AN: Put this down as one of the most difficult chapters I've had to write since The Storm. Anyway, I'm tired of tinkering with it, this is as good as it gets, I'm ready to move on to novel 8 and 9 where I have so many ideas.
Lina broke into a small smile and Gourry felt the small thrill of victory. He couldn't do much about the fact that powerful demons wanted Lina dead. He couldn't will her safety into existence. He couldn't do much to dissuade Xellos from traveling with their party. And he couldn't do much about the way that Zel and Amelia would talk in low whispers to each other as they looked at Lina and Xellos suspiciously. He couldn't wave his hand and take everything that was worrying Lina away. But if he could get her to crack a smile every now and then, to laugh, to forget her worries with some stupid remark of his, then it was enough.
Until the moment that he could do more at least. He felt the night that Raltark attacked the inn was a missed opportunity to do more even if she had survived and was safe. Unfortunately they'd not been able to get rooms close together that night and by the time he was aware of the attack Raltark had fled.
It would be much better if we just shared a room, he thought and then he chastised himself. She was okay. Amelia had helped. Xellos had disappeared. Though if Xellos was a demon then that could explain how they were able to get rid of Raltark so easily. If Zel or Amelia suspected anything demonic about Xellos, though, they buried their suspicions deep.
"So, what exactly is the deal?" Zelgadis asked Lina as they set out the next morning as they left the inn without Xellos.
"With what?" she asked, unable to mask the exhaustion in her voice.
"Xellos."
Lina stopped in her tracks slightly, betraying her anxiety, and Gourry wondered if she would let something slip. But she was as tight lipped as always when she replied, "Same old same old, right? He's always popping in and out unannounced…"
"Okay what are you hiding?" Zel asked.
"What could I possibly be hiding?" she shot back with a halfhearted cutesy act, and if Gourry had any doubts left that quenched them. She was lying. She was hiding something about Xellos. But did that mean he was right about him being a demon? Or was there some other reason he scared her? And why was she scared of telling the rest of them?
Gourry did know one thing though. And that was if Lina was being tight lipped with all of them then she had a good reason. Unfortunately it seemed as though he was the only one willing to extend her the benefit of the doubt.
"You know she's lying, don't you?" Zelgadis said to him later that night as they got ready for bed.
"What?" Gourry asked as he pulled back the bedsheets. Fortunately playing dumb was something he'd perfected in childhood.
"Lina. She knows something about Xellos."
"Does she?" Gourry asked.
Zelgadis shook his head in exasperation, "I see this will be of no use. So I guess she hasn't confessed anything to you."
"Even if she had I wouldn't remember!" Gourry said with a smile.
"Right," Zelgadis said as he laid down in the bed, "Night."
At long last they had reached Gyria City. While Gourry was happy that they had gotten there safe and whole and that Lina could engage in the research that she felt she needed to do to survive he was also very aware of the fact that this was a risky time for her. If powerful demons wanted her dead then her being close to information about how to kill them would motivate them to try harder to kill her. But if being in such a precarious position had instilled a sense of caution within her then he quickly found that it was taking its sweet time to take root as he realized that she planned to go to the sorcerer's guild alone.
"But are you sure about this Lina?"
"Sure about what?" she asked.
"Well, with the way things have been lately, the demons'll probably come after you again. Are you sure you should be going off on your own?"
Lina, Zel and Amelia looked at him in shock, and he suddenly felt very vulnerable. It was always hard for him to be the center of attention. Growing up being the center of attention usually meant being subjected to Gunther's rather public cruelty and his father's critiques about everything he had done to incite it. And while he knew that Lina and the others wouldn't attack him, being open about his concern for Lina's safety left him feeling exposed. If anyone asked why he cared then it opened up the pathway for potential rejection from Lina, the thought of which made his stomach twist. But it was better that he be rejected then for Lina to be killed, so he brushed off the jokes about him making a smart observation as he focused on his mission as her self appointed guardian.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," she said dismissively in her manner that frustrated him. But what could he do? He couldn't clip her wings, nor would he want to. "It's true they've attacked in daylight a few times but they seem to want to avoid drawing innocent people into this. They could have blown up the inn last night but they went out of their way to pinpoint me. I figure they won't try anything as long as I'm in a crowd."
"I hope you're right." He whispered, still anxious about letting her go.
"Seriously, I'll be fine. We'll meet at the inn at sundown." She said as she turned on her heels and left.
"Don't worry so much, Master Gourry." Amelia said, "Justice will prevail. She'll be fine."
"Right," Gourry said, his stomach still in knots as Amelia turned to head off to the temple.
"So that leaves us," Zelgadis said.
"Right," Gourry said as they started walking together.
"She can't get rid of us fast enough." Zelgadis muttered.
"We all need some time to ourselves at times." Gourry said.
"You don't think she's meeting with Xellos and…"
"Why would she do that behind our backs?" Gourry asked as he suddenly felt bad for drawing attention to her going off on her own.
"I guess you have a point there." Zelgadis said, "Come on, these people look knowledgeable. Let's talk to them."
Gourry hated it on the days when he returned to the inn with Zel before Lina and Amelia did. And of course for most of their brief stay in Gyria City Lina had been the last to return. After their first day there she at least took Amelia with her to the Sorcerer's Guild so she wasn't alone. So initially he was pleasantly surprised to see Amelia in the dining room until he noted the worried expression on her face. "Where's Lina?" he asked as he stood before the table. Some instinct told him that he didn't want to sit down.
"Some palace guards came to the library and wanted her to come with them." Amelia explained, "So she left to see what they wanted."
"And you let her go alone!" Gourry exclaimed.
"She insisted that she was fine."
Gourry felt as though he would pull his hair out as he turned around and tried to collect myself as Zelgadis asked, "Do you have any idea what they want with her?"
"No," Amelia said, "It happened so fast. She said to let you all know what was happening and left. She seemed in good enough spirits…"
"Did she say when she'd be back?" Gourry asked, his voice strained.
"No," Amelia said.
"What could she be up to?" Zelgadis mused.
"What do you mean by that?" Gourry asked as he turned to look at him.
"Lina's been acting weird lately. Xellos is trouble but she doesn't tell him to get lost, if anything she seems to be covering for him. And then this here with the palace."
"Yeah, she's acting weird. People act weird when they've nearly been killed four times in one month and powerful demons want you dead." Gourry said, "I don't know about you guys but I'm going to go find her."
"While it's good to see you take the initiative for once Master Gourry, what do you plan to do?" Amelia asked.
"Go to the palace and look for her." Gourry said, feeling like an idiot as he said it.
"And what if…" Zelgadis began.
"I'll figure it out then." Gourry said as he headed towards the door. Zelgadis and Amelia started following him.
Breathe, Gourry reminded himself, trying to fight the tension building in his body, trying to fight back against the what if scenarios. Observe, he thought as he focused on his senses to distract himself from the possibility that she could have been killed. A hint of burning wood tickled his nostrils as he realized that the air hitting his eyes seemed rather dry as he heard screams in the distance.
He started to walk faster as he noticed a crowd of people running from the city. "What's happening?" he asked.
"Fire!" a panicked woman said.
Gourry's heart leapt into his throat as he tried to break into a run but was stopped by the sheer number of people running away from the fire. He had to slow down just to avoid colliding with them and resentment flowed through him as a need to find Lina right then and there overwhelmed him. Somehow he navigated the flow of people fleeing the city even as he started to cough as the smoke grew thicker in the air and ash started to fall from the sky.
And then suddenly the wall of flames was before him and Gourry's stomach sank as he realized how large and out of control the blaze was. It had obviously engulfed the palace, the place that Lina had been taken to!
"We have to retreat." Zelgadis said.
"But Lina…" Gourry said as he stared at the blaze in horror.
"She's a powerful sorceress, I'm sure she's fine." Zelgadis said as he put a hand on his shoulder.
"Justice will triumph, Master Gourry." Amelia said.
But Gourry stared at the blaze and had a hard time believing it. "Come on, you won't be able to help her if you're hurt." Zelgadis said.
"Right," Gourry said as he reluctantly retreated with them. "Should we try the inn first? See if she went there?"
But when they tried to return to the inn they found that due to the fire they couldn't get close to it as they retreated further from the city as they talked amongst themselves about where would be the best place to look and whether they should split up to look for her.
"Somewhere they have to have set up a medical tent." Amelia said.
"But if she was taken into custody or was involved in this then I don't think she would have made it to a medical tent." Zelgadis said as Gourry's stomach knotted. "They would have just killed her…"
"Justice wouldn't allow it." Amelia said. "But I don't see her gathering with the other survivors unless she's looking for us."
Gourry couldn't speak. He was trying to keep his eyes and ears open for signs of Lina or any life really. But everywhere they looked they found bodies charred beyond recognition and every time he prayed that they weren't Lina. And then the guilt hit him. Whoever it was was loved by someone. Why was he wishing that sort of pain on someone else? Did he even deserve to find her?
The minutes dragged by as evening encroached, but the fire continued to blaze with no sign of Lina. Breathe. He reminded himself. Observe. Finally he felt the chill of bloodlust and the charge of powerful magic. He exchanged a look with Zel and Amelia. They had stiffened in alertness as well and they silently started to head in a certain direction. Finally he saw Lina, her back turned to them, but appearing okay as before her Xellos skewered an older man with a powerful attack spell and…if there was any doubt Gourry harbored about him being a demon this pulverized it.
"What!? Zelgadis roared as the relief that Gourry felt over Lina being okay was pushed away by his fears over how Zelgadis and Amelia would react. Was this why Lina never said anything?
Lina turned back to look at them briefly, her face pale beneath the soot and her eyes wide. She looked terrified! Behind them the old man disappeared into thin air, and Gourry suspected that he had likely retreated to the astral plane in the way that demons did as Lina and Xellos returned their attention to the man to find him gone.
Gourry kept alert for any further danger as Xellos commented, "Ah, he escaped by making use of such a fleeting distraction. He's not a general for nothing I suppose."
"What just happened?" Zel asked, "And Xellos! What…what the hell are you?"
"Are you a…a demon?" Amelia whispered.
Xellos glanced at Lina, who looked as though she was about to collapse as she said, her voice unusually choked, "Okay, I'll tell you guys everything I know, but first we need to get out of this city."
Lina started walking away from the blaze and Zel and Amelia radiated anger and disappointment as they walked a bit behind her. Xellos walked ahead, his face and demeanor irritatingly neutral. Gourry didn't say a word as he fell in step beside Lina and tried to find some way to convey to her that he wasn't upset about this, just happy that she was okay. But she kept her eyes on everything but him, Zel and Amelia as they navigated the unfamiliar terrain in the dark.
Eventually they found a small hunting lodge at the foot of the mountains that was empty and decided to stay there for the night. Forgoing food they sat around the table and he listened silently as Lina explained everything. Her voice was unusually soft as she explained how she suspected from the beginning that Xellos was a demon and how he'd confirmed it and that he was wanting her to see the Claire Bible for some unknown reason. The man that Xellos had been fighting, General Rashart, was also a demon who had tried to kill her and how a group of demons had cornered her with indiscriminate attacks. Leading to Xellos finding her and eventually them finding her.
There was a long silence once she finished, broken by Amelia saying, "So, you knew from the start, Lina…"
"I had a vague suspicion, yes." She confirmed.
"I wish you'd shared it with us." Zel said, and Gourry felt his stomach knot as he tried to get a feel for how angry Zel was as the chimera looked at Xellos, "Now, what's your game?"
"That…is a secret." Xellos replied.
"You!" Zelgadis shouted as he rose to his feet.
"Don't," Lina said quickly, her eyes fixed on Xellos.
"Why not?" Zelgadis asked.
"Because…Xellos is strong…probably stronger than any of us here."
The tension remained heavy as Zelgadis looked at Xellos before he sat down with a cloudy expression on his face.
"So, what do we do now Lina?" Amelia asked.
"I'm going to try to find it, the Claire Bible." Lina replied, her voice soft and shaky. "I know this is giving Xellos what he wants but refusing isn't going to get the other guys off my back, so for now it's my only recourse."
She went quiet as she stared at the table, her shoulders tense, as though she was awaiting execution. And Gourry realized that if they all abandoned her then that was what very well could happen.
"I'm not a fan of giving demons what they want," Zelgadis said contemplatively, "But abandoning this now would feel like turning tail and running, and I don't like that either."
"Same," Amelia said, "Now that we know that Master Xellos, er now that I know that Xellos is a demon, an agent of darkness, I simply can't agree to do his bidding. That said, something appears to be brewing around you Lina. I need to find if it is a force for good or evil and thus determine whether I need to assist or stop it! Although if I'm technically abetting a demonic plot by doing so…"
Amelia fell off in contemplation as Gourry wondered what Amelia would do if she decided she needed to stop Lina. Or if Amelia even knew. He looked at Lina, who continued to stare at the table quietly, shoulders rigid and a bit of anger flared within him. After everything that happened today why was it so hard for them to believe that Lina was doing the best she could? But then Xellos said, "That leaves…Master Gourry, what do you intend to do?"
"Who me?" Gourry asked, uncomfortable with being in the spotlight again. "Um, well, it's not as if anything has changed."
"You think nothing has changed Master Gourry!?" Amelia asked as she moved towards him, "That man's a demon! A demon! A being who dwells in darkness, propagating fear and ruin! The mortal enemy of all living things! A servant of destruction! We're traveling with something more vile than vermin!"
"I wouldn't go that far," Xellos said.
"Well I had a feeling he was a demon for awhile…" Gourry said honestly for reasons he didn't understand.
"What!?" Everyone cried, and Gourry felt a moment of satisfaction as he realized he'd gotten the focus off Lina. Perhaps he could shoulder the burden of their wrath and make it a little easier for her?
"G-Gourry?! When in the world did you realize?!" Lina asked.
"Well... the first time I met him, I guess," Gourry said as he tried to find a way to explain that wouldn't invite too many questions. "I don't know how to put it, but he sort of had that smell to him... I could just tell, you know?"
"And you've ignored it this whole time?!" Lina barked.
"I didn't exactly ignore it. But you were pretending like it didn't matter, so I figured you had a plan."
Something about Lina's demeanor changed as the tension left her shoulders as she looked at him in wonderment as a small smile played at her lips, and Gourry suddenly felt a warmth in his chest as he realized that she was touched by something he said.
"Then it seems you'll continue accompanying Lina either way," Amelia concluded.
"Well, I am her guardian," Gourry responded as he reached out to pat her head and her smile grew as her eyes became misty. He tried to convey that no matter what she could rely on him because he trusted that she would do the right thing, and somehow he felt that she understood. It wasn't a good thing to make an alliance with a demon. But given the alternatives that Lina faced was death it wasn't as if she didn't have much of a choice until she learned something that would allow her to turn the tables.
And by now he trusted that somehow she would be able to do that.
"Wanna spar?" she asked after Zel and Amelia had agreed to continue traveling with them until they found out what the demons were planning, after which they could be enemies.
"Are you up for it?" He asked, surprised. Given all that they had survived that day he was expecting her to crash.
"I don't think I could fall asleep now if I tried." She said.
"Let's go then."
He followed her outside as they found wooden sticks to use and dropped into a stance. Once they had gone through some paces she lowered her sword. "That's enough for one night."
"It's been a long day." He said, concerned about how tired she looked, and he couldn't help but reach for her to stroke her hair. Surprisingly she drew closer to him, almost so she was resting against him. His heart started to race.
"Did you really figure out about Xellos?" she asked.
"I suspected." He said as he itched to hold her.
She smiled a bit as she punched him playfully on the shoulder, "Not bad given that you have bait for brains."
"You're rubbing off on me." He said.
"Is that why you're sticking by me?" she asked, "Even with Xellos being a demon. I mean a goody like you…"
Before he could think better of it he grabbed her hand. She looked surprised but she didn't pull away as he said, "Sometimes the right thing to do, it isn't so easy to figure out, is it? It's not black and white like Amelia makes it out to be. Look, I've been with you long enough that I know that you'll do the right thing even if you have to make an unsavory alliance to get there. Zel and Amelia, they may not see that now. They've not been with you as long as I have. Just focus on getting through this alive."
She was looking at their hands as her eyes grew misty once again. The urge to hug her rose, to offer comfort. This had to have been hard for her and she was being so strong. But before he could she abruptly turned away, "We really should get some rest. But Gourry? Thank you. It's good to know that you at least have my back."
For the past two days they had been staying in a charcoal kiln at the base of Dragon's Peak, waiting for Xellos. The charcoal kiln was small but sturdy enough and gave them a good shelter for the night, but that was just about the only good thing he had to say about it. The fact that they were all anxious about when the demons would return didn't help. They couldn't hunt or explore when they had to be constantly alert for their return. And after two days it was getting tiring. And while Gourry tried to tell himself not to listen to the feeling of doom that was seeping into his soul, it was hard to see much to be optimistic about.
Occasionally he'd see Zel and Amelia talking to each other in low whispers. They would stop when they noticed him. Meanwhile Lina was antsy, alternating between staring off into the forest and pacing around the kiln. He tried to lighten the mood when he could, but he would just as often get shouted at as a laugh.
It was late in the afternoon when Amelia started singing to stave off the boredom. Gourry noticed how Lina's leg started to tap to the beat as they sat on a log together and looked out into the forest. With a smile he started tapping his leg with her and wondered if she would notice. But her eyes were clouded, lost in thought. He moved his leg a bit closer to hers so they were barely touching. After a moment her eyes drifted to his knee and she smiled and he felt a bit better that she was smiling.
She started to exaggerate her leg movements and he started to copy them and he was sure that it was a sign of how stressed and bored she was that she laughed. Zelgadis continued to sharpen his sword quietly as Amelia started to sing a fast paced tune, and Lina stood to her feet and started to dance, "Think you can keep up?' she asked.
"You bet!" he said as he joined her, putting his arms around her once more. It had been so long since they'd danced! Ever since Sairaag they'd been too busy, their lives too risky. Even now it was too risky and Zelgadis was glaring at them. But Gourry didn't care! He was tired of feeling the sense of doom and it was wonderful to feel exhilaration once more. The past few months had been hard and if they didn't have moments like these then why were they fighting so hard for life?
Lina's eyes lighted in a way he seldom saw anymore as he mirrored her moves and learned that the sparring they had done had some unexpected benefits as he was better able to read her even when she tried to catch him off guard. At some point Amelia smiled as she watched them and switched to a slower song and Gourry wondered if she would pull away. But after a few fast songs she seemed not to mind continuing for a slow one even if she did keep some distance between them.
Color flushed to her face as her lips curved up into a smile. She was full of life. They were full of life! Despite everything that had happened, somehow they were alive even if tomorrow was not guaranteed. The sense of doom started to creep in once more, the feeling that if he didn't act now he may never be able to express what he felt towards her and he tried to ignore it. But the thing left for his to focus on was how much he wanted her!
"What's that song called?" Zelgadis asked Amelia as she stopped to take a drink of water.
"Ned on the Hill." She said as Lina lowered her arms.
"I always liked it." He said.
"Well, for a doofus you kept up." Lina said.
"I have a few talents." Gourry said, sad that the moment had passed.
"We should be getting dinner ready." Amelia said.
Was it his imagination or did Lina look a bit resentful as she moved away from him, "I'll help."
"You know, this actually is a pretty place. It wouldn't be too had to live here." Amelia mused.
"If it weren't for the fact that demons could find us at any minute." Zelgadis said.
"You forget that I grew up in the Saillune Court!" Amelia said. "So there's nothing new there!"
"Well, I guess growing up with Rezo was essentially growing up with a demon parent." Zelgadis mused.
Sounds familiar, Gourry thought as he stayed quiet as he hoped no one would ask what it was like for him while growing up.
"Zephyr City was pretty safe." Lina said. "Granted, I come from a family of badasses so no one wanted to mess with us…"
"I guess your luck ran out, then?" Gourry said.
"Tell me about it," Lina said dryly.
"Seems more like you got the attention of some bigger badasses." Amelia said as she stood up and looked at Lina, "Shall we?"
Gourry watched as Lina walked into the charcoal kiln with Amelia to gather their rations as he tried to fight the feeling of doom that enveloped him now that he no longer had the dance to distract him. Something about his change in demeanor must have shown because Zel asked, "What's with you?"
Gourry startled for a moment, "Huh?"
"You just looked as though a shadow crossed you."
"Nerves I guess." Gourry said, "I just feel like I have to enjoy every moment of this evening. Because…"
His voice trailed off and he couldn't finish the sentence. "I never really understood the appeal of music and dancing. Growing up with Rezo everything was about opening his eyes and he instilled a strong ethic in me to do all I could to help with that. What was the point of learning to dance, or play an instrument? It wouldn't help Rezo."
"Have you ever wondered what would have been different if Rezo had been able to enjoy those things rather than relentlessly pursue his cure?" Gourry asked.
"Not until now." Zelgadis admitted, and a flicker of hope flared within Gourry. Something must have shown because the chimera said, "Don't get your hopes up. Depending on what the demons are plotting Lina may be involved in something that could rob everyone of being able to have frivolous fun like this."
"Lina won't let that happen. Granted we may not survive this but if we don't, then it's good to know you at least saw a side of life you may not have considered before." Gourry said, "And if all I am tomorrow is a memory that someone carries forth, I hope it's a happy one."
"So you're resigned to this ending badly."
"I'm trying to follow Lina's fighting spirit." Gourry said, "Like she did with that big demon lord. It doesn't come naturally to me."
"Me neither." Zel replied.
The women came out with a meal of hardtack, jerky and soup. It wasn't much but they made the most of it as Gourry tried to fight against the feeling that it would be the last dinner he enjoyed. That type of thinking wouldn't help them win.
Once he finished the dishes with Zel he and Lina went outside to get some sparring in before bed. And it was almost like dancing once more. Their bodies coming together and moving apart drawing his awareness to her body, radiant with her life, a life that he feared would not last much longer. Occasionally he would move close and touch her to adjust her stance. An arm at times. A hip at others. He never gave much thought to correcting a male student's posture. But hers?
He didn't want to correct her posture. He wanted to know her body and it was hard to remove his hand after each adjustment, to resist the urge to trace it along her, to explore, to indulge in the desires he'd been fighting since he'd met her. And the sense of doom, the sense that if they didn't take the time for this now then they never would would not abate!
Breathe. Stop trying to justify your carnal desires. Focus on getting through this alive rather than all the ways you can die, he told himself as he pulled away and moved in front of her and held his practice sword up. But what if they did die?
What if they died without him telling her? What if he died without him showing her?
No, he'd tell himself. She fights to win. Even now, by sparring with him, she was fighting. Everything she was doing was focused on that goal. And that attitude had enabled her to win against Shabranigdu. Who was to say it wouldn't help her here? If he did take her to the woods so they could make love before they died wouldn't that be surrendering to the inevitability of death?
So he made no move as they went into the charcoal kiln and prepared for bed. Soon the four of them had spread out on the floor. Zel was to his left, Lina to his right with Amelia beside her. Sleep was elusive. The sense of doom continued to press down on him causing him to imagine all of the different ways they could die when Xellos arrived to take them to Dragon's Peak, all of the ways that Lina could die. He wasn't sure how long he'd been trying to fall asleep when he turned around and opened his eyes to look at her to reassure himself that she was fine and found that Lina was on her side and staring in his direction.
He smiled at her and she returned it. And was it his imagination or did he see that same desire in her eyes? She moved a hand to the space between them as a yearning grew within him. Was she wanting him the way that he wanted her? Dare he hope for it?
She suddenly moved her eyes away as if self conscious as she moved to her back. He closed his eyes and tried to wish the amorous feelings away and fall asleep. But it was hard because it was hard for her. He heard every sound that she made as she tried unsuccessfully to fall asleep. And when she gave up and got up he was aware of it.
The sense of doom was not going away. And if he could have one more moment alone with her before whatever they were spiraling towards happened then he was going to seize it!
He quietly joined her. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" she asked as he sat down beside her on the fallen log.
"Couldn't sleep." He said. The log was small and he was touching her sitting so close. It made his skin crawl with anticipation! "How are you holding up?"
"I'm pulling through." She said, "Ready for this to be over. Tired of waiting here. Not that the company has been bad."
"If it wasn't for the constant threat of death this would be a fun trip." He agreed.
Kiss her, something compelled him. But this sense that it would mean surrendering to the feeling of doom stopped him. Still, the bench was cramped and he couldn't resist putting a hand on her knee. She looked at it for a moment as she blushed and he wondered if he'd gone too far, pressed too far.
"That and it's hard to stay in one place. No bandits to hunt. I'm getting a little restless with so much pent up energy." She said.
"There are other ways to release that." He said before he could think better of it.
But she smiled wryly, "Like swordplay, in both the euphemistical and non euphemistic sense? You must have had your share of both."
He could feel his skin heat as he said, "Huh?"
She shook her head, "Even in the moonlight I can see how you're blushing."
Breathe. "I, I mean…" He stuttered as he wondered why she was bringing this up.
"A handsome man like you, I mean most women wouldn't care about the lack of brains."
Gourry wasn't sure how he should take that and he fumbled for a way to get the attention off of him, "You sure are curious about this. You're not interested…"
"You just never seem to take an interest in anyone." She said quickly.
He patted her on the head, "Keeping you alive doesn't leave me much energy for anything else."
She gave him the side eye but he kept his expression light, "Well at least you're taking this threat seriously." She muttered as she stared out into the forest, "And I'm afraid you have your work cut out for you here."
"I don't mind." He said softly as the urge to wrap an arm around her rose. But he did everything he could to suppress it.
"Well, I'm glad for that." She said as she shuddered slightly in the cool night air and moved closer to him so that she was leaning on him.
He kept very still as his heart started to race as he tried to figure out what to do now. After a few moment he heard the sounds of her snoring and he turned to see that she had fallen asleep while leaning against him. He smiled a little as he wrapped an arm around her and kept his gaze out for whatever dangers lurked out in the woods, and tried to focus on the feel of her pressed against him and not the sense of doom.
The battle had been just as desperate as Gourry had feared. Even before Gaav showed up Amelia had been gravely injured, saved by Milgazia's healing spell. And even Xellos, their risky ally, had taken a heavy blow and had fled, leaving them to face Gaav the Demon Dragon King on their own. But as desperate as it had been, Zel and Amelia had still fought beside them, and he had shown Lina once more how serious he was about being her guardian and keeping her alive. And as Gaav bore down on them for the final showdown Gourry was ready to do what he could to end this and, hopefully, prove his worth to Lina in the process.
"Gourry! Let's go!" Lina called.
"Right." He said. It all came down to this moment. If they could win this then they would no longer have to live under the shadow of the threats to Lina's life. But Gourry knew that it would not be easy. But hopefully Lina had learned something from visiting the Claire Bible, and hopefully he would have improved enough to help her!
Lina started chanting and Gourry could sense what she was planning. He knew good and well by now that she could channel spells through his sword. So as soon as she released her Dragon Slave he was ready to absorb it.
"Oh?! You can do that, eh? Interesting! I was thinking of killing you offhandedly with an attack from the astral plane... but this makes things a lot more fun!" Gaav remarked as his eyes lit with an excitement that Gourry found disturbing. "Well... let's go."
Gaav charged towards him, but this was what Gourry had trained for, and it kicked into gear. He could quickly see that Gaav was his equal with the sword but unlike Gourry Gaav was fighting to destroy. Gourry was fighting to protect! He had someone worth protecting! This had given him an advantage plenty of times in the past and he kept his purpose in mind now as he parried the blows and looked for his openings.
But his sword was losing power with each strike while Gaav's remained just as strong! And his sword wasn't making a dent in Gaav. It was only a matter of time before it lost power and no amount of skill or noble cause on his part would stop it. Gaav could well cut him down when it lost power but Gourry was prepared. Because if there was one thing he could still do it was buy Lina the time she needed as she chanted.
"What?!" Gaav suddenly bellowed as he looked at Lina in surprise. Gourry wasn't sure what she was chanting but it had gotten his attention!
And Gourry seized his opening and finally landed a blow, but all he managed to do was scratch his chest.
But before he could give into frustration and hopelessness Lina cried, "Ragna Blade!"
The air around her seemed to tremble as Gourry's eyes widened as a blade of blackness appeared between her hands and formed a sword. It reminded him of the spell she had used to take down Shabranigdu but smaller, more contained. A spark of hope flared within him as he watched as Lina let out a groan as she struggled to control it, but he never doubted that she would do it!
He had watched her do the impossible once, and he was going to help her do it again!
Lina slashed at Gaav, her blade of darkness cutting through his sword and even piercing his arm. Gourry felt the breath catch in his throat as Gaav screamed in agony. But rather than pressing forward the spell evaporated in Lina's hands as her movements became choppier, like someone who had overextended their energy.
"Gourry!" she called.
"Right!" he said as he slashed at Gaav once more, determined not to lose the advantage.
"Raaah!" the Dragon King screamed as a shockwave emanated from Gaav, sending him backwards with Lina.
Was this it? Gourry couldn't fault his swordwork. He felt he had finally understood how to blend magic and swordplay and had done everything possible to support Lina, who had managed to wound Gaav with her spell. But the toll it had taken on her was all too apparent. If she powered his sword with another Dragon Slave would she have enough energy for another Ragna Blade?
"I will kill you!" Chaos Dragon howled, his amusement replaced with rage as he bore down on Lina, and to Gourry's terror he realized that even if she had enough energy for another round Gaav likely wasn't going to give them another chance.
AN: Yes, novel 7 ends on that cliffhanger. I thought about continuing to the beginning of novel 8 but ended up leaving it there. Can you imagine that tension that the original Japanese readers must have felt?