I'm going to be taking over the story for now because Jassy has a lot of demands on her time. Hopefully everything in her life will calm down soon and she'll be back, better than ever. I'm sure she'll appreciate any thoughts that are sent in her direction.

Samanda

Uncommon Vows

Chapter Six: Touch Of The Past

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

"Come on, Zel!" I said impatiently. "We've got our next lead so why are you dawdling?"

Zel turned away from the provisions clerk and hefted the heavy bag on his back as he walked over to me. "I'm coming Lina."

"Finally." I groused. "That blasted book didn't tell us how far we would have to walk in order to find this thing."

It had only been two weeks since we had left Saillune. We had found the lead in one of the dusty old tomes in the Royal Library. Zel hadn't seen that book before in the Library and had commented on it to me.

"Not long now." Zel told me. "The clerk swore it was only three miles or so down the road before the path to the shrine begins."

"Good." I said in satisfaction but then I frowned. "But it's almost sunset now. Why exactly can't we get a room at the inn tonight then?"

"Try four hours until sunset." Zel said dryly. "We can make it to the shrine tonight."

I huffed but started walking. "Fine."

I just know that Zel was smiling to himself after I stormed off. I just know it...

"Damn it." I muttered to myself. "It always seems so much longer when you get excited."

Zel's calm voice floated back to me. "Stopping to torch those bandits a few towns back didn't help."

I got a little annoyed and my hand made a fist all on its own, I swear it! "Shut up!"

I ignored the hole in the tree that I just punched through and marched after the chimera I had been imagining hitting in my one minute violent episode.

"The entrance to the tunnel is up ahead." Zel called back to me.

I caught up to him as he took his first step into the tunnel. I sighed but followed him into the tunnel without any further argument but I have to tell you that it was hard. Harder than you wouldn't believe.

I took a quick look back. It was an hour or so till sunset. I had dragged my heels a little and as a result it took longer than Zel thought it would. I smiled in anticipation and moved in for the kill.

"I'm really tired, Zel. Can we set up camp for the night?" I said in an exhausted voice.

I wiped the grin off my face as he turned around and looked as tired as I could. He studied my face for a moment before sighing and dropping his bag. I did the victory sign behind my back where he couldn't see it.

"Thanks." I told him.

I dropped my pack down on the dirt floor. The place we had chosen to camp at was unremarkable in feature. I knelt down and dug a hole a meter wide and half a meter deep for the fire I was going to build. I produced the dry wood from my pack and layered it.

"Fireball!" I exclaimed as I pointed to the stack of wood.

It burst into flame and I laughed. Zel just shook his head as he pulled out his tea kettle, filled it with water and put it close to the fire to heat. I pulled out a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese and an apple. I cocked an eyebrow towards Zel but he shook his head. I shrugged and bit into the bread. I was hungry but this was just a snack. I'd had dinner grudgingly earlier while we were still on the road.

We talked awhile but most of the evening was filled with a comfortable silence. It was a little eerie to me, being able to hear the campfire crackle and pop. The feeling went away after a few moments but it hit me then how much I missed Gourry.

I turned in early. All I wanted was to go to sleep and wake up to a brand new morning. There was nothing like a new day, whatever stain the previous day had left was simply wiped away by the sun rising. Here was the chance for a new beginning, full of possibilities. So I closed my eyes and tuned it all out.

I woke to the aroma of coffee. Zel had already started his ritual of drinking his morning meal. I yawned as I sat up and stretched. I just sat and tried to wake up. It took me a little while as always before I truly became awake.

"Good morning." Zel greeted me.

I just grunted at him and fumbled for my mug. I finally located the darn thing, it was hiding under my cape for some reason, and held it out. Zel obligingly filled my cup with the universal morning-picker-upper. I sipped at it, still groggy, and waited for it to work it's magic. It didn't take too long.

"Good morning, Zel!" I chirped. One cup later and I'm my old perky self. Magic, I tell you! "Thanks for the fill up."

Zel waved it off and sipped at his own cup. As Zel plowed through the rest of the kettle of hot coffee, I banked the fire. I extinguished it with the pile of dirt I had displaced the night before.

All of a sudden, Zel's fingers plucked something from the pile of dirt. In his hands was a black strip of fabric. I blinked, it looked similar to my headband. In fact, I would have said that it was my headband if it hadn't already been holding back my bangs. I touched it with my magical senses and my name glowed for a brief second on the fabric before the fabric crumbled into dust.

I sat back and thought. The glowing name was a trick I had learned early from my magic lessons long ago. I also got the definite impression of age, old age.

"Now that is weird." I said slowly.

Now I know that I'm in or will be in a time paradox situation. It's something all magic users are warned against but few ever listen. Messing around with Time has been many a mage's downfall. I sighed. Sometimes it's really depressing being me.

Can't someone else ever save the world?

Enough whining. Zel looks like he's about to ask me something. He asks, "Was that what I think it was?"

"Yep." I reply. I manage a grin. "Life is always interesting around me. Haven't you learned that yet?"

"How can I forget?" Came his dry reply.

The grin I sent him this time was more natural. I swung my pack onto my back. "Let's go, Zel! I want to find my treasure now."

"Who said it was yours? If it's magic related, it's mine." Zel spoke behind me.

I started down the tunnel. "We can argue that later."

"Wait, Lina." Zel cautioned. "We haven't explored this far so be careful."

I chuckled. "Oh, Zel. You worry too much-"

Suddenly I was falling down into a hole that had been disguised by the rise of the ground in front of it. I screamed loudly as I fell. Stupidly, I waited a second for Gourry to save me before realizing he wasn't there. I looked down to see rusty spikes poking out from the bottom of the hole, rushing towards me.

"Levitation!" I cast in desperation.

The spell took effect and left me hanging inches above the spikes. I concentrated and willed myself to move upwards and out of the hole or rather the primitive trap I found myself in. My magic obeyed my will and I dissolved the spell as my feet touched safe ground.

I turned around, mad as fire now that the danger was done with. "Oi! Why didn't you help me, Zel?"

Only to realize that he was nowhere to be seen. I was baffled until I took in the details of my surroundings around me. The tunnel was gone and I was on open ground. The 'ruins' of my time were intact here and looked to be inhabited. I was obviously in the distant past, when exactly I was uncertain.

I groaned. "Dammit. Note to future self: leave more of a warning for my past self."