Disclaimer: I'd like to say I own Slayers, but that would be lying, and my mommy tells me never to lie. Seriously, though, I don't own Slayers; whoever owns the Japanese rights sold them to a couple of different English companies, which pisses me off, because the different companies translate everything differently. But c'est la vie. (To everyone who just said "Lah Vee," that's not what I meant and you all know it; plus, that's a criminally bad joke). Let's get on with the story before I lose the rest of my mind… Oh, yeah: Don't Sue Me. Pretty-Please-with-your-Confection-of-Choice-on-Top.
Slayers: The Starbird Chronicles
Chapter 2: In the City of Kale, in Southwest Kalmaart. A Week Later.
Lina Inverse walked into the Kale Inn, and, not seeing anyone who looked like an innkeeper (that is, no one was behind the counter), slammed her palms on what passed for the main desk and yelled, "Hey, can I get some service, here?!"
There was a crash, which she heard through the doorway behind the counter; it was the sort of crash made when a precariously balanced ladder falls over and breaks. About thirty seconds worth of thumps later, two hands gripped the counter from below and behind, and pulled up behind them a body that would look like it belonged to an innkeeper even if it weren't behind the counter: A slightly portly, balding man with a moustache, looking surprisingly good natured, given what had to have just happened to him.
"Excuse me," he said, dusting off his off-white
tunic and brown vest, "I was just putting some laundry away... how may I
help you?"
"I'd like a room for the night..." Lina
smiled nervously, half blushing (A sign of the unconscious priming of her
cute-helpless-innocent-little-girl act). I
hope he doesn't jack up the price because of that...
"That will be three silver pieces, or you can pay seven and get dinner and breakfast included." He looked slightly flustered, but if the price was that low, he obviously wasn't raising it on her account.
"I'll take the meals." She placed the coins on the counter. "Sorry about the…"
"Oh, it's no problem. If I didn't have to do that again, my wife would have something else for me to do." He walked back towards the rear doorway.
"Oh." Lina turned and went into the inn's dining room. She picked up a menu from the waiter, and read it while she waited for his return. She saw the innkeeper walk into the room carrying a large bag with vegetables sticking out the top, presumably for the kitchen. He wasn't kidding, she thought; then, the waiter returned, and all other thoughts were swept out of her mind. "I'll have one of every appetizer and two house specials to start… and to drink, a large... Hey, what's that?" she pointed to one of the items on the beverage menu.
"Root Beer, miss. It's a
regional specialty."
"I'll have one of those."
"Very well." The waiter was apparently very professional; he didn't even blink as he walked away from the table of the young girl who had just ordered enough food for a party of four. He turned and walked back into the kitchen, and returned about ten minutes later with her three trays full of food. The best thing about traveling alone for a while is a break from the constant dinner battles. Of course, she reflected, I wouldn't want it to be permanent. It would get too boring. With that thought out of the way, she set to eating with her usual... enthusiasm. Twenty minutes and two helpings later, she was interrupted by a hand on her shoulder, which turned out to be the innkeeper's. "Humh?" she said, her mouth half full.
"Is your name Lina Inverse, by any chance?"
"Yuwh." She swallowed. "Yeah, that's me. Why?"
"I would have got to you sooner, but my wife had me darning sheets... and I didn't make the connection until I overheard your order. I have a message to deliver to someone by the name of Lina Inverse who matches your description." He placed a folded, sealed piece of paper on the table.
"Really... what, exactly, is this description I fit?" Her hands clenched into fists, knowing what was coming next. Why do I even bother?
"'An extra-petite, athletic girl in her mid-teens, with long, flame-red hair, garnet eyes, fair skin, and very youthful features, who takes exceptionally large meals whenever possible.' Why?"
Lina turned, Growling, then blinked. "Oh. Um, why didn't you notice who I was sooner?"
"I couldn't tell if you were a gOUCH!" He meant to say, 'I couldn't tell if you were a girl or a boy,' but it's hard to finish a sentence when you're getting whacked on the head by an irate sorceress.
I knew it would come to that. It always does. "Please leave me alone while I read this."
"Of course." He walked away, rubbing his head. Lina picked up the paper and examined the seal on the letter. It was in the form of a seven-pointed star with a stylized wing design in the center. It had a magical seal, but Lina broke it with little effort. She unfolded the sheet, and read:
To the Sorcery Genius Lina Inverse:
Having heard of your near-legendary magical prowess, I have been seeking you for some time, but this is the first time I've had a chance to contact you. I have information that may be of interest to you, and a request for help in a situation that falls firmly into your area of expertise. If you desire more information on what I have to offer, meet me outside the north gate of town tomorrow at Noon.
The Handwriting, in green ink, was quite neat, with few flourishes, and instead of a signature, the violet seal was repeated at the bottom. Lina, sensing someone behind her, turned, and saw the innkeeper standing there again.
"Why are you..."
"I forgot this, miss. The guy who gave me that letter also paid for your stay." He dropped seven silver coins on Lina's almost-empty plate.
"Um... What did this guy look like?"
"A bit taller than you, but not much; I couldn't see much else, since he was wearing a hooded cloak. It was purple, if that helps."
"Not really, but that's okay." If he's going to all this trouble, what's the harm in just going to meet him? It's not every day I meet someone who's polite to me, either... When their lives aren't in danger, at least. She yawned. "I'm going to my room now."
"Very well. It's upstairs, across from the staircase; room number seven."
In this case, 'Across from the staircase' meant the other end of the hall, putting her in the room on one end of the building. It was quite a fancy one, too. Not really ornate or anything, but well lit, by magical lights instead of torches or candles. It also featured a large, comfortable bed, an adjoining washroom, and nice furniture made of well-finished wood instead of the rough stuff found in some country inns. Lina discovered all these things as she made ready for bed, and she decided it was probably a room meant for the important travelers on whose account Kale had grown from a well-placed but wild trading post to a small but affluent walled city; and was therefore probably quite expensive. Then, she fell asleep.
A few hours later, Lina woke with a start. "What was ..." But all was still and quiet. I could have sworn I heard... nah, that's impossible. She lay back down. I must have been dreaming. Yeah... just a bad dream...
Author Note: And now we've met our Leading Lady. I pity that innkeeper...
1) Yes, I know Kale isn't on the map. I made it up. The people who made the Slayers Anime have no compunctions about doing this, and while I do, I'd rather make up a new town than put my story in one that was destroyed in the official sources. For anyone who is looking at the map, Kale would be just west of Solaria.
2) As for that Crest: For anyone who is familiar with Magic Knight Rayearth (at least the Manga), it's basically the same as the crest of Windam, except instead of three plumes on each side of the W-shape, there are four, and there's an additional spade shape attached to the point of the center point of the W. For the seven pointed star, make seven points around a circle, one at the top. Connect them so the line hits the (Clockwise) first, third, fifth, seventh, second, fourth, sixth, and first points, in order, then flesh out the line, Star-of-David style, with the line from 6 to 1 goes under the line from 7 to 2, and the line from 1 to 3 goes over it, but under the line from 2 to 4. I realize most people don't care, but I know it bugs me when I can't figure out what a design is supposed to look like, so here you go.
3) My only reference for prices is that one silver piece is a relatively low price for a buffet. I extrapolated from there, given the fact that it's a relatively high quality inn.
In other News, My research has turned up a Precedent for the Daemons. Apparently, According to QP's Slayers Page (in English at ;), Quoting the Encyclopedia Slayers, Brow (or Brau, or Blow) Demons are not Mazoku but are rather more like a type of Goblin with magical powers – Thus, they would not be astral beings, but physical ones. Thus, If Brow Demons, which are official, are like that, I feel I'm justified in expanding on the Idea and creating other kinds. Yatta! Once again, the Great Eishirou is Victorious!
Next Chapter: A meeting with the Mystery Man, and What would wake Lina in the middle of the Night?
