Kioku, you're the only one of my regular reviewers who reviewed this time, and you even provided cinnamon buns (and milk) for the chibis and dark chocolate for me! Thank you! I know what you're talking about now since you've given me some context. (Jalon's Amelia-like?)
Thank you so much for reviewing, Alea Seikou! I'm getting so few reviews right now... I'm glad you've been enjoying this story, even though it doesn't go quite directly through events. The trigger for Zel's different 'visions' can be guessed from what happens before each one starts. I will tell you what it is if you guess correctly, but otherwise that's all I'll say about the subject.

Slayers is the creation of Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi. I don't own it; they and a lot of other people do. I'm not making any profit off of this story.

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Idylls
+=== A Slayers Fanfic by Ryo Hoshi
12 +===+ Dead Language

Zelgadiss spent several weeks in bed, healing from his wounds. Jalon visited at random times, bringing food, new bandaging, and always asking Zel why he was there.
He really didn't know why Jalon would be asking. He was dead, right? Dead people go to the afterlife, and in his case he got to go to Hell.
Eventually, though, Zelgadiss realized that he probably was still alive after all, and possibly even in reality for once.

He also, eventually, would realize what the right answer to Jalon's question was. "I was looking for a way to turn myself human again."
There was a crash of dishes hitting the floor, as Jalon had not been expecting to hear anything from his sullen patient. He had only asked why he happened to have a guest when he had arrived, and that had been at least fifteen minutes earlier. "What?"
"I came here because I was told that strange things happen here, and I thought there might be a cure for me here, or at least a lead..."
"But... You're so strong and powerful and...handsome as you are right now! Why would you ever want to be human?"
Zelgadiss looked warily at Jalon, wondering if perhaps the strange mazoku had been having relationship problems with his ram. "Because I don't like it."
"Well, it could certainly interfere with being the dominant partner in sexual encounters, but..."
"I. Do. Not. Do. That. I prefer women."
"That's a shame."
Zelgadiss decided to ignore that comment. "So, is there anything here that might help me?"
Jalon looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "I think there's something in the library that might help. I'll look."

Zel was quite hungry by the time Jalon returned. Jalon had a big bowl of a substance that he often passed off as stew and a large, ancient tome with him. He was also grinning in a way that Zelgadiss did not like.
"I found it! It took me a few days, but I found it!"
Well, Zelgadiss thought as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, that explains why I'm so hungry.
Jalon put the bowl in Zel's lap, with the very tip of the spoon's handle sticking up out of the mysterious sludge inside the bowl. Zelgadiss was about to try to fish the spoon out when the book was stuck in between his hands and the bowl, open to where a bookmark had been placed in it. It took Zel only a few seconds to determine that whatever language the writing was in, it was most likely dead.
It certainly wasn't one he knew, and he said as much.
"According to this, in the worst section of the Desert of Destruction, there's a magical oasis. The spring-fed lake is supposed to be able to nullify all active spells and, with the right process, can be used to break any curse." Jalon was unbelievably cheerful about this.
"Thank you for your help. I should leave, soon. At dawn tomorrow, perhaps." Zelgadiss was in no hurry to stay, even though he knew that he still wasn't completely healed from his near-fatal wounds. The risk of problems from them would be worth being away from Jalon.
Eagerly, Jalon said, "Will you give me a chance to show you how wonderful..."
"No!" Zelgadiss scrambled for an excuse Jalon would accept. "I need to get as much sleep as possible before then. Some other time, maybe."
Jalon sighed and pulled the book away. "Fine, then. I'll prepare a map for you while you're sleeping."

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Yes, another short chapter. Oh well.
Mazoku have no healing spells, so Zelgadiss has to heal naturally. With such bad wounds as Zel has, and with such absent-minded care as Jalon provides, they're healing rather slowly. Poor Zel's lucky they're not infected (yet).
The stew is possibly sandy glue. It may not be, though.

Reviews will make me really happy and enthusiastic about writing more. Dark chocolate for myself and cinnamon buns for the chibis will add to this.