Chapter 2
"Broken Seal, Broken Heart"
OR
"Left Behind, But Not Forgotten"
Lina burst into Gourry's room, mentally reminding herself to tell him to remember to lock his door at night. "Gourry!" she called, hurrying over to his bed. He was lying spread-eagle across his bed, his head at the wrong end, and half of him hanging off. Lina shook his shoulder, and yelled in his ear, "Wake up, jellyfish!"
Gourry sat up in shock, and promptly fell off the bed in a heap of blankets. After he untangled himself, he looked up at Lina from his position on the floor. "What is it, Lina?" he asked urgently, clenching his sword in both hands. He no longer had the Sword of Light, since he had given it back to Sirius, but he'd found a replacement that would suffice until they found him a new magic sword.
Lina pulled Gourry to his feet, and said, "We've got a job offer."
Gourry looked over at his window. "But it's still dark," he said, seeing the stars and the moon outside.
"I know that," Lina said irritably. "But obviously Higher Worlders don't know the meaning of civility."
"What's a Higher Worlder?" Gourry asked, grabbing his armor and buckling it on, completely oblivious to the fact that he was still wearing the blue star-printed pajamas the inn had supplied.
Speaking as if she'd known all her life, Lina answered, "They're the people that live in the Higher World. And before you ask, that's the world that Death Fog has control of."
Gourry nodded, but he was still obviously confused. Lina just shrugged, and led him back to her room. "Lina!" Gourry hissed in her ear. "There's someone in your room!"
"I know that, you idiot!" Lina yelled, whacking him upside the head. "She's Arimus, the Higher Worlder."
"You must be Gourry Gabriev," Arimus said, extending her hand to Gourry.
Gourry shook her hand, and said, "Yeah, I am."
Arimus smiled. "I've heard so much about you," she told him, not letting go of his hand. She was almost as tall as he was. "About how bravely you fight with Lina Inverse. How strongly you once wielded the Sword of Light."
Lina gritted her teeth. "All right, break it up," she said loudly, stepping between Arimus and Gourry, breaking their hand contact. "Let's just get this over with so I can get my gold, okay?"
"Yes, of course," Arimus said hastily, blushing a little. "If you'll both hold one of my hands, I'll teleport us to the Higher World."
Lina glanced out of the side of her eyes at Arimus, before reluctantly taking hold of one of her hands. Arimus smiled at Gourry and held his hand as well. For some reason, Lina had an uncontrollable urge to kick Arimus. But, thinking that might endanger her gold, she just clenched her teeth, and said, "Hurry it up already."
"Right." Arimus bowed her head, and the three of them all glowed golden for a split second, before they disappeared.
The three of them appeared once again on a road leading towards a large building. Both the road and most of the building ahead of them were made completely of gold, and shone in the light of two bright moons overhead.
Lina stared at the road beneath her feet. "G-g-g-gold?" she stammered. "You build your roads out of gold?" she demanded loudly.
Arimus shrugged, and said, "I thought it was odd that you wanted pavement as your rewards, but I didn't ask."
"Pavement?!"
"Hey, Lina!" Gourry said abruptly. When he got Lina's attention, he pointed up, and shouted, "There are two moons! Look!"
Lina looked up, and nearly tripped backwards. The jellyfish was right. There were two moons. "This is real, isn't it?" she asked softly.
Arimus nodded. "Very real."
"Wow..." Lina and Gourry spoke in awe.
"Please, come with me, Lina Inverse, Gourry Gabriev," Arimus said, completely at ease with her surroundings. "The temple is just at the end of this road." Lina and Gourry took their eyes away from the amazing sight above them, and walked on the wide road beside Arimus. "We arrived just outside a town," Arimus said to them. "This is as close as anyone can teleport inside or outside of the temple. There are powerful seals around it to keep people from teleporting inside."
"So why are we here?" Gourry asked, still looking all around him in awe, looking at the purple sand and the strangely-colored birds flying in the sky above them.
Arimus began to speak before Lina could even draw a breath. "Our God, Trephied, has imprisoned Death Fog within a seal, but he is very weak, and the seal is beginning to break. If it breaks, Death Fog can destroy this world. So Lina Inverse will help strengthen the seal to keep Death Fog inside."
"Seal?" Gourry asked. "Like that water animal?" He broke into a big grin. "Those things are cute!"
Arimus giggled, and Lina bashed Gourry's head with her elbow. "It's not an animal, you numbskull," Lina told him. "It's like a big invisible wall holding him back. If he breaks the wall, he gets out. These Higher Worlders have requested the assistance of the Beautiful Sorcery Genius Lina Inverse to come and save their world from impending destruction!" Lina shot a pose, pointing to the sky dramatically.
"Sorcery isn't a common gift in the Higher World," Arimus explained. "Even just a common sorcerer would be a very powerful person here."
"So does that mean I'm one of the strongest people in this world?" Lina asked in amazement, her eyes sparkling with stars.
Reluctantly, Arimus admitted that perhaps there was some truth to that egotistical statement.
"Wow, that's a big temple," Gourry said, looking up at the temple that loomed above them.
"Do all servants of the Gods blow things out of proportion?" Lina asked, referring to the giant-sized temples she'd seen built by the Golden Dragons.
Arimus just kept walking up a large, wide flight of stairs that led to enormous double doors. "I supposed maybe they do," she conceded, though Lina suspected it was just to make her happy. "Please, keep up."
Lina and Gourry walked just behind Arimus, who took them through the huge double doors that opened very easily, despite looks. From there, they were taken down long golden hallways, with torches in brackets at intervals along the walls. They walked on and on and on and on and on... Just when Lina was positive she couldn't walk another step, the hallway opened into a huge chamber. Every inch of it was covered in gold, as was the giant statue of a mighty dragon at the far end of the room.
In the center of the room were two men. One of them was on his knees, handcuffs restricting him to the ground. The other man stood just behind the first, wearing a hood and cloak much like the one that Arimus wore. "You've brought her?" the second man asked urgently, placing a comforting hand on the shoulder of the first.
"Yes, Helinor," Arimus answered, walking into the temple to stand beside him. "She's agreed to help us."
Lina and Gourry stood in front of everyone, and Gourry asked, "What's wrong with that guy?" He pointed at the man on his knees and shackled to the floor.
With a sad sigh, Arimus answered, "That is Trephied, our God. This seal has left him so weakened that he has been forced into human state."
"Why's he handcuffed to the ground?" Gourry wondered.
"Because," Helinor answered shortly.
Arimus gave Helinor a sharp look, and replied, "Because if Trephied leaves this temple, the seal will be broken. Death Fog has been trying to force Trephied out for many days now, and the only way he could combat it was to give us orders to bind him to the temple."
"I see," Lina said softly. She actually felt sorry for that guy, trapped in this temple with the burden of holding back the destruction of the world. "So what do I do?" she asked.
Trephied, who had been silent until now, began to speak to her. His breath came out in labored gasps, and his voice was hoarse. "Lina Inverse," he spoke. "You must help... to strengthen... the seal... I cannot... hold on much... longer..." He broke off coughing and wheezing, unable to continue. Helinor and Arimus got down on their knees beside him, but there was nothing they could do for him.
"Please, Lina Inverse," Arimus pleaded again. "Help us. We don't want Trephied to die!"
Lina stared at the weak-looking man in front of her. This used to be a powerful Dragon God. Now, he was less than a man. If something could take that much out of a God, how was she supposed to help?
"Lina..." Gourry said quietly, almost a question.
Lina swallowed, and then nodded. "I'll help," she told them.
Arimus broke into a teary smile, and Helinor stood up and shook her hand. "Thank you, Lina Inverse," he said graciously. "Now, if you'll just come with me..." Without releasing her hand, he led Lina closer to the giant golden statue in the back of the room, Gourry and Arimus following close behind.
When they were standing right up to the statue, Helinor placed his palm against the statue's base, which was about twenty feet tall. A small door appeared, and opened. Inside was a small chamber, only the size of a tiny closet. At the far end of the room were straps with buckles, and there was a magic circle covering the whole thing, even painted on the walls.
"Please, step inside, Lina Inverse," Helinor said, gesturing to the small room.
Lina peered into the room. "Why do I have to go in there?" she asked, suddenly a little wary of what she was about to do.
"To become part of the seal, of course," Helinor responded, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Wait!" Lina shouted, backing up a step. "Become a part of it? You never said that!! You just said I had to help strengthen it!!"
Helinor nodded, and replied, "By becoming a part of it, you will strengthen it. The only obligation you have is to remain here forever."
Lina stared at Helinor like he was insane. Sure, he might be able to sacrifice his life for his God, but she wouldn't! "No way!" she yelled in his face. "I've still got a life to live, buddy! I'm not going to give it up for the sake of your God!"
"But it's not just for our God," Arimus answered strongly. "It's for the sake of our whole world!"
"But-- But--" Lina stammered angrily. "This isn't what you told me I was going to do! I won't do it! I flat-out refuse!!" She tore her arm away from Helinor's grasp, and crossed her arms tightly.
Gourry drew his sword, and stood protectively beside Lina. "Besides," he continued for Lina. "I won't let you take her in there. I'm her protector, and I can't just let you do something like that."
"Lina Inverse, you said you'd help us," Arimus cried.
"Not by giving up the rest of my life to save yours!" Lina retorted.
Helinor bowed his head for a moment, and at first Lina though he was about to give in. Most people did when she was in a rage. But instead, he said something to Arimus in a language Lina didn't understand. Arimus nodded slowly, nearly in tears. Then, as one, Helinor and Arimus walked towards Lina and Gourry. Arimus grabbed Lina's arm, and started dragging her towards the small room. When Gourry started to reach out to her, Helinor came up behind Gourry to restrain him. Gourry fought against Helinor's hold, but the Higher Worlder was much stronger than the swordsman. Gourry could only watch in horror as Arimus forced Lina into the chamber, kicking and shouting all the way.
"Let go of me! This doesn't seem like good behavior for servants of the Gods! You're gonna regret this! I'll make you pay for this!!"
After a moment, when Lina realized that wasn't going to work, her shouting changed.
"Gourry! Stop this!! Let go of me!! Gourry!!!"
Gourry tried to wrench free of Helinor's grip, but to no avail. "Lina!"
Arimus pushed Lina into the tiny room and against the back wall. Then she walked in after Lina, trapping her against the opposite end of the room.
Lina was backed against the wall with nowhere else to go. Gourry couldn't come to help her. Arimus was too strong just to shove past her. If she tried a spell in that tiny space, she'd blow herself up, too. But it looked like her only choice... "Fireball!" she shouted. But nothing happened. "What the--" she started to ask, staring at her hands.
"This temple is sealed against magic," Arimus told her. "I really wish you'd just cooperate with this, Lina Inverse. I hate to force you into this."
"Yeah, right," Lina scoffed, trying to keep her cool when she knew there wasn't any way out just then.
Arimus nodded slowly, and waked even closer to Lina in the tiny room. Even with Lina kicking and struggling, she managed to buckle the straps tightly, and turned to leave the room.
"Lina!" Gourry shouted. He twisted and struggled and tried to pull away to get to her, but nothing he did would make Helinor release him. "LINA!"
Lina pulled against the straps that bound her at the wrist, but they wouldn't give even an inch. "Let me out of this thing!" she shouted, half scared and half angry. "Gourry!"
Arimus walked out of the small room, her head bowed. She looked up at Helinor, and nodded slowly. To Gourry's surprise, Helinor let go of him. Gourry charged forward to get to Lina, but the door started closing. He tried to run faster, to make it to the door before it could shut.
"GOUR--" Lina started to shout, but it was cut off by the closing of the door. Gourry met the closed door with the side of his fist, and sank slowly to his knees.
Behind him, Gourry was aware that Helinor and Arimus had come to stand at either side of him. They placed their hands on his shoulders, and he tensed. "We're sorry," Arimus said quietly. "It had to be done."
Helinor began, "We understand how you must feel, but--"
Gourry was furious. He stood up and turned around in one quick motion. He towered over Helinor, and shouted with tears in his eyes, "You have no idea how I feel!!" Arimus placed her hand on his arm to try to calm him down, but he shoved her off. "You just took away the most important thing to me!!" He grabbed Helinor by the collar of his cloak, and nearly lifted him off the ground. Then, not shouting, but with enough pain and steel in his voice to make Helinor flinch, Gourry said, "And I'll never see her again."
"There is no use fighting," a hoarse voice spoke, breaking the tension. "What's done... is done."
All three of them turned to face Trephied, but still Gourry did not release Helinor. "Let her go," Gourry commanded Trephied. "Give her back!"
Slowly, Trephied shook his head. "That is something... I cannot do," he said. Was there a hint of sadness or remorse in his voice? "Though I regret this more than you know... it had to be done... There was no other way... Forgive me..."
As Trephied broke off in another fit of coughs that racked his frail body, Gourry slowly let go of Helinor. The man was obviously dying. Helinor and Arimus ran over to him, but the coughing continued. Gourry hung back, and could only watch as he fell into Helinor's arms. "At least now... the world is safe..." Trephied managed to say, before he finally let go of life, and passed away.
"Trephied!" Arimus cried, tears staining her face. "Don't die! Wake up!"
"Arimus..." Helinor spoke softly, laying Trephied down on the floor gently.
Arimus wasn't listening, and continued crying. "Open your eyes!" she shouted at Trephied's still form.
Helinor placed a hand on Arimus's arm. "Arimus," he said strongly. "He's gone. There's nothing--"
He broke off abruptly, and even Gourry knew why. The temple had started shaking! "What's going on?" Gourry demanded, staggering and trying to keep his balance.
"The temple's collapsing!" Helinor shouted, standing up and dragging Arimus to her feet. "The seal is breaking! We have to get out of here!"
As they all started running down the long golden corridor, Gourry yelled between breaths, "Why is the seal breaking? That's what you sacrificed Lina for!! Isn't it?! So it wouldn't break!!"
"She must not have been as strong as we assumed," Helinor shouted back, trying to make Arimus keep up with them. "With Trephied gone, all the power of the seal was upon her, and she just wasn't strong enough to hold it!"
Gourry stopped dead. He grabbed Helinor by the neck, and held him up to the wall, his feet above the floor. "Are you telling me that taking Lina away from me was all for nothing!?" he demanded coldly.
Before Helinor could answer, Arimus broke in. "Please, we must get out of here! Gourry Gabriev, I know you mourn for Lina Inverse, but don't let your life be taken as well! You must get out of here!"
Gourry turned to stare down at Arimus, his eyes brimming with tears again. "Without Lina, what is there to live for?" he asked her quietly.
"I'm sure you have much to live for, but we must go!" Arimus shouted. She pushed Gourry, trying to get him to move. Slowly, Gourry let go of Helinor, who dropped to his feet, and they all ran towards the exit once again.
The rumbling and shaking grew stronger and louder as they ran. The ground shook beneath them, and the ceiling cracked high overhead. Behind them, they could hear the temple caving in, and large chunks of rock falling to the ground. This only made the three of them run faster than before, trying to escape before they could be buried under tons of rock.
Finally, the outline of the giant doors was visible ahead of them. But the sounds of the collapsing ceiling got closer and closer from behind. With an earsplitting crack, the ceiling just above them fell in. Arimus, who was lagging slightly behind, was just beneath it. Acting quickly, Gourry ran back there, and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the falling rock. Before she could thank him, he gave her a shove to get her running in front of him. When Helinor finally threw the doors open and they all ran outside, they were just barely in time. Not seconds after Gourry had left the temple, the entire thing caved in, dust billowing up from the impact.
When the dust finally cleared away, all that was left of the temple was a mass of rubble and ruin. But Gourry, Helinor, and Arimus barely noticed. Something else, far more important than the ruin of the temple, had caught their attention.
Hovering above the remains of the temple was a shapeless mass of dark green fog. In the center glittered two point of bright light, glaring at them like a pair of eyes.
Her own eyes wide with fright, Arimus managed to say in a choked whisper, "Death Fog... He's released..."
Gourry stared at Death Fog. That green cloud was a feared Dark Lord? "Why..." Gourry started. Then he changed his mind, and rephrased the question. "What powers does Death Fog have?" he asked.
"All who breathe in that fog that surrounds him suffer a prolonged and painful death," Helinor answered. His voice was monotone, but he was glaring at Death Fog fiercely.
"So the fog isn't his real body?"
Helinor shook his head. "No, although nobody knows what his true form looks like. Or, at least, nobody alive."
Death Fog's eyes flashed brightly for a split second, and then there was the sound of rushing wind, accompanied by a force that was so powerful, it forced Gourry, Helinor, and Arimus to their knees. The fog around the Dark Lord swirled threateningly.
"What's happening?" Gourry shouted over the rushing noise. "What kind of attack is this?"
"This is no attack," Helinor yelled back. "He's just gathering his energy so he can move!"
Gourry gritted his teeth and bowed his head against the force that was pushing against them. "Do all Dark Lords move like this?" he demanded. As he'd expected, he didn't get an answer.
Death Fog began moving slowly, heading away from the accursed temple that had held him prisoner. Thankfully, he was moving in the opposite direction of the nearest town.
"We've got to go after him," Helinor announced once Death Fog had gotten far enough away that the noise and the pressure had gone. He stood up, and helped Arimus to her feet. "Are you coming?" he asked Gourry.
With a noncommittal shrug, Gourry answered, "Where else have I to go?"
Helinor decided not to comment on that, and instead just said, "Let's go. We have to hurry!" Before he'd even finished speaking, he took off after Death Fog. "We'll get close enough to attack," he said. "But far enough out of range to avoid that force he exerts."
"How will we attack him?" Gourry asked, running alongside Helinor. "My sword won't do anything against a Dark Lord, and you two--"
"Have our own way of fighting," Helinor finished for him. "Even though Trephied is dead, his power still lingers within us. We use that power to make a sort of magic, though I'll admit it isn't very powerful."
As they ran, Gourry couldn't stop himself from thinking, "If only Lina was here... We wouldn't have to worry about fighting Death Fog at all."
Authoress Note
Poor Gourry! *sniffle* He lost Lina!!!! And now they're going to try to fight Death Fog!! ;_____; Oh, yeah, I'm sorry about not updating for a while. I don't remember the last time I updated. Couple weeks ago? *shrug* Anyway.... Yah. This is the newest chapter. The rest of the fic is cool, too, but you hafta be patient ^___^