Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are the property of Hajime Kanzaka and Shoko Yoshinaka.

Chapter Five

"As to the matter of Amelia's dowry," Prince Phil explained to the Red Priest. "It will be twenty thousand gold pieces, as well as her annual allowance and her inheritance." Prince Philoniel's mouth felt dry. It was bad enough having to explain it out loud because of the Red Priest's blindness, but talking about his own daughter as though she actually had a price attached to her was heartless to him. It was rumored that Rezo could see in a way anyway, but Phil did not know enough about it to know whether it would have been appropriate to hand him a slip of parchment with the figures written, and not spoken.

"The money really has very little value to my family. We will provide Princess Amelia with everything she would desire. Money is not a really important factor in the match. My grandson is very talented and resourceful and will not require a dowry," Rezo said smoothly.

"What about tradition? We must give your family something!" Phil said stoutly.

"That is very kind of you, but money is not something we are interested in."

"What about something else then?" Phil said, rubbing his chin. "There has to be something! What about jewels? Property? Magical items? There has to something that the holy Kingdom of Sayruun can offer you?"

"I haven't any notion of what that might be," Rezo continued his refusal.

"Why don't you go through our vaults and see if there is anything at all that interests you, as we must provide our darling Amelia with something to let her know that her family cares deeply for her in her marriage."

"You are very wise Prince Philonel. I know that this match will be a wonderful thing for our two families. My grandson is already very much in love with Princess Amelia – much more than I ever expected him to be."

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"There are five dark lords beneath Shabragnido," Zel told Amelia in their training session that day. "I still don't understand why you haven't been taught all about them," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"I guess it just never came up," she said unhelpfully.

She was smiling at him at him again. It was hard to remember what he was talking about.

"Anyway," he said. "There's Gaav, Phibrizzo, Zelas, Dauphin, and Dynast. You know how to cast a Dynast Blast don't you?"

"Hai," she chirped.

"That spell calls on the power of that mazoku lord. Another example would be a Gaav Flare."

"What about Shabragnido? Are there any spells that draw power from him?"

"Only the most powerful spell in all black magic – the Dragon Slave."

"Can you cast that Zelgadis-san?"

Her enthusiasm was really peaked, and he would have to tell her that he couldn't do it. He hoped only that she would understand the reasons why.

"Amelia, I'm mastering Shamanism, not black magic. Sure, I can cast some black magic, but that's not my specialty. I can't cast the Dragon Slave. However young lady, you've taken us a bit off the subject of our lesson."

Like she always does, he thought. She listens to every word I say.

"During the War of the Monster's Fall, the Dragon Lord Cyphied divided the Dark Lord Shabragnido into seven parts and sealed them in different places throughout this world."

Why does she always stay so cheerful? What does she have to be cheerful about? She's scheduled to marry my shadow, who she obviously has no feelings whatever for. I didn't know it at first but, I think she actually dislikes him. Why does she stay? Her magic is strong enough that she could easily spirit herself away in the middle of the night. I wouldn't stop her.

"He's not dead though?" Amelia asked.

"No. It is possible that a piece of him could be reborn and then that piece would go retrieve the other six parts. That would be the end of our world, for the ultimate goal of the monster race is to return all creation to nothingness," he said reflectively, keeping more to his thoughts than to the conversation.

Her eyes are so blue.

"Is there any lord above Shabragnido?"

"There is the Lord of Nightmares," he said gravely.

Why does she stay?

"That lord created the mazoku and the dragons. She shines like gold on a sea of chaos, and is just as likely to return this world to nothingness, but yes there is that one lord above Shabragnido."

"Tell me more about her," Amelia pleaded, her eyes looking larger then ever.

He offered her a half smile. He couldn't tell her about the Lord of Nightmares; the darkness deeper than pitch. Looking at her eyes and her smile; he couldn't do that. She was far too pure to understand what calling upon power from that Lord could do to a person. It was better that she didn't know anything about it.

"Amelia-chan," he said. "We've been talking about magical theory all day. Aren't you interested in practicing now?"

"I like listening to you talk," she said.

Then I guess I'm trapped.

"What do you want to hear me talk about then?" Zel relented.

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Amelia was walking through the garden when she heard a familiar voice calling to her. It was Zelgadis! She paused at the fountain and turned around to welcome him.

Rats! Dagzelis was coming towards her. Why could she never tell their voices apart? He had seen her too, so it wasn't like she could easily get away.

"Good evening Princess Amelia," he said bowing before her. "It's a lovely evening, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is," she said withering as she took the arm he extended to her.

Why didn't she have the courage to tell him that she had already made up her mind? She had decided that she would never marry him. Why didn't she have the strength to tell him?

"Did you have a good lesson today?"

"Hai."

"How much longer do you think before we can pronounce your training finished?"

"I don't know," she said quietly.

"You practice all the time. I never get to see you."

He was leading her close to the tower now, in the shade as the sun was very hot even though it was evening. The windows to the tower were open. She thought she heard Zolf and Rodimus talking in one of the rooms on the second floor, but Dagzelis was talking so loudly that she couldn't hear what they were saying.

Suddenly, it occurred to her to ask Dagzelis a question if he was going to talk to her all night.

"How did Zelgadis-san get transformed into a chimera?"

"Oh, that old story. You wouldn't be interested," he dismissed.

"But, I am interested. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked you," she insisted.

"All right then, but make sure you tell me to stop when you get bored."

"I will," she said, knowing full well that she would not get bored as long as he stayed on topic and did not stray to how all important she was to him.

"He was on a journey, so that he could become a strong swordsman and sorcerer. Apparently, he met with an evil priest who offered to give him what he was searching for if he helped him on a quest. Unfortunately, Zelgadis didn't realize what the priest had in mind, and he was transformed into a chimera. So, now he's one-third stone golem, one-third demon, and one-third human. He's very sorry that it was done. He's not been the same man since."

"Who was the priest who did such a wicked thing?" Amelia demanded.

"I don't know. The only thing I do know is that Zelgadis will curse him for the rest of his life," Dagzelis said mysteriously.

"We must find out. We have to find him and punish him for what he's done to Zelgadis-san. This cannot be forgiven!" she stormed angrily.

Dagzelis grabbed her wrists to keep her from running away from him. "Calm down Amelia. Calm down!" he shouted. "There's nothing that can be done about it now. He's a grown man and will avenge himself."

"We have to go do something!" she cried.

"Why are you getting so worked up about this anyway?" he challenged.

"I . . . I . . ." Amelia stammered and weakened under his grasp. "I . . . I need to be alone. Will you please let go of me?" she said frantically.

He let go.

Amelia ran into the tower and up the stairs, holding on tight to the banister.

Zelgadis had to live with that? Her heart was practically breaking for him. No wonder he is always so downcast. No wonder it seems sometimes that my feelings will never reach him. What could she do to improve the situation? What could she do to restore hope to his life?

She tripped on the stairs. Her breath was coming heavy now, and there was a droplet of frustration running down her cheek. It stopped on her lips.

What was that? Zolf and Rodimus were still talking in that room on the second floor. She had passed them on her way up, but she realized suddenly that it was quiet enough that she could hear them speaking. Zelgadis was talking with them too, but she hadn't heard his voice at first because it was so low.

What were they saying?

She was listening only for Zelgadis' voice, only for what he would say, only for what he might be confiding in his friends, only for a clue as to how she could help him - only for a way to save him.

She made out only three words.

"Damn you Rezo."