Chapter Five
Lina awoke to find that she was alone in her tent. Normally, being alone would have been fine, but since she'd shared the tent with Gourry the previous night (not in that way, potential hentai readers!), she was a little bit concerned. As she went out of her tent and into the central tent, she found that the entrance was open and sunlight was coming through.
"They're outside." Lina muttered, as she walked outside. Once she got to an open, grassy area, she spotted Gourry and Cecil, talking comfortably before they got started. Lina was about to call out to them when she saw them approach an ancient tree.
"What are they doing?" Lina wondered, as she tried to get closer without disturbing them.
"The first thing I am going to do, Gourry, is see how strong your elf blood is. For that, you must see if you can attune yourself to what is around you. Like Shamanism, you must be able to feel what is around you, as well as see and hear. Unlike Shamanism, you must feel it come from the heart." Cecil explained, as simply as he could. Lina was shocked to see that Gourry had a slight look of understanding in his eyes.
"Okay, what do I do?" Gourry asked, ready to begin.
"Watch." Cecil said, as he held a hand out to the tree. Lina watched in wonder as tiny points of light started coming from the tree itself and circled around Cecil. Then it became clear what the lights were; they were fairies!
"Wow………………" Gourry murmured, as the tiny sprites danced around him and Cecil, then faded away.
"Now you try. It's not very hard to do." Cecil said, as he moved aside and allowed Gourry to take his place in front of the tree.
"Now for the moment of truth." Lina thought, as she watched tensely from her spot. For a few moments, nothing happened, then the points of light reappeared, this time around Gourry! Cecil shared Lina's look of shock; neither of them had been expecting this!
"He did it………………..he really did it!" Lina muttered, in disbelief, as she watched as the tiny fairies floated around Gourry, playing in his long golden hair and some even resting in his hands as he gazed at them. When the fairies had faded again, Gourry again faced Cecil.
"Do I have what it takes to help Lina?" Gourry asked.
"Yes. You have what it takes." Cecil said, shaking off his stunned expression, then started teaching Gourry one of the stronger elfin tricks. Lina watched as Gourry's untapped potential was realized for the first time, almost sharing the wonder Gourry showed as he learned the tricks elves were known for, including the summoning of water, wind, and light spirits.
"Amazing. I didn't know Gourry could do that." Zelgadis said, startling Lina somewhat.
"Hey! 'Morning, Zel! Amelia!" Gourry greeted, taking his attention off of the water spirits for a few moments.
"Gourry! Pay attention!" Cecil shouted, as the water spirits got out of control and splashed Zelgadis and Amelia.
"Oops…………….Sorry!" Gourry said, as both Zelgadis and Amelia gave him some somewhat miffed looks.
"Gourry……………….." Lina said, before bursting into laughter, and before Zelgadis and Amelia both started chasing Gourry around, one with a fireball in hand, and the other screeching about Justice, while Cecil stood where he was, with a look of chagrin on his face. Meanwhile, the rest of the group had come out to see what all the ruckus was about and they all started laughing when they saw what was happening.
"What do you know? Breakfast and a show!" Ashram muttered, sarcastically.
"Looks almost like that time when Shiris chased Cecil around the camp for about an hour for freezing her spare clothing." Parn said, chuckling when Zelgadis finally threw the fireball and cursed when it missed its target.
"I think this is funnier, though." Deedlit said, snickering when Cecil's ear twitched, signaling that he'd heard her say that. After that had died down, they all got to the business at hand; breakfast! Ashram, and the rest watched in amazement as Lina wolfed down enough food to feed an army.
"I guess it takes that much food to keep up enough energy to fuel the Dragon Slave." Parn said, getting an agreement from Lina.
"Well, Parn, I seem to remember you and Ghim putting that same amount of food away during our first adventures, remember?" Deedlit asked, getting an unreadable look from Parn and a snicker from Ashram for her remark.
"Hey!" Ghim shouted, insulted. After breakfast was over, they all went about packing up their gear.
"I wish we had replacements for those horses. A trek to Kanon on foot is rough." Spark said, as he shouldered one tent and watched as the entire tent complex was shrunk so half the group could carry it.
"This tent really has come in handy. Be sure to remember that." Sheen said, as they started walking.
"Don't worry, it's not like we'll forget something that's taken centuries to invent!" Rain replied, before she and Teim shouldered some of the tent burlap as well. The rest of the day was passed walking towards a destination that didn't seem to get any closer. Adding to the distance was the heat. By midmorning, the heat was almost unbearable, but they knew they had to keep going. Zelgadis panted as the heat bore down on him almost like a physical force. The air was thick and humid, quickly sapping the strength and sucking the moisture out of him. Before he knew it, his vision was blurring.
"Zelgadis-san!" Amelia yelped, as the shaman sank to one knee. As though brought back to reality by her voice, Zelgadis shook his head to clear it and stood up.
"Are you all right, Zel? You look sorta tired." Lina said, noticing how pale Zelgadis looked.
"I……….I'm all right………….." Zelgadis managed to say, his voice rasping a little, since his throat was so dry.
"You don't sound all right. Do you want to stop for a while?" Parn asked, concerned for the quiet shaman.
"No. We should continue." Zelgadis said, as he forced himself to take a few steps forward to show that he was all right.
"Zelgadis-san………….." Amelia said, worriedly.
"I'm all right. Don't worry about me." Zelgadis murmured, so only Amelia could hear him. Reluctantly, Amelia nodded, but insisted on helping him walk, nonetheless. By the time afternoon was well advanced, Zelgadis was showing more signs that he wasn't well. Gourry and Spark had taken up shouldering Zelgadis' weight, while Amelia looked worriedly at the ailing shaman.
"Ashram! I've found some shade! Let's stop here for a little while!" Pirotess said, as she motioned to a rocky outcrop that had a few shallow caves nestled in it. After unfurling a bedroll, Amelia helped Gourry and Spark lay Zelgadis down on it. Then Amelia went to get Neese.
"Poor Zel……………he's obviously not used to this kind of heat." Lina murmured, as she watched Amelia lead Neese back to Zelgadis.
"It looks to me like he's got heat exhaustion. He needs fluids, in order to get hydrated again." Neese said, as she placed a damp rag on his forehead, in an effort to bring his fever down. Filia watched what was going on in dismay; with every step they took, some new calamity befell them!
"I must go alone! It might be the only chance I will have at rescuing Xellos!" Filia thought.
"Well, how long will it take for Zel to recover?" Lina asked, as she and Gourry stood and watched the sun go down.
"Neese said it might take him several days to recover." Gourry said, solemnly.
"At this rate, we might not reach Xellos in time." Lina said, as she allowed Gourry to put an arm around her shoulders and hold her close.
The boy looked up when he sensed someone coming. With movements quicker than lightning, he dashed for his hiding place and waited. He winced when he heard the sound of a body hit the ground. After he was sure that the guards had gone, the boy came out and looked around.
"Xellos?" the boy asked, careful to keep his voice down. It took a moment for Xellos to reply.
"Shiroi………………." Xellos whispered, painfully. In a heartbeat, the boy was at his side.
"Xellos! These wounds………!" Shiroi yelped, as he tore some material off of his tunic and tied it around Xellos' bleeding arm.
"I'm afraid I have angered Mr. Demon Dragon again……………" Xellos said, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Keep going like this and there won't be enough of you left to rescue, if help is coming!" Shiroi said, as Xellos' face contorted into a grimace and he coughed up blood.
"If help is coming……………….but I don't think it is…………" Xellos gasped, feeling despair settle in him for the first time.
"Don't say that! If you give up now, then your survival will mean nothing!" Shiroi admonished.
"How could you say that? You don't have any more chance of getting out of here alive than I do. How could you still have so much hope?" Xellos asked, skeptical about the prospect of being rescued.
"I have found out something. I was able to sneak up to the main throne room when Tern was distracted. I got a good look at his crystal ball and I saw a group of about twenty, all heading this way. They know where the trouble is, and they are coming to take care of it. Your dragon lady was among them." Shiroi said, confidently. Xellos was silent, for a few moments, then looked at Shiroi with something akin to hope in his eyes.
"Well, what have I got to lose in believing what you say?" Xellos said, sounding noncommittal, but hiding his hope behind his words. Shiroi grinned, then went back to bandaging the Mazoku's new wound.
"Shiroi?" Xellos asked, after a few moments.
"Yes?" Shiroi replied, as he checked Xellos' other wounds.
"Don't you think the demon dragon will get suspicious when he sees these?" Xellos asked, when he pointed at the bandages.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. By the way, shouldn't your people be looking for you by now?" Shiroi asked.
"My people? You mean the Mazoku?" Xellos asked. Shiroi nodded.
"Aren't they in the least bit worried?" Shiroi asked.
"Hmph. Most of them could care less if I went missing or died. Yet, I will never give that demon dragon the secrets of entering the Mazoku realm. I can't betray my own kind." Xellos said, surprising himself with the determination in his voice.
"You don't want your people to suffer the same fate as the three dragon races. I guess even a Mazoku could show some endearing qualities." Shiroi said, getting a surprised look from Xellos.
"What do you mean?" Xellos asked, quickly regaining his composure.
"Please, don't take what I have said offensively. But even you can say that you have something the other Mazoku don't." Shiroi said, wisely.
"What does that mean?" Xellos asked, now clearly confused.
"I am not your heart, Xellos. You really need to ask yourself that." Shiroi said, with a mysterious smile.
"But Mazoku don't have hearts!" Xellos shouted, somewhat agitated, but regretting raising his voice when pain again throbbed through his body.
"Could have fooled me." Shiroi said, coolly.
"Just who are you really? You know too much to be a simple child!" Xellos said, as he took a good hard look at the 'youth' before him. Shiroi merely smiled again.
"I am not what I seem. As to who I am, sore wa himitsu desu!" Shiroi said, chuckling when he Xellos gave him an unreadable look.
"Now I know why Filia-chan and the others were always so miffed with me! You're using my own favorite phrase against me!" Xellos muttered, as his elfin companion chuckled again, enjoying the light moment, even though he knew it was going to be short-lived.
