Despite Naga's proclamation that returning to Kitsune's world was suicide, she was still with them the next day. Gourry wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or concerned, but eventually decided that since Lina did not protest the situation, then Naga could be an asset at best, or at least she wouldn't make the situation worse. But there was little about the woman that inspired confidence.
He felt his anxiety prick, and took a deep breath. Sure, they'd been in tight spots before, but that was with their memories and abilities intact. Going back to Kitsune's world felt like going against Xellos blindfolded. It seemed so foolhardy and reckless that it was hard to keep the gloomier thoughts at bay.
Lina's hand brushed against his, and he grabbed it, relishing how she did not pull away. He smiled a bit as he watched her, deep in contemplation. Somehow she would get them through this. He had never been wrong to put his faith in her before. And worrying was just detracting himself from thinking about how right the world felt. He was with Lina, and it was right. He squeezed her hand, determined to cling to these memories no matter what!
Unfortunately, clinging to memories wasn't exactly his strong suit…
Gourry heard the sound of footfalls down the path and realized that a traveler was approaching them from the other direction. From his gait Gourry guessed he was older and that he was pushing a cart. Likely a merchant and not any threat. Soon enough an old man appeared over the crest of the hill. Something in Lina's demeanor changed as he approached.
"Morning!" he said.
"It's nearly afternoon." Lina said, but her tone was friendly.
The man looked up at the sky, "I guess you're right there."
"Do you live around here?" Lina asked.
"Why are you asking?"
"I was just wondering if you'd heard anything fishy about the land to the west of us." Lina said. Gourry smiled a little. She had been quizzing the innkeeper at breakfast, but all he would say was that no one with any brains went west. And the other patrons at the inn had been travelers and knew nothing.
"You mean the Spiren's Forest?" he asked as he took off his hat to scratch at his bald head. "I know it's nothing you want to mess with."
"Unfortunately, we have. We only escaped yesterday."
The man laughed as his blue eyes filled with mirth, "Now you're pulling my leg! No one who goes there has ever come back!"
"There's a first time for everything, isn't there?" Lina asked, "Look, we have friends still trapped in there. And we need to know everything we can to get them out."
"Not sure how anything I tell you would be helpful, seeing as I've never been."
"Why don't we pull to the side of the road and have lunch?" Lina offered. "We picked up some fresh sweet rolls before we left town this morning. We'll share them with you!"
"You'll share your portion." Naga said as she examined her nails.
The man looked at the sky, "I guess it's about that time. I'm Russ by the way."
"Lina." She said as she smiled brightly. Gourry kept his eyes and ears open as they settled by a tree just off the side of the road and got out their lunches. "So, tell me what you know about the Spiren's Forest."
Russ took a swill from his canteen, and then he started to narrate his tale, using dramatic gestures to illustrate it. "Well, ever since I can remember, my mother would say to be a good boy, else Kitsune would come and drag me to her woods. Mind, she never told me what went on in those woods, other than horrors beyond imagining. I remember one time when I was a bit too rough with my sister I thought I saw her, coming from the west to get me!"
"Really?" Lina asked.
Russ nodded, "I'd never seen her before in my life. From a distance she looked like an ordinary woman, with ginger hair and green eyes. But as she got closer, it became apparent that she was a monster! She had three eyes for one thing. And mouths on her hands!"
"How did you get away?" Lina asked.
"I didn't!" Russ said as he smiled mischievously, and for a moment Gourry feared that Russ would inform them that they were back in Kitsune's world, "It was a prank my sister and her friend whose parents ran the local theater pulled. They have one helluva costume department, and were more than game to dress up as Kitsune to scare a naughty little boy."
"But is that what Kistune looks like?" Lina asked.
"So they say. Hard to know for sure. But I do know that as I grew older and got restless and started exploring the area outside my hometown, I got real curious about the forest. I started testing the boundaries of the safe land. Gave my mama such a fright!"
Russ stopped to grab a sweet roll before continuing. "The first time I went I saw a beautiful young woman walking at the edge of the forest. Being young and having never had a girl, oh, I was so tempted! She promised me wonders if I would go to the woods with her. But I held firm! I never saw her again, but the next time I went I found a pile of gold and riches. It was so hard to leave it there."
"Smart move." Lina said bitterly. They had been duped and lured. How could they have been so stupid?
"Then, one time near dusk, I walked there and swore I heard a wee babe screaming from the forest. I didn't dare go there, it was likely another ruse. But then I heard a horrible, monstrous sound, like a creature getting ready to feed. I turned around to run, and the shrieking grew worse! And then I heard a woman, begging, 'Help us! Please help us!'
"But I ran! To this day I hope it was just one of Kitsune's tricks, but I've never gone back. I give that place a wide berth."
Russ wiped his fingers on his pants and looked at Lina, "So, what was it like in there?"
"Hell." Lina said, "Kitsune creates a living nightmare to break you. And since she can read your mind, she knows how to hit below the belt. What else can you tell me about Kistune?"
"She likes foxes for one thing." Russ said.
"Foxes?" Lina repeated thoughtfully.
"She has some special affinity with them." Russ explained. "Around here you know, if you see a fox, you'd better run, because Kitsune is close behind."
Gourry thought back to that world and tried to remember if he ever saw a fox, but gave it up. He couldn't remember. But Lina's brows knit as though Russ had just told them something helpful and she was working out a plan. "Anything else you can think of?"
"I think I've told you all I've got." Russ said as he started packing up his things.
"And we're anxious to get back to our friends."
Russ shook his head in disbelief, "Best of luck there. I still say you're crazy for attempting it."
"Now that we know what happens there, we just can't turn our backs on them." Lina said.
"I guess so. Well, best of luck!"
The group said goodbye, and parted. Naga looked at Lina as soon as Russ was out of earshot, "Well I hope you found something useful in all that."
"I did." Lina said, "Gourry, how quickly do you think you can track down and trap a fox?"
"Huh?" Gourry said, "A few hours I guess."
Lina bit her lip, "I hope the gang can hang on for that long. But with a little luck, it will take us to her."
"To her?" Gourry asked.
Lina nodded, "When you think of it, it's going to be very hard to convince Amelia and Sylphiel to leave. Further, we don't have any idea how many other people are trapped in there, and something about going in and just saving our friends doesn't sit well with me."
"Since when did you care about other's people's bad luck?" Naga asked.
But Gourry patted her head as he smiled, "I keep telling people that you really are a good person."
Lina smiled a little, "And it's like Russ said. She's going to keep hunting and trapping people in her world. We can't let her get away with it. So we have to take the fight to her. And since we don't know where she is and at best have a rumor about how she looks, we have to find some reliable way to track her down."
"So I guess I'll get started on tracking down a fox." Gourry said.
"Lina…" Naga said.
"I've also been thinking of casting my boost spell before we go in." Lina said, "That way my magic capacity would increase, and perhaps it'll help me sort out the two worlds better, perhaps even get me access to my magic. I still don't understand why I can't cast spells there."
"I don't think we're casting them correctly." Naga said, "Too much interference."
"Hm, I guess." Lina said. "Unfortunately I don't have any way to boost your magic, or increase Gourry's chances of just retaining his memories. May be it would be better if I went in on my own, that way I wouldn't have to worry about fighting either of you, or…"
"We go in together." Gourry said. "Somehow, it'll work out."
Lina smiled a bit in relief as he wrapped his arm around her and they continued walking.
It was night when they got to the entrance to Kitsune's world. The group stared at the forest, which appeared cold, distant and foreboding. There was none of the promise of powerful spells that had once been used to lure them there. The fox they had captured pulled on the leash incessantly.
"I guess he senses his mistress nearby." Naga said.
Lina nodded, and then she started chanting, "Lord of darkness of the four worlds, I call upon you, grant me all the power that you possess."
"How long will you be able to maintain the boost?" Naga asked.
"I have no idea." Lina said, "I've never tried something like this before."
Naga exhaled nervously. "I guess we'd better get going then."
Lina nodded, and walked to the cave. Gourry followed her nervously. Once he had pledged to follow her to the ends of the earth. Now he was willing traveling to hell with her. He focused on who he was, focused on retaining that as they entered the cave. "I am Gourry Gabriev, and I am a swordsman." He told himself over and over again as he walked deeper and deeper into the cave.
It didn't take long to arrive at the outskirts of the village by the jail. Gourry exhaled as the weight of the identity that had been forged in this place started to crash onto him. The false memories grew stronger. But they couldn't drown out who he really was. It was as though his previous time here strengthened his mind to fight back against Kitsune. He looked at Lina, who was smiling a bit in relief.
"It is much easier to see the two worlds with this boost spell." She said. Then she looked at them, "Please tell me you know what's happening."
Gourry patted her hand. "We're taking Kitsune down."
"Naga?" Lina asked.
"This should be a piece of cake now!" the other woman reported confidently as she laughed.
Lina smiled as the fox continued to pull at the leash. "Let's get going then."