Atlas was filled with festivities as the streets were filled with people off in enjoying themselves and the like. It had been a profitable year for the city and the people were looking forward to an even better one next year. All across the streets people were into the reveries as performers entertain the crowd with their unique talents. Music filled their ears and tankards rang against each other with cheers of happiness being echo through the crowd. People were dancing along to music and kids run around slipping through the crowds. There were long lines of table covered with numerous exotic foods from around the peninsula even the rare dragon meat was there.
Amidst all of this joy and revelry was Zelgadiss, who cloaked himself with an aurora of gloom that seem to hold at bay the cheerfulness of this situation. He saw nothing of importance to celebrate at all for any occasion. It was to him merely a reason for the people to indulge themselves without any real guilty feelings about doing it. Speaking of indulging oneself...
Zelgadiss turned his view back to the table, where those who can consider travel companions in a loose term were doing just that. It had not been by his decision to stay in the city for this festival, but the others insisted. He watched as they scarf down and consuming vast tracks of food. There were even fighting among each other to obtain some scraps of the food that the other had missed. Sometime escalating to all out brawl.
Through in all of this festivity it hardly looked even the least bit out of place at all. There were quite a few other groups doing similar things in other parts of the place.
Zel sighed wondering about what he had done to deserve this. A few events came to mind, but he quickly pushed them aside for the latter part. Pulling his mask up a little bit, he heard the last sound of scuffle from his companions meaning that they're savage appetites was finally sated. After three hours of that, he would suspect that would occur.
"I hope you're enjoying that." Zel stated as he turned in his chair to look at them.
"Ah that was good," Lina smiled ignoring Zel's comment as she leaned back in her chair. "Going to this festival was a great idea. All this great food and you don't have to pay a bit to get to it,"
"It's also a big waste of time," Zel added as Lina frowned at him.
"Oh come on Zel, we don't have any leads to go one, so why don't we enjoy ourselves for a bit." She remarked as Gourry and Amelia nodded.
"And besides Zelgadiss-san," Amelia stated, "festivals tend to attract minstrels. Maybe we'll be clued in on some great adventures by one of the tales that they have."
"That only happens in stories," Lina muttered glaring at Amelia before returning her gaze to Zel, "besides we aren't just looking for a cure for you. We're also trying to find Gourry a new magical sword."
"Yeah," Gourry agreed as he held up a broken half of a sword, "the last one we found broke when I hit it against that scaly iron bull thing with the funny breath."
"That was a Gorgon, Gourry-san." Amelia said as Gourry blinked. "And that funny breath can turn people to stone statues,"
"Well everyone except for Zel since he is one already," Lina sighed as rock hit Zel in the head from the sky. "Anyway, until we get some sort of lead to go one, its no good for us to run around like headless chickens."
"How can headless chicken run without their heads?" Gourry inquired as Lina sent him on a trip to the floor.
"I would rather be doing something other than watching you eat?" Zel stated crossing his arms. "For the past three hours all that you three been doing was gouging on food like no tomorrow and causing quite a ruckus to boot,"
Dismissing Zel's statement with a wave of her hand, Lina reproached, "It would hurt you to eat a bit. Practically every time we go somewhere to eat all you do is drink that thing that you drink and that’s it. How do you expect to keep you daily balance of nutrients with the way you're going?"
"Find a cure for myself takes present over any such trivial matter such as that. If you must know, my chimeric form allows me to survive for long period time without any sustenance." Zel stated before the how festival went into a hush.
The group turned their attention to the crowd as it parted allowing a finely clad minstrel to come into the center. Taking up a seat, he strummed his lute a few notes as the people started to find seats for themselves or a better place to stand. Most of the other entertainers stopped to watch the minstrel presentation.
"Lords and ladies, I beg of thee to attend my tale! Doe it begins with a question dear to all our hearts: Where do heroes come from? Some answer that they are chosen by circumstances, others that they are born like all of us but tested in the fires of adversity. Even some claim to have been destined for such greatness. But whatever their origin, how shall we know them when they walk among us? Many have boasted of great deeds; many more claim to be worth of honor and praise; yet even among these, sadly, are those who are but simply deceivers, not true heroes at all. Hear now a tale, which though brief gives answer to these questions. It is a story seemingly new, but in fact long forgotten-perhaps by the design of the gods themselves."
"What is he raving about?" Lina grumbled in her seat.
"Quiet," Amelia ushered as she strain to hear the minstrel's tale, "that's Orion one of the greatest minstrel in all of the lands who speak of some of the most ancient legends,"
"I heard he can balance five tankards on his nose," Gourry offered as everyone ignored him.
"Long ago, when all of the lands we know were but a newly formed place long before Ceiphied and Shabranidgo fought. Ceiphied came down to the land to look down upon the newly formed races that had birthed on the world. He watched as they opened their eyes for the first time and ventured out to explore this place. Elves journeyed and took refuge in the forest, while the dwarves to home to caves that were carved into the mountainside. Humans the most surprising of all interest the Dragon God even more than his own race that he breathed life into the Dragons. Watching as man ventured out into the world, he pondered the very questions I have posed to you: How are heroes to be made, and how shall we know those worth of such grand distinction? After a time had passed that mere mortals couldn't comprehend, he came on how to separate heroic wheat from mundane chaff.
"Ceiphied devised a trial that only the bravest, truest, and most worthy heroes could hope to pass. He raised a fabulous castle of marble and obsidian bestowing upon it the curious power to move throughout the world. The castle would appear here one day, there the next, so that none might know where and when it would travel again. Within it Ceiphied placed a treasure, precious beyond any other object they had made before or have made since. Then they set fearsome monsters and ravenous beasts to guard the castle and it treasure, and to bar the way of all whom would enter.
"Flare Dragon swore upon completion of this structure that he nor any of his servants that may follow him will utter no words of this place nor its treasure to any but those believed to be the most worthy. To them, they shall send a sign to seek this castle and its secrets, and whoever among them finds it and gains its treasure shall deserve rewards befitting the divinely favored. Thus shall the true heroes, those, who deserve great honor and praise, distinguish themselves without doubt from those merely pretend their worth
"And matching thought to deed, so was it done. The castle yet moves about our world. Hidden from the eyes of the unworthy, unto this very. Only those whom Ceiphied or his Shinzoku would test shall know its secrets, and only those who prove their worth in this divine trial shall reap its rewards. SO shall we know our true heroes and honor them above all other."
"A low hush settled down on the crowd as the minstrel bow his head to signal the end of him performance as he looked expectantly to the crowd. The crowd erupted into cheers as many gave Orion of standing ovation. Taking his hat off as he bowed to the crowd he relinquish his seat as he joined others in their revelries. The rest of the crowd started to go back to their previous business, but many were whispering about the tale that the minstrel had told. Some of the adventurers present got up from their seats as the brought up small talk with Orion.
"Well what do you think of that?" Gourry commented looking at the minstrel. "Do you think there is a kernel of truth in that?"
"I doubt it," Lina huffed as she chewed absently on some leftovers, "who could believe such a ridiculous tale like that?"
"As ridiculous as someone that called down pure nothingness to our world once?" Amelia inquired as Lina laugh absently at that little incident.
"Or help banish a Demon King fused with a Dragon King out of this world?" Zel added as Lina sweatdropped from the reference. "The point is there might be some validity to this tale of Orion,"
"You mean you actually believe in it?" Lina stated slamming her hands on the table.
"The divine favor of Ceiphied might be the only thing that could cure me of this wretched form Lina, besides it’s a better alternative with dealing with Shabranidgo." Zel commented as Lina sighed and sat back down. "Besides it doesn't matter to me if you're to chicken to actually prove that you're a true hero,"
"Hey, I saved the world three times you know," Lina snapped at the slander.
"Does that really prove anything? One of the times, it was your fault and I do believe your older sister tagged the last incident on you. There isn't anything really noble in that." Zel replied back calmly.
"So why doesn't Lina just take this test to prove that she's good enough?" Gourry suggested.
"I agree with Gourry," Amelia added.
"Fine then," Lina said planting one of her foot on the table striking a pose, "I'll take this divine test of Ceiphied to prove that I'm a true hero!"
"Right!" Amelia and Gourry cheered posing behind Lina.
Zel sweatdropped as he muttered, "You're drawing stares..."
The three sweatdropped a bit at the look that many of the people in the festival including Orion, who blinked absently at the theatric. Silently the three went back to their seat as the crowd went back to whatever they were doing. Orion letting out sigh slowly made his way through the crowd to their table as he drew himself a seat.
Orion was garbed in the typical attire of minstrel sporting the trademark hat with a feather in it and a lute by his side. He wore a vest over his slop and had breeches on complemented with his simple shoes that socks reached his knee. Strumming one hand on the table for a bit, he casually he stroke his short pointy beard as he looked at each of the occupants of the table before he grinned a bit.
"Ah the grand company of Lina Inverse, if I'm not mistaken." Orion smiled at them. "I must say that the tales have fit you all like a glove. It is a surprise to me to think of you taking the daunting test of Heroes,"
"And why would you say that?" Amelia inquired as Orion chuckled shaking his head.
"No disrespect Princess, but your tales our how can we put it less than hero material," he snickered before Lina reached over his table and seized him by the collar.
"What did you say?" Lina growled fire in her eye.
"Oh boy, Lina is upset." Gourry groaned as he edged back a bit.
"In a manner of speaking," Orion said not the least disturb by Lina's attitude a bit, "you are known for your total lack of respect for any sort of heroic principal or lofty goal. I would say you portray the Anti-hero like a glove."
"That's not true," Amelia countered, "Lina fought for the people she cares about and is a crusader of justice!"
"Does a crusader of justice blow up towns that they were suppose to save and blast the very people that she count as a friend?" Orion inquired back as Amelia couldn't stutter a reply.
"I do believe you did come all the way here to criticize Lina's integrity," Zel interrupted as Orion turned and looked at him.
"The infamous demon sorcerer that I heard followed Lina some much," Orion grinned as Zel just stared coldly at him. "Hey, if the title fits keep it," he shrugged as Zel merely looked away. Clearing his throat, Orion said, "Well if you want to learn more about this quest thing, fire away."
"Fine with me?" Lina said rolling up her sleeve prepping up a fireball.
"I don't think that is what he meant," Gourry argued as he held Lina back.
"Cute friend you got there," Orion remarked as Amelia and Zel sweatdropped. "But if there is anything you need to ask me about this tale or quest, I assure you I'll do my best capacity to sate your thirst for knowledge."
"Do you believe in the tale?" Amelia asked him.
"I do believe the tale is genuine and that the castle and its mysterious treasure really do exist. I believe that this story is so ancient and its provenance so obscure that few recall its existence, let alone the kernel of truth from which it sprang. Through that can be expected since so much knowledge before the Kouma War was lost. Presumably, the gods don't want mortals to know of the divine test, lest such knowledge attract too many false or unworthy aspirants."
"That was a mouthful," Gourry commented.
"Then how did you come upon this tale then?" Zel inquired suspicious of the source.
"Well you all remember how I said this knowledge was held in secret by the very gods?" Orion stated as everyone nodded. "So I got this from the knowledge of the god so it has to be legitimate." He smiled as everyone hit their head on the table.
"And how did you manage that?" Lina exclaimed, while Zel was having trouble getting loose from the table.
"I read it in a manuscript of the Claire Bible, which is the knowledge of the Water Dragon King. So I pluck this little forbidden tidbit from the memory of the fallen god. Through I'm afraid the book that I got it from is no more," he grumbled.
"What happen to it?" Amelia asked as she tried to help Zel get loose from the table.
"After I had copy the tale down for safety reasons, I ran into this smiley purple hair priest dude. He claimed that he was some "Mysterious Priest" and then took my book without my permission. Before I could do anything, he burned into a crisp and vanished." Orion explained as everyone suck into the story.
"Xelloss," they all muttered.
"Looks like he's still up to his old tricks." Lina grumbled as Orion blinked a bit. "Anyway, is there anything you can tell us that might help?"
Scratching his beard for a bit, Orion remarked, "Well I did remember that a group of adventurers that also planned on doing this quest had hired a sage in this city to dig up info on this for them."
"Good, where is this sage?" Lina stated.
"Why should I ever tell you?" Orion inquired.
"Because if you don't," Zel interrupted, "after Lina get the info she wants. She'll leave a trail of you from here all the way to Saillune."
"That's pretty far," Gourry muttered.
"Well now that you have put it that way," Orion gulped loosening his collar, "You can find him at this address,"
Orion handed them a slip of paper with directions on it. Getting up he took his leave as he beat a rather hasty retreat with his lute in tow.
"That was mean, Zelgadiss-san." Amelia declared.
"Hey, it got us what we wanted," Lina shrugged as they looked at the direction for a moment. "Wait a minute, this leads to bum sector of the city?"
"Why would a sage be living in a filth rat hole like that?" Amelia asked.
"I don't know," Lina stated back crumpling up the direction. "Well all we can do is go there and find out for ourselves."
"Lets," Zel agreed as he got up from his seat.
"Oh can I stay here and eat?" Gourry asked as everyone started to get up to go.
"Come on," Lina ordered grabbing Gourry by the ear and dragging him along.
The direction took them sure enough to the lower more run down section of Atlas that most people would rather avoid. Rats hid in the shadow and among the filth that littered the streets with the roads crack with puddles everywhere. A thick stench filled the air around them as they journey through the poverty filled region of Atlas.
They finally came to the place the direction said the sage was, looking p they stared at the hovel that looked like all the others in this part of town: dirty, poor, and about as inviting as a pit full of blades on the bottom. Instead of door leading into the place, there was instead a dirty strip of cloth; all of the windows facing the street are likewise, blocking any glimpse of what might be inside.
"Why would a sage of any reputation choose to stay in such a filthy dungheap?" Gourry muttered looking at the place.
"I wonder if anyone is even home?" Amelia asked pushing the cloth aside and looking inside.
Moving aside the cloth revealed a single dingy room with a dirt floor, lit only by a tallow candle which gutters and is nearly extinguished by the sudden inflowing breeze. The candle sits on a cheep wooden table, behind which is the only other piece of furniture in the place: an equally cheap and flimsy chair. Bent over the table and with a quill in a stained, leather-bound book is an incredibly old man. He has the whitest and most unruly hair you have ever seen, and his face is a leather patchwork of wrinkles. About his frail body he wears a greasy, shabby old robe, badly mended in numerous places.
The old man munches absentmindedly on the end of a par of wire-rimmed spectacles and initially pays no attention to the group. In a querulous voice he muttered, "Give me a minute," He makes a few more marks in the book before he looked up, an expression of surprise pass across his wizen features. Looking past the group-as if expecting someone else to come in the door at ant second-he slammed the book closed and clutched it to his chest. Sputtering and stammering, he backed away cautiously.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he barked as he eyed the group.
"I'm Lina Inverse," Lina announced as the sage face turned a pearly white.
"The dread poster girl of destruction," he choked dropping the book in shock and falling to his knees. "Oh please don't kill me Dra-matta!" he begged.
"Oh that would be a problem," Gourry complained as he held Lina back from chucking a flare arrow at the wizen old man.
"We've heard that you were gathering information on a divine trial," Zel stated as he walked up to the quivering sage. "It is in your best interest to give us what we want," he added as keeping one hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Or Lina might blast you," Amelia muttered pointing to the still struggling Lina.
"Well, It's true that I've been hired by a group of adventurers to collect information on a divine question. This hovel belongs to one of their number and I was expecting one of them to come by for a progress report on what I've found so far." The sage muttered as he grabbed the book off the floor and dusted it off. Getting up, he dusted his robes as he introduced himself, "I'm Thormose, a sage specialized in the knowledge of folklore."
"Well then Thormose-san, can you tell us about this divine trail?" Amelia asked as Thormose ponder a bit.
"I could get in trouble for doing it..." he stuttered before Zel put his blade next to the sage neck, "but I'm sure an exception could be made." Laughing hesitantly as Zel put the blade away, Thormose flip through the book a bit, "Hmm, yes, let me see...yes, here we are. Bear with me: My Handwriting isn't what it used to be, you know. Ahem.
"Ceiphied raised a mighty castle, each imbuing it with a portion of divine essence. Beauteous and wondrous was it to behold, all of whitest marble and blackest obsidian, its color and design embodying the duality of thought and deed. Then he placed a treasure there, fabulous stone of a radiance and clarity never known before or since. The sheer beauty of the stone held even the gods spellbound, and it was with great reverence that he hit it within the walls.
"Then was Ceiphied well satisfied with what he had wrought, confident that only the most worthy heroes would find the castle and its secret. Many generations passed as numerous champions tried and fail to pass the test that would allow them to find the vanishing castle. Finally a man by the name of Guria, he embodied all that is best in mortals. Riding swiftly on his horse he came upon the gates of the castle and when he entered it was crowned king. There he swore a mighty oath to Ceiphied that he and his descendants would forever protect the stone from all but the most worthy, lest a terrible curse befall them.
Perhaps once in a generation, worth men or women shall find the castle. There shall the gods test them. They shall face such foes as shall make their blood ice with fear. They shall learn the castle's secrets, and from its depth they shall retrieve the stone as proof of their bravery and courage. By this trial and none other than the worthy shall be revealed and receive such rewards as truly befit the chosen of the gods. Ever after shall these worthies walk in diving favor, and they shall know wealth and honor beyond all mortal ken!"
"Interesting tale," Lina muttered scratching her chin in thought, "its funny that in all my knowledge of folklore and myth. I never came across something like this before."
"Orion said that the knowledge of this is sparse and that few are allow to know about it. So maybe that's why you haven't heard about it?" Amelia rationalized.
"True, but how do we find this castle?" Zel stated as he looked at Thormose gulped a bit.
"You must first be contacted by representative of Guria's family before you can undertake the test. Through I'm afraid that is as far as my knowledge on the matter goes." Thormose stuttered clutching the book still.
"That's our next lead then," Lina said turning toward the door. "Let's go!"
As they exited the hovel and walked down the street, Gourry asked, "Oh do you know where we can find someone of the Guria's family?"
"Not a clue," Lina replied as the other three hit the ground. "But I'm sure that this quest has been handed down upon us so if we keep going in one direction. I'm sure something will turn up to help us on our way."
"Don't be silly Lina," Zel muttered as he got up. "People just don't pop out of the air and declare that you're worthy of taking a divine test." Without warning, the very air seem to waver and ripple before them, like the surface of a pond suddenly disturbed by a violent wind. Then the rippling air shimmers with thousands of tiny bright lights, and from this incandescence coalesces a shape. It is a tall and muscular man, resplendent in golden armor, his helm thrown back to reveal a strong and handsome face, flowing black hair, and dark piercing gray eyes. At his side he wears a sheath of beaten gold that holds a massive broadsword, its pommel encrusted with a king's ransom in fabulous gems, and emblazoned on his golden shield is a kingfisher bird, poised to strike at an unseen prey. In moments the shimmering lights has faded away, and the knight stands before them. Without a word he bows deeply toward Lina.
"Finally someone is treating me with the respect I deserve," Lina smiled as Zel rolled his eyes.
"You mean what you think you deserve," Zel snapped.
"Maybe his knee hurts or something?" Gourry suggested.
Standing up straight again, the figure said in a deep, strong, and calm voice "I am Prince Garndof, scion of Guria and keeper of the sacred pact. My family has been charged since the dawn of time with testing the best this world can offer and rewarding those who prove worthy. I've come to bestow you unimaginable honor: You have shown yourselves deserving candidates to undertake the divine trail of legend! I congratulate you. Should you succeed in this test, you will be among the chosen few, the most heroic mortals in this world, and you shall choose your own reward.
"Take from my hand this golden ring. With its aid seek the castle of legend. You'll know it by its unique appearance, for it gleams both white and black as it stands atop a lonely place. There you must defeat any who oppose you. Give no quarter, for they shall do their utmost to keep you from your goal.
"Gain the castle, and inside retrieve a token of your mission: a stone of surpassing beauty and light, which is hidden within its wall. Beware the castle's guardian beasts, for they too shall seek to bar your path! I shall appear before you again when you possess the shining stone. Deliver it into my hand and your worth shall be proven and your trail ended. Then shall you have those things you choose as your reward, and your names will join the ranks of the precious few whose worth is known to the gods themselves."
"Wow, he talks more than you do Lina," Gourry exclaimed as Lina bonked him over the head.
"I am honor by your choice," Lina smiled as she removed the plain gold ring, set with a single pure white diamond, from Garndof's hand. Fading away, Garndof bellowed, "You have the mettle to succeed in this quest. Fear not! Pass the Test!"
Clutching the ring in her hand, Lina cheered, "Come on let's go find that stone!"
"Right," Amelia and Gourry said as Zel shook his head and followed. Watching all of this from the rooftops, Xelloss scratched his chin as he muttered, "So the test actually does exist. Well then this will make things very interesting then,"