Chapter 3: The Chase
Barony of Blaustid, Kingdom of Ralteague
They'd used Kaito's cape as a bed and Akako's cape as a blanket. It wasn't the best set up, but it worked well enough. There'd also been a fair bit of space, since Kaito's was designed to stretch into being a paraglider, and Akako's... well, he wasn't sure if it was inherently magical or Akako used a new spell to make it larger, but... either way it covered them all easily. They'd also all been able to sleep at the same time due to Akako setting up some defensive wards around them. (Kaito did his best to pretend to not be curious, because a magician shouldn't meddle in real sorcery… as cool as some aspects of it were.)
Kaito was a little surprised to wake up lying against someone with an arm wrapped around him. Waking up a little more he realised he was lying next to Aoko, but it was Akako who had an arm stretched over Aoko and also around him. He also realised one of his own arms was laying across both girls.
"I guess we both felt like protecting her," Akako's voice said softly.
Kaito felt himself blushing. He was too tired for a poker face. "I... I was probably just cold."
"Well, Aoko is nice and warm," the small girl said.
"Y-you're awake?" Kaito said.
"Aoko woke up first. This is nice," she said.
Kaito's cheeks grew hotter. But he also couldn't bring himself to move. It was so nice to actually be next to Aoko... and Akako. Both girls were beautiful, and right now they were also both the only sense of 'home' is this strange world. Sure, Akako had legitimately tried to kill him in the past, but she'd never been able to do it. Aoko had probably done more actual damage to him over the years. So maybe he could just claim Akako was more dramatic.
The peaceful moment was interrupted by Aoko's stomach grumbling.
"Well, I guess we should figure out breakfast."
Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis walked along the road, having decided to get an early start in hunting down their stolen treasure. Lina knew they were on the right path. Her treasure senses were tingling.
"If they're going to try to sell my Eye of Yashindar they're going to need to get to a town. Sellentia is probably our best bet. Down closer to the coast. Busy harbours nearby and all that," Lina said.
"You really have no idea, do you?" Zelgadis replied, his tone much more judgmental than she liked.
"Do you have any better ideas, Zel?" she countered, jabbing a finger his way.
"Yes," he said, before closing his eyes and bringing his hands together. "You, who are floating far away on the astral sea; Show your reflection to me... ASTRAL SEARCH!"
A brief gust of wind rose around him, the chimeric sorcerer turning as his mind reached out for the astral signature of the Eye's powerful magic. Lina supposed Zel must have familiarized himself with the item while he was working for the Baroness... and wished he'd mentioned this option earlier.
"It's to the south west," he said, pointing out a finger. "I'm not sure exactly how far, but it's heading further away in roughly the same direction."
The other three turned to see where he was pointing.
"So... Sellentia. I was right! Ha!" Lina said, before breaking into a run.
They couldn't have gotten far!
"Lina! Wait up!" Amelia called out behind her.
County of Sellentia, Kingdom of Ralteague
Kaito's feet hurt. He wasn't a hiker. At least they'd finally found a road to follow. Akako had explained that they'd burned through the charge on her magic broom yesterday, after he and Aoko had both complained about the walking. He'd suggested she bring two next time.
At least he had a deck of cards to shuffle as they walked. That kept some part of his brain busy.
Kaito glanced over to see Akako holding up the Eye of Yashindar with a smile on her face. She was definitely in full Red Witch mode right now.
"Ooh, what a lovely looking object," a voice said, which made Kaito jump out of his skin.
Spinning around, he was surprised that his ears had deceived him. It wasn't actually Hakuba, having somehow followed him across universes. Instead it was a priest of some sort, purple hair trimmed into a dorkish pageboy style (that Kaito supposed was probably fashionable in a medieval world) and wearing a large and cheery smile.
"It certainly is," Akako said, slipping the Eye back into her bag. "Worth all this trouble."
"Excuse me, Priest-san," Aoko said, stepping forward. "Is the next town far?"
"Oh, I don't believe so. I was headed that way myself, and would quite enjoy the company," the purple haired man said, still smiling. "The open road can get so lonely."
"That sounds nice. We don't know much about the area, so it would be good to have a local," Aoko replied, smiling back at him.
"Mhm, you two definitely dress quite uniquely," the priest said, looking over Aoko and Kaito, though his smiled so much his eyes seemed barely open. "Are you more local, Miss Sorceress?"
"Marginally," Akako replied, as they started to walk again.
The priest nodded. "May I ask what that fancy looking gem is for? It looked quite important."
"Security," Akako replied, patting her satchel.
"You ask a lot of questions, Mister Priest," Kaito said as they walked. "Fancy yourself something of a detective?"
"Oh my, no. Well, I was hired to help catch a criminal one time, and that was very exciting, but I'm not generally one for fighting crime," the priest replied. "The name is Xellos, by the way."
The three Earth natives gave their introductions as well. The priest kept asking questions. Kaito decided to take the lead in dancing around them (because Aoko was too honest for her own good). Eventually the priest seemed to bore a bit of Kaito's creative and evasive answers and switched the conversation to the weather. Kaito decided to let Aoko talk about that, their being foreigners who didn't know much about the local climate not being any great secret.
After a while, Kaito did ask a few questions about the Lina Inverse woman who'd shown up earlier. Akako became quite interested in the other mage's spell repertoire.
There was a small town up ahead. Maybe a large village? Lina had never really cared about the dividing line.
Zelgadis confirmed that the signature of the Eye was strong here, and coming from the direction of the inn. Gourry nodded along as the others discussed their plan. Lina knew he wasn't paying attention, but she'd keep his role simple. The plan was the essence of simplicity, really. She and Gourry would walk in the front of the Inn. Amelia and Zelgadis would watch the back. The thieves would surrender after a fire ball or two.
Lina grinned to herself as she and Gourry walked up to the inn. She couldn't resist a cheerful chuckle as she shoved the door open. She spotted the white clad thief from before, still wearing that showman's outfit. Then there was the sorceress with the plum coloured hair, her immodest clothing and snake jewelry leading Lina's memory to someone she'd rather forget (... and also leaving Lina to wonder why Naga had never incorporated snakes into her outfit, when she was out there calling herself 'the serpent'). The third member of the group was a mousy girl in blue that Lina paid little attention to.
There was a fourth member now, though. And he caused Lina to do a double take once she registered he was there amongst the oddly dressed thieves.
"XELLOS!? What are you doing here!?" she shouted, losing all her previous composure.
"Ah, Miss Lina! I'd say it was a surprise, but that would be a lie," the Mazoku priest replied. "We were expecting you to take a bit longer to show up, though."
"You know her?" the white clad guy... what was his name again? Kaitou... Kid. Right. Weird name... Kaitou Kid asked.
"We're old friends," Xellos replied.
"We are not friends!" Lina protested.
"You wound me, Miss Lina," Xellos said, adding a gesture for effect.
"You're not working with these thieves, are you, Xellos?" she asked, marching over and slamming the table.
"I've merely been enquiring as to their intentions with the Eye of Yashindar. We don't get many outsider visitors. My lady was quite curious about them and asked me to investigate," the Mazoku replied.
"So you are some sort of a detective!" Kaitou Kid said, jumping to his feet. "I knew it!"
"Are you going to try to stop me from taking the Eye back from them?" Lina asked, ignoring the phantom thief and keeping her glare directed at Xellos.
"I have no great investment in which party takes the Eye," Xellos replied. "I think I'd like to watch the fight, though."
"It'll be a short fight," Lina said, her smile returning. "After all, I'm Lina Inverse! The scourge of bandits! Slayer of dragons! The only greatest sorceress to ever live! I can triumph over any foe!"
"Ohoho! Rather proud of ourselves, are we?" the serpent clad sorceress laughed, sending a shiver down Lina's spine.
She wasn't afraid, but... it had taken years to stop having dreams involving Naga's laughter.
"D-don't fight Lina Inverse in my bar! Just give her what she wants!" the bartender shouted as she ducked behind the counter.
"You shouldn't threaten such a beautiful lady, you gremlin!" a young man said, rushing over to the sorceress' side.
To Lina's surprise several other men ran over, the entire male population of the bar apparently deciding to try to tackle Lina.
"Gyah!" she shouted, kicking and biting to fight her way out. "Gourry!"
"I... you know... they do make a valid point. She is a very beautiful and dignified maiden. Maybe we should just let her have this?"
"Ohoho, even your boy toy has fallen for my charms!" the plum haired sorceress laughed.
Lina's eye twitched. "He's not my boy toy! You... FLARE ARROW!"
Lina directed the blast straight up, so as not to hurt any of the clearly possessed villagers. The sight of her blowing a hole in the roof seemed to have the intended effect, the men's sense of self preservation overpowering whatever magic the other woman had used. They scattered, a few telling the annoying sorceress to run while she still could.
Lina got to her feet, glaring at the other mage. "You've got spunk, but you're outclassed missy."
"Maybe we should—" Kid started to say, backing away, until Amelia and Zelgadis burst in through the back of the inn.
"You're surrounded, vile criminals! Surrender now to the forces of just—wah! Mister Xellos? What are you doing here?" Amelia said, tripping as the distraction of Xellos hit before she'd come to a stop.
"I'm just drinking some tea. Don't mind me," the dark priest said.
"Forces of justice? They're law enforcement? Aoko thinks we should probably just give the Eye of Yashi-thingy back," the mousy girl in blue said.
"I'm not giving it over!" the mysterious sorceress shouted. "They got my mother because... I'm not going the same way."
The sorceress extended an arm, a black mist flooding out from her hand, before materialising into a scythe (with a golden snake wrapped around it).
Lina brought her own hands together, reading magic between her fingers. It seemed like the sorceress was actually in charge, so she was ready to strike her.
"DARK MIST!" the sorceress shouted, plunging the inside of the Inn into an inky fog.
"FLARE BIT!" Lina shouted back, firing off the various miniature fireballs at the point where the sorceress had been standing.
"LIGHT COME FORTH!" Gourry shouted somewhere behind her, followed by the sound of his replica sword of light activating.
"Do we have to yell everything before we use it here?" Kaitou Kid's voice called out in the darkness. "Is that the local custom?"
"Of course not, you dolt!" the sorceress' voice shouted back. "That's just how combat magic works!"
Lina turned, following the sorceress' voice and firing a flare arrow. She heard the crashing of her spell bursting through the walls of the inn, and the mist began to dissipate, though still remained thick enough to be disorienting. She heard Gourry swing his sword about, the crackling of it's magical blade making his location obvious. She shot a fireball in the direction of where Kaitou Kid had been next, though only heard stone breaking again.
"Pheh. The dark mist got in my tea and ruined the flavour," Xellos said, sounding unmoved from his original location.
Lina ignored him and ran out one of the holes she'd caused. She caught the tail of Kaitou Kid's cape and chased after him. Even if he didn't have the eye he was a potential hostage, and she was willing to take hostages when a million gold pieces were on the line. She blasted several smaller fire spells at him, eventually chasing him into a blind alley.
"FLARE ARROW!" she shouted.
He ducked and rolled, just barely dodging her spell.
"You know, I've got a good reply to that," he said, wearing an obnoxious grin.
The white clad thief pulled something out of his jacket. It reminded her a bit of the muskets she'd seen out on other continents.
"A good magician shouldn't reveal his tricks, but I can't resist this time. FLARE GUN!" he shouted, before a bolt of some sort shot at her head. Lina fell backwards in her effort to dodge, landing on her rear in an undignified manner. She scrambled back to her feet, ready to yell at him, and only found slowly dissipating pink smoke.
Her eye twitched. She'd had enough of this run around. It was time to show these idiots who they were dealing with.
"Darkness beyond twilight
Crimson beyond blood that flows
Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows
I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand
before the mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hand
Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed
by the power you and I possess...
DRAGON SLAVE!"
Kaito stared in terror at the giant explosion where a hill had been standing just outside the town. He was very ready to surrender after seeing that.
"Oh thank goodness. She didn't blow up the town," the short (and busty… which Kaito definitely only noticed for possible disguise reference… definitely) blue haired girl said.
He saw that Xellos guy emerge from the inn, giving a quiet clap. "Always beautiful, seeing the Dragon Slave in action."
Aoko poked her head out after him, seeming ready to use the mysterious priest as a shield in all the fighting. "Wasn't there a mountain over there before?"
Kaito gave her a slow nod, glancing back at the rising smoke. The source of the explosion, the redheaded sorceress who was shorter than Aoko, stepped out from the alleyway she'd been in. Inverse wore a nasty grin on her face, revealing some rather fierce looking fangs. Kaito was briefly reminded of a certain butch detective, and felt like it was in his best interest to ensure the two never met.
"Ready to surrender are we?" Inverse asked, a new ball of magical energy forming in her left hand.
"I'm very ready to negotiate," Kaito replied.
"Aoko wasn't fighting to start with. Aoko doesn't support stealing."
Kaito heard the click of Akako's shoes, the Red Witch being accompanied by the two swordsmen from earlier. The blonde was apologising about having to be so mean to her.
"Fine, fine. I surrender. Come over here and I'll hand over the Eye," Akako said, before giving Kaito a look.
He countered with a shake of his head, not thinking her plan was very good after seeing the full power of this Dragon Slave spell. It really did seem like Inverse was a walking nuclear arsenal. Still, Akako glared at him as Inverse walked forward. Kaito slipped back into his poker face for the redheaded girl's last few steps until she got into position. Then he dropped and rolled, grabbing the edge of the doughnut shaped tarp he'd set up before and yanking it.
Beneath the tarp a red magic circle was revealed, the energy flashing up. Lina, stuck in the middle, fell to her knees with a silent gasp for air. Sweat began to run down her face. Kaito winced, not wanting to think about the time he'd been stuck under the same effect.
"What. The..." Lina said, grabbing at her chest, pain on her face.
Akako stepped forward, walking into the circle with no effect to herself. "Red Magic, my dear Shabrani sorceress. A specialty of my home."
"Red magic?" the blue haired girl asked, turning to that 'Zel' fellow.
"I've heard of it in old texts, but they were always rather vague," the stone chimera replied.
The two local mages were visibly shaken. They'd clearly been thrown out of their comfort zone and weren't sure how to respond. That gave Kaito a bit of satisfaction after how out of his element he was right now.
"Now, Lina-kun," Akako said, leaning forward, "there's a simple way out of this... here, eat this chocolate."
Akako produced a small heart shaped chocolate, holding it in front of the short girl's nose. Kaito, briefly, felt annoyed that Akako had been travelling with chocolate and not offered him any, before remembering it was probably enchanted.
But it was still chocolate, so he was at least a little annoyed.
"W-what happens if I do?" Lina asked, starting to shake now, as the sweat got worse.
"You'll be as charmed by me as any human male," Akako replied. "It's really not so bad. I'm kind to those who support me."
Lina eyed the chocolate, her arms moving stiffly, as if her body were trying to stop the pain despite the protests of her mind. Kaito winced again at memories he'd tried to forget.
"Stop!" Aoko shouted, rushing forward. "Akako-chan! This isn't right! Can't we just talk things over!"
"I need this artifact, Aoko," the Red Witch said, her face softening. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't have too..."
"As fascinating as first hand experience with red magic is," Xellos said as he stepped forward, "I must also protest. I don't care about the fate of the Eye of Yashindar, but Miss Lina's continued ability to act as an independent agent is in my and my lady's interest."
The mysterious priest pushed his staff forward, slicing a mark into Akako's magic circle. The spell broke, and Lina collapsed onto her hands, panting for breath.
The blue haired girl stepped forward, seemingly ready to come to Lina's side, until the short sorceress' face shot up. There was a fully monstrous glare in her eyes.
"DIS FANG!" Lina shouted, dark energy shooting out from her.
The energy, however, hit some sort of a shield.
"Tsk, tsk, Miss Lina," Xellos said with a wag of his finger. "I'm also rather interested in keeping Miss Akako alive. Her red magic is interesting."
They had gone back to the (rather abandoned) inn, pulling a couple of tables together. Lina and Akako continued to glare at one another. At least when they weren't both glaring at Xellos for interfering with both of their plans.
Aoko, meanwhile, was lost in her head. Or her heart. Whichever it was, she was sure she didn't like what Akako had done to Inverse. Hearing that Akako charmed all guys (apart from Kaito) was a general thing. She didn't approve, but... it was impersonal. It was advantageous. Simple math. But with Inverse, that was personal. And it caused Aoko's sense of jealousy to flare up.
She shook her head. What was she doing? She wasn't even on Earth! She shouldn't be focused on something silly like jealousy over a girl who might not even like other girls.
Or was the Inverse thing proof Akako did think of girls that way?
"Some 'side of justice' you all are, trying to pay off a fine for blowing up a city," Kaito said, shaking Aoko out of her thoughts.
"What!?" Aoko said, being drawn out of her thoughts.
"I was hunting pirates. I blew them up... I just forgot that my spell would blow up part of the city too," Lina muttered.
"Miss Lina might have a bit of a temper, but she is a friend of mine, and I am a champion of Justice, so she's deep down on the side of Justice too," Amelia added, her voice passionate.
"Is the dark Mazoku priest a friend of yours too?" Akako asked.
"Uh... I'm still not totally sure. I'd like to say yes, but..." the blue haired girl muttered, shrinking down a little. "Sometimes he doesn't seem to be on the side of Justice much."
"Regardless of who's on the side of 'Justice' or not. I need the Eye. There's no other way for me to raise a million gold in time!" Lina protested.
"I need the Eye as protection against witch hunters and Angels," Akako replied. "They're far more dangerous than some town guards."
"I think Lady Koizumi makes a very valid point," the tall blond swordsman said. "We should let her keep it."
Lina hit him. "You're under magical brainwashing, Gourry. So... shut up."
The blond gave sad puppy eyes, but they had no apparent effect on Lina.
"Wait," Kaito said, causing all eyes to turn to him. "You're selling the Eye, right?"
Lina nodded.
"So, it doesn't really matter to you if the person you sell it to gets robbed, once you have your money, right?" Kaito continued.
"Hmm… I suppose not," Lina replied, looking deep in thought.
"Then that's the plan. We give you the Eye. You sell the Eye. Then we steal it from the person you sold it too! Problem solved. Everyone's happy!" Kaito said with a large grin.
"Oh yes. More stealing. Of course that's your solution, Bakaito," Aoko muttered, crossing her arms.
"Do you really think stealing from people who knowingly buy stolen goods is wrong, Ahoko?" Kaito replied.
"Uh... well... it's not good, at least," Aoko said, cheeks growing hot.
"Sounds fair to me," Lina said, standing up and walking around the table. She went to Akako's side and held out a hand. "Care to shake on it?"
"Very well. I can wait a few extra days in this realm," Akako said, giving a quick nod before she stood up and shook Lina's hand. "And we're good for a truce?"
Akako then produced the Eye from her apparently endless satchel, handing it over to Lina. The short sorceress lifted the Eye up, examining it for a moment. "Yeah, mostly."
"Mostly?" Akako asked.
"Still a little mad about that magic circle trick you pulled," Lina replied, eyes narrow.
"And what are you planning to do about it?" Akako asked, narrowing her own eyes.
"This," Lina said simply, before lifting up a foot and stomping her heel into Akako's own foot.
The normally elegant witch let out a shriek of pain, jumping on her good foot.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! You petty little gremlin!" Akako hissed, her voice strained and angry.
The rest of the room, save for Lina (who wore a gloating smile), stared at Akako then. Not so much for her reaction to getting her foot stomped on. Even the most poised of people would shriek after that. No, it was the way her voice sounded while expressing her current emotions.
"I thought her voice reminded me of someone," Zelgadis said.
"That is quite an interesting coincidence," Xellos added.
A still wincing Akako and a confused Lina turned to the group, asking, in unison, "What coincidence?"
"Your voices," Aoko said. "They're so similar..."
"I sound nothing like that feral little vagabond," Akako hissed.
"When you're angry you do," Kaito replied. "I really should have noticed sooner… not as close as with that Miyano girl, but—"
"I refuse to accept that I sound like some haughty and snake obsessed... floozy!" Lina shouted.
"Lots of people can sound similar, so it's probably just a coincidence," Amelia offered. "Like Nama having had a familiar voice to that other friend of yours."
Lina nodded, while the Earth trio found no further explanation to who or what 'Nama' was.
Still seeming (adorably, in Aoko's opinion) flustered about her loss of composure, Akako pushed the conversation on to the plan ahead. The local group talked about visiting some town that was outside some city that was in some alliance or another. Aoko found it all very confusing, and rather useless as a way of understanding what was going to happen. She did notice Kaito nodding along a bunch like he understood it all.
Aoko was quite certain he was as lost as she was. He was an annoyingly good actor.