The trio spent six months traveling in the Outer words, first in Qua Nar, then what seemed to be a million surrounding areas since Zelgadiss adamantly stated that if the Mazuko were to leave Lina anywhere it would be in some area that her friends would never even know of since it wouldn't be on a map. Of course, the only town they came upon near Qua Nar that wasn't on the map was called Lin Suse and it had a population of maybe 200.
As soon as they emerged through the shrubbery, the voices sounded. "Who are these people?" "And one with stone skin?" "I've never seen a man so tall!" and such.
"Excuse me, I am Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune, Princess of Saillune, and I am wondering the whereabouts of such an individual named Lina Inverse!" Amelia struck a pose, showing a wanted picture of Lina.
The crowd, unused to such strangers, gathered around Amelia and the wanted poster she showed. "Um, no." and "OH GODS NO!" seemed to be the spectrum of replies. Amelia sweat dropped and looked at the picture as it did make Miss Lina out to be some half breed dragon.
"But, Lady Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune…" a voice sounded from the back, as an elder man with a cane made his way through the crowd "have you been to Gase Nar? It's a village surrounding Ti Toh, they have this tournament, called 'The Dragon Man Tournament,' and everyone from far and wide goes to it. I was planning on leaving myself, but if someone as evil as you showed in the picture is alive, she will probably be there. I'm almost sure of it. I mean, everyone goes there."
"Gase Nar? No, we've only been to…" she almost said 'backwater towns,' but considering where she was she stopped herself.
"She won't be there." Zelgadiss said assuredly.
"Let's look." Gourry challenged, the first decision he had made since entering these strange worlds.
"Gourry, I told you, if she's going to be anywhere she's going to be so far under our noses we wont even be able to sneeze on her!" Zelgadiss sighed
"I want to check it out." was all the swordsman replied, not giving a reason.
"Well if you don't want to find Lina ever…" Zel muttered under his breath, but was cut off by a mean glance by Amelia.
"Mister Zelgadiss…" she half smiled, then started off after Gourry.
"B-but Lord Saan Moram, bringing the girl to Gase Nar might only perpetuate her fate! What if her husband is waiting there for her!" Shizuri almost screamed to the Head Priest to the Church of the Aqualord in Ti Toh.
"Miss Shizuri, she has been under our care for over seven months. Trust me, I am almost begging for a fight off in Gase Nar. Cailan's claim has been... interesting, to say the least. You take her off grounds and I will gauge his reaction." Saan Moram, the High Priest of the Aqualord smiled.
"Yes, his claim has been pretty suspicious, but don't you think someone else should take her to Gase Nar while I watch Cailan and you stay here? Cailan, or another priest may seem suspicious if I leave. And what if Cailan follows me? You certainly can't leave the temple." Shizuri smiled
"Trust me. You take the girl, and everything will follow though. Now go, I have a feeling someone is waiting for her there."
'Y-yes sir…" Shizuri bowed, and exited the Head Priest's room. She ran into the main temple, and smiled as she saw the young redhead praying, and the beastman Cailan praying not more than five feet away from her. "Miss Lina!"
The redhead turned around and smiled, breaking her prayer "Yes Lady Shuzuri?"
"In a nearby town, called Gase Nar, there is a festival, called the 'Dragon Man Tournament,' Head Priest Saan Moram wants me to bring you there." Shizuri almost smiled as she saw Cailan's shocked expression.
"But Lady Shuzuri…" Cailan blurted out of his prayers
"Mister Cailan, you are to stay here. She is our charge and we feel that she needs to experience the world. It's okay, we can protect her."
"Is… is it safe?" Lina frowned "I don't want… I don't think I want to go."
"Miss Lina," Shizuri smiled "I will protect you. For the last seven months you have had no memories. Isn't it time to get those back?"
Lina looked down at her hands, and remembered the long blonde hair she kept seeing in her dreams. She shot a glance at Cailan, who smiled and shrugged back at her. "I… I guess. But I want Cailan to come."
"I'm sorry, Miss Lina, but the Head Priest seems to think that I must stay here." Cailan smiled, "don't worry, Lady Shizuri is much more capable than I am, she will keep you safe!"
Shizuri shot a puzzled glance at Cailan, then held her hand out to Lina and smiled "Come, child, let's go!"
Lina furrowed her brow at the competition, 10 gold seemed like so much to her and yet so little people seemed to be competing. "Lady Shizuri?" she started
"Yes?" Shuzuri smiled, looking at the competition on the stage.
"Why are we here?" Lina frowned, not seeing anything special. Not that she would know what special was.
"Shhh! Just wait!" Shizuri shut her off, rolling her eyes. Of all the girls she had to baby-sit… Just then, two men came on stage, one with stone skin and another who was tall with long blonde hair…
Long blonde hair… Lina stared the man in the eyes, frozen, before she broke free from his blue eyed gaze and ran away.
