Chapter Six: Inn and Out
That night, they stayed at a very fancy inn. Since Amelia was there to on official business (in this case, it was to see if there were any place in Rikido village that was good enough for her grandfather to stay in) she was able to get three free rooms: one for Lina, one for Gourry, and one for her and her sister. Amelia wanted to spend as much time with her sister as possible. Lina spent most of her time at the little store they had at the inn. Gourry just sat in the lounge.
Inside their room, Amelia changed into her pajamas. "Gracia?" said Amelia, slipping on her silk PJs. "Yeah, Kido?" said Naga as she hung her cape on the coat rack. A small tear of happiness rolled down Amelia's cheek. "W-Why did you choose to dress that way?" Naga's eyes began to water, but she fought them with all her strength. "No one would suspect me of being a princess if I dressed like this," replied Naga.
"Oh…"
There was a long, awkward pause. "How come you never wrote to us?" asked Amelia. She began to cry. Naga looked at Amelia and then turned away. "I…" Naga's throat felt dry, "I didn't want to be followed." Amelia was confused. How could we follow her by a letter? thought Amelia. "If I had sent a letter," continued Naga, "father would have hired experts to analyze the paper and the ink to find out what part of the world I was in. He'd send people out there to look for me and bring me home. If I used ink from one place and paper form somewhere else they'd still know what post office I dropped it off at. Even If I sent a messenger bird they could track me down." Naga took in a deep breath and let it out. "I just didn't want anything to do with my old life after mom's death."
Gourry was bored. He just sat there on the couch in the lounge, sipping a cup of tea. This has been one wacky day, he thought. I guess tomorrow will be even wackier. I mean, we are going to be on an adventure to get a boatload of treasure that is located twenty-five degrees north latitude and forty-eight degrees longitude. That's a good hundred kilometers from the closest human society. Even if we get there the odds would be approximately twenty-one thousand eight hundred thirty-one to one, well actually to four. I have to include the variables that are in actuality Lina, Amelia, Naga, and myself. Of course the presence of raw, bloody meat would deduce the odds by ninety-eight point four. If I had the sword of light the odds against us would be reduced by a factor of three. But if I use the sword I have in my possession and add a poly-neutronic charge to increase the molecular charge output of the sword, the odds of us succeeding will dramatically rise. Or maybe I could quantilze the variable of our stratigized pre-consensus framework. Of course! That would simplify everything.
"Hey, blockhead!" shouted Lina. "Are you just going to sit there, sipping tea, and staring off into space, or are you going to help he carry all of this stuff to my room?" "What stuff?" asked Gourry. "All I see is you." Lina snapped her fingers and ten men with their hands full of knick-knacks and doohicky-mabobbers came rushing up to Lina. "Where do you want these, ma'am?" asked the one at the head of the line in a strenuous voice. "Room two seventy-five," said Lina. "The door's unlocked, you can just go inside and set them down anywhere. And by 'anywhere,' I mean at the foot of my bed."
"Yes, ma'am."
The ten men ran to Lina's room with all their speed, without dropping anything. "What do I carry, Lina?" asked Gourry.
"You carry me, of course."
"Why, you?"
"My legs are so tired from walking around that store. I don't think I could make it back to my room."
"Well, if you say so."
Gourry drank the rest of his tea and walked towards Lina. "Just don't move around a lot like that time after we fought those Berserkers." Gourry bent over and lifted Lina with all his strength. "Y'know, Lina," said Gourry, "for a girl you sure are heavy." "One more wise crack from you and no more bedtime stories, ya hear?" "No more Billy the Bunny tales!? Alright, I won't say a thing."
Sleep didn't come easily for Naga. She just lied there in bed, staring at the ceiling. What am I going to do? she thought. Amelia will tell father about me and I'll have to return to the castle. I don't want to go back. Naga rolled over on her side and watched Amelia as she slept. I'd almost forgotten how cute she is when she's asleep. It's been so long. It feels like yesterday when I last said good night to her. She sure has grown up, though. Not only in height. Her breasts are even bigger than Lina's were when she was her age. Now that I think about it, I don't recall Lina's breasts ever being bigger than they are now. Naga giggled a bit, but her thoughts quickly returned to Amelia. "Sleep well, kiddo," said Naga, "we've got a big day tomorrow." I never thought I'd be saying that anytime soon. Naga giggled a bit more and then dozed off.
"Gourry, you passed my room!" Lina shouted as she whacked Gourry on the head. "Ow! S-Sorry, Lina." Gourry backed up a bit and put Lina down. "What are you doing, Gourry?" yelled Lina. "But this is your room," said Gourry.
"You're supposed to put me down on my bed. In my fragile state, my legs could snap in two if I even attempt to walk around. Pick me up again and place me on my bed…NOW!!!"
"Yes your majesty."
Gourry bent over and picked Lina up again. "That's more like it," said Lina. "When we get through with this journey, I'll by my own kingdom and call it 'Lina Land.' It'll be the happiest place on earth. And I'm going to have banquets at every mealtime, everyday. Then, I'll hire scientist to develop a cure for stupidity and I'll use it to make you, Gourry, head of the cleaning-up-after-me squad." "You want me to be a janitor?" asked Gourry.
"No way! You'll be a Master of the Custodial Arts."
"Okay. As long as I'm not a janitor."
Gourry placed Lina on her bed and let out a loud sigh of relief. Phew! She is one heavy lady, thought Gourry. "Thank you very much," said Lina, handing Gourry a few gold coins. "Why are you being so generous, Lina?" asked Gourry. "Hey," she said, "I'm going to be filthy, stinkin' rich in about a week, so why would I need these old coins anyway? 'Out with the old and in with the new.' That's what they say. And if we run short of money we can always count on Amelia to use her 'influence' to get what we need." Lina stretched her arms and lied down on her bed. "Good night, Gourry," said Lina as she pulled her sheets over her.
"Good night, Lina."
Before he finished, Lina was already asleep. Gourry smiled and walked out of Lina's room. Closing the door quietly behind him. Gourry walked down to his room, opened the door, and went straight to bed. He dreamed about the Sword of Light, and how he gave it away. Then he dreamt about his fight with Zangulas and how he kicked his butt. Naga's dreams were not so happy.
BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!! The sound of thunder grew louder each time in the darkness. There was no lightening, just thunder. Where am I? thought Naga. Thunder boomed again, sending a shiver of terror through her whole body. Up ahead she saw two small dots of light. Someone must be here. Naga tried to speak, but her words wouldn't come out. What's going on here. Then it hit her. I must be dreaming. Naga walked over to the two lights at a steady pace, but they didn't seem to get any closer. She started to run, but to no avail.
This is hopeless. Naga just stood there. And turned away from the lights. BOOOOOOM!!! Thunder again, but this time there was lightening. BOOOM!!! More lightening. The darkness gradually began to take form. It became a room. A room that she knew too well. She turned around and saw her mother, sitting on her bed. Mother? Naga's eyes began to water. Rose just sat there, on the bed. She giggled and lied down, stretching her arms. Oh, mother. You're alive. Naga began to cry hard. She walked towards her mother when she suddenly got out of the bed and ran to the balcony door. Mother? What's wrong? Rose opened the door, and standing in front of her was Ordesky. His eyes filled with the purest evil. No no NO!! Not this! Please No. Rose tried to fight the man, but was pushed onto her bed. Rose let out a loud scream. Ordesky quickly ran up to her and stabbed her repeatedly with his dagger. STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!! DON'T KILL MY MOTHER!!! Naga couldn't control herself.
She put her hands in front of her and tried to cast a spell. Nothing happen. Suddenly, Ordesky stopped stabbing Rose. Naga looked at Ordesky and Ordesky turned his head and looked at her. Naga became petrified with fear. It was those eyes. The eyes that had haunted her dreams many times. "Fancy meeting you here, Gracia," said Ordesky, licking the blood off his dagger. "It's a shame isn't it? She was such a beautiful woman. She would still be around if you had came a bit sooner. You heard her scream, too. I guess it shows how much you really loved you mother." No. STOP IT!!! Naga's face was covered with sweat and tears. Ordesky walked slowly over to her "You could've ran to her aid, but you just walked slowly while I stabbed her to death." Please stop. Ordesky was now in front of her. He gave her that look she hated so much. "It was your fault that she died. You didn't care enough to run. You didn't even care about her. That's why you allowed her to die. You're the real monster, not me." Ordesky leaned in closer.
"It is was all your fault."
BOOOOOOM!!!!
That night, they stayed at a very fancy inn. Since Amelia was there to on official business (in this case, it was to see if there were any place in Rikido village that was good enough for her grandfather to stay in) she was able to get three free rooms: one for Lina, one for Gourry, and one for her and her sister. Amelia wanted to spend as much time with her sister as possible. Lina spent most of her time at the little store they had at the inn. Gourry just sat in the lounge.
Inside their room, Amelia changed into her pajamas. "Gracia?" said Amelia, slipping on her silk PJs. "Yeah, Kido?" said Naga as she hung her cape on the coat rack. A small tear of happiness rolled down Amelia's cheek. "W-Why did you choose to dress that way?" Naga's eyes began to water, but she fought them with all her strength. "No one would suspect me of being a princess if I dressed like this," replied Naga.
"Oh…"
There was a long, awkward pause. "How come you never wrote to us?" asked Amelia. She began to cry. Naga looked at Amelia and then turned away. "I…" Naga's throat felt dry, "I didn't want to be followed." Amelia was confused. How could we follow her by a letter? thought Amelia. "If I had sent a letter," continued Naga, "father would have hired experts to analyze the paper and the ink to find out what part of the world I was in. He'd send people out there to look for me and bring me home. If I used ink from one place and paper form somewhere else they'd still know what post office I dropped it off at. Even If I sent a messenger bird they could track me down." Naga took in a deep breath and let it out. "I just didn't want anything to do with my old life after mom's death."
Gourry was bored. He just sat there on the couch in the lounge, sipping a cup of tea. This has been one wacky day, he thought. I guess tomorrow will be even wackier. I mean, we are going to be on an adventure to get a boatload of treasure that is located twenty-five degrees north latitude and forty-eight degrees longitude. That's a good hundred kilometers from the closest human society. Even if we get there the odds would be approximately twenty-one thousand eight hundred thirty-one to one, well actually to four. I have to include the variables that are in actuality Lina, Amelia, Naga, and myself. Of course the presence of raw, bloody meat would deduce the odds by ninety-eight point four. If I had the sword of light the odds against us would be reduced by a factor of three. But if I use the sword I have in my possession and add a poly-neutronic charge to increase the molecular charge output of the sword, the odds of us succeeding will dramatically rise. Or maybe I could quantilze the variable of our stratigized pre-consensus framework. Of course! That would simplify everything.
"Hey, blockhead!" shouted Lina. "Are you just going to sit there, sipping tea, and staring off into space, or are you going to help he carry all of this stuff to my room?" "What stuff?" asked Gourry. "All I see is you." Lina snapped her fingers and ten men with their hands full of knick-knacks and doohicky-mabobbers came rushing up to Lina. "Where do you want these, ma'am?" asked the one at the head of the line in a strenuous voice. "Room two seventy-five," said Lina. "The door's unlocked, you can just go inside and set them down anywhere. And by 'anywhere,' I mean at the foot of my bed."
"Yes, ma'am."
The ten men ran to Lina's room with all their speed, without dropping anything. "What do I carry, Lina?" asked Gourry.
"You carry me, of course."
"Why, you?"
"My legs are so tired from walking around that store. I don't think I could make it back to my room."
"Well, if you say so."
Gourry drank the rest of his tea and walked towards Lina. "Just don't move around a lot like that time after we fought those Berserkers." Gourry bent over and lifted Lina with all his strength. "Y'know, Lina," said Gourry, "for a girl you sure are heavy." "One more wise crack from you and no more bedtime stories, ya hear?" "No more Billy the Bunny tales!? Alright, I won't say a thing."
Sleep didn't come easily for Naga. She just lied there in bed, staring at the ceiling. What am I going to do? she thought. Amelia will tell father about me and I'll have to return to the castle. I don't want to go back. Naga rolled over on her side and watched Amelia as she slept. I'd almost forgotten how cute she is when she's asleep. It's been so long. It feels like yesterday when I last said good night to her. She sure has grown up, though. Not only in height. Her breasts are even bigger than Lina's were when she was her age. Now that I think about it, I don't recall Lina's breasts ever being bigger than they are now. Naga giggled a bit, but her thoughts quickly returned to Amelia. "Sleep well, kiddo," said Naga, "we've got a big day tomorrow." I never thought I'd be saying that anytime soon. Naga giggled a bit more and then dozed off.
"Gourry, you passed my room!" Lina shouted as she whacked Gourry on the head. "Ow! S-Sorry, Lina." Gourry backed up a bit and put Lina down. "What are you doing, Gourry?" yelled Lina. "But this is your room," said Gourry.
"You're supposed to put me down on my bed. In my fragile state, my legs could snap in two if I even attempt to walk around. Pick me up again and place me on my bed…NOW!!!"
"Yes your majesty."
Gourry bent over and picked Lina up again. "That's more like it," said Lina. "When we get through with this journey, I'll by my own kingdom and call it 'Lina Land.' It'll be the happiest place on earth. And I'm going to have banquets at every mealtime, everyday. Then, I'll hire scientist to develop a cure for stupidity and I'll use it to make you, Gourry, head of the cleaning-up-after-me squad." "You want me to be a janitor?" asked Gourry.
"No way! You'll be a Master of the Custodial Arts."
"Okay. As long as I'm not a janitor."
Gourry placed Lina on her bed and let out a loud sigh of relief. Phew! She is one heavy lady, thought Gourry. "Thank you very much," said Lina, handing Gourry a few gold coins. "Why are you being so generous, Lina?" asked Gourry. "Hey," she said, "I'm going to be filthy, stinkin' rich in about a week, so why would I need these old coins anyway? 'Out with the old and in with the new.' That's what they say. And if we run short of money we can always count on Amelia to use her 'influence' to get what we need." Lina stretched her arms and lied down on her bed. "Good night, Gourry," said Lina as she pulled her sheets over her.
"Good night, Lina."
Before he finished, Lina was already asleep. Gourry smiled and walked out of Lina's room. Closing the door quietly behind him. Gourry walked down to his room, opened the door, and went straight to bed. He dreamed about the Sword of Light, and how he gave it away. Then he dreamt about his fight with Zangulas and how he kicked his butt. Naga's dreams were not so happy.
BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!! The sound of thunder grew louder each time in the darkness. There was no lightening, just thunder. Where am I? thought Naga. Thunder boomed again, sending a shiver of terror through her whole body. Up ahead she saw two small dots of light. Someone must be here. Naga tried to speak, but her words wouldn't come out. What's going on here. Then it hit her. I must be dreaming. Naga walked over to the two lights at a steady pace, but they didn't seem to get any closer. She started to run, but to no avail.
This is hopeless. Naga just stood there. And turned away from the lights. BOOOOOOM!!! Thunder again, but this time there was lightening. BOOOM!!! More lightening. The darkness gradually began to take form. It became a room. A room that she knew too well. She turned around and saw her mother, sitting on her bed. Mother? Naga's eyes began to water. Rose just sat there, on the bed. She giggled and lied down, stretching her arms. Oh, mother. You're alive. Naga began to cry hard. She walked towards her mother when she suddenly got out of the bed and ran to the balcony door. Mother? What's wrong? Rose opened the door, and standing in front of her was Ordesky. His eyes filled with the purest evil. No no NO!! Not this! Please No. Rose tried to fight the man, but was pushed onto her bed. Rose let out a loud scream. Ordesky quickly ran up to her and stabbed her repeatedly with his dagger. STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!! DON'T KILL MY MOTHER!!! Naga couldn't control herself.
She put her hands in front of her and tried to cast a spell. Nothing happen. Suddenly, Ordesky stopped stabbing Rose. Naga looked at Ordesky and Ordesky turned his head and looked at her. Naga became petrified with fear. It was those eyes. The eyes that had haunted her dreams many times. "Fancy meeting you here, Gracia," said Ordesky, licking the blood off his dagger. "It's a shame isn't it? She was such a beautiful woman. She would still be around if you had came a bit sooner. You heard her scream, too. I guess it shows how much you really loved you mother." No. STOP IT!!! Naga's face was covered with sweat and tears. Ordesky walked slowly over to her "You could've ran to her aid, but you just walked slowly while I stabbed her to death." Please stop. Ordesky was now in front of her. He gave her that look she hated so much. "It was your fault that she died. You didn't care enough to run. You didn't even care about her. That's why you allowed her to die. You're the real monster, not me." Ordesky leaned in closer.
"It is was all your fault."
BOOOOOOM!!!!