By reaching out a hand, the clouds could be his. This far up into the mountains, there was little separating the sky from the land; indeed, there was more blue here than green. Looking down, the brave climber was unsurprised to see little but clouds and the hint of the far away green valley he had passed through nearly a week before.
All of these thoughts were secondary, of course, to the man that was climbing through one of the most foreboding mountain ranges in all of the land. Then again, he could barely consider himself a man, what with the body he currently inhabited.
Zelgadiss Graywords was, currently, grateful that he had the chimeric body that he was cursed with. If not for his unnatural strength and stamina, he would not be nearly as close to his goal. Zelgadiss looked up, and grinned beneath the mask covering the lower portion of his face.
Soon. Soon he would reach the place he remembered just before he, Lina, and the rest of his friends fought Gaav and Hellmaster Fibrizo. Soon he would be at the resting place of the Clair Bible. Last time he had come here, he had not received the answer that could help him. Now he hoped it would be different. He needed it to be different.
A gray and blue hand reached up and met only air. With a start, Zelgadiss realized he had finally reached the ledge. The Chimera pulled himself up onto the ledge he had reached. Looking around, it was as he remembered it. Setting down his pack and his climbing equipment, he stretched, hearing the grind of his stony skin. He was finally here.
To think that being here was all thanks to Amelia. While traveling in the outer world, Zelgadiss had come across a ruined library. Within, he had found it to be a long forgotten library devoted to the white arts. Unfortunately there was nothing to aid in his cure. He had found an ancient text detailing quite a few unheard of and lost white magic spells. In fact, almost all of the spells appeared to be high enough of a level that even the blue-eyed princess might have a hard time casting them. Most he could not cast, but one had piqued his interest.
The spell he found was a minor summoning spell that relied on white magic. The one that Zelgadiss had learned created a dove of pure white energy. The dove then delivered whatever message the caster had for it, to whomever was the intended recipient. From the letter he had received back from Amelia (he had sent the spell along with his original missive) the spell had caused her quite a bit of shock. But seeing as only white magic could be used properly in Saillune, it had turned out to be an effective way to keep in touch.
The cursed swordsman had sent letters to Lina, Gourry, and Filia as well. He had known ahead of time that the fiery sorceress wouldn't be able to reply since she had never been strong in either summoning or white magic. Filia, on the other hand, had replied with a slightly more powerful version than he could cast. In fact, the small tin of coffee that he currently used to supplement his chimeric body was thanks in no small part to the golden dragon.
But the correspondences with Amelia were what mattered the most. She would always send him encouraging letters. The content of her last letter is what had brought him to the Valley of the Dragons.
His last letter had been very negative. He had found nothing in the outlands that gave him any hope that his cure was out there. Short of going to the realms held by the Mazoku Lords, he did not know what to do. Then he had received Amelia's letter. He pulled it out again and read it, just as he had every time he had gotten discouraged.
Dear Mr. Zelgadiss,
I read your letter. I am so sorry that you have not been able to find your cure. But don't worry! There would be no Justice in this world at all if such a warrior of righteousness as you obviously are were unable to find a way to undo Rezo's curse. Justice will prevail for you Mr. Zelgadiss.
I do have a suggestion for you Mr. Zelgadiss. I know that the last time they only took Lina and Martina, and then we ended up fighting the Hellmaster, but why don't you go and ask Milgasia or one of the other dragons if you can look at the Clair Bible? If it can answer the question about the Giga Slave, maybe it can help you?
I hope to hear from you soon Mr. Zelgadiss. And, if you are anywhere near Saillune, please stop by.
Your Friend,
Amelia
The letter had set off a spark of hope in the brooding spell caster's generally morose thoughts. And Amelia was right; if anything could help him, it would be the Clair Bible. So he had returned to Dragon's Peak. This time, there were not nearly as many dragons flying through the sky. And from the looks of them, none of them were the evolved kind that could help him.
Time for the incantation, the master shaman thought as he collected himself. "I call on the winds, the sower of change. I call on the Land, bearer of Life. I call on the flame, the purifying master. And I call on the sea, the keeper of secrets. Let the light of truth call out to the protectors of Right! Ryuu la Duger!"
Golden light erupted around Zelgadiss and shot up into the heavens. After a moment, the light faded. Now all he had to do was wait. It was a relatively simple spell, but the chimera felt that, if it worked, acquiring it would be worth it.
He had learned the spell from Filia. Zelgadiss had sent a missive that to the golden dragon inquiring about how to enter the Clair Bible. It turned out that Filia herself could not help him access the bible. However, she did teach him the spell that he could use to summon in the bible's guardian. The very spell he had just used.
So the chimera waited. When one is forced to wait, even short amounts of time can seem endless. As a result, though only a half an hour had passed, Zelgadiss felt as though he had been waiting for most of the day. While waiting, he had begun meditating. As he sunk into his meditative trance, he thought on how he had learned such a useful technique.
Meditation was a practice that he had learned while in the outer world. During his travels, he had come across what the outlanders had called a monastery. Zelgadiss had gone there to seek information on his cure. Though they had not been able to cure him, the gray haired young man had stayed for nearly a month as the people at the monastery taught him things almost as valuable as his cure.
His stay there had done him a world of good. The masters of the monastery were steeped in much ancient lore. From them he learned how to attain a degree of calm and quiet within himself that aided his magic considerably. Also, everyone there had accepted him, which had surprised him thoroughly. After the chimera had told his story, the monks had asked him to remove his cowl. None of them had reacted in horror, and none of them had looked at him in pity. No, the monks (he learned later that was what they called themselves) did not treat him any differently because of his curse. It was as if they saw him, but didn't see his chimeric body. The only other person that had done that was Amelia.
Focus was not the only thing the monks had taught him. Reading thorough some of their philosophical teachings, Zelgadiss found a way to channel his rage, anger and depression into useful outlets. Once he had released much of his pent up frustrations, he found it easier than ever to interact with the monks. And his travels subsequently had proved that it improved his general outlook immensely.
After he had learned all he felt he could, Zelgadiss had trained a few of the monks in the art of white magic, what little he knew of it. During the month he copied the spellbook he had found, leaving it at the monastery as payment for everything that they had taught the cursed sorcerer. Zelgadiss felt that it had been a good trade; with a new understanding of white magic, the monks could help the people near the monastery all the better.
The monks had given him a final parting gift. In the month that he had trained with them, Zelgadiss had been forced to wear clothing that they had given him, since his traveling clothes were much to constricting for the training and skills used at the monastery. So they had made a new set of clothes for him. The clothing was a pair of gray soft-soled boots and matching loose fitting pants drawn tight at the hips with a simple strand of blue silk rope.
For the tunic, the fare was simple as well; a deep blue with green scroll work down the right arm. He had been informed that the runes were symbols of peace and tranquility, as well as the phrase, "My enemies will break against the strength of my spirit." Zelgadiss had smiled when he read it; it was certainly fitting. A simple gray vest went over the tunic.
The final piece of clothing was a new cloak in soft gray leather. The cloak wrapped more full around him when it was clasped, with the clasp being at the edge of his left shoulder, not the neck. Not only would it completely cover him, its construction made it quite easy to undo, once he was shown how. While he was certain it would give him a few more stares, its covering would be welcome. Additionally, it would make his clothing much harder to see, thus keeping the unfamiliar style of his clothing a secret from prying eyes.
Newly clad in the monks clothing, and with his new sense of calm, he could finally take truly positive steps to resuming his life. It was not long after that that he had received Amelia's letter and headed back to the lands he called home.
While meditating, Zelgadiss had discovered that his already superior senses were heightened still further. Thanks to that, he was aware the moment that a large dragon dove toward his position. He also felt the creature begin changing shape. Exhaling a breath, Zelgadiss stood to greet the newcomer.
Before the chimera was a golden haired man, who's regal bearing hinted at his true nature. Zelgadiss was unsure of what to think; Milgasia was not the friendliest dragon he had ever met. He was also surprised that the he had survived Xellos and the outsiders purge during the Darkstar incident. The dragon in human form looked over Zelgadiss and frowned.
"So another of Lina's friends has returned," Milgasia said, his voice stern. "How is it that you have summoned me? No mortal has known the spell you used for more than one hundred years."
Zelgadiss merely bowed from the waist. "I was taught the spell by Filia Ul Copt, Milgasia. In all my travels, it has become apparent that the only way I may find a cure is by accessing the knowledge of the Clair Bible." Zelgadiss looked up at Milgasia and saw the deepening frown on the golden dragon's face.
"It is as I feared," the golden-eyed figure said with a sigh. "In any but the most unusual circumstances the answer would be no," he continued, the frown never leaving his face.
Not changing his outward expression of calm, inside Zelgadiss was a raging inferno of pain, fear, and despair. This is my only chance! If I cannot get to the Clair Bible, then I'll be stuck like this forever! Realizing that Milgasia was beginning to speak again, the chimera focused on the man's words. A glimmer of hope entered his heart when he heard what the dragon said.
"Much as I might personally disprove of a non-dragon accessing the Sea Dragon's wisdom, I have little say in the matter. Your role against Dark Star has been noted by the Ryuuzoku." Milgasia crossed his arms, but then said the words that nearly stopped Zelgadiss' heart.
"If it your wish, then you may indeed access the Clair Bible."
Zelgadiss could barely contain his excitement. After all his years of searching, his cure was nearly in sight! He could finally undo the damage that his ancestor Rezo had done. He looked down at his hands. Soon, there would be no need to wear the fingerless cloves, nor the excessive amount of clothes he had worn for nearly a decade. Milgasia's voice brought him back from his revelry.
"Is this what you wish of the Dragon's, Zelgadiss Graywords?"
Not trusting himself to speak, the chimera nodded once emphatically.
"Very well," the golden dragon said with a similar nod of his own. Raising a hand and pointing it at the mountain, a vortex appeared.
Milgasia held out a hand and looked into Zelgadiss' eyes. "Are you prepared for what the Clair Bible will show you?"
"Yes."
So saying, Zelgadiss walked resolutely into the Vortex. The last thing he heard was a quiet warning from Milgasia as the golden dragon followed behind.
"Remember, the Will of the Sea Dragon will show you what you need to know."
Falling through the sky is a strange feeling. It is both terrible and liberating in the same breath. In the moments you fall, there is nothing but you and the tides of the planet. Nothing else exists. As you fall, there is only truth. Lies fade and become meaningless; after all, what good is a lie against the absolute truth of your plummet through the sky?
This was how Zelgadiss felt as he walked through the path to the Clair Bible. He felt as though nothing, and everything existed. And then he was there. As his eyes adjusted to the peculiar half-light, Zelgadiss looked around him.
All around him were black pillars jutting out of the white sand that made up the ground. Covered in symbols, the chimera knew at once that the pillars held all of the knowledge he could ever want, but that he could never come close to any of it. He started when he felt Milgasia move past him and began walking down the path that appeared before them.
Shaking his head, Zelgadiss followed. Remembering the tales that Lina had told her friends after the ordeal was over he never took his eyes off of the golden dragon. Soon they found themselves at an oasis in the desert. Sitting in the shade of the lone palm tree was a woman.
She had ocean blue hair that cascaded down past her slender waist. The lady was dressed in white with golden trim, looking every bit a shrine maiden as she drew a finger back and forth across a stone slab. Zelgadiss looked on in awe as symbols appeared in a blaze of energy on the slab following the path that she had woven with her finger.
Milgasia led Zelgadiss to within a few feet of the woman, stopping and standing at attention. The chimera stopped as well, unsure of what to make of this. None of what he had seen was familiar to the sorcerer; what he saw varied greatly from the tale that Lina had woven over a fire after the battle with Fibrizo. The golden dragon cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the woman seated before the two men.
With a nod of her head, the lady turned to greet her visitors. Zelgadiss was nearly struck a visible blow when he met her eyes. While the rest of her was young, and very beautiful, the lady's eyes betrayed her true purpose. Looking into those eyes, Zelgadiss could see eternity, as if those eyes had seen the beginning of time and had seen the end of time, with now being a drop of water into the oceans of her existence.
"So you have finally come to me Zelgadiss Graywords," she said in a lilting voice. The voice reminded him of the simplicity of a babbling brook, both calm and invigorating. "What is it that Aqua can do for you?"
Zelgadiss blinked. He had met Aqua before. This could not be the same old matron?
"Oh but I am young man," Aqua answered his unvoiced question. "I appear however I feel most appropriate for the situation."
"Ah."
Laughter bubbled up and out of the beautiful young woman. With a smile she said, "I know why you are here." Zelgadiss jolted himself from his ruminations to focus on her words. "I can show you the truths of anything, and nothing. Are you sure you are ready for your truths?"
Zelgadiss stepped forward. "If you can show me the truth of my curse, the way to end it, then I am ready."
Aqua smiled a sad smile but nodded her head. "Very well." She stood and motioned him toward the stone she was writing on. "Touch the slab and find your truth."
The sadness in her voice served to make the stalwart swordsman's step falter. Something about what he would soon learn saddened her, but he did not know why.
Well, better to pull a Lina and err on the side of recklessness, Zelgadiss thought to himself. Thinning his lips and strengthening his resolve, he placed a hand upon the slab. Light began lancing out from the slab, enveloping the adventurer.
Milgasia crossed his arms and frowned. Aqua walked up to him and put a slender hand over the dragon's crossed forearms. His frown deepened.
"Was there nothing else but this that could help him, Lady Aqua?"
The memory of the Sea Dragon looked up at the guardian and sighed. "You know I can only show him the truth, my friend. His answer he will receive; what he does with his answer is up to him." She smiled as she watched the light radiate ever more strongly around Zelgadiss. "More than anyone, I think that he will have the strength and will to do what must be done."
The golden dragon merely looked on. "I hope you are right. Ceiphied protect us, but I hope you are right."
Light surrounded him, suffused him. As his eyes focused, Zelgadiss realized that he was standing in a darkened room. It was lit by a single candle on the edge of a wooden desk. He shuddered when he saw who was using the room. Sitting in a chair at the desk was the red priest himself. He was going over a book with a crystal. Experience around the man had taught Zelgadiss that Rezo used the crystal as a substitute for eyes when reading was necessary.
With a cry of anguish, Rezo threw the book he was reading across the room into the darkness. He looked up suddenly when the sound of the book colliding with wall never reached his ears. Instead, Zelgadiss watched as the book merely floated in midair, suspended by an invisible force. A voice came out of the darkness, soft and sinister.
"Now that is no way to treat a book worth nearly as much as a small kingdom, now is it, Rezo of the Red Robes?" It queried from the darkness.
Rezo stood and grasped his staff. "Who is there? Why can I not sense you…"Rezo brought up a shield immediately and assumed a defensive stance. "State your business, Mazoku."
The floating book disappeared into the shadows, and gloved white hands emerged from the darkness, clapping. "Well done. There are truly few that can sense me when I do not want to be sensed. Very impressive for a blind man." The tone was just as menacing as before, but amusement was laced through it. Instead of being reassuring it served only to make the voice all the more mysterious and dangerous.
"You are obviously not here to fight, Mazoku. State your business quickly before I am forced to destroy you."
"Oh I seriously doubt that you could, for all of your power, wise man of the age," the voice stated, still amused but with a current of warning laced through its silky tones. "But no matter. I am indeed here on business. I believe it will be beneficial to both of us."
Grimacing, the red robed priest pointed his staff toward the still hidden Mazoku. "What could you possibly offer me that I would willingly work with a spawn of the dark lords?" Rezo's voice was commanding, but edged with his doubt and anger.
From his vantage, Zelgadiss watched as Rezo froze with the monster's answer.
"Your cure."
For a moment, the silence hung palpable in the room, tension so strong the displaced sorcerer doubted he could cut it with Lina's Ragna Blade. He blinked when a lance of white light leapt from Rezo's staff and struck the area the Mazoku was in.
"How…dare you taunt me with such outlandish lies!" Rezo screamed in rage, a red aura springing into being around him. It cut out immediately when a gloved hand slipped around the priest's throat.
"Let it be known," the Mazoku began as he squeezed Rezo's throat, "That I could kill you if I wanted to. But My master wishes to grant you this boon." The hand left his grandfather's throat and lay flat as a gray orb appeared atop it. "All you have to do is perform an experiment for us. Do this, and you not only will have a powerful servant to use as you please, but you will know the path to your cure."
Rezo's hand reached up to grasp the orb, but hesitated. "What kind of experiment?"
"We wish for you to mix your white and black magic to create a hybrid creature for us; one part blue demon, one part human, and one part construct. When you begin, the remaining parts of the combined soul will gather in this sphere. Once full, return it to me."
The still hidden Mazoku laughed. "And upon completion, I shall give you the knowledge you seek."
Hesitating a moment more, Rezo called out into the darkness, "And the sacrifice must be willing, yes? That is the only way the spell will work."
Zelgadiss got the impression the Mazoku nodded its head.
"Of course."
Bowing his head, the red priest grasped the orb. After pulling it to himself, he looked around with his unseeing eyes. "This will take a long time to get the magic to work. How will I contact you and let you know that it is a success?"
Zelgadiss got a feeling that the Mazoku was fading from the room as it answered. And its response chilled him to his very core.
"That, my friendly red priest, is a secret."
Multi-colored light swirled around him again. When he vision cleared, he saw the same room. Only this time, he saw himself kneeling in the center of the room. Rezo stood beside him, the once gray orb now an eerie blood red. The priest stood as if waiting for someone or something.
Waiting was in short supply this time. With a slight hiss of displaced air, a purple haired being dressed in a tan and black appeared. It wore a Cheshire cat smile as it walked slowly towards the priest and his new "servant".
"So after nearly a hundred years, you got it right, Rezo, my good friend," the Mazoku said in its softly sinister voice. Zelgadiss could only look at the image in shock.
The chimera's mind was nearly frozen. He knew that his occasional travel partner was evil, but he never suspected that Xellos had anything to do with his curse. But then it hit him: most Mazoku seem unwilling to view humans as anything more than food or annoyances. Only Xellos and the Beastmaster seemed content with using humans as playthings on a grand scale. Thinking logically, it had to be the general-priest if a Mazoku was truly behind what happened to him. But his emotions were calling only for vengeance. The call was so loud that Zelgadiss almost missed what the trickster priest had to say.
Xellos was busy accepting the red orb and speaking to Rezo. "Thank you my friend. I trust you are pleased with the result?"
"Just tell me about my cure, Mazoku."
Zelgadiss watched as Xellos smirked. "Still as blunt as ever, I see. Very well, I shall tell you what I know. There is a small statue made of legendary metal. Inside this statue, is an object so powerful, it will amplify your powers more than adequately to heal your eyes, Mr. Red Priest!" Xellos ended the speech with a smile and a nod.
Rezo appeared less than thrilled. "Your sure that this will cure my sight?" More than a trace of doubt was in the priest's voice just then.
The Mazoku's smile deepened, and a single eye opened to stare at the human before him. Though there was laughter in the voice, Zelgadiss could see that there was none in Xellos's eye. There was nothing in the depths of its eye save pure, calculated, malicious intent.
"You will get everything that you want. Everything."
"And what will you do with the orb?"
Xellos looked at the priest, now with both eyes closed. "Oh, this? I'll probably keep it as a souvenir," came the reply with a shrug of cloak covered shoulders.
Rezo frowned at the Mazoku. "Then why have me perform such a rite in the first place?"
"Just because I could, Rezo my dear," Xellos replied. "Just because I could."
The chimera's blood went cold as ice just before the light enveloped him again.
Though his heart and blood still stubbornly refused to cooperate, Zelgadiss was surprised when he sight returned and he found himself standing in a rubble-strewn field. He was sure that his trip would end. Hadn't he seen what he needed to see? A loud explosion from behind him snapped him from his introspection.
The chimera gasped when his eyes finally focused on what was going on around him. There was a furious battle raging around him. But what had caught him by surprise were the players in this dance of death. Lina and Gourry were fighting it out against a small group of Mazoku and a larger group of underlings.
Most of the weaker creatures fell quickly in the magical onslaught from the fiery sorcery genius. Others fell to the gleaming blade Gourry held. Off-handedly, he noticed that Gourry sword seemed to be made of some sort of crystal.
When only a few of the strongest monsters were left, Zelgadiss watched as disaster struck in the form of the trickster priest. Xellos appeared a few dozen feet in the air from the melee. The chimera noted that the trickster priest looked the same as the other scenes he had witnessed save that a staff was in its hand. The staff was missing its customary red orb from the upper portion.
"My oh my, but can't they get this right? All they have to do is kill them," Xellos said. "I should not even have to dirty my hands."
Below, Lina and her swordsman had finally dispatched all but one Mazoku. Gourry and the monster were locked in a duel of sorts while Lina merely stood nearby and shouted encouragements. Neither was very concerned with the idea of outside interference.
Raising a gloved hand, Xelloss yawned lazily, "So much for not having to work." A beam of black energy shot down and enveloped Zelgadiss's friends. When the cloud of dust cleared, Gourry was holding the red headed sorceress's bloodied and broken body. Though covered in minor wounds, it appeared as if the blonde swordsman was fine. However, even this far away Zelgadiss could see that Lina was already far removed from the land of the living.
Xellos had floated down to land within feet of the distraught warrior. Using its staff, the Mazoku picked up the blade Gourry had been using. With a gesture, it disappeared, probably sent elsewhere. Then the purple-headed Mazoku turned its attention to the swordsman.
"It's just so sad about your friend isn't it, Gourry?" When the crying swordsman looked up, shock was etched on his features. "Don't worry. Now that the two of you have gotten that accursed blade for me from within that seal, I don't need either of you." Gourry's eyes hardened as he glared at the monster before him. "Now, now, I am just following orders my friend. So be a good jellyfish and die."
With discourse finished, Xellos released another blast of black energy, Zelgadiss watched his best male friend wither to nothing. Before the cry of rage and anguish could rip out of him, Light filled his vision.
A strangled cry greeted his ears as Zelgadiss was finally released from the grip of the Clair Bible. With a start, he realized that he was kneeling only a few feet from Aqua and Milgasia, his hand still on the stone. He frowned and fought down his racing heart.
"How long was I out?"
The blue haired woman answered, "Only a moment, Mr. Graywords. Now don't push yourself," she began as she watched the sorcerer stand and begin walking toward them. "After your vision, you need time to rest."
Zelgadiss shook his head negatively. "I don't have time to rest. Not after what I saw." He turned to the incarnation of the Sea Dragon's memory. "Was everything I saw the past?" He asked, fear causing his voice to come out as a whisper.
She smiled at him. "What you saw was truth, Mr. Graywords. I can only show you that. What does the past, or the future, have to do with truth?"
"So if I go and search for my cure, maybe even find my cure, then right now I will be sacrificing two of my best friends for my humanity," Zelgadiss grumbled, anger flooding his tone.
"As I said, I can only show you truth. What you do with it is entirely up to you."
Zelgadiss stood straighter and turned to Milgasia. "Can you send me to Saillune?" The golden dragon looked at the chimera in surprise.
Milgasia asked, "Why there? Why not directly to your friends?"
Zelgadiss looked the ancient dragon in the eyes. He brought a fist up and shook it. "Xellos was bad enough when he taunted and used us. I am going to make him pay for what he's done, in spades. But for that, I am going to need help to save my friends."
The golden dragon stared at Zelgadiss for a moment then nodded. "Very well. I shall take you there immediately." With a bow to Aqua, Milgasia turned back to his stony charge and placed a hand on his shoulder. Without another word, both vanished.
Aqua gathered up the ends of her robe and took her seat near the slab again. Before she returned to her work, she smiled. Soon, she thought. Soon the loss during the War of the Demon Lord's Resurrection will be put right. Very soon.
END - Chapter the Second
Welcome to the post notes. Not much, just a couple of things to clear up. KellyChan – I did not mean to imply that Gourry was part elf, only that, far in the past, Gourry's family had elven blood in it. After all, Rowdy said in the Movie that he was a couple of hundred years old since Joyrock wouldn't let him die. Now, that might not be that long for an elf, but that is five or six generations of humans. According to most fantasy world's theory on cross breeding, there would be no way for him to have any sort of benefit to being that distantly related to an elf. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I do hope no one thinks I did a bad job with Xellos. It is very hard, I think, to keep him in character with how he is in the series and not make him a caricature of himself. Hope I did alright.
Well, I don't have anything else to add, save that Reviews make writers happy. Constructive reviews make writers better. Both make for a happy, improved writer. Get the picture yet? Anywhoo, drop a review or an email iffin ye want to say ye liked it, hated it, etc. Also many thanks again go to Fitha for an excellent proofreading! See ye next chapter!