Chapter 2
Karyuuou's ever dedicated, ever calm, ever beautiful miko was about to rip every last strand of her hair out. The one dark lord the world had always been dreading has escaped…well, at least one piece had. Having a namagomi floating along with the group was bad enough. Add another powerful mazoku trash to the picture and poof goes the world. Not to mention her sanity.
Lina regarded the Golden dragon with faint amusement.
"You heard what Xelloss said. Summon the Dragon Gods. And since you're a miko of one of the Dragon Gods…"
"You do know what that namagomi is trying to lead us to?"
"Well, duh! To call out Ceipheed the brawniest of them all to kick Shabby's crab ass off again."
"Very aptly put, I have to admit…"
"So let's go find your God!"
"And save the world, purifying it from the dark-OW! Lina san!"
The Princess rubbed her bruised head, shooting glares at the fiery-haired girl, who rolled her eyes to heaven in exasperation. Zelgadiss, leaning casually against the wall watching everything miraculously managed to keep his scowl in check. Dear old Gourry was clueless. As usual.
Filia looked down at the pendant she wore round her neck rather dubiously. It bore an engraved image of a dragon ascending upwards, with flames in the background. She hadn't done summonings for such a long time. And to try a summoning in such a short time…
Slamming a decisive hand on the table, Lina leapt off her chair.
"Let's move move mo-"
"Excuse me, Miss Inverse. I have received a letter addressed to you." The servant bowed and moved away silently.
Lina stared at the envelope. The handwriting was far too familiar. With trembling hands, she pulled the letter out and unfolded it.
Dear Lina,
I'm sure you have heard of the latest disaster. The dark lord Shaburanigdo has been released. I trust that you've already set out to get the Dragon Gods' assistance and advice on this matter. I wish to inform you that I shall be joining you on your trip shortly.
Yours truly,
Luna
Shrieking, the normally composed Lina grabbed the collars of all her bewildered companions (with the exception of Zelgadiss) and ran pell mell out of the tavern.
The cursed youth folded his arms and closed his eyes as he literally flew through the air.
"Lina, have you any idea how we can summon Karyuuou?"
"Noideawehavetogetontheroadfastbeforeoneesamacatchesus!"
"I'm sorry, what was that again?"
Turning her head so she faced Zelgadiss, Filia called out an answer.
"We have to head for the nearest temple of his! It's right in the middle of Saillune city!"
"GotitFilia!"
"Lina, word of advice. Breathe."
"And slow down too, Lina saaaaaan!!"
"Um…what's going on?"
"Noooooo,oneesamaonmytrailIamsodeaddeaddead!"
The temple of the Fire Dragon was to say the least, rather disappointing. In the place of an ancient and magnificient place of worship, stood a rather scorched and run-down temple.
"It looks as if some amateur arsoner tried to burn down this place." Amelia stated, blinking at the sad looking structure. Lina lay puffing on the ground, with Zelgadiss standing beside her, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. Karyuuou's miko could only gape at the sorry-looking temple.
"Oh my my my…it appears Karyuuou sama has been neglecting his temple for the last few centuries."
"Indeed."
Lina leapt into Zelgadiss's arms, screeching like a banshee. The chimera flushed a crimson red. With the blonde hair flying wildly, Filia whipped out her mace, stomping towards the first speaker with blazing eyes.
"YOU must have ruined it…you…you…NAMAGOMI!"
Xelloss gave a mocking bow. "Why, thank you, Filia san. I don't believe anyone has ever given me such a high compliment before."
"WHY YOU-"
"Excuse me."
The mace dropped to the floor with a thud as the Golden dragon glanced at the second figure. Her jaw dropped for the second time.
The figure coughed politely and nodded curtly to the group.
"My name is Luna. Pleased to meet you all."
"L-Luna Inverse?! The…the legendary Knight of Ceipheed?!" Filia gasped. Lina, who was still held by a very bug-eyed Zelgadiss, whimpered.
The lady brushed the bangs off her face. "I am her."
Being a swordsman, a skilled one at that, had its limits. That one major flaw was the one major reason for threats upon his life, saved only by his excellent fighting skills. Which brings us right back to that single major flaw, giving us a perfectly vicious cycle. Said swordsman unfortunately, frequently demonstrates this one major flaw.
"Uhh…who's Ceipheed again?"
The Knight of Ceipheed raised a slender eyebrow as everyone else, minus a mazoku who was trying to suppress his laughter, collapsed.
"You're Gourry, I believe."
"Wow! How'd you guess? Are you telepathic or something?"
Luna sighed.
Standing in the centre of a large magic circle, the purple-haired Knight inspected it thoroughly, her cape billowing in the wind. Karyuuou's miko had spent (and wasted, she must add) much time attempting to draw the circle. The circle must be perfect, otherwise a summoning would be completely fruitless. During that period of time, a shy girl by the name of Sylphiel had joined the group. Luna repressed a smile. Her affections for the "big blonde idiot" (in the terms of her younger sister) are extremely obvious.
Finally, the Knight strode briskly out of the circle. Filia immediately took the initiative. Stepping into the circle, she clasped her hands to her chest, bowed her head down and began chanting softly.
The pendant on her neck glowed.
The observant chimera did not miss the swift triumphant glance that the Knight of Ceipheed exchanged with the Trickster Priest. He stored that data away silently, meaning to question the fruitcake later.
Slowly, ever slowly, the glow grew brighter and brighter, the engraved image of the fire dragon seemed to come alive.
Suddenly, the temple which they were watching with eager faces exploded.
"What happened?!" screeched a very bewildered Lina.
"I see you've come to your senses. You can release me now."
Blushing, Lina untangled her arms from around the chimera's neck. Lina's elder sister stood calm and composed beside the equally composed mazoku. She raised her hand and waved it almost casually. The smoke around them cleared almost immediately.
"All right you imbeciles! What do you think you were trying to do?!"
The group turned to face the enraged speaker. He was dashing across the ruined temple, his face purple with rage. Stopping right in front of the magic circle, he pointed to it and snapped.
"Why don't you ever look before you leap?! Didn't you realise that I was trying to summon the great Fire Dragon too?!"
"You WHAT?!"
Luna gazed at the man with a serene expression. "Shall we discuss this over lunch?"
The Trickster Priest watched the man as he settled down in his seat, still puffing from the exertion of his earlier outburst. The former smiled quietly. This was certainly a very interesting twist. And he was definitely interested in the outcome of this little change. Leaning his staff against the wall, the Trickster Priest made himself comfortable for the next few hours or so.
"You say you were trying to summon Karyuuou..sama?"
"Yes, I was, damn it! How many times do I-"
"Why?"
The man stared at Luna incredulously. "Surely you're aware that a piece of the Mazoku Lord Shaburanigdo has-"
"I am aware."
"Why ask a question if you know the answer?"
"I don't believe that that is your only answer."
"Would I disappoint you too much if I say that it is?"
Lina and the gang watched the discussion going back and forth between the two of them. The fiery-haired bandit killer was doing an almost perfect imitation of a goldfish.
"Is that guy nuts?! Doesn't he know who he's talking to?!"
"No, he definitely has no clue whatsoever," the Princess of Seryuun tugged at her hair nervously. "I think he must have some kind of evil intention, popping out of nowhere like that! Villains are always like that, sneaky rats."
"Amelia, you pop out of nowhere like some freak and start preaching total nonsense to strangers."
"Lina san hidoi!"
A loud thud interrupted Lina's quick retort. Filia glared daggers at the man, mace grasped firmly in hand.
"How dare you…you defile Karyuuou sama! Not just any mortal can summon the great Dragon! Only his Holy-"
"You must be his miko then! Why, you're even prettier than I had ever perceived you to be." The man's features lighted into a charming smile. Filia turned several shades of red and flung her mallet away. The group winced as it landed upon an unfortunate victim's head nearby.
The other three girls' faces sported hues of red as well. The man was utterly gorgeous. He had chocolate-brown hair, with bangs falling softly over his liquid emerald eyes. And his smile! It was to say the least, incredible. Imagine a starving rat that had just discovered an extremely delicious cheese. Hold that imagination.
The other men around the table sported the exact hue of red…but for an entirely different reason.
Gourry understood the situation for once and was shooting menacing glares at the brunette man.
Zelgadiss's fingers twitched, as though itching to put them around someone's unfortunate neck.
Xelloss had an eye open, that single amethyst eye piercing straight as an arrow at the still smiling man.
Flipping her hair back, Luna narrowed her eyes.
"I don't believe I have your name."
"It's Ryo."
