Chapter 8: Counter Attack
As the slayers enjoy their meal, Zelgadis is left alone to his unsettling thoughts once more. He is trying to enjoy the salted veggies and cheese steak, but it tastes stale. What he wouldn't give to converse or at least hear what the companions around him are saying. Even though he is surrounded, he is quite alone, in a way Zelgadis never thought he would be. He has no desire for peace and quiet at the moment.
But that doesn't mean he is alone. Now more than ever he can see his friends better than he ever has before. They want to help him; he just has to let them.
During the meal, Zelgadis's ears and mouth begin to slightly burn. At first, Zelgadis assumes that the sensation is caused from the spices in the meat he is eating, but this theory is trumped when his mouth begins to move on its own. The air in his lungs pushes out as his tongue begins to move contrary to his will. Zelgadis begins to choke at this new sensation and is alarmed when he feels his tongue flick the edges of his teeth.
Instead of having normal human teeth, they are sharp and jagged.
A searing flash of red hits Zelgadis's head as he attempts to hold back his panic attack. He hates being used against his will. It brings back too many memories, so many awful memories.
"(What is happening) (What is going on) (Tell me now!)" Zelgadis signs furiously to Amelia. Hesitantly, Zelgadis touches his ears and is appalled to find that they are not his own. He is about to cover his ears, but is stopped as Amelia takes his hands.
"(Monster) (Name C-h-e-z-e-m) (Talking)" Amelia says. Her hands hesitate as she attempts to figure out a way to explain to Zelgadis what is happening, while it is happening. "(Bad) (Monster) (Doesn't) (want) (me/us) (help) (you) (heal) - - - (unsure) (monster) (tell us) (a-b-o-u-t) (test) (can't) (c-h-e-a-t)" Amelia spells out the words she doesn't know in an attempt to communicated clearly with Zelgadis.
Amelia lets go of his hands abruptly as something comes out of Zelgadis's mouth. Apparently the monster who is speaking through Zelgadis, doesn't like what Amelia is doing. Zelgadis clenches the table beneath him as he tries to calm down. He wants to try and use his magic sense to get an idea of what is happening around him. Wistfully wishing for more time to practice this new technique, Zelgadis attempts to get out of his dark hole. Through the vibrating table he is clutching, Zelgadis can feel someone pound their first down onto the wooden slab.
Lina is letting out all her frustration from the past week.
In a non-visible haze, Zelgadis can feel Lina's warm breath as she screams at the monster. Every once in a while, Amelia moves and gestures in a way that Zelgadis assumes is an attempt at a justice speech. Zelgadis cannot sense Gourry until the warrior reaches for his sword. Apparently, Chezem is giving his friends an ear load. He cannot stand that this monster is verbally abusing his friend and using 'his' mouth to do it.
Zelgadis has had enough.
While the monsters may have control over his ears, mouth, and eyes, they do not have control over his lungs and motor skill. It takes Zelgadis a lot of concentration to fight against the need to take a breath in time with the monsters words. He holds his breath with his lungs, shuts his eyes and ears while racing out of his chair. Zelgadis isn't sure if the monsters are using his eyes at the moment, but he isn't willing to take that chance. In his haste Zelgadis fails to retrieve his walking stick so he lurches forward. Stumbling around the chairs and table, Zelgadis shoves into a wall. Using the vibrations, he applies his magic to locate the slightly ajar doors at the end of the room and races out into the hall.
As he runs, Zelgadis easily avoids any servants or mages that happen to be moving, but it doesn't take long until he trips over a wayward empty box. Crashing to the ground, Zelgadis is forced to take a breath and gasp for air.
While lying on the ground, Zelgadis's mouth stops moving and the burning sensation, which he has almost forgotten about, disappears. The battle is over for now.
Zelgadis is determined not to be daunted by this threat, but he knows better than to ignore it. His friends quickly race to his side and help him to his feet. Amelia applies a healing spell to his bruises and they lead him to his room.
"(Don't) (worry) (we) (think) (Something)" Amelia says as she leaves the room. Apparently his friends are going to have a meeting about what has just happened. Zelgadis wants them to tell him what Chezem has said, but there isn't a clear way for them to do this right now.
With an exasperated sigh, Zelgadis falls back onto his bed, barley missing the head board, and attempts to sort through his options.
His enemy wants to test him, but if Zelgadis cures himself, then the game is over. Well, if he doesn't cure himself, what then? Isn't that the point? Either way, it doesn't matter to Zelgadis. He isn't going to let that evil mad man dictate his actions and even if he cannot cure himself, he certainly will not let this curse control him.
Or hurt those closest to him.
Clutching the covers beneath him, Zelgadis screams at his inner demons. So what, if he doesn't get cured. At least he can feel. He can feel more than he ever did as a chimera. Back then he had enhanced eyesight and hearing, but he couldn't feel well through his stone skin. The world seemed dead around him. Now he has no choice but to depend on others and feel the world in a whole new light. And in some strange way, no matter what his complaints may be, it is enough.
Being weak can teach you many things about being strong.
A turning point has begun and Zelgadis is determined to not repeat the same mistakes twice. Now he must fight against something new, against a mad man's want to control him and against his own stubborn tendencies.
But controlling Zelgadis is not enough for this mad man, as Zelgadis will soon find out.
The next day, Amelia and Lina get ready for Zelgadis's remedy, while Zelgadis patiently waits. Unlike the other day, Zelgadis attempts to control his anxiety and not lash out at his friends. As he waits, Zelgadis practices with his magic, trying to read a book. He is met with failure, though. Rezo made it look easy. Of course, it helps that Rezo could actually chant out a spell. Zelgadis doesn't have that luxury.
Sniffing the air, Zelgadis can smell the distinct putrid smell of the magic potion that is required for the spell. As he tries to take in his surroundings, the young mage searches for the movement of his friends. He feels the shape of Amelia about to walk by him. As she passes he reaches out for her. He wants to know their progress.
Stiffly, Amelia tells him that everything is coming along alright. They just need to practice the spell a few more times. Even though he is blind, Zelgadis still notices how sharp Amelia's reply is. After fighting himself last night, Zelgadis doesn't let this slide. Instead of letting go of her hands, Zelgadis asks how 'she' is doing.
Her reply is "(Fine)"
Whenever someone says that they are fine, (especially in sign language) it is not enough. 'Fine' doesn't cut it and Zelgadis knows better. His eyebrows furrow slightly as he holds her hands, trying to think of what is bothering her.
"(What is wrong?)" Zelgadis asks.
"(Nothing)" Amelia says.
Now Zelgadis is getting frustrated, but he doesn't let it get the best of him.
"(Don't lie)!" Zelgadis says, with a strong facial expression of concern. "(Yesterday the monster said something, is that it (Well)?)"
"(yes)-(No)-(Maybe)(Don't know)" Amelia says in a choppy explanation. After a sigh and when Zelgadis refuses to let go of her hands, she starts again. "(I) (Help you) (now) - (What about later?)- (You leave) (again) (again) (again) (You) (don't) (care). (yes?) (no?) (I) (don't know)!"
Zelgadis doesn't know what to say. Amelia is upset about being left again and all those times in the past. Obviously, she has been noticing Zelgadis's desire to travel constantly. She is determined to help him through anything, even now, but she is getting tired of Zelgadis's constant absence. Does he even care about what she feels? She wants to know. While Zelgadis is ready for this new stage in his journey, it doesn't mean his friends are on the same page with him. He hasn't even considered Amelia's perspective. Sure, he is concerned about endangering his friends, but not this. He wants to protect them, not hurt them, but here he is doing it again.
Apparently, Zelgadis thinks, he has been blind longer than he thought. Maybe this is the reason Lina has been hitting him so often this past week.
"(Sorry)" Zelgadis says slowly, emphasizing his distress with his face. Amelia has probably never seen him so expressive, not since he became this way at least. Part of communication in sign language is your face. It is another tool. "(Please, tell me more.)"
"(S-e-y-r-u-u-n/home) (separate thought) (different) (countries) (want) (war) - (fear) (blinding) - (blame) (others) (*pointing fingers*) - (I) (think?) (evil) (Magic Man/sorcerer) (r-e-s-p-o-n-s-i-b-l-e). (Same) (person) (Talk) (last night)."
"(Why do you think so?)" Zelgadis asks.
"(I) (don't know) (how) (explain) - (death) (c-h-i-m-e-r-a) (o-u-t-b-r-e-a-k) (countries) (blame) (Seyruun) . . . (for) (helping) (chimera)." Amelia says. She stops when Zelgadis's face shows his dread. He didn't even consider that at the time. People blame the chimeras for all the murders and Seyruun has just taken in the chimera refuges because of Zelgadis.
"(NOT) (YOUR) (FAULT), (chimera) (need) (help) (you) (did) (good)" Amelia tries to reassure Zelgadis, as he begins to blame himself for Seyruun's threat of war, so much for protecting them. "(Already) (began) (only) (m-a-t-t-e-r o-f t-i-m-e)" Amelia says. With a thrust of her hands she tries to hold back her frustration for not being able to communicate the situation clearly with her limited knowledge of sign language. Her actions come across well enough to Zelgadis though. He can tell that she didn't mean to mention her countries turmoil to him. What she really wants to talk about is what she personally wants of him.
Zelgadis tries to smile up at her. "(You are my friend, my family. I must help you now, in any way I can (help now))."
"(good/Thank you)" Amelia says settling on a simple word of gratitude.
"(You are my only family, but I am unsure I can give you everything)" Zelgadis says as he thinks back to Amelia's brush with her feeling towards him. It all comes down to this. The thing he has been avoiding, obviously his actions have hurt her and he didn't care. Zelgadis is bluntly aware of Amelia's crush, but he has been disregarding it for too long.
Amelia doesn't respond to his last statement, and he hopes that she doesn't hate him for it. Gently, a small hand takes hold of Zelgadis's shoulder. Lina gives him an encouraging pat and Zelgadis wonders if she has been there the entire time. Handing Zelgadis a putrid smelling broth, Zelgadis takes a swig, nearly choking on the foal tasting-liquid. Amelia hesitantly takes hold of his hands again, trying not to be distracted. The girls begin the incantation for his ears.
Their magic flows through him and a slight tingling sensation begins to tickle his ears. The tickle transforms into excruciating pain, however, as the spell comes into conflict with the Mazoku responsible.
Screams that do not belong to him explode inside his mind. Without thinking Zelgadis attempts to cover his ears, but Amelia doesn't let go, she is fighting against his urge to stop a sound that is not there. Just when it cannot get any worse he hears a voice that makes him feel sick.
"Oh dear, oh dear, it seems they didn't heed my warning." The sorcerer says into his screaming monster servant's ear and thus to Zelgadis. "Poor Ditle, he's in a lot of pain. So you thought those little white magic spells would work, eh? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, little mage, but I've been able to counter it thanks to your little notebook here. It gives me such joy reading your tidy and detailed notes, Zel. Hmm Hmm hmm." Zelgadis can almost picture the mad man spinning around in a dance as he talks. It's disgusting to think that after weeks of being deaf that the first human voice he hears is this madman's! "You really are something Zel-Zel. Ooo, I like that nick name: Zel-Zel. So cute. Tah- tah Zel-Zel . . . see you really soon."
As the voice disappears the pain begins to subside as well, leaving a numb ache ebbing between his ears and head. Shutting his eyes, Zelgadis tries to hold back his pain.
Amelia begins to shake his hands as Lina jostles him by the shoulders. Apparently, they are saying something and expecting him to hear them.
With wobbly hands and arms Zelgadis gives a simple explanation. "(I) (can't) (hear) (you)"
The shaking stops abruptly.
"(NO) (no) (Can't) (b-e)" Amelia says with her hands meaning every word. As Amelia begins to gesture wildly with her hands, Zelgadis assumes that she is reciting a justice speech of some sort, but her actions make no sense to him. She has forgotten about her unease towards him completely at this point and her righteous fury is boiling.
Her speech is cut short as the room begins to shake around them and Zelgadis's inner ear gives a slight pop of pain as the pressure in the room changes. Amelia immediately relinquishes Zelgadis's hands in order to cover her ears.
Zelgadis's mouth goes dry and he can distinctly smell smoke as a fire starts somewhere in the palace. Through his magic, he can tell that Lina and Gourry are leaving the room with sword and magic at the ready. Amelia takes his hands and tells him to stay put, before racing after her friends.
Like he's going to stay put? He is not going to leave his friends with his mess, not after he promised Amelia that he would help.
Zelgadis cautiously rises from his chair and reaches for the walking stick Lina gave him. The stick has rolled a little bit from where he originally set it, but Zelgadis finds the wooden companion with little difficulty. Zelgadis pounds the stick into the ground using a magic amplification to mentally visualize the room. He isn't exactly sure why this magic is working, but he doesn't have time to think about it at the moment. Carefully racing from the room, Zelgadis makes his way into the hall and tries to find his friends.
In hind sight, Zelgadis realizes that he should have stayed in the room, as he senses a monster presence somewhere close by. Well, there is always the chance that the monster will find him anyway, even if he stayed, but Zelgadis doesn't have time to think over other possibilities.
Gathering all his strength, Zelgadis tries to shoot an Elmekia Lance spell in the direction of the monster. He cannot see his spell's effect, but his attack is little more than flashes of light carrots. Very similar to when Sylphiel tried doing a flare arrow in her younger years. Since Zelgadis cannot hear, he has no way to experience the monster's cruel laugh at the pathetic spell. But in actuality, Zelgadis should be thrilled that he is able to produce a spell of any caliber. Not that it will matter much if he is killed.
Before the monster has the chance to capture or kill Zelgadis, another more terrifying presence of comfort enters the room.
Authors Note: It just isn't going to be easy for Zelgadis. There were two places I could have easily changed Zelgadis's fate in this chapter and he could be cured, but that would be too simple.