Hello, everyone! I hope that everyone is safe and well! As for me, I'm making preparations for major power outages in the face of the winter storm that has hit my region, so… the sooner I get this chapter to you all, the better. As usual, I don't own anything, I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Please enjoy!

30- Decisions, Decisions

"Su Lin… the name sounds familiar, I'll give it that much." Lyos leafed through the stack of papers that Zelgadis had placed on the kitchen table, moving quickly from one page to another. "Problem is, I don't understand what any of this means."

"They're financial records submitted by the Seyruun Historical Society. Don't worry; I don't really understand much of them either." Zelgadis took the papers away and began putting them back in order. "They were submitted to me for filing a few months ago, but they've been sitting on my desk since this whole fiasco with the Demon King started. I figured that they needed my attention, and I'm glad that I picked them up. According to the records, these donations have been given by an anonymous patron under the alias Su Lin. This would be her seventh year in a row donating to the Historical Society, and it's no small sum of money either. From what we can tell, her estate is located just barely within the country of Seyruun, in the far north near the border with Kalmaart."

"That's right near Seyruun city." Amelia observed.

"You're kidding me." Shizuri breathed. "All this time, we've been searching for something that's practically in your own backyard?"

"Funny thing about backyards," Lina still hadn't left the table yet, tired but eager to know what was going on and what plans were being made. "they're the last place you look."

"How convenient that she's a patron of the humanities." Shizuri commented. "What exactly does the Historical Society do with the donations?"

"The Seyruun Historical Society runs country's museums and funds archaeological research into the country's heritage." Amelia offered. "It also houses and restores important artefacts."

"That sounds like the kinda thing that Milady would support." Lyos shrugged. "She had a fascination- almost an obsession- with ancient artefacts… she told me it was because she was obsessed with the concept of strength. I'm still not sure what she meant by that, or why, but…"

"Luke told me the same thing about her." Lina agreed. "I'd say that's a good sign."

"Zelgadis!" Pestis clapped his hands excitedly. "Do you know what this means? We've done it! We've finally found the Key of the Aqualord!"

"Perhaps." Zelgadis corrected. "There's no guarantee that it's the right girl. It's a start, and that's what matters."

"You know…" Lina spoke up, taking one of the papers from Zelgadis' hand. "it seems like this estate is right on our way to Seyruun city. I could travel with you guys that far before splitting up again. I would be going through the city on my way back home anyway, so…"She turned and nudged Gourry. "And that way you wouldn't have to make a decision about what you're going to do so quickly. There'll be more time to think it over."

"I've already made my decision." Gourry explained. "But that's fine. I don't think there would be any harm in visiting the estate on our way home."

"So… you're taking me home, then?" Lina handed the paper back to Zelgadis.

Gourry nodded, and Shizuri spoke up immediately. "Y-you mean you're leaving us?"

"It's a good decision." Zelgadis interrupted before anyone else could say anything. "I respect it."

"He's doing what's best for his family." Lyos added. "I think that's brave."

"But that also means I'm trusting you guys to look out for Zara. You'll promise me that, won't you?"

"Don't worry, Mister Gourry." Amelia took his hand and smiled. "You can count on us! We'll make sure that he comes home safe and sound!"

"Thank you, Amelia. I'm so, so sorry to have to leave you with all th-"

Pestis took a spoon and started banging it against a glass to get everyone's attention. "Hey, hey! Cheer up! We'll still be one big happy family until we get to the estate. For now, let's just enjoy each other's company as we figure out when we want to leave."

"Tomorrow." Lina offered. "Tomorrow morning, early. But… not too early."

"So soon? I'll be sad to leave my house again. It's been nice having everyone over- like one big happy slumber party."

"Yeah. Emphasis on the happy part." Zelgadis muttered, though Amelia hit his arm to quiet him.

"It feels like we just got here." Shizuri looked around. "I'm still not familiar with everything."

"Such is life." Pestis mused whimsically. "Places and faces come and go like the ebbing tide of the ocean, and what we're left behind is just the impressions that those things have made in the sands of our minds." His voice trailed off and everyone listened in awe for a moment before he continued again excitedly. "Did you like that? I made it up just now!"

Lina laughed. "Nice job, Pestis. It was very moving."

"Aww, thanks. I try."

"Welcome home, Azarel! Did you have a fun and productive afternoon?" Xellos offered a friendly greeting, complete with a tray of tea and cakes. Clearly he hadn't been up to any evil that afternoon… though, considering the questionable quality of the ingredients he'd found in the kitchen, that was debatable.

"I don't need tea or cake, Xellos." Azarel walked right past him with no acknowledgement. "Where are Zara and Enrique?"

"After I went to all this effort to make something nice for you?" Xellos whined. "I wanted to give you a warm welcome after you finally succeeded in finding the information you've been seeking!" There was a pause, and he cracked one eye open. "…you did find that information, didn't you?"

"I have what I need." Azarel responded curtly.

"Which is…?"

"Why do you need to know?"

Xellos snapped back into his friendly façade. "No reason! I apologise for being nosy- clearly it's something you'd like to keep to yourself. Are you sure you won't take some tea or cake?"

"No, Xellos. Do with them what you'd like, but don't bother me with them."

Xellos sniffed indignantly. "Well, if you refuse to drink any tea, I'll go share it with someone who will appreciate it."

"I don't care what you do anymore. Where are Zara and Enrique?"

"How rude!" Xellos stiffened. "To think that, after all I've done for you, you don't care about me anymore-"

"Be quiet, Xellos. Just tell me where the boys are."

"They're upstairs." Xellos finally sighed. "They were reading that book again, last I checked. I sense some shenanigans going on , but they're just kids, so it can't be anything serious."

"What?"

"Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, no." Azarel groaned and waved one hand dismissively. "Go share your tea with whoever you want, Xellos. I've got too much to worry about now."

"Well, alright then." Xellos wasn't pleased, but he turned and left with the tea and cakes in hand. Azarel gave a sigh and tramped up the stairs loudly enough so that anyone in any corner of the old house might have heard.

"Enrique.I need to speak with you. Now." Azarel burst into the room, slamming the door against the wall. Enrique and Zara were sitting together on the windowsill. Zara was asleep with his head rested on Enrique's shoulder, and Enrique had seemed blissfully unaware of everything around him- that was, until Azarel entered the room.

"H-hey! Az! I, uh, was, um…"

"Hmm…?" Zara stirred, rubbing his eyes wearily. "Wha-?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry. Azarel just wants to speak to me." Enrique stood up and kept his hands on Zara's shoulders, helping to steady him. "Stay here. Go back to sleep."

"Okay…" The two shared a smile before Enrique pulled himself away. He ran over to Azarel like an obedient dog, beaming with happiness despite the anger that had been displayed just before.

"Yes, yes? What is it?"

"You, uh… come outside with me for a moment." Azarel's voice faltered for a moment.

"Yeah, sure. What's wrong?"

Azarel closed the door and began pacing back and forth in the hallway. "I… I'm sorry. I hate to interrupt you. You're very happy, aren't you? The way you looked at him- th-th-the way he looked at you…"

"Azarel, is something wrong? I didn't mean to- we just were reading, and-" Enrique stammered and cut off his sentence. "I mean, he was reading, and- did I do something wrong?"

"No. Of course not. Nothing." Azarel grasped ahold of Enrique's shoulder with uncertainty. "I just… I'm sorry. I thought things would be different this time. For me, I mean. I guess I was wrong."

"Is something the matter?" Enrique moved closer. "Please, just tell me what I need to do, and I'll make sure that it gets done-"

"No. No." Azarel pushed him away. "Just go. Stay with him. Keep him company. Don't leave his side."

Enrique was completely baffled by this point, and his mouth hung open as he tried to make sense of what Azarel was saying to him. "…okay. Yes. Thank you."

Azarel watched him as he retreated back into the room again, leaving the door open just a crack. Zara addressed him in a soft voice, saying something that Azarel couldn't quite make out. Enrique gave an unintelligible reply with enthusiasm despite the serious nature of what had just happened. Azarel seethed in frustration.

"Why does this… always happen…? First Pestis, and now…" Azarel pounded a fist against the wall. "Why does this always happen? I've never seen Enrique this happy. I'd hate to get rid of Zara so early, but with things the way they are… the sooner he's dead, the better. Then maybe Enrique will learn what being a Mazoku is all about."

"You know, I'm really proud of you, Gourry."

Gourry lifted his head, taking his attention away from the bag he was trying to shove all of their clothing into. "What?"

"I'm proud of you." Lina repeated. She was propped up in bed against a menagerie of pillows with one of Pestis' old reference textbooks in her hands. "-For making that decision, I mean. I know it's not easy, and I know you wish it didn't have to be this way. You're very strong for choosing anyway."

"I'm very sure of my choice. But do you think it was the right one?"

Lina was quiet for a few moments. "I can't say that either choice was right or wrong. No matter what you do, you'll work hard and do your best. What matters is that you do the most with the opportunity you give yourself."

He blinked confusedly. "Isn't that just a fancy way of saying there's no easy way out?"

"Have we ever had an easy way out of anything?"

"You've got me there."

Lina sighed and closed the textbook, setting it aside atop a stack of books and papers on the nightstand. "Besides, I trust Zelgadis and Amelia to watch out for Zara. They've always been willing to look after him when we needed them to."

"I know. I told Lyos the same thing."

"What did you two talk about? He seemed awfully upset."

"Uh, not much…" Gourry stuffed the last of the clothing into the bag, latching it closed with some difficulty. "He was upset, but not at me. Not really. He was just uneasy about the prospect of seeing that lady again."

"He was? I thought he'd be thrilled."

"He's afraid that things won't be the same; that she won't think of him the same way that she did so long ago."

Lina rolled her eyes. "Lyos always has something to worry about. That's just his nature. He's always angry or complaining in some way. Don't let him get you down."

"I won't, I won't." Gourry slid into bed beside her. It was a small bed, and he was almost hanging off the edge, but Lina had plenty of room, and that was the important thing. "I just feel bad for him. He's suffering just as much as any of the rest of us."

"You can't say that. With you the way you are, and Amelia and Zel's situation…"

"Maybe you're right." Gourry ventured. "But he's suffering in his own way."

Lina reached up and tugged on his hair. "You're the most compassionate person I've ever met. It's no wonder where Zara gets that from."

Gourry turned abruptly in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean he's picked it up from you. Certainly he hasn't gotten that from me- I'm the least compassionate person probably ever."

Gourry smiled and gave her a gentle nudge. "You were compassionate enough to take pity on a poor, dumb jellyfish who needed a home."

"I didn't take pity on him." Lina huffed. "If he'd let me buy that Sword of Light from him, I'd have left him in a heartbeat."

"But he didn't." Gourry smiled.

"So I didn't." Lina sighed. "And to this day, it's the best business transaction I never made."

Gourry chuckled and leaned over for a kiss before settling back down to sleep. Lina was quiet for a moment, before finally tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Hey, Gourry?"

"Hmm…?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For coming home with me. For not leaving me alone. Now that you've made the decision and you're sure of it, I can say safely that I was hoping you'd choose this. Maybe I'm selfish for wanting to steal you away from Amelia and Zel and Zara and the rest of them-"

"You've always been selfish. Why stop now?" Gourry laughed.

"-but I don't know what I'd do without you. So thanks."

Gourry simply responded with a gentle smile.

"I could say the same about you. So, you're welcome."