Chapter One

The Redheaded Shadow

The chimera stopped dead in his tracks, his eye wide as he saw her. "What . . . what do you mean, "You're about to become human again?" I've heard that from Xellos lots of times and that has never happened!" He was just starting to become hysterical. He wondered if this was another cheap trick.

"Please calm down, Mr. Greywords," the redhead spoke softly. "I don't think you want people to notice us in here." Closing her dark blue eyes, the girl went on. "Now, I can lead you to the Clair Bible, with some restrictions involved. One, you are not allowed any companions on this quest. That includes the two you were just with."

No Lina? No Gourry? Finally, he would have peace! The thought of that made Zelgadis nearly scream for joy. No more of them spend his money on needless amounts of food. Or on stuff that they did not need. Or of them arguing back and forth on hours on end. That alone gave him a headache. And Amelia and her rantings of justice . . . he did not want to even think about that.

Zelgadis nodded, agreeing with that term. "Fine. Accepted. Anything else?" He did not mean to make his voice sharp, but he just did not know how to really talk to people. It was not in his nature to be 'friendly'. Civil. But when he looked at her, he seemed to have some familiar feelings for her.

"Can we continue this discussion outside?" It was a simple request as a gust of wind blew in, making the two tendrils of hair that were out of her cloak blow out toward his face. He smelled jasmine on her hair. It was not a lot, but enough to make him notice.

Looking back at Lina and Gourry, he nodded. They seemed to still be arguing over the chicken, but eating pieces of it at the same time. And the people were crowding in the place. So he simply nodded. "I'm not much on conversation," he told her. "So don't expect conversation."

A smirk played on her lips. "I don't." Stepping out of the door, her black cloak hung on the floor as she walked. Zelgadis seemed to know that she was short by the way she huddled in the cloak. But he knew that he would not be harmed by going outside and, needing some fresh air, stepped out the door.

As he stepped out, he was met with a simple, "Over here, Mr. Greywords." It was underneath a willow tree in full bloom. He never really noticed the scenery around him since his companions around him were bickering and he was trying to ignore everything, but now, he took note of it. There was a light drizzle outside, but it was also relatively brisk out for him. He was kind of hot in the tavern. His cells were part of the turquoise rock that made up of his skin. So she was kind of relieved now that she chose to meet him outside.

Zelgadis walked slowly and still tried to see if there was anything else about the girl that he should try to see. But there was nothing other then the soft voice and the fact that she was short with the cloak, and the fact that her hair was dark red. Well, this should be interesting . . .

"Well, at least you picked a good place to let me cool down a bit," Zelgadis told her. "I should thank you." A small nod toward her was gestured. When he walked to the willow tree next to her, he sat down, not caring if the ground was wet. His cloak and his clothes could be washed, after all. "And it's Zelgadis."

"Well, then . . . Zelgadis," the girl paused, saying his name on her tongue for the first time, "I will tell you the rest of the conditions." Again she paused as she twirled her hair. The light tan of it was unknown to him. He noticed that she saw his look and pulled her hand back in the fold of her cloak. "But before I tell them to you, you must agree to all that I tell you."

Zelgadis sighed as she talked. "I knew there would be a catch," he told her as she finished. "What is—" He would have finished the sentence if not for the fact that he heard someone getting thrown out the door and onto their head.

"Yeeow!! LINA!!" Gourry shouted. "You didn't have to hurl me out the door, you know! I had the right to that last piece!" Gingerly he got up, rubbing his head at where he was hit. He stood up fine, but Zelgadis knew he was going to be sore in a little while.

"Baka!!" she yelled back. "You should have let me have the last piece!" She stepped out, her hands in fists as she began to walk up to him. It was at that that he intervened. It was always when he intervened. Ah well. It was the same boring routine. Maybe the journey the redhead proposed . . .

He turned to see if she was there, only to see that she had slipped out in the midst of all the confusion. Damn it, he thought. Now I'll never get to talk to her. Looking to Gourry and Lina, he sighed once more. "Enough, you two. Haven't we got better things to do? I mean, we do have to look around for Amelia and take her back to Seyruun in the morning. Or at least, head there, anyway."

Lina sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right, Zel." Then she looked to Gourry. "Well, maybe we should turn in, ehh? After all, in the morning, we head out for Seyruun. So you should go back while Zel and I look for Amelia."

Gourry shook his head. "I'm going too, Lina. I have to follow you."

Lina rolled her eyes, moving her black cloak off her arm. "Whatever. You still think of me as a little kid." Then she looked to Zelgadis. "Can you believe this guy? He actually asked me if I wanted a lollypop when we met in the forest near Atlas City!"

"It wasn't near Atlas City! It was three villages outside of Atlas City, you thief!"

Leaving the two to argue, Zelgadis decided that he was going to find Amelia . . . on his own. He walked off, his loud footsteps hidden in their loud words. The last thing he heard was the sound of Lina hitting Gourry in the mouth and the words, "Baka!! Now I want lollypops!!"

Zelgadis sighed. It was hopeless . . .

The woman that had been by the tree watched from a distance as Zelgadis had walked off, sighing as well. If only she had been able to finish her conversation with him . . . then he would not have walked off, looking for that princess. She knew he was doing that now. Maybe she would be able to catch up with him now.

You don't know it, but you're critical to me on this quest. I need you to help me so that I can find a way home . . .

She clutched the cloak closer to her and decided to walk over to the two of them, trying to make the two of them stop their bickering, even if it was for a moment or two. Her dark blue eyes were cold as she looked to the redhead. "Good evening. Would you happen to know where I could find Mr. Zelgadis?" The woman snuck out a lollypop out of her cloak and showed it to Lina.

Lina's eyes had gotten wide, like a child who had walked by a store window and had gotten an expensive toy. She grabbed the lollypop out of her hand and ripped the wrapper off, sticking it out of her mouth. "Arigato!" She told her, giving her a wave as she started walking off. When she noticed that her companion did not follow her, she just grabbed his arm and pulled him along with her, dragging him headlong behind her.

"What about—"

"He's—Amelia!" That was all she heard from the redhead before she and the blonde were gone.

The redhead grunted. "I did all that for nothing. Great." Then she turned to them, shouting, "I hope you choke on that lollypop, bitch!" Then the redhead began walking the opposite direction, knowing that where Zelgadis walked to would surely go to a location where it would prove useful.

When she was sure she was out of sight of any people, she decided to pull out a long gray cord that looked like they had little ears on it. It had things attached to it so it would stay together. On it was a little box that said MO. And ST. The woman pushed the button on ST. and turned up the black thing as she slipped the hood off and put the attached ears on.

"Ahh, there we go," she said blissfully. "Now, what song to put in?" Pulling out a round thing that said "Memorex" on the top, she then pressed the 'Play/Pause' button. Not really remembering what CD she had in there when she left, the woman began with the first track. The song was "My Generation" from Dance Dance Revolution, one of her favorite games. Slowly it blared in her ears as she hid the cord and the headphones as she walked in the shadows, thinking of how much this was not her generation.

Well, now it's time to find Zelgadis, she thought as she began singing softly, walking down the street of the town.

Zelgadis' blue eyes looked around as he walked into the town square, knowing that Amelia liked high places. So, thinking that the princess of Seyruun was standing on a flagpole or a rooftop, he decided to look up there. Of course, that was no easy task in itself, as the princess liked to attract attention . . .

What is it about Amelia and the others that makes me get involved? Zelgadis asked himself as he walked by a coffee shop, seeing a brunette woman walk out, holding a spellbook close to her bosom. Amelia is just a little kid. But her magic is that of holy magic, like that girl who holds the spellbook . . . He happened to see the holy symbol on the brunette's book as she passed, her ponytail inches away from his face. So why do I still follow the princess around, like she's a sister or something? Really, I'm not supposed to care about anyone, really.

As the chimera walked down further, taking his time, he then noticed that he passed a sign that said, "Rynirai Port=Left. Town Exit=Right." Knowing that there were high places to stand at the ports, he turned left, drawing up his mask. He did it just in time too, for he saw someone point at him and muttering about rocks on his face. People must point that out to me. Like I don't know I have them on my face everyday of my life. Thanks, Rezo.

When he turned, he was still noticed as he walked. That he knew. He could not make his purple wire hair go away with a snap of his fingers. If he did that, then he would be a human again. But he walked like a normal person did with the mask on his lips and chin now, eyes still scanning for Ameila Wil Tesla Seyrunn. And it was not long before he found her, standing near a ship, of all places . . . and not on a flagpole.

Amelia was talking to a redheaded woman in a black cloak. It was the same one that he was talking to earlier. That made him suspicious and he stepped back for a moment. Maybe she wants Amelia to go too . . . ? That was the first thought. Then Zelgadis thought back to what she told him in her sarcastic voice.

"You are not allowed any companions on this quest."

So then, why is she talking to Amelia? The thought now was confusing Zelgadis to no end. Information on me? I thought she had all she wanted to know. Putting a hand on his chin, he watched the two women as they talked. An eye hidden, he took a good look at the redhead. He could not get a real good look, as she did not take off her cloak. I wish I had some tea right now. Especially green tea. I can think better for some reason with tea . . .

He was caught off guard when he heard Amelia yelling for him from where she was. "Mr. Zelgadis!! There you are!"

Blinking, the chimera looked over to Amelia and saw her waving at him. Sheepishly, he glared at her. Now he knew he would have to face the redhead. He was hoping he would be able to obtain some more information on her. A name, eyes . . . even maybe facial features, perhaps. But now was not the time to dwell on that as they started walking over to them. And as they did, Zelgadis felt dumb.

"Mr. Zelgadis!" Amelia yelled again, now having reached him. She took some quick breaths and smiled as she looked at him, her lavender eyes blinking quickly. "This lady has been asking about you. I didn't know what to tell her. She told me that she asked Ms. Lina and Mr. Gourry and she got shoved away . . . "

So that was it. They told her to go to Amelia. What a typical Lina thing to do. Zelgadis held the glare on his face as he looked at the woman. "You were looking for me though the redhead and her friend? You have guts." He picked off some loose dirt on his robe before looking at Amelia again. "Well, thanks for directing her to me, Amelia. But Gourry and Lina were looking for you. We do have to get going back to Seyruun tomorrow, you know."

Amelia looked up with a worried look on her face as she asked, "You mean, just Ms. Lina, Mr. Gourry and I?" Her eyes were big as she asked. "Are you going with this woman to fight in the name of justice?"

Zelgadis' eyes went wide as he looked to the woman. "What exactly did you tell her?" His voice was high-pitched, even for his normal self. He took another breath before calming himself down to look at the Seyruun princess. "No, I am not. Who told you that nonsense? I'm still going with you, after all. I have to find the Claire Bible, Amelia."

The redhead did not move, as far as Zelgadis could see. "I didn't tell her anything, Zelgadis." Her voice was quipped. "Maybe the girl might know something that you don't. Who knows?"

Amelia looked to the redhead as she pulled a stand of her short purple hair back from her eye, thinking about Zelgadis said. Then, "Well, if you say you're going with us, Mr. Zelgadis, then I guess you're going . . ." She then turned away, deciding that she would accept his decision no matter what. "But if you're going to go with that other woman, then I guess you're going to go."

Zelgadis' eye closed as he looked down to the gray bricks on the ground for a moment. He had been thinking all along about the woman's words. "I can help you find the Claire Bible, Zelgadis Greywords." The words would not stop echoing in his head. Can you really help me find the Clair Bible? The thought came back in his head. I need to know . . ,

"I think that I need some time to think," Zelgadis heard himself say as he looked to the cloaked woman. "But I will see you later, Amelia."

Turning around, he started to walk off, waving away from them. It was a sign that the conversation was closed. Zelgadis would usually do that whenever Lina pissed him off or talked about food too much. That or argued with Gourry. But he felt a pair of eyes on him. The cloaked woman. She's looking at me. Why? He wondered as he turned around and met with a blank look on Amelia's face.

The lady was gone. It was as if she never existed there to begin with. At this, the chimera looked around wildly while Amelia told him, "She—she's gone!"

After recovering a few seconds later, he looked at the princess. "So I see." Then, while he took a deep breath, he thought again on what to tell Amelia. Surely Lina and Gourry would question him about her. And what am I going to do? She told me not to bring anyone. And I want to meet her again. But I could feel her eyes on me . . . "Amelia, tell Gourry and Lina that I'm not going to be back for a while. I'll meet them at the inn tomorrow morning before we depart." He sounded resigned as he blinked and looked at her face.

Her lavender eyes were confused. "Mr. Zelgadis? You intended to go, then?"

Zelgadis sighed. "I don't know yet. But I think that I need to think."