"Hmm Xellos you said that you sealed her might away from being used, but she could cast a Dragon Slave" noticed a woman sitting in a comfort chair.
"I don't know Zelas-sama, but that won't stop us from gathering the rest of the pieces together."
"And what was the meaning of 'perking her up' ?"
"Oh that is a secret *smiled* That is a secret Zelas-sama."

       =======
        Part IV
      =======

"Um..."
"What happened?"
"I know that explosion from somewhere, but..."
"But? Is it so dangerous?"
"But I can't remember *Wham* Angela what are you doing on the ground?"
"No...nothing, just tripped in a rock..." *sweatdrop*.
"Huh, then you should be more carefull" *looks around* "See? There are many ahead" points there.
"Seems Lina is at again." Said a shady figure.
"Who's that?" Turned around the elf.
"Who's the girl Gourry, and where is Lina?"
"You.... know him?"
"Well...uh....you see..."
"Yeah?" *sweat drop*
"I can't re..."
"Zelgadis"
They all turned to the source of the voice.
"Was it nessesary to blow up a place like this?" Asked the masked figure.
"Well, hehe .... you see it was the fault of....."
"Ra-Tilt" echoed a voice and a blueish ray pirced the 'staff' of the character.
"....Xellos" completed Lina.
"Not again.....*holds up two fingers* I was sooo close."
"What are you up to Xellos?" asked Zelgadis.
Xellos assumed his true form (well at least his most known form).
"Well that *held up a finger* ...."
"Dont say it *Lina held a Mono Volt ready* or I'll shock you till unconciousness, weither you are a mazoku or not!!"
"...:I cannot say to you." completed the priest while evading the volley of spells flinged at him.
"We'll see each other soon." *vanishes* "Real soon." *giggle*
"Could someone tell me what is happening here?" Asked the shocked (by the letter) Angela.
"Me too, I don't get anything of this" replied the blond warrior.
"I will explain it to you afterwards, but who's the elf?"
"Heh, Zel she is ...."
"Altena, Angela Altena... pleased to meet you Zelgadis-sama."
"Sama?" Wondered the chimera.
"Well yes Zelgadis-sama, you'rea high ranking elf so I must call you Zelgadis-sama...."
"Well I'm not an elf, but we discuss it later..."
"Yes, Zelgadis-sama"
"Just Zelgadis."
"Yes, Zelgadis-san."
*sigh* "Lina do you have your Mazoku Blood Talismans?"
"Ma...zo...ku...Blood Talismans?" Protested the elf. "Such talismans doesn't exist about a thousand years ago. Those talismans were destroyed in the Second Mazoku War. *Pats on her talisman.* Only this Shinzoku talisman remains..."
"Destroyed.... Than what are these then?" held Lina up his talismans.
"Shinzoku?" Asked Zelgadis.
"Oh... didn't I say?" *Echoed Xelloses voice*.
"Xellos show yourself" Yelled Lina "Face me you Power sealing, memory damaging freak!!!!"
"Memory damaging, power sealing?"
"Dont ask me, I don't know anything..." replied Gourry.
"Those talismans are really the Mazoku Blood Talismans. I had gottem them from Rei Magnus."
"Rei Magnus" Responded Zelgadis with the girls.
"Mai Janus..." *scratched his head Gourry* "Whos? Weil Minus?"
"Rei Magnus, you Jellyfish-brain." As Lina threw her slipper in Gourry's face.
"Oh Lina-chan calm down, You don't need to kill him .... yet"
"Hold your tongue Xellos..... *Looks arounds* Come out where ever you are"
"Well....well....I won't come out" *giggle* "But first a little history lession".
"Long.... long ago a mage named Rei Magnus fought in the war to resurrect our Lord."
"Shabubabingo" said Gourry with ease.
"It was Shabranigdo not Shabubabingo"
"Can I continue?" Xellos quite smiled.
"Just say the point... I'm not interested in your self-amusing games,"
"Oh Zel-kun, and if I would tell you I know a wa..gck.. *cough* Let me go... *As the chimera grabbed the priest* I can't ..... breathe...."
"You don't breathe..... Now!" *Increased the pressure of his hands* "Do you know a way?"
"Well...." in the heat of the event Xellos managed to drop Zelgadis' facemask.
*scream* "A monster." *grabbed her weapon Angela* "I'll dispose of you!!"
"Calm down...*grabs Angela* Zel is our friend despite how he looks..." Lina looked around "Gourry don't just stand there... DO something"
"Huh? Oh yeah... well Zelgadis could put down Xellos and you could put down Angela.."
"Well Xellos.... Did you knew a way from the begining how to cure me, Right?"
"I knew a way all alooong." *thud* "As Zelgadis threw him away.
"But?"
"But what?"
"Dont play the fool there is always a feedback.."
"OH you suppose if I told you that black healing would cure your 'chimeraness' and you rushed for it but...."
"But what?" interrupted Lina.
"That would make Zelgadis-san a mazoku" finished Angela.
"What the...*Zelgadis stood up* "And that would you say after it right?"
"Could be happen *giggle* But back to story. Do you know what happened in the War of the Mazoku?"
"Well all I have heard that Shabranigdos four generals constructed a barrier to weaken the Water Dragon King.
And the combined forces of Gaav and a piece of Shabranigdo, the Demon King of North was able to cause a fatal wound.
But the wounded Dragon Lord had trapped Gaav in a human form and the piece sealed in ice" said Lina.
"And Xellos said Rei Magnus had possesed the talismans." Angela noticed.
"Probably Xellos took care of him and snatched those" Replied the chimera. "After all he was only a mortal, right?"
"Could say so." *giggle* "Could say so..."
"And what about the Shinzoku Blood Talismans?"
"Never heard of those." Shrugged the trickster. "But it seems that isn't a Shinzoku talisman either."
"What?"
"First: what does it? The Mazoku talismans enhance the effect of the black magical spells.Second: that piece only empowers you're ELVEN spells." *smiles* "So better call it Elven Talisman. Third: no offense but, the dragons wouldnt let any mortal to use their power as that."
"And the Dark lords allow the humans to Use and Abuse their powers?" *yelled back the angry elf*.
"Well *sweatdrop* you got some point... but..."
"But even if those Shinzoku Talismans exist that is only an Elven Talisman..."
"Fine this is an Elven Talisman so?"
"Nothing." *smiled the priest* "So nothing."
"Before I forget, Lina *turned around Zelgadis* What was that Dragon Slave with the memory sealing, power damaging stuff?
"I'll explain it later."
"And the Dragon Slave?"
"Well that was so....
 ....and when he told me I casted a Dragon Slave and blew that up."
"With me and Gourry..."
"I was caught also in the blast" The chimera frowned.
"Oh well yeah... *sweat drop* ... wheres Xellos?" Tryed she to escape punishment.
"Damn that Runt" Zelgadis stood up and wnet to search for the priest.
"Before he left, I decided to go to the Shade valley." Lina looked into the fire.
"Why just because Xellos said to find him somebody?" Angela stood up and went over to her.
"No, beacuse Angela said, we must 'search the shade', or somehing like that." Lina finished the talking and went to sleep.

"Hiiii!!" Cheered the little girl.
"Uh *sigh* it's you.... me again. What do you want from me?"
"Byyeee!!" She dissapeared.
"Ow, how do I hate her.... me, for that..." Angered Lina herself, but calmed down as the dream took a 'normal' shape.

       =======
        Part V
      =======

"So, where are we heading Lina? " Asked Gourry again, because he forget it in a minute.
"Were going to a cartographer."
"Uh-huh, whats that?"
"The cartographer makes maps" Said Angela.
"And why do we need that?"
Lina counted till ten, twenty, thirty and when she calmed down a little (not letting loose a Drill Brando or something like that).
"We need to get to that Shade valley or what to find someone."
"Why should we? That had only Xellos suggested and you know him, he simply leads us to an unpleasant adventure just to have his little fun with us." Angered Zelgadis himself.
"Well, yeah I agree with Zelgadis" said Gourry.
"You what? Gourry did you even understand what he spoke of?"
"No..." *wham* "But Zelgadis sounded very concerned about this so I agree with him."
"Thanks....." "So why are we going?"
"Gck." *Angela helped Lina up*  "Well we have another motive."
"And what is that?"
"Angela said something about 'we should seek the shadow'."
"Did I say such thing?"
"Not not you..." Lina was thinking hard. "Shadow." Turned around and started to walk in the opposite direction.
"What?" Looked at her the rest.
"The Valley of the Shadows." Said Lina.
"The Shadey of the Yellows?"
"No jellyfish-brain the Valley of the Shadows, or known as Kataart Mountains valley."
"Lina but that 'was' destroyed by Gaav."
"That wasn't the valley that 'was' the shrine."
"But Lina, why did you say that, I said something like ' seek out the shadow'."
"I didn't ..."
"But.."
"Lina ment that although your body said it, it wasn't  you." Said Zelgadis calmly.
"That means?" asked Gourry.
"That means someone will meet us."
"Could it be that 'shadow' seeks us?"
"Could be, by the way an interesting staff you have Angela."
"Its not a staff."
"Well that what is that?"
"I don't know.... *sweat drop* But it's not a mere staff."
"Well than... what could you do with a mere staff?"
"Oh wanna try it out?"
"Nah you could possibly hurt yourself..."
"And you?"
"Heh you don't need to worry" Said Lina. "Unfurtunatelly Zelgadis is 1/3 RockGolem, 1/3 Bronze Demon, 1/3 human. His body can even take a cannonball."
"Zelgadis-san was hit by a cannonball?"
"Thanks Lina, I almost forgot it......"
"In the head" Said Gourry. "I think."
"And the ball shattered into pieces." Patted Lina on Zelgadis' back *almost braking her arm*.
"Angela look" *Unsheated her dagger* "See?" *Tryed to pierce Zelgadis' heart.* "The blade didn't harm him." *As she sheated her dagger*.
"Was it nessesary to do 'this'?"
"Oh, just showing, shorter than telling."
"So, you're invincible?"
"My eyes aren't  out of stone, I'm a bit weaker against Shamanism spirit spells and only the Heavier spells harm me."
"Oh I see, soo." *Holds up her 'staff'* "Time for a little exercise?"
"Why not? Here we go Astral Vine."
"Huh what?" Wondered Angela.
"I don't think your 'staff' is normal, so I'll strenghten my blade instead."
"Oh, ok."
"Dont worry, I won't hurt you, but you can give all your skill in the fight.. just do not aim at my eyes."
"Gourry?"
"Eh Lina?"
"I saw Angela fight before."
"And?"
"I don't know, she 'cut' her opponents."
"Cut? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, the wounds looked like sword cuts."
"Hmm maybe your weapon has a hidden blade?"
"Well, actually sorta."
Zelgadis slashed at the elf who countered with a strike, succesfully parrying the blow.
"You see, my 'staff' carries blades that appear on my will, but last for short times, so I strike, concentrate and after it hit the spot, I stop concentrating." exclaimed her weapons mechanism. "I think my weapon is like a staff with a long blade that can be drawed in."
"It seems you have a special bond with your weapon."
"Well kinda...... *sweat drop* I call it Tsuki."
"Tsuki? Angela and Why are you wearing silver and black colors?"
"My families heirloom is moon shaped, and Tsuki means moon"
"So that's why silver and black..."
"I doubt that Zelgadis could defeat Angela." Concluded Gourry. "Look how she helds her weapon, and given that 3-4 parries and strikes I doubt that even I could defeat her."
"What do you mean Gourry?" asked Zelgadis.
"Her style is not like anything we know. For example we only see a staff in her hand but given that blade in the hilt...."
"Two blades.... look *she flashed her blades approx two secs* theyre on both sides."
"That makes thing difficulter."
"And that her blade parried an Astral Vine enchanted sword."
"We should see" Said Zelgadis calmly "Lina, in the meantime you could fill me in."
"OK I start at two weaks before.."
"Cut to the point.."
"That will blend in trust me... so.......:
 it was so till the Dragon Slave yesterday evening.
"But why were they chasing Angela?"
"For my *dodge* talisman *parry and strike* I think."
"Thought so."
"And the armor you wore?" Asked Lina. "Where is it? And some of my cloths are gone too....."
"Oh, theyre here Lina.."
"How?"
"After you and Angela went uncouncious, I dressed you two ouAAAIIIIEE!!!" *as Lina lobbed a Fireball, and Angela a Flare Arrow at him*.
thought Zelgadis.
"How DARE YOU... You.. Pervert!!!" screamed the two girls in sinchrom beating the life out of Gourry.
After Angela calmed down " it's mithril."
"Like the legendary elven armor?" asked Gourry.
"Yes, but how do you know?"
"My uncle had one."
"Zelgadis? *left Lina Gourry alone* "What do you search here?"
"Searching? " asked Angela.
"He always searches for a cure....."
"Well I heard that an elf in this region has some ancient artifacts, and not possibly, but could help me.."
"Well it's late, we should go to sleep, but I definiatelly WILL get some beauty sleep." Stated the sleepy sorceress.

The 'normal' dream took a weird turn and started to blacken.
"Hii-gck!" as Lina graabbed her.
"Hi to you too. Now. *shaking her* Tell me WHO ARE YOU!!!"
"Shaa-bby-chan." Groaned she barely.
"You look quite shabby. Tell me what are you doing in my dreams?"
*laughter* "I? ... In your dream? ..... You're in 'MY' dream." She dissapeared.
*confused look* "What?" As the dream returned to 'normal'.

"Hey Gourry, where does Lina have that hilt?"
"What hilt, Zelgadis?"
"Oh that's from a bandit just recently defeated."
"And it is special enough to have Lina not letting it go..."
"Oh we don't know.."
"Then what?" Asked Zelgadis. "Is it echanted?"
"Well we didn't had any chance examining it."
"But I will." *ripped the bladeout of Linas hand.*
"Khm *examined the sword* I don't sense nothing." *placed it back in Linas hands.*
"Are you sure this is That sword?"
"Well we saw that this was it."
"Didn't she grab the wrong weapon?"
"Nope, this was the only."
"Guess than it worked only for him."
"Well how many days untill we reach the Valley of the Shadows?"
"Three days without pause and maximal speed."
"And in Lina-style?"
"A week, or two."
" Do you know it where it lies?"
"No. I can just feel it."
"So you don't know it?"
"Well, not exactly" said Angela" Well I'm su..."
"Shu? what kind of word is that?" aksed Gourry "Whats with Angela?"
"I can feel it" said Angela in a creepy voice. "Shadow nears us. " she took a deep breath. "We will met him in the morning."
"Angela, how did you know that?"
"I dont. I guess shadow told us."
"Shadow? that's his name?"
"His?" wondered Gourry.
"I can feel  him too. And he's powerfull. better get some rest." recommended Zelgadis.
Somewhere in the near Xellos looked concerned, but amused.
"Hehe Lina-chan." said the priest to himself. "I didn't knew that you're this amusing."
A small demon appeared infront of him.
"Zelas-Metallum wants to see you Xellos-sama."
"Oh, the Boss.... well, lets go ." he vanished.
"Well, well, Xellos what are you up to now?"
"Oh Zelas-sama, that is a secret you know."
"If that is a secret, than how fares your other job?"
"Well we know one thing or two, but..."
"But you can't do anything right?"
"Directly not quite."
"And indirectly?"
"Oh, I had set up a lovely little trap, Zelas-sama."
"How much long I need to wait little Xellos?"
"Not muh longer *giggle* not much longer, Zelas-sama."
"You can go, Xellos." said the Beastmaster."The way you're playing with the pray, much to my liking."
"Mistress. *bowed the priest* so long. " He vanished.
"Xellos, Xellos" look a deep breath from her cigarette."I know exactly what are you up to, and it's good. *laughter* it's good."

*The next morning*
"Lina-chan." said a voice. "Wake up Lina-chan."
"Mkm lemme alone."
"But Lina-chan *poked her somebody* You must wake up *another poke* it's late already *poke* Do you hear me?"
"Oh, it's you." *yawn* "Xellos, g'night *turned Lina around*.
"But Lina-chan *poke* You mus.. *whush* ...nt trow Flare Arrows at me. A simple 'Shut up Xellos' is eno.."
"To the hell with you, Xellos, can't you see I SLEPT?" Tossed Lina the priest, who fell over like stone, right into the campfire.
"Huh?" blinked the sleepy sorceress. "Thats strange." Poking him twice.... No effect.
"Lina, whats up?" asked Zelgadis, then saw Xellos lying in the campfire. "What did you do to him? I don't know any spells that could effect him such wa.."
"Nah, I didn't do anything . He just...froze."
"Morning Lina." said Gourry. "Morning Xellos *turned to the mazoku* "Morning Angela *said to the awaking elf* Morning Zelgadis."Nodded to the chimera and walked toward the campfire.
Angela looked up to see Xellos lying in his strange position."Whats he doing?"
"We don't know."
"Shouldn't we take him out of the fire?"
"Why? it's just Xellos." shrugged Lina.
"Uh, who did that?" asked Gourry realising the events.
"I did." said a calm voice from behind. "Nice to meet you, Lina Inverse." Said a shady figure.

     ===============
     TO BE CONTINUED.
      ===============