Chapter Seven
By late afternoon, the now twenty adventurers were well on their way to Alacrast. The going was slow, considering the ship they were traveling in was a war ship.
"I hope we find out what is going on soon." Spark murmured, as he gazed out at the water.
"I hope so too. And I also hope Filia-san is all right." Amelia said, as she and Zelgadis stood beside Spark.
"But why did she up and leave like that? Didn't your friend Lina say that Filia hated the kidnapped man?" Spark asked.
"We always thought she did, but I think now Filia-san has taken a liking to him." Amelia said, as Pirotess joined them at the rail.
"Dinner is almost finished cooking. Best get down there before Lina eats it all." Pirotess said, gently.
"Be right there." Spark said, after Garrack and Raina both barged past them, heading for the galley. After Amelia and Spark had left, Zelgadis continued staring into the calm salt water.
"You seem a little depressed, Zelgadis. What seems to be the matter?" Teim asked, startling Zelgadis by his sudden appearance.
"I'm beginning to wonder whether my cure was a mistake or not." Zelgadis said, quietly.
"What do you mean?" Teim asked, curiously.
"When I was a chimera, I was better able to take care of myself and protect Amelia. Now that I am human again, I am beginning to think that becoming human again was nothing more than folly." Zelgadis said, scornfully.
"Do you want to be a chimera again?" Teim asked.
"No! Of course not! I never want to go through any more years like that!" Zelgadis shouted, horrified by even the suggestion of becoming a 'freak' again.
"Then why are you doubting your decision?" Teim asked. Zelgadis was stuck for an answer.
"Zelgadis, you don't need superhuman strength to protect Amelia." Teim said, calmly.
"What do you mean?" Zelgadis asked, confused.
"Despite her appearance, Amelia is a very strong young woman. Her feelings for you are what makes her even stronger. And, just as you strengthen her, she strengthens you. She gives you the incentive to keep trying, even when things look hopeless." Teim said, chuckling when he heard Lina start shouting at Gourry below decks.
"You sound so certain about that." Zelgadis said, still looking a little depressed.
"It is because I am. You'd better go and get some dinner, otherwise, you'll go hungry tonight." Teim said.
"Okay. Thank you, Teim." Zelgadis said, as he started to go below.
"No problem." Teim replied, as he watched the sun set, leaving the sky a fiery blood red.
"Rezo, I wish you could have been with us to solve this problem. I have the feeling that this battle can't be won with just myself and Rain." Teim murmured, as cool evening breezes ruffled his sapphire blue robes.
Filia panted as she landed and resumed human form. She'd never flown so far before! But she was finally in Alacrast; now her search really began.
"Where do I start looking?" Filia wondered, as she glanced around. All the land around her looked the same; barren and dry.
"What could have happened here to have made the land so desolate?" Filia murmured, as she looked around at the wasteland. From what she could tell, the land looked almost burnt, it was so dry. The smell of smoke still clung to the air and soot shifted at the slightest movement.
"Dreadful, isn't it?" a soft, feminine voice asked. Filia whirled around, startled to have been sneaked up upon from behind. She was surprised to see a young elf woman standing there.
"It is. Where did you come from? I didn't see you when I landed." Filia said, as the elf scanned the open ground warily with her sea green eyes.
"That dragon was you?" the elf asked, nervously. Filia nodded.
"But who are you and where did you come from?" Filia asked.
"I came from the forest that used to stand here. My name is Callisto." The elf said, almost seeming to be afraid of Filia.
"Don't be afraid. I will not harm you. I am Filia, a friend. Who burned down the forest? Do you know?" Filia asked, shocked when she saw tears brimming in Callisto's eyes.
"Father had said………………that a demon dragon was still alive……………but the rest of my people didn't believe him…………….then the dragon came and burned the forest…………and…………..and he…………….." Callisto sobbed, before Filia gently hugged her, allowing her to cry into her robes. Filia knew what had happened, and shuddered at the thought. But the words 'demon dragon' hung in her mind. Was there another race of dragon she didn't know about?
"You poor thing. You're the only one left, aren't you?" Filia asked. Callisto nodded, sniffling as she tried to regain her composure.
"Would you mind telling me what the demon dragon's name is? And where he is hiding?" Filia asked. Callisto nodded.
"He calls himself Tern. He is the last of the Demon Dragons. He has an inland fortress where he watches and waits for the right moment to seize his revenge. A few weeks ago, his Orcs took a man there. He looked to be in terrible pain, and there was fresh blood on his tunic. I don't know what Tern would have done to a human, though. His dealings are normally with the mystical, like elves and dwarves." Callisto said, immediately catching Filia's attention.
"This human…………..what was he wearing? Can you tell me?" Filia asked.
"From what I could tell, he was wearing some sort of priestly attire. It didn't look Lodossian, Marmoan or Alacrastian. They were of completely foreign make." Callisto said, elaborating on what the man had been wearing.
"Uhuh…….I see. Could you also see what color his hair was?" Filia asked, anxiously.
"A dark shade of purple, almost the shade of purple one would see in the finest velvet." Callisto said, noticing when Filia's expression changed from excitement, to horror, then apprehension.
"Xellos………………..that demon dragon has Xellos…………….." Filia muttered, then returned her attention to Callisto.
"Is Xellos the name of the man you love?" Callisto asked, innocently. Filia froze.
"Erm……………..uh………….I don't know! He's just an annoying Namagomi!" Filia said, as Callisto gave her a knowing smile.
"But you can't deny that there is something you feel for him." Callisto said, then her eyes saddened.
"What?" Filia asked, when she'd noticed the mournful look.
"The man that I'd loved was in the village the day Tern destroyed it. He died in the fire while trying to evacuate the women and children. I never even got to tell him how I felt about him. Filia, don't wait until it is too late to let your loved one know about your feelings. If he dies, and you haven't told him, you will always be burdened with regret." Callisto warned. Filia was stunned by this, but nodded.
"I still have to rescue him. He's in that fortress and I need to get him out. Maybe when I see him again, I can tell him." Filia said, as she stood to go.
"Wait!" Callisto said, abruptly. Filia stopped and looked down.
"What?" Filia asked.
"Take me with you. I know the way to the lower levels of the fortress." Callisto said, bravely.
"Aren't you afraid of what that dragon can do to you?" Filia asked.
"Yes. In fact, I'm terrified, but I know that you can't go through this alone." Callisto said, as she summoned up all her courage and stood with Filia.
"Thank you, Callisto." Filia said, honestly. Callisto smiled again.
"C'mon, the fortress is this way." Callisto said, as she started leading Filia down the path that led to their destiny.
Xellos groaned as he started to come around. Every time he took a breath, his head pounded. He felt sick; not at all like his usual annoying self. Upon chancing a look around, he could see that Shiroi had not left his side for one moment since the attack on his mind. He closed his eyes again when pain and nausea forced him to do so.
"Xellos?" Shiroi asked, when he'd noticed that Xellos' eyes had opened for a moment.
"It hurts…………….." Xellos whispered, as he wrapped his arms around his midsection and grimaced.
"I know. Just try to keep whatever it is in your stomach down. Since you've been given so little time to heal from your first injuries, I'd wager that if you got sick, those stitches will come loose." Shiroi said, as he touched Xellos' forehead, and sighed when he found a burning fever.
"Can't help it…………………it's like my whole body's on fire…………." Xellos said, gasping when even the slightest movement caused lancing pain to shoot through him. Shiroi was about to say something more, when something crossed his mind; a faint, yet familiar presence.
"I know that aura! They've come! They've noticed that I was missing and have come!" Shiroi thought, as joy suddenly entered him.
"What's going on? Why do you suddenly look so happy?" Xellos asked.
"Xellos, I do believe that the rescue party has just arrived on Alacrast!" Shiroi replied, his ears almost standing on end as he told the ailing Mazoku the news.
"But will they get here in time to prevent Tern from destroying the Mazoku?" Xellos asked, his eyes bright with fever and something akin to hope.
"I sincerely hope so." Shiroi said, as he watched the last of the sunlight fade from between the small bars on a grate.
