Deficiencies of Justice
Part One
“Elmekia Lance!” The cry came from a young girl, possibly twelve or thirteen, with a white outfit and brilliant blue eyes, both of which contrasted sharply with her jet-black hair. She was standing in a fierce pose, facing the monster, when she sent forth that scream, which was immediately followed by a burst of white energy that was released from the palms of her outstretched hands.
The monster towered over her, glaring down at the little girl, and wondering why this tiny human was not yet dead. She hand thus far been able to block every one of his attacks, a fact that he found quite amazing. Not only blocked, he corrected himself, but she had proceeded to counter every move he made to kill her with a powerful attack of her own. How…
The monster, Zoamelgustar was his name, shook his head viciously as a Gaav Flare hit him in the side of the face, cursing himself for inwardly straying from the battle. That blow hadn’t been shielded, and it had drained quite a bit of his power. How could he have been so foolish? The girl hadn’t taken the time to contemplate the situation, but instead she seized the opportunity to start chanting the incantation of a spell, a powerful attack spell she’d never used before. Zoamelgustar’s self-directed fury turned to fear as he saw the black energy extending from her hands, and heard the last words of the spell.
“…And let us walk the path of destruction together. Power that can shatter the souls of the Gods.” Oh L-sama, Shabranigdo, anyone! Just let this spell work. Please! Just let it work! Ameria prayed. “Ragna Blade!” Nothing. “Shit!!” Still nothing. I must have messed up the incantation Ameria thought frantically, fear racking her body. The princess looked up at the monster, a pink tint becoming obvious on her delicate features. He grinned, and she screamed. Numerous balls of red energy were coming at her at a horrifying velocity.
“Ray Wing!” Ameria left the ground in time to keep her life, but her left leg from the knee down was searing in pain. How had the spell been able to break the wind barrier she’d cast? Ameria dropped to the ground, and the pain intensified. Her knees buckled and she tumbled to the dirt, no longer able to feel anything other than the pain in her leg. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she forced herself up into a sitting position, gasping and moaning in agony. She whimpered quietly, the sight of the blackened remains of her calf and food nearly making her sick.
I have to pull myself together Ameria thought fearfully. If I don’t get better soon, he’ll find me. At that moment, the trees in front of her exploded and the Zoamelgustar loomed into view. Ameria was fuming. How dare he attack her, she wasn’t the one who had destroyed Xoana, it was Lina who’d done that. Her anger grew stronger and stronger. Finally she could feel no pain at all, just rage toward this obsession-caused being. “Levitation,” she chanted, and then immediately began with, “Source of all souls which dwells in the eternal and the infinite, Everlasting flame of blue, Let the power hidden in my soul be called forth here and now. Ra Tilt!” The monster had no chance to dodge this attack, as he had been to busy with his ego, telling himself how good he was, to even notice what was going on before him. He was engulfed in the blue flame and instantly disintegrated. Ameria sat back down, once more aware of the pain in her leg. She cast a healing spell, but after all the black magic she’d used earlier, her capacity for magic was nearly at its limit. The healing power radiating from her hand grew weaker as exhaustion began to overcome her body. She slumped against a nearby rock as her vision began to blur.
Ameria felt dizzy and weak, and afraid. She could no longer see anything but blackness. Her head was throbbing painfully. Someone help me, someone, anyone… she thought, and then the darkness claimed her.
Someone help me, someone, anyone… The voice charged through his head like a furious gale. Ameria! It had to be. A cry for help from Ameria Wil Tesla Seiryuun was what he had just heard. He thought back. She was the one he’d healed after a vicious attack from the monster Saygram. She needed help. He must find her…
Milgasia rose into the sky, his golden body reflecting the rays of the sun, his wings beating the air powerfully. He listened intently for the voice to come again, as that would be the easiest way to locate her. But there was no sound, either audible or telepathic, no communication that could lead him to where she lay wounded, perhaps dying. He shoved the thought out of his mind, cursing himself for straying from the task at hand, and knowing that worrying would not help him find Ameria. The Golden Dragon began concentrating on the girl, making her familiar to his subconscious.
It is a well-known fact that perseverance often brings success, and Milgasia soon started picking up signs that pointed to where the princess was located. He eagerly followed these signals, his wings pumping faster now. The signs were telling him there wasn’t much time left; her life energy was very weak. At that moment, the voice came again, this time from just ahead of him. It was a signal from the subconscious, he sensed. She must not have come to yet. Yes, there had been a battle here, as this section of the forest was now nothing more than charcoal.
Someone, please, I need help… The voice was directly under him now, and Milgasia quickly changed himself into his human form, so as to cause her as little shock as possible, before starting his descent through the charred remains of the forest.
Ameria became aware of footsteps making their way through the dense forest. She forced her eyelids open and realized that she had been unconscious for about an hour. She tried to leap to her feet to get out of there, but was harshly reminded of her injured leg. The footsteps came closer, and Ameria shuddered and tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, despite the pain. Judging from the sound of it, there were more than one person pushing through the shrubbery, and she had no idea who those footsteps might belong to. It sounded like a light and distinct feminine step with at least two crashing male steps mingling with it. She wondered briefly if it was her companions, but decided it couldn’t be. She’d been very careful about concealing her path. The footsteps passed nearby, and she considered calling out for help, but decided against it. Who knew who might be prowling around in the forest?
A bright spot of golden light was in the sky. It shone down around Ameria, basking her face in its warm glow. She looked up in fear. Was this another monster preparing to attack her? The golden light was now directly above her, and her fear grew more intense. Then, the light was abruptly extinguished, and a human form descended slowly toward her from the sky. The figure landed in front of Ameria, who tried in vain to raise herself from her slouched position against the rock. The man held up a hand to calm her down, and, as her vision cleared, recognition filled her eyes. He was quite tall, clad in long with robes, and his golden hair flowed over his shoulders in a windswept fashion. Just like the last time she had seen him.
”Milgasia?” she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.
“You are in need, Ameria?” he replied, as a small smile made its way across his formerly serious face. “I heard your cries and sensed that violence had been done,” he said softly. “I came as quickly as I could. Be still, Ameria, and I’ll heal you.”
“Milgasia…”
“Be silent, Ameria. Don’t waste your strength. You’ll need it later.”
That said, he placed his hands over her leg, emitting a powerful healing spell from his open palms. Ameria winced, expecting pain to slice through her now-numb leg once again. None occurred. She looked up questioningly at the Golden Dragon. Milgasia noticed her expression and smiled down at her. “I cast a pain-depleting spell first to keep you as comfortable as possible. Lay still, Ameria. Your injuries are severe, and will take time to heal.” Ameria complied with his gentle commands, knowing that he had her well being in mind. She leaned back against the rock, crossing her arms behind her head for a pillow, and closed her eyes blissfully. She felt utterly content, at peace with the world. Most of all, she was grateful. She was grateful to Milgasia for caring so much, and, most of all, grateful to whoever had allowed him to intercept her mental cries for help in the first place. Ameria relaxed completely, and drifted off to sleep.
Milgasia smiled over her sleeping form. Ever since that day, that day when he had healed her after Saygram’s attack, he had been in love with her. Unfortunately, the dragon race permitted unions only with other Ryuzoku, and Ameria didn’t quite fit that category. And unlike Mazoku, Ryuzoku couldn’t kill humans and resurrect them as dragons either. Especially since the Ryuzoku race was believed to be pure goodness. Milgasia sighed. At least he could take care of her. He gently shook her awake. “Ameria. I have finished healing your injuries. You should not, however, use your leg strenuously for at least three or four days. I would recommend using a flight spell for transportation, and finding a place where you can stay for a while to recuperate. I must return now to my home, but I will watch out for you and make sure you are safe.”
“I thank you, Milgasia-san,” Ameria whispered solemnly, as she watched him rise into the sky and take his true form before disappearing over the few remaining treetops, his skin gloriously reflecting the sun’s rays. She then slumped back against the rock and promptly fell asleep once more.
Ameria awoke with a jolt sometime later, though she was unsure how long she had slept. She glanced at her leg, realizing that the last time she had seen it, it had been scorched black and the cause of incalculable pain. Now it looked more or less normal, save for a few scars and an overall whiteness of the new skin. Ameria frowned when she noticed that. Whether other people knew it or not, the Seiryuun princess was incredibly proud of the fact that she had no tan lines whatsoever. Ameria growled at herself, inwardly disgusted for fretting about her physical appearance at a time like this. She reached town and gingerly ran a finger along the skin of her left calf. And felt nothing. Still unconvinced, she tentatively bent her leg at the knee, and still felt no pain. It felt like a leg that had never been injured at all. She stood and placed all her weight on her left leg. Not even a hint of discomfort was felt.
“Unbelievable! Absolutely incredible!” Ameria murmured to herself, but remembered Milgasia’s advice. She could not, however, resist closing one eye, holding out the ‘peace’ symbol, and exclaiming, “Victory!” before sitting back down, this time on top of her rock.
“Ah, good as new again, I see!” The voice was male, distinctly reedy, and Ameria’s heart leapt into her throat. Her peace had been shattered so abruptly that she didn’t even recognize the voice, though it was quite well-known to her.
“Ra Tilt!” Ameria yelped as she scrambled to her feet and whirled around. She had just enough time to acknowledge the face as one she knew before the Ra Tilt engulfed him, and a scream of pain was just barely audible through the spell. The magical energy disappeared into the earth and Ameria spotted his body lying the ground, his staff lying haphazardly nearby. She ran over and knelt beside the priest, fear once more overcoming her. The thought of punishments he could administer was more than she could bear.
Ameria! Pull yourself together at once! she told herself firmly. You are alert and he may be close to death. That was a powerful Ra Tilt. Help him! Ameria gently rolled the Mazoku’s body so he lay on his back, his face exposed to the sun, and examined his wounds. They were not serious, she found, and was relieved. What had caused the unconsciousness was most likely a large rock that sat beside where he had fallen. She couldn’t be positive that the rock was the culprit, but whatever it was, it certainly hadn’t been her attack spell. Ameria changed her position so she sat cross-legged beside the violet-haired priest. She closed her eyes, raised her hands, and placed them over Xelloss’ torso, casting her second healing spell in the last forty-eight hours. Oh please! Don’t let him be angry with me! Ameria prayed has his wounds began growing smaller. The black flow of the Mazoku’s blood lessened, then stopped, and his eyelids began to flutter. Thank the Gods, he’s going to be okay! Ameria breathed as relief flooded through her body.
Xelloss felt no discomfort. That was odd, he thought, because the last thing he remembered was pain and flowing blood. Then there was a new pain in his head, followed by the gradual drift into blackness. Now the pain was gone. He tried to open his eyes, but his efforts were in vain. His lids only fluttered and remained closed. Ameria kept her healing spell energized until she sensed the power no longer going into Xelloss, but instead diverting around him. She removed her hands, breaking the flow of energy, then opened her eyes, looked down at him, and gasped with embarrassment, her face instantly turning a deep crimson. He was gazing up at her, an evil grin spreading across his face, his violet eyes open and full of emotion.
Xelloss looked into her eyes. She was obviously embarrassed by the way he was staring at her. He gave the rest of her well-developed body a quick size-up before returning his gaze to her face, the sinister grin widening to cover the entire lower portion of his angelic head. Such a lie that head was, too, Ameria pondered, since he was a being of pure evil. Then Xelloss shook his head, annoyed with himself. How dare he think about such things while on a mission? Dammit! he thought. What’s wrong with me?
Ameria watched this little occurrence with interest, and then blushed even more when she realized what she had been thinking about. And with a Mazoku. A being of evil. What could be wrong with me?! she thought frantically, as the blush spread to her ears and neck as well. She looked down at him once more, and he spoke.
“Ameria-san?”
“Xelloss-san! I’m so sorry! Of course it really was your fault, startling me like that, but, well, I really didn’t give you a chance to block…” Ameria rambled, beginning to panic. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued: “I did my best with healing you. Please don’t punish me! I’m sorry! Please, just don’t hurt me!” She collapsed, sobbing, onto the ground.
Xelloss gathered Ameria into his arms, trying to comfort her. “I don’t wish to harm you, Ameria-san,” he said. “I understand completely and I don’t blame you at all for letting loose as you did. I can see that there was a battle here, after all, and I also noticed that you’ve been healed. You have every right to be on edge. Perhaps I should have been more careful with my appearance, but,” and here Xelloss opened his eyes, “perhaps I shouldn’t have. But you don’t deserve punishment. Not yet, anyway.” The trickster re-sealed his eyes. “No matter,” he continued. “The truth is, I have been looking for you since you left Lina-san and the others. I have a simple favor to ask you. Would you be so kind as to accompany me to the home of my employer? She wishes to speak with you as soon as possible.”
“Your employer?” Ameria asked, alarmed. She didn’t know who Xelloss’ employer was, but the very thought of someone more powerful than he was quite terrifying.
“That’s right, Ameria-san. Juuou-sama wants to see you. She wishes to discuss your future with you,” Xelloss told her with a very sincere-looking smile.
“Xelloss-san?” Ameria asked shakily. “Why does Juuou-sama want to see me? Why does she care about my future? I don’t understand any of this.”
“Unfortunately, Ameria-san, I am not permitted to discuss that with you for two reasons. The first is that Juuou-sama forbids it, and the second is that I don’t know exactly what she wishes to discuss with you myself. If you want to know, you’ll just have to come with me. If you resist, then I’ll take you,” he said, opening his amethyst indigo eyes once more, “but nobody disobeys Juuou-sama.”
“Very well, Xelloss-san. I’ll come peacefully, as it appears that there would be less danger for me that way,” Ameria replied, somewhat reluctantly. Then her thoughts brightened. She was actually beginning to look forward to the trip now. After all, Xelloss was the one she had always secretly been attracted to. Sure, she had always thought she was in love with Zelgadiss, but the more time she spent with Xelloss, the less sure of that notion she became. “But Xelloss-san, one more thing. Because of my status and on behalf of what I stand for, this had better be for the sake of justice or you’re doomed!”
That look in her eyes… Xelloss smiled once more. It looked like this journey would be a pleasant one.
"Dammit!" What else would have been the first word out of a sorceress' mouth? Especially if it happened to be a certain flame-haired, extra-petite sorceress with a very quick temper...
"Dammit!" Lina yelled again. She, Gourry, and Zelgadiss were standing at the place of the battle. Gourry was sitting on a charred log with his yead restong on one of his hands. He was worried for Ameria, but he did wish that Lina wouldn't get so angry. It never did any good. Zelgadiss stood, leaning against the trunk of a tree at the edge of the clearing created by the fight. He was mad too, but for different reasons. While Lina was upset with Ameria for going off alone, Zelgadiss was furious with himself because he felt that if he had acted more like the friend Ameria always regarded him as, she wouldn't have felt she had leave them. He straightened up and walked back over to where Lina was pacing back and forth, stomping her feet.
"Why did she do this?" Lina was screaming. "She knows she can't beat practically anything in battle. She knows that we're here to help her, and if her expanation has anything to do with justice, ooohhh, I'm gonna throttle her!"
"And," Zelgadiss cut in, "if Xelloss is involved, he'll die, I swear to it!"
Lina looked up at him, suddenly starry-eyed, her anger forgotten for the moment. "Oh, how sweet!" she cooed. "Zelgadiss-san is going to rescue the fair princess in her hour of need, just like a future prince of Seiryuun should. Ahhhhh..." Lina mockingly clasped her hands together and batted her eyes at him. "How romantic you've become," she murmured dreamily.
Zelgadiss blushed at the implication of a marriage to Ameria. Just because it was one of the many things he did want to do with her didn't mean that Lina and Gourry had to know about it. "Cut it out, Lina," he said. "If Xelloss had anything to do with this and we find about about it, I'm sure thatyou would kill him just as readily as I would."
"True," Lina replied, still mocking him, "but I sure wouldn't be describing the act with a lethal passion that only love can instill in a being. Girls are expersts with these things, Zelly. I can read you like a first-year school-text."
"Damn," Zelgadiss swore under his breath. He cursed Lina for being so frusteratingly concientious. He'd said once sentence, promising death to the possible kid-knapper of a friend, and she'd immediately come to the ocnclusion that he loved Ameria. She was right, too, and that just made the fact that much more upsetting. Zelgadiss came out of his thoughts when Lina placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked down into her face, sapphire eyes meeting ruby, and she smiled sincerely at him.
"Look, Zel, it's okay to love someone. It's a perfectly natural emotion, and more often than not it brings happiness with it. If you love Ameria, you don't have to hide it. You know that she loves you, don't you? She does love you, and dearly. Let her know that you feel the same way, and your life will improve dramatically. I promise."
Zelgadiss blushed deeper, then turned away, brushing Lina off ashe did so. "What's left to hide?" he asked quietly. "You can see right through me, and then you voice my emotions loud enough for Gourry to hear quite plainly. So tell me, Lina, what's left to hide?"
Lina grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him back around. Once again, she locked eyes with him. "You're hiding it from Ameria, that's what you're still hiding," she said. "Once we find her, and I assure you we will, start to show her how you feel, if I was right about you. spend a little more time with her, talk to her, take her for walks. She'll notice a change and get the picture, and by the time you two are ready to go farther, you'll both be prepared for it.
The Chimera gazed down into those ruby eyes. "Thank-you, Lina," he said softly, then hugged her tightly.
Lina patted his back, then rubbed it smoothly. "Don't worry. Everything will work out great, I promise you."
"Hey guys, what'd I miss?" The voice was Gourry's. He finally had decided that he'd been sitting and looking worried for long enough, and when he raised his head, Zelgadiss and Lina were locked in a tight embrace.
"Just giving Zel some confidence, Gourry," Lina said quickly, evasivly. She didn't want anyone thinking that she was getting mushy. "He was just a little worried about his future, so I was trying to cheer him up."
"Oh," Gourry said. "Don't worry, Zel. Everything will work out. You'll see." The swordsman flashed Zelgadiss a quick, engaging smile.
Zelgadiss smiled back. "Thanks, Gourry!" he said, but his mind was elsewhere. The smile Gourry had shot him, well, it had almost looked longing, or seductive in some way. Zelgadiss didn't think that Goury even knew about things like that, but the blonde had proved himself to be much smarter than he normally appeared on several previous occasions. The Chimera shrugged it off. Now that he thought about it, that was the way Gourry had always smiled at him. It must have just been my interpretation Zelgadiss thought, turning his attention back to the beautiful red-head. "Okay, Lina," he said, "let's get to work!"
Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadiss started out into the woods. They couldn't have known that Ameria was only about fifty yards away, badly injured, and cringing with fear at the sound or their foodsteps. They could not have known that Milgasia was above them in the sunlit sky, or that Xelloss was quietly observing everything from a tree branch wreathed in shadows to their left. Their hearts and minds were set on finding Ameria, and they would find her. But not soon enough... Zelloss thought as he phazed behind the rock against which the princess was slumped, and watched her being healed. Well, at least she would be okay, but why did the dammed Ryuzoku have to show up? Once again, Milgasia had appeared coincidentally in the vicinity of Zelloss' operations, and it was starting to become annoying. Xelloss sighed mentally, but his smile quickly returned when he saw Milgasia rise into the air, take his true form, and disappear over the horizon.
The three searchers trudged wearily into the small town of Sarai, a busy little place with about 2500 residents. The streets were crowded with citizens; workers heading home, diners coming in, and drunks on their way to the taverns. Sarai containted several inns, and, due to the fact that a gang of bandits just happened to ben in the area, the exhausted travelers were able to take their pick. After much debate, and a Fireball or two, they settled on the Kawabe Kyuden (Riverside Palace), which was rumored to have the best breakfast menu in town, including a magnificent all-you-can-eat buffet. Kawabe Kyuden also featured lavishly-furnished rooms, each equipped with a private bath. Lina and Gourry, of couse, were thrilled by the stomachable benefits. Zelgadiss had been adamant at first, refusing to be embarrassed for the umpteenth time by the havoc that the other two usually unleashed on the kitchens of such establishments. In the end, however, he was overcome by the privacy the inn offered, the serene location just outside of town, and Lin'as quick temper. Her Fireballs hadn't hurt him much because of his stone skin, but they had definately made him aware of what she would do if he continued to oppose her. The Chimera reserved three consecutive rooms for them and then rejoined Gourry and Lina as they headed out to find an elegant restaurant to dine at.
Typical of Lina, they ended up at the finest restaurant in town. And, since the bandits were paying for the meal, why not eat a little extra, or in Zelgadiss' case, eat something at all? The blonde and the red-head each ordered two servings of eevery item on the menu and guzzle ale as if it were water, while Zelgadiss chose a more refined approach. Napkin in lap, he was working his way carefully through a plate of steaming pasta and taking a graceful sip every now and then from a glass filled with some of the most enjoyable wine he had ever tasted. It had a smooth, full flavor that made his stomach begin to glow, but, at the same time, it wasn't too mild. He took another sip, and rolled the dark liquid reverently across his tongue before swallowing it down. Gourry and Lina were still shoving their faces, but they would have to stop pretty soon. Their food was almost gone, and Zelgadiss had already warned them what would happen if they tried to order more.
Lina glanced over at Zelgadiss between bites, during one of the quite-rare occasions when there was actually such a thing as 'between bites'. She sighed inaudibly. he was so handsome, so beautiful, so perfect. But Ameria loved him too, and, as much as Lina wished it wasn't so, Ameria had been the first to make a pass at him, and Lina would not betray the princess. Sure, Lina was regularly the culprit of unjust actions, but if there was one thing she would not stand for, it was betrayal. Lina did not betray others, and those that betrayed her usually payed dearly for it, often with their lives. So Lina kept quiet, hiding her feelinds deep inside, and vowed to keep things that way until the day that Zelgadiss openly rejected Ameria. It had been over a year and a half now, and while Zelgadiss often became anoyed by Ameria's open displays of her undying love for him, he never once told her to get lost, or to leave him alone, and he had never told her that he didn't lvoe her. He'd never told her that he did love her either, and, despite her suspicions, that was what provided Lina with the little bit of hope she needed to keep up her confidence that one day he would love her back. Lina had paused in her devouring only long enough to glance at him out of the corner of her eye, and then resumed, putting her hands and mouth on autopilot while she lost herself in her thoughts. Deep in her internal reverie, the firey mage never noticed Gourry's eyes flash with a deep intelligence, then fill with pure desire as he too glanced at the Chimera.
Zelgadiss was too familiar with the eathing habits of sorceress and swordsman to even notice the sidelong glances that were directed at him. In fact, whenever he had to eat in the presence of Lina and Gourry, he rarely gave any indication that he knew them. So Zelgadiss just kept on eating gracefully throughout the time that the other two were fantasizing about him.
After thier evening meal, the search party stumbled upstairs to their beds. Exhausted from the day's travels, they were more than ready for a snooze, especially now that their stomachs were full. Gourry's mind was churning as he prepared himself for the night, trying to come up with an explanation, or even a single word, for what he felt whenever he saw or thought about his stone-skinned companion. The blonde mercenary shook out his silky waist-length hair after removing his armor and setting it carefully on a chair in a corner of his room. The swordsman walked back over and sat down on the edge of the bed, the springs creaking slightly under him, and pulled off his boots and socks. He placed his footgear on the floor beside the chair, then stood and arched his back hard. It felt so good to stretch out after a long days walk, and Gourry also stretched his arms and legs before going into the bath to brush his teeth. His brain was still working furiously, trying in despairation to give him an answer. He left his toothbrush on the table which helled the wash basin and returned to the main room. It was something with a resembelence to longing, the warrior decided, as he unbuttoned his pants and stepped out of them. It wasn't longing, but it was close. Whet he felt went deeper than longing, Gourry concluded as he pulled off his shirt. He folded his clothing and laid it over the back of the chair. Something deeper than longing... Gourry thought to himself as he dropped his boxers down around his ankles. He stepped out of them with one foot, and kicked the other, flipping the shorts up to shoulder level where he caught them and placed them with the rest of his clothing. Deeper than longing... he thought once more as he slid down under the covers. It was a good enough explanation for tonight, he told himself. What he wanted now was to sleep. The sheets were soft against his naked flesh, and it wasn't long before Gourry was peacefully transported to the astral plane.
The next room was completely spotless except for a grey suitcase which stood closed beside the desk and a violet-haired man who lay fully-clothed on the floor with a single blanket tucked around him and two pillows under his head. Zelgadiss couldn't sleep in beds. In all the times he'd tried, the bed had collapsed withing five minutes, and the Chimera was growing very tired of replacing beds. Besides, with his stone skin, the floor wasn't that uncomfortable...
Lina was one room farther down the hall. She was sitting in a chair in front of the mirror, steadily running a brush throught her flaming locks. She was clad in a light pink nightshirt which extended down to her knees. Her clothing and other belongings were scattered around everywhere. The mage adopted an expression of deep satisfaction when she caught a glimpse of the mess in the mirror. She plunked her brush down on the desk and stepped daintily oer to the bed. Lina lay down on her back, grabbed the blankets, and tossed them straight up so they would flow around her like a cotton cloud s they molded to the contours of her tight little body. She sighed happily. This was truly heaven on earth, if you disregarded good food. Lina drifted off to sleep, and was soon to be heard throughout that floor of the inn, snoring loudly without a care in the world.
Ameria grumbled to herself as she followed Xelloss down the path. The trip had been less exciting than she’d hoped. Xelloss had always attracted her attention because of his mysterious ways, but, ever since she’d agreed to go with him, he had acted just like an average mortal: decent conversation, but very boring in all other respects. It looked like romance was a dead end there, and she didn’t really have the power to change that. If he didn’t want to be seduced, then he didn’t want to be seduced. End of conversation. Ever since that first day when they’d set out together on this journey, his eyes hadn’t strayed to her body, sexy as it was, and he had made no comments or gestures to attract her affections. Why, she wondered. They used to be so common, at least every ten minutes or so, and now they had ceased completely. Damn. Well, maybe she wasn’t as good-looking as she thought she was. Maybe she just wasn’t good enough for the world anymore. Her father would never allow her to believe that, but what would the Crown Prince of Seiryuun say is he knew that his daughter was willingly aiding a Mazoku, a being of evil, who was obviously involved in some sort of dark plot? And what would he say if he knew that his daughter loved this Mazoku passionately, and probably always would? Ameria let her surroundings slip into her consciousness for a brief moment. They had covered a lot of territory over the course of her ponderings, she and Xelloss. They were now climbing steadily up a mountain trail, large rocks discouraging their progression. Well, hers anyway. Xelloss didn’t seem to be having any problems. Her attention diverted back to her inner conflict. How would she ever face her father or any of the others again after this expedition was complete? If only Xelloss would show some slight sign of interest, she wouldn’t worry so much about facing them at all. Oh, why couldn’t he love her as she loved him? If only he did, she would never dream of going back. If the opportunity ever presented itself, she would become his forever in a heartbeat.
Xelloss sighed mentally as he trudged along. Most of his dreams had come true. The princess had come willingly, and she also seemed to be rather taken with him. He wanted to tell her how he felt, to tell her everything, but a throb at the back of his head reminded him. Don’t try it, Xelloss the voice of the Beastmaster cut into his thoughts. Not before I see her. That was the order that was repeated to him each time he considered sharing with the Princess how he felt, each time he even wished he could share how he felt. Ameria was beginning to think that he wasn’t interested, that he didn’t care, and nothing could have been farther from the truth. He was powerless, and if he wanted to remain alive and well, he must remain powerless for the time being. There was nothing he could do. He glanced back at her now. She looked as if she were lost in thought. That she felt great love for him was obvious. Being the Mazoku he was, he could sense positive emotions only if they were very strong, and he could sense her passion for him quite easily. And now, because of his orders, he was unable to show that he loved her as well, was unable even to tell her that he felt the same way.
The path upon which they were traveling leveled out and began traversing the mountain. To their right, the steep slope continued upward some 500 metres to the rocky screes high above them. To their left, the mountainside had changed from a steep incline to a sheer drip. Looking over the edge, Ameria could see the sapphire line of a river far below. She almost couldn’t believe that they had ascended so far, but then let the matter drip. If they had, then they had. Why did it matter? Why should it? The only explanation she could come up with would that it would be an easy suicide if things got a little too rough. One step and there would be no turning back, and she could probably have some fun on the way down, considering she would probably fall for seven or eight minutes before she hit the bottom. But she couldn’t do that yet. First of all, she still didn’t have any proof that Xelloss didn’t love her, so why should she do anything rash before she was sure? Second, Xelloss or no Xelloss, she was now extremely curious as to the nature of this mission. Why would Xellass have any interest in her, a former warrior of justice who was now, well, just a warrior. And the fact that she couldn’t bring any reasons to mind was keeping her alive and walking dutifully behind Xelloss.
She never heard a thing. The trickster sensed that someone or something was with them, and swung a round, throwing a shield around the princess just as the assassin’s battle-axe began to fall. Ameria shrieked and jumped back, firing a Gaav Flare at the unexpected intruder. The figure was engulfed in flames and was soon nothing but a pile of ash on the ground. The Seiryuun princess gulped. That had been a bit too sudden for her tasted, and she was glad that their “visitor” was quite dead. Xelloss, on the other hand, would have liked a good look at the warrior to see if he could determine who the man, well, he was pretty sure it was a man, anyway, he had wanted to see if he could have found out who the unknown person was sent by. That would have helped him figure out why the princess was wanted dead. Anyway, it was two late now. The two left the pile of ash to be pondered over by the next traveler that took this path and continued on their journey.
A scream rang out through the quiet little inn. A high-pitched, feminine, piercing scream. Lina’s scream. She, Zelgadiss, and Gourry had gone to sleep in the bustling seaport of Sarai under the agreement that whichever one of them woke first would wake the other two. Linda didn’t wake first, but there was no need for Gourry to wake Zel. Lina’s scream did the job well, and, because of Zel’s excellent hearing, there was a bit of startling included for no extra cost, except maybe a few missed heartbeats. But why did Lina produce such a piercing, feminine, high-ptiched scream? Why did she scream at all? To discover this, we must travel back about an hour to when Gourry was first waking up.
Dawn was just starting to break, and the increased light, which was not really enough for anyone to notice, triggered the blonde’s wake-up mechanism. He yawned and stretched slowly. Or tried to, for his height never allowed him to sleep fully extended on an inn bed. So when his brain registered about eight and a half minutes later that his feet wouldn’t go any farther, he rolled off the bed and kept stretching. After a good many conted groans, wich, combined with the thump of his body hitting the floor, probably made other guests wonder just what was going on in that room, the swordsman stood. His hair looked, well, it looked about like what anyone’s hair would look like if this person had hair that long, that color, and slept the same way. Now we remember that Gourry went to sleep nude, and we remember that Gourry isn’t too bright. So the bug dumb guy never bothered to put on any clothes. Instead, he sat on the edge of his bed and pondered. He remembered that he was supposed to do something if he woke up on his own, thus meaning if he awoke before someone else woke him. And he didn’t remember anyone else waking up up, so he figured he must have woken up on his own. Pleased with this deduction, Gourry continued to try to remeber what it was that he was supposed to be doing. After about forty-five minutes of pondering, the swordsman stood, smiling excitedly. He knew just what to do. He would ask Lina what it was that he needed to do.
So Gourry walked straight to the door and proceded to go to the next room down the hall and walk into it. He saw Lina sprawled diagnolly across her bed, snoring loudly. She looked quite peaceful in the tiny amout of light that was present in the room, which was enough light for the blonde to tell where Lina’s bed was, and confirm that she was in it. Not being able to see anything else, the swordsman put out a finger and prodded the red-head. She stirred slightly, but did not awaken. Gourry prodded again, harder this time, no knowing that his finger was plunging into the soft flesh of Lina’s non-existant left breast. This time, the sorceress woke instantly with small yelp. She sat straight up and cast an intense light spell so she could see who she was supposed to fry. The blonde was blinded by the spell, and Lina was blinded by fear at the shight of his exposed body. She didn’t have time to get the wrong idea about shy Gourry was poking her boob while not wearing a stitch of clothing. The sorceress hesitated just long enough to fill her lungs with air and then let fly. And Gourry and Zelgadiss instantlz lost any capability they once had for hearing, while ther est of th inn was rudely awakened, only to hear, “Gourry, that is NOT the elbow!!” at an extremely high pitch.
God dammit, he is such an idiot! Lina fumed as the group hiked on toward the next town. She glanced back at the mummy which had once been her not-so-intelligent sidekick. He was walking a bit slower than usual, and, to her eyes, looked as if he was experiencing a bit of pain, possibly. “For the sake of Cephied, do you think you could hurry it up a bit, Gourry?!” she bitched in the mummy’s general direction before turning back around and focusing on the path ahead once more. The mummy mumbled something in reply, but Lina couldn’t make out the words and therefore decided that they probably weren’t worth her time anyway. She continued bitching, moaning, griping, and cussing about the group’s situation for the entire seven hour it took them to reach the next town, a lazy riverside village called Mikitei. She also robbed a few bandits along the way.
Mikitei was a very boring place, Lina decided. It wasn’t a seaport, it was very small, the inhabitants were not very outgoing, and, definitely worst of all, the food wasn’t anything to speak of. And Lina liked speaking of food, so she bitched about it instead. The group as a whole, however, fared pretty well with this town…meaning that they didn’t get kicked out for “disturbing the peace” as they had in Sarai (thought Lina pointed out very loudly at the time and for a while afterward that a long, strong finger poking the soft flesh of her non-existent left breast at some god-awful hour of the early morning hardly counted as peace.)
With Lina’s newly gained (from the bandits) riches, the three companions were able to secure rooms at the nicest inn in town. And nice was not really the word for it, Zelgadiss observed silently as he stepped into his room and tossed his cloak on the bed. Heaven was a more correct term, and as he marveled at the lush appointments, he noticed something else. Standing before him was the fist bed he had come across in years that would actually support his weight. The bed currently under the chimera’s observation consisted of a frame sculpted from a solid piece of stone. No danger of this one collapsing. Zel grinned as he sat down on the chair near the door. He sighed. This would be his first night in a bed in more than six years. And the sorcerer was looking forward to it!
Meanwhile, Lina was already in her sleeping outfit and climbing into her bed, which was identical to Zel’s, and making a mental not to wake up before Gourry, even though she hated losing sleep over anything. But she just couldn’t go through life with one of Gourry’s fingers prodding the soft flesh of her non-existent left breast very early every morning. She just couldn’t deal with that, or even the thought of sleeping long enough to where it just might possibly happen again. Come to think of it, she didn’t think she could handle having the soft flesh of her non-existent right breast poked either. So Lina turned her brain into an alarm clock. She also rigged a bucked of water over the head of her bed with a rope tied to the door so anyone who opened the door would douse her and effectively wake her before they got the chance to go poking her boob. She also remembered to cast a long-term heat spell on the bucket and water so it would not give her a heart attack before it woke her.
And somewhere off in the distance, a pretending-to-be-sleeping Mazoku smiled inwardly as the hesitant fingers of a beautiful princess gently ran through his hair.
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Psycho Chimera! is copyrighted 2000 by Trinity. Deficiencies of Justice is copyrighted 2000 by Adrian Trinity.
