The Devious Desperados (who were considering changing their name) tramped back to their camp feeling rather full of themselves, having just made off with some poor merchant's money.
"And remember how he begged us to leave him enough to feed his family?" One of them laughed boastfully.
"Yeah, and then the boss ran him through the side and watched him bleed to death while he counted the loot..."A second chuckled. The two watchmen halted suddenly when they looked up and saw a black-cloaked figure standing in the middle of the road like a detached shadow come to life.
"So you are the ones responsible for the slaughter on the road," the shadow spoke with a dangerously soft, yet masculine voice.
"Who are you?" The leader pushed his way to the front, drawing his sword.
"Quite a mess, really." The figure shook his head. "A genuine shame, what you did to that man."
"What do you want?" The outlaws grew nervous as the living shadow approached them, glowing golden eyes shining brightly in his dark hood.
"I'll make a deal with you." He walked silently, as if gliding mere inches over the ground. "Sometime in the near future, a red headed girl will be coming this way. She'll either be traveling alone, or with a purple-haired priest. Avoid them if possible, but do not under any circumstances tell them which way I go. Do this, and I'll spare your lives."
"Why should we listen to you?" The head thief sneered. Aureate lit eyes turned on him, blazing with power. For a brief moment, the shade's after-image flickered in place. By the time it had faded, the leader lay on the ground with his neck snapped.
"Anyone else have any questions?" Zelgadis glared at the remaining bandits, practically daring them to move.
"We didn't see nothing, mister!" One of them whimpered. "Nothing at all!"
"Make sure it stays that way, or I'll see to it you have to adjust your definition of pain." He didn't really like having to resort to scare tactics, but he didn't want Lina following him to Suivusev if it could be prevented.
With an air of darkness still shrouding him, he continued deeper into the forest.
The Desperados had barely caught their breaths when a slender red headed girl stormed towards them. Beside her was a floating man dressed as a priest, who's straight purple hair threw shadows over his face.
Remembering the dark man's warning, they scrambled to hide, but weren't quick enough.
"Ah-hah!" The girl grabbed the second in command by the collar and delivered a screwdriver kick to his spleen. Paralyzed by the pain, the burly man could do nothing but start crying.
"Nice form, Lina-chan," the priest sweat-dropped. "He'll be feeling that one long in to next week..."
"Now, who wants to tell me which way he went?" She chirped. The outlaws trembled in fear, but remained silent. She scowled, and blasted them with a weak Dil Brando. That loosened their tongues.
"Which way who went?" One queried.
"We haven't seen anyone all day!" Another shook.
"You're the first people on the road since yesterday!" A third cried.
"How come I don't believe you?" She smiled sweetly at the three before sending them to meet their maker.
"Yare, yare, Lina-chan," Xellos sighed. "Now there's a big mess in the road. Couldn't you be a bit neater about this? Other people have to use the road too, you know. " Her face went red for a moment, then she threw a fireball at him.
"Shut up, fruitcake." She grumbled. "Now, which way did the guy dressed all in black go?" The bandits all pointed in separate directions until she torched six more of them. The last one standing quickly gave her directions, and was roasted for his earlier lack of cooperation. Xellos watched with mild bemusement, drinking in the man's pain and Lina's anger at Zelgadis.
"Oh, when I get my hands on him..." she grumbled, following the chimera's path.
Lord Korongar of the Lamina clan watched the fate of the ill-lucked outlaws with shadowed eyes. Pikes-man Yarat ‘Nam and archer Tenroh knelt at his right and left, respectively, while Kwah brought up the flank.
"She has found a new traveling companion." He noted aloud. Yarat ‘Nam and Tenroh exchanged worried glances, both knowing the doom that awaited them if she combined forces with the man in black. "It looks like Sollex."
"What?" Tenroh inhaled sharply. "Sollex, as in the first Lord of the Lamina clan, Sollex the Enigma?"
"Who vanquished the first Runecaster, then disappeared into legend shortly before the Kouma war?" Yarat ‘Nam tightened his grip on his weapon. "That Sollex?"
Korongar nodded.
"Milord, the man with her is Xellos Metallium, Trickster Priest and General under Beast Master Zelas Metallium." Kwah stated. "His first recorded appearance was during the Kouma war, where he nearly annihilated the Gold Dragon Race. Is... Is it possible that he..."
"Could be none other than our own long-lost Sollex?" Korongar finished for Kwah. "Perhaps. Only Time will tell."