Chapter two

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All right, I updated. I suppose I can call the first chapter a success. I'll give you a quick few reason why this story is going to be slow in progress.

1) It's getting to be the end of the school year and Finals are coming up.

2) I'm more focused on working on "Project Zero" currently, and I don't want to stress my self too much.

That's about it. Any questions, suggestions, requests, or feedback should be placed in review format or sent to usguys@gte.net.

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            The sun shown brightly down on the world, offering no mercy to those below; a typical summer day. Along the tree lined roads, people gathered. Travelers, merchants, bandits, and many other strange people of different assortments wandered from place to place. Among these people, a single woman stood out. It wasn't her bright hair, or matching red eyes, but her expression. It bore one of guilt, pain, and sorrow.

            Lina sighed, tempted to 'fry' everyone within range. She had a horrible splitting headache, and if it wasn't one person, or thing, making some racket it was those bloody birds! Correction, the lumps of flame that used to be birds. She hurried off the dirt path, making her way to the small river that lay beyond the line of trees. Stooping down, she gently slipped her gloved hands into the cool water. She felt it trickle over her fingertips, she cupped her hands and brought the water up.

            She stared into it intently, looking at the shimmering water. Then, looking deeper, she found her reflection. She looked at herself; going over every detail she could see. Her hair wasn't as bright as it used to be, now a more content shade of auburn than a bright orange. She wore a spaghetti strap, deep purple blouse that had been trimmed slightly so it would fit her figure. She had grown slightly, sizing around perhaps five feet. And she had a more noticeable figure, completed with smooth, graceful curves.

            She moved her attention to her eyes. Her eyes… they didn't look like hers. They were cold… distant. Some might even describe them as lifeless. Her! Lina Inverse! The perky, cheerful, hot-tempered girl who smiled at danger and laughed at death. Being described as lifeless. She could understand cold, she's even let distant slip by… but lifeless? But… it was true… she was lifeless. Not in terms of having a beating heart or breathing… but in terms of heart and soul.

            She had died the day she received that grieve striking letter. The day Amelia had given up… the day they died. That was when she had given up on life. It wasn't worth it. She had tried to forget… to move on. But it wasn't possible. She had considered going back home… back to the life she had led before bandits… before traveling or magic. Going back to being… her. Not Lina Inverse, sorceress supreme, Dra-matta, bandit killer, and so on… but just… Lina.

            But it wouldn't matter. She would never be the same. She could handle hosting the Lord of Nightmares, saving the world, dealing with numerous assassins, and other worldly disasters, but she couldn't handle the deaths of two people. No… it wasn't the deaths of two people… it was the deaths of them, Her best friends.  That was more than she could handle… it was more than she should have to handle.

            Lina sighed and allowed the water to spill from her hands. She watched it rejoin the stream and then… disappear. It kind of reminded her of herself; never the same. Always moving and changing, flowing. Slowly, Lina moved, leaning against a tree. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her forehead against her kneecaps. Why, why am I thinking about this?  She asked her self over and over. And every time, she answered her own question, but it wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. Because it hurts. It hurts to know that it's your fault they're dead. And you aren't willing to let go… I can't move on… I can't let them go…

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There's chapter two. I hope you enjoy it. Please review. I look forward to reading your feedback. This section will be used to respond to Reviews.

Samanda Hime-sama Thanks a lot, Sam. And I bet you already know my coupling. Have you been working on the new story? Email me! ~^_^~

Ysengrinn Great to hear from you again. I miss your reviews. I'll be working hard to keep this story nice and interesting. Hope to get more good reviews from you.

Irusta Thanks you very much for your review. I love positive feedback, and I hope I don't disappoint you!

Aisha C Thank you much, my good reviewer. I know it's really sad! But that's why it's a tragedy! Don't worry! It'll get better.

My goal for the next chapter is to get Lina and Zel face to face. Expect sudden outbursts, lots of tears, flashbacks, and a little bit more on the 'catastrophe'. Ja!