Sylphiel decided that the small group should spend some time resting in the next village they came across that evening. Mostly it was to allow Gourry, who was still unconscious and slung over his horse, to recover from his injuries. But something else had been bothering the healer as well. Irritable and on edge since entering the outskirts of the farming land, she pressed the group onwards determinedly.
"Hey, Sylphiel," Lina said worriedly as they approached a slow-moving ox cart on the road ahead of them. "What's the matter? I know I beat up Gourry again, but you don't usually get this upset over something like that," she noted.
Sylphiel shook her head slightly as they approached the farmer's cart. "I don't know what it is, Lina, but I feel something here… something's not right in this village." The healer shivered as she said this. "I can sense a darkness from this spot. I really think we should look into it."
Lina studied Sylphiel for a moment. "Well, it's not exactly like we don't have enough to do already," she said. "But if it's bothering you that much, we'll take a look, okay?"
Sylphiel smiled at Lina gratefully. As they passed the ox cart, however, she stiffened. "Lina!" she whispered, staring at the contents.
Lina looked inside the wagon and covered her mouth, stifling a gag. The cart was filled with bulky forms, and a terrible smell rose from them. A few flies buzzed around it, and as the wheel hit a rut in the road, one of the lumps under the sack shifted, revealing a pock-marked human arm. "Hey! What's going on here?" she called to the farmer driving the wagon, spurring her horse past the grisly contents quickly.
The man shifted and turned to stare at them, lowering the mask over his face. "Oh… these are the latest victims of the plague," he said, gesturing at the corpses.
Lina paled visibly. "THE PLAGUE?" she nearly screamed. "You don't think that it might be important to WARN travellers about something like that?" She resisted the urge to cover her mouth and gag, knowing that it wouldn't help.
The farmer shrugged carelessly. "Well, normally we would put a quarantine up," he explained, "but in this case, it's not that serious."
Sylphiel, who had spurred her own and Gourry's horses up besides Lina, interrupted them. "Please excuse me sir, but those poor people are dead! How can you say it's not serious?"
The farmer smiled an almost toothless grin, and pointed down the road. "We have a great healer in our village," he said. "He can bring the dead back to life. Our village was nearly wiped out by the plague, but Halciform saved us!"
Lina raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Bringing the dead back to life? You've got to be kidding me," she said. "I don't think even Filia would do that!"
The farmer looked confused. "Filia?" he began slowly, scratching at his chin and swatting away a few flies.
"Never mind that," Lina said, trying to edge her horse away from the cart. "I think we'd like to meet this Halciform guy that's helped your village so much," she said suspiciously.
"Oh sure, just follow me. I'm bringing this latest group to Halciform for resurrection now!" the man said, turning his attention back to the road and ignoring them.
Sylphiel gestured discreetly to Lina, and falling behind the wagon, she leaned in closer. "Lina, this isn't right! I'm a healer, and I know it's not possible to bring someone back from the dead! It goes against the laws of heaven and earth!" she whispered worriedly. "There's evil at the heart of this, I know it."
Lina thought for a moment. "I don't know, Sylphiel," she whispered back. "It seems like Halciform, whoever he is, is a hero in this village. Maybe he is helping them," she added. "Besides, if he really can bring back the dead, then there's still a chance that we could summon Cephied," she said.
Sylphiel paled visibly. "We can't bring Dilgear back! Lina, it's wrong!" she whispered in a horrified voice. "You can't force a spirit to re-enter its body after it's passed the veil! The body is defiled, and the spirit will be contaminated!" She shook her head vigorously. "I won't allow it!"
Lina shushed Sylphiel quickly. "Calm down, calm down! We don't even know if Halciform can really raise the dead or not. Why don't we just follow the farmer and check him out? I'm not saying we're committing to anything, okay? We're just going to look, like you wanted."
Sylphiel nodded apprehensively, apologizing. But she remained tense as they followed the wagon into the tiny village, and neither girl spoke for a long time afterwards.
- x – x – x -
A tall, sandy-haired man strode out to meet them as the wagon pulled up to his tiny hut. "Thank you, I'll take care of them now," he informed the farmer as he lifted the cover off of the back of the wagon.
Lina and Sylphiel both turned away, disgusted, as the flies rose up in a great cloud from the corpses which had been sweltering in the midday heat. Noting their presence, the man turned to them with a faint smile.
"I am Halciform," he said politely with a slight bow. "I trust this good fellow has told you about my work in this village?" he added.
Lina couldn't bring herself to lower her hand from her mouth as she regarded the placid man before her. "How can you stand it, being so close to those corpses?" she managed to choke out.
Halciform laughed slightly, and turning to the cart, spread his hands over the bodies there. "Because they're not corpses, not to me," he said, as a sickly pink glow began to envelop the bodies.
Amazed, Lina and Sylphiel watched as the figures on the cart began to stir, their wounds sealing shut and closing as they came to life. The formerly deceased villagers on the cart climbed down and looked around confusedly, as if they had been awakened from a deep sleep.
"W-what happened?" asked one woman in a quavering voice.
Halciform extended his hands towards the confused people, a gentle smile gracing his features. "I've brought you back as I promised, my friends," he told them as they crowded around him, kneeling and offering their thanks.
Sylphiel looked away from the display, troubled. "I… I can't believe it, Lina. This can't be right!" she whispered.
"But they look so happy," Lina said, gesturing at the villagers. "You saw it with your own eyes, Sylph, he really can bring back the dead. Nothing seems to be wrong with them now," she added, though the healer still looked unconvinced.
Halciform separated himself from the group of villagers and approached the two women. "Well, ladies, you've seen what I do for a living here," he said with a smile. "I discovered the secret to restoring life to these bodies, and I only wanted to keep this poor village from being wiped out," he explained.
Sylphiel jumped away from him as he reached out to touch her, a scowl marring her pretty features. "I don't know what you're doing here, sir, but I know it is wrong!" she said angrily.
Halciform shrugged slightly. "Well, you're entitled to your opinion," he said to her. "But I hope you don't think badly of me as well," he added, turning to face Lina.
Lina looked back at the villagers, thinking. "No… no, I don't," she said finally. "In fact, I think I could need your help. Halciform, right?" she added. "I'm Lina, Lina Inverse, and these are my friends Sylphiel and Gourry." She sweatdropped as she saw Gourry's limp form, still sprawled over his horse. "Don't mind him, he's just uhm… a little tired, yeah!"
"I see… would you like me to treat your friend?" Halciform asked them, as he put a hand to Gourry's head.
Sylphiel gasped audibly and slapped his hand away. "Don't touch Lord Gourry!" she said hotly.
Halciform backed away, holding his hands up in the air. "Very well," he said in a placating manner, and turned to Lina. "I'm sorry that my presence seems to offend your friend so deeply. But is there something I can do for you?"
Lina put her hand on her chin. "You specialize in raising the dead, right? What if I told you we might need someone with your skills to resurrect a guy who shouldn't have died yesterday?" Lina felt Sylphiel's gaze boring into her as she asked, but tried to ignore it.
Folding his hands together, Halciform smiled regretfully at Lina. "I'm sorry, Miss Inverse, but I'm afraid my powers can only be used within the vicinity of this village. There seems to be a rather strange natural phenomenon here that enables me to perform these miracles." He shrugged sadly. "I truly do wish I could bring my gift to the rest of the world, but as it is, tending to this village is all that I have the power to do."
Lina sighed disappointedly as she heard this. Then, she put her hands on her hips. "Well, what if we brought the body to you, here? Could you resurrect him then?"
Halciform seemed surprised by her suggestion. "Well… I suppose I could try. But it is getting late in the day. Perhaps you should attempt your journey tomorrow? I can provide you with food and lodgings," he said.
Lina felt a prickling of suspicion as she watched the seemingly benign healer smile invitingly at her. "But wouldn't it be better if the body wasn't that old?" she asked him.
"Oh no, once I've restored the soul to its body, simple healing spells will take care of the rest," he assured her. "Now please… you can rest in that building over there, it belongs to one of the villagers I've helped before," he said, pointing at one of the small huts next to his own. "But if you'll excuse me. Using my powers as I just did is quite taxing," he explained as he retreated into his own hut.
"Thanks, I think we'll do just that," called Lina after him, allowing a villager to take her horse. As she walked towards the hut, Sylphiel scooted next to her. "Lina…" she began.
"What, you need help carrying Gourry? I thought that big lug would've woken up by now," she said, trying to divert the healer's obvious discontent.
"Lina! I can't believe you'd agree to work with that evil man!" she whispered. "What are you thinking?"
Glancing around, Lina motioned Sylphiel to silence as they entered the hut. Checking around the small room quickly to ensure that they were alone, she leaned in towards the older woman. "Look, I know you don't like it here. But you're the one who said we should check it out," she whispered. "I don't trust that Halciform guy myself, either, but we're never going to find out anything if we don't stay here and watch him," she added. "And we need Gourry!" she added quietly, as two villagers shambled into the room, carrying the emperor like a sack of potatoes between them.
Sylphiel put her hand to her lips, biting on her thumb nervously. Then, finally, she nodded, kneeling down by Gourry to arrange the futon he lay on. When the two townspeople had exited, she turned to Lina and nodded slightly. "You're right… I'm sorry for not trusting you, Lina," she said.
Lina smiled at Sylphiel, patting her on the back. "It's okay. Let's just try to make the best of it while we're here," she said, and began to unpack her backpack.
- x – x – x -
A low moan echoed through the cabin, and Sylphiel flushed with concern as she sponged Gourry's forehead with a wet cloth. "I don't understand why my magic isn't working," she said worriedly as a new layer of sweat beaded across Gourry's skin.
Lina sat next to them, her legs drawn up under her chin and a worried expression on her face. "This is all my fault," she muttered angrily as she watched the young emperor suffer from what she assumed was the village's plague. "I should have guessed something was wrong when he didn't wake sooner," she chastised herself.
As they had prepared themselves for the evening, Sylphiel had forcefully insisted that they refuse the food the villagers offered to them and rely on their own provisions. But when Gourry had failed to stir, even when Lina held a hunk of dried sausage directly under his nose, the two had realized something more serious was wrong with him. No matter how much Sylphiel tried to heal him, Gourry's symptoms refused to disappear. His fever rose as the night wore on, and his soft, incoherent mutterings occasionally broke the tense silence that had risen.
"I… I'm sorry, Sylph," Lina said quietly as she watched the devoted healer stroke Gourry's hand worriedly.
Sylphiel sighed, looking down and rubbing her forehead wearily. "At one time, I might have laughed to hear you apologizing to me," she said with a limp smile. "But this isn't your fault, Lina. There's nothing you could have done."
A quiet knock sounded at the door of the hut, and Lina sprung up nervously to answer it. "Halciform?" she said, stepping back as the tall man brushed by her to stand at Gourry's bedside.
"I heard there might be a problem with your companion, so I thought I'd visit you," he said evenly as he stared down at the blond impassively.
Sylphiel stood immediately as she saw their unwelcome visitor, spreading her hands over Gourry protectively. "We don't want your 'healing arts,' Halciform!" she scowled at him. "Just go away!"
Halciform frowned, and then smiled slightly as he studied Sylphiel. "I see, you practice the healing arts as well. With more skill than most," he added, looking down at Gourry's sweating figure.
"H-how do you know that?" Sylphiel asked him in a quavering voice.
A tiny smile broke over Halciform's face as he stared at Gourry. "Because he's still alive, of course," he explained. "I was wondering why it was so difficult to drain him. There's something special about the three of you, and I'm going to find out what it is," he added.
Sylphiel gasped, instantly spreading a protective barrier over Gourry as she stared at Halciform. "I knew it!" she cried as he reached for her.
"Jerk!" Halciform's form buckled as the wooden bench Lina had managed to lift came crashing into his back. "Get away from us!" she yelled, jumping by Sylphiel's side.
Halciform stood slowly, rubbing his back. "That hurt, you little imp," he growled.
"Good!" Lina said with a smirk. "And if you don't want any more, you'll tell us what you did to Gourry!" she growled at him, grabbing an iron skillet that was hanging on the wall and holding it like a weapon.
Halciform straightened and laughed, cracking his shoulders. "Or you'll do what? Roast me in that pan?" he chuckled. "Oh, I'll tell you my plans, of course. Since the three of you are going to be the deciding factor in helping me finally achieve them, you've earned the right to know," he added with an evil grin.
"We'd never cooperate with someone like you!" Sylphiel cried angrily. "You… you hurt Lord Gourry! I'd rather die than help you!" she added angrily.
Laughing, Halciform backed away from them. "All in good time, my beauty, all in good time. You see, you don't have much of a choice in the matter," he added, opening the door to the shack.
Lina and Sylphiel gasped and stepped back in revulsion as a few zombies shambled into the hut behind him. "Lina!" Sylphiel yelled as she took a step backwards. "It's… it's those villagers! From earlier!"
Halciform laughed as the zombies began to stagger clumsily towards them. "Of course!" he said with a smile. "What more faithful servants could any magician have than the undead? Their blind devotion provides me with everything I could possibly need!"
Lina snarled, and leaping forward batted away one of the zombies with her pan. Fortunately, they seemed to have a slow reaction, giving her the advantage. Unfortunately, despite the significant dents she was giving the grotesque corpses, they continued to struggle and stand up after being stunned by her hits. Lina didn't relent, however, gasping angrily as she beat at the corpses. "I'm not going to let you make us into one of these things!" she yelled at Halciform angrily.
The tall man shook his head at them with a smile. "I don't want to make you into zombies," he said amusedly. "You three are quite special. I came to this village when I heard the plague was killing off the people living here. But they were so weak! I could only bring back these twisted forms you see now," he said, gesturing at the zombies. "But you three… you are different," he said with a dark smile. "I could feel your spiritual energy even before you entered my wards," he explained. Pointing at Lina, he gave her a deadly smile. "Especially yours… so bright and youthful!" he said, causing Lina to shudder. "Such strength and power in your soul. I'm sure you're the one! You're the one who will finally be able to bring back my precious Rubia!" he cried, gleeful laughter bubbling up in his throat.
"No way…" gasped Lina, as one of the zombies finally managed to reach her and knock the pan out of her hands. Struggling against its dry, leathery grip, she growled at Halciform. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Sylphiel shrieked, falling into the hands of another zombie. "Sylph!" she yelled, fighting wildly against the creature's iron hold.
There was a pulse, and a wave of white blasted forth, shattering the zombie that had been grappling with the healer. Sylphiel stood there, her palm extended, shaking with fear. "I-I-I thought healing magic might stop them," she stuttered in shock as she looked at the remains before her.
Halciform growled as Lina struggled even more violently against the zombie holding her. "Way to go, Sylph! Come on, blast them!" she yelled, kicking and twisting.
"You stupid woman! Those zombies are difficult to create!" Halciform snarled, advancing towards Sylphiel. "But no matter… even with magic as strong as yours, you can't hope to destroy an entire village of my servants," he grinned evilly.
Glancing out of the window, Sylphiel's face dropped as she saw what Halciform said was true. "Lina!" she cried, sending a healing blast towards the zombie holding the redhead. "They're everywhere!" she moaned desperately. "I… I don't think I can stop them all!"
Rolling over to Sylphiel, Lina lifted one of Gourry's arms over her shoulders and stood up, dragging him to his feet. "It looks like we don't have a choice, Sylph," she said grimly to the healer as Halciform approached them. "We're going to have to try!"
- x – x – x -
Things were not looking good. That would have been what Lina might have termed "the most massive understatement of the year" as the two girls struggled out into the dark village with Gourry in tow. Sylphiel's healing blasts had managed to keep them out of the reach of the clawing zombies, but with each progressive spell the radius of the healer's magic dwindled. Some of the zombies even managed to get up again after her last few spells. Lina, on the other hand, had effectively taken care of Halciform, who for all of his blustering, still proved to be susceptible to a solid knock on the head. Despite this one bit of luck, the situation for their group still looked dire. Halciform had programmed his brainless minions well, and Lina felt panic and despair welling in her throat as Sylphiel lay on the ground, panting and holding Gourry close to her.
"I'm sorry, Lina," she gasped, her eyes darting around wildly as the zombies renewed their approach. "I just can't anymore!"
Lina clenched her teeth and gripped the crude machete she had picked up tightly between her hands. "If only I knew how to get the light out of Gourry's stupid sword," she said between gritted teeth. She took a shaky step backwards and slashed with rusty farming tool as the first of the zombies reached them. "Oh no!" she cried as the zombie stumbled. "It's stuck!" She pulled at the hilt desperately, and the blade of the decrepit sword broke off with a loud screech. Backpedaling quickly, Lina stifled a groan as she stared at the broken hilt. "It can't be over, not yet!" she breathed, looking up at the disfigured corpses reaching for them.
A roaring sound emerged from overhead, and suddenly a wave of heat blasted into Lina's face. She fell back with a cry, watching as a sheet of flame consumed the corpses that had been reaching for her. "What?" she managed to mumble, as Valgarv landed neatly on the scorched patch of earth he had made.
He turned slightly, regarding her with his narrow golden gaze. "I never did show you the full power of Vessegace, did I, Lina?" he said, and then hefted the flaming staff before him once more.
Lina couldn't stop the smile from spreading over her face as she watched Valgarv set his magical fire to work, spinning the staff and sending controlled blasts of flames into his undead opponents. Distantly, she noted that his style was much more controlled and fluid than Dilgear's wild and haphazard usage of the staff. So it really did belong to him first, she thought to herself. As Valgarv leapt and incinerated another wave of zombies before him, comprehension dawned across her face.
"Lina," said Sylphiel, rousing herself to watch. "Valgarv followed us?" she asked in confusion. "But why?"
"Vessegace belongs to the leader of the Mountain Scorpions! Of course!" she cried, smacking her palm in her fist. "That jerk, I can't believe he didn't just tell me!" she yelled, but her voice carried a note of joy and a huge smile was spread over her face. "Don't you see, Sylphiel? It's him! He's the one!"
As if to confirm the words she spoke, Valgarv spun and kicked another zombie. Shining dully through the wrappings around his ankles was a familiar red light. "Haaaah!" he yelled, bringing his staff down once more and incinerating the last of the zombies. Wiping some sweat from his brow, he turned to face the bedraggled group. "You guys just don't know how to stay out of trouble," he said nonchalantly.
The sound of coughing interrupted them, as Halciform stumbled out of the burning hut. "You…" he coughed, staggering towards them. "My servants… you destroyed my servants!" He reached towards Valgarv, who took a step back and readied his staff. "Do you understand what you've done, fool?" he cried out as he lurched towards his own hut.
"I wonder if you've understood what you did to the villagers here," Valgarv answered him as he lifted the flaming staff once more.
Halciform cried out angrily. "It was worth it! Their lives were meaningless! Only my precious Rubia matters!" He leapt out of the way as Valgarv swept his staff down in a precise, deadly arc. The flames consumed the walls of Halciform's abode, and as they crumbled, the sorcerer's secrets were revealed.
"That's a laboratory!" Lina exclaimed, as the many chemicals and reagents on scattered on the tables burst into flame or exploded from the heat.
Halciform's strangled cry cut through the air as he charged into the burning building. "Rubia!" he screamed, clawing through the flying glass and flames. Though his body caught on fire, he managed to continue his path towards a closed wardrobe in the center of the room. But as his trembling fingers struggled to open it, the flames rose higher, consuming his body. Halciform moaned softly as the wardrobe tumbled open, scattering its contents across the floor. "Rubia!" he cried as the coffin broke open, revealing the pale form of a beautiful, red-haired woman. With the last of his strength, the piteous man crawled forward and flung himself over the body, trying to protect it from the licking flames. "My love…" he moaned, stroking at the magically preserved corpse's hair.
Lina looked away as Halciform and his dead lover were swallowed by the flames. Opening her eyes slowly again, she saw Sylphiel leaning over Gourry, holding him to her breast tightly with tears of relief streaming down her face. "Uhhh… what's going on?" the blond mumbled sleepily into the weeping healer's robes.
Lina felt a smile twitching at her face, and leaned over and ruffled Gourry's hair affectionately, who looked at her with confusion. "Nothing, Gourry," she managed, allowing him to rest against Sylphiel wearily. "Nothing at all."
Valgarv approached them, the flames of his staff flickering out as he slung it over his back. "Are you okay?" he asked them, taking in the small group's dishevelled appearance.
Lina stood up, wincing, and dusted herself off. "Yeah, thanks to you, Valgarv. We'll be okay." A million questions leapt to her mind. She wanted to hug Valgarv and thank him for saving them. She wanted to slap Valgarv and demand why he didn't reveal his identity in the first place. Overreacting is what usually gets me into trouble, she thought tiredly as she regarded his silent, morose posture. "What about the Mountain Scorpions?" she finally said, deciding on a safer topic.
Valgarv shrugged carelessly. "Zangulus is a good second. They'll be fine." He shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Unless you don't want me to help you out."
Lina shook her head wildly, a smile breaking across her face. "No no no! You're the Dragon, aren't you?" she said eagerly. "I'm the Priestess of Cephied," she explained. "We need your help!"
Sylphiel looked up from where she was tending to Gourry. "Lina, can you and Valgarv gather our supplies and the horses? I want to leave this place," she said wearily.
Lina nodded, and gesturing to Valgarv, they made their way through the smoking ruins of the huts to search for the animals.
"I always knew this mark had my destiny," Valgarv said curtly as he walked. "If helping you summon the phoenix god is what I was made for, that's what I'll do."
Lina frowned, ducking behind another smoking ruin. "There, the horses," she said, pointing as she spotted them. "I'm really grateful that you saved us," she added as they made their way towards the nervous beasts. "But listen, Valgarv. I don't want you to come along with us if that's your only reason."
Approaching one of the neighing horses, he calmed it cautiously with practiced ease. "I don't get it, Lina," he said as he moved on to the next. "You were willing to do almost anything to find me," he said when he was finished. "Now you've found me, and you don't want my help?"
Lina sighed and shook her head as she untethered her horse. "Of course I want your help, Valgarv," she said, grasping the reins. "But I know what it feels like to be tossed around by this thing you guys call fate, or destiny." She shook her head slightly. "I don't want you to come along because you think there's no other choice."
Valgarv frowned, leading the other horses back slowly. "Choice? My life has been determined ever since I discovered the meaning of this symbol I was cursed with," he growled, gesturing at his ankle.
Lina rolled her eyes at Valgarv. "Hey, I always thought being born with superhuman powers would be something like a gift, not a curse. You like your glasses half-empty, don't you?" she said with a chuckle.
Valgarv stared at her, confused. "You think this is funny?" he growled uncertainly.
Lina stopped and turned to face Valgarv. "No, I think your sulky attitude is funny. You're powerful, you've got free will, and I'm giving you the choice to do whatever you want with your life. I don't believe that we have a predetermined destiny. If you don't want to help us, that's fine with me," she said.
"You won't be able to summon Cephied," Valgarv replied.
"Well, that's tough luck," Lina said with a shrug. "I'm not going to force you into helping us though. If you come along with us, you should do it because you want to. I want us to be friends, not slaves chained to the wheel of fortune."
Valgarv remained silent, deep in thought as they led the horses back. As they approached Sylphiel and Gourry, he glared at Lina. "I never thought about having a choice before," he grumbled. "You're a strange girl, Lina Inverse. You make things complicated."
Lina felt a sharp sense of disappointment, but nodded at Valgarv slightly. "I understand, Valgarv… good luck with the Mountain Scorpions," she told him with a small smile.
Valgarv snorted. "You also jump to conclusions too quickly," he grinned. "I'm coming with you. Because I want to," he said, and whistled for his own mount.
- x – x – x -
The lights of the library flickered on and off, and a badly warped tape of the Banana Boat song was on its third run across the loudspeakers. Gracia covered her ears and winced. "I've got to get out of here," she said nervously, marking her place in the book and glancing at the cover. Her eyes bulged as she looked at the stickers on the book's binding. "Special Collections, not to be checked out?" Panicking, she glanced around furtively, and tried to slip the book under her shirt. Unfortunately for Gracia, her skimpy choice of wardrobe was making her covert action not only ridiculous, but next to impossible. "Ohh!" she moaned as she tried to hold the bulge under her cutoff shirt. "Next time I'm going to listen to Amelia!" she mumbled as she crept towards the library's exit.
"Naga?" Gracia jumped almost straight up in the air, eyes wide, and began talking quickly. "Oh, hello there! I can explain what I'm doing, you see, I just forgot my… uhm… uhm… my library card! I forgot my library card and my backpack at home, and I really need this book for my project!"
"Naga, you don't even go to this university. What are you doing here?"
Gracia let out a huge sigh of relief as she recognized the voice addressing her. "Luna!" she said, running up to the tall, much more conservatively clad girl with the large backpack slung over her shoulder. "I need your help!"
If Gracia could have seen Luna's eyes, she might have noticed one of her brows lifting slightly. Luna preferred to keep her bangs long and bushy, however, and so only her stiff posture gave away her disapproval. "Naga, I'm not going to help you with another one of your idiotic plans. Real people use the library for studying, not sunbathing," she smirked, looking down at Gracia's clothing. "Go bug Lina or somebody, I need to go home."
Gracia grabbed at Luna's arm desperately, stopping her. "No, really, I mean it Luna. I know we don't get along, but this involves both of our sisters!"
Luna paused and waited. "Lina's in trouble again? I didn't think she was that dumb," she said as she cracked her knuckles. "So what did the little brat do this time?"
The lights flickered once more, and both girls looked up worriedly. "Luna, just trust me for once, okay?" Gracia whispered, stuffing "The Universe of the Four Gods" into Luna's backpack.
"Hey!" cried Luna indignantly, grabbing at her backpack and trying to look into it. But Gracia was already dragging her towards the doors, waving over-enthusiastically at the remaining librarians who stared after the odd pair.
- x – x – x -
Luna sat on the park bench under the flickering streetlight, sipping at her coffee as Gracia waved the book around and breathlessly explained what she knew. When she was done, Luna crumpled the cup and tossed it into the trash receptacle nearby. Standing up, she marched over to Gracia and tore the book out of her hands.
"You're an idiot, Naga," she said, as she opened the book and began to read it for herself. "If you think…" her words died out as she stared at the illustration on the page facing her. There, painted with stylized brush strokes, was an uncanny portrait of her sister, riding next to two men and a woman through a forest. Flipping back through the book, she scanned over the words briefly, falling still as she read. When she finally looked up again, Gracia was standing before her with her arms crossed and a smirk.
"So do you believe me now?" she asked angrily.
Luna glanced back down at the book again, turning to the actual page and watching the mysterious letters fluidly scribe themselves across the parchment. "I don't know what to believe," she said quietly. Then she sucked in her breath. "Naga, come here. The story's writing about Amelia now," she said, pointing at the page.
Gracia raced over and snatched the book out of Luna's hands, desperately absorbing every word as it came into view. "In the Kingdom of Elmekia, the Priestess of Shabranigdu was torn by feelings of sorrow and pain as she wept in her room…"
- x – x – x -
Amelia lay in her bed listlessly, her hand clenching and unclenching the sheets. She felt depressed and lethargic, and the only visitor she ever saw was Rezo when he'd stop by for his daily reports. Finally, fed up her lack of energy, she rolled out of the bed and threw open her window. Leaning out into the cool evening air, she took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind.
"Amelia!" came a whisper.
Looking around, she backed away from the balcony quickly. "Who's there?" she asked in a trembling voice. Her question was answered as the cloaked figure gracefully leapt over the railing and landed before her, shushing her quickly. Pulling his mask down slightly, he smiled slightly at her.
"Mr. Zelgadis?" she said, surprised. Then quickly, she ushered him into the room and closed the shutters behind them. "What are you doing here? The guards will attack you if you're seen!" she whispered desperately.
Pulling his hood down and glancing around, Zelgadis turned his attention to Amelia. "I came to rescue you," he said. "Come on, if we go now, we might not be noticed," he said, moving towards the window.
Amelia crossed her arms and turned away from him angrily. "And who told you I need to be rescued?" she said tightly. "Did Lina send you here? Is that it?"
Zelgadis paused, and turned back to the young girl. "Amelia," he said softly. "Lina didn't send me here. I came on my own to get you. Don't you want to be rescued?"
Amelia turned as he said this, her eyes sparkling. "Y-you mean you came here, just to see me?" she asked him, her voice full of hope.
Zelgadis sighed slightly. Great… she's taking it the entirely wrong way. Clearing his throat nervously, he tried again. "I came here to bring you back to Lina," he explained. "She's really worried about you. She only wants to help you."
Amelia's eyes narrowed and she recrossed her arms over her chest. "It always comes back down to Lina, doesn't it? I don't mean anything to you!" Tears welled in her eyes as she glared at him. "Why? What does she have that I don't?"
Zelgadis ran a hand through his hair. Why do girls always have to complicate things? he thought irritably. "Listen, Amelia," he said, trying to be gentle. "Why did you betray us to Rezo? I'm sure that whatever happened between you and Lina was a mistake. If you just come with me back to Sairoon, we can straighten this whole thing out."
Amelia, however, rushed towards him and threw her arms around Zelgadis, who stiffened and blushed as she squeezed him. "Why can't you stay here with me?" she cried, sniffling into his cloak. "Why does everyone always go to Lina? Loudmouthed, bossy Lina, it's always about her, her, her!" She looked up at Zelgadis, her eyes watering. "Why are you ignoring me? I'm not like Lina!"
"Amelia—" Zelgadis began uncomfortably.
She gripped him earnestly, trying to hold his attention. "I'm nice. I'm quiet, and I listen. I'm different from Lina, can't you see that? I don't care about your condition," she pleaded to Zelgadis tenderly. "I could love you even with your skin. Together we could find happiness. We could run away, away from everyone else, and just live together, alone!"
Zelgadis paused as he regarded the young, fragile girl in his arms. He could see she was infatuated with him, but even as she spoke, the tiny voice in his head was already comparing her to Lina. Lina didn't think my skin was a "condition." She wouldn't want me to hide from the rest of the world. Inwardly he grimaced as he realized that mentioning his thoughts were exactly what would cause Amelia even more pain. Sighing, he gently pushed her away. "Amelia, I'm sorry, I just don't feel that way about you," he said quietly.
Amelia ripped herself away from him, her face reflecting her hurt and anger. Before she could open her mouth, however, Zelgadis stiffened, glancing around. Motioning her to silence, he leapt towards the window and threw open the shutters. Quickly, he entered the balcony and pressed himself against the wall, hiding. And not a moment too soon, for suddenly the wind stirred, and Rezo stepped out of the shadows.
"My Lady," he said, bowing to her slightly. "I see you're out of bed this evening. I take it you're feeling better?"
Amelia opened and closed her mouth, and quickly tried to wipe her tears away. "Uhm, yes, Rezo… I was just talking to myself," she said nervously.
Rezo strolled over to the balcony, stopping just before the window. A slight smile crossed his face as he stood there for a moment, his sealed eyes revealing nothing. Then he turned and faced Amelia. "I bring you the evening report. There is some good news, my Lady."
Amelia clutched at her robe and nodded at Rezo slowly. "Good news?"
"Our spies have reported that the Priestess of Cephied and two of her warriors attempted to find the remaining one. I did some scrying, and it seems that in their incompetence, they even managed to kill their own missing warrior." He laughed as he said this, shaking his head. "As we speak, the Priestess and her remaining followers are walking into a trap. A cursed village, controlled by a madman. They'll surely be killed, perhaps even made into mindless slaves of this lunatic."
Zelgadis stiffened on the balcony as he heard Rezo's report. Lina! he though worriedly. I've got to save her!
"And there is one more matter," Rezo continued. "A small web I have spun, that managed to catch its prey." Lifting his staff, he waved it slightly at the balcony. There was a crackling, and then a thump as Rezo's lightning chains dragged Zelgadis into the room. "As you can see, we now have the Priestess' most favoured warrior within our grasp."
Amelia let out a little gasp, covering her mouth as she watched Zelgadis struggle painfully against his bonds.
"Amelia! Help me!" he cried, but was cut off with a gasp as Rezo frowned and waved his staff, sending a streak of electricity through Zelgadis' body.
"Silence, boy! You will not speak to the Priestess of Shabranigdu unless you are ordered to," he commanded.
"Rezo!" Amelia cried as he lifted the chimera into the air and dangled him there. "Don't hurt him! I order you not to kill him!" she said desperately.
Rezo smiled slightly and bowed his head at Amelia. "As you wish, my lady. But I did promise you that I would give him to you as a present. The boy is hardly fit right now. Allow me to prepare him first," he said with a formal bow. And then with another wave of his staff, both he and Zelgadis were gone.
- x – x – x -
"AAAAAAHHH!"
Rezo laughed as the scream was ripped from Zelgadis' throat. The chimera sagged against the wall, dangling from the iron manacles that had been snapped around his wrists. Lifting his staff, he pointed at Zelgadis once more and sent another burst of lightning crackling around the chimera's limp form. "Don't tell me you're tired already, boy?" he asked mockingly as he increased the power of his attack. "I can't believe you're so weak," he laughed.
"Why… why are you doing this, you bastard?" coughed Zelgadis as he glared at his tormentor.
"Be silent, boy. You will do as you're told from now on," Rezo murmured. With a wave of his staff, the manacles clanked and drew back against the wall, lifting Zelgadis from his knees. He turned his head slightly, as if listening to something. "She's right on time, too. Now be sure and show her your best face," he said with a cold smile, as his magic wrapped around the chimera's body, freezing him into an upright position.
A knock sounded at the door, and with a gesture, it swung open. "My Lady," said Rezo quietly with a deferential bow to Amelia. "You shouldn't be here," he said softly. "The prisoners kept here can be dangerous at times."
Amelia drew her cloak more closely around her, shivering. "I know," she mumbled quietly. "But I wanted to see how he was doing," she said, approaching Zelgadis.
Rezo extended his staff, holding her back. "Please, Lady. Don't approach the prisoner too closely. He's calm now, but if I wake him from my magic bindings, he struggles like a wild animal. You might be hurt," he said, letting concern colour his voice.
Amelia sighed, and tried to look into Zelgadis' face. His head was lowered, and his posture stiff. "He doesn't look too violent," she said uncertainly. "Let him talk."
Rezo began to push her back, but Amelia put her hand on his arm and squeezed firmly. "I mean it, Rezo, let him talk!"
The sage paused slightly, and then with a slight nod, waved his staff at Zelgadis. The chimera lifted his head, looking around, and spotted Amelia.
"Amelia!" he said, seeing her standing behind Rezo. "What are you doing? Why are you listening to this bastard? Can't you see he's…"
Rezo frowned, and twisted his staff swiftly. Zelgadis' next words were cut off with a choking sound.
"Rezo!" cried Amelia angrily. "Stop it right now! I want to talk to him alone!"
"My lady," he answered, as he lifted the spell. "I've only made it clear to him that he is to conduct himself properly in your presence." Turning to Zelgadis, he approached him and lifted his chin. "Address the lady with the respect she deserves," he said coldly. What Amelia didn't see, however, was the smile on his face as he said this, and the touch he laid on Zelgadis' forehead. A brief light flowed between the two, and when he stepped away, Zelgadis' eyes looked back at him vacantly. Bowing to the two slightly, he stepped outside of the cell.
As soon as the door shut, Amelia ran up to Zelgadis, her eyes watering. "Oh, Zelgadis, I'm so sorry!" she said, reaching for the manacles around his wrists. Her breath caught in surprise as he brought his arms around her waist and smiled at her.
"Amelia," he said softly. "You were right. We can find our own happiness, together." He leaned in, as if to kiss her.
Amelia felt herself blush and backed away out of Zelgadis' reach quickly. "W-What's wrong with you?" she stuttered, trying to hide her flaming cheeks. "Why are you suddenly so interested in me?"
Zelgadis dropped his head sorrowfully. "I'm sorry, Amelia. I was only trying to offer you what you wanted." He held his hand out to her, but she stepped away warily. "Isn't this what you want? To be with me?"
Amelia regarded Zelgadis, for a moment tempted as he gazed at her with his kind eyes and held his hand out. But the feeling of wrongness washed over her. He couldn't have changed his mind so quickly… I bet this is all just a game to him! she thought, her chest constricting. "You… you stay away from me! I won't be used by you!" she said finally, tears clouding her eyes as she stumbled blindly to the dungeon door.
"My lady," said Rezo, catching her as she exited the cell. "I told you, it wasn't a good idea. Please, return to your room now. I will take care of the prisoner."
Amelia sniffed, and nodded into his robes silently. "Please, Rezo… just take care of everything," she whimpered.
Snapping his fingers, two of Rezo's guards emerged from the shadows and took Amelia between them. "Escort the lady to her room, and see that she rests," he instructed them. As they walked away, a cold smile crossed his face and he re-entered Zelgadis' cell.
The chimera stood there as if frozen, his head lowered and his hand still outstretched. Rezo smirked as he regarded him. "It pleases me greatly to see you brought so low, Zelgadis," he mocked. "But lower your hand now, you look like a fool. I have new instructions for you."
Obediently, Zelgadis lowered his hand and looked at Rezo expectantly, his eyes vacant and unquestioning.
"I want you to go back to Sairoon. Consider it a happy reunion with your friends," Rezo said, smiling. "Return to the palace and meet with the Priestess of Cephied. She'll undoubtedly greet her hero with open arms," he said with a slight smile. "Kill her."
Zelgadis bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement as the shackles fell away from him. "As you wish," he intoned emotionlessly.
- x – x – x -
A great banquet was being held in the palace of Sairoon. Lina, Gourry, Sylphiel had returned successfully with Valgarv, and Xellos was finally off the throne. It was a cause for feasting and celebration, and the huge banquet being held in the Imperial Court was no disappointment. But although the four Celestial Warriors were celebrating and getting to know each other better, Lina had distanced herself from their animated chatter.
She stared down at her heavily laden plate with a feeling of disappointment. The one time the dinner table actually has enough for both me and Gourry, and I'm not even hungry, she reflected, picking at her food idly. I wish Zelgadis were here, she thought, suddenly lonely. "I guess he'd laugh at me and tell me I picked a good time to go on a diet," she mumbled to herself quietly.
"Hey Lina! Why don't join us?" came Gourry's yell as he gestured at her wildly. She smiled, happy to see the Emperor fully recovered from his bout of illness. But she gave a half-hearted wave to them and shook her head. "Sorry for spoiling the mood, guys," she called back. "I think I just want to be alone right now, though." Standing up from the table, she made her way towards the courtyard, as the other warriors watched her leave with concern.
"She's thinking about Zelgadis," Sylphiel whispered quietly.
"That blue guy? She must care a lot about him," Valgarv agreed as they watched her leave. "Should someone go after her?"
Xellos clucked his tongue, his ever closed eyes regarding the others. "I don't think that would be wise," he told them. "I've seen women get like this before. It's best to give them a wide berth, or you could end up getting hurt," he said with a smile.
"But I thought you'd like that?" Gourry told Xellos, scratching his head. Everyone else sweatdropped as the emperor looked around cluelessly, asking "What?"
- x – x – x -
Lina stepped out into the cool night air, choosing one of the paths that led to the gardens. She looked up into the sky, searching for the constellation of Cephied. Spotting it, she stopped and squinted. "Where are you, Zelgadis?" she asked out loud, searching for his star. Her breath caught in her throat as she found it; the light shining from it was weak, not at all how she remembered it sparkling in the sky when Zelgadis had first pointed it out to her. Did something happen to him? she thought to herself with concern.
"Lina," came a soft voice from the darkness.
She whirled around, her eyes widening as she glanced around nervously. "Who's there?"
The black-robed figure stepped out into the moonlight. He lifted his head and smiled at her, turquoise eyes glittering with an unnatural brightness. "I'm right here, Lina," he said, staring at her.
"Zelgadis?" Lina exclaimed, elation washing over her as she recognized him. "You made it back! You idiot, I was so worried about you!" she yelled at him as she ran forward, enveloping him in a bear hug. "What happened to you?" she asked, looking up.
He wrapped his arms around her and gripped her firmly, a small smile playing across his face, and didn't answer her.
A chill washed over Lina as she stared into his emotionless eyes. "Y-you… you're not Zelgadis, are you," she said quietly, and tried to step away from him. His arms held her fast, the grip tightening painfully.
"I am," he said, the smile curving at the edges of his mouth. "And now, it's time for you to die."
