"The wizards of Seyruun?" said Lina, puzzled.
"There's no mistaking it, this is definitely their insignia on this orb. And from the magical aura surrounding this thing I think this object is what fueled that shadow monster. But why would the wizards of Seyruun want to harm the princess?" asked Vargas.
"Filia, let's land. I think it's best if we discussed this on the ground," said Lina.
Filia landed gracefully on the ground, folding out her large golden wings to let Lina and the others slide off onto the ground. Filia glowed gold, her body meltting back into human form.
"This certainly confuses things, the Seyruun wizards are all white mages, and the city is a beacon of peace and justice for the whole world. Why anyone from Seyruun would be mixed up in all this is beyond me." asked Vargas.
"Actually Vargas, this really doesn't surprise me in the slightest. We've had … complications with Seyruun in the past…" said Lina, thinking back to the conspiracy to kill Prince Phillionel, and fighting the two monsters sent by Gaav the Demon King. Reminiscing about that entire fiasco sent shivers down Lina's spine.
"Wait a moment Vargas, didn't you say the king of your kingdom called on the white wizards of Seyruun to help out your princess?" asked Lina, thoughts brewing and bubbling in her genius mind.
"Why yes we did but they could not help. You don't mean to say Lina that…?"
"I smell a rat Vargas. If someone from Seyruun really is connected to the curses then they're working undercover," replied Lina.
"Well wouldn't the best thing to do would be to go to Seyruun and ask what's going on?" said Gourry, scratching his head.
"For once Gourry you've come up with a half way decent idea. We've dug up all the clues we could from this place. But Seyruun is totally out of the way! We were heading towards the south part of the continent to find the tears of Katarasu, but Seyruun is in the other direction! Gaaaah!" wailed Lina, letting out a sound of exasperation, falling to her knees and nearly pulling out her hair.
"I really don't see any other choice Ms. Lina. Besides if we can find out who is behind these curses then maybe we won't need to rely on the legend. This could probably work out for the best," said Filia smiling sweetly.
"You do have a point Filia. Well, let's get some sleep and set out first thing in the morning. We've got a lot of ground to cover if we want to make it onto Seyruun in time. Do you agree Vargas?"
"Wholeheartedly Ms. Inverse," said Vargas.
"Btw Vargas you're quite the magician aren't you? The Ra Tilt is the most powerful astral spell there is, and you seemed to pull it off nicely," said Lina with an air of smugness in her voice, resting her hands on her hips and tilting her head slightly.
"That is as it should be Ms. Inverse, I am one of my kingdoms best wizards. My specialization happens to be in astral magic," said Vargas.
"Well let's get some rest and start off in the morning," said Filia.
That having been said, the party went back to the inn and turned in for the night. Filia sat alone in her room atop her bed, looking out the window at the valley. The way the moon's glow caught the landscape evoked feelings of loneliness in her. It hadn't been too long ago that all of the gold dragons were slaughtered by the Overworlders, and the loss of all her loved ones hurt Filia deeply. Finding a niche in the world of humans wasn't really all that difficult, but at the same time she missed worshipping in the temple and being able to maintain her natural form as a golden dragon.
"If I dwell on the negative too long I'll simply go mad," thought Filia as she turned in to sleep.
Far away from the location of our heroes, atop a lone cliff with the moon high in the air, a suspicious masked figure with a long flowing cape looked out over the horizon.
"According to my map it shouldn't be too far from here," said the figure pulling out a tattered old map from inside his cloak.
Leaping up into the air, the cloaked man slide along the side of the cliff, allowing dust and gravel to fly into the air. Reaching the bottom in no time, he readied his sword and walked towards a large ruined temple. The columns were mostly worn away and broken, and the entrance was covered in vegetation and slabs of marble.
"What a wonder this must have been when the golden dragons first constructed it. I hope I can find something of use her. Something to turn me back to normal…"
Pulling back his mask, the figure revealed his wiry gray hair and stony dark gray skin. Cursed by his thirst for power, Zelgadis was now on a personal quest to return his form to its original state. There wasn't much to go on, as the man who made Zelgadiss who he was, the Red Priest Rezo, had long since died. Possibly there would be some old, archaic white magic that could cure him.
Cautiously approaching the entrance, Zelgadis knelt down and tried to make out the inscription on a broken piece of marble. Running a gloved finger across the surface he began to read.
"Hmm, mostly prayers to Ciephied. Nothing about any white magic, but I can't rule it out just yet. I don't think there would be any traps in an old golden dragon temple but I can't let my guard down."
Slowly walking into the building, Zelgadis quickly searched for a library. The main hall was gigantic and simply adorned. The once enormous statues that once would hover overhead lay broken into dust on the floor. A relief of Ciephied, the dragon god, was broken into several pieces.
"How far from grace ye have fallen," Zelgadis muttered to himself in reverence for the fallen golden dragons. While he was no fan of the servants of the gods after the fiasco not too long ago, he never felt the golden dragons deserved to be wiped out. Following a dark corridor, he finally had found the library. Most of the shelves seemed to be intact with row after row of ancient texts and manuscripts. Zelgadis could not be described as an overly optimist type of person, but his heart did race when he thought there was at least a small chance that he could retain his human form. Leafing through page after page, he searched. Just then, the sound of a stone falling hit Zelgadis' ears. At first he didn't pay much attention, but when it happened again, his natural intuition let him know something was up. Slowly exiting the library, Zelgadis held his sword shaft and eyed the surrounding area for movement.
"Maybe someone else like me looking for secrets in these ancient temples…"
The air was deathly still for what seemed like an eternity. Satisfied that it was simply his imagination, Zelgadis returned to the library to resume his search. Fifteen minutes of perusal turned up nothing of any real interest, and Zelgadiss had almost given up hope. However, at the far end of the library near a pile of rubble, a golden book laying atop a modest looking dais caught his attention. Walking towards the book and picking it up, Zelgadis ran his fingers along the pages trying to make sense of the archaic script. The sound of footsteps echoed ominously behind Zelgadiss.
"Now we can't let you have that now can we?"
"Who are you!" yelled out Zelgadis, instinctively drawing his sword and grasping the book.
On the other side of the library stood a dark cloaked figure, his face shrouded by a cloak.
"Now we can do this the easy way. Put the book down and leave quietly, and I will grant you a longer life," said the figure in a rather haughty tone.
"Finders keepers as they say oh shrouded one. Besides, now I know this thing was worth the trouble. How about this? How about you leave, and I let you live?" retorted Zelgadis.
"Fine then, have it your way," chuckled the cloaked figure, thoroughly amused by the standoff.
Zelgadis made the first move by lunging at the figure with his sword, yelling out a fierce battle cry. As if pulling it out of a bag made of shadow, the cloaked figure swiftly procured a wicked looking scythe from the inner folds of his robe and parried Zelgadis' blow with an upward swing, knocking the hapless swordsman back.
"This guy is tough, and I won't have enough room to really let loose here. Gotta make my own exit," thought Zelgadis as he quickly collected himself.
Raising a hand towards the wall, he exclaimed "Damu Bras!" blowing away the wall with the force of his spell, conveniently creating an exit outside.
"I was hoping to get some fresh air, it's so musty in here," said the cloaked figure thoroughly amused.
Zelgadis sprinted outside onto a grassy field. The moon was full and hanging high into the air. His opponent soon followed suit, eerily floating one foot above the air, his scythe hidden back in the folds of his robe.
"Well, I think it's time we settled things," said Zelgadis with a smirk.
"Astral Vine!" Zelgadis lifted his sword which was soon covered in a magical red haze. Lunging once more at his opponent with swift speed, Zelgadis swung high. The cloak figure's scythe emerged from the folds of his robe and the two blades met, brilliantly colored sparks flying onto the ground.
"Damn, I guess his scythe is magical. No normal metal can stand up against my sword when it's been enchanted."
"You really are talented, I'm glad this trip didn't turn out too boring. But I have other engagements and really need that book…"
"Well if you thought that was entertaining you should love this, Fireball!" cried out Zelgadis, forming a ball of pure flame with his hand and throwing the mass of energy towards the cloaked figure. Thoroughly amused, the figure waved his scythe at the fireball, deflecting it away. The explosion sent debris and rock flying every which direction.
"It can even deflect magic attacks? Where'd he get something like that?" thought Zelgadis.
"Oh my, what pretty fire works!" said the figure laughing hysterically.
"Gozu Vrow!" cried out Zelgadis, sending a wave of black energy streaking towards the figure. However, he vanished without a trace just before the wave of energy would have hit him. Thoroughly confused, Zelgadis looked around, but before he could even say "Where did he go?" he was hit with a powerful energy blast in the back, sending him and the book flying.
"You really are a laugh, I can't say I've had this much fun in awhile. But all good things must come to an end I suppose. Thanks for the literature, I'll tell you the ending of it if I ever see you again, that way you won't be in suspense. Ciao!"
Melting into darkness the figure disappeared in a nexus of black energy. Zelgadis sneered, pounding the ground with his fist.
"Damnit, that might have had what I needed!"
A few feet away, the maddened sorcerer noticed a small slip of parchment paper lying on the ground. Rushing over to it, Zelgadis recognized it as part of the book he just had.
"One of the pages must have fallen out during the fight. Hmm, what does it say…oh…oh wow…"
Zelgadis could hardly contain his excitement as he mouthed the worlds "Tears of Katarasu".
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Right as the sun was inching up from the crevices of the horizon our heroes set out for Seyruun on horseback.
"I still can't believe we're practically turning around on some wild goose chase, but sadly we've no other options," muttered Lina.
"The faster we can get the solved the better Ms. Inverse. Besides, the trip to Seyruun isn't that long and we should at least try to enjoy ourselves some," said Vargas.
With a new day would come a new adventure, and Lina Inverse and friends were ready to meet such a day, whatever it might bring.