- Sketch of a Monster -
Chapter Two. Unexpected
On nights like this Zelgadiss sometimes wondered why he really bothered with his search? The place they decided to camp for the night was far away from any villages or towns, the area was dangerous enough to scare any travelers, so alone in the company of his friends it was easy to forget how other people looked at him, what a reaction they would have gotten, had they decided to stay in a hotel. Now it was just them, a merry chatter, or as merry as it could be with all the fighting over food, the nature and the stars, so bright and sparkling.
The chimera wasn't feeling too eager to start anew, with the last attempt to find the cure still painfully clear in his mind. It was not a failure, it was a barely avoided catastrophe. And to think that now he somewhat owned his life to Xelloss!
So maybe, instead of venturing into another adventure right after they managed to get out of the previous, he should enjoy little piece and quiet while it lasted?
Zelgadiss stretched out on the grass not far from the camp. Stars were indeed so beautiful like this. Peaceful.
However, something was not quite right. Altered by his demon third part or not, but his senses where picking up, reacting, the chimera just couldn't figure out to what.
It started after that manuscript fiasco.
Amelia was very worried, but it wasn't strange. The princess, her eyes big and watery, had tried to reassure him they would definitely find the cure somewhere else. Ah, sweet Amelia, deep inside he really appreciated her concern, right until the moment she started one of her Justice-and-Love speeches.
So, no, Amelia wasn't the reason of his current concern.
Neither was Gourry, if he ever could be. Not unless he was manipulated by a monster that is.
That ruled out everyone but Lina and Xelloss. Zelgadiss thought about the redhead's behavior.
Recently Lina was acting somewhat odd. The chimera couldn't place one word to describe the changes. Most of the time she was the usual Lina, but sometimes, when she smiled at Gourry or at anyone else, she seemed... nicer? No, that would be too strange. Maybe at peace or relieved?
Whatever it was, Zelgadiss could have accounted it for their near death experience. But then again, the sorceress didn't start hitting Gourry less when he nearly died by the hands of Hellmaster Fibrizo.
Maybe it just kicked in that they were not invulnerable? Neah, he dismissed that idea as well.
There was also one more thing about the redhead. Sometimes Zelgadiss caught her looking at him with what could only be described as sly amusement.
What was going on? Had such behavior come from Xelloss, he would be fearing for their lives, as well as the fate of the world in general.
Speaking of whom, the priest, still hanging around them for whatever reasons he had, was acting quietly, not adding any taunting remarks, not teasing and it was, dear he even think, almost bearable to be in the mazoku's presence. It was in itself probably a bad omen, far worse than Lina's sudden odds.
But what could it mean?
- . - . - . -
It was just another pleasant supper by the campfire.
Having observed both the redhead and the priest, trying to find the reasons behind their strange behavior but coming up with none, Zelgadiss decided to drop the issue. One thing history clearly taught him – if something was inevitable, especially if it was bad, it would happen no matter what was done to avoid it.
Somehow one topic led to the other, and without clearly remembering how, they were engaged in a discussion about the dragons. With Xelloss present, the conversation verged into touchy-downright-humiliating-and-rude parts of shinzoku history.
When Lina, innocently picking at the remains of her meal, asked:
"I was thinking, the dragons, they could dislike and fear, nearly hate the ancient dragons, and monsters. So, does it mean that mazoku can feel not just hate or dislike, but some positive emotions as well?"
All eyes immediately turned to Xelloss. The priest was staring at the sorceress with an unreadable yet intense expression. Was it just Zelgadiss's imagination, or did the mazoku glare at the redhead?
Finally he sighed and replied, "You are right, Lina-san. Positive emotions are possible for mazoku, they, that is, we are just less likely to feel them."
Amelia squeaked, and Lina, smiling wickedly, continued with questioning, "Yeah, what kind of emotions?"
That time, Zelgadiss was sure, Xelloss really glared at her, yet answered, shrugging his shoulders, "Any kind. All races created by The Golden Lord can feel all the emotional range."
The sorceress's grin got wider, but she was interrupted.
"Ah, Xelloss-san!" Amelia screamed. "So it means your heart is not completely black yet! There is still hope for you to turn back to Light."
The chimera sighed, impassively looking at the sweat-dropping mazoku. Amelia and one of her speeches, as if repeating a love-filled slogan could change a monster.
And then Gourry caught them all off guard:
"So, Xelloss, does it mean we are your friends?"
They looked in astonishment at the swordsman, then inquiringly at the priest.
"Is it true, Xelloss-san?" the princess couldn't contain her happy wonder. "Do you really like us?"
The mazoku blinked a couple of times, then smiled his usual smile, "Why, I do believe, yes, I've got quite fond of you guys."
Lina's and Gourry's reaction to this confession was a warming look, Amelia even jumped several times in joy, but Zelgadiss just snorted:
"Yeah, right," like he could ever believe that. "You mean you've got quite fond of using us whenever necessary."
The chimera stood up, too disgusted and bitter.
"But, Zelgadiss-san..." the priest tried to argue.
"Don't even try it, Xelloss. You are a monster, we were and still are pawns to you. And now excuse me," he stalked away.
Everyone around the fire watched him go in silence.
- . - . - . -
Quite far away from the camp Zelgadiss let his temper free. He briefly contemplated kicking a rock, but thought better of it – after all the material hardness was the same, he could hurt himself instead. Such restraint was proof of how better he had become in dealing with anger.
The chimera sighed. It wasn't just anger he was trying to deal with, he also tasted bitter, upset and maybe even betrayed. Betrayed by his friends who allowed to even consider the possibility. Being friends with a mazoku... Not likely.
And yet, his treacherous mind supplied, it could be so good: all the facts, the incredible stories Xelloss could share if he really wanted to.
Zelgadiss sighed once more. It was probably his fate to be ignored and disregarded by the ones stronger than he.
Suddenly, Xelloss appeared nearby.
"That was mean, Zelgadiss-san."
"Go away," the chimera said tiredly. "I don't see how it is mean to act like that towards someone who regards you as a pawn and feeds off your pain."
"I admit I sometimes used you, but you shouldn't blame me, I had orders and your group was so conveniently strong... But, Zelgadiss-san," the priest looked at him seriously, "there are a lot of people in this world to feed from. I can afford letting your small group of four people feel not unhappy."
"Why?"
A shrug, "You are interesting, every one of you. I wasn't lying when I said I got quite fond of you, I enjoy your company."
Silence fell around them. Zelgadiss contemplated the things said, still looking distrustfully at Xelloss.
The priest's face lit up, "I have an idea, and it might just as well prove my words. I was quite busy before, with the orders and official stuff, but right now I'm free. How about I help you with your cure?"
WHAT? Zelgadiss gaped, then recovered enough to ask a stunned:
"Why would you do that?"
The mazoku patiently explained, "Your unhappiness was never my intention. And, as I said, I'm quite free right now."
"Right, first you prevent me from finding it, and now you want to help me?"
And it still tasted so bitter to remember all that failures.
Xelloss sighed, "The manuscript and the copy of the Clair Bible had no information on your cure. I don't lie, Zelgadiss-san."
"No, you don't lie, you manipulate the truth," he eyed the monster with suspicion, anger slowly boiling up, how dare that monster mess with him? And in such a painful way!
The priest seemed to start running out of patience, "Don't you trust me at all?"
Zelgadiss snorted bitterly, "I do trust you. I trust you to be a mazoku and to have an ulterior motive behind everything you do."
"Maa, I'm not that bad. Besides, what could I gain from offering you my help?"
The chimera thought about it. Really, despite his pride telling otherwise, what would someone as powerful as Xelloss accomplish by helping him? His trust? Did it cost that much? His better opinion of the mazoku? Once again, not that much of a gain. So maybe, dare he think it, the priest so unexpectedly was offering friendship? Unlikely, very unlikely. And he would surely regret this decision later, but the temptation was oh so great, so maybe he could go with the flow, just for now, this once?
"All right. For now I'll trust you to help me with finding my cure."
Xelloss smiled, "Wonderful!"
They headed back to the camp.
The monster suddenly asked, "I was wondering, why you need the cure anyway, Zelgadiss-san?"
He considered not answering, but, honestly, why the hell not?
"I'm just tired of hiding." At the mazoku's uncomprehending expression he elaborated, "It is difficult to be feared and avoided every time you're in a crowded place."
The priest was silent for the rest of the way.
- . - . - . -
Despite his suspicion and worst prognosis, the next couple of weeks were quite anticlimactic. Zelgadiss had enough time to chew on the idea Xelloss had cooked up, and came to the conclusion that by trusting the mazoku he wasn't loosing much. Except maybe his life, but the monster could take it anyway, and without putting much effort either. Zelgadiss wasn't Lina Inverse, so by manipulating him the monster wouldn't get any disastrous results for the planet, so hopefully right now he wasn't gambling with anyone else's life.
And if, if by any chance, Xelloss was telling the truth and was going to help him get cured, well, wonderful! Unbelievable, but really-really wonderful. But it still didn't answer the question why would the priest suddenly decide to help him? He laughed a little – maybe all the Justice speeches did have an impact?
The next time the chimera saw the mazoku was after the group had split up, everyone on their way to solve their own problems.
The priest popped up one evening right in the hotel room Zelgadiss managed to get.
Without further ado the mazoku, a book in hand, started:
"I've found an historical record that would most certainly be of great interest to you, Zelgadiss-san."
He handed over the book. The chimera blinked a few times at the unusual sight of the monster giving something rather than taking it, but quickly shook of his stupor, grabbed the book and started flipping eagerly through pages, reading. Yes, most interesting indeed.
Xelloss proceeded explaining, "It says that there is a way to extract a golem part out of a living being."
The book did say so. According to this record somewhere in the Valley of Rotting Bones there were the remains of a civilization, and its citizens supposedly believed that in order to improve the quality of manual labor it would be a good idea to transform workers into golem chimeras... and then transform them back into humans. The civilization was long perished, but the record claimed there was a stone craved with information about the spell that in theory could withdraw his stone part.
Could it be true?
The priest contemplated, "Your demon part would remain, but at least you would look more..." – he searched for an adjective – "plausible among humans."
That was a strange wording, but who cared? Zelgadiss couldn't help his excitement, dare he believe it? Arising hope, so strong it hurt, was already spreading through him like slow poison. Would it be another quest that would leave him again empty-handed?
- . - . - . -
They were in the mountains, heading to the Valley of Rotting Bones – what a cheerful name.
Zelgadiss was still expecting to reveal the mazoku's ulterior motive, but even despite that he found the road to be enjoying.
They travelled quickly, there was no need to stop for long periods of time to hunt or fish in order to satisfy seemingly bottomless pits of stomachs. Xelloss was chattering nonstop about some inane topics, with Zelgadiss's occasional sarcastic comments. And strangely enough it wasn't annoying, not at all. He even caught himself a few times chuckling in response to some of the priest's silly stories.
And seemingly in less than no time they arrived at the Valley.
What a lovely place it was, to match its name. Scraps of fog as far as the eye could see into the darkness of the valley, obscured from daylight by rocky cliffs. It was almost quiet, not in a tranquil way, and the air was full of a strange buzzing, low almost to the point of being undetected by an ear. No birds were singing. The breeze was chilly, Zelgadiss could see his breath.
A shadow flicked in the fog, too fast to see and ascertain its origin.
"What was that?" asked the chimera gloomily.
"That, I believe, was a specimen of local fauna. They are small predators, not harmful if encountered with only one, but..."
They glanced at the sea of grey, the Valley must be swelling with the creatures, and knowing his luck, there probably was something worse than a small predator. He noticed that some areas of the fog were denser, and had blue currents irregularly charging through them. Naturally, it wouldn't be a hiding place if the things hidden here were easy to find and to take.
Just then Xelloss managed to surprise him yet again:
"You focus on finding the stones, Zelgadiss-san, I'll fend off the creatures."
The chimera was grateful, eager and exited.
But then, as sobering as a cold shower, came a clear vision into his mind:
the creatures defeated, he is standing in front of the ancient stone tablets with a curing spell written on them, now without a doubt. However, just as he is about to read them, the tablets crumble into little pieces and Xelloss's voice tells gently, "I'm sorry, they must be destroyed."
The vision is horrible, should something like that happen Zelgadiss would probably break like the stone in his vision.
The chimera turned to the mazoku, "If you betray me now..." His expression clearly showed what he was feeling.
Xelloss looked very serious, not a trace of usual mirth in his eyes:
"Zelgadiss-san, like I said, I have no intentions of making you unhappy. Unless ordered by Zelas-sama, which is unlikely to happen now, I'm free to do as I wish. And I promise you, I will help you with this."
They gazed at each other.
And Zelgadiss, disregarding all his suspicions and common sense, unexpectedly smiled:
"Thank you, Xelloss."
- TBC -
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AN: Xelloss is wooing his beloved, MWAHAHAHA!
I do find Zelgadiss a bit insecure, hotheaded and not easy to trust. And, about the Valley of Rotting Bones – I couldn't resist the temptation of such a name, my apologies.
Anyway, next chapter will be from Amelia's POV!
I know there are grammar errors in the text, they are inevitable alas. So, please, should you find them and if you could, point them out to me and not just the fact they exist. Thanks!
