Sketch of a Monster
- Chapter Four. Unwise -
"Um-num-num," munch-munch, that was good, just one last gulp of that... what was it in his glass? – he had to ask Lina about it... but it sure tasted delicious, gulp-gulp, yeah!
With a satisfied sigh Gourry fell back on his seat and through half-closed eyes looked at the redheaded girl sitting in front of him.
Lina was full, Lina wasn't going to start fighting him over the last piece of food, Lina looked content. Which meant he wasn't going to be beaten on his head, the last piece of food wasn't going to be taken away from him, he was content. Life was good.
Gourry looked through the window of the inn they were dining at. Rays of sun richly soaked the fields, children were running through the long green grass, playing their games. Life was very-very good.
Lina, using a toothpick to scratch between her teeth, smiled, her voice slightly distorted by her ministrations, "Oh, how I love food in this kingdom. Ain't it great we decided to meet here, ne, Gourry?"
"Eh? Meat?" Yeah, meat was very good here indeed; the roast beef they ate just now was absolutely delicious.
"And to think he finally found what he was searching for..." she went on dreamily.
"He? Who?" Gourry honestly couldn't understand who Lina was talking about, weren't they just discussing meat?
One red eye opened to peer at him. The sorceress sighed and got up a little in her chair to lean closer to the swordsman.
"Gourry, do you remember why we went all the way here?"
The blond looked at the ceiling... its beams were rotten in several places, the roof could crumble down any moment now, it was really dangerous... Oh, Lina was asking something, wasn't she?
"Umm, no..."
The redhead sighed and mumbled, "Should've guessed." Then she straightened up and looked at Gourry closely... Honestly, she had such beautiful eyes.
"OK, listen up, you jellyfish for brains, and pay attention!" Lina said. "You remember the last time we saw Zelgadiss?"
He nodded.
"All the time we knew him, he was cursed with that creepy look by Rezo the Red Priest, and Zel was always searching for the cure to turn himself back to normal, remember?"
Gourry nodded again, this time more certain in his answer, after all he hadn't forgotten how unhappy and desperate their friend was, and how all the time he was searching for something, unable to find it.
"... And it was quite hopeless, or at least I thought it was," Lina went on with the explanation. "Until about a month ago Zel discovered an ancient spell, a spell that would extract a golem part from him, a spell that would make him look more human. Remember that? We helped Zel to search for magical water to cast that spell... Oh, how I'd like to beat the crap out of that old Mayor..."
The redhead was getting riled up. So Gourry tried to calm her down.
"Anyway, once we had all we needed, Amelia helped Zel to cast the spell. Don't you remember it, Gourry?"
"Oh, yeah!" the swordsman smiled. Now that Lina reminded him, he could clearly see in his mind the events of that day, how Amelia drew a circle around Zelgadiss with the water, how they started to mumble some strange, unrecognizable words, how the circle began to shine with blinding white light, and how when it all faded away a figure of a man was lying in the middle, unconscious.
"I remember," Gourry laughed. "Zel sure was glad!"
"So he was," Lina agreed.
They were quiet for a while. The sorceress, supporting her chin with one hand, gazed dreamily at the sun soaked fields.
"So now you see?" she asked. "Once Zel woke up and understood that the spell worked, he was very-very happy... All of us were. And once we are happy, what do we do?"
"Do?" Gourry titled his head.
"Party, of course!" the girl yelled, beaming, "and Zel is paying!"
"Umm, I don't remember him saying that," the swordsman muttered.
"Well," Lina giggled, "not in those words, no. But the grumpy Zel just had to run off on some business, who knows where. Jeez, and to think the guy finally had what he wanted all this time, but he's still so impatient! ... Anyway, we stopped him in time and made him promise to join us, all of us, once again."
Gourry nodded several times, he remembered all of that. Amelia was in tears, they were all so excited. But he also remembered a figure standing further away, its eyes hidden in shadow.
"And Xelloss?" he asked.
"What about Xelloss?" asked Lina back.
"Will he be there? ... He would like to be there," or at least the blond felt that way.
"Why do you think so?"
Gourry looked at Lina. The way she was regarding him right now, and the way she asked the question... it was strange somehow.
"I don't know. I just do," and it was true.
"Gourry, you sure have some strange thoughts from time to time. Tell me, why do you think Xelloss would like to be there?"
The blond shrugged, unsure, "I don't know... But Xelloss is our friend, right? And he cares about us, I guess. He cares about Zelgadiss a lot."
Lina studied him keenly and then, to his surprise, smiled one of the sweetest smiles he ever saw.
"Yeah, I guess he does."
The noise of a breaking glass shattered the pleasant tranquility around them.
"Hey!" the innkeeper shouted. "You! Get back here!" and ran outside.
From their table Lina and Gourry exchanged a worried glance.
Not long after the innkeeper stepped inside, looking rather displeased.
"What happened?" a woman asked.
"A couple of damn freeloaders!" the man shouted. "They were sitting here just now, when all of the sudden they decided it would be a great idea not to pay for their meal and took off."
"Don't worry, dear," the woman put a calming hand onto the host's shoulder. "Those men didn't order anything, except for some water... strange customers. Though they did break a vase."
As the couple went back, Lina frowned and Gourry thought, strange, wasn't he feeling peaceful and content a few minutes ago? Then why was he feeling worried suddenly? Somehow the mood of the world changed.
- . - . - . -
The clouds were so pretty... and that one even resembled a delicious pie. They were walking through beautiful scenery. Lina was frowning all this time. What happened? The swordsman didn't see any possible danger. So why couldn't he get rid of that unpleasant feeling?
"Ne, Gourry," Lina started quietly. Then stopped and looked around.
He did the same. There was not a soul nearby.
Gourry yelped as Lina pulled him closer by the ear to whisper, "Listen, it's very-very important."
The blond crouched down near the sorceress, all focused, feeling something serious was troubling her.
"Remember you told that Xelloss cares about Zel?" she whispered.
Gourry nodded.
"Well, you can't tell it to anyone. No one should know about it, OK?"
The swordsman was astonished, "But why?"
"Shhh," the redhead shushed him, then continued in even quieter whisper. "It's very complicated and I won't go into details, but the point is that this is one of Xelloss's secrets and for once I agree he should keep it secret, do you understand?"
Gourry didn't. But Lina was asking him, and she looked very worried, so, "I won't tell anyone," he vowed.
Lina studied him for a few more seconds, then laughed, getting back on her feet and slapping him on a shoulder, rather painfully.
"Thanks, Gourry," she beamed at him and added a bit warmer, "you're the best!"
The blond's eyes widened. Suddenly he ran out of breath and his heart was beating frantically, looking at the retreating back of the girl. The swordsman blinked. What had just happened?
"Hey, wait for me," he hurried after Lina.
- . - . - . -
They came to a clearing in the forest. There was a figure sitting there, cross-legged and calm, surrounded by the greenery of nature.
Lina laughed, "Hey, hey, look who's here. Zelgadiss, long time no see."
The figure stood up and started to walk towards them. Gourry stared. He couldn't recognize the one approaching them and yet he could: the posture, the step, the gestures were all familiar. However there was something off about the stranger, how he seemed more confident and light.
Gourry smiled, Zel sure looked happier than before, "Hello!"
The shaman greeted them.
Lina scrutinized him, "Well, Zel, I bet you have trouble keeping all the girls off from you, now that you look so cute, and those pointy ears of yours are – now, what's the word? – ah, adorable!" she gave him an evil, sly smile, which made the chimera fidget and blush.
"Don't be silly, Lina," he protested grumpily.
"OK, as you wish, never mind about that," the sorceress waved a hand. "Do you have any food, I'm starving!"
Gourry blinked, he was kinda hungry too.
Zel answered dryly, "Yes, in a matter of fact I do. But you won't get any until Amelia arrives."
The redhead pouted, "She's late, so it only serves her right."
Gourry lifted his head, "Where have you been, Zel?"
His companions sighed in unison. What was it he said wrong again?
"I've told you," the shaman explained, "I wanted to visit the place I grew up."
"Oh. Why?"
"I just wanted to, OK?" the man started to look a bit annoyed.
"So, something interesting happened?" Lina asked sitting down; the men followed her example, flopping down on the fuzzy grass.
Zelgadiss sighed once again. Gourry blinked, it was so strange to see him looking as an ordinary human, though those ears, he leaned in to get a closer look, they were...
"What are you doing, you slug for brains?" Lina asked.
"Zel, your ears, they are..."
"Don't touch it," the chimera swatted his hand away just as Gourry was about to say "cute".
"They are just a bit pointy... and fluffy... probably from my demon part. Leave them be!"
Lina giggled, "Did you meet someone you knew on your journey?"
Zelgadiss looked down, shrugging, "Not exactly... Nothing interesting happened."
"Oh, come on, you did meet someone, so spill it out," the redhead said in a voice she sometimes used on Gourry... though he still couldn't figure out what she wanted to say all those times.
The shaman sighed, "Just Xelloss."
He looked like he was struggling with something, but Gourry didn't know what with. Then suddenly Zelgadiss, his hands gesturing widely, started an agitating rant:
"That monster... he constantly shows up, sometimes for a mare minute, and sometimes floating around for hours, always annoying, giving comments and his damned opinion about everything or being completely silent. I don't get him at all! What does he want?"
Gourry laughed, "Well, I'm not surprised, after all... ouch!" – searing pain shot through him as he was sent flying backwards. Ouch, what the hell?
"He-he," he heard Lina's laugh, "silly Gourry." And she gave him a look.
Oh. He knew that look. That look usually meant something big and something not very good for him. But what? And now she was glaring at him. What? ... Oh! Gourry remembered: he promised not to tell anyone that Xelloss really cared for Zel. Not even to Zel... What a strange thing to promise.
The swordsman rubbed the back of his neck – oops, he almost told the secret.
Zelgadiss was looking at them suspiciously, "What? What's not surprising?"
"Ah," Lina laughed, "remember Xelloss said we're his friends? So that was a friendly visit. So it's not surprising at all, ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Gourry knew that laugh was not real Lina's laugh.
"You're stranger than normal," Zel muttered.
"Really?" Lina asked. "Oh, look who's there, isn't it Amelia? Amelia!"
The redhead waved and took off to great the princess.
At that moment Gourry sucked in a breath – someone else was nearby, and that someone was dangerous.
He was just reaching for his sword and was about to shout a warning when everything around them changed.
A dark cloud of energy burst through their group, blowing and whizzing, knocking everybody down.
Someone was shouting; Gourry could distinguish Lina's voice. Was she all right? No, he had to calm down. She was strong. She would be all right.
The wind, unnatural cold and heavy wind, was still blowing and buzzing.
Gourry saw a figure not far away. It was black. He lifted his sword and charged at the dark form, but it disappeared right before he could manage a hit.
The swordsman turned around, searching for the enemy. The wind made his hair struck his eyes. It was difficult to breathe.
From a corner of his eye he saw Zelgadiss firing a spell towards someone and then lifting up the sword, but it looked like the shaman wasn't used to the weight of the sword and he stumbled in his steps.
Gourry hurried in that direction, but he was too late.
A black silhouette appeared behind Zelgadiss and struck, making the man fall, while another figure appeared in front of him and caught the shaman.
The swordsman could hear Amelia yell, but the wind was getting heavier and darker, so that for a moment Gourry couldn't see a thing.
Where's Lina? Is she all right? were the only thoughts in his mind, but in a heartbeat all went still.
Gourry blinked adjusting to the suddenly blinding clear sky on a sunny day.
They were at the clearing in the forest. Just the tree of them, standing, looking around them, ready for a sudden attack. Where was Zel?
A laugh drew their attention. The air flickered, grew denser, and three figures appeared, one of them was unconscious. It was Zelgadiss.
"Stop right where you are!" one of the figures said.
That voice sounded strange to Gourry. He looked at them closely; they appeared to be normal people, both wearing dark cloaks. But that voice, it made unpleasant shivers run down his spine.
"Are you mazoku?" Lina gritted out through her teeth.
"Very observant," the other said.
"What do you want with Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia cried.
The figures smiled.
"Your chimerical friend over here? Oh, we have great plans for him."
"You! I'll get to you!" Lina promised.
"Silence!" the taller monster snapped. "Though it would bring me great pleasure to torture and slowly kill you, Lina Inverse, for what you did to Hellmaster Fibrizzo-sama, but right now you will be our messenger."
Hellmaster Fibrizzo? Gourry couldn't remember him. He shook his head – right now was not the time for such thoughts.
"What do you want?" the redhead demanded.
The monster with Zel in his arms smiled, "You, Lina Inverse, are going to deliver a message to Xelloss Metallium. You are going to tell him that if he wants to see the chimera alive he is better to give us the Red Stone of Madness." [*]
"What stone?"
"Oh. You have seen it. It is the stone he is constantly carrying with him. It is the stone that is embodied in his staff."
"Just who are you?" Amelia asked, her hands tightly clutched.
"We were the servants of Hellmaster Fibrizzo-sama. Xelloss knows where to find us."
The taller one added in a low voice, "Tell him to hurry, or else..."
They disappeared from sight, taking unconscious Zelgadiss with them.
"Damn it all to hell!" Lina screamed. Then she laughed bitterly, "Those were the ones from the inn..." she kicked a stone nearby.
Amelia slid down onto the burned grass; tears were glinting on her cheeks.
Gourry's shoulders slumped. Poor Zel.
"But why?" the princess quietly asked. "Why would they need Zelgadiss-san to make Xelloss-san give them what they want?"
She looked at them with a gaze that was full of worry and incomprehension.
Gourry frowned. Would it be unwise to tell Xelloss's secret to her?
- TBC -
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* I swear, I've exhausted my imagination trying to invent the magical artifacts for this fic.
AN: The author hopes Gourry was in character here. Maybe he turned out to be a bit more absent-minded than silly, but the author sees him as someone who has great intuition but rarely uses it when not in "battle mood" so he was portrayed as such.
I'm sorry for taking is so long to update, but the fact is I've been caught up in Baccano! anime to notice anything else. By the way, if you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it – a real masterpiece.
Anyway, the next chapter – oh-ho-ho! – finally something I wanted to write all along – Xelloss's POV!