Chapter 5 - The Dream Catcher!( Clipper hehe ) Shh!!

Zelgadiss slept late that night. And even then, no dreams came to him until a couple hours later.

"Did you help her? Did you try?"

Zelgadiss glared at the now even more indistinguishable Reflectation. "Aleinas told me about you. How your connection was lost, and that you were stolen. That whatever you say, can't be trusted. So now I wonder, what is it that you want from me?"

"N-nothing, I don't want any-"

~~~

A bad migraine and Zelgadiss woke up screaming. As he sat up holding his head, there was somebody there, right in front of him.

"Ah!"

He scrambled back and bumped into a tree.

"Idiot! You should be glad you have Beastmaster's Priest and a-"

The stranger fell with a thud. Zelgadiss could see Aleinas holding his sheath and standing behind his victim.

"Hm..... Ah, Jeffrisce. You almost ruined the whole thing. I should be glad I woke when I did. Hurry up and meet me by the stream. We need to talk in private..."

Zelgadiss stared blankly at Aleinas as he left. He wondered how Aleinas expected an unconcious stranger to hear his words, but his thoughts were interupted as the stranger slowly sat up. The hooded man rubbed his head and then grumpily got up with the help of his staff and went after Aleinas...

~~~

"Jeffrisce, Jeffrisce... Good to see you again. How have you been? I've been wondering what had happened because you didn't show up earlier on when my little group entered the woods. I was also wondering why the name had changed. Oh, by the way, don't mention my job. It's interesting to lead them without their knowing who I really am. Oh, also, my name is Aleinas, Aleinas, ok? Just keep your mouth shut about me."

"....." Jeffrisce blinked at Aleinas for a moment or two before widening his eyes. "Se-" A hand was clamped over his mouth.

"Like I said, Aleinas... Gor now, it's Aleinas. And yes, I have still been alive, and yes... I accepted the offer...directly from her." The hand fell from Jeffrisce's mouth.

"Ah..... I see... Definitely good to see you again."

"Hai, I know."

"Oh, by the way, my reason for not joining earlier would be the Mazoku."

"Hm? Mazoku?"

"Hai, they were being attracted by the connection your chimera boy has with Dynast's General."

"Ah... So it was as I had feared... It's her. She sent bandits and mercenaries also."

"How did you find out, and when?"

"...Greywords, the chimera boy, has been speaking with my Reflectation."

"Oh... Now that -is- surprising."

"Hai..."

~~~

"So now that everybody is up and all our stomachs are full, can you two please explain what's happening?"

"I, am Jeffrisce. Caretaker of this forest. I am also known as Dream Maker, or Dream Catcher."

"Dream Clipper..."

"Heheheh...-Catcher-, please, Aleinas, Dream -Catcher-..."

Zelgadiss watched in slight amusement as Aleinas shrugged and repeated 'Clipper'.

"Ahh, stop picking on me! Just because you're older than me-"

"I'm not picking on you dear otouto, I'm just correcting you."

"...You scare me when you annoy people in such a serious manner...."

"I know, why else would I do such a thing?"

"Eh...good point..."

Zelgadiss sighed very quietly as the red-head on his left waited impatiently.

"Will you two stop enjoying your reunion for a moment and just continue??"

Jeffrisce cleared his throat and gave a quiet apology before going on. "You see, my job is to keep track of all my intruders and maybe give help. For example, I can lead them through the quickest path of these woods, but Aleinas is already leading you. I can also wake anybody from sleep, gently, since that is always most desired." He quickly added on more when he noticed the frown on Zelgadiss's face. "However, in your case I did not have any other choice. It was the result from cutting your connection with Dynast's General."

"Nani!?! You had a connection with a Mazoku!? And a Mazoku lord's general at that!"

Zelgadiss blinked in utter surprise and shock.

"And astral connection. I see that you didn't know... I apologize for my scolding you earlier. I was very upset, I've had to fight several times with too many Mazoku...most when I was closer to you. They've been attracted to the astral connection you had. You're lucky to have Beastmaster's Priest here with you, otherwise the whole of you would probably be dead by now.

"It's fine.." An astral connection...through his dreams...with such a high-level Mazoku... What did a high-level Mazoku want with him? No...with Aleinas..?