Hellmaster? The Evil Elder Fesnic?

            A small imp suddenly appeared, accompanied by the sound of air rushing away from new matter, and sat on Ueiko’s shoulder; it was hoping to get in on the food action.

            The imp broke whatever tension there had been and everyone relaxed. “Wait ‘til it gets here,” Ueiko said to his passenger.

            “Thanks,” Ara said to Leigh and Ueiko. She smiled charismatically as she slipped the small gem into her pouch.

            “No problem,” Leigh assured her as Ueiko nodded. Rofellos hung his head in shame even though he hadn’t done anything.

            “Yum!” was the collective exclamation when their food arrived.

            Ueiko smiled lightly at his imp. “Here you go,” he said as he gave a piece to it; it ate the piece greedily, obviously enjoying it.

            Ara quietly sipped her water as everyone started their meals. Then Leigh handed a piece of salmon to her. “Thanks,” she said gratefully and smiled. Munching on her food, she added, “So what are we going to do about Zoragath?”

            “Kill him,” Ueiko may have mumbled in response; it was hard to understand him with all the food in his mouth, but there was a good chance that was what he’d said.

            Ara glared at him. “Duh,” she growled. “How is the question.”

            “Watch the fingers,” Ueiko warned his imp as he gave it another piece. “With force,” he replied to Ara. He yelped quietly when his imp accidentally nibbled on his fingers with its sharp teeth.

            Ara looked at Ueiko sternly and talked to him as if scolding a child. “I told you I don’t want the Justice Freak here. We have to do it quietly. How?” She nibbled daintily on her food as she turned her attention to the others.

            Leigh scratched his ear. Then he sniffed and wiped his mouth with a napkin before replying. “When she comes – if she comes – tell her that he was a Mazoku. Nothing to worry about.”

            “Decapitation or immolation are always fun,” Ueiko added quietly; his imp nodded in agreement. Everyone just ignored the two, as it was the best thing.

            “Well, it would be hard to kill him in any way in Seyruun, so let’s bring him out of the country somehow,” Rofellos suggested.

            Ara looked skeptical. “Sure, the country. Again, how?”

            “Just an idea.” He shrugged.

            “Shoot,” Leigh said, waiting for another suggestion.

            “Bang,” Ara replied straight-facedly. He glared at her; even though guns had just been invented, the joke was already old.

            The imp was sitting happily on Ueiko’s shoulder and looking quite innocent. Leigh turned away from Ara and noticed it. He threw it a piece of his salmon, which it dexterously caught. The imp looked happily around the room as Rofellos laughed in delight.

            Meanwhile, Ara suggested, “Maybe make it look like natural causes?”

            “Also kinda hard,” Rofellos replied. Ara nodded in agreement.

            “Such as?” Ueiko said at the same time.

            “Er…” Ara really hadn’t thought it through; since Zoragath was really a Mazoku, faking any kind of natural cause would be pretty hard.

            “Dysentery?” Ueiko smiled.

            Ara sweatdropped. “How does one fake dysentery?!!” she demanded.

            “Very carefully,” Leigh quipped between bites. He coughed.

            “Hmm,” Rofellos said. “Maybe a lightning bolt?”

            “Why not cut off his head put it on a pike and say that squirrels did it?” Ueiko suggested.

Ara glared “I hate you” at him and then ignored him. Unfortunately, Leigh didn’t. “Squirrels?”

“We can find out how,” Ueiko replied, shrugging.

Ara casually looked out the door. Suddenly, she cursed and ducked. The men discreetly turned their heads to see what the matter was and saw a woman standing at the door. She wore the same robes as the priestess Sera, which were white lined by red; a patch of the Lord of Nightmares’ symbol was sewn prominently across her chest. The woman searched the tavern, managing to look both cold and casual at the same time.

“I’m not here. I’m not here,” Ara muttered repeatedly. It was possible she was hoping her chant would make it so.

Ueiko winked at the strange woman, and then whispered to Ara, “Yes, you are.” He smiled and Rofellos chuckled.

The woman paused on Ueiko, giving him a stern look; he grinned at her. Then she shrugged, apparently realizing her quarry was not there, and left the tavern.

“Shut up,” Ara growled at Ueiko. “Is she gone yet?”

“That was interesting,” Leigh remarked. “Yes,” he told Ara at the same time that Rofellos did. Ara returned to her seat.

“My animal magnetism at its best,” Ueiko chuckled. Leigh blinked and then shook his head.

“Did you know her?” Rofellos asked.

“No,” Ueiko replied.

“I was asking Ara.”

“Yes. It was Elder Fesnic,” she replied.

“Elder?!!” Rofellos exclaimed and looked at her in confusion.

Ueiko raised his eyebrow. “Interesting.”

“Yes, she’s a priest under Horus. She represents Hellmaster Phibrizzo at our temple,” Ara explained.

“How?” Ueiko asked.

“The, uh, hierarchy at the temple is based on what we know about the four staffs,” Ara replied.

“You blow her into nothingness? That is kind of rude,” Ueiko commented, referring to the real Phibrizzo’s death at the hand of the Lord of Nightmares.

“Different people are different representations of gods?” Rofellos asked.

“Yes. Zoragath, the High Priest, for example, represents the Lord of Nightmares,” she clarified. “Elder Phibby isn’t a good sign.”

“Why represent someone who is supposedly dead?” Leigh asked.

“Why not?”

“Excuse me – did you just say ‘Phibby’?” Rofellos asked.

“Yes, I don’t like her,” Ara curtly replied.

“Wouldn't they need a new Prabrizo, or whatever the name is, every time they did anything involving him?” Ueiko asked, still on his joke made in poor taste; everyone ignored him, as usual.

“He is dead,” Leigh said. “Why represent someone who is dead?”

“Phibrizzo is-was the most powerful general of Shabranigdo,” Ara replied.

“He is still dead.”

“So you do blow her into nothingness then?” Ueiko asked again.

“She is the most powerful under Horus. Besides, this was established before he died,” Ara explained to Leigh, referring to Phibrizzo. She turned to Ueiko and answered his inane question, hoping to shut him up. “No. It’s purely an honorary title.”

“Oh, alright,” Leigh replied and started looking around the tavern.

“Can I kill her as well?” Ueiko whispered to Ara.

At the same time, Rofellos said, “But that also means that they have put together a search.”

“Preferably not, but I don’t care,” she replied.

“Excellent.” Ueiko sat contentedly back in his chair.

“Which is very bad for us,” Rofellos said, continuing his thought.

Leigh located the bathroom. “If you would pardon me,” he said to the others as he got up and left the table. He headed toward a little door to the left of the bar, but then he realized he left his book at the table. He went back to get it and then left for the bathroom again.

“Yes,” Ara replied in the meantime, agreeing with Rofellos’ assessment of the situation. “Korin doesn't have a rank. Zoragath sent him. If elder Phibrizzo is looking for me, they know I’m still around.”

“Divine intervention,” Ueiko mumbled when Leigh left the table.

“It might be hard to stay hidden,” Rofellos said to Ara, who nodded in agreement.

“That is true,” Ueiko agreed.

Suddenly, Ara ducked again as two priests – a man and a woman – passed the door. She crawled toward the bathrooms, hoping to find a good hiding place there; she tried to be as quiet as she could about it, but since the tavern was mostly empty at the time, she was very conspicuous. “Er, I’ll be right back?” she said to her remaining companions. Rofellos laughed at the display.

“Need help?” Ueiko asked as he stared at Ara, further foiling her attempts at being inconspicuous. At the same time, he sent his imp after the two priests who had just passed; the imp disappeared from his shoulder with the sound of a void.

Through his link with the imp, Ueiko saw that the priests are walking down the main street. People were avoiding them. However, they didn’t seem to be getting very far in their search.

“Yea,” Ara replied, seemingly oblivious to what Ueiko had just done. “Keep them away from me!” She looked warily toward the door to see if the priests were gone.

“Coming dear!” Ueiko smiled as he continued to irritate the priestess.

Even though the priests had gone, Ara had no doubt that they’d be back. She jumped into the women’s bathroom and hid. When she was out of sight, Rofellos waved for the priests to join him; no priests were outside, but he hoped that they would pass by again soon and see him.

“Reasoning?” Ueiko asked in surprise.

Before Rofellos could reply, Fesnic walked by the door again. She saw him wave at her and joined them. Rofellos silently cursed; he had wanted to talk to one of the priests, but not her. “Hello,” he greeted as she sat at their table.

The men noticed that she wore a medallion with a star and lines arranged in a certain pattern; experts on Mazoku would realize that it was Phibrizzo’s symbol. “You were at the temple earlier, weren’t you?” Fesnic asked. She looked at them calculatingly.

“Yes, that was us,” Ueiko replied.

“Yes, we were,” Rofellos said. “You guys have a nice temple.”

“Thank you,” Fesnic replied. “You were looking for Zoragath?”

“Again, yes.”

Fesnic narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the two. “Why do you need to talk to the High Priest?”

“We have a message only for him,” Rofellos replied tactfully.

“Personal business,” Ueiko snapped.

“Aha,” Fesnic replied in an indulgent voice. Then she replied to their earlier question in guarded tones. “Yes, I am looking for someone. A renegade priestess.”

“I am guessing from your temple,” Rofellos inquired.

“Yes. Her name is Ara.”

“Is that so?” Ueiko asked as he winked at the priestess. He grinned flirtatiously at her.

“Where was she last seen?” Rofellos asked. “Maybe we can help.”

Fesnic raised an eyebrow; she wasn’t sure how to react to Ueiko. “She was last seen by one of our priests in the company of three men. They attacked him,” she told Rofellos.

“That is not a good thing,” Ueiko commented.

“I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

“Not really,” Ueiko replied. Fesnic was skeptical.

“Where was the attack?” Rofellos asked.

“The Peddler’s Luck Tavern,” she replied.

“I heard there was a fight at a tavern,” Rofellos stated.

“You did? When?” Ueiko asked Rofellos. Rofellos glared at Ueiko, hoping Fesnic would miss it; he was trying to get rid of Fesnic and Ueiko was making it worse for him.

“The attack was early this morning,” Fesnic replied; she had seen the nonverbal exchange between the two.

At that moment, Ara peeked around the corner and saw Fesnic sitting at the table. She cursed and hid again. Luckily, Elder Phibrizzo didn’t see the priestess.

“Was anyone killed?” Rofellos asked.

“Did he live?” Ueiko added.

“Yes, one man was killed. Another escaped but without an arm,” Fesnic replied coldly; she watched the pair, looking for a reaction.

“Ouch,” Rofellos exclaimed in sympathy. “Did he live?”

“He did escape,” Ueiko commented, answering his own question from earlier in the process.

“Yes. Apparently, Ara healed him before he fled,” Fesnic told them, again watching for a reaction. “He is fine now.”

“Interesting,” Rofellos replied. “I wonder why.”

“Interesting for a traitor,” Ueiko added.

“So you don’t know anything?” Fesnic asked as she carefully searched the tavern. While the men were being cooperative, she had a feeling that not only did they know where Ara was, but that the priestess was somewhere in the tavern.

“No, sorry,” Ueiko replied.

“As I said, I only heard there was a fight,” Rofellos reiterated, hoping she would just get up and leave.

“I see,” she replied. She turned her attention back to Rofellos. “Why did you wave me to your table?”

“Good question. Why did you?” Ueiko turned to the smaller man expectantly.

Rofellos mentally cursed the other man. “Just wanted to see what happened.” He smiled charismatically.

Fesnic raised an eyebrow. “Interesting…”

“Very,” Ueiko agreed. “Sorry to waste your time. Good luck in your search.”

Then the waiter reappeared. “Do you want anything?” he asked Fesnic, distaste for her evident on his face.

“No, thank you,” she told the waiter. “I’m sorry for your time,” she said to the two men as she got up. Her eyes locked on the one place she hadn’t searched: the bathroom. “Excuse me,” she said as she left the table.

“No problem,” Rofellos replied politely. “Thanks for the conversation.”

“Figures,” Ueiko mumbled once he saw where the elder was heading. “Need help?” he called after her.

Meanwhile, Rofellos quickly got up and practically ran to the bar in an attempt to stop Elder Phibrizzo.

Fesnic reached the bathroom door and turned around. “What?” she said to Ueiko in confusion.

“Never know,” Ueiko replied. “I don’t mind. Really.” He grinned and winked flirtatiously at her.

Desperate to get her attention away from the bathroom, Rofellos asked, “You sure you don’t want anything to drink?”

Suddenly, the loud sound of a void filled the tavern. Patrons looked up.

Realizing the sound had come from the bathroom, Fesnic barked a cold reply to Rofellos. “I don’t drink.” Then she burst into the women’s bathroom to discover nothing. There was a window in the corner, but Ara couldn’t possibly have fit through it. There was no closet or large protrusions; there was no place for the runaway priestess to hide.

Rofellos sighed in relief when he realized Ara was still safe. “Sure about my help?” Ueiko asked in amusement.

Fesnic looked confused as she shut the door. Then she turned around and glared Freeze Bullets at the men. The men smiled at her and Rofellos laughed in his relief. She regarded them in suspicion, and then was struck by an idea. She turned around. She was about the kick the men’s room door in when it opened by itself.

“Umm…” Leigh was looking Fesnic right in the face. He blinked in confusion. Fesnic ignored him and tried to peer around him in her search for Ara. “What are you doing looking in the men’s room?!!” Leigh demanded angrily when he recovered from the shock.

“Is there anyone in there with you?” Fesnic asked coldly, ignoring his reaction.

“There’s just me,” Leigh replied in confusion.

“We’ll see about that.” Fesnic mumbled something and shoved Leigh aside. He tried to hit her but realized he couldn’t move.

“You can’t do that!” Leigh feebly protested.

Unchallenged, she searched the bathroom and again turned up nothing. As she passed Leigh on her way out, she snapped her fingers, and he found he could move again. He tried to strike her again, but she dodged at the last second. She paused at the door, regarded the men suspiciously for a moment, and left.

Rofellos chuckled nervously as he returned to their table. “Interesting enough for me,” Ueiko commented as the air shaman sat down.

“Wonder where she went,” Rofellos mused.

Suddenly, the same ear-agitating noise sounded from the women’s bathroom. To their surprise, Ara stepped out and sweatdropped. “Is she gone?”

“Interesting,” Ueiko commented to himself.

“Yes, she’s gone.” Rofellos muttered the rest, “finally.”

Ara ventured from her hiding place and tentatively walked a few steps toward the table. “What did she want?”

“Me,” Ueiko said proudly. “They always do.”

“To find you,” Rofellos replied, giving Ueiko a look.

“That too,” Ueiko conceded.

“What I thought,” Ara commented.

“Where were you?” Rofellos asked with curiosity.

Ara smiled secretively and in a slightly irritating manner. “That is my little secret!” she replied and winked cutely while holding up the index finger corresponding to her closed eye.

“Any reason for those particular words?” Ueiko asked; he was sure he’d heard them before, though he couldn’t place if he’d actually heard them uttered.

***

From his perch watching the Bandit Killer, Xelloss smiled. His ears burned, meaning someone was talking about him. More than likely, the conversation was about how evil he was and not his good qualities; how he loved negative emotions! If he weren’t striving for Lina to be the catalyst for his next endeavor and he didn’t need to be there at just the right moment to nudge her the correct way, he would’ve dropped in on the conversationalists. He would have enjoyed their negative emotions and might even feed the rumors. But as it was, he was all tied up.

***

Ara looked confusedly at Ueiko. “No?” she feebly replied.

“Just checking.”

“Okay?” She and Rofellos were confused, so she decided to change the subject. “Listen, why don’t we leave for a while?”

“We better...but watch out for the priests,” Rofellos warned her.

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Can you look different somehow?” Ueiko asked.

Ara raised an eyebrow in interest; she liked the idea and while she could change form, she was unable to use that form to hide. “No…” she lied.

“I could hide you in my cloak,” Ueiko suggested.

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, too.”

Rofellos laughed and Ueiko grinned wider. “Of course. But this is for your safety, first of all.”

With a sigh, Leigh sat down at the table and continued his meal. He ignored the conversation.

Ara sighed, too. “I hate you,” she growled at Ueiko.

“Good to hear it. In any case…” Ueiko trailed off and winked at her. As he made his comment, she angrily stomped to the table and sat down. Leigh rolled his eyes at Ueiko’s immature behavior and chewed, ignoring him still.

“Actually, this is the best place to hide since she already checked here,” Rofellos stated, trying to change the subject; he really didn’t feel like dealing with an angry anime woman at the moment – or ever, really.

Still irate, Ara snatched a bite of Leigh’s food from his plate and angrily chomped on it; Leigh glared at her. She glared back, daring him to mess with her.

He did. “Was that offered, priestess?”

Rofellos sat between the two in case a fight broke out. Unfortunately, that meant sitting on the table. Luckily, the priestess ignored Leigh and downed her water. She called for the waiter.

Ueiko, bored already, walked to a dark corner and watched his companions. He steepled his fingers as he regarded them.

“I’m not staying trapped in here like a rat,” Ara snapped suddenly. The waiter finally arrived and the priestess ordered, “More water.”

Rofellos reached across the table and grabbed his wine. He sipped it; it was going to be a long day, especially with an irate priestess. “Whatever you want to do, you can, but this is the best place to stay,” he told her.

“For her, maybe,” Ueiko retorted from across the room. He returned to their table and closed his eyes.

“Elder Phibby knows I'm here, dammit. She just can't prove it,” Ara snapped at Rofellos.

“How would she know that?” Rofellos asked. “And if she does, then she will be watching this place.” As an afterthought, he slapped Ueiko for his apparent lack of concern for Ara.

Leigh ordered some eggs; the waiter nodded and then left. Ueiko opened one eye and regarded the waiter with suspicion. Apparently finding nothing out of the ordinary, he closed his eye again. “Really nice to say that in front of the waiter,” Leigh scolded the priestess and the air shaman. “Who knows who he will tell who you are.”

Ara glared at him. “Bite me,” she retorted angrily.

“Of course,” Ueiko asked with a smile. “Where?” When Fesnic left earlier, he had told his imp to follow her. Elder Fesnic had gone directly back to the temple and down the dark stairs in the corner. When the imp tried to follow her further, it was stopped by an invisible barrier; Ueiko mentally frowned. “It would be my pleasure,” he said merrily, not giving away what troubled him.

In time with Ueiko’s comment, Leigh bared his teeth and said, “How nice of you to offer.”

Ara glared at the two as if to say, “Try it.” Ueiko grinned at her, not seeing the glare; Leigh backed down from his jest. Meanwhile, Rofellos had sneaked to the bar with his wine to get away from the irate priestess.

The waiter arrived with Leigh’s eggs and Ara’s water. “Bring a pitcher,” she growled; the waiter scurried away.

The waiter prepared the pitcher, and turned his back for a moment. Rofellos took the opportunity to spike Ara’s water with the rest of his wine, hoping the alcohol would relax her. Seeing Rofellos’ devious action, Ueiko commented, “That was rude.”

When the waiter returned with the pitcher, Ara poured herself another glass and down it too. “They don’t even care about the temple,” she told Leigh. “Why should it matter what business she has here?”

At the same time, Leigh, having given up on Ara, got up and walked over to a random bar patron. “You!” he shouted as he pointed.

“Or you can ignore me.” Ara sighed.

Leigh looked back at Ara, having realized she finally answered him. “That’s true,” he agreed; she ignored him.

Meanwhile, the poor patron, a woman, turned around and nervously asked, “Me?”

“Stop it, now,” Ueiko hissed warningly.

Leigh looked back at the confused patron. “This is your fault!” he shouted at her.

“What? What is my fault?!!”

“I am warning you,” Leigh growled.

Rofellos sighed. He got up and grabbed Leigh’s shirt, intending to drag him back to the table. “I’m sorry, ma’am. He is a bit drunk,” he apologized to the woman.

“Hey, no problem,” the woman replied and nervously turned back around.

Leigh stood still, halting Rofellos. He closed his eyes and started chanting, which gave Rofellos and Ueiko the hint to do so as well. “Light which burns beyond crimson flame, let thy power gather in my hand!” Leigh shouted.

The patrons’ eyes bulged and they ran in panic. “Fireball!” someone shouted in warning. Rofellos chuckled in anticipation, but Ara just continued to ignore him.

“Lighting!” Leigh shouted and laughed as he snuffed the harmless ball of light. The patrons collectively face-faulted as they realized they had mistaken the white magic for the more destructive Fireball.

Not thinking the joke was very funny, Ueiko stormed over to Leigh and tried to hit him in the base of the neck; Leigh, however, was too fast for him and ducked just in time.

Rofellos growled. “Grrr, I hate you, Leigh!”

“What the hell was that for?” the woman, who had not retreated, demanded of the laughing Leigh.

Leigh grinned as he handed the patron a few coins. “Thanks, I’ve always wanted to do that…”

“Mono Volt!” Rofellos shouted at the same time and he aimed his lightning smite at the mercenary. Unfortunately, Leigh, unaware of the attack, moved at the last second and the spell struck the poor patron. Ara laughed hysterically.

Leigh was shocked. “I can’t believe you did that!” he exclaimed as the poor patron fell over. He shook his head.

With a glare at Leigh, Rofellos ran over to the woman to see if she was okay. The woman, blackened by the experience, spit out a puff of smoke. Ara laughed even harder; tears streamed out of her eyes.

Rofellos picked the woman up and sat her at the bar. Leigh placed his hands on her and chanted, “Oh, blessed and humble hand of God, life and breath of Mother Earth, come before me and show your great compassion and deliver us: Recovery!” Instantly, the woman felt better as her wounds were healed.

“That works, I guess. I don’t think I hurt her though,” Rofellos said. He turned to the woman. “Sorry, ma’am.”

The woman blinked, took in her surroundings, and said, “I must've had too much to drink.” Then she promptly fainted again and fell off the bar stool, causing Ara to fall out of her chair, too, in her mirth.

Looking down at the woman, Leigh exclaimed, “I give up…” He threw his hands into the air.

Ueiko picked up the woman and handed her to Rofellos as Rofellos talked to the bartender. “I would like a room for this woman.”

A sweatdrop appeared on the bartender’s brow. “Er, maybe you guys should leave now...? I mean this is a respectable kind of place and-”

“How much?” Rofellos asked. By this time, Ueiko had helped Ara back into her seat; she had calmed down somewhat, though she was still chuckling.

“Uh, it’ll be no charge,” the bartender replied and smiled nervously.

“I am very sorry for this,” Rofellos said as he dragged the woman up the stairs. He put her in a room and shut the door. He returned to his table to find that Ueiko had gone back to his corner, and the bartender was staring at their party with a nervous smile on his face.

“Please leave?” the bartender asked as soon as Rofellos entered the room. His nervous smile widened as he put up a valiant effort to remain polite.

Ara immediately stopped laughing. “Sure,” she said and got up.

“I have had enough,” Ueiko declared and also rose. He strode immediately to the door and surveyed the street.

Rofellos sighed. “I am really sorry, sir, about this,” he apologized again as he tossed a few coins on the table.

Leigh added a few more coins to the pile and added, “Sorry about the mess…”

“No, really; it’s okay,” the bartender assured them. His voice, however, gave way to what he really wanted to say: “Please, go away!”

Rofellos picked the coins up off the table and shoved them into the bartender’s hand. “Keep it,” he said threateningly; the bartender froze in fear. Then he and Leigh left. Ara cautiously followed her party while mumbling something about bad days.

Once on the street, Rofellos sighed again. “I can’t believe I did that…”

Leigh started laughing again and exclaimed, “That was great!”

Ara quickly ducked behind a conveniently placed barrel when she spied the two priests from earlier walking down the street toward her. Now she could see that the man held a sword and the woman carried a staff. Both weapons were inscribed with Phibrizzo’s symbol; they represented Phibrizzo’s general and priest, respectively.

“Hey, guys,” Rofellos yelled at the priest.

The priestess turned around as they both stopped. “Yes?” she asked.

“Just saying ‘hi,’” Rofellos replied with a smile. Ueiko, who was ahead of him, stopped and listened; he cautiously stepped out of the street.

“Hi,” the Elder Phibrizzo’s priestess replied suspiciously. “Are you outsiders?”

“Yes.”

“I figured. No one here talks to us,” she said and smiled. “Thanks,” she added and she and the general left.

“Bye,” Rofellos called after them.

Ara sighed in relief as the priests passed her. She quickly ducked into an alley and went to the back of the buildings. Rofellos sighed as he and Leigh followed her. “What is it with you and talking to priests?!!” she demanded of Rofellos.

He smiled. “Just trying to be nice.” Ara glared at him.

“They seem to like it,” Leigh added and chuckled.

“Yes, they do, don’t they?” Rofellos asked slyly, eyeing Leigh. Suddenly, he shouted, “Mono Volt!” and aimed the spell at the mercenary.

“Ack!” Leigh shouted as the weak lightning struck him. He fell to the ground. “What’s with the Mono Volt?!!” he demanded feebly.

Rofellos smiled. “Finally,” he muttered. He stood over Leigh. “How ya feeling now, bum?”

Instead of replying, Leigh found that the paralysis from the spell had worn off; he grabbed a fish to smack Rofellos with. Unfortunately, he found the fish was a piranha, and in confusion, threw it at Rofellos, who barely dodged it. Rofellos looked confused, but he offered his hand to Leigh.

***

Ueiko found himself in front of a magic shop, whose boring sign proclaimed, “Magic Shoppe”. He shrugged and decided to enter in curiosity. The shop was filled with random trinkets and various items that may or may not have been magical. There were also amulets, mostly protective, and other jewelry in the store.

“So what is magical in this shop?” he demanded. He picked up one of the amulets. “What do they protect from?”

The shop owner entered the room. “All sorts of things,” he replied with a smile. However, Ueiko was not interested and he left the store. He found his companions at the back of the building as Rofellos, who had apparently succeeded in hitting Leigh with Mono Volt, was helping Leigh up.

“Thank you,” Leigh said.

Ara was definitely in a better mood. “So, what are we going to do?”

“Talk to some more priests?” Rofellos suggested with a smile.

“Blow things up,” Ueiko replied.

“No on both accounts!” Ara shouted.

“I am going to the temple and doing it my way if you don’t hurry up with this,” Ueiko warned her.

“No,” Ara growled warningly back at him. “I told you to wait until nightfall, but we can’t do that since they’re looking for me now.” She sighed. “I don’t know what to do…”

“We could go explore,” Leigh suggested, “since it was offered.”

“It was offered?” she asked.

 “When we were there,” Ueiko refuted, giving Leigh an irritated glance.

“I say we go the nearest inn besides the one were just in,” Rofellos suggested; he wanted to keep Ara out of sight.

“It’s right there,” Ara replied and pointed to a building on the other side of the magic shop. “You didn't tell me that,” she said to Leigh and Ueiko. “Did you look around?”

Meanwhile, Rofellos sighed as he was ignored once again. He walked toward the center of town.

“They are stupid,” Ueiko growled, giving Leigh another look.

“No, I wanted to leave,” Leigh replied. “I was a bit worried about something.”

“What?” Ara asked in concern, but her query was eclipsed by Ueiko.

“His shadow,” he interjected sardonically.

“Ueiko, shut up,” she snapped. She looked back at Leigh, but he hadn’t apparently heard her.

“Always watch the shadows,” Leigh joked. “They move when you aren’t looking…”

Ara finally noticed Rofellos was missing, and she caught up to him. “I thought you were looking for an inn,” she said.

“See you later then,” Ueiko said and started toward the temple, leaving Leigh standing in the street by himself.

“What? No, Ueiko!” Ara shouted, running after the destruction-happy swordsman, when she realized what he’d said. Leigh followed the two of them and munched on leftovers from the tavern. Rofellos sighed at having lost his company once again.

“What?” Ueiko asked. He turned around to face them, but he kept walking, only backwards.

Ara stopped, allowing Leigh time to catch up to her. “No blowing up the temple, dammit!” she shouted angrily at him.

“We will just have to see about that, won’t we?” Ueiko smiled. “Anyway, that’s a secret,” he added, stealing a much-used line in Slayers.

***

Xelloss sneezed. Apparently someone was talking about him again. That was twice in less than a few hours. If it happened again, he would have to put Lina on hold and find the conversationalists so he could discover why they were constantly talking about him.

***

Suddenly, Fesnic came into existence behind Leigh and Ara, her entrance heralded by the same void sound Ara had made earlier. She clamped her hand on Ara’s shoulder and coldly greeted, “Hello, Ara.”

Rofellos, hearing the noise, stopped and looked back at the party in curiosity. Then he muttered, “Damn.”

“See you there, it would appear,” Ueiko said emotionlessly and continued on his way. He disappeared around the corner.

Leigh spun around to face Fesnic as Ara cursed. The priestess composed herself, forcing a smile onto her face, and turned around. “Hello, Elder Fesnic.”

Realizing the danger, Rofellos ran toward the group just as Fesnic smiled back at Ara. “Time to come home, dear,” she said and they both disappeared in a flash of light. At that second, Rofellos dove at the priestesses, but missing the light, hit the ground in a roll.

Leigh growled. He charged toward the temple, drawing his sword. Rofellos came out of his roll into a run and chased after Leigh. They both passed up Ueiko, who walked as if nothing had happened.

Leigh burst through the black marble doors and revealed that the foyer was totally empty except for Fesnic. She grinned at him and he grinned evilly back. “Why hello…”

“Hello, people. I was here earlier and request entrance,” Ueiko said as he entered. Then he saw Fesnic. “Well…”

Rofellos arrived a few seconds later and drew his sword. “Hello,” he said.

Fesnic’s grin widened. “Hello.”

“Give her back,” Rofellos growled.

Fesnic narrowed her cold black eyes at them. “You have been warned. This is temple business. Go home,” she snarled.

“As is mine,” Ueiko replied and grinned evilly as Rofellos growled.

Suddenly, Ueiko’s imp flew from its guard post at the stairs and circled Leigh’s drawn sword angrily. The sword drew in light in reply until Ueiko told the imp to back off.

“Really now?” Leigh said as he started chanting. “Lord of the Darkness and the Four Worlds, on Thy bonds I do swear, grant me all the power that you possess!”

At the same time, Rofellos shouted, “Fireball!” But the powerful spell was stopped by a barrier that shimmered into existence inches from Fesnic. He swore.

Then Horus, the Head Priest, entered. “What the hell is going on here?” he demanded when he saw the fight.

“You should know,” Ueiko growled quietly.

Horus looked from Fesnic to the party. “Well?”

“She has something of mine and I want it back,” Ueiko replied.

Horus turned back to Elder Phibrizzo. “Fesnic?” he asked, anger an undercurrent.

“She kidnapped someone we know and we want her back…Now!” Rofellos shouted, barely containing himself.

“What?” Horus asked in surprise.

“Echo,” Ueiko commented. “Anyway, we request her return to us.”

“Fesnic, is this true?” the Head Priest demanded.

“They were with Ara. I merely retrieved her,” she replied coldly.

Smiling sweetly, Ueiko walked forward slowly and as non-threateningly as possible as Rofellos enchanted his sword. “Astral Vine,” Rofellos muttered and smiled evilly.

Leigh closed his eyes in concentration and pointed his sword at Fesnic. He started chanting, intending to channel his spell through Crainte Vomir, his sword.

“I see,” Horus said. He turned to the party. “I’m sorry. You can see her.”

“Thank you.” Ueiko ignored the others; everything would have been much easier without them in tow.

“Good.”

“Huh?” Leigh opened one eye in surprise and stopped his chanting.

“What the…?” Horus exclaimed when he realized what Leigh had been doing. Leigh relaxed when he processed what Horus had just said; he opened his other eye and sheathed his sword.

“Take us to her,” Rofellos demanded.

“Wait. I want to know what you guys are doing,” he said, not liking Leigh’s actions one bit. He turned to Rofellos and scolded, “You don’t have to force.”

“Bring us to her,” Rofellos growled in reply. “Or we will use force.”

“I was not,” Ueiko denied, distancing himself from his concerned colleagues. “They are stupid.”

“I don’t know if it’s against the rules, but you are obviously upset,” Horus said, referring to temple rules regarding burglary. “Please, follow me.”

“Thank you,” Rofellos replied.

“We were merely…concerned,” Leigh explained, drawing his sword again as a precaution. “Usually when someone drags someone else off, it isn’t a good thing.”

Horus was halted in his steps by shock. “Dragged off?”

“Will you take me to her, please?” Ueiko asked; he figured politeness would get him to her faster than explanations.

“Don’t ask questions; just bring us to her,” Rofellos said; though his tone was civil, it was still apparent that he was threatening the Head Priest.

“Put that sword away, fool!” Ueiko rebuked; in response, Rofellos finally sheathed his sword. “And don’t be so hostile!”

“I want to get this straightened out. Please, put your weapons away and we’ll talk in a civilized manner!” Horus exclaimed.

“Naturally,” Ueiko agreed.

“Let’s, then,” Rofellos replied. Leigh nodded and sheathed his sword again.

“Who gave you the right to drag her off against her will, Fesnic?” Horus demanded.

Elder Phibrizzo bowed. “Only the High Priest,” she replied and smiled calculatingly. She muttered a few words and everyone, including Horus, was frozen in place; she had used the freezing spell from before in the tavern. In reply, Horus chanted a counter-spell; immediately, everyone could move again.

Leigh drew Crainte Vomir once more and Rofellos glared at the Hellmaster representative. “Can I kill her, sir?” Ueiko asked as Rofellos drew his sword, too.

Meanwhile, Fesnic was not hesitant in her attacks. She aimed a fireball-like spell at Leigh, but the sword stopped the fire in its tracks; the fireball was absorbed into the sword. “It would not be wise to do that again, my dear,” he warned her and smiled.

Rofellos shouted, “Wind Brid!” Though the air spell was invisible, everyone heard the noise it made when it impacted with Fesnic’s barrier.

Ueiko drew his sword as well and, hoping it would work, shouted, “Chaos Strike!” Black flames burned into existence around his forearms, but instead of creating light, they absorbed it. Ueiko smiled; he had realized that his power had been sealed when he walked through Hajime’s seal earlier that day, but he was surprised at the ease with which he had broken the spell.

Leigh pointed his sword at Fesnic and channeled his spell through it. “Oh, source of all power, light which burns beyond crimson, let thy power gather in my hand. Fireball!” The spell struck Fesnic, but she just laughed. Unfortunately for her, she was bluffing; casting the Ray Freeze variant drained her.

At the same time, Ueiko swung at Elder Fesnic with his enchanted forearms. He struck her and she flew backwards into the ornate staircase, destroying part of it.

Immediately following Ueiko’s attack, Horus finished his chant. A bright, white light exploded from his hands and arched toward Fesnic. She evaporated away, accompanied again by the void sound, but she was not dead; most of the party could hear her laughing and chanting in the Temple of Nightmares’ language.

“She will die next,” Ueiko declared as he sheathed his sword and cancelled his spell. “Sorry about that, but regarding our friend…”

Horus suddenly flew across the room, as if he was tugged by an invisible string, and smashed into the far wall. He slumped to the floor, unconscious.

“She is still here!” Rofellos hissed at Ueiko. Leigh held up his sword in a defending position, but it was useless once Fesnic cast her freezing spell again.

“Okay then,” Ueiko commented. “Flare Lance!”

“Windy Shield!” Rofellos shouted at the same time; his spell fizzled and the fire spell impacted uselessly with the far wall. “We can’t move, man,” Rofellos said, but Ueiko still tried to aim his spell.

Leigh discovered he could still move; Crainte Vomir had absorbed the spell since it had been out at the time. He threw a Fireball at the chanting but missed Fesnic.

There was no noise except for what filtered in from the street and the rooms beyond the foyer. Leigh decided to try casting Bomb di Wind in a circle to see if he’d hit anything.

“Dimilar Wind!” Rofellos shouted and aimed the spell in the only direction he could. He doubted he’d actually hit Fesnic, but he at least tried.

Meanwhile, Ueiko closed his eyes and listened. His ear twitched as he thought he heard Fesnic’s heavy breathing.

Leigh listened intently to the result of his spell. He heard the wind spell impact with the wall, and mistaking the impact for Elder Phibrizzo, he dived at it.

Fesnic chose that vulnerable moment to rain fire down upon Leigh. She reappeared in a bright flash of light, breathing heavily from the effort. She was badly wounded and wouldn’t survive this encounter, but if she ran away, she would most likely be killed by Zoragath; she’d rather be killed now than face what he’d give her.

Leigh blocked with Crainte Vomir; the sword faithfully absorbed Fesnic’s fireballs. He aimed his sword at her as the others struggled to move.

“Digu Volt!” Rofellos shouted and tried to aim toward Fesnic; she hovered above the now-harmless spell.

“Blast Ash!” Leigh shouted, casting the spell through his sword. A black void appeared between himself and Fesnic and engulfed the screaming priestess; black ash sprinkled to the ground.

The others could move again. Rofellos sighed and sheathed his sword. “Good job, Leigh, and thanks,” he congratulated the mercenary.

“You’re welcome,” Leigh said as he sheathed his sword. “She was more powerful than I imagined.”

Ueiko, followed by the others, checked to see if Horus was alive. “Are you conscious?” he asked as he shook the Head Priest; the limp rolling of his head and body indicated he was not. A large knot protruded from the back of Horus’ head.

Leigh and Rofellos, independent of each other, placed their hands on the Head Priest and chanted in unison. “Oh, blessed and humble hand of God, life and breath of Mother Earth, come before me and show your great compassion and deliver us: Recovery!”

“Gah!” Rofellos exclaimed when he realized he had acted in sync with Leigh.

“Twice,” Ueiko commented. “Good.”

“Ouch,” Horus cried when he awoke. He sat up and rubbed his head.

“Are you alright?” Rofellos and Leigh asked, again in unison.

Horus gave them a look before answering. “I think. What happened?”

“We got her,” Rofellos replied.

“Fesnic is dead,” Leigh said at the same time.

“Or should I say he got her,” Rofellos corrected himself and pointed at Leigh.

“You all helped,” Leigh refuted modestly.

Horus shook his head. “I wonder what got into her…”

“She is of no more concern,” Ueiko said. “Where is Ara?”

Horus stood. “I don’t know.”

“Can I get you something, sir?” Leigh asked in concern.

“Where would she be if she’s here?” Ueiko asked, heedless of Horus’ health. Suddenly, the room was filled with curious and alarmed priests. “Figures,” he muttered.

Rofellos sat down on the stairs as Sera rushed past him. He caught a glimpse of her medallion, which had a bunch of ellipses whose form resembled a bug; he may have recognized the symbol as Gaav’s. “What happened, sir?” she asked Horus.

“I’m not sure,” Horus replied.

“This is of precedence,” Ueiko muttered. “Do you know where Ara is being held?”

“Ara? Who’s she?” Sera asked in confusion. Leigh looked at her in surprise and Ueiko raised his eyebrow.

“The priestess who ran away,” Horus clarified.

“Oh,” Sera replied. “No. Why should I?”

“She was taken from us earlier,” Ueiko explained.

“I see.”

“Fesnic attacked Horus and us. She had to be killed,” Leigh added.

“Yes, I am afraid so,” Rofellos agreed quietly; he was very tired.

“Where is the High Priest?” Ueiko asked.

Horus turned to Sera. “Go get Eliz and Noub. Maybe they know what happened.” Sera looked confused; why would Hellmaster Phibrizzo’s priest and general representatives know anything? “I’ll explain later. Go get them,” he ordered. He turned back to Ueiko as Sera left. “The same place he’s been all day, I imagine,” he answered.

“I will go there,” Ueiko said and walked off, cloak billowing dramatically behind him. Rofellos rose and followed him.

“What?” Horus exclaimed in surprise.

Leigh turned to Horus. “Where is the vault?”

Just then, Sera arrived with Eliz and Noub, who were the two priests Rofellos had talked to before. Noub, Phibrizzo’s general, asked, “What’s going on?”

Horus pointed in the direction Ueiko was heading. “That way,” he replied.

“Later,” Ueiko said over his shoulder as he descended the stairs, accompanied by his imp. Rofellos tried to follow, but he was stopped by an invisible barrier.

“Odd,” Horus commented and joined Rofellos, who looked confused. Ueiko ignored them and continued on his way. Leigh joined the two men as Horus picked up his medallion of an eye and began to chant something.

They could hear Ueiko talk to himself. “Interesting, but where is our friend?”

“Scatter-bleed!” The dozen yellow spheres of electrical energy went through the barrier, unopposed. “Hmm,” Rofellos muttered and decided to try to punch the barrier. At that moment, Horus finished the incantation of the temple’s version of Flow Break, and Rofellos fell through the broken barrier; he barely caught himself before he tumbled down the stairs.

“Odd…” Horus mused and then rose.

Though confused, Rofellos and Leigh followed Ueiko down into the vault, which was filled with several items holy to the temple. At the far end of the room, there was a door with a large pentacle carved into the stone.

Ueiko, still in his dramatic mood, flung the door open. Rofellos cautiously took a step back. Leigh looked at Ueiko and shook his head. The door led to nowhere.

Suddenly, the three of them were dropped into subspace: a surreal world where nothing is quite the same. Rofellos sighed as Ueiko raised his eyebrow dramatically.