Her claws trailed gracefully down the outside of the false womb, her golden eyes unfocused as Zelas used her sight to gaze within it.
"My son ... what pain made you choose this path ... made both of you choose this path." Zelas sighed, turning away, her golden hair falling about her face. It would be some time before they would be ready to emerge. A wry smile crossed her face. "I never thought I would be a mother again at my age .... "
She laughed softly. "And this time it shall be twins!"
The laughter died as she looked again at the false womb, at the two who floated so peacefully within it. "But I will miss you, my trickster priest. As much as I may enjoy the new you, I will miss who you were."
A faint ding caught her attention. The orb upon her worktable was glowing.
"Yes?"
Are they all right?
"They're doing fine, and gestating nicely. You do know how much time this will take, don't you?"
I am well aware of the time needed. Have you found the necessary ingredients to give me a body?
"One of your hairs, one of the first koppii's, one of the koppii of the koppii, one of Zel's, one of Xeros's. Should work just fine, as long as you're here to step into the body before another soul claims it."
Good. Use the slow genesis to create it. The fast one allows for more flaws.
"And after the trouble with the first two, there's no way I want to deal with another rogue koppi in my lab."
The process allows, in fact requires, closer surveillance.
"How long will it take?"
Five years. It will be a child's body at first, but I will age and grow.
"And how long will that take?"
Twenty years.
"Well, I've waited over fifteen years to get my hands on you again, twenty five shouldn't be too much of a wait, my darling Rezo."
Miss Lina was still crying. Amelia frowned in worry, nibbling nervously on her lower lip. It had already been a month since ... their death, and Miss Lina was still grieving. The prince was getting worried, and so was Amelia and Gourry. Nobody had any idea on how Firia felt, as she had neither moved, nor spoken since it ... happened. Lately she had taken to screaming, late at night. Not very often, about once a week. Firia had completely withdrawn into herself, and nothing seemed to reach her except the period during the day when she was left in Lina's room. They had started that in hopes it would snap either one of them out of their depressions. It seemed to help, at least a little. When they came back after an hour or two, Lina had been curled up asleep in Firia's lap, and Firia had been humming something too soft to be heard as she rocked Lina back and forth. But the instant one of them moved into the room or spoke, Firia would tuck Lina into her bed then stand in the middle of the room and stare into nowhere.
Things were not going well.