Chapter 8
Unexpected Information
The first rays of dawn crept along the horizon. Light began peeking out through the trees. The sky slowly evolved from a dark nightshade into a brilliant blue. The creatures of the night, retreated to their hideaways. And the forest was as silent as a tomb.
The day had begun.
Yet as the creatures of the night returned to their homes under the ground, one remained. One creature who didn't feel comfortable in daylight hours. One creature who is shunned from human eyes. One creature who seeks refuge in the darkness. One creature whose home was the night.
A chimera.
Zel sat with his back against a tree trunk, gazing in contempt at his hands. Even in these early hours of daylight, he could still see that his hands weren't human hands. No, they were still blue, they were still rough, they were still unnatural and they were still the hands of a chimera.
Then, as he had done several thousand times before, Zel cursed the name of the Red Priest. Cursing him for making Zel into a freak. Cursing him for making Zel a monster. Cursing him for making Zel into an object of fear and hatred.
Damn him.....
It had been several days since the catastrophic events at Sairaag. Since then, Lina, Gourry, Amelia and the chimera had been moving constantly. Keeping in mind the disasters that happened in Sairaag, it therefore wouldn't take long for the authorities to come looking for them (Amelia didn't think Martina wouldn't go so far as to place a bounty on their heads but Lina knew better then that). They also decided to head back to Dakeyras as quickly as possible, there were friends there and they will be safe. Thus the foursome had been travelling day and night. Where had taken them several days to get from Dakeyras to Sairaag, had just taken them only thirty hours in constant motion!
When they arrived back at Dakeyras, it was to a heroes welcome. When Lina explained the events in Sairaag, the people were all shocked and offered help the foursome in anyway possible. They also agreed to hide the fugitives and keep silent to the authorities (Of course, they only agreed to this under Lina's watchful eye - And who's game to argue with Lina?!). The plan was to remain in hiding within Dakeyras until the fuss has died down. It certainly wasn't the best idea but the adventurers didn't have much of a choice.
Zelgadis rubbed his hands together. Yes, they still felt as rough and as hard as ever. And when you're part rock golem, that's practically all you can feel. It had certainly been a while since Zel touched something soft.....
Like Amelia.
The chimera sighed. Yes, Amelia. The Saillune princess herself. She was the only one who would see the chimera for who he really was. She showed him a whole new perspective on life. The events in the von Hurst mansion had certainly brought them together - In a way that neither would've thought possible. The two had been brought closer together through disaster and adversity. They had faced many an obstacle and many a danger together. And no matter what danger, they could never be brought apart.....
Yet this still didn't change the fact that she was a princess and he was a.....
Zel sighed a heavy sigh. What type of princess, an icon of the leadership and a figurehead for the general public, would hang around a chimera? What kind of Champion of Justice would hang around an abomination that the Code of Justice rebuked? Who in their right mind would hold such an adoration for a monster perceived as a threat to the populace?
Yes, this simple fact could succeed where a horde of vampires and undead failed. It could do what the afore-mentioned obstacles couldn't.
Yes there was the fact that Zel was a great friend of Philionel. And yes both Phil and Amelia could put in a good word for the chimera. And yes there was the records of the good things that Zel had done.
But would it be enough to justify his monstrous appearance?
Zel raised his head and looked at the sky. He didn't have a good choice of options here. He could stay in Amelia's company but this would only create complications as she's a princess and he's a monster.....
Of course, he could journey onward to search for his cure, but this would mean.....
Zel sighed again. Continuing searching for his cure would mean travelling to the ends of the Earth. And would also mean that he would have to part company with his beloved Amelia.
But why would he want to that? She gave him hope when all seemed doomed. She picked him up when he was down. She showed a type of affection that he could only dream of. She ignored his nightmarish appearance and saw the human inside.....
Suddenly Zel's thoughts were interrupted by a noise. It was the sound of footsteps making their way over to him. Zel turned his head to face this newcomer.
It was Lina.
The sorceress made her way over to the chimera. She looked quite refreshed from her sleep and was grinning an enormous smile.
"Zel!" Lina greeted. "There you are!"
"Good morning Lina" Zel replied.
"Where've you been?" Lina asked "When we all woke up, you had disappeared!"
"I've been....thinking....."
Suddenly, Lina's smile vanished. She could sense what was going on here. Zel was having one of his moods. Oh boy....
"Let me guess" she said. "This wouldn't have something to do with Amelia right?"
Immediately the chimera's face burst into a blush. Lina grinned in triumph.
"It is, isn't it?" she teased.
The chimera jumped to his feet, his face bearing a scowling expression. Lina, however, wasn't too bothered with the chimera's fury. Instead, she giggled.
"Come on, admit it!" the sorceress sniggered. "You love Amelia! You didn't think I wouldn't notice?!"
Upon hearing these words, Zelgadis paused. Seconds later, his scowl disappeared and he turned his back on the red-head.
Lina chuckled. Yes, her suspicions were confirmed. Gently, she laid a reassuring hand on Zel's shoulder.
"Look Zel" she said. "I know that something has developed between you and Amelia, ever since that scuffle with Isabella. And I think it's great! You need her as much as she needs you! She doesn't care about your appearance! "
Zel blinked. Yet his expression still remained morose.
"That is true Lina" he said slowly. "But this does not change the fact that a princess of her calibre would be better off seen with a human being, not with a monster. Of course, this only strengthens my resolve to find a cure and...."
Lina let out an exasperated sigh. Her expression turned angry and her eyes grew frustrated. Damn it! Why does he have to be so stubborn?! Why does he have to hide face? And why oh why does he have to keep going on and on with crap like this?!?! Someone should knock some sense into his stone body of his.....
"EXPLOSION ARRAY!!!!!!"
The chimera's eyes widened with alarm. He could recognise those words a mile away.
Unfortunately for Zelgadis, he didn't have enough time to escape his fate. Within seconds, the ground underneath him erupted in a spray of dirt, rocks and earth. It was this eruption that sent the hapless chimera hurling through the sky.
Lina sighed, her anger subsiding. Damn, his stubborn attitude gets on her nerves! Damn his introverted behaviou! Damn him!
But after that spell Zel will, hopefully, get the picture.
Moments later, the chimera fell back to earth like a rock. He hit the ground with a tremendous thud. Lina grinned strode over to the prostrate chimera, grinning an enormous grin. The chimera groaned in pain.
"Look on the bright side, Zel" Lina chuckled. "If it wasn't for your cursed form, you would've had every bone in your body broken!"
"All right! All right!" Zel groaned. "You've made your point."
Lina then knelt down and lifted up Zel's arm, before proceeding to help him onto his feet.
"Look Zel" Lina explained. "Amelia doesn't care for your cursed form. She is more interested in you as a person. I mean, how blind do you have to be not to notice she had feelings for you?!?!"
"Yes" Zel said. "But what type of princess hangs around with a freakish chimera?!?!"
Lina blinked, as revelation sank in. Ah, so that is what's been bothering him....
"I see" she said. "So that's what this is about....."
"But from what I see" she continued. "Amelia doesn't really enjoy her royal duties that much. In fact, she prefers her adventurous life over her life as a princess back at Saillune! In any case, I believe that, given the choice, she would prefer going with you to find you're cure rather than work as a princess back at Saillune."
Zel pondered on this before nodding his head.
"You're right" he said softly. "Thank you Lina"
"Good" she grinned.
"Come on" Lina added. "We gotta get outta here and back to the inn. We don't want to be missing out on breakfast now, do we?"
Zel nodded before following the sorceress back to Dakeyras.
As the morning proceeded, the foursome sat around the table, ready to discuss what to do for the rest of the day. Each were keen to get out and do something but this was hampered by the urgency of keeping a low profile.
"So what we going to do, Lina?" Gourry asked.
Lina sighed. She had a feeling Jellyfish brains would ask the inevitable. But no matter how inevitable the question was, Lina hadn't really come up with an answer. Better come up with something....
"Why Gourry!" she grinned. "I guess we relax!"
Fortunately for Lina, Gourry's denseness failed to realise that Lina didn't really have a proper answer for his question.
"Uh.... right...."
Amelia giggled at the hilarious proceedings. But Zel, ever the humourless, didn't. He had more important things on his mind then two idiots who didn't where they were heading.
"You don't know what do. Do you Lina?" Zel said.
Lina's face fell. Dammit. Zel had seen through her bluff. Best save face then...
Lina turned to face Zel with an annoyed expression.
"All right Zelly boy" she snapped. "Do you think you could do better?!"
Zel blinked at Lina's comeback.. This comeback sent shock waves through his cool attitude. What was worse was now that Gourry and Amelia were now all staring at him, expecting answers. Under the stare of three pairs of eyes, any one else in Zel's position would've cracked....
But not Zel. Thus it didn't take long for the chimera to retain his calm composure. He didn't fall into the same trap as Lina in looking stupid. He was too smart for that.
"There isn't much we can do." Zel reasoned. "We are on the run. And this is perhaps the only chance of sanctuary. The only thing we can do is remain in hiding until the fuss had died down."
"Ha!" Lina yelled triumphantly. "You call that a plan?! You don't have a clue as to what we're going to do either!"
"So?" Amelia argued. "He's certainly doing better then you are!"
"What do you mean by that?" Lina demanded.
"Well" Amelia grinned. "Correct me if I'm wrong but whenever we are bored, with no idea what to do or where we're heading, something usually comes our way that changes everything!"
Zel nodded. "Exactly"
Gourry blinked diminutively. Lina, however, didn't look convinced.
"It's worked before!" Amelia added.
Lina sighed before nodding her agreement. It wasn't much of a plan but it was better then anything she could thing of here.....
And with that, the four friends continued with breakfast, waiting for fate to give something to follow on.
They didn't have long to wait.
Presentely, a man walked up to the table. And, from the looks of it, he wanted to discuss something with the foursome.
This newcomer bore all the marks of a labourer: His skin was well tanned - evidence that he's spent a long time outside. The man's was big in size and muscular in structure - proof that he's spent a long time shifting heavy loads. And the man bore a smiling face - Enough to convince anyone that he was the friendly type.
The man walked up to the table and cleared his throat. It didn't take long before he had the attention of the four adventurers.
"Pardon me" said the man. 'But I was wondering if you would like to help us."
"Only if it involves money" replied Lina quickly, relying on her usual instincts.
Instincts that annoyed Amelia.
The princess stared at Lina and frowned. Jeez! How long had they been travelling together?! How long had they been friends?! You think after spending so much time in each other's company, Amelia would've made some changes to Lina's behaviour!
Oh well, perhaps there is no rest for a Champion of Justice...
"No wait!" Amelia yelled. "We would be glad to help you."
The man grinned. He was pleased that his proposal was met with a good reception. Ge was so pleased he didn't notice Lina spluttering her drink.
"Great!" the man grinned.
"Now" he continued. "Some of the men in this village are heading off into the forest to gather firewood. And we would be happy if you would join us."
"Sure!" Amelia grinned. "We would love to help!"
However, Unbeknownest to the princess, Lina, uppn hearing these words, slammed her head down on the table. Dammit Amelia!
"Great!" the man grinned. "We set off in an hour. See you there!" And with that he headed off and disappeared.
As soon as the man was gone, Lina raised her head. With her eyes blazing with annoyed fervour, she fixed Amelia in her gaze.
"What were you thinking?!" Lina snapped. "He didn't say anything about money!"
"So?"
"Come on!" Lina retorted. "We DON'T do things for free! Anything we do is ALWAYS for the money!"
"Yeah, but it's the least we can do!" Amelia argued. "Look around you! We have refuge from the authorities, a roof over our heads and an entire village willing to hide us whilst keep it's mouth shut!!!"
Lina blinked, pondering on Amelia's words. It didn't take the sorceress long to realise the princes was right.
And it didn't take the sorceress long to slump back in her chair, defeated. there was no way she could argue with a statement like that.
Even if it was entirely true.
Zel grumbled his disgust for this proposal. His expression adapting a mask of contempt. It didn't take a genius to nut out what he was thinking.
"What's the matter Zel?" Lina said, having now become aware of his sombre mood. "You're not up for getting firewood?"
Zel silently nodded before opening his mouth....
But if Zel had plans of voicing his thoughts, no chance came - For Lina cut him off!
"YOU SEE?!?!?" she yelled at Amelia. "Zel agrees with me!!!!"
Amelia shook her head and folded her arms. Her mind was made up. There was nothing that Lina could do that could change the princess' mind. They were going to help the villagers.
Wether the redhead liked it or not!
Zel covered his eyes with his palm. If he wanted to voice his contempt for hanging around the villagers and their inquistive eyes!
Once again the hell that was his appearance proved itself to be a nightmare that would never leave.....
But little did they know, but, amongst the shadows of the tavern, they were being watched....
And so, the four adventurers spent the entire day helping the villagers getting firewood. The villagers were all too happy for the company and the help. They made the fugitives welcome and needed.
And, fortunately for Zel, they were also unnerved by the chimera's appearance. This act of compassion was unusual for Zelgadis and it certainly added ease to his troubled mind.
The villagers were also helpful to Amelia. Even as her coughing spasms were creating much damage to her psyche, the villagers were sympathetic and helpful. Consequentely Amelia was given a small part to play in this team effort. It didn't matter that she was a princess, and this type of work was best suited to lower class labourers. What mattered was that she was an icon to the people - She must help them in any way she can. And these people need her help as much as she needs theirs.
The day's events then turned out to be a worthwhile undertaking - it certainly eased the minds of the fugitives. Gourry took to the act of felling wood like a duck to water! With weapons being his area of expertise, he weild the axe brilliantly - His skills as a swordsman proving immensely useful here. Tree after tree fell at Gourry's hand. No wonder the people of Dakeyras were so impressed!
Apart from this helping, the rest of the day passed without incident. Nothing of importance really happened to the four adventurers. But not that it hampered them: The main concerns for the foursome was keeping a low profile as much as possible within the confines of Dakeyras.
Out of the foursome however, only Zel seemed to recall the threat that was the murderer. He made a few inquires in amongst the townsfolk but his answers were inconclusive: Apparently, the murderer was still at large and still a cause for concern but he's been rather quiet of late. No murders had been reported and no severed heads had emerged in the village square. So the townsfolk had assumed that he had left Dakeyras as it is and moved on. This assumption certainly placed the villagers minds at ease...
...But it didn't change the fact that the murderer still roamed free....
However quiet the day was, it still didn't make any changes to Amelia's psyche. Now her coughing fits were getting worse. Each fit was growing more violent and more frequent with each passing hour. On countless occasions, Zel leant his shoulder for the princess to lean on and many times she refused, convinced she was strong enough to conquer this hazard.
Eventually, as the sun made it's way downwards from the sky and back behind the mountains, the foursome grew tired, the work of the day's activites amounting on their weary bones.
As darkness further descended, Zel lit a fire. The villagers had already left, leaving the four friends behind. And it was this fire that he relaxed in front of, letting the flames warm his tired bones, letting the flames shield him from the cold the night offered, letting the flames allow him to forget the sounds that was transpiring within the forest.
Sounds that seemed to sound like a furious Lina yelling at the top of her lungs.....
Presently, Zelgadis' solitude came to an end. For he was greeted by the presence of Amelia. She came into the light of the flame, with a huge grin on her face.
"Hi Zel!" she grinned.
"Hello" he replied. "What's so funny?"
"You won't believe this" she giggled. "Gourry trying really hard to get a fire going!"
Zel blinked in disbelief. He knew the limits of Gourry's inteeligence but even a task like lighting a fire seems even beyond the swordsman.
"You can't be serious!" Zel exclaimed. "Can't he see I've already got one going here? Surely he would be better off over here with this fire instead of lighting his own?!"
"Yeah" Amelia agreed. "Right now, Lina's getting stuck into him, even as we speak!"
Zel grimaced. As always, It is NEVER a good idea to get Lina mad.
Just then, Amelia sat down beside Zel, also taking in the warmth the campfire offered. The chimera blinked.
And for a moment not a word was spoken....
"Lina tells me you're not keen on spending your life as a princess" Zel said eventually.
Amelia blinked several times in surprise. Then she nodded.
"Yeah I'd rather go and see the world then stay cooped up in a palace....."
"So you can go and spread the word of Justice?" Zel said teasingly.
Amelia chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that!"
"And besides" she added. "I'd rather stay with Lina...and you"
Zel's expression then grew uncomfortable.
"So" he said. "Instead of living as a princess, you'd rather live a life on the road with a wanted criminal and a monster?"
Suddenly, Amelia's smile disappeared from her face. It was then that she saw the angle Zelgadis was coming from.
She then she shifted her position closer towards the chimera. Gently she reached and placed her palm against the side of his face.
This form of contact was enough to make Zel raise an eyebrow. Her hand - It felt so soft, just as soft as he has come to believe it to be. So soft compared to his rock hard skin.....
"Zelgadis" Amelia said softly, "Given that choice, I would always choose to stand by you. You need me as much as I need you. And in any case the feelings are all that matters."
Zel pondered on Amelia's words, before smiling one of his all too rare smiles. And it was a smile just for the princess.
And with that, Amelia leaned her head up against the Chimera's body, taking in his body warmth and wrapped her slender arms around his right arm.
And silence descended. A silence that lasted quite a while. Not a word was spoken, because neither Amelia or Zel felt the need. Both the chimera and the princess enjoyed the company the other provided and the intimacy of the moment.....
Just then, Lina entered the scene, still gnashing her teeth in frustration at Gourry. Jeez, how can the numbskull be so stupid?! How much longer is he going to work on that futile fire?!!? Can't he see his blundering attempts wern't going anywere?!?! Couldn't he see there was already one going on right here.....
It didn't, however, take long for Lina's furious eyes to catch sight of Amelia and Zel, bundled up together. Immediately Lina grinned, her eyes losing all concept of ferocity and adapting a mask of softness. She opened her mouth to speak....
But Amelia and Zel both looked up at the sorceress.....
.....Which gave Lina's brain it's cue to tell Lina to leave.
"....I....I...I think I might go and get some more firewood!" she blundered out with.
And with that Lina made a hasty exit into the depths of the darkened forest.
Yet as she made her departure, she could hear another one of Amelia's coughing fits.
And as Lina made her way through the darkened forest, try as she might she couldn't forget the princess' poor health. And now that she had the time and the silence, she also had the space to think.....
Poor Amelia. The kid was really doing it tough. Her coughing fits were certainly wrecking tremendous havoc upon the princess. Indeed, Amelia sounded worse and worse with each passing day. Just how much damage was her ill-health creating?
Would she be able to see this through? Would she be able to get her hands on the ruthless bastard who was responsible for this heinous deed? Would she find a cure....?
Lina stopped and then chuckled.
For a moment there, she just stepped into the Zelgadis Greywars line of thought!
Lina smiled at her thoughts. No matter what happens, no matter how much more sick Amelia gets, no matter how much of her psyche gets crippled, at least she will still have the support of her friends. Friends who will stand with her through thick and thin and won't ever let her down.
Zelgadis in particular.
But not even Zelgadis' affections for the princess made a difference to her ill - health. And being branded fugitives didn't make things any better. The amount of fleeing was certainly taking it's toll on the group - Amelia in particular. There's never any easy travelling when one has a sick person in tow and Amelia is no exception. Thus the going has been quite slower than usual. But what makes matters worse was that they were fleeing blindly into the darkness, with no idea where they were heading or why.
No, this entire adventure was turning into a disaster.
Oh well, things could certainly be worse.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the darkness.
"Ah! Lina Inverse! Fancy seeing you out here on a night like this!!!"
In an instant, Lina's train of thought fell into complete disarray. The sorceress stopped dead in her tracks. That voice. She could recognise it a mile away.
How could she forget it? That particular voice carried a sense of foreboding doom with it. It spelled trouble for all those within earshot. It came from a source of frustration and anguish.
It was a voice Lina hoped to never hear again.
With her blood boiling and her eyes radiating with fury, Lina turned her head in the direction of the voice.
And there, reclining on the branch of a nearby tree, was the Trickster Priest himself. With staff in hand, eyes shut and smiling his usual smile, he resembled a picture of pure Machiavellian perfection.
Much to Lina's annoyance.
Just when she thought things couldn't get worse....
Man, talk about famous last words!
"What do you want?" Lina snapped.
Xelloss opened his eyes and donned a playfully saddened expression.
"Do you always greet people like this?" he said "Oh, I'm hurt!"
"You certainly will be!" Lina snarled. "EXPLOSION ARRAY!!!!!"
And, in a split second, the tree that Xelloss was sitting in was unearthed by Lina's spell. Great roots groaned their protests as they were pulled from the earth. The mighty trunk couldn't hope to withstand the destructive blast. The branches whistled in the wind as the tree was hurled upwards and into the stratosphere.
Lina glared at the hole in the ground where the tree once stood. She wasn't particularly surprised to see that Xelloss had disappeared, leaving no trace of him being there. As she got her breath back, she recovered her thoughts. What the hell was Xelloss doing here?! Knowing the manipulative bastard, he wouldn't show his face unless.....
...Unless he knows something no one else did.....
Wait a minute. Did that blasted mazoku know something about the evil force that was plaguing Amelia?!?!
As Lina pondered on this revelation, the Trickster Priest reappeared beside her.
"Ah Lina!" he grinned. "I see you're still as short-tempered as I remember. It seems the months apart haven't changed you at all!"
Unfortunately for Xelloss, Lina wasn't in the mood for any of his mind games! In a swift motion, Lina reached out and grabbed the mazoku by the scruff of his neck.
"All right, Xel" Lina growled. "I'm not in the mood for your tricks!"
"You never are." Xel replied bluntly.
Lina roared in fury before hurling Xelloss through the air and into a nearby tree! Xel hit the trunk with a tremendous thud, before landing on the ground - headfirst!
Xel groaned as Lina made her way over to the mazoku. The sorceress grinned evilly and cracked her knuckles.
"If I didn't know better" Lina said. "You most likely have something to tell me. Otherwise you wouldn't have shown yourself to me after all these months."
"Oh, is it that obvious?"
"Pretty much." Lina chuckled, quite chuffed that this was certainly turning out to be a victory against the infuriating Trickster.
"Now" she went on "What do you have to tell me?"
"That's a secret!" Xel sniggered.
Upon hearing those three words she dreaded, Lina went overboard. With an expression that would've sent shock waves of fear through the bravest Dragon Slayer, she loomed above Xelloss with the fury of a thousand whirlwinds.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN IT'S A SECRET?!?!?!?" she bellowed. "THIS HAPPENS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!!!! IF YOU DON'T TELL WHAT...."
"All right, all right, all right!" Xelloss interrupted. "You win!"
Upon hearing this, Lina's furious expression died down instantaneously.
"Good." Lina said, her fury now a distant memory. "I'm glad we got that settled."
"Well" the Trickster Priest groaned, still reeling from the destruction wrought onto his ear drums. "I guess I should tell you what I know."
Lina nodded. Her suspicions had finally proven to be correct.
Hang on, If Xel knows something about Amelia then this could lead to an even bigger disaster....
Xelloss disappeared, only to reappear the right way up before Lina. He cleared his throat, dropped his usual smile and opened his eyes.
"I have been watching your progress from afar....."
"YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING US?!?!?" Lina interrupted. She wasn't liking the sound of this.
".....By orders of Zelas!" Xelloss retorted, finishing his sentence.
At the mention of the lord of Wolf Pack Island, Lina fell silent. If Zelas was involved, then this couldn't be good....
"Although you don't know it" Xelloss went on, "But the four of you are in great danger."
"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Amelia would it?!" Lina demanded.
Xel nodded.
"Yes indeed. Amelia's poor health is truly the work of an evil force."
Lina blinked. Well that would certainly explain a lot....
"And who or what is this evil force?" she asked.
"Three magic users of considerable force" Xel explained. "The first one is a mighty sorceress Alana. She has built up a formidable reputation with her interests in alchemy and the art of creating life-forms. The second one is Adolphus, a necromancer of considerable power."
"And the third?" Lina asked.
"That's a secret!" Xel grinned.
Infuriated by Xelloss, Lina dived for him, with hands outstretched ready for pounding. And she would've beaten him to a bloody pulp, if he didn't teleport out of her way!
Lina landed head first into the ground. After getting her thoughts together after a particularly rough landing, she looked up and saw Xelloss, still smiling like the smug git he was, standing over her.
"Why would you care what happens to us?" Lina growled.
Xelloss' smile vanished and he opened his eyes.
"It is only by accident that you got involved with their secret plan" he answered.
Lina blinked.
"Secret plan?"
Xel nodded gravely.
"These three are plotting something so insidious, so hideous, so horrible that Zelas asked me to step in and ruin it for them. What they're planning cannot go ahead, no matter what! And that's where I've been for the past few months - Doing whatever I can to stop this plan from going ahead."
Lina blinked. Wow, If Zelas was asking Xelloss to stop these three evil powers, the very same evil powers that have plaguing Amelia, then this is deadly serious.....
Holy L-sama, what the hell has Lina and her friends got themselves involved in here?!?!?
"What's worse" the Trickster Priest went on. "Is that you have unwittingly stumbled your way into this plot. All four of you, Amelia in particular, are now a target for these three. And they will send their minions to deal with you."
It was these words that Lina's concerns had become flesh. This wasn't good at all.....
And with that, the Trickster turned to go. Lina blinked, before scrambling to her feet and grabbing hold of Xel's shoulder.
"Hey, wait a minute here!" she yelled.
"Yes?" Xel replied turning.
"What would these three want with Amelia?"
Instantaneously, Xelloss' familiar smile returned and his eyes closed.
"That's a secret!" he laughed.
Lina opened her mouth to unleash a holocaust of curses.....
When a strange howl filled the air.
A strange howl that was enough to finish Lina's stream of curses before it even began.
"What the hell was that?" the sorceress demanded.
"That, I guess!" Xelloss grinned, indicating into the darkness.
And from the darkness came creatures of darkness. Creatures of nightmares. Creatures whose appearance would turn blood to water. Creatures that were once humans but were now shadows existing within the threshold of life and death. They were numbered seven and they were encased in dark robes. Their hands were skeletal and it was these hands that wielded a vicious scythe. Their faces were leering skulls, housing a pair of red eyes that glowered with malevolence. Red eyes that located the two "friends" and led the Wraiths into advancing, scythes at the ready.
Xelloss' expression hardened and he opened his eyes.
"Wraiths!" he growled.
"Wraiths?!" Lina echoed. "What are you talking about?!?"
"These monstrosities were once the practitioners of black magic" Xel explained. "However, their constant use of their craft has consumed their form and left them the soulless husks they are today."
"WHAT!??!" Lina yelled. "How do you defeat these guys?!? What are we going to do?"
Immediately, Xelloss closed his eyes and donned his familiar grin.
"What are WE going to do?" he chuckled. "Don't you mean what YOU are going to do?"
And with that, he was gone, leaving the battle scene in his usual vanishing act.
Lina stared in aghast at the Priest's quick exit. But there was not time to curse his name - Right now the sorceress faced the problem of seven scythe-wielding Wraiths bearing down upon her.....
Chapter 9
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