Rihana, the Dark Mage!
The Exiled Priestess of Shabranigdo!
The New Enemy Arrives!
Lina stood,
following Kira out to the foyer, where a white-clad man leaned on the doorjamb,
gasping heavily for breath. A Holy Warrior of Cepheid… I haven’t seen
any of them since I left Zefielia! Stepping up behind Kira, she looked
to the guest, whose eyes promptly rounded in amazement.
“Two…
Lady Inverse…?” He asked unsteadily.
Kira
dismissed it with a wave. Reaching out with a hand that was glowing softly,
she touched the warrior and healing magic began its work. “So. Rihana of
the Flames has returned. This is most irritating indeed.”
“Rihana
Hisaki… She fancied herself the most powerful until you came along, wasn’t
that how it went, Kira?” Xellos asked as he entered the room with the others.
Kira’s
answer came in the form of a counter-question. “Whose side are you on,
Xellos? Answer quickly, and carefully. I have neither the time, nor the
patience to put up with you if you’re here to cause trouble.” She noticed
the hiss from the Warrior of Cepheid, but said nothing.
Xellos
scratched his head. “Trouble is Lina’s job. I’m only here to report on
various actions.”
Lina
spun, glaring daggers at Xellos. “Trouble? It seems to me that the only
time things get blown out of proportion is when you’re around, Xellos!”
Her temper sparked a dangerous glow in her eyes, and Xellos thought it
prudent to back down for the moment. After all, he wasn’t really there
for any reason at all… except perhaps to annoy Lina. It was, after all,
such fun.
“Like
it is right now?” Zelgadis asked quietly, tacitly ignoring the elbow that
was undoubtedly going to be bruised from trying to shush him.
Amelia
shot Zelgadis a look as she rubbed her elbow. It was entirely too easy
to forget that he had very solid stone skin. No doubt she’d have a lovely
bruise, but she’d heal it when it showed up. As for right now, they needed
to focus on the return of Shabranigdo’s long-exiled Priestess.
The group
stepped outside, the sunlight brilliant and forcing them to shade their
eyes as they struggled to see the arrival.
She was
an almost reversed-image glowing dark-skinned figure in a red cloak, long
black hair flowing in the breeze. For a moment, Lina wondered what unlucky
soul had to brush that out after this, but quickly put that thought aside.
Now wasn't the time to be thinking about fashion and beauty! But... this
woman... A breeze caught the woman's cloak, and the fabric billowed out,
revealing the slender figure within. With a sudden jolt, Lina realized
that the woman was dressed very much like Rezo had been.
A blouse
of white was tucked into skin-tight black pants, a red belt laced at her
waist. In her hand was a half-staff, a brilliant red talisman set into
one end. There was a flash of light from the brilliant blue gem that was
caught at her throat, and suddenly, Lina's breath caught as her new abilities
suddenly flared and she sensed something familiar within that stone's watery
depths. Auntie Aqua… the Water Dragon… that's all that's left…? Oh no…
Is this who was responsible for the fall of the Water Dragon King so long
ago? If this Rihana is that powerful… we could all be in a whole lot of
trouble… "So,"
The woman's dulcet voice fell on Lina's ears like velvet, and once again
Lina found herself trying not to have a complex about the unfairness of
it all. She’s so… so… adult! Why can’t I have a figure like that!?
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lina Inverse."
Lina
looked up from her thoughts to the woman, about to reply, when she realized
that this all-frightening woman was looking at Kira rather expectantly.
Various
sweatdrops appeared, and Lina sighed. This was the all-powerful, hideously
dangerous Exiled Priest of Shabranigdo? Lina took a breath, and before
Kira could answer, stepped forwards and held out her hand. "Actually, I'm
Lina Inverse. That's Kira Inverse, my-"
"Your
sister! I should have known! You two look so alike! I'm so sorry..." Rihana
interrupted.
Somewhere
in the back of Lina's mind, she identified the sounds of the falling people.
Zelgadis and Amelia had hit the floor almost at the same time, Gourry only
moments behind them. Naturally, it took Gourry a few seconds more to
understand it, she thought. Forcing a smile to Rihana, who was busy
peering at the people who had fallen over, Lina shook her head. "No, she's
my great-great... great grandmother."
Kira
shot Lina a glare. "I'm not that old, you. Just two greats. Not
three."
Eyes
as deep as onyx turned to Lina. "Why are they on the floor? Are they okay?"
Rihana peered into the room curiously.
Violet
eyes suddenly blinked back at her, and the Priestess of Shabranigdo gave
a startled yelp, hopping back as Xellos grinned. "Why, hello, Rihana. It's
been a long time!" He stood with a satisfied smile, eyes closed once more.
"Not
nearly long enough, Xellos Metallium. What are you doing here?" She snarled,
a cold chill settling over her, startling Lina.
"Me?"
Xellos feigned innocence. "I'm here on my honeymoon. Tirshen is such a
lovely little town..."
Rihana
snorted. "Stop lying, Xellos. It may have fooled me once and long ago,
but not anymore."
An arm
slithered over Xellos' shoulder, hand snaking down his chest and two very
golden eyes opened to look across to Rihana. "Oh, he's not lying. I'm Elena
Ul Kuroryu Metallium. It's a pleasure to meet you..."
Lina
suddenly didn't envy the figure in red. There seemed to be no love lost
between Rihana and Xellos, much as Filia and Xellos had preferred to...
disagree... they had at least made peace with each other. These two looked
like they were old enemies, back from before the wars. Or... she
thought, old lovers. Oh dear. That means... well, Xellos is a
monster after all... Rihana
looked to Lina, shaking her head. "Interesting companions you keep, Chaos
Knight. Or... are they your... servants, the Priest and General of Beastmaster?"
"Excuse
me," Xellos began as he sweatdropped, but Lina's uplifted hand cut him
short.
"Look,
I may be the Knight of Chaos, and I may answer to the Lord of Nightmares,
but that doesn't mean that I'm on a power trip, okay? Xellos and Elena
are here on honeymoon. What they do is entirely up to them," Lina said
calmly, mentally noting where everyone was. It was almost distracting that
she could sense the entire group, knew where and how they were standing.
Helpful, but distracting.
"I see.
What a shame. You have no idea what your powers will grant you, Lina Inverse,"
Rihana smiled softly.
Oh,
for crying out loud! This is the Exiled Priestess? I mean… her attention
span is shorter than my temper!!! And she’s got a figure! Why do things
like this always have to happen to me??? Lina whined to herself
as she tried not to glare at Rihana. She’d force herself to be polite.
If the woman was half as powerful as Lina feared…
She is not as powerful as you may think, Lina Inverse. Lina
blinked as the Lord of Nightmares’ mindvoice interrupted the tirade. She’s
not? But that stone at her neck…
Is indeed what you think it is. You could command its return. Ask for it,
if you wish. As you are one of Mine, the lesser must comply. Lesser…?
As My Knight, you hold seniority over them, Lina Inverse. All of them. …All
of them…? Lina wondered curiously.
All. Even…?
Even.
Oh. My. There
was a mental chuckle as the Lord of Nightmares coalesced beside Lina. Immediately
Xellos, Elena, and Rihana kneeled. Lina looked over, startled, seeing Kira
reach out to the Golden One, embracing her as if they were old friends.
“My Lady…”
Kira laughed as the Lord of Nightmares chuckled and returned the embrace.
Lina
heard Amelia, Zelgadis, and Gourry fall over again. As for herself, she
wasn’t entirely certain that she hadn’t left reality for some strange dream.
She pinched her arm, wincing when it hurt, and shook her head slowly. “This
is getting to me, guys. Will someone please explain to me what is going
on?”
The Lord
of Nightmares turned to look to Lina with a smile. “There has to be the
occasional light moment, you know. I can’t be a serious character all the
time…”
This
time, Lina fell over.
It was
a few hours later, and the majority of the people in Kira Inverses’ house
were happily chatting away. Those that weren’t were the usual suspects,
Gourry and Zelgadis.
Gourry,
for his part, was sound asleep in what had turned out to be a very comfortable
chair. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep… but when he sat down and tried to
follow the various conversations, well… the vast majority of them were
over his head. Sleep came naturally.
Zelgadis
was watching Amelia. Really honestly watching her. Her expressions, her
movements… how animated she was while discussing things with Kira. There
was a lot to the girl that he hadn’t really taken the time to see before.
He was
so intent on Amelia that he didn’t notice as Lina walked up behind the
stool that he sat on and nearly fell off when she nudged him slightly.
“Hey! No ogling the Princess of Sailune, Zelgadis!”
Amelia
overheard the comment, and glanced over, blushing.
Lina
laughed softly to herself, seeing the matching blushes. It had been almost
too easy to get those two looking at each other. Now, she thought
quietly, if only I could get through to Gourry… Zelgadis
saw the thought cross behind her eyes, saw her gaze flicker to the sleeping
swordsman, and looked across to Amelia. The princess had seen it too. But
what to do about it? Gourry was dumber than almost everything Zelgadis
had ever encountered, but he had a good heart.
Lina
shook her head and wandered into the kitchen, startling Elena, who was
sitting quietly at the table with a mug of something that smelled absolutely
wonderful. “What are you drinking?” She approached Elena as if the woman
wasn’t the wife of Xellos and General of the Beastmaster. Maybe it was
a little irreverent, but she’d known her before all that...
Elena
looked up, tilting her head at Lina. “Oh… this? It’s something that Kira
called ‘cinnamon cocoa’ and I have to admit, it’s pretty good…”
Lina
considered. Anything that had cinnamon and chocolate in it simply had to
be good. “So… where can I get some?” She looked around the kitchen, not
seeing any viable source of the liquid.
Anya,
the strange servant that Lina had noticed earlier, produced a mug with
the wonderful-smelling drink, and offered it to her. With a shrug, Lina
took the mug and sipped slowly.
Yes,
she
decided, this is definitely something worth drinking again. Oh, this
is good... She settled into a chair at the table and looked over at
Elena. “So… how are things working out? I mean, between your Dragon blood
and the Mazoku affiliation.”
Elena
smiled softly, setting her own mug down. “Well… I’m not sure I’m a true
Mazoku. I don’t have to feed like most of them do… and though Xellos won’t
tell me all of it, I’m given the impression that as agents of Zelas… we’re
somewhat exempt from certain things.”
“Like
the fact that Xellos loves?” Lina asked. “I mean, it’s a pretty well-known
fact that Mazoku can’t love. It goes against the very nature of being a
lesser minion of Shabranigdo.”
Elena
mused for a moment. “I think that’s because there’s just enough of what
we once were within us…”
‘Oh…
I see,” Lina replied. “It gives you another level on which to operate.
Because there’s a little of that aspect of self left, you can understand
the reasons used in reactions taken by the mortals. That makes sense.”
“It’s
the same with you, Lina,” Kira’s voice interrupted as she entered the kitchen.
“You are every bit Lina Inverse as you are Chaos Knight. And because the
hierarchy is set up that way, you can’t become a Mazoku. You draw on powers
that are higher than they are… no offence, Elena.”
Elena
shrugged. “It doesn’t really affect me. I know that if Lina so chose, she
could wipe me off of the face of the Four Worlds with a few moments worth
of thought. But I’m also pretty sure that we wouldn’t ever come to that…
so I’m not going to spend any time worrying over it.”
Lina
was thunderstruck. “I… could do… that?”
Kira
cuffed her great-great granddaughter. “Remember your hierarchy lessons,
child! The Lord of Nightmares is the Mother of All Things, yes? And given
that, L-Sama resides over Shabranigdo, even as Shabranigdo resides over
Zelas. Granted, that doesn’t really bother Zelas… but not many things do
actually bother her.”
“So…
I’m on a higher level than Zelas?” Lina asked, considering this carefully.
Kira
sat beside Lina and shook her head. “Not in the literal sense, no. You’re
in a class of your own… but you do carry more weight in the grand scheme
of things than say… Xellos.”
Lina
thought about that. “That’s a rather unnerving thought. I mean… why me?
What is so special about me that I’d be picked for this?”
Kira
smiled softly. “That’s something that you are going to have to discover
for yourself, Lina. No-one can tell you why except yourself.”
Lina
made a face at Kira. “Why did I expect that kind of an answer from you?
At least it beats Xellos’ favorite phrase.” She shook her head and finished
the cocoa. “That stuff’s good. It makes the perfect before-bed drink… and
that is precisely where I am going.” She stood up, turning to head for
the kitchen door. “Goodnight.”
Amelia
missed Lina’s farewell because she was standing on the porch, looking off
across the street. A tan-gloved hand settled on the railing beside hers,
and she looked up to see Zelgadis looking off in the same direction she
had been.
“You
were out here alone,” he said without looking.
Amelia
nodded slowly. “It was kind of… crowded in there.”
There
was the slightest hint of a chuckle from him. “It’s becoming a habit to
have the Lord of Nightmares Herself around at dinnertime. At least she
eats less than Lina.”
Amelia
giggled for a moment, then turned serious. “What do you think of this,
Mi… Zelgadis? With Miss Lina as the Chaos Knight…” She turned to look at
him, eyes threatened by tears. “Do you think she’ll still want us as her
friends?”
He put
his hand on her shoulder, trying to be as comforting as he knew how. “Of
course she will, Amelia. She’s still the same old Lina.”
Above,
frozen just in the process of leaning out the open window to holler down
a good night to the two on the porch, Lina stood mute. Oh, Amelia…
she thought, moving back away from the window and turning to the bed, fighting
tears of her own. They’re all so worried about me… and frankly, so am
I… With
that thought, she curled up in the bed and fell asleep, trying to forget.