Rezo's diary. It was both a blessing and a nightmare, or so Lina thought. Zelgadis might finally be able to find out how to become human, and yet...he might also find out there was no cure... What if the process was one-way? She figured Zelgadis had already thought of this, and had bleakly considered the possibility millions of times over. She didn't know whether he'd be able to live with the knowledge that there wasn't a cure. It had kept him going for so long, that the sudden loss of hope might kill him.
For the first time, too, Lina wondered what Zelgadis's cure would mean to her. If he got cured, would he reclaim his throne as the Heir Prince of Yume, or would he continue to travel with her? If he did choose to become a prince again, she'd visit him whenever she could, but she wouldn't stick around permanently. Seyruun had convinced her that she didn't want to be any kind of nobility, especially a queen.
The thought depressed her. Oh, she knew the linking jewel would allow them to communicate no matter where she was, but... It wasn't the same as actually being there with him, experiencing his daily struggles and trials. "Lina?" Zelgadis asked, frowning in concern.
"Hmm?" she responded distractedly, still intent on her thoughts.
"...I think I found something..." he said, voice emotionless.
She got up from her bed and padded over to the chair where Zelgadis sat. He held the book out to her, opened about halfway, and thrust in into her waiting hands. Lina leaned against the table as she began to read...
My grandson wants strength, and I need his intelligence, cunning, and ruthlessness to find the Philosopher's Stone. If I give him that strength, he'll feel obligated to work for me...
...But how to give him that strength... He wants the ability to learn magic, and he wants to be physically stronger. He already has lots of magical abilities, more than I could ever give him. Unfortunately, because of the tradition in Yume that states the eldest heir to the throne cannot learn magic until he becomes king, he hasn't been trained, and if he goes much longer without training, his skills will never reach their full potential. A person has to train for at least a decade under normal circumstances to reach even a margin of their potential; I cannot wait that long for him, so I'll also have to give him something to speed up his learning ability. Now, the only question is...how?
I might have come up with a solution. If I transform him into something else - like turn him into a chimera - I could give him everything he asks for. It's true he'll look different, but I don't think that'll matter to him.
Conveniently, I found the perfect book in my library. The name is, "Classic Chimeras." The book details different chimera processes, and different combinations I could use to achieve what I want. There's one it particular, which says to use a mazoku and a golem, that could give my grandson everything he wants. He'd get speed, invulnerability to just about anything, the ability to learn magic fast, and more.
Of course, there is a way to reverse the process, but I don't want to mention it to him till I complete my task of finding the Philosopher's Stone and finally seeing for the first time. Only then will I give him the option of turning back to his human form.
,Rezo
"..." Lina said articulately, and gently handed the book back to Zelgadis. "So, we have to find a book called 'Classic Chimeras.' The title's bad, but it should also make it easier to look for."
"Yes," Zelgadis murmured quietly, his face and voice both still expressionless.
"Since it was part of Rezo's personal library, it might be on the top floor as well," she added after a few moments.
"Yes," he murmured again.
"..." He wasn't paying attention to her. Lina studied him, and then grinned impishly. There was one sure way of regaining his attention... "You know, I think I'll have an affair with your brother," she said conversationally, face straight.
"Yes... EH?!" The reaction was predictable, and just what she hoped for. "What the hell are you talking about?!" He looked furious, and utterly dumbfounded.
Lina giggled evilly and patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry, but I just couldn't resist. I thought that would get your attention, and apparently it did."
Zelgadis glared at her, not amused. "I hope you're joking."
"About your brother?" Lina finished, and nodded while winking at him. "Of course!"
Zelgadis slumped slightly in relief, and muttered, "Thank the Gods..."
She giggled one last time and sat back on the bed, her expression becoming more thoughtful. "Now that I have your attention... When do you think we can safely 'find' the library and sneak Rezo's diary back?"
"It's only been about an hour, so I think we'll have to wait another hour, maybe two."
She winced, and let herself lay down on the bed. "That leaves a lot of time to ourselves."
He was silent for a few seconds. Finally, he said tentatively, "...Do you want to see the labyrinth?"
Lina grinned and stated emphatically, "Anything is better than staying in this bedroom."
He stood up and held out his hand to her. "Then let's go, before we get cavities."
"Good idea," Lina agreed, and put her hand in his.
Schnookums stared at Aristos, who was fuming around the campsite. His face had turned completely red, his eyes were bugging out in rage, and he was huffing at a hurried rate. If he keeps this up, he's going to faint from lack of air. ...I think steam is coming out of his ears...
The ex-guards watched him warily, whispering to themselves worriedly as Aristos continued to spout curses. "^&&%$#@$$%!"
Two guards covered their ears in embarrassment and shame.
"I can't believe it! Where did Zelgadis go?!" Aristos cried. "He couldn't have gotten into Yume by himself!"
"Is he talking about the barrier again?" one bully whispered to another.
"Maybe he's still mad because he ran straight into the barrier, while Schnookums stayed back..."
"The slug is smarter than him, isn't it?"
"What a scary thought..."
Meanwhile, Arisos continued to fume. "We have to get inside that barrier! Zelgadis must have gotten inside somehow, and I need to find him so I can punish him for all the grievous ills he's brought upon me..."
Another bully murmured quietly to his comrade, "Why does he think this Zelgadis character went into Yume?"
His comrade grimaced and murmured back, "I have no idea."
Aristos turned back and glared evilly at his new minions. "Are you sure you can't get me in?"
A collective gulp. "Yes. The barrier can only be opened up by people on the other side, who have to know in advance when to open it. They weren't expecting us, so it won't open anytime soon."
"Grr... I have to get inside!" Aristos stomped around the clearing. "Tomorrow we're going up to that barrier and we'll bash our way inside!"
His minions fell down in a united face-fault, while Schnookums settled for a disappointed gurgle. He's got to be kidding!
Zelgadis lead Lina expertly through the palace hallways, past curious servants and beyond the prying eyes of the nobility. "Just a little further," he told her reassuringly.
Two minutes later, they approached a set of glass doors. Zelgadis gently pushed them inward, and Lina got her first good look of a strange wonder. The walls, floor, and ceiling were made of a thick, clear stone. A type of quartz? Lina thought. She saw a hazy view of the distance through the stone, which seemed to go on for miles.
"It's made of crystal quartz, and it's completely resistant to magic and physical weapons," Zelgadis said as he lead her inside.
"Do you know your way around?" she asked, frowning. Getting lost in a place she couldn't easy get out of didn't sound like a good idea...
He nodded and smirked at her. "I know my way better than anyone else in the palace," he said proudly.
"That's good," she sighed.
"I want to show you something special at the center," he urged, and waved his hand forward.
Lina frowned, studying the labyrinth in front of her. If I get lost, it could be a long time before anyone finds me. Plus, it sounds like trying to blast my way out wouldn't work. So... Before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed hold of his hand.
"Lina...?" he inquired, clearly startled.
Holding back a blush, she snorted and replied, "I don't want to get lost."
He wasn't quite as successful as her at keeping the revealing red away from his cheeks, but managed to turn his head away before she noticed. "I see..." Without another word, they walked fully into the labyrinth. They didn't notice the doors close soundlessly behind them...