Chapter One: Revenge

Ok…a short introduction so that readers wouldn't be completely confused. ^_^' This story takes place a short while before the start of Slayers Next. Which means that Lina and Gourry have not gone to Zoana and met Amelia or Zelgadiss yet. I have attempted to explain some of the incidents that occur between scenes. These are all my version of the story, so it may not be true. But I hope I have made it believable. J Ok I'm done. On with the story…

Chapter One: Revenge? Watch out, Lina Inverse!

A young woman stood alone in the still burning wreckage of her town, tears flowing down her face. She walked slowly to a patch of clear ground where she had just buried her loved ones. Kneeling brokenly before her parents' graves, she vowed, "Lina Inverse! You have destroyed my home and my life. You will pay for this… I will make you pay!!"

Not far away, a cloaked figure sitting in the branches of a tree heard the girl's shout. "Hmm… How interesting," he said, smiling. Then he vanished.

The girl staggered back to the remains of her house. The fire had not touched her magically protected clothes. Not caring if she was seen or not, Kera Yurion stripped off her burnt clothing and put on her travelling clothes that consisted of a blue tunic over a pale yellow shirt and tights. She put on her matching gloves and boots, then took out her prized hand-dagger. Kera gritted her teeth and cut off all of her beautiful, dark brown, knee length hair except for a few locks at the nape of her neck. Keeping her hair would only remind her of her parents. She braided the remaining locks together. Sheathing her dagger, she buckled on her long sword and blue-green cape, then gazed at the direction where Lina and her gang had taken. She hooded herself and walked out of the burnt village.

Suddenly, there was a person in priest's robes in front of her. The purple-haired man smiled genially at her, then he opened his eyes. She stared, then said, "Mazoku!"

"Hmm… you're perceptive," commented Xelloss. "However, I'm not here to fight you. Whether you believe it or not, I want to help you."

"Because I look pathetic?" Kera asked sarcastically, keeping her hand on her sword hilt.

"Tsk tsk, if you think that way, you've already lost half the battle," said Xelloss, wagging his finger at her. "Besides, that hair-style makes you look good too."

Kera ignored that last statement. "Then what do you want? Do you really expect me to believe that you will help me?" Kera asked, still not completely at ease with the presence of a Mazoku.

"No, not really…" said the Trickster priest. "But it make things much more convenient."

"You still haven't told me what you want with me," said Kera, crossing her arms.

"I haven't? Oh… That's my secret," said Xelloss, winking at her.

"Is that right? Well, good-bye then," said Kera, walking away.

Undaunted, Xelloss followed her, still smiling. Kera ignored him pointedly. After a long while, the priest caught up with her and said, "By the way, my name is Xelloss. What's yours?"

"That is my secret," said Kera, smiling slightly.

Xelloss raised an eyebrow, then said, "Whoa, that's a long name. Can I call you Secret or would you prefer being called Kera?"

Surprised, Kera whirled around to stare at him. "H-how did you know?"

Xelloss winked and raised his finger, about to say his pet phrase again, when Kera interrupted him, "Never mind. I don't really care, since we're not going to be travelling companions."

"Oh, aren't we? We've been together for quite some time now," Xelloss said.

Kera did not answer that but continued walking. "It's all right if we don't talk that often," remarked Xelloss. "I understand that you've just gone through an emotional trauma and your head is not very clear yet, so-"

"Shut up or get lost, Xelloss. If you want to travel with me, that's fine, but don't talk so much, ok?" Kera said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, so you've finally decided to accept me as your travelling companion. Is that right?" Xelloss said.

"Well, it looks like I have no choice. You'll just follow me anyway," said Kera, still walking.

"That's true. Well, for one thing, you do know where you're going, don't you?" Xelloss asked.

"Frankly, no. I'm just following the path that Lina and that blond swordsman took," replied Kera. "Do you know where they're heading?"

"Yes," Xelloss replied, to Kera's surprise. "They're going to Zoana. I think they heard something about a Clair Bible there."

"A Clair Bible? But there isn't a Clair Bible in Zoana," said Kera, raising an eyebrow.

"They don't know that," said Xelloss, winking. "Anyway, they will probably meet a couple of their companions there so it wouldn't be a wasted trip."

"Huh? How do you know all these? … Wait, I know. It's your secret, right?" Kera said, sighing. "Oh, forget it."

"Yep. That's right. I can't go around revealing my secrets, now, can I?" Xelloss said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There was a short silence. The two of them continued walking towards Zoana. "So what are you going to do when you reach Zoana?" Xelloss asked Kera.

"I'm not very sure," she said. "I guess I will check Lina out, see how good she really is."

"And then…" prompted Xelloss.

"Plan on how to teach her a lesson," said Kera, clenching her fists.

"Just like that? You're not going to kill her?" Xelloss said, seeming surprised.

"No. I've had enough of killing," said Kera.

"Why? Ah, I see. You did something in the past that you regretted deeply, so…"

"Shut up, Xelloss."

"Ah ha! I've hit a nerve, haven't I?"

"So what if you have? It doesn't change anything anyway."

"Maybe if you told me what happened? At least it would make you feel better," said Xelloss. "Or maybe you would prefer to call it your 'secret'?"

Kera stared at him, startled. "A Mazoku feeling concerned for a human? That's a laugh," she said cynically.

Xelloss put on a hurt look. "Mazoku are not all bad, you know?"

"Yeah, right. And pigs can fly," said Kera dryly.

"You can make a pig fly," disagreed Xelloss.

"Just shut up, ok? It wouldn't hurt your mouth to be rested for a while."

"Fine, fine. Oh, by the way, I won't be going to Zoana with you," said Xelloss. "I have a little business to attend to."

"Good riddance," said Kera, smiling.

"Don't worry, I'll find you again once Lina and the others leave Zoana."

"Damn," muttered Kera in an undertone.

"What did you say? Aw, come on… I know you simply love my company and will feel terribly lonely without me," said Xelloss, smiling at her. "But we won't be separated for long, so don't miss me too much, ok?"

Frowning, Kera did not reply to that.

"And you're such delightful company too. I will miss you, bye," said Xelloss, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"Ugh!" Kera exclaimed, wiping her cheek hastily. "You pervert! What did you do that for?! Xel- Oh. He's gone. Finally."

Sighing in relief, Kera continued on her way. Now that Xelloss was gone, she relaxed more and inevitably started recalling what happened scarcely a few hours ago.

* Flashback *

Kera was on her way back to her home village when she saw thick, black smoke being emitted from that direction. Horrified, Kera started running along the trodden path, carrying the cakes that she had been sent to buy from the town. A terrible sight greeted her shocked eyes. Almost all of the wooden houses were on fire, including the one she shared with her parents. The huge fire devoured any living creature, its choking smoke finished the job of killing the inhabitants of the village. Kera knew that this was sorcery almost immediately. A few of the remaining villagers were chasing a couple of travellers— a redheaded sorceress and a blond swordsman out of the village. The others were trying to put out the fire, but in vain. Kera wished she could help, however, she was unable to enter the burning village because of the heat and smoke. Vexed at being so helpless, Kera put down all the things she had bought, then cast a Bomb Di Wind that blew away most of the fire. Unfortunately, it also blew away most of the roofs of the village huts, but that couldn't be helped.

She dashed immediately to her house. However, she arrived too late to save her parents. They were only two among the many casualties of the village but to her, they were everything. Wiping away her tears, Kera buried them in a clear spot near the back of their house.

* End of Flashback *

From the headman of the village, Kera had discovered that the sorceress who had caused this disaster was known as Lina Inverse, the Bandit Killer. From what the headman said, Lina was quite a well-known and powerful sorceress. The pair had been eating their dinner when a couple of Mazoku appeared in the village square. Lina and the swordsman attacked them for interrupting their meal. The swordsman managed to destroy one using the legendary Sword of Light while Lina recklessly killed the other using a Dragon Slave. That was what caused the fire in the village. Naturally, the couple got away as fast as they possibly could.

Kera clenched her gloved fists. If only she had arrived sooner to put out the fire or stop Lina. She thought of the love that her parents had lavished on her when she was a child; how they never blamed her for learning black magic when she was not accepted by the white-magic priests. The first time she cast Dragon Slave… she destroyed more than one quarter of the village. Over forty people died because of her little 'experiment'. But then, she was only six years old and had not known the consequences. Henceforth, the village council banned her from using any magic. She still cheated from time to time when it was more convenient to use spells and her parents never told on her. Nevertheless, out of respect and love for her parents, she never cast any major spells… until today when she cast Bomb Di Wind, and that was only because she was desperate.

Now her parents were dead, all because of the reckless act of a callous sorceress. Tears welled up in her jade-green eyes. Kera brushed them away irritably. She was determined to see justice done for the sake of her parents. Not only that, she now had no home. Fortunately, she had hidden a secret stash of money that she kept for emergencies. This was certainly an emergency. She could always figure out a way to earn more money later. Meanwhile, she continued walking in the direction of Zoana… until…

~ ~ ~ The End of Chapter One ~ ~ ~

Did you like it? Don't forget to review, ok? Also, stay tuned for the next chapter! (Bleah… I sound like some TV announcer.) Anyway…I do not own the characters of Slayers (although I wish I didJ ). I only own Kera Yurion. :p