Chapter Two
Zelgadis' Smile
When he had told Amelia that he needed sometime to think, that was two hours ago. Now, the sun was setting to the east as he was walking down the woody path that he had just gotten to. He was glad that he had chosen not to return to The Black Tirade Tavern and Inn. There were too many people in there when he returned and he thought that they all were looking at him anyway. So he had decided that a nice walk in the woods would clear his head.
And it did. To a point.
There was always a point with Zelgadis where he was always annoyed, no matter where he would go. No matter how beautiful a place was, he would have that frown on his face. It just never seemed to wipe off his face. And, judging how the trees were starting to lose their leaves so quickly, he did not think that the smile would come tonight either.
The chimera walked slowly this time, not feeling the need to hurry. He wanted to enjoy the scenery around him as he walked though the woods. His one blue eye saw all he wanted, taking it all in with glee. This is what I call enjoyment. Not hearing Lina complain about when we're getting to the next village cause she wants to eat or bathe . . . or Gourry's stupid remarks . . . or even Amelia's self proclaimed justice remarks . . . Finally, I can just think about what I'm going to do.
But . . . what am I going to do?
That was his question.
As he continued to walk, he thought about it some more. The wind suddenly blew and the leaves blew off the trees. They fell all around, some at his feet. This made him stop, as he was in a thoughtful mood. Autumn already, huh? Things have happened so fast that I forget the change of seasons. With Shabringo and Rezo and everything . . . It's fascinating . . . Zelgadis looked up at the tree, which was a cherry tree. The leaves were nearly gone on it, except for a particular section. Strange. It's as if part of the tree is struggling to live.
The wind blew again, this time blowing a little harsher this time. His cloak blew back to his leg and, disregarding it, still looked at the tree. It truly fascinated him to look at it. Well, I really hope that this tree lives, he told himself as he walked to the tree, putting his hand on it. Zelgadis immediately noticed that the tree was warmer then most he had ever encountered. It's still alive! His rockish skin was cold, but he could feel the lifeforce in the tree humming through his hand. It scared him at first. He was used to feeling it in humans. But not in plants.
As he felt the lifeforce humming through him more, he wondered why he was able to connect with this. Why now? I have never been able to sense other lifeforces or things of this nature. So why can I now . . . ? The heat intensified with the energy that he felt in his hand. It began to make his heart beat faster. At this, Zelgadis calmed himself and waited to see what else would happen. Calm down, Zel. Wait it out. See what comes of this. You might get a new power . . . he thought, closing his eyes.
His heart slowed down and he felt the energy run not just through his hand, but his arm now. It was like a revitalizing lifeforce that would help him in his journeys. Knowing this, he allowed it to advance. We are one? Through his chest it went, journeying, exploring. The chimera exhaled loudly, not knowing how long it was since he breathed.
But he knew that it was a long time. Probably a good minute and a half.
The force now went to his legs, as they were tired from walking all day and standing. Stiff and weary minutes ago, they now seemed full of energy. The wind blew lightly and tugged on his clothes, it seemed. A smile fell on his face as finally, he felt like he was human once more. Rejuvenation was complete as it was spread to the last arm, the weariness that plagued him for the last couple of years gone for the moment in time.
At last, Zelgadis thought. A smile on my weary face. Thank you, Goddess of the Earth.
Go with the girl. That is my only wish, Zelgadis Greywords. Then you will be human again and smile for the rest of your life.
Zelgadis knew the voice to be the tree's spirit and nodded. "Then I will." His hand left the tree and he opened his eyes, seeing that it was totally dark outside. However, there were stars out and they were twinkling bright. But on the hill in front of him was the redheaded woman. She had her hood off for a moment, he noticed, but she quickly put it back on before she started walking down the hill.
"I see you came here as well," he called out to her from where she was. "What made you come here, cloaked one?" It was a start to a conversation, he surmised. After all, he was not good at this sort of thing.
It took her a moment to get to where he was before she spoke. She was not acrimonious as spoke to him this time, only thinking about things, it seemed. "I would ask that of you, Zelgadis. After all, you only seem to be with Lina Inverse as of late."
The chimera looked at the ground as he sighed. He really was not in the mood to tell her anything. He knew he would meet up again with her, though. "Yes. I know. I have been thinking about whether I should be with them or not, as of late. Sitting at tavern tables and having chicken thrown at my head is not a good thing, you know." At that, the chimera scowled. That memory was not a good one.
"I see." At that, he saw a pale hand come out of the cloak. Too pale for his liking. How could her hand be white like that from traveling in the pounding sun? Even my rockish skin gets hot . . . Trying to cover his thought, he rubbed his head. Being out in the woods was getting to him. The last of the mosquitoes were biting around his hands and, irritably, he smacked at them with his other hand.
However, she noticed that he stared at her hand for a moment and pulled it back in before she finished the action with her hand. She did this while Zelgadis was hitting the mosquitoes. Zelgadis had caught that as well and noted that. When he hit the last of the swarm, he looked to the redheaded figure. "You're not like the rest of the people that have followed us. They usually have a motive or henchmen." It was the start of something. Zelgadis wanted something explained.
"Believe me, I have no one else with me, Zelgadis," she told him. "I would not have any need to bring anyone else with me. What I need to explain consists between you and me." At that, she smiled herself. "You see, the Clair Bible is with Eris." The girl took a seat on the ground, sitting down Indian style as she crossed her legs.
Zelgadis looked down at her suspiciously. Suddenly he lumbered down on tiny form. "Just why should I believe you?" His voice sounded like a growl to her from where he was standing. "Kopii Rezo was killed. Eris would have died too."
"Not necessarily. She did make all the copy Rezo's, after all. Who's place is it to say that she made another Kopii Rezo to help her escape?" the girl told him, not even flinching at his growling.
I'm impressed, Zelgadis told himself. I growled at her and she just sat there. Who is this girl, anyway? "Well, that could be true. But how did you obtain the information that Eris had the Clair Bible?" Getting tired of standing up, Zelgadis also sat down, but kneeled on his knees. It was something he did nowadays. He felt more in tune with the earth when he did it, for some reason.
The girl shrugged. "Common knowledge after Eris died." She played with the folds of her cloak on the inside. It made a huge circle on the inside. "Well, alright, someone told me. Which makes me think this theory that she made another Kopii Rezo."
Zelgadis was beginning to get the picture as he looked to the still cloaked figure. "So Kopii Rezo told you this?"
She nodded. "That's right."
"So then this is a trap to lead me to it."
The girl shook her head. "Not exactly . . ." At that the girl could no longer think on what to say. She just stopped playing with her cloak and folded herself into a little ball. "It's somewhat of a way to lure you there, yes. But it's . . ."
Zelgadis shook his head. "Well, I'm not taking part in tricks, little girl. Thanks, but no thanks." He began to get up, using his legs as the only means to get up. His hands were on his legs as he pushed himself up. Looking around again, he looked at her, still sitting there. "Sorry to have wasted my time." With that, he started walking away again, turning around and letting his cloak blow behind him.
Why should I go with her again? I sense she speaks true. And yet . . . I am hesitating. Why?
Her blue eyes watched him go, the hope that she had lost for the moment. You're my only way home, Zelgadis, she wanted to tell him. That and so much more. You know you have to come with me . . . Yet if she told him that, she would sound desperate. More like a fangirl then anything else. So she kept silent as she watched walk off into the comfort of the woods again.
"Zel!!" the girl called out instead in a calm voice. She had wondered how many days it had been since she had come to the Slayers Realm. The teenage girl knew it had not been too many, since she had remembered the fact that she had a test she had to take to get into college three days before. But that was the least of her worries as she watched Zelgadis take off into the deep part of the woods. Numbly, her feet followed his steps, thinking about what she was going to say next.
I don't know how I knew all that shit with Eris. I do know about Kopii Rezo, though. And poor Zelly-chan. He doesn't believe a word I say. Well, I might be able to make him. And the way he looked at my hand. He knew I didn't belong here . . . That thought disturbed her the most. That he knew she did not belong.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the dirt, as she had leather boots. She remembered walking on rocks, on twigs, on branches. She just wanted to find Zelgadis and tell him about what had happened to her. She could no longer hide the fact of who she was anymore. But as she walked, she feared that she would no longer be able to find him.
Zelgadis was aware of someone following him as he walked. He knew who it was the whole time as he sighed once more. The cloaked woman. I knew it. Can't she just leave me alone to think? Angrily he spun around, facing her, or ready to, anyway. He knew she was further behind and he could hear her laboring breaths. This is getting ridiculous! I just want to be left alone!
He turned around and started walking back to where she was, concern starting to come to his mind for some reason. Why do I get the feeling that she's going to be like Amelia for some reason? A long sigh escaped from his lips as he saw her fall down the trail, tripping over a tree branch. I got the klutz part right.
The chimera did not know whether or not he should go over to the girl as she cried out and fell, her cloak flying over her, covering her. It seemed to suffocate her for a moment as she fell. Then she rose, composing herself once more. At all this, Zelgadis' blue eyes looked at her as if she was not capable of doing this. As if she had more grace.
Well, she acts like she's older then what seems, he thought as she shook the hair out of her eyes, letting the hair out of her eyes. Maybe she came to see if I was okay or something. As he looked at her, he finally saw her face for the first time.
The girl had glasses. Not like his time, but they were kind of small for her big face. She was kind of chubby, he guessed, but she had a strong will. After all, she never even flinched when I glared at her. It would explain why she was in the cloak all the time. The pale skin. The cherry red curls in her hair. She's different then us. And yet, she still cares. Why?
Zelgadis blushed as she began talking again. "I'm sorry to tell it was a trick . . ." she muttered to him. "I really didn't mean it that way, Zelgadis . . ." Blinking, she noticed that he looked at her and that he was blushing. "What is it?" she asked.
Zelgadis blinked this time. "Oh, nothing . . ."
The woman laughed. "No, go on. I like to know why you're blushing like that."
This made him blush further. "Well, you see, I never had anyone but Lina and Amelia and Gourry run after me before. And you're different. You, who told me it was a trap, came after me. Why?" That and maybe you're starting to grow on me, cloaked one.
"You're not really good with girls, are you?" she told him, laughing lightly still.
Zelgadis looked at the ground. "No . . . not really." He never really wanted relationships when he was a child. All he wanted was power. He made that mistake too early in life. Then he met Lina and liked her for a while, but then Gourry came around. She never really said that she liked him, but well . . .
The actions that she made made that apparent.
Gourry would give his life for Lina and Lina would give hers for him.
But what about me? This made Zelgadis now question where his true loyalties lie. Of course I would give my life for Lina and the others. I have plenty of times. But if another girl got in my way . . . I mean, if she was with us . . .
Would I be able to do the same thing for her?
"Well, you just need some practice, that's all."
He came back to the conversation that he was having with the cloaked woman. Her . . . the one that wants me to find the Claire Bible . . . to seek my true self . . . but what does she get out of all this? Zelgadis then looked to her as she talked, still looking sad. "What do you get if I get the Claire Bible?"
"Well, a chance to travel. I don't really know. That's all Kopii Rezo told me. All he said was this: "I want you to bring the chimera that betrayed me here. The one they call Zelgadis Greywords. He travels with the famous sorceress Lina Inverse." That's all. Why, I don't know." It was she who looked at the ground now as this was said.
Zelgadis nodded, looking at the sky for a moment at how dark it was. He must have been out now at least an hour. The others would begin to worry. "Well, I should be getting back to Lina and the others."
"Does this mean you're not going to go after all, Zelgadis?"
"I'll think about it," he replied, looking at her. "I'll meet you at the gate of Rynirai tomorrow morning. I will tell you my decision then. I still have to think some of these things that you have said over."
The cloaked woman nodded. "A—alright. That's alright, I guess." Nodding, she began to walk off, huddled in her cloak. She looked at the ground, being careful not to trip as she walked out of the forest.
My, that girl really has some spirit about her, Zelgadis thought, smiling as he watched her leave. It would be a pity not to go. But also, it would be spoiling the fun just telling her the answer all at once. And with that, he turned the opposite direction and started walking off, cursing himself for forgetting to ask her her name for the third time.