Lost and Found
Chapter Twelve

        They never heard the words. Suddenly, the magic had gathered into the outstretched hand, and the undeniable flare-out of a Dragon Slave fired out, leveling the forest.

        When the dust cleared, they looked to see that the forest was indeed gone. But in the distance, in what had been the heart of the forest… something glinted brightly like a beacon.
        “Are you just going to stand there and stare?”
        Blinking, the little group turned to look at a fairly ragged-looking redhead holding the Blessed Blade.
        Sylphiel coughed away some of the dust. “Miss…”
        “Lina,” she said. “I’m Lina.” Zelgadis looked at her steadily, and she looked at him for a moment, and then turned away to look at the forest. “Sylphiel, you have to come with me.”
        “Me? I don’t understand, Miss… Lina…” Sylphiel said quietly.
        “You will when we get there,” Lina said cryptically, and Sylphiel only nodded and followed Lina.
        Amelia and Zelgadis looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.

        Xellos was uttering his six thousand five hundred and twenty second curse in a language that hadn’t been heard on the planet since before the Golden Dragons got the bug up their collective tails when he saw them head for the glimmer in the distance. He knew what it was, what it could do, and what it would probably do to him. And while he was interested in seeing the effect that this would have on mortal minds, he was not too thrilled at the prospect of what effect it would have on a Mazoku mind.
        When this is over… he wondered, what will I see?

        The closer they got to the glimmer, the more Sylphiel had a feeling. And when the cleric had a feeling, she was usually right. She started to move faster, reaching to take the Blessed Blade from Lina as they moved. Yes… this is a temple… this is an old temple long lost to sleep. Sylphiel thought as they moved along. She came to a stop before a large medallion in the ground, looking at the ancient symbol. A symbol of Cepheid…
        The Blessed Blade flared brightly in her hands, and Sylphiel felt the request, rather than heard it. With all her strength, the cleric brought the sword point-first into the medallion.
        “Sylphiel, no!” Zelgadis shouted too late. But when Lina nodded to Sylphiel, Zelgadis paused. What is it that they have done?
        Magic unfolded along the ground, opening like a brilliant starburst with them at the center. The Blessed Blade vanished from sight, and a silver-haired girl-child sat in its place, blinking brilliant blue eyes at them.

        Xellos stiffened in preparation for the ring of magic to hit him. Being at Ground Zero of a holy spell was not what he had anticipated this morning. Damn Dynast for this treachery. Well… Dynast was already gone. At least he’d gotten to do that. Maybe Zelas would be so pleased with that fact that she’d bring him back…
        But the magic parted around him, and he saw the figure turn to look at him.
        Before he could react, he had been summoned, landing beside Zelgadis to look at the child before them.

        The child stood, and Xellos sighed heavily, realizing who it was. She smiled as she walked towards the Mazoku, and reluctantly, he kneeled to bring himself to eye-level with her. “Hello, Mitsukai.”
        As Lina and the others watched in astonishment, the silver-haired girl simply patted Xellos on the head. “Hello, Xellos. Have you been good while I was gone?”
        Xellos smiled wryly at the girl, eyes closed. “That depends on your definition of ‘good’, Mitsu.”
        The child laughed, a silvery-bell sound, then nodded to the Trickster Priest. “Indeed it does. Fine, fine, Xellos. You may go now. I know my presence distresses you so.”
        Zelgadis stared as Xellos quickly faded from sight. Who was this girl? Her blue eyes fastened on him, and he had a feeling that he was about to find out.
        “I am, as you may have heard, Mitsukai. I thank you for rescuing me from the prison that Dynast Grausherra built around me as I slept.”
        Lina shook her head. “I don’t understand. Maybe I know your name…but I don’t know who you are.”
        The girl laughed, lifting into the air and floating over to Lina. Looking her straight in the eye, she smiled. “You are Lina Inverse. And I am Mitsukai, perhaps better known to you as one of the lost fragments of Cepheid.”
        Lina blinked. A fragment of Cepheid? Here? After all of this? After everything she had been through… to come face-to-face with this child… She shook her head. “I don’t figure it. Dynast’s a fairly weak lesser minion of Shabranigdo. How come you weren’t able to free yourself?”
        Amelia hung her head. That was Lina, no doubt about it. Only Lina would look at a fragment of any god and question them.
        “I was captive before I was here, Lina Inverse. I am the smallest fragment of Cepheid, and that was my undoing. But now you have restored me. I know that it was not without cost, for Dynast took great pains to show me what he had done. But Dynast did not know that my long efforts to escape had finally worked.” The child waved a hand, and Lina gasped in surprise.
        A woman with long black hair and black eyes wearing a white dress stepped up to the group, smiling gently at Lina. “Hello, Lina. It’s been a year, hasn’t it?”
        “This is Amy Sellmore. The true Amy, daughter of Ian. She is a priestess of Cepheid, and assisted me. Lina’s life was in grave danger, and Amy wove the spell that protected Lina until the danger was past.” Mitsukai said, drifting down to land on the dragon-slave scorched grass.
        Lina shook her head. “A… spell…? I… I don’t understand…”
        Amy stepped forward, lifting her hand. “Take my hand, Lina. Take my hand and remember.”
        Lina reached out and touched her fingers to Amy’s.

        Lina had been awake when the raven-haired woman had come into the room where she and Gourry lay. The healers had done what they could, and it was up to Cepheid now, they said. Indeed, they had left it to Cepheid, for Amy was a Priestess who spoke with a fragment of Cepheid on a daily basis.
        Amy's instructions had been clear. She touched the blonde youth, sensing his injuries and knowing what must be done. Borrowing powers far beyond her scope, she called forth the Cepheid Knight, who returned the injured lad to his home for healing. The Knight had expressed concern over the redhead, and Amy had said she would be safe. And then, Amy had turned to the girl on the bed.
        Lina had been too injured to even cringe when her sister passed through the room, but for a moment, she could have sworn that something had flickered in her sister’s eyes that resembled worry. But it had faded, and the Knight moved on. Gentle hands had been placed on her head and shoulder, words of healing giving strength.
        But she would have to take a new role in life until the other was healed. It could be long before he was, and yet… Cepheid had asked. Lina accepted, and Amy cast the spells. Over time, the spell would unravel, the truth would be revealed, and Lina could come forth to complete the task.
        In exchange, Lina learned spells. Spells that had been long lost to the world, spells that spoke words of healing, words of soothing. And so Lina slept, living life as Amy until Lina was ready.

        Lina pulled her hand back, looking to the black eyes of the real Amy Sellmore as the others watched in curiosity. “Then… where…?”
        “Hey guys! What’s going on?”
        The group spun at the voice, eyes widening.
        Gourry.
        Gourry was walking up to them; waving like nothing was wrong, and Lina could only grin. Sylphiel burst into tears, running up to him, sobbing into his new armor.
        Amelia sniffled, and Mitsukai patted her knowingly on the hand. “Yes, Princess. It’s always good to have a happy ending.”