The starry gem that served as a holding cell for the captured souls cracked, and fragments of the dark stone fell to the ground with a tinkle.
Ikari Kuroi's emerald eyes were wide in disbelief. The golden orb veered off course, and dug a four foot trench to Lina's right. A flash of pain seered her lungs as she gasped. Streams of dark red flowed from his mouth, nose, eyes, and anywere else it could escape.
"Imposs...ible." He gurgled over the blood. "Gaea's... Childe... not... this one..."
"Gaea's Childe?" Xellos whispered as his wound began knitting itself together. "Gaea's chosen knight... like the Knight of Ceipheed?"
"Kymairah..." Ikari crumpled to the ground, blood still pooling around him. "Childe... of Earth?"
No more words passed his stained lips as the verdant orbs on sheets of white vanished into nothingness.
"Knight of Gaea... Childe of Earth..." Xellos crawled over to LIna, cradling her in his arms and trying to wake her from her frozen, fearful trance. "I understand now. He was made of three types of spiritual energy... That's why Gaea chose him."
"Him?" Lina repeated faintly.
"Zelgadis." Xellos' amythyst eyes focused on the blackish-red puddle that surrounded the gray and ashen form of Kuroi. "Zelgadis' body was part Mazoku, therefore he understood dark spirits. He was also composed of Golem, giving him comprehension of the unadultered elemental spirits. His human part was a link between the two; and a perfect knight for the Mother Earth."
"Oh." Xellos' wordy explaination made her head hurt.
"Lina, look." He murmured, pointing at the stardust that began to glow beneath the dusky liquid. "They're free. All of them. Let's watch; maybe we'll see Zel."
"Zel?" Her ruby gaze scanned the departing sparks, ignoring red and blue and hunting despretely for a white one. "Zel?!"
The Kymairah is at rest now. Gaea spoke gently. His soul is no longer required.
Fear struck a bitter note in Lina's throat.
"What's different about a Kymairah?" Her voice came out strangled.
"Kymairah is a blend of spirits. Chimera is of physical form only." Xellos answered.
My Childe is no longer a concern of yours, Mazoku. Gaea's tone did not change.
"He's my concern." Lina replied. "Before Kuroi's amulet broke, I heard Zel say something. He said he was fighting for his friends. He's my friend, so that makes it my concern."
Zelgadis' body was destroyed by Kuroi. She sighed. Had it not been, I could return him to you. But now, I cannot. He is no longer a part of the living world.
"Can't we even say goodbye to him?"
Zelgadis can never to return to the mortal realm. Gaea's voice became more forceful. He is a part of the elements now. The only place you will ever see him again is in your own hearts. I wish I could return him to you my child, but his fight is over.
"Oh." Tears streamed down her face unnoticed. "So that's it, then? My best friend is dead, my traveling companion is permenantly crippled, and Amelia's dead..."
"Forgive me, Lina-chan." Xellos murmured, hanging his head. "Maybe someday, you'd understand... but as your friend, this is all I can do for you." A vermillion glow surrounded them, shining like the las t sunrise they would ever see as it became dawn outside the cavern.
"Forgive me..." The explosion of death energy that followed instantly killed Lina and Gourry. Xellos' suicide left red dust in the air for years.