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Chapter Five: Without a paddle? There is something fishy here!
I placed my ear to the door, the voices on the other side from the captain's quarters rumbled within. "Sir." A lighter male's voice squeaked as he cleared his throat. "We have received severe damage within the areas of the ship's hold and bilge." His tone rattles with feared." Water has been rushing in at an alarming rate; I don't think we can save the ship in time, even if we set a straight course back to port."I heard one man let out a sigh. "What was the cause of the damage?" A deeper more experience voice questioned as the other guy's breathe shakes.
"Sir, Believe it or not," His voice becomes even more pitched. "But there were reports of a Kraken attacking the boat, it's not there anymore, but it was seen by a denizen of people on board sir." I could hear the chair that the captain probably was sitting in creak as he moved.
"How was it handled?" The captain was wary of the guy's response, because both men started to breath heavy. "Well," One huffed, his mouth crack as it was probably dry. "There were a few… magic users on the deck at the time. " Which was Proserpina, Zel and me that used magic, yet we only attack the kraken, I'm pretty sure Phil would of let us slide with that one. No one was really harmed in the duration of the attack, well maybe for the guards that Proserpina handled on her own.
"Sir, there is also a rumor of the woman being on board." The chair squeaks again. Another man's voice speaks as if he drifted off in a day dream of some sort. "It's true, sir! I saw her myself!"
"I heard she was in disguise." The other muttered before the other spoke. "Yeah supposedly she was dress like that one weirdo on broad."
"You mean that golem boy from Saillune?" I knew Zelgadis heard that one, because he made a really fowl expression, and a rude gesture to go with that at the door; that generally occurs when people call him names, or bring up the matter of his appearance. The guy didn't want to look like to begin with, but people don't take that into consideration. The just rolled along like Zel is fond of the insults, and I'm surprise that his reactions haven't gotten worst. At least it was just a finger that was thrown, not a spell.
"She isn't as disguised now." That one guy continues from where the other interjected. "She's actually really pretty from what I saw, but a fierce fighter. She took us all on by herself."
"Where is she now?" The captain's voice rumbled lowly, I heard here the crew mate shallow hard before responding. "She went overboard, sir. We lost her."
"At least all we have to worry about is the safety of my passengers," The captain concluded, but the sound of disappointment lingered heavy with him say. We may as well get a count for the lifeboats."
"We are fortunate enough to not have such a large group-"That was our cue to head out, at least a head start back to the main mast where the crowd already was. We made it though the doors just in time before a band of a guard with a few crew mates exit the Captain's quarters. We moved at a swift pace, and gradually intermingled ourselves back in to mass of rich noblemen. The men separated, the guard head towards the crowd, while other men rushed towards a different area out of view. The guard whistled to get everyone's attention.
"I need everyone who is here and accounted for to form a line to the ship board." He waved his arm to two areas that were vertical from each other. "There are at least two located in both areas."
We followed the bunch and got ourselves a place in the line; with me behind some elegantly dress middle aged woman, Gourry, then Zelgadis. The rest behind us was the last remaining who had just made it, as the ship groaned while it tilted itself more into the sea. I could hear some moan nervously as the ship bobbed in an awkward angle. One lady also lost her footing and slipped as she was boarding the smaller boat, but a crew mate caught her before she fell in the water. One of them was already full and being lower and release by the ship's waist. As a few more steps were made, I was only a few people shy before boarding myself. It was only then when I recognize that certain tone as it broke though the air;
"STOP RIGHT THERE YOU THREE!" Wait, I recognize that holler, that was that one guard from earlier, the one that threaten Zelgadis and try to single handily take on and catch Proserpina, whom out might him by the way. Too bad she wasn't here; I would of sick her on him like some sort of attack dog. The three of us stood before him. His eyes were enraged; he stared at us in a crazed manner as he panted.
"You-"He began in-between breathes. "-You three aren't going anywhere without me. He switches his gaze over to Zel, which he turns up his nose at. "And for you, I may take you or leave you here with the ship. I heard you got rock like skin, right?' Zelgadis stared at him intensely. "Yeah. That's what I thought. You would sink like one. Remember what I said earlier about getting rid of both?" A foul grin from on his lips, and with a swift motion he grabs my wrist.
"URGH!" I could feel him squeezing and rotating it out of the socket, parts of my hand popped as his grip tightens. I could feel the blood swell up in my finger tips and tingle as I struggle loose.
"You let her go!" Gourry wrestle with him to get him to let me go, at least my blood was flowing back in my hand. Zelgadis had the guard by the arm, slowly twisting it. Eventually the guy lets go of my wrist, and I stumble back about before gaining my stance, rubbing my wrist as I glared at the guard.
"That's no way to treat a lady!"Seriously, I'm lucky that this guy didn't break my wrist, and if I wasn't as tough as I was, I'd probably be crying.
"I don't care about you." The guard grumbled as he struggled against both Gourry and Zelgadis. "I don't care if I break every bone in that little body of yours, you're all coming with me!" The guard kicked Gourry in his shin, and then in his groin. Gourry slid to the slide as he grasps his inner thigh. At least Zel wasn't as easy, the guard tried to kick him, but it seems to only cause pain. I mean, didn't he just brought up about Zelgadis having stone for skin? He's better off if he fights the wall, just saying. Besides, Zel had the upper hand in this, and I doubt that the guard knew any magic, he was too simple to know any kind of magic, but someone apparently did.
"Freeze Arrow!" A man who stood at some distance behind the guard managed to hit Zelgadis full on with a bolt of ice. It froze him to the spot, and I watch as Zel tried to wiggle himself free.
"Looks like we aren't the only ones who can use magic here." He sarcastically commented as the First mate walked closer to us.
"Well, aren't you an observant one." So much for being so meek and humble; Mr. Mouse decided that he was going to grow a pair and be all badass over a Freeze arrow. Wow, but I'm not impressed, so here's a flare arrow to counter that ice spell. The ice that surrounded Zelgadis melted, setting him free in which he draws on energy. Gourry was already locking swords with the guard, and managing well on his own, so that leaves us with the first mate. We both casted our spells, electricity sizzling though the air from Zel's Mono Volt, and a crackling from my Flare Bit; sparks and smoke festered the air as both Zelgadis and I made a wild dash to where Gourry was. The guard was tackled by Zel, the both had skidded to where the boat began to capsize inner. I grab Gourry by his hand and we ran wildly toward where Zel and the guard where. Both of them made it to their feet, and Zelgadis sprinted towards us with the guard tailing after him, his blade in hand. He raised it above his head, and with a swing of his arm, it launches in the air, and lands with a thud behind him. It may have missed his body (not that it would matter him, it would had no effect; a pointless move.) but it did catch his cape, and with a slight gag noise, he lost his footing and tripped. The guard then dropped himself on top of Zelgadis, as an attempt to keep him down with his body weight. I think Zelgadis may be a bit heavier then guard, it just seem like Zel was still lifting him up even though the guy was using his full body weight to keep him pinned in place. They both struggled until Gourry kicked the guard back, giving him the upper hand, and with a heave the other went flying one way as we sprinted off to the remaining two boats. I nearly had forgotten about the other mage, the First mate, who blasted more icy spikes in our direction. We dodged in different directions, one whizzed by my head. It missed me by inches, and crackled as it expanded on the wood after impact.
"Flare Arrow!" Flames in the shape of arrows took shape and launch themselves in the direction of the first mate. The exploded as they made contact and bits of fire and smoldering pieces of wood spew everywhere. The trio of us reunited and caught up with our pace as we sped ourselves, and just as we were about to reach a boat, a group of more guards intersected us as they grouped in front of our way. With swords out and readied, they advanced and closed in. I heard the heavy foot falls of the other two racing to catch up to their crew.
"You think you are going to get away?" The guard taunted as him and the first mate walk by the others. "Not unless I say so." I observed the first mate charging another spell. "For all I care, you can all go in the water and join your little friend down there." Whoa this dude is serious; the dark look in his eyes gave me chills. Gourry, Zelgadis and I pressed our backs together as we brace ourselves for the impact of yet another freeze arrow. Well if you think I'm going to go down so easily, then think again!
"Fireball!" I countered as both spells collided with a hissing noise, steam hung heavy in the air creating a fog like cloud. I grabbed Gourry and Zel and used them to push us pass the guards.
"Freeze Arrow!" Is this all that guy knows? I mean come on! Sadly my reaction time wasn't quick enough, and the most elementary spells that even a eight year old could quickly learn, caught me by my ankle, and I face planted the hard deck. I groaned as my nose throbbed, and the coldness of the icy was spreading itself out into my leg. I lifted my torso as Zelgadis raced to my side, fist raised he dropped knee first and punched hard enough to break the ice. That was rally effective, and no one got hurt by using a fire spells. He pulls me to my feet and we both proceed to the four guards who were ambushing Gourry. Gourry had clashed swords with one, both blocking and evading a swing made by the guard across of him. He breaks swords and kicked the guy down, while catching another attack, scarping his sword against one opponent to catch the other. Zelgadis took his out and join in the struggle with Gourry, his sword taking on the one who tried to catch Gourry off guard. He greeted Gourry with a nod and stood back to back with the blond. I stepped in between the two, another spell charging in my hands as I quietly watched the surrounds. A few of the guard gathered their weapons and headed to us, while the rest ran to the smaller boat. A loud, unnatural groan reverberates though the air as the ship was filling up with more water. Waves slapped the deck and were inching bit by bit, my attention shifted to the guards as both came closer.
"Diem Wind!" I yelled as a strong gale of wind gusted forward and carried off a couple of the guard. One crashes into a pile of crates, while the other smack right into a sail post. He then slid down and tumbling across the deck, slipping into the water. As for the other two, both Gourry and Zelgadis were once again in combat. Both of the guys dodged their attacks, quickly switched places to put the guard off guard. Which worked out, Zelgadis sword made contact with one of the guard's hand, and even though they hand mostly armor on, his sword managed to do some type of damage for the guard let out a howl in pain. Red blood dripped from under the armor as the guard retreat backwards, and his companion crashed into him after Gourry swing after him with all his might. The guard slumped downwards with each other, eyes in a dazed ass they were render unconscious. I think that was the rest of them, besides the jerk and the snob who only knows one spell. They seemed to have vanished; the three of us looked around before going back on track. The crew were just now loading themselves on to one, and they lower that one down. There was only one boat left, and it was pretty much empty. We were pretty close to it, before the guard and the first mate cut in front of us, jumping into it.
"That son of a bitch! " I overheard as Zelgadis sped past me, trying to stop he guard as he rose up a sword, cutting the rope that secure the boat in place. He repeated for the other side, and after the last rope snap, the boat falls to the water below. With a massive splash, it lands in the water. The first mate cries as he falls to the floor while the guard mocking laughed at us as we watch his pushed the boat away.
"Damn him!' Zelgadis hissed as he chucked his blade into the railing, seething as he watches the guard row off to the other boat. Wow, that guy was really determined to leave this on this boat, and for a guard, that was some selfish behavior. What a hypocrite! Wasn't he the one who told Zelgadis not to make those kinds of calls, but I suppose it was safer to leave us with a sinking ship instead of risking us back to shore. Maybe that guard thought he was Phil's favorite? It's hard to tell, that guy did have a bit of an ego after he saw Proserpina and went on this manic crazed. I think he was under some kind of influence, judge by his erratic behavior.
"Lina." Zelgadis voice brought me back from my own thought process. "What do you suggest we do from here?' He cocked his eyebrow, waiting for me to say something.
"I dunno." I shrugged, fighting a smirk. "Maybe head to higher ground?" Zelgadis sighed deeply as he crossed his arms. "Lina this is serious." He factually stated. I'm aware of that bud! "I don't think there are anymore life reserve boats. That was the last one." He pointed to the distance were the rest of the crew and passengers were slowly moving off in the horizon. Gourry stood there watching the boats, until he seemed too reacted as if he saw pretty odd.
"Hey guys!" He called as Zel and I peered at him. "It looks like our friends from before are having some problems with their boat." He pointed as the boat with both the guard and first mate began to rock to and fro, and shortly rolled, knocking both the jerk and the third rate geek into the waves. Both resurfaced, gasping for air as they cursed at the boat before swimming off to the others. Talk about karma, right? So who is laughing now, and I stopped when I saw the capsized boat moved back towards the ship. We carefully moved as the ship leans more to its side, down to where the waves met the deck. The boat itself flipped back around before it is pushed up to us.
"Proserpina?" I carefully lower myself next to the boat and waves. I saw the side of a face peeked from the backend of the boat.
"Yeah, it's me." I heard her mumble. "Get on! I'm holding the boat in place." And with that, the three of us loaded ourselves on to the boat. Once seated, I knocked on the side of the boat. "We are all on!" There was a jerking sensation as the boat moved back out into the water. I turned my head and set eyes on the rest of the ship, as it slowly was consume by the sea. We were at some distance from the ship when Proserpina emerges from the deep. Her disguise was completely gone now, her skin glistening as she swam to the edge of the boat.
"Oh hey Phoebe!" Gourry casually greeted as Proserpina glared at him. He had gotten her name wrong again. "It's Proserpina!" She splashed water on him. "Get it right, Fred!" I let out a giggle, and Zelgadis sat there in silence as he stared at her. She looked back at him and waved. "Hey again!" She said sheepishly before turning to me. "Um Lina. I think he broke again." I think he heard her, because he snapped out of whatever trance he was in. "I didn't recognize you at first." He slowly said. Sure Zel, we are going to go with that. "Is that what you really look like?" He sounded a bit in disbelief, like he was under the impression that it was yet another disguise.
"Yep." She braced her arms on the edge and cradled her head on them. "It's me in the flesh." She winked and Zelgadis turned a bit pink. That's rare; he isn't this bashful right away.
"So which way are we heading to?" Proserpina reposition herself as she waited for one of us to respond. "We could just follow the other boat. "Gourry blankly said which would make sense. Proserpina disagreed with is idea. "That the direction that the two who attack us went." She mentioned. Which was more of the logical approach to go a different way and loose the enemy, not follow them. I glance at Zelgadis, who was digging in his tunic. He pulled out a fairly size compass, and then a fold piece of paper; when unfold, looked like a worn, but very detail map of our land mass. He sat the map down and the compass on top of it, adjusting the compass to the correct altitude. With his finger, he traced a line to somewhere off the coast of Ralteague. "I think somewhere over here would be our best bet." He tapped a pot before pointing southeast.
"I need to borrow this when we get back on land," Proserpina murmured. "And when we are in a somewhat safer place." I have a hunch why, she wants to out that layer it under that one map with the symbols on it. I would put money on that if there was a bet going on.
"Um." Gourry stared at Proserpina, tilting his head sideway. "Aren't you getting in the boat?" Proserpina shook her head. "I can't. I wouldn't be able to climb in." She lowers herself in the water. Gourry tried to peek over the edge of it. "What do you mean you can't climb up?" His hand extended as he tried to reach for her. He also knocked himself off the boat, and would have fallen in the water if Proserpina didn't catch him. "I'll explain more once we are one land, but for now we have to figure out how to get this boat moving."
"We don't even have a paddle." Zelgadis added. That could have been lost when the boat was flipped. Speaking of which, something just came to mind.
"Say Proserpina?" I glance at her as she rose back up. "Do you what happened to the boat with the two guys in it?" I eyed her as she grinned widely. "You mean those two who attack us?" I nodded. "Oh I flipped them overboard." She said it as causally as she brushed some of the wet hair that stuck to her face. I looked at her and laughed. That was rather sassy thing to do.
"We do have this rope." Proserpina held up the cut pieces of the rope that the guard cut previously, that daggled from the hooks and drifted in the waves. . "Besides, I could make use of this curse while I'm at it." She grabs them and fastens them together, and then she dives into the sea. The boat carries on to the direction where Zel pointed at earlier.
"Full of surprises, isn't she?" I said as I beamed and simpered at him. He glared at me from the corner of his eye, and stared back at the water where the ropes were; watching them as they tugged under the surface. She mentioned something about she couldn't climb, perhaps she some half fish person, but then the thought of how our fish people look here made me shiver. Ugh, Reminds of Noonsa. I can't ever forget that guy.
It was nightfall when we made it to the coast; twinkling stars hung across a velvet black sky. The moon was almost full, and not a single cloud harbors the sky. Proserpina resurfaced, and dragged the boat close to a cliff side, where the three of us climbed on to leaving the boat there. There was a small, faint trail that appears to lead into the woods ahead. I stopped in mid step and spun around. Proserpina was nowhere to be seen! I rushed back to the rocks, to where the boat was. I found her sitting there on a large rock, staring off in the distance. I raced up to her, panting as I slowed down. She turns her head and acknowledges me. I figure she was tired from pulling the boat all this way, but the closer I got, the fishier the situation. I guess it right, she was half fish, but more like the mermaids in fairy tales verses what they really are, and that is man eating monsters around these parts.
"You did mention you were going to explain." I said softly as I observed her tail. It was really beautiful; it started of lighter color below her waist and got deeper in color with a mixture of a pitch black with golden scales that grouped and speckle. I have a feeling that this is another reason why she was being hunted. I felt a bit bad for her, it's not like she chose this.
"Do you remember me calling it a curse?" I nodded; she did mention that before she brought the boat here. "When I was young, I fell into a cursed lagoon during a training exercised."
"What's going on here?" Gourry strolled on in along with Zelgadis. They didn't took notice until they stood just about where I was. Gourry shrieked and questioned Proserpina bout her legs, while Zel just stood there, eyes wide while he muttered an auditable "Oh." I snicker at their reaction to her tail.
"Gourry, if you shut your mouth, I would be able to explain." She snapped, getting somewhat riled by his constant asking about the lack of legs. "As I was telling Lina, I tripped into a cursed Lagoon when I was like nine or ten." Her tail whipped slightly, like a cats tail does when they are annoyed by something. It was amusing and I did my best to maintain the straightest face possible.
"So how was the lagoon cursed?" And the simple minded Gourry is at it again. Even Zel reacted in frustration this time. "Obviously by a mermaid." He retorted grabbing is nose as he groans to himself.
"Well yeah." Proserpina brushed off a bit of sand on her sleeve. "It was curse by a mermaid, who was killed in that lagoon. Legend says that she cursed the waters as the sailors filleted her alive." That's a pretty brutal way to go out. "Anyone who falls into it will be cursed to change into a merfolk when in contact with the sea. It is also believed that the mermaid's blood tainted the waters, which makes the lagoon more abundant then others."
"Why were you training there in the first place?" She sighed as her eyes lazily moved to me. "Mother wanted to test our reflexes and agility, to see if we can ace though without losing our footing. " She groans, shutting her eyes. "It was going good until my stupid brother tripped, and I turned to grab him from falling into it. Instead I slip and lost my grip, he garbed hold of a limb nearby, while I crashed right in the center of that lagoon. When I crawl out, I was like this." Her tail wiggled again. "I just have to wait till I dry out to have legs again."
"I guess we will sit here and wait again." Gourry huffed as he took a seat on a rock nearby, slouching over with his knees near his chin. I plopped down on one next to her and Zel lean up against a tree. There was a couple moments of quietness, not a sound other then the crashing waves and whispering breeze. Gourry sorted though the sand for shells and odd looking stones, pocketing the ones he thought where worth keeping. Some of the things he does, remind me of a child at times, and more often then I admit. I guess that's one of the many reasons why I have such a love for him. His childlike innocence is rare these days, though it can be annoying, but it's something that can be appreciated. I glance in Zelgadis direction, he had his head rested back and his eyes were shut. He might've decided to take a kip, and yes, he does that standing up from time to time. I could never do that. I have to be sitting or lying down, but some people got the leg strength to do. The sound of shuffling distracted me to Proserpina, who was rummaging around in her bag. She takes out a clear jar and inspects it carefully.
"Hell yeah." I her say out loud, she then looks over to me after she caught on that I was now observing her. "I really love air tight containers. Do you have those here?" She flashed the jar in front of me. It was clear; and it contains (from what I could tell with the moon) looked like clumps of a dried up plant or herb. Despite of being in her pouch, the substances remained water free. That's rather useful.
"We have jars." She opens the lid, and with a POP it was unsealed. "But I doubt they are as any good as what you have here." Proserpina takes out one of the nugget shape things and holds it between her finger and she reseals the container.
"Can you hold this for me?" She held out the small nugget out to me, and delicately places it in my gloved palm. I pulled it closer to me to exam it more as she dig though her side bag again, pulling out a couple of objects
"What is this?" I carefully picked up the chunk and held it closer for a better look. It cam pressed, yet fluffy. A shade of vivid green; I brought it to my nose and sniffed. It aroma was that of a fruity yet musty scent. It was super offensive smelling, not like that of certain cigars I ran into that will casually reek up a local pub.
"I need that back." I heard Proserpina as I passed back her plant bit. She sets it down and picks it around, placing it in a metal bowl with needle like spikes in it. After she filled it she tends took the top of that bowl, and twisted it on. It made a shredding noise as she turned it.
"What is that?" I felt a bit like Gourry asking that, but I've never seen or smelt anything like that ever before. It probably is something from her world.
"Oh this." She then took what are now flakes out of the bowl and pack it into a small, glass like pipe. "It's just some cannabis." Yeah I don't think I've ever heard of that. She went on about the different names it was called from where she was from, and how they winded up genetically modifying that was well. Her world gets more fascinating in each conversation we have. Proserpina retrieves the little flame maker, and tries to flicker it. No flame, so she flicks it again. Once more and with a final stroke before she dropped it at her side, swearing under her breathe. "Shit. These things are never water resistance. Ha! Oh the irony." I knew what she meant by that, for fire and water is two elements that never fully repel each other. Water beats fire in magic, as for the same in the average aspect of things. Even with non magical devices it seems to still have some rule over the physics of its design. Shaking her head, she digs back into the bag. Gourry, after what felt like hours of him just sitting there, gets up and relocates to a space closer to us. He squatted down, shifting though the sand with a stick.
"How long do you think it's going to take you to dry?" He inquired as he peered over the horizon. "I think the sun is about to rise soon."
"Well." She brought out the cube, rotating the symbols again till it glowed. "I would dry quicker if I could change my shirt."
"Well what's stopping you?"
"The presence of men." That's completely understandable; I wouldn't want to change in front of a couple of guys I didn't know. I personally know both Gourry and Zelgadis, and could vouch for them both (Though Zelgadis may not be as innocent as Gourry is) that they are nowhere near your basic pigheaded guy. I turn my head to Gourry. "Well what are you waiting for?" he took that as my way of saying get out of here, and stride over to where was. Facing us with his back, he then uses his hand to cover Zel's eyes, which startled him a bit. He was sleeping after all. Proserpina wiped out a dark color shirt and quickly removed the turtle neck. I noticed she has strange images scattered on her torso and left arm. She had what looked like a wolf on her upper arm, its head inclined backward, like it was howling. On the same arm, above her wrist was a solid black line that wrap all the way around. From the way it appeared in the moonlight, and with the slight glittering from her flesh, almost was like a bracelet. Instead it was a tattoo, with something else below that I couldn't determined yet. There was another on above her breast; it was a small rose, with something written in a scroll. On the opposite side, above her waist, was a skull with a crow perched on it. There was another note hanging out the corvids' beak.
"Did those hurt?" She pulls her head though the fabric and then her arms. "Some of them did."
"How was it like?' I don't have those on my body, but I've seen bandits covered in them, but they were rather sloppy attempts at designs of ancient figures. Hers had more of an artistic sense to them. "Most of them sting like hell, not to mention burn and itched as they healed." She fixes her shirt, which stops mid drift, and sleeves that ended where her elbow where, which kept one of her tattoos exposed. She flips her hair out; which falls down her shoulders, and pass her waist.
"Alright boys! It's now safe." Gourry removed his hand from Zel's face and spun back around, not seeming to mind whatever Zelgadis was grumbling at him while they walk. Proserpina found what she was looking for, and adjusted herself away from the wind to use her flame. The guys gathered around the both of us, and we exchanged glance among the three of us. "Hey Zel." Smoke swirl around Proserpina's as she direct her attention to him. "Is it possible if I can see that map?"
"Oh yeah." He went into his pocket and snatched out the paper from before. He handed it to her and she carefully took it. It flapped against the gentle gust of air a she unfolded it and held it in front of her. "Oh! It's upside down. Here." He took note as well that she was holding it the wrong way, but I doubt she knows what this world looks like complete, other then what she has saw as of now. She laid it flat against the rocks in front of her, and took a thinner paper out. I rally round by keeping the corners flat on Zel's map as she figure out the angle of the secondary paper to overlay. Once it was done, the thinner map made more sense, and it seemed to point out suggested locations though out the continent. At least two out of three where pin pointed; One set in the center of the Kataart Mountains, and the Second was located by the Wolf Pack Island. As for the third, the lather was off the map, to the distance in the West. Meaning that was the only one that wasn't located conveniently near.
"Of course, with my dumb luck, the Leviathan is going to be the trickiest to find." There was a bitter, yet sarcastic tone in her comment. I don't blame her for not wanting to travel across the disk just for one creature, but you there's a saying to that: Good things don't come easily. Now to figure out which of the two we are going to venture out to first.
"This one is closer." Gourry pointed to the one on Wolf Pack Island. No way! Both Zelgadis and I protested against that quickly; being that was Zelas Metallium's territory, the Queen of all beast and Monsters that are evil. "It may be easier if we go to the Mountains," Proserpina inquired. "That is where Zizan is." Not like the mountains are any safer, that close to the home of the Demon King of the North, who is incased in a frozen tomb of ice. "Yeah but Lei Magnus is there as well."
"We can easily avoid him more then we can with Zelas." Zelgadis added bluntly. "Plus that's on the route to Saillune. I can make my report with the Prince there." I not sure if that would be a bright idea that is if the guard and the other dude get there before you do. Then again, Maybe Zel would have the upper hand over the guard being that he is more of a associated to Phil.
"If we are going to set out in that direction," Zelgadis set his compass on the edge of the map, aligning us with the set degrees. "Then we would have to start here," He traced east to Saillune, passing though the Alliances. "Then you can go north from there." I glance at each one, for a sense of approval. We all agreed on that being out set location. First to Saillune, Then to the Kataart Mountains! At least until Proserpina gets her legs back that is.
Author's note: During the editing process, I ended up redoing a bit of this chapter, so it took a bit longer to fix then I intended. Whoops. Anywho, it looks like our journey is beginning! Oh! I wonder what's in store (What am I talking about; I'm the one writing the story. I already know!) We can find out in the next chapter of what the gang gets into next!
By the way, I want to wish my readers a Happy New Years (even to those who don't celebrate their new years until next month, still warm wishes until then.) Happy 2022! I hope this year bring more promise and opportunity to all of us (then the last couple of years).