Why a shrine to Gaav and Val?  Because of course, I think there was much more than a servant master relationship between the two of them, and it is here I will justify to the world why I think so!  Plus there is a severe lack of Gaav/Val shrines on the net and I think the couple deserves more fans and respect than it gets!

To begin, let's examine the incident in which Gaav and Val first met. 

Demon dragon king Gaav, an outcast, a traitor, comes across the last living ancient dragon, mortally wounded and left for dead by his own kind, and takes pity on him, and offers him a deal he very well could, but did not refuse.  The encounter is a very important factor in the theory that Gaav was more than a master to Val, and begins with him proposing a the solution of rebirth as a Mazoku.  Gaav, being who he was, could very well have simply taken Val to be his servant without so much as a word, but he doesn't.  After Val accepts the offer he holds him close to his chest, entwines his fingers into his hair and allows him to look away as he kills him, offering a rather quick, despite looking rather painful, death.  He could have just skewered him through the gut right then and there, even without asking, but he waits exactly where he stood before, perhaps to let Val have one last chance to refuse, and kills him only when he comes to him.  Now, of course, Gaav was merely looking for a servant at the time as he was quite short on allies, and what better power to have in your court than an ancient dragon turned Mazoku?  However after that, it could easily be seen that Gaav could have grown fond of his servant, who became a devoted companion, someone who genuinely cared for him and wanted to stay by his side, backing him and his cause, unconditionally.  Valgaav became so devoted it seems to have bordered on obsession, and he is undoubtedly incredibly grateful to Gaav for saving his life, but perhaps he saved the ancient dragon's life in more ways than one.  Such an unyielding love is bound to stir something, even in a Mazoku, and perhaps, the reason Gaav is so beautiful and perfect in Val's eyes is because he took the time to comfort him, offer him not only a second chance at life, but solace and love as well.  Though I wouldn't support the notion that Gaav was being kind because he was attracted to, or fell instantly for Val, but he definitely felt for him, as they did share a similar plight, and seems to empathize with him, and finally, gives Val his own name.  I doubt he gave every one of the Mazoku he brought to his side his name, and most certainly Val did not have to keep it.  He keeps it even after Gaav's death, and follows his benevolent example of saving oppressed creatures with his own subjects of Jillas and Gravos.

Now, one would counter to all these arguments, that it's impossible for Gaav to have loved Val, Mazoku can't love, it just simply isn't possible, but I would argue differently!  I believe very strongly that the race is fully capable of love, just unwilling to accept it, just as the Ryuzoku are ever so capable of hatred, yet, seem to believe they are always right.  And my theory is founded on this simple statement I've seen uttered many times, "If a Ryuzoku can hate, then a Mazoku can love."  The Mazoku see themselves as darkness, evil, elusive, cunning, all things that make for perfect villains, so love most certainly isn't something that someone from this background would admit to easily!  They like that image, they love being evil, but that's all I believe it is, an image.  Certainly Xellos did a few nice things that had absolutely nothing to do with his plans to save someone, but then of course, covers it up with something along the lines of it had just so happened to overlap with his own objectives.  And certainly the Ryuzoku have done less than honorable and hateful things, such as slaughtering an entire faction of their own kind in cowardice.  Love can easily be seen as a sign of weakness, it creates a weak spot for a Mazoku, a trump card for anyone who would oppose them, and since the Mazoku constantly fight to return the world to chaos, they can't have any obligations.  They deny any emotional attachment as hard as they can, but conversely, it can be argued that the love of a Mazoku is all the more strong, because it would take so much for them to admit it.  Perhaps Valgaav was enough for Gaav to admit to himself that he could love, that he did not enjoy Val's sorrow and pain, and wanted to comfort him.  And Gaav, of course, has been in his human form so long that his soul has merged with it, and that could clearly give him an advantage and understanding of love and empathy, and it also proves that a Mazoku has a soul, one that could become attached to another.

One could also surmise that Valgaav would be much more than a little distraught over the loss of his people, being hunted down systematically and executed, the pain of being the last of his kind, and yet, now only half Ryuzoku in the service of and indebted to a Mazoku lord, but somehow, he becomes truly and utterly devoted to Gaav.

It is quite obvious how Valgaav feels toward Gaav, his loyalty is unbounded, and extremely fierce, shown quite clearly in Slayers Try after Gaav's death, when his only wish is to avenge his beloved master's death.  That kind of devotion can only come from love, whether it was only kindness, a fatherly type love, or, as I think, a genuine passion and feelings for Gaav.  I happen to disagree with the notion that Mazoku are unable to love, as I explained above, and I think Val would feel very differently about killing Lina and such if his feelings had been completely unrequited.  Think about it!  Would you want to avenge the death of someone whom you loved more than anything, and didn't love you back, at least in one way or another?  And it would hurt all the more if the one person you found who saved your life, loved you, and taught you to live again was ripped from your grasp and murdered.

It all ended, thanks to well, Phibrizo, not really Lina but any way one looks at it, when Val lost Gaav he snapped, he just lost it, the world had taken from him his last ray of light and hope, left with absolutely nothing to live for and he goes as far as to want to begin it again where he won't have to be hurt, a world that would not be that cruel.  He is obviously in an excruciating amount of pain and anguish, with the loss and seems to have come up with this notion only after Gaav's untimely demise, as his initial objective, was only to avenge his death, but as his mind and body slowly fall apart, and his Ryuzoku powers reawaken, he decides that the best course of action, is to destroy the world to begin it again.  Being with Gaav kept Val sane and happy, at least somewhat and losing that joy and love was the last straw, and the ancient gives up on life completely, and decides the world is so corrupt and horrible and merciless for doing that to him, he will be the one to purge the disease and make it perfect for himself and everyone.  Perhaps he saw at also as his only chance to bring Gaav back, and have the best of all worlds, a perfect harmony he got to spend with his love.

Between Gaav and Val, there was obviously a kind of love that meant everything in the world to the ancient dragon, and here, it is chosen to believe that it was a genuine passion that was very much mutual.  For Val, Gaav was a, (if you'll excuse the expression ^_~) pillar of light and strength in a world that had dealt him nothing but hurt and suffering, gave him a second chance at life, at revenge, at living and gaining everything he had back.  And for Gaav, Val was a companion that loved him unconditionally, and together, neither of them had to be lonely as the outcasts they were.

Other notes:

• In Slayers Next, Gaav mentions something about, "Hating people who go around hypocritically brandishing justice!"  He could in fact, be referring specifically to Golden Dragons, who had a pretty lame excuse for slaughtering the ancients, yet they justified it as justice.  A little mad at people who caused someone he cares about so much pain?  Perhaps!

• The Filia and Val coupling is quite popular, but I do not support it at all for the glaring fact that after Val is reborn, Filia raises him as a son!  This would just not work, unless Val is prone to Oedipal tendencies!  ^_~

• Many raise the point in lists and such of just about every Slayers couple possible and their opinions of it, that they'd support it, or even, much to my horror, it would work out if "Gaav weren't so damned ugly!"  Why how shallow...  Val loved Gaav for who he was, and if you can't get past the fact you think Gaav is hideous, I don't wish to waste breath speaking with you!  Besides, I actually don't think he's all that horrendous, come on people, have some common decency...

• And also, the fact they're both guys people simply love to whine about.  OK, this is just ridiculous, love is love!

• Another common complaint is many people don't believe or like the idea that Gaav or Val is gay.  Well, they don't necessarily have to be gay to fall in love or be attracted to each other, just willing to be involved with another man.

* Please note this page will be constantly changed and updated, so check back often!