Chapter 15: Dreams and Memories

Somehow, despite Rezo's attack, Lina and the others managed to make it across Elmekia and into the desert land of Zephilia. It was a harsh and unusually rapid climate change from the snowy plateaus of Kataart and the rocky mountain forests in Elmekia. Still, being able to travel in the open under sunlit skies once more did much to improve everyone's mood. More than a few days passed with no follow-up from the warriors of Shabranigdu. Even Xellos grudgingly admitted that Zelgadis might have managed to seriously injure the seemingly impervious red sage.

They halted their journey in Belzed, the capital of Zephilia, which was located fairly close to Elmekia's border. This was because the country, despite its vast size, was built around the few rivers and waterways that wound their way through the dry, barren landscape. And even despite their proximity to the large river separating two nations, the atmosphere in Belzed was hot and acrid. Lina had no doubt that the rest of the country would be even less welcoming than its largest city.

As with their last attempt, the group gathered in a pub near the city gates after spending a day trying to gathering what information they could about the existence of an old temple in the desert. When they met again in the evening, it was with mixed results.

"We didn't find anything!" Lina grumbled as she thumped her head onto the table. "This place has me ready to just melt in my boots," she moaned miserably.

"Complaining again?" smirked Valgarv wearily. He, too, was covered in dust from the desert air, and as he swiped at his sweaty face, his fingers left a trail of grim over his cheek. "This is normal for the desert. If we have to cross the open sand, it won't get any easier," he added morosely.

"We'll make it," Zelgadis said curtly, turning to face the last member of their party.

As usual, Xellos was the only one of them to remain clean, composed and in good spirits after the long, hard day. The magician seemed to thrive on hardship, whether from people or circumstance. It made Lina wonder briefly what sort of training program Filia had put him through. Noticing Lina's stare, Xellos turned his face towards her and gave her a wide grin, which caused her to scowl at him nastily. "Well, Xellos?" she asked him irately.

"Today was quite enjoyable. For a desert kingdom, the literary history here is really quite extraordinary," he mused as he rubbed his chin. "It's a pity there isn't more time to unearth the secrets buried beneath these sands."

"Cut the crap, Xellos," Lina ground out. "We don't have time for cultural history lessons if we want to stop Rezo from making us into history. Now what did you find?"

"Why, the answer to our questions, of course!" grinned Xellos as he waggled his finger in the air. "You should really try to enjoy the finer arts. Just think of what you would have missed without me!"

"I'll apologize to my teachers when I get back," Lina grumbled. "Now spill!"

"Spill? Lina, one really shouldn't waste water in a desert country, it's quite rude—"

"Zelgadis."

There was a thump and a muffled groan, and then Xellos picked himself back up with a broad smile. "I can see you're impatient. Very well, the temple that the ghosts were speaking of lies to the southwest. We'll have to travel through the desert, but if it's truly as the texts stated, it shouldn't be hard to find. The Temple of Dark Star once held the powers of a priestess from another world, just like yourself, and even more recently than in Kataart. The residual magical energies should still be noticeable for someone attuned to the astral plane," he added.

"Great!" Lina said, grinning broadly. "So we set off tomorrow?"

Zelgadis nodded, standing up. "I've reserved us a few rooms here already. We should get some rest, we'll want to start before the sun rises tomorrow morning," he said to the others.

As they retired to their rooms, a small figure sitting at another table turned slightly and smiled. "Sweet dreams, Warriors of Cephied," Phibrizo cooed softly from beneath his hood.

- x – x – x -

The small hooded figure paused by the first door, touching his hand against the frame. Magic leeched out a golden orb held in his palm, snaking its way under the door frame and spreading through the room beyond like a sickly dark mist. "The first victim," said Phibrizo with a smile as he wove the spell. "You are most difficult to hide from, magician. But even you have a weakness."

Inside, the figure on the bed tossed and mumbled slightly. He really wasn't a night person, otherwise he might have been more alert. The mist seeped over him, surrounding him in a cocoon of false dreams.

"Taiitsukun?" he murmured in confusion as the illusion took hold.

Filia turned around, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder with obvious annoyance. "You again? What do you want this time, you piece of garbage?" she called out sharply.

Xellos smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Why, only to learn from you, my dear lady!" The Xellos that looked up from where he was kneeling on the veranda was younger, had shorter hair, and most notably was missing his staff and trademark smirk. His amethyst eyes were also open, and nervously watching the blonde woman who stood before him, holding his future in her hands.

Filia paused and set her teacup down on the table, then crossed her arms. "This is the fourth time you've braved my tests and climbed my mountainside. Why won't you just give up?" she said icily.

"I want to learn," he answered earnestly. "I want to know the Old Ways."

"You want power," she retorted cuttingly. "You're as transparent as boiling water, and just as unsettling. Persistent, I'll give you that, but it's not enough."

"Yes!" was his quick reply, seeing her turn away. Climbing the mountain was getting harder each time. I won't make it again. I can't lose this time, he thought with worry He shut his eyes and plastered on a bright smile. "Yes, I want power. I won't deny it." Rising to his feet, he dusted himself off and crossed his own arms. This caught Filia's attention, who finally turned around and faced him.

"You realized the pointlessness of groveling?"

Xellos' grin tightened but didn't falter. "I've passed your tests and made it to the summit of Mount Taikyoku four times. I know I'm ready. I know I'm strong enough. I've proven I'm worthy. You can't ignore me forever." His humorous tone dropped. "I won't let you."

Filia snorted, but scrutinized him curiously. "No… you won't, I can see that." She let out a little sigh. "Tell me why you want to learn the Old Ways. They were forbidden after the Great Wars for a good reason. That power can destroy the world. Give me one good reason I should grant you that knowledge."

Xellos' smile faded slightly, and he glared at Filia with bitter ire. "I came from the north. You know what happened to the smaller tribes there."

Filia's gaze became almost disappointed. "I think you should leave," she told him.

"Not revenge!" he burst out, stepping forward. He pushed his sleeve up quickly, revealing the angry red mark on his elbow. "This was the cause. I'm pledged to Cephied. I was born in the North!" he snarled. Catching himself, he calmed down, hissing through his teeth. "Shabranigdu is not a god of mercy," he added, his gaze fixed on the lifeless red symbol with a mixture of hatred and despair.

"Is there nothing else for you?"

He looked up quickly, seeing Filia standing before him. How she moved so quickly or silently, he didn't know, but he resisted the urge to step backwards. "I don't want to see the ugliness of the world anymore. Even if you don't teach me, allow me to stay here."

Filia's relentless gaze refused to release him. "I won't teach the blind," she told him.

Hope flared in Xellos' breast. His smile returned. "Then teach me to see without eyes," he answered.

Filia exhaled with an annoyed huff and turned away from him. "You don't know what you're asking for," she said sharply. A few strands of her long, golden hair caught on the edge of his cloak as she stepped away. They seemed to glow with their own light against the darkness of the fabric. Purity, he thought to himself wistfully; he knew Filia lived in a state of being that he would never attain. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the golden strands, however; and despite the contrast he saw between her power and his very existence, he knew he had to try. There was no going back, and nothing to go back to anyway.

"You'll need a staff," said Filia. She picked up her cup of tea from the table once more and took a long draught from it.

His mouth opened, and for a few moments his eyes were wide with shock.

Filia noticed his attention and an annoyed expression flashed across her face. "Well? I won't give you one," she said haughtily. "Get off this mountain and find your own."

No Nyan-Nyans came giggling to shuffle him off the veranda. No colored lights blinded him, and there was no sudden teleportation to the forest below. His smile widened. "I won't disappoint you," he said, and left the shelter quickly.

- x – x – x -

"Fool. So easily entrapped by his own memories," Phibrizo grinned as he moved on. He stopped at the next door, and another malicious smile spread across his face. "Ah. A challenge." Touching his hand to the door frame, the mist swirled into the room, blanketing its unsuspecting occupant.

"Hey, Valgarv! What're you doing?" Zangulus looked up from the base of the cliff that the young teenager was precariously scaling.

"I can feel something here!" Valgarv called out over his back, wiping some sweat from his brow as he fought for another handhold.

"Don't be a fool! We have to get back before the boss notices we're gone!" Zangulus' voice sounded distant and faint.

Valgarv cursed under his breath and struggled his way up the mountain. His ankle throbbed almost painfully, and he grit his teeth. "If you're so worried, go back alone!" he shouted to his friend below. Feeling the symbol on his ankle pulse once more, he grumbled more for himself than Zangulus. "It's not like I have a choice anyway." Hauling himself up over the last outcropping, he came to a stop at a ledge on the cliff, rolling over and panting from the effort. The sun shone in his face, and he closed his eyes briefly as a slight breeze cooled off the sweat on his body.

I just want to be free.

The thought caught him unexpectedly, and his face twisted into a bitter frown. "I am free. Free to go back to the Scorpions and get told what to do," he muttered, his eyes opening in slits. "There's got to be more to life than this," he grumbled, sitting up. "And why the hell did you tell me to come all the way up here anyway, huh?" he growled at his ankle, which still pulsed in time with his own heartbeat, pushing him onwards. He wrapped his hand over the bandages he had knotted around the character to keep it from sight and squeezed tightly. It was only when he let out a small grunt of pain that he allowed himself to let go. But there was still no difference; the symbol burned into his flesh, pulsing as steadily as ever.

"Damn you!" he mumbled, cautiously rising to his feet. Another breeze stroked his back, and he turned around suspiciously.

There on the mountainside was a small fissure on the face of the rock. It snaked up further up the mountain, unremarkable in any regard, except for where it widened to the ledge he was standing on. He squinted into the darkened cavern beyond, but nothing clued him in as to what might wait inside. Another cool gust of wind stirred his hair.

"Valgarv!" He heard Zangulus' cry once more, but ignored it, squeezing his way through the tight crack.

With a grunt, he popped out into the darkness of the cave. "Well, it's a good thing this cursed symbol knows I'm skinny," he grumbled into the emptiness, hearing his voice echo off the stones. He cursed as he tripped over the uneven rock floor, falling painfully to his knees. "Stupid thing could have figured out that I can't see in the dark, though…"

As if in answer, faint red light began to shine through the wrappings on his ankle. With a shrug, Valgarv unwound the bindings around his leg and stood up, his eyes adjusting in the dim light it provided. "The hell…" he said, as the form came into view.

It should have been impossible – the fissure was tiny, the mountainside insignificant, the whole area unimportant. Aside from the coins and wares they pilfered from the traders who passed through, there was nothing of true value in the barren mountains where he lived. So it was impossible. The harsh wasteland Valgarv called home was as empty of relics, legends and treasure as the capital was full of them.

But even as he picked up the short metal handle nestled between the rocks, he knew. "This is mine?" he asked wonderingly, though there was no one to answer. The burning in his ankle died away the moment his skin made contact with the cool metal. The red light illuminating the cavern faded, and Valgarv briefly wondered how he was going to find his way out again. But even as he was thinking, the staff grew warm beneath his hands.

"This is no ordinary weapon," he said reverently, holding it out before him. Experimentally, he spun it around, and almost dropped it when the ends sputtered to life with tiny flames. After recovering from his surprise, he whirled it around once again, more carefully this time, trying to control his movements. The staff flared to life, flames racing out both ends with a ferocious intensity. The walls surrounding him blackened and he felt his skin blister slightly from the heat. Still, he couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up from his throat as the flames lit the cavern with their dancing shadows. "You will buy me freedom, won't you?" he laughed, watching the fire. "I will call you Vessegace!"

Some time later, after making his way down the mountainside, he was surprised to find Zangulus still waiting for him. The boy's tattered hat was pulled low over his dark eyes. He jumped to his feet when he heard the skittering rocks indicating Valgarv's descent.

"Where the hell have you been, man? The boss is gonna have our hides!" Zangulus' eyes widened as he took in the aqua-haired youth's appearance. "And what the hell happened to you up there? It looks like you've been running through a volcano!"

Valgarv grinned cockily and planted the staff firmly into the soil beside him, which caught Zangulus' attention immediately.

"What is that?" he asked, eyeing the metallic handle curiously.

"This is my destiny," Valgarv answered, tightening his grip. "You're right, Zangulus. Let's go back and see the boss." The grin on his face widened into a cruel smirk.

- x – x – x -

The cloaked figure moved on, chuckling to himself. "Keep your pride and your arrogance, fool. At least you'll die happy," he giggled. He stopped at the next door with another grin. "Now this, I shall enjoy." The dark mist seeped into the room, descending over the unfortunate sleeper within.

"What's taking so long?" Phibrizo turned slightly and raised an irate eyebrow at his cloaked companion. "I still say we should go in there while they're sleeping and gut them," Eris hissed sourly as she watched the child turn his attention back to the spell. "I don't like sneaking around like this."

"If you'll remember, we tried it your way, and it failed. Miserably. So you'll do things my way now. Or you'll suffer the same fate as our friends," Phibrizo added nonchalantly.

Eris sucked in her breath, her eyes narrowing. This kid creeps me out, she thought privately. "Rezo would never allow that!" she said out loud.

"Rezo is trying to recover from Zelgadis' little surprise," Phibrizo said carelessly. "He told me to do as I liked. And that I will."

Eris gave an angry shrug of her shoulders. "Fine, do as YOU like then. What do you need me for, though? I should be at his side!"

Phibrizo turned abruptly and faced her, and Eris' breath literally caught in her throat. She choked and stumbled slightly as her mouth opened and closed rapidly, gasping for air.

"Shut up, you stupid bitch. You'll wake the rest of them. The spell is fragile," Phibrizo whispered harshly to her. "If you want to fight three warriors of Cephied by yourself, be my guest. But watch your tongue while I'm working, old hag!" He turned back to the doorway, and Eris sagged against the wall, gasping for breath.

When she finally regained her composure, Eris looked down on Phibrizo with thinly veiled disgust. "What do you want me to do?" she whispered sourly.

"Simple," Phibrizo said as the door to the room opened. Eris let out a gasp and brought her hands up reflexively as she met Zelgadis' blank stare, but Phibrizo waved her off amusedly. "Relax. He can't see you, he's still asleep."

"Lina?" Zelgadis mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Lina?" squeaked Eris, taking a step backwards.

"He sees what he wants to," Phibrizo explained. "Zelgadis is special for some reason. He's strong… strong enough to injure even Rezo. Take him back to Elmekia. His powers will be weakened in Shabranigdu's land."

"Yes, but what am I supposed to do with him there?" Eris said, looking at the sleepy chimera with disgust. "And how long is this spell of yours going to last?"

Phibrizo shrugged. "The spell will last as long as it needs to. Long enough for you to take care of this little problem," he said with a dark grin. "I'm sure you'll find a way, Eris. After all, you're so good with men."

Eris bit down on her lip, her eyes flashing. I should slap that little twerp, she thought angrily. Her thoughts scattered as she felt a gentle hand lift her chin, wiping the blood away from her lip with surprising tenderness.

"Lina, what's wrong? You're hurting yourself." Zelgadis looked at her again with unfocused concern.

"I… ah… well, let's not talk about it here," she whispered to him quickly. "Let's go downstairs, so we won't wake the others." She sent another death glare to the small boy, who was waving at her with a cruel smirk as she led the chimera away.

"Don't have too much fun, Eris!" he called softly after her. "Your Lord Rezo might get jealous," he snickered. Shutting the door carefully, he moved to the last room with a predatory grin. "I always save the best for last," he murmured, touching the door leading to Lina's room.

- x – x – x -

Lina shivered and pulled the blankets closer around her. She dozed uneasily, her dreams plagued by hazy nightmares. A feeling of wrongness surrounded her, and she tried to wake up. It was no use; instead of providing comfort or release, her sleep was acting more like a vice that she couldn't break free of. Her confusion and panic grew as the misty images became clearer and brighter. This is wrong…

"It's wrong!" she cried out, her eyes snapping open.

"For once in your life, you just may be correct, Miss Inverse," came the dry voice of her math teacher as small titters rose from the other students.

Lina's head shot up and she looked around the classroom, her eyes wide. She caught her breath as Amelia came into sight, the younger girl filled with obvious worry as she regarded her friend. Pay attention! Amelia silently mouthed to the redhead from her seat in the adjoining row.

Lina snapped her head back to the blackboard and saw a complicated-looking diagram drawn there. "Umm… I meant…" she fumbled helplessly.

"We're waiting, Miss Inverse," the teacher said warningly, tapping his pointer against the chalkboard. "The correct answer?"

"Uhh… uhh…" Lina stalled nervously, taking in the equation. "When in doubt, just pick a famous equation!" she remembered Amelia telling her once. "It's the definition of Euler's number?" she asked with a sweatdrop.

The teacher look disgruntled and dropped the pointer onto his desk with a slam. "That's right," he grit out, causing more giggles to rise from the students. "Since you're keeping up so well with your lessons, the homework will be to read chapters eight and nine and do exercises 21 through 50," he added nastily. A chorus of groans rose from the students as the bell rang, and Amelia made her way over to Lina's desk.

"Lina, what's wrong with you?" she asked, peering at Lina worriedly. "I really thought Mr. Hanson was going to get you that time. That's amazing how you do that," she added in a hushed tone of respect.

"Actually, you're the one who told me how to do that," Lina said distantly, her mind still not focused on the lesson. She rubbed her forehead and sighed heavily.

"Hey, something really IS wrong with you! Do you want to go to the nurse?" Amelia said worriedly, pulling at Lina's elbow.

"No, not the nurse," Lina said quickly, flashing a smile at her friend. "It's just… ugh, I feel like I forgot something really important," she admitted sheepishly. "I guess I just kinda zoned out, huh?"

Amelia stepped back with a knowing smile. "I understand, Lina. It's that new guy, isn't it? You know, you never really liked guys before, but this one's the exception, huh!"

Lina felt her face grow red. "New guy? What are you talking about? I'm not daydreaming about any new guy!"

Amelia nodded amusedly, hauling Lina to her feet. "Yeah, it's definitely got to be the new guy. It's lunch period and you haven't even moved yet!" she added with a grin.

"WHAT? LUNCH?" There was the sound of a sonic boom and Amelia was left standing there befuddled as the papers slowly fluttered to the floor around her. She shook her head and let out a huge sigh. "Lina and food…" she muttered, trailing after her friend.

- x – x – x -

"So Amelia… who's this new student you were talking about?" Lina mumbled between gulps of her food.

Amelia stared at her friend in consternation. "You mean you really haven't heard anything at all, Lina? Where have you been? The whole school's talking about him! He's dreamy…" she mumbled, her eyes growing glassy.

Lina snorted. "Don't get carried away, Amelia. He's just another guy, probably a jerk like all the other boys in this school." Again, something niggled at the back of her mind. Where have I been? "Something's fishy about this," she said out loud.

Amelia, however, wasn't listening. She grabbed onto Lina's arm, tugging it frantically. "There he is… look, look, and he's coming towards our table!" she squeaked as her eyes grew wider.

"Stop acting like a dork, Amelia," Lina said with boredom. "He's probably just lost. And frankly, as long as he doesn't get between me and my lunch tray, I don't care what he does." She turned back to her food with renewed vigor, noting Amelia's continued excitement with dismay. Unable to concentrate on her food, she slammed her fork back down on the table and turned to her friend. "What?"

"I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?"

The smooth voice interrupted Lina's one-sided conversation, and she focused her gaze on the object of Amelia's attention. Her breath caught in her throat, and it felt as though her heart was being squeezed in a tight grip. "W-who are you?" she managed to push out, staring at the student who stood before her table. His brown hair hung over his face in messy waves, partially covering one of his dark eyes.

"My name is Hallas Lyes. I'm the new transfer student," he said, seating himself at their table.

"M-Mr. Lyes! It's such an honor to meet you!" said Amelia excitedly, grabbing his hand and pumping it wildly.

To Lina's surprise, instead of laughing at Amelia, he blushed and carefully extracted his hand from the young girl's grip. "An honor? You must be mistaken; I'm just the new kid on the block. Actually, it's an honor to meet both of you," he said, turning his eyes towards Lina. "I really don't know anyone here, I'm just glad you're not telling me to get lost," he said jokingly.

Lina swallowed and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the young man. He looks so familiar, she thought to herself. "Well, don't get your hopes up too fast, buster. You don't know what I'm going to say next," she added dangerously.

"Lina!" gasped Amelia with horror. She leaned over and whispered quickly into Lina's ear. "Are you blind? Look, he's cute, he just got here and he's popular already, and he's interested in you!"

This made Lina choke, and she almost spit out her juice all over the topic of conversation. He looked worried and reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay, miss?"

Lina managed to swallow and glared at the offending hand until he removed it from her shoulder with a sheepish expression. "What do you want?" she said loudly.

Hallas leaned back and chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Well… I was hoping you'd tell me your name," he said. "I guess I could go around calling you the cute redhead with the temper, but I'd rather have something a little more personal," he added, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

Lina caught herself staring, completely unprepared for his open declaration of interest. She was shaken out of her stupor by the loud sound of Amelia's coughing, as the younger girl noisily gathered her things together. "Amelia? Where're you going?" she asked, grabbing the other girl's wrist desperately.

"Oh, I just remembered I have to finish my homework for the next class. Don't worry, I know how much you enjoy lunch, Lina. Go on ahead without me," she snickered with a wink. Waving, Amelia beat a hasty retreat, leaving Lina alone at the table with Hallas. When she turned to face him again, he was smiling at her uncertainly.

"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your friend like that. I guess I was a little too forward, huh?" He gave her a sheepish smile. "I hope I didn't just completely ruin my chances with you," he added nervously.

Lina felt herself staring once more. Cute guy, interested in me, and polite? Something is definitely wrong here. And where have I seen him before? She grasped at straws, trying to place his oddly familiar face. Realizing that he was waiting for an answer, she felt her face warm once more. "Oh… uh, my name's Lina, Lina Inverse," she told him. "Nice to meet you, Hallas."

"Lina… that's a beautiful name," he mused, staring at her so intently it made her shift on the bench uncomfortably. "I know it's a little sudden, but I just can't help it. I just felt… drawn to you," he admitted. "If you can stand my company for a little longer, maybe you can show me around the school?" he asked her.

Lina looked down at her lunch and felt her temper sour slightly. "Well, I was kind of in the middle of something…" she began curtly.

Hallas looked confused. "But your tray's empty. I thought you were done?"

"With the first serving," Lina sighed. "Well, fine. I'll cut my lunch short for you on one condition – you buy lunch for me tomorrow." This guy doesn't know what he's getting into, she thought gleefully. She was surprised when he returned her offer with an eager smile.

"I'd like that. In fact, I don't think I'd want to leave such a debt hanging over my head for that long. Maybe you'd like to go out after school for some ice cream with me too?" he suggested.

Lina felt her jaw dropping and snapped her mouth shut with an audible click. Boy, this guy moves fast, she thought to herself as the nagging feeling bothered her once more. But the thought of free ice cream danced through her head, chasing her worries away. "You got a deal, buddy!" she yelled, grabbing his hand and shaking it firmly.

"Call me Hallas," he said with a small smile. "I insist."

- x – x – x -

Eris sighed as Zelgadis steered their mount down the dusty road. He'll do almost anything I say, she thought to herself with uncomfortably. The strange power of Phibrizo's spell made her uneasy; Zelgadis was completely convinced that she was the Priestess of Cephied, but feeling his arms wrapped around her protectively brought only one sensation to mind – that of a mouse being trapped in a hawk's cage. She tried to shake her feeling of impending doom and fell back into her role as "the Priestess."

"Is something wrong, Lina?" Zelgadis asked, leaning forward and whispering into her ear.

Eris twitched reflexively and forced her hands to remain fixed on the saddle. "Oh… I just wish we could get across the border a little faster," she said truthfully. Over the border of Elmekia, not Sairoon, you fool, she thought with a slight sense of satisfaction.

"Hang on." Behind her, Zelgadis spurred the horse into a full gallop. "I'm sorry, Lina. I didn't know it would bother you so much. But you're right, if Rezo's out of commission, we should have plenty of time to see Gourry again."

Eris stiffened once more as Rezo's name fell from his lips. Rezo… she thought with a sense of bitter dissatisfaction. The man whose arms I would rather be in right now. She shivered, and felt Zelgadis' arms tighten around her slightly.

"Don't worry. I won't let you fall," he assured her.

"I'm sure you won't," she answered, and with a small note of surprise, she knew it was true. Everything Zelgadis was doing for his "Lina" showed his devotion and concern for the young girl. Eris briefly wondered if the priestess knew how lucky she was. Rezo wouldn't say something like that, she thought with a pang of regret. Another thought snuck into her mind as she settled back against Zelgadis' chest, trying to block out the coldness of the night air with the warmth of his body. I wish I knew how it felt to be loved like that.

Of course, she loved Rezo, following his orders with blind devotion. And she had always thought that he felt the same way. She never questioned it; his love and support gave her world meaning and light. Amelia's words came to her mind, unwelcome and unbidden.

"Maybe you should think whether or not he likes you like that too?"

She shivered once more, and Zelgadis leaned over her in concern. "Lina? Are you tired? We could stop to rest if you're too cold," he said with worry.

"Not cold," she mumbled, though she did indeed feel numb. Has Rezo ever cared how I felt? Has he ever even bothered to ask me? Her teeth began to chatter slightly, and she felt the horse slow down to a trot.

"You're tired, you're cold, and I know you're hungry," Zelgadis told her. "We stop here for the night." His eyes scanned their surroundings, and he pointed at one of the low walls of the canyon they were riding through. "We can find shelter against the rock over there." The chimera guided the horse towards a small clump of trees, and after looking around critically, gave a short nod of approval and dismounted quickly. He reached up and helped Eris down from the horse, looking confused as she landed solidly on her feet. "You should be proud of yourself," he said. "You've gotten a lot better at riding. You didn't even complain about it once," he said with a smirk.

Eris balked and fumbled, wondering if Phibrizo's spell was weakening. "I… umm… yes, well, it was a little uncomfortable, but I just want to get this over with," she lied. Her breath left her in a woosh as Zelgadis gathered her into his arms and crushed her against his chest.

"Lina. You don't have to act differently than normal just for my sake. You know we're in this together. I'll be there to support you when you need it," he said roughly. He turned his head and planted a kiss on top of Eris' head. Drawing back slightly, he sniffed and wrinkled his nose. "Are you using a new perfume?" he asked her curiously.

Eris, on the other hand, had gone completely stiff as soon as Zelgadis embraced her. She began to relax in his arms as he spoke, however, closing her eyes. She felt the kiss he planted on her head, and imagined Rezo standing in his place. If only it were you, her heart ached. The fleeting moment of comfort sped away as Zelgadis smelled her hair once more. "Y-yes," she said suddenly, pulling away from him. "It's a new concoction that magician gave me," she covered. "Do you like it?"

Zelgadis frowned and snorted. "I prefer your old 'shampoo,' isn't that what you called it? When I hold you I don't want to be thinking about Xellos," he grumbled.

Eris felt her temper rise slightly. "Could you really think of anyone else while you were looking at me?" she asked him, lifting her chin angrily. To her surprise, Zelgadis chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her once more.

"That's more like the Lina I know," he said. "Just be sure to take a bath and wash that junk out the next chance you get," he added with a good-natured grumble.

"The next chance I get…" Eris echoed, her voice carrying a note of sadness. When will be the next chance I get to feel this loved and protected? She felt Zelgadis' fingers under her chin, tilting her face up to his in the moonlight.

"Hey, I told you, no more of that, Lina. I'll protect you from anything," he said to her. "I'll never leave your side. I love you."

Eris felt a few tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. "I know…" she ground out, unable to meet his gaze. "Just… hold me for a little bit longer, Zelgadis. I want to forget about the rest of the world for a while," she said. The truth of it made the words hurt all the more.

- x – x – x -

Phibrizo laughed to himself from where he stood at Lina's bedside. "Now, Eris, don't get carried away. He's not really yours, is he?" he said to himself conversationally. "Though I'm sure Rezo will be interested to see what happens next," he added with a sly smirk. He turned his attention back to the peacefully slumbering girl, his grin widening.

"And you, Miss Lina Inverse," he said. "What an interesting world you come from. I'm sure Rezo will want to know more about this as well. Should we tell him, hmm?" As he spoke, he held out a small golden orb in his hand. In it, he could see Lina, trapped in the false universe he had created. "Let's see if we can find out more about this world of yours… and keep you from summoning Cephied." The tiny sphere pulsed with energy, and the mist surrounding Lina thickened.

- x – x – x -

Lina regarded Hallas nervously from over the top of her overflowing bowl. "You're sure you don't mind about this?" she asked him as he dug deeper into his wallet and drew out a few large bills to pay for the monstrosity that she had ordered.

"You're getting a conscience? Now that sounds pretty weird," Hallas laughed, guiding her to a small booth in the ice-cream parlor. "But trust me. I don't mind at all. I enjoy watching you eat," he said.

Lina laughed as they sat down at the table. "Yeah, you learn new fighting moves sometimes, don't you?" she joked as she scooped a spoonful into her mouth.

Hallas smiled strangely at her, scratching his head. "Uh, I wouldn't have really said that." He chuckled lightly. "You're an interesting girl, Lina."

Lina froze, the plastic spoon dangling from her mouth. Why did I say that? Hallas hasn't even had the chance to join any of the sports clubs yet. Why would he know fighting moves? She cleared her throat and swatted the air with her spoon, as if it might clear up her confusion. "Never mind, I had a slip of the brain," she explained breezily. "You know, I had a really good time today, Hallas. I didn't expect you to be in so many of my classes," she noted. "That was sorta weird, but at least we got to hang out together."

Hallas nodded slightly. "I'm a little surprised. You seem really smart, but most of the teachers don't like you very much, do they?"

"Hey, 'seem' really smart? What's that supposed to mean?" Lina said, trying to look offended. It was hard to be intimidating when most of her petite body was obscured by the huge sundae sitting on the table between them.

Hallas laughed and shook his head. "Nothing. I just don't understand why an intelligent girl like you would be having problems in school," he said, reaching for the ice cream with his own spoon.

"Oh, that…" Lina felt her face drop into a scowl. "Well, Amelia's trying to help me change. I always sorta blew off school, but I have to get ready for the college entrance exams or I'm never going to hear the end of it from my sister." Her eyes widened in realization, and she looked down at her watch. "Oh, crap! I totally forgot that I told Amelia I'd meet her at the library today! We were going to study together!" A chill passed through her as she spoke, and she looked out of the window worriedly. "I have to get back…" she murmured with a puzzled expression.

While trying to figure out what was wrong with her brain, she missed the annoyed grimace that stole over Hallas' face. "Lina," he said, tapping her forehead with his spoon. "Earth to Lina."

She blinked and focused her attention on the table again. "Oh man, did I do it again?" she moaned. "Sorry Hallas, today's just been a bad day. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Hallas shook his head and grabbed her hand, surprising her once more as he squeezed it gently. "It hasn't been a bad day for me. In fact, it's been a great day. One of the best in my life. I don't want it to end."

Lina felt herself blushing and tried to draw her hand back, but he hung on to her with tenacity. "I have to call Amelia," she began nervously.

Hallas shook his head at her. "No, I ran into her during study hall. Your friend is pretty cool, she told me that your study session could wait." He gave her another radiant smile, and Lina was surprised that the ice cream between them didn't melt into a pool of mush, being assaulted on both sides by Hallas' charm and her own burning face.

"Listen, Hallas, I really like you and all, but I can't just ditch my studying like that. I won't get a second chance to make it into college, especially if my sister's watching me. Sorry, but I can't pass this up." She smiled apologetically at him, but still he refused to release her hand. It was beginning to strike her as creepy.

Hallas frowned slightly, and then brightened. "Well then, let me help you in Amelia's place."

Lina balked. "You? Help me? Hello, you just got here!"

The young man gave a careless shrug. "So what? When I transferred from my old school, I brought over a couple of AP credits. I actually don't need to be in half of the classes they assigned me to, but they want to see how I perform before they place me any higher."

Lina's brows drew together. "So they put you in classes with me? I know it's not special ed, but if you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly taking part in the honors curriculum," she said suspiciously.

Hallas gave another forced shrug. "They're pretty strict here. I might be transferred to a higher class later on." He leaned forward, pushing the huge bowl of ice cream out of the way. "All the more reason that I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Who knows when our schedules will change?" He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand soothingly. "Besides, maybe I can help you. You did put up with me all day," he said. "We don't have to do anything special tonight. Just study," he added. Glancing at the bowl next to them, he gave her a sheepish smile. "I don't think I actually have enough money for anything else besides that, anyway."

Lina eyed the bowl regretfully. She had ordered it as revenge for her disturbed lunch, but for some reason her appetite had disappeared. Throwing away Hallas' money just seemed petty and childish. Huh, she thought as she recognized the feeling as guilt. I never would have thought twice about something like this before. I wonder what's happened to me? With a sigh, she directed her attention back to Hallas. "You're right. Sorry, it's just a little hard for me to open up to complete strangers," she said with a small grin. "But something about you is different… almost familiar," she added, unconsciously reaching out and flipping a few strands of unruly hair away from his eyes. She blushed as she caught herself and drew her hand away quickly. "Sorry!" she spit out, sure that her face could rival the cherry on top of the sundae.

Hallas leaned back in the booth, an easy smile crossing his face. "Thanks for your trust, Lina. It means a lot to me." He glanced at his watch absently. "So, do you want to go back to your place or mine?" he asked.

"Hey, don't say it like that! It's not like I'm propositioning you!" Lina sputtered.

Hallas immediately raised his hands defensively, a blush staining his own cheeks. "Sorry Lina! I didn't mean it that way!" Smiling at her in an appeasing manner, he gestured at the sky outside. "It's just that it's pretty late already. It might not be a good idea to start studying at the library, they'll probably close soon."

Lina turned her attention back to the darkening sky outside of the booth, another frown gracing her face. "Wow, I didn't realize so much time had passed," she mumbled. "Well, if it's all the same to you, I live right around the corner so we can just go to my place."

"But what about your ice cream?" he said as she stood up from the table, leaving the bowl behind.

Lina laughed and waved her hand quickly. "Oh… I kinda lost my appetite. Thinking about exams makes me nervous," she said. "I'm really sorry about wasting your money…" she added.

"It was for a good cause!" Hallas said with a smile as he escorted her out of the parlor.

- x – x – x -

Zelgadis found himself hazily wondering once more what was wrong with Lina, and why he felt so uneasy. Lina, however, wasn't giving him very much time to consider his thoughts as she pressed another hungry, almost desperate kiss onto his mouth, her fingers working at his shirt. She sure has gotten aggressive, he thought to himself as he gently tried to push her off. Well, she always was aggressive… but never like this. His brain tried to compute the new personality despite the fact that his body was claiming that this was, indeed, a very good change. Finally, in desperation, he resorted to more forceful measures, physically pulling Lina off and pushing her away.

"Is something wrong, Zelgadis?" Lina asked him, her ruby eyes watering and filled with hurt and sadness. "Is it me?"

Zelgadis sighed and ran his fingers through his hair confusedly. "No, it's not you, Lina. It's just… this doesn't feel right. This isn't you." He heard her sharp intake of breath and quickly moved to appease her. "I don't mean that my feelings have changed… they haven't. By Cepheid, they haven't," he said as he regarded her moonlit face. She's so beautiful… haven't you wanted this? He felt foolish, but some remaining shred of dignity and responsibility spurred him to continue. "Maybe now isn't the right time, Lina. Why are you so desperate?" He caught her eyes again, catching the fleeting sadness there once more. It pained him to see her looking so sad, but more so because she hadn't told him the reason for her sudden depression. He had assumed that Lina knew she could come to him with her problems, but even as she tried to bring herself closer to him physically, it felt as though there was a barrier between them. "I just can't feel you tonight," he muttered inadequately.

"You can't feel me? I've been throwing myself at you, and you can't feel me?" was her indignant cry.

Zelgadis frowned, surprised at Lina's response. Though she did look angry, it hardly appeared like she was ready to clobber him. More to the contrary, it looked like she was preparing to throw herself even more forcefully into his arms. That thought made him momentarily distracted, but he fought to clear his head. "No, I mean spiritually. I can't feel your soul," he fumbled. "I know it sounds strange, but this just doesn't feel… right."

Lina sighed and looked off into the moonlight. The sadness glimmered in her eyes once more, and Zelgadis felt his heart pull. He reached out and touched her shoulder gently.

"Lina… I don't know what it is that you can't tell me. And I can't explain why I just can't do what you're asking me to," he added regretfully. "But I swore to you that I'd protect you. I didn't just mean from attacks by Rezo." She shuddered slightly as he said this, and he tightened his grip slightly, forcing her to look at him. "I'll protect you from everything that I can. If you'd just tell me what's wrong, I'd try to save you from this pain. Please, Lina. You've always been able to understand me, and until now I thought I understood you, too. Tell me what's wrong. I want to help you." He sighed, stroking her unruly bangs away from her face. "I love you, Lina."

Lina stared at him for a long moment, and then turned her face away from him. "You don't love me," she said after a moment.

Zelgadis released her shoulder, shocked. As he let her go, she turned back towards him and touched his hair. "Think about what you just said," she told him softly. "If you really believed all of that, why won't you accept me now? Why won't you just do this one thing for me? It's all I want, to be held in your arms, to know what being loved feels like."

Zelgadis caught her hand, confusion displayed across his face. "You're right," he said after a moment, gently guiding her hand back to her lap and releasing it. "I thought you've been acting strange this evening." He shook his head, as if to clear it, and looked at the moon. "Who are you?" he said, after a moment's pause.

The girl beside him drew her knees up to her chin. "Do you really want to know?" she asked with a hint of regret. "Can't you just forget who you are? Just for tonight? I can be your Lina."

Zelgadis let out a sigh. "No one except the real Lina can be my Lina," he said without looking at her. "You should be happy being yourself. Everything else is a lie."

"A lie…" she repeated after him tonelessly. After a short silence, she spoke once more. "How did you know?"

Zelgadis smiled slightly as he reached for his collar and straightened his clothes. "I love Lina," he told her. "You can cast your spells and play your tricks, but something as deep as the feelings we share can't be faked with appearances alone." He turned to look at her and stifled his gasp of surprise when he saw the dark-haired woman sitting beside him, his muscles tensing.

Eris smiled back at him wanly, her head cupped in her hand and the same sorrow still mirrored in her eyes. "It was a nice dream," she told him, noting his rigid posture with a slight look of remorse. "I shouldn't have used you," she said. As if suddenly recognizing their positions, she stood up swiftly and turned away from him.

"Eris-" he started, unsure of what to say.

"Take the horse," she said brusquely. "I'll be fine."

He stood up, confused. "You're just going to let me go?" He looked around, his brow furrowing as he studied the landscape. "Where are we?" he exploded, his fists clenching. "If you did anything to Lina-"

When Eris turned around again she had a hard look in her eyes. "Take the horse," she said warningly, "before I change my mind, Warrior of Cephied." She stepped away from him, her expression unreadable as she retreated into the shadows. "There's still time to save her."

Zelgadis grabbed the reins of the horse, still looking confused. "Why are you letting me go? You serve Rezo, don't you?"

Looking away, Eris folder her arms over herself protectively. "Your priestess weakens as we speak." It was all the encouragement Zelgadis needed. He leapt onto the horse and turned it back towards the road, taking off at a full gallop without a backwards glance. She watched the cloud of dust raised from his flight slowly dissipate. "What kind of fool could be blinded so completely by love?" she said softly to herself.

- x – x – x -

Lina looked over the books stacked on the kitchen table nervously. Damn… I can't believe I'm actually wishing Luna would come home early for once, she thought to herself as she noticed Hallas' stare once more. She buried her face back into the text and tried to concentrate on the words that were swimming before her.

"Having trouble concentrating?" Hallas asked with a good-natured smirk, closing his book.

"A little," Lina admitted. Then she glared at him. "You're not helping, either. I thought you said you were going to help me study. All you've done is sit there and watch me read!" she huffed.

"That's because I'm having trouble concentrating when I look at you," he said, reaching over and running his fingers across her cheek.

Lina froze, a feeling of wrongness washing over her once more. Then she blinked and slapped Hallas' hand away forcefully. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked him irately. "Listen, you might be cute, nice and for some reason totally smitten with me, but that doesn't mean you can go around assuming the feeling is mutual! I didn't invite you to my house just to have a make-out session with you. For cryin' out loud, we only met a few hours ago! So get a glass of cold water and throw it in your face, or just leave right now!" She crossed her arms and glared at Hallas, silently daring him to charm his way out of her frontal assault.

Hallas looked hurt, regarding her with a sad expression. "So you don't like me then?"

Lina rolled her eyes. "No, I like you, Hallas, just… not like that. Slow down, okay?" She growled and rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off the headache that was forming behind her eyes. Something's still not right here, she thought to herself.

Phibrizo scowled as he regarded the weakening glow from the orb cupped in his hand. "You are strong, Priestess. But one way or the other, I'm going to finish you." He spread his free hand over her bed, and the mist thickened even more, making Lina's figure almost indistinguishable through the swirling magic energy. "Give in…" he mumbled, concentrating.

In the dream world, Lina was beginning to feel the nagging guilt once again for having snapped at Hallas unfairly. Unfairly? That hormonal jerk had it coming, her mind cut in. But it didn't help settle her stomach as she fidgeted nervously. Quickly becoming annoyed with her internal mental battle, she reached for the nearest book on the table and flipped it open, searching for a distraction. "Okay, let's start with English lit again," she said loudly, scanning over the page. "We're covering Greek mythology this week, aren't we?" she mumbled to herself, flipping over the pages.

"You won't even look at me, Lina?" Hallas tried again, leaning forward over the table.

Lina studiously ignored him, her eyes trained on the book. "Here we are. Mythological beings. Hey, this is actually pretty interesting, you know…" she said suddenly, becoming absorbed by the material she was reading. "Spawned by Typhoeus and Echidna, the Chimaera had a mixed body and breathed fire…" The words leapt out at her, and she blinked as her mind clouded with faint images. "The chimaera breathed fire…" she whispered, her eyes growing unfocused, and a strange symbol burned in her mind. "Chimera," she said out loud, somehow knowing what it meant.

"Lina?" Hallas said again with a note of worry.

She looked at him once more, memories falling into place. Dark eyes, brown hair, and human skin… but there was no mistaking the face that stared back at her. "Chimera," she said again as she stood up, her eyes growing wide. "You're not him. You're not the chimera," she gasped. She spun around and ran to the window, throwing back the curtains. Instead of seeing the comforting lights of the surrounding city outside, all she saw was an empty golden wasteland. She sucked in her breath, hearing Hallas rise to his feet.

"No, I'm not the Chimera," he said as she slowly turned to face him. "My symbol is Illusion," he added, raising his arm and allowing the blue character to shine through. "But you are still the Priestess of Cephied, and you can't escape me," he laughed, stepping towards her.

Lina ground her teeth and glared at the imposter ferociously. "I thought something was a little off about you," she growled. "You can't keep me here." She reached for her side, breaking into a sweat as she realized that the hilt of the sword of light was no longer on her belt.

Hallas laughed at her as the walls of the illusory house fell away, leaving them alone in the pale emptiness of the golden world. "You won't find any help here, Lina Inverse. Your physical body is immobile, helpless to do anything against me. You are trapped in my world," he sneered, advancing towards her slowly and enjoying every bit of her nervous tension.

"Trapped in a world of illusions, huh?" she said, stepping backwards nervously. To her chagrin, she found that no matter how much she tried to move, each step brought Hallas closer to her, while she remained in place. "Well, if you want to touch me that much, let me oblige you!" she yelled, leaping towards him and taking a swing at his face with her fist. She gasped and flailed her arms around wildly, trying to recover her balance as she slid through Hallas' body. "What? You're not even real!" she yelled. That notion was dispelled as he roughly caught her arm and yanked her upright.

"I can be real enough to you, Lina!" he grinned, catching her throat with his other hand. "But don't worry, I won't kill you," he added, leaning his head in closer to hers. "It wasn't a complete lie. You are delicious," he whispered, flicking out his tongue and licking her cheek.

Lina whipped her head away in disgust. "Don't even try it," she said curtly.

"Or you'll what?" Hallas laughed, his grip tightening painfully. "I'll tell you a little secret, Priestess of Cephied. Only a virgin is pure enough to summon a Beast God. I'd much rather see you live out your days, trapped in the agony of knowing what could have been, instead of simply killing you." He smirked, his eyes growing cold. "That will give me much more pleasure to watch than taking your life."

Lina had stopped listening after his first words. It takes a virgin to summon a Beast God? But then… "What about Amelia?" she said suddenly, causing Hallas to pause in confusion. "You know, Priestess of Shabranigdu and all that? How are you going to summon your own beast god when she's not—"

Hallas' laughter cut her off. "Rezo told her that? So that's how he's controlling her. Ingenious!" he mumbled to himself. His words, however, did not go unnoticed.

Lina felt a dull fury rise inside of her as he laughed once more. She had been mad when her shadow impersonated her. She had been furious when she found out it was only a part of Filia's test. She had been hurt when Filia's tea forced her to relive Amelia's painful introduction to Elmekia, and she had been filled with a sorrow and regret when Sylphiel died. But nothing that had happened to her until now had filled her with such cold, focused fury as Hallas' cruel revelation. "You lied," she whispered, dropping her head and hiding her eyes.

Hallas grinned at Lina sadistically. "You should stop trying to change the subject, you little minx," he said dangerously. He jerked back as she pulled away from him, the golden haze surrounding them flickering haphazardly. "What are you doing?" he hissed, releasing her.

"This world might be an illusion, but my feelings are real!" Lina yelled, looking up and meeting his eyes with her own. She screamed at him, her anger overflowing, and brought her hands up. As she did so, the Sword of Light came into being, its shining blade cutting through Hallas' form cleanly. "You bastard!" she yelled as he fell over, his eyes wide with surprise.

Phibrizo choked and sputtered as the orb he was holding became cold and dull, and the mist surrounding Lina dissipated. "My own magic," he gasped, stepping back from the bed unsteadily. "That bitch formed a weapon from my own magic!" His retreat was stopped when he bumped into a solid form, and he turned around.

"My my, look what we have here," Xellos said placidly. The expression on his face could hardly match his tone of voice as he glared down at the boy before him, both eyes open. "If you think that hiding in the body of a child will help, you're greatly mistaken," he added, calling forth his dark power.

"So you broke my spell," Phibrizo said, sneering at Xellos. "Pretty good… but don't think you're in the same league as me," he added, as undulating snakes formed out of mist and shadows shot out from ground and wrapped around Xellos' body.

"Far beyond it, in fact," Xellos retorted, blasting away Phibrizo's attack with his own energy and slamming his staff over the boy's head. Instead of wounding the child, however, the cloak collapsed over empty air. Xellos frowned and looked up quickly, only to see Phibrizo already across the room, opening the door. "Fast little devil, aren't you," he mused as he prepared to give chase. It was entirely unnecessary as Phibrizo was suddenly picked up and flung back into the room, slamming against the wall with a reverberating crunch.

Valgarv stepped into the room, his staff in one hand and his golden eyes narrowed into slits. "So this is the little shit who's been messing with my head?" he said conversationally to Xellos, the flames on his staff pulsing as he regarded Phibrizo.

Phibrizo stood up, a look of fear and loathing flashing across his eyes. "You'll pay for that," he growled as he backed away from the two looming warriors before him.

"Actually, I am quite indebted to you for giving my skills such a rigorous test," Xellos noted with a half-smile. "Allow me to return the favor!"

Darkness rose around Phibrizo's form, and the small boy let out a blood-curdling scream of pain.

"You're not taking all the fun, fruitcake!" snarled Valgarv as he brought his own staff down, sending a blast of flames towards Phibrizo's trapped form. There was a bright explosion, and then a curse rose from Xellos.

"He is very quick," he said with irritation. "He managed to slip through my grasp."

"Maybe," said Valgarv, slinging his staff over his back. "But at least we managed to hurt him." He turned around, facing Lina's bed. "Question is if he managed to hurt Lina?"

Xellos nodded and quickly approached the bedside, scanning her still form. A worried look crossed his face, and he leaned in closer.

Valgarv noticed the magician's concern and growled worriedly. "Hey, fruitcake. Is she alright? By the Gods, say something!"

Xellos only shook his head slightly and leaned in even closer, until his nose was almost touching Lina's cheek. Then, inhaling deeply, he blew into her face.

Lina's eyes shot open, only to find herself staring at the closed-eyed and goofy visage of Xellos entirely too close to her own. "AAAAHHHHHH!" Her ear-shattering scream was quickly followed by a large and particularly unforgiving fist.

"So you're okay," Valgarv said with relief as Lina sat up and cracked her knuckles. "What happened to you?"

"I was trapped," she said, rubbing at her head. "His character was 'Illusion.' He made me think I was back in my own world, and tried to get me to forget everything," she added. Shivering, she shook her head once more. "He made himself look like a human version of Zelgadis."

Valgarv frowned. "Well, his real body looks like a little kid," he told her. "Where is Zelgadis, anyway? Maybe he's still trapped in that brat's spell?" he said, glancing around the room.

Xellos sprung up from the floor, dusting himself off. "Actually, that body is just a host. Phibrizo abandoned his physical existence in order to pursue greater magic powers." He smirked. "I hadn't realized he was a warrior of Shabranigdu," he mused.

"What, you know that freak?" Valgarv said suspiciously.

"Well of course!" Xellos chimed with another smile. "Practicing the Old Arts is forbidden these days. Those of us who do keep very close tabs on one another." He shrugged slightly. "It's not only a matter of curiosity, but also self-preservation. Absorbing a fellow magician's power is one of the easier ways to gain more for yourself," he said. "Phibrizo has taken the meaning to a whole new level, actually absorbing the bodies along with the power of his victims."

"So the body of that child..." Lina began, her eyes widening.

Xellos nodded with a grave expression. "I'm afraid so, Lina. Perhaps he showed some potential as a budding magician, potential that caught Phibrizo's eye. The child, however, is already all but dead. It would be useless to try and rescue him, or show any mercy. Don't be deceived by his form."

Lina clenched her fist tightly against the sheet. "Rezo and his warriors… they're really the collected scum of this world, aren't they?" she grit out.

"No arguments there," Valgarv added with a careless shrug.

"What about Zelgadis?" Lina said, finally looking up. "Is he still trapped in a spell?"

Xellos leaned on his staff and frowned slightly. "I can't feel his presence. He's not even in the vicinity of this inn," he said. Xellos' brow furrowed further as his mouth turned downwards into a thoughtful frown. "Nor anywhere in the city of Belzed," he added after a moment.

"WHAT? What'd they do with him this time?" Lina cried out, slapping her forehead.

"Not to worry, Lina. If we managed to break the hold on Phibrizo's spell, Zelgadis will have done so by now as well." Xellos gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, which was actually more like a strong whap that sent her flying face-first into the sheets. "I'm sure he'll manage to find us again."

Valgarv gave them a curt nod. "He'd better, because we can't afford to wait here any longer. Rezo sent Phibrizo after us. We're not as safe as we thought. We find that temple, tonight. Get your things together." With that, he turned and left the room.

Xellos gave a short bow to Lina and moved to follow the bandit. He paused at the door, leaning his head back in. "He'll be fine, my dear," he said, cracking an eye open at her. Lina nodded mutely and he disappeared, shutting the door behind him.

"I hope you're right, Xellos," she muttered, slipping out of her bed. Looking at the ruined area where Xellos and Valgarv had attacked Phibrizo, she froze. "Hey, wait a minute. Who's gonna pay for this mess?" Her face dropped as she surveyed the damage. "No wonder Valgarv wants to get a move on…" she mumbled nervously, quickly pulling her traveling clothes on.