Author's note

I'm sorry another chapter appears so late. The story in my mother tongue, Polish, is complete, but translating, when I have work and normal adult life, is time-consuming. I can't promise a new chapter would appear very soon, but I'll do my best. I want to thank all of you who still want to read this story of mine. Your kind comments give me strength to keep on :)

So, as always, I'm warning you English isn't my mother tongue, so be ready for errors ;)

Chapter IV

Forward

I remember the day we met as if it was yesterday. You were standing alone, keeping your distance from other children. I think you weren't aware how warily you were eyeing others. I was the one who walked towards you and introduced myself before I realized what I had been doing. Something in you had drawn me to you… Maybe, from the very beginning I felt that behind this cold mask of yours was hiding a really warm person. You may not realize it, but you really have an ability to attract people. Haha… Some people can think exactly the opposite thing. But there is something in you, that people want to follow you. You make every person around you feel accepted just the way they are. Even if you are laughing at something, you aren't doing it so that they would change. It gives me an impression that this is your way of saying that everybody has their flaws and one only needs to accept them and go forward to meet a new journey which is brought to us by life every single day.

Sometimes I wonder if it was a pure chance we had met. Besides, is it really so important what is really controlling our lives? You could always say that some accidental meeting was forpreordained or that imposed fate was our choice. There are moments, when I'm afraid. Afraid of what is to come. Because the storm is coming. I know it. I'm so painfully aware of it. I can only hope that imposed fate of mine will coincide with my choice.

She knew she was too late, when she saw a powerful, destructive magical aura cumulating in the air around forgotten grounds of the Seyrun Academy. Situation wouldn't have looked so grim if that energy had been emitted by the enemy. But it was a magic belonging to the syenleu herself. And it could only mean that the priestess had completely lost control over her power.

Before the sorceress decided to move, she saw a silhouette appearing from a vortex of sinister energy. She was slowly watching as long blond hair was gradually turning black. As blue eyes became yellowish ones. She instinctively summoned a powerful Fire Ball before she called out to the man.

'Gethley! What did you do to her?!' She shouted in a voice filled with hatred.

'Almost nothing. I've just helped her realize she should cease to exist. And do you know this silly girl has agreed with me?' Gethley answered her in a merry tone.

In the blink of an eye an enormous Fire Ball was thrown in his direction. A Fire Ball which was much more powerful that those harmless spells he experienced during their last meeting in the old factory.

'You will pay for this.' Lina said in dead-serious voice. Most people after hearing such a threat would shiver with fear. But the Mazoku only started to laugh.

'You hate me? Wonderful! Are you in pain because your friend is going to die? Excellent! But let me tell you that all of these is only your fault. You are a failure as a cephieleu. You can't save those who should be protected by you.' He narrowed his eyes which made them look even more like cat's. It seemed that words of the man didn't affect the priestess. But the incantation of her next spell left her lips a few seconds later than it would have normally. The Demon immediately teleported himself next to the cephieleu. The girl in the blink of an eye started to cast a protection spell. Too late. The enemy's sword was too close to her body to be repelled by the barrier. The blade went to her heart. A moment later one could hear only clattering metal against metal and a sound of a teleportation.

'Oh, so your doggy's finally joined us.' Commented Gethley after appearing in a safe distant from his opponents. For the very first time his confidence seemed to drop slightly.

'I assure you, you won't see tomorrow's sunrise.' Zelgadiss said coldly, standing next to Lina in his chimera's form and spearing the Mazoku with a loathing glare.

'I'm afraid you'll have to talk it over with the other guy. You are not the only one who wants to kill me, cephieleu's doggy.' The Mazoku said jauntily.

'What the hell are you talking about?'

The answer appeared sooner than he expected. He turned around when he felt a familiar energy.

'Gourry.' Lina whispered looking at a tall man walking slowly in their direction.

'Where is she?' The blond asked semiconsciously. He wasn't fully awakened yet. He was surrounded by small discharges of magic, which was a sign of instability of his power.

'She is dying, Mr. hiruzenkai.' Gethley responded smiling nastily.

Semiconscious gaze of gentle blue eyes fell on Mazoku.

'You are the one who killed her?' The blond asked softly.

'That's right! On the other hand she's been terminally ill, so I've just eased her suffering.'

Small discharges of magical energy started to intensify.

All of sudden they started to accumulate in one place. In Gourry's hands. In a blinding light the energy started to form shape of blade.

A legendary sword, Hikari no ken, was brought back to life.

The Mazoku was watching closely a completion of awakening of another hiruzenkai.

This time he was the one who made a mistake.

'Dragon Slave!'

'Ra Tilt!'

When Gethley heard two legendary spells that had been a cause of death of many Demons in a distant past, he knew he was trapped. Moment later he could hear a scream of furious Gourry which was followed by sending a powerful magical bullet in his direction. His end was very near, but the Mazoku once again smiled nastily before a wave of deadly energy swallowed him whole.

All area was filled with explosion of a blinding light.

After few long minutes everything was silent.

Apart from a pillar of a dark, destructive energy which seemed to grow with every second.

Lina moved as first, directing her steps towards the pillar. Gourry stood dumbfounded looking at the vortexes of ominous energy. As soon as Zelgadis saw where cephieleu was headed, he caught her by forearm.

'Zel, let me go!' She snapped turning to him.

'You know very well, there is nothing more you can do in this case.' Zelgadis responded calmly, after which he looked at the blond. ' Gourry, we don't know if she is still there. You as her hiruzenkai can try entering this space and helping her regain a control over her power.

'She is still there. I'll get her back.' Gourry responded with a strong conviction in his voice.

'I'm going with you. You've just awakened. Someone has to stabilize you.' Lina added while still unsuccessfully trying to get out of Zelgadis' grasp.

'No.' This time it was Gourry who refused her.

'Gourry, you can die there.' The shock was visible in her eyes. This firmness in his gaze was so unlike Gourry she knew.

'It's my task. It's my fault I've heard her so late.' He answered with a painful look. 'Besides as her hiru-something I've more chances to come back, so Zeldigas is right. I should go alone.' He added a little more cheerfully.

'I'm Zelgadis. It would be nice if you could finally remember a name of your friend.' The man responded in a little irritated tone.

'No problem, Zel.' The blond grinned merrily.

'Better.' Zelgadis sighed in defeat.

'So see you, guys!' The swordsman smiled happily.

'Exactly. See you. You have to come back safe and sound, you hear me?' The sorceress asked in a dangerous tone.

'Yes, sir!' Gourry saluted merrily and jumped into a vortex of a dark energy.

As soon as the blond disappeared both Lina and Zelgadis felt a shock.

'Could you let me go now?' The cephieleu asked her hiruzenkai angrily. The mage looked at her suspiciously, but he released her.

'What are you planning?' He asked warily.

'I'm going to stabilize this pillar of energy from outside. Is my overprotective hiruzenkai going to give me permission to such an act?' Lina answered him with a voice filled with irony.

'Yes. To something which isn't a blind and reckless putting oneself in danger your hiruzenkai will give you permission.' Zelgadis answered equally sarcastically. Lina just send him an irritated look and focused on the pillar of dark energy. The effect was almost instantaneous. An irregular roller quickly took the form of an ideal ball. Zelgadis didn't join her. Not when did he felt a disturbing vibration of ominous energy.

Once again he saw a yellowish catlike eyes.

Gethley smiled at him eerily.

'Thanks for another death, bunch of suckers.'

Zelgadis immediately pulled out his sword.

'How? How are you alive?' The mage asked in shock.

'That's my small, feline secret.' Gethley answered happily and teleported.

Lina, who was trying to focus simultaneously on stabilization and the conversation, opened her mouth in shock. Her eyes widened in a gesture of revelation. At least one thing became clear to her. But quickly she once again focused on the dark space where there were Gourry and Sylphiel. She was hoping they would come back safe and sound. Just like she was hoping for other syenleu whose energy she couldn't feel anymore.

She was surrounded by darkness, but she wasn't afraid. Darkness was like loneliness, which had always accompanied her, so it was like being in a familiar place. Step by step she was forgetting about everything. Pain, fear, rejection… all of these were becoming empty words. Her memory, like an old book, was getting more and more faded and devoid of details. She didn't even remember, why she shouldn't forget those… things. But it was irrelevant. She was free. She was finally free!

'..phiel!'

It seemed to her she had heard some voice, but it was impossible.

'SYLPHIEL! '

She once again heard some scream. Someone was shouting a word she didn't understand. All of sudden in her beloved darkness appeared a glowing person. A newcomer looked at her with pain visible in his gentle blue eyes.

'Sylphiel, did you forget me?' The man with long blond hair asked her in sad voice.

Young woman looked at him, but her gaze seemed very distant.

'Syl…phiel? Who is Sylphiel?' She asked as if someone woke her up from a very long dream.

'You are Sylphiel.' The newcomer answered her softly.

'I am… Sylphiel?' She asked once again, after which something stirred in her. The girl quickly grabbed her head. 'No, no, NOO!' She started to scream desperately. The man was immediately repulsed by a shockwave. But the blond didn't give in. He once again pressed forward and stopped before her.

'Sylphiel…'

'No… I'm not Sylphiel. She is gone. She was too weak to exist. That's why she has to disappear.'

Those words shocked the man.

'Sylphiel, you will be weak if you disappear. Lina had always told us to never give in. And I believe in you, because I know you are strong. You're just not aware of it. You've been calling out to me for such a long time. And I've finally heard you.'

'Who are you?' Her eyes seemed to start to regain awareness. But maybe it was just his wish?

'I'm Gourry. Sylphiel, don't you recognize me?' The man asked in a voice filled with misery.

'Gourry… Gourry… Gourry…' She kept on repeating his name as if it was a foreign word. After few seconds a grimace of fear appeared on her face. 'I didn't tell him. And I never will…' A tear started to run down her cheek, which was followed by another one… and another…

The aura, that was surrounding them, started to vibrate dangerously. Gourry felt a stabilizing effect of Lina's barrier. The barrier was slowing down the destruction process. But it couldn't stop it.

'Sylphiel, do you remember me?' The blond asked carefully, trying to get even closer to the girl. This time he wasn't repulsed by energy and he delicately grabbed the young woman by her shoulders and forced her to look in his eyes. But her gaze remained vacant. 'Sylphiel, you mustn't forget me. You've promised me something. And you always keep your promises.' He whispered desperately.

The dark energy started to surround their bodies.

When the man started to lose all hope, two weak flames appeared in green eyes.

'Gourry?' She asked softly.

'Yes, Sylphiel. It's me.' He smiled to her warmly.

'Is that really you?' She asked with a stronger voice.

'Yes.'

The girl wasn't wasting time for another question and hugged the swordsman tightly. Gourry's smile widened when he saw that the aura, which had been few moments earlier black and destructive, turned into a green, kind energy that started to enter the body of the priestess.

The young woman felt a pleasant warmth feeling her chest. For the first time the pain in her chest she had felt for so many years was gone. The awakening had been completed and the syenleu had finally understood what had been dwelling deep inside of her. Almost unlimited healing powers waited for her smallest gesture. She also regained an awareness of her mission and what had happened 1000 years ago, but paradoxically she felt calm as never before. She was finally in the place she truly belonged to. Next to him.

'I've promised you the best meal in the world, didn't I?' She asked smiling to him radiantly.

'Exactly!' The swordsman responded happily, smiling back. Yes. That was the smile she loved the most. That was her reason for coming back. She won't allow the nightmare from 1000 years ago to repeat itself. This time she won't be watching as her hiruzenkai dies in front of her. She won't be making promises she knows she won't be able to keep. And even if everything was to repeat itself… Only for him she could die once again, without any regrets.

Against the dark sky, the sea of stars flashed in irregular rhythm. They were accompanied by a crescent moon shining with a strong, silver light. But a main role in this symphony of light played a huge ball of ominous, red energy. Lina was still channeling her energy to the unpredictable sphere. An hour passed since Gourry disappeared in those sinister depths. For such a process it wasn't that long, but Lina was getting really worried. If they didn't come back, words of Gethley would had become the reality. She, a powerful cephieleu, wouldn't be able to protect anyone. She shook her head. She couldn't listen to words which were supposed to distract her. On the other hand, this sentence was a verbalization of her unsaid fears. Without even one syenleu the Princess would never be found. She pushed away those thoughts. If she still had control over the dark sphere it meant Gourry was still fighting. It'll be all right. It has to be all right. And then the red ball suddenly shrank, which caused a powerful shockwave. Zelgadis, who was standing next to her, immediately summoned a strong barrier. As soon as Lina was sure she couldn't support the sphere any longer she strengthened the spell of her hiruzenkai. The shockwave hit the barrier with a terrifying noise after which the area was filled with an explosion of a green light. When everything stopped, Lina opened her eyes. She smiled warmly when she saw smiling Sylphiel standing next to a little battered but grinning Gourry. Zelgadis also ushered a small smile, but his ears were still monitoring the surroundings. The sorceress felt that the tension started to release from her body and a dizziness started to engulf her. She leaned against Zelgadis who send her a concerned gaze. Sylphiel at once started to walk in her direction.

'Miss Lina, are you all right?'

'Yeah. I still can't get used to releasing greater amount of energy.' She grimaced a bit and tried to stand on her own. 'But I'm happy to see you again.' She smiled at Sylphiel.

Eyes of healer widened in shock. Cephieleu was very rarely using such warm words.

After a second the syenleu hugged a younger girl. Lina at first startled quickly reciprocated the gesture.

'Welcome back.' Said Lina before noticing that her wounds started to heal by physical contact with Sylphiel. 'Emm… Sylphiel? I think your magic is leaking a bit…' The sorceress added with amusement.

Hearing it the healer pulled away.

'Oh… I'm sorry, Miss Lina.'

'Don't say sorry for healing somebody, silly. Just remember about hiding your magical aura.'

'Do you want me to remind you who else has forgotten about hiding her magical aura?' Zelgadis interjected playfully.

'Back off, Zel!'

'Gourry, well done.' The mage turned to another hiruzenkai ignoring the redhead. The blond grinned once again before fainting and collapsing on the ground. Everybody at once rushed to Gourry's side. Sylphiel immediately kneeled next to him.

'Gourry!' Shouted the terrified healer.

Lina placed her hand on Gourry's neck in order to check his pulse, but before she spoke a word, everybody could hear a loud snoring.

'What an idiot! He has just fallen asleep!' Snorted the irritated sorceress.

'Is he all right?' The dark-haired girl was still frightened.

Lina looking at the dead worried syenleu decided against throwing a small Fire Ball toward the swordsman.

'He is all right.' She sighed. 'He is only exhausted. After all, he has awaken only today and immediately entered the vortex of your energy. As Zel has said, Gourry as your hiruzenkai was more resistant to the destructive part of your energy, but protecting both of you consumed all of his energy. After some good sleep he'll be good as new.' Her voice was calm and soothing. 'Besides, you are the healer, so I shouldn't be the one explaining this to you.' She added winking playfully.

'You are right, I guess.' Sylphiel smiled gently when she understood that life of her protector wasn't in danger.

'We have to go. We shouldn't stay here for too long.' Zelgadis interjected anxiously watching their surroundings.

'OK, so Zelly it's time to work. Take Gourry and we are leaving.' Lina send him a little too sweet smile. A little irritated man took unconscious body of his comrade and throw him over his shoulder.

'Sylphiel, I have one more question…' Lina once again became serious. 'Have you also felt that Filia…'

The healer only nodded her head.

'Yes. At first I didn't understand this feeling, but after regaining my memories I know something bad must have happened to her. But what was it?'

'Maybe he'll answer this question.' Said Zelgadis looking at the forgotten by the moonlight part of the grounds of the Seyrun Academy. Only after few seconds did two syenleus felt a familiar energy.

'Mr. Valgaarv.' Sylphiel said merrily. 'So our gang is almost complete.' She made one step towards the other hiruzenkai when Lina stopped her.

'Sylphiel, stay where you are.'

Valgaarv stopped few meters before the group.

'You are hurting me, Lina. Is that how you greet your comrade after so many years?' In his gold eyes could be seen amusement.

'Why aren't you with Filia?'

'You are interested just in Filia? You don't care about me?' He answered apparently pretending to be hurt by her words.

'Of course not! Mr. Valgaarv we are so happy to see you again!' Sylphiel smiled at him sincerely and to prove her point she made another step towards the last hiruzenkai.

'Sylphiel, for fuck's sake, don't move!' Lina barked. 'Don't you think it's strange that Valgaarv appears now and without Filia? Knowing that something bad has happened to her? Till I hear a reasonable explanation, don't you dare make another step towards us, Valgaarv.'

'Miss Lina, it's impossible… That's Mr. Valgaarv, hiruzenkai… one of us…' Sylphiel said gently. She looked at Zelgadis to find some support, but when she saw his terrifyingly cold gaze, she remained silent.

Valgaarv at first was watching his comrades wordlessly, after which he smirked.

'I can see, Lina, you've learned how to draw some conclusions. But it doesn't change the fact you are still an incompetent cephieleu.'

'Watch your tongue, Valgaarv.' Zelgadis said dangerously.

'Am I wrong? A true cephieleu wouldn't let all of this happen!' He screamed with a pain visible in his eyes.

'Aren't you taking cephieleu for Ceiphied? How can you expect someone who isn't Ceiphied to defeat Shabranigdo?!'

'Zel, it's enough.' Lina said gently. 'Val, tell me, what has happened to Filia?'

'She is safe in a place you won't find her.' He added vindictively. 'Now, we are even. You've taken my brother from me, and I've taken back my syenleu from you.'

Lina looked at him incredulously. He was still holding grudge against her for this? She was about to answer him when she felt a surge of a dark energy.

On her forehead appeared cold drops of sweat.

Moment later she was looking in terrifying, greenish eyes with the same evil glint she remembered.

Hellmaster Phibrizzo himself, one of Lords of Mazoku, was standing before them. On the right side of Valgaarv.

Cephieleu at the summit of her power was a worthy opponent for the Mazoku Lord. But Lina didn't regain her full power. She was exhausted after one hour of stabilizing Sylphiel's negative energy. Zelgadis was less fatigued, but he had to support unconscious Gourry. And Sylphiel still didn't have a full control over her power.

Shit… It didn't look good.

She exchanged a knowing look with Zelgadis which meant that chimera came to the very same conclusion as her.

'Well done, Valgaarv.' Phibrizzo spoke with ominous, childlike voice.

'Phew… Don't get used to it.' The hiruzenkai answered unpleasantly.

Warriors of Ceiphied were watching this conversation in disbelief. Lina couldn't believe it. She could accept, that Valgaarv would disobey his mission, that he wouldn't be willing to play a role of hiruzenkai in his new life… But she would never be able to foresee such a scenario. To join forces with their hateful enemy…

Phibrizzo could be really proud of his new comrade.

The teleportation channels were blocked.

If not for Valgaarv they would be able to sense it earlier and be able to run away.

But now it was too late.

'My dear friends, it looks like your merry adventure comes to its end.' Phibrizzo said with irony in his tone. It was strange to hear a death threat spoken in such a pure voice. His innocent silhouette of a child was such a contrast to his cruel personality.

'Zel, try to teleport us. Syplhiel cast the most powerful barrier you can.' Lina turned quickly to the pair.

The healer, still in shock after the betrayal of Valgaarv, just nodded her head.

'Lina, you must have noticed that all teleportation channels are blocked…' Zelgadis commented skeptically.

'You don't say. That's why I'll try to force them to open.'

He didn't like the idea. The redhead wasn't in a good shape. Forcing the teleportation channels to open was dangerous even for a mage in his full power. But they couldn't exchange their tasks as he had to look after Gourry. There was no other way. And that was the only reason why he decided to execute the command without any further protest.

'Farewell.' Phibrizzo said shortly.

Few seconds later a stream of a powerful, deadly energy was shot in their direction. When the stream hit the barrier one could heat a loud thump. The healer was almost immediately brought to her knees when she tried to maintain the barrier.

'Miss Lina, I won't be able to support the barrier much longer…' She moaned.

'Sylphiel, just do it as long as you can!' Lina shouted focusing on the teleportation channels. She closed her eyes. As she was taught many years ago, she imagined them as a large door on which she directed her energy. After one second the door broke up with a big thump. Almost immediately she saw a new door. Quite easily she destroyed another barrier. Just like the third and the fourth one. When she saw fifth door she realized she doesn't have any power left. Exactly at the moment she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Zelgadis. He was channeling his energy to her. Not letting herself to waste any time for unnecessary thinking she used her new obtained power to destroy the final barrier. They did it! It was the last obstacle!

But why they still couldn't teleport?

She heard a groan of Sylphiel. The barrier was falling apart.

Only then she noticed the sixth doors. The strongest. The mightiest of all.

It was their final obstacle. Almost a symbolic boundary between life and death.

But she didn't have any power left. Neither her nor Zelgadis'.

The barrier was falling to pieces.

So that was the end? They were reborn only to die without accomplishing anything? It was unfair.

And then a small ball of energy appeared in her hands. Somewhere far away she heard a silent sound of small bells.

But she wasn't thinking of anything else.

She directed the energy towards her enemy.

The barrier fell.

And later was nothing.

Only darkness beyond twilight.