The Esper of Algol: Protector

Master Tajima

Laconia burns zombies. The light from the Eclipse Torch weakens zombies.

Alis seemed to be affected by both.

They rested in Scion, a port town where Odin had lived when he was younger. There were very few people around; since Lassic had closed the water ways there wasn't much of a living to be made in a port town anymore. The atmosphere was bleak.

Since they finally had all of the weapons they needed, the time had come to develop a strategy to infiltrate Baya Malay, which was immediately north of Scion. Even though Noah mostly agreed, he couldn't stop thinking Did I turn Alis into a zombie? He needed to sort it out before continuing. He was making stupid mistakes in his distraction. He even suggested they go on without him while he visited his master and caught up later.

Alis was quick to dismiss the idea of him splitting up. "It's only a week to Motavia and back, right? And maybe Tajima would be willing to help? Or at least give advice? I'll go with you."

Both prospects scared him. If she was a proto-zombie, leaving her with Odin and Myau in Lassic's castle was basically a death warrant for them. Bringing her with was the safest option if she was dangerous. On the other hand, if she wasn't a zombie, and he was worrying over absolutely nothing, then a week's delay in their quest could mean the difference between life and death for many other people.

In the end, they all went with him to Tajima. The next day as they boarded the Luveno to Motavia, Odin confided in Noah his opinion that Alis was actually a little daunted by the prospect of facing Lassic already, even though she had been so determined to do just that for the past year. That was maybe part of it, but Noah suspected something else as well, assuming she wasn't a agent of evil trying to lure them away, something she had displayed under the guise of caution for a particular bewildering magical tool he carried.

The cave Tajima live in was, of course, full of monsters, but either the monsters were weak, or they were a lot better at fighting then they had been last time they were on Motavia. As they came to the end of the long corridor, they peered into an enclosure where a great amount of magic had gathered. At the wall there was a crude table of sorts and a few large boulders serving as chairs next to a fire ring, on which was a teapot that was gently exuding steam. In the center of the enclosure was an old man wearing a red tunic under a shining white hooded robe lined with light blue. The man himself was on the shorter side, barely as tall as Alis. His long white hair and beard drifted serenely around him as if there was a gentle breeze from below.

"It has been a long time since I have seen you, my pupil," Tajima's soothing voice permeated Noah's being and he ceased to worry about zombies. "And you have made some friends!" His gaze lingered on Alis for just a fraction of a moment longer than the others. "Please, come in and share some tea. I apologize that I do not have any shortcake to go with it, but it's difficult to bake at the bottom of a dungeon. "

"Indeed, old man," Noah responded with a chuckle as they entered and graciously accepted the refreshment. "How you holding up without me."

Tajima chuckled back. The crinkles in the corners of his pale blue eyes were more pronounced then they were when Noah last saw him almost three years ago. The magic around him, however, seemed less so. Was it because Noah was stronger?

"You've replaced the old staff I gave you," Tajima remarked. Noah tightened his grip on the wand, but once again his old master put him at ease by saying, "It was a good decision. This one's more suited to your hands than to Damor's. It is better for defeating Lassic than aiding him."

"How did you know we were seeking to fight Lassic," Alis inquired.

"Do not underestimate me, young Miss Landale," the old esper responded.