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Milgazia sighed as yet another inn keeper denied ever seeing a girl matching Lina Inverse's description. Following the weak directions Luna provided left them with very little after weeks of searching. A few almost random inns along the path said maybe a girl like that was in, they couldn't remember for sure since it had been over a month since the girl in question had been through.
Filia thanked the man and turned back to Milgazia and together they left the inn. She too was feeling discouraged. Miss Lina had been much easier to find last time since she had a pretty good idea where she would turn up. With nothing ground breaking occurring, Lina could be anywhere shaking down bandits or searching for treasure or good food.
"Our time is quickly slipping away." Milgazia pointed out. "There has to be a better way."
With a great sigh Filia's shoulders slumped. "Well I suppose we could try Atlas City. Miss Lina shows up there more often than anywhere else when she's looking for leads on treasure and bandits."
Filia felt tired as she shifted into dragon form for the flight. They must have covered a quarter of the land within the monsters' fallen barrier. What would happen if they couldn't find Lina in time? Should they try to convince Luna to help instead? Would Luna even consider it? For that matter if they even found Miss Lina, how was she supposed to convince her to help? Lina was reluctant to get involved in the fights between Gods and Demons, even though she usually ended up being dragged in before long anyway.
Ground blurred by as the two dragons soared higher and higher to catch the higher air currents. Even with that speed it took all day and night to reach Atlas City.
When the city lit by the early rays of dawn graced the horizon, the two golden dragons glided down to the ground. Once in human form again they followed one of the roads leading into the city.
There were very few people up yet when they entered. Chill from the night still hung heavily about and shadows were still stretching across the city streets since the sun was still struggling to rise above the trees and buildings.
Filia fidgeted with her dress as they walked. Although she knew that Lina visited Atlas city fairly often from listening to the stories of their travels, she had no idea where exactly in the city she frequented. Lina tended to refer to inns by the food they served rather than their actual names; a reference that Gourry and Amelia easily kept up with.
Hanging in a square Filia found her salvation. She ran up to the brightly painted banner.
"Look at this!"
Milgazia read from the banner. "The celebration of the union of the crown princess Amelia Wil Tessla Seillune and Elvander Jonard…"
"It's only two weeks away. Miss Lina must be planning to attend."
"Well at least we know where she will be, but by the time the celebrations are over we'll be approaching our third month."
Filia nodded. "Can't be helped. Hopefully we will make back to the temple in time."
Somehow Filia knew it would work out now that they knew where to find Lina. Something about Lina was that things always seemed to work out, perhaps not in the best possible way, but they always avoided complete catastrophe.