alyssa,

By the time you've found this letter I'm probably already sitting for my huntress examination in Payon City. Don't wait up for me 'cause I'm not entirely sure when my exams will be over. Anyway, could you meet me at Al de Baran at about one week later? I know you need to be there since you're guild's there, and I really, really hope that I can train with you together. Oh, and bring your drop dead gorgeous friend along too! Hehe…

Earilith
Something was poking her painfully on her side. Groaning, Alyssa tried to ignore the jabs and tried to get a few winks of much needed sleep. "Go away," her muffled voice was heard beneath the thick, fluffy pillow covering her head. The pokes increased and a small outburst of soft laughter rang out.

Irritated, Alyssa finally threw her pillow at that outburst and glared at the culprit. "Can't you give me a break? I need sleep!" she grumbled as she rubbed her eyes rather sleepily. She looked blearily for a moment, trying to see who was it. Focusing properly, she realized that her source of annoyance was none other than that sage himself.

As she tried to clear the cobwebs from her brain, Shenzein laughed at her as he said merrily, "Wake up, sleepyhead! You're the last to rise today. Besides, it's already noon and we definitely need our lunch! Unless you're on a diet that is…" He glanced slyly at the irate alchemist. Alyssa groaned again but this time she got up unwillingly.

"All right, I'll get up. But you'll just have to get lost while I change. So, get lost!" she ordered as she pushed him out from the room. Slamming the door on his grinning face, she looked blankly around for a moment. Now, where were her clothes? As she rummaged her rather untidy basket full of clothes, she suddenly spied a written note gently plummeting onto the floor. Curious, she bent down and picked up the fluttering note.

Quickly, she scanned the written piece as a grin was slowly forming on her face. "So that archer had finally decided to take the exams," she said to herself, trying to quell her laughter, "At last! I was wondering when she would go anyway." Alyssa left the note on her dressing table and continued her search for her clothes. It took her a few moments to realize that they were just lying beside the armchair she was snoozing on last night. Cursing at herself, she quickly grabbed the clothes and donned them as fast as possible, grabbing a hairbrush and run it through her hair frantically. Finally, smoothing her skirt, she took a deep breath and opened the door. Holding the handles of her flowery baggage, she lumbered down slowly, cautious of her newly made cart.

Once downstairs, she automatically scanned the semi-dark bar for her friend. After a few glances, she noticed that Shenzein was sitting by a rather large, wilting pot of flowers. She made her way towards him and determinedly ignored the catcalls and wolf whistles as she passed by several men. She hated the fact that men would simply disturb her and thinks her as weak just because she's a girl. She never considered herself as a beauty since she was often overshadowed by her sister's radiance. Not that she minded anyway, she hated to be in the center of limelight.

"Ah, Lyss! Glad that you could make it down at last. Have a drink?" he offered as he lifted his own glass of Morrocan spirits. Nodding her head, the alchemist sank onto the chair next to Shenzein and ordered a large plate of savage barbequed meat with a glass of orange juice.

"So, what's up here? You still didn't tell me what are you doing here. And why did you faint anyway? No bruises, no wounds, but dehydration?" queried Alyssa lightly. Shenzein stared thoughtfully as a huge, bronze plate appeared in front of the alchemist, along with the small glass of juice she ordered. Finally, he said, "Well, I'm here partly as a vacation I've always needed for so long. And the reason why I crashed was 'cause I was doing some research the night before. I didn't realize I was over exhausted I guess."

Alyssa snorted rather rudely as she shoved the tender meat into her mouth. After a few chews, she swallowed it down and washed it orange juice before saying, "How typical of you, Shein! Never a day I've seen you not studying or researching. What are you trying to do to yourself, overstuffing your brain that way?"

The sage chuckled. "Ah, Lyss, it's what I like anyway. Just like how you're enjoying the ways of an alchemist as well as a merchant. By the way, I thought you had a few friends with you? Where are they anyway?"

The alchemist was just about to spear a piece of meat when he asked that question. Putting down her fork, she gave him a surprised look before saying evenly, "Okay, first of all, Earilith went to undertake her huntress' exams. The priest I have no idea, since I don't know him anyway. I think he went to find his sister at the assassin's guild. But, the question is, how did you know I was not alone?"

"Easy, people talk around here. Especially when they are talking about a certain beautiful alchemist staying here," he said simply, a wide grin on his face. He tactfully omitted the fact that the same people were now kicked out from the inn after insulting and insinuating about her.

Cleaning her plate clean, Alyssa sank back and patted her full stomach, releasing a large gust of air. "Full? That's pretty much a small plate for you, doncha' think?" the sage teased her. In their childhood days, the alchemist was usually the big eater between the both of them. There were even times when Alyssa had managed to down five large helpings of wild rice and spicy meat before surrendering. Shenzein grinned at that memory. It was rather funny, now that he thought about it back. All of the guys gaped at the slender girl as she ate, wondering where did she put the food in her stomach. Their thoughts were only one: How could such a slender girl eat so much and not get fat at all?

"-funny, Shein!"

Shenzein started. He stared blankly at her. Alyssa sighed and rose up, grabbing the handles of her cart. "Never mind. You're mind's elsewhere anyway," she said.

"Come on, let's go exploring. Being cooped up here is so boring."

The sage nodded his head and flipped a few coins onto the wooden table. Silently, he followed her outside. "Hey, I'm sorry if I made-" he started as he stepped out from the inn. He stopped in surprise and horror. He felt like he had stepped in a vortex of darkness as soon as he stepped out from the wooden door. Right in front of him, there were no less than ten ghoulish, eerie nightmares, stamping and snorting for all they worth.

"Alyssa!"

The sage readjusted his eyesight quickly and began to realize that the alchemist was knocked unconscious and held hostage by one of the gloomy centaur. Shenzein rushed towards her, only to be blocked by two nightmares. "Get lost, you filthy beasts!" he shouted angrily, mentally preparing a fire spell quickly. He felt the white-hot flames coursing in him and quickly focused it into his hands. As quick as thought, the sage threw a few fireballs at the beasts and leaped back just in time as one of the scepters came crashing downwards.

As quick as thought, the nightmares circled around Shenzein, waving their scepters menacingly as they emitted an eerie cry. To his dismay, he saw that the unearthly creatures had pulled the alchemist out of sight. "Just what I need, more troubles!" he shouted angrily as he mentally prepared a few spells. In grim determination, he darted in and out, avoiding the deadly waves from the nightmares as he summoned more fireballs and soul spheres continuously, wounding the horror beasts. He dare not use any fully charged spells as Alyssa was still among the dastardly creatures. "Come on, Alyssa, where are you?" he muttered as he frantically darted looks around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the alchemist.

"Get out of my way, you big ugly brute!" he yelled frustratedly when one of them blocked his path. He sent a few fireballs flying on their way and quickly ducked as it howled in pain and checked its singed wound.

"This is not good," he groaned, "Alyssa, come on, where are you?" Suddenly, he heard the sounds of metals clashing on one another behind him. Stopping in surprise, he turned around, only to find himself staring at a blond female assassin. As he watched, the assassin deftly avoided the swinging blades and added a few attacks on her own. Her attacks were swift and precise, not to mention deadly. In just a few seconds, she had sent one of the horrors crashing down, dead. Wow, she's good, he marveled. Suddenly, the assassin turned towards him. "Oi, you there! Go and get your friend while I distract these filthy beasts!" she shouted as she ducked another blow.

"Er, right," he replied, rather taken aback. How did she know he was searching for Alyssa? Then he realized that he was actually at the streets of Morroc. "Now where are all those shady folks when I need them?" he muttered, pondering at the puzzle as he searched for the unconscious raven-haired girl. Finally, he spotted her, and her captor, beside a withered tree trunk. Aha! He thought triumphantly. Rushing towards her, he quickly summoned a few soul spheres and sent them behind the captor, only to redirect them towards it again from behind. Surprised by the sudden attack, the nightmare gave a cry and dropped the alchemist. Seizing this opportunity, Shenzein dashed forward and hurriedly hoisted the alchemist on his shoulder and left the spot. Ignoring the beasts, he avoided the swinging blows as he headed towards the inn. There, he placed Alyssa gently onto the doorstep and went back into the chaotic mess. He had to help his unusual aid before the creatures slay her.

"Hey, I'm going to conjure up something big now! Could you circle up these putrid creatures in one spot?" he shouted as he held out his staff in front of him. The assassin heard him and nodded before flitting in and out, chasing the now confused nightmares into a tight circle. Staring directly at the nightmares, the sage focused his energies into his glowing staff, muttering something unintelligible for a few seconds. He felt the earth rumbling below him momentarily before hard, solid spikes rose into the air, piercing the eerie beasts, killing them all at once.

"Phew!" he sighed, slumping on a nearby rock exhaustedly. He glanced briefly at Alyssa, glad to see that she was okay, apart from the fact that she was still oblivious to reality. He tore his glance away from her and focused on the assassin, who was now leaning against a crumbling wall.

"Thanks for your help, miss. But why did you help me? No offense, but as far as I can see, not one of those lousy streetwalkers interest themselves in a bit of a killing spree," he asked curiously. The assassin tucked a stray lock of champagne blond hair behind her ear and grinned at Shenzein.

"Question, questions," she said in mockingly, "For your information, I happen to enjoy lending a helping hand anytime, even though I am an assassin. My interest in generosity has nothing to do with the job I follow, nor the business of the rest of those…streetwalkers."

Shenzein laughed amusedly, "Right, I get your point. No more questions. But let me just introduce myself. Name's Shenzein Zephyrthros, Shenzein for short. And my unconscious friend over there is Alyssa Quayshua."

"Nice to meet you, Shenzein Zephyrthros. My name's Anexia Kristos. Just call me Anne," came the reply, "Now about your friend…shouldn't you rest her on a much comfortable place, like on a bed for example?"

The sage gazed wryly at Alyssa, inwardly admitting his mistake there. He heaved himself up and bent down to lift the alchemist. "You coming?" he asked as he pushed the inn door open with his knee. The assassin nodded and followed him silently inside all the way to the alchemist's messy room.

"Now, what can you tell me about those beasts we encountered outside," Anexia asked casually when Alyssa was finally placed gently on the soft bed. The sage shrugged, "I was hoping you could tell me about it. One moment I was happily drinking in this inn, the next, wham! Nightmares darken my day."

"Interesting…"

Shenzein looked at her curiously. What was up with this assassin? Suddenly, the sage regretted his invite to the room. Anexia glanced at him briefly. As if reading his mind, she said softly, "I am not here to fight you, Shenzein. I have my own reasons for finding the truth, just as you. We are both on the same mission here, you from the sage council, and me from the assassin clan."

The assassin stood up abruptly and headed for the door, stopping briefly and said, "I'll leave you two alone. When you are ready to talk, come downstairs to the inn. Oh, and bring your friend along with you. All of this has something to do with her as well…" And with that, she left the sage gaping at the open door.

"Alyssa has something to do with all this?" he asked himself silently as he stared at the sleeping figure. This is not good. How did she know what I was to do? And what connection is there between the massacres and Alyssa? Now what am I to do? He thought confusedly as he slouched on a nearby armchair. He stared at the open window moodily, wondering what in the name if Rune Midgard was going on. Suddenly he sighed. "Well, whatever questions I have can't be answered today. Might as well I get some rest while waiting for Sleeping Beauty over there to awaken," he said to himself, settling himself more comfortably on the armchair.