Gourry headed back from lunch and noticed someone sitting on the rim of a nearby fountain with long hair. Upon closer inspection he found it was Lina idly trailing her finger back and forth in the water playing with the fish.
"Lina, what are you doing out here?"
The redhead turned to Gourry and smiled.
"Just on my way back from lunch with Filia and Amelia, you?"
"Just finished lunch too," he said sitting down next to her. "I'm on my way to class to take more exams."
"How are they coming?"
"Easy as usual," he shrugged. Lina shock her head and laughed.
"Only you would think exams were easy."
"Professor Oz said the same thing to me earlier. So how did the audition go?"
"Good, It was nice to see Divine again and the theatre is a lot larger then the other places I've done plays at."
"And?"
"And?" she smiled mocking him.
"Come on Lina tell me?"
"I got called back for the final audition," she smiled.
"That's great," Gourry said standing up and enveloping the sorceress in a warm hug.
"Thanks," she whispered blushing and how warm and fragrant he smelled. She tentatively returned the hug and blushed brighter amazed at how firm the muscles of his arms and back were.
"I think he's gotten bigger since we first met," she thought amazed that it was even possible.
"So after the final audition, then what?" He asked loosening his hold on her but still having her securely in his arms.
"Casting and rehearsals to prepare for the plays run."
"So then we can come see you in the show right?" He asked releasing her.
"I haven't gotten the part yet."
"But you will I know it," he nodded smiling at her.
"And what makes you so sure?"
"Because you really want the part and you've been working really hard to learn all your lines and things. Besides who else would they want?"
"There were a lot of girls auditioning that some of the producers thought were pretty," she shrugged. "Divine said the producers liked me but they could easily pick someone else. That's how auditioning works."
"Why would they want a pretty girl when they could have you?"
Lina looked at him and frowned
"Oh thanks a lot you big jerk I feel really good now," she yelled at him.
"I didn't mean it like that," he said quickly, before she had time to start a spell.
"Then what did you mean?"
"Why would they want just a pretty girl when they could have someone who's cute. Cute is a lot better then pretty, a lot more outgoing and fun," Gourry finished.
"You ... you think I'm cute?"
"Sure I do," the swordsman smiled, removing a wayward strand of hair from her face. "I gotta get going to class, Lina"
"Okay," she murmured.
"I'll see you at Zel's dinner okay?" He said then headed off.
"Cute," she murmured again into the water in the fountain. "He said I was cute," she said to a particularly curious rainbow guppie.
Gourry got out of his last exam and smiled, pleased with his work. The other students watched him leave, shaking their heads in amazement at how easily he finished. He headed down the hall and passed Professor Ozaki's office and stopped in.
"Professor Oz, how's it going?" He asked poking his head into the door. The professor looked up from a stack of tomes he was pouring through at Gourry excitedly.
"I'm so glad you could stop in, come in. There's something I think you'll want to see."
"What is it?"
"The university just uncovered some lost books from an ancient temple. We've been able to determine that the books are on magic found in nature."
"Are you working on translating them or is that moving to fast?"
"Oh no, you're right the books are about a thousand years old in the Sculdereen dialect."
"Sculdereen, I learned that language the last two school sessions."
"That's why I asked you to come, I thought you might like to read through some of the findings."
"Would you really let me do that?" Gourry asked.
"Yes, I consider you a very good student. I always enjoyed the work you did in my class."
"Thanks," Gourry smiled. "So what kind of magic in nature are these books supposed to talk about?"
"Mystical landmarks and natural occurrences and even magical bodies of water that can enchant or remove spells. Because these are so ancient we think they could be very powerful," the professor explained.
"Remove magic," Gourry murmured in thought.
"We think that there could be something promising about that in the books. But I haven't even finished translating the titles yet so I'm not sure what might be in them."
"How many books are there?"
"I have twenty here but there are more in the library vaults."
The professor watched as Gourry came to his desk, picked up a thick book and looked at the cover.
"Magic found in the underground valley of Shi man Chi," the swordsman read idly. Then picked up the next book and translated its title just as effortlessly.
"Slow down I need to write them down," the professor laughed excitedly, getting paper.
The two worked continuously with Gourry translating and the professor writing down the titles until they go to the last book, 'Waters of mystic cleansing'.
"I'd really like the last book to read if that's okay?" Gourry asked.
"That's fine," the professor nodded. "You know, I've been here all afternoon trying to translate these with the Sculdereen dictionaries I have thought my grasp of the language isn't as extensive as some of my colleagues. But how were you able to translate them so easily?"
"Oh I just really liked Sculdereen when I was learning it. The vowels sounds can be tricky and there are a bunch a different forms of it, that's probably why you were having a hard time," Gourry explained. "I got to get some rest before meeting my friends for dinner."
"I didn't mean to keep you for so long, but thank you for helping you may have saved me hours or weeks even of work."
"No problem," Gourry smiled and left. The swordsman walked down the street out of the University and flipped through the book he'd taken. Recalling what he'd learned in his classes, he could tell by the condition and slight glisten of the leather spine that it had been magically preserved to better retain its contents. He flipped through pages to get a feel for what lay inside when something caught his attention. He stopped and looked closer to be certain of what he read.
"I'd better read more to be sure," he murmured, closing the book and running back to his room in the palace.
The banquet table was set with a variety of delicious dishes and fragrant wine. Prince Philionel busied himself with the servers in last minute preparation. He originally wanted a larger celebration, but conceded to his daughter's wishes for something smaller so that Zelgadis wouldn't be too uncomfortable. And after thinking about it agreed that something small and informal was a much nicer way to celebrate. He went over to a nearby window and stared out onto the evening sky the servers finished up and slowly left.
When Amelia had told him she was seeing the chimera he had been surprised not knowing the extent of her feelings for the man but was also pleased. He thought Zelgadis was fine young man, intelligent if somewhat withdrawn. The crown prince did understand the desire to stay away from large gatherings even though he attended many, he also enjoyed any time he could to himself.
"Your highness, we're finished," a server said to him.
"Oh good," he smiled. "Thank you very much." The server bowed politely then left the prince and the banquet table to wait for their guests "I hope everyone likes it."
"I don't think that will be a problem. It'll al be gone before anyone can taste it."
The crown prince turned and saw Amelia enter the small dining hall with Zelgadis on her arm. They both dressed in a casual yet formal manner. Zelgadis in a cream colored pants and a white shirt to keep cool in the summer nights heat and Amelia in a slip dress and saddles.
"The first to arrive," Philionel boomed, greeting his daughter with a warm hug and Zelgadis with a handshake and a pat on the back.
"Zelgadis was telling me about your first day," Amelia started.
"Really, so how did I do?"
"Very good," Zelgadis smiled. "But I think the library may not be the best place to work with so many people using it."
"Not to worry, your study should be ready sometime tomorrow."
"My study?" The chimera blinked surprised.
"I had a study prepared for you with a small library and other things for you to work. Didn't I tell you?"
"No you didn't."
"It's in the east wing of the palace with a great view," Amelia smiled. "A few doors down from mine."
"Thank you Phil, I appreciate it," Zelgadis said.
"You're welcome," the crown prince smiled as the doors of the hall opened. Through them came Filia and Val dressed in a little green jumper. "Hello Filia."
"Your highness," the gold smiled.
"Please call me Phil," he boomed.
"Okay, Phil."
"And this must be Val my he's grown since last saw him. Can I?" He asked reaching out to the baby.
"All right," the dragon said, letting the prince take the child. Val stared at Phil and began to tug on his mustache.
"Val no," Filia whispered.
"Oh it's all right. Amelia use to do the same thing when she was little," he said.
"Dad!"
Filia noticed Amelia and Zelgadis together and smiled.
"Congratulations Zelgadis."
"Thank you," he said. "Have you seen Lina and Gourry?"
"I'm right here," Lina said coming through the door. "Hey Zel! Wow, look at all this food."
"Hello Lina."
"Ah Lina-chan you look lovely this evening."
Everyone turned to find Xellos floating by the banquet table with a glass of wine.
"What are you doing here?" Zelgadis asked.
"I invited him," the crown prince answered. "I thought you'd want all your friends."
"I ..." Zelgadis started then stopped himself and just frowned.
"It's nice that you could make it Xellos," Amelia smiled. The trickster stopped floating and directed his attention on the princess.
"Thank you Amelia."
"All this food looks great," Lina said eyeing the table like a hungry wolf.
"Shouldn't we wait for Gourry?" Filia asked.
"He isn't here yet?"
Everyone shook their heads no.
"We thought he'd be with you," Zelgadis said.
"I haven't seen him since a little after lunch. He said he had some more exams to take."
"Maybe he was tired and decided to get some rest when he finished," Amelia offered.
"University is a lot of work," Filia added.
"Maybe so but he wouldn't miss all this food even if he had to sleep walk here to eat it," Lina said.
"He could be just running late. Why don't we have a toast and some appetizers and wait a little longer," the crown prince said.
"Sounds good," Lina smiled. The prince went over to the table and poured glasses for everyone with on hand and held Val in the other. Each person took a glass and waited for Phil.
"To Zelgadis, congratulations on your new position and - "
The toast was interrupted when the doors of the hall flew open. They all looked and saw Gourry leaning on the door handles, with a book in hand.
"Gourry?" Lina asked, going over to him.
"Are you all right?" Amelia asked, following.
The swordsman panted heavily, trying to calm his breathing.
"Gourry what is it?" Zelgadis asked, lending his friend an arm for support.
"I think ... I think I've found a cure for you."