Back at the inn in the Carthal Desert…
"So we were searching this temple, and I managed to find a secret door among the cracks in a wall. I pushed it open and went in first, checking for traps. After making sure there were none, I let Lina into the room…"
Flashback…
"Zel! You moron! I can take care of myself, I am a big girl you know!" Lina ranted while tripping into the large, empty, and very dusty chamber.
"You need to be more careful." Zelgadiss stated curtly.
"Hmmph, that's what you think." Lina stuck her tongue out at Zelgadiss and took a long look around the room, "Doesn't seem to be much here, except for some arcane symbols on the floor."
Zelgadiss was busy eyeing a pillar in the middle of the room, attempting to decipher the scribblings upon it. "Wait a minute, can't you be patient for once? There might be something to this writing."
Lina snorted, "Like another festival dance? Or some recipe for an ancient soup? OOH, soup, let's get out of here Zel, I'mhungry I'mhungry I'mhungry I'mhungry."
"Lina, will you just be quiet for one second! I think I may have something." Brushing away more dust, Zelgadiss began to mumble the written words under his breath.
"What do you mean, can I be quiet? I can be quiet if I want to, and I, beautiful sorceress genius extraordinaire, Lina Inverse am too patient!" screeched the harpy.
"Ah, hell, if we don't get to a restaurant soon, Lina will have me sleeping on the floor tonight. At least this inscription is short." Zelgadiss thought, while blushing at the thought of snuggling against Lina in bed tonight.
Hear me now, spirits I implore!
I call upon thee to do my bidding,
Bring forth thy threads of darkness,
To spin and weave Her form,
As soon, as Zelgadiss finished reading the inscription aloud, a brilliant bright light filled the room for an instant. Spinning around to check on Lina, Zelgadiss was confronted by a horrifying site.
End flashback…
"Xellos! Are you allright?" asked Zelgadiss.
Xellos' complexion had turned sickenly pale in the last few moments. When he had not responded for several minutes, Zelgadiss began to wonder if Xellos had even been listening to him.
"I'm sorry, Zel, Jouu-sama just told me some interesting information that regards Lina-chan." Choked Xellos.
"What is it!?!" Zelgadiss demanded with Xellos in a headlock.
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" grinned the Trickster Priest.
"This is not the time for that, you raw garbage!" Zelgadiss began pounding Xellos face into the floor.
"Oooh this feels good. But I suggest you finish your story if you want my assistance." Gasped Xellos.
"Fine, but only for MY Lina's sake." Grumbled Zelgadiss.
Resume Flashback…
Zelgadiss turned around to a sight that made him want to scream in terror and run for the mountains. Lina was standing behind him, with her head slightly bent down. Zelgadiss could hardly recognize her. Instead of her usual sorceress outfit, she was dressed in a long, elegant silk gown the color of pearls. The only form of jewelry that Lina had on was a strange pendant in almost a crescent moon shape. However, the terrifying sight was that Lina's vivacious ruby eyes and hair had turned to a soft shade of silver.
"Greetings and my thanks for setting me free. My name is
Alaia." spoke the woman in a soft and demure voice while curtsying.
