Found! Returning Home to Seyruun

"Noel!" screamed Mina, "Noel where are you? Answer me!" She was running around the hall in order to search for her friend. What had happened before with the voice that took over her body had given the girl the chills. However, she knew her first priority was to make sure he was safe. All of the spirits and Demons had run off after Belladonna escaped, so there was nothing to stand in her way as she looked. As the fear began to fill Mina's body and soul, she desperately searched for the boy who was her best friend.

Suddenly, the girl found a hidden passage. Shawn had leaned on a statue in order to rest his legs a little and ended up tipping it over. Turned out that the particular statue he chose was a ruse used to hide the lever controlling the door. When Mina looked into the room, she saw Noel chained up in the corner.

"Mina! I'm so sorry. I felt a spirit, and went to investigate. The cries seemed to be ones of pain. That's when I found a Lesser Demon tormenting a small pixie. I fought the beast to save her, but then that witch abducted me and brought me here. I wish I wasn't so useless all the time," he lamented to his friend.

Mina informed him, "It wasn't your fault Noel. I bet any amount of money that Belladonna had that pixie targeted just to get you to come out there. Next time though, I want you to come and get me if you sense a spirit in danger. Those wicked ones have no need to kidnap me, so it's all a simple matter of me blowing them to smithereens. Hey, wanna go find something really big and dangerous on the way home to blow up? I can show you how I mastered the Dragon Slave back at the guild while you were fighting."

Noel sweatdropped. "No, that's quite all right. Show me some other time. I think I've taken all of the adventure I can stand. I just want to go back to Seyruun and forget the whole thing ever happened. Also, I want to see Mom, Dad, and Grandpa Phil. My family is the most important thing in the whole world."

S...S

Although Xellos left after they exited the temple, claiming his mistress was calling, the others all agreed to help Mina escort Noel home. The boy seemed happy as he walked along the road with the others in the group. He'd gotten to know Victor, Victoria, and Shawn quite well as they headed back to Seyruun. Also, he took quite a liking to Chisa and would pet her like she was a normal cat. Not that she minded at all; acting like Mina's new pet made the entire show that much more convincing. So they traveled like that.

Upon arriving at Seyruun, Noel made a beeline for the castle and his mother's arms. Amelia was relieved to know her son had been rescued. It was an emotional moment between the two for awhile, and then Phil decided to get in on it as well. The only person in the family not getting all emotional was Zelgadis. Then again, since when has he ever been emotional? He did, however, pat his son on the head and tell him how worried he had been. Noel began smiling; he was just happy to be back home with his family again.

They had a banquet to honor Noel's homecoming and the bravery of Mina and her friends. The young Spiritist of Seyruun had done it again. With the prince back they could stop worrying about what had happened. Also, Princess Amelia's appetite would return. While Noel was missing, her meals had dropped from Lina sized ones to about one tenth of that size. It's no surprise then how much she ate at the feast.

S...S

"Uncle Zelgadis," inquired Mina on the balcony that night, "There's something that's been bothering me since I left on this journey. Twice, while I was fighting, I heard this voice inside my mind. She seemed to act as if she was a part of me. Then, she would take control and my own power seemed to increase on a level beyond normal humans. What am I anyway? Is there anything you know about me that you never told me out of fear? Whatever the answers are to my questions Uncle, I'm ready to hear all of them right now."

"I have no idea what that might be Mina. All I know is that I discovered you in the forest. But I think it's time I teach you a spell. You have lived with us, and were happy, for fifteen years. However, that look in your eyes seem to say that you wish to discover the truth even if it involves leaving here on a journey. As my student and foster daughter, I feel it is my responsibility to prepare you for this. Only you can make the decision to go, my only help can be the abilities I can give you," Zelgadis told the girl. He let out a sigh.

At that moment, Mina saw his hands begin to light up. She knew he was casting a Ra Tilt. After all, she'd seen it many times before. Instantly, the girl understood her mentor's words. He wanted her to learn the spell as well. So she began to concentrate as hard as she could. Forming the spell in her mind, Mina tried to call the energy out into the palm of her hand. Suddenly, her eyes opened. The power of the spirit began to flow all around her right hand. In that instant, she felt the spell come to her. Then, the girl cast the spell all on her own. It fell into a tree on the outskirts of the garden, and then dissipated.

Zelgadis told her, "That was a good shot Mina. I know you can follow your own heart and dreams. Not like anything I'd say would stop you. Sometimes, you know, you remind me of Lina Inverse when she was younger." With that, he went back inside. Mina was left on the balcony thinking about his words.

'I do want to know myself. I do want to go on this journey. But how will I say goodbye to Noel? I should ask the others to come along at the very least. Sandi's sword should be able to make up for the fact that I don't use my weapons very much. Victoria has a pyromaniac attitude that does not allow her to falter even before the strongest adversary. She can also defend the team. Victor is a master of Black Magic so we should have no problem with him. Finally, Shawn is a great healer. All of us working together should be able to find out the answers to my question. I can't take Noel along, what if Belladonna comes back again?'

The girl took one last look at the stars in the sky before heading back inside. As she stared, she saw a shooting star fly across her field of vision. Mina knew now that her wishes would come true.

'I wish on this shooting star…please allow me to find out who I am and where I come from. All I want is to have the same happiness with my birth parents that Noel has with his. I know they are looking up at the same sky too. Perhaps they even wished to find me on the very same star that I saw tonight.'

Teefa's Last Words...

I thought having Mina wishing on a star, albeit clichéd, would fit nicely with her dreams of finding her family. She will find out her identity in Book 3; as well as the reason for the mysterious voice, the transformations, and a lot of Xellos's secrets.