"How humiliating..."
Zelgadiss' grip on the lilac invitation tightened, and soon it was not more than a small, screw of a ball. He sighed and tossed it into a nearby hedge. (DON'T LITTER, zel).
"But at least she's off my back," he tried to reason with himself aloud. "That makes my checklist of things to do a little shorter."
It would be embarrassing to see Lina and Gourry in Saillune, though. They both had always been implying that Amelia had had a crush on him, and their insistence had almost convinced him.
Of course, Amelia was getting -- married -- now.
Wouldn't they be surprised??
"WHAT!?!??!"
Perceptive Gourry had not expected anything less of her current response. "Eh -- ... Lina, I think -- "
"You're LEAVING me?!?!"
Gourry nodded, neither dumbly nor happily, but still with a smile on his face. "Not really, Lina. It's just for a few days."
Lina was NOT having a good day. "First Amelia's invitation arrives meaning we're going to have to cut off that lead to that thing, and now you tell me you're going to visit Sylphiel!?!"
"Don't misunderstand me, Lina!! Sylphiel asked me to stop by and help her out with some moving..You should come too.?" It was more of a fearful question than a statement.
Lina sat back with an "oof" and sighed. Well, she couldn't stop the inevitable. If Gourry wanted to be with Sylphiel, then... who was she to say no...?
"Fine, Gourry, go," she said unhappily, waving him away evenly. "I don't want to go with you. I'm going to Saillune by myself."
Of course, Lina thought to herself, Gourry would choose Sylphiel over her. Not only were Sylphiel's boobs exactly 2.563 times bigger than her own, she was also a magnificent cook. So what if Lina had saved the world 3 times and was still going?? Even she agreed she would choose food over the saving the universe.
Or maybe not. But then, she didn't have the brain capacity of a fish. A -- dead-- fish.
She turned left at a sign proudly proclaiming Sailune City, 50 miles ahead. It might have taken less than a day to get there if she'd chosen to fly, but Lina really wasn't in the mood.
She knew that she shouldn't really be too upset, considering the fact that Zelgadiss was about to suffer a fatal heart attack once he had heard the news of the royal marriage. Which probably meant he wouldn't be going to Saillune either. Xellos was probably smoking his lungs out with Beastmaster, and if he hadn't died of cancer yet, he would probably trying to take over one of the other planets that were rumoured to exist.
Was this going to be one lonely trip or what?
The only comfort was perhaps the huge banquet Lina knew that Amelia would prepare hours in advance for the world's biggest eaters. And since Gourry wasn't attending, it would mean more for her!! How nice, she thought pathetically.
Lina sighed and looked up into the sky. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining out and not a cloud in the sky. Funny though, there was something long and white moving at a relatively quick speed, heading in the direction she was.
Wait a minute, she thought. It's --
"Zelgadiss!!!"
Said speck in the sky halted abruptly, startled at the call of his name. He looked down at the ground below to see Lina Inverse waving frantically. He floated slowly to the floor, and she ran to meet him.
"Hey, Zel!! So you ARE going to the weddin -- ." Lina broke off suddenly, remembering it was supposed to be sore point. "Eh." she continued meekly, "So.Zel.where. are. you. heading.??"
"Well, as you probably know, I'm going to Sailune to attend the wedding," he said indifferently, noticing her obvious 'sensitivity'. "I'm. not really affected by the news, Lina."
"Hahaha," Lina laughed uneasily, slapping him on the back several times. "Stop trying to be such a hero -- I mean yes, sure, Zelgadiss, I understand, well you know, these things DO happen sometimes. I think it's possibly. an arranged marriage."
"I don't think Philiollel would force his daughter into a marriage, him being the way he is. Besides, like I said, I'm not affected by the news of the marriag -- "
"Zel, do you think it's such a good idea for you to attend the wedding?? It might be traumatic for you, and you know how you are, destroying cities at a time."
"What the hell?" Zel said, really perturbed now. "Lina, stop telling me how YOU would react if you were heartbroken. And for the last time, I really think it's a relief she's getting married."
"I wouldn't react like that -- Wait, did you just say relieved??"
"You really get carried away with your fantasies sometimes. Stop telling me how I should feel."
". Are you still trying to play cool.?" She asked carefully.
"I wasn't in the first place. By the way, not to change the topic," he added pointedly, "Where is Gourry?"
"."
"I'm assuming he's with Sylphiel.? Eh. Lina?"
"Fireballllll!!!"
A singed Zelgadiss was flung back into the hedge.
"YES he IS, and I don't CARE!! Not one single BIT!!!"
She walked off haughtily.