Two hours later after the troll horde was gone, Zelgadis mused quietly to Lina, "It's strange that we haven't seen this enemy of ours once yet. Usually we at least get a hint of who's behind it, and why they're attacking us."
Lina nodded in agreement. "You're right. But what reason could the enemy have for not revealing itself yet?"
"...That's the question, isn't it...?" he sighed.
Lina contemplated this for a moment before shrugging her shoulders and smirking. "There's nothing we can do till our enemy puts in an appearance, so we might as well enjoy the ball till then!" Turning to look Zelgadis straight into his eyes, she asked, "Want to scandalize everyone and dance? It's not considered 'proper' to dance more than once or twice with the same partner, you know." She giggled cutely and winked with an impish gleam in her ruby eyes.
"...You wouldn't mind me as a partner?" he whispered uncertainly, clearly wavering.
She stomped her foot slightly and stated, "Of course not! Besides, I don't want to dance with anyone else here, not after that cowardly display."
"...Alright..." he agreed at last, and took her head to lead her onto the dance floor.
A few seconds later, they were again whirling across the ballroom, happy, oblivious smiled crossing their faces. The rest of the people at the ball tried to get a glimpse of the couple who so completely distained their company. It intrigued them. What kind of people didn't care about their noble opinions?
Despite Zelgadis and Lina's oblivious looks, though, the dancing pair were very well aware of the stares they were garnering. Lina ignored it, simply enjoying her time dancing in Zelgadis's arms...and blushing secretly as this thought occasionally came back to her.
"Zel, do you think this would be the perfect time for our mysterious enemy to launch another attack?" she smiled, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.
"Yes," he smirked.
On cue, a fine, nearly invisible mist began working it's way through the legs of the people at the ball, traveling upwards till it filled their nostrils. As soon as it was inhaled, people began to slump with groans and grunts to the floor. Loud snores filled the room in the music's absence.
Zelgadis frowned and pulled Lina closer to him. "Diem Wind!" A shield of wind formed around their bodies in a protective bubble, blocking out all the mist.
From out of an archway suffused in cold shadows, came a figure dressed in a blue tunic and black pants, with dark brown wrist-guards, black, leather, knee-high boots, and a swirling, blue cape. His brown hair fell to the middle of his back in glossy waves, and dark green eyes assessed them coldly.
"Hello, Zelgadis," the figure said as he came closer.
"...Uh..." was Zelgadis's witty reply.
"It's been a long time since we last met," the man smirked. He stopped just outside of the shield and casually passed his eyes over Zelgadis's form. "You've changed a lot, I see. It's no wonder you were able to reach your companion in time for that first attack."
Lina grimaced and shook her head, muttering under hear breath, "Stage left, enter evil villain with unknown grudge."
The newly-entered man shifted his attention to Lina. His eyes ran slowly up and down her body, as if he were memorizing her. Suddenly, Lina had an almost overwhelming desire to see if her clothes were out of place; his gaze suggested she wore nothing at all, and it annoyed the hell out of her, as well as embarrassing her.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Zelgadis asked. Lina gulped at his utterly cold tone, and had no doubt his face would match his voice if she looked up at him.
"You don't remember me? I'm hurt!" the still-unknown man said dramatically, putting a hand over his heart as if Zelgadis's words hurt him. The smirk on his lips belied the performance. "You knew me from...oh, how long has it been?...Ten years? Yes, ten years."
Lina grumbled, "That doesn't help!"
The man chuckled and stroked a hand over the wind shield, looking directly at Lina while he did so. "You remind me of the girl that came to his rescue. Same sparkling ruby eyes and flaming-red hair."
By this time, both Zelgadis and Lina were thoroughly confused. What the heck was this wacko talking about?
"Yes, ten years ago. Come, it's time to jog your memory!" The man's chuckles turned to loud, hysterical laughter. "You come too, Girl!" he said to Lina.
Zelgadis and Lina blinked as a blinding white light shot from his palm and engulfed them both...