revised: 04/16/03
Chapter Dos
Lina and Syl bunked in one room while Gourry's sleeping quarters is across from them. Before lights out for our two lasses,
"How far north do you think Mr. Zelgadiss went Miss Lina?"
"Sylphiel, what did we just discuss earlier today during lunch?"
"Um....er...not...to call you Miss Lina again?"
"Exactly. Next time I won't hold back on Fireballing you, got it?"
"*gulp* H...Hai." the poor girl sweatdropped, sheepishly smiled and nervously nods her head.
"Okay, now for your question, I'm not really sure. Pull out that map." Lina opened a small dimensional pocket, dug her hands in and starts to feel thru for something she needs.
Once the map is out and unrolled flat on the table,
"It's set M...er Lina."
"Alright, what town are we again?" she finally found her favorite brush and started with the chore.
"We're in Baintoch, about twenty miles away between the borders of Elmekia and Saillune." (1)
"A month passed, and with his chimeric speed, so....*thinking* my guess is that he's probably in either in Ceyra or at...." she stopped herself from continuing and her brush halted midways.
"Or he's in Miss Amelia's capital, right?" Sylphiel is getting the hang of traveling distances on maps.
"Yeah...well, it does make sense that he'll visit her afterall." 'Okay, that sounded sourly.' she thought and brought her mind back to brushing her red hair.
"If we leave early tomorrow, do you think we'll make it in Miss Amelia's home in less than a month if we got straight thru the Alliance of Coastal States (1) instead going around it?" she really didn't listen to those undertones of the redhead.
As she turns around to get her response, she saw Lina stopped combing her hair, her eyes dazed in somekind of a distant land as her face bears a certain sadness to it.
"Lina? Are you alright?" concerned at her apparent sadness.
"Huh?...Oh...I'm just fine, just thinking 'bout this stupid curse." she lied.
"You'll see everything will turn out just fine Lina. *yawn* We'll find your cure very soon, I can feel it." she covered her mouth again, trying to stifle her yawn. She decided better ask her on another private moment.
Now it was Lina's turn to yawn. "I hope your right. *yawn* Boy, I'm not able to see you yawn but hearing it is just as bad, time to turn in, goodnight Syl." she puts away her brush and laid down to sleep.
"Goodnight and sleep well Lina." the ravenhead stretched, walked towards her bed and extinguish the candle.
Once she settle into bed, she made a silent prayer, a prayer that her and her friends can find Zelgadiss, find both of their cures and maybe, just maybe, find the cause of Lina's unhappiness.
The following morning, Lina woke up in a better attitude. Maybe it had to do with the pleasant dream she had about somebody, if she could remember what and who though.
"Good morning Lina, do you feel any better? Because you certainly looked very well."
"Mornin' Syl...yeah, I actually do. I don't know why, but I have a feeling we're going to have better luck in finding Zel within these couple of days."
"That's wonderful Lina."
The inexperience sorceress just finished brushing her long black-lavander hair as she was waiting for her flametressed friend to wake up.
"Did you want to eat breakfast here or would you rather eat downstairs?"
"Hmm...I think I'll join y'all. I feel like walking around a bit."
"Alright."
She stood up and brought over Lina's clothes. As much as the Chaos child hate to admit, she's glad she has a close female friend to help her manage around everything, although she doesn't really express her appreciation. Once she's fully dressed, the brunette helped guide the redhead down to the inn's restaurant where there awaits the tall but clueless bodyguard, shoving food into his face of course.
"Hey girls! I got some eggs, ham, oatmeal, toast, cinnamon rolls, some sausage links, and pancakes left, I ordered alot more than my usual."
"Thanks Gourry."
"Thank you Gourry-dear."
They sat down, but there's one thing that Lina want to ask Sylphiel before she starts to eat....
"Um...Syl? How much is there left?"
"*giggle* I'm just about to order some more Lina, I assume you would like some muffins too."
"Ah...how well you know me Syl."
The two smiled. These passing weeks, the bishoujos grew closer together and became the best of friends, which made Gourry happy to see that his ward and his favorite and pretty cook get along so well with each other. With Sylphiel on the job, he didn't have to worry so much about Lina, especially on personal woman issues.
-----------------------------------------Afternoon----------------------------------------------------------
"How much further to the next town?"
"Another half a mile up this road."
"So are we gonna have lunch there?"
"Gourry....don't ask dumb questions when you already know the answers."
The two bickered back and forth like children. The shy maiden would only interfere when it's necessary, which would be many times. Finally, they arrived their destination and headed towards the best-looking restaurant. About a fainted-waitress-a-resigned-cook, and an army's banquet later, the trio sat there and relaxed.
The owner didn't want to ask them to leave, considering the ornery blind girl and that dumb blonde man made such a big scene over food while the other girl tries to keep everything in peace. He heard that's the redhead is the Enemy To All That Lives and the way they described her, he wasn't going to take any risks. So he went on to care for the rest of his patrons before he looses any more customers along with his business. He heard the door opened and a medium height new clientele walked in, walking to the nearest secluded corner, away from the rest of the people. The owner went to greet him. With a quick exchange of small commands, he left, leaving the stranger to view warily at a group fussing over a leg of lamb.
"Hey Lina...shouldn't we get going?"
"What's the rush? We have an extra day leftover."
"But shouldn't we be looking for Zel?"
The chicas were bewildered. He actually remembered what their mission is. Probably it's because they have searching for him for over two months. Unbeknownst to the adventurers, the same person was looking at their direction. He too seemed to be in astonished after hearing their conversation. He contemplated, whether to leave or stay. Might as well get it over with, he thought, with Lina on the job, he'll eventually be found sooner or later. Besides, if she ever find out that he was with them at this time, he'll most likely become charcoal.
"Wow....you remembered."
"I'll say."
Their heads turned to the direction of the nosey, muffled speaker. He smirks underneath his cowl as they remain silent.
"Come now...is that anyway to *pulls down mask* treat a friend."
Now that they have a better look and recognize his voice....
"Zelgadiss Greywers....is that you?"
"Who else would I be? I haven't change since the last time we ventured."
He stopped for a moment as he noticed that even though Sylphiel and Gourry stood up and greeted him with their same warm personalities, Lina haven't really done anything but just stand and stare off at a direction behind his left shoulder. As he was about to make a retort, his breath was caught in his throat when he sees her arms reaching out. Her bodyguard took her hand and places her in front of him.
"Lina?" he reached out for her hand only to receive a hug in return. She stops moved her hands towards his spiky head. His brows arched from curiousity.
BAM!
"OW!!" the two exclaimed.
She rubbed her elbow as he rubbed his head.
"Lina! Please don't do that ever again! You know that I don't want you to overexert yourself!" Syl scolded her as she heals her bruised arm.
"What's going on?"
"We've been looking high & low for you baka! Where have you been?!"
"Answer my question first and why have all of you searching for me anyway?"
Silence. Their faces sadden.
"It's hard to explain Mr. Zelgadiss." Sylphiel spoke first.
"Why?"
"Because Zel, *lowers voice* I'm blind."
He felt lightheaded, he needed to sit down.
"How and when."
"We better go to an inn, it's getting late, I'll explain the whole thing in my room, Zel, come on."
After they paid their meals and left, they found an inn close by and paid for four rooms. Both sorceress and shaman met in Lina's room for their meeting as the other two went to find something else to do. One hour later of talking......
"YOU WERE GOIN' WHERE AND GOIN' TO DO WHAT??!!" she screamed.
"I was told that the temple of Cephieed and it followers would most likely help or at least contain some knowledge where my cure can be found." he was able to relax from wincing thru her yelling, but just in case...
"HAVE YOU'VE GONE COMPLETELY INSANE???!!! No one and I mean ~no one~ is allowed to talk or even see anybody from Cephieed's temple without a written permission and consent, or an invitation from them!"
"Well....couldn't you get your sister... *blink, blink*....er...Lina? Where did you go?"
"Uh...n...nnn...nono....I don't...even get to see Nee *gulp* Neechan unless she wants me too. *gulps hard* And believe me....I ~don't~ want to even hear from her. If I do...." she blanched. She just can't seem to stop the shaking nor the peering over her shoulders.
"Lina...don't you think your slightly exaggerating a bit? She cannot be that bad. I mean, you had faced Shabranigdu, Dark Star, two Dark Mazuko Lords...."
"C...can we just drop the subject about Neechan, please?"
'Where is she?'
He thought as let his eyes wander the room, now if he could only get her talking again.
"Alright then, so Lina, where did you find this place again?"
"Oh it's in the Forest of Vrahm."
She sounded more calm now...now where is she?
"The Forest of Vrahm? By chance it wouldn't happen to be in the outskirts of a little village by the name of Amrond, would it?"
"Well, yeah...why?" she finally came out of her hiding place.
Did she just come out of that small corner, all the way up at the corner banisters? He shakes his confusement off and concentrated more on the familiar location. Now he remembers...
"*sigh* I should've known....Lina, did you find anything when or after that wall vault opened?"
She blinked, flashes of memory came into her mind, "I found a scroll....kinda think 'bout it..." her fingers starts to move in one of her many pockets of her black and red cloak.
After searching for about a minute, she pulled out the paper and handed over the direction of her intelligent friend's voice.
"I almost forgotten 'bout it....Here ya go Zel, maybe you have better luck at this thing."
Once he grabbed the letter, he unfolded the roll and scanned it thoroughly.
"There's no letters, no handwriting, nothing....except." his blue fingers gently traced over the clue and gave a mournful sigh, which of course, Lina heard.
"You know this language, don't you?"
"Unfortunately for me, yes. Rezo taught me."
"Hold on, did you said Rezo? Now how come that doesn't surprise me...*sigh* Let me guess, it had to do with my curse."
"Yes."
"Well read it to me then."
Zelgadiss hesitated at first, he really don't know if he should.....knowing how....
"WHAT ARE YOU WAIT'N FOR???!!! READ!!!"
Luckily for him that he covered his super hearing ears with plugs before she screamed again. He starts to read, not by his sharp aquamarine eyes but with his blue fingers....
"To whomever had seen the sharp, bright light,
Is the last thing you will ever use with your sight.
You now dwell in darkness, this is your curse.
The reason is because of the greed you have thirst.
Here you expected riches and gold to steal
And in its stead, both your vision and your fate are sealed.
But fret not! For hope shines like the silver lining in the darkest cloud.
Unlike me, your cure is still yet to be found.
Ensue and listen to your instincts and follow this lead.
You must seek what your true being, both heart and soul, really need.
If you desire to have this curse to be broken
Behold, for your cure lays in the most sacred token.
His expression was a mixture of anger and frustration.
"Don't tell me that was it! A stupid poem that rhymes?! There's gotta be more than..."
She heard paper scrunched and thrown far off somewhere to the left and...
"Damn you to the deepest bowels of hell....." the tone of his voice was of hatred.
"Zel?" she recognizes that tone but she hasn't heard it used for a long, long time. No....that particular one was only reserved for....
"Rezo....he set up the curse, hasn't he?" she said it rather sadly.
There was a pause of silence, she could only hear his uneven, heavy, breathing. She didn't have to use her sight to figure out he's not in a very good mood.
"That place you had explored was one of Rezo's many laboratories. I had heard about it, however, I did not want to go there because I remembered what he said about the pitfalls he carelessly laid about in certain remote parts of the many kingdoms."
He stood up and starts to walk towards the window, where he sees the midnight sky as she bowed her head. She can't believe she's cursed by one of the most strongest and wonderous sages of all times. He's dead, there was no way that she could get the curse to be undone. Lina is feeling the weight of defeat on her conscious and her soul.
"He had done so before he went into black magic...long before Shabringdo slowly took over his soul...*voice softened* before I had ever met his sane self *pause* the person I wished he would returned to be."
He allowed the silence to wrap around those wishful times from his memories when he was with the mad Red Priest. Lina senses her friend's mood saddened.
'I guess he really did care about his great/grandfather.'
He can feel the sorceress' emotions deepening. He turns around and sees her unhappy self. He felt responsible for her depression, even if it's damn Rezo's fault. Perhaps if.....
"Lina...can I tell you something?"
"Uh...sure Zel."
He took a deep breath, listen to his heartbeat beat faster in the silence. He looks back up at her, she looked rather weary and glum.
"I...just want to let you know that...that no matter what curse you carry, your never going to be alone because you have friends who care about you Lina. Always sticking to your side to keep your strength and hope up, and willing to help you out no matter what the challenge may come."
"*short chuckle* Even if it means battling with all seven pieces of Shabringdo?"
"Yes Lina, even if we have to battle Ruby Eye. That's how I never gave up and always keeping my faith....because of you...'ooops' all of you. If it weren't for any of you, I wouldn't be here, talking to you right now."
"Thanks Zel....*weak smile* you know you're bestest friend, right?"
"Of course....I'm the only one who have the same intelligence as you do, only I'm more mature than you and the only one who can withstand your attacks." his mouth curved upwards and slides to the left.
"Yeah, you're the only one who I can make a decent conversa...*blink, blink* Hey!"
"Why don't we get some sleep and early in the morning so we can start with the search." trying to switch topics before Lina recovered to her old Dra-matta self.
"Well...*yawn* okay."
He walked to the door, opened it, and start to head out, but before he closes....
"Lina..I apologize for what Rezo had done to you. If only..."
She got up and followed his voice, she extended her hand, trying to find him. He held her hand gently, she took her hand back but softly trailed it up towards his ivorycladded chest, then towards his pebbled cheek, her palm laid there. Needless to say, at this time, he was thankful that she is blind. However, Lina already knows how he is and beside the fact that she can feel his warm flushed face.
"Hey....don't worry. Hehehe...Guess what? We're both cursed by the same nut. It's a good thing we're best friends, otherwise we'll have a hell of a time to help and understand each other out."
"Considering that you're always the one who would want to everything done your way."
She didn't like the fact she expressing a softer side of her to anyone, what makes matter worse is that the man she likes so much, is trying to be sarcastic. She snatched her hand back and took a step back.
"All because I know exactly what to do." she crosses her arms.
He smirked a broader, "I have comment for that but for health reasons, I better not say anything."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
She unfolded her arms and starts to search for the doorknob. Aha! She found it.
"Nothing Lina. I will see you in the morning...oh...and don't forget about your practice tomorrow, goodnight." he heads off to his room.
"This isn't over Zel....we'll finish this discussion and out do you tomorrow." she sticks her head out to where she heard his steps receding.
She slams the door and sighed. She turns back around and followed the warm breeze towards the baywindow, she found a chair, pulled it next to the glass pane, and sat down. There, she sat, thinking over on that stupid poem for a lead, but her mind wondered on something else, or better yet, on someone else. She felt sad for him, he wanted to know Rezo, before he was corrupted by Ruby Eye.
'Poor Zel...' she sat there, thinking about all her adventures with her friends.
However, her memories kept pinpointing him. Certain yet simple gestures and conversations would made her smile unknowingly, until she can feel her eyelids to droop.
'I wish I could do something for him. *sigh* Who am I kidding? He has Amelia who can give him anything he needs or wants, better make that both.' her brows furrowed at the sudden mental sentence.
She got up and trudged her way to bed, feeling her way around. A couple of stubbed toes and muttered curses later, she found her mattress, plopped herself right on it, and made herself comfortable. In an instant, she fell asleep, making sure she gets enough rest for Zel's voluntary training on blind fighting, defense, and directions, by sharpening her other senses.
Three weeks had come and go, the Slayers who only consists of a strong and great traveling healer, an excellent swordsman, a powerful shaman sorcerer, and of course, the strongest and the most powerful intelligent magic wielder of all times, as their leader, came to for the night at the land of Ralteague (1), in the small town of Algrune when they heard that a cure for physical ailments, is held within a discovered cavern. The men bunked with each other as the lovely ladies did the same, however the two accursed beings, lain restless in each of his or her bed, pondering on the possible cure.
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"Come on! According to Syl....the caverns are right behind this waterfall!" thanks to Zel's training, she can yell at the direction where men of the group stood.
"Wait up Lina, we still have this rope to be secured."
"I still don't understand why we can't Raywing ourselves down there."
"One: you can't use your magic while your still blind. Two: there's a large percentage that there are small crevices....tricky for us to get in smoothly. And three: Didn't you remember that usually these types of newly discovered caverns might have an Orilhalcon-type of metal that would make our magic annulled?"
"Fine! Just hurry up and get it done."
She hates to wait, especially if there's a cure with her name written all over it.
"Um, Lina? What if this cure turns up to be a false one?"
The redhead didn't really think about, she have been really busy being positive and practicing over her senses that it really haven't been brought up. Her chibi form stomped on that negative thought though. She shakes her pretty little head.
"I'm not gonna worry 'bout it til it happens." she said in her it-better-not-be tone.
"Alright....everything is set, ready?"
"What do you think?"
"Right, let's go."
One by one, the crew slid down with caution and keeping on eye on Lina for any sort of problem that may occur, although, they doubt, knowing her. The experienced explorer is correct, they did have to crawl thru large cracks using two small lanterns as flashlights. After many more climbs, jumping over unknown crevices, hopping on rocks on underwater lakes, and slowly walking on narrow paths, they finally made thru the obstacles.
"What's next?" making sure she doesn't trip again by holding on to Sylphiel this time instead of Gourry.
"Well, according to this lead, we should be ......right..... here."
The three saw the cavern wall covered in sparkling gems and glistening gray virgin metal. It's a good thing Lina can't see this otherwise....
"Do I smell treasure?!"
.......uh....nevermind.
"Er...no...it's just the....um...the magic abolisher metal." (a/n: ^.^;; sorry, can't think of anything else.)
"No it isn't! I know there's jewels and *sniff, sniff* and silver in here! Where is it? Where is it?!"
"Calm down Lina, you're just imaging those things."
She simply ignore her friends, release her grip, and follow her nose to the rich embedded wall.
"Lina wait!"
"She can't touch them!"
"And why not Sylphiel?" she stopped.
She doesn't want to go thru the same thing Gourry did when he didn't wait for her to finish reading the instruction in that one time when they went to search for a supposedly ultimate book of spell....that Holy Book of Shrine Maidens...pft. It turned out to be really a stupid book on lost festival dances. And to make matters worse, Lina wanted to use one of the spells by casting a Holy Spell of Divine Protection when they were being attacked by that ridiculous looking monster as Zel put it. Oh that was totally embarrassing, all that love-sickening songs and idiotic dance movements in that *blush* very short and showy costumes that were supposedly holy robes that she and Amelia had to wear. They did all that for nothing. (a/n: hehehehahahaha.....Slayers episode 40 if ya interested.)
"According to this lead, if you touch it, you will most likely cause the entrance where the cure is at, to disappear."
"Aw great.....here I am in a place where no one claims all of this and I can't have 'em!"
"So you prefer to collect these gems and silver and not get cured then?"
"Hmmm....."
"Lina!"
"I'm thinkin' it over! (2)"
"You can't be serious?"
"*sigh* Let's just find it....I could always get the treasure ~after~ I'm cured."
She grabbed the nearest person, take a guess who? And try to drag him to....
"Lina....where are you trying to take me to?"
"Uh....I was hoping you would just lead me...I mean....take me...." she stopped immediately when she realized how her words sounded and who she was speaking to, she blushed.
They looked at her in strangely. They haven't really expect her to say something so....so unDra-Matta-like. Ha! It seems she isn't the only who's blushing.
"I...I...ah...hehehe...er...Syl can you lead me to it." she put her hand back down from the back of her head.
"Come on, we're wasting time."
"Hey Zel, are feeling okay? You look flu*Ow!"
He rubbed the lump on the top of his blonde head, he sees Lina still holding on to Sylphiel at the far back. She noticed his blank face while he's nursing the bump.
"Gourry-dear?"
"So how do we get in?" Zel secretly tossed the large pebble behind him. 'Whew...that was a close call.'
"Oh uh....Mister Zelgadiss...you better read this."
"Wha...what's wrong?" Lina asked.
The chimera walked over to the shrine maiden, she handed him the instructions, and read. He sighed mournfully.
"I knew it was too easy."
"Okay, can someone please tell me what's exactly goin' on?"
"The cure lays behind that wall, Lina. Apparently, those crystals are somekind of keys..."
"Let me guess the rest.....you have to figure out which ones to touch so that the door can open, and from what Sylphiel had mentioned earlier, if we picked out the wrong ones....there goes our cure."
"Right."
"*sigh* Just like what happened back at Amrond.....okay, everybody...start thinking up how we're going to do this."
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*(1) I like to give thanks to Slayers Universe 4.1 site for their geological info. Check it out if you're interested,
*(2) Disclaimers: the sentence is from an old comedy radio show, The Jack Benny Program, back in the 1930's. Yeah....I know....but I'm into them too.
Chapter Dos
Lina and Syl bunked in one room while Gourry's sleeping quarters is across from them. Before lights out for our two lasses,
"How far north do you think Mr. Zelgadiss went Miss Lina?"
"Sylphiel, what did we just discuss earlier today during lunch?"
"Um....er...not...to call you Miss Lina again?"
"Exactly. Next time I won't hold back on Fireballing you, got it?"
"*gulp* H...Hai." the poor girl sweatdropped, sheepishly smiled and nervously nods her head.
"Okay, now for your question, I'm not really sure. Pull out that map." Lina opened a small dimensional pocket, dug her hands in and starts to feel thru for something she needs.
Once the map is out and unrolled flat on the table,
"It's set M...er Lina."
"Alright, what town are we again?" she finally found her favorite brush and started with the chore.
"We're in Baintoch, about twenty miles away between the borders of Elmekia and Saillune." (1)
"A month passed, and with his chimeric speed, so....*thinking* my guess is that he's probably in either in Ceyra or at...." she stopped herself from continuing and her brush halted midways.
"Or he's in Miss Amelia's capital, right?" Sylphiel is getting the hang of traveling distances on maps.
"Yeah...well, it does make sense that he'll visit her afterall." 'Okay, that sounded sourly.' she thought and brought her mind back to brushing her red hair.
"If we leave early tomorrow, do you think we'll make it in Miss Amelia's home in less than a month if we got straight thru the Alliance of Coastal States (1) instead going around it?" she really didn't listen to those undertones of the redhead.
As she turns around to get her response, she saw Lina stopped combing her hair, her eyes dazed in somekind of a distant land as her face bears a certain sadness to it.
"Lina? Are you alright?" concerned at her apparent sadness.
"Huh?...Oh...I'm just fine, just thinking 'bout this stupid curse." she lied.
"You'll see everything will turn out just fine Lina. *yawn* We'll find your cure very soon, I can feel it." she covered her mouth again, trying to stifle her yawn. She decided better ask her on another private moment.
Now it was Lina's turn to yawn. "I hope your right. *yawn* Boy, I'm not able to see you yawn but hearing it is just as bad, time to turn in, goodnight Syl." she puts away her brush and laid down to sleep.
"Goodnight and sleep well Lina." the ravenhead stretched, walked towards her bed and extinguish the candle.
Once she settle into bed, she made a silent prayer, a prayer that her and her friends can find Zelgadiss, find both of their cures and maybe, just maybe, find the cause of Lina's unhappiness.
The following morning, Lina woke up in a better attitude. Maybe it had to do with the pleasant dream she had about somebody, if she could remember what and who though.
"Good morning Lina, do you feel any better? Because you certainly looked very well."
"Mornin' Syl...yeah, I actually do. I don't know why, but I have a feeling we're going to have better luck in finding Zel within these couple of days."
"That's wonderful Lina."
The inexperience sorceress just finished brushing her long black-lavander hair as she was waiting for her flametressed friend to wake up.
"Did you want to eat breakfast here or would you rather eat downstairs?"
"Hmm...I think I'll join y'all. I feel like walking around a bit."
"Alright."
She stood up and brought over Lina's clothes. As much as the Chaos child hate to admit, she's glad she has a close female friend to help her manage around everything, although she doesn't really express her appreciation. Once she's fully dressed, the brunette helped guide the redhead down to the inn's restaurant where there awaits the tall but clueless bodyguard, shoving food into his face of course.
"Hey girls! I got some eggs, ham, oatmeal, toast, cinnamon rolls, some sausage links, and pancakes left, I ordered alot more than my usual."
"Thanks Gourry."
"Thank you Gourry-dear."
They sat down, but there's one thing that Lina want to ask Sylphiel before she starts to eat....
"Um...Syl? How much is there left?"
"*giggle* I'm just about to order some more Lina, I assume you would like some muffins too."
"Ah...how well you know me Syl."
The two smiled. These passing weeks, the bishoujos grew closer together and became the best of friends, which made Gourry happy to see that his ward and his favorite and pretty cook get along so well with each other. With Sylphiel on the job, he didn't have to worry so much about Lina, especially on personal woman issues.
-----------------------------------------Afternoon----------------------------------------------------------
"How much further to the next town?"
"Another half a mile up this road."
"So are we gonna have lunch there?"
"Gourry....don't ask dumb questions when you already know the answers."
The two bickered back and forth like children. The shy maiden would only interfere when it's necessary, which would be many times. Finally, they arrived their destination and headed towards the best-looking restaurant. About a fainted-waitress-a-resigned-cook, and an army's banquet later, the trio sat there and relaxed.
The owner didn't want to ask them to leave, considering the ornery blind girl and that dumb blonde man made such a big scene over food while the other girl tries to keep everything in peace. He heard that's the redhead is the Enemy To All That Lives and the way they described her, he wasn't going to take any risks. So he went on to care for the rest of his patrons before he looses any more customers along with his business. He heard the door opened and a medium height new clientele walked in, walking to the nearest secluded corner, away from the rest of the people. The owner went to greet him. With a quick exchange of small commands, he left, leaving the stranger to view warily at a group fussing over a leg of lamb.
"Hey Lina...shouldn't we get going?"
"What's the rush? We have an extra day leftover."
"But shouldn't we be looking for Zel?"
The chicas were bewildered. He actually remembered what their mission is. Probably it's because they have searching for him for over two months. Unbeknownst to the adventurers, the same person was looking at their direction. He too seemed to be in astonished after hearing their conversation. He contemplated, whether to leave or stay. Might as well get it over with, he thought, with Lina on the job, he'll eventually be found sooner or later. Besides, if she ever find out that he was with them at this time, he'll most likely become charcoal.
"Wow....you remembered."
"I'll say."
Their heads turned to the direction of the nosey, muffled speaker. He smirks underneath his cowl as they remain silent.
"Come now...is that anyway to *pulls down mask* treat a friend."
Now that they have a better look and recognize his voice....
"Zelgadiss Greywers....is that you?"
"Who else would I be? I haven't change since the last time we ventured."
He stopped for a moment as he noticed that even though Sylphiel and Gourry stood up and greeted him with their same warm personalities, Lina haven't really done anything but just stand and stare off at a direction behind his left shoulder. As he was about to make a retort, his breath was caught in his throat when he sees her arms reaching out. Her bodyguard took her hand and places her in front of him.
"Lina?" he reached out for her hand only to receive a hug in return. She stops moved her hands towards his spiky head. His brows arched from curiousity.
BAM!
"OW!!" the two exclaimed.
She rubbed her elbow as he rubbed his head.
"Lina! Please don't do that ever again! You know that I don't want you to overexert yourself!" Syl scolded her as she heals her bruised arm.
"What's going on?"
"We've been looking high & low for you baka! Where have you been?!"
"Answer my question first and why have all of you searching for me anyway?"
Silence. Their faces sadden.
"It's hard to explain Mr. Zelgadiss." Sylphiel spoke first.
"Why?"
"Because Zel, *lowers voice* I'm blind."
He felt lightheaded, he needed to sit down.
"How and when."
"We better go to an inn, it's getting late, I'll explain the whole thing in my room, Zel, come on."
After they paid their meals and left, they found an inn close by and paid for four rooms. Both sorceress and shaman met in Lina's room for their meeting as the other two went to find something else to do. One hour later of talking......
"YOU WERE GOIN' WHERE AND GOIN' TO DO WHAT??!!" she screamed.
"I was told that the temple of Cephieed and it followers would most likely help or at least contain some knowledge where my cure can be found." he was able to relax from wincing thru her yelling, but just in case...
"HAVE YOU'VE GONE COMPLETELY INSANE???!!! No one and I mean ~no one~ is allowed to talk or even see anybody from Cephieed's temple without a written permission and consent, or an invitation from them!"
"Well....couldn't you get your sister... *blink, blink*....er...Lina? Where did you go?"
"Uh...n...nnn...nono....I don't...even get to see Nee *gulp* Neechan unless she wants me too. *gulps hard* And believe me....I ~don't~ want to even hear from her. If I do...." she blanched. She just can't seem to stop the shaking nor the peering over her shoulders.
"Lina...don't you think your slightly exaggerating a bit? She cannot be that bad. I mean, you had faced Shabranigdu, Dark Star, two Dark Mazuko Lords...."
"C...can we just drop the subject about Neechan, please?"
'Where is she?'
He thought as let his eyes wander the room, now if he could only get her talking again.
"Alright then, so Lina, where did you find this place again?"
"Oh it's in the Forest of Vrahm."
She sounded more calm now...now where is she?
"The Forest of Vrahm? By chance it wouldn't happen to be in the outskirts of a little village by the name of Amrond, would it?"
"Well, yeah...why?" she finally came out of her hiding place.
Did she just come out of that small corner, all the way up at the corner banisters? He shakes his confusement off and concentrated more on the familiar location. Now he remembers...
"*sigh* I should've known....Lina, did you find anything when or after that wall vault opened?"
She blinked, flashes of memory came into her mind, "I found a scroll....kinda think 'bout it..." her fingers starts to move in one of her many pockets of her black and red cloak.
After searching for about a minute, she pulled out the paper and handed over the direction of her intelligent friend's voice.
"I almost forgotten 'bout it....Here ya go Zel, maybe you have better luck at this thing."
Once he grabbed the letter, he unfolded the roll and scanned it thoroughly.
"There's no letters, no handwriting, nothing....except." his blue fingers gently traced over the clue and gave a mournful sigh, which of course, Lina heard.
"You know this language, don't you?"
"Unfortunately for me, yes. Rezo taught me."
"Hold on, did you said Rezo? Now how come that doesn't surprise me...*sigh* Let me guess, it had to do with my curse."
"Yes."
"Well read it to me then."
Zelgadiss hesitated at first, he really don't know if he should.....knowing how....
"WHAT ARE YOU WAIT'N FOR???!!! READ!!!"
Luckily for him that he covered his super hearing ears with plugs before she screamed again. He starts to read, not by his sharp aquamarine eyes but with his blue fingers....
"To whomever had seen the sharp, bright light,
Is the last thing you will ever use with your sight.
You now dwell in darkness, this is your curse.
The reason is because of the greed you have thirst.
Here you expected riches and gold to steal
And in its stead, both your vision and your fate are sealed.
But fret not! For hope shines like the silver lining in the darkest cloud.
Unlike me, your cure is still yet to be found.
Ensue and listen to your instincts and follow this lead.
You must seek what your true being, both heart and soul, really need.
If you desire to have this curse to be broken
Behold, for your cure lays in the most sacred token.
His expression was a mixture of anger and frustration.
"Don't tell me that was it! A stupid poem that rhymes?! There's gotta be more than..."
She heard paper scrunched and thrown far off somewhere to the left and...
"Damn you to the deepest bowels of hell....." the tone of his voice was of hatred.
"Zel?" she recognizes that tone but she hasn't heard it used for a long, long time. No....that particular one was only reserved for....
"Rezo....he set up the curse, hasn't he?" she said it rather sadly.
There was a pause of silence, she could only hear his uneven, heavy, breathing. She didn't have to use her sight to figure out he's not in a very good mood.
"That place you had explored was one of Rezo's many laboratories. I had heard about it, however, I did not want to go there because I remembered what he said about the pitfalls he carelessly laid about in certain remote parts of the many kingdoms."
He stood up and starts to walk towards the window, where he sees the midnight sky as she bowed her head. She can't believe she's cursed by one of the most strongest and wonderous sages of all times. He's dead, there was no way that she could get the curse to be undone. Lina is feeling the weight of defeat on her conscious and her soul.
"He had done so before he went into black magic...long before Shabringdo slowly took over his soul...*voice softened* before I had ever met his sane self *pause* the person I wished he would returned to be."
He allowed the silence to wrap around those wishful times from his memories when he was with the mad Red Priest. Lina senses her friend's mood saddened.
'I guess he really did care about his great/grandfather.'
He can feel the sorceress' emotions deepening. He turns around and sees her unhappy self. He felt responsible for her depression, even if it's damn Rezo's fault. Perhaps if.....
"Lina...can I tell you something?"
"Uh...sure Zel."
He took a deep breath, listen to his heartbeat beat faster in the silence. He looks back up at her, she looked rather weary and glum.
"I...just want to let you know that...that no matter what curse you carry, your never going to be alone because you have friends who care about you Lina. Always sticking to your side to keep your strength and hope up, and willing to help you out no matter what the challenge may come."
"*short chuckle* Even if it means battling with all seven pieces of Shabringdo?"
"Yes Lina, even if we have to battle Ruby Eye. That's how I never gave up and always keeping my faith....because of you...'ooops' all of you. If it weren't for any of you, I wouldn't be here, talking to you right now."
"Thanks Zel....*weak smile* you know you're bestest friend, right?"
"Of course....I'm the only one who have the same intelligence as you do, only I'm more mature than you and the only one who can withstand your attacks." his mouth curved upwards and slides to the left.
"Yeah, you're the only one who I can make a decent conversa...*blink, blink* Hey!"
"Why don't we get some sleep and early in the morning so we can start with the search." trying to switch topics before Lina recovered to her old Dra-matta self.
"Well...*yawn* okay."
He walked to the door, opened it, and start to head out, but before he closes....
"Lina..I apologize for what Rezo had done to you. If only..."
She got up and followed his voice, she extended her hand, trying to find him. He held her hand gently, she took her hand back but softly trailed it up towards his ivorycladded chest, then towards his pebbled cheek, her palm laid there. Needless to say, at this time, he was thankful that she is blind. However, Lina already knows how he is and beside the fact that she can feel his warm flushed face.
"Hey....don't worry. Hehehe...Guess what? We're both cursed by the same nut. It's a good thing we're best friends, otherwise we'll have a hell of a time to help and understand each other out."
"Considering that you're always the one who would want to everything done your way."
She didn't like the fact she expressing a softer side of her to anyone, what makes matter worse is that the man she likes so much, is trying to be sarcastic. She snatched her hand back and took a step back.
"All because I know exactly what to do." she crosses her arms.
He smirked a broader, "I have comment for that but for health reasons, I better not say anything."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
She unfolded her arms and starts to search for the doorknob. Aha! She found it.
"Nothing Lina. I will see you in the morning...oh...and don't forget about your practice tomorrow, goodnight." he heads off to his room.
"This isn't over Zel....we'll finish this discussion and out do you tomorrow." she sticks her head out to where she heard his steps receding.
She slams the door and sighed. She turns back around and followed the warm breeze towards the baywindow, she found a chair, pulled it next to the glass pane, and sat down. There, she sat, thinking over on that stupid poem for a lead, but her mind wondered on something else, or better yet, on someone else. She felt sad for him, he wanted to know Rezo, before he was corrupted by Ruby Eye.
'Poor Zel...' she sat there, thinking about all her adventures with her friends.
However, her memories kept pinpointing him. Certain yet simple gestures and conversations would made her smile unknowingly, until she can feel her eyelids to droop.
'I wish I could do something for him. *sigh* Who am I kidding? He has Amelia who can give him anything he needs or wants, better make that both.' her brows furrowed at the sudden mental sentence.
She got up and trudged her way to bed, feeling her way around. A couple of stubbed toes and muttered curses later, she found her mattress, plopped herself right on it, and made herself comfortable. In an instant, she fell asleep, making sure she gets enough rest for Zel's voluntary training on blind fighting, defense, and directions, by sharpening her other senses.
Three weeks had come and go, the Slayers who only consists of a strong and great traveling healer, an excellent swordsman, a powerful shaman sorcerer, and of course, the strongest and the most powerful intelligent magic wielder of all times, as their leader, came to for the night at the land of Ralteague (1), in the small town of Algrune when they heard that a cure for physical ailments, is held within a discovered cavern. The men bunked with each other as the lovely ladies did the same, however the two accursed beings, lain restless in each of his or her bed, pondering on the possible cure.
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"Come on! According to Syl....the caverns are right behind this waterfall!" thanks to Zel's training, she can yell at the direction where men of the group stood.
"Wait up Lina, we still have this rope to be secured."
"I still don't understand why we can't Raywing ourselves down there."
"One: you can't use your magic while your still blind. Two: there's a large percentage that there are small crevices....tricky for us to get in smoothly. And three: Didn't you remember that usually these types of newly discovered caverns might have an Orilhalcon-type of metal that would make our magic annulled?"
"Fine! Just hurry up and get it done."
She hates to wait, especially if there's a cure with her name written all over it.
"Um, Lina? What if this cure turns up to be a false one?"
The redhead didn't really think about, she have been really busy being positive and practicing over her senses that it really haven't been brought up. Her chibi form stomped on that negative thought though. She shakes her pretty little head.
"I'm not gonna worry 'bout it til it happens." she said in her it-better-not-be tone.
"Alright....everything is set, ready?"
"What do you think?"
"Right, let's go."
One by one, the crew slid down with caution and keeping on eye on Lina for any sort of problem that may occur, although, they doubt, knowing her. The experienced explorer is correct, they did have to crawl thru large cracks using two small lanterns as flashlights. After many more climbs, jumping over unknown crevices, hopping on rocks on underwater lakes, and slowly walking on narrow paths, they finally made thru the obstacles.
"What's next?" making sure she doesn't trip again by holding on to Sylphiel this time instead of Gourry.
"Well, according to this lead, we should be ......right..... here."
The three saw the cavern wall covered in sparkling gems and glistening gray virgin metal. It's a good thing Lina can't see this otherwise....
"Do I smell treasure?!"
.......uh....nevermind.
"Er...no...it's just the....um...the magic abolisher metal." (a/n: ^.^;; sorry, can't think of anything else.)
"No it isn't! I know there's jewels and *sniff, sniff* and silver in here! Where is it? Where is it?!"
"Calm down Lina, you're just imaging those things."
She simply ignore her friends, release her grip, and follow her nose to the rich embedded wall.
"Lina wait!"
"She can't touch them!"
"And why not Sylphiel?" she stopped.
She doesn't want to go thru the same thing Gourry did when he didn't wait for her to finish reading the instruction in that one time when they went to search for a supposedly ultimate book of spell....that Holy Book of Shrine Maidens...pft. It turned out to be really a stupid book on lost festival dances. And to make matters worse, Lina wanted to use one of the spells by casting a Holy Spell of Divine Protection when they were being attacked by that ridiculous looking monster as Zel put it. Oh that was totally embarrassing, all that love-sickening songs and idiotic dance movements in that *blush* very short and showy costumes that were supposedly holy robes that she and Amelia had to wear. They did all that for nothing. (a/n: hehehehahahaha.....Slayers episode 40 if ya interested.)
"According to this lead, if you touch it, you will most likely cause the entrance where the cure is at, to disappear."
"Aw great.....here I am in a place where no one claims all of this and I can't have 'em!"
"So you prefer to collect these gems and silver and not get cured then?"
"Hmmm....."
"Lina!"
"I'm thinkin' it over! (2)"
"You can't be serious?"
"*sigh* Let's just find it....I could always get the treasure ~after~ I'm cured."
She grabbed the nearest person, take a guess who? And try to drag him to....
"Lina....where are you trying to take me to?"
"Uh....I was hoping you would just lead me...I mean....take me...." she stopped immediately when she realized how her words sounded and who she was speaking to, she blushed.
They looked at her in strangely. They haven't really expect her to say something so....so unDra-Matta-like. Ha! It seems she isn't the only who's blushing.
"I...I...ah...hehehe...er...Syl can you lead me to it." she put her hand back down from the back of her head.
"Come on, we're wasting time."
"Hey Zel, are feeling okay? You look flu*Ow!"
He rubbed the lump on the top of his blonde head, he sees Lina still holding on to Sylphiel at the far back. She noticed his blank face while he's nursing the bump.
"Gourry-dear?"
"So how do we get in?" Zel secretly tossed the large pebble behind him. 'Whew...that was a close call.'
"Oh uh....Mister Zelgadiss...you better read this."
"Wha...what's wrong?" Lina asked.
The chimera walked over to the shrine maiden, she handed him the instructions, and read. He sighed mournfully.
"I knew it was too easy."
"Okay, can someone please tell me what's exactly goin' on?"
"The cure lays behind that wall, Lina. Apparently, those crystals are somekind of keys..."
"Let me guess the rest.....you have to figure out which ones to touch so that the door can open, and from what Sylphiel had mentioned earlier, if we picked out the wrong ones....there goes our cure."
"Right."
"*sigh* Just like what happened back at Amrond.....okay, everybody...start thinking up how we're going to do this."
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*(1) I like to give thanks to Slayers Universe 4.1 site for their geological info. Check it out if you're interested,
*(2) Disclaimers: the sentence is from an old comedy radio show, The Jack Benny Program, back in the 1930's. Yeah....I know....but I'm into them too.
