Zelgadis had insisted on sending a letter before they left, and Xellos had agreed with annoyance. Now as he sat here, pen in hand, Zelgadis couldn't decide exactly what to say. Should I tell her who I'm with? No, she'd get concerned and come looking for me. Sighing, he opted for his usual non-informative correspondence. After all, if her hopes weren't up, then she'd be no more let down than usual, right? So his letter was short and to the point.

Amelia,

I've found another lead here, at the last town I wrote from. I'll let you know how it goes.

Zelgadis

Frowning, he unconsciously stared at the bracelet Amelia had given him when they last parted ways. She had been so terribly shy about it, so unlike herself.

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A Few Years back...

"Um, Mr. Zelgadis?" On hearing his name, the chimera stopped, though he did not turn to face Seyrune's princess. He kept his gaze fixed on the road that led out of the country.

"Amelia, I have to go. I can't live here, not like this."

"I know! But I... well..."

Zelgadis at last turned to face her. "Either say it or don't. I'll lose no sleep wondering what you might have said."

"Well, I remember at that last temple we found that book of traditions..."

"And?"

"And there was one I kinda liked!" Her uncharacteristic fidgeting was accompanied a seemingly profound interest with a particular spot on the floor. For a moment neither one spoke.

"Um, you remeber the village it talked about? Where everyone tied strings on their fingers?"

"Vaguely. Its of no interest to me how ignorant people try and help their memory."

"Well, I was thinking you could do that!" She hopped upwards, finally bringing her eyes to meet his.

"Huh?"

"Well, I'd really like you to write me this time, Mr. Zelgadis..." She once again began to fidget, shifting from one foot to the other.

"..."

"And I thought this might help you remember!" She suddenly and proudly thrust the bracelet toward him.

I don't need this. I don't deserve this. It'll give her false hope. It'll give me false hope. It'll raise too many questions. I shouldn't... I can't... I...

Hesitantly, he reached his hand out and took the bracelet, carefully not touching Amelia as he did so. He then fastened it to his canteen. "Goodbye." He turned quickly on his heel and strode out, not daring to look back at her face.

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He sighed, having paid the courier. Xellos waited outside.

"Are you ready then?"

Zelgadis simply replied with a glare and a nod.

"All righty! One moment..." Xellos grabbed the chimera's shirt and the two teleported through the astral plane.

Reappearing in the physical realm, Zelgadis took a moment to take in his surroundings. The pair was standing near the top of a mountain, just outside the entrance to a cave. All Zelgadis could see on the horizon was more mountains.

"Well, off we go! Just right down through here." Xellos began walking into the cave, not looking back to see if Zelgadis followed.

The trip through the caves was largely silent. Zelgadis wasn't one for unnessecary speech, and both of them knew that words could shatter their tenuous alliance. Xellos simply led the way through a veritable labyrinth of tunnels, always going down. Finally, they came to a distinctive room. A massive rope bridge spanned a chasm. A half-rotted sign, using either ink or dried blood for writing, proclaimed, "Troll bridge. Pay troll." On the other side was an archway carved out of the stone, adorned with ancient script. The gateway was covered by a fluctuating field of energy that shifted colors between green and black. Zelgadis cast a quick spell to analyze the magic, but didn't get very far before they heard growling.

"Oh my, cave trolls. Well, I'll be back when you're done dealing with them."

"What!" But it was too late, Xellos had phased out just before the three massive trolls approached, two from Zelgadis' right and one from his left. The massive brutes hefted clubs in one hand.

"Pay up, puny! Or we eat you!"

Zelgadis looked at his options. I could offer to pay, but I doubt I have enough cash. Besides, they're just trolls. I can fight them off. "Stand aside, Ugly! Or I remove you!" The trolls, of course, were too stupid to listen. But a few spells later, Zelgadis watched the trolls fall in the chasm, his stone skin unhurt by their feeble blows.

Now, to cross this chasm. He tentatively placed one foot onto the bridge, testing his weight on it. The bridge creaked and graoned in agony, but it seemed as though it would support his weight. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began walking across the noisemaking bridge. Just try not to look down... Unfortunately, just as he thought that, Zelgadis heard the horrible sound of snapping wood. His face contorted into an expression that Lina would have made endless fun of him for, as the bridge broke in two just beneath him. He desperately grabbed onto his end, and for his efforts was slammed roughly into the far wall of the chasm.

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Present Day...

Amelia sat leaning forward in her chair, her head perched attentively in her hands. Her eyes had a glazed, faraway look to them that suggested she had no idea what was actually being said. That was not entirely true; one did not go through a lifetime of diplomatic training without learning how to pick up important details in conversation. But it was fair to say that she cared far more about listening to the voice than the words.

"It's harder for me to change into a form I'm not familiar with; the process is mental as wellas physical. For instance, assuming my chimeric form is... easy."

"But something like a snake is harder?" The second speaker was of course Lina, querying Zelgadis about his new magical "toy". Gourry didn't understand half of what was being said, and Amelia was too busy just listening to the divine sound of Zelgadis Greywyrds.

"Yes, it takes me longer to assume and I can't maintain it for long. Though I've noticed that if I practice with one, I get better at it. But enough of this, I'm tired."

At this, Amelia perked up and refocused on the rest of reality. "Oh, then you should sleep!"

"Yes... I was on my way to an inn, but I happened to see you, so..."

"WHAT! I could never be so unjust as to allow someone I l-like to sleep in a common inn! You're a hero of this Kingdom!"

"I wouldn't want to impose..."

Lina interjected to defuse the brewing argument. "Nonsense, Zel! You've got no excuse this time, you don't have to hide that pretty skin of yours. When someone does you a favor, accept it!" With that, the quartet arose from their seats and began to head toward the castle.

Lina and Gourry wisely pretended not to notice as Amelia took Zelgadis' hand in her own. Zel flinched at the sudden contact, but otherwise didn't react at all. Though he did not grasp her hand in exchange, netiher did he push it away.

None of them noticed, nor cared, that Zelgadis had left his drab cloak behind.