Well, here's more. Things to know: the point of view will be Ari's mostly, but will change as I see fit. Also it will have the points of view of different characters at the same time, so be alert. Please review and remember that suing me will result in the end of the world as we know it because the nihilistic Smurfs will form an oligarchy for some reason and turn us all into radishes. Of course I have nothing against radishes, I just don't want to be one.


If You Can Count to Ten



A gauzy twilight had blown across the sky and only the most defiant stars glimmered. A cool zephyr blew through the deserted courtyard before the monolithic Temple, during the day it would be thronging with tourists, but at night not a soul was to be seen. Ghosts beyond that of mere trapped spirits seemed to sweep icy fingers across the faces of the newly arrived adventurers.

With a slight shiver, Ari pulled the edges of her light cloak about her small shoulders. She had seen the Temple several times before with her parents, in the daytime. A sharp lance of fear dug into her heart and twisted violently.

"Has anyone else entered this place?" Sylphiel asked the fearful girl kindly.

"Only once that my parents told me about. It happened long time ago, I mean not even my daddy was alive then," she replied sagely, nodding her head, pigtails bouncing. "My family had twins then and Athca had a professional village idiot working here."

"A professional idiot?" Sylphiel inquired with interest. The girl nodded again. "And who did they guide?"

The girl's eyes closed tightly and a line marked her forehead as she thought hard. With a lack of anything else to do the adults watched the pondering readily expressed on the child's face. Val yawned and patted his horse absently.

"I can't remember his name, but this priest in red came and hired my family and the idiot. I think that's right," she finally answered with a displeased grimace.

"Rezo," Zelgadis hissed, anger and pain flashed through his eyes. Lina and the others involved with that fiasco exchanged glances.

"Who was he again?" Gourry asked. Everyone returned their gaze to the temple as the redhead beat the crap out of the blond swordsman.

"Okay...um..." Ari glanced back at the fighting pair to find Gourry locked in a painful headlock by Lina. "All three of us have to go to the door and take the first test."

"Ow..." came the weak groan of the flattened swordsman.

"Don't be a wimp," Lina said before giving him a boot to the rear to get him moving.

"Be careful, Val," Filia called to her son, holding a handkerchief to her eye as if she were about to send him on a long journey from which he might not return.

Ari caught the exasperated look he sent his mother before meeting her at the door. Gourry soon followed, he slammed into the door and then slid to the ground. Ari tugged at a pigtail and decided that she should've asked for payment for her time.

"Are you two ready?" she asked the two other parts to the shield invocation. Val gave a short nod and the downed man made some inarticulate noise that she took as assent.

Biting down hard on her lower lip, she raised her small fist and slammed it thrice into the slight, circular indentation in the door.

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Ooh, the suspense! The next part is going to be very strange so be warned. Well, review and hope you come back and review the rest of the chapters that I plan to post.