The Sacred Arms
Chapter 4: Trust! Tanith vs. Zelgadis
Tanith woke to the sounds of Lina cooking fish over their fire, humming cheerfully in the early morning. Amelia and Gourry were still snoring, Sylphiel quiet beside them. It took a moment of searching to spot Zelgadis, leaning easily against a nearby tree. Tanith only noted where he was before ignoring him, not wanting to have another "fit" if their eyes met. Instead she rose carefully, stretched, and moved to sit beside the red-head. "Good morning."
"Hey Tanith." Her voice was filled with energy, no doubt very excited about the journey ahead. "Did ya sleep well?"
She managed a faint smile. "With those two snoring, you mean?" she asked good-naturedly.
Lina laughed, waking Sylphiel. "I guess I'm used to it by now," she remarked. "Hungry?"
Everyone woke up to eat breakfast. Lina argued with Gourry and Amelia over the food, Sylphiel looking on with wide eyes. Tanith found she was beginning to enjoy their company when her dream came back to her.
:You will never be alone again.:
Is this what he meant? Tanith thought absently. Can we work together? Maybe even be friends? She smiled as the swordsman beat Lina to the last fish. Right then there was a strange feeling, as though she was fitting in with this disordered, mismatched group. These people were so different, yet they all got along, and even tried to include her in their talk. Acceptance was a gift she hadn't been dealt in many years.
"Anyway," Lina started once the food was gone, climbing to her feet. "We'd better get going, right?" Everyone muttered an agreement, rising to their feet. The red-head turned to Tanith. "Which way?"
She paused, retrieving her bag of belongings. "This'll take me a moment."
"Are you going to use a spell?" Sylphiel asked.
"Not really," Tanith replied, shaking her head. She attached the small pack to her belt along with a short dagger she rarely used. Her eyes closed in concentration. The group looked on with confusion and curiosity.
Tanith placed all her attention on the feeling of the world around her, trying to ignore the chimera's hard glare at her back. There was no spell for telling directions; no Ruumin had ever been in the situations she usually found herself in. Tanith carefully opened herself to the outside, reaching down into the earth for an answer.
Please, Guardian of the Earth, help me, she called out silently. Please guide me.
The wind blew softly through the clearing, ruffling the hair and clothing of the travelers. The waves' muffled crashes just barely reached their ears, and a bird called to it's flock. The band was silent, waiting for something--a flame, a light--anything to show the girl's magic was working.
Tanith felt her heart fall. There was nothing, no sign that anyone or anything had heard her. Somehow she'd known there would be no answer, yet she'd been hoping none the less. I haven't been able to speak to the earth for the past eight years, she thought sadly. Why would it work now?
Amelia coughed, Gourry shifting behind her. They were waiting for her, for guidance she couldn't give. Tanith sighed, wishing she could have proven herself to these new companions. At least you know they're supposed to be in some mountains, she reminded herself. Start with that.
"Are there any mountains nearby?" she asked aloud, reopening her eyes.
Amelia nodded. "Yeah, but they're a good week's worth of traveling away."
"Then we'd better get going, hadn't we?" Lina immediately led the way into the forest, marching as if she was in a parade and not on a week-long trek. "The sooner we go, the sooner we get there," she sang.
Tanith fell into step with the others, trying to hide her disappointment. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Zelgadis watching her. For a moment their gazes met, but the sorceress quickly looked away. That torn feeling had risen up, and for now she had other problems to worry about.
It wasn't until after lunch--river fish again--that the questions began once more. Tanith had been afraid that they would want to know about her past, but to her relief their interest was focused on her jewelry.
"They're a kind of magic focus," she explained, handing the green gem from her neck piece to Lina. The sorceress studied it closely. "They're not normal enhancing stones, because without me they have no power."
Lina glanced at her sideways. "How much are they worth?"
Tanith smiled brightly, an act that pleased the other group members. They'd all been afraid of how well the blond sorceress would fit in with them and were glad that, so far, they weren't regretting their decision. "These five aren't worth more than colored glass." Tanith retrieved the jewel, attaching it back in it's place. She reached into her hip pack, digging out six more stones, these ones all crystal clear. "These are the original, unchanged stones."
"So what's the magic part?" Amelia asked, staring at the gems.
Still smiling, she took the girl's wrist, turned her palm up, and placed a single stone in her hand. Lina, Gourry, and Sylphiel all leaned closer, not sure what to look for but watching intently none-the-less.
For several moments nothing happened, but slowly the jewel began to glow with a soft silver light. As the spectators gazed in amazement, the color was absorbed into the smooth surface of the stone. Amelia raised it before her eyes, examining it closely. "So," she started doubtfully, "What does this mean?"
"Two things," Tanith answered, holding up a finger. "One, the silver indicates that you use White Magic. Every type of Magic has it's own color. And two," she held up another finger. "That stone now belongs to you."
Amelia looked up with delighted excitement. "Really? I can have this?"
Tanith shrugged, obviously pleased with the girl's elation. "Sure. It's no good to me now. I only keep these as spares in case I lose one of the others."
Amelia beamed, then frowned with consideration. "But I use Shaman Magic, too."
The blond didn't respond other than to place another gem in the girl's palm. Like the previous, nothing happened for a moment. But then it began to glow, and finally settled in as a gentle rainbow. "That's Shaman Magic." She took two more gems and gave them to the priestess. After a moment they matched Amelia's. Gathering three more jewels, Tanith handed Lina her own.
Everyone, including Zelgadis this time, paused in their travel to see what would become of Lina's stones. The first change came far quicker than the princess's or priestess's. It flared with the pastel mix of Shamanism. The second came almost as fast, glowing brightly with a deep crimson. The last changed at about the same time: a darker red than the previous and with hints of gold swirling through the center. Tanith pointed to each gem as she clarified their meanings. "Rainbow is Shaman, as I have said. Red is Black Magic, for the spells that come from Shabranigdu and his fellow Mazoku. Each of them has some variation of red, but they're all grouped together for the stones. And then there's gold. That color is specific for the spells of one creature alone." She paused, waiting to see if they could guess for themselves.
Zelgadis got it first. "The Lord of Nightmares and Giga Slave."
Lina nodded her agreement. "That makes sense."
"But where do the colors come from?" Amelia added.
Tanith resumed walking, the rest quickly following. Zelgadis crossed his arms, apparently uninterested, and brought up the rear. Lina stayed at the blonde's side, alternately hungry for more magic knowledge and disgusted by her own lack of it. Gourry appeared to be listening, but all were sure that wouldn't last long. Amelia and Sylphiel were completely captivated.
"There's no reason for the colors being what they are; they just are that way. Magic comes from the power of the Gods, the Mazoku, or the astral, right?" She looked to the priestess, who nodded but didn't speak. "Well, each has its own "color" on the astral plane. The holy powers are silver. Shamanism comes from the powers of the spirit and the four elements, so it's multicolored. Black Magic, coming from Shabranigdu's powers of death and pain, are blood red."
"And how do you know this?" Zelgadis challenged from behind her.
"I…." I can't tell them the truth; they won't believe me, not now. Just make something up. "I come from a city far in the south," she explained softly. "We have many old records about the Gods and magic…."
Lina considered this, then her expression lit. "You're from that cult in the south!"
Tanith jumped, completely taken off guard. "I…what?"
Understanding sparked in the eyes of the rest of the group as Lina continued. "The Sacred Arms were stolen from some cult in the south fourteen hundred years ago, right? And now you're trying to get them back?
The blonde thought hard about the red-head's words. I suppose we could be considered a cult…. Well, this makes things a bit easier, anyway. At least they don't know the rest of it…. "Yes, I didn't think you'd know about that." She smiled, heaving a mental sigh of relief, glad to have escaped that confrontation. "Well," she continued brightly. "There's really nothing else."
"What about Zelgadis-san?" Amelia asked.
Tanith removed another gem from her pack, stopping to toss it to Zelgadis. He caught it easily, and the others watched as the stone flared as bright as Lina's red one had, casting prism colors across his clothing. "Zelgadis is a very powerful Shamanist, mostly because of his demon and golem parts."
The chimera looked up sharply. "How did you know that about me?"
The travelers paused. Zelgadis glared accusingly at Tanith. His fists were tight against his sides, eyes blazing and voice low. "How did you know what I am?"
Tanith took her time to think of an answer, hoping one of the others would save her the trouble. Lina took a step towards him, hands raised as if to fend him off. "Now Zel, Tanith doesn't mean any harm. I mean, it's not like it's hard to see what you're made of--"
"That's okay, Lina," Tanith interrupted, eyes on the sorcerer. "I can explain."
"Please do," Zelgadis hissed, already uneasy by her fixed gaze.
"I saw you all on the road to Seiluun," she confessed. "I used True Sight, and a more focused form of it revealed to me what creatures were used in making your body." Might as well get everything out right now. "I also knew that Lina was capable of casting Giga Slave, as well as Gourry owning the Sword of Light." This brought surprise from the entire group. "Now," she continued, "Can you blame me for being a bit freaked out when you all showed up at the temple? Four strong sorcerers, one invulnerable to normal attacks and another carrying Giga Slave, plus the Swordsman of Light….It's enough to make even a Mazoku rethink an attack."
"That's true," Lina admitted, but her eyes were on Zelgadis. "We are a pretty scary group, don't you think?"
Finally the chimera relaxed his battle stance, gaze dropping to the ground. "I suppose."
"Good! Then lets keep going." Lina again led the way through the woods. "And boy, Tanith, do I have a story for you! Did you hear about Shabranigdu's resurrection?"
The rest of that day's journey was entertained by Lina's heroic retelling of their battle with the Lord of Darkness, including the encounters with Rezo, the Red Priest. Tanith listened well enough, commenting on and complementing the tale as they walked. But through it all she seemed a bit detached, her mind occasionally wandering elsewhere. No one pointed this out, content to let her be with her thoughts. They silently decided she was merely absorbing the story, for it was amazing and quite long by Lina's version.
Through it all Zelgadis remained silent. This wasn't uncommon, but not once did he add or correct an exaggerated detail. He didn't care that no one noticed this, sulking at his sudden drop from powerful, respected sorcerer to rear guard. Not that he was going to complain; he didn't want to risk having Tanith's eyes on him again.
What's wrong we me? he kept wondering. My nerves haven't been this bad since I escaped from Rezo with Lina. He stared at the back of the blonde's head, ready to look away if she suddenly turned. Lina was describing the troll attack just after the Magic Lord's rebirth, making it sound more like a war than a simple raid.
She is looking for magic amplifying items, just like Rezo was, he realized. But what could she need them for? That True Sight makes her pretty powerful already.
She's not another Rezo, Zelgadis scolded himself, looking away. She doesn't act like that at all. It's just you, just this feeling you have. These thoughts didn't make him feel any better, his imagination creating stories he tried to push away. She was as uneasy with him as he was with her, that was clear enough. She held this feeling of dangerous power around her, a danger that was aimed at him.
You're paranoid, he finally decided, disgusted with his own fear. Just ignore it, and maybe it'll go away.
It was the afternoon of the second day that the attacks resumed. Battle after battle, Tanith proved herself to be a trained fighter and valuable ally. Her spells were powerful, her dagger strong enough to stop a blade, and no one needed to watch her back. The trolls and berserkers sent as their opponents seemed without a leader, a fact the travelers weren't sure was a good or bad omen. That evening the group ate the little bread they had with them, along with whatever they could find in the bushes. There was no fire--they didn't want to attract trouble, after all--and soon they had settled to sleep.
Tanith woke with the morning sun, blinking as a ray of light found its way into her eyes through a hole in the above foliage. She sat up, brushing a few stray leaves from her hair, and looked around. Everyone was sound asleep, for once the snoring at a minimum.
I feel filthy, Tanith complained silently, trying to recall the last time she'd had a bath. The thought didn't help to dispel the sensation of old clothes and dusty hair. After a moment she recalled the small lake not too far from their camp. It'll only take a second, she rationalized, gathering her pack. I'll be back before they wake up.
The journey was short, and Tanith immediately tossed aside all clothing save her blue shirt and underpants. The cold water caused goose bumps to rise and shivers to climb her spine, but a few minutes of swimming cured both. She had no soap but was able to wash her hair well enough. After the road dust had been cleaned off, Tanith brought in her skirt, mini cape, and dark cloak, the latter being close to utterly ruined. I might as well get rid of it, she decided with a sigh. No use hiding myself. This group sticks out enough without me.
The thought of the others reminded her of the late hour. With several curses and a few quick wind spells, she had her clothes and hair dried and put on. Tanith pulled out the pearl comb, smiling sadly at it. With hurried strides she started her return, running the comb through her hair, the dark cloak left abandoned behind her.
She was nearly back to the camp when a figure appeared before her from out of a bush. "What are you doing?"
Tanith had to fight hard to keep from crying out in surprise, nearly dropping the comb. She was practically panting from her quick pace, and the chimera's sudden materialization tossed her heart into her throat. "Bright heavens," she gasped, a hand over her chest. "You startled me."
Zelgadis crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "Where did you go?" His voice was low and cold.
She took her time gaining back her breath, putting away her comb and dusting off her cape. "The lake," she answered shortly.
"Why?"
A tinge of anger rose, Tanith glaring at him sharply. As if it's his business! She felt a hint of satisfaction as he flinched--just barely--beneath her stare. "To take a bath--if you're so nosy to know," she added, words coming out harsher than she had planned.
The sorcerer lowered his arms, hiding the flash of fear quickly. "You shouldn't leave without telling anyone," he scolded lightly. He truly hadn't meant to sound as fierce as he had, but there was no changing that now.
"I can take care of myself," Tanith replied, but her tone had likewise softened and held no trace of arrogance, anger vanishing as quick as it had come. "Besides," she added with a shrug, "I've been traveling forever without rest. If my clothes weren't filthy, then I certainly was."
Zelgadis had no comment for this, so instead he only nodded and turned back to the camp. Tanith followed silently, slightly unnerved by his presence. It's just because he's part demon, she reminded herself for the thousandth time. Lina trusts him. Amelia trusts him. Sylphiel and Gourry trust him. She stared at his retreating back.
So why can't I trust him?
Day three and four of the journey brought more attacks, none that weren't easily handled, and found the travelers in the middle of fairly hilly country. That evening Lina insisted that they spend the night at an inn. The village was small, full of farmers, and happy for the business the group brought.
To the surprise of Lina and the others, Tanith reluctantly admitted to never having stayed in a town before. "I never had the money to," she explained. "I hope you don't mind paying for me."
"No no of course not!" Lina quickly assured her. "You can just pay Amelia back later."
"Lina-san, why do I have to pay?" the girl protested.
"Because you're a princess. You can afford it."
Sylphiel and Tanith retired soon after dinner, Amelia following an hour later. Lina happily sucked every last bit of juice off her chicken's bones, a look of supreme content on her face. Zelgadis had pretty much ignored his food, and Gourry took it upon himself to help him finish. Once the three other girls had left, Lina set her plate down loudly, startling both men, and leaned across the table. "Zel, what's the matter?"
The chimera refused to meet her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Lina snorted, crossing her arms stubbornly. "Yeah right. You've been abnormally quiet and sullen this whole trip. What is it?" He didn't reply, and she tried to dig deeper. "Is it the trip? The trolls?" A pause. "Is it Tanith?"
Zelgadis flinched just barely, crossing his arms to match the sorceress's pose. "It's nothing."
Lina had caught the movement, however, and pounced. "It is Tanith, isn't it?" Hmm…I wonder….She leaned forward again, keeping her voice low. "You've got a crush on her, haven't you?"
The chimera had to act fast to keep his head from hitting the table. Gourry blinked, quietly stealing the rest of his friend's meal. Zelgadis glared at Lina with daggers for eyes. "Of course not!" he fairly shouted.
She held up two hands as if to calm him. "Relax, relax, you're scaring the other customers." She watched him carefully as he settled back into his chair. "If it's not that, then what?"
Lina began to worry as her friend shifted uneasily, eyes growing troubled. He was usually so calm; to see him this way was making her nervous. "Zel," she encouraged softly. "You can tell me. Maybe I can help."
The sorcerer sighed, staring blankly at the table. Finally he spoke; "I don't trust her."
Lina blinked, puzzled. "Why not?"
Zelgadis growled in frustration. "That's the problem; I don't know. It's just this feeling I get, like she's not telling us something. It's stupid, I know, but I can't help it."
"You mean her weird magic?"
The chimera looked up quickly. "You noticed too?"
Lina nodded. "No chants, no names, just flames and wind and water. No spells I know."
"Me neither," Zelgadis admitted. "And that's not the only thing."
"The jewels?"
"Yeah."
Lina rested her back against her chair, head lowered with consideration. "She showed us the colors of every type of magic; Black, White, Shamanism….It all makes sense, and some of what I've learned fits with it."
"But the stones she wears don't match with any of them," Zelgadis concluded. He glanced at the sorceress. "I'm glad it's not just me."
Lina shook her head. "No, I do trust her." They locked gazes. "There's something about her that I feel. She's not our enemy."
"But what about the magic?" Zelgadis forced himself to keep from sounding frantic, but to have Lina against him….She was like a sister; she knew more about him than anyone else. And how could she not see what was going on? They knew nothing about her, her past, even what she was. He told Lina this, and she only shook her head.
"Her past is not our business, Zel." She was trying to be patient, seeing how upset her friend was, but he was being so unreasonable. "There are things you don't know about me, and plenty we don't know about you. But we still trust each other."
"No, I can't accept that." Zelgadis pushed away from the table. "Even if you trust her, I can't. And she doesn't trust me either."
"That's because you're being a stubborn jerk," she muttered in reply.
"Fine. Just fine." He turned to leave. "I don't like the way she acts around me, and I don't like being lied to. Do what you want." Without another word, Zelgadis marched up the stairs, grumbling to himself.
"Boy," Lina exhaled. "Can you believe him, Gourry?"
The swordsman glanced up, a bit of chicken dangling out of his mouth. "What?"
"Hey, where'd you get that food?"
He swallowed. "Zelgadis didn't want his, so I ate it."
"You should have at least saved some for me." Lina stared longingly at the empty plates. "So anyway, what to think of all this?"
Gourry blinked. "All what?"
"All this Tanith stuff."
"Oh, sorry." He took a big gulp from his glass. "I wasn't listening."
Lina sighed. "You're hopeless."
Tanith leapt easily to the side, the troll's club crushing the ground where she had moments ago been. The creature growled, lunging again. Before it made two steps the troll was consumed in fire, the heat melting it to a pile of ashes. Tanith faced another monster, that battle ending with similar results.
The sixth day of travel had been battle after battle, mostly small groups of trolls and the occasional berserker. The exercise was more annoyance than threat, a minor drain of powers and test of skills. Lina turned it into a training session by mid-morning, overseeing Amelia and Sylphiel as they perfected or expanded their spell casting. Tanith actually began to enjoy the brief attacks, her skill with her dagger improving by the end of the day.
That night it was decided that the group should keep a watch. Though trolls weren't hard opponents, they were very dangerous if they came upon prey while it slept.
"I'll take first watch," Tanith offered pleasantly, laying another log on their fire.
"Are you sure?" Lina asked, seated next to Gourry. "I don't mind doing it."
"No, you sleep," the blonde insisted. "I'm not tired, and I'd rather do it now than have to wake up later."
Lina nodded, glad that she could gain back the patience she'd lost with trying to help Sylphiel learn Freeze Arrow. If I thought it took her years to learn Flare Arrow, this might take the rest of my lifetime! "If you say so. Wake someone when you get tired."
"I will."
Tanith watched as the group settled around the fire; Lina and Gourry on her right, Amelia and Sylphiel on her left, Zelgadis leaning against a tree across from her. She continued to feed the fire until the clearing was bright and warm, slowly filling with the groups snoring. She smiled. I've almost gotten used to it. They're so loud it's a wonder they've never been attacked before. A whole horde of trolls could sneak in here before they would wake!
Once everything was in order, Tanith leaned back against a nearby tree, feet stretched towards the fire. Smoke curled lazily towards the clear sky above, tiny stars blinking in the dark night. Tanith unconsciously toyed with the white jewel holding her cape on. The smooth stone was very old; she'd had it for almost nine years. It felt faintly warm beneath her fingers. A light flickered across the fire from her, and Tanith glanced at it with dulled curiosity.
All warmth fled as her eyes met those of the chimera's. Why do we keep doing this? she wondered, caught between fear and annoyance. Why is he always watching me? Six days and he's barely spoken. What's with him?
"Why aren't you asleep?" she asked aloud, hiding the tremble in her stomach.
He blinked, slowly, and took a moment before answering. "Just nervous, I guess."
Tanith frowned. His voice was full of sarcasm, and it angered her that he would be testing her this way. "I'm keeping watch," she reminded him. "You might as well sleep."
Zelgadis only stared. "I keep my own watch." His arms were crossed, but one hand moved slightly, brushing the handle of his sword.
Tanith was on her feet in an instant, not realizing she'd moved until she was upright. Across from her the chimera had done the same, and both were glaring at each other. What are you doing? her mind screamed. You can't fight him; he's too strong. And besides, what would Lina and the others do? You know they'll side with him, no matter who started what.
But anger, frustration, and suspicion over-powered logic, and Tanith held her hands as if ready to cast a spell at any moment. Zelgadis was grasping the sword now, though he hadn't drawn the blade yet. They stood still, eyes locked, waiting and daring for the other to make a move. The fire cracked and popped, the only noise besides the sleepers' snoring.
Finally, Zelgadis broke the tension. "I don't trust you," he stated plainly, voice low to avoid waking the others. His stomach was dancing, heart beating so loud he was sure she could hear it.
Tanith tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, muscles aching. "I don't trust you either," she answered.
Zelgadis shifted his stance. "You don't tell us the whole truth."
"You don't speak at all," she replied in kind.
"You say things we've never heard of and expect us to believe you."
"You treat me as if I'm about to attack at any moment."
"I don't know that you won't."
"I don't know that you won't."
He thought hard. "You're evasive, secretive, and you know too much."
"You're silent, sinister, and you never made any attempt to ask me about what I know and how I know it," she shot back.
There the two paused, catching their breath. Tanith glanced briefly at the sleeping group members, gaze stopping at Lina. Suddenly she felt very stupid arguing with the chimera. Nothing would ever be accomplished if they fought, and Tanith didn't want to lose these allies. Besides….
She sighed aloud, relaxing her stance, facing Zelgadis again. "But I trust Lina."
He considered this, his gaze also flickering to the sorceress for a moment. Slowly, his posture changed as well. "Lina trusts you," he admitted reluctantly.
"They all trust you."
Tanith and Zelgadis watched each other a moment longer, unsure where to go from there. It's up to you, Tanith realized. He looks as scared of you as you feel of him. With another sigh, she walked around the fire to sit by the tree, motioning him to join her. He did, cautiously, and waited for her to speak.
"Look." Tanith chose her words carefully, knowing this would not be an easy task. "I'm going after the Arms with or without you and Lina and everyone," she stated plainly, looking him in the eyes to make sure he understood. "I've appreciated your help, and I honestly don't want to lose that now. However," she added as he started to speak. "However, I need to know if I can trust you all. The Sacred Arms can be very dangerous, and I can not allow them to be used wrongly. I can't explain why, I can't explain my duty; that's just something you have to accept for now. If you can't, I'll leave tonight and handle this myself."
Zelgadis considered her words, the strange uneasiness that had settled within him since their meeting fading slightly. For the first time he really looked at her, realizing just how small and young she was. Sixteen, maybe seventeen at the most. This is a lot of pressure for one person. And Lina would kill you if you let the only one who knows where we're going get away.
There's no other choice, he decided. "You can trust Lina; if this is as bad as you make it sound, she won't try to steal the Arms or anything."
Tanith watched him carefully. "What about you?"
He sighed. "I don't like it, but if they all trust you, then I will too. But," he added strongly. "If you turn on us, I'll do whatever it takes to stop you."
Tanith nodded, managing a light smile. "I understand." She stood then, moving back to her spot across the fire. "You can take the watch then," she called to him, settling on the grass to sleep. "See you in the morning."
She's showing that she's trusting you, Zelgadis realized. Pretty smart. I wouldn't have slept, even if she wanted to stay on watch. Clever. He smiled in spite of himself. Perhaps this will work after all. Just speaking his distrust had helped to calm it. Maybe he had been wrong about her; maybe not.
We'll know in a few days, when we reach the next temple.
The Sacred Arms
Chapter 5: Yikes! True Forms Revealed
The Mountains of Tears, a treacherous range of cliffs and valleys, stretched as far as either side of the horizon. Lina and her friends had passed these hills on their way to Sairaag nearly a month ago. The mountains got higher the closer to the ocean they were, so on the eastern end they were more majestic than terrifying. Nestled at the foot of the hills was the village of Lavrine, a town that thrived from its herds of sheep, cattle, and horses.
On the eighth day of travel the group passed through the town, following a forest path into the hills. Night fell soon after, and Tanith insisted they stop until the next day. "These mountains can be dangerous. Besides, I need to check our course before heading out. And I'm starved." No one would argue with that, so the travelers settled for the night.
Tanith, however, found it difficult to sleep. Every day of the journey she had been--supposedly--finding the direction they should be going. Every day she mentally called out to the earth, praying for an answer, and getting none. Every day she said "the mountains", and the others followed her without question. Now she was lost, not knowing where the temple was, and still unable to get a reply from the forces that provided her with her magic. Tanith lay down with the rest of the group, after several hours finally falling into her dreams.
* * * * * *
Like the one she'd had at the beginning of the quest, this dream found her surrounded in darkness. Tanith waited patiently, wondering if the mist person would come.
:Hello again, little sister.:
Tanith turned, watching as the white cloud came slowly forward, standing a few paces away. His figure was as unclear as before, the only features she could make out being short, almost fluffy hair and a long, ankle-length cape. Now she saw he was actually no taller than herself and just as thin. "Hello," she answered softly.
He cocked his head to the side. :Trouble, little friend?:
"Actually, yes." She paused, suddenly unsure. This man--boy?--was Ruumin. Would he abandon her as the earth had if she asked him for help? Would he laugh and vanish?
The cloud chuckled gently. :I won't vanish, little sister,: he answered her unspoken question. :I'm here to help, if you need it.:
Tanith jumped, startled that he had read her mind so easily. Had he not been radiating that strong aura of safety and cheerfulness, she would have been afraid. "How did you--"
:Know what you were thinking?: That soft laugh again, echoing through her mind. :I am a spirit, young one. I heard your call and came. Tell me your troubles.:
With a deep sigh Tanith relented, telling him of her inability to communicate with the planet the Ruumin were so connected to. He listened silently, head to one side. She found him very easy to talk to and ended up speaking of her frustrations and worries as well. Several tears worked their way out of her eyes.
The man stepped closer as she finished, one cloudy hand reaching to wipe the salty drops away. Tanith was surprised that his hand felt real despite its appearance. That comforting feeling vanished quickly, shame at showing him her tears replacing it. "I'm sorry," she whispered helplessly. "I shouldn't be crying. It's just…it's…."
:Hush, little sister. It's all right,: he comforted, pulling her into his arms again. For a moment Tanith resisted, but the warmth of the contact won her over. She leaned against the solid form, fingers twisting around soft fabric. :You have been through so much,: he continued. :It's okay to cry now and again. Don't be ashamed.:
He held her for what seemed like an eternity, letting her spill her worries and fears out onto his steady shoulder. Finally Tanith fell quiet, content to merely accept the offered support. After several moments of silence she spoke, knowing she needed an answer before she woke. "What about the temple?"
The cloud chuckled again. :Fear not, little sister. You are on the right track; keep heading north. Your instincts will hold true.:
"That's a relief," she replied. "I was afraid I'd have to tell Lina I was lost. I'd really be in trouble then."
:Lina doesn't take well to bad news?:
"If you call a Dragon Slave 'taking it well.'"
To her surprise, the mist laughed out loud as he pulled back, the sound so light and happy Tanith wondered if he wasn't a child after all. :She is a bit short-fused, isn't she?:
Tanith found herself smiling. "Worse than one of our mining bombs, and a lot louder."
:Well then, take care little sister. I must go now, but I'll be watching you.:
"Thank you very much…." She paused, suddenly a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry, but I don't know your name…."
The cloud man sighed, head lowering. :My name isn't important, and it will probably be easier if you didn't know who I was.:
Tanith considered this. "Since you call me 'little sister'…" she mused. "Can I call you 'clouded brother'?"
He laughed with that child-like voice again. :That would be fine.: She had the impression that he was smiling at her. :Take care, Tanith. Your battle has just begun.:
"I will," she answered strongly. "And thank you."
* * * * * *
The next morning Tanith was full of energy, the others casting each other glances at her excitement. "What happened to you?" Lina questioned.
The blond sorceress only grinned. "An answer," was all she would say.
"Too bad Lina is never this cheerful," Gourry commented.
Lina promptly knocked him senseless.
"Anyway," Zelgadis drew them back to the task at had. "We'd better get going if we want to make it to the temple by dark."
"And before the bad guys get there," Amelia added.
The shrine--or Temple of Water, as Tanith called it--was half buried in the forest's greenery. The group hurried up to the doors, spending many strained minutes trying to open the warped wood. The stone structure looked as if it might have been dark blue at one time, but now time had faded it to a dull blue-gray. Finally, Lina was fed up. "Can't we just break the stupid thing down?" she pleaded, annoyed that she even had to ask. But I could offend Tanith and Sylphiel if I bust it down like I normally do, she reminded herself.
Tanith stared hard at the temple. Well, I'm certainly not going to leave the Arm here, not when everyone knows where it is. She sighed, hoping she'd be forgiven for her decision. "Go ahead," she said to Lina. "Might as well."
"All right!" The sorceress leapt back, already preparing a spell. "FireBALL!"
The doors were thrown open with a crash, the aging wood splintering with the spell's impact. Before the dust could even settle, the six travelers were through the entrance and heading for the main room.
The temple was in ruins, spider webs and bird nests resting in the broken rafters of the single room. Sunlight poured through several holes in the roof, plants springing up between floor cracks. Dust flickered in and out of the light beams, stirring with the sudden draft. The group entered slowly, keeping silent to avoid breaking the spell around them.
Tanith lead the way to the altar at the far end of the hall, eyes locked on the item there. Lina and the others crowded around behind her, staring in surprise; though the entire room was caked with several inches of dust, the fourth Sacred Arm looked as though it was just from the hands of its maker.
"Is this…it?" Amelia asked softly. "This armor?"
Tanith nodded. "The Water Armor."
The armor was more like chain mail, colored a deep blue. It was long, like a skirt, held with a blue leather belt intricately carved with wave-like designs. The sleeves were loose, the shoulder areas bare. It was trimmed with large aqua beads, some forming a loop to be fastened around the neck. On the front was a beautiful plaque-like carving of a sea serpent's head with a single crest trailing down its neck. A large cerulean jewel, shaped as a drop of water, was fastened to the center below the eye, looking almost like a tear. Tanith lifted it up, turning it around. The back was open, a fact that surprised all but the blonde holding it. Anyone attacked from behind would be cut down, unless they were either very fast or made of stone.
"How are we supposed to carry it?" Sylphiel asked after everyone had inspected the item.
"I can carry it!" Lina immediately volunteered. "I could use something to increase my magic."
Tanith glanced up sharply but was interrupted by Amelia. "But Lina-san, you're already powerful. Sylphiel or I should get it."
"Amelia, that's so selfish!"
"No more than you!" she shot back.
Tanith suddenly burst out laughing, startling them. They all stared, confused, and Zelgadis wondered if this was the time when his previous worries would be realized.
"What's so funny?" Lina finally demanded.
Tanith struggled to control herself. So that's why they were all after it! I should have known. "The Armor…the Arms...." She couldn't get the words out, the laughter threatening to escape again.
"What about them?" Lina insisted, hands on hips. "Spit it out already!"
Tanith wiped a tear from her eye. "This armor," she started, holding it up, "is about as useful to you as the broken stones in this church. This couldn't amplify your magic if you cast a spell to make it!"
The group stared at her blankly. Zelgadis narrowed his eyes. "How can we believe that? How do we know you don't just want it for yourself?"
Tanith had no time to reply, a voice from outside the temple interrupting their exchange.
"Come out, come out, my little thieves! You don't deserve such powerful toys."
"It's him," Tanith whispered. "The man from before."
"Then we settle this later. Tanith," Lina stared at her sharply. "You hold onto that. If you run off--"
"I won't," she assured, already working to put on the armor.
Lina nodded. "Then lets go."
The bald sorcerer was waiting for the group as they left the temple, still wearing his dark cloak, as well as the blade on his arm. "There you are!" he cried as they appeared. "Thank you for leading me here. I'll be taking the Sacred Arm now, if you don't mind."
"Well, we do," Lina shot back. "Who the hell do you think you are, anyway, challenging the great Lina Inverse?"
The man lifted an eyebrow. "Lina Inverse? What a nice surprise." The sorceress fumed at his failure to cower. "My name is Leshimier. A pleasure."
"All yours, I'm sure," Lina muttered.
"You're the villain who's been sending those trolls after us, aren't you?" Amelia accused, pointing an implicating finger.
"That I am, my dear." His high voice grated on their ears and nerves as he bowed mockingly.
Amelia growled, taking two brave steps forward. "Then, in the name of justice," she announced, "I will punish you for attacking me and my friends!"
Leshimier grinned sarcastically. "As you say." He swung his bladed arm, plunging the steel into the ground. "Dug Haut!"
The group scattered, hiding among the stone columns. Tanith moved quickly to where the sorcerer had been, cursing to see he'd already gotten away.
"Looking for me, little thief?"
The warning was enough; Tanith dropped to the ground and rolled away as metal met earth behind her. She faced Leshimier, dagger pulled and eyes narrowed.
The sorcerer laughed at her expression, slashing the air with his blade. "Such a good girl to bring the Armor out for me. How nice."
"Return the other Arms to me," Tanith demanded loudly, "And perhaps I'll let you live."
Instead of laughing, as Tanith thought he would, the sorcerer frowned. "I think not, little thief. You ssseem to have it backwardsss." With one swift movement Leshimier removed his cloak, revealing a leather vest and brown britches. His right arm was wrapped in fabric, tied at the shoulder and bulging with some unseen object. What skin she could see was covered in more black paint stripes. "We ssshall sssee who will win the Armsss, yesss?"
Tanith brought her hands up. "Very well."
Zelgadis heard the battle before he saw it, the sounds of Shaman Magic mingling with the cries and shouts of the two combatants. He rounded a stone pillar to find Sylphiel and Amelia already there, both staring with fascination at the clashing powers before them. Tanith and Leshimier circled each other with a whirl of fire, ice, and steel. The sorcerer was apparently trying to get close enough to the girl to use his blade, but flames seemed to surround her at all times.
Leshimier cast out several Freeze Arrows at once, hoping at least one would hit it's mark. Tanith's hands moved in quick slashes, suddenly crying out "Flame Storm!!!" Immediately a fiery blaze rose before her, completely consuming the attack. She countered with a fierce wind, the sorcerer's barrier deflecting it easily. They continued to circle, Lina and Gourry appearing next to their friends to watch.
The fighters paused, breathing heavily. Tanith straightened the belt on the Armor, unaccustomed to wearing so heavy an outfit. Lina wondered if she should offer to trade places but decided not to; if Tanith needed help she would grant it, but not until she did.
Leshimier straightened, all traces of humor vanished. "Thisss hasss gone on far enough," he hissed angrily. He reached up, carefully pulling the tie on his arm wraps. The fabric slid off slowly, revealing a grotesque mound of twisted flesh. "Now you ssshall sssee my true power."
The limb began to tremble, then open like some strange flower. A chattering noise filled the air, like the sound of teeth. Pieces of the arm began to pull away from the rest, and the group looked on with startled, horrified eyes. Sprouting from the sorcerer's shoulder were now a dozen snake-like creatures, each having no features other than their smooth, tentacle bodies and wide, fanged mouths.
Leshimier laughed, raising the limb over his head. "I am Lessshimier, the mossst powerful chimera that ever gracssed thessse landsss, made of human and ssserpent-demonsss." He glared at Tanith, eyes wide with a gruesome hunger, voice low with dark promise. "You ssshall become my dinner."
The delighted screeches of the demon limb woke the spectators from their shock as it sped towards the blonde. Zelgadis looked to Tanith, wondering what she was going to do--
--and realized she wasn't moving.
Tanith stood frozen, eyes wide with fear, unable to escape the dozens of teeth coming at her. Zelgadis cursed, running towards her, pushing his speed in hopes of beating Leshimier. Behind him he could hear Lina and Amelia already preparing spells, but they wouldn't make it in time. If he could just go faster….
As Leshimier's deformed limb began opening, Tanith knew she was in trouble. The shield that had been keeping her from Seeing him lifted, revealing what he was before he could even voice it. The feel of the demon--demons--overpowered her, worse than Zelgadis had. She had never been faced with such a creature, and the sense of hunger hit her like a wall, freezing her helplessly to the ground. Tanith's ears echoed with the excited voices of the serpents, and even as they flew towards her she couldn't react, couldn't think--
Then her breath was gone, forced out of her lungs as the sound of an impact came from behind her. She was dazed, blinking rapidly to regain her mind. Somewhere above her, a person was speaking, his voice concerned. Far away there were explosions, hot wind brushing her skin.
"Tanith? Are you okay?"
Someone was shaking her, not hard, and she tried to lift her head. For a moment her eyes blurred, then reality came back with an almost audible snap. "Zelgadis?"
He was watching her carefully. "You okay now?"
Tanith nodded. "I think so," she answered slowly. "The others?"
"Fighting Leshimier." He indicated the direction, Tanith leaning around the tree she was propped against to see. "If you're okay, I'm going to help."
"Yes, go," she insisted, sluggishly climbing to her feet. "I'll be fine."
Zelgadis gave her a final, concerned look, then headed into the battle.
Leshimier proved to be a difficult opponent, as bad as any Lina had ever faced. The demons seemed to be moving and thinking on their own, so distractions wouldn't work. Leshimier himself fought with blade and spell, and though he wasn't as skilled with either as Gourry or Zelgadis, it was hard to get near enough to do any damage. The serpents were too fast to be caught, but their limitations in distance from their host kept their teeth away from the fighters.
Lina faced the bald sorcerer, striking at him with a Flare Arrow. He dodged easily, and immediately three demons shot at her. With several curses, Lina was forced to retreat. "We can't even get near him," she complained to no one in particular.
Zelgadis came up beside her. "Try to keep the snakes away," he advised. "I might be fast enough to get in there."
"They probably won't be able to bite you either," Lina added. "Let's go."
Lina attacked, Zelgadis following just behind. For half a second Leshimier was left unguarded. Zelgadis drew his sword, speeding towards his target.
The bald man laughed, catching the chimera with an unexpected Diem Wind. Zelgadis cursed, more angered than hurt as he was thrown back. With a challenging cry he attacked again.
Tanith watched the battle from the side, Sylphiel next to her. Worries were clear on their faces, realizing the severity of the fight: Leshimier was able to always be near to one of his enemies, making spells like Dragon Slave impossible to use. There has to be something we can do, Tanith's mind cried. We can't keep this up forever. If I could just get a clear shot….
Amelia streaked past her line of sight, eyes locked on the demon-man. With her mind occupied she didn't see the stone before her. She tripped, face cruelly shoved into the dirt with her momentum. Dazed, the princess slowly pushed herself to her knees.
Leshimier turned at that point, gaze landing on the girl. Tanith felt her heart stop for a moment as he turned to grin at the blonde, exposing fangs that matched those of his demons.
You shall become my dinner.
"AMELIA!"
The princess raised her head, the serpents screaming towards her. Lina, Zelgadis, and Gourry saw too late what was going to happen and were too far away to do anything. Tanith shoved away from the tree, reaching with both hands for the girl. The sound of chattering teeth blocked out all other sound as she knelt beside the princess, covering the smaller body with her own.
"AMELIA!"
Lina spun around at the shout, watching helplessly as Leshimier closed on the girl. Tanith was running towards her, but Lina knew it was a useless effort. Even if she could reach Amelia, there was nothing she could do to stop all dozen serpents. No spell would get there in time; nothing could save them. Oh gods, please no.
The demons swarmed over the pair's huddled forms, screaming out their joy and hunger. Leshimier stood beside them, his high voice echoing off the stone temple, gloating over his victory.
Rage built up inside the sorceress, fists clenching at her sides. Zelgadis and Gourry came up silently besides her, their own sorrow and anger so strong even she could feel it. Dragon Slave isn't even good enough for him, Lina fumed, her power causing the wind to suddenly pick up in the clearing. He's dead. I'll kill him a hundred times over. I'll--
Leshimier abruptly stopped laughing, turning sharply on the mass of serpents. Their voices had changed from satisfaction to outrage, the tentacle-like bodies whirling angrily about each other. Suddenly one of the creatures screamed in definite fear, retreating quickly to its master's side.
Lina watched in confusion as more of the demons followed the first, crying out with panic. They joined together, forming the fleshy limb it had been before the battle. "What are you doing?" Leshimier was shrieking, the fear from the serpents making its way into his mind. "What the hell's the matter?" Then he turned to where his victims had been.
Rays from the freshly setting sun illuminated the area. All those in the clearing stared with shock at where Amelia and Tanith had once been. Now there was what appeared to be a smooth, white stone. As they watched, a split formed in one side. Slowly it widened until two crouched figures could be seen within.
"Amelia." Lina started forward, relief washing over her. A hand grabbed her arm, holding her back. She glared questioningly at Zelgadis. He only shook his head, indicating the scene before them. His senses were tingling with a strange power he'd never felt before, and he wanted to see what would happen.
The stone continued to part until half of it was gone. Tanith slowly sat up, releasing the stunned princess. Amelia was sprawled on her back, held up by her arms, watching the blonde with amazement and even a bit of fear. The rest found out why soon enough.
Tanith rose to her feet, the white stone transforming before their eyes into wings. They spread gracefully from her back, through the holes in the Armor, shining in the light of the setting sun. They were feathered wings, but looked more like a ghost image; the forest could be seen through them, as if they weren't really there.
Tanith slowly looked up, revealing yet another surprise. Her ears, something the group had never wondered about, stuck straight out from her head, long and pointed like an elf's. Her cold, blue eyes turned on Leshimier.
The sorcerer jumped with the contact of their gazes, taking several hurried steps backwards. In his haste he tripped, the blade falling from his grasp. "Keep away!" he shrieked, waving the free hand as if to fend the girl off. Tanith, however, only watched him.
Zelgadis stared at her, unable to move. He felt as if the world had stopped moving, the ground falling out from beneath him. For a moment the uneasiness, the fear he'd always held towards her came back. She looked like an angel, one that could claim a life and be gone in a second, could pass judgment and carry out the deadly sentence in one swift, gruesome act. For that single instant she seemed to tower over the clearing and the people in it, gaze frozen and heartless.
Her eyes darted to his, and the anxiety abruptly vanished. The view changed, a cloud lifting from the chimera's sight. Only Tanith stood before them now, her thin body looking too small to carry such large wings. She was trembling terribly, pleading for help he didn't know how to give. Her gaze drifted back to Leshimier, still cringing and begging on the ground.
Amelia suddenly got to her feet, running to Lina's side. "The Arms," she whispered urgently. "He's got the other Arms!"
This woke the sorceress. Lina stalked over to the cowering man, picking him up by the collar. "Okay sleaze," she demanded, "Hand over the Arms."
Leshimier stared at her. "N-no," he stuttered frantically, all traces of his earlier hiss gone from his voice. "I c-can't! No!"
"If you don't," Lina grinned evilly, turning him to face Tanith. "I'll sick her on you."
The sorcerer panicked. "Okay, okay! Please, I'll give them to you!"
"That's a good boy." Lina easily took the bag he offered her, handing it to Amelia. "Check it out."
The princess obediently opened the pack, removing two armlets and the Seed of the Earth. "It's them," she answered.
Lina tossed the man to the ground. "Now let's see, what kind of punishment should I--hey! Come back here!"
As soon as he was free Leshimier took off, running as fast as his feet could go. Lina considered going after him, took two steps, considered again, and stopped. "He's not worth it," she muttered, returning to her friends.
Zelgadis finally got up the nerve to approach Tanith. Her stance wavered, head lowered. As he came closer, her bright wings folded, faded, then vanished. "Hey." He reached for her arm. "You okay?"
There was no reply. Tanith groped for his shoulder, gripped it tightly, then suddenly fell against him. Zelgadis blinked in surprise, forcing his shock away as she began to fall. He managed to keep her upright, allowing her to lean against his chest for support. "Are…are you okay?" he asked again.
"Just…tired…." Her fingers curled around his tunic. But--somehow--the sorcerer could tell it was more than fatigue; she was shaking with fear.
Zelgadis instantly felt like a fool for ever thinking this girl would kill him. She seemed so small, so fragile, as if she would break at any moment. Her pale skin had whitened until it matched her clothing. Tanith sagged a bit, depending completely on him to keep her from collapsing.
The sorcerer wrapped an arm around her waist, mind spinning with a wash of emotions. In the span of a few seconds she had trusted her life to him; she had looked to him for help. The realization of this rose all sorts of new, protective instincts in Zelgadis that he never knew he held. He stared down at her, at the pain and fear on her face.
"You don't speak at all."
"You treat me as if I'm about to attack at any moment."
"You never made any attempt to ask me about what I know and how I know it."
She was right, all along, he realized. I never gave her a chance. The face he was seeing now…this poor, frightened creature….This is the real Tanith, the one she's been hiding. And what she did just now….
He thought about the wings, the ears, and how Leshimier--part demon, just as he himself was--had reacted with the same fear that Zelgadis had felt.
This is what she really is.
"Is she unconscious?"
Zelgadis turned, startled out of his thoughts by Lina's question. When he looked down again, he saw that Tanith was indeed asleep. "Yes," he answered softly. "We should leave this place."
Lina nodded, watching him carefully. With Sylphiel's help, they situated Tanith on the chimera's back. With one last glance at the temple, the group started on the long journey back to the village of Lavrine.
The Sacred Arms
Chapter 6: Uncertainty! The Day After….
* * * * * *
:Tanith?:
She groaned softly, struggling to wake.
:Tanith? Can you hear me?:
She forced her eyes open, meeting the black landscape of her dreaming mind. She blinked, a white blur leaning over her.
:Can you hear me, little sister?:
"Yes," she was finally able to answer, sitting up. The misty boy crouched at her side, vapor cape spreading around him and disappearing into the darkness. "What's going on?"
:The demon chimera,: he reminded her. A touch of humor entered his voice. :You fainted so hard even I couldn't reach you.:
Her memory came back with a start. "Where am I?" she demanded, then corrected herself. "I mean, where's my body? What happened to Leshimier? Are Lina and the others all right?"
The mist laughed, holding up two hands as if to fend her questions off. :Calm down, little sister, and I will tell you.: She did as he said, and he continued. :You are in the town of Lavrine; your friends carried you there. They are fine. The chimera Leshimier has fled. You are safe.:
Tanith relaxed, rubbing her forehead. Another memory halted her movements, guilt and shame biting cruelly at her heart. "They know now, don't they? About me…."
The boy sighed, edging closer to her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she fought him. She didn't deserve to be held, not after the mistake she had made. It was unforgivable, revealing herself to these people she barely knew, let alone her enemy.
:Stop that, Tanith,: the cloud scolded gently, hugging her tightly. :What happened was not your fault, and deserves no punishment.:
"But they know," she protested, no longer resisting his warmth but not accepting it either. "They know that I'm--"
:A very strange person who has pointed ears and wings,: he interrupted softly. :They wouldn't know what a Ruumin was if you had said it out loud.:
"But Leshimier…."
:Understands it even less than your friends. Believe me, little sister, you are safe.:
Tanith finally gave in, leaning heavily against the boy. She was surprised that he smelled faintly of pine. Do ghosts smell? she wondered idly, then rebuked herself for letting her mind wander. "What do I do now?" she asked softly.
She could almost feel the boy smile. :Tell them. Tell them everything.:
Tanith pulled back, startled. "Every…you mean everything? Our entire history?"
He nodded. :Yes. That is what I came to tell you now.: He set firm hands on her shoulders, and though Tanith could make out no facial features, she knew he was looking directly into her eyes. :I told you before that you would not be alone anymore, right? These people will help you, will fight with you, and will understand your duty.:
"Even…." She paused, half-dreading the answer to her next question. "Even Zelgadis, the chimera?"
This caused the mist to pause, head lowering slightly. :I…I don't know,: he admitted uncertainly, voice vaguely troubled. :I would like to trust him, but I can not be completely sure.: His tone dropped. :A demon alone is bad enough, but being a chimera with human and golem characteristics, as well as being controlled by Rezo….:
"So I Saw correctly then," she mused, heart falling at the news. "It was Rezo? Are you sure?"
:Yes,: the cloud answered simply.
"Rezo," Tanith sighed. "The Red Priest, the one who resurrected the Lord of Darkness…."
:The chimera did break free,: he reminded her. :And he fought against the Dark Lord.:
Tanith nodded. "That doesn't mean I can trust him, though."
:No, it doesn't. However, it does mean you can give him a chance.: Tanith nodded but didn't speak, and the boy continued. :Anyway, you can and should tell them the whole story.: His voice brightened. :And you should wake up before they mistake you as dead.:
"If you think I should tell…" she started hesitantly.
:Positive.:
Tanith smiled. "Thank you again for the help, clouded brother."
He laughed, obviously pleased with her use of the nick-name. :Good luck to you, little sister. Be well.:
* * * * * *
The group arrived at the Lavrine inn near sunset the following day, having traveled all the previous night. Tanith was put into a room with Amelia and Sylphiel so they could watch her, and all went to sleep. The next morning they took turns eating breakfast and sitting with the unconscious girl. Afterwards all the travelers gathered in the room, deciding their friend had slept long enough.
"Tanith. Hey Tanith," Lina coaxed, poking at her forehead. "Nappy time's over. We've got questions."
The blonde moaned softly, the sorceress backing away to stand near the window. Tanith slowly opened her eyes, blinking in the dull morning sun. She sat up, noting that they had left her in the Armor. "Good morning," she said meekly.
"And about time, too." Lina crossed her arms. "We walked all night to get your sorry ass back here."
"Thank you for your trouble," she answered sincerely, looking about. Sylphiel and Amelia were perched on another bed, Gourry on the floor, Lina and Zelgadis leaning against walls on opposite sides of the room. Beside her own bed was a small table, and laying on top were the Sacred Arms. "You got them back."
"Yeah, after that big show you put on scared the be-jibbies out of Leshy. And by the way…." Lina leaned forward, voice dropping. "What the hell was that?"
Tanith pulled herself to the edge of the bed, head down as she considered. "I'll explain everything," she started. "But it's a long, complicated story, and I'm hungry."
The red-head nodded. "After lunch, then," she decided. Lina cocked an eye. "You will be telling us everything, right?"
Tanith nodded. "Yes. Everything."
"All right. This is going to take a long time to explain, so you'll have to be patient." Tanith surveyed the group, all seated this time, each with a bit of food or drink with them. She felt a bit of doubt. "You think you'll all be able to…."
"Don't worry," Lina quickly cut her off. "The one's who'll understand it will stay awake."
"Just ignore Gourry's snoring," Amelia added.
Tanith shrugged. "If you say so."
Everyone took a few moments to shift about, getting comfortable for the long tale. The storyteller sipped some water. My throat's going to be raw by the end of this.
"Okay. In order to explain who--"
"What."
Tanith cast Lina an annoyed glare. This…is going to take some time. "--and what I am, I need to begin with the formation of the world."
Lina nearly fell over. "Jeez! You weren't kidding about long."
"Are you going to let me even start?"
"Yeah yeah. Go on."
"Thank you," the blonde said, frustrated, then quickly calmed herself. Today was going to be enough of an emotional storm without her getting angry. "Here goes. In the beginning, the Earth was created, and placed on the Staff of the Gods. You all know that part, right?"
All but Gourry nodded, the swordsman scratching his head. "What staff?"
"Just ignore him," Lina muttered.
"Anyway, the Earth had three ruling factors: Ceiphied, the Dragon God; Shabranigdu, the Demon King, and the five Elements of Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, and Spirit. All forms of life came about, along with Magic--White, Black, and Shamanism. All the creatures of the world sided with either Ceiphied or Shabranigdu--Mazoku and Dragons, beasts, demons, humans…and elves."
"So you're an elf?" Lina interrupted. "But elves don't have wings."
"I…." Tanith considered the best way to continue. "The story you mentioned before was partially true--about the cult, I mean." She took a deep breath. "About two thousand years ago, there was a group of elves living on a large island in the south. All of our race is fairly closely connected with the earth and Shaman-type elements, but they were even more so on this island. One day, a seven-year-old boy was brought to the attention of the Elders of the time. He had amazing magical capabilities and claimed he had been 'Chosen' by the Elements."
"Elements?" Amelia cocked her head in puzzlement. "How do elements choose anything?"
"They're like spirits," Lina answered. "Shaman Magic is calling on the powers of the element's spirit. But they're not really conscious or anything, right?" She looked to Tanith.
The blonde nodded. "They don't have actual minds," she clarified. "They're more like emotions, and are completely confined to the astral plane. That boy, Carme, was incredibly sensitive to the powers of the earth, the Water spirit in particular. In the next few years, four more children emerged with similar abilities--Pel, Leisha, Terynn, and Paige. They led a sort of religious awakening."
Sylphiel interrupted this time. "Religious?"
"Yes. This'll sound terrible to you, but that group of elves was terribly tired of the battles between Ceiphied and Shabranigdu. The Earth was suffering, life was suffering, and they wanted no part of it. So they rejected the following of the Dragon God and turned to worship of the Five Elements."
Tanith paused, wondering how her audience was taking the facts. To them, such talk should have been sacrilege….
Lina merely waved for her to continue. "I suppose we can accept, Tanith." She grinned. "After some of the things I've been through, I can understand why they'd be tired of the whole thing." The others nodded agreement, and the storyteller felt a bit more confident.
"Well, the five children were being hailed as Prophets as they began their new 'cult.' At the same time, they began to develop their own form of Shamanism and their own church. They did away with money, and because of all that pretty much cut themselves off from the rest of our race.
"Carme, Paige, Pel, Leisha, and Terynn spent several years developing their new society. When monsters attacked, they defended the island. Our sorcerers gain the title of 'Mage,' and the five were called the Harbinger Mages. And when they defeated a Mazoku, the entire clan took on the name Ruumin."
Tanith glanced at the objects on the table. "The Harbingers were the chosen carriers of the Elements' powers. When a problem arose that couldn't be handled--these were usually attacks on human settlements--the five were Willed to do something about it. The Sacred Arms were each worn by one of them.
A moment of silence passed. "Is that the end of the story?" Amelia finally asked.
"No, there's still more."
The whole room sighed with six simultaneous exhalations. The group laughed nervously, each reaching for a bit of food or drink. Tanith surveyed each of them in turn, trying to gauge their reactions. Amelia and Sylphiel were attentive. Gourry continued to eat with a bright look of interest, and she wondered how much he was understanding. Lina was unreadable, staring at a spot on the floor. And Zelgadis….
Tanith couldn't help her eyes from lingering on the chimera. She studied his blank expression, his posture, for a moment reveling in the opposite feelings of being draw and repelled. She remembered collapsing against him after saving Amelia, tired and shocked from the encounter with the demon-human, feeling him supporting her smaller form. She was struck again by the aura of perfection he held: invulnerable, untouchable, beautiful and grotesque, bright power and dark evil, all combined into one tall, strong--
"Are we going to finish now, or would you rather take a break?"
Tanith quickly shook herself, turning her attention back to Lina before Zelgadis could notice her gaze. You've gotta stop that! she scolded herself sharply. For now, you can't completely trust him. You can't you can't you can't.
"I can keep going," she answered the red-head. "Are you all okay?" Everyone nodded. "The next half of my story is the Harbingers' last battle.
"A powerful Mazoku attacked thirteen years after the discovery of Carme. A lot had happened between the five Mages. They trained together for several years and became inseparable; they loved each other like siblings, despite gender and age differences.
"Then the attack came. The five were Willed into going, something that is hard to describe unless you're a Mage." She clenched her hands together in her lap, biting her lip. "It's like…being pulled…by forces you can't see but just know are there. The Harbingers used one of their newly created spells to give them wings and flew to the battle.
Tanith paused, breathing deeply. The story wasn't quite as frightening as when her teacher had told it to her, but just thinking of such a monster….Keep going. Just get it over with. "The city was destroyed before anyone could even blink. The Mages fought as long as they could, exhausting themselves and only causing their enemy minimal damage. Then the Mazoku turned, spotting a young boy who hadn't been able to get away. Carme saw him, too, and they raced to reach him." Tanith took a drink from her glass, realizing it was almost empty.
"Carme made it there first, and he managed to knock the boy to safety. But…." She shook her head sadly. "The beast crushed him, half burying him in the ruins of the city."
There was a moment of silence, each group member almost able to see the tale before them. They didn't speak, all seeing the truth of the story in Tanith's eyes; she almost seemed to be living the legend, understanding it in a way they couldn't comprehend.
"When he fell, Paige cried out and collapsed. The two had been especially close, knowing each other even more than they knew the rest. The last three thought that as Carme was struck down, Paige willed his own death as well."
"That's so sad," Sylphiel murmured, blinking back tears.
"It's not over yet," Tanith warned. "It was all the three mages could do to pull the boy away in time. After that, there was nothing left; they had no more energy for even a simple spell.
"Then Paige appeared, not dead, but he might as well have been. He'd lost half of his soul when Carme died, and in a last effort he gathered all his power and threw it at the beast. For a moment the entire city was covered in a bright, white light. When it was gone…." Tanith visibly steeled herself, shuddering with some knowledge she had to fight to reveal. "When it was gone, the entire city was completely dead, all the spirits stripped away.
Lina straightened. "Is that the spell? The one that's supposed to be more powerful that the Giga Slave?"
Tanith mentally stumbled at that, blinking rapidly. "How…how do you know about that?"
"I read it in a book," Sylphiel spoke up. "It said that with all the Arms, a sorcerer could perform the most powerful spell in the world."
"Oh boy…." Tanith rubbed her eyes, suddenly very tired. You said you'd tell them everything, she reminded herself. Don't go back on it now. She sighed, wondering idly how often she had done that this night alone. "Yes, it was that spell, but the Arms don't really have anything to do with it, and I'm not sure you could say it's stronger than Giga Slave."
"So tell us about it," Lina encouraged eagerly. "And we'll make the decision for ourselves."
"Before I do," the blonde relented. "I need to explain what Paige did after--the spell wasn't completed.
"When he saw all the destruction that he had caused, Paige was horrified. With the last of his strength, he gathered the astral energy of everything he had killed and…well, resurrected it. He returned the city to the way it had been, save some specific details.
"All magic was completely gone. The priests, the sorcerers--there wasn't a single person outside the Mages that could cast a spell. Magical items were useless, and the Mazoku was utterly destroyed. But, as a result of the huge amounts of energy he spent, Paige died. Pel, Leisha, and Terynn left soon afterwards, traveling back to their island. They told the story of the battle, then spent two years turning what Paige had done into an actual spell.
"But they were worried about the future of their people. They prayed to the Elementals for a way to be sure that there would be more Mages. They later found a baby with enormous magic potential, and they were reassured. The last three Harbingers died in peace, and afterwards their Arms could be used--by Mages only--to enhance their abilities."
Tanith sighed deeply, her story coming to an end. "Ever since then there have always been five Mages living at a time. Twice they have been called to battle. The Ruumin live in hiding now, existing only in fairy tales. Until now, that is." She shrugged. "That's it."
The group allowed the story to sink in. "So that's what you are," Lina stated slowly. "An elf Mage."
"What were the other battles?" Sylphiel asked.
The red-head answered for her. "I bet I can guess: Jalannya Kaika, the Golem King, and Luvika, who led the demon revolution." Tanith nodded her agreement. "So what you guys do is…."
"Protect the earth and its children," she responded. "We take on anything that can't be handled with whatever's at hand. We are extremely sensitive to any sudden changes in the astral plane, and it's become instinct for us to fight against anything that uses the powers of the Mazoku or Shamanism wrongly. In a way, we are the natural enemies of Mazoku, monster, beasts and so on, and we can't really live with humans."
The listeners gazed at her in surprise. "But you just said you were created to protect the humans," Sylphiel protested.
"That's true," Tanith answered. "The only problem I would have would be if any of you used a really powerful spell; Dragon Slave, Gaav Flare, even things like Ra-Tilt or Mega Brand--any of them would make me a bit queasy if used nearby."
"One last question before we take a break," Lina announced. "Where were you guys during Shabranigdu's and Zanaffar's resurrections? Not that we ended up needing your help, but I certainly would have deemed them 'world threatening.' Why didn't you come in with the other four Mages?"
Tanith froze, heart stopping for several counts. Tears sprung to her eyes and spilled before she could wipe them away. No, no. Not now, please. I…I can't….
"Tanith?" She blinked, not realizing she had stood up until Lina was beside her. "What's the matter?"
"I…I can't talk about this now."
The red-head was puzzled. "What, about Shabranigdu?" Then she realized. "Hey, where are the others? If you mages are so tight--"
"Please!" Tanith broke her off, the salty drops pouring from her burning eyes. "I can't tell you. It's too hard. Please…I can't…." Without another word, she fled the room. A hand flew to her mouth, trying to hide the sobs that stuck painfully in her throat. The remaining five listened to her retreating steps, Lina looking out the window as the blonde escaped the town.
"Shouldn't we go after her?" Amelia asked worriedly.
Lina shook her head. "Let her go. The Arms are still here, so she won't run off for long." She sighed, internally disturbed by the story as well as the girl's sudden break-down. "Let's go get dinner."
As she led the way out the door, Lina noticed Zelgadis had slipped out. She wondered at it for a moment, then decided to let him go as well. "These non-humans and their weird emotions," she muttered to herself. "I'll never get it."
Tanith ran until she was surrounded by trees, throwing herself onto the grassy forest floor, head pillowed in her arms. She cried until her entire body ached, eyes tired and tears spent. She lay there for hours, ignoring her hungry stomach. Eventually it gave up and grew silent, content to merely twist itself into knots.
She scolded herself over and over, disgusted at her weak behavior after being so strong for the last eight years. She was mad and upset with Lina for not understanding, for simply not knowing her trials without her having to speak them. For a moment she was even angry with them for dying so long ago, then tore herself apart for even thinking such things. The sun began to set, and still she didn't move, half wishing some creature would find her and finish her off.
She didn't realize he was there until the shadow fell over her. Her senses told her who it was even before she began to sit up. Tanith wiped her eyes, embarrassed to be seen in such a condition. Long bangs fell limply across her face, and she felt tired all over as she confronted him.
Zelgadis didn't speak; only watched her with a blank, unreadable gaze. The sun was behind him, half blinding her, lighting his head with a soft halo. After several still moments he offered her a hand. She stared at it, unsure, than finally accepted. Zelgadis pulled her easily to her feet, his expression implacable.
"Thanks," Tanith whispered meekly, half-reluctantly retrieving her hand. She turned her eyes to the ground, afraid to meet his gaze.
Zelgadis only stood there, having no idea why he had followed her and not knowing what to do next. He hadn't liked the thought of Tanith running off with no one to watch over her; she clearly couldn't have fought off a troll if she'd met one. Lina seemed to believe two things should be done when disaster or despair struck: either leave the person alone or fill them with food. It usually worked--it had with him on several occasions, after all.
But Tanith was different, more than he had expected since she had started her tale. If her story was what normally happened to a Ruumin Mage, and she was going through something worse, no amount of food would help. But he had no idea how he could even comfort her, let alone solve her problems
Some good you are, he berated himself. Out of everyone, you should know the most about crappy pasts and shitty twists of fate. What did you need most after what Rezo did?
Part of his mind immediately supplied an answer, one he quickly tossed aside. Okay, other than a hug, what did you need?
Support? It was better than the previous suggestion. But for Tanith? They'd barely known each other two weeks, and hadn't been exactly friendly at that. How would she react?
Just think of it as protecting the person who knows the way to the last of the Sacred Arms, that sensible part of him reasoned. If Leshimier gets a hold of her, we won't be able to beat him to the next temple. And we'll need her to even get them to work. They sounded like good enough excuses.
Besides, he couldn't ignore the protective feelings he'd had before, freshly risen at her distressed state.
Tanith jumped as his hand came down on her shoulder, surprised by the sudden contact. She met his eyes, head still lowered, afraid of anger or questions.
"Will you be okay?" he asked, voice amazingly soft and understanding. The way he'd said that…wondering if she would recover later, since now she was obviously not "okay"….
He gets it, she realized, the first relief she'd gotten in the past few hours. He's not going to ask. Tanith found herself strangely comforted by his concern. She nodded slowly in answer.
Zelgadis moved slightly to stand a bit off to her side. "Shall we go back then?" He left his hand where it was, keeping his expression as soft as his stone features would allow. She nodded again and offered a faint, grateful smile that lifted his spirits. Head still down, she began to walk back towards the town, Zelgadis at her side.
During the short journey, both felt as if a heavy weight was being lifted. The fearful and untrusting emotions that they had always held towards each other vanished, leaving only an understanding: They were opposites, but at the same time they were the same, strangers in a world they could only watch and not participate in. For a moment Tanith wondered if demons and Ruumin were really that different, were really more like siblings than natural enemies. She didn't try to find an answer, only let the memories and pain slip away, accepting the comfort of the chimera's steady presence.