Disclaimer: Nope, Slayers is not mine
Traveling alone
Where is he heading?
Eruk was walking away from the town. Leaving the other behind wasn't something he was to thrilled to do, but he felt it had been done.
"Are you really leaving?" Nimph asked. The only answer she got was his silence. "But aren't they your friends?" Eruk just kept on walking, silent despite her many questions. "Don't you feel bad about it? Some of them seems rather nice..." Before she could finish her sentence, Eruk snapped her from midair "I never asked you to follow me around" he hissed. He stopped walking and released his grip. The creature in his hand was shaking from fear. "Listen Nimph, I don't mind your company as long as you don't push me" he gave her a piercing look. "I'm sorry" she sobbed "I was only trying to help". He couldn't help but smile a bit. It was true what people said, making someone else suffer could actually easy your own pain, and her pain really was delicious.
He took a few more steps, before falling to the ground screaming clutching his head in pain. "Is something wrong?" Nimph asked in concern. He reached out for her "ple…please help me" he groaned. "Are you losing it again?" she asked while poking his nose. He could only groan in pain, as another being started taking over his body. "I guess this really is serious…" Nimph wondered. Without hesitation she put her hand on his forehead. She started glowing faint pink, as she absorbed the evil energy he radiated, and replaced it with positive energy.
Slowly his pain faded, and he started to regain his control. He dragged himself over to a large boulder at the roadside. He slumped down next to it and tried to catch his breath. "I did it" he whispered "I kept in control". He took a deep breath. He hesitated to admit it, but he knew that he owed it to the fairy.
"How do you do that?" he asked after awhile. "Do what?" she asked in return, obviously clueless to what he meant. He tried another approach to question "How is it, that you are able to calm me down like this?". Nimph sat down on his shoulder "oh that! Well I live by absorbing that kind of energy, I guess the calming effect is just a strange thing that happens to humans". Eruk stood up "So that's why you are here now? Without my energy you would starve?". Nimph said nothing, but her attitude told him that he was right. "I guess this means that we have to depend on each other from now on" he sighed.
Summoning all of his remaining strength, he stood up. Carefully he started walking forward. He knew that it had cost him a great deal of energy to battle the evil power inside him, and that he ought to be resting. But he also knew that it would only be a matter of time before the others started looking for him. He needed to be as far away as possible when that happened.
"Can I ask you a question?" Nimph asked carefully. Even though she much preferred to be straight forward, his outburst before had taught her to be careful around him. He turned his head, slightly annoyed of her many questions "What is it?" He didn't really want to answer anymore or her usually pointless questions, but he felt like he owed her something to repay her help. "I was just wondering" she started, sounding more serious that he had ever heard her before, "where are we going? And why won't you tell me why you are going alone?". He shook his head slightly annoyed, but more than that, he felt sad.
"We are going to Xen" he explained "Everything I search for is there". He walked on in silence. "But why alone?" Nimph asked again. He hesitated, but figured that she would keep asking, unless she got her answer. "I have left the others in order to protect them" Realizing that this was all the answer she would be getting for now, Nimph flew down to the pocket she had claimed for her bedroom to take a nap. It didn't take long before she was snoring loudly.
The sun was setting when he reached a small village. The tranquil atmosphere made him fell good. He sat down by a fountain. All the villagers were just walking around doing what they usually did. Many of them didn't even realize that there was a traveler in town. "It sure is peaceful around here isn't it?" Nimph asked. "No fighting, no bad people, except from you, of course" she added with a sly smile in Eruk's direction. He heard her, but decided to let it slide. The fairy really wasn't that bad company after all. "Shouldn't you be hiding or something?" he asked "this is the outer world after all, a magic creature like you could cause quite a commotion". He looked around, hoping that nobody would pay too much attention to them. Luckily they were pretty well hidden. "You are such a spoilsport" Nimph grunted and crept into his pocket. "Don't be angry" he laughed "how about I find us a nice inn? I bet some food and rest would put you in a better mood". The scowl on Nimphs face turned into a big smile "That's the first good thing you've said so far" she beamed.
Eruk stood up. Now that he had made a promise, he just hoped that a village of this size actually had an inn. After walking around for some time and not finding anything, Nimph started getting impatient.
"Ok ok, you win" Eruk finally gave in to her pleading "I'll ask somebody". He looked around, with the sun gone down most people had left the street. But there was still a few walking around. He passed up an old man that walked by "Excuse me sir, but could you direct me to and inn or another place were I can spend the night?". The man looked him over and then smiled "Why, of course young man. I'll take you there at once".
The old man led Eruk through the narrow streets of the town. He proved to be quite talkative too. Eruk did the best he could to answer the mans questions without saying to much. "So where are you heading, my friend?" the old man asked conversationally. Eruk shrugged "Nowhere special, I go where there is money and adventure to be found". The old man stopped walking "an adventurer, huh?" he asked with a smile "Not much to do in this area I bet. I hear all the great treasure lies within the barrier lands". Eruk looked at him with a smile "Even adventurers needs a break, so how about that inn?".
The old geezer started walking again "You know, I was quite the adventurer in my days as well…" Eruk didn't really bother to listen, but he made a point in looking like he did.
"Ah yes those were the good old days" The geezer finished his story just as they reached a pretty large wooden building. "Here you are my friend!" The old man gesture to the building "the finest inn in town!". It looks pretty plain Eruk thought But who cares? I'm going to spend the night there not buy it. "Thank you for showing me, sir" he said, while giving the old man a light bow. He dug into his pocket and found a gold piece "For your troubles, sir" he said as he handed it over. The man took the gold and waved goodbye.
A pretty nice old guy…Eruk thought before he went inside.
The old man smiled, as he watched Eruk from the shadows. This was just perfect for his plan. Two people came up behind him. "He's in there?" Ascard asked, while pointing to the inn. "Of course he is!" the old man hissed "unlike you two screw-ups, I get the job done". Ascard took a step back "Forgive our uselessness, lord Loid". Somewhere behind him he heard Neela grumble "You speak for yourself. You're the one with all the pathetic plans". Ascard ignored her. Ever since she lost the fairy, she had been very difficult to control, and he wouldn't risk being blown up again. "This time is going to be different" Ascard promised "10 of our best chimeras stand ready to strike at my command".
Loid smiled and scratched his beard "You know what I require". Two chimeras walked up to them. "I'm required elsewhere" Loid said "Don't screw up". All three of them vanished in a flash. Ascard looked at his partner. Having lost Nimph somewhere, had left her with only her violent personality. At least he no longer had trouble making her fight. However, he was a bit worried that she would blow everything up at once. He needed to face Eruk in battle to fulfill his new orders.
Eruk entered the dimly light inn. There weren't that many people there he noticed. Judging from their looks most of them were common townsfolk, but a few looked like travelers just like himself. He walked up to the man running the bar. The innkeeper smiled as he approached "Good evening sir, what can I do for you?". Eruk ignored his cheerfulness "I need a room for the night, and a good meal". He knew that he was rather blunt, but he just didn't feel all that cheerful at the moment. "Whoa, easy there sonny" the innkeeper laughed "I was only trying to be friendly".
Eruk shook his head, and gave a forced smile "Sorry, it's been a rough day" he excused himself. The innkeeper slapped him on the back "Ahh no hard feelings." He handed Eruk a set of keys and started to guide him to a table. "Could I have the food in my room?" Eruk asked, "the noise here is killing my ears". The innkeeper shrugged "I can arrange for that, but it will cost a bit extra". Eruk nodded "I can live with that".
He knew that it was foolish, but before he left the others, he had helped himself to some of Linas treasures, without her knowing it of course. The innkeeper leaned close to his ear "I have to say that you have made a wise choice by eating in your room. If you think it's noisy now, then just wait till that lady over there gets a little more to drink. I'm telling ya, her laughing can scare the hell out of you. The only reason I haven't kicked her out, is that she drinks enough for ten ordinary customers. I even heard that they named a special brand of ale after her inside the barrier". Eruk looked at the woman the innkeeper was talking about. She was sitting in a corner all to herself, but judging after the empty bottles strewn around her, she didn't seem to mind. Even though she was sitting down, he was pretty sure that she was taller than him. Her raven black hair hung down her back, covering her body more than her skimpy outfit. Eruk turned his back on her, and headed for his room.
"Here you are sir", The innkeeper opened the door to a small chamber. Eruk took a step inside. Just as he had expected it was a simple room without any unnecessary luxury. The only furniture were a simple bed, a few chairs and a wooden table. "This will be fine" he said, "Now, if you could please send somebody with a menu". The innkeeper eagerly nodded and turned to leave, but Eruk held him back "I might have forgotten to mention this, but make sure that you bring a dessert card as well". The innkeeper blinked a few times in wonder. Having worked at the inn most of his life, he thought himself pretty good at judging other people. He had quickly determined that his new guest was the no-nonsense type. And according to his experience, that type of people usually just ate because they had to.
"A dessert card, sir?" he asked. Eruk nodded "yes, a dessert card, and no questions asked". he narrowed his eyes "Just remember, curiosity killed the cat, so make sure that your employees knock before they enter my room". He closed the door.
"you can come out Nimph" he said, as he sat down on the bed. The fairy flew up and sat a little distance away from him. She was being unusual silent. "What's the matter?" he asked "this isn't like you at all". She turned to look at him "Why did the cat have to die?" she asked, while drying her eyes with a little piece of her outfit. "The cat?" Eruk asked, not sure what she was talking about. "you said the cat was killed" she sobbed "I like cats. They are just so cute and fluffy". Realization dawned on Eruk "Oh that" he chuckled "it's just a saying. It doesn't mean that a cat actually died". He silently reminded himself to watch his words around the fairy. "Really?" she asked "The cat really didn't die?". Eruk smiled at her "of course not". The smile returned to her face "oh that's good! Kittens are just sooo cute! Except when they mistake me for a mouse… But I still think it's a bad saying…". She was interrupted by a knock on the door "Your menu, sir" a waiter called.
Eruk opened the door "Thanks, could you wait for a few minutes while I decide?" The waiter nodded and took a step back. "Here you go" He handed Nimph the dessert card. She stared at it for a few seconds without saying anything. "Don't act so surprised" Eruk laughed "I've seen you a couple of times before you sought me out, and I have noticed how hot you are for sweet stuff. Choose whatever you like". Her smile brightened. Eruk started looking through his own menu. "Have you decided, sir?" the waiter knocked on the door. "Just a second" Eruk called back. "Well, Nimph?" he asked " Have you decided?". She eagerly nodded "I'll have the super-duper special parfait". Eruk went over to the door and handed the menus back to the waiter "I'll have the stew, and the parfait special" he said. The waiter wrote down his order and left.
Eruk sat down at the tables and took of his gloves. It had been far too long since he had cleaned his weapons properly. He took small bottle of metal polish from his backpack and started cleaning the blades. "What are you doing?" Nimph asked. "I'm working" he explained. She sat down and looked at him "It sure don't look like work to me". Eruk tore a small piece of the rag he used "I'm buying you dinner" he said "the least you can do is help out in return". Nimph took the rag "you're no fun" she pouted.
They worked for a while, and just as they finished the waiter brought them the food.
"You know" Eruk said "I've been wondering. That parfait were much bigger than you are, how in the world were you able to eat all of it?". Nimph lay on her back, patting her stomach "I can't help it! It just taste soooo good" she giggled. "And here I thought you were supposed to live by absorbing my energy?" he asked.
Time passed, and Eruk decided that it was time to go to sleep. "Whatyoutiredalready? I'mnottired!comeonlet'splaysomemore!" Nimph was running around on his blanket, talking in rapid-fire. He sighed deeply, buying her that dessert had really been a huge mistake. By just being her usual self, she could be a bit to hyper for his taste, but now that she was high on sugar, she was totally out of control.
"Listen Nimph, I don't want to play hide-and-seek" he tried to explain. "Afraidtoloseareyou?" she giggled "oklet'splaysomethingelse!". Eruk grabbed hold of her wings and lifted her up. "listen to me, and listen good" he said "I want you to fly over to the table and wait for me. I know a great game we can play". She clapped her tiny hands "Okokok!I'mflying!couldyouletgoofme?". He loosened his grip and let her go. While she was flying in circles above the table, Eruk smiled evilly as he found a piece of paper. Nimph was very naive, so maybe this could work. With a pen he wrote a few words on both sides. He placed the paper in front of the hyper fairy. "Listen, this is a magic piece of paper" he explain "in this game, all you have to do, is what is written on the paper".
Nimph's eyes darted back and forth between the paper and his face "I don't understand" she said while trying her best to keep her voice in a normal pace. "It's simple really" Eruk assured her "If the paper says *turn over* like it does now, all you have to do it turn it over". As Nimph started playing with her new toy, Eruk went to sleep.
Outside the inn, Ascard motioned for his men to surround the building. "And remember, he is not to be harmed until I have fought against him" he repeated. "Is it due to that old fools order, or because you have a personal score to settle?" Neela asked casually. Ascard didn't answer. "You ignoring me?" Neela hissed, and prepared a fireball. Ascard gulped "Of course not! I was just thinking about your question". Neela smiled evilly "and the answer is?". He backed away "a little of both, I guess". Neela dissolved the fireball and nodded "that's what I thought". A few of the more human-like chimeras was silently laughing. Ascard had always been the best, and now he was afraid of a woman. The swordsman gave them a threatening look "We attack on my signal" he said.
Authors notes:
Yes, I'm back now.
Looks like Eruk and Nimph are becoming friends, doesn't it? Her calming powers sure seems like they could come in handy. Now the big question is, just how much does Eruk really remember? Ad as you know, the only way to find out is to keep reading.
It seems like you really like my little story huh, Ramaon? *Readies bastard sword* If you want Eruk, you'll have to get past me!!! Just kidding, I would never hurt a fan anyway.
And a little comment to Otaku-girl. No hard feelings about the entire calling me a girl thing. *Mutters* It's not like it haven't happened before… Just leave it alone ok??!! It's embarrassing…
