A/N: Once again, I'd like to give thanks to any and all who are following this fanfic, as well as Drk Phoenyx...Please read and review, everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Slayers, except for maybe the Ragna territory/kingdom, which is mentioned later in the story.

Chapter 3: Council...Royal Council, That Is

In the Seyruun castle, Lina and Gourry wolf down a ton of food...until Lina suddenly realizes that she's not hungry anymore.

"Lina," Zelgadis starts to explain, "When I was changed into a chimera, I realized that I don't need to eat as much. You've probably just discovered the same." He sips his coffee contentedly.

Lina blinks rapidly and her jaw hangs open, "B-but...I can't live without food! Unlike you, Zel, I've been a big eater ever since I was born!"

"I bet you were born with pointy teeth and an attitude just as sharp," Zelgadis scoffs sarcastically.

"I can easily bite your head off with those same teeth," Lina retorts with a glare.

Zelgadis grows silent just as Amelia arrives from her conference.

"Okay," the princess sighs, "we need to figure out what type of chimera Miss Lina is."

Zelgadis remains silent until the others quiet down and look at him. "I already did," he states. "Of course, Lina is still part human, but like me, she is also part rock golem. It explains why she was able to lift that boulder and her stony exterior. Also, her skin is red which means," Zelgadis pauses for dramatic effect. "Lina is also part fire dragon. It's from the Ragna region. They are almost extinct, and nearly impossible to find, which means whoever we're dealing with is quite knowledgeable."

Xellos comes to mind, but Zel seems to read their thoughts, "No, not even Xellos is foolish enough to risk Lina's wrath."

"So our culprit is at least as powerful as Xellos?" Lina muses. "This will be quite a mystery."

Zelgadis mutters, "This isn't a mystery genre..."

Lina begins knocking on her hand, intrigued.

Just then, someone happens to knock on the door. "Princess Amelia, your father wants to see you and your friends."

Lina pouts, "I now know how Zel feels." She pulls a black hood over her head, blushing...probably.

"Oh, come on, Lina," Gourry says, "Just because I didn't recognize you doesn't mean that Phil won't!"

Lina's eye twitches as she smacks Gourry across the face.

"Ow!" he yelps, "Lina, that hurt!"

"Miss Lina, you need to control your temper. You can easily hurt someone now; try not to hit Mister Gourry!" Amelia exclaims in distress.

Zelgadis nods, silent yet making it clear: if she hurts someone she cares about, it will hurt her as well. Sadness darkens his eyes in the memory of lost friends.

As they enter the royal conference room, Phil sees the embarrassed figure cloaked in black. Zelgadis mutters words of encouragement to her.

"Daddy, you wanted to see us?" Amelia asks.

"Yes, Amelia, but first...is that Lina?" the king wonders in shock.

They think Lina blushes, but it's hard to tell when her face is already red.

"Yeah, Phil." The black magic sorceress glances away.

Phil gapes and moves closer to get a better look. "What happened to you?"

"Someone—we don't know who—changed me into a chimera of human, golem, and...fire dragon, I think," Lina answers.

"Well, don't worry, (Miss) Lina! Surely Justice will see you through this!" Phil and Amelia exclaim. (To any and all readers who may be confused by the parentheses, it is because Amelia calls her "Miss Lina" and Phil calls her "Lina." As they are speaking together, "Miss" and "Mister" go in parentheses.)

Lina and Zelgadis plug their ears as the royal Justice-lovers rattle off an excruciatingly long speech about Justice, hope, and love.

Gourry remains oblivious to the world, humming a Taylor Swift song that doesn't exist.

"...and so, (Miss) Lina, that is why you shouldn't worry about being a chimera! See, (Mister) Zelgadis, here, has lived as a chimera for most of his life, and he's still alive!"

This earns a death glare from Zelgadis, a warning that says, 'One more word and you suffer a terrible death...a very mysterious one that no one can figure out...'

So they all shut up and get down to business.