Holy Cleansing
Everything was almost finished, and the humans were busy prepping the Cleansing Spell. Xellos had offered to help as well, but Amelia was adamant he not interfere with the Holy ritual. Part of the Mazoku was annoyed, as he couldn't figure out why shrine maidens were such sticklers for purity. But he also welcomed the freedom to be just plain lazy.
So he simply sat inside the cabin in a chair, his legs propped up on a second chair, sipping his favorite tea. Every once in a while he gazed out the window to watch the others busy with their work. Zelgadis was busy by the magic circle, Lina and Amelia were chatting on the porch, and Gourry, also on the porch, was crushing the various dried herbs needed for the ceremony.
Of course, they were still missing the most important ingredient, and a familiar presence approaching from the Astral Plane suggested it was almost here.
Xellos smiled. "It's about time," he said out loud as Llygad materialized in front of him. "We were starting to think you wouldn't make it."
She rolled her eyes, sitting down in the remaining chair closest to the door. "I had to travel all the way to Atlas City to find one of these damn candles, and it was ridiculously expensive. I had to front some of my own money as well as yours to get it." She pulled out a sack. "And that was after using every trick I had in the book to get the guy to bring the price down, short of whoring myself out to him."
Xellos raised an eyebrow, "You didn't torture and kill the shopkeeper, did you?"
"No, but I intend to go back when this is over." She reached into the sack, pulling out a large candle. The Ceiphied Candle was a foot long, ivory-white in color, and the thickness of Gourry's forearm. It had intricate holy symbols carved into the wax, a material that supposedly never melted and always retained its shape.
Xellos reached out and took the candle from Llygad, leaning back in his chair again as he turned it over in his hand. He smiled. "Well, done, Llygad-san. This candle is the most vital part of the ceremony, and I would have hated to delay it longer."
"I know how important it is, Xellos. I've seen the ceremony before."
Xellos placed the candle back on the table. "You've been quite helpful, Llygad-san. I will be sure to let Beastmaster-sama know of your cooperation."
The rogue Mazoku stretched her arms out, placing them behind her head as she leaned back in her own chair. "That's the only reason I'm doing this. Will be nice to no longer have to look over my shoulder or live among humans anymore."
"I'm not so sure your new life will be all that relaxing, Llygad-san," He opened his eyes slightly, giving her a smug smile. "It hasn't been decided yet whether you will work directly under my Lord or your old Lord, Dynast-sama."
That got her attention and she stared at Xellos in shock, "I thought I'd be working for Beastmaster-sama."
"As I said, it has not been decided."
Llygad narrowed her eyes at Xellos. She liked the idea of working under Beastmaster-sama, as she had done nothing to her. But it was Dynast she had defied 300 years ago, and she somehow doubted he would have forgotten. Nor would he be the least bit impressed that she earned her way back by helping Xellos.
"Oh, do not worry, Llygad-san," Xellos said, waving his hand dismissively. "Beastmaster-sama outranks Dynast-sama, so he will have to take you back whether he wants to or not."
"You know that is not what worries me, Xellos." She pursed her lips as she glared at the other Mazoku. "But I do have a choice, still. If I want to serve under Beastmaster-sama rather than Dyn…"
"I'm saying my master doesn't necessarily want you, Llygad-san," Xellos interrupted her.
The Mazoku woman stared back at him, stunned. "What do you mean? I'm doing all this under her orders."
"The only promise she made was that you would be able to return to the Mazoku again. She never said it would be as her subordinate."
"Then what about Dolphin-sama?" Llygad said, failing to hide the desperation in her tone. "If not Beastmaster-sama, then I'd be happy to serve…"
"Llygad-san," Xellos raised a finger in the air to get her attention. "You are forgetting that you are a rogue Mazoku. You have already proven that you are ready and able to defy the orders of your master. It's not a very appealing trait in a subordinate. Deep-Sea Dolphin-sama doesn't want you. Beastmaster-sama isn't so sure she wants you. You're only option may be Dynast-sama and if that is so, then you will obey him, without question. Whether you want to or not."
Llygad sat back in her chair in defeat, looking down at the table as she weighed her options. "I suppose I don't have much choice then." She placed an elbow on the table, leaning her head in her hand. "I guess even working under Dynast again is preferable to staying like this."
"Dynast-sama," Xellos corrected her, raising a stern eyebrow.
"Right, Dynast-sama." She dismissed his words with a wave of her hand before vanishing from the cabin.
"Why didn't you just tell me, Lina-san!" Amelia was staring at her friend, hurt and disbelieving.
Lina, Gourry and Amelia were sitting on the porch watching Zelgadis as he worked in the field north of the cabin. The chimera had the Holy Book in one hand, opened to the page with the diagram, and was holding a stick with the other so he could draw the circle needed for the Cleansing ceremony.
"Oh you can't blame me, Amelia," Lina smiled sheepishly, rubbing a finger on her cheek. "You tend to get all starry-eyed and sappy when I bring up Gourry and me."
Amelia glared at her, "I'm getting really tired of everyone feeling like they have to lie to me! Just what do you all take me for?"
"I wasn't really, lying, per se, it was just…"
"It was a lie, Lina-san!"
"Hey, you two," Zelgadis interrupted, glaring at the women. "Are you going to come help me with this or are you going to keep arguing all day?"
"You looked like you were doing just fine on your own, Zel," Lina yelled back. She was grateful for the distraction from an aggravated Amelia.
"The circle is done, but you guys can still help me with the symbols." He pointed to the completed circle. It was about the same size as the cabin they were staying in, with cross sections were the symbols were to be placed.
"Don't you boss me around, Zel. Don't forget who was slaving over this Cleansing spell while you were off on some love-sick adventure for a week and a half!"
Zelgadis growled at Lina, but kept working.
Amelia smiled at Zelgadis and started walking back to the cabin. "I'll go grab the manuscript and help him."
"I'm all for letting him do it himself," Lina answered stubbornly, but Amelia was already inside.
She closed the cabin door behind her and walked over to the table were the translated manuscript sat. She didn't have to look up to know that Xellos was occupying this room as well.
"Good Morning, Amelia-san," Xellos said cheerfully between sips of his tea, his feet still propped up on another chair.
Amelia contemplated ignoring him and just rushing out the door with the manuscript, but she hesitated. She'd been doing that for over a week because of what he'd done, but now…
"Good Morning, Xellos-san," she barely whispered it back to him, and he cracked an eye open to look at her.
"Oh? You're not avoiding me anymore?"
She sat down in the leftover chair, looking down at her hands as she set them on the table. "You did a horrible, terrible, despicable deed, Xellos-san, and normally I would never, ever forgive you for it."
She looked up at him, and was satisfied to find his brow was furrowed and he shifted uncomfortably.
"But…" She continued. "You made it right. You told Zelgadis the truth, so I forgive you, Xellos-san. In fact, I should probably thank you."
Xellos chuckled, "Amelia-san, if it weren't for these marks, I wouldn't have lifted a finger to help you or Zelgadis-san. I don't think you need to thank me for anything."
Amelia couldn't help but smile slyly at the Mazoku. "You know, I think I like you a whole lot better with a conscience."
"Well that makes one of us," Xellos responded with his customary smile.
"It's not that bad, Xellos-san," Amelia said, smiling at him reassuringly. "Humans have been dealing with guilt since we were first created, and we haven't gone on big quests to try and remove it."
Xellos stared at the princess for a few moments before putting his tea down on the table and removing his legs from the other chair. He sat up, facing the princess directly.
"Amelia-san, you are not bothered by your own conscience because you don't know what it's like to not have one." He raised an eyebrow at her. "And, don't forget, humans are social creatures. It's useful for you to have a conscience. For a Mazoku like myself, it is nothing but a hindrance."
Amelia frowned and looked down at her hands. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But I really wish we didn't have to get rid of it. I still think you are better off like this."
Xellos smiled again, "You are starting to sound like Dova-san. Still thinking of reforming me?"
Amelia shook her head. "No, but speaking of Dova-san, I wanted to ask you something else."
"Oh?" Xellos raised an eyebrow curiously.
"So, is Dova-san trapped inside of you then?" She remembered back to what Zelgadis had told her.
"I'm afraid so, yes." Xellos shrugged, despite his look of disappointment. "I offered her freedom, but she wouldn't take it."
"She's there now?"
"Yes."
"Xellos-san," Amelia looked away, clenching her firsts on the table. "Does this mean that, if things hadn't happened like they did at the Magical Fusion ceremony, I could have suffered the same fate?"
The Mazoku leaned back in his chair before answering, "Yes, Amelia-san. Your ghost would have become trapped inside of my body with her."
She glared at the Mazoku, "And you would have been okay with that?"
Xellos shrugged. "Amelia-san, I didn't even know she was there before our link gave her an outlet for communication. Besides," he waved his hand at her, smiling sweetly, "I'm sure it wouldn't have been all bad for you. You two could spend an eternity playing End Catcher or something."
'This isn't funny, Xellos-san!" Amelia slammed her fists on the table. "That's a fate worse than death, and you know it."
He opened just one eye and frowned. "You think so?"
Amelia shuddered at the thought, but tried her best to be strong. "Nevermind. Thank you, Xellos-san, I guess that's all I wanted to know." She stood up and walked out of the cabin.
Xellos watched her go, but said nothing else. He was well aware it was a fate worse than death; even a Mazoku could guess that.
But he also wondered if Amelia knew that the link she still shared with him meant she wasn't safe from such a fate. Not yet.
He felt the prickling of his conscience come alive at the thought, but he chose to ignore it. It wouldn't be long before he'd be free and such musings would no longer matter to him.
Zelgadis and Amelia carefully poured the Pya sand into the marks in the ground that made up the circle. The sand was especially designed to only be affected by gravity and touch and could not be blown away by the wind. It made it ideal for rituals that had to be performed outdoors.
Amelia was following behind him carefully sprinkling small amounts of the herb mixture onto the sand. "I think that's the last of it, Zelgadis-san," Amelia said as she handed the empty bowl to him. She looked at their handywork and smiled. Everything looked perfect.
The circle and all of its symbols were completely drawn with the sand. The center had two clear spaces, shaped like the number 8, with the Ceiphied Candle in the very center of the "8." The Holy ceremony was ready to go.
Everyone was there to watch. Zelgadis stood with Lina and Gourry between the circle and the forest. Xellos and Llygad were in front of it with the cabin to their right. Amelia stood just outside of the circle, nervously looking at it.
"Woot! Go Amelia," Lina cheered. "You can do it!"
Amelia looked back at Lina and smiled. She stepped into the circle, careful not to disturb the delicate sand. The section opposite of her was meant for whomever she would be cleansing. But since she was the target of the spell,that area would remain empty.
Once she entered the center she knelt down in front of the candle. She clasped her hands together to say a quick plea to the gods before she began. Praying wasn't necessary to perform the ceremony, but she figured every little bit helped.
"Okay, here goes," she whispered, mostly to herself. She took a quick look around the clearing. The two Mazoku standing in front of her, and her friends sitting to her side, watched intently.
Amelia stretched her arms out on either side, raising them up to shoulder level, palms down, hands relaxed. And she began to chant the spell.
"Bakino kas'ote samade owa'tista."
The sand around the circle began to glow dimly and the Ceiphied candle lit up on its own, giving off a soft white light. Amelia could already feel a strangely familiar warm sensation fill her body, like submerging into a luxurious hot spring. She smiled as a feeling of comfort and peace came over her, but she took a deep, lingering breath to keep herself from being lost in the sensation. She needed to concentrate.
Amelia lowered her arms, reaching down to take a small pinch of the crushed herbs into her fingers. She sprinkled it carefully onto the candle, which flared up. The candles light began to slowly change colors, and Amelia brought her hands closer to her face. She clasped them in front of her mouth, her index fingers pointing up as she chanted the next part of the spell.
"Tadei nos'int pava'mo ki'linto."
The mark on Amelia's finger began to glow, and she stretched her hands out in front of her, so that she was almost touching the candle's flame. The Fusion mark became separated from Amelia's finger, orbiting around her hand like a ribbon and becoming larger and larger as it separated from her.
"It's working!" Zelgadis whispered to himself, smiling. Xellos, from where he stood, also smiled.
"Holy Cleansing!"
It was the last piece of the spell, and the mark that was now separated from Amelia's hand sprang high into the air before taking a dive into the Ceiphied Candle's flame. The candle flared as the mark hit it, burning so brightly that Amelia and the others had to close their eyes to keep from being blinded.
When they all opened their eyes, they found the glow of the sand was gone and the candle was extinguished. Amelia quickly looked at her hand and found it completely clean.
The mark was gone.
"Yeah!" Lina cheered, jumping into the air. "I knew you could do it, Amelia! That was perfect!"
Amelia leaned back, sighing with relief. 'It's over,' she thought to herself. 'It's finally over.'
Zelgadis and Gourry smiled, standing up from their sitting positions. The only ones who were not cheering were the two Mazoku.
Llygad looked over at Xellos, glaring. "Something's wrong. You still have the mark!"
Xellos narrowed his eyes. He didn't have to look to know what she said was true. He didn't feel any different.
"Wait a minute," Zelgadis cried out. "What is that?"
Everyone turned back to stare at the magic circle. The Ceiphied Candle, which had just extinguished itself, suddenly ignited again, only this time the glow had a round, flashing shape, instead of a long flickering one.
Amelia stood up on wobbly feet, staring at the light. She watched as the soft glow levitated up above the candle, coming to within eye level of where she stood.
"This isn't part of the spell," Lina growled. "What the hell is…"
Lina's words caught in her throat when the light suddenly shot forth like a bullet, striking Amelia in the face. The princess screamed as she fell backwards, her hands raised defensively.
"Amelia!" Zelgadis, Gourry, and Lina all screamed at once as they rushed to her. They were nowhere near as fast as Xellos, however. With a growl of frustration he teleported to Amelia's side, leaning over to grab her left hand. She had just been attempting to pick herself up, but the Mazoku's actions caused her to fall back again, her arm raised in the air where he could see it.
Xellos narrowed his eyes as he stared at Amelia's hand. The black and red mark was back again on her ring finger.
"What is going on?" Lina cried out as she looked down at Amelia's hand. "Amelia, did you mess up the spell somehow?"
"No, " Xellos answered for her, releasing Amelia's hand as he addressed Lina. "She cast it perfectly. She even removed the mark."
"Then what the hell happened?"
Amelia looked down at the mark, completely stunned. Just as Xellos said, she cast the spell perfectly. Which could only mean…
"Oh no, Dova-san," she whispered to herself. "You didn't…"
Xellos looked down at her in surprise. "Amelia-san, what did you s…"
He didn't finish his sentence. Something else instantly caught his attention and the Mazoku priest sprang in front of Amelia, bringing his staff up in front of him.
A large red beam struck the gem on Xellos' staff full on, but was deflected in all directions. Lina and the others dodged by reflex, barely avoiding the magical "shrapnel."
"Now what?" Lina growled as they all gazed in the direction of the blast.
Llygad stood there, her arm outstretched before her, a single red, glowing eye blinking in the palm of her hand. Her tone was very serious and you could smell her bloodlust from a mile away.
"My orders come from Beastmaster-sama herself, Xellos." She narrowed her eyes at the other Mazoku. "The girl must die. Do not interfere again!"
Chapter 13: Do Not Interfere
Llygad shows her true colors.
