The city of Atlas was bustling with life as the people swarmed up and down the market place skirting from vendor to vendor. Children darted through the crowd rushing through the throngs of adults as they played their merry games. Guards stood around the corner as they kept a careful eye on any possible miscreants that could cause trouble.
Walking through this crowd, Lina licked her snow cone absently as she remarked, "So what are we doing here, Gourry?"
Gourry made a muffled remark as his mouth was currently jammed full with a rather large caramel apple on a stick. After trying several times to pull the object out, Gourry sighed as he merely shrugged in defeat.
"Right," Lina remarked as her eyebrow twitched. "Well are we at least going the right way?" she offered as Gourry nodded. "Good," satisfied that they were at least doing one thing right, "I'm expecting you to lead, okay?"
No replies came from Gourry.
"I said you're leading?" she said turning to look at Gourry.
The dotted outline of Gourry blinked empty as Lina's eyes went huge dropping her snow cone in the process. After freaking that she dropped her snow cone, Lina desperately looked around the crowd to catch any sight of Gourry. Finding no one matching the description of the dense swordsman she pulled her hair in frustration.
Meanwhile at a well that was several blocks from where Lina was at, Gourry let out a satisfied sigh as he dropped the bucket back down the well. Wiping his lips, Gourry was happy to have unclamped his teeth from all that sticky caramel. Looking around, he wondered where the heck did Lina wandered of to.
"I hope she isn't lost," Gourry said scratching his head. "I mean, she hasn't been outside of her academy that long, right?"
"How the hell am I suppose to know?" the stranger Gourry was talking to barked before stomping off.
"Wow, that guy needs to relax a bit more," Gourry muttered as he looked toward the huge wave of crowd that was passing by him. "Now if I was Lina, where would I go?" Gourry commented scratching his chin in idle thought.
Gourry sat there pondering as a huge flock of sheep came to a stop around him as the shepherd started to sort through and count them off. Concentrating as hard as he could, he ignored the clipping noise of the shepherd as he clipped the wool of the sheep. Digging his hand into his head, Gourry groaned in frustration as the shepherd led his clean-shaven sheep away.
"I can't think so much when I'm hungry," Gourry moaned to himself rubbing his stomach. "Lina will probably find me anyway. She's smart enough to find where I am," he concluded to himself as he walked off to find himself a restaurant to go eat.
As Gourry walked off, he took no notice of the man that was watching him from within the shadows of the alley. The watcher's glasses glinted malevolently as he held out his hand allowing the wooden mockery of a bird to land on his shoulder. Stroking its chin a bit, he placed it beneath the folds of his coat as he started to follow Gourry from a distance.
"The swordsman is alone," he muttered under his breath. "I will deal with him and his accursed sword now."
"No."
"But..." he stuttered shocked at the tone.
"The time isn't right."
"You promised me him," he remarked before a sudden surge of pain wracked through his body as he fell to his knees in pain. "Forgive me," he choked as he clutched his side in pain.
"Don't ever cross me."
The pain stopped as the figure slowly picked himself up, fixing his hat on his head as he commented, "So I will continue to watch him then. He has foolishly lost track of the girl and I doubt he even remembers why he came to this city."
"That is not important."
"Yes, I will continue to monitor him then." He reported as he heard a soft chuckle from his master as he paused and gaze up at the sky. "Master?"
"Patience, Vormav. Your revenge will come soon."
"As you desire," Vormav did a bow as he continued to follow Gourry from a distance, keeping his eyes on the swordsman.
Gourry for the most part was unaware that he was being followed as he paced down the streets of Atlas staring at the main signs hanging from the adjacent buildings. After going down several blocks, Gourry came to a stop as he found his destination at last.
The Big Atlas Steak House
"There isn't a juicer steak in town," Gourry read from the slogan on the bottom of the sign. Rubbing his hands together eagerly in anticipation, he couldn't wait to get his mouth on one of the restaurant's legendary big steaks. Drooling a bit at the thought, Gourry walked up to open the door and finally make his dream a reality.
Instead the door came flying open, whacking Gourry aside into a nearby trough. The horses paused from their drinking as they looked at the unexpected guest. Gourry lifted his head up from the water as he blinked in surprise at the figure that emerged from the door.
"Get the hell out!" A rather large bulky figure yelled as he held up a scrawny girl by the collar.
"Hey, I'm not done eating yet!" she protest, swinging her arms and legs around wildly.
"Come back next time when you have some money," the figure barked chucking the girl into the trough that Gourry was in.
The girl made quite a splash as the figure that threw her snorted and slammed the door.
"Damnit," the girl swore as Gourry blinked at the voice.
"Lina?" he asked.
Lina turned around and she saw the last person she had ever wanted to see after getting herself kicked out of a restaurant. After Lina had lost track of Gourry, she wandered around the city hopelessly lost among the busy streets. Several pointless hours later, she finally started to get hungry and decided to stop to get a bite. Unfortunately while she was eating, she found out that Gourry was carrying all of their money, leaving her broke.
And now after all that the idiot was right here next to her in the trough.
"Where the hell have you been?" Lina demanded grabbing Gourry's head and slamming it to the bottom of the trough. "I've wasted most of the day looking for you!" she hissed as she held his head underwater.
Gourry's arms flailed wildly as numerous bubbles came up from the water as Lina continued to hold him down.
"Hold it right there!"
Lina paused from her attempt to drown Gourry as she turned to see several guards with wicked looking spears gazing down angrily at her. Noticing what she was doing, Lina quickly pulled Gourry's head out of the water. After fruitlessly trying to slap Gourry awake, Lina simply dropped him back into the trough as she gave a sheepish smile to the guards.
Looking at the other guards, the lead one pointed, "Arrest those two."
"What?" Lina cried as the guards picked her up and hauled Gourry's body out of the trough. "What did I do?" she demanded as the guards dragged her away.
"Attempted murder and illegal bathing in a public trough," the guard repeated.
"This isn't my day," Lina whined.
Gourry didn't make any comment as his head hung limply to a side as the guards hauled his body along with Lina to the prison. Watching all of this from a distance, Vormav simply continued to follow them silently.
Lina was not having a very good day, not only was she forced to stay in a dank cell with not a scrap to eat, but there was something far worse than that in this cell. Gourry apparently snores really loud. The grating of his snoring irritated her to the brink; Lina quietly pondered if she could claim self-defense for smothering Gourry.
"This is driving me crazy," Lina hissed to herself as she tried desperately to drown out the noise. "I'm going to claim cruel and unusual punishment," she hollered at the passing guard, who merely scoffed and walked away.
Lina moaned to herself as she repeatedly whacked her head against the bars of the cage in a feeble attempt to stop the noise. After about seven to eight hits, Lina could have sworn the noise was subsiding or was that lightheaded feeling a coming concussion? Gripping her head in pain from both the head banging and the snoring, she wished that someone would just put her out of her misery.
"Must be tough being in that cell."
Lina took a moment out of her torment to look across her cell to the occupant of the cell directly opposite of hers. The occupants was a young lad with slightly messy lavender hair with a bundle of it tied back whose bright blue eyes stared through the bars at her. There was a glint of the mischievous in his eyes as he waved at her.
"Yes, it is." Lina finally remarked.
"So what are you in for?" the lad inquired as Lina decided to entertain this youth for awhile. Besides it helped her ignore Gourry's horrible snoring for the time being.
"Trying to kill that oaf," Lina stated dryly gesturing to the still sleeping Gourry. "Probably going to rot in this cell for the night before they let me go." She muttered under her breath as the lad tilted his head a bit to look at Gourry.
"He doesn't look that dangerous," the boy remarked after assessing Gourry.
"No, he is just annoying." Lina replied as the boy nodded.
"That is what my brother used to say about me all the time. To think about it, he threatened me with bodily harm on a few occasions. Of course, Mom would always get upset with him for making such idle threats against me." The boy remarked absently.
"Sounds like quite a brother," Lina commented.
"Yeah, unfortunately he disappeared several years ago and now everyone in the family is upset that he's missing. Well except for Great Grandpa, he is too busy looking for his glasses, even when they're on his forehead. Then again even with the glasses he couldn't see that well either. You see, when he was just a young lad he had perfect vision. But then he got obsessed with becoming the greatest magic user possible, so he spent long nights burning the midnight wax. Ends up, even through he is now one of the great sages, he is almost as blind as a bat -- "
"Wait a moment," Lina interrupted almost pushing her face through the bars. "Did you say one of your Great Grandfather is one of the great sages?" she barked as the boy nodded.
"That's correct, his name is Rezo Graywords, but most of you call him Rezo the Red Priest."
"You mean you're related to Rezo the Red Priest?" Lina stammered.
"Yup, I'm Jedah Graywords." Jedah smiled pointing at himself. "And you must be Lina Inverse," he added with a smile.
Lina blinked for a moment, before she asked, "How did you know my name?"
"Because you dropped your Magic Guild License when they dragged you in?" Jedah showed holding the card through the bars at her. "It tells me that you are Lina Inverse from the city of Zefelia and you are considered a Fire Magic focus with rudimentary shaman skill in the other groups. It also states that you were in the beginning course of Black Magic but were kicked out. It even says your age and measurements -- "
Lina snatched the card out of Jedah's hand.
"Don't look at other people's private stuff," Lina hissed as she put the card away a bit embarrassed. "Anyway, why are you in here then?" she asked trying to change the subject.
"Well, it's a long story." Jedah said scratching his head a bit.
"Go right ahead, it's not like we are doing anything else interesting." Lina groaned as she leaned against the bars.
"You see it all started when I woke up a week ago. I knew that there was something wrong, you can't really describe the feeling, but somehow something wasn't right. Then of course, it came to me. Of course I can't remember what it was, but that isn't important."
"Then why did you tell me that part?" Lina cried as Jedah ignored her and continued.
The more and more that Lina listened to Jedah's "explanation" about why he was stuck in his cell, the more she was becoming aware that he was making it up on the spot. That didn't seem to detour Jedah a bit as he kept on telling. Somehow his stories become focus around "Uncle Trapspringer"; of course Jedah admitted that that was no Uncle of his. The story started getting more and more ludicrous from that point and Lina started to drown the whole thing out. She secretly hoped that all this talking would eventually send Jedah into a stupor, but the past six hours haven't even seen a break in his talking.
So far, the only good thing Lina could think that came out of this whole incident was the fact that Gourry had woken up from all of Jedah's jabbering. This meant that she could finally be free of Gourry's snoring, unfortunately Jedah's story seemed even worse. It seemed that fate was playing some really cruel joke on her for something she did.
Also when Gourry woke up, he finally managed to tell Lina the reason that they came to Atlas City in the first place. Apparently they came here to pick up the third member of the group, who just happened to be Jedah. Maybe she should just cast a fireball and put everyone out of his or her own misery in one big explosion that will probably take down this entire floor.
"All right, that's enough talking!"
Lina gave a silent prayer to Ceiphied in gratitude for his intervention on her behalf.
"Congratulation, you are all to be executed. Effective immediately."
Lina silently cursed Ceiphied for playing some cruel joke on her here.
"Just kidding," the guard laughed slapping his knee, "you guys should see the looks on your faces." Wiping the tear from his eyes, he said, "Someone has come to pick you up. So come on."
Lina blinked questionably as she traded glances with both Jedah and Gourry, who both shrugged to her. The guard pulled out a ring of keys as he unlocked both of their cells, before stepping back to give them room to get out.
"Wow, I thought I'd never get out of that cell," Jedah beamed stretching himself.
"I'm not sure about you, but I feel well rested after that," Gourry added with a smile.
Lina muttered something incoherent that should never see print if they could understand what she said.
"Walk this way," the guard signaled as he strutted down the corridor.
Jedah and Gourry traded glances before they shrugged and strutted down the corridor after the guards.
Lina blinked before she shook her head and muttered that everyone was crazy in this world it seemed. The guard led them out of the prison block as they exited into a brightly light room with several couches along with wall with cushions. Sitting in one of the couches was a noble figure dressed in expensive finery with crutch to his sides, rubbing his bandaged right hand absently as he waited.
"Lord Val, I have brought the prisoners." The guard reported after clearing his throat.
"Very good, you may go now." Val gestured as the guard saluted and left the room. Looking toward the three, he smiled and offered, "Do sit down, there is no need for you to stand there."
Lina, Val, and Jedah quickly found a seat as they sat there for a few tense moments as they tried to figure out a thing to say.
Breaking the silence, Jedah inquired, "So you're that legendary Ancient Dragon?"
"That's is correct," Val nodded.
"Aren't you really old then?" Jedah continued as Lina and Gourry hit the ground as Val's face cracked a bit at the question. "I mean you are about as old as the Kouma War and that is ancient." He smiled.
"Oh that's nice," Val remarked. "I do hope your stay in the brink wasn't too bad. When I sent Lina and Gourry to pick you up Jedah, I had no idea that all three of you would somehow or another get yourself thrown in jail," he apologized.
"And it was no hassle," Gourry remarked as Lina whacked him.
"So you must be Lina," Val smiled looking toward her, "you have the same fiery spirit that your sister is so known for."
"My sister?" Lina muttered.
"Yes, Luna. I know that Knights of Ceiphied tend to become estranged to their family when they are enlisted. But I must say that you two are very similar in many ways," Val complemented.
"Oh thank you," Lina remarked.
"You're blushing," Gourry pointed out.
"Shut up," Lina snapped punching him in the face.
"He's right, you know." Jedah added before Lina chucked a cushion into his face.
Snickering at their antics, Val interrupted, "Now that you are all at ease it's time that you become aware about the reason behind your gathering," Clearing his throat a bit, he stated, "There is a threat to the establish status quo. It is a malevolent force that seeks to lay ruin to everything that we have accomplished since the end of the Kouma War. Originally, it would strike at us randomly at varying intervals, but recently the nature of its attack have become more cunning and coordinated."
"So what is this threat?" Lina asked.
"I know, it's the Mazoku." Jedah declared raising his hand.
"That's impossible," Lina scoffed, "all of the Mazoku have been sealed away. There is no way that this threat could be a Mazoku."
"Then what could it be?" Gourry asked.
Lina was at a loss of words as all eyes turned to Val.
"Even the council can't determine the exact nature of this force, that is why you three have been brought together. You are to serve as a special force to help uncover the nature of this force that is assaulting us and help find a way to put a stop to it." Val explained.
"Wait one minute," Lina cried crossing her arms in an X shape, "if this threat is so serious why do you get a brilliant prodigy sorceress, a jellyfish for brain swordsman, and a kid that thinks he's some sort of actor to handle it?"
"Because, the Alliance army and the Knights are ill suited for such a task. You have all been chosen for special talents that you possess. It is these skills that set you apart from everyone else and make you ideal for this task. Of course, if you want to back out, then I will hold nothing against you." Val said.
"Well, I'm game." Jedah shrugged.
"I see no reason why I shouldn't and besides I don't think that I can handle the paperwork necessary to transfer," Gourry replied sheepishly.
Groaning as everyone turned to her, Lina slumped back in her seat and said, "Sure, why not."
"Great," Val smiled. "Because I already have your first mission ready-"
In a blink of an eye, Val pulled out a thin needle from one of his pockets and tossed it straight into one of the ceiling corners. There was slight crack as something came tumbling down from the corner and landed on the floor. Jedah leaned over and picked it up, revealing it to be what appeared to be a spider with the needle jutting through it.
A closer look revealed that it wasn't actually a spider, but more accurately a very precise replica of one made from wood. Handing it to Val, the Ryuzoku looked at it for a moment before he crushed the puppet in his hand letting the pieces fall to the floor.
"They are already onto us." Val muttered coldly. Sighing to himself, he smiled to them, "So who is up for a little air travel?"
Lina, Gourry, and Jedah all blinked.