Xelloss sipped his cup of hot milk, not for any liquid nourishment but not only for appearances either. Some time ago, he didn't really know when, he had developed a preference for it. It was very odd when he couldn't taste those substances that humans called food. In fact, there were a number of odd things that had been happening. A disconcerting number of what-should-nots had cropped up over the recent years, his preference for hot milk, Deep Sea-sama's insanity, Dynast-sama's disinterest in the return of his human prodigy. None of them connected except in that they were against the grain of what should be. Taking another sip, Xelloss wondered if other races were having similar experiences.
"What am I doing here!" Martina demanded, slamming her hands on the table at which Xelloss sat after walking around the room far too many times to count. "You have no authority to hold the Princess of Zoana against her will!"
Very good question, what was this loud human still doing here? She had no part in Hellmaster-sama's plan nor did Xelloss have any use for her. As far as he was concerned, she should have been left back at Dragon's Peak but for some reason, he brought her unconscious body back with the other two necessary ones. Yet another abnormal pattern of behavior that he didn't understand.
"No one is keeping you," Xelloss said getting up. He did need to write that report to his true master and she would surely want to know what passed between Gaav and Hellmaster-sama. "If you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."
Martina glared at the back of the priest as he returned to his room with that ever present mug of peasant slop. To think that she, Crown Princess of Zoana, would be forced to remain in this backwater hovel! And the only place to bathe was a public pond! She had half a mind to go right back home to Zoana and -
No, that wouldn't do. Martina couldn't return empty-handed, she would not return empty-handed. Her kingdom needed magical items to protect itself against incursions from other kingdoms in that weak Alliance of Coastal States. And how lucky she was to have three blissfully unaware magic users under the same roof.
Let's see, that priest seemed too sly for her tastes and though that staff of his must be magical, it hardly ever left his hand. Then there was the priestess who was cooking in the kitchen. That meant her room was empty and unguarded. Lucky!
She tiptoed upstairs, somehow hitting every creaky step on the way up. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have immediately suspected she was up to something. Since no one was, Martina arrived at Sylphiel's door unmolested. Turning the knob, she gleefully found it unlocked.
"Did you lose your way?" asked a soft voice in her ear.
Martina shrieked, jumping several feet into the air. Fixing a concerned look on his face, Xelloss was the perfect example of a gentleman as he assisted Martina in steadying herself. That had been a delightful snack.
"Are you alright?"
"Of course I am!" Martina snapped, tearing her arm away from Xelloss's helpful hands as if the contact burned. "I was, I was just seeing if she was in."
"Well, if it's Sylphiel-san you're looking for, why don't we go together? It is around the supper hour," Xelloss smoothly persuaded the human to go downstairs with him.
"I thought you were busy with some kind of work." Martina's sharp eyes looked accusingly at him.
Xelloss only smiled. "It wasn't much. I already finished." And his master should be receiving it soon. "We mustn't make much noise up here while Lina-san is resting."
The walls of this place had to be very thin, Lina decided, as she listened to the voices disappear downstairs. Martina was still here and it sounded like Xelloss stopped her from helping herself to any magical items she could find. Well, that princess would get a nasty surprise if she tried to take any of Lina's stuff.
Princess...
Lina closed her eyes, curling into a fetal position under the blankets as the recent memories swirled in her tired mind. Gaav's power ripping through Amelia. Sylphiel desperately trying to heal the young girl before it was too late. Amelia encased in Hellmaster's blue crystal that both saved and drained her life.
Hellmaster...
One of the five direct servants of the Demon King Ruby Eye who had his eyes on Lina for some unexplained reason. He had easily integrated himself into their group, playing them all as puppets. How long had he been following her? Why did he need to lead them to the Clair Bible?
He wanted her to get to it, to learn from it only what the Clair Bible could know. The little brat had to be pretty confident that she would ask what he wanted her to ask. So assuming she did learn what that Mazoku Lord wanted, it could be the tablet, those golden-eyed shapechangers, Gaav, a way to defeat high level Mazoku, and...the Lord of Nightmares. Lina could feel her arm tingling again, though the sensation was only a remnant of a memory. That had to be it, where else could she learn of that Demon Kings of Demon Kings? It had to be the Giga Slave.
But the Giga Slave could destroy the world. Even though her new spell Laguna Blade took more to cast, it was easier to control. The Giga Slave had been built from the framework of the Dragu Slave, same concept but the framework became seriously unstable using the power of Nightmare. If Hellmaster was after that, then what did he want it for? Surely not for destroying the world, he'd die himself.
"Damn it, all of this thinking is giving me a headache." Lina looked around for a distraction and found one in her cape hung over the back of a chair next to her bed. There had to be something interesting in its pockets.
A little digging brought up a very interesting item she had forgotten about in the recent mess. That bloody compass which was the only reason she had ever crossed paths with Martina. Lina never did drop by home to leave it in a vault under twenty protection spells.
"I wonder if you're the source of all my trouble with Mazoku."
The compass's curved gem was dull in the dim light of the setting sun. Fingers tracing over the sigils carved into the metal setting, Lina wondered if it was worth the risk of once again contacting him just to learn what Hellmaster wanted. After all, as the Demon King of the North he should know what his subordinates were doing even if he didn't order it himself. She shivered. That made too much sense.
A year ago, by sheer luck and some help, she defeated a reawakened piece of Ruby Eye with the Giga Slave. That help was from that Demon King trapped in Kataart and she had yet to repay the favor or learn why he did so. After all, weren't the pieces supposed to work together? But the one in Rezo had wanted to battle the one in Kataart.
"Terrific. I'm back up to my neck in questions again," Lina groaned.
Someone knocked on the door and Lina quickly shoved the compass under her pillow.
"Yes?"
"Lina-san. Are you awake?" Sylphiel asked on the other side of the door.
"If I wasn't, would I be talking to you?"
"You sound more like yourself." The priestess smiled wanly as she entered with a tray of food. There was only a bowl of soup but it was a very big bowl of soup. "I brought you some supper," she said unnecessarily, setting the tray on the stand next to Lina's bed.
"Good, I'm starving!" Lina began eating with more energy than she felt. Odd sensation, not feeling very hungry and yet tired when all she had done was sleep. She could feel Sylphiel's eyes on her but resolutely ignored the question that was surely on the priestess's tongue. "That was great. No way I would have had any of this if Gourry was here."
Sylphiel's eyes saddened. Cursing her impulsive tongue, Lina let her spoon noisily drop into the bowl.
"I think I'll go back to sleep now and - "
"Lina-san." The quiet voice was more effective than anything else in getting Lina to stop her rambling. "What are we going to do?"
Briefly, Lina considered side-tracking Sylphiel because she really didn't want to talk about what had been giving her a headache. On the other hand, Sylphiel was the only person left to talk too. She didn't trust Xelloss and Martina didn't know anything about this mess anyway.
"What do you mean do? It's rather obvious. I'll show Hellmaster that not ...even he can pick on Lina Inverse!"
"So you know where he is then?"
"Of course I know! It was last thing he said and - " Lina paused, remembering the last thing she could before waking up here. "You weren't conscious then were you."
"No. So it's true? Rizo was Hellmaster Fibrizo. He destroyed Chaos Dragon Gaav and took Amelia-san, Gourry-sama, and Zelgadiss-san with him."
Lina looked narrowly at the older girl whose eyes were fixed on the folded hands in her lap. "How did you know what?"
"Xelloss-san told me when I asked."
"I thought you didn't trust him."
"I don't," Sylphiel said firmly, meeting Lina's eyes. "But it seems he was the one that brought us out of the mountains to here. And I know he was there at Dragon's Peak."
"So he was the one who brought us out?" Lina fell back on her pillow, looking at the ceiling. She had suspected as much once she heard Xelloss's voice. Very convenient of him to do so. Just as convenient as his timely appearance to convince Milgazia to let her see the Clair Bible. Everything was Xelloss appeared too convenient in hindsight. "Well, he's right about what happened and I guess he wasn't close enough to eavesdrop. Yes, Hellmaster has the three of them, in Sairaag of all places, and he wants me to come to do something for him."
"Do something for him? What would a Mazoku Lord such as him want from a human?"
"I wish I knew," Lina sighed. "It seems that whatever he wants me to do, it has to be done at a specific place and for a specific reason or frame of mind." Lina continued after some prodding from Sylphiel's confused look. "He's a Mazoku Lord for Ceiphied's sake. He could have just taken me to Sairaag and be done with it. But he didn't."
"Perhaps he needed time to set up something?"
"Don't go spreading it around, but Hellmaster Fibrizo probably has the power to keep me locked up until he needed me," Lina whispered, winking at Sylphiel at an attempt at humor. "If I'm so vital to his little scheme, so much that Gaav wanted to kill me, I'd expect he would want to keep a close eye on me, under their version of lock and chain I guess."
"You mean he's been observing us even before he appeared as Rizo?" Sylphiel asked sharply.
"Probably," Lina shrugged, rolling over as she pulled the blankets over here.
Sylphiel quietly studied Lina's back, waiting for the sorceress to continue if she wanted. She had held back one concern that she hoped Lina would bring up herself but it didn't look like it was going to happen. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, the priestess started.
"What about Zelgadiss-san?"
A silence punctuated only by a slow, evening breathing spread across the room for several minutes. With a frown, Sylphiel leaned over to give Lina a shake, not letting her avoid the question. However, chagrin hit her as she caught a glimpse of Lina's shadowed face and without a word, made her way out of the room to let the sorceress retain some dignity. After all, Lina Inverse did not cry.
The reclusive Mazoku Lord whose lot lay in the north allowed himself an indulgence. Standing in a full armor set made of a non-reflective black substance, his eyes fell over the barren place that had been akin to a prison during the past millennia. Dynast Grausherra, called Dynast by most, found the view was much better using physical senses, interference from the closed face helm aside, than it was through his sense of this plane. After all, very soon it would all be gone.
"Dynast-sama."
Dynast had sensed her approach, one of his two generals. All four of his personal servants were restless but they had no true understanding of the word. At least they could leave. He hadn't stepped from his place since the God-Sealing Barrier was erected.
"Dynast-sama," his general repeated, not letting any impatience color her voice.
"Yes, General Sherra?"
"Grau has reported that Gaav has fallen."
"I...see."
"Sir?" Sherra asked, betraying hesitation. This couldn't be...sorrow she was sensing from her master.
"Sherra," Dynast continued, as if not hearing his servant. "Did you ever think about why we are here?"
Sherra frowned. The master could be philosophical at times, but he rarely indulged in such talks with her. She preferred talks of strategy and war, concrete things, as opposed to the talks of what-could-be and what-has-been. And of all times, why was he doing this now when Hellmaster-sama was reaching the life purpose of all Mazoku?
"To destroy the world. What do we gain from this?"
"Master, that is why we exist." Sherra's brow furrowed at this further uncharacteristic train of thought of her master and creator. "To fulfill that is to finally achieve peace from that desire."
Dynast's shoulders rose and fell as if he took a deep sigh. It was hard to read someone any better when all that person was was a suit of armor. And his general, human as she appeared, was also no more than a shell. Her posture straight and stiff, her expression blank, an unquestioning servant to any command, a perfect soldier.
"But that's what we all are. Soldiers obeying a command from a commander we've never seen." Dynast clasped his hands behind his back. "Fibrizo almost has everything in place. He even said he had an extra surprise to insure everything will come to pass."
"With Xelloss, I'm sure everything is going fine."
"Jealous, Sherra?"
"Of course not, sir. But I do question why he asked for Greater Beast-sama's servant when she only has one."
"As opposed to my four?" Dynast voiced Sherra's unspoken words. Abashed, Sherra quickly tried to apologize.
"Not that I'm implying any deficiency on the part of Greater Beast-sama to be effective without Xelloss."
Sherra had been bowing when the strange sound began echoing in Dynast's large empty fortress. Immediately, her hand had fallen to the sword hilt at her hip, senses extending to find the intruder. But she sensed no new signatures, the only three outside of her and her master were those of the other general and the other two priests. Finally falling back on her physical senses, Sherra slowly let her eyes settle on the source of the sound.
It was Dynast-sama. And he was laughing.
Not just an empty, cruel laugh in mirth of the suffering of others, but a real, deep laugh of life that she had heard from humans. Only her slack jaw wasn't paralyzed by this very unMazoku behavior that Dynast-sama was displaying.
"A...lapse," Dynast apologized, collecting himself and not at all flustered by his fall out of character. "We have strayed from the reason you came. How is Abran, or whatever he calls himself now, doing?"
A sneer crossed Sherra's young face. "He takes the name of the pathetic human that managed to defeat him five centuries ago. And all he does is good things to help humans."
"Interesting turn of events. Do you not think so, Sherra?"
Interesting? The human who was raised and trained under Dynast-sama's guidance to be a warlord among the humans, to spread destruction and death across the lands, to be as his title the hand of their master Ruby Eye, had become a...a...a nice guy. Of all the nerve! And of course, the blow to Dynast-sama over such a failure. Perhaps that was the reason behind his odd behavior.
"Master, I do not think - "
"Enough, Sherra," Dynast commanded, holding up a hand to prevent any further discussion on the topic. "There is little time left for useless discussion. Let him do as he pleases, it will all be for naught once the world returns back to its roots."
"Yes, master," Sherra said with an oddly heavy heart, bowing to her lord as he left. His hollow steps seemed to echo within her. If they were so close to achieving their purpose, why did she feel so empty?
Greater Beast Zelas Metallium watched the thin tendril of smoke curl up to the ceiling. Scattered on the table next to her fur-covered throne were the detailed reports sent by her absent servant. Quite old-fashioned of him to send them on paper but she didn't care how they arrived or in what form as long as they contained the information she sought. Hellmaster had kept her servant very busy during the past several years.
First it had been the accidental discovery of another piece of their master in that blind human. Then the little game to disrupt Gaav's schemes and draw him out. And now it was the achievement of the deed that all of their kind lived for. Xelloss had been quite busy, not to mention well-traveled and more familiar to humans.
She did not like that. Xelloss served best at infiltrating human settlements and manipulating events to the Mazoku's advantage where his anonymity was crucial. The destruction of Atlas City, even if it was a base of Gaav's, was much too crude for Xelloss's normal mode of operation. Zelas was very sure that he had only done it that way because of Hellmaster's precise orders.
"My, it is quiet around here," Hellmaster noted, entering Zelas' throne room as if he was a regular visitor. There was a jump to his step that made Zelas wonder if he was skipping. "Almost like a tomb."
The sweet smile didn't touch the distant expression graced with eyes that smoldered of a suppressed feral passion. Zelas would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her startled by his sudden arrival or indignant at the lack of respect due to her because this was her territory. Slowly, she touched the cigarette to her lips and let the smoke drift away.
"I thought you would be too busy preparing for the end to come for another visit," the Greater Beast finally said. "Of course, the last time you came to visit, you walked off with my servant."
"And what a delightful servant he is," Fibrizo agreed, snapping his fingers. A dark throne appeared behind him and he sat in it. "If I only had one like him. But he'd never transfer his loyalty as long as you, his creator, still existed."
"Naturally." Zelas' voice was flat as she extinguished her slim cigarette. Naturally, she caught the hint in Fibrizo's words but as the end was near, it would be pointless of her to worry about a challenge from him. "I believe you were mentioning your business?"
"Can't I come just to talk?" Fibrizo looked at her, all wide-eyed and innocent.
She could tell he was enjoying this young human form much more than the skeletal figure in the ragged cloak form. But then, they all delighted in driving humans to the darker spectrum of emotions and humans much more gullible when confronted with a fellow human.
"A talk during the last phase of your master plan? We can all get along with what little life we have left before the world ends if you stop beating around the bush." Zelas kept herself from tensing, knowing that Fibrizo would take that as fear and hence weakness. Ever since Xelloss reported his misgivings about that prince that used to accompany Lina Inverse, she knew the confrontation would come. The opening shot though would be Hellmaster's.
Fibrizo sat in his throne, making himself quite at home in Zelas' domain. Oh, he knew she had been expecting him, perhaps even wondering why it took so long for him to finally come. But he wanted to be very sure that his suspicions were correct before indirectly confronting her on it. Of all the unMazoku behavior that had been happening, this one took the cake.
The quiet contest of wills continued, both Mazoku Lords tied in their thoughts and neither willing to be the first to break. It was a very effective waste of time.
Simultaneously, they both felt the probing, a questioning tendril seeking for someone. Gracing Zelas with a smirk, Fibrizo answered Xelloss's curious probe and sent him on his way, ignoring the priest's puzzlement at Hellmaster's location.
"Well, it looks like Lina Inverse will be ready to come to me now."
"Considering the circumstances under which you left her? Humph. Isn't three hostages a bit too much?"
"Three?" Fibrizo began counting off on his fingers. "Well that princess is one, though not for much longer. That swordsman I took more for the Gorun Nova, you really can't believe what the elves have done to it. Dark Star will still want it back though I guess. And then the third..."
Zelas met Fibrizo's hard jaded eyes without flinching, displaying nothing but polite interest. One finger tapped the papers on the table. "The third being an unaccounted interfering human in your plans. I trust he is being treated appropriately."
"A very intriguing fellow yes," Fibrizo agreed, tilting his head to better observe Zelas's expression. "But not entirely human as it appears."
She managed a bored "Oh?"
Leaning back, Fibrizo tapped his fingers together. "Even the dearly departed Gaav noticed it, and I'm rather surprised myself that the little monkey wrench is a mongrel. Makes you wonder how he can be a prince doesn't it?"
Zelas was silent.
"And to think Xelloss never mentioned it, or at least admit to noticing it. Of course, he didn't notice Dolphin passing through Dragon's Peak either."
Dolphin? Zelas blinked, the only sign of her discomposure. What the hell was Dolphin doing over there? At best, only one of the four Mazoku Lords maintaining the God-Sealing Barrier should be trapezing around at any given time. Even assuming that Deep Sea remembered to leave a power support behind in her absence as Hellmaster did, there remained the danger of one of the Shinzoku noticing the weakened portions and trying to push its way through.
"No he didn't note that. What did she do?"
"Just return the cornerstone to my plan." Fibrizo smiled smugly and swung his feet slightly.
"But not the completed cornerstone."
"Yes, the human still has a few rough edges."
"Which is why you took her companions."
"That's right."
"How many of them are already dead?"
"You think I would kill them?" Fibrizo asked in mock dismay.
"My only question would be is it before or after she arrives," snorted the Greater Beast. "Of course, I wonder if she's still as crucial to your plan."
Finally, they were getting on to the topic that brought him here. But he still wasn't going to make it easier on her. "Well, she is the only human to wield a spell, no that's two spells now, that draw on that one."
"But there is someone else who also seems to wield the power directly, impossible as it should be." Even she had been surprised by this. It most certainly wasn't something because of her.
"Ah yes, that prince," Fibrizo nodded. "Very surprising. I even did a little research on his background and that of the kingdom he's apparently from. Did you know that no one knows who is mother is though the Emperor of the country has sworn that the mongrel is his son? And a mongrel powerful enough to escape the notice of even Xelloss... a result of the mongrel's ability to wield the power of that one? Or perhaps... a legacy of his Mazoku mother?"
"Have you found that Mazoku?"
"What Mazoku would admit to such relations with a human?"
"There have never been problems with identifying half-Mazoku before," Zelas shrugged. "How much have you researched into his father?"
"There isn't much on him. After a disappearance during which he was presumed dead, he returned and formed the North Republic nearly overnight. Of course, many of his old acquaintances think there is something different about him now however he appears to be a completely normal human."
Right. What kind of normal human returned to life after dying? Assuming that this Emperor was the same person she thought he was. But if he wasn't, why did he claim to be the father? Perhaps she should go to see for herself...no, it didn't matter if it was the same person. It had been another time and she couldn't go back.
"So no explanation there. How goes the mongrel's interrogation?"
"He isn't awake yet. Gaav's blast took quite a bit out of him. I was wondering if you could shed any light on the subject." There it was, he had said it finally. Now to see how she would take it.
Zelas steadied herself with a deep breath. "What would I know? He was interfering with the important piece of your plan."
"And what do you think of my plan?" Fibrizo asked softly.
"I support it of course. It fulfills our existence. Why else would I have loaned Xelloss to you?" Zelas replied, a bit too sharply. Silently, she scolded herself and hoped Fibrizo wouldn't press the issue far.
"Well said, Greater Beast, well said. I'm glad all of these millennia haven't caused a...maternal instinct to develop."
Her narrowed eyes flashed dangerously as they fixed onto Fibrizo's serene arrogant face. "And what is that supposed to mean."
"Oh, you know. Your realm being that of the natural creatures, who knows what happens. It isn't like myself or Dynast, neither of whom have domains over living creatures."
That face didn't get past her, Hellmaster would never worry about her getting too attached to the creatures that lay in her power to control and manipulate. No, that was the closest he would ever go in flaunting his knowledge about her little dark secret. It was the only reason he came here.
"My realm of power is of little importance. I only live for this world's destruction," she said emotionlessly.
"That's just what I wanted to here," smiled Hellmaster sweetly. "I do believe I've taken up quite a bit of your time. Feel free to come visit me, I'm sure Xelloss's detailed reports have told you where. You can even watch me torture some humans." With that parting shot, he vanished, throne and all.
"Ever the gracious host," Zelas murmured to keep the sarcasm unheard despite the lack of audience to hear it. Releasing herself from the forced appearance of relaxing, the Greater Beast curled up in her large throne as a familiar ache began to echo deep inside of her. Hellmaster was taunting her with his invitation, she knew she probably wouldn't be able to sit still and watch him torture the Half-Mazoku in his grasp. By doing so though, she'd have to open wounds nearly two decades old. And she couldn't do that. Ignoring the burning sensation in her eyes and the dampness that began to streak her face, the Greater Beast Zelas Metallium firmly told herself that she was a Mazoku, a Mazoku Lord at that, and that she could hold no emotions toward any. Not to her servant. And most definitely, not to her son.
Lina shivered and pulled the blankets more tightly around her. Well, she would have if she could find them. When her fingers couldn't find the sheets on their own, she reluctantly opened an eye to assist them, promising to go right back to sleep afterwards. It was dark, she expected that, but she wasn't in the bed back at that rented cottage Xelloss had stashed all of them in. She wasn't even in a room.
Rapidly sitting up, Lina was surprised that she wasn't hit with a wave of disorientation from the rapid drain of blood from her head. But then, she wasn't dressed in her nightclothes either but her normal clothes without the cape. She had an eerie sense of deja vu.
"Don't tell me I'm going to have some dream conversation with a restless old man who wants to change time," she muttered to herself, covering her face with her hands.
"Restless, yes. Old, yes. Change time, no I don't think I'm allowed to do that."
Lina looked up from her groaning to see a man somewhere in his thirties with long brown hair and bangs parted down the middle. His voluminous robes flared around him as he was probably sitting cross-legged like her. But it was his eyes that caught her attention the most. Old, tired, and slightly amused.
"Lei Magnus I presume?"
"What, no fawning? No slack jaw amazement? No prostrating before my glorious presence?"
"My second guess would be Ruby Eye Shabranigdo."
"No, no, you were right on the first one. And you probably want to know why I still exist don't you?" smiled the ancient mage.
"I'd rather know what you're doing in my dream," Lina snarled, crossing her arms. Who cares if he made the Dragu Slave and Blast Bomb and the Demonblood Talismans. Who cares if he was host to the first awakened piece of Ruby Eye. She had been sleeping very well before he showed up and the only two things a grumpy, sleep-deprived Lina couldn't face was a slug and her older sister.
"Such manners. You do realize I could destroy you with a wave of my hand."
"That's nice," Lina retorted. "Bet Hellmaster wouldn't be too happy about that. Last time we met, he wanted me alive."
"Yes, he wouldn't would he. My fault entirely I suppose, I was the one who told him about that little trick you used to fight the other piece."
Lina had been right then. This mess with Hellmaster was rooted in that mess with Rezo. Talk about far-reaching effects. Her expression of annoyance wasn't missed by Lei, Lina noted. Well, since he was here, she might as well get some answers out of him. The worst that could happen was that he would kill her.
"Alright then, Lei Magnus, what am I doing here?" Lina asked, glaring at the projection before her. There was no way the real Lei Magnus would be in her dream.
"You wanted to ask me something."
"Hey, I was only thinking..." Lina frowned at the smile tugging on Lei's lips. If he didn't know that she wanted to ask him something before, he did now. "Cheater."
"Lucky guess," Lei shrugged, smirking. "But I suppose we should get down to business because you'll be waking soon."
"Okay, off the top of my head, what does Hellmaster want with me? And please don't tell me it's for something as cliché as destroying the world with the Giga Slave."
"Alright, I won't."
"Won't what?"
"Tell you."
"Tell me what??"
"You told me not to tell you," Lei pointed out.
"IT WAS A FIGURE OF SPEECH!!" Lina yelled into Lei's ear.
"I'm losing quite a bit of dignity here," complained the great mage, rubbing his ear.
"Then stop joking around. Okay, so Hellmaster does want the Giga Slave to destroy the world," Lina sighed. "Why?"
"Why does he want to do it or why does he need the Giga Slave?"
"The former. I already know the answer to the latter."
"Does it matter why Hellmaster wants to do it?"
"Excuse me, I'm the one asking the questions and you're the one answering them. Are you me? I don't think so," Lina snapped.
"You really are grumpy without enough sleep. Runs in the family I suppose," mused Lei Magnus. "As to the answer for your question, it is quite simple. The Mazoku exist to destroy the world. It is rather nice to have a goal in life."
"You mean that's it? All of this trouble is because the Mazoku have this innate desire to destroy? Talk about a pathetic existence." Lina rolled her eyes at this big let down. There was no big grudge against some race, no twisted history which lead them to lash out at the world, not even a selfish desire. It almost sounded natural to destroy the world and everything on it. "Still, someone has to be responsible for this."
"Naturally."
Lina looked at him. "So who is it?"
"I'm really not supposed to say that. I suppose if you asked Ruby Eye then he'd gladly answer but I don't trust him to behave himself so you don't mind if I don't let him out."
"Why are you talking as if you and Shabranigdo are two different people? Aren't you Ruby Eye?" The awakening of the piece should have consumed Lei Magnus.
"Not exactly," Lei smiled. "You see, it took awhile but in truth, I'm the dominant mind here. Ruby Eye is still with me but more like an annoying voice than an actual being."
Lina blanched. Did she just hear correctly? A human, even if it was Lei Magnus, was able to overcome and control a piece of Shabranigdo? What was this guy?
"Not that this is something I recommend doing. I doubt anyone even expected this to happen. Now you understand why that piece you fought wished to destroy me?"
She mutely nodded. If Lei controlled the power to his piece of Ruby Eye, that meant he could withhold power to the other pieces when they awoke. He might even be able to fight them if he could move.
"But enough about me. I think you have another very pressing issue that you need to talk about before you have a nervous breakdown." Lei smiled innocently at Lina who felt as if she was under a microscope. "About a certain person."
Lina suddenly jumped to her feet and began running. It didn't really matter where, just anywhere away from the question. "Oh well, look at the time. I do believe it's time for me to wake up. Bye. Nice talking with you. Hope to never see you again."
"The time of our parting has not arrived yet," Lei commented, suddenly appearing before Lina. Her legs grew weak and she stumbled onto the ground. "Much better. Now you will talk to me about this person, Zelgadiss I believe was the name. Wasn't he there on the island?"
"Yes," Lina answered tightly, trying to will her legs to move. This was her dream, damn it, she should be in control! Her glare spoke volumes to Lei.
"It is your dream but I initiated it from your dreamless slumber. Very interesting, this Zelgadiss. I only have second hand reports, from you, from Hellmaster, from Hellmaster's gopher, but I'm quite amazed to find a mortal directly wielding the power of Her."
"You...were talking with Hellmaster?" the sorceress asked quietly.
"More or less. He does keep me current with what he's doing. Captive audience and all that. And no, I don't know how your friends, his captives, are doing. But from the reports and what Hellmaster has managed to weasel out of your friend, it appears that he isn't in his right mind."
"I never noticed," Lina remarked dryly.
Lei gave her a disapproving look that reminded Lina of her magic teacher. "What I meant was that he was possessed."
"And that's the source of his new power?" There was a high degree of skepticism in Lina's voice. Sure Zel had the ability to channel energy like any other mage but Nightmare energy was severely draining and he tossed it around like she tossed Fireballs.
"I agree that it is highly unlikely that the possession is the sole source of the Nightmare energy. Even you need a boost." Lei smiled condescendingly at Lina who just huffed in indignation. "Two questions, what is possessing him and why are they possessing him."
"Lord of Nightmares?" Lina hazarded a guess. "Who else naturally uses Nightmare energy?"
"Sorry, child," chided Lei. "But She is not allowed to directly destroy the world. Besides, do you not remember what it was that Zelgadiss was after?"
Lina frowned and thought, going over the destruction of the Clair Bible up to Fibrizo's departure. "He seemed colder than usual which isn't saying much. Other than the use of Nightmare, there was only the golden spark in his eyes..." Lina swallowed. "The same spark in the eyes of those shapeshifters that tried to take me to their master." Was their master Zel then? Or whomever it was that possessed him now. "They needed a key and..." She went over their words again. The fake Amelia had said the key was going to be useless from what they've seen. "But I don't know what that key is. You wouldn't happen to know anything about those shapeshifters would you?"
Lei smiled approvingly. "Very good. You're on the right track. This isn't my knowledge but that of Shabranigdo before he was broken."
"How could you know that?"
"Just as every piece holds more or less the same power, they all held the same mind. Did hold the same mind in my case. Now are you going to listen or are you going to interrupt?"
Lina sealed her lips.
"Now then, those shapeshifters had been around since Ruby Eye's creation which is farther back than you probably care to know." Lina opened to her mouth to ask something but shut it when Lei glared at her. "They were always talking about their 'Masters' and a key to release them. The Mother of All refused to grant Ruby Eye and Flare Dragon the knowledge of the history of those creatures though the history of all other ones were given."
She waited. But Lei didn't continue.
"You mean to tell me that the world with things living on it existed before Ruby Eye and Flare Dragon existed?!?" Lina shrieked. "That goes against everything we know!!"
"Everything? And what is this everything?" Lei asked, quirking an eyebrow. "You know that Ruby Eye and Flare Dragon fought but you don't really know why they fought. You know that presumably 5000 years ago that fight ended with Ruby Eye going seven different ways and Flare Dragon retreating from this world. You know that 1012 years ago the Kouma War began and then ended with the destruction of the Water Dragon King and my imprisonment in Kataart. What happened before Ruby Eye was split? What happened during that 4000 year stretch between Ruby Eye's separation and the revival of one piece?"
"It was a peaceful era before the Kouma War!"
"Peaceful??" Lei laughed. "Where the hell did you get that idea? If it's so peaceful, why did I create spells like Bomb Blast and that now poorly named Dragu Slave for? To shoot clay frisbees out of the sky?"
"You made them during the war."
"Excuse me, I was possessed for the major part of the war and Ruby Eye does not need to use spells. Besides which, we're talking about humans here. How long have humans ever lived in peace? There were five wars just within the last ten years! Well, one of them was actually a skirmish but it was a long skirmish so we'll just call it a war. Dynast is probably the only one to really complain about the naming."
Lina's head was whirling with Lei's questions. Frantically, she grabbed onto one question spinning in her mind and asked it. "Then what did you name the spell we call Dragu Slave?"
"Lei Magnus's Super Duper Hyper City Waster Blaster Beam!!"
No way. The original name was worse than the name the spell was stuck with. She couldn't believe it. Lina wished she had never asked. Between that and the questioning of all she ever held as truth about pre-Kouma history, she was developing an even worse headache than before she fell asleep. Lina rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"Hmmm, looks like it's almost time for you to wake up."
"Why would I feel sleepy when I'm going to wake up?" she asked irritably.
"You fall asleep here, wake up over there."
"You're making that up."
"Yes, I am."
"I never imagined the great Lei Magnus to be so..."
"Charming? Intelligent? Handsome?"
"Pathetic."
"I can still end your life right now."
"Then why don't you?"
"Because you hurt my feelings."
Lina covered her eyes with her hand and sighed. This had to be a dream, a complete nonsensical dream where whatever happened didn't have an ounce of truth in it. Lei Magnus wasn't some jerk who created two of the most powerful human castable spells and gave one of them the dumbest name ever. History hadn't just been turned inside out with the inference that the world had existed before Ruby Eye and Flare Lord were created. Zelgadiss wasn't being possessed by something older than the Demon Lord.
Sunlight hit Lina's face because the window faced east. That had to be one of the weirdest dreams she ever had. Perhaps it was because of some side effect of the Laguna Blade. It couldn't have been Sylphiel's cooking. Or she was thinking too hard before going to sleep.
Rolling over away from the sunbeam shining in her face, Lina felt something hard under the pillow. Her hand pulled out the compass she had hidden there last night when Sylphiel brought the soup. She had fallen asleep without putting it away. This couldn't have been the reason for her strange, and vivid, dream.
No, not the reason for the meeting but it did help in setting up one. Lina Inverse.
Lina froze as Lei Magnus's voice spoke into her mind. The compass hadn't even been activated. There was no way it should have attracted his attention. She was really talking with Lei Magnus last night?!?
Let's keep that our little secret. You'd best get up. Hellmaster is waiting for you.
She quickly stuffed the compass into her cape. As soon as she could, that thing was going in a vault with fifty protection spells and as many golems and traps she could find. That thing was dangerous. It was a very good thing Martina never got her hands on it.
"Good morning everyone!"
Xelloss, Martina, and Sylphiel looked up from their quiet breakfast to see a very cheerful Lina snag a seat and promptly steal any untouched plates gracing the table.
"That's mine!" Martina yelled, trying to take back her plate of bacon and eggs.
"Mimers Peepers!" Lina managed to yell back through a mouth half filled with food.
"Lina-san seems back to her usual self," Xelloss noted, sipping hot milk. Then perhaps they could start on their way to Sairaag today. Assuming that this Lina Inverse was planning on rescuing her companions. If not, some persuasion would be needed.
"Are you feeling well? Lina-san."
Lina just flashed an OK sign to Sylphiel as she kicked Martina's chair out from underneath her to win the food fight. Even Gourry wouldn't have fallen for that old trick.
"Never better. Except perhaps after getting a good meal down. Any more food, Sylphiel? I'm going to need a full full stomach to get to Sairaag."
"So you're going?" There was a mixture of relief and fear in the priestess's tone.
"Of course I am. Did I ever say I wasn't?" Lina snorted.
"Did you have a good night's rest, Lina-san?"
She gave the priest a sharp look but as usual, there was nothing but his blandly smiling face. That question seemed almost too innocent. She remembered that Lei had known about Zel through her, Hellmaster, and Hellmaster's gopher. Hellmaster only joined them during that last jaunt to find the Clair Bible. Someone else must have been watching them if not with them.
Xelloss was gone for nearly entire time Rizo had been with them. Xelloss led them to the cult that collected Clair Bible Manuscripts. Xelloss tended to disappear during any dangerous situation and reappear afterwards. Xelloss somehow knew Milgazia and was feared by that Dragon Lord.
"Xelloss..."
"Yes, Lina-san?"
She smiled tightly. "You're also going to Sairaag."
Xelloss returned the smile. "Of course."
"A guide?" she asked archly.
This human was a smart one, suspecting him. Much faster than others but then, he rarely spent so much time around the same human. Did she know what he was? Not yet but perhaps soon. He didn't know who captured her dreams last night but he was unable to pierce it. She may know more than Hellmaster-sama wants. Unfortunately, he couldn't kill her. But it may be interesting to see if she could turn the tables on the brat.
Xelloss smiled over his mug of hot milk. "Always, Lina-san. Always."