Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Search for the Darkstar ❯ Adventure Among the Books ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: DQBunny

Disclaimer: "Slayers" isn't mine, but belongs to Kanzaka Hajime, Araizumi Rui and those who represent them. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little while and will return them intact. Except for Gourry. He might be squished just a little. This story is set after the manga arc "Knight of Aqualord" and is an alternate take on the TRY season of the anime.

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Chapter 12: Adventure Among the Books

Shrigan City, Kingdom of Ralteague

One month after the battle at the Temple to Flarelord

It was an exhausted group of travelers that stumbled into Shrigan City close to sunset after weeks of hard traveling. Lina had vetoed making the return trip to the lands that were once within the Mazoku barrier via dragon flight, much to Gourry's relief. It had given the group the chance to poke their noses into several towns and investigate rumors about odd artifacts and strange weapons.

"I'm still going off my hunch that most of the weapons are within the barrier lands," Lina said to Filia as they walked side by side down the main road that led to the town square. "Xelloss found one weapon in Atlas City and I assume the Gabriev ancestors discovered the Sword of Light somewhere around Sairaag."

"It would make sense," Filia agreed. "Your lands were sealed off from the rest of the world for more than 1,000 years. It wasn't until after the barrier had fallen that the prophecy first came about. So, that's probably when Almayce was able to sense where the weapons were."

"But, if that's the case, why is only the Sword of Light so well-known? Don't you think we would had heard something about another weapon with similar powers?"

Lina considered Amelia's question for a moment. "I'm willing to bet that the other weapons look a lot closer to the one that Xelloss has rather to the one that Gourry has. A skilled sorcerer would be able to detect magical properties, but it would take a lot of guesswork and sheer luck to link the Sword of Light with a strange-looking weapon when they're both deactivated."

"I wonder why the Sword of Light looks so different?" Filia wondered.

Lina shrugged. "Hopefully, we'll find out. There it is." She stopped at the edge of the town green and pointed at a large, multi-story building that stood across the green from them. It dwarfed the other buildings by at least two stories and the architecture appeared to have more in common with the royal palace of Saillune than the other ordinary looking buildings in the city. "The Library of Shrigan, considered to be one of the four greatest libraries within the barrier lands. Well, three now that Sairaag's been destroyed. The other two libraries are in Saillune and Zefielia."

Impressed, Filia moved ahead of the group to get a closer look at the building. "Is this just for magic?"

"No, ordinary people can use it too. However, it holds the second-largest collection of magical artifacts within the barrier, Zefielia's library being the only one that dwarfs this collection."

"I'm surprised that Saillune's libraries doesn't beat this one." Filia glanced over her shoulder at Amelia.

"It would, if not for the law that forbids us from collecting any artifacts with black magic in it or used to perform black magic." Amelia smiled ruefully. "Saillune's the white magic capital of our world. It forms the shape of a white magic seal...or did until Lina-san accidentally destroyed part of it."

Filia massaged her temples. "Wait. Don't even tell me. I'm not sure I want to know the circumstances behind it."

"It was either take out a quarter of the city or let a huge chunk of rock destroy all of it. I still don't see how that's my fault," Lina muttered.

"I just hope that we have better luck here than at the last place we looked," Shizuri commented. "All we could get out of them was something about a child-eating demonic chimera that passed through a month or so ago."

Lina rolled her eyes at Amelia's crestfallen look. It hadn't taken the group long to figure out that said chimera was Zelgadiss and no one had known where he'd gone. "Cheer up, Amelia. At least we know that Zel's doing fine at least. We'll probably run across his path one day. Besides, it's not every day that you get branded as a cannibal."

Gourry glanced over at her. "Huh? How can you be branded with a can of balls?"

Five minutes, a broken window and a whimpering swordsman stuffed into a box of wooden balls later, Lina stepped out of the nearby general store, brushing the dirt from her hands. "Now, let's go see if there's anything in this library that can help us."

Filia stared at the general store. "I know I've said this before, but Lina-san and Gourry-san are the oddest couple that I've ever encountered."

"And, believe it or not, it works. You've seen it yourself," Shizuri replied as Gourry stumbled out of the general store with a couple of the balls still stuffed down his shirt. They fell to the street as he moved to join them. One rolled across the street until it bumped into the toe of Filia's shoe.

"If I hadn't seen it, I would had never believe it," Filia replied and they followed Lina into the library.

-----

The chief librarian of the Shrigan Library was a short, plump woman with greying brown hair that was twisted into a huge bun that nearly dwarfed her head. Thick, horn-rimmed glasses were perched on an equally plump nose and full lips were twisted into a frown as Lina made her case.

"Sorry, can't help you," the librarian replied, then dismissed them with a wave. "You're free to look at the books as much as you'd like, but our archives are off limits."

"Off limits?" Lina leaned forward. "Last time I was here, most of them were in a series of special public viewing rooms."

"And, the public will view them again once they've stopped abusing their privileges." The librarian shuffled through a stack of papers. "The city's after me to close down the library until our problems are resolved, Miss..."

"Inverse. Lina Inverse."

The librarian's head snapped up so fast that Lina was surprised that her glasses didn't fly off. "The dragon spooker? Lina Inverse?"

"That's me," Lina grumbled, her teeth set on edge.

Filia leaned over to Amelia. "I knew that Lina-san has a reputation, but I didn't realize that everyone was afraid of her."

Amelia had her hands neatly folded in her lap and a cheerful smile pasted on her face. "It assures us that we never know a stranger when we enter new towns."

"Shut up," Lina snapped at them, then turned back to the librarian. "Yes, yes, enemy of all who live, dragons avoid me, small children wet themselves at mention of my name, the town of Korsuga has orders to stone me on sight, blah, blah. Now, look..."

"Do they really want to stone her on sight?" Filia asked Amelia.

"That one's a new one to me."

"Oh, that one!" Gourry thumped his fist in the palm of his other hand. "They actually want to stone me too, but I bet I could get out of that one. Lina killed a bandit group and didn't kill their pet dragon."

Lina jabbed a finger in Gourry's face "Excuse me, Mr. "I Must Be The Hero," but you had a sizable role in that one!"

Gourry gave her a patient look that infuriated her. "You didn't do enough research and didn't know they had a dragon there to begin with."

"You still took out half the bandits. You share the blame, pal."

"Not on your life, Lina!"

The librarian shoved her glasses up her nose. "Excuse me. If you're going to bicker amongst yourselves, do take it outside."

Amelia flushed and bowed slightly. "I'm very sorry, ma'am."

"You were there much longer than I was! I only came along at the very end! Therefore, you killed more, you get more of the blame."

"Yes, but the blame automatically passed onto you when you arrived on the scene!"

"Says who?"

"The law of course! My own personal law. I assign blame to whoever I see fit. I think you're the perfect one to take the blame for that one, Gourry-chan!"

"Like hell!"

The rest of the group eyed Lina and Gourry warily. Lyos started to unsheath Banisher. "You know, if you don't mind some structural damage to the building, I might be able to take care of this."

"Don't bother, Lyos-san," Filia replied and reached into her cloak. "I may not know them as well as you do, but I do know this much." She pulled out a handheld dinner bell and rang it, causing Lina and Gourry to both immediately shut up and swing their heads in her direction.

The librarian shoved her glasses further up her nose. "As I was saying, if you can't hold a civilized conversation in here, you will be escorted out immediately. Now, if you all are willing to sit here and behave like adults, I have a job proposition for you."

"I believe behaving like adults in this case refers to the two of you," Shizuri slanted a look at Lina and Gourry. The couple glared, then firmly turned their backs on each other. Shizuri sighed.

The librarian swept her gaze over the assembled group once more and pursed her lips. "I should ask you all to leave right now, but I need your help. My name is Nikea and I am the chief librarian. During the past two weeks, there have been a series of break-ins in the magical artifacts section of the library. Several small artifacts have been taken, but the most disturbing is the fact that someone is obviously looking for something else. Many of the artifacts are misplaced and some scattered around haphazardly. I want you to guard the magical artifacts and catch the thief the next time he or she comes here."

As she spoke, Lina leaned forward in her seat slightly. My gut's saying one of the weapons is here. I bet the thief's Valgaav. "In return for this, you will allow us to examine the artifacts ourselves?"

"With my supervision." Nikea gave Lina a look that plainly said she didn't trust her not to take anything. "You will be allowed access to the archives only if you stop the thief. That section of the library is currently sealed. The only way in is through me."

Lina crossed her legs and lifted an eyebrow. "Hmm...seems like someone knows how to circumvent your seals, Nikea-san."

"Don't take that tone of voice with me, young lady," Nikea snapped. "If you don't care for this, I will go elsewhere for aid."

Lina drew herself up, her eyes challenging Nikea's. She grit her teeth and managed to speak in the most pleasant voice she could muster under the circumstances. "The terms of your agreement are fine by me. We'll begin our patrol when the library closes tonight."

-----

Nikea took the group on a brief tour of the library, repeating the areas where they could and could not go so many times that Lina was quite sure even Gourry could recite them from memory. The last place she stopped was in front of a door with several padlocks on it and a small glass window in the door. Through it, Lina could see a large sword hanging on the wall opposite the entrance.

"This," Nikea said, "is the entrance to the magical artifacts room. I have the keys with me. You will not be allowed to see the contents of this room until you have completed your job. If you do not complete this job to my satisfaction, I shall see to it that your name and reputation is smeared throughout the continent."

"Don't worry," Gourry said cheerfully. "Lina's already done that herself."

"Shut. It. Gourry!" Lina shot him a vicious glare, curling her hand into a fist. Boyfriend and partner or not, he was going to be turned into a jellyfish roast right then and there.

"And, a lifetime ban will be levied against you and you will never gain access to any library sanctioned by the Sorcerer's Guild ever again."

Lina had taken two steps toward Gourry to deliver her own version of justice to him, but Nikea's words stopped her cold. She spun around, gaped at the older woman. "You wouldn't!"

Nikea stared down her nose at her. "Try me."

"Isn't that a little harsh?" Amelia wondered.

"This is a serious matter, Miss..."

Amelia eyed Nikea, weighing her options. She did not like to pull rank in cases like this, but she doubt she would have to. Just giving her name would be enough. "Saillune. Amelia wil Tesla Saillune."

As she expected, the color drained from Nikea's face. Her mouth gaped open, reminding Amelia of the fish that she did her best to avoid. Nikea gulped, then performed a hasty and sloppy curtsey. "Your highness. Princess Amelia. I never imagined..."

"Do you realize that if should this mission fail and you order that Lina Inverse be banned from these libraries that I can override this ban? Saillune and Ralteague are allies, as you well know. With Lina-san having such close ties to the Saillune royal family, I am sure that my father would be most displeased should a ban like this be levied."

Go, Amelia! Lina stared at her friend, impressed. Amelia did carry herself well and, despite her short stature, could be quite intimidating. Lina was greatly enjoying seeing the pompous asshole of a librarian be brought to her knees.

"I'm sure that arrangements can be made," Nikea stammered, fighting the urge to wipe the dripping sweat from her brow. "As you can see, I am worried about the safety of my artifacts."

"Such loyality to your work is to be commended." Amelia gave her a small smile. "Besides, I do not feel there will be the need for any bans. I am sure that we will complete our task in a satisfactory manner."

"You do?"

"Of course!" Amelia winked and held up two fingers in a victory sign. "Justice is on our side! Justice always triumphs over evil!"

Ah, there's our Amelia. Lina nearly rolled her eyes, then her attention was diverted by a man approaching the group. She quickly sized him up. Tall, dark-haired, probably somewhere in his late 30s. His face wore a sneer that marred otherwise reasonably attractive features. Her gaze swept over his robes, recognized the color. Leader of the Sorcerer's Guild, she decided.

"What is this, Nikea?" The man said in a voice so loud that Lina was quite sure her family in Zefielia could hear him. "Who are these people?"

"Our guards for the library." Nikea leveled the man with a stare so cold that Lina realized that the one she'd been given earlier was actually a display of the librarian's warm side. "You ordered that we hired them, Gridai-san. I have simply followed the request."

"You invited a group of random travelers to guard over our treasures? You are even more incompetent than I thought!" Gridai swung to face Lina and her group. His eyes skimmed her. Lina knew the moment he recognized her, when his eyes widened slightly and the color drained from his face. "You're Lina Inverse!"

"You're not as dumb as you look," Lina replied calmly.

Gridai whirled back around, pinning Nikea with a hard look. "Are you insane? This girl is a walking catastrophe!" he yelled, jabbing his finger at Lina.

Lina glanced at her group, and found them all suddenly taking a very keen interest in cloud-watching. "You know, you could back me up," she hissed.

"Lying isn't just, Lina-san," Amelia apologized, her cheeks red.

"Hmm?" Gourry looked down at Lina. "What did you say? I wasn't paying attention."

Lina slapped a hand to her forehead. Someone, please. Remind me exactly why I keep these people with me again? Furious now, she crossed over to Gridai in two steps, jabbing a finger in his face. "Look, you miserable asshole. I've already taken this job and I'm not backing out of it. You even attempt to change her mind and you will discover that the words 'enemy of all who lives' doesn't even begin to describe me. I want access to the artifacts and if you prevent me from doing this in a legal manner, then I shall simply deploy an alternative plan." She curled her lips into a sneer, baring her incisors slightly. "I'm sure that if you ask members of the local bandit camps, you'll find that my methods can be less than...painfree."

She enjoyed the look of horror on Gridai's face just a little too much. After a moment, the horror was replaced by a smirk. "You are no match for me...Lina the Pink."

Gridai never saw the spell coming. But he would always remember the heat and the power of the Burst Rondo that sent him sailing through the air. He landed in a bushel of apples several yards away from the library, unconscious.

Lina turned back to her stunned group. "We are going to go get rooms and get sleep before tonight. And the first person who asks me about Lina the Pink will have their heads stuffed up their ass and their mutilated bodies fed to the first golem I can find."

No one said a word.

-----

Six hours later

Shrigan Library - Exterior

"Now, in order to be a proper hero of justice, you have to have a proper introduction. There are two things essential to a proper introduction. One is that you have to be standing on something high. By towering over the evil-doers, you will intimidate them with your passion and conviction in upholding justice! Lyos-san, are you listening?"

Lyos shoved his head between his knees. "Shizuri, go get that idiot swordsman and have him trade places with me. Either that or get him to cut off my head. Why the hell aren't we the ones inside the library?"

"Sorry, boy-o, you're stuck." Shizuri leaned against the wall and shot an amused glance at Amelia, who stood on the roof of the library. "You're the one who asked...oh, how do I put this... 'what's with all the justice crap you keep spouting about, Amelia?' So, there no one to blame but yourself."

Lyos shot Shizuri a murderous look and she returned it with a sickingly sweet smile. Resigned to his fate, Lyos sighed. "You know, if Lina and Gourry hadn't made up over dinner..."

"Well, you know what they say. Being forced to share the last piece of cherry pie can bond some couples."

"That was sharing? More like a pair of dogs in heat."

Shizuri choked. Lyos blinked at her, then the realization of what he said set in. His face promptly turned several interesting shades of red and was immensely grateful that Lina was not in earshot. Knowing his luck, the sorceress was probably standing right behind him, prepared to send him to his eminent doom. Though, he would savor death if it meant escaping Amelia's class on proper delivery of justice.

But when the world didn't end, Lyos breathed a small sigh of relief. He let out an ear-splitting yawn and wished they had managed to grab more than a couple hours of sleep before having to start this patrol. Amelia had been the first to volunteer to remain outside of the library to watch for the thief. That had suited Lina just fine. She wanted to do research inside and Filia had wanted to do the same. Gourry had gone with them, partly because he always followed Lina everywhere and partly because he could watch for any activity inside of the library while she and Filia did their research.

"Lyos-san! Are you listening? I need to tell you how to formulate a proper introduction!"

Lyos rolled his eyes and glanced up at Amelia, turning his back to the street. He never noticed a dark figure slip down the road a few feet away and toward the back entrance to the library.

"I wonder," Shizuri commented, feeling that since an enraged Lina hadn't emerged from the library at Lyos' last statement that she could talk freely, "why Lina got so mad when she was called Lina the Pink? What does that mean anyhow?"

Amelia leaped down from her perch. "High-ranking members of the Sorcerer's Guild are usually given a color to indicate their status. They've either performed some sort of grand deed for the guild or they hold a high office in it. Remember Tarim the Violet, the man killed in Atlas City whose ring Lina-san found? He was one such person."

"So, Lina has a high rank in the Sorcerer's Guild?" Shizuri tilted her head to one side. "It makes sense, considering how powerful she is."

"Why pink?"

Amelia shrugged at Lyos' question. "I don't think Lina-san has the patience to play the political game that comes with being a high-ranking member of the Sorcerer's Guild. So, I don't think she's any sort of high-ranking member of the guild. I don't know what the pink stands for."

"And, if we value our lives, we won't ask her either," Shizuri added.

Lyos sighed. "Which means, if he bothers to remember, that the idiot swordsman will probably blurt it out one day."

"At least then, we'll know the answer," Shizuri replied.

Amelia nodded sagely, knowing that Shizuri and Lyos were right. "Gourry-san will be giving up his life in a good and noble cause. Now, then. Back to giving a proper justice introduction!"

-----

Shrigan Library - Interior

Filia set down the latest in the stack of books she was looking through and rubbed her eyes. She lifted her head and saw Lina throughly engrossed in the book that she held. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You love to read, don't you?"

"Whenever I can." Lina flipped a page and pushed up her reading glasses slightly. They were a necessary nuisance, especially when she dedicated hours to research. "I prefer magic books. History following that. Some political ones as well. Mythology. None of that copper novel crap. Gourry loves them."

"Gourry-san?" Filia gave the swordsman, who was dozing by Lina's side, a shocked look. "Somehow, Gourry-san and books don't seem to mesh in my mind."

Lina grinned at her. "I've only seen him read a few times myself. Usually if we're in a bookstore and he wanders off. I'll see him reading the copper novels. I don't think he realized I noticed."

Filia chuckled and glanced down at her book. "It's quite amazing," she said, tracing her finger over the leather, "the events and the developments in magic that have taken place over the past 1,000 years within these lands."

Lina pulled off her glasses and gave Filia a searching look. "What did they say in your lands regarding ours?"

Filia worried her lip for a moment as she searched back through her history lessons. "As far as I know, I believe my knowledge of history is concurrent with yours up until the Kouma Sensou. After the war, there were several attempts by those displaced outside of the barrier to return. When that failed, the lands that practiced magic started to become a myth. Around 300 years ago, there was a huge contest among the countries in my part of the world to breech the barrier and be the first to colonize the lands there."

"Is that contest still going on?"

"Thankfully, no. The last attempt was about 120 years ago."

Lina drummed her fingers on her book. "Your sect of the Golden Dragons. Were they one of the ones displaced by the Kouma Sensou?"

Filia nodded. "Yes, that's correct. There was an expedition of about 20 Golden Dragons that were sent beyond where the barrier was in order to gain aid from other dragons. I always assumed it was other Golden Dragons. They were trapped outside of the barrier when it was erected. The decision was made to create the temple to Flarelord. Because there was five female dragons among the 20, the population was able to grow. But, it's always remained small."

Lina pressed a fisted hand to her mouth, brow furrowed in concentration. "Do you know from where in our lands your ancestors came from?"

"Some of them are still alive. The Elder isn't just the Elder for his wisdom. He's one of a few from that period who is still alive. He was the youngest of the dragons making the expedition."

That still didn't say much. Lina was willing to wager that Milgasia, the Golden Dragon who assisted them during their search for the Claire Bible, was older than the Elder. Even so, something about Filia's words tugged at her. "But where did they come from?"

Filia faltered for a moment. "I honestly don't know," she finally said after a minute. "I never thought to ask. I didn't realize that the lands up here were quite so big."

Lina sprang from her seat, knocking her pile of books into Gourry in the process. He landed on the floor with a thump, about 10 books landing on top of him. Lina ignored him, instead sprinting by him and moving like an agile cat through the narrow stacks of books. She scanned the catalog system that was thankfully standardized among the libraries within the barrier. She saw what she was looking for on a top shelf and levitated to get it.

When she emerged from the stacks, dust covered the top of her hair from where she brushed the ceiling to get the book. She threw herself back in her chair, ignored the sputtering Gourry still on the floor. Lina began paging through the book, pausing every so often to shove her reading glasses further up her nose as she skimmed the pages.

Filia got out of her seat and helped get the books off of Gourry. When that task was done, they stared up at Lina as she tore through the book with the speed of a madman. "Does she often get this way?" Filia asked Gourry.

He ran his hand through his hair and laughed a little. "Yeah. You get used to it."

"I imagine so."

Filia helped Gourry to his feet, then returned to her seat and began looking through her books once again. Now awake and bored, Gourry started scanning the stacks himself for something even remotely interesting to read. He recognized the light in Lina's eyes. They would probably be at this for several more hours. He wandered into the stacks, just out of sight of the girls but close enough to speak at a normal voice. "Say, Filia?"

"Yes, Gourry-san?"

"Why'd you come with us?"

It wasn't a question that she expected from the swordsman. Filia looked up from her book, surprised. "Well, it's like I said after the battle. I want to see the prophecy for ourselves." Her gaze met Gourry's as he emerged from the stacks, a thin red book in his hands. "I know that what you saw at my temple didn't look good, but I was not raised to behave in the manner in which my Elder behaved toward you, Lina-san and the others. I was always told to do what was right. I also want to find out the truth behind the weapons and Valgaav."

Gourry didn't say anything for a moment and Filia started to wonder if the explanation went over his head. He took his seat and kept silent. Filia shrugged and went back to her book.

"Well, I think that the truth's somewhere in the middle."

Filia lifted her head again. "What was was that?"

Gourry leafed through his own book. "What that Elder was saying regarding the dragons and what Valgaav was saying. The truth's usually somewhere in the middle of it."

Filia smiled. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

Lina slammed her book shut and heaved a long, dramatic sigh. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This book is the most comprehensive one out there when it comes to the history of dragons within the Mazoku barrier and there's nothing in here about the Ancient Dragons."

When Filia and Gourry didn't say anything in response, Lina hunched forward slightly, resting her arms on her thighs. I don't like the way this sounds. I know it's entirely possible for that one expedition to escape history, especially since it would had taken place around the time Xelloss did a number on the Golden Dragons. It's either that, or that little expedition wasn't common knowledge. "I've a friend," she spoke up, "or actually, more of an acquaintance in the Kataart Mountains. I'm willing to bet that's where your ancestors came from, Filia. I think if we're going to find out if Valgaav's story is true, we're going to need to talk to him."

"Do you believe it's true, Lina-san?"

Lina thought back to the Elder's reaction when Valgaav had revealed his true identity and the words he used to describe the Ancient Dragons. "Yeah. If I'm going with my gut, I'm thinking Valgaav may have a strong case against your race. But, like Gourry said, the truth's somewhere in the middle." She flashed a grin at him. "You can be perceptive when you want to be, Jellyfish."

Gourry wasn't listening. Instead, his focus was on the door leading to the hallway. He stood, drawing his sword at the same time. Both Lina and Filia jumped to their feet. Gourry held up a hand to them and crept to the door.

"What is it?" Lina moved to his shoulder. "Is it Amelia?"

"No. Hush." Gourry brushed Lina off and she glared at him. He stepped into the hallway, moving as graceful as a cat, battle senses at their peak. He spotted the dark figure heading for the room with the artifacts in it. It was too short to be Amelia or Lyos. He motioned to Lina and stepped aside so she could see the figure.

"Lighting!" Lina shot the spell into the air, lighting the area to the point where it was nearly bright as day, revealing a small fox. Jillas cringed and threw up his hand to ward against the sudden brightness. When he lowered his hand, he gave a choked gasp when he saw Lina, Gourry and Filia surrounding him.

"Li...Lina Inverse," he sputtered, then remembered what he was there to do. He dove into his pockets, emerged with a few of his cherry bombs. "I'm going to take you out!"

"What is this thing?" Lina asked, gesturing to Jillas with a look of disgust.

"How can you not know who I am?" Jillas sputtered. "You know who I am!"

"I've never seen you before. Have you ever seen him before?" Lina glanced up at Gourry and was rewarded with a blank stare. She sighed. "Never mind."

"You're one of Valgaav's men, aren't you?"

Jillas beamed at Filia. "She knows who I am!"

"Of course I do! Lina-san wasn't with us when you tried to take Sylphiel-san's sword!" Filia advanced on Jillas, mace in hand. "You're the thief who's been breaking into this place, aren't you?"

Jillas snorted. "I don't know what you're talking about, lady! Tonight's the first time I've ever been here! I've been following the lot of you for a week on Valgaav's...oops."

"Oh, really?" Lina cracked her knuckles and rewarded Jillas with her most evil grin. "You've been tailing us?"

"Well...um...maybe half a day or so? More?" Jillas shrank away from Lina, his knees turning to water as the sorceress advanced on him.

As Lina vented her frustration on Jillas, Gourry quickly whirled around, eyes widening when he saw that the door to the artifacts room was open. He tapped Lina's arm. She ignored him. He did it a second time, then a third.

"Damn it, what is it, Gourry?" Lina yelled at him, then looked where he was pointing. "Oh shit!" She thrust Jillas at Filia and raced to the artifacts room. She burst in the door, Gourry at her heels only to discover that the prominent sword that was on display earlier in the evening was now gone.

-----

Author's Note: Those who are familiar with the "Slayers Special" novels may recognize some of the characters and the rough outline of this chapter. This chapter, and the next, is an adaptation of a story called "Save the Books" from Slayers Special vol. 20. The Sorcerer's Guild of Shrigan City asked Lina to guard a library that had been broken into lately. Nikea, the librarian and Malirn, the vice-president of the guild, helped Lina keep an eye on the books and kept clashing with Gridai, the president of the Sorcerer's Guild. However, the library kept getting broken into repeatedly despite no one seeing what was going on. That was the summary I found of that story, but it was enough. This story differs in several aspects from the original Slayers Special one, but the adaptation of the shorter novel pieces was used frequently by the animators in crafting the Slayers radio dramas.