Sighing deeply, Zelgadis slipped into the radiating mineral rich water that filled the spring.  His mind slowed as his aching muscles relaxed.  Stretching out every one of his tight, corded muscles, Zelgadis felt sleep beginning to overpower him.  As hungry as he was, food could wait until morning.  He had heard the door to his room open moments ago, and a quiet shuffelling followed. He guessed it was a younger monk following the orders of the Elder Mage to bring him something to eat. Truth be told, he wasn't sure if he could eat much at all. Perhaps some fresh bread and a nice cup of green tea would be all he would need.  He rolled his head back and forth across his shoulders to stretch and relax his neck before sinking further into the soothing water.

 

***

 

Xellos watched the chimera bathe for a moment before turning his attention to other, far more pressing matters.  There was the matter of the magiked mirror in this room was his most pressing matter.  It would be a simple matter to simply use his magiks to alter the mirror, but the the entire Temple would fall on Zelgadis' unsuspecting head.  Although, knowing the chimera, he was probably subconsciously waitng for all hell to break out.  It was just the way his life had been as of late.  However, having Zelgadis thrown out of the Temple would not serve the mazoku's purpose.  The chimera might even take a turn for the worse if things didn't go well.  A suicidal chimera was not on the top of Xellos' wish list.

 

Ah well.  To work.  He could be out of the spring at any moment. Just then, Xellos heard a loud, peaceful sigh echo from the spring. Smiling to himself, the mazoku resisted the urge to chuckle. Then again, perhaps not.

 

As swiftly as he could, Xellos once again sized up the situation. Never allowing his reflection to be seen in the mirror, Xellos frowned in it's direction.  As carefully as he could, he sent a clear image to Xellas-sama on Wolfpack Island.  Then he had to wait.   He blinked a few times before making up his mind. He would wait for Xellas-sama and keep an eye on Zelgadis at the same time.  No sense wasting a good hot spring.  Smiling dangerously, Xellos crept out to look at the chimera again.  Zelgadis was scrubbing silently at his stone skin, as oblivious to his surroundings as he ever let himself be.  Xellos blamed fatigue on the chimera's lack of attention to his surroundings.  Then again, he was being horribly careful to mask himself from this place.  Xellos shuddered at the thought of his surroundings.  Discovery was not an option.  The telepathic signal passed between Lord and Servant. Xellos returned to the mirror's chamber.  Xellas was ready.  If Xellos could pull this off, Xellas would have no end to the rewards she could possibly offer him.  Then again, her remaining pleased with his existanse was more than enough for Xellos.  He liked being alive, as mazoku reckon it.  There was just so much mischeif to be done.  Shaking his head, Xellos prepared himself for the task at hand.  He couldn't magik the mirror to not see, but Xellas could redirect the mirror to show its images to other mirrors.  Tricky was not the word for this endevor.  Steeling his nerve, Xellos followed Xellas' commands to the letter.  For several dark moments, Xellos had no indication of his failure or success.

 

Xellos.

 
 
 

The mazoku nearly jumped out of his astral form.  Gathering his wits together, he answered his Lord and Creator.

 

Yes, Xellas-sama?

 

We were successful.  The images from that chamber are now being reflected to this mirror on Wolfpack Island as well as it's point of origin.  Nothing seems to have been detected.  Clever idea, my servant.  I applaud you.  But quickly, return to the Island to avoid any possible detection.  I do not cherish the idea of your destruction.  Quickly.

 

Yes, Xellas-sama.  Blinking swiftly, the mazoku cleared his head.  Glancing over his shoulder to the direction of the bathing chimera, a worried look crossed Xellos' face.  Not daring to remain in the Temple chamber any longer, lest he endanger his friend and anger his Lord, Xellos disappeared.

 

Zelgadis, for his part, was surprised to smell lavender when he re-entered his room.

 

***

 

Lavender?  I don't see any lavender here. Zelgadis scanned the entire room in an instant.  Certain that he was alone, he dismissed the scent as belonging to the monk that had brought the platter of food that lay on the table beside his bed.  The silver object was heavily laden with a large bun of fresh baked bread, a slab of some rich cheese, several apples, pears and a bunch of huge, nearly black grapes. Ah well. He may have been roused from a nice soak to do this.  At least it's a clean scent. No tea though.  The still damp chimera sat delicately on the side of the sleeping pallet and pulled the silver tray onto his lap.  Munching quietly on the bread, his thoughts began to drift to his travelling friends.  He was always surprised when he found that he truly began to miss them after a few days.  Well, a few weeks to be completely honest.  He wondered if Amelia had remained with Lina and Gourry, or if she had split off to return to Seirune.  And what of Xellos?  Where could that mazoku have gone, what could he be up to?  Knowing Xellos, anywhere and anything.

 

Smiling despite himself, Zelgadis finished the food quickly, his mind replaying humorus incidents involving the mazoku.  He dressed for bed, shifted the sleeping pallett so that he was facing the door, and fell asleep staring at the tapestery of the crystal dragon oblivious of the several sets of eyes that observed him through various ways.

 

Thousands of miles away, in a secluded chamber off-set from Xellas-sama's main bedroom, Xellos hand tightened harshly on his staff.  His eyes would not leave the sleeping form of the chimera.  The life of his friend depended on it.