Chapter 3 - In which Gourry shows forethought????
The next morning, Lina woke up to her door opening, and a stranger saying "Miss Lina. Wake up. Miss Lina?" Something was wrong, there was a warm weight pinning her lower body to the bed, and she was... sitting?
Lina blinked up at Millie, who was clearing the tray from the night before. She blinked sleepily, wondering what was... 'Oh, Zel...' Her sluggish mind tried to figure out what exactly was happening, still trying to clear the last effects of the sleeping potion.
"Thanks, Millie. We'll be down in a bit." She said, still trying to figure out what was going on. "Just let Amelia and Gourry sleep in... they deserve a break." She looked down at Zel, who was still lying across her lap, but had managed to turn over enough to slide an arm around her waist. "Ugh. What was in that tea?" she wondered out loud.
"Just a little something my mother used to make when we were feeling poorly." Millie replied. "I know that you gave him something yesterday, but I checked the remains of the tea you brought back and knew they wouldn't interact poorly. Would you like the recipe?"
"Definitely." Lina replied, leaning back against the wall and absently checking Zel's forehead... his fever was gone. She smiled, smoothing his hair back.
Millie smiled as she took the tray out, 'I knew those two were a couple. I wonder what the big fuss was? City folk sure have weird ways...'
Lina's poor drugged mind slowly realized that she was sitting in Zel's bed. This was not good. And that Zel was using her as a pillow. This was even worse. And someone had apparently KNOWN? What next... At least Amelia and Gourry didn't know about this...
"Zel. Wake up." She gently shook the chimera. He murmured sleepily and tried to burrow into her side. She twitched, 'Must not cast attack spell...' "Zel, WAKE UP!" She shook him, trying to ignore the illusory flames starting to leap around her head.
"Don't wanna... like my pillow..." came the mumbled reply, "smells like roses..." and the sleeping chimera curled up around her like a very large flannel covered cat, grabbing her with his other hand.
The illusory flames around her head spread to the rest of her body, then died down as an evil grin came over her face. 'He's going to regret this...'
"LEVITATION!" Lina cast the spell, flying both of them out the window and then Ray Winging to the very cold pond just outside of town.
"Either wake up RIGHT NOW, OR I'M DUMPING YOU IN!" Lina yelled into the now twitching chimera's ear.
His hands twitched, then let go of her, right before she punched him out of her spell, dumping him, and his blankets into the icy water below.
"AAARGH!" *Splash*
Lina gently settled onto the shore, and watched as a very irate, wet, and bug-eyed Zel climbed out of the water.
"Feeling better?" She asked, smiling innocently, and batting her eyelashes at him.
"Well I WAS. What was that for?" he grumped, wringing water out of his soaked blankets and glaring at the happily smiling sorceress.
"I did ask nicely." She grinned, "and since you missed the bath house yesterday..." The chimera growled at her, dropped his blankets, then pounced on her, drenching her in the process of attempting to tickle her unmercifully.
Ten minutes later, they realized that not only were they wet, muddy, and still in pajamas... they were also sitting at the side of a public pond. Luckily, Millie had woken Lina just before dawn, so most people were just starting their day.
"What was that about me missing the bath house?" Zel asked from where he sprawled in the now muddy grass. "Looks like you need a bath, too."
Lina looked down at herself, noticing the mud caked in her hair and on her clothes. She shrugged.
"FIREBALL!"
Lina looked at the now gently steaming section of pond, and flashed a victory sign at Zel. She splashed her way into the warmed water, rinsed the mud from her hair and clothes, then levitated back to a clean patch of grass.
"Your turn," she smirked "Might want to rinse while the water is warm."
Zel sighed, and followed her example. When he emerged from the pond, Lina cast a quick drying spell on him.
"Can't have you rusting." She grinned. Zel snorted, and grabbed Lina in a Ray Wing bubble, flying them back to the inn.
Both Amelia and Gourry were at the breakfast table by the time that Lina and Zel were done cleaning up and changing. The innkeeper was ready for their appetites this time, and prodigious amounts of food arrived at the table, along with a large pot of tea.
'Good morning," Millie said as she dropped the pot of tea off. She turned to Gourry, "The messenger you sent yesterday has arrived, and he brought some friends of yours with him." She turned and waived over two figures that were just entering the tavern room.
Gourry's face lit up as he recognized the first figure. "Sylphiel. I wasn't expecting you to hurry and meet us here... do you want breakfast? It's almost as good as you make..."
Sylphiel smiled shyly, and brought a chair over to the table to sit next to Gourry. "Thank you." She said in her soft soprano. "Mr. Xellos decided to join me, I didn't think it would be a problem."
"Hello!" Xellos grinned in his usual enigmatic fashion. "How went the hunt for that book?"
"Not very well, Mr. Xellos." Amelia began, "And then Mr. Zelgadis got sick..."
"It was just a headache." Zel grumbled, less than happy to see the trickster, even if he was traveling with Sylphiel. Amelia noticed his unhappy response, and immediately began apologizing and trying to cheer him up. Zel ignored her, except to grunt in response to her questions.
"So, Xellos, what brings you out this way?" Lina asked around mouthfuls of food. She grabbed the jug of juice and drank half of it, not even bothering with a glass.
"That... is a secret." Xellos smirked at Lina, who simply shrugged at grabbed the last sausage.
"Whatever. I suppose you are going to try to convince us to go pursue some ridiculous rumor which will lead us to saving the world again..." Lina glared at Gourry, who was trying to snag the last stack of pancakes. "Gourry! That's mine!"
Millie and her oldest daughter walked over with another few trays of food, just as the shouting match was about to degenerate into a slipper-throwing contest. She winked at Sylphiel as she set down a tray of pastries and another cup for tea next to her. Sylphiel grinned shyly in return, and selected a berry pastry before offering the tray to Gourry.
Gourry paused halfway through his fifth pastry and passed the remainder over to Amelia and Lina. Sylphiel looked at him, puzzled.
"These taste like your pastries, and I know that you always make at least 2 batches, so if I give Lina some now, maybe I'll get more later..." Gourry explained, shocking his breakfast companions. The battle between Lina and Amelia paused from shock, allowing Zel to snag a cream cheese pastry without risking his life.
"Gourry, that's... I mean you... umm" Amelia paused, not sure how to say this nicely.
"Gourry? Did you... just plan something... in advance?" Lina stuttered. She was so stunned she didn't even notice Xellos snagging a pastry of his own.
"Don't look so surprised Lina. I might not be smart, but I know how much Sylphiel cooks." Gourry replied crossly. "And since I sent her that message right after we arrived yesterday, she probably arrived last night."
"Gourry is right." Sylphiel said, indicating the innkeeper "My mother and Millie were in seminary together. I've known her my whole life, so when Joell bought your message, I figured I would meet you here."
"Well, Miss Lina, I suppose this means you can't blow up the inn... after all, these people are almost Miss Sylphiel's family." Xellos smirked as he attempted to grab another pastry. Lina noticed his action, and smacked him across the face with the slipper. Xellos flew backwards, landing on Zel's lap. "Zelgadis," He cooed, "I never knew you cared."
Zelgadiss calmly punched him under the table, then poured himself another cup of tea. "Don't touch me, fruitcake." He growled.
The rest of breakfast passed quietly. At least, the inn was still standing when they finished... After Gourry and Lina finished fighting over the last of Sylphiel's pastries, they settled down to figure out where to go next.
"How about the Blate Temple?" Sylphiel suggested. At Gourry's blank look, she explained. "The Blate Temple is the only temple in the world that specializes in both Black and White Magic. There are even rumors that Lord Rezo used to study in their library. Maybe they would have something to help Mr. Zelgadis."
Zel grumbled under his breath at the mention of his great/grandfather, turning away from the discussion.
"How come we haven't gone there before?" Gourry asked.
Lina hit him with a slipper that she had pulled from nowhere. "Remember the big nasty barrier that was put up a thousand years ago? The only pass to the Blate temple is right along that barrier."
"But if there's a barrier, how do we get there?" Gourry asked, scratching his head.
"The barrier has dropped, Gourry dear." Sylphiel replied, gently catching Lina's slipper before it could hit him again. "Although some people believe that a powerful magician, like Lord Rezo, could fly over the mountains."
"Would you please stop going on about Rezo?" Zel asked, turning back to the conversation. "He probably did go to that temple, he tried everything to cure his damn eyes..." Zel trailed off, absently rubbing his temples.
"Is your headache still bothering you, Mr. Zelgadiss?" Sylphiel asked. "I could try to heal it if you like."
At Zel's nod, Sylphiel moved to stand behind him, concentrating. Her hands glowed a soft white, as she chanted a spell under her breath. Amelia looked on watching Sylphiel's technique, she hadn't ever seen this spell before, and Sailoon was supposed to be the white magic capital of the world.
As the light moved from Sylphiel's hands to Zelgadiss's head, Sylphiel's eyes flew open, and a look of startlement replaced her usual gentle expression.
"Mr Zelgadiss... you are... falling apart!" She exclaimed, too shocked to gentle her statement.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia and Lina asked at the same time. Then they turned to glare at one another.
"Mr. Zelgadiss's body is the result of a very powerful series of spells." Sylphiel began, "As you know, most spells only last past their creator's death if something else is used to power the spell. That's why we usually use a higher power for any large spells."
Lina and Amelia nodded, while Zel's face grew more horrified. Sylphiel continued.
"Because of the mix of magic that Lord Rezo used, he would have had to draw power for a number of sources. I've never seen a spell that used White, Shamanism and Black Magic all at the same time. I don't know how it could have been done without using some of the creator's essence to power the Shamanist sections of the spell. Lord Rezo probably would have had an accomplice, and their power should have kept Mr. Zelgadiss functioning past Lord Rezo's death..."
"Eris" Lina snapped, "That little..." She broke the cup in her hand, muttering under her breath.
"But Miss Sylphiel, how could Mr. Zelgadiss have kept functioning past Eris's death..." Amelia asked, quiet confused by the concept of mixing magic.
"There was probably some residual power, and maybe Eris tied the copy Rezo into the spell... Zel could have even been functioning off the released power from Zanaffar's defeat..." Lina interrupted... "There are some possibilities, here..."
"Couldn't someone else just power the spell?" Gourry asked, for once following a conversation about as well as Amelia... hey, when everyone is confused, the person with the most practice will probably be better at it than the others...
"Well," Sylphiel began, "I've never heard of anyone taking over a spell without the help of the creator, but I suppose it could be possible..."
"I'm doomed," Zel groaned, "Not only can't I find my cure, but I'm falling apart... Damn you, Rezo!"
"Well," Xellos began, "I guess we just have to try to find someone who can help Zelgadiss... quite the adventure, hmmm Lina?"
Lina turned to Xellos, "You knew, didn't you? That's why you are here, or is it the free buffet?" she threw another slipper at the smiling priest, who dodged, then caught it, examining it before throwing it back.
"Interesting toy." Said the smiling priest, "But should you really be using parts of your own essence as a weapon. Someone could hurt you with those things."
"Shut up or be helpful!" Lina snapped, banishing the slipper.
The next morning, Lina woke up to her door opening, and a stranger saying "Miss Lina. Wake up. Miss Lina?" Something was wrong, there was a warm weight pinning her lower body to the bed, and she was... sitting?
Lina blinked up at Millie, who was clearing the tray from the night before. She blinked sleepily, wondering what was... 'Oh, Zel...' Her sluggish mind tried to figure out what exactly was happening, still trying to clear the last effects of the sleeping potion.
"Thanks, Millie. We'll be down in a bit." She said, still trying to figure out what was going on. "Just let Amelia and Gourry sleep in... they deserve a break." She looked down at Zel, who was still lying across her lap, but had managed to turn over enough to slide an arm around her waist. "Ugh. What was in that tea?" she wondered out loud.
"Just a little something my mother used to make when we were feeling poorly." Millie replied. "I know that you gave him something yesterday, but I checked the remains of the tea you brought back and knew they wouldn't interact poorly. Would you like the recipe?"
"Definitely." Lina replied, leaning back against the wall and absently checking Zel's forehead... his fever was gone. She smiled, smoothing his hair back.
Millie smiled as she took the tray out, 'I knew those two were a couple. I wonder what the big fuss was? City folk sure have weird ways...'
Lina's poor drugged mind slowly realized that she was sitting in Zel's bed. This was not good. And that Zel was using her as a pillow. This was even worse. And someone had apparently KNOWN? What next... At least Amelia and Gourry didn't know about this...
"Zel. Wake up." She gently shook the chimera. He murmured sleepily and tried to burrow into her side. She twitched, 'Must not cast attack spell...' "Zel, WAKE UP!" She shook him, trying to ignore the illusory flames starting to leap around her head.
"Don't wanna... like my pillow..." came the mumbled reply, "smells like roses..." and the sleeping chimera curled up around her like a very large flannel covered cat, grabbing her with his other hand.
The illusory flames around her head spread to the rest of her body, then died down as an evil grin came over her face. 'He's going to regret this...'
"LEVITATION!" Lina cast the spell, flying both of them out the window and then Ray Winging to the very cold pond just outside of town.
"Either wake up RIGHT NOW, OR I'M DUMPING YOU IN!" Lina yelled into the now twitching chimera's ear.
His hands twitched, then let go of her, right before she punched him out of her spell, dumping him, and his blankets into the icy water below.
"AAARGH!" *Splash*
Lina gently settled onto the shore, and watched as a very irate, wet, and bug-eyed Zel climbed out of the water.
"Feeling better?" She asked, smiling innocently, and batting her eyelashes at him.
"Well I WAS. What was that for?" he grumped, wringing water out of his soaked blankets and glaring at the happily smiling sorceress.
"I did ask nicely." She grinned, "and since you missed the bath house yesterday..." The chimera growled at her, dropped his blankets, then pounced on her, drenching her in the process of attempting to tickle her unmercifully.
Ten minutes later, they realized that not only were they wet, muddy, and still in pajamas... they were also sitting at the side of a public pond. Luckily, Millie had woken Lina just before dawn, so most people were just starting their day.
"What was that about me missing the bath house?" Zel asked from where he sprawled in the now muddy grass. "Looks like you need a bath, too."
Lina looked down at herself, noticing the mud caked in her hair and on her clothes. She shrugged.
"FIREBALL!"
Lina looked at the now gently steaming section of pond, and flashed a victory sign at Zel. She splashed her way into the warmed water, rinsed the mud from her hair and clothes, then levitated back to a clean patch of grass.
"Your turn," she smirked "Might want to rinse while the water is warm."
Zel sighed, and followed her example. When he emerged from the pond, Lina cast a quick drying spell on him.
"Can't have you rusting." She grinned. Zel snorted, and grabbed Lina in a Ray Wing bubble, flying them back to the inn.
Both Amelia and Gourry were at the breakfast table by the time that Lina and Zel were done cleaning up and changing. The innkeeper was ready for their appetites this time, and prodigious amounts of food arrived at the table, along with a large pot of tea.
'Good morning," Millie said as she dropped the pot of tea off. She turned to Gourry, "The messenger you sent yesterday has arrived, and he brought some friends of yours with him." She turned and waived over two figures that were just entering the tavern room.
Gourry's face lit up as he recognized the first figure. "Sylphiel. I wasn't expecting you to hurry and meet us here... do you want breakfast? It's almost as good as you make..."
Sylphiel smiled shyly, and brought a chair over to the table to sit next to Gourry. "Thank you." She said in her soft soprano. "Mr. Xellos decided to join me, I didn't think it would be a problem."
"Hello!" Xellos grinned in his usual enigmatic fashion. "How went the hunt for that book?"
"Not very well, Mr. Xellos." Amelia began, "And then Mr. Zelgadis got sick..."
"It was just a headache." Zel grumbled, less than happy to see the trickster, even if he was traveling with Sylphiel. Amelia noticed his unhappy response, and immediately began apologizing and trying to cheer him up. Zel ignored her, except to grunt in response to her questions.
"So, Xellos, what brings you out this way?" Lina asked around mouthfuls of food. She grabbed the jug of juice and drank half of it, not even bothering with a glass.
"That... is a secret." Xellos smirked at Lina, who simply shrugged at grabbed the last sausage.
"Whatever. I suppose you are going to try to convince us to go pursue some ridiculous rumor which will lead us to saving the world again..." Lina glared at Gourry, who was trying to snag the last stack of pancakes. "Gourry! That's mine!"
Millie and her oldest daughter walked over with another few trays of food, just as the shouting match was about to degenerate into a slipper-throwing contest. She winked at Sylphiel as she set down a tray of pastries and another cup for tea next to her. Sylphiel grinned shyly in return, and selected a berry pastry before offering the tray to Gourry.
Gourry paused halfway through his fifth pastry and passed the remainder over to Amelia and Lina. Sylphiel looked at him, puzzled.
"These taste like your pastries, and I know that you always make at least 2 batches, so if I give Lina some now, maybe I'll get more later..." Gourry explained, shocking his breakfast companions. The battle between Lina and Amelia paused from shock, allowing Zel to snag a cream cheese pastry without risking his life.
"Gourry, that's... I mean you... umm" Amelia paused, not sure how to say this nicely.
"Gourry? Did you... just plan something... in advance?" Lina stuttered. She was so stunned she didn't even notice Xellos snagging a pastry of his own.
"Don't look so surprised Lina. I might not be smart, but I know how much Sylphiel cooks." Gourry replied crossly. "And since I sent her that message right after we arrived yesterday, she probably arrived last night."
"Gourry is right." Sylphiel said, indicating the innkeeper "My mother and Millie were in seminary together. I've known her my whole life, so when Joell bought your message, I figured I would meet you here."
"Well, Miss Lina, I suppose this means you can't blow up the inn... after all, these people are almost Miss Sylphiel's family." Xellos smirked as he attempted to grab another pastry. Lina noticed his action, and smacked him across the face with the slipper. Xellos flew backwards, landing on Zel's lap. "Zelgadis," He cooed, "I never knew you cared."
Zelgadiss calmly punched him under the table, then poured himself another cup of tea. "Don't touch me, fruitcake." He growled.
The rest of breakfast passed quietly. At least, the inn was still standing when they finished... After Gourry and Lina finished fighting over the last of Sylphiel's pastries, they settled down to figure out where to go next.
"How about the Blate Temple?" Sylphiel suggested. At Gourry's blank look, she explained. "The Blate Temple is the only temple in the world that specializes in both Black and White Magic. There are even rumors that Lord Rezo used to study in their library. Maybe they would have something to help Mr. Zelgadis."
Zel grumbled under his breath at the mention of his great/grandfather, turning away from the discussion.
"How come we haven't gone there before?" Gourry asked.
Lina hit him with a slipper that she had pulled from nowhere. "Remember the big nasty barrier that was put up a thousand years ago? The only pass to the Blate temple is right along that barrier."
"But if there's a barrier, how do we get there?" Gourry asked, scratching his head.
"The barrier has dropped, Gourry dear." Sylphiel replied, gently catching Lina's slipper before it could hit him again. "Although some people believe that a powerful magician, like Lord Rezo, could fly over the mountains."
"Would you please stop going on about Rezo?" Zel asked, turning back to the conversation. "He probably did go to that temple, he tried everything to cure his damn eyes..." Zel trailed off, absently rubbing his temples.
"Is your headache still bothering you, Mr. Zelgadiss?" Sylphiel asked. "I could try to heal it if you like."
At Zel's nod, Sylphiel moved to stand behind him, concentrating. Her hands glowed a soft white, as she chanted a spell under her breath. Amelia looked on watching Sylphiel's technique, she hadn't ever seen this spell before, and Sailoon was supposed to be the white magic capital of the world.
As the light moved from Sylphiel's hands to Zelgadiss's head, Sylphiel's eyes flew open, and a look of startlement replaced her usual gentle expression.
"Mr Zelgadiss... you are... falling apart!" She exclaimed, too shocked to gentle her statement.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia and Lina asked at the same time. Then they turned to glare at one another.
"Mr. Zelgadiss's body is the result of a very powerful series of spells." Sylphiel began, "As you know, most spells only last past their creator's death if something else is used to power the spell. That's why we usually use a higher power for any large spells."
Lina and Amelia nodded, while Zel's face grew more horrified. Sylphiel continued.
"Because of the mix of magic that Lord Rezo used, he would have had to draw power for a number of sources. I've never seen a spell that used White, Shamanism and Black Magic all at the same time. I don't know how it could have been done without using some of the creator's essence to power the Shamanist sections of the spell. Lord Rezo probably would have had an accomplice, and their power should have kept Mr. Zelgadiss functioning past Lord Rezo's death..."
"Eris" Lina snapped, "That little..." She broke the cup in her hand, muttering under her breath.
"But Miss Sylphiel, how could Mr. Zelgadiss have kept functioning past Eris's death..." Amelia asked, quiet confused by the concept of mixing magic.
"There was probably some residual power, and maybe Eris tied the copy Rezo into the spell... Zel could have even been functioning off the released power from Zanaffar's defeat..." Lina interrupted... "There are some possibilities, here..."
"Couldn't someone else just power the spell?" Gourry asked, for once following a conversation about as well as Amelia... hey, when everyone is confused, the person with the most practice will probably be better at it than the others...
"Well," Sylphiel began, "I've never heard of anyone taking over a spell without the help of the creator, but I suppose it could be possible..."
"I'm doomed," Zel groaned, "Not only can't I find my cure, but I'm falling apart... Damn you, Rezo!"
"Well," Xellos began, "I guess we just have to try to find someone who can help Zelgadiss... quite the adventure, hmmm Lina?"
Lina turned to Xellos, "You knew, didn't you? That's why you are here, or is it the free buffet?" she threw another slipper at the smiling priest, who dodged, then caught it, examining it before throwing it back.
"Interesting toy." Said the smiling priest, "But should you really be using parts of your own essence as a weapon. Someone could hurt you with those things."
"Shut up or be helpful!" Lina snapped, banishing the slipper.