Chapter 11:My Chimera Curse Is Gone?  This Can't Be A Fluke!

The dawn's light poured over the land, heralding the start of another day in the city of Sailoon.  People were awakening to start their daily duties and routines.  Some were only just turning over in their beds, content to stay in their warm spots for a little longer. 

This, of course, was not a privilege to be had by a certain weary sorceress who was currently trudging along in the underground tunnels.

She looked over at her companion with a scowl.  That asshole, he showed no signs of still being in a state of non-walkfulness like herself.  Which was probably understandable since he was the reason they were up at this ungodly hour.  Hell, he even had this really stupid grin on his face, but he wasn't saying anything, like there was some secret he had that he either wasn't let'n her in on, or all would be revealed in due time. 

She shrugged, oh well, she wouldn't let it bother her too much, she was just too out of it for some reason.  Might be because someone had to drag her out of the inn before they even served breakfast.

A sudden hand on her shoulder jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Lina."

"What now, Zel."  The chimera merely pointed upwards to show that they'd reached the hatch.  "Oh.  Levitation!" Lina rose from the ground until her hands reached the trap door.  As she pushed upwards, the door creaked open and she levitated the rest of the way in, followed by Zelgadis.

Even though she'd been here a lot of times, Lina still couldn't help but be amazed by the towering collection before them.  It was like a huge room of nothing but knowledge and it was all there for her to plunder and loot…uh…I mean…wonder and look…eheh ^-^;;

Taking a moment to glance at her partner, she realized that he'd already moved from her side and was searching diligently for that damned book.  Brow furrowed and head shaking, she walked over to the other side of the shelf and cast a levitation, rising until she was about to the eighth shelf. 

"Hmm…lets see here…now where did I…ah here it is!" she exclaimed—though quietly so as not to alert any attention to this part of the library—as she found what she was looking for.  From the shelf she plucked a large and dusty tomb whose spine was marked with a C, the letter she'd placed on it so it'd be easier to find.

"Hey Zel, I think I found what you're lookin' for," she called as she floated around to the other side, and down so that she was standing beside her friend.  She held out the book to him, a worn old thing with no visible title on the cover.  But then a sudden though dawned on her…

"Oh, wait, don't touch the book yet!"  Zel's hands stopped in mid-grasp, fingers almost grazing the worn material.

"What?  Why not?"

"Silly me, I'd almost forgotten that I placed protection spells on this thing."  Turning, Lina walked over to the nearest table and sat on the table top, the book infront of her.

"Why would you place protection spells on something that's of no use to you?" Zel asked, mostly out of mild curiosity.

"Well, when I found it a while back I thought it might be of some use to you, so I made sure the book wouldn't fall into any other hands but mine until I saw you again."

"So you…you saved this book for me?"  Zelgadis was touched beyond reproach.

"Well of course Zel, that's what friends are for." Oh how that smile of hers was disarming…Zel had the distinct feeling that every wall he'd ever built around himself was crumbling under her crimson gaze.  He shivered at the very thought.

"Lina..I…"

"Shh!  I need concentration."  He hadn't noticed it till now but Lina was sitting Indian-style on the table top, eyes closed, lightly glowing hands hovering over the book.  Suddenly, the sound of something breaking, like shattering glass could be heard.  Then another and another sounded off, just as Lina opened her eyes.

"Ah, that's better.  Three seals for 3 languages."

"Languages?  But I didn't hear you speak."

"Of course not, they were spells held by my mind, therefore, there was no need for speech."

"Interesting.  So you're saying you can cast certain spells with just the use of your mind and not words?"

"Yup," she smiled proudly, brandishing her victory sign.

"Like what," he prodded.

~_^ "Ah, sore wa himitsu desu!"

-_-;; "Figures…In any case, I do believe it's time to get back to the task at hand."

"Oh, right, the book.  Well," she pushed the book towards him and motioned for him to sit down, "It's your cure, help yourself."  Hopping off the table top and to her feet, she looked at him over her shoulder.  "But if you need me for something, I'll be down by the  newest installment.  Good luck!  ~_^ V" 

Zelgadis smiled as he watched her walk away.  That girl, she never ceises to amaze me.

Focusing his attention back on the article of knowledge, Zelgadis gently opened it's pages to find the title.  Chimera Anatomy: Doings and Undoings.  He smiled, this was definitely a good sign.  Turning the page he found the table of contents and scrolled down to find Scientific and Magical Undoings………………………..Pg 31. 

Carefully—so as not to crumble the delicate pages—Zelgadis began to turn to the assigned page.

The excitement was building in the Zel's stomach and fluttering into his heart as he reached the desired page.  Finally!  Finally he would have what he'd sought for years upon years! 

His eyes flickered across the page in anticipation to find that…the whole damn thing was written in Runes! .;;

"Lina!"  The petite red-head's eyes snapped up from the ancient spell book she'd been scanning, looking across the library to see a glaring chimera.

"What is it, Zel?" she asked, closing the book as she walked over to him and leaned against the table, looking down at her companion.

"Didn't you tell me you read this book?"  He tried his hardest to keep his voice from trembling with the sudden anger and confusion; he'd met too many opsticles and been led on too many wild goose chases to have something like this happen, something that was supposed to be a surety.

"Yeah, I did.  Why, havin' trouble readin' it?" she asked innocently, honestly not knowing what his problem was.

"Why yes, how ever did you guess?" Zelgadis's dripped with sarcasm

"You mean you can't read Runes?"

"No, Lina, I can't!  I thought you knew that!" he cried.

"Well, jeeze, you don't have to yell at me!  I was just assuming that you could read Runes!  Lighten up already!"

"How in the world do you expect me to lighten up when my fate lies in the balance?!"

Lina just rolled her eyes.  "Look, Zel, I don't see why you're get'n so bent outta shape.  Didn't I just say I read the book?"

"Yes, you did but that doesn't mean I can read it!"

"Baka!" she conked him over the head with a mysteriously acquired slipper.  "Don't you think that if I can read the book, then I can read Runes?  And that maybe if I can read Runes then it's a very strong possibility that I could translate the words for you?  Hmm?  Well?  I'm waiting here," she said, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked witheringly at the now blushing chimera.

"Uh…sorry Lina.  I…guess I sorta over reacted a little huh?  Ehehe ^^;;," he said, smiling sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.

Grumbling, Lina snatched the book from his hands and began to read, brow furrowed in concentration.

"Hmm, looks like I was wrong after all…"

"What?!  You mean to tell me there's no cure after all?!"

"No, you ditz, what I mean to say is that there's only one spell.  I originally thought there were two."

"Oh…well then tell me about the spell."

"Well…I know it's pretty good for what we were discussing the last time we were here.  You know, about how you might not be able to protect yourself if you were completely human?"

"What about it?"

"Well, this spell allows you to be converted back to your human form, but will give you the power to become a chimera again if you need it."

"So I could revert between the two when ever I saw fit?"

"Yes; however, there are a few problems…"

END CHAPTER 11