Disclaimer: How about reading some of my previous disclaimers? I don't feel like making a new one.

Getting ready

Another journey

The next morning he was awoken by someone hammering loudly on his door. He slowly opened his eyes, Taki was shaking him like mad. "Eruk! Eruk wake up!". He was still a bit drowsy "huh? Taki what's wrong?". She almost climbed up on top of him, and showed him the amulet she was wearing "This is what's wrong" she shouted "That stupid thing won't come off". Eruk blinked "yeah, I know. I tried to get it off you after I carried you back last night". She almost shoved it into his face "Oh yeah? Then try again. This must be magic, you're a sorcerer right? Do something about it!". He pushed her a bit away "Listen Taki, I can do a bit of magic, but I'm nowhere near someone like Sylphiel or Zelgadis. I just know the basics." Taki had started shaking him again "then we go wake them up right now!".

She jumped down from the bed, and started walking to the door "come on then, let's go". He sat up "Whoa hold it for a second, maybe you should go change your clothes first. That dress of yours smell just like some of that stuff you were drinking yesterday". She turned away in mock anger "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO A PERFECTLY SWEET AND INNOCENT GIRL LIKE ME!!" she cried. She immediately covered her ears "But I guess you are right." she admitted. She reached out for the door handle, still holding her sore head with her other hand. She turned around, and gave him a weak smile "You better get dressed too, you can't run around the palace in your pajamas you know" She walked out of the door. Eruk sat staring at the closed door for a few seconds "What, exactly, just happened here?" he asked himself out loud.

He met Taki outside. After she had lectured Eruk on how rude it was to let a girl wait. They went to Sylphiels room, Taki knocked on the door "Sylphiel are you there? Helloooo?" she opened the door "hey she isn't here. Eruk why isn't she here?". He thought for a moment "I bet she has gone to the shrine, she usually do that in the morning. Let's just leave her be and go to the library". Taki looked at him funnily "why the library?" she asked. He started walking "I'm pretty sure that is where Zelgadis is". She shrugged and followed him. Before they reached their destination, she ran up in front of him and blocked his way "Say, just who is this Zelgadis you keep talking about?" she asked. He continued walking "don't you remember him? He saved us from those bandits". She shuddered a bit "I don't remember any GUY saving us, just some monster showing up and blasting everybody". He stopped and held her back "Listen to me, and listen good. That was Zelgadis. He's not a monster, but a chimera". She looked confused "it's all the same to me…". He continued to explain "I don't know much about chimeras, but I'm told Zelgadis once was human, but was transformed by Rezo the red priest. Now he's a mixture of human, golem and demon. He's very touchy about the way he looks, so whatever you do, don't stare at him, ok?". She nodded.

They reached the library. As they entered they got a surprise. The room was huge, none of them had ever seen such a big library. "We better split up and see if he's in here somewhere" Eruk said. Taki went to check out the left part of the room, and Eruk to went to the right. Eruk was heading directly for the part where he had heard the magic tomes where kept. His reason for splitting up was not to look for Zelgadis, but to find him first to warn him of a possible reaction from Taki. He found Zelgadis pretty fast. He was standing up against a wall, reading in a book. Eruk stood still for a second, not wanting interrupt. Zelgadis never looked up, but merely spoke "Do you have some business with me, or are you just here to stare at the freak?".

Eruk quickly went up to him. "I do have some business with you" he said "you remember Taki from the bandit hideout right?" Zelgadis didn't respond, and Eruk went on "She has somehow gotten hold of a magic amulet from the treasury, the problem is, that it seems like it is impossible to remove, and I was wondering if someone with you knowledge of magic would be able to help her out". Zelgadis finally looked up from his book "I see. Very well then, where is she?" he asked. Eruk moved closer "I sent her to search for you in the other end of the library. I wanted to talk to you alone first". Zelgadis raised an eyebrow "Alone? Why?" he asked. Eruk was a little hesitant, then said "she might be afraid of you because of your… appearance. Could you please just ignore her if she stares at you?". Zelgadis didn't have time to answer, as Taki came running towards them, "There you are! Man, this library is HUGE". Her eyes fell on Zelgadis and she turned very quiet. Eruk quickly went over to her side "don't worry, just let him look at that amulet, and see if he can figure something out".

Zelgadis took the piece of jewelry between his fingers and examined it closely "hmm that's strange…. It seems like it emits some anti-magic field. I would imagine there is a magically sealed lock inside the field. Fascinating, I have never seen anything like that before". Taki looked a bit pale "do that mean you can't remove it?" she asked. Zelgadis turned his back "there may be a way, but you won't like it". Taki grabbed his shoulder "what do you mean? if you can remove this thing then do it!". Zelgadis smiled a bitter smile "It seems like the thing keeping the magic working, is the wearers life-force. In other words, the most simple way to remove that thing… is for you to die…". She ran behind Eruk "don't you dare…". The smile on Zelgadis's face changed from bitter to slightly amused "there is no need to get scared, I didn't say I would kill you. There may be some other way to remove it, but I'm not sure what it could be".

They where cut off by Amelia, who had just entered the room "Hello Mr. Zelgadis what are you talking about?" she asked. Eruk turned around "greetings princess, we where talking about this amulet" he said, and showed her the item in question. She looked at the amulet "what's so special about it?". They told her about the problem with the lock. Taki looked like she was about to cry "I just took it from a dead bandit, there's nothing wrong with that, right?". Eruk suddenly punched a bookshelf in anger, causing both of the girls to jump "Of course! How could I forget!".

Amelia looked a bit shocked by his sudden anger "what's wrong Mr. Eruk?" He turned to face them "when I was with the bandits they told me that they where after that particular amulet. They said something about a *friend* in a town called Xen. I would think that if somebody where after it, they would also know how it works". "Huh? You mean those bandits had somebody supporting them?" Amelia asked. Eruk nodded "yeah, I'm afraid so. I had completely forgotten about it". Taki lightened up a bit "does that mean that I can get this thing off if I go to Xen?" Eruk nodded "I think so, but remember we are talking about someone that would use any means necessary to get what they want". Amelia struck a pose "We can't allow those who sponsor evil bandits go unpunished". As Amelia continued her justice speeches, Zelgadis turned to Eruk "great, there she goes again. Now that you mention Xen, I have some information about that dark counsel. It would seem they are connected to Xen as well". Eruk looked down "I guess that means I should go there, to clear things up". Taki came to his side "then I'll come with you". He stared at her, disbelieving "you know this could get pretty dangerous Taki" he asked. She nodded. Amelia struck another pose "in the name of justice, Mr. Zelgadis and I will join you, and put an end to that evil scheme once and for all". Zelgadis started to say something, but a harsh glare from Amelia made him shut up. Eruk smiled a bit "thanks you guys, now please excuse me, I have to go". He turned and left the library. I guess this means I have to leave, I wonder how Sylphiel is gonna take this? He thought, as he approached the small palace shrine.

When he entered the shrine he saw her praying in front of a statue of Ceiphied, the dragon god. He slowly approached her "Sylphiel?" She jumped a bit "Oh good morning Eruk". He walked up to her side and knelt down, like her. She looked to his side "you look upset" she said. He nodded "I have to leave Seyruun". She stood up "but why?" she asked "we are safe here". He stood up to face her "I know, but Zelgadis have given me some information on the dark counsel, they have some connection to a town called Xen. The bandits we helped defeat here were also connected to that town. I think I'm right in the middle of something big here, I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with my amnesia". She was silent for a second, then smiled "when are we leaving?" Eruk was dumbfounded "We? You don't have to come if you don't want to". She looked at him shyly "It would be unwise of me to be away from my bodyguard, so naturally if my bodyguard goes somewhere, so will I". She looked away from him "and I would miss you, if you left alone" she whispered. He didn't hear that last part. "We should start packing for the journey then" he said.

They started to head for their rooms to gather their equipment. "Traveling once again" he said out loud "but this time will be different". She looked at him "different? What do you mean?" she asked. He laughed a bit "this time we aren't on the run, and we're not alone either". He told her what had happened in the library.

Some time later the small traveling party had gathered in the throneroom. Prince Phill were holding on of his famous speeches. Eruk was bored, he had never thought anyone could talk that much about the true essence of justice, he was even worse than his daughter. He was woken up by the door to the throneroom flying open. "Hi everybody!" a familiar voice called. Amelia was the first to turn around "Miss Lina? Mr. Gourry? What are you doing here?" she asked.

Lina marched right up to them "We just wanted to say hi" she looked around "what's going on here? You look like you are going somewhere". Zelgadis stepped out from the shadows "yeah, we are going to wander all the way to the outer world, just to find a guy and have him remove a stupid necklace" his voice was dripping with sarcasm. Eruk started explaining things more detailed than Zelgadis had. Lina nodded, "so you are telling me, that you are going after somebody that sponsored the bandits here in Seyruun?" Eruk nodded, the bandits wasn't his primary concern, but it was one way of putting it. Lina looked like she was thinking "Alright, Gourry and I are coming too". Her statement took everybody by surprise. Lina merely smiled "You guys have already beaten me to one bounty, I can't let that happen again. Besides you would be helpless without me around". An hour later they left Seyruun.

Authors notes:

Here we go, another update. It's been a few days since the last one, but I'm doing my best to keep updating regularly. But I won't give everything away at once. Gotta have a little suspense, right?

Anyway, looks like the entire gang are going to the outer world. What will they find (beside a lot of trouble)?. Like always pleading won't do you any good, 'cause I'm still not telling. Read on and find out for yourself.