Chisa, Spirit Who Watches

"How in the world are you talking?" inquired Victor, "You must not be an ordinary cat then. So what in the name of L-Sama are you really? Man, traveling with Master Lina for ten years didn't prepare me to find something like this. And everyone knows that every strange thing you can think of happened when she was around. She attracted Demons, Dark Lords, Dragons, crazy megalomaniacs, need I go any further?"

"Victor, this cat must be a spirit in disguise. They take on many forms based on what type of work they do. But I've never heard of a spirit that takes the form of an animal like a cat before. Can you enlighten me, divine spirit, on the nature of your purpose and what you know about Noel's kidnapping?" Mina asked.

The cat replied, "My name is Chisa, one of the Spirits of Truth. We are like humans in a sense that we are not set from birth to fight for Chaos or Order. Rather, our experiences teach us what the world is like and we come to believe in one or the other. But the only way to attain a corporeal form is to bond with a human or other sentient being. I've heard of some evil spirits that bond with Mazoku for power. Once the bond is established, we are given the ability to take on a human form as well as any animal we chose. I chose to stay as a cat because I can move about unnoticed to my enemies and protect my master. Even when our masters die, we still can take a normal form. Sadly, this is abused when evil spirits kill after they gain a form of their own. The one who kidnapped Noel, Belladonna, is a spirit who did that to her master."

Sandi held her head down in sorrow. "How horrid, to do that to another living being. Someone should really make her pay. But why has she taken Noel away? What good does the prince do in the hands of a spirit? Is she planning on becoming the ruler of Seyruun by marrying a royal descendant?"

"No," Chisa stated, "She is looking for the Keys of Chaos. Noel was born the bearer of the Key of Creation. L-Sama decided to bring back the power of the two keys in the bodies of humans some time ago, and Noel just happened to be the one she chose. Probably due to his family being fond of justice and the preservation of innocent life. That key increases Noel's ability to do White Magic. With that, she can heal the wounds of her army when it attempts to destroy the world. Now, she only needs the Key of Destruction to complete her plans. That key gives its bearer the ability to manipulate higher level Black Magic with ease known only to a master. Perhaps the person could even master the Chaos Spells without a Talisman's aid. For the Key of Destruction could act as the Talisman on its own and activate with the spell called Boost."

"Well, if I had to pick a wielder for that key, I'd say it would be Master Lina. She's the only one in this world who can use the Chaos Spells at all. If she didn't know she had it, she wouldn't know to call upon it instead of the ones she got from Xellos long ago. So we should find and warn her," said Victoria.

Chisa informed the girl, "The keys were born into humans after being sealed into the bodies of their parents. So Lina Inverse could not be the master of that key. But her daughter may very well be the one."

Victor shook his head. "Master Lina is childless. She had tried a long time and never gave birth. That is why she and Master Gourry adopted my sister and I after our parents tossed us out. We were both a little slow at magic at first because they were not good teachers. However, we became stronger under Master Lina. Despite her tough exterior, she has a soft spot for kids. I think it hurt her how she was not able to have a child with Gourry, while there were people throwing out their own children for stupid reasons."

Mina looked sad as she heard that story. All of her friends went through extremely depressing childhoods. Victor and Victoria were abandoned, Sandi was sold into slavery, Noel was only cared about as the prince outside of his family circlewhich included her and Sandiand she was taken away from her own family for an unknown reason. But when she searched her memory for the dream, hoping to find clues, all she found was the shadows that visited her in her sleep; as well as feeling her mother's arms and tears.

"But the soul of the Key of Destruction was sealed into Gourry," Chisa told them, "And the body of the Key of Destruction sealed into Lina when they went inside of the Chaos Field. The same with Amelia and Zelgadis when they got too close to the field. I guess L-Sama's attempt to bring the keys into the mortal world again was a failed gamble. Something else must have happened to Lina or Gourry to take away the ability to have children. However, Belladonna has no knowledge of this. She will try to find the second key. That gives you some time. But if she realized that the key doesn't exist, she will go to work trying to take the Key of Creation from Noel and utilize its power. You must find her and do it quickly."

"We're trying to," Mina yapped back, "I may be able to sense spirits, but I'm still not a fully trained psychic. I can't track the witch and her fiends down. However, we're going to see a woman named Sylphiel who might be able to help. She once traveled alongside Lina, and is not the type to abandon her friends."

"To Sairaag then. Well, I guess I'll tag along. Miss Mina, is that your name? I can read minds a little bit, so I can guess who each of you are. The blond is Sandi, the swordswoman. And the twins are Victor and Victoria, apprentices of Lina Inverse. With that settled, I would like to ask if you would be my new master. You show the potential to do great things with your power, and I know you can save your friend. Lead the way and take me to the town," Chisa said. Then, she jumped on Mina's left shoulder.

S...S

It was three long days before they found a place to peep out of the tunnel. They'd found that the time taken was short compared to what it should have been. At this time, they were supposed to be only as far as the mansion where Lina held her fake wedding with Hallas. But they were already as far as the Mountain of Tears. Smiling, the team went back underground. About a day and a half later, they found themselves in front of the rebuilt town of Sairaag. Relief flooded their senses as the four got out of it.

Mina told everyone, "Ok, first thing's first. We're going to see Sylphiel and ask about the locale of Belladonna's hideout. After that, we have to get supplies. I don't know about you, but I'm starving about now. If Noel's life didn't hang in the balance, I'd go to the restaurant before I went to speak with Sylphiel."

Victor smiled. "She can nearly out eat Master Lina. Such a fine young girl. What do you think sis? Is she my type? I'd better comb my hair out before we go out to eat." He took out a small comb.

"Cut it out Romeo," Victoria chided, "We have a mission to go on. Besides, Mina also doesn't look like the flirtatious type. I don't think she'd go for your advances at all. Why do I have to have a perv for a twin? Couldn't he be a total gentleman instead?" The girl sighed as she followed her friend into the city.

Teefa's Last Words...

All that revelation in one chapter. Yeah, when you find the divine being, that usually happens. Everything that went on with Lina being childless will be revealed when she enters the story in Book 3. L-Sama's plans are always well thought out, who could have ruined them?