Chapter XX: IN the Village of Magic

Chapter XX: IN the VIllage of Magic

'Honey do you hear something?' asked a husband.
His wife swallowed her tea and looked at her husband. 'What do you mean hear something?'
'I don't know, but I think something's in our closet.'
'That's nonsense, we're not children anymore.'
'Just listen, I sware there are some voices in our closet.'
She tuned her ear towards the wall. 'I think there's too much sugar in your tea dear.'
'No I'm serious, just listen!'
This couple came up to about hip high to the average couple. The husbands skin was a an odd shade of green, like tall grass in July. His head seemed a bit big compared to the rest of his body, in looking at him, one would wonder how his shoulders were supporting it. His eyes were large like saucers, and were bright with the brightness of the new day. His ears sat like wheels upon his head and were tuned towards the wall, listening for what he thought were voices.
The wife was a span taller than her husband, and half a span narrower. Her skin was like cobalt, and her eyes were weary from having to keep up from her husband. She ignored her husbands latest tangent and went on with her breakfast.

Crono's heart raced erraticaly as they streaked through the void. They traveled so fast, the sweat was pulled from his pores. His hands trembled, wishing for something solid to grasp upon. HIs feet wished for a firmament to stand upon.
As Lucca soared, she thought of a name for the area anachronavigations took place; hyper-time, unspace, intraera, the intangible zone, whatever, wherever, whenever they were or weren't it needed just the right name, and she was determined to give it one. Lucca made a mental note to ask The Old Man about the area, or unarea between the gates, and she'd ask her father as well.
Robo searched his data records for where they were, and found nothing. The Old Man's words were recalled, 'You can't record a place and a time that doesn't exist, and never was!' The statement defied Robo's logic systems. There had to be a discernable, calculable explanation for what they sailed through.
Before he could begin to frame one, a blackness formed in the center of the void, and swept over them, pushing out the psychedelic waves that immersed them, and spat them back into tangible, sensible reality.
They came into a dark, cramped space, but it was space. Crono could feel the air stroke his pipes, and could sense solidity of the ground beneath. However, they could see nothing. Wherever and whenever they were, they were enveloped in an area that was rending itself at the seams for containing all three. Robo's massive frame pressed Crono and Lucca against a hard cold wall.
'Where are we?' asked Lucca
'I don't know. Robo, can you give us some light?'
'What luminosity would you perfer?'
'Uh, just enough so we can see where we are?'
Light shone from his eyes to reveal they were stuck in a wooden closet. 'Where's the door?' asked Lucca.
Crono groped about on the wall searching for an opening.
Robo bent the bar that hung over head, and a few thin layers of cloth seperated Crono from the hard frame. Lucca's hand also snaked out also searching for the doorknob. 'Here it is.' She turned it and the three spilled out of the closet like water freed from a resivour.
The couple turned to the closet and their eyes became like screens when they saw their unexpected guests.
'I TOLD you someone was in our closet!' affirmed the husband.
She ignored them and addressed the party. 'What are you guys doing?! You cant just come and go through other folk's closets!'
The party shook the cobwebs out and faced the couple. Robo scanned the couple, unsure of their race, for they did not match anything in his databanks. 'Uh, sorry.' amended Lucca. 'WE're just on our way back home. We didn't mean to intrude in your house.'
'Home?' interjected the husband. 'You realize this is Medina Village.'
'Oh, I was wondering where we are' stated Crono. 'You know, you two being imps and all.'
'Ever so observant.' quipped Lucca. She turned back to the couple. 'Can you tell us how to get back to Truce?'
'Not particulaly, but there is an elderly gentleman who lives out by the shores out west of here, I'm sure he can be of help.'
'Thanks!'
The wife spoke out. 'Oh and be careful out there. Nearly everyone in this village hates your kind. You know old wounds and all.'
Crono's brows arched. 'So, um, why are you guys being so nice to us?'
'Some of us heal faster than others. Besides, 400 years of bitterness and hatred does no one any good. Forgive and forget you know.'
'Alright. Thanks again!' saluted Crono
'Oh and another thing. Be especially weary of the mayor. He's a bit of an ulcer.'
'Thanks alot!' and the three headed out.
As soon as the sun fell upon his eyes, he felt a deep tremor turbulate in his stomache. 'Nuts, I should've asked them if they had some food!' he regretted.
'Geez, is that all you can think about?!' chastized Lucca.
'I can't remember the last time we've eaten!'
'You're right. Let's get home.'
'Why didn't I ask that Old Man for some food either?'
Robo raised a point that he been lingering upon. 'What manner of creatures are they? I have no records of anything of that sort of fauna in my data banks.'
'They're imps Robo.' answered Lucca. 'Some reptilian or human or mystic race. Not really sure to tell you the truth.'
The buildings were not unlike Truce. Most of the houses were constructed of logs, with hard mud used as mortar between them. Crono always imagined that other creatures lived in caves or trees. As he looked about town, something dug into this attention like cold hooks and drew his eyes to it.
He saw in the town square, a group of mystics circling a statue and chanting. Their chant was cacauophonous, and ground in his head like jagged rocks. The sang in a tounge that no man could ever spoke, and had not fell upon human ears in generations. His eyes promted his feet to carry him there.
'Crono, where are you going? We need to get out of here!'
He said nothing only to walk towards the square. The square itself stood off of the ground about thigh high, and was surrounded by a shoulder high wall. The stones which constructed it were grey and cold. He walked up the steps, and saw mystics of all sizes dancing and chanting about a statue. Crono looked at the statue, and froze.
The statue was of a man with hair that flowed down like falling water, with a cape that trailed like the dust of a comet. The cape was framed armour that had been beaten but never pierced. The eyes were fierce with fires kindled by the flames of vengence. Its shoulders were broad as a flooding river, with arms that were crafted and toned. In it's grasp was a scythe. Its shaft was longer than the statur was tall with a fearsome blade that only reapt flesh.
'Crono what's the big deal...' She trailed off as she saw what had drawn his attention, causing her eyes to flash wider than her lenses, and her face to flush pale. 'Oh shit, we do need to get out of here.' She grabbed Crono by the shirt, but he did not move. Instead, he listened intently to the ceremony.
'Hey Robo, any chance you can translate what they are chanting?
'One moment.' Said nothing as he listened, then began to work, humming, clicking, as his data banks and proecssors analyzed and synthesized all the new sounds that he heard. When the decrytption was complete, Robo sounded.
'Finished. Although, I have found one word that I cannot decipher.'
'That's alright, let's just hear it.' Answered Crono.
'"Oh Lavos, we pray you will do your master's bidding and arise and smite humanity from the earth. Come soon, and rid us of the cursed humans. IN Magus' name.'"
Crono and Lucca saw each other become pale. '"Magus"'
Crono went over to one of the mystics who stood watching.
'Crono, what are you doing? You're going to get us killed!'
'Hey what's the connection between Magus and Lavos?'
The imp turned to Crono, paying no heed to his race and continued his chant, '600 years ago the divine Magus created Lavos to be an instrument of revenge against the humans who defeated us Mystics in the great war.'
'So when's Lavos supposed to smite the humans?'
'Soon. We do not know, but he will come and we shall rejoice.'
Crono turned back towards Lucca and Robo and they left the square. 'Let's get out of here.'

They arrived at the mayors estate, and in the front chamber he stood, waiting eagerly. Smaller imps scurried about so not incur more of the mayor's wrath. Crono heard one of them say under its breath, 'This job is torture.'
Robo examined the mayor, unsure of what sort of creature the mayor was. It was a rotund being, that was at least three Robo's wide, and was just as tall. The mayor had short stubby arms, that sat upon the mounds on its sides that had expanded from years of slothful self-indulgence. It's skin was a leathery like an old wornout saddle, and stained blue. It wore heavy robes that were pulled from some wild creture and trimmed in leather. It's eyes were wide, and fill of spite, and mailce. It glared at the party, like they were morsels for his table. It's teeth were crooked, like a row of jagged stones, and were slick with rancid salvia that dribbled down the rolls of his chin.
'I was told there were humans in this down.' Its voice was abrasive and mirey like bones rotting in a bog.
'Uh, y-yes sir.' stated Lucca. Crono looked back and forth between her and the Mayor.
'I am the Mayor, Ozzie VIII. My anscestor was Lord Magus' top general, making his descendents Lord of the Mystics.'
'Ah, we're, um honored.'
It let free a gutteral, throaty life. 'You know there haven't been any humans in these parts for the past 400 years?' It's eyes scanned across all three of them, with a glazen rage.
'Um, no sir.' sweat began to leak from Lucca's brow, and Crono gripped his sword, and caged his eyes on the center of Ozzie's chest.
'Yes. Whenever we lost the Great War, you scum pushed us off of our territory, and we settled here. Do you know what we did to the humans were living here before us?' A wolfins grin spread across its wart and pore filled countenance.
Lucca gulped. Crono turned to see a gang of Oguns and Omnicrons approaching.
'It won't be anywhere near as brutal and horrific as what the great Lavos will do to your entire species! OH if only Magus the Divine had eliminated the human curse, then we'd be ruling this world!'
Crono and Lucca looked at each other.
'Go back to your village, humans. Tell your entire race that revenge will come soon, and there is nothing you can do to save yourselves. And we mystics will rule as kings with Lavos!'
Lucca's hand went to the handle of her gun, and Crono turned to face the retinou behind them, knees bent, hands tense.
'Get them out of here!'
Crono didn't resist as the gang carried them out of the town, and deposited them just past the city limits.
'Why didn't we fight them? You know we coulda mopped the floor with those creatures.' asked Lucca.
'Didn't want to insitigate another war. I mean we shouldn't want to open up a 400 year old wound that hasn't healed.'
'Wow a rational decision! Didn't think you were capable of those.'
'Shut up, let's just go home.'
They found themselves on a path, that they followed across the knolls and rolling hills.
'Where are we going?' Lucca inquired.
'The Old Man by the Sea if I remember correctly. Isn't what that couple said Robo?'
'Scanning memory drives.' There was a serise of quick clicks and Robo replayed the conversation the party had with the imp family.
'I didn't know you could do that!' Lucca was pleasantly surprised.
The rolling hills angled towards a lofty mountain who's shadow stretched out to the shore. IN the shadow stood a quaint cottage. Crono arrived at the door and knocked, wondering who it was who dwealt here.
'Come in.' saluted a calm, deep, tone. His voice was warm and friendly and aged like fine brandy. Crono had heard it before, but wasn't sure where.
All three entered, and there stood old man Melchoir sitting by the fire, book in hand. The sunlight filtered in through windows and shone off of his glasses like twin full moons at midnight.

'Ah! Welcome young warrior! Glad you made it all the way out here! So what brings you here, did you grow weary of the festival?'
'Not exactly. You wouldn't believe me if I told you.'
'O I've heard some wild tales in my old days. Even lived a few.'
'I'll bet you have.'
Melchior cought sight of Robo. He arose without his cane and walked over to Robo, circling him, and looking him over from head to toe. When he finished he cleaned off his glasses.
'My what sort of creature are you?'
'I am Model RX-65Y, or Robo as Lucca and Crono have named me.'
'Who made you? And when were you made?'
'I was assembled at the Bangor Factory in the year 2340'
'You don't say.'
'Lucca repaired me, for I was in a state of derelict disrepair, and was nearly dissembled by my own serial group.'
'You fixed him?' Melchoir turned to Lucca.
'Yes sir.'
'Most impressive. I'd like to study with you sometime. I bet your full of all sorts of great ideas.'
'You don't want to know.' quipped Crono, and Lucca struck him for that remark.
'Just come on back anytime, and we'll talk.'
'I'd like that! Thank you!'
'My pleasure.'
'Say, Melchoir, sir, can you tell us how to get back to Truce?' Crono wanted to know.
'Yes, just go through that cave up north of here, and you'll find a spring that will shoot you right back to Truce.'
'Thank you!'
'While you are here, could I interest you in a blade?'
Crono drew his sword and saw how notched and dented it was. 'Can we work a deal?'
'Sure.' Melchior walked back to a rack and brought out two swords. 'I have here my Red Katana and my Lode Rapier. I'll trade you your sword and 3000 for one of mine. How's that?'
'Sounds fine. Which do you recommend?'
'Well, judging from the state of your sword, I'd have to recommend the Red Katana. This is a very durable weapon.'
'Alright deal.' Crono handed over the money, and took the sword into his grasp. The sunlight danced down the scarlet edge like a shooting star. he smiled to himself.
'And thank you. Should you ever have need of me, you know where I am. Such a sad state this world is in. If only there were no need for weapons.'
'Thanks again.'
They exited Melchiors house and came to the cave. It was damp and reaked of must and moss. Their footsteps echoed throughout the mountain, and somewhere they could hear running water. Crono could see the light, whispy form of his breath drift and break onto the stalagties.
He groaned inwardly as he thought of having to face his mother and explain everything that he had endured. Somehow he figured that saving the past and discovering what could potentially destroy the future might not fly with her. Crono wished Marle could advocate his case for him.
Lucca kept track of Robo from the corner of her eye. She marveled at the way he stepped, and listened intently at his internal systems firing and clicking and processing and other actions she had no words for.

The party trekked into crawl spaces that were no wider than their bodies, and over pools that they could not see the bottom. The skittering of rats, bats, bugs, and other creatures they could not see came into their ears. I am not sure how long it took, but Crono, Lucca, and Robo stood before a swirling pool.
'This is supposed to take us home. I don't know if there's any other way to get back.' stated Lucca.
'I'm sure if there was we would've taken it.'
'I'm ready to get back. Let's go!' 'Great. We're going home.'
'Oh come on, show some enthusiasim.'
'How about YOU face my mother!'
Lucca laughed. 'Now Crono, your mother's not gonna go to berzerk on you.' She turned to Robo. 'Robo, can you survive this? I mean that's alot of water, and I know all that water can't be good for you seeing how much you've been through.'
'Interesting query, should I calculate the probability?'
'Ah, no. Let's go.'
Crono took a deep breath, and leapt in, and the cool, salt filled water shot him out into the deep like a torpedo. Lucca held her nose and followed, and Robo plunged in after her, splashing nearly all the water out of the pool.

End Chapter

They were not two steps off of the square, a gang of mystics stood before them. Crono placed his hand upon the hilt, and counted how many he could drop with an opening assault. 'Where are yall off to in such a big hurry?' inquired an Ogun.
'Oh, Truce. Our home.' Lucca answered.'
'Truce huh. Well, I'd like to inform you that our ever so honorable mayor would like to meet with yall.'
'REally'
'You two are the first humans to have guts enough to come here, and he'd like to meet you.'
Crono and Lucca looked at each other. 'We'd be, honored.' She stated.
Lucca turned back to Crono. 'Damnit, we shoulda got outta here!'
'WE can't refuse the mayor.'
An Omnicron faced Robo. 'What sort of mystic are you?'
'I am an android.'
'What the hell is an "android?" And where are your from?
'I am from the Bangor Dome.'
'Never heard of it.'
They were lead up to a house that stood taller and wider than all others in the village. As they neared, they could hear a booming, abrasive voice screaming, 'GET TO WORK NOW!'
Lucca felt like she was reporting to the principal's office as the butterflies began a battle royal in her stomache. Crono kept holding onto his sword. Robo scanned every different type of creature he had never seen before, and recorded all the data he took in.