After pilfering as many valuables from a band of thieves as she can carry, Lina Inverse—self-proclaimed beauty and genius sorceress—departs with the gift of a fireball into the heart of her unwitting patrons’ campsite and continues on to Atlas City with dollar signs in her eyes. Before she can get very far, a horde of the surviving bandits ambushes Lina with vengeance on their minds. But sooner than she can put these one-dimensional goons out of their misery, a gallant wandering mercenary enters the scene, mistaking Lina for a damsel in distress. Lina gladly plays the role and lets the swordsman, Gourry Gabriev, do all the work for her. Soon enough, however, she comes to regret her decision, as Gourry insists upon his honor on escorting Lina the rest of the way. The thought sends shivers