Little Chimera 9 "Back to School"

"Okay you two," Lina says in the main office of the magic academy. She bends down in front of Zelgadis and draws his cloak a little closer around him. "Stay covered up and don't go anywhere without Gourry."

When she is satisfied she turns to Gourry, "Don't let Zel out of your sight and stay in the main buildings, or just stick around the barracks." She hands him a map. "Maybe you can teach those prissy magician wannabes a thing or two about a real sword fight." As an afterthought she adds. "Don't let anyone steal your blast sword."

With that she turns and makes her way to the first class she'll be teaching for the day wishing to get it over with as soon as possible.

Gourry cautiously studies the map Lina has drawn for him and turns it upside down and right side up, trying to figure out how to read the haphazard doodles she's drawn. Giving up he hands it to Zelgadis, who proceeds to do the exact same thing. "Lina isn't good at making maps," Zelgadis finally states.

"Yeah, we'll need to ask someone to take us where we want to go," Gourry sighs, expecting this outcome from the start.

Zelgadis merely nods as Gourry proceeds to ask students and wandering faculty members where the barracks are. The whole time, Zelgadis keeps close to Gourry and stays behind him, basically living in his shadow. Ever since his encounter with Xellos, the little guy has grown extremely wary of other people and more dependent on Lina and Gourry.

Not one person Gourry asks is very helpful and the students are extremely rude to him. Zelgadis can tell that the sorcerer students look down on them, especially Gourry. But the blond swordsman doesn't let it bother him and continues to slowly figure out where they should be headed.

At one point, Zelgadis cannot stand it anymore as a male student out right insults Gourry. With a simple nod of thanks, Gourry turns and walks away, but not before Zelgadis has frozen the student's shoes to the ground.

As the student turns to leave he falls flat on his face when his feet remain glued in place.

With a snide grin, Zelgadis turns and follows after Gourry, but the student shouts after him.

"You have insulted me," the student calls in a rage, pointing at Zelgadis's back. "I Gareth, challenge you to a magic duel. I will not be made a fool by such a small whelp."

Gourry turns to Zelgadis and narrows his eyes at him in disappointment, forcing the boy to look at the ground sheepishly.

"I'm truly sorry," Gourry begins with a bow of his head. "He's just a kid."

The words sting, but Zelgadis doesn't say anything. Truly the teen's words mean nothing to him, but a simple disapproving look from Gourry means the world to him.

"No he isn't," Gareth shoots back. "He knows exactly what he's doing, come forward whelp, take responsibility for your actions." Zelgadis finds it difficult to take the teen seriously with mud still plastered to his face. "Maybe if you kneel and beg forgiveness I'll reconsider," the teen grins maliciously.

Gourry steps forward and is about to kneel, but Zelgadis steps forward instead not to bow down but to fight. Immediately the tall man recognizes the small boy's intentions. "Zel no," Gourry grabs Zelgadis's shoulder and turns him around.

"Why shouldn't I fight him," Zelgadis seethes trying to turn back towards Gareth. With each attempt Gourry simply turns him around again. "He's just a naive brat who thinks he's a sorcerer!"

"But he is a sorcerer, Zel," Gourry tells Zelgadis sternly forcing the boy to look at him.

"So am I," Zelgadis says.

"I don't want you to hurt him."

"I won't, I promise."

Gourry thinks hard on this. ". . . Okay Zel, make it quick."

One hour later, Zelgadis has defeated roughly thirteen unfortunate and vain sorcerer students. None of them stand a chance since all of them are beginners. When Zelgadis is finished, he demands that they escort Gourry and himself to the barracks, which they begrudgingly agree to do.

When they arrive at the practice yard, Gourry has his turn and shows off his skills by defeating every opponent there; including the teacher.

On Lina's way back to pick up her men, she hears rumors of two monsters on campus. One is described as an idiot swordsman and the other as Lina Inverse's demon spawn.

"So what have you two been up to?" Lina asks as she sits down and watches the end of Gourry and Zelgadis's little sparing match. Everyone else has given up and merely watches the two with something between disgust and admiration.

"We've been challenging the school to duals," Zelgadis huffs as Gourry pins him to the ground.

"You need to take advantage of your strength Zel, you're not as small as you think," Gourry says as he helps Zelgadis up.

"Glad to hear it," Lina laughs. "Reminds me of my school days."

"Were you a monster back then too?" Zelgadis asks honestly, not thinking about how ridiculous the question might sound.

"You know it," when she says this Lina glances side long at some of the people nearby. They quickly scoot away and scatter.

"School isn't what I thought it would be," Zelgadis shrugs. "It's better."

"That's because you haven't had me for a teacher," Lina laughs.

The End

Author's Note: An extremely short segment and not as exciting as the last part, but still fun. I enjoyed having Gourry and Zelgadis together, just the two of them.