A/N: Ah thank you for your reviews! ;

foxyandredpandy- Yes, Amelia was turned into a chimera, for a duration of approximately 6 weeks to two months. Then Sylphiel arrived with the Cure All pills. This cured both Amelia and Zelgadis of any ill-worn traces in their systems, including all chimeric traits, as its origin was fiercely declared as evil (Shabrinigdo's power). Sylphiel herself took a green pill that, at first, seems only to have restored her from fatigue, but you may realize, before, now, or later on, that it had some other effects on her as well... Let's just say, I think it's unfair that Sylphiel can cast a Dragon Slave, and not succeed in so much as burning with her Flare Arrow, or rather, Flare Carrot. Ah yes, you've noticed it haven't you? evil gleam Toodles- hope you come back for more.

Winged Knight- Confound your mind reading skills! Bah- fine, be that way, I'll switch everything up so that even I don't know what's going to happen! Bwahahahahaah!!! coughcough Eh... Actually... ll laughs aside... hat's pretty much what I'm doing here...; bear with me?

Disclaimer: I never owned Slayers. That includes the present. I probably won't in the future either. I'll even go out on a limb and say I had nothing to do with the production or creation of the wonderful characters I admire. Happy reading.

Ch. 6: Truth Concealed- Questions Permitted

"Sylphiel."

The recently bathed shrine maiden paused in coaxing a few more drops from her matted hair. Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she glanced at her solemn companion. With a small smile, she attempted to lighten his mood...somewhat. "What is it, Zelgadis-san?"

Unfazed, Zelgadis brought his hands together in front of him to form a sort of steeple with his forefingers. His glare was ominously unnerving. Sylphiel selfconsciously sneezed with the shiver that passed through her. "I don't think Eldora...or Eldwin...is human."

Sylphiel blinked, surprised by this theory. Then, she jumped, as a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Naturally. I never said I was, did I Sylphiel-san?"

She looked up then into the eyes of Eldwin. 'He really was here.' Sylphiel thought pensively. She smiled wanly as he seated himself next her. She remembered suddenly, and queried, "The last time you left, at the campfire, what did you-"

He laughed lightly, making her pause in questioning. "Oh yes, sorry about that. You weren't too inconvenienced, I hope? I simply didn't wish to burden you with the particular bandits that I dealt with. I also apologize for not having been able to rejoin you sooner. I would have, had I not known Eldora was traveling with you here. I've been rather tempted to avoid her, you see, as she can get mighty... irrational while traveling."

Zelgadis and Sylphiel simultaneously blinked in surprise and uttered, "She didn't seem at all irrational to me." At that, they glanced at each other from across the table, colored slightly, and decided to reflect their attention back on Eldwin.

He shrugged at their remark. "Of course she didn't. That's part of her charm. She only lets you see what she wishes to see. A Mistress of Illusion to be sure."

"But wait," Sylphiel prompted, "When we faced a horrendous pack of bandits, she used a spell, surely no illusion, and the nearby vines tied our enemies to trees."

Eldwin nodded, as if expecting this. "After which, she promptly fainted, correct?" At her nod, he continued, "A special power of hers. The illusion of which I spoke of before referred simply to her enchanting nature. The nature around her, like saving a damsel in distress, will come to her aid should they hear her scream. Also, granted, as such a damsel would, she faints after exerting the energy to scream."

The two Slayers thought back to when Eldora had told them to cover their ears. Was it so that they wouldn't fling themselves to their doom by rushing the enemy?

"Nature," Eldwin continued, "knows better than Man who the enemy of the situation is. The fact that you two had the sense to cover your ears beforehand told them you were to be left alone."

Zelgadis snapped to attention. "How did you know we covered our ears?"

He received a grin before a reply. "I know Eldora well."

"Where is Eldora anyhow?" Sylphiel looked towards the stairs, worry etched into her expression. "She was looking for you..."

Eldwin laughed pleasantly. "I don't doubt she was. But no, while she was sleeping, I paid my fee in full. She won't wake up worrying about it. I can assure you that much."

"But..." Sylphiel protested, "Dinner..."

"Don't worry. I left sufficient food as well. She won't be joining us tonight."

"Us?" Zelgadis, ever the skeptic, glared at Eldwin under one raised eyebrow. "I still don't trust you. If you aren't human, what are you?"

He raised his eyebrow in return, though his was more from amusement than skeptism. "Still worried I'll backstab you? Really, now, I'm not like that. I'm an honest-to-goodness fool who wanders along the path of love and heartache. Mmmm...I beginning to get hungry. Sylphiel-san? Zelgadis-san? Have you ordered your dinners yet?"

When Sylphiel shook her head, he hailed a nearby waitress. Flashing a magnificently charming smile that left both the waitress and Sylphiel spell-bound for a single second, he ordered for them all. Lightly flushed, the waitress bowed before rushing to pass on the order. Zelgadis continued to stare at him with unwavering suspicion.

Finally acknowledging this, Eldwin turned to him with a sigh. "Forgive me for saying so, Zelgadis-san, but your unease makes you uncomfortable company. Have you embraced your human self so completely that, power or no, you continue this fit of loathing for others?"

That broke the glare. Zelgadis looked at him at first surprised, then angered, before resting on a half-sulking stare. He muttered under his breath, "You know too much. Too much that we should know."

"I could most likely say the same to you, oh treasurer of untold secrets."

"What do you-"

"Ah, that was quick preparing," Eldwin exclaimed to the waitress who came back with the first course, "Thank you for the prompt service."

Blushing still more, she nodded hurriedly and left the vicinity for the kitchen. Zelgadis remained stubbornly hooked on learning the reasoning behind Eldwin's statement. Eldwin, however, was fully intent on his meal. He looked to Sylphiel and asked, still charmingly, "Would you care to share, Sylphiel-san? You look like the kind of lady who appreciates a good- I hope I pronounce it right- quieche."

Sylphiel stared, awestruck. 'That's my favorite- how did he know?' Then, gingerly, she smiled and whispered, "Ikadakimasu."

At first, Sylphiel blushed and hesitated when Eldwin held one of the pastries up for her to bite into, but hunger won over, very quickly. So enraptured was she by this surprisingly pleasant exchange, she didn't notice the scowl etched into Zelgadis' expression.

He himself did not know why he felt a little twinge of jealousy- he reasoned that it was probably because he was missing Amelia. Yes, that was it, he decided. With a resolute nod, he built up a bit more energy and started questioning again. Though mysterious, Eldwin didn't seem to have nearly as much trouble answering questions, unlike a certain fruitcake.

"What did you mean, when you said I was harboring secrets? I have nothing to hide."

Zelgadis mentally cursed; he had a feeling he would regret saying those words. True to his instinct, Eldwin proved him right as he set down his fork, and kindly passed the plate closer to Sylphiel.

"In favor of your fiancee's ears, I won't answer that question."

Surprised, he glanced at Sylphiel, thinking it was she he was referring to. "But Sylphiel's not-"

At last, Eldwin turned to him and gave him a long, cold stare. "Fool. I know that. But there are ways in which news can reach her, as surely as the cure you now have."

There was a shocked silence, the knowledge Eldwin appeared to have slowly seeping in. With an almost disgusted sigh, Eldwin stood up, and bowed to Sylphiel. "My apologies, my lady, but I fear if I stay much longer, my presence will no longer be welcome in your company. We will meet again. However, it would give you my utmost gratitude if you would be so kind as to tolerate Eldora for a little longer. She's headed to the Land Where Wine is Good and Cheap. Also known as Zephilia. It's still a bit of a ways from here, and being the damsel she is, anyone who outlasts her scream will surely... well, I suppose you can imagine. That is all. I bid thee adieu this fair night."

And with a sweep of his cloak, he was walking purposefully out the door. By the time he disappeared from view, a strange notion came to Zel's mind. Eager to test it, he nearly tripped on his cape on the way up the stairs. He ran to the one assigned to Eldora, and pushed open the door. He blushed and immediately closed it again. Clothes had been strewn about the place, and a rather large lump lay under the bed sheets. A rather easily identifiable scent also lay in the air. Was this what Eldwin had meant, when he said he had paid his fee in full? Blush still present, Zel trudged back down the steps. Resolving that a hot springs bath might soothe his bruise pains from the bandits, and the headache from thinking of the pair, Zel informed Sylphiel, before going back up to prepare for his bath.

As he slipped into the extremely hot water (he was rather still unused to the difference between hard golem skin and tender human skin), a large gust of wind blew open the window in Eldora's room, the breeze being just enough to blow the blanket sheets to the foot of the bed. Where Zelgadis had seen a lump, there now only lay, curled into a tight ball, one detached ice-blue dragon tail...skin. Something quite large had shed recently- there had been no battle, for no signs of a fight, nor blood, would or could be seen.

On the rooftop across the street, Eldwin gave a smile of raw excitement. Seemingly to himself, he swore, "He will learn. If not... I'll be more than happy to put him out of his misery."

A voice behind him whispered on the northernly drift, "Should it come to that, be gentle. There is no need to give the queen reason to further neglect her duties."

He bowed, though he did not face the speaker. "But of course, Mistress. I would not have it any other way." By then, however, he was responding to thin air.

A/N: Yeah, I know it's really short. Sorry...hehe... it's cold... school started again... I spent the last week writing five chapters of another story... ; real sorry, but I'll at least try to update regularly every week yes? Please review!