I don't own Slayers. Never will. Wish I did.
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Slayers SILENCE
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Episode Five:
"Crime and Punishment! For the Right Price, Any Sacrifice."
Zelgadis nodded slowly to his companions. They had made/remade their camp, gathered just outside the crater to exchange information. The chimeric swordsman was already told of what everyone knew and what happened while he wasn't around. He had already taken a more protective turn and stuck by Amelia.
"So that's what's going on, or at least as far as you know. I'm pretty sure everyone's noticed those creatures by now," Zelgadis spoke up during the quiet conversation.
"Yeah, but what exactly are they, and who the hell is making them?" Lina wanted to know.
"Everything that I know is what you all have already found out. I can't inform you guys on anything else," the chimera admitted. "On more important matters, it seems like Zangulus's letter is connected to this ordeal, and of course we know that Xellos is more than likely in on this whole thing, as well."
"Sharp as always, Zelgadis!" the mazoku greeted, appearing beside Amelia with a teacup in his hand. He sipped delicately. Vrumugun glared silently at him.
"Of course. The moment I mention you and you arrive," Zelgadis muttered with a sigh. "Should I even bother asking why you're here?"
"Well, first to see how you're all doing since Zangy's disappearance," Xellos began, glancing to Sylphiel. She made no eye contact with anyone, clutching the missing swordsman's cape to herself and the letter. "I see you found out."
Gourry looked concerned over the priestess. "I don't get it; why didn't Zangulus say anything about why he was going to Zedfiggle?" he wondered outloud.
Lina wrinkled her nose, giving him a hard nudge. "That's Zefilia, and I honestly don't know."
"Sometimes a bond to a parent is strong, even after her departure," Xellos said logically. "Not that I'd know or anything! But, that's how the human heart seems to work."
Vrumugun's eyebrow twitched, his glare not softening. "Zangulus was close to her because that was his only family member that he had. He could never forget her."
Xellos opened one eye to peer at the mage. He immediately got close enough to make Vrumugun lean back almost comedically. "So true, Mr. Vrumugun! Is that worry I'm sensing?"
The mage almost decided to Freeze Arrow the mazoku, but wisely chose not to. "He is my friend; I have the right to be concerned."
"Hey, Vrummy. You seem to know a lot of what's going on," Lina brought up. "Wouldja mind spilling any more info?"
"Yes, I would indeed mind," Vrumugun replied.
Xellos smirked and decided to bother the mage even more. It was fun trying to annoy him; he was even more emotionless than Zelgadis. He leaned on Vrumugun. "Ohhh, I forgot to ask you!" he said sweetly. His eyes opened to stare at the mage directly, whispering coldly to him. "How is Lord Dynast Grausherra doing?"
Vrumugun had wider eyes than usual. He stood and leapt back from the mazoku as if he was a disease. Xellos laughed almost sadistically. "So you do fear something," he mused.
"Wait a minute... Dynast?" Zelgadis mentioned, knowing the name as he eyed the mazoku and mage.
Lina frowned with a nod, looking surprised as well. "Supreme King Dynast Grausherra..."
"Who's he?" Gourry asked, blinking several times.
The sorceress groaned, becoming a little chibi with annoyance. "You remember Gaav? He's kinda like that."
"Gotcha!" the blond agreed brightly, forgetting a second later.
"Anyway, what the hell would Dynast have anything to do with Vrumugun?" Lina demanded, eyeing suspiciously at the cold sorcerer and mazoku.
"That's up to Mr. Vrumugun to tell you," Xellos replied, looking "normal" again.
Zelgadis eyed the mage warily. "Well?"
Vrumugun, still shooken up by what the mazoku said, refused to speak. He turned his gaze away from the group.
"Look, you...!" Lina began, starting to stand up.
Sylphiel finally spoke. "Ms. Lina, we have something else to worry about. I want to find Mr. Zangulus as soon as we can." She squinted a little, as if something was in her eyes. Her voice shook. "I want to find him as soon as possible..."
Lina softened a bit. "Sylphiel... Sorry. You're right. We gotta find Zang before we can sort this crap out."
Amelia stood up, holding an index finger out for emphasis on her upcoming speech. "Now since that's been settled, we should hurry and get to the bottom of this! Justice will guide us to our lost companion! First and foremost... Mr. Zelgadis! The clues!"
The chimera made a face at the speech and held up Zangulus's hat, then gestured to the cape in Sylphiel's arms along with the letter. "This is all we have, but if these items survived the explosion then I don't see why Zangulus couldn't have. It'd be ridiculous if his hat survived and he didn't."
"He couldn't have been blown so far away that he's no where in sight," Amelia tried to counter, although a little sadly.
Lina shrugged. "Well, I'll agree that we have no idea, but we've searched this area from boulder to pebble. Trust me. Gourry looked under every single pebble."
"He could be anywhere!" the blond defended himself.
"The next best thing is to look in the next town. I don't know him that well, but Zangulus is experienced enough. He may have thought that we would catch up with him," Zelgadis reasoned. "In which case, we probably could have wasted all this time discussing whether or not he could be dead."
"Now that's embarrassing," Lina admitted with a growl.
"But that's only a theory and our next best shot. It would be even more miserable if we find out he was here instead of in the town," Zelgadis pointed out. "But as you said, we've looked everywhere."
Sylphiel stood up, nodding with a more determined look on her face. "I'm tired of feeling like we can't do anything. Let's go look for Mr. Zangulus!"
"I'll just warn you," Zelgadis began as he and the others stood up as well. "Zangulus could be anywhere doing anything. Who knows what it is?"
"On your feet," the beastman growled, kicking Zangulus awake. "He's ready to see you."
"A simple 'get up' would have been nice," Zangulus grumbled, struggling to his knees.
His arms had been tied behind his back oddly enough with the leather that he used to tie his hair back; now his hair was left loose and wild. Joy; he had more hair in his face. Originally, Zangulus had fallen down part of the cliff, falling on another part of a trail; specifically, he fell on someone which just happened to be a beastman.
But that wasn't why he was in so much trouble. As far as Zangulus knew, it took a full day to even get to the town. He was half-conscious for most of the trip.
"Watch your tongue!" a lizardman warned.
"A little difficult since my tongue isn't as long as yours..."
Zangulus was hit across the face. "Hurry up!" a bearman snarled. The swordsman got to his feet, then was prodded forward by the tip of a spear. He grunted angrily, complying to whoever was using the spear.
Inside the rather shabby hut was a green wolfman. Zangulus blinked a few times. "I know you..." he thought outloud.
"And what's a murderer like you doing back here?" the wolfman demanded, grabbing him by the collar.
"Gee, I was kinda dragged here by your friends," the swordsman replied sarcastically. He was thrown back onto the floor.
"And you just think you can waltz--"
"Fall," Zangulus corrected before he was hit in the back by the bearman.
"--near our village again. Planning to order us around again?" the wolfman snorted. "Not without that enchanted sword of yours the last time we saw you. You're powerless. This is the third and final time you see us, Killer. No more."
"You're not much better than me. Whatever happened being Rezo's right hand mutt?" Zangulus remarked. "Oh, yeah. He's dead. Hm. No other people feeling bad enough to let you work for them, Dilgear?" He was hit yet again. The swordsman started to cough from the air being knocked out of him.
"Forget it. I don't have to listen to you. You don't have any weapons," Dilgear responded with a fanged grin. "And during this visit, you'll be taught a lesson by Denko."
"The fishman reject?" Zangulus barely remembered, having gotten his breath back, but still a little raspy.
"He's been waiting for you since you first came here," Dilgear told him with a small laugh. "He's been waiting to do this since you killed his wife, Bounty Hunter."
The group sat at another camp. They hadn't really expected the town to be so far off. If Zangulus seriously went on ahead without them, wouldn't he at least wait a midpoint? That was Lina's logic, anyway. She didn't really imagine Zangulus going so far off by himself.
Sylphiel quietly made their meals of soup. How she kept a variety was beyond anyone; it was just a talent of hers in cooking. Still, little heart went into making their food.
She attempted to take the pot of soup from the fire, but pulled her hand away immediately, casting a healing spell quickly. Too hot. Sylphiel nursed her hand for a moment. She must have been really away from reality. Did the priestess miss Zangulus that badly? Sure, they seemed to have bonded somehow during their trip together. He was hard to open up to her, but she managed.
Sylphiel was feeling a lot closer to him especially since she read the letter, not that the raven haired man was aware of that. It wasn't pity; not exactly. She just felt like she knew how he felt. The priestess hadn't really remembered her well, but Sylphiel had missed her mother as well. Besides, when her father died, she was broken up. She felt just as bad when the Hellmaster brought back Sairaag, including her father. It was a terrible feeling.
Sylphiel wasn't sure how to describe how she felt now about Zangulus, but she knew that they were connected in a way. Maybe a form of love, but not the way that she felt for Gourry. It wasn't romantic, she was sure.
The priestess sighed, feeling empty.
She looked up as Vrumugun walked over to her, silently eyeing the boiling pot. "Um... it's a little hot. Don't you want to wait for it to cool off?" Sylphiel said, using a spoon to pour some of the soup into bowls.
Vrumugun shook his head, accepting his bowl quietly. He ate with no flinch of pain from the soup's heat.
Thankfully, Xellos had left for awhile just as they settled for camp, sparing the tension between him and the mage. Sylphiel wasn't sure why they had such a tight line between each other. Not even Lina knew what was wrong with those two. She understood that Vrumugun wouldn't trust a mazoku, but it was obviously something deeper.
And being as mysterious as the two were, they wouldn't say why. Even if Xellos was seemingly gone for the time being, Sylphiel felt that he was always there anyway. A disturbing feeling.
Sylphiel cleared her throat softly. "Mr. Vrumugun... do you think we'll find Mr. Zangulus?" the priestess asked quietly.
The mage was still for a moment before looking at her. "Yes, but whether we actually do or not is up to fate." He looked back out to the edge of the camp. "I notice that you miss him." She opened her mouth to say something. "Perfectly understandable. During your journey, you and Amelia must have grown a relationship of sort with him."
Sylphiel nodded. She looked down at the group with the bowls of soup. "I... want to go beyond Rahns to Zefilia with him now, but I'm not sure if he'll let me."
"It depends if he has the will to want to go to Zefilia after Rahns," Vrumugun said a little bitterly. "This is more than what either of you think. I would suggest that it would be best if you all stop this quest as soon as you can."
The black haired cleric looked at him, concerned. "What? Why?"
"This is dangerous, far more than you can expect. I am sure you have noticed what a toll it has taken on you all on a personal level and how fearful these monsters are getting," Vrumugun informed her. "Once we find Zangulus, I intend to tell him to stop this quest."
"We can't stop now! We've gotten so far, and..." Sylphiel drifted for a moment, then frowned. "What's making it so dangerous, Mr. Vrumugun?"
Vrumugun shook his head slowly. "If I told you, you would be even more inclined to defeat it. I only warn you that you should stop this as soon as you can before it really endangers you all." He glanced over his shoulder. "Now would be best for you to feed Lina and the others. They are growing anxious."
Sylphiel didn't like the change of subject, but nodded. Best to avoid Lina's wrath before questioning the cold mage.
Zangulus sat impatiently in a nonlit room with water up to his hips with his wrists shackled to bars coming out of the floor. Why in the world they decided to put him in this room he had no idea. He hadn't really thought about it much. The only thing that seemed to save him from worry was his big mouth, but not as much from actual physical punishment.
Denko, who was apparently an eelman, stepped into the room, wading into the water as the iron door was locked behind him. He smiled almost psychotically at the swordsman. "I never forget a face," he cooed. "Never a name. I have a great memory, people tell me. And I'm great at wiping it, among other things, from other people."
"That's nice," Zangulus said sarcastically. He suddenly felt a shock go up his spin. Not having expected this, he yelped out. "What the hell was--?!"
"Fool. I'm an electric eel."
Oh no, Zangulus thought. No wonder the room was wet. Oh God damn...
"We'll begin now. I don't really like to waste time, but I thought I'd give an introduction. Very dramatic, you know." Denko remained where he was, that wicked smile on his face. The swordsman would have sworn that the eelman met Phibrizzo once or twice. It wasn't much different from when the Hellmaster was killing everyone...
"What's your name?" Denko asked.
So much for a good memory. "Zang-AAAH!" The swordsman received a shock.
"Moron. Such a moron. If you are to pass me, you will learn one thing. You are to never speak to anyone. You have no name. You are a thing. An object nobody wants," Denko sneered. "You don't deserve to speak. Now, what is your name?"
Just to spite him, Zangulus answered. Thus, a shock was received, longer than before.
"You don't learn very quickly. Idiot. Things do not speak. Things have no names. Do not speak."
"Bite me," Zangulus growled.
Another. "What a fool. You will never speak to anyone, to anything. Dirt is superior to you. What is your name?"
Zangulus said something rather inappropriate enough to make Denko almost blush. The shock was worse this time.
And so it went on.
Lina yawned. This was taking forever and a half. The town was in sight, but no matter how fast the group went, they didn't seem to get much closer.
"What's this place called again?" Gourry wondered outloud.
Sparing Gourry of Lina's temper, Zelgadis answered. "Bomul. A town filled with only beastmen. I heard that in the last couple of years someone attacked and wiped out quite a few civilians. He wasn't caught."
Amelia frowned. "How evil! Why would anyone do such a thing?!"
"Money. For the right price, most bounty hunters wouldn't care who they killed," Zelgadis informed her. "I don't recall who did this to Bomul. I honestly don't know if anyone actually reported who did it. I heard that he had a great deal of influence on it afterwards, though."
"Jeez. Just how many people died?" Lina queried, actually somewhat interested. Or maybe she wanted to ignore the fact that they weren't very close to Bomul as it was.
Zelgadis paused to answer, as if unsure on the number.
"Twenty-seven, and only about seventy people live there," Vrumugun murmured accurately.
The chimera quirked a stone brow. "Exactly," he agreed. "It was pretty drastic, considering how badly the village does economically. They're pretty much in ruins now."
"Somehow, I don't think Zang is gonna be in Bomul," Lina said with a sigh.
Sylphiel shook her head. "Ms. Lina... I disagree. I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like I know he'll be there. Intuition, I guess, but I just know Mr. Zangulus has to be there. He has to be! I don't know what I'll do if I find out he isn't..." She grew quiet again, hanging her head as her pace slowed.
Lina frowned. "Sylphiel..." She said nothing more. What could help that? Zangulus was either there or not. If he was, great. They could move on. If not, then... what would they do?
Then the sorceress came to a realization. Sylphiel had said "I'll" rather than "we'll." Had the darned Xoana king become that important to her?
"Zangulus," Lina began under her breath, "you had better be there or I'll kick your ass."
Zangulus couldn't quite keep track of the time. He guessed about two days since this whole thing with the beastmen began. Denko would leave and return often to "convince" him of what he was.
The swordsman was out of reality, finally. He no longer had to worry about what time of day it was; Zangulus had nothing to worry about because things weren't allowed to worry.
"What's your name?" the eelman purred darkly, taking in the pleasure of the torture.
Finally, Zangulus had no response to the question.
"And yet you're awake and knowing what I'm saying, isn't that right? And you have nothing more to say."
Silence.
Denko broke it with a laugh. "I am pleased to know that I have broken you. A thing does not deserve to be whole." He knocked on the door. "It has been done! Dilgear will be pleased with this." The eelman grinned at the swordsman. "It has been lovely teaching you the beginning of your pain."
He took his leave.
Zangulus stared blankly at the filthy water. No, a thing didn't deserve to be whole. A thing would never speak. A thing had no name. He was nameless. A thing, a disgusting thing he was. He would only obey, because things didn't do anything for themselves.
What had he done to make him so horrible? The thing couldn't remember, but knew that it was a terrible deed that he had done and that he was punished for it.
The thing was taken away from the room of water, just outside of the horribly crafted building. There Dilgear stood, a fanged smile.
"Well?" he prodded. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
The thing didn't speak, as he was taught not to.
"No witty retorts?" Dilgear mused, hitting him. "Nothing?"
The thing recognized the pain, but nothing came out.
Dilgear laughed, waving his large, furry hand to Denko. "Great! Bring him to Creft. Someone's bound to take care that old beast."
Zangulus the thing was taken away again. It hurt to walk, but they forced him to, feeling the ends of their blades poking his back. He didn't want to risk a sound from his mouth. Things were not permitted to speak.
He eyed a short, old badgerman. Like everyone else, he glared hatefully at the thing, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Clean th' stables," the old beastman growled.
The thing obeyed, as that was what he was taught to do.
Lina stretched and yawned loudly. "FINALLY! We made it. I swore the place was getting further away as we walked!" she complained with a groan of annoyance. "If Zang is here, I'm gonna beat him up for making us walk so far! And he had better be here or I'll do something violent."
"You always do something violent," Gourry brightly reminded her as she elbowed him gratefully.
"It really is rundown," Amelia murmured, getting on her toes as she looked around the village.
Sylphiel shook her head. "That shouldn't matter. Mr. Zangulus'll be here."
Zelgadis crossed his arms, looking around as if he almost recognized the place. He frowned, walking ahead of the group. Lina rose an eyebrow, waving her hand. "Hey, Zel! What's up?" she asked.
The chimera paused, then motioned the others to follow. "We should head this way. I smell someone familiar, but it's not Zangulus."
"Any idea who it is?" Lina was interested now.
"Not really. It is pretty familiar, though," Zelgadis replied honestly. "And it leads to the biggest hut here. I'm assuming it's the head of the village."
Lina grinned. "Always the best place to start! Let's go!"
The travelers began their way into the village, mostly receiving glares or fearful glances. They couldn't blame them from what they had heard about Bolum's fate years ago. Amelia swore she would find the creator of this crime and punish him one day, but finding their lost comrade was more important.
They arrived in front of the hut, which had a guard. Lina ignored the guard and kicked the dogman away. "I'd normally deal with you guys through the typical yelling and screaming, but I'm hungry, tired, and mad. I wanna find Zang, beat him up for this, eat, have a nice bath, and sleep," Lina said logically.
Lina and her companions marched inside, leading them up to a known person.
"Dilgear?!" Lina shrieked, gaping.
Gourry scratched his head. "Who?" Amelia and Sylphiel reacted in a similar way. Zelgadis glared at the wolfman/troll. Vrumugun looked at him suspiciously, but nothing more.
"Dilgear was-- oh, nevermind, you'll forget about him tomorrow anyway. Why the hell are you still alive?!" Lina demanded of the wolfman.
Dilgear grinned. The chimera noted that he was way too happy. "Mr. Zelgadis," the wolfman greeted in mock politeness. "And the witch."
"Sorcery genius to you," Lina growled. She glanced to Zelgadis. "I thought Rodimus and Zolf finished him?"
Zelgadis nodded a bit. "Or so I thought. Perhaps he wasn't just exaggerating his healing power...?" He shrugged. "It's not so important now. I thought I recognized Bomul other than just the local legend of the bounty hunter. This is Dilgear's hometown." The chimera stepped forward. "In that case, you wouldn't happen to know where a black haired swordsman is?"
Dilgear's answer was too quick and sure. "No."
"His name is Zangulus..."
"I said no," the wolfman growled. "And I wouldn't care anyway."
Lina glared. "Yeah right! Zang has to be here somewhere, or I'll take my fury out on you!!"
Vrumugun held up his hand, somehow managing to silencing Lina. He eyed Dilgear coldly, his patience noticeably thin. "Have you seen him?" the mage queried simply.
Dilgear hesitated, then glared. "No."
Sylphiel stepped up toward the wolfman. "Please, Mr. Dilgear. Are you sure you haven't?"
"I think I'd know if a human was in Bolum," he snapped.
Vrumugun's eyes looked away from Dilgear, ahead of the wolfman and behind a chair. Leaning up against the wall was a sword.
The Howling Sword.
The patience was thinner than a hair. Vrumugun was immediately in front of Dilgear, an Icicle Lance forming in his hand threateningly. He peered at the wolfman, who stumbled away in surprised and possibly fear. "Liar," the mage accused. "You have the Howling Sword."
Dilgear's eye contact faltered for a moment. "Um... I have a howling sword... I... won it in a raffle... Yeah, that's the ticket!"
Nobody appeared to believe it.
"Look, I'm a wolfman! I like howling! It's my nature! So, like, back off, man!"
Amelia looked at Dilgear angrily. "Villain! How dare you keep us from finding our fellow companion of Justice!"
Dilgear barked out laughing. "Justice? Justice?! That's the last thing he is! That murderer is no more for your Justice than I am. He's far from it."
"Why did you lie?" Sylphiel queried, frowning as well.
"He doesn't deserve to leave like an innocent," was all Dilgear said to her.
The cold mage cared less about that. Vrumugun held up the Icicle Lance in one hand, preparing to release it. "Where is he?"
"Find out for yourself."
Lina rubbed her head, sighing heavily. "Forget it, Vrum. Dilgear isn't gonna say. We'll just have to find him the old fashioned way. At least we know he's here." She glared at the wolfman. "Trust me. When we find him, you're the first I put my wrath upon!"
"Take that seriously; she's really horrible when she's angry!" Gourry warned Dilgear.
The sorceress glared. "You're not supposed to tell him ahead of time! He's the bad guy!"
"Can we just find him?" Sylphiel begged. Lina glanced at the priestess, scratching the back of her head and looking apologetic. The sorceress nodded and lead the group out.
Vrumugun glared at Dilgear, the Icicle Lance disappearing. He grabbed the Howling Sword, giving the wolfman a last spine shivering look before walking into the Astral Plane.
Why was he a thing?
He pondered this, even though he wasn't supposed to. It wasn't necessarily bad to think; he was still brushing the horse like he was told to.
The thing was hated because he killed several of them. That was understandable.
He blinked. Who told him to do that? Why did he agree?
The thing paused. He could barely even remember. It was a white haired man. He paid the thing a lot for at least wounding the people of the village with the sword he gave him. Naturally, he went with killing most of them with his own hand.
Zangulus the thing brushed the horse again. No wonder he was hated.
Not everyone hated him.
He blinked at that. Who didn't? Martina. The thing nodded. Why she could love the object was beyond him.
Sylphiel. The thing paused again. She was clear to him. Sickeningly sweet, but the thing had drawn close to her.
The thing shook his head. He didn't need to trouble them or anyone else with his being anymore. He brushed again.
Slowly, he remembered far beyond Sylphiel or Martina. It was a snowy night when she had died. He had ran outside then. The figure with the cold embrace.
The figure had said to him, "I will be watching for eternity."
What was eternity?
The thing frowned. He shouldn't be thinking. Things did not think; they obeyed, curse it...
"Mr. Zangulus!"
The thing seemed disturbed from the interruption, looking at the woman quickly. He recognized her. It was Sylphiel.
Pain went into his heart. He didn't want to be seen like this. He didn't want to see Sylphiel again.
"Mr. Zangulus," she whispered. He looked away, closing his eyes like a child cringing at a yelling parent. "No... what happened?"
"Ms. Sylphiel! What's wrong with Mr. Zangulus?!" Amelia called out, running up to her. She looked up at the swordsman, concerned. "What happened...?" Zangulus tore away from Sylphiel and kept his back to him, as if in shame. He refused to speak.
"He's been taught a valuable lesson."
The clerics looked to Xellos, who took over the job of brushing the horse. He didn't look quite as super happy has he normally did, but otherwise looked like his "normal" self. "You know of the murderer of the people from Bolum. It happened not long ago, maybe a year before Zangy met Ms. Lina and everyone else. He was a bounty hunter then, but I'm sure you know already."
"So..." Sylphiel didn't need to finish, her eyes on Zangulus's back.
"Apparently, the famed Bolum murderer is Zangulus," Zelgadis finished, arriving with Gourry and Lina. "I talked to a few of the villagers, or at least the ones willing to talk. He arrived here a few days ago. Since then, he was 'taught a lesson' about what he did to this village. The first time, he killed for money. The second time was about two years ago and forced them to help him capture Lina and Gourry. This is the third time he's here."
"I guess it was those beastmen that attacked at the play when we had to work with Mr. Rossburg," Lina muttered her thoughts outloud.
Amelia was almost wordless. She struggled to find anything to say, which took a few tries before she said anything that remotely made sense. "Mr. Zangulus... he isn't a villain, right?"
"Interesting. Wasn't it you that said you'd like to get your hands on whoever did this to the village?" Xellos pointed out, his lips curling into a smile.
"That's different! I didn't know it was Mr. Zangulus, and besides... I couldn't punish him," Amelia ended softly.
"Looks like he already was," Gourry actually spoke up. "I dunno what they did to him, but it musta been bad. Zangulus isn't a bad guy if he doesn't wanna be, but these guys don't know that so they did something bad enough to make him all quiet and stuff. This isn't Zangulus."
Lina would have made a remark about Gourry's insight if she hadn't figured that the situation was a little too serious for it. She frowned a little. "We'll find a way to make him normal," she said. "First, let's beat Dilgear for some info on what he did to Zang. We'll take Zang with us."
"If he's willing to," Zelgadis noted.
"Eh? Oh, c'mon. He's just quiet," Lina said with a wave of her hand.
Gourry shook his head. "I don't think so. Um... I dunno how to describe it, but it's like this is a totally different guy."
Lina rose an eyebrow. She advanced to Zangulus, who had been evading any eye contact with Sylphiel, and tapped him on the shoulder. He nearly jumped, glancing to her for a moment before looking at the ground. Lina frowned. "Hey, Zang. C'mon; look at me." The swordsman refused to make any response.
"He won't talk to me," Sylphiel said sadly. "Not a word. No matter what I try to say... what did they do to him?"
"I don't know," Lina replied honestly. "But Dilgear's gonna pay for it." She bit her lip. Gourry was right. Whatever happened to Zangulus was harsh enough to keep him quiet, which she thought was never possible. He was usually kind of loud.
"We'll right this wrong!" Amelia agreed.
Xellos shook his head, but chuckled. "And would that do Justice, Ms. Amelia? It was him who had harmed this poor, little village, right?" He smiled even more.
Sylphiel frowned at the mazoku. "He's not like that anymore. And right now, I think he knows what he's done. He's in pain!"
The Trickster Priest shrugged slightly. "Well, it doesn't matter either way. What's done is done, I suppose. But I wouldn't bother heading for Mr. Dilgear."
"Why not?" Zelgadis asked warily.
"Because," Xellos began, opening an eye, "he's heading right for us."
Lina rolled her eyes a little. "Well, it'll save me from looking for him." She cracked her knuckles, growing that fearsome battle smile on her face. "He's gonna pay for this."
Xellos was smiling again. "Then the best I can do is wish you luck, Ms. Lina." He vanished away to the rooftop of the stables, making himself comfortable in a beach chair, accessorized with a pair a shades and a glass of lemonade with a tiny li'l umbrella in it.
"Of course," Zelgadis muttered, turning away from the mazoku. His ears twitched slightly. "Dilgear isn't alone."
The other members looked ahead, aside from Sylphiel and Zangulus. Dilgear stood at an alleyway, arms crossed and not looking concerned. He had a smirk on his muzzle, glancing over everyone. "Now that's persistence; I'll give ya all that much," the wolfman/troll said with a small chuckle. "But it ain't gonna do you any good. This is my town, and no one gets away with doing anything to it. The murderer's not leaving."
Lina burst out laughing. "And what'll you do about it?! You can't fight all of us."
"Not just me," Dilgear said casually.
The ground erupted, and what looked like half-rotted beastmen tore themselves from the earth. They carried various sharp objects, including pitchforks, daggers, and knives. Dilgear stood in the middle of it all, not looking surprised one bit at what was going on. He took out his own sword, smiling. He had a bit of an advantage in quantity.
Zelgadis finally realized what was going on. He sighed loudly. "Of course. You're one of them," he figured out.
"Naturally," Dilgear replied with a laugh.
Gourry took out his sword automatically, just as Lina started to power up a spell. Amelia began to do the same. "They've been dead for a few years, so it'll be all right to fight them," Lina said, although she was speaking more to herself than her friends. "Let's go!"
"Elmekia Lance!" Amelia cried out, holding out her hands. A few of the beastmen were destroyed on sight, some others only harmed.
That was the signal for the dead beastmen to charge. They did.
Zelgadis cursed and took out his sword. "Astral Vine!" he shouted before swinging his briefly enchanted sword at the incoming beastmen. Some ran by him, causing him to growl angrily. Twenty-seven of them, and there was no way that, even on their best day, they could fight them all off in a small area.
Sylphiel managed to quickly touch a few of the beastmen, but there was no way she could keep up with them. "Recovery!" They turned to dust at each touch, naturally. If one could call such a thing natural.
Then Sylphiel came to a realization. Generally, the beastmen weren't after anyone. They just ran by her and everyone else if they weren't killed on sight. She turned around, yelling for the raven haired swordsman.
The beastmen stabbed their weapons at Zangulus, who just stood there with a glazed look in his eyes, not even crying out in pain as the weapons went into his body. Sylphiel took out her rod, holding it out as she cast another healing spell, turning them into dust. She ran to Zangulus, starting to cast Recovery on him, but he pulled away.
"Mr. Zangulus," Sylphiel gasped softly. "Please, let me help you!"
Zangulus shook his head softly, pushing Sylphiel away from the incoming dead beastmen. They stabbed at him again, and he didn't bother to defend himself.
"Mr. Zangulus!" Sylphiel called out.
Dilgear chuckled, glowering at the swordsman. He walked through the battle with ease, heading toward the two black haired travelers. "Even the dead want their vengeance," the wolfman said. "I won't rest until we do."
"You have! You have already!" Sylphiel cried. "He's taking it, because he's realized what he's done here. He knows what harm he's caused to you and everyone else! Mr. Zangulus is sorry for what he's done!"
"What do I care?" Dilgear snarled, brushing past the priestess. However, she grabbed his arm, casting a healing spell. He growled briefly, then threw her aside. "That isn't going to work!" He advanced toward her, but a Freeze Arrow appeared before him and cut him off.
Vrumugun floated down, landing next to Sylphiel. He helped her up with one hand as his other held the Howling Sword, but he kept his eyes on Dilgear. "I knew it the moment I saw you," the mage spoke coldly. "And so did you. I thought you would have been smarter and stay away, Dilgear."
"Why are you getting included?!" Dilgear demanded. "What makes you think he'll let you get away with this?"
"I know he will not, but Zangulus is my business," Vrumugun replied calmly. "I do not particularly care for your revenge."
"He'll kill you for this," Dilgear growled, glaring at the mage.
Vrumugun approached the wolfman, impaling him on a lance of ice. He whispered to him, "Fool. He already killed me once before."
"Bastard," Dilgear grunted, falling out of the icicle. He managed back onto his feet, but backed off for the moment.
The mage knelt down, shoving the icicle into the ground. It spread, reaching the beastmen attacking Zangulus and freezing them before shattering apart. The swordsman fell forward, but Sylphiel managed to catch and begin to heal him.
"They're only after Mr. Zangulus..." Sylphiel spoke, still holding the swordsman.
"They have been corrupted, including Dilgear. They have risen to get their revenge for a senseless death. Like Alfred, Dilgear wants death, but not upon himself. He wants Zangulus to suffer," Vrumugun informed her.
Zangulus stood up slowly, looking at Vrumugun with his empty eyes. The mage glanced to him, pausing before tossing him the Howling Sword. Reacting, Zangulus caught it, then looked surprised at it as if he didn't want to use it.
"You will have to fight, whether you like it or not," Vrumugun said truthfully. "I cannot protect you all the time." He walked from Zangulus, heading toward the dying Dilgear.
Zangulus looked down at the enchanted weapon silently, not wanting to use it. Sylphiel touched his arm briefly. "Mr. Zangulus..." He flinched away as if in pain, but his eyes remained on the incoming beastmen.
I promised to take her to Rahns... I don't break promises, Zangulus thought. Even if I am a thing... A thing obeys. I'll take her to her destination.
"Howling Blast!"
Lina sighed heavily. It was over, and it was about freaking time. She started to heal her small scratches. The sorceress turned to her friends, smiling a bit. "Everyone in one piece?"
"More or else," Zelgadis replied, sheathing his sword. He had no battle wounds, but he was mildly annoyed that his shirt was torn.
"Not me," complained Xellos as he held up one of his severed hands.
Lina rolled her eyes. "Big deal, Xellos. What happened?"
"I was, like, clipping my toenails and I sorta lost control," he shrugged.
"All right, now where's Dilgear?" Lina growled, running past her companions, but had to stop in front of Sylphiel and Zangulus. She paused. No Dilgear, but something wasn't right. Maybe even worse than before. The others stopped behind her.
"Ms. Sylphiel, what's wrong with...?" Amelia barely began. Zangulus was trembling, the Howling Sword in front of him with violet sparks going over it from a recent Howling Blast.
The Xoana king sulked, letting out a shaky sigh. "...I spoke," he murmured. Zangulus started to walk, shoving the Howling Sword unexpectantly into Gourry's hands. Then he broke into a run, heading for the outside of Bolum.
"Mr. Zangulus!" Sylphiel called, running after the swordsman. Amelia began to as well, but Zelgadis caught her arm.
"We'd better go look for Dilgear," Zelgadis reminded.
Xellos gestured with his disembodied hand. "Maybe he's this way!"
"Would you put that back on already?!" shouted Lina.
"Sure, sure," he agreed. "Right after I get this darned itch I can't seem to reach." He proceeded to scratch his back with his dismembered fingers. "Hooo yeah."
"Anyway," said Lina, mildly disgusted. "Sylphiel's probably better off helping Zang right now. There's nothing we can do for him."
"What should I do with this, Lina?" Gourry asked his partner, holding up the enchanted blade. "I can't keep it. It's... not mine. I mean, you know we've been looking for a new sword for me and all..."
"Hang onto it for now, I guess. I don't think Zang wants to look at it for a long time," Lina advised.
"He'll kill you," Dilgear wheezed. "He won't let you get away with this..."
"I doubt that he has much strength right now to stop me," Vrumugun replied logically. "I have been after you all for some time now. I have been keeping the invasion from happening for many years. I will continue to do so."
Dilgear chuckled, ignoring the blood surging out of his mouth. "It's getting worse. You can't stop it. There's no way you can. You don't even know where he is..."
"No, but I will stop him. You have no idea how long I have been doing this," Vrumugun stated, his voice growing colder. "And I hope that he knows that I do this."
The entire area erupted into ice. Dilgear was left, encased. Vrumugun closed his eyes, a silent sigh escaping him. He didn't like his job, but he had little choice.
"So there is even much I don't know, Mr. Vrumugun," Xellos mused, appearing behind the mage.
"Of course you do not know. Dynast kept it very vague if he told you anything," Vrumugun replied. "And I will not tell you, either. I will never speak of it."
Xellos nodded. "I don't expect you to, but you are nervous. You know you can't keep this up."
"I shall at any cost."
"How brave," Xellos mock-admired, sighing dramatically. "Seriously, Mr. Vrumugun, you can't do it and if you're going to talk Zangy out of it you have even less of a chance."
Vrumugun scowled. "That is none of your business, Xellos. Zangulus should not be included. None of them should." With that, he left onto the Astral Plane.
Xellos smiled after him. "As you know, fate will make them do otherwise."
"Mr. Zangulus!" Sylphiel shouted, catching up to the fallen man. He knelt in the dirt, shaking. She ran up to him, kneeling down beside him. "Mr. Zangulus..." she breathed. "Please... it's all right..."
"Gods, Sylphiel... how can you stand me? How could anyone?" Zangulus wondered outloud. "You know what I've done. I'm even worse than Xellos. I didn't have a good reason for what I've done... I've killed more than that, too..."
Sylphiel placed her hands on his arm. "It's all right, though. You know what you've done... even if it is horrible, you know. You're sorry for it."
Zangulus pulled away from her. "That doesn't help! I've killed too many just for money... I... I can't atone for it." He stood up. "I've done more harm than good. You know that..." The swordsman started to walk away, but quickly stopped as Sylphiel jumped at him from behind, catching him into an embrace. She shook, and Zangulus realized that she was crying.
"Zangulus... I don't mind... You know what you did. Just let it go," Sylphiel sobbed. "Let it go..." She buried her face into his neck, feeling his loose wild hair in her face. "I missed you... I was so worried. I didn't know what happened to you. I still don't, but... I'm just so relieved that you're here now. I don't care right now about what you've done. You're sorry for it... so just let it go..."
The swordsman slowly knelt down, starting to shake again. Sylphiel let go, wiping her eyes dry just before Zangulus was the one to hug her, moaning.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I'm... sorry... Gods..."
Sylphiel held him back, nodding slowly. "Don't try to be heroic for us right now or anything..." she murmured.
Zangulus let go. The priestess never would have imagined how much he could look so vulnerable. He looked down at the dirt, sighing softly. "...Thanks, Sylphiel," he said gratefully. "I missed you, too..."
The two stood up, both not quite healed, but better. They held each other's arms, their embrace loosened but not broken. They smiled at each other, looking over their shoulders as Lina and the others ran toward them.
The wounds bled, but they would heal.
---
As any good hearted series, this is to be continued in...
"Not Again! The Sacred Ritual of Mei City."
...where Zangulus and the others have to go through
with a seemingly ridiculous ritual to get to Sai Sanctuary, but it's a
lot less comforting to Sylphiel and Zangulus than it is to the others.
Vrumugun hates it even more, especially when...
---
Alba Aulbath
berry@adelphia.net
