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"So are we clear? We need to stick to our plan. From now on call me Lina." I informed the rest to be sure we wouldn't put our foot in it.

"Sure thing Lina." Pete joked. My eye twitched a bit, thanks to this remark but I had to take it. I had to get used to this name, well at least for a while. The city looked a little dirty. The main streets were paved with cobblestones but the rest were plain dirt roads. There weren't any buildings taller than 2 stories and the city was full of trees. The only high building was what appeared to be city hall. We walked thru some kind of marketplace. There were lots of fruit and vegetable stands. Some of it I never saw before. I decided to take a closer look at one fruit stand. The merchant noticed me and turned his attention to us.

"Here young lady want to try some? They are only 2 nickel pieces each." The merchant held a strange looking fruit for me to see. He was young almost too young to be selling at a marketplace, like 17 or so. It occurred to me after a moment that he was referring to me.

"Well, I don't know." I replied.

"I have only gold pieces. And I never even saw this fruit before."

"Here then take this one for free for a little try. I assure you they are good, sweet and really healthy. They come from a neighboring town where they grow them." He handed me a piece of the fruit on small plate.

"Why not. Thank you." I took the fruit and tasted it. It really was sweet, it tasted like a strawberry and smelled like orange or some citrus.

"I'll take 5 if you don't mind me paying with gold."

"Not at all I have change." I handed him the gold piece that I took out of my pocket, where I put those few back in the forest. The merchant sifted thru the change and gave me what looked like 9 copper pieces, 9 brass and 9 silver.

"Here you go lady. Pick which ones you like best." He told me as I was putting local currencies in my pocket. I picked ones that looked good and gave each their fruit which left me with 2 for me.

"May I ask sir where I could buy some money pouches or something like that." I asked the merchant boy.

"Go straight to the fifth stall from me in this row he has some nice goods. May I ask what is your name? You don't look like you are from around here." The merchant tried to be familiar.

"Me? My name is Lina. Lina Inverse and you are right we are travelers from far away." I informed him to be polite.

"Well miss Inverse, since you are not from around here please be safe and try to avoid staying in the open after nightfall. There are some bad types roaming this city after dark not to mention some wild and dangerous animals which come here from time to time. Also as someone who pays with gold you should be careful and avoid bandits."

"I can take care of her." Jenn stepped in and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Ohh I see your boyfriend is a swordsman. Then I guess you are safe." The merchant said with a smile.

"No he isn't my boyfriend. Anyway thanks for warning it might come in handy. Sorry but we have to go now." I said blushing. I had actually wanted to say "My girlfriend!" for a moment.

"Take care and come again." Said the merchant as we headed for that next shop.

"Hey Lina I think he liked you. If Gourry didn't step in who knows what might have happened." Said a smiling Peter as he munched on his strawberry-orange. This caused me to stop my thoughts and think about it for while. Did Jenn really do this to get him off my back?

"Don't be ridiculous. He was just being nice that is all." I shot back. We then came to the stand that young merchant talked about. There were lots of purses and pouches on display.

"Greetings travelers." The merchant spoke as saw us walking up to his stand.

"Hi. I would like to buy some money pouches for me and my friends."

"Pouch? For nice young lady like you? Here look at these purses they would suit you better." He pointed at the huge variety on the left side where were displayed lots of colorful purses. For a moment I thought I would correct him but I remembered to stay in character and accepted his advice. Those purses looked really nice I had an eye on a pink and yellow one.

"I think I like this one." I picked it up.

"Excellent choice this one is made from really fine material and the color complements your outfit."

"Please the rest of you. Pick what you like don't be shy and come closer. I see you visited my friend Jake. He sells these tasty fruits really cheap like 4 nickel pieces. They are really good too." The merchant noticed me holding one more fruit in my gloved hand.

"I'll take this one." Peter picked a black pouch with a golden lining. Jenn picked a blue velvety pouch and Amy a green purse.

"So. How much?" I asked curiously eying the merchant.

"3 copper each." I handed him two brass pieces and he returned me 8 copper.

"Thank you very much. By any chance would you know a good inn and restaurant here?" I asked.

"There is a great inn near the town hall. It is called The Sleeping Giant you can't miss the sign. As for a restaurant I heard that Pale Gazelle tavern is really good, and it is close to the town hall too."

"Thank you sir. We need to be going so take care." We said our goodbyes and headed out in the direction of the tallest building in town.

"See you around and come again." We turned toward the town hall in distance and walked our way along the street. I saw Peter wanting to say something so I raised a finger and warned him.

"If you are going to say that this one liked me to I am going to fireball you city or not."

"No not at all but a sure thing is that this Jake guy really liked you. He gave you a half price discount." Peter teased me.

"I can't help it that some guys go for me. Should I roll few times in the mud or what?" I defended my point of view.

"No of course not he was just making an observation. Weren't you Ranma?" Jenn helped him out of the hole he dug himself into.

"Of course he was!" I muttered. We walked like 20 minutes along the street and I took a few pictures with the camera covered by my cloak so none would notice it. Then we arrived at the Pale Gazelle. We eagerly entered to find the place almost full of people. We managed to find a free table for four and sat down.

"Look! They have some strange meals here. But also some familiar." Amy said as she scanned thru the menu.

"Yeah I will try that salmon with potatoes. So what did you pick Gourry?" I wondered.

"Not much really I think I'll go with a steak." Jenn replied with a puzzled look. When a waitress came Peter gave our orders and added a beer for us all. I stopped the waitress and corrected our order. Fish and beer is not good so I ordered some white wine.

"You developed some more sophisticated tastes Lina didn't you?" Pete felt ashamed that he ordered beer with fish.

"For your information, I liked to eat good food before all this. We can afford it and I kind of enjoy this. I know you will have a few funny comments about this, but this world has something romantic in it. I mean look around it is nothing like the dark ages back home. People are nice here. Streets are mostly clean. I'm enjoying a little pause from my busy life filled with technology. Rushing ahead and feeling your life slipping thru your fingers slowly. I was sick of it sometimes. This is something like a gift for me, I longed for something different except not exactly like this." I gestured to my chest.

"Look at this place. Did you see anyone rushing about for no reason here like back at home? I have felt more alive in these two days than back at home in two years."

"Lina I didn't know you were such a romantic. At least you never said anything about this. Not even to me." Jenn was surprised and little shocked.

"I thought you would think me strange. Don't take me the wrong way, I like my life back home, but I longed for something more, something different, more exciting." I said with passion in my voice and a glitter in my eyes.

"I know what you mean I kind of like it here too. You are right that it is romantic here."

"As much as I like it here we should find our way back home as soon as possible. I don't want to stay like this longer than necessary. I don't like those looks I am getting. On top of that my bra is digging a trench in my shoulders. If this goes on for much longer I'll blast this city.

"Ok then what is your plan?" Asked Jenn toying with the menu in his hands.

"I don't know. We should find that inn but I don't want to check in, it is still early we should look around the town." I said drinking a bit of the wine that the waitress brought a few moments ago.

"Maybe we could visit a bathhouse, hot springs or such." Amy proposed.

"I would like to go check the local library or some place where maps are kept. We should figure out what next." Added Jenn.

"Ok then we will look for a library and figure out if there are some hot springs in this place. I could really use a soak in nice warm hot spring right now. What about you Ranma where would you like to go?"

"Maybe we could find some mage or elder who could tell us about magic and how could we end up like this and why here."

"That depends. Magic could be a big deal here. I mean I am yet to see some sign that someone here can do magic." I said thinking about it.

"Hey lady I would like to order 4 more dishes and some dessert please!" I called at the waitress.

"Don't eat that much you will get sick!" Jenn tried to stop me.

"I am hungry and I have a fast metabolism. Magic also burns lots of calories you know."

"Ok then but eat a little slower at least." Jenn tried to slow me down which had no effect.

"Do you think I could taste a bit of that steak Gourry? I will give you a bit of my salmon it is really good. Want a taste?" I tried to haggle with Jenn.

"Ok then we got a deal. I am also surprised this steak tastes so good." Jenn sliced a piece of steak and handed me his fork with it.

"Really it is." I said as I tasted it. In return I gave her piece of salmon with some vegetable.

"That salmon is really fresh. You also made a good call with that wine it really wouldn't go well with beer."

"Exactly. This fish demands something more sophisticated than beer. I have a theory about this freshness. I guess that is because there are no fridges like home so everything has to be fresh. One of the advantages of this world I guess.

"You are adorable you two." Amy said with a dreamy look. I thought Pete would have something to say to but he managed to keep quiet. After we had our lunch I paid for us and we went on to find the library. Exiting the tavern I saw two men dressed in armor and with swords walking by down the street like they were on some kind of guard duty or something.

"Hey you guys d'you think that they are local town guards?"

"Maybe Lina but don't provoke them." Jenn tried to stop me. It was too late. I strolled to the guards and knocked on one's his shoulder.

"Hey sir. Could I ask a question?"

"What the hell." He said as he turned.

"Oh just a little girl. What would you like to know?"

"First don't call me little and second, does this town have a library?"

"I am sorry you took me by surprise, I apologize. We have a city library next to the hall. The big building on the left. Ordinary people usually can't go in freely though. What d'you want to look up there?"

"Some maps maybe some magical knowledge and such. We were stranded here by some wild magic and we wish to get home." I informed the guard hoping that he will grant us access.

"Well it isn't normal but I could help you get in. Here take this and tell them that Jelico gave it to you as a proof that you are allowed to pass into the library. Leave it with the librarian I will pick it up later." He gave me a badge with a crest from his pocket.

"Thank you sir. One more thing. Does this city have a bathhouse or hot springs?"

"Well there is an inn on the edge of the city that has hot springs but it is dangerous there. We dealt with lot of animal attacks there."

"Thank you again. Here take this for your trouble." I handed him two silver piece as a reward.

"Thanks lady. I hope you can get back home safely. I need to be going now. Good luck to you all."

"Well he seemed nice." Said Amy. We went around the hall when we spotted a tailor shop.

"Hey you two you need better clothes and boots. Go and take a look here each take two gold pieces this should be enough. Gourry and I will check this cake shop next to it."

"What is wrong with my clothes." Peter asked irritated.

"What? you can't travel around here like this you would get tired easily and they will get destroyed soon anyway. Look at me. These are traveling clothes get something like I have."

"You have a point Lina. We will look something up. But pink is not my color." Pete replied. This caused my eye to twitch when I remembered what color they assigned to Lina in the mages guild. They wanted to taunt her by assigning her this colour.

"Good. Keep the rest. We'll divide our money in that inn anyway. And just for your information it isn't pink. It is maroon. We will be right here outside near that shop." I called back to them and went after Jenn looking thru the shop window.

"Which one looks the best to you. The pineapple one?" I replied drooling over the glass.

"I agree let's eat." I said as we stormed in. In a few minutes we were out each one holding portions of this delicious cake and munching it hungrily. After like half an hour Amy and Peter emerged from the shop in different clothes. Instead of a sailor school uniform Amy wore brown knee length boots with dark red tight pants with yellow shirt over it. Peter on the other hand wore dark green shirt with brown pants and black knee high boots.

"That is more like it. You finally look like you are from here. Want a cake?" I asked as I extended my hand with the plate on which were the last pieces of cake.

"Hell yeah." Amy exclaimed and hurried to us.

"Hey lighten up Ranma. And take some cake. You should have got something pink though." I said winking.

"Or maroon." He groaned.

"What is wrong?" Jenn asked him.

"Not much only I hate these boots they didn't have anything more normal."

"Guess why? They are so high because of snakes. I wonder why we never saw any on our way here. I bet this world has to be full of them. You just need to get used to them. Think of them as of cowboy boots."

"Nice thought Jenn it will help me sleep better" I said sarcastically.

"You might be right Jenn. That is actually reasonable explanation." Amy said.

"I don't complain about mine and they bug me like hell especially that low heel. Hey lighten up It is not like you have these. Not yet anyway." I grabbed at my chest to make a point.

"Are you trying to lighten me up or bring me down?" Asked Peter smirking.

"Let's go we need to hit the library and then the inn before nightfall." Jenn informed us. We walked on, and I took out the picture of my family I had in the back of my phone case. I wanted to make sure I still had it. I felt really silly looking at me on the picture and holding it in my gloved hand looking down past my breasts. A gust of wind blew it out of my hand.

"Damn!" I yelled. It rose higher and settled on a rooftop near us.

"Just my luck. Levitation!" I shouted and darted up in the direction of the runaway picture.

"What got into her?" Pete asked the others. Finally I managed to retrieve it. I flew back to my friends. Villagers didn't seem to be surprised that I can cast magic, they were just taken off guard that I could do it so carelessly.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost it."

"What is it?" Amy asked looking closer.

"Picture of me and my family with Jenn next to the Christmas tree."

"I remember this it was the first year we were together." Jenn took it out of my extended hand.

"Yeah when I am down it can remind me of the good times." I took it back and put it back in my pocket. We walked like 2 minutes around the town hall when we saw a door and up on the wall next to them was written in big letters "Library". We knocked and nothing happened. We knocked much harder and voice from behind the door yelled back.

"I am coming just wait a minute. Geez." A small hatch opened in the door and some old guy looked out.

"Who is it that disturbs my sleep?"

"We are sorry sir but we need to see some maps you might have and ask you few things." I said politely.

"No civilians allowed sorry." He closed that small opening. I knocked again so hard that I freed some dust out of the doors planks.

"I said no civilians are allowed. He yelled back thru the hatch he opened again. I silenced him with the badge.

"Jelico allowed us access."

"You could have stolen it."

"Then I have this." I brought a fireball up in my other hand so he could see it.

"Oh - magician. Then that is different, come in. Do you have any guild clearance?" I showed him the fireball again.

"I see." He said opening the door. I extinguished the fireball and we entered the room. It was an old looking place with stone walls and floor. There were lots of books in the big room behind him.

"So what would you want to know young one." He asked as he invited us to go further and sit around a table.

"We need to look at some books about this region, some maps that lead to major cities. Also some magic on moving between worlds would be great."

"Oh so you are travelers. I have some maps here. It is a shame but I never heard anything about travel between worlds though. Mages guild in our capital city could be helpful." Then he brought us a map that would lead us to the capital city as he later explained.

"Thanks old man." I said as I winked at Amy to distract the guy so I could snap a picture of the map.

Luckily she did get the point and knocked over a few books near the shelves.

"Oh no I am terribly so sorry I must have knocked them when I turned." Amy said creating a diversion for me. I quickly snapped a picture and hid the camera.

"Thank you very much for your trouble sir I think we have found what we needed. We need to be going now so we get to the inn in time before nightfall." I said turning to exit and leaving the crest given to me on top of the table.

"So soon? Well I wish you the best of luck on your journey. I hope you find your way home." With that we left the library and headed to the inn which had those nice hot springs. It was almost 30 minutes of walk to the inn but we managed to find it. The place looked really nice and almost like a luxury hotel.

"Is anyone in here?" Pete shouted standing in front of empty reception.

"I'll be right there." Replied a voice from behind the wall. And soon came out a really nice lady in her thirties to greet us.

"We would like to book 4 rooms for tonight." I informed her politely.

"I am sorry we have only two. It should be ok, each has two beds if you don't mind sharing the rooms."

"Well I guess we'll take it" Replied Jenn.

"Excellent. I will show you to your rooms. Follow me! We have also hot springs here even though I don't suggest you use them this late it could be bit dangerous. There might be wild animals roaming around." She said as she lead us thru the corridor.

"I think we can handle few animals. We will try the springs thank you for your advice." I replied with a grin.

"Very well then. Here is your room ladies as for you two gentlemen, here follow me." She handed us the key and walked further down the corridor. I almost followed with them when Amy grabbed my cape and pulled me inside the room.

"Hey come here where were you going? You sleep here with me. You are a girl now have you forgotten?"

"Totally. Thanks Amy." I sat on one bed inside the room. I picked the one near the window. It was a well-furnished room. Blankets looked nice and clean. There was a wardrobe. And some candles on night stands. A full-length mirror stood next to the closet.

"Hey I never had a chance to look at myself like this. Except in the reflection back in the forest." I exclaimed as I rushed to the mirror. I really looked like Lina. I even had those spots on my forehead. Then I noticed my earrings were not clip-on anymore. My perfect complexion didn't even need any makeup, it looked even better than in that pond reflection. Noticeable was the emptiness on my throat left by disappearance of my Adam's apple. My waist was really narrow. I unclasped the pin and took off that armor and cape, putting it in the closet and sat on my bed.

"What a relief to have this off my shoulders." I said relaxed.

"Don't stop now we have to get ready for those hot springs. Get undressed." Amy said as she started to undress herself. Which made me a little uneasy.

"Hey Luke! Come on do you want that bath or not? Let's go, come on chop chop."

"It is just that I feel little uncomfortable like this. I might have a girls body but I ain't one. I am still me mostly." I tried to explain. Which I couldn't fully.

"Here! Feel anything?" Amy walked to me and put my hand on her breast. Which caused me to? What...?

"Feel any familiar feeling?" Amy said expecting what I was just figuring out.

"That is creepy! I feel nothing special. I don't even want to think about what it means." I said shocked and looking concerned.

"I don't know." She replied placing her hand on my breast.

"Hey!" I yelled brushing her hand away.

"So?"

"So what?" I said blushing deeply.

"Aaahha! So you are not being completely honest."

"Ok you got me. I didn't want to admit it but I think I might still like girls. I just didn't want to tell because this is awkward. The way my body responds is freaking me out."

"Ok your choice but you should get it figured out. Here put this on and hurry. I hope it fits." Amy tossed to me what looked like two piece swimsuit.

"Where did you get this? I asked surprised.

"In the shop before. I hope I got the size right." Amy said and started to dress herself in bathing suit she bought for herself. I got undressed and was surprised to find that swimsuit fit me perfectly. Well not perfectly. My breasts were a little big but it wasn't too noticeable they were just pushed up by the top. It was pink with yellow and white stripes. I looked in the mirror and saw what I wished for few times when I was watching Slayers. Lina Inverse in a sexy swimsuit. Only wrong thing was that it was me reflected in the mirror.

"Interesting! I would never have guessed that those clothes of yours make your breasts look smaller.

"Or this swimsuit makes them look bigger." I said folding my clothes on the chair next to the table.

"Anyway, after you are done admiring yourself, put a towel around you like I have." I put my bandana higher and bound my hair with it so I don't soak it that much, like I saw Lina do in anime.

"Ok ready? Let's go!"

"I wonder where the others are." Amy said, as exiting our room she almost bumped into Jenn. .

"Hey we were just wondering where you were." Amy said surprised.

"You look hot." Peter said.

"Just wait till we throw off those towels. Lina is really hot." Amy said .

"Hey guys!" I said exiting the room and fixing the towel around me. They were wearing swimming trunks. Pete had to buy them like Amy did.

"Gourry you look so..." I said but being interrupted by Jenn.

"Let's go find those springs shall we?" He said blushing. When Jenn turned and walked around the corridor I caught Amy by the towel

"This is freaking me out. I might go for boys too now." I whispered to her. She just smiled holding back a laugh. We walked down the corridor when we arrived at a steamy area with sliding doors. No one was there and it was a warm summer night already. We opened the door and there they were steaming hot springs. We threw towels to the bench at the side.

"Wow you are really hot. She wasn't kidding." Said Peter and Jenn in unison.

"Last one in is rotten egg." Shouted Amy and grabbed me by my hand as she rushed to the water. We splashed in and all the effort trying not to soak my hair was useless. Water felt real nice though. It was just the right temperature.

"It is warm don't worry Ranma. You should try out your curse first. When you get a better chance?" I shouted as I almost stumbled. It was long time since I visited a bathhouse and the resistance of the water surprised me.

"You are right, part of me doesn't want to find out thou. I might as well get it over with." Said Pete as he lifted a bucket with cold water and splashed himself.

"It's colddd!" Pete exclaimed in her now female voice.

"Crap! I really have his curse." a now female Peter said. I felt that magic in action as it changed Pete unlike with the rest of us. I couldn't even sense any magic affecting me since I changed to a girl and was transported here, but in him it was a whole other story.

"Hey Ranma would you like me to help you? I might be able to remove your curse." I said as I walked out of water towards the neo-girl.

"You can really do that?" Wondered Pete.

"If you can remove the curse from Ranma could you get us back to our original forms?" Asked Jenn hopefully.

"Sadly no I can't change us back because I don't feel any magic action in the rest of us. I wouldn't know how. It feels like we were always this way. As for Ranma here it is different story. I can remove the curse but it could be safer for him to change back before I try anything." I picked the bucket and filled it from the spring and then doused Pete changing him back to male.

"Come closer and hold my hand." I said and extended my hand towards his. I decided to use the disenchant spell on him. It seemed to work.

"Try the cold once again." I said eyeing Pete curiously. Pete did and contrary to my effort he changed to a girl again.

"I thought you fixed it?" He or rather she said confused.

"That makes the two of us." I tried few probing spells and it gave me a rough answer.

"You are in trouble. The curse is resilient. Every time I get rid of it. It will come back. I can't explain it. One moment it is gone and the next it is back in place."

"Just my luck" Pete said looking depressed."

"On the bright side I might be able to figure it out. Just give me some time." I tried to give some hope to Pete. Jumping back to the spring. I relaxed floating on the surface of the spring face up. It was different than I remembered it. More enjoyable. I was never really a fan of hot springs before all this.

"Thanks anyway." Pete said as he too entered the spring changing back to male.

"Lina could you please wash my hair?" Asked Jenn.

"Ok, ok I will if you wash mine. I still can't get used to this long hair of mine. Shampoo should be on the shelf near the door." I again stepped out of water and sat on the first step as Jenn came with two bottles of shampoo. One with red and one with a blue label.

"The red one smells nice but use blue one on my hair it would be weird if my hair smelled girly now." Jenn said. I washed Jenn's hair. I took off my bandana which I put on the counter and Jenn started washing mine. That red shampoo smelled really nice. Like peaches. Suddenly I felt danger. How and what kind I couldn't tell. I grabbed Jenn and shouted.

"Raywing!" We lifted off just in time to see a big cat like creature splash into the water near to where we were just a seconds ago.

"Hey grab hold of me I need my hands free. Everyone out of water now!" I shouted. As soon as the water was clear I moved in to cast a spell.

"Wind, crimson flame. Grant the power of thunder to my hand! DIGU VOLT!" As soon as I finished lightning shot from my hand to the creature and zapped it dead. I could even smell the O3 in the air after the discharge which ionized the air. Then I felt something grabbing my chest. Not completely unpleasant but.... What am I thinking!

"Hey I told you to grab hold of me but not my chest you scaredy cat!" I said as we landed back at the ground. I approached the creature which looked dead.

"Don't go any closer to it!" Amy shouted.

"It is ok it couldn't survive this much electricity." I said, as I grabbed it's tail and levitated it to the forest behind the spring from which it came from. Then I felt it twitch a little, so I dropped it to a clearing and got myself ready. How could it be still alive was beyond me. It looked like a smaller version of a saber tooth tiger. I took a stance and prepared my flare arrow spell. An arrow of fire instantly appeared in my drawn hand. "Tiger" charged me and I let loose the arrow. It flew right thru the creature and subsided on the impact with ground. The creature fell to the ground this time really dead. There was big hole thru its head and body cauterized by the arrows heat around the sides. I took it by it's tail and threw the body back into the forest.

"Finally we can finish my hair." I said swimming back across the spring.

"You were great! How did you know it would attack?" Asked Peter.

"I just had a hunch and sensed danger. I guess I acted on instinct." I explained.

"Well thank you. You saved our lives. Again." Jenn thanked me.

"You know you can thank me by finishing my hair and washing my back too." I joked lifting the shampoo bottle from the ground. After a while we got bored soaking ourselves and we went to our rooms.

"Hey, meet in half of hour in our room guys we have lot of things to discuss and we need some private place where none can hear us." I told others as we exited the springs area.

"It hurts." I groaned half dressed in our room.

"Hold still I need to comb your hair so it is like before or you will get it all tangled."

"I know, I know but does it have to hurt this much?" I whined thru my clenched teeth, tears in the corners of my eyes.

"It is your hair's fault. There is so much that it makes it hard for me to comb it." As Amy said it I grabbed the side of the table and closed my eyes in pain.

"Here I am done. Check it in the mirror." Amy proudly exclaimed. I stood up thankful it was all over. I had to agree that Amy did a good job. My hair looked better than before. It had more volume and was styled more like Lina's in the Slayers.

"Thank you Amy for your effort but I still think that it is pointless for me to have my hair styled so nicely." I said with my arms crossed over my chest.

"You should get dressed they will be here soon. And you should learn how to comb your hair yourself because you need to do it every morning or it will be messy and tangled." Amy said smiling.

"Right I almost forgot that I told them to come in 30 minutes." I slowly dressed in my clothes and searched the cape for the sack with our money, one last fruit from marketplace and my new purse. I put them on the table still pulling the pants on. It was just in time because minute later Jenn and Pete knocked on our door.

"Come in and close the door." Amy yelled.

"So what was it you wanted Luke?" Pete asked as I was still buttoning my jacket at the top.

"Sit at the table. You too Amy." I said pulling my yellow bra over my breasts. I pulled out my dagger and split the last fruit that was on the table into four pieces.

"Here if you find any seeds put them on the table we will make a killing with this fruit home if we get back." I said as I handed them each a quarter.

"If we can plant it right" Jenn said biting into the fruit.

"Ok, main reason. Take out your money pouches so we can start. We should each have our money and it is best we split it evenly. I counted around 38 gold pieces. which leaves us each with nine gold pieces" I said as I made stacks.

"What with the rest" Pete asked.

"I am glad you asked. I pack them with the seeds. If we get home this is going to be our fortune. Just one of these pieces has extreme value at home. I will keep the gems though I have big plans for them."

"What do you want to do with them?" Jenn asked interested.

"That is a surprise I don't know if I'll be able to do it so you will have to wait and see."

"About that thing back in the forest. Could you help us unlock that knowledge like you said you may be able to? Amy asked.

"I'm not sure but we can try it. You have to learn how to meditate. I will try to guide you but I have no experience with it I used the weed myself but we can try without it." I said with a puzzled look thinking about it.

"I will meditate with you but I am not exactly keen on that. I don't know what I can expect there. I already have all the knowledge I need but the librarian which was a representation of my subconsciousness implied that there might be more just before I woke up." I said with an uncomfortable expression.

"One thing is for sure you can't stick your neck into danger for us all the time, we have to do it you can't always save us." Jenn said with passion.

"Ok, ok, but if this doesn't work I think I can still teach you some magic. Not much but some basic spells might work."

"Really? That would be great. I would really love to try your flying spell." Amy said all dreamy.

"Don't get carried away I don't know if any of you can learn this stuff. I still can't help but feel greatly responsible for this whole mess." I said as I put rest of the gold and few seeds I found inside my cape hidden in the closet.

"So how do we start?" Pete asked impatiently.

"All sit in the circle on this sheet and cross your legs." I told them as I laid sheet from my bed on the floor which was clean but I needed it to feel soft.

"Take off your boots before that." I sat down feeling bit afraid. I had really bad feeling about this in my gut but I went along with it. They would not stop until I tried it with them."

"I never did this before. Weed was much easier. Get comfortable and close your eyes."

"I will try but sitting like this is hard. This is weird I could sit like that before no problem." Jenn complained.

"Yeah and I couldn't do this even if you broke my legs. Remember that one time that you tried to get me into yoga."

"Yeah I guess it is just easier for you now. Your girls body is more flexible than mine." Jenn smiled.

"And that is why you should never force guys to do yoga. I remember I couldn't stand last time I did it."

"You should have tell me this before I sat like this Luke." Peter complained.

"Ok for real now. Calm down and close your eyes. Try to think happy thought and ignore all feelings your body sends to you. Pete if you say you need to go pee I will dragon slave you." We all laughed at this.

"Ok calm down now. Try to find your center and think about what you want to know and learn about yourself. Everyone has to do it for themselves so I will shut up for now." I said as I did this myself. I slowly lost all senses and then slowly regained them. I was standing before a familiar door. It was the door of a small house. It was evening and the sun was setting behind hills full of vineyards. I wanted to knock but I instead I entered, it was open. There was a note on the table.

"Dinner is on the stove and don't be up late. Love you Lina. Signed Luna." Luna? As in my sister? I thought. Wait.. I don't have sister do I? I looked out thru the window. I saw my reflection there. I still looked like Lina but younger. I heated up the meal on stove but there was too much. Did she expect me to eat all of this? Then the door opened.

"We are home!" I heard an older male voice.

"Ohh Lina you are such good girl that you prepared dinner." Said a woman's voice. I turned and saw a man with light brown hair and a woman with fiery red hair. I was stunned but I managed to pull it together.

"No I only heated it up. Luna made it." I said. And thought about this. They must have been Lina's parents.

"Look at your hands. They are singed. Didn't I tell you not to cast spells like this? James take her to the bathroom. And both of you wash your hands. I will finish this." She said as only a mother can say.

"Come on little one said the older man as he patted me on the back. He put his sword on the shelf near the door. The sword looked like a Japanese katana and had weird inscriptions all along it. After we washed our hands and came back dinner was on the table.

"Where is Luna?" the potential mother asked.

"She left a note. I guess she will be working late." I handed her the paper.

"We should stop her, she works really too hard."

"Just let her if she likes to, what is the harm in it." said the man called James.

"Ok then if you think so I will let her."

"Hey Lina I have something for you. I will give it to you after lunch."

"So you really bought it? Even when I told you she is too young for it?" Mom was starting to get angry.

"Calm down. I know she has her magic training but she needs to learn to defend herself without magic." He brushed it off.

"Yeah but not so young." Mom insisted.

"I started my sword lessons at 5. She is well past that."

"Promise you will be careful!"

"Don't worry. What could happen? Unlike you I intend to teach her my art slowly. Not like when you taught her Dragon Slave."

"What should I have done? The Guild is bunch of stubborn, stuck up idiots that would not allow her to see the right scrolls."

"So Lina what do you want? Would you like me to train you in swordsmanship starting tomorrow?"

"Sure I would."

"It is settled then." Said Father. I fixed my eyes on the flame in the fireplace. It was getting brighter. In a weird way. It now shone with an almost overwhelming white light. I was at a door now. Again I knew that door. It was that library. I entered and got a surprise. Instead of a dusty ancient library it was much cleaner here. There were more books. It looked like someone took real good care of this place.

"What happened in this place?" I shouted.

"I cleaned up a bit while you were gone." The same voice replied from behind the counter.

"What happened just before?" I asked confused.

"I gave you part of your memories. A really small part but one of the happy memories of your parents. I mean your Lina parents." She said as she wiped the counter with a duster.

"Why did you give me that memory?"

"Didn't you want it? Was it unpleasant?"

"No of course not it just confused me. Now I am not sure how to feel about that."

"Don't worry when I give you rest of your... I mean Lina's memories you will be alright."

"What if I don't want them? I mean if one memory confused me what would a whole lifetime do to me?"

"Nothing. You will still be you just richer. You will have two lifetimes of experience and knowledge. Don't you want to know how you felt when you managed to cast Dragon Slave for first time?."

"I don't know, maybe."

"Ok then I will give you one more to help decide. If you take it." She then snapped her fingers. One second I was there and then I was flying thru the air. I lost control and almost fell but I managed to recast Levitation just in time.

"Hey Lina what are you doing? Be more careful. Losing control of this kind of spell might be fatal." Said the woman from before as I flew behind her. We arrived at a desolate scarred mountain range.

"I like this place Lina. I can train with my most powerful spells here and no-one minds."

"I can tell. You left quite a mark on this landscape mom."

"Ok we will start. Repeat to me what you learned about Dragon Slave."

"ADark magic spell that lets you borrow the power of Ruby Eye Shabranigdo. It draws on his power."

"Good. Keep this in mind every time you cast it and never forget where that power comes from." Mom insisted.

"I will show you how it is done. Darkness beyond twilight. Crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows ...... DRAGON SLAVE!" As she finished a huge amount of red energy in the kind of shape of a drill bit left her hands and traveled to the mountain range. After a huge explosion there was only rubble from the mountain it had hit.
"Now you Lina." She said, winking at me.

"Darkness beyond twilight." My hands went on their own over my head. "Crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows." It felt like great power building in my grasp. "I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand before the mighty gift bestowed in my unworthy hands." I put my hands before me as the power started turning a crimson color. And there it was. "DRAGON SLAVE!". Casting this spell felt incredible. Such an overwhelming quantity of raw power. As the dust settled I was surprised to see that area effected by me was much greater than moms.

"I knew you would surpass me but not this soon Lina. You seem to have talent for black magic and much greater magical capacity than I do." Mom commented. I brushed away a lock of hair in my face. It was white.

"What the hell?" I checked rest of my hair. Thank god only these few hairs were white.

"Mom what is this?" I asked afraid.

"Don't worry it is normal after you drain too much magical energy, your hair will turn gray. No worry though, it will be ok soon it is only bit of physical stress. I have feeling that you might even become of the great mages with powers like this."

"You mean like Rezo?" I asked excited.

"No that is only a blind and dangerous fool. I mean like Lei Magnus." At this I was again pulled from there and I stood back in the library.

"Did you enjoy that?" Lina librarian asked.

"I sort of did. I must admit that."

"Then what is the problem?"

"Problem is I'm kind of getting used to being a girl. I don't mind it that much as before."

"And that is bad?"

"Yes for me it is. I am afraid of it. What will my real parents say? How would they take the fact that they have instead of a son some strange redheaded girl?"

"I think they wouldn't care that much they would still love you even like this. Remember! You can't lie to me! I know what you know. Your mom was really excited to dress you up."

"I know but that was just one time fun. What would all my friends say. What about school and my life?"

"You would manage somehow. I know you would."

"Maybe but I can't imagine how. Anyway. I never ran from anything in my life and I am not going to start now. Let's do it! I will have to deal with whatever happens."

"No regrets later? Promise?" The Librarian said.

"I do swear."

"Alright. One more thing before I entrust my life to you. You will not see me again. I will give you all I can. All my memories. What makes me the person I am."

"I knew you were her!" I said pointing a finger at her.

"I never said I wasn't. I am what you might call soul of Lina Inverse. Everything I can give you is already in you. I am here just for releasing it slowly but I feel you can handle it now.

"We will see. I am going to miss you though."

"Don't lie. You met me only twice."

"Yeah I did but I see something in your eyes."

"What would that be?"

"Concern and honesty"

"Funny. That is exactly what I see in your eyes and more. Get ready. Here it goes."

"I don't feel anything."

"Tell me where did you get these gloves." Then it hit me as she asked. "Mom gave them to me." That wasn't right! Mom never gave me girly gloves.

"Go on." The librarian urged.

"They were a special blend of fire resistant material with mana transfer enhancing properties. She gave them to me after I singed my hands really badly one day. She knew I loved fire spells." It was really weird. I got this bandana from the old sorcerer who used to be our local head of the guild. The earrings were a gift from dad for my twelfth birthday.

"I can remember. I remember everything. My first steps as Lina as I tried to walk for the first time and even all my battles and my friends." When I looked around again I was alone in the library. I will miss her, I thought, leaning on the counter looking at my hands. I sat up on the counter and thought about her. I wanted to ask her so much more. She gave me everything and I didn't even say thank you. I was sad. I looked down at the tiles and the inscription. "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." Thanks to her I managed to find myself. It was me - Lukas Anderson - but also Lina Inverse as long as I live I will remember this. Even if I managed to change back, if I wanted to. It didn't seem that important to me now. I remembered a spell I loved as a kid. A simple Living Fire spell. I played with it while still sitting on the counter. It cheered me up which I needed after all this. I wonder how the others did? I walked to the door savoring the feel of this place; my footsteps echoing thru the hall. I never noticed my walk sounded like that before. As I walked over that inscription on the floor it disappeared. I closed my eyes and stepped thru the door out of the library not looking back.