Lina was deeply engrossed in a book they've extracted from a weird underground temple the day before. The book turned out to be a prior's diary and contained all kinds of exciting things — from kitchen spells to battle tricks. Everything the odd man heard, read or figured out and decided worth writing down. Currently Lina was learning a summoning charm that brought you things from not far away — very useful when you are too lazy or too busy to stand up and go fetch it.
And then all of a sudden she felt the air around her shuddering, and there was Xellos falling out of an astral slit, like a log. He collapsed with a low thump and a groan, dark vapour streaming from his stomach in every direction.
"Xellos! What the hell happened to you?!" she cried jumping up.
"Sorry Lina..." he barely whispered. "I didn't mean... to end up here..."
He clutched at the wound and curled up defensively. Lina knelt beside him.
"Who did this to you anyway? Not Gaav-reborn, I hope?"
"No... Say hi to Filia for me though..." the mazoku attempted a wry smile, but that didn't look convincing. He winced and groand again, somewhat desperately.
"Hey, Xellos... Can't you go to the Astral Plane and heal there? Or can't your master help you out?.."
Xellos just shook his head weakly. By that time the whole Slayers gang, including Sylphiel, surrounded him. Lina's mind was racing.
"But there must be some way to get you to normal... Maybe some other mazoku-lord?.."
"Nah, Lina, I won't make it, sorry to bother you..." Xellos's words were barely audible. Lina's eyes widened:
"Holla! You're not dying on me!"
Instead of an answer the mazoku closed his clouded eyes. Lina clenched her fists. It was time for action.
"Oi, Xellos! Just make sure you're alive for another minute, OK? I'll just check something out!"
With that she jumped back to her place near the fire and grabbed the book. Where was it? After the noodles-making spell, but before the dragon anatomy chart... Ah, here!
She quickly re-read a page, recalling the words and moves. Then rushed back to where Xellos lay still and silent, as if already dead. But she knew he wasn't because mazoku vanish when they die...
Lina turned her unfortunate comrade face-up and pulled the glove off her left hand. Then she pressed her hand with spread-out fingers right into his wound. Xellos jerked and opened his eyes once more:
"Lina! J-just leave me alone!"
"I know better than to do that", she smirked evilly and proceded following the prior's instructions. There — she felt the pulsing orb at the very center of Xellos's body. That was supposed to be his core, the essence of his being. She cupped her hand around it gently and took in a deep breath before starting her chant.
"Lina! Don't do it!" Xellos moaned desperately.
"Sorry. You're not in the position to order me around", she smirked.