"Everything looks good." Sylphiel said as she closed her bag, "You are now free to go about your regular routine."

"Thank goodness," Lina said as she practically jumped off the bed. "Oh, I am taking a long walk after breakfast! My legs are so sore from doing nothing."

"Just don't over do it." Gourry cautioned.

"I'll leave you to get dressed." Sylphiel said.

"Hey," Lina said as she walked over to her, "I don't know how we can every repay…"

Sylphiel waved her away, "I was happy I could help."

"Look, I know this is a difficult conversation. I mean it couldn't have been easy for you, and I'm pretty sure if I'd been in your shoes I would have been a lot meaner."

Sylphiel blushed as she opened her mouth to protest, but Lina quickly put a bottle into her hands and said, "Take this."

Sylphiel's eyes widened. "Is this an adellian potion?"

"You should be able to sell it for some good cash, I mean really good cash. Use it towards rebuilding Sairaag, or whatever you want to do." Lina said.

"I am. But I can't accept this."

"You can. Our baby is priceless to us, so this seems like pocket change really." Lina said.

"It's rare that Lina is this generous with her money," Gourry said, "So just take it."

Sylphiel blinked her eyes rapidly, "I can't begin to tell you how much this helps me."

"Just put it to good use." Lina said.

Sylphiel smiled a little as she wiped her eyes, "I will. Thank you."

"Will you be leaving with the other ambassadors after breakfast?" Lina asked.

"Yes," Sylphiel said, "It is quite a long trip back to Lyzeille and I am eager to get back. Especially now that I have this, as well as some help that Princess Amelia offered. I have a feeling that this time next year things will be very different."

Lina put a hand on her stomach. All of them were going through such massive changes! She and Gourry would have a small baby this time next year, and so would Zel and Amelia. And Sylphiel could be breaking ground on Sairaag. "Let us know how it goes. And if you ever need any help, feel free to contact us. We will offer whatever assistance we can. Like I said, our baby is priceless and to be honest I don't feel that we can ever repay you."

Sylphiel grabbed her hands, "If it hadn't been for you the world would have been destroyed, several times earlier. Everyone here owes their existence to you. This was only a small way I could repay you."

Lina was a bit taken aback, but managed to squeeze her hands, "Take care, Sylphiel."

"You, too. Let me know when your little one arrives. Safe journey."

"We will. Safe journey."

"Sir Gourry." Sylphiel said as she nodded.

Gourry nodded in acknowledgement as she turned to leave. Lina sighed as the door shut behind her, "That wasn't too awkward this time. I guess we're figuring it out like the mature, responsible adults that we are."

"You're a mature responsible adult?" Gourry asked.

"Anyway," Lina said as she opened her chest of drawers and started rummaging through her clothes, "I hope her luck turns."

"Huh?" Gourry asked.

"Amelia was telling me about how she's been having a hard time of it with rebuilding Sairaag and all." Lina said. "I hope it takes off. And that she finds the man of her dreams soon."

"What? Worried that I'll run off with her?"

"Hardly," Lina said disdainfully as she grabbed a shirt. Given that everyone at Maninstit knew she was pregnant, there was no use hiding the bump anymore, "But I don't like feeling guilty for marrying you. Especially when we didn't do anything wrong."

He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss the crown of her head, "It will be nice for things to go back to normal. I mean I am glad she was here, but it does get uncomfortable."

Lina smiled a little, and then wondered out loud, "I wonder what we're having for breakfast? I am so hungry!"

Lina did feel a bit self-conscious as they stepped out of her room and walked towards the stairs. Most of the clothes she had were tailored to minimize her bump so even though she wasn't deliberately hiding it now she didn't think anyone would notice unless they were looking. And now that the cat was out of the bag, everyone would be looking. The sounds of students milling about downstairs grew louder as they walked down them, and soon one of the students shrieked, "She's back! Dame Lina is back!"

It seemed as though everyone in the foyer started talking at once as they surrounded her, asking her how she was doing. "Okay, okay, back off and give me some space!" Lina said, though she was smiling and good natured, "I'm doing perfectly fine, I'm ready to get back to work, and I'm strong enough to kick any ass that needs kicking."

A few people laughed as Maeve said, "You look so pretty!"

Lina blushed a little, "Thank you."

"See, I told you her boobs had gotten bigger." She heard Adora whisper to Mara Jade.

Lina yelled. "Yours wouldn't be the first ass I need to kick, would it Adora?"

"Sorry, miss." Adora said sheepishly.

"Sir Gourry, Dame Lina," Jean-Luc said as he broke through the crowds. "Good morning. It is good to see you out and about again."

"Thank you." Lina said, and then was surprised as Jean-Luc turned to address Gourry.

"I did as you asked, and I got a strange request." Jean-Luc said.

Lina looked at Gourry questioningly as he asked, "Oh?"

"Well, my uncle relayed a message from the Duchess Gertude that she would like to speak with her brother about something called Garm."

Gourry paled a little as Jean-Luc continued, "Would you be able to meet tonight at eight?"

"Yes." Gourry said.

"I'll let him know." Jean-Luc said as he ran off.

Before Lina could ask Gourry a question, Pippi ran up and squealed, "Congrats! You look so cute!"

"Um, thanks." Lina said as she touched her belly shyly. This was definitely going to take some getting used to!

Pippi reached out, "Can I touch it?"

"No." Lina said as she put her arms around her belly protectively, and then she sighed as she saw the look on Pippi's face, "Ask Amelia, she likes it. Now go on to breakfast. All of you! Go! I'll see you in class this afternoon!"

The children dispersed, and Lina and Gourry continued towards the dining room. "What's this about?"

"I asked Jean-Luc to check with his uncle to see about the attacks in the Elmekian Empire."

"Wow, I'm impressed." Lina said. "Let me guess. Duchess Gertrude is a relative?"

"A sister." Gourry said.

"Please tell me she's nothing like your mother."

Gourry sighed as they entered the breakfast room, "She was a few years younger than me, and I left when I was seventeen. I really can't say much about what she's like or how marriage has changed her."

"So this could either be good or bad." Lina said.

"With my folks, always brace yourself for bad." Gourry said.

"Starting in two weeks we will conduct a series of Catch the Flag games." Gourry told the assembled kids as they started to murmur excitedly. "You will play for points, and at the end of the season the team with the most points will win a trophy. There will be some twists, though."

Everyone went silent to listen as Gourry said, "At some point in the game, a rock golem will defend the flag. It will be fully under one of the sorcerer's control, and a certain level of skill will be required to defeat it. I've attached sheets for rules that we have worked out."

There was a rustling of paper as everyone started to read them. The rock golem had been Zel's idea, and a way to rig the game so that players would be forced to make a strategic retreat as at least two people would be necessary to defeat him. Gourry had thought he'd feel more excited than he did as he watched them, but the truth was he was so worried about what was happening in the Elmekian Empire that his feelings were rather muted.

Eventually the kids started chatting excitedly, and Han said, "I think this will be fun. Add some competition, give us some non-life threatening excitement to think about."

Gourry nodded, and he looked towards the manor and saw that the ambassadors were leaving, "It will also be a relief to have all of these official types gone."

"And the Eternal Queen is happy." Han said. "She believes we were successful."

"I guess we'll see."

Han clasped him on the shoulder, "Keep your eyes open, and believe it will be okay. Now, let's start class."

At eight, Lina met with Gourry, the Eternal Queen, Luna and Amelia to talk with Gourry's sister. Jean-Luc explained that Getrude's own sorcerer would use a vision spell to project her image to them. When Getrude appeared, promptly at eight, Lina had to admit that she was a bit off guard. Lina had been expecting another blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty, but it seemed as though Gertrude was the odd one out. Not that she wasn't beautiful. That definitely seemed to run in his family. And in this case, Gertrude was an auburn-haired green-eyed beauty. "Gourry." She said commandingly, but there was an undercurrent in her voice that Lina couldn't quite identify.

"Trudy." Gourry replied.

Gertude looked him over, "Did you kill our mother?"

"No," Gourry said, "And there's several ambassadors from other kingdoms who will swear that they saw me at home at the time she was murdered."

Gertrude smiled mirthlessly, "A pity. There were many times I wanted to kill her."

Lina wasn't sure if she was attempting to manipulate Gourry into incriminating himself or if she was serious. When Gourry opened his mouth she feared he would say something stupid. Instead he said, "I never wanted her dead. Banished to the far ends of the earth or reformed, but never dead."

"You were always the noble one." Gertrude said with the fire of barely concealed rage within her voice, "Greg knows that. But the hounds are beckoning for war, and he's going to get us all destroyed with it!"

"So you don't approve of Gregory's plan?" Lina said, surprised at her vehemence.

"Damned if I was going to get involved, to my own folly. I know better now. Unfortunately it took some losses to wake me up to that."

"What happened?" Lina asked.

Gertrude was silent for a moment, "Last week I was visiting a property close to the Desert of Destruction. We kept hearing rumors about a monster called Garm, but we just thought it was a silly legend. I now know better. We were attacked and I barely got away with my life! My best friend didn't." Gertrude said as she started to tear up, "I've seen what this thing can do! I went to Gregory and begged him to send troops to kill it, but he got it into his head that he needs to capture it and release it upon Zeferia."

"What?" Everyone in the room exclaimed.

"I'm no Mazoku slayer, but I know that that beast will not be captured. It will die before it's captured, and it will take a lot of people with him. Swords have no effect on him, and not even the sorcerer I had with me was able to do much. Granted, he wasn't very talented. Still. Gregory is a fool to try and I want it destroyed because it killed my friend!" Gertrude said, "And I can tell you there are a host of other Elmekians who are terrified of Garm."

Lina turned to look at the Eternal Queen who said diplomatically. "We are sorry to hear about your loss and the tragedies that you have endured."

"That means nothing to me if those are just words." Gertrude said.

"We have many talented people who can defeat this creature. We would be willing to send one to the border, regardless of what you can promise us in return." The Eternal Queen said.

"The Dukedom of Arapi is the largest in this country." Gertude explained, "My husband and I are prepared to refuse to give Gregory the troops he needs for a war with Zeferia if you destroy Garm and give me his head. I want to mount it on my wall."

Damn! Well, Gourry's benevolence definitely seems out of character for this family. Lina thought as she cradled her stomach and wondered what their child would be like.

"Are you prepared to sign a treaty to that affect?" The Eternal Queen asked.

"I already have one drawn up." Gertrude said as she held up a scroll.

Lina felt her heart pound in her chest as the Eternal Queen nodded as she read it, "Well then. I guess we should prepared our strongest knights. Dame Lina, do you have any questions?"

"Tell me more about Garm." Lina said.

Gertrude ran a hand through her hair, "For all its fierceness it wasn't big."

"Ah, sounds like Lina." Gourry said.

"Can it." Lina snapped.

Gertrude continued, "It was strong enough to rip doors off their hinges and nothing that we hit it with deterred it. It just kept going like it didn't care."

"What is it exactly, though?" Lina asked.

"It might be a chimera. Black fur, walks on four legs like a dog and has a face like a weasel. It looks like a mere animal, but its eyes glow red. There was something mystical about it. Swords just bounce off his skin as though they were rubber. It claws that can rip a man into three pieces." Gertrude shuddered, "And I know this is going to sound crazy, but when Garm would open his mouth, people would just disintegrate into dust, as though he was releasing an invisible energy at them."

"I've seen some chimeras," Lina said, "Usually it's obvious that they're blended with a different creature."

"You would know better than me. A strange energy swirled around him, like a thin white cloud on the desert."

"Like a miasma?" Lina said.

"That sounds like a better descriptor than anything I've been able to come up with." Gertrude said.

Lina exhaled, and Gourry asked, "Do you have an idea what it is?"

"Hard to say for sure." Lina said, "But it's survived in the Desert of Destruction for who knows how long, and that place is rather hostile to life. What if it was just a regular animal that somehow absorbed the vileness of its habitat and became a monster?"

"Remember the stories Mom used to read to us." Luna said.

Lina nodded as she recalled the stories Leia would read on rainy nights as Gourry said, "What, you mean like when the Miasma Forest was created?"

"Very astute, Gourry," Lina said, "I guess you were paying attention when you were given the grand tour of Sairaag."

"I don't follow." Getrude said.

"When Zanaffar was slain in Sairaag, by none other than your notable ancestor, it is said that it bled so profusely that it flooded the nearby forest. Even when the blood receded, a miasma persisted. Animals went wild and started attacking the city. There are lots of stories of brave magic users who defeated them. What if something similar happened with Garm, but until recently he was trapped on the other side of the barrier, and now that it's gone, he's been attacking cities on the border?"

"So that means you have an idea about how to kill it." Gertrude said.

Lina nodded, "And the means."

"Then we have a deal. I get Garm's head, and I stop Gregory from starting a war with Zeferia."

"I will have my aide come and transcribe the paper you have shown me, and then I will sign it and witness your signature from your end." The Eternal Queen said as she rang for Aliciane.

After the treaty was signed and the spell ended, everyone looked at Gourry. "Do you think she was sincere?"

"Yes. But I also think she's an opportunist. She'll ally with us when it suits her interests and stab us in the back as soon as it no longer does." Gourry explained.

"But do you think it's worth it to send someone to kill Garm?" The Eternal Queen asked.

"Well, even if we are nearly at war with the Elmekian Empire, the everyday people living in it, they don't have any control over what Gregory does, and they're the ones who are going to suffer the most for it. They just want to live their lives. It doesn't feel right turning our back on them."

"And regardless of whether or not Duchess Getrude's offer is genuine, if we help the Elmekians it may influence Emperor Gregory in a good way, and it would be harder for him to justify going to war with you." Amelia said.

"I agree." The Eternal Queen said, "And I believe that this may be a good time to highlight the merits of this school."

Lina sat up straighter, "You mean send a student down, and not a Ceiphied Knight?"

"Yes." The Eternal Queen replied.

"But they're still kids." Gourry said. "They're still learning. They haven't even completed their first year here."

"Several have turned fourteen since the starting here. Lina was thirteen when she left home." The Eternal Queen pointed out.

"And several have already taken down demons, back when Shabranigdu was revived. Nerys. Clark. Ripley." Luna added.

"There's a difference in what happens when someone attacks your village versus sending kids out into a world they might not be prepared for." Gourry said as Lina bit her lip.

"You knew when you took this assignment that we expected results. I have put a lot of money into this. Showing my people that we avoided the financial burden of a war, in addition to saving lives, will quiet the voices of those who want to shut this project down." The Eternal Queen explained severely, "Find someone who is ready. We need a victory."

Lina felt a sense of unease creep through her. On the one hand she had left home when she was young. But she had done it for the joy of it. There was no pressure on her to take down a monster and avert a war. And worse, she knew what it was like to live with the skeletons of fighting such battles. Still. "I guess I knew this was coming. With respect, I think it would be better if we sent two students down. So that they have someone to keep their back, and they can contact us with the Vision spell if need be. We can have a sorcerer and swordsperson combo, I think. Gourry?"

"I guess that makes me marginally more comfortable with it." He eventually said. After all, what choice did they have?

"Good," The Eternal Queen said in a clipped fashion, "So, who should we send down?"

Lina thought for a moment, "We need someone strong with Shamanist and White magic, given Garm's likely nature. Nerys. She's a strong magic user and she has experience taking down demons. She's also street smart in addition to book smart. She was ready to face the world the moment she stepped through these doors. Just for that reason alone she's the first person I'd recommend."

"I can't argue there." Gourry said.

"Me neither." Amelia added. "Now for the second one."

"Well," Lina said, "We need someone good with a sword, who has some experience channeling willpower into it. Cuchulain? Gomez? They're a bit younger than I would like, though."

Gourry thought for a moment, "Owen. He even has a magic sword as part of his inheritance. Granted I worry about his maturity, even though he is our oldest student. I still think he'd be the best choice."

"I'm not sure that I trust him for something this big. He's a nobleman, never set foot into the real world." Lina countered.

"I think he needs someone to show that they trust him and a big goal to live up to." Gourry said, "People have been giving him things all his life, he's never had to work for anything. He needs a challenge."

"And Nerys would be the perfect person to keep him in line. All of the boys are scared of her." Amelia said.

Lina chuckled a little, "Well, if you're that sure, I think we have our duo."

AN: I discovered Garm in the newly translated interviews with Hajime Kanzaka, and was fascinated by what very little information there was about him. So I'm very happy to be able to include him here :-)