AN: There. Gourry week has been officially extended to today. Just take my word for it, lol.
While Gourry could not in good conscience refuse Sylphiel's offer to hire him and Lina as bodyguards for her trip to Saillune, he also was not looking forward to it in the slightest. He was certain it would devolve into fights between Lina and Sylphiel and him having to choose between hurting the woman he was falling in love with and hurting a woman who had lost her entire family and hometown in a brutal act of mass murder. It made him feel so sick that he thought he would hurl from the anxiety.
Yet his fears were unwarranted due to the fact that Sylphiel had been in such a state of mourning that during the day she traveled in silence and in the evening she would retire early to her room, leaving him and Lina to spend their evenings together. It wasn't a comfortable arraignment but it was far better than the fights and drama that Gourry had been worried about. And while they did pass through some large cities he and Lina refrained from hitting the town the way they had in Atlas City. It just didn't feel right. So they would pass their evenings tending their supplies or playing card games.
While Sylphiel was quiet in her grief, Lina was loud in her desire for the Sword of Light. As they traveled during the day she would talk about all the research she could do with the weapon and how it would advance the field of magic. Gourry would tell her no and tune her out. And hope that it didn't mean that it was the only reason that she traveled with him.
As they passed the border into the Kingdom of Saillune Lina called for a break so she could talk to a group of locals to gather some information. Sylphiel walked up to him as he watched Lina and commented, "It won't be long now till we reach Saillune City."
She glanced at him as she finished speaking, as if she was wanting to hear something from him. Gourry ached with the knowledge that whatever it was he likely could not give it to her. "And then you can see your uncle."
Sylphiel looked down a little, "I'm afraid I don't know him or my family here that well. Family is family though. Even if I know no one else in Saillune City."
An awkward silence passed as Gourry looked at his feet. Eventually Sylphiel said, "So what will you do once we get there?"
A wave of guilt rose through him as he shrugged, "I dunno. I just go wherever Lina wants to."
She looked at him, "Sir Gourry, you know you don't have to, don't you? You know she just travels with you so she can get the Sword of Light? And I…"
"Let's get going!" Lina said as she rejoined them, her expression rather cloudy. Gourry's stomach tightened as he wondered if she was upset that he was talking with Sylphiel. It could have looked more intimate than it was from a distance.
"Are the roads to Saillune City clear?" he asked.
"And then some." Lina muttered. "Head east like we thought, and according to the locals we're best off just following the main road even with the maintenance. With all of the political instability…"
"The what?" Sylphiel asked.
"King Eldoran is ill and it has resulted in some sort of succession dispute." Lina explained. "It's hard to sort rumors from truth in a situation like this but they say that there have been a series of assassination attempts and the king's heir has disappeared. Rumor is he is in hiding but he could be dead for all we know. Anyway, because of this all sort of disreputable ruffians have stepped forward and taking the backroads would be asking for trouble."
"The king's heir?" Sylphiel asked, "You mean Prince Philionel?"
Lina shuddered, "I prefer to call him the king's heir."
Sylphiel looked confused for a moment but then settled into a look of quiet contemplation as Gourry felt a tightness in his chest as he remembered the fights that broke out between his father and uncles when his grandfather died. The fights that ended in strange and mysterious deaths that were never fully explained. And the constant fear that clung to every crevice of his home, a place that should have been a place of sanctuary. The exhaustion that came from constantly being on guard and unable to completely rest.
If Gourry needed another reason to leave Saillune City as soon as he could, this was it.
Of course, leaving Saillune quickly was not in the cards. Not only were the rumors of Prince Philionel being on the run true, but Sylphiel's uncle, Grey, had been sheltering him! And if that wasn't enough, it turned out that Phil and Lina had already met. And while Phil obviously respected and trusted Lina, she wasn't as fond of him.
Gourry wondered why because as far as he could tell Phil seemed like a good guy caught in a bad situation. He seemed to care about his people and had hoped that by fleeing the palace he would stop the assassinations and keep them safe even if it meant jeopardizing his claim to the throne by whoever wanted to usurp it. He also seemed to care deeply about his daughter, Amelia. He was deeply apologetic and remorseful to Grey for the danger he had brought to his family by sheltering him and similarly apologetic to Lina and Gourry for the risk he asked them to take when he requested that they deliver a message either to Amelia or his valet, Clophel.
But one thing troubled Gourry. While Phil hadn't ask them for help with figuring out who was behind the assassination attempts Gourry couldn't help but ask. And when Phil stated that he suspected his younger brother, Christopher, his suspicions were confirmed. And while Gourry felt some relief that it wasn't just his family that suffered these strifes, it also angered him that when a family had power or some other valuable these power struggles mattered more than blood. And though Gourry tried to remain skeptical, he knew it was easy to be deceived, he also couldn't help but see a lot of himself in Phil. Phil seemed just as distraught over the situation as Gourry was about the one he found himself in growing up. Phil seemed like a good guy.
But Lina didn't like him. Was there something he was missing?
Still, Lina didn't turn Phil's request down. So after a bit of strategizing they decided it would be easier to reach Clophel, who would be less guarded than Amelia. He and Lina found Clophel without any problems, and Clophel seemed genuinely happy and relieved to hear that Phil was okay. That finished they headed back to the stairs, and that was when the trouble started when an explosion rang from outside.
They continued into the room they had snuck in and when Lina grabbed his hand for a Levitation spell, he was ready. It had taken him awhile to get used to these flying spells, especially as he lost the control that came with owning the ground that he stood on. But he was starting to figure them out. Even if his stomach still went funny when she grabbed his hand like that.
Gourry didn't focus on the feeling for too long. There had been an explosion and he needed to be aware of any potential dangers. It didn't take him long to spot it in the form of a sorcerer floating above the ground. He pulled out his sword and wondered how best to defend them while floating in the air and being unable to shoot off spells of his own.
Lina, it seemed, had decided it was best to try to speed away out of there as she grabbed his hand once more and chanted, "Lei Wing!"
The bubble of wind encompassed them right as a powerful spell hit them! Whoever this sorcerer was he was strong, and Lina seemed a bit startled by the power of the spell as she made for an emergency landing, right smack dab in the middle of a group of guards.
Gourry stood up as the guards circled them and demanded to know who they were. Surely if he was just honest they would get out of trouble! "We don't mean you any harm, don't worry!"
Lina gave him a look. But they didn't have much time as the sorcerer joined them and started arguing with the captain of the royal guard over what to do with them. Before Gourry could figure out how to use the fight to escape, two other men joined them.
Gourry later learned that they were Christopher and his son, Alfred, who seemed to have brought the sorcerer who had attacked them, Kanzel, to court, much to the consternation of the captain of the royal guard. Gourry immediately saw Gunther in Christopher and felt the distrust flow.
Unfortunately for them, Christopher overrode the captain of the royal guard and sided with Kanzel. Kanzel ran with it as he announced, "And now I shall kill them!"
"Wait, Kanzel, no!" Christopher yelled.
Gourry would have been a lot more worried if he'd not heard Lina chanting. Though he did sweat a little as Kanzel released a spell as they took to the air once more. But before he could rest in the comfort of escape his leg erupted into pain as Kanzel's spell broke through her wind barrier.
"Gourry?" she asked sharply as he bit his tongue and struggled to keep his face calm. Lina needed to focus on getting them back to Grey's safely, not him. What the man with the long, black said made so much sense in that moment. Never show your worried face to the woman that you love.
"It's just a scratch," he said softly and as calmly as he could manage even as he knew good as well that it was a bit more than that, "Nothing to worry about."
"This was more than a scratch." Lina said as she watched as Grey healed his injured foot.
"And I'll have it back to normal in no time." Grey said reassuringly.
"But for Kanzel to piece through my wind barrier like that…What do you know about him?"
"Not much I'm afraid. You may want to talk to Sir Phil in the morning." Grey said. "There now. Rest now. I'm afraid we're running out of rooms. Sir Phil is staying in our son's old room and Sylphiel is in our guest room."
"This couch looks comfy." Lina said.
"Between all the help you have given us, both by helping our Sylphiel and Sir Phil, I hate that this is all we can do."
"It's cleaner than the inns we stay in half the time." Gourry said amiably. "And I have a nice footrest here! Do you know how often my feet dangle over the edge of those short hotel beds?"
Grey smiled a bit, "My wife, Maria, has left some blankets here for you to use. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
Lina looked at him, "I think we're good, thanks."
"Me, too."
"Have a pleasant night then." Grey said as he walked over to his bedroom.
Lina walked over to the blankets and unfolded one, "This looks a little larger," she commented as she tossed it at him.
"Thanks," he said as he draped it over him and then leaned back on the plush chair as she walked over to the love seat and curled up onto it.
"This isn't too bad." She murmured.
"No." he agreed. And then he asked softly, "Lina, Sir Phil seems like a decent guy. Why don't you like him?"
Lina tensed as she smacked her hand to her forehead, "Aww man, I'm trying to sleep and do not need visions of him dancing through my head right now!"
"Huh?"
"Fine, he's a good person if that's what you're asking. I wouldn't be doing all of this if he weren't. But he doesn't look like a king's heir!"
"You mean a prince?" Gourry asked.
"Don't call him that!" Lina said as she sat up.
"Keep your voice down! Besides, what should a…king's heir look like?"
Lina lied back down as she sighed and then continued in a loud whisper, "Do I have to explain it? Tall and handsome. With a lovely physique and beautiful blue eyyyyesss…"
Her voice trailed off awkwardly as she blushed and turned away from him. "Just not like him!"
Gourry smiled a little as he thought about how she had described him until she became embarrassed. Followed quickly by the thought that it was easy to forget because she was so competent and independent, but she was very young. And perhaps just not ready for the attention that a handsome man could give. And that maybe, just maybe she traveled with him because she wanted more than the Sword of Light.
Or are you just spinning tales to make yourself happy, Gourry?
"If you say so. Night, Lina."
"Night, Gourry."
He watched her for a moment, until the light spell faded out. And then he did not have it in him to stop the thoughts of what they could do if she was attracted to him lull him to sleep.
Phil may not have lived up to Lina's expectations of a handsome young prince, but Gourry could not help but respect him more as the morning progressed and he could see his desire to do the right thing and to somehow hold on to morality in a corrupt environment. He also knew what it was like to have a brother that you could not trust. While he wouldn't have wished the situation that he had with Gunther on anyone, it was good to know that he wasn't the only good person out there with a family like this.
When word broke that Clophel had been arrested under suspicion of being behind the assassination attempts Phil didn't hesitate to do the right thing by returning to the palace to clear his name, and Gourry didn't hesitate to volunteer to go with him. Lina readily agreed as well, but by now he was starting to trust that she would do the right thing.
They passed through the palace gates and Phil announced his return and demanded Clophel's immediate release and was quickly greeted by a cute young woman who turned out to be his daughter, Amelia who, despite the situation, appeared rather relaxed.
Emphasis on appeared. Despite her chipper and upbeat manner Gourry couldn't help but notice how it didn't reach her eyes. Her cheeriness was forced. Gourry felt his shoulders tense as he remembered how Mother would become overly cheerful after a bad fight with Father. No matter how hurt she was she had to put a good face to the world. Not that he had it much better. He was pat of the Gabriev clan. How could he be anything but happy? Even when your family was butchering each other in cold blood.
Instantly Gourry understood that Amelia was not a genuinely happy person. But putting out a certain image was very important to her. But who was she really beneath the surface? Phil obviously adored her. But just because she was his daughter didn't mean that she was a good person. Damn, but he hated thinking like this. Even though he was committed to helping Phil he couldn't wait to get to the bottom of this so they could get as far away from the palace and it's cruel power plays as possible!
It wasn't until Phil, who had hired them as his personal bodyguards, had shown them to their rooms that Gourry realized that they had not said a proper goodbye to Sylphiel. The exhaustion had caught up to her after meeting Phil and she'd gone to her room and had not risen by the time they had left in the morning. It was a relief in some ways even if he did feel a little guilty.
Still, he thought as he took off his armor, at least he had a nice room to stay in for once. He kicked off his boots and collapsed onto the bed and sighed. It was actually long enough for him! He closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep. Yet it was strangely hard. He kept thinking of the assassination attempts that happened in his own family. How Grandmother started insisting that people sleep together for safety. How are you ever supposed to get to sleep if you're scared that you won't wake up?
Something felt wrong. He sat up in bed and tried to tell himself that it was just his childhood fears running wild. But then the sound of a body being thrown into the wall from Lina's room reverberated into his and his heart shook. He got up and ran over and pounded on her door, "Lina! What's wrong?"
"Gourry!" she cried, causing a pit of ice to form at the base of his spine. She sounded terrified! He tried the door but it was locked. Without a second thought or care to the damage wrought to the palace he kicked the door. But it was a far cry from the flimsy inn doors they were used to.
From within he heard Lina cry, "Bram Blazer!" She was alive! And likely too busy fighting for her life to help him save it. He kicked at the door again.
"Dark Mist." A gravely masculine voice cast, and the fear hit Gourry like a tidal wave as he took a deep breath and kicked the door once more.
This time it flew open and he walked in and was instantly blinded by a black cloud. He stared at it in confusion for a moment as he tried to make sense of what had happened to her room. "Lina!" he called, and then he noticed her presence. He still couldn't see that well but he could feel her.
Please don't be dead! He thought as he ran to her and grabbed her arm. "Are you okay, Lina?" he asked, and to his surprise she turned and buried her face in his chest. She was alive! He struggled with the impulse to stroke her hair as he scanned the room for any sign of who had been in there with her.
"I think he's gone…" he said as he suddenly realized she was trembling and that the place where her face was pressed against his chest was becoming damp. Was it with sweat or tears? "Lina…what happened? Are you okay?"
She nodded against his chest but he wasn't convinced. It was unlike her to be so quiet. Gradually the black cloud dissipated and his vision returned. Her room was trashed but that was to be expected. He took a deep breath as tried to calm himself as he gently put his hand on her head. Something about the way she was burying her face in his chest felt both endearing and alarming. She took a deep breath but did not protest as he slowly ran his hand through her hair as he struggled to figure out what to say. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.
She took another deep breath and then pulled away from him. Outrage flooded him when he saw the red marks of fingers around her throat that were deadening into a yellowish brown bruise. She looked down at her knees as she put a hand to her throat and said, her voice a bit rough, "This is Lina Inverse, and it'll take more than that to shut me up!"
She tried to smile but it faltered quickly as she avoided his gaze. And he was too horrified to laugh, "We'd better get you to a doctor."
Somehow his voice was calmer than he felt. All of his practice staying calm on the battlefield kicked in as he informed the guards that Lina had been attacked and asked where the doctor was. They walked together in silence as it slowly filtered through him how different things would be right now if he had been a minute later. He wouldn't be walking beside her. He would be carrying her corpse.
And just like that he went tense. What if whoever attacked her was planning to strike again? He opened his senses for any signs of anyone with hostile intentions and hated that he was back in this place. He'd hated it as a boy and he hated it now!
He pushed the thoughts away. They weren't helpful. Keeping his eyes and ears open was. So he did.
Lina was more rattled than she let on. The doctor was able to heal her physical wounds but the young woman he walked away from the temple with was different. Gourry understood. She'd had two near brushes with death now, and this one had occurred in the safety of her own bed. He still hated seeing her like this.
The liveliness in her eyes was replaced with worry and she didn't laugh at his jokes. Granted, this was still fresh and she could bounce back…if she wasn't attacked again and if the next attack wasn't more successful. Gourry's anxiety rose as he realized that while he liked Phil, it wasn't enough for him to want to continue with this job. Whatever was going on with the Saillune royal family was likely more complicated than any plot involving Mazoku because it involved human families, and he and Lina could spend years investigating and getting to the bottom of it without success. It just wasn't worth it.
But if Lina was ready to call it quits she wasn't saying anything. Granted, he wasn't either. He didn't want to appear weak and cowardly. But he was hoping she would give some indication that she wanted an excuse to leave. But when they got back to her room she decided instead to search her room in case the assassin, Zuma, had been looking for something inside of it. Though he was a bit disappointed that she was still motivated to get to the bottom of the Saillune intrigue, he was happy to help her search her room even if he wasn't surprised that they didn't turn up anything. Still, he wasn't going to begrudge the time. He wasn't ready to leave her alone after what happened. And he didn't think she wanted to be alone.
By the time they'd finished it was morning and neither of them had gotten much sleep. And given that they had a job to do it wasn't as if they could get it. Gourry didn't like it, but Lina was insistent that he guard Phil while she interview people in the palace to find evidence that implicated Christopher. While it was good that Zuma hadn't destroyed her nosiness, he would have felt a lot better if he could have at least tagged along.
He tried to not let his resentments cloud his ability to perform his job as he spent the day waiting outside Phil's office. And it was a relief when Lina found him and asked to go to her room for a strategy meeting. Once there she collapsed onto her bed. Part of him wanted to let her get her rest. Both of them needed it! But he would also sleep a lot better if they had put some distance between themselves and the palace first!
"Hey Lina, we can't rest yet."
"I know," she said, though she didn't open her eyes.
"You do seem worn out." He observed, and she gradually sat up at the edge of the bed.
"Yeah, it's hard to relax around all of these stuffed shirts."
"Interesting," he replied, "Usually you play by your own rules regardless of who you're dealing with."
"Do you have a problem with it?"
"Several." He replied.
"Well too bad." She said. And he stopped right there. Of course Lina wouldn't leave a case unsolved. It wasn't in her nature even if she was more cautious than she usually was. But to be honest if she wasn't going to blow the place down to get to the bottom of it then he just wanted to leave.
But he couldn't say that. He couldn't appear weak and cowardly. So he listened to her justify her change in methods and draw him into some speculation about why Alfred would ask to set up a meeting between Christopher and Phil. Eventually Lina's eyes started to droop. He knew she needed to sleep if she was going to stay on her game. They both did! So he bade her a good night.
He went to his room and shut the door. And then the weight of the stress and anxiety that he had been holding back so that he could be strong for Lina hit him with all of the force of a load of stonemasonry. He collapsed to his knees as his stifled the sob by shoving his hand into his mouth before it could escape so Lina wouldn't hear from her room. He bit into his glove, stifling the sound of cries as hot tears poured down his face. Lina had nearly been killed in her sleep. Like so many of his uncles and cousins. It took him years to sleep confidently. He'd never thought he'd be here again, worrying that someone he loved would be killed in their bed.
He looked at his bed. He was exhausted and desperately needed the sleep it would provide. But if he fell asleep, would he wake up? Would Lina? Sleep felt like an impossible risk. But not sleeping and taking the hit to his swordskills was also a risk! Eventually he got to his feet and grabbed some pillows and a blanket. It may have been stupid, but sleeping on the rough floor and close to the wall of her room so he could be marginally more alert and aware if she was attacked seemed like the best compromise. He laid down by the wall and fell into an uneasy sleep.
The attack at lunch was more bizarre than terrifying, and thankfully neither of them had come close to dying. But the assassins that attacked during the meeting with Phil and Alfred provided more of a challenge. Fortunately Phil turned out to not be a complete deadweight and was able to hold his own in a fight. Even Amelia seemed to want to join in, but Phil had rather unceremoniously picked her up like a mischievous kitten and thrown her at him for safekeeping.
But on the day of Phil's talk with Christopher…
When Gourry went over the attack afterword as he tried to sleep he could not forget how fast it had happened and he could not stop berating himself over how long it had taken him to draw the Sword of Light. He'd not wanted to wield it so openly, especially in a palace full of power struggles and assassination attempts. Surely a giant beetle wouldn't warrant drawing his weapon!
But his hesitation had nearly killed Lina.
He should have sized the beetle up better. It was obvious that typical swords weren't working. But he'd been so scared of the attention that his weapon could draw that he clung to hope that there was a way to defeat it without drawing it. He kept trying different ways to hack away at the beetle, each of them ineffective. It wasn't until Lina called, "Gourry, the light!" that he accepted what he was reluctant to do.
Still, he would give it one more try before he drew the light. But then as he was preparing to strike he saw the beetle charge at Lina and swipe. An ice cold hand grabbed him as her body fell backwards leaving her legs behind.
"Lina!" he cried as, apparently dazed, she hoisted herself on her elbows and tried to get up. She hadn't seemed to realize that her legs were gone!
Why had he hesitated? With trembling hands he grabbed the needle and jabbed it into the wrong spot! Stupid, useless, stupid idiot! He berated himself as he got it in the right place and the blade detached. But he wasn't in time to stop the beetle from shocking Lina with a volt of electricity.
He felt like he was going to hurl as the scent of her burnt flesh and hair filled the air. "Light come forth!" he roared as Amelia used a spell to blow the beetle back and he wasted no further time in decapitating the beetle.
He turned around to run to Lina, "Lina! Lina!" He cried as he feared the worst, that his delays had cost her her life. And then when he saw her…her clothes had been burnt away revealing angry red burns, some of which went down to her bone! But soon his vision was obscured. Between his tears and the rush of medical personnel he could no longer see her.
And then suddenly someone grabbed him. Gourry struggled against him but whoever it was was strong! "My Amelia is working on a Resurrection spell." Phil said, "And Mistress Lina is tough!"
"I have to see her!" Gourry said as he continued to fight.
"Trust me, you don't want to see her that way."
Something about the way that Phil spoke caused the fight to go out of him. Something about the way Phil spoke told him that he understood! Gourry watched the healers and tried to push the image of her charred, legless body out of his mind. "Her legs…"
"My Amelia can regrow limbs." Phil assured him as he patted his back.
"She's stable enough, let's get her to the temple stat!" Amelia yelled. "Where's the stretcher?"
Gourry walked forward as they moved her on it and lifted it up. Someone had covered her with a blanket but he could see her face, and it looked as though she had a massive sunburn. But she was obviously breathing! Gourry followed them as they headed to the temple with her and Phil joined him. "We'll have to stay in the waiting room until they're ready. We don't want to get in their way."
"I understand." Gourry said, feeling so choked with worry that he could barely say anything else. The world seemed off kilter as they walked to the temple and Gourry felt that if it wasn't for Phil's steadying hand he might have fallen. When they got inside Phil motioned to a chair but Gourry shook his head as he let the people carrying Lina go and take her behind a set of heavy oak doors. Phil sat down as Gourry stared at where Lina had gone for a moment and struggled with the impulse to burst in to make sure they were doing their jobs well.
What if it's Amelia who's behind all this? And she uses this time to kill Lina make it look her injuries were just too severe? Gourry could not suppress the thought. It was hard to know who to trust in a place like this. Sure, she'd blasted the beetle away with a spell, but in a world where appearances were what mattered and could be deceiving it might have been part of a larger plan to draw suspicion from herself and...
I'm not helping anyone by thinking this way, and especially not Lina, Gourry thought as he turned away from the door. If Amelia was innocent, and she most likely was, he would endanger Lina more by interrupting. He looked around the room for something to distract himself from his thoughts and found a portrait of a lovely young woman with long black hair who bore a faint resemblance to Amelia. Hadn't Grey said that Amelia took after her mother?
"Was this your wife?" Gourry asked, managing to break through the haze of his thoughts.
Phil looked up at the painting and nodded, "And the love of my life."
Gourry stopped right there. He did not want to think about what it would be like to continue on his own after such a loss. But the question of how she died burned his brain. Before he could say anything Phil said, "Mistress Lina greatly impressed me when I first met her. I'm glad she found someone to have her back."
"I feel like I'm doing a pathetic job of it." Gourry stated as the tears started to escape.
"I remember feeling that way myself once." Phil said, "It's a terrible feeling. With time I developed a different perspective."
Gourry turned to look at him and Phil continued, "Women who shine so brightly are hard to protect. But if you lock them away you risk diminishing their light. But if you let it burn it attracts the wrong sort. And some of those people are very skilled at harming others. Master Gourry, I don't think anyone else could have taken down the beetle the way that you did…"
"I hesitated…" Gourry said.
"We all make mistakes." Phil said. "Mine was pulling Amelia out of the battle yesterday. Sometimes you get so scared that you mess up."
"How was that a mistake?"
"After my wife's death I thought it was important that my girls learn to protect themselves. This is a dangerous place." Phil said, and though he didn't explicitly say how his wife had died the bad feeling returned, "I could lock them away or fortify them with the means to do it themselves. But sometimes a father's instinct kicks in strong and is hard to ignore. Amelia is probably gonna pay me back for that soon!"
"Lady Amelia is lucky to have you for a father, sir." Gourry said quietly as he thought about how his instinct had been to keep the ownership of the Sword of Light a secret over protecting Lina. It was a mistake he vowed never to repeat.
"And Mistress Lina is lucky to have you for a guardian." Phil said.
"I'm not where you are now, though." Gourry said. He didn't care if it diminished her light. They couldn't stay in this kingdom a minute longer than they had to! They were leaving.
When Amelia escorted him into the room that Lina was recuperating in he was relieved to see that she looked like her usual self. Someone had dressed her in a simple cotton garment and her legs had been regrown and her skin healed. Physically she looked as though she had made a complete recovery.
She was still sleeping. Gourry pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed and waited with Amelia for her to wake up. As soon as she did he didn't care anymore if she thought he was weak or cowardly. He stated, "Let's drop this job."
"Wha…?" she asked as she sat up, obviously struggling with the effort.
"Hey! How're you feeling?" Amelia asked in her overly chipper manner.
"Tired, but there's no pain. Everything's working but my legs feel strange."
"You'll get used to it soon."
"Huh?"
Gourry looked away as he muttered, "You're better off not asking."
"What?" she said, alarmed.
Amelia waved her hand dismissively as she said with a smile, "Oh it was nothing to worry about. That beetle just sliced your legs off and burnt you extra crispy. That's all."
Gourry was momentarily left speechless by her cavalier manner as Lina asked a few more questions. Once he gathered his thoughts he pounced, "Lina, we've done enough, let's quit this job and get out of here!"
"How come?" she asked.
His temper flared at how someone so smart could be so dense, "How come!? Someone's trying to kill you! If you stick your neck out any further they're going to take another swing at it!"
"Yeah, I know." She said, and her calmness was unnerving.
"Then…"
"Listen, Gourry, yes, someone is trying to kill me, but why?"
That stopped him in his tracks. "Um…"
"You don't know, do you?" she asked.
Gourry wanted to ask her what this had to do with quitting but before he could she continued, "I don't either. These attacks make no sense in the context of the succession dispute. Which means that someone is targeting me and using the chaos of the dispute to cover their tracks."
He could see that, "But…"
"Which means leaving won't make them give up."
He felt his heart sink. She was right. He didn't want her to be right, but she was. The hope that there was someone safe to run evaporated. "I guess." He said softly.
"So we might as well keep our word to Sir Phil, right?"
He could no longer meet her gaze. Even if she was right and she would continue to be pursued taking her and running felt like the wisest course of action. But he could not make her do anything she didn't want. "I guess."
He struggled to contain his emotions as she watched him uncomfortably for a moment. How could she be so calm in the face of all of this? Much as he hated it, though, what else could he do?
"Listen, Gourry. Thank you for worrying about me. I'm gonna be okay though!"
"Don't let your guard down! Especially around Kanzel. I…there's something not right about him." Gourry said, but he couldn't put the finger on what it was.
Lina talked about her own concerns with Kanzel and Gourry listened. When Amelia dropped the news that Kanzel had gone missing it did little to soothe his anxieties. If Kanzel was behind the attacks on Lina then he was likely preparing to strike.
"I know you're a strong fighter." Gourry said quietly, "But after all of this, I think it would be wise to stick close together. No more splitting up to investigate while one of us guards Sir Phil."
He waited for a tense moment, but she nodded. Was it his imagination or did she even seem a bit relieved? "As boring as that sounds, I think I need a little boredom in my life at the moment."
He waited with her until the doctors told her she could leave and get some rest in her room. Their trip was a silent one and when she got to the door she hesitated. "Maybe you should stay in my room. If my room is like yours then there should be a trundle that I can sleep on." He said quietly. He hoped he didn't sound sleazy, like Gunther, or like he had in Daymia's basement. He hoped that she would remember what had happened when she stayed the night in his room shortly after they met. He hoped she wouldn't think he was trying to take advantage of her situation. "That way if Zuma comes back he'll find an empty room. And if he goes searching then we'll have each other's backs."
She pulled away from her door as if it was on fire as she rushed towards his room, "Thanks."
A few days passed without incident. But it was hard to relax when you are waiting for an ax to fall. This was how Gourry had grown up, and he'd hated it then and he hated it even more now. And if it wasn't for Lina he wouldn't have put himself through this again. But for Lina he would suck it up and relive the worst parts of his childhood.
So when Amelia informed them that Clophel had been kidnapped and held for ransom part of him welcomed it. Finally they were no longer waiting for trouble to start! The other part of him bristled at how casually Amelia took for granted the fact that they would risk their lives to save him.
But at least they were no longer standing around Phil's office. Side by side they went to the slums of Saillune City to find and rescue Clophel. They found Kanzel first, and Gourry was ready for the imminent attack. Or at least he thought he was. Somehow Kanzel had managed to teleport through the air! Gourry couldn't make sense of it! Lina seemed just as stunned as him, "But that's impossible for…"
"For a human." Kanzel finished for her. "That fool Seigram can do it. Are you really surprised that I can as well?"
"You're a demon!" Gourry said as the pieces fell into place.
Though he did not have time to ruminate on it too much, suddenly Gourry realized why he felt so inept. Since meeting Lina the beings he had been fighting had been frighteningly more powerful than anything he had trained for. And unlike when he was first training to use the sword this was no practice run with wooden swords that only left bruises. A mistake here could be fatal. Somehow it was enough that he hadn't made a fatal mistake, but…
He still had to be better!
Despite his resolve and willpower, the fight was still desperate, with Kanzel blinding them with a powerful light. Gourry grabbed Lina and was resolved to the worst when a group of guards came up. While they were with the people who had abducted Clophel, for some reason Kanzel disappeared. Given that Kanzel could easily wipe the whole of Saillune off the map Gourry wasn't sure what to make of it. But he also wasn't about to dismiss small favors because fending off a group of human guards was infinitely easier than fighting off a mid-ranked demon!
Once more, Lina grabbed him and cast a Lei Wing spell. The bubble of air surrounded them and she started to hightail it away from the guards and Gourry anticipated the moment when she would let go of his hand. But she didn't. His heart was pounding as he glanced behind him at the guards they were leaving in the dust as he wondered why Lina held on. Don't read too much into it. He told himself, She's been blinded and wanting comfort. Don't read too much into it. Besides, we still have to rescue Clophel.
Zuma was exactly the type of warrior that Gourry feared he was. A competent one who lived for the thrill of the kill rather than serving a larger goal. And because of that Gourry wasn't sure if he could win. People like Zuma usually did not have moral scruples that would hold someone with a larger goal back. But with help from Clophel of all people, who wasn't completely helpless, they managed to get him to retreat.
With Zuma gone and Clophel safely secured, Lina looked at the guards who were still alive. Gourry watched as she looked at the guards who were alive but unconscious, "Let's tie them up."
Gourry helped her. Any worries he used to have that she would go overboard were gone, replaced with trust in the knowledge that while she may take things further than him she had her limits and wouldn't go overboard. He didn't say a word when she asked him to rouse a guard so she could question him. And that was how they found that the ringleader who was not Christopher, but Alfred.
As they returned to the palace they ran into not just Alfred but Zuma. In the end he managed to barely defeat Zuma. He had taken one of Zuma's arms and Lina had gotten the other. Typically Gourry could rest confident that it would be enough to finish an enemy. But something troubled Gourry about Zuma. Something was telling him it would take more than that to finish him.
While he and Lina were taking down Zuma, Amelia managed to capture Alfred. Gourry was relieved that the woman who had so casually asked them to risk their lives at least wasn't afraid to get her own hands dirty. Gourry looked forward to letting Alfred meet his fate. As cruel as it may seem it was one less enemy to worry about. Especially with Kanzel still out there. And, possibly, Zuma. It suddenly hit Gourry that losing his arms definitely would not stop him...after all, Lina's legs had been regrown, hadn't they?
There was a sinking feeling of dread in his stomach as Gourry walked with Lina and Phil to deliver the news about Alfred. Gourry could only imagine what Gunther would do in a similar situation. Deny everything. Accuse them of setting Alfred up. Threaten to fight. Team up with Kanzel again and take Saillune by force.
When they found Christopher he was, to Gourry's surprise, remorseful. And not just because Alfred had been caught. He was so genuinely remorseful that he could barely sit up straight as he took full responsibility for how he'd raised Alfred and poisoned the boy with his resentments over being born too late.
Gourry took a deep breath as a sense of relief grew within him. So much relief that Christopher wouldn't give them a fight. But there was another feeling there. It started as a yearning for what he'd never had. Father had never taken responsibility for how his fight for the Sword of Light had hurt their family. And Gunther had never taken responsibility for how his reckless misuse of it had hurt their city much less for his awful treatment of him. And Mother…
For so long he had wanted Gunther or Father or Mother to admit to what they were doing, the harm they were causing, to try to do better but they never had. If anything they were rewarded for their selfishness.
And that yearning flared into a painful jealousy. While on one level he was glad that Phil was receiving this priceless gift on the other hand thoughts of why couldn't he have received this pierced him. Why hadn't Gunther or Father or Mother ever admit what they were doing? Or that whatever they gained by their games was not worth the cost of what had been lost? Why couldn't they ever see that a sword was not worth destroying their family over?
A sense of malice cut through his thoughts, and Gourry stiffened as he heard the sounds of a kerfuffle from outside. He stood up as Alfred burst into the room, holding a sword and drunk on a power trip he had no right to have. That was Gunther. Defiant to the end. And Gourry was reminded that people like Christopher were rare in the world. Was it really so surprising that none were in his family? Even if it was still disappointing.
Alfred charged at Phil. It was a desperate move, especially since there was no way that either Lina or him would let Alfred reach Phil. Before they could defend him, though, Christopher jumped in between Alfred and Phil, "Stop this, Alfred, stop this!"
The desperation in Christopher's voice chilled Gourry, but it was not enough to reach Alfred. He lunged forward again, colliding into Christopher. The coppery smell of blood filled the air and Gourry felt the bile rise in his throat as Alfred collapsed to the ground and it became clear that Christopher had stabbed him to stop him.
Alfred had given him no choice but to spill the blood of his own son! Gourry felt a shiver run down his spine as he glanced at Lina, who had clasped her hand around her mouth. Gourry looked back at Christopher, cradling the dying body of his son and realized that he was turning the knife on himself.
Phil moved quickly, seizing the dagger from Christopher, who had dissolved into sobs, "Why? Why can't you let me do it?"
Gourry understood. He knew that Christopher would be kept awake at night, wracked with guilt and wondering what he could have done differently. He understood the impulse as Phil knelt down beside him as said softly, "Because…you're my brother."
Jealousy drowned out horror once more as Gourry wondered why Gunther couldn't have been like that? Why had Gunther never been able to value him as a brother?
Wasn't he worth more than a sword?
They'd gotten a lovely sum of money from Phil, one that would be enough to cover travel expenses for months and to provide them with a needed vacation and the time that they needed to rest and heal. Time that they likely didn't have. Kanzel hung over them like a shadow.
When they left the palace they decided to go sightseeing before they left the city. But things were different than they had been in Atlas City. Lina was different. She veered from overly chipper and cheerful one moment to somber and silent the next.
Granted, she had every reason to struggle at the moment. She'd nearly died three times and her life was still very much at risk. But he also didn't like seeing her this way. And it troubled him that at dinner she was silent and that she did not open up about the burdens she was carrying. He knew he couldn't make them better. But he also knew how people needed to talk about these things. Maybe he could even help her feel a little better and bring her true smile back if he could get her to open up.
But he puzzled over how to do it as they walked to their separate rooms. Now that Zuma was (hopefully) out of action there was no longer any convenient excuse to sleep closer together. And while Gourry knew they couldn't live their life in fear of attack, given that Kanzel was still out there he also couldn't rest comfortably. And if he was honest he liked being so close to her at night. Even if all they did was sleep.
But of course he would respect Lina's wishes in this matter. She reached her room first and after seeing that she got in okay he walked over to his. Once the door closed behind him he unpacked what he would need for the night as he thought over how to get Lina to feel better. Once he was settled in he decided to just be as direct with her as possible and headed over to her room before he could change his mind.
"Come in." she said as she opened her door after he knocked.
"Hey," he said with a soft smile as she let him in.
"What's up?" she asked as she sat on the bed while he sat down on the chair across from her.
He let the silence fall for a moment as he tried to figure out what to say. Would she try to deny it the way she had denied she was injured during the berserker attack? Gently he asked, "What's wrong, Lina?"
She looked away from him at her knees as she tensed. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, you've not been acting like yourself. You're extra hyper one minute and the next you're in deep thought with a heavy look in your eyes. And you were quiet all through dinner. And I thought that something must be on your mind."
She nodded slightly as she hummed, obviously weighing whether or not to confide in him.
"I know I probably can't fix it. But even if I can't I thought it might be nice to get it off your chest."
He hesitated as she tensed. Please let me share the load with you! He thought as she battled with herself over what to say. But his own anxiety stopped him from saying anything as she obviously struggled to put it into words. But then, maybe she needed the time to articulate it?
"I guess hiding it won't help. Lady Amelia came to see me and told me that there's evil on the horizon and I'm involved in it somehow."
"That's alarming." Gourry said before he could wonder if he'd shut her down or not. Fortunately she continued talking, sharing her worries about Kanzel and why he was even after her in the first place and that the only thing she could think of was that she had perhaps rattled the Mazoku race by slaying Shabranigdu.
And if that was the case then it was possible that it wasn't just Kanzel who was after her but the whole demon race.
Lina's voice became heavy as she finished sharing her speculations but otherwise remained eerily calm, as though she was explaining magical theory, and Gourry felt as though a boulder had formed in his stomach. One that was made of ice. The thought of beings as powerful as Kanzel being their sworn enemies was terrifying! It meant that even if they did defeat Kanzel then they would face a parade of strong, sworn enemies. That needed healing vacation would be unlikely to happen.
But he couldn't pick apart her logic. It made sense! Too much. But what do you say to something like that? "You seem pretty chill about this."
"The hell I am, but it still doesn't explain everything!" Lina said, and Gourry pounced. Perhaps he couldn't find a better explanation but she could.
"Like what?"
"The attacks Kanzel used. If he really wanted me dead he could have blown up the whole city block. But he used those puny attack spells. Why?"
"Would he be worried about collateral damage?"
"That's it exactly, he's a Mazoku, why would he be? Anyway, that's just one thing I'm thinking about."
"It sounds like you're determined to fight him." Gourry observed.
"Well, yeah." She said obviously as though there was no other choice. "If we don't settle things soon he'll keep coming after me and that'll put a big crimp in my lifestyle."
She suddenly looked at her knees again and it occurred that she wasn't asking if he would join her. Did she realize that he would, no matter what? It wasn't even a question for him. Or was she scared that if she gave him an out he'd run for it?
"Hey, let's lift our spirits with a late night snack!" she suggested as a bit of her usual gusto returned and he looked at her in surprise, "I'm paying!"
"Wow, that's a rare treat." He said as he stood up as she walked to the door with a sashay to her hips that he'd not observed since coming to Saillune. And he smiled as he realized that he had helped her to feel a bit better. That perhaps he was showing her that he was worth more than a sword.
And while they were still in a shit situation he was even more determined to see this through with her alive. He'd found someone precious and he wasn't going to let anything happen to her.
I will not lose Lina. Gourry told himself over and over again as they left Saillune City. It was hard to challenge the old thought patterns that today could be his final battle. But Lina's fight to win mentality had gotten them this far. And he wanted to win. He did not want his time with Lina to be cut short. So he was going to take a page from her book and fight to win.
He felt a strange mix of feelings when they found Kanzel. Despite his best efforts he dreaded what he could lose if things went badly. But at least they were getting this over with. Kanzel graciously agreed to fight away from Saillune City to keep human casualties small. According to him he was ordered to minimize them, and was even intending to spare his, Gourry's, life! And because of that he wouldn't answer Lina's questions about why they wanted her dead no matter how much she pried.
Gourry was not focused too much on that at the moment though. He was wondering if Kanzel was being honest when he said that he intended to let him live. Because if so he could use that to their advantage.
When they reached the clearing Kanzel turned and said to them, "Now say your goodbyes to your companion. It is time."
Kanzel kept his back to them and Gourry kept his eyes on Kanzel, wondering if he truly expected him to just stand by as he killed Lina, who stood beside him unusually silent.
"What? No final farewells?" Kanzel asked.
"I still think we can win this." Lina said, and Gourry felt heartened by her confidence. He hoped that he returned it in kind.
"As you like. Then let's begin."
Lina cast a spell that Kanzel, alarmingly, disarmed. And when it was his turn to attack Gourry was ready to defend, throwing himself in front of Lina, the Sword of Light drawn and ready. Only Kanzel's attack changed course, dodging around him and hitting Lina in the thighs. She collapsed to the ground behind him.
"Lina!" Gourry said, torn between turning and running to her and turning his back to the enemy.
"I'm okay." She said, but she was obviously in pain. "It's not that bad."
"Of course not." Kanzel said, and then Gourry's blood ran cold as he continued, "I made sure of that. I don't intend to finish you off right away. I mean for your end to be one of excruciating agony or madness. Either way your death will not be a quick one."
"Stop it!" Gourry snapped, too horrified and terrified to think through it, "Why are you doing this?"
"Why?" Kanzel asked, his voice laced with exaltation. "Do you know what we Mazoku consume to survive? The source of our power is miasma, the negative emotions produced by all living things. Fear, anger, sorrow, despair. It is the finest delicacies for our kind! And the most effective way to procure it is through pain and suffering."
I have to get control of myself! Gourry thought as he felt the panic rise through him in response to his terror at how delighted Kanzel was at the thought of torturing Lina to death. While he knew he couldn't will the fear and anger and desperation and despair away he also knew he had to reign it in!
"Dragon Slave!" Lina yelled, having chanted the spell while Kanzel was talking.
The spell hit Kanzel dead on, and for a moment Gourry let himself believe that it would be all it took as he reached for Lina, mad with relief and desperate to touch her, "You did it!" He said.
"Oh you did it alright." Kanzel said as Gourry's stomach dropped. "I really felt that one."
A humanoid figure emerged from the dust and debris of Lina's spell. The human mask had been stripped from Kanzel, revealing his demonic form beneath the surface. Gourry wasn't sure if it made it easier or harder. But while he'd taken a beating he was not out yet. And Gourry was not going to let him get one step closer. "Stay back!" Gourry yelled as he wielded the Sword of Light and got in front of Lina once more.
But Kanzel released a shockwave so powerful he could not block it with the Sword of Light! He went flying. He bounced back, ignoring the pain that tore through his body and desperate to get back in front of Lina. Thin red beams of light shot from Kanzel's hands and at Lina as her screams rose on the air as she fell to the ground and writhed in agony.
It felt as though the distance between them was getting larger! Lina shrieked in torment and it was taking too long to get there to stop it! He could not control the panic as it subsumed him so that when he finally reached Kanzel all he did was swing the sword at him pathetically as he cried, "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"
But Kanzel merely laughed as he fought him off and continued to torture Lina. This wasn't working! He had to do something, anything to stop Kanzel and only one idea occurred to him. Yes, showing your back to an enemy may be the last thing you do but he was going to gamble on Kanzel's word that he wouldn't harm him, only Lina. Fueled by sheer desperation he moved directly between Kanzel and Lina and then he jumped, throwing his body over hers and completely shielding her from Kanzel.
"I said stop it!" he yelled. Kanzel merely laughed like this was an amusing show.
Gourry wrapped his arms around Lina and pulled her close and held her to him. She had passed out from the pain. "Yessss," Kanzel said, "Giving her time to recover for another round."
Somehow Gourry suppressed the urge to sob as he wished he could take the pain away as she gradually roused. "Lina, speak to me, please…"
"Gourry…" she murmured.
Gourry leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Listen, you have to use the spell."
"Use…what?" she asked, each word an obvious effort.
"That spell. Your most powerful one."
"No." she said.
"Why?"
"I can't control it like this. It could kill us all if I lose control." She explained.
Gourry felt the words leave him. There had to be some way out of this! But he couldn't think of it. "Isn't there anything else we can do?"
"There is…"
"Then let's try it." He said. He didn't need to hear the plan. He was desperate to do anything, anything, if it meant never having to hear her scream like that again and having her walk away from this alive! "Lina, what do you need from me?"
"Defend me from him and put everything you've got into striking him with the Sword of Light."
"Got it." He said. It had been what he'd been doing but he was encouraged by her confidence. Surely she had a plan! He got up, ready to face Kanzel once more.
As soon as he was up Kanzel blasted him away. He got back to his feet, Sword of Light ready, as Lina started chanting and he ran towards Kanzel. Kanzel was mocking Lina for trying another Dragon Slave when suddenly another voice rang from the trees, "Ra Tilt!"
It was Amelia! Her spell caused a pillar of blue flame to engulf Kanzel and gave Lina enough time to finish chanting her spell, "Dragon Slave!"
Somehow he knew what Lina was planning. And though he wasn't sure if the Sword of Light would explode and take him with it, if it meant protecting Lina he would do it. He held his weapon up and absorbed the Dragon Slave, its blue bladed turning crimson.
Gourry brought it down upon Kanzel and felt the satisfaction of seeing a trail of white dust appear in the areas he bisected. It was working! He was wiping this evil being off the earth! And for once he had played a significant part in the final battle.
And most importantly, he had protected Lina.
Once he was sure Kanzel was dead he rushed to Lina's side. She was still moaning and contorting and was in obvious pain. He grabbed her hand, desperate to do something, anything to make it better. She squeezed tight as Amelia reached them, "I'll start a Resurrection spell now."
Amelia started chanting and Lina settled down as a white glow encompassed her body. "Does it feel better now?" he asked, and his voice did not sound anywhere near as steady as he would like.
"It's fading to a dull ache." She said, her voice rough. "Much better than it was."
"It will fade completely in time." Amelia assured her. "That's all I can do for now."
"Thank you." Lina said as her eyes grew heavy. She had to be exhausted!
"Really, thank you." Gourry said to Amelia. If it wasn't for her Lina would not have had the time she needed to finish her chant. If it hadn't been for Amelia then Lina would have died. He'd not been sure about the princess. It was hard to tell much about someone's true nature in an environment like a royal palace. But she had done them a solid and Gourry knew that he was in her debt.
"Let me heal you too, Master Gourry." Amelia said.
Gourry nodded as Lina drifted off to sleep. When Amelia was finished he asked, "Where's the closest place I can take her to recover?"
"Follow me." She said as she stood up.
Gourry was exhausted. But it was imperative that he get Lina someplace safe to recover in. Somehow he found the reserves to stand up and take Lina into his arms. Something about it was soothing after such a series of close calls to have a reason to hold her so close despite the fatigue. Lina did not stir as her head lolled against his chest once more. So close to his heart. Amelia sighed deeply.
"What?" he asked as he started following her.
"Well, after witnessing that horrific scene with Kanzel, it's refreshing to see such love and caring."
A wave of vulnerability washed over him and he felt as though his pants had suddenly fallen around his ankles. "Is it that obvious?" he asked.
"Why would you think that's a bad thing?" she replied. "Though I guess there are plenty who would weaponize it against you."
They ran into Grey again at the magical doctors. He was working there in shifts and let them know that Sylphiel was starting to settle in and recover. But Gourry was relieved he didn't ask them to check in and visit. While it wasn't good form to leave without saying good bye but after all they had been through he just didn't have the energy for it.
Amelia had also stayed around as they recovered and even explained that she had gotten permission from her father to join them. Gourry smiled as he realized what Phil had been alluding to when he said that Amelia would make him pay in time. And as nervous as Gourry was to be responsible for the safety of a royal princess, given that the princess in question had saved their butts with a Ra Tilt he also wasn't going to protest too much. If Amelia joining their party was what gave them enough of an edge to win this then he would gladly accept the responsibility of keeping her safe as well if it meant that in the end he could walk away with Lina and continue to have more adventures with her.