Destruction raged through the country of Saillune, recently rocked by a massive earthquake of abnormal origins. The advising council to the royal family were up in arms with numerous theories regarding the possible cause of this strange phenomenon. Some were believable, while others held some merit, and a few were just plain foolish to even be considered. Many blamed it on a massive serpent living below the surface, burrowing beneath the land, causing it to shake and crack. Others were sure that a piece of Shabranigdo had awaken and that shaking was a result of the power being resonated from its evil. A few lunatics claimed that it was a result of shifting plates brushing and pulling away from each other. Though the last one was something only a mad man would consider to be the cause of this disturbance.
As couriers from the numerous provinces that were affected by this quake arrived, an epicenter was eventually mapped out to the barony of Louve, ruled by the benevolent Baron Dokter, Baron Louve Dokter that is. The devastation there was immense and the people were having trouble recovering from it. Even worse news of strange creatures coming out of fissures in nearby canyons have led to panic. Already, many people have fled from their homes to escape these bizarre creatures. The local militia proved ill-equipped for handling this supernatural threat and help had been requested from the Saillune capital itself.
"Alright stays sharp," Amelia ordered as she rode her horse in front of envoy.
The men of the Saillune Star Knight brigade snapped to attention as they followed behind their princess and her escorts. It was a strange bunch: the brigade of knights from Saillune, the crown princess of Saillune, plus a petite short-tempered sorceress, a blonde swordsman, and a cloaked figure in either beige, white, or ivory. The men weren't too sure which one it was. The sorceress was rumored to be the infamous Lina Inverse responsible for blowing up a chunk of Saillune in an incident a few years back.
"Can we take a break?" Lina asked as she fanned herself.
It was very hot and the group had been marching for at least a good seven hours since dawn.
"No, we have to reached the province of Louve by dusk," Amelia replied from her horse. Looking off to the distance, she proclaimed, "As the ruling family, it is our duty to protect our people from the vile shadow creatures that have arisen from the ground below."
"It may not be that simple," Zel remarked with his arms crossed and keeping his hood up. "There may be more to this than it seems."
"Like what?" Lina remarked trying to ignore the heat.
"I believe since you're well versed in legends, you know about the Legend of the Sleeping Army?" Zel inquired as both Amelia and Lina stiffened a bit.
"The Sleeping Army?" Gourry muttered as he thought about it. "What can an army that's asleep do with shadow creatures?"
"A lot," Lina muttered turning serious. "Yes, I'm acquainted with the little legend. Back during the Kouma War, Hellmaster brought together an army composed of being of shadows and dead. Commanding over it was a Half-Mazoku that was fused with the substance of shadows, known only as Dread."
"But didn't Dread eventually betray Hellmaster?" Amelia commented.
Nodding, Zel continued, "That's correct. With every victory, Dread became more deluded with grandeur and eventually tried to overthrow his master."
"Question," Gourry asked as everyone turned to look at him. "Who is this Hellmaster person?"
Sounds of crashing soon followed as Gourry blinked to see Zel and Lina resting on the ground, while Amelia was barely staying in her saddle.
"You don't remember who he is?" Lina muttered as she picked herself up.
"Nope, did we meet him?" Gourry wondered as sweatdrops went around.
"He was that cute little thief boy who tried to rob Lina back in that town outside of Dragon Peak," Amelia exclaimed as Gourry pondered a bit.
"Oh that was him," Gourry said as the other three shook their head.
"Anyway, as punishment for turning traitor against his master, Hellmaster imprisoned the Dread and his army beneath the surface in a prison forged to contain them," Zel continued.
"So you're saying that this recent quake was the result of Dread breaking free from his prison and those shadow creatures are his army coming forth?" Lina asked as Zel nodded. Digging her hand into her hair, Lina muttered, "Why the heck am I even doing this?"
"To pay off all those ships that you wrecked with the Dragu Slave at the coastal town last year," Amelia remarked as Lina just glared.
"Wait a moment," Gourry interrupted. "If that kid we met is Hellmaster, then he's been around since the Kouma War, right?"
"Yes. So?" Lina asked hesitant to hear Gourry's conclusion.
"Then he must be really old for a kid," Gourry exclaimed as everyone hit the ground.
"That's Gourry-san," Amelia muttered climbing back on her horse and resume riding.
"Is that all you figured out?" Lina hissed as she grabbed Gourry into a headlock.
Struggling to breath as Lina tighten her grip, Gourry remarked, "I already know you're still flat-chested."
Whack
"Let's go," Lina muttered as Gourry lay dazed on the road.
"They're still doing after all these years?" Amelia muttered looking at Zel who was trudging ahead.
"You'll be surprised how little things can change for those two," he muttered as they continued.
"I guess so," Amelia muttered looking as Gourry tried to talk to Lina, who was simply ignoring him. "Do you think that this Dread fellow is going to be any problem."
"There's no telling how powerful he could be. Even though he was only a human converted to a mazoku, there is no telling how much power he has garnered," Zel said as he fixed his mask. "I think you should be more worried about Lina."
"Oh yeah, she might try to Dragu Slave him and his army," Amelia muttered looking back. "I really didn't want Father to request her service."
"Still trying to prove that you can handle things without her help?" Zel asked as he studied Amelia for a bit. "If you really don't want to ask for Lina's help then you should just tell her. I don't think that Lina-san would be insulted. At least not too much. I suspect most of your provinces would escape unscathed."
"This isn't helping," Amelia sighed.
"Hey what are you guys talking about?" Lina asked as she continued to ignore Gourry.
"We were just discussing about how powerful Dread might be and how much a problem his army could pose," Amelia stammered hoping Lina didn't get wind of the other conversation.
Oblivious to Amelia's worries, Lina smiled, "Don't worry about, one good Dragu Slave should waste that sucker as well that puny army of his."
"Oh that's...great Lina-san, " Amelia muttered.
"Is there something wrong with my plan?" Lina inquired noticing reluctance in Amelia's voice.
"Besides that it sounded like some kid thought it up?" Zel inquired as Lina's ear started to burn.
Rolling up her sleeves, Lina growled, "What was that?"
"I think he said it sounds like a kid would think up something like that and I think he's right. You see when I was young I had a friend who wanted to do that - " Gourry stated before Lina's fist silenced him.
Noticing how everything was degrading, not to mention the strange glances the other men were giving them, Amelia interrupted. "Oh, we had better hurry or we won't make it there in time."
The travel for the rest of the way was fairly quiet except for a few isolated incidents that stood out from something normal. For one, Lina was freaked out when a rather large snail slowly crossed their path while traveling through the forest. Also in that same forest, the company stumbled upon a band of looters who were easily dispatched. Afterwards, Lina claimed all of their goods until Amelia had them confiscated to be returned to their rightful owners. Lastly, they passed along quite a lot of people fleeing toward the main city of the Barony of Louve.
"The Crown Princess, Amelia Wil Tel Saillune!" the herald announced as the doorway to the reception chamber opened.
Amelia walked in flanked by two of her knights, while Lina and Gourry followed behind her. Soldiers lined each side of the rooms as some nobles were present. Zel had requested to stay with the rest of the brigade, not wishing to meet the baron. Sitting in his chair, the Baron Louve Dokter looked at the arrival with eager eyes as they reached him.
He was a man of of late middle age with graying hair and a streak of white going through the sides with a thin mustache. Dressed in fine decor, he seem to embody the symbol of sleazy noble. His hands were filled with numerous rings.
Standing up as he bowed toward the princess, the Baron addressed, "My princess, I thank you for coming here in our hour of need."
"Well met, Baron," Amelia replied.
"Enough with the formality," Lina groaned as Amelia shot a mean glare back at Lina.
"You shouldn't be so rude," Gourry whispered as Lina merely humphed.
Standing back up as he noticed Lina and Gourry, the Baron asked "And these are?"
"Oh these are just some hired help - " Amelia stammered before Lina interrupted her.
"I am the great genius sorceress Lina Inverse," Lina proclaimed as sounds of shock tore through the crowd in the hall.
"Lina Inverse?"
"The Bandit Killer!"
"The enemy of all who live?"
"Poster Child of Chaos and Destruction!"
"Dra-mata~!"
"Be quiet!" Lina raged at the names that were being thrown around.
Putting her hands to her face, Amelia whimpered, "This isn't going good."
The Baron, unfazed by Lina's outburst strode right up to her and took her hands into his. "Would you bear my children?"
The room was sudden dead silent as everyone's eyes bugged out at that last comment. Lina was completely stunned by the request, but quickly regained her composure and did the first thing that came to mind.
Lina blinked in pure shock.
Noticing the silence and lack of response he was getting, the Baron sighed, "Forgive me, I see that I should have escorted you to my bedroom first before asking that."
That was another shock for everyone. This time Lina had a reply for the jerk.
"Mono Volt!"
Zel stood by the stables as the rest of the brigades hung out around there, gossiping among the ranks about the local news. Lina and the others should be meeting with the Baron by now. Looking up from the tree he was leaning against, Zel spotted the window of the main reception chamber as a huge amount of light and electricity came flying out of the window. The men ceased their actions as they stared at the spectacle in grim shock, unsure of what to do next.
Pulling down his hood more, Zel muttered, "Typical of her."