Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Roses ❯ Spells ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Spells

Xellos leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed. He seemed to be just part of the furniture. That's the way he liked it, no one paid much attention to him unless he moved. Rather like a cat.

He'd been thinking about Zel, lots of things, all of which got him nowhere. He couldn't figure out any pieces of this puzzle, and the only one who could help was Zelgadis himself, and it wasn't very likely that he would be saying anything about this.

Worse yet, Zel's fever was getting worse. The chimera's forehead was burning to the touch, painful to put your hand against. Zel now had three blankets on top of him, and yet he still shivered.

A door slammed.

Xellos opened one eye, closed it when he realized no one had entered the room. It was the room next door, Lina and Amelia's room.

"Gourry, you're back early!"

"I am? Well, I got everything for Zel, that Sylphiel and I could think of."

"Like what?"

"Medicine, healing potions, bandages, whatever this is-"

"That's a tourniquet."

"Yeah, a turnkey, or whatever. This bottle of stuff here is supposed to stop bleeding, I think this stuff heals international injuries-"

"That's internal. Did she give you anything that removes spells?"

"No, but I think this thing removes blisters."

"Thanks Gourry."

"I did something wrong, didn't I?"

"No, we just learned that Zel was hurt worse than we thought. He's got a lot of scars and wounds on him. He had a burn mark."

"So, this means I didn't do anything wrong?"

"Gourry, shut up."

* * * * *

"Feet together. Hands like this, focus. Concentrate."

Rosencrantz threw his black wings outward, he threw them forward, his hands forward, feet forward, lunging as if practicing a fighting technique.

A white flash struck like lightning, and disappeared.

"Nothing happened, damn spell."

"Rosencrantz!" a voice yelled.

Rosencrantz turned around to face Guildenstern, who was extremely mad.

"What the hell are you doing out here? We're supposed to be laying low, keeping ourselves secret, remember? And with your wings out! Do you want rumors of dragons spreading? Do you know what kind of trouble this will get us into, especially when we're tracking a Mazoku?"

"I made sure no one followed me. I found someone, but he's dead, I made sure."

"I don't want to hear it. And what the hell are you trying to do?"

"I found a spell twenty years ago and I've been practicing it ever since, I tried adding some dragon magic to it, but it never has any effect."

"What the hell spell were you trying to do?"

"Ra Tilt."

Guildenstern grabbed Rosencrantz by the shoulders and shook him, hard.

"You know the Ra Tilt and you never told me?"

"It doesn't do anything, I thought I'd tell you when it works."

Guildenstern dropped Rosencrantz. "You have no idea what it does?"

"No, what does it do?"

* * * * *

"So, you think the burn may be a result of a spell."

"It's the only thing that would make sense," Lina said, munching on two things at once. "Get anything from Zel?"

"Yes, lots of drool and funny noises."

"I take it he's still sick."

"When I found him, he had been beaten and abused by Ogres, starved, suffering from dehydration, and fainted immediately and didn't wake up for three days. He was sick. Now he's beyond sick. He's ill, very ill."

"Where'd Gourry go?"

"He's giving dinner to Zel, or at least he's trying. If he can wake Zel up he'll give him some soup with some medicine in it."

"You sure put your faith in Sylphiel don't you?"

"She saved my life."

"Exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"She saved YOUR life. You were badly hurt. You weren't sick. She put you back together, that doesn't mean she can fix Zel with a few random knick-knacks she gave Gourry out of unrequited love, especially a chimera. He says he's not human. He isn't."

Lina said nothing, she glared daggers at Xellos.

"It's true, isn't it Lina? You've forgotten about that. You've fallen for the facade he's longed to make real for years and forgot that he's different. He's forgotten it some, too. He used to take advantage of his chimerical skills all the time, but he doesn't anymore."

"You're right, he's not human," Lina admitted, and sullenly took another bite. "But that doesn't mean he isn't . . . he doesn't . . . he can't . . ."

"Just because he's not human doesn't mean he's not a person? Have a mind? Isn't like us? Can't understand or think or feel?"

"Yeah."

"I never said any of those things. Zel wouldn't be so fun if he weren't a person. You wouldn't like him if he weren't. He wouldn't care about you. In fact, it was his decision to release you and join your side fighting against Rezo, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but-how did you know, and what were we talking about before we got into this?"

"That's a secret. It's just about time for Gourry to screw up, so I better go find out how bad the situation is, jaa!"

* * * * *

"Gourry, you're here too?"

"Yeah, I brought so soup, you should probably eat something."

"I look disgusting, don't I?"

"You could use a bath, and your face is a bit pale, and I think you could use something to eat. Hey, that reminds me, I brought soup!"

Zel took a small spoonful of the soup. It was good. Gourry must not have cooked it then. Zel slowly continued to eat.

"You and Lina are going to leave, aren't you?"

"Well, we don't like to stay in the same town for too long, so yeah, we're going to leave when you're better.

When I'm better.

"Are you going to leave me?"

"What does that mean?"

Zel tried to smile, but ended up just lessening the pained and fatigued expression on his face.

"Thanks."

"Did your mother make you soup, ever?"

"Huh?"

"My mother couldn't cook, but my dad could, but he was always busy and Sylphiel came over a lot and cooked. She brought me soup when I was sick once or twice. My mom tried making cookies, but they got all burnt."

"I didn't have any parents."

"Then how were you born?"

"No, what I mean is that they died when I was a year old and Rezo took care of me after that."

"Did he ever cook you soup when you were sick?"

"He was blind, Gourry. Do you think a blind man would be able to cook for his great-grandson?"

"I don't know. He drew perfect circles without seeing."

"It's cold in here."

"Sorry. This seems to be the best hotel in the town, and it's December. Oh, look, it's snowing again."

"You and Lina don't have to pay for my room."

"We aren't. Xellos is."