I'd like to thank everyone who left such great reviews for my previous work, Reflections of a Chimera, of which this is a sequel. This will pick up where Reflections left of, and will be written in basically the same style, albeit with more action and plot. Here's the fairly short first chapter.
Ichiban Victory: Thanks very much for reviewing each chapter of Reflections. You felt that it might be unlikely that Zelgadis could use Divine magic, and I agree. He can only use the simple spells so far, and he almost certainly won't get much better. However, I don't think his magic capacity is severely lacking. Even in the video games, I believe he knows Flow Break, a white magic spell that Lina appears to not know. His white magic abilities are unimpressive when compared to Slyphiel, Naga, and Amelia, and he is probably worse at white magic than the average priest or healer. Amelia said priests and healers were quite adept at Divine magic before the Kouma Sensou, so I made Zel a bit of a novice. Thanks for the thought, and please keep reviewing :)
I finally reach the outskirts of Seyruun. From my vantage point atop a hill, I can see a great deal of the city. I allow myself to pause here and enjoy the view. Such gestures make me feel a little more human, so I will continue to make time for them. The last time I journeyed to Seyruun, Amelia was urging us to make great haste. I walk at a much more reasonable pace.
I notice a few things unusual about the town. Several important looking dignitaries seem to be wandering around. The merchants seem a bit more eager, and at the same time, a bit more satisfied. Where normally they would whisper about me as a mysterious masked stranger, now they are openly hawking their wares to me. They seem to think I could be someone important or wealthy. Their whispers change again, now in disdain of my stinginess, rather than the usual disapproval of my appearance. Apparently, strangers are in Seyruun.
Ah, of course. The nobility and royalty of the Outer Lands are exploring our continent, enjoying the same feelings that we felt while in their continent. Seyruun is certainly an attractive city. Additionally, it is close to the barrier and is the white magic capital of the world. For the magically inept, the noble objectives of white magic are infinitely preferable to those of shamanism or black magic.
I think of lingering in the streets and picking up information, but I quickly head towards the palace. I am becoming almost anxious to see Amelia. This anxiety becomes heightened as I come closer to the visiting dignitaries. They do not seem to be an upstanding lot. Despite the fact the time of day is only early afternoon, several seem drunk. They leer at women and, as I come closer, I overhear their lecherous remarks. If this was the best of the people from the Outer Lands, then Amelia has probably been suffering for quite some time now.
As I think of Amelia, my pace quickens. I approach a group of dignitaries who I can now tell are leisurely heading to the palace. I start to walk around them as they share an uproarious laugh.
"Oi, freak!" One of them calls towards me. I stiffen with anger, but manage to ignore him. It would probably be wise to keep a low profile. No need to antagonize them. Besides, I did not want my temper to be compared to Lina's. With such thoughts in mind, I simply continue walking past them. The nearby people of Seyruun watch the exchange with some interest and trepidation. I can hear their whispers, it appears that some of them recognize me as "a friend of the Princess", and are trying to decide what to do, whether it would be appropriate to intervene
"Hey, freak, I'm talking to you!" I now see a hand on my shoulder. I had seen him approach, of course, but I want everyone to know exactly who instigated the conflict. I glance behind my shoulder at the angry, slightly red-faced man. He indeed appeared a little tipsy.
I glare at him. "What do you want?" My tone contains no more anger than my words, I am fairly calm and probably sound even more so.
This apparently angers the man. "Turn around, freak! You made me drop my drink, go buy me another one!" With that, he attempts to turn me towards him. I simply snort in response. Even without any effort on my part, he would find it difficult to move me. I grab his hand, squeeze it with all my considerable chimeric strength, and quickly shove it at his face. I doubt anyone else hears his small gasp of pain, as several bones in his hand break. With that, I walk around him. He probably thinks I am trying to slip away, though I am simply angling myself into a better position. If he or his friends try to attack me, then they would not be flung into anyone else.
By now, the man has gathered his wits and become sober. Despite this, he is still not very bright. He roars as he uppercuts me in the chin with all his strength. I am of course completely prepared for the blow. I move my chin with the punch, drawing away most of the impact. I then grin at him, as his knuckle bleeds considerably.
I sneer and walk away, not dignifying the bastard with further hostility. His friends, as I thought they might, now feel compelled to lend their insignificant assistance. They have drawn their blades. The odds of one of them being enchanted, and thus being able to hurt me, were slim to none. But what the hell, I am annoyed and cutting loose would be salutary.
"Bomb Di Wind!" I aim the powerful wind spell at the small crowd, which launches them into the nondescript brick wall. They fall painfully to the ground with a satisfying crunch. Aside from a few cracks in the brick wall, no damage has been done. The crowd of natives look on with some awe and appreciation. They had heard of Lina Inverse, and her more angered forms of destruction. "Someone get a healer for them." I say with nonchalance, and head towards the palace.
People keep a respectable distance from me after this, and I do not see or run into any other foreign dignitaries. The trek through the rest of the city is without incident, and I soon find myself facing the gate that led to the palace. The last time I was here, the gate was unguarded. This time two guards are present. They are either in place because Phil is more worried about his kingdom and family because of that event, or because something has occurred more recently. At any rate, the guards become gradually more aware of my presence, and by the time I was close to them they stand at attention directly in my path. "Yes?" One of the two guards asks. Neither recognizes me, apparently. No matter.
"Send a message to Princess Amelia telling her that one of her traveling companions has arrived." The message is short and simple, there should be no problems. The guard who spoke, apparently the higher-ranked of the two, gestures to a courier who nods and enters the palace. I could force my way in, of course, but that would be petty. Further, it would be an action more suited to Lina than myself.
The silent period of waiting was neither especially long or uncomfortable, but I nonetheless appreciate the return of the courier. A simple nod to the guard, and he relaxes and the two stand aside. "You may enter." He announces with dignity. I nod slightly at him. I am fairly sure he is not suspicious of me personally, as I remember several guards drew blades against Amelia herself before they recognized her. But that was during a very troubled time. Hopefully Seyruun is not experiencing anything like that now.
With that, I enter the palace area with only a small feeling of trepidation. I ask the courier to lead me to her, and he agrees with another nod. Apparently he does not like to talk. I am not particularly familiar with the palace, but I assume we are heading to the most ornate building. He seems confident, and I assume he relayed my message, so there is no reason to doubt him.
My assumption about our destination proves correct. The guards move aside as they recognize the courier, and he leads me inside. He stops at the door to one of the closest rooms, a large room that is probably used for meetings and such. I presume that she is alone, I hear no voices from the room. I thank the courier, and pull open the door.
Author's Note:
I felt that a little action was necessary. Hopefully it isn't too cliche. The ending is rather abrupt simply because I find it difficult to write Amelia, and wanted to start doing so in the next chapter.