"Eh? Gourry's gone too? More food for me!" Lina dove into the full table spread with more gusto than a hurricane. The few remaining patrons in the tavern at this late hour covered their own orders and ate quickly lest the insatiable eating demon turned her eyes their way.
Sylphiel sighed, partly because of Lina's typical response but also at the familiar glowering face of the cook at the kitchen door. Closing time was soon but Lina showed no signs of calling it a night. "Lina-san, it's a bit more serious than that..."
"Sylphiel-san is right!" Amelia slammed her hands on the table to get Lina to pay attention. "With Reilin-san, Zelgadiss-san, and now Gourry-san gone, we've lost the balance in the group."
"You're saying we need guys Amelia?"
"Of course not! But the strong fighters are gone. However I'm sure with our three combined hearts of love and justice, we can weather any trouble even if Lina-san's magic is go - "
"Isn't it time you went to bed?" Lina quickly interrupted in a very loud voice. Actually, she practically shouted down the princess.
"Late? But there are still people down here."
A quick, flaming demon glare of Lina's and the room was empty of all but the fall of hastily thrown coins to cover the meals.
"I guess...I'll be going to bed now..." Amelia laughed weakly, backing away from the obviously ill-tempered Lina. She wanted to sleep on a soft real bed tonight and not the smoking ruins of a charred inn. Making it safely to the stairs, Amelia dashed up to her room, leaving it to Sylphiel to defuse Lina.
"There's no point in telling the world about it," grumbled the magicless sorceress. "Honestly. Why doesn't she try to think with her head once in awhile?"
"Amelia-san was only concerned for your sake."
"What's there to be concerned about? I'm perfectly fine!" Lina retorted.
Sylphiel only looked at her understandingly and Lina hated that. The priestess could see through her so easily sometimes, like right now. It reminded her too much of her older sister, except that gentle Sylphiel didn't feed her poison or beat her to an inch of her life on a regular basis.
"Gourry-sama left a message for you," said the priestess, after letting the sorceress squirm in the silence for awhile.
"He can write? Just kidding. So what is it?"
"Could we discuss this in your room?"
Lina was hard-pressed to think of a message that Gourry could give that would need privacy. But then, it could be about Zel on whom the dumb blond had been unusually silent about when she asked him. Speaking of which, the departure of half of the group could be disturbing news.
"Okay. Let's go."
Lina was completely ignorant of the scathing glare of annoyance the cook was sending her way as she went upstairs with Sylphiel. There was still the piles of dishes to wash before he could go home for the night. Cursing the black cat that had crossed his path six years back, he rolled up his sleeves and began to get to work. But this isn't his story, so we go back to two of our heroines. Having ushered Sylphiel into her room, Lina firmly closed the door before sitting down at another chair at the table in the center of the room.
"Well?" Lina asked expectantly, crossing her arms. "Where did he go off to and what's his reason?"
"He only told me he had to take care of some business," Sylphiel shrugged. "But his message to you, it was about...Zelgadiss-san and to a lesser extent, Xelloss-san."
"The former of which has been missing for quite sometime and the latter just left recently to report to his superiors," Lina snorted.
"Gourry-sama wishes that you be wary of Xelloss-san."
"I already know that! Anything else?"
Sylphiel decided not to add Gourry's insistence that she keep a close eye on Lina during these times. Lina would not like the idea that everyone thought she couldn't take care of herself, magicless as she was. But Sylphiel preferred to err on the side of caution give their current predicaments, namely Xelloss's mysterious motives, Lina's lost magic, and foremost, this disturbing news about Zelgadiss. This was why Sylphiel wanted to speak with Lina alone.
"Zelgadiss-san..."
Lina's hand involuntarily curled into a fist even as her face remained neutral. "What about him?"
"It may be best...if we keep our distance from him from now on."
"That isn't too hard to do when he isn't even here. But why?" Lina felt the cold touch of foreboding. Sylphiel didn't usually talk vaguely like this. Plus, why would they need to keep their distance? Obviously, something was wrong with him but she, that is, they couldn't just drop him because of that.
"Zelgadiss-san, seems to have gone crazy." It was a lame excuse but Sylphiel didn't want to tell Lina the real reason for Gourry's concern yet. It was hard for her to believe but Gourry wouldn't lie.
"Gourry said Zel was crazy? And you believed him?!" She tried to feel relieved, but Sylphiel was trying to hide something from her, something about Zel. As if that stone-faced idiot didn't have enough secrets. "Give it to me straight, Sylphiel. I'm a big girl, I can take it."
The priestess wondered if that was really true.
"Alright. Zelgadiss-san tried to kill Gourry-sama."
"So? Gourry has accused me several times of almost killing him," Lina shrugged, laughing. But her levity was a bit forced.
"No, Lina-san. I mean he really tried to kill Gourry-sama. And it wasn't only that. From Gourry-sama's account, Zelgadiss-san was completely out of control, utterly heedless of the destruction he was causing as he went through the cult. You remember the shambles the cult complex was left in. That was all Zelgadiss-san's doing. There was this dimness that overshadowed Zelgadiss-san and his eyes had a kind of madness. Gourry-sama said he didn't say much other than 'I won't let you have her' and 'She is mine'. Zelgadiss-san...wasn't himself."
Lina was finding that 'crazy' reason to be a better and better excuse. This account, given second-hand by Sylphiel, was much too similar to Reilin's reluctant report about the last battle with Gilga when she finally got him to tell her everything. Even Gilga's black blade of magic hadn't phased Zelgadiss who only amusedly dodged the attacks before incinerating the 'Immortal Warrior' from the inside-out. Reilin claimed that Zelgadiss then turned as if to deal with him and the fallen Gourry but then flew off. He supposed it could only been because of Lina's timely return.
"Obviously Zel wasn't himself!" Lina huffed, leaning back in her chair. In a way, it reminded her of the time Zel went berserk but surely Gourry would have recognized that. Besides which, Zel didn't seem to be able to talk in that state. But what was it? Was it linked to those drinking bouts and whatever he saw in the Corridor of Mirrors? Something Rezo did to him? How far did this all go back?
Sylphiel carefully observed the smaller sorceress. Lina's face was carefully schooled to an expression of indifference tinged with annoyance. But her silence spoke volumes of how worried she was even if she didn't acknowledge it. Lina really needed to understand her own feelings better.
"And without your magic..." Sylphiel left the unspoken conclusion hanging.
"Don't tell me you really believe it?" Lina laughed weakly. "Zel losing it like that. Even if it was true, why would he let Gourry get away if he wanted to kill him?"
"Perhaps Zelgadiss-san returned to his senses briefly," Sylphiel said seriously, silencing Lina's second attempt at levity. "Gourry-sama said it looked like Zelgadiss was arguing with something. He was expecting to die as flames enveloped him but the last thing he heard was Zelgadiss's voice before the fire, and Zelgadiss-san, disappeared."
Lina waited.
"His last words were 'Don't let Lina near me.'"
Silence hung between the two young ladies.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean??"
"I don't know. But considering the current circumstances, it would probably be best for us to heed that warning."
"Naturally." Lina slammed a hand on the table. "There are more important things to think about like getting my magic back!"
Lina wasn't taking this as hard as Sylphiel feared. In fact, it sounded like Lina didn't care for Zelgadiss at all, contrary to what the priestess had long suspected.
"Then I'm going to find him and blast him to the moon and back until he tells me what's going on! There's no way he can just say 'nothing' now!"
Sylphiel didn't think that was a good idea to do then either. But she was reassured that Lina wasn't going to accept this 'fragile doll' treatment for longer than necessary. "Do you have any ideas of how to get your magic back?"
"Of course," Lina grinned, snapping her fingers. It was easier to think about this than on Zel. "As Xelloss said, the real Clair Bible probably holds the key."
"But we don't know where it is. People don't even believe it exists anymore."
Lina waved away the minor detail. "Something that came from a Shinzoku won't deteriorate that easily. With the genius Lina Inverse on the case, we'll find the real Clair Bible in no time!"
"Even with only the four of us? What did happen to Reilin-san? I thought he also wanted a...remedy to his condition."
"Four? Gourry isn't going to be gone long then."
"No, it was only some private business in town. About Reilin-san?"
"He went to apply for a leave of absence as well as to explain why he left his ferryman post without a substitute," Lina shrugged. "There's no way he'd be back by tomorrow so we'll leave bright and early to make sure we have as much distance between us and him as possible."
Sylphiel sweatdropped. "Lina-san, you're just going to leave him behind?"
"Of course! Did you actually think that I'd let him come along after what he did to me back then?"
Lina and Reilin certainly knew how to hold grudges for very long times, Sylphiel thought. "But leaving him like that..."
"If you're so worried, I'll remember to look up a fix for him when we find the Clair Bible. Maybe. Or even better, I can leave Quar's address behind. That will definitely send Reilin off our trail."
Sylphiel sighed. She really did feel sorry for Reilin. Perhaps she could leave him a note before they left in the morning. She might have to leave one for Gourry as well if he didn't come back in time. What kind of business did he need to take care of that he couldn't tell anyone?
Gourry knocked loudly on the door so as to notify anyone on the other side that if they were doing very private and personal things, they should stop before he entered. Even though it had been years since he had been in a place like this, when he tried to remember them, they came back clearly. That alone bothered him. Time was supposed to dull memories, not sharpen them.
He heard the familiar clicks and knew that some things never changed. All the better for him but it was better to play it safe. Gourry turned the doorknob, which was unlocked, a fraction of an inch, only enough to allow him to barely push the door. The traps didn't go off.
Too bad.
The room's occupant waited eagerly as the door was suddenly thrown open by his unexpected nighttime visitor. Barbed tip arrows flew from the crossbows triggered by the swing of the door, intent on impaling the intruder. But they only flew into empty space, landing in the darkness beyond his room as a sharp edge laid itself against his throat.
"Nice to see you too," said the voice coldly. "Time has been kind, Jazel."
Jazel didn't dare swallow, fearing that even that slight movement could grant him a new breathing hole.
"I have some questions I want answered."
The plump merchant by day, head of the local blackmarket at night man fearfully looked out of the sides of his eyes at this person who was able to so nimbly avoid the set trap. Few people even knew about it, fewer still who knew exactly how to avoid it. Carefully, Jazel licked his dry lips.
"You've grown."
"What do you know about Saint Ajura or the Western Church?" Gourry asked harshly, old memories forcibly making their way out of the dark box in which they were usually kept.
"Church? I haven't personally gone to - "
"Don't play games with me." Gourry let the blade slide a hairwidth's closer to the folds of flesh that made up Jazel's neck. "What business do they have with it?"
"I...I have no idea...what you're talking about," Jazel sweated.
Gourry smiled thinly. Both of them knew Jazel was walking on a thin line of self-preservation. "That's the way it is isn't it. Nothing without proof."
A stack of papers bound by string dropped on Jazel's desk. He had found them in the office of the Western Church when Lina had ravaged the place looking for any Clair Bible manuscript that might have been overlooked. No one saw him grab and hide it. No one needed to know what other groups were behind that crazy cult.
"They have some interest in this. I want to know what it is."
"Why are you asking me? I'm just a lackey. Not like you. Hell, if I had your standing, I wouldn't still be slaving away like this for them." Jazel's voice became stronger as he gained confidence. "Yeah, we lowlifes know what happened between you and them even though everything is kept secret-like. Tell you what, you help me and I'll help you. We can build another empire, an even greater one than-urk."
"Not interested," Gourry said coolly. "It's good that you remember what I was. Unless you want a personal demonstration, you'd better tell me quickly what I want."
"I really don't know!" squeaked the fat man. "They have been really hush-hush since the change in leadership!"
"Change? Why so surprised? It was due."
"Too quick. Almost had a family feud. Not that any of us lowers would mind. Rumors abound but the popular one is that the young master is now holding the reins."
"You mean..."
Jazel looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "Your...older brother now is head of the Gabrievs."
Gourry wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or even happy that his brother had survived. It did mean that if Gourry wanted to live and die at a ripe old age, he'd need a strong mage by his side. But Lina had lost her magic so she was no help. Oddly enough, though he knew he should definitely part ways with the group, he didn't want to. His family would have laughed at this emotional weakness.
Jazel released a long suffering sigh as Gourry finally removed his blade from its home at the folds of Jazel's neck. He was sure he was going to die. This was after all Gourry Gabriev, or more accurately...
"Ha..hahaha," Jazel laughed. Gourry looked at him oddly. "I thought...I was a goner for sure. Can't trust rumors too much you know. Some people thought the rumor of you leaving the family was a plant, a way for them to root out traitors. But it looks like the Gabriev's Cutlass has really lost its killing edge."
"That's right," Gourry said slowly. "The news of the cult's fall will soon reach them and they'll need to clean up."
Jazel choked on mid-laugh.
"I can't have you telling them about me."
Later, Gourry watched the flames lick toward the night sky. Perhaps it was his own imagination but didn't they look the same hue as blood? Maybe all of the dead that were now being consumed were the cause. And Jazel, fat, stupid Jazel sat against his plush chair as the flames enveloped him, the gaping hole in his throat to be sure that he never told anyone that he met the Cutlass tonight.
Gourry Gabriev, known almost a lifetime ago by another name, leaned against the wall of the dark alley. He still didn't know why his family had backed the cult, but it was enough at least to know who now led them. Pushing away the coldness he had been forced to resurface, he slipped the simple-minded wandering merc face back on, making sure it would stay before heading back toward the inn where his new life was.
"You just had to tell Lina that she needed to cheer up."
"But she was depressed, Gourry-san!" Amelia defended, itching to go punish the villains just as Lina was doing. "I just didn't think she considered this a way to cheer up."
"She does have many worries now," Sylphiel sighed resignedly, sitting at the foot of a tree. "We just have to wait for her to finish."
Lina knocked down the last of the bandits, slightly out of breath. It wasn't that she was out of shape but she usually blew up bandits a bit more than she beat them up. If word got out that she couldn't use magic anymore, there would be a big problem. And if she never did get her magic back...
"Stop! Don't go down that line of thought! You are still the beautiful genius Lina Inverse and you won't let something like this drag you down!"
The bandits under her feet had no idea why she suddenly started talking to herself but the simple mention of 'Lina Inverse' was enough to trigger their self-preservation reflex.
"Lina Inverse?! The Bandit Killer?? Run for your lives!!"
Grown men who only moments before had been beaten to submission by a girl not even half their age ran away screaming like little boys. But given the notoriety of the Bandit Killer among the circles of banditry, it was allowable and no deduction of honor points were made.
"Feeling better Lina-san?" Amelia called from a safe distance away.
Actually, she would feel a lot better if she could cast magic and if Zel was here right now so could make him finally confess just what has been eating away at him. For crying out loud, it was his problem but it was driving her crazy!
"Just fine, Amelia!" Lina lied cheerfully, heading toward the other three. Getting to another town or some sort of settlement would be safer than camping out, less occasions for her to need magic.
"Are you...Lina Inverse?" asked a gravely voice.
"Huh?" Lina turned around to come face to face with what must be the funniest mask she had ever seen. It was almost as big as her with these wide white eye slits with beady eyes. The rest of its 'body' was as short and stumpy like a penguin. If penguins were blue that is. "What the hell are you?"
"I am...Duo. For Gaav-sama, I will kill you."
"Gaav?" He couldn't mean Chaos Dragon Gaav. Right?
"Prepare to...die, Lina Inverse!"
"Of what? Laughter? Don't tell me you're a Mazoku?" Lina snickered.
Duo began to steam. "Don't laugh...at me. Don't laugh....at me. Don't laugh...don't laugh...don't laugh..."
The echoes continued as Duo kept creating more miniature Duos that wouldn't shut up but kept repeating his name. Talk about egotistical.
"What is this?" Amelia asked as she and the other two finally came running up only to be confronted by the rows of smiling small Duos.
"Apparently, he's sent by 'Gaav-sama' to kill me," Lina said nonchalantly.
"To kill you? How can you be so calm about this, Lina-san?" cried the princess.
"Gaav? Wasn't that what Zeigram said?" Sylphiel wondered.
"Wait a minute. Zeigram mentioned Gaav? As in Chaos Dragon Gaav? As in one of the five Mazoku Lords? Why didn't you say anything earlier?!"
Amelia and Sylphiel laughed weakly.
"Shouldn't we do something about...them?" Gourry poked one of the floating and chanting Duos.
"Well I don't feel like dealing with small fry like him," Lina shrugged. She didn't need to add the little, insignificant fact that she couldn't deal with it either. "You three can take care of him."
"Light!"
"Ra Tilt!"
It roared around him, the flames, the destruction, the deaths. No big loss really, it was only bandits. Why was he here again? It was hard to remember, to think. He had been on his way...somewhere. Why? For someone. Who? ...forgot. Something to do with bandits surely else why would he be here?
Perhaps he should ask someone. But they were all dead. Sprawled, blackened, twisted pathetic wretches who didn't really know how precious life was. They would never know now either. Damn. Now who was he going to ask?
...el...iss...
He looked around, trying to find the sinuous teasing voice of undetermined gender.
...gadiss.
That wasn't any word he knew. Perhaps a name? The name of the person who he was was going somewhere for. If he could catch the name, then perhaps he could figure out what it was he was doing.
Zel...
"...Zel?"
Where had he heard that before but from different lips, a different voice. There was something about the way it was said, drawing him toward it but at the same time repulsing him. It was an odd sensation, this tug-of-war. Was that the name of who he was...or something else.
It is your name...
Zelgadiss.
Stop pushing us away.
Three voices. There were definitely three different voices. They all had the same feel, the same sensuous feel that slide over his senses, stimulating them even as they dulled them. These voices were familiar. How long he heard them?
It doesn't help you to hide from yourself. Look around you and remember...
But there was only the dying flames.
Fire, what did fire remind him of? Red, flickering, pain, laughter. Laughter? There was running, pulling along someone else who protested at how hard he was holding her arm. Shouts of excitement. Calls of worries. Cheerful reassurements. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. Then there was fire, lots of fire. Here, there, everywhere. Those calls of worries turned to screams of fear. The cheerful reassurements turned to hollow promises of safety as the world was consumed by an inferno. It left behind nothing.
No, that wasn't true. Something remained. Two somethings. Two children, frightened and alone, somehow unharmed by the flames that devoured everything else. The one that had been reluctantly pulled now clung tightly to the arm. The other unsteadily searched the ground that hid nothing with eyes stinging from the smoke. They were alone.
He looked at his hands now. Where was that other hand?
Gone. Like everyone else. Never cared, never loved.
A cold building. Crowded with many like him but so cold. They taunted him, 'Demon Child', 'Weakling', 'Nothing'. There would be fights, there would be time-outs in the small locked box in the cellar. More taunts, more fights, more time in the cellar. Then people came and took away his other. Said not him, not the troublemaker, not the worthless one. They took her away. And he cursed them.
Later, word came that the people who had taken her away had died. It wasn't too clear how, but no survivors. For weeks after that, he would hide in a corner. It was his fault. He had cursed them, they had died, still taking her with them. He had killed her. He was a Demon Child. He had killed his own sister.
No. You didn't kill her. They did. If they hadn't taken her, she wouldn't have died.
He was the one that needed her. Not them.
That's right. They had no right to take her away. But you couldn't stop them when they did. And no one else tried.
He was too weak. He couldn't stop the bigger and stronger people. So he learned that power was the key. No one else would help. Then he wouldn't rely on anyone. He'd become strong, powerful, and never need anyone.
Then there was that man, that priest in odd red robes. He said he knew the path to power. All he asked in exchange was a time of service. That was normal. The person who offered it was not. He knew that. He knew who this person was, he knew he had been warned against ever dealing with him. But he didn't need unsolicited advice. He could make his own decisions. He had accepted.
You were tricked.
Yes, he had been tricked. Tricked into accepting, tricked into becoming a monster. Now he was truly a Demon Child and people again shunned him, warding off his evil eye. And he still appeared somewhat human, a mocking reminder that he wasn't. No one could accept him.
Except...
Perhaps...
No one.
Not even...
No. One.
Hadn't they...
Mocked you, behind your back. Amusing themselves at your expense. Teasing you with what they thought you could never have. Used you for their own purposes.
That's right. He could see them now, those mocking smiles, those disdainful eyes. All of them were like that. Driving him insane with their frivolity, their temptations. Friendship? Reliance on someone else? He was through with that. What he wanted, he would take. On his own.
Because in the end, he was always alone, surrounded by the sparkling darkness. Deeper in it he fell, the darkness embracing him as it was getting what it wanted.
"Masters?" whispered the several vaguely human forms kneeling before him.
With eyes that glinted gold in the fading sun, the masters' newest avatar with a mind not entirely his own gave the order. Of first priority was the securing of the key to the prison. The servants lifted their own glowing golden eyes in acknowledgment.
"Coming to a hot springs always helps my sister to relax," Amelia beamed, preparing to enjoy said activity. "Beating up villains, as satisfying to justice as it is, can hardly be considered a method of relaxation, Lina-san."
"You said I should do something to cheer up, not get relaxed," Lina snorted, purposely being picky on words.
"Hai hai." The princess just shrugged off Lina's acid words, becoming rather used to the sorceress's nearly constant bad temper. After making sure her towel was firmly wrapped around herself, Amelia grabbed Lina by the arm and out toward the waiting waters.
"I really don't feel up to this, Amelia," Lina said glumly, if not only because of the problem of magic but also Amelia's obvious growth in areas Lina was quite sensitive of.
"Always worrying about it will only give your stomach pains. So just try to forget about it for one night, Lina-san!"
Forget about it? How can you forget something that is literally yourself? Sure she was beautiful and a genius but magic defined a large part of her identity. Without it, what was she?
"If you keep standing up there with nothing but a towel, you're going to catch a cold."
"Right, right," Lina sighed in defeat, slipping into the pleasantly hot waters. "This isn't really a good time to relax if there really are Mazoku on my tail."
"You mean like that mask creature this afternoon? My super secret, final round, attack spell Ra Tilt purified that evil creature with my soul of justice!"
Lina sweatdropped, pulled it off, and then bonked Amelia over the head with it.
"At least you have the correct general idea behind a Ra Tilt. But it was both you and Sylphiel who cast it. And that thing was only a pretty low level one so a Ra Tilt from a human caster could kill it. But higher ones are more difficult, to say nothing of why two Mazoku who want to kill me have some connection to Chaos Dragon Gaav."
"That is obvious! They want to put an end to your crusade against injustice. Therefore, it is my duty as a Princess of Saillune to insure that your life does not end prematurely before the fulfillment of whatever destiny you have that the Mazoku fear. By the Star of Justice, as your friend and ally of justice, I will stay by your side no matter what!"
Lina sighed, covering her eyes. It wasn't the sentiment or overly idealistic speech that she was groaning about. With her other hand, she snagged a forgotten piece of cloth on the side of the spring.
"Amelia. If you're going to pose like that, you'd better remember to put your towel back on."
"Hey, Amelia. I thought you said a trip to the hot springs would help Lina relax."
"She looks quite subdued, though I don't think that's the same thing."
"Gourry-san, Sylphiel-san. Lina-san is just thinking of how we're going to get to the Clair Bible!"
"Really? She's usually a lot more cheerful when she's on a treasure hunt."
"In addition, Lina-san is usually more alert when walking through town. Just watch."
Lina, who hadn't heard a word any of the other three were saying behind her back, walked absently down the rather sparse main road of the town. Without even looking, she avoided other townspeople or runaway toys looking to trip someone. She was in fact thinking, but not exactly about the Clair Bible.
First her magic is gone and now she's possibly a target for Mazoku? Correction, make that definitely a target for Mazoku. Three alone had appeared yesterday. First had been the mask. The second turned out to be part of the hot water spring she and Amelia had been soaking in. Needless to say, it got pelted with the usual bathroom tools before having its perverted self Ra Tilt'd back to wherever it came from. The third, which Lina feared may not be the last, had been disguised as a doll and had at least succeeded in making everyone a bit leery of porcelain dolls for the foreseeable future.
"Excuse me," called a youth as he jostled past Lina.
"Whatever."
And Lina took exactly a step and a half forward before being jerked backwards by her neck. The following crack on the street didn't help matters.
"Lina-san!"
Everyone looked at the cord going from around Lina's neck to the fallen coin purse at the feet of a rapidly panicking youth around Amelia's age. His green eyes looked fearfully at the people he had assumed to be easy marks. Clapping his hands together, he quickly bowed and began stammering the customary phrases used to defuse a person's righteous wrath against a thief.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't want to do it. Really. But I really need the money and my mother's sick and - "
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" Lina roared, not quite herself.
"Hold her down!" Gourry yelled, trying to keep the foaming Lina from the naive pickpocket.
"Here's some money," Amelia smiled warmly at the youth, handing him a pouch of gold. "Go take care of your mother and find some respectable work. She wouldn't be happy about you stealing."
The youth stared at her slack-jawed.
"Hurry up and go!" Gourry ordered.
"How dare he try to steal from me!!"
"It would be in your best interest to leave quickly and not show your face near her again," Sylphiel advised.
"Ummm, okay," he said hesitatingly, backing away.
"I hope your mother feels better," grinned Amelia, giving the rather cute youth a pat on the shoulder.
And a whole bunch of stuff fell out of his clothes. Gourry, Sylphiel, and Amelia stared at the pile. There was Gourry's metal pick for his sword, Sylphiel's locket from her father, Amelia's royal crest, and a whole bunch of other things. They looked at each other, communicating silently.
The thief took this to be his cue to run like hell. Unfortunately, the opposing team's reaction time was much quicker and he was buried under a pile of irate victims.
"I can't believe the nerve of some people," Lina growled, actually eating at a civilized pace this evening. "Stealing for a living. No one can be an honest person doing that!"
Gourry, in between bites, rolled his eyes.
"And don't give him anything to eat, Amelia!" Lina yelled at the girl who was trying to sneak some food to the tied up boy. "That goes for you too, Sylphiel."
"Lina-san, we already got back everything that he stole from us. Shouldn't you let him go?" Sylphiel asked at Amelia's prompting.
"I'm sure he's learned the error of his ways now. Right?"
"Huh? Oh, um sure. I mean right."
"No one gets away from Lina Inverse that easily!"
"You're Lina Inverse!!" squeaked the thief.
"Awed by my beauty and reputation?"
"No wonder they call you Dra-matta. What kind of dragon in its right mind would want something like you?"
He got a clay jug right in between the eyes.
"Don't think just because you're young that I'm going to be lenient!" Lina huffed. "Now then, have you heard anything about the Clair Bible?"
"Lina-san," Amelia protested. "Why would he know something like that? Shouldn't we go to the nearest Mages' Guild?"
"If any of the Mages' Guild had the real Clair Bible, we'd have a guild war going on that would put the Immortality Wars to shame."
"But why would a kid know anything about that Blair Cible?"
"Clair Bible! How many times do I have to tell you Gourry!"
"Clair...Bible?"
"You know something? Hah! Told you so, Gourry!"
"Told me what?"
"Perhaps we should listen to what he has to say." Sylphiel looked at the youth encouragingly. "Go on."
"Well, I'm not too sure but...just a couple of days ago, I did a job on this weird lady with green hair and no sense of decency. It was really easy because she was so engrossed in this pamphlet about that bible of yours."
"Green hair? She wasn't dressed in these really high black boots and a black and yellow bikini like outfit was she?" Lina asked fearfully.
"Hey, that matches perfectly! You know her?"
"Martina!" groaned the sorceress. "It just had to be Martina."
"But a pamphlet detailing where the Clair Bible is? Like a treasure map? Isn't that a bit too good to be true?" Gourry asked.
"That's right. This could all be a trap by Martina-san for Lina-san. I don't think the destruction of her family heirloom along with whatever past grievances she had with Lina-san went over well."
"You both have good points," Lina admitted. "But Martina did find that cave with a magical item once upon a time. Plus her kingdom has housed things since the Kouma War. There's a chance that what she has might be authentic."
"Then that's our best lead at the moment!" Amelia cheered. "And it's all thanks to him."
"Oh yeah. If he hadn't stupidly tried to steal from me, we would never have learned about this," Lina grinned toothily, cracking her knuckles. "Alright then, we can call the debt even if you tell me where Martina went."
"Probably the same way as on the map."
"Don't try to get smart with me!"
"If you follow the map, and assuming she follows the map, you're both get to the same place eventually."
"We already searched you. You don't have a piece of parchment, much less a pamphlet, on you."
The thief smiled. "Hey, not everything I steal is physical. I can store things in my head pretty well."
"So you memorized it? From a brief glance?" Lina asked skeptically.
"That's right. I can guide you."
"You can draw us the map and everything ends there," she retorted.
"No deal. You won't be able to make heads or tails out of it. Take me with you and I'll show you the way, no double cross."
"Why are you so eager to go with us?"
"But what about your mother?" Amelia asked aghast.
Lina and the thief gave her a withering look.
"Amelia, there never was a mother."
"But he said..."
"It was a standard plea for mercy and my life kind of thing," shrugged the thief. "I'm an orphan."
"You poor thing," murmured the princess.
"ANYway, there's no need for you to come with us. You can just explain the map as you draw it."
"I wouldn't know what they looked like until I saw them with my own eyes," he said stubbornly.
"I'm beginning to think you made that whole story up!"
"I'm beginning to think that I should report you for unusual and cruel punishment! I've been tied up here on the floor for several hours watching you eat and there's this damn scratch on my back that's driving me crazy!"
"Draw me the map and I'll get Amelia to scratch your back."
"Me?! Why not you, Lina-san!"
"This argument is going to take a long time isn't it."
Sylphiel nodded.
"Lina wouldn't mind if I took the rest of her dinner would she?"
The priestess looked at the three-way shouting match and shook her head.
"Master," Xelloss greeted, materializing on the roof of the building. He succeeded in not grinding out the word.
His Master smirked. Oh, he knew Xelloss hated his current station in the rumor mill, that of a rented servant. If only either his General or Priest had been as wily as this one. But this wasn't the time for regrets, if Mazoku could really feel that.
"Report."
Xelloss inclined his head. "As your bidding, the site has been prepared. There was some minor difficulty in the gardening but it is taken care of now. And the bait was well taken by Gaav."
"I know. Three in one day. It was quite amusing, watching that human try to get out of each predicament. As it is, she is less than worthless without her magic."
"I understand. As we speak, I already have others running after the possible suspects. This matter should be cleared up in several days."
His master raised an eyebrow. "Days?"
Xelloss cleared his throat. "A...lengthy interrogation was thought to be in order."
"Humph. I suppose it doesn't matter. Just make sure it is finished before we reach Dragon's Peak. I'll be needing your services there," he smirked.
"Yes, Master."
"Anything else?"
Xelloss hesitated, an odd thing for him.
"What is it?"
"It is the matter of...that Imperial Prince of the North Republic."
"Will he be interfering again?"
"I'm...unsure. His behavior has been irrational as of late. My previous acquaintance to him has not aided in my deciphering of his motives."
"You think he recognizes you?"
"As surely as I recognized him. But he kept silent. That may not be the case of much longer. Shall I eliminate him?"
His master contemplated the waning moon. "What did you say his name was again?"
"Zelgadiss."
"Zel...gadiss?" His master chewed on his lip. "Interesting. No, let him leave awhile yet. Keep an eye on him though while you deal with that naughty Mazoku. I want to know what he's up to."
Keeping his puzzlement and curiosity masked, Xelloss bowed again and vanished. Leaving again, as the shadows withdrew from his young form, only a young boy who had earlier that day made the acquaintance of the Bandit Killer Lina and left a bad first impression. So everything was set. He would lead them to the Clair Bible and that human girl would finally have the complete Giga Slave for his disposal.
But that Zelgadiss could be a problem if he was who this Mazoku Lord thought he might be. Zelas had seemed comfortable enough with lending Xelloss to him even though he was her lone servant. Would she try to turn traitor as well? It might be fun, a struggle on three fronts.