Peering at Gourry's breakfast plate from the corner of her eye, Lina Inverse tried to decide how best to make her move. She was sitting on one side of the table, and he was seated on the side directly to her left, so should she go for an full-on frontal assault, or should she dive in from the side.....? Or maybe she should point to something over his shoulder and calmly ask, "What is THAT?" He had stopped falling for it when she acted surprised or startled, so she decided to act mildly interested in the phantom object. She might even be able to swipe the bread roll from his hand.
So intent was she on her target, Lina failed to notice the figure that approached her table and stood directly to Lina's right. Gourry chose that moment to stop eating briefly and come up for air. Lina tensed, This could be the moment, she thought. She registered as Gourry started violently and then proceed to stare across the table and slightly above him. Now! Lina thought, as she dove towards Gourry's food, spearing a sausage link with her outreached fork. As she had predicted, she was able to nab the roll from his hand as well.
Finally coming back to himself, Gourry blinked and looked at Lina, and she knew instantly that something wasn't right. She could see it in her companion's gaze. For a chilling moment Lina wondered what kind of horrible, deadly creature was waiting for her to turn around, what kind of monstrous demon had come for her. Maybe a dark lord, but it was more likely to be a mid-ranking Mazoku. Lina knew that the three remaining dark lords did not perceive her as much of a threat, despite the fact that she had faced two of their number........and won.
Lina felt a sudden wave of despair. So, is this it? she thought bitterly. Is this how it ends? Cut down in the restaurant in broad daylight by a Mazoku assassin? Always thought I would go out heroically, in a blaze of glory. Either that, or surrounded by my many beautiful grandchildren. Lina closed her eyes briefly and braced her self to face the demonic menace near her.
A female voice spoke before Lina could turn. "Well, Lina," she said in a bored but dangerous tone. "You're still as greedy as you always were. I guess some things never change, huh?"
Lina could feel her heart literally stop for about three seconds, resume beating at a somewhat faster pace, then finally plummet down like lead to her stomach. She disparately fought for some form of clarity as her lungs re-learned to breathe. Lina knew she was breathing too fast, it made the world seem too bright for her eyes. She was also pretty sure she was gonna faint. Her intuition was once again right on target; her lungs burned and the world was growing brighter and brighter until it hurt to look upon. Lina tried to squint, but it was no good. The world......brighter........
And brighter.......
.........Until it faded to white.
Zelgadis paused with his fist raised to knock on the wooden door before him. He just stood there a moment, and doubts tried to nudge their way into his mind. This wasn't the first time he had considered not following through this time. Filia's message had sounded very odd, as if she had deeper worries that she could not bear to put to parchment. Zelgadis wondered again what exactly he would find behind this wooden door, and once more his mind whispered that he didn't have to involve himself in whatever trouble was brewing. No one would really be surprised if he didn't show, over the last few months Zelgadis had been fairly distant from the rest of his friends. He never stayed in one place very long, so he was hard to get in touch with by normal means. They all knew that he was trying to find a cure for his condition and did not expect him to easily contacted.
Amelia had actually been the one that made Zelgadis aware of the contents of Filia's letter. The first night that Zelgadis had spent on his own after taking his leave of the others, he was pleased to find that Amelia had enchanted the jewel of the charm she had given him. It functioned much like a magic mirror, and became his only communication with the outside world. Using the gem, Amelia had contacted him one night as he was setting up camp in the desert.
"Zelgadis-san? Are you there?"
Zelgadis retrieved the charm from around the neck of his water skin and raised it so he could see Amelia were is own reflection should be. He noticed that she looked worried, and he felt a pang in his heart to see her without a smile. "I'm here, Amelia." he replied. "what is it?"
If it was possible, Amelia looked even more worried. "I've just had word from Filia," she began. "It appears that Valgaav.....I mean Val.....well, he's been born, but she says something like the circumstances occurring around the time of his birth were kind of strange."
"Strange how?" Zelgadis asked.
"Xellos was there, for one thing," Amelia continued. "She told me that he arrived just a few minutes before Val was born. She said that his behavior was very odd, as well. Filia seems to think that Xellos has some sort of interest in Val." She paused for a moment, and Zelgadis could see her concern plainly. "I'm not sure Filia's feeling alright though, because she also claimed that aged Val four months in just over an hour, and his face is scarred. That can't be possible, can it?"
He could tell that she was trying to seek some measure of comfort from him, but Zelgadis could not bring himself to say something to her that could be untrue just to make her feel better. He held his silence instead.
"Anyway, the primary reason she wants us there is to celebrate Val's birth," Amelia went on, sounding a bit more cheerful. "She wants us all there for a party in his honor."
Zelgadis smiled slightly, and was pleased to see Amelia smile in return. "I'll see if I can drop by." he said. "Does she still live in Ceipheed's Blessing? I think I can be there in a few days."
Amelia nodded. "It shouldn't take me too long to get there, either." she said. For a moment they were both silent. Amelia appeared to be lost in thought. "Zelgadis-san," she continued. Zelegadis could hear worry in her voice again. "I think we all need to be together right now, even if Filia's fears are groundless. I just hate to be separated like this, I feel like something's missing without you and Lina-san and the others around. Besides," she continued soberly. "If we are facing some new threat, we all need to back each other up. We are weak apart, but so strong together, and I think after all that we have been through together that it should be obvious that we are all bound to each other's lives." Amelia gazed at him for a moment before saying anything else. "Well," she said at last. "I must go now, but I hope that I will see you at Filia's. Good-night, Zelgadis-san." Amelia's image had faded from the jewel and was replaced with Zelgadis's reflection.
Now, two and a half days later, Zelgadis hesitated at the door to Filia's house. Amelia had seen right into the heart of the matter, and she had told him as much, if more politely. Her meaning was not lost on Zelgadis; she was telling him that she knew he would try to stay distant, and that she didn't want him to. Zelgadis himself had mixed feelings on the issue. On the one hand, finding his cure had been the one thing that kept him going in this life, it gave him reason to hope that things could only get better for him. On the other hand, his friends would always except him as he was, stone flesh and all. They never treated him as a oddity or an outsider when they were together. In their eyes he would most likely seem strange and different if he was made human again. None of them had ever seen Zelgadis in his true body, he had been changed before Lina and the others had entered his life. Besides, he knew that if he turned and walked away right now, Amelia would be crushed. Above all the other, Amelia was the one who had the most confidence in him. She wholeheartedly believed that Zelgadis would always be one of those people who would do the right thing whenever it was called for. He would hate to disappoint her.
With a sigh, Zelgadis knocked on the door.
From his vantage point amidst the branches of a towering oak tree, Xellos could clearly see the girl approaching from the village. He knew she would come alone, this child of Barluwin, yet even still he concealed himself further among the leaves.
The girl made her way into the clearing below Xellos and knelt before a stone altar, bowing her head in prayer. He watched her intently, wondering if this young women was indeed the one he was supposed to watch for. He thought that she seemed very young, though he knew the Summoners lived as long as the Ryuzoku and aged just as slowly. Even still, Xellos wondered if this truly could be Anya the Uncrowned. Those who had sent him to find her had told him that she had been born over 600 years ago. This girl appeared to be just shy of her fist century, she looked like a human girl of 17 or so.
The girl was speaking now, in a low murmur that Xellos had to strain to hear. "Great King of the Sky, Father of the Koumazyatsu-zoku, I beseech you. Send me who I seek, the one who can give me guidance in this time of need." As she spoke the beginning of the prayer, Xellos silently descended from the tree and moved to stand behind it. The girl continued, "I seek the Prophet in whose ear You whisper, grant me your divine messenger.
Xellos nodded slightly to himself, then raised his staff skyward and worked a powerful illusion spell on himself. When he stepped out from behind the tree, he appeared to be an older man, well past his middle years, with a kindly look to his lined face and once-brown hair that was being replaced by silver. When he cleared his throat, the girl stood and turned to face him. She was wearing a silver circlet set with a blue, diamond-shaped jewel. This must be the one, Xellos thought. He approached her, leaning on his staff.
"You are the Prophet I seek?" the girl asked. "When last I was here, there was another."
Xellos nodded. "Jofe has gone into the embrace of Barluwin most holy." He saw the girl kiss the first two fingers of her right hand and touch them to her forehead and heart, it was the ancient way to honor the Sky Dragon King's sacred name. He continued, "Now I have the honor of being the Prophet of our Lord."
The Koumazyatsu-zoku girl raised and eyebrow. "Yet it is not your true face that you wear," she said. "You hide behind the mask of illusion. From where do you hale, Prophet?"
Well she certainly speaks like a queen, Xellos thought to himself. "From distant lands." he answered. "So you believe that I am indeed the Prophet?"
She nodded. "I have no reason to doubt one who comes in the name of the Sky Dragon. You are the Prophet."
"And you are Her Grace, Queen Anya fa'Sharn," Xellos said. Anya nodded, and Xellos added, "Anya the Uncrowned is the title you have now, I believe."
Anger flashed in the young queen's eyes. "That is not what I am called," she said sharply. "It would please me if you would just call me Anya."
"Ah, but isn't that the reason you are here now, Anya?" Xellos asked her. "To gain your crown? Don't you wish to know how to be Queen in more than name?"
"Yes, it is." Anya said simply. "I need to be Queen, for the good of my people. I have to be able to keep them safe from anymore murders that the rebels would commit. We are dwindling fast enough as it is.....both races. We can't keep killing each other off."
"And the rebels?" Xellos asked quietly. "What would you do with them?"
"I would have them to return to the city of fa'Sharn, of course."
"As slaves?" Xellos asked calmly.
Anya glared at him. "No!" she cried. "That's what started this war! For the war to ever truly end we must put the crimes of the past to rest, and rebuild, together. No matter how many people die in this war, it won't bring the fallen back to life, and it won't erase the wrongs committed six hundred years ago." Anya had tears in her eyes now. She adverted her gaze and continued, "The only choice we have is to move onward. Our numbers are so few, our races will be lost forever. Divided, we are weak, but if we come together, we may survive the coming darkness." She raised her eyes back to Xellos's. "This is my reason for seeking my crown." Anya stated.
Xellos smiled slightly and touched the circlet on her brow. "You have the crown, child. What you need is the power behind the crown. You need strength to unite your people, a symbol of your power."
"The Relics of Baradoth?" Anya asked.
He nodded. "None other. Unfortunately the Relics are scattered all over the world. You do not have the soldiers to spare here, and you shouldn't leave the safety of this part of the kingdom without protection. In a few day's time you will come across strangers from across the ocean. You must find a way to go with them, and you must also convince them to aid you in your search for the Relics. They are the best protection you can have, you will be safe."
The Summoner nodded. "I will follow your guidance. I suppose I should now prepare for my journey. Thank you, Prophet of Barluwin." She performed the blessing again, and this time Xellos returned the gesture. Anya turned and began walking back the way she had come.
Xellos waited until she was out of sight, then he set of to silently follow. He shadowed her on the walk through the Enchanted Forest, taking great care to make no sound. Once the girl returned safely to the city, Xellos would set his next plan in motion.
Slowly, Lina opened her eyes. She could see Gourry's face hovering above her, apparently she was on the floor. Lina tried to sit up and winced as her head began a dizzy swim. She took a deep, calming breath and sat up more carefully. Gourry helped her to her feet and Lina retook her seat, avoiding the gaze of the one seated across from her.
"So," Luna Inverse said slowly. "It looks like your Dragon friend needs your help again." She slid a sealed envelope across the table to her sister. "She asked me to give this to you."
"Filia?" Lina asked. "She sent you here? I thought you were working......." For the first time Lina noticed Luna was not in her waitress uniform, instead she wore a red cloak over a plain gray dress. her cloak was held with a brooch fashioned in the shape of a seven-pointed star.
"I am working." Luna sighed. "Money's tight at home, so I had to take a second job making deliveries." She gave Lina a hard stare. "It wouldn't kill you to come visit every now and then, you know. Father misses you, and Lana was so young when you left that she barely remembers you now. I really think you should drop by after you get done with whatever the Dragon girl needs,don't you? Ceipheed's Blessing is only three days away from Zefilia." She raised her eyebrows, waiting for Lina to answer.
Lina flinched under her sister's stare and turned her attention to the envelope on the table before her. Something in her gut told her this letter wasn't entirely glad tidings. She stared at the seal for a long moment, there was a depiction of a dragon in flight pressed into the pale gold wax. With a sigh, Lina opened the letter.
Dear Lina and Gourry, it read. It is with great joy that I announce the birth of my foster son, although I must admit to feeling unease as well. The circumstances surrounding Val's birth have begun to worry me, with more than just ordinary maternal concern. Just before Val hatched, Xellos came to visit me. He said he was here to "witness the birth", which leads me to believe Xello's had some foreknowledge regarding the time of Val's birth. Soon after his arrival, I had a strange dream, or rather a vision. It definitely seemed more real than a dream. The things I saw worried me deeply, though I am not sure I fully understand the meaning of the the visions. Another strange occurrence raised my suspicion as well; it appears as though Val is aging at a rapid rate. Once again I worry that Xellos knows more about Val than he is letting me know. I would greatly like for you and Gourry to pay a visit to Ceipheed's Blessing, so that we may discuss any problems that may arise from Xellos's apparent interest in my son. I remain yours, Filia.
Lina set the letter back on the table and leaned back in her chair. "Gourry," she said. "We need to go to Ceipheed's Blessing. There's some sort of problem with Valgaav."
Gourry ceased staring at Luna only to gape at Lina instead. "You mean that scary guy with the yellow coat?" he asked, bewildered as usual. "I thought we took care of that."
Lina rolled her eyes skyward. This wasn't even worth the effort of hitting him over the head. "Not Gaav, you moron. Valgaav, the Ancient Dragon. Filia's letter says that he has been reborn."
Comprehension dawned slowly on the blond man's face. "I see....." he said. "Is he still, you know, all 'I'm gonna destroy the world and kill everything because I'm so depressed? He really needs to get over that and move on with his life." Gourry shrugged. "I mean, talk about issues."
This time Lina did hit him. "Were you asleep or something after the battle with Dark Star?" Gourry looked at her blankly. "You do remember Dark Star, don't you? Big, scary thing that looked like a nightmare come to life?"
"I thought that was Shabranigdo....."
"You baka......" Lina sighed. "Ruby-Eyed Shabranigdo was the first Dark Lord we fought, or rather a piece of a Dark Lord that Rezo revived."
"And then it was Gaav," Gourry said suddenly. "But he was killed by that other guy. The creepy kid."
"Hellmaster Phibrizzo, right. And after Hellmaster?"
Gourry frowned a moment, Lina could tell he was thinking quite hard. "I see!" he exclaimed at last. "Valgaav. Yeah, he was that Dark Star thing. Wasn't there a god involved?"
Lina nodded, her patience growing thin. "And what happened after we fought 'that Dark Star thing'?" she asked.
Luna snorted. "Who is this big ox, Lina?" she asked. "Not one of the great thinkers of our time, obviously."
"This is Gourry." Lina answered, without looking at her sister. "Go on Gourry."
The big man was looking at the ceiling, as if his answers where written there. "Well, there was a lot of running and fighting and magic, it's all kind of a blur. We won, that one guy took my sword and some other weapons back to where they came from. Oh yeah!" He grinned broadly, recalling the memory. "What's-his-name was killed, but the Dark Lord or the God or somebody revived him and he was in the egg. Oh, did he hatch?"
Lina smiled. "Very good!" she praised.
Her sister laughed aloud, startling Lina. "Is he the record-keeper of your journeys?" Luna asked, an amused smile on her lips. "Hope you got him at a good price."
Lina sighed and looked askance at Luna. "Gourry has a bit of a memory problem," she explained. "I've started making him explain everything when he has a question. Trust me when I say that this is an improvement."
"I heard that!" Gourry exclaimed. "I'm standing right here, you know."
"Sorry," Lina replied automaticly. "Are you finished eating? We should grab our things and make for Ceipheed's Blessing as soon as possible."
Luna stood up suddenly. "I shall go see to the horses then. Hurry up now, I want to be gone from here before noon."
"You're coming with us?" Gourry asked.
Much to Lina's horror, her sister nodded. "Filia asked that I escort the two of you on the road. She has very high suspisions that the Mazoku are active, what with Xellos hanging around and all."
"I really don't think that'll be necessary," Lina said nonchalantly. "Gourry and I are capable of handling ourselves for such a short journey. Bringing along a Knight of Ceipheed sounds like overkill to me." Lina looked to her sister, paling a little. "Wait, did you say horses?"
"This from the Queen of overkill," Luna laughed. She fixed her younger sister with a hard stare. "Don't think you can get rid of me that easily, little sister. If Filia thought you could use a little extra firepower for the trip, who am I to argue?" She shrugged. "She's the one whose paying me, remember?" Without waiting for a reply, Luna walked across the common room and out the door. Lina just stood there, lost in thought.
"Uh, Lina?" Gourry said, breaking her reverie. "So who was the one who resurected Valgaav? Was it Dark Star or the god guy?"
"Volpheed," Lina corrected. "The god involved was Volpheed. We aren't really sure who it was, or their reasons. I wish I knew, though." She fell silent, old worries drifting to the surface of her thoughts. If Volpheed was the one who revived the Ancient Dragon, then maybe all her fears were groundless. If it had been Dark Star, though........that would mean that Valgaav was needed by the Dark Lord. Maybe this wasn't a second chance for Valgaav to have a good life after all. Maybe it was a second chance for Dark Star to destroy the world. That would surely account for the boy's rapid aging. Lina pushed those bleak thoughts aside. Nothing would be solved here in this inn, if she wanted answers her best course of action would be to follow Luna to Filia's village. "I'm running upstairs to our room," she told Gourry. "To gather our possesions."
"Okay," he replied. "You need any help?"
"It's okay." Lina answered. "Not like we really have alot to gather. One of the advantages of travelling light." She took her leave of the common room, climbing the stairs to the second floor. She walked slowly down the hall, like a sleepwalker. Once she entered the room she and Gourry shared, Lina allowed herself to collapse, a strangled sob bursting from her throat. Of all the people Filia could have entrusted the message with, why did it have to be Luna? To make matters worse, her sister was going to be travelling with them! For the entire five-day journey! And horses! Lina realized she was crying, and angrily brushed the tears from her cheeks. She stood and stalked over to the cloak-rack, tearing her cape of the peg it was hanging on and flinging it around her shoulders. Sullenly she set about stuffing the rest of the clothing they had into a single pack. Once she finished, she reached under her bed and found the loose floorboard. Lina pried up the board and retrieved the bag of gold she had hidden there, along with her Demon's Blood talismen. Her hiding place empty, she replaced the board and scanned the room once, making sure she hadn't missed anything. Knowing she couldn't put it off forever, Lina left the room and made her way back down to the common room.
As she was descending the last of the stairs, Luna poked her head in the front door. "Are you done yet?" she asked impatiently. "The quicker we leave, the sooner we get there."
Lina nodded silently, her mouth unpleasently dry. She did not trust herself to speak just then, so she touched Gourry lightly on the forearm, indicating that it was time to go. The three of them exited into the bright mid-morning sunlight that flooded the inn's yard. Sure enough, there were three horses tied to the hitching post. Lina stood back a moment, letting the others choose their mounts. Gourry swung easily into the saddle of a tall black gelding, and Luna took the dappled stallion. Warily, Lina approached the remaining horse, a dappled grey mare. She gulped. The beast was huge.
"Come on," Luna called from her seat atop her own animal. "You're holding us up."
With some difficulty, Lina scrambled up onto her horse. Once she was up, she snatched up the reins and nudged the horse's ribs. The animal bolted, and Lina flung her arms around its neck to keep from falling off. She heard her sister curse behind her, and the thunder of hoofbeats as Luna and Gourry tried to catch up with her. Gritting her teeth, Lina tried to keep her seat on the charging mare. This was going to be a long five days.
Three hours after Zelgadis's arrival, Filia settled herself into her rocking chair and picked up her knitting. The house was quiet, the others had turned in about thirty minutes ago. She sat there a moment, staring at the half-finished blanket in her lap. With a sigh, she turned her head to gaze at Val, who was fast asleep in the bed beside her. He was still growing. Though he had been born only two nights ago, the child appeared to be three years old, in human terms. His scarred face held an expression of peace, and he murmurred something in his sleep. Filia rose from her seat and took the lamp from the small table. She herself was too tired to stay awake much longer, and Val had not slept the night through the night before. She had been up until the small hours of the morning, soothing the child back to sleep after he had awoken screaming from a nightmare.
With one last look at her foster son, Filia left the nursery, taking the light with her.
He was waiting again. It seemed to him all he was ever allowed to do anymore was wait. Sallah wriggled impatiently on the bench beside him. He took his sister's small hand in his own, stilling her. The children waited for what seemed like hours on the hard wooden bench in the cold stone hallway. His bottom was aching now, but he did not dare move. The Chancellor had told him he must wait, and keep his sister quiet. So, he waited.
He was woken from a light doze by a touch on his shoulder. It was the Chancellor, his elderly face painted with concern. "My Prince," he said, inclining his head. "Princess. You can see him now."
He nodded and gently shook his sister awake. Sallah blinked at him sleepily. "What is it?" she asked.
"We are to go in now." he answered. "Come on."
Hand in hand, the children crossed the threshold of their parent's bedchamber. There was a lone figure lying in the huge bed. Mother was sitting beside the bed, her face full of pain. He and Sallah approached the bed, staring at the occupant with trepidation.
"It is alright, my darling children," said Father. Father tried to sit up, wincing with the pain of his injuries. "Come closer. Sit with me awhile."
Obidiently, he and Sallah climbed up into the great bed and sat an either side of Father. Mother smiled sadly at them. He took Father's hand, and was alarmed at how frail it seemed.
Father coughed, a wet, ugly sound. "Forgive me," he murmurred, then addressed his children in a normal tone. "Don't worry, my precious darlings. The Golden Dragons may have injured me slightly, but I have the Chancellor and his healers attending to me."
"I wish I could hurt them for hurting you, Father!" he exclaimed boldly.
"War is not the way, my son," Father answered, not unkindly. "We must only defend ourselves, we cannot press battle with the Goldens without a great deal of casualties on both sides. Disagreements should be solved peacefully, diplomaticaly." Father coughed again, and Mother looked up, alarmed. He waved away her concern and continued. "I know you may not understand now, and I know it may seem foolish to you that we do not counter-attack. Our wars are won with pen and parchment, not swords or spears. But I do regret to tell you that the city is no longer safe for you two, or for your mother. It is my will that you and Sallah leave the city with your mother. I will send word when this dispute has been resolved."
"Father!" he exclaimed. "Mother and Sallah should go, but my place is here with you. Please don't send me away!"
Sallah looked to her brother, wide-eyed. "I won't go if you stay!" she cried. "Who will take care of me?"
"Mother will, of course."
Father shook his head slowly. "No, my son. Even though you are my firstborn and Heir, there is nothing one so young can do here. I would worry greatly should you remain. I ask that you accompany your mother and sister, and look after them. You must go, as much as it saddens me. But do not fear, I promise you that it shall not be for long."
"Alright," he said. "I will go as well."
Father smiled at him. "Good. You two should make preparations to leave, you will be escorted out of the city within the hour." Another coughing fit seized Father, flushing his face and making the bedchamber ring with harsh sounds. "Alana..." he whispered, touching Mother's cheek. "May the Water Dragon King bring you safely back to me."
He and Sallah each gave Father a hug before departing to their own rooms. It was the last time he saw ever saw Father.
Val sat bolt upright, his heart thundering in his small chest. That dream had felt so real.....it even fit with the one he had the night before. The man on the bed was healthy and strong in that dream, until the monsters came to the city and drove a spear into him. Val shook is head, trying to clear it. Mama had said it was just a dream, pictures in his head that couldn't hurt him, no matter how real they seemed. He yawned widely, already he was forgetting why the strange dream had upset him so. Rolling over, he shut his eyes and settledd into the bed. Not long after, sleep claimed him.