The Price of Self

Prologue

Double Cursed

This is a new inspiration that I'm trying out. This takes place right after Next.

He let out a sigh as he reached the top of the mountain. Zelgadis turned to see the valley down below him and smiled at finally making it to this point in his search. He looked at the odd shaped temple that stood in front of him. The arched roofs of the temple spanned out over the small out hang on the top of the highest mountain in the area. As he finished walking up the last bit of the path he took in the red and green paint of the temple. Zelgadis finished the walk and climb the small flight of stairs to the entrance. He stopped right in front of the door when he saw the two guards that stood in his way. He stopped, bringing his hands together in front of his chest, and bowed as the local custom called. As he came back up he announced, "Guardians of the oracle. I have come here to seek the knowledge of the oracle to answer a question of mine."

The guardians moved their halberds from blocking the door before speaking in a strange metallic voice, "Pass stranger. But, be warned any attack made on the oracle will only cause the end of your life."

Zelgadis bowed again and replied, "Thank you honored guards," before moving to the door.

Zelgadis pushed with little effort to open the large double doors that stood in his way. As he opened the door his sensitive eyes were bombarded by the glow of light off of gold. As he shielded his eyes Zelgadis moved forward slightly. His eyes began to adjust and he caught sight of something that he had never seen before. The entire room was crafted out of gold. Each column and step was crafted to the smallest detail in the gold that shined at him from every area of the room. He stopped to admire the craftsmanship put into the inside of the temple. Around him were murals scribed into the gold of epic events of all ages. "Stranger...I know why you are here but I cannot answer until you ask me the correct questions," came a very ethereal, monotone, and feminine voice from the back of the large room.

Zelgadis turned to see the oracle sitting on her throne at the end of the temple. Her long black hair flowed from behind her back and down to the floor of the temple. Her face was covered in a silk veil that kept anyone from looking upon her countenance. Her long flowing robes were of a pure white satin that barely stopped above the floor. The final touch were the long sleeves that hung down to the floor and then some. Zelgadis looked at her before reenacting the ritual he had preformed outside the temple. "Great oracle I have come to ask for your great wisdom."

"You have learned well the rituals of my people Zelgadis Greywords. Ask the question you wished answered and I shall enlightened you with the wisdom of my lands," the oracle replied in the same monotone voice that she always spoke in.

Zelgadis nodded, making sure to follow the rituals he had learned to a fault, before asking, "I have come to ask about the cure to my condition. I have searched far and wide for this cure but have always come up empty handed. I beseech you great oracle if there is a cure to my curse then tell me...I must know."

The oracle remained silent for a few moments as if in a trance. After about a minute she sighed and replied, "I see a field of flowers. In the center is a delicate red rose that is very out of place. It seems the answer to your request is to find the person that this rose represents."

Zelgadis' brow furrowed in anger but he kept his manners. "How am I suppose to know who this flower represents?"

The looked right in Zelgadis' direction and replied, "This rose in a field of wild flowers is what is normally called a diamond in the rough. I'm certain from reading your aura that you are very well acquainted with this person."

Zelgadis' eyes widened as he realized that the roses color held a lot of significance. 'The top of the roses represents the head of a human and the petals for hair...' Zelgadis' stopped in his thinking before saying, "It can't be..."

"Why not," the oracle stated more than asked. "She is one of the few that has the power to help you...and you have worked together before."

Zelgadis glared before replying scornfully, "That isn't an option. She betrayed me...she took the Claire Bible for herself and didn't share any information at all. Surely a tomb of that magnitude had more in it then just how to cast the Ragna Blade. She kept all the wisdom for herself...if the cure is there she won't give me it. I'm too useful as a tool in this situation."

In his bout of anger Zelgadis forgot to finish a ritual of respect and turned from the oracle without bowing. As he was about to get to the door he heard the oracles voice become loud and booming, "How dare you show your back to me without showing the proper respect!"

Zelgadis turned fully aware of what he had just done. He was about to bow to apologize but it was too late. He watched as the oracle rose from he throne at the end of the temple quickly. She began to walk forward but instead of walking on the ground she began to float in the air. Her white robes began to change to that of the deepest black as she approached. She stopped right in front of Zelgadis before saying in the same booming voice, "Zelgadis Greywords...you believe that friends are useless; only trying to use you, and for the disrespect you have shown me I shall teach you a lesson. Look upon my face and your punishment shall begin."

Zelgadis could not move as if he were being held in place by some magical field. He watched helplessly as the oracle removed the veil from her face. As soon as the veil was removed a bright light flashed and then he was enveloped in darkness. Before he fully losing consciousness he heard the oracles voice, "You think you are a monster that no one cares for? I shall teach a lesson two-fold as you punishment. First, you will know what it means to be a true monster. Attacking all that you see without rhythm nor reason and the other person who can lift this curse is the one you so cursed. After you are released then you will become as physically blind as you are mentally...if you survive these two test and can see the error of you ways then and only then can you begin the path to your cure."

Zel finally lost consciousness and began to fade out with one thought on his mind, "Lina will never let this go."

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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