Chapter 1
Thieves Like us
It all started with an ambush.
But then again, such things are hardly surprising when one is a wanted criminal and a bandit killer.
Lina Inverse sighed. Well, here we go again - being threatened at knife-point by some hot-headed lunatic whose sense of ambition is greater than his common sense.
It seems she can't go anywhere without some nutters pursuing her - like moths to a flame. There she was, making her way through the forest, minding her own business - when she and her five travelling companions, found themselves being circled by a bunch of bandits.
The thief grinned from the other end of the knife's blade. The red-head however, looked completely bored. Dammit, what's with this nutter? Doesn't he know who she is? Has he any idea on how much danger he is in? Hasn't he heard the many stories told over many a bandit's evening campfire? Hasn't he heard the name that strikes fear into the heart of the biggest, hardest, cruelest, black-hearted bandit from here to Sairaag?!?!
The red-head struck a brief, but bored, glance over to her companions. To her left, stood Gourry Gabriev. He too had his hands raised but he didn't look too perturbed.
"Ha, Ha!" sneered the head bandit. "You have all certainly made a huge mistake by heading into our territory! We own this part of the forest!"
Lina groaned.
"Hey Gourry?" she said. "Can you believe this guy?"
"They own this part of the forest?" Gourry replied. "I wonder who sold it to them?"
Lina groaned. Well, once again, Gourry has missed the blindingly obvious.
"Forget it, Gourry" Lina snapped. "We don't have time for this."
Even as dim-witted as Gourry, it didn't take him long to hit upon what Lina was implying.
"Now you're talking" he grinned.
"Do you think you can take these losers out?"
In spite of his slow wits, Gourry could see that these bandits were, in essence, a bunch of wimps. And a bunch of wimps each holding a pair of small knives. Of course, the swordsman didn't look worried - he could already tell that these hapless fools and their knives were no match for his sword skills.
"Yeah, I think I can" Gourry beamed - he seemed quite eager on the prospects of a fight.
"Good" Lina said. "Just don't do anything yet. Wait for my signal."
Lina returned her gaze to the bandit whom was threatening her. Bearing an expression of (deluded) triumph, the bandit's mouth continued moving - he seemed oblivious to Lina and Gourry's little exchange. But, as she was too wrapped up in her thoughts, Lina couldn't hear what he was saying - not that she cared anyway.
However, out of the six adventurers, there was one whom really saw the danger of the current situation. Sylphiel Nels Rahda, stood next to Gourry with her arms raised and her expression radiating with utter apprehension.
"Well, well, well!" leered the bandit nearest to Syl. "You're a pretty one aren't ya?"
"Please!" the shrine Maiden protested. "Don't hurt me! I'll give you anything!"
Lina sighed. Well once again, Syl has proven herself incapable of handling a situation such as this.
"Really?' replied the bandit. "You know, you could provide some sport for us!"
And with the that, the bandit let out a cruel laugh - much to Syl's astonishment.
Indeed, it was Syl that Lina was most concerned about: The shrine maiden wasn't exactly adept to an adventurous lifestyle. She didn't have enough experience to take control of this drastic situation. She hadn't trashed the same of amount of bandit gangs that Lina had. Consequently, she had little choice but to abide to the bandit's wishes.
Seeing her friend in a position of helplessness only added to Lina's resolution that if something was to be done, it should be soon....
No matter how pointless the danger the situation offered.
Casting a bored glance to her left, she saw that she wasn't the only one whom saw that the situation called for action. Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune was throwing tense glances left and right.
"This is truly unjust" she was muttering under her breath.
"So tell me!" said the bandit nearest to her. "Are you heading to Saillune?"
"We were until you attacked us!" the princess retorted.
"Don't worry we won't keep you here." the bandit sneered. "It all just depends on how fast you hand over your gold!"
"What?" Amelia snapped. "How dare you! I'll have you know, I'm a member of the Saillune ruling family and....."
"Really?" the bandit said, a glint of greed sparkling within his eye. "You don't say?"
"Hey guys!" he then called out. "We've got ourselves a princess here!"
Immediately, Amelia slapped her forehead at her ill-chosen words.
Lina smiled. Okay, so maybe that wasn't the most ideal thing to say in a situation such as this but knowing the princess, it wouldn't be long now before a speech dictating the violations of the Code of Justice escaped her lips.
Sticking close to the princess was the chimera Zelgadis Greywars. He too was bearing signs of an eagerness for action - Yet this eagerness was tainted with a ferocious scowl - Indeed, the bandits whom were closest to him, looked perturbed and uncertain as to how to deal with him.
And it didn't take a genius to work out why.
Zelgadis was being held in check by two of the gang - But both looked apprehensive about the creature they were trying to contain.
"I'm not liking the looks of this guy!" The first bandit said. "He looks freaky!"
"He certainly looks dangerous!" the second agreed.
"I say we kill him and quick!"
"I don't know about that" the second bandit said. "His skin looks deformed! There's no telling what this monster can do!"
"Maybe we'll be better off driving a stake through his heart......" The first one mused.
"Are you crazy? He's not a vampire!"
"Who cares? He looks dangerous enough as it is!"
From the look of it, Zel understood all too well what the bandits were getting at. Again, the constant frustration that was his deformed body weighed heavily on his mind.
But what concerned Lina was that Zel had a sinister facial expression. It was the type that would belong more to that of a serial killer - The type of serial killer that could crack a head open like an egg and break bones without a single morsel of regret.
Thus, if Lina was to act it would have to be soon - before Zel takes control of the situation into his own hands.
The sixth and final member of Lina's travelling party however, didn't seem too bothered with what was happening around.....
"OH-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO!!!!!!!!!!"
And as the ghastly laugh escaped the lips of Naga the Serpent, the entire scene was brought to a standstill. All the bandits turned their startled gaze towards the raven-haired sorceress. And they weren't alone: Zelgadis cringed, Amelia's eyes widened, Sylphiel blinked in disbelief and Gourry's jaw dropped.
Lina, however, just slapped her hand onto her forehead and shook the rest of her cranium in utter exasperation.
Some things just never change.
"You are all fools!" Naga proclaimed. "You dare challenge the might of Naga the Serpent?!"
The bandit's reply came in facial expressions and noises of complete confusion. But this reaction wasn't what Naga was expecting.
"What?!" she shrilled angrily. "Haven't you heard of the name of Naga the Serpent?!?!"
Lina blinked. Man, how amateurish can these robbers get?!?
"Err.....Gracia?" Amelia murmured. "I hope you know what you're doing!"
"Of course I do" Naga grinned.
Just then, the bandit leader spoke: "Will SOMEONE shut that blasted woman UP?!?!?"
"Allow me" Lina said - much to her attacker's astonishment. "EXPLOSION ARRAY!"
"WHAT?!"
But it was too late. There was no use in Naga screaming any sort of protest. Nor was there any use in diving out of the way. Nothing could stop several tons of dirt erupting from underneath the feet of the raven-haired sorceress. And then, much to the astonishment of the bewildered onlookers, Naga flew up into the sky with a terrible wail.
And at that height, Naga had no chance of seeing the expressions of both the bandits and her travelling companions.
Amelia was the first to break the silence:
"LINA!" she yelled, her expression an amalgamation of hurt and outrage. "What on earth possessed you to do that?!?!"
"Hey don't look at me" Lina smirked. "He wanted her to shut up"
And with that, she jerked her thumb in the direction of the startled bandit leader.
"What the?!" the man snarled. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
But if the bandit leader was expecting an answer, none came - for Amelia wasn't going to let Lina get out of this, Scot-free!
"That's beside the point!" Amelia snapped. "Gracia is family!"
"So?" Lina retorted. "I've travelled with Naga before! I know she can take stuff like that!"
"That doesn't change the fact that Gracia is MY SISTER!!!!!!"
And as Amelia and Lina dove deeper and deeper into their argument, they both seemed to lose concept that they were still in a position of danger.
Yes, in spite of Lina's recently cast spell, the bandits still circled the adventurers. But now they weren't in any rush to attack. They were perplexed by the people they were threatening. They seemed more content to fight with each other than surrendering their treasure!
But the bandits weren't the only one's concerned with the current situation. Sylphiel and Zel both exchanged glances of extreme tension. Neither enjoyed being in such a dangerous position and the sooner the danger is overcome, the better.
"We don't have time for this" Zel growled.
"Uhh....Lina?" Syl inquired softly, trying to bring an end to the argument. "Amelia? Have you forgotten that....."
"AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN NAGA?!?!?!" Lina shouted, completely oblivious as to what was happening around her.
"I have known GRACIA for only several days, but...."
"Ha!" Lina grinned, cutting Amelia off. "I've known her longer! So, you can't complain! I already know she can handle an explosion such as that!"
"SO?" Amelia shouted. "THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE JUST INJURED MY LONG LOST SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Uh Lina?" Gourry interrupted.
"WHAT?!?!" the red-head snarled, turning towards the swordsman.
"Those bandits are still here, you know"
Lina threw up her arms in frustration.
"All right! All right!" she said, irritably. "FLARE ARROW!"
Immediately, a jet of flame burst from Lina's fingertips and launched into the air. The Flare Arrow then cruised on it's destructive flight path into the nearest bandit. The hapless robber was instantaneously knocked off his feet and swept up into flame.
It was then and there that Gourry, in a rare moment of revelation, took this as a sign for a fight. Drawing his sword in one quick movement, the swordsman grinned.
"All right!" Gourry said, his eyes glinting with battle fervour. "Now for some action!"
And with that he charged into the nearest bandit. The robber, now looking like he had just sensed impending doom, raised both his knives above his head to defend himself. But to what avail? Gourry merely smashed the knives from the bandit's hands, in one swish of his blade.
Sensing danger, several of the bandits charged at Zel. But the chimera had sensed such a move and gripped the hilt of his sword. The bandit's knives drew closer and closer towards the chimera...
But what good are knives against one with a flesh of stone? None of the blades ever penetrated Zel's flesh. The chimera gave his attackers a split second to contemplate the situation.....before knocking them all aside with one fell swoop with his blade!
Meanwhile, Sylphiel found herself being beset by the bandit whom was threatening her before. He could already tell that she wasn't the warrior type and, as a consequence, an easy target.
He advanced on the Shrine Maiden with his knives at the ready.....
....And he would've had his way with her had it not been for that foot which struck him from behind.
Amelia leapt down to deliver a lethal flying kick to the bandit's head! Naturally, the bandit went down, face first, into the dirt.
"Ha!" Amelia grinned. "Feel righteousness of the Hammer of Justice!"
"Amelia!" Sylphiel exclaimed, looking shocked but relieved. "Thank you!"
"Hey, it's all for the cause of Justice!" Amelia beamed.
Only Lina stood alone. To be honest, she didn't see the point. These guys were a waste of time. All these bandits gangs are all alike.....
Eventually, the remaining bandits lost their nerve. With panic urged their legs onward, the remnants of the bandit gang fled the battle.
Lina watched them go with a bored gaze. Good Riddance.
Dammit, can't she face a real challenge for once?!
Just then, she noticed Gourry making his way over to her with his blade raised upon his shoulders.
The swordsman grinned at the sorceress. "Crisis over eh, Lina?"
Lina sighed. She wish she could agree. But this whole week hasn't been running smoothly.....
It was all Amelia's idea really.
Having survived the horrors in the village of Dakeyras and with their wounds now healed, Lina Inverse, Gourry Gabriev, Sylphiel Nels Rahda, Zelgadis Greywars, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune and Naga were all set to leave this part of the world behind. The nightmares that had transpired in this area were best left forgotten. The villagers had all recovered from the devastation to their village and were safe in rebuilding Dakeyras to it's former glory. There was nothing more the six adventurers could do. But, there remained the problem of what to do next. They were still on the run from the law and it was best to keep a low profile. Furthermore, their long-time associate Xelloss Metallium had disappeared - most likely that he had returned to attend to the whims of his master Zelas....
.....not that anyone really missed him at all.
Then Amelia hit upon the idea of returning to Saillune. It seemed the right idea: Her long lost sister Gracia Saillune had been rediscovered and Amelia wanted to make a triumphant return to Saillune. Plus, there was still the issue of the bounty that Martina Xoana Mel Navratilova had placed on their heads and, according to Sylphiel, Phil would be delighted to see his daughter returned alive and unharmed.
But such a journey was not achieved without problems. Firstly, there was Sylphiel. The Shrine maiden was only accompanying them on their journey purely on the fact that she had nothing better to do. Her home town was completely blown of the face of the earth, both her parents were dead and she had abandoned the lost cause that was her fixation on Gourry. But, this only left her with nothing else. She had no place to call home, she had no-one to provide any pillars of support and she had nowhere to go. She was only journeying to Saillune because that's where the people she regarded as her only friends were heading. But once she gets there, the question remains of what she will do next. She wasn't quite suited to an adventurous life - But she didn't seem quite keen on turning her back on her only friends either.
And then there was Zelgadis. He seemed to be on a road to ruin. Day's ago, back at Dakeyras, the chimera managed to get his hands on a chimera cure. After all this time, and after all this searching, his quest was finally at an end. But he didn't take it. instead, he gave to Amelia - whom was also infected with the same curse. And so, Amelia returned to her human form whilst Zel continued to be crippled with his chimera curse. And since then, Zel's mood changed for the worse. He became inconsolable and more depressed. Amelia did her best to try to cheer him up with her affection but the chimera had no time for her. He seemed too distraught in the fact that his dream was in his grasp.......but it fell away. After coming so far, he was now back to square one.
And then there was Naga. Lina's former travelling companion and the last person Lina hoped to see again. But such is fate. Naga had returned and was here to stay. What's more, she had proven to be just as useless as ever. Ever since she'd come on this journey, all she had done was make life difficult - to the bewilderment of Gourry, Zel and Sylphiel whom were still coming to terms that Lina and Naga were old 'friends'. Worse still, her ghastly laugh had hardly changed at all either.
And what made the situation even more bitter was that, in cruelest trick of fate, she had been revealed to be Amelia's long lost sister Gracia. Such a monumental event was worthy of celebration but Lina couldn't see anything in that case to cheer about: For now it seemed unlikely that Naga will ever leave - For wherever Naga goes, Amelia would be sure to follow - and vice versa!
Fate can certainly deal a mean hand.....
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