Lina and company had finally gotten themselves organized and headed deeper into the cave. When they weren't too far in, a scream resounded around them, originating from the entrance. Amelia clamped onto Lina's cloak, looking around nervously; Lina laughed. "Sounds like our shapeshifter friend..." The echo soon stopped and all proceeded on. They had done quite a bit of walking in silence before Zelgadiss spoke.
"It's rather odd that we haven't run into any monsters yet." Glancing around, he was still cautious. Just because there wasn't any yet didn't mean there wasn't any at all. "They usually thrive in places like this."
"You know what? I don't think they can come in here." Lina concluded.
"Then how come I was allowed in?"
"Oh, Zel, come off it. You're not a monster."
"That's right Mr. Zelgadiss! You're an ally to justice!" Amelia piped up, slowing down a little so she could walk by the chimera's side.
Zel inwardly groaned. "What luck."
"Where's all that light coming from?" At Gourry's comment, everyone looked around; the cavern was filling with an eerie orangish light.
Amelia walked along in silence, fidgetting for a moment before taking off her cape. Not too long after, Lina and Zel had done the same and Gourry was holding the neck of his shirt open. "It's getting awfully warm." Lina nodded at Amelia's some-what whimper and glanced around.
"And that's why." Everyone followed Lina's pointed finger and their eyes fell upon a lava flow, barely seen between some cracks in the ground.
Looking up ahead, Lina could see pools of the melted rock on various parts of their way.
"Is this safe?" Amelia edged away from any lava she could find, walking very closely to the others...much to the consternation of everyone else.
"Amelia! Just relax! As long as you don't fall in you'll be fine." Lina scolded, getting the princess to back off a little - but not much.
A new light was approaching towards the back of the cave the further they walked. "Sunlight?" Zel suggested, but Lina shooke her head. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew it was something else.
As the light grew brighter, Lina let go of her light spell. They wouldn't need it now, what with the light growing more and more around them with each step. After a few more feet, the ceiling suddenly jutted upwards and the walls extended out; they had reached a large chamber within the cave. Interlaced with lava pools and flows, it was a rather magnificent sight...if anyone was looking. All attention was to the center of the room, where the light was originating. There stood a huge structure, made of a silvery material that Lina didn't recognize. Shaped almost like a front gate to a mansion, it thoroughly guarded another cave behind it.
Lina was almost tempted to run up and cut herself off a peice of the magnificent silvery-metal...if there wasn't a statue of a man - from the waist up - jutting out of the top of it. It was so lifelike, having even laugh-lines engraved at the corners of his eyes and arms folded dutifully across his chest. Lina glanced back at the others who looked equally confused as she. Then Gourry spoke, "I wonder what he's gonna do?"
Lina placed her face in her hand. "It's a statue Gourry; it's not alive." "Well, then why is he moving?"
Blinking, the sorceress turned around. While she had been turned away, the "statue" had unfolded his arms, opened his eyes, and began to breathe. The hair upon his head, originally made of stone, was now flaring as fire. Eyes the colour of magma studied all four.
"Who are you?" All four, including Zelgadiss, jumped slightly as the statue's voice rung out and echoed throughout the chamber. Beofre anyone could answer, however, the stone man noticed Lina's forehead and grinned. "AH! You hold the key! Excellent! Come here, come closer!" Waving his large arms, the man looked very happy to see them all of a sudden. Lina hesitated. "Oh, there's no need to worry. I don't bite! My name is Kouen[1]. I am the guardian of the gate of fire." Getting a more somber face, he directed his words towards Lina. "You possess the key that opens the four gates. I must test you to see if you are worthy to carry it."
Lina blinked. "You mean this thing?" the sorceress pointed to the circlet on her forehead. "I never wanted it in the first place! You can take it back! All it's been is a pain!"
Kouen shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It has chosen you and it can only be removed when it's purpose is fulfilled."
"And how do I manage that?" Lina huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.
"You don't...at least, not until I test you. Come closer."
Sighing in aggravation, Lina stepped within reach of Kouen's arms. Reaching a massive hand out, he finally planted it firmly on her chest.
Lina blushed, then got angry. "HEY!"
"Shhh!" Kouen scolded, closing his eyes.
Lina clenched her teeth and stood there...utnil the hand (which covered her entire chest) began to squeeze. "ALL RIGHT! Is all this really necessary?" Lina fumed.
Kouen opened his eyes and smiled oddly. "No...it's just that I haven't felt a woman in a long time..."
SMACK!
Lina grumbled and started to ast a healing spell to mend the broken bones in her hand. Kouen held his cheek in his hand, looking rather shocked. "Ow. Who knew a human could hurt stone.." he muttered, rubbing his jaw.
Zel smirked. "You're telling me..."
"That better not have been the test." Lina threatened, ice dripping from her voice and fire flaring in her eyes.
Kouen waved his hands in front of him. "No no! That wasn't it. Just stand there and be as still as you can, all right?"
Lina crossed her arms and did as the man statue said. Seeing that he was being obeyed, Kouen held his hands in front of his chest as if he was doing a healing spell on someone. Closing his eyes, he sat there for a half-minute before returning to his usual, smiling position. "Finished. You passed."
"That's it?" Lina blinked. "No battle or puzzle or anything?"
"Nope," Kouen grinned. "Simple, isn't it?"
"A lot nicer then what I thought you were going to do." Amelia spoke, stepping out of some nearby semi-shadows. "But that wasn't a very nice thing you did to Lina."
Kouen shrugged. "Hey....it's been a while." Eyes flickering down at Amelia for a moment, he gained a lopsided grin. "You wouldn't mind coming closer now, would you?" At this, Amelia gasped and jumped behind Zelgadiss, glaring out from behind his back. Everyone glared. "What? They probably would have done the same!" the man-statue muttered, motioning towards Zel and Gourry.
"Mr. Zelgadiss would never do that!" Amelia protested.
Gourry blinked. "Do what?"
Kouen raised a brow. "What I just did to her." He flicked his head a bit towards Lina, sending the flame on his head jumping.
"What did you do?"
Placing his head in his hands, Kouen sighed and glanced towards the others. "Is he always like that?" Everyone else nodded; Kouen sweatdropped.
"Oh-kay...either way, you have the key and I tested you...now one of you four can go through the gate to receive the power of fire."
"One of us?" Zel echoed. What was the catch?
"Yes...only one of you will be permitted in. And that's whomever the gate chooses." Kouen answered as the doors beneath him began to slowly open.
"Whomever receives the power of fire cannot receive any of the other gate powers however."
"What?? You mean I can't have them all?" Lina grumbled, clenching her fist.
"Well...I'm taking what I can get." And at that, the red-head stormed through the gates and on into the darkness behind.
"Miss Lina!" Amelia ran after her, but was propelled forcefully back by an invisible barrier.
Kouen sighed. "Like I said ...only one of you can enter... The power of fire is meant for Lina Inverse anyways."
"How can you tell?" Gourry's question, for one, made a little sense. Rolling his eyes, Kouen merely shook his head. "Which out of earth, air, fire and water do you think suits her?"
"Fire." Amelia and Zel spoke in unison. Gourry blinked.
"My point exactly."
Lina trudged along angrily. She hadn't been stopped yet so this gate must have been for her afterall. Terrific! Mood lightening a little, she soon came to a dead end. Blinking, she turned in a few different directions but found no side routes or turns; this was the only way. About ready to turn around and beat some more stone out of Kouen, something caught her eye. Squinting at the rock, she noticed a tiny symbol crudely etched thereon. Raising her hand and rubbing her fingertips over it, she brushed away the excess dust but still couldn't read it. Standing up straight, she raised a brow and began to think.
Right before her eyes, yellowish-orange sparks began to flitter out of the symbol, the symbol itself glowing a bright molten orange. Then, a whole flow of the sparks came flooding out and enveloped her, surrounding her body with heat and light. Lina was about to scream, but the sparks cut her off. It didn't hurt...it didn't even burn the slightest. In fact..it was a nice warm feeling. Suddenly...there was a voice within her head.
Lina Inverse?
"Yes?"
Marvelous. I am called Anatole. Thank you for awakening me.
[1] = translation: red flame
Chapter 7 | Fanfiction