Though Zelgadis' dream had been unsettling, and he still had that odd feeling of being followed, that didn't stop him or Gourry from continuing their journey to New Siaraag.
"Are we there yet?" Gourry whined much like a little kid in the backseat of a car during a long trip.
"Almost Gourry. We'll be there soon." Zelgadis impatiently replied much like the parent trying to deal with the whining kid.
"But you said yesterday that we would be at Sylphiel's by noon!"
"Yeah that was before you ended up being late for breakfast. And since when do you remember anything?"
"But I'm hungry! And if were at Sylphiel's right now I would be eating!"
(Sweatdrop)
"Figures... I bet his memory is in his stomach. Much like everything else about him..." Zelgadis muttered under his breath.
"What did you say Zel?"
"Nothing Gourry... Okay we have about another hour or so till we reach New Siaraag. Can you last that long?"
"Um... I guess so..."
Zelgadis just shock his head as they continued walking.
After two hours they reached New Siaraag. (Come on this is Gourry here. Were you expecting them to really get there in an hour?) Both Zelgadis and Gourry were surprised. The last time they saw Siaraag it was nothing more than a pile of rubble. Now it had houses and stores, plus many people living there. Of course New Siaraag didn't look as good as it once had, but at least it was improvement. Even as Gourry and Zelgadis entered the town there was more rebuilding going on.
"Wow, sure looks like they've done a big overhaul here."
"Yeah, but does the invitation Sylphiel sent you have directions to her house?"
"Uh? Invitation?"
"You do still have the invitation do you?" Zelgadis starts to look cross.
Gourry sweatdrops and searches himself for the invitation. Five minutes later Gourry still can't find it.
"I think I left it bad at the inn."
"Great. I guess we'll just have to go ask for directions. Maybe we can try the Siaraag's shrine to find Sylphiel."
"Why?"
"Because Sylphiel is a 'shrine maiden'. And shrine maidens generally work in 'shrines'. Do you understand?"
"Um, I guess so."
Luckily they didn't have to look to far to find the shrine. It was in plain view and it was quite large. Inside the shrine both men were surprised at the quietness of the shrine, also it's emptiness. They walked around the shrine for ten minutes before they finally found someone, a young girl with green hair.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where I could find Sylphiel?"
"Miss Sylphiel? Oh she went home."
"Do you know where she lives?"
"Nope."
(sweatdrops)
"Do you know someone who would know where she lives?"
"I dunno."
(sweatdrops)
"I can tell you where Sylphiel lives," A voice spoke up. Zelgadis and Gourry looked up to see a tall sender woman in priestess garb, "My name is Shandra. I presume one of you is Gourry Gaberieve?"
"I'm him."
"Well she's been expecting you. And I guess you must be Zelgadis Greywers..."
"Huh? How do you know my name?"
"Though Sylphiel may not have been expecting you, she was hoping you would show up."
"Why?"
"She figured that you would be able to help."
"Help? Is there something wrong?"
"Oh yes, but I'll let Sylphiel fill you in on the details." Shandra said leading them out of the shrine.
A few houses away the three of them reached a small little house that had a large garden in front.
"Alright this is Sylphiel's home. Will you will excuse me I must return back to the shrine."
"Thank you Shandra."
Shandra just nodded as she walked off. Zelgadis had only looking at Shandra for a minute as she left, but when he looked back forward Gourry was already at the door knocking. Now what is motivating him to want to see Sylphiel? Her personality? Or his stomach? And Zel rolled his eyes as he join Gourry at the door.
When Sylphiel finally answered the door she looked nervous and worried, but that all flew out when she saw Gourry. She jumped into his arms.
"Oh Gourry-dear it's horrible!"
"Whoa! Sylphiel what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Oh no there is nothing wrong with me. Please come and I'll tell you both."
Zelgadis and Gourry joined inside and immediately Gourry went straight for the food on the table. Sylphiel had prepared a large amount of food but hadn't eaten anything.
"Were you expecting some visitors?"
"Oh no, I was just cooking to keep my mind occupied. Good thing I did, considering Gourry's appetite."
"So what is wrong Sylphiel?"
"Well I have been sending out invitations for everyone to come visit me," Sylphiel looked up at Zelgadis and suddenly remembered that she didn't send him one, "I was going to send you one but I had no idea where you were."
"I understand. Carry on."
"So I had invitations out to almost everyone. And mostly everybody had visited me. Besides you two, Miss Lina and Amelia were the only ones who hadn't come. But Lina just visited me a few days ago."
"So she was here. Where is she now?"
"I'll get to that. Both Miss Lina and me were wondering why Amelia hadn't shown up yet. Then I got a message from Amelia's father. Some strong monster had kidnapped Amelia. Of course Miss Lina left right away for Sailune to see if she could help. Oh poor Amelia! What evil creature could do such a thing?!"
"Have you heard from Lina since then?"
"No but I heard that she got to Sailune and now she's missing!"
A cold and chill went down Zelgadis' spine. He had a bad feeling about this. That omen... it couldn't be about Lina, now would it?
"Sylphiel, when did Lina leave?"
"Four days ago."
"Well then I think we should leave for Sailune. Lina and Amelia could be in danger." Zelgadis said with authority to Gourry.
"What leave now? But I haven't finished eating yet!"
"Gourry can't you think about something else besides your stomach!?"
"I want to go with you two!"
Zelgadis turned his attention to Sylphiel.
"Sylphiel you can't. You should stay here."
"No really it's okay. They really don't need me here and I could be a big help you two."
"Well okay then. The first thing you can help me with is trying to get Gourry going."
After a few minutes of persuasion they were off and on their way to Sailune.
"It's lucky that you were able to find my house after I didn't put my exact address on the invitation."
"Oh it wouldn't have mattered if you did. Gourry lost the invitation anyway."
"How did you find my home anyway?"
"Oh this lady showed us your home." Gourry said beaming that he was able to remember something.
"But do you remember the name of the lady?"
"..."
"Didn't think so."
"Mister Zelgadis who was she?"
"Oh she was a priestess from your shrine. Her name was Shandra."
"Shandra? What are you talking about?"
"What do you mean?"
"There is no priestess at the shrine named Shandra. What did she look like?"
"Long gray blue hair, light blue eyes and was is in priestess garb."
"I swear there isn't any person who works at the shrine like that."
"Funny she was the one who told us you were expecting us. She even knew both our names."
"I never told anyone about you two. No one even knew I was expecting any visitors, let alone who those visitors were."
"But if that's true than who was that lady who directed us to you?"
"I wish I knew."
The amber-eyed creature also looked confused. Not even it knew who that woman was. "Well whoever you are, if you interfere with us, then you will also will fall." The amber-eyed creature said as it turned into darkness and disappeared.
Shandra or rather whoever she is just glared at the spot the amber-eyed creature had been from her viewpoint on a roof. "Me interfering with you? It's more like you interfering with me. And believe me creature, not you or anyone else of your kind is going to be messing around with them. Lina, Zelgadis, Gourry and anyone of them will not be harmed. I'll see to that. For now I have other things to take care off." She let go of the illusion spell that disguised her real form and hopped off the roof and onto the next. Her long dark blond hair flapped in the wind.