The day had reached mid-afternoon, and Zelgadis had not stopped walking for
even a minute. Even when confronted by a small band of thieves, he
fireballed them to a fine crisp and never stopped. Soon he would reach
castle Seyruun. Sooner than he had planned. He realized this when he saw
the edge of the kingdom in the distance. He somehow didn=t feel ready to
face Amelia.
GROWWWWWWLLLL!!!
Perhaps the fact that it had been a good while since he had last eaten was the reason. He felt like he could eat as much as Lina or Gourry. So he decided to stop at the first restaurant that he saw. Ironically enough, the first restaurant sold hot pots. He entered and sat down at one of the empty tables, making sure that his face mask and hood were secure on his head. A waitress approached him to take his order. She couldn=t help but stare, which annoyed him a bit.
AI=ll have the large hot pot, and a kettle of coffee,@ he emphasized a little when he ordered the coffee. The waitress gave him a puzzled look. AA large? You expecting someone, honey?@ ANo...@ He didn=t like being called AHoney.@ AThat=s too bad. It=s a lot of food for just one person.@ AI think I=ll manage.@
The waitress left to get his meal. He wondered why she was so interested in his company. Wasn=t it obvious why he wanted to be alone? She must either be dense or nosey. He remembered when he and Amelia ate at that one hot pot restaurant. It was one of the few times that he and Amelia had been alone without being attacked by mazoku or searching through a dungeon. It was nice to just talk and eat for once without Lina and Gourry=s relentless battles for the chicken. Too bad it ended so soon when they were enlisted as mercenaries. What would happen this time if they didn=t have any interruptions. Nothing....nothing needed to happen. Soon the waitress returned with the steaming hot pot and his coffee.
AThere ya go, Honey.@
He managed a thank you, but he was beginning to get a little impatient with her. Overtaken by hunger, he didn=t notice that she hadn=t left yet and he began to slide his facemask down in order to eat. The waitress gasped a little at the sight of his face. Zelgadis looked up at her and then quickly turned his face away. After a moment, she sat down across from him.
AI=m sorry, I didn=t mean to offend you.@ AIt=s nothing.@ ADo a lot of people bother you about it.@ AKind of...@
Why was she talking to him? Couldn=t she see that he wanted her to go away. He never even turned to face her. All he wanted was to eat his food and sip his coffee in peace. She spoke up.
AMy name is Vera. What=s yours?@ AZelgadis.@ APleased to meet ya. You here for any particular reason?@ ATo eat in peace.@ he said a little more stern. ANo, I mean Seyruun. Why are you here?@ Zelgadis finally turned to look at her. AI=m here to see someone. Now will you please leave me alone?@ Vera raised an eyebrow. ANot the friendliest person in the neighborhood, eh?@ AWhat do you expect? Are you blind? Or do you just enjoy staring at me like a circus freak?@ Vera backed up a little at this question. But then she leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table with her hands under her chin. AHoney, do you really think that about yourself?@ AWhat does it matter? I suppose you=ll tell me that if I feel better about myself then it won=t matter what other people think? Well whether I think so or not, I am a monster. And I don=t need any company.@ At this, Vera began laughing. Zelgadis looked at her surprisingly. AHoney, I=ve seen monsters. This town has been attacked by mazoku a few times before. And you may not look like everybody else, but you=re no monster. If you were, you would=ve blown this place up by now.@ Zelgadis lowered his head a little and didn=t respond. ANow, doesn=t that make any sense?@ Once again, he didn=t respond. AAlright, so who=s your friend?@ ASomeone I used to travel with.@ AOh, is this person an adventurer?@ ASort of, she doesn=t really get out a lot, though.@ AAha! I thought it was a girl!@ He realized his mistake a second too late. ASo what=s her name?@ AI=d rather not say.@ AAlright, alright.@ she leaned in closer and moved her hands to her cheeks. AIs she cute?@ AY...she=s just a friend.@ AThat=s nice, but it=s not what I asked.@ A....I suppose.@ She giggled a little at this comment. AWell, I=m sure she is. So are you just dropping by for a visit?@ AI=m just returning something that I borrowed from her. I don=t mean to sound harsh, but what exactly do you want?@ AYou just looked like you could use some company, and to be honest I thought you were cute.@ she smirked as Zelgadis blushed slightly. ASo what do you plan on doing after you see your friend?@ AWhat else? Look for a way to cure myself.@ His eyes began to wander around as he noticed most of the customers staring at him. Vera looked around as well. ADon=t worry about them. It=s just....well....you don=t see a guy with blue skin every day.@ she smiled but felt a little silly. Zelgadis gave her an annoyed look. AI=m sorry, I didn=t mean to offend you.@ AForget it. It=s true.@ ABut that doesn=t mean it=s a bad thing.@ AWell I don=t like it.@ A young man and woman strolled into the restaurant. Vera looked over in their direction and sighed. ALooks like I have to get back to work.@ She turned to face him. AIt was nice meeting you, Zelgadis, and I hope you find your cure.@ She stood up and began to walk towards the couple to seat them. But she was stopped suddenly. AHey, Vera.@ She turned around and smiled at Zel. AYes?@ AThanks.@ he managed a slight smile. ADon=t mention it.@ She whirled around and went back to work.
Now even more hungry, Zelgadis had his moment to eat. He started consuming his hot pot, which was now a cold pot. He slapped his forehead and let out a sigh.
AOh well, I=m too hungry to care now.@
Perhaps the fact that it had been a good while since he had last eaten was the reason. He felt like he could eat as much as Lina or Gourry. So he decided to stop at the first restaurant that he saw. Ironically enough, the first restaurant sold hot pots. He entered and sat down at one of the empty tables, making sure that his face mask and hood were secure on his head. A waitress approached him to take his order. She couldn=t help but stare, which annoyed him a bit.
AI=ll have the large hot pot, and a kettle of coffee,@ he emphasized a little when he ordered the coffee. The waitress gave him a puzzled look. AA large? You expecting someone, honey?@ ANo...@ He didn=t like being called AHoney.@ AThat=s too bad. It=s a lot of food for just one person.@ AI think I=ll manage.@
The waitress left to get his meal. He wondered why she was so interested in his company. Wasn=t it obvious why he wanted to be alone? She must either be dense or nosey. He remembered when he and Amelia ate at that one hot pot restaurant. It was one of the few times that he and Amelia had been alone without being attacked by mazoku or searching through a dungeon. It was nice to just talk and eat for once without Lina and Gourry=s relentless battles for the chicken. Too bad it ended so soon when they were enlisted as mercenaries. What would happen this time if they didn=t have any interruptions. Nothing....nothing needed to happen. Soon the waitress returned with the steaming hot pot and his coffee.
AThere ya go, Honey.@
He managed a thank you, but he was beginning to get a little impatient with her. Overtaken by hunger, he didn=t notice that she hadn=t left yet and he began to slide his facemask down in order to eat. The waitress gasped a little at the sight of his face. Zelgadis looked up at her and then quickly turned his face away. After a moment, she sat down across from him.
AI=m sorry, I didn=t mean to offend you.@ AIt=s nothing.@ ADo a lot of people bother you about it.@ AKind of...@
Why was she talking to him? Couldn=t she see that he wanted her to go away. He never even turned to face her. All he wanted was to eat his food and sip his coffee in peace. She spoke up.
AMy name is Vera. What=s yours?@ AZelgadis.@ APleased to meet ya. You here for any particular reason?@ ATo eat in peace.@ he said a little more stern. ANo, I mean Seyruun. Why are you here?@ Zelgadis finally turned to look at her. AI=m here to see someone. Now will you please leave me alone?@ Vera raised an eyebrow. ANot the friendliest person in the neighborhood, eh?@ AWhat do you expect? Are you blind? Or do you just enjoy staring at me like a circus freak?@ Vera backed up a little at this question. But then she leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table with her hands under her chin. AHoney, do you really think that about yourself?@ AWhat does it matter? I suppose you=ll tell me that if I feel better about myself then it won=t matter what other people think? Well whether I think so or not, I am a monster. And I don=t need any company.@ At this, Vera began laughing. Zelgadis looked at her surprisingly. AHoney, I=ve seen monsters. This town has been attacked by mazoku a few times before. And you may not look like everybody else, but you=re no monster. If you were, you would=ve blown this place up by now.@ Zelgadis lowered his head a little and didn=t respond. ANow, doesn=t that make any sense?@ Once again, he didn=t respond. AAlright, so who=s your friend?@ ASomeone I used to travel with.@ AOh, is this person an adventurer?@ ASort of, she doesn=t really get out a lot, though.@ AAha! I thought it was a girl!@ He realized his mistake a second too late. ASo what=s her name?@ AI=d rather not say.@ AAlright, alright.@ she leaned in closer and moved her hands to her cheeks. AIs she cute?@ AY...she=s just a friend.@ AThat=s nice, but it=s not what I asked.@ A....I suppose.@ She giggled a little at this comment. AWell, I=m sure she is. So are you just dropping by for a visit?@ AI=m just returning something that I borrowed from her. I don=t mean to sound harsh, but what exactly do you want?@ AYou just looked like you could use some company, and to be honest I thought you were cute.@ she smirked as Zelgadis blushed slightly. ASo what do you plan on doing after you see your friend?@ AWhat else? Look for a way to cure myself.@ His eyes began to wander around as he noticed most of the customers staring at him. Vera looked around as well. ADon=t worry about them. It=s just....well....you don=t see a guy with blue skin every day.@ she smiled but felt a little silly. Zelgadis gave her an annoyed look. AI=m sorry, I didn=t mean to offend you.@ AForget it. It=s true.@ ABut that doesn=t mean it=s a bad thing.@ AWell I don=t like it.@ A young man and woman strolled into the restaurant. Vera looked over in their direction and sighed. ALooks like I have to get back to work.@ She turned to face him. AIt was nice meeting you, Zelgadis, and I hope you find your cure.@ She stood up and began to walk towards the couple to seat them. But she was stopped suddenly. AHey, Vera.@ She turned around and smiled at Zel. AYes?@ AThanks.@ he managed a slight smile. ADon=t mention it.@ She whirled around and went back to work.
Now even more hungry, Zelgadis had his moment to eat. He started consuming his hot pot, which was now a cold pot. He slapped his forehead and let out a sigh.
AOh well, I=m too hungry to care now.@