The Owl Bear reared up as it let out a large roar or hoot or whatever the noise a bear with the head of an owl would make. For the past week, the village of Orce near the capital of Saillune had been plagued from attacks by this ferocious beast. All of the best hunters and guards were no match for the creature's power as it easily slapped them aside. Its great bulk allowed it to take countless arrows as it would devour the archers as soon as it found them. The village elder was in sheer panic on how to stop this beast from destroying the village till he hired a wandering swordsman to deal with it.
Gourry looked at the creature, which was at least twice his height and then some. The creature bore countless broken arrows that stuck out of its back as it faced the newest threat. Its right eye had a long scar going down it, leaving the creature with only one functional eye. The two combatants carefully circled each other as they studied their opponents. From the safety of their home, the town people watched the fight with dread anticipation.
Gripping his sword, Gourry lunged toward the beast as he struck one blow as he dodge its clumsy swings at him. Stopping a few feet behind the creature, he stood there for a moment as the wind blew by and the body of the creature slammed to the ground. Sighing in relief, Gourry placed his sword back into his sheath as he walked up to the creature.
"It's dead," Gourry called as the people came slowly out of the houses.
"Are you sure?"
Kicking the body so that it would be on its back, Gourry nodded, "Yeah, got it with one blow."
"We're deeply in your debt, Mister Gabriev." The village Elder praised as Gourry just chuckled sheepishly.
"Well it's nothing really," Gourry remarked as he scratched the back of his head.
"Anyway, here's your reward," The Village Elder said as he handed Gourry a bag of gold.
"No thanks, you need it to help repair all the damage from the attacks," Gourry politely refused.
"You're truly kind," the village elder said as Gourry just shrugged.
Watching all of this from the outer fringe of the crowd was Arthur, Quar, and Ashen as they looked at Gourry.
"He's the one?" Ashen exclaimed as he stood up on Lady to get a good view.
"Yes," Quar nodded.
Scratching his chin, Arthur remarked, "Well we better wait a bit until we grab him."
"Why don't we do it right now?" Ashen asked stroking his beard.
"Because I'm hungry," Arthur smiled as Ashen fell off his mount.
"Typical," Quar remarked crossing his arms as he looked at Gourry still. "I hope he can handle what is to be expected of him."
"Oh don't worry so much," Arthur said as the he led the two to the nearby restaurant.
Later Gourry sat in the local pub as he silently contemplated to himself as he down a tankard of ale, before ordering another. He really never had a real drinking habit before, but ever since that incident four months ago... His use of the bottle had been steadily rising, but to Gourry that was no real need to be concerned at all. Working as a swordsman for hire would always get him the cash he needed to continue these binges even when he refused some payments.
Lina...
I shouldn't think about that. It is time for me to get on with my life now. There was nothing that I could have done about it.
After that night, Gourry had slipped into a virtual depression after Lina's death and it was only thanks to Amelia and Sylphiel that he ever got out of it. Now he wandered the lands again selling his service to people. Most people in the world never heard about Lina's death as Amelia made sure that it was kept tight-lipped. One of the reasons was due to the mysterious disappearance of Lina's corpse soon afterward. Then there was Zel's disappearance as well, no sign of him or his body was found.
Zelgadiss, what happen to you? Did Dread kill you?
Gourry shook his head as he took down another tankard of ale as he was too tired to keep his mind from thinking. It was always easier that way, not really thinking. That was why he attached to Lina so well, with her around he didn't have to fear about making mistakes. Everyone would see him as the great noble sacrificing protector. Then no one would really know how utterly pathetic he really was. Gourry had built an entire identity dependent on Lina and now that she was gone he had to start over.
"Gourry Gabriev!" a voice called as the door came flying open.
Gourry, shocked by the call, accidentally fell out of his stool as he went crashing to the ground in a loud smash as the tankard fell straight down on to this face. The three figures as well as the barkeeper all winced at the sound the tankard made as it whacked into Gourry's face.
"That has got to hurt," Ashen shook his head as the three walked up to Gourry. "Not the spitting image of a hero," he remarked as Gourry got up and looked at the three.
"Arthur," he said recognizing one of them.
"Hey," Arthur nodded.
"So what do you three want?" Gourry asked as he rubbed his head where it hurt.
"To aid on your quest to save the world," Quar said as Gourry blinked a bit.
"Me?" he muttered pointing at himself.
All three nodded solemnly. Gourry blinked for a bit at what they just said to him as he scratched his head in thought. Then he ordered some tea so he could sit there contemplating on what they had just told him carefully. The hours quietly passed as Gourry's mind tried to stream out what they had just told him and finally came up with something.
"What were we talking about again?" he muttered as Arthur and Ashen hit the ground.
"May Ceiphied grant me patience," Quar prayed silently. "You are the one, who is fated to help stop something terrible from happening," Quar explained, as Gourry looked at him baffle.
"Are you sure you don't have the wrong guy?" Gourry asked as he took a sip from his tea.
"Maybe we do?" Ashen muttered before Arthur bopped him on the head. "Hey," he complained rubbing that area.
"You are the One," Arthur stated. "And it's time that you go and face what is to be your fate."
"Now that just sounds like something out of trashy kid story," Ashen snapped.
"But what do I have that can be of use to you guys?" Gourry stated as the three paused.
"Your character?" Arthur suggested.
"Your health?" Ashen offered.
Looking at all the ale that Gourry drunk, Quar stated, "Well maybe not as much to your health." "How about your perseverance?"
"Why me?" Gourry muttered as he slouched in his stool.
"There's nothing that can be done about it," Arthur remarked as he shook his head sadly. "So let's go," he smiled as he took one arm and Quar to the other as they dragged Gourry out.
"Hey, don't I get any say?" Gourry asked.
"No!"
"Okay..."
Watching the spectacle from a booth, Kaiser put down the menu as he smiled. Everything was going according to plan. The fools had yet to realize what forces they were really dealing with. So what should I order now?
"Can I take your order sir?" the barkeep asked walking up to the stall.
Looking over the men a bit, Kaiser ordered, "I'll have a glass of water and a loaf of plain bread."
"Huh?"