Author:  Ameban Mic
Title:  A Promise at Cepheid's Service

This is my second attempt of writing a real ZA lemon fic, and once again, it’s an experiment. This story is lightly related with “The Noise”, but it’s totally original. Here, I’ve tried to portrait how could be a real Zel’s lemon, thinking in his odd stone body; besides a love story and a possible end for “TRY” season.  Special thanks to Phizzy-chan, Kisaki and Rowena both for helping me with this.

Slayers isn’t my property but Hajime Kanzaka’s, Dragon Magazine’s and Rui Araizumi’s Tokyo TV SOFTX. I just write this for fun.

=A promise at Cepheid’ service=

ive hundred years ago, over the ruins of the accident and cursed kingdom of Lethidius, a new kingdom was formed. The new born kingdom didn’t seek for immortality like Lethidius did in the Dark Ages, but for the holy powers of Cephied, the Dragon God Lord. The people who survived Lethidius took a different approach to their new kingdom. Instead of seeking immortality like the former king had, they wanted to seek the holy powers of the Dragon God Lord. Now, the White Magic Kingdom was born, Seyruun.

Seyruun Kingdom became the richest country inside the Accident Barrier, as well the kingdom whose task was to serve the holy powers. Its influence was obvious among all the countries inside the Accident Barrier, and its clergy had a strong influence in all countries. For that reason, the main temple in the holy city was the biggest of all countries. And there was something else inside.

It was enormous, it was magnificent, and it was THE statue. Humans adored it as the most powerful symbol of Cepheid’s holy power inside the Accident Barrier. It was just in the centre on the hexagram than demarcated Seyruun’s White City; a gigantic hexagram that protected the holy city from Mazoku and dangerous spells and attacks. Under that spell the capital city of Seyruun was built.

The temple where the gigantic statue was placed also was in the centre of the whole city, just in front of the also very wide Seyruun’s royal palace. Both buildings were separated, and the temple was more focused on religious and White Magic matters than the Royal palace… at least, in the outside. Seyruun’s white church was the most important religious identity inside the Accident Barrier, and seeing white sorcerers and priests walking around, was something usual.

At least in the day hours, not at night.

The holy temple was a quiet place at night. Only the main section, where the statue was placed, was open to public and visitors; it could not be different because all the priests of the city used to visit the place once per week, at least, and it also was visited by many pilgrims and wandering priests. However, the side wings, left and right, were only dedicated to priests and priestess respectively, and the entrance of other gender people to them was strictly prohibited, even if they were palace’s residents or courtiers.

But it only happened in daily hours, not at night. And that night in particular, he was the only people in front of the main statue.

And he didn’t give a damn about that, he didn’t think priests and priestess could be “holy”, but just people who took advantage of Cephied’s power, sometimes for the good, sometimes for their own interests. So he couldn’t help but just watching the gigantic statue with an expression than could be defined as bemused.

“How ironic!... Do you know, Cephied? I’ve saved the world for you…” he muted in low voice, “I’ve done your work and I’ve done things against you… And you say nothing. Even the Aqualord didn’t give any short of the help I need. You rather give your power to all the priests around here than giving some help to somebody who has done so many things for you.” He sighed heavily, “… Sometimes I think your presence is a fake, as well as all your power… and the power of all Gods from this and other universes.” He raised his head and faced up the statue, “You, as well as Volfied did, only follow the path that Lord of Nightmares gave to you. You wish, you want to keep this world up, but you don’t care about how it’s done. I definitely won’t get my happiness from you’.

“...That’s not totally true.” a soft voice suddenly came from behind him. “Cepheid’s power helped me many times for saving you.”

“Amelia!” he exclaimed startled by the sudden interruption as he turned back facing her.

The priestess-princess smiled at him softly. Apparently she had just appeared in the temple and met Zelgadiss in front of the statue; the chimera would have bet he had been alone when he had stepped in the temple at that night hour. Although perhaps Amelia could have been waiting for him since she was a priestess and had oracle power. Zelgadiss didn’t know yet.

“Cepheid will help you in your search, you’ll see. Mr. Zelgadiss.” She affirmed to him so firmly than anybody could say it was right.

Zelgadiss looked back at her, almost forgetting the reason that brought him to the holy temple and asking her what she was doing here at that hour; she was being as usual about her beliefs, and her facial expression showed that; certainly Amelia did believe what she just had said.

However, the fact was Amelia had appeared now in front of him, being the woman he was learning to live and love with. It was stranger to see her around that place so later. Even the Royal Palace guards seemed to be sleepy on their positions. Yet, she was there, and not sleeping in her priestess room. Zelgadiss hadn’t expected to see her over here that late. The issues that brought him at the temple at that later hour were his matter, so he didn’t ask her for her company, but Amelia seemed she decided to remain at his side.

Zelgadiss didn’t know if feeling himself invaded in his intimacy, or feeling flattered of such attentions.

Perhaps it wasn’t any of those; Amelia wasn’t dressed in a nightgown yet, she was still dressed with Seyruun’s traditional outfit, which meant she wasn’t about to go to sleep yet.

Zelgadiss was used to see Amelia dressed with her travel priestess outfit, filled of chalza amulets, or perhaps with a rich princess dress that caused her to look like some short of bud. But not now, she actually wore the usual Seyruun’s family outfit; her short white-cream tunic, white baggy trousers, sandals and a pretty big and white alb with a burgundy stole trimmed in gold; the only thing that remained were the two chalza amulets on every wrist. The fact was, even if she had looked like that since the day they both arrived to Seyruun’s Royal Palace doors, he wasn’t used to that look changed in her. She looked cute dressed like that, and it seemed she just was about to go to sleep. Seyruun’s traditional outfit, especially among royalty, wasn’t anything common in other countries.

Still, he noticed there was something different in Amelia, she seemed to be a little different than just any weeks ago, when they all got separated from Lina and Gourry, who took the other way, and Firia and the fox-guy Jiras, who remained in their land, the Outer World. At that point, Amelia had been as usual, but since they had gotten back to the holy city of Seyruun, something had happened. She seemed to be a little taller than before (Zelgadiss remembered how tall the rest of her relatives were, especially her father), as well far more mature than in their first encounter, several years ago.

Amelia had grown into a nice, caring, occasionally stubborn, strong, and beautiful woman. Yet, she was still the same young woman he’d met all those years ago.

***

hat was something Zelgadiss had realized over the years. First, he had found her childish and dreamer, the perfect portrait of “Sunshine”, a little lady with her head filled of stupid Justice ideals. But later, throughout their various journeys and hard fights for saving their life, he’d found Amelia to be strong, but still capable of caring for people she liked… which included him. After discovering that, he’d learned to respect her.  She had seen so much, had so much to be bitter about, yet was still sweet and filled of happiness he just couldn’t find.

Eventually, the chimera found out other nice qualities the princess possessed. Amelia was really pretty and a very nice companion and friend. And, finally, during these few months, he had realized something that should have been evident: He liked Amelia, he really liked her. She wasn’t any longer a young girl, and he even had started to have feelings for her…like a man would do towards a woman.

And he had learned to be able to deal with it.

It wasn’t easy. In their travels, Zelgadiss had been becoming more and more fond of her, and sometimes it was hard to decide. He was torn apart between his inner demons, his regrets and his moral sense about sharing anything with her. The chimera couldn’t help but being next to her almost all the time, but he never dared to do something about that.

But the critical day finally came when he had to decide if he remained in her home city or not. She had asked to him the same question previously, but the first time he just didn’t believe what she had asked him, and just ignored the topic with an unwillingly look; but it wasn’t like that the last time she made the same question in the battle against “Dark Star”.

As a result, he had spent 15 days in Seyruun, as Amelia’s guest and the warrior protector that helped her in the adventure of outside world. Seyruun’s government needed to know what happened, and both, Amelia and Zelgadiss spent several days telling the courtiers and the priests what had happened. After such big events, he just couldn’t say “bye” to her if nothing had happened, and he also felt morally obliged to accompany her for a while after such big events.

However, Courtiers didn’t like the chimera warrior, he was a criminal after all and his bad fame preceded him. The chimera might have been giving very valuable information, but Zelgadiss remained in people’s memories as the “Ma-Kenshi”, and not somebody trustful. But Amelia and his father, both, trusted him deeply  and his criteria and they ignored Zelgadiss’ bad fame, so courtiers had to shut up their mouths.

Zelgadiss didn’t like that environment; he didn’t like to be seen as an inhuman and assassin monster. He had good and bad feelings, he was passionate and zealous and moody; he was human, and he knew it well. He had learned that after the day Amelia had kissed him, mainly. He had learned he could live like a real human, too, although only among some people.

It just had happened, and it was only two days after their arrival to the Holy City. It had occurred in the middle of the big royal gardens, he had just met Amelia after she had had a tedious talk with Seyrunn’s priests, and she had asked him to talk with him in private. Zelgadiss should have noticed sooner there was something odd in Amelia’s request, just because she always used to grant him with her usual cheerful manners... but that day she had been just too nervous and the previous days she had been oddly absent. But he hadn’t figured it out and finally Amelia had managed to show her feelings to him, and eventually she had kissed him.

Zelgadiss just found out he wasn’t able to questioning her. Somehow, Amelia knew he felt the same, a feeling he had tried to refuse to listen in all the time they both had been together since he had realized he felt the same. Amelia knew him really well, in spite he didn’t want to tell her certain things about himself that would have made the princess to feel really bad; therefore she had been able to make smart and mature replies about their situation, and Zelgadiss just found it was nonsensical trying to deny them. He was a passionate man and never had been good in denying his own feelings... Hiding them, yes, but never denying.

After that day, he also had found he wasn’t able to remain indifferent around her, not anymore. And he had realized how much he truly liked her. He might not be certain that he was deeply in love with her, but he knew it was something similar to that. Zelgadiss just had started some sort of relationship with her, showing his affection to Amelia when nobody was around (which was Amelia agreed with), and living closer to a woman like ever before.

But it also had side effects...

And now, he knew he couldn’t leave Seyruun as easily as he had thought at first. He was torn apart between his desire of living with Amelia, and his desire of living as a free human, getting back his true self. It was just ironic that living the main centre of Cephied’s holy power, he wasn’t able to find answers.

***

he chimera sighed, overwhelmed by his feelings towards her and the discontent towards Cephied. If only he could have been human again, he could have lived with her without a problem, but he knew his curse would seek him and Zelgadiss just didn’t want to hurt her.

However, Amelia had decided to do something by herself and she just had appeared in front of (well, rather behind) him when the chimera questioned his fate to Cephied.

“I don’t think so, Amelia.” He explained, “I think I have to look for my cure by myself.”

Amelia made a face, “I am a priestess, I have the oracle power and I can affirm that!”

“Really?” replied Zelgadiss, “Even that Saga member, Lou Graum, wasn’t able to help me… And he’s supposed to be a Wise Man Saga, in the same way that Rezo was.”

“Well, Mr. Graum works for Seyruun because he is a priest, he only knows White Magic.” Amelia explained. “At least it means that your cure isn’t related with White Magic.” She reasoned. “Or perhaps it isn’t totally related; perhaps it’s a mix of  Astral and White magic... but not only White Magic.”

Zelgadiss was startled. “I didn’t think of that…” he admitted, “But in the same way, it means than Cepheid couldn’t help me, either.”

Amelia winked at him.

“Then White Magic is useless for your cure doesn’t mean than Cepheid wouldn’t help you. The Golden Dragon God will help because you fight on his side.”

Zelgadiss could only smile back at her helplessly; he knew reasoning against Amelia’s cheerful attitude was something almost impossible. Besides, she was a priestess, so she could know anything about Cepheid and white magic, but she never would reject those powers and calling them “useless”.

Amelia noticed his gesture and kept smiling him, till the chimera asked her what he had been wondering since he found her at that hour in the temple.

“By the way, Amelia… what are you doing around here at this hour? I thought you were asleep already.”

“Huh?” the princess seemed startled by the sudden question, “I didn’t go to sleep. I just found you were in the temple and… and  wanted to know if…”

“If I was here and I was going to leave tomorrow morning? Were you waiting here for me in order to know that? Did you think I wasn’t about to say ‘bye’ to you?” he guessed. Amelia was a priestess, after all, and that meant she was able to predict some events, mostly after becoming so close.

“Yes.”

Zelgadiss lowered his view to the marble floor.

“I think so.” He answered, “I sorry if I gave you the impression I didn’t want to say goodbye to you... But you know there is nothing than keep me here for so long. You know what being a chimera means for me and, even if I’m welcome to Seyruun’s by you and the royal family, I cannot live as ‘Rezo’s berserker’ here and anywhere.”

Amelia’s face expression understood. She knew what being a chimera under Rezo’s twisted mind meant. She never had the chance of seeing Zelgadiss being manipulated by the Red Priest, and turned into a berserker as Lina has told her it happened long ago; in certain ways, she was glad she never did, but even so, she felt the pain inside him.

“You know you always will welcome here, Zelgadiss. My father has a deep Justice sense and he knows what you have done for helping the rightness in the world. Perhaps you may be chased in other countries, but not here and not anymore.” She affirmed, “…But I hoped you will remain here for some days more.”

“I am grateful to you and your father. I’m glad to be able to walking by Seyruun without problem in spite of the courtiers and other politicians, but I cannot do that. You know I need something to do and even if I’m glad of being here like this. I am not Lina or Gourry. I cannot spend all my life searching for treasures and banquets; I cannot remain idle for so long like they can.” He affirmed. “But I won’t ignore any of you, I always will help you when you get in trouble… and we both know that’s something than happens.”

Amelia looked a little puzzled by that; any of them used to see Zelgadiss as somebody than always was looking for any chance to run away from them. Of course, eventually Zelgadiss remained at their side and fought the same big threats with them; she knew well. But, in spite of that and the fact of Zelgadiss returning her feelings, she was surprised than the chimera would accepted her offer of staying at Seyruun with her. Or at least, for awhile.

It had been like that for two weeks now, but the day before, he had told her he would leave once again. She wasn’t about to allow such thing happens like the previous times, and she had made up her mind to talk with him seriously before he’d leave, but she hadn’t expected to do it that night, but on the next day. They knew what their feelings were, but they weren’t sure about what to do with them. Amelia couldn’t help but looking away sadly for some seconds, till finally she dared to make any move and stepped getting closer to Zelgadiss and the Cepheid’ big statue. She had to do something.

Finally, she placed just in front of him and looked at his eyes.

“If I could… I will accompany you in your search.” She said softly, “But my people need me, even more in this situation. The Accident barrier has disappeared and a new world is around us again. I have a duty with the future of my kingdom.”

“I know.” Zelgadiss answered without moving; he understood Amelia’s worries about events in Seyruun, and he knew she will have to rule over them. “I appreciate your offer, thought. I appreciate you let me do my research in Seyruun’s royal places. Because of that, I’ve been free enough to focus on it without worries.”

Amelia’s face twitched softly, in spite of his words, it seemed Zelgadiss hadn’t noticed all she meant to say. The princess knew that Zelgadiss was going to leave for sure, but she didn’t know if he would be back someday.

“I’m sorry it would become useless for you, but I do wish you luck, Mr. Zelgadiss.” She told him, “But before you leave, I also wish something.”

“What?” Zelgadiss eyes’ widened; Amelia isn’t to be like that.

“I wish you’ll come back to be with me.”

Zelgadiss blinked, and suddenly he burst out laughing  in laughs. Amelia was confused by his reaction.

“Amelia… Don’t talk like one of those romantic princesses from fair tales!” he answered.

Now, it was Amelia’s turn  to blink.

“You… You’re…” she began to say. Zelgadiss noticed she was seriously infuriated and he stopped to laugh. Then, he did something that the princess didn’t expect.

“Amelia…” he began in a very serious tone as he raised his hands and took her by her shoulders. In spite that it wasn’t the first time he did something like that, she noticed how hard his hands were, “I know what you are implying, and what you’re asking from me. We already had the same talk previously.”

“What?” she was really confused, but certainly she caught the  meaning because her cheeks turned pink; even in the darkness, Zelgadiss could see that with his demonic eyes.

“I have been waiting… You said it clearly long ago.” He explained in a very serious but low voice, “I didn’t expect you to tell me like this.”

“What did you expect, then?” teased Amelia in the same serious tone.

“Perhaps something similar to what you said when I finally found it out.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed in a tone than seemed false, “And what did I say at that time? In that talk you said we both had?”

Zelgadiss sighed as he lowered his hands from Amelia’ shoulders. He kept looking Amelia in the eyes.

“Perhaps I’m not very familiar about this kind of things… But I’m not an idiot.” He began.

“I didn’t mean to say that, Mr. Zelgadiss.”

The chimera smiled at her, “I know… but I guess you deserve some sort of explication.”

Finally, Amelia returned a smile.

“Sure. I’ll listen to all your words, Mr. Greywords.”

The chimera swordsman glanced to the Cepheid statue,

“As I was saying when you came here, I’ve fought against Cepheid and at his side.” He began to say, “I’ve done many good and bad things. You know that… But I’ve got some people closer to me, and I’ve let them to get closer to me. I know the real reason why Lina and Gourry travel together, and I know you know it too.”

“It isn’t a real mystery.” Amelia pointed out with a conspiratorial smile. The chimera nodded smiling at her back.

“Indeed. Except to themselves.” At this point, Zelgadiss sighed heavily, “I realized I was behaving like that when you said something in our fight between the kingdoms of Alto and Baritone.”

Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What?” she asked still puzzled. “I thought you realized that two weeks ago!”

“No, it’s when I admitted it but I realized of it earlier. You explained us what were those two sacred objects than the two kingdoms guarded. Xelloss and Firia refused to use them, and we both did instead, so you…” he began to say, looking at her eyes.

“…And I said they will work because ‘the love than shines inside us both’” Amelia figured out.

“Indeed.” Zelgadiss couldn’t keep looking at Amelia’s eyes, but he dared to keep talking. “That’s how I figured it out.”

“You knew then.” Amelia guessed. She was too lost by the surprised than she didn’t know what to do exactly. “You knew why I wished for you come with me to Seyruun.”

“Yes… But I need some proof to be really sure about. I just realized how serious you were when we both talked about this two weeks ago.” Zelgadiss’ voice tone was as sure and sharp as usual, but Amelia could see his body language, and she saw how his eyes were shining and the unusual red colour over his checks. “That’s why I was so shocked and pleased when you… kissed me for first time two weeks ago. I had been wishing for that, but I didn’t know that it would come true. I had been thinking if eventually you showed me your real feelings, I’d take them seriously, although we couldn’t share a real relationship.”

“Zelgadiss… How could you be so sure about me or us?” she asked getting closer to him.

“How could it be?” he asked, “I’ve met many women in my life in one or another way. I even had to kill some of those because Rezo ordered me to do so!” he confessed, and Amelia could see the regret in his voice. “But I never got the chance to get so close to any women like I’ve done to you. Rezo never would have allowed such a thing even happen; he would have ordered order me to kill you.” He confessed. “Of course, I’m free of him now, and Lina, Shilfild and even Phiria are great friends… but I cannot feel in the same way with them than with you.”

Abruptly Zelgadiss realized what he just said, and stepped back, placing himself between the foot of the statue. He gaped as he stared at Amelia.

“I’m sorry to say all that.” He apologized looking down. “I didn’t mean to hurt you making you thinking I was looking for your answer. I seriously want to be with you, but I still feeling uneasy about *how*.”

“Why?” asked Amelia, “I wanted to hear you to say that… Why would you apologize?”

“I don’t care if you’re a princess, a priestess, shrine maiden or what. For me, ranks mean nothing. I learned that long ago” Explained Zelgadiss, “… It’s just I don’t think I have the rights to do this to you like this. I just don’t want to share an... useless relationship with you.”

“Zelgadiss… don’t blame yourself unnecessarily. You don’t need to do this to yourself.” Amelia got closer to him. “It’s me that should have said or done something earlier.”

The chimera clicked his tongue. He was confused about his feelings in the whole matter, but he knew something for sure.

“Amelia, stop that. Don’t make this any longer. Unnecessary apologizes are just tedious.” He spat back. “We could be apologizing with each other for hours, and we could end being like Lina and Gourry, all day beating around the bush and never recognizing their feelings. That’s something I don’t want to do.”

In spite of his rough words, Amelia giggled. Zelgadiss’ sharp observations could be humorous in certain ways. Amelia always thought that since their fight against Copy Rezo.

“Well... This isn’t how I’ve expected, but that’s what I wanted to be sure about.” Answered the princess and she placed her hands over the chimera’s chest. Surprisingly, he raised his own hands and he placed his hands over hers. For some seconds, Amelia felt uneasy; not because the fact he was doing so, it was pleasing, but because the odd feeling they had, even if they were covered by fingerless gloves. Zelgadiss’ touch always had been odd, in spite she had become used (even seek for that) to it.

“Then… This time, you’re sure you want to be… with me?” was the hoping question from Amelia.

The fact is Zelgadiss didn’t know what to say. He knew what his feelings were, but he also knew what his priorities were; living in Seyruun with Amelia was a very interesting possibility, but he knew he couldn’t do that… not if he wasn’t totally human. His chimerical condition and his past would create problems for him and for Amelia, and eventually it would be troublemaking for Seyruun’s, too.

However, if eventually he got a cure, he would get back to Seyruun and to Amelia. Being the great-grandson of Rezo, would help him to get some respect among all those idiotic courtiers and priests; people who only will respect him because his lineage, not because of the facts or his personality and actions. Yet Zelgadiss knew that was far better than spent his entire life running and hiding from others because what he was.

He knew Amelia would wait for him, but he knew she also wanted to see him before him return definitively. Seyruun’s gates were open for him, and if he wanted to go back someday, even if he wasn’t human, yet… he could do that. And for Cepheid sake, he wanted to do it!

The problem was how to demonstrate it to her.

Without thinking about that, he moved a hand and cupped the princess’ cheek; she tilted her head over his hand, feeling the odd sensation of the felt fabric of his half-gloves, as well the really hard skin under those. Yet, it was living and warm, not like a regular stone.

“I don’t know if I can promise such a thing.” He answered softly, “I’d like, but I don’t want to make a promise I don’t know if I will accomplish.”

“If you really want something, you would seek for it.” Answered Amelia, “If you want your real human body back, you’re seeking for it… And if you want me, or even Lina or Gourry, you will seek for us.” She reasoned. “I already told you that.”

“Damn, she’s all right.” Zelgadiss was caught by surprise because such reasoning. Since he was obeyed to serve Rezo, he never wanted to get closer to somebody, otherwise that “somebody” would be death for sure…But eventually it didn’t happen with Rodimus and Zorlf, and later with Lina, Gourry and Amelia, or the rest of people he met (well, except for Xelloss, of course… the annoying Mazoku could get lost in the middle of the Sea of Chaos and he wouldn’t pity him). All them had managed to get closer to him, as he just had admitted any minutes ago. Yet, the idea of “having a woman that loves you and she’s waiting for you” was alien to him, and he didn’t know what do about that.

“What can I do to be able to promise such thing?” he asked.

Amelia took his hand, knowing what he mean to say, yet if Zelgadiss wasn’t able to know what he wanted and felt, the relationship they both just started was pointless.

But she refused to believe that.

Amelia held his hand and started to remove the half-glove than covered it. Zelgadiss just watched her to do it without saying a word, just expecting. It wasn’t the first time Amelia removed his clothes; she already had when she helped to disguise him as a woman, and apparently remembered and didn’t mind removing him clothes with such informality. Finally his hand was bared and the princess observed it under the dim light inside the temple; it was like the usual blue rock, and it was dotted of rough rocks, but the palm was smooth, which made sense, otherwise he hardly could grip something. His nails were like iron, and they were carefully cut. Zelgadiss hated his chimerical condition, but he took care of his body, and he never was dirty or careless. He hated the trademark of being a slave (his chimerical condition) but he didn’t hate himself (his body).

Amelia started to chart with the index finger the border of his fingers and the stones over his skin. It wasn’t rough, yet, it felt odd. Zelgadiss just watched her to do it.

“Your hands… had served to kill and to save people… Why can’t you use them for loving?”

At this point, he waved his hand and caressed the shape of her face with the index finger, tracing her contour.

“I wish I could do.”

“You can.”

He frowned. Amelia almost sounded demanding, and it was… annoying, yet it also got all his attention. The fact is Zelgadiss was surprised to know he could awake such interest in somebody.

Without thinking on it, he caught her chin with his bare hand and kept it quite as he kissed her again. Amelia just remained there, kissing him back. His lips, she knew, were hard, yet smooth and flexible… otherwise he couldn’t even talk. However, they felt lightly colder than a common human body. But it didn’t matter to her; Zelgadiss never hurt her and he seemed to be really careful with his movements when he touched her.

However, that wasn’t what worried her.

“How could I love a man like him? He is totally different from what I always dreamed about as a… boyfriend. He’s a chimera, a creature that I found repulsing the first time I learned about them. And besides, he’s egotistical, stubborn, zealous, obsessive... and a criminal. He could be everything I detest... Yet, it’s ironic. I think I’ve been able to see further that that. But he cannot admit to being more than that. God Cephied! How I’d love to being able to be together, really.”

As she was kissed for him, she remembered the time she announced she would marry that rich boy, Aras Rice, without a problem. Looking back at that time (before she met Zelgadiss) she thought Aras was really cute and suffering an injustice… but she didn’t know anything about that boy. How could she say something like “I’d marry him without any doubt!”? Now, Amelia felt ashamed of that, now she loved somebody else, somebody she knew and had completed her. But that somebody seemed to think he wasn’t able of such a thing, even of making a promise.

Yet, his kisses were warm and filled of love. They both couldn’t help but kissing each other more passionately.

“Does she even know the magnitude of what she’s asking to me?  Having me at her side only would be troubling. Seyruun’s government doesn’t want me and, even if it wouldn’t be a problem, I couldn’t keep a relationship with her further than this. I would hurt her badly, I do not want to curse her.  I can have a fantasy where we both are a couple, where any touch isn’t a problem, where we can…. But this is different. And she’s getting on me.”

Suddenly, Amelia opened her mouth and started to kiss around his mouth’s corners and checks, which only were a little rougher than his lips; meanwhile Zelgadiss fought back, looking for her lips again. He liked the feeling of her lips on his face, but it wasn’t a wise idea to keep doing that.

At this point, Amelia opened her mouth and bitten his chin with a kiss… but soon she regretted to do it. She felt a cramp in her incisor teeth when she took his stony chin; it was like biting limestone.

“…Ah!” she exclaimed and step back, putting distance between them and bringing her hands towards her mouth, trying to release the annoying cramp.

Fortunately she didn’t bite him so hard, but the unpleasant sensation remained and she noticed her lips where quite dry. Amelia had been kissing him with such enthusiasm that she didn’t notice how different their bodies were, and the consequences of that; being his stone skin something hard and rough, she needed to lubricate them in order to avoid getting her lips chafed, but she hadn’t, and now her lips were too dry.

“Amelia… Are you right?” Zelgadiss exclaimed.

He didn’t feel the bite, just something odd on the stones of his chin; the ones that made him look as though to be barbed.

She nodded, and rubbed her teeth with a finger; the feeling of soft flesh against the ivory of her teeth released the unpleasant feeling. She also licked her lips, trying to get some moisture on them.

“I… I bit you.” She confessed, “I didn’t realize of with your stone skin…”

Zelgadiss sighed heavily. “We shouldn’t keep doing this… otherwise even my hair would be dangerous for you.”

The princess blinked as slowly she realized of the full meaning of his words. Zelgadiss knew he could hurt her, and hurt badly, so he tried to avoid any kind of closer contact with her. Perhaps it was the real reason behind, perhaps it was the real reason he didn’t want to promise her anything.

But Amelia knew he wanted her, she had learned it long ago and she had used as reasoning when she showed her feelings to him, waiting for his positive answer. Perhaps he wanted her physically, only; or perhaps he wanted her in romantic fashion… or both, physically and emotionally. But he just was too afraid of the consequences.

“Are you… afraid of what could happen?” she asked directly.

“Yes.”

“Afraid if me getting closer to you?” she asked again. “Physically, I mean.”

“You just saw the consequences.” He pointed.

“Then… why do you desire me so much?” she wondered rhetorically, “I know you do.”

That was enough to make Zelgadiss to jump.

“…What!?” he exclaimed, almost with harsh voice. Amelia found his reaction was a little exaggerated, and she knew how zealous he was about his intimacy, so it demonstrated what she had told was true. She tried to push it further.

“I know… Lina told me she once caught you by surprise when you were asleep and you were talking about me in your dreams.”

He looked at her shocked, then he gritted his teeth and mused with harsh voice, “Damn you, Lina… You’re a big mouth!”

Covering the fact was useless and pointless. Lina loved tease people around her and Zel used to be one of his targets, as well as Lina was Zelgadiss’ target, too. However he didn’t know Lina would blab about that incident to Amelia, but now it was obvious she did because Amelia always had been quite confident about his positive answer.

“She’s my best friend, you know…” Amelia smiled trying to relax him. “It’s natural for us to talk about this or that.”

“Wonderful… I’m target of your gossip chats.” Zelgadiss buffed.

“I’ll bet Gourry and you also share some of those chats when you both are alone.” Amelia smiled.

And again, she made a point. Gourry and he talked about their personal issues and male problems when the girls weren’t around… or when Xellos wasn’t around, too. The Mazoku was genderless and he (it) lacked of interest for gender problems except for making fun of humans. However Zelgadiss never felt as embarrassed as the day that Gourry, sounding so innocent, asked him why he burned everything when he was in the mood.

Anyway, whatever Lina would tell her about him, it couldn’t be as embarrassing as finding out he had fantasies with about her.

 “Besides… I also know because… once I saw you…”

When he heard that, Zelgadiss turned red like a tomato. Zelgadiss barely could believe that Amelia had seen him in some private moment of him. Anyway it corroborated why she was so sure about what she was talking about. Lina’s casual gossip comment hadn’t been the only reason.

However, it didn’t make thing easier. Usually he didn’t care about what others said about him, but he cared when it was about his privacy and it was from people he cared for. He had learned to protect himself from others, and one way to get it was hiding facts of his persona, precisely.

Now, he felt Amelia had surpassed some invisible personal barrier than any other people had invaded; neither Gourry and his unconscious (yet very sharp) comments, or Rodimus’ experience or Zorlf’s craziness could be so far. None of his male friends had put him on that edge. Only Dergia did once and Zelgadiss knew it was one reason because the troll-werewolf had swore loyalty to him. It wasn’t anything to feel proud of, but Zelgadiss always had a barrier round his inner persona than not many people could surpass.

And now Amelia had surpassed and she knew…

“How?... When?... Where did she learn that? How did she to find out?” he panicked. And of course he couldn’t ask that to her. He respected her too much for making her to feel embarrassed.

Yet, why did he care about that? Why should be embarrassed about that? Amelia had kissed him, and had gotten closer to him far more than any other woman. It didn’t make sense. Besides, Zelgadiss hated to felt used and mocked, mostly in that particular aspect of his private life because both Dergia and Rezo had used it for their own business. But Amelia never would do that to him. She was a sweetness, and if she said that is because he wanted *some* response from him. Her confession was closer to be *I know you’re saying all the truth… why can’t you tell me it?* than *I know you want me secretly, you moron! And I’ll take advantage of it.*

“I know… I didn’t want to embarrass you.” The princess announced with small voice, “But I wanted you know that I know your real feelings and desires. It’s you who is afraid of them.”

Zelgadiss blinked, no more blush, and gritted her teeth. He felt uncovered, hurt, invaded and stupid, all the same time. And he hated that… But he could not hate Amelia for that; he couldn’t hate that poor girl back to that time, either. He was the one who allowed such thing happened, he was the stupid and the manipulated, and now he had to deal with the consequences.

“Damn you, Amelia!” he exclaimed, teeth gritted.

Amelia almost stepped back; the way his long fangs and grey eyes shinned made her felt uneasy. Zelgadiss never would hurt her, but he still being scary. Again, she wondered how she could fall for a man like that.

Suddenly, he grabbed her by an arm and pushed her against the leg of the big Cephied’ statue over the main altar, and cornered her between his arms, whose hands supported him against the statue’s leg. Amelia had caught totally by surprised, she hadn’t expected such harsh reaction… yet it was Zelgadiss what she was dealing with. Therefore the overconfidence about not being hurt by him almost had disappeared; perhaps she had pushed him so far.

“Zelgadiss…” she exclaimed almost scared.

The princess could see the mixed emotions that shined in his eyes, a mix of desire, love, and hatred and overall, pain.

“Yess!” he hissed, “I’ve wanted you for quite long, as much I’ve loved you…. What’s wrong with that?” His voice seemed to be on the defensive.

“Then, show it to me!” she fight back, not really sure about what could be his reaction. “I also had fantasies with you… There is nothing wrong here. You mustn’t be afraid of me or your own desires.”

Zelgadiss blinked as he understood the meaning of her words. “What did she just say?... Does she….?”

“You have no idea about what are you saying.” He spat back, “I cannot promise anything to you because I’ll hurt you… I will hurt you, physically and morally. I just cannot give a promise that would hurt too much the woman I love.”

His voice was filled of regret, she could see that. A shocking idea began to form in her mind.

“Why… how do you know you could hurt me that bad?” she asked.

“What?” He hadn’t expected such question.

“I’m ready to deal with a relationship… We both have been friends for quite long; we both have faced up the death together so many times. We both have fought for Cephied… Our relationship is far deeper than any other couple would share. So, why do you say it would hurt both of us? It just cannot hurt us because it’s what we both wish to share.”

Amelia had a point; their relationship was anything but conventional. Besides, Zelgadiss knew well when you share your life with others and you fight the deeds against death, even if it was only friendship of companionship, this relationship has deeper than any other. Sharing your life over the death has that consequence.

But there was a problem here. Perhaps he should tell her once.

“I mean I would hurt you physically. And I’d do it badly.” He announced

Amelia blinked

“You just saw it.” He explained, “Your teeth, when you were kissing me.”

“So it was that” Amelia reached a hand and cupped his cheek, feeling again the odd sensation of a living stone; then she kissed him again. Zelgadiss tried to refuse the gesture, but the feeling was just too strong and finally he found himself letting her kissing him, but not being sure if he should answer the gesture. Finally Amelia broke the kiss.

“See? There is nothing wrong doing this.” she smiled, “I just was careless.”

Zelgadiss step back and freed his arms, not supporting his weight against the statue anymore. His expression was sad.

“You didn’t understand it.” He said with sad voice. “I know I can hurt a woman really bad because it… happened once. And it was... horrible.”

“What…?” Amelia wasn’t sure she heard it fine enough. “I thought you never had been with a woman besides me… You just said any minutes ago that even if it would happen, Rezo would have commanded you to kill her.”

Zelgadiss sighed heavily. He didn’t want to say it; Gourry knew because the blond swordsman was able to figure out anything about people with only some words and gestures, but he rather would like Amelia didn’t know that. It was another of the many facts he didn’t feel proud of.

“And I never had a female friend before all you.” He answered. “Under the years I served Rezo as his slave, my only friends were the knight Rodimus and the sorcerer Zorlf. Later I met all you.”

“But you’re saying you met another woman.” She pointed out.

“I met many women, but none of them for good causes. None human women neither other species women.”

“Then… You met another woman you liked?” Amelia wondered, “Or she liked you?” Zelgadiss denied with a head gesture, “Was she even human? A… prostitute?” she guessed, finally.

Amelia felt shocked at this thought. Both, Lina and her, knew about prostitutes because they were usual in some non-recommended places they visited in their travels; however, with Lina being a sorceress and Amelia a priestess, no one had asked them the same favours as those women. Besides that, being the ruler of the most powerful city inside the barrier, Amelia knew what happened in the slum districts near the main walls of the city.  Still, she did not like that sort of things at all.

However, it wasn’t the knowledge of that what made her felt uneasy. Was his lust so big, really? She knew Zelgadiss could be mean that he had a dark past, but she never thought on him taking advantage of any other woman, even if he had to pay for that. The princess had seen only one time that Zelgadiss showed real interest in a woman… and that was when they had made their little trip in Femille Kingdom. The great-grandson of Rezo had been shocked to discover what Miwan really was, but if Miwan would have been a real woman, Amelia would have bet Zelgadiss would have gotten with Miwan if he had the chance. Zelgadiss didn’t seem to share any of his with somebody he didn’t know and the idea of a woman he could have met before them was somehow alien… and scary.

“I never met a woman I could like when I was Rezo’s berserker… But if it makes you feel better, I’d say she was human and it was an accident.”

“I am afraid to ask what happened...” Amelia mussed.

“We both... were manipulated by Rezo, obeyed to share our bodies... The Red Priest and one of the minions just wanted... to make fun in my expense.” Zelgadiss summarized, his voice was filled of regret.

Amelia just listened to him, astonished. He said it had been an accident, but apparently Zelgadiss had gotten some kind of’ physical contact with a woman and it had ended up really wrong. The princess wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear more about what happened, and it also made Zelgadiss to feel really bad, and she didn’t want that. Zelgadiss had cut many throats with his sword, she knew, but it isn’t the same when you’re used like a tool for slaging a life. Anyway, what he was saying was that he was really afraid about what he could do to her.

Zelgadiss looked at her, at her shocked face, knowing what was going to happen. Surely Amelia would realize that her wish to make him to promise he would go back to Seyruun someday was just pointless. Of course, they both would meet again, as the good friends they were… but he just found sharing any relationship further than what they had had on the later two weeks was just impossible.

Yet, she was right, he knew. He desired her. She wasn’t sure if he loved her as her boyfriend or just her lover, but it was definitely both physical and platonic. And he knew if Amelia still pushing him, he would regret it. Both would.

Slowly, he began to turn off to her.

“You already know.” He said, “It’s one of the several reasons I have not make such promises to you. I don’t wish you suffer the same pain.”

Amelia glared at him as he turned his back to her. She knew which were the feelings of they both, but also knew she couldn’t bind him to obey her. Yet…

 “I don’t know what happened exactly.” She said, “But I’m not her… you know how strong I am. As I told you, we both know what we feel. We aren’t manipulated or controlled here; we do what our hearts tell us to do.”

“It’s pointless, Amelia.” He replied, “I know, we both know… but it will hurt us.”

“Zelgadiss, as you told me previously… Unnecessary apologizing is just tedious.”

He stopped. “Damn her, she’s right.”

Amelia had made a point. Another one. Even if his previous experience was “an accident” and he regretted it deeply, he wasn’t sure about how it would work with Amelia without being manipulated. His wishes and fantasies were okay, but he couldn’t judge the situation without knowing it.

However, things didn’t work like that and he was getting nervous about what Amelia meant to say.

“Amelia… You’re talking as if you wanted to test what I just said.” He replied.

She didn’t move from her place, still between Cepheid’s feet. Yet, Zelgadiss could see she blushed deeply.

“…I admit I wouldn’t mind to test it.” She answered finally, fighting for find her courage. “But I know I cannot order you to do that.”

“What a woman! She doesn’t stop amazing me. Perhaps she’s right and I’m just scared without reason.”

Being the passionate man he was, Zelgadiss rushed towards her and cornered her against the statue’s foot once again.

 “Amelia, you’ve got me far more than anybody else…” he mused.

The princess was confused, there was a blue flame on his non-human eyes; something that filled her full of hope, but also was frightening. Zelgadiss was acting almost fanatical, and she wondered if she was so barefaced saying such things. Yet, the trust she had on somebody who had risked his life for her so many times was enough for making her to remain quiet.

With her bare hand, he caught her by the chin and took her lips once again, this time almost possessively. Amelia, however, didn’t feel scared anymore as she felt the love on his lips, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders; she had learned she did it around his neck; his pointed-wired hair could stick on her skin. For that reason, Zelgadiss also tilted his head towards the right side; therefore his fringe wouldn’t harm her face. Step by step, along the latest two weeks, Amelia had been learning how to touch him without harm, and Zelgadiss seemed to know about that, too.

Their kissed were getting more and more passionate, yet their posture was almost the same because they had learned it would harm her. Amelia had to salivate quite enough for lubricate her lips against his skin; the pebbles encrusted on his face and neck were really rough, almost like pumice or limestone. His fingers, though, feel just good against her neck and back; he caressed her softly, tracing circles on his way. Amelia could feel how strong he was and how he contained his strength for not hurting her; that made her felt obeyed to return the gestures and one of her hands travelled towards his chest as the other went up. If she was careful, she could bury her fingers on his nape. Tentatively, she touched the back of his head avoiding the sharp edges of his hair, and buried the fingers into his messy hairs. On his kisses, she heard Zelgadiss sighed; certainly she doubted anybody else would caress his nape like that ever.

His chest wasn’t like that, he was damn hard, and not only because his muscles, but because that part of his body had the toughest skin; Amelia knew he could stop a sword or a shot bullet without a problem with his chest. However Zelgadiss’ figure was quite slim, yet it was muscular and she was starting to enjoy the feeling of caressing his chest over his tunic’s fabric. Amelia didn’t know it he could feel it really well, but she was pleased feeling the shape of his male form.

At this point, Zel began to step between the statue legs, in order to hide themselves from indiscreet views, and dragged Amelia with him. They ended up literally in the centre of Seyruun’s capital city, the place where the holy power was more powerful. They separated to catch their breath.

Amelia smiled shyly, more animated to see the so-called “Evil Swordsman” had made up his mind to remain more time at her side in spite all his fears. The princess almost would have sworn that Zel had changed his mind after listening her to say all that about his private feelings. Perhaps he just wanted to spend the last hours with her before he left, even if he didn’t say anything about that. Amelia didn’t know if she should ask him some explication or just letting the things going on; Zelgadiss was her first real love and she wasn’t sure about how to keep a real relationship with a man (even less with a man like “him”), being more than just friends. Anyway, she still was holding his half glove on her hand.

Zelgadiss turned around and moved his long ears vividly, as he wanted to catch any odd sound in the temple. At this point Amelia started to giggle, finding funny how his ears were moving. She would love to caress and lick them.

“What?” Zelgadiss asked, surprised by her laughs.

“Your ears… are funny.”

The chimera man found he could answer her. It seemed even his little gestures were enough to make her happy. She always was like that with him, filled of joyful and it was a warm touch in his heart.

“I’m trying to find out if somebody would see us like this.” He explained trying to sound serious, “I don’t want none of us, especially you, would get into a trouble. Some priest or a guard could see us here.”

Amelia blinked as she listened to him, and later she brought her hands to her chest and she concentrated for a moment. Finally she said.

“Don’t worry, it’s ok. Nobody will disturb or find out us.”

“Really? How can you be so sure?”

“I am a priestess.” Amelia answered, “I have an oracle and I can predict events.” She explained raising a hand and showing her chalza amulet to him.

Zelgadiss looked her with a confused look till he started to understand in spite of his evident lack of acknowledge of White Magic. Priests used to wear jewels that focused and amplified its own powers, such like Shilfild’s staff or Firia’s big jewel on her chest. Amelia’s chalza amulets were like that, they had the 6 edges stars imbibed on those jewels and they completed her holy powers; surely they had another functions, but Amelia just showed him one of them.

“So--- We won’t be disturbed at all?” he asked, almost smiling. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“I’m sure of that.” Amelia answered with a happy smile.

Then, Zelgadiss began to untied the ribbon made of thick black cotton, and let drop his cloak over one of the Statue’s claw; as he did, the cloak made a metallic noise and Amelia knew it was because all those tolls he always carried inside the magical pockets in his cloak; they were very useful to travel around with your entire luggage without any serious effort, but it still being noisy. Now, the statue’s foot looked like some sort of divan ornamented with a pretty big red amulet as fibula

However the princess just remained still on her place, near the statue’s leg; she wasn’t sure about what to do, till she saw how Zelgadiss raised his bare hand and offered it to her.

“Your highness, Might you accompany me for this night?” he asked politely.

Amelia blinked, somehow amused, somehow surprised. Zelgadiss used to be always harsh when he talked; mostly time his manners weren’t anything but polite. However, he sometimes was able to very polite manners, which showed he actually knew high status manners; being the great-grandson of Rezo had several consequences, and one of them was he had an exquisite education.

The princess just followed his game, and she walked gracefully to him till finally she took his hand, just like she used to do in royal ballrooms.

“Of course, Mr. Greywords. I’ll be more than pleased to spend my time with you.” She answered in flirting tone.

Zelgadiss smiled with satisfaction and brought her closer to him embracing her thin waist. At this point, he began to pacing stepping three times in every move as he was dancing a Waltz; Amelia looked surprised at his smiling face, till she began to follow his rate. Due the lack of practice, Zelgadiss’ steps weren’t too accurate, but certainly he knew what he had to do; Amelia just wondered how many things were taught to him but he never could practice because his life path, still she was dancing with Zelgadiss for first time since they met, and it was wonderful, even if their clumsy steps were made between the statue’s legs and there wasn’t any music.

After some minutes, finally both stopped; the chimera released his yet covered hand and used it to catch Amelia’s chin; then, he kissed him softly, tilting his head to the right side again. It helped not scratch her face with his fringe. Then, he said:

“I’d spend all the night dancing with you on this temple.”

Amelia smiled at him. It was amazing how glad he was now, after saying to her some of his inners pains. Somehow it seemed the presence of the princess in Zelgadiss’ life had brought the confidence he needed to be happier… or perhaps just the person he could had been if Rezo wouldn’t ruined his life. In those rare moments, Zelgadiss showed a quite playful personality, always ready to share his feelings and happiness with others.

The princess just took his other hand and began to remove the other half glove, till both of his hand were bared, then she throw the pieces of cloth over his cloak’s flap, just on the marble ground.

“I’m glad you accepted my proposal.” He announced with a wolfish smile.

Without waiting a response, he framed softly her cheeks with both hands, and brought her mouth to his, again. Amelia didn’t mind the contact of his odd hands against her checks; it was what she wanted, feeling him like he was. Being more than that, waiting for feeling more of his male forms, she brought her own hands to his chest, and pressed her hands over his thorax, feeling how it raised and lowered as he breathed, as well the life inside the rock. His light beige tunic was made of cretonne fabric, therefore it was very resistant to his stone skin always rubbing against his clothes, but now it also prevented her skin feeling the rough fabric.

Meanwhile, Zelgadiss keep kissing her, trying not to press his stone lips so hard against her fleshy ones, yet it was hard to remain soft, he wanted feel more of hers but the memories of his previous experience hold down his desire. He opened his mouth and it allowed Amelia to introduce her tongue inside his mouth; they both had done it previously and Amelia knew his insides were fleshy, a little rougher than usual, yet more human; however, his mouth was armed with two pairs of long fangs, which also made dangerous his mouth. () Tentatively, she rushed the tip of her tongue against his teeth, as he caressed hers with his one tongue; it was a dangerous game, yet they enjoyed it.

As Amelia kept caressing his chest and kissing him, his hands pressed her body against him, feeling her rounded forms; encouraged by the lack of complains, he moved his hands tracing circles from her shoulders, her back and finally her butt. Then, he pressed with both hands the forms of her buttocks; as the rest of her body, they were round, but also firm because the physical training Amelia had; the princess was, indeed, stronger than a common woman. Perhaps he could be braver after all.

Feeling more clearly her full body, Zelgadiss sighed in his kiss and began to caress her whole back, from the buttocks to her nape. Eventually, Amelia broken the kiss in order to catch her breath; Zelgadiss, however, didn’t seem to have the same problem, certainly his chimerical condition made him more resistant and he could hold his breath for longer time.

Amelia raised a hand a buried her fingers in his fringe, trying to get it off his face. His hair was certainly odd and it wasn’t the first time she touched it (she did for first time back two years ago when his hair got stuck in a wooden table of an inn near Xoana kingdom); she knew his hair could be really dangerous, like having thousands of wires stuck in your body, but avoiding the sharp edges, it was soft and even beautiful, shining like silver.

He let her doing that and closed his eyes and lowering his head, letting her to touch his hair better, and then Amelia tiptoed till she could reach his front and kissed there softly, just above the stony eyebrows. Amelia knew she rather should avoid the stones imbibed on his body because they were the roughest part of his skin. Finally she smiled again.

“I didn’t know you could dance like that.” She exclaimed.

“I… learned to do that when I was a child. I had several tutors who taught me many things when Rezo wasn’t at home.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… Back then, I found them annoying. I liked science and maths, but not dancing.”

“I know you like those… But I thought you also liked music and even play some instrument. Why didn’t you like dancing then? It’s almost the same.”

Zelgadiss shrugged. “I was a child and I just thought those sort of things were tedious stuff for prissy girls.”

As she heard him, Amelia blinked and later started to giggle, amused by something.

“What?” he exclaimed.

“You know… I thought the same.” Was her response. “I also thought learning to dance and behaving like maiden in danger was just absurd. I wanted to do different things. It seems our childhoods have something in common.”

Zelgadiss blinked, surprised by her words. He hadn’t told many things to others about his early life, but in his mind, he couldn’t picture Amelia being like him. His ideal woman was very feminine, yet even if Amelia was very feminine when-she-wanted-to-be, she also hided a disconfirm side, just like Lina’s.  Then, he remembered the time she announced “I wanted to be the saviour hero, and not the captured princess.” He even had joked with her about the matter, and an odd idea hit his mind.

“Amelia… what did you play of when you were a child?”

The princess blinked at him, confused by his question.

“I… Well… I used to play with fake swords and things like that. I liked when I played the hero who rescued the princess or erased the evilness over the world. I also liked to read stories about valiant knights… One of my favourites was the story of the Hero who saved Sairag destroying Xannafer with the Sword of Light 200 years ago.”

Zelgadiss sighed heavily and dropped his hands from her back. In the end Amelia was right.

“Me too. I also loved those stories when I was a child… I wanted to be a great swordsman, just like the hero of that story.”

But he kept those thoughts for himself.

Amelia knew she had hit the right spot about their childhoods. Zelgadiss’ silences said a lot, after all. But she didn’t want to see him in that mood, so the princess caught her stole and used it like a lasso to bring him towards her; caught by surprised, the chimera step to front and Amelia took advantage of that move to kiss him on his noise tip. Zelgadiss’ eyes widened, as he suddenly would have been awake from an odd dream, but soon he got his senses; he caught Amelia’s hands and took the stole.

“I won’t allow you to use such lassos.”

And began to coil the garnet piece of cloth into a ball, then he throw it on the flap of his cape, near where his has glove where.

“Not fair.” Amelia responded, “I cannot catch you without my stole.”

“And I can catch you easily by your alb. It’s easy to grab.”

The princess blinked and she realized he was right. Her wide alb was a nice piece of clothe in Seyruun’s traditional outfit, but it made things more difficult in her little game with the chimera man. So, putting a face, she began to remove the wide cloth and pledge it carefully; then she tried to put it next to the rest of pieces.

But she couldn’t. Zelgadiss, being as fast as his usual self, caught her by the waist and threw himself (bringing her with him) on the divan-like superficies formed by his cloak.

“Waaaah!” Amelia exclaimed.

Zelgadiss ended up sitting on the marble floor, with his back resting against the Statue’s foot, Amelia on top of him, almost face to face.

“Don’t scream like that… or your oracle would end up being a fake.” He exclaimed.

The princess agreed and she shut her mouth.

“And what about your sword?” Amelia asked, “It sounded like a metallic earthenware pot every time you move around.”

“It’s easy to solve.”

For her surprised, Amelia saw how his blue hand unlocked the broach than kept hold the sheath of his bastard sword. Being seated on his cape’s flap, the sword just made a low “thud” against the floor. As far she remembered, Zelgadiss never used to put aside his sword, except when he had a good reason; one of them she knew well already.

“It isn’t a problem anymore.”

“You’re quite mischievous, you know.”

“I’m always mischievous… What’s different is how mischievous I am.”

It was amazing how playful was Zelgadiss now. When she come to talk with him, he was quite depressed, but now, after making clear some points, it seemed Zelgadiss didn’t want to leave without enjoying his last night in the royal palace. Amelia was glad he had made up his mind to spend his time with her and enjoying the mutual company for… perhaps long time. The “evil-swordsman” seemed had learnt he also could love freely sometime. Perhaps he just didn’t want to blame Cephied about his ill life, and perhaps he neither want to be haunted by horrible memories about his past, and now, he just wanted to life like never did before.

And it seemed he was doing it passionately.

Zelgadiss hold Amelia by her waist and began to nuzzle her jaw with his lips; he would do it with his whole face, but he was afraid it would scratch Amelia’s face; it was frustrating he couldn’t touch her as much as he would like because their physical differences. Meanwhile Amelia just buried her head on his shoulder, breathing his smell and caressing his limbs; he didn’t smell like a common man would do,  his was different, almost imperceptible; perhaps it was caused he wasn’t full human, perhaps because his stony skin, or perhaps because his organic functions were different… Whatever was it, it wasn’t unpleasant and she liked the light smell of his, which seemed to be more obvious after some minutes. It could be because now she could recognize it or perhaps the growing desire for him.

Finally Amelia pulled away from him and looked at his grey eyes, which had lost the terrifying blue flame from any minutes ago. Now, she would bet they seemed even more human.

“What?” he exclaimed, confused by her looks.

“I like your eyes…” she began, ignoring his question, “But I also like your pointed ears.”

And saying that, she pulled off a tuft of his silver-lavender hair and kissed one of his long ears; Zelgadiss shivered when he felt her hot breath and the soft touch of Amelia’s lips on his pointed ear. He knew that particular part of his body was very sensitive, but never anybody had touched him like that; he found he liked it a lot and tilted his head, allowing her to touch it better.

Having a sharp heard sense, Zelgadiss could hear clearly how she breathed and touched the pointed shape of his ear with her lips. The chimera found himself wishing she wouldn’t talk as close to his ear, because it would be like a thunder. However Amelia just caressed it to the edge and finally pulled away from him.

“Are they like that because your brow demon part?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He nodded, a little disappointment with her sudden question. “Just like my blue skin and my hair colour, or my fangs.”

“Oh!” Amelia exclaimed, “Well, I like them. They’re funny. And surely you like to be touched there.”

“Yes.” Zelgadiss answered, “But you’re the first person who does that.”

The princess stared at him with serious look. Zelgadiss seemed really pleased with her affectionate gestures and Amelia wondered how could have been the time that Zelgadiss mentioned, the time he had got his way with another woman. He said it was an accident, manipulated by his mad ancestor, and certainly he didn’t seem to receive any love from other woman; but the princess knew he could cut any throat with his sword, and surely he had done it tons of times previously.

Amelia found herself pitying him, but she knew he would hate to find she had such feeling for him. However, when she looked at him, the princess saw something else than caught her attention and couldn’t help but blinking and saying.

“Your face… It’s wet.”

“What?” Zelgadiss asked without understanding. “Wet?” and he rubbed his hand over his cheeks, testing it was wet, indeed.

“I think I’ve… salivated too much.” Amelia exclaimed, feeling uneasy. “I’ve wet your face.”

Zelgadiss sighed and cast a spell over his cloak’s flap; a magical pocked opened and he extracted a big white handkerchief made of cotton. Then, he used it to dry his face and finally left it over the flap.

“I’m sorry.” Said Amelia as she watched him rubbing his face and hand with the handkerchief. “I didn’t mean to be so…”

“It’s ok, Amelia.” Zelgadiss answered, “If you don’t do that, your lips will get chafed.”

The princess knew he was right, and it seemed they both agreed they had to do that in order to avoid problems; Zelgadiss was, somehow, used to do things that common people didn’t do in order to carry out his daily life, so it wasn’t something different than using a paperboard as pillowcase, for example. Having to lubricate any kind of physical touch was just another one and he had been practicing that in the later weeks.

Seeing Amelia feeling uneasy about that, he held out his hand to her. Amelia took it, knowing he wanted to be relaxed, and smiled. The chimera man pulled her and the princess ended up sitting between his legs and embraced him; Amelia closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest, breathing his scent, which was more obvious now. Zelgadiss imitated her and buried his nose on her black hair, smelling her, too; for his sharp senses, her aroma was more obvious and he found he liked it a lot; it was feminine and it was mixed with the smell of bath salts. The chimera breathed deeply and tightened his hug.

Amelia was pleased to be embraced like that; his body was really hard, but she felt protected and loved, and the cretonne fabric of his clothes smoothed the touch. It was hard to believe that a man in love like him could be so sweet and passionate with her, and so rash and even cruel with others. The princess forced herself to ignore that thought and began to caress his limbs and chest, feeling his male forms under his clothes; Zelgadiss smiled and started to do the same, caressing her limbs and back, softly, in order to avoid hurting her.

The princess faced him and kissed him again, doing the same routine than the previous times: softly at first, salivating and later, more passionately. Zelgadiss answered her gestures and used his fleshy tongue to caress her mouth; if he responded too wildly, he could bite her with his long fangs and he didn’t want to do that.

At this point Amelia rose on her knees and pressed her curved body against him, which allowed the chimera to catch her by the buttocks and waist more brazenly; Amelia sighed in her kiss to him and pulled her away lightly.

“You, naughty…” she mused, apparently not offended but enjoying the feeling of his hands on his buttocks.

It surprised Zelgadiss; when the Tower of Artel’s incident happened, the Mazoku who lived there turned him into a doll because he couldn’t touch any of his companions’ butts… In fact Amelia pledged him for not doing that, and she seemed so embarrassed back to that time. But now, he would have sworn Amelia arched her back just for the sake of feeling his hands fine enough.

Zelgadiss remembered the incident but Amelia didn’t seem to do it or at least she didn’t care; apparently when he touched her butt, it was just the excuse she needed to caress his long legs and try to do the same with his butt, he didn’t mind but she couldn’t because he was sitting on his cloak’s flap, which also was tended over the marble floor of the main altar. They were hidden by the darkness inside the temple and the gigantic legs of Cephied’s statue… yet everybody would be really shocked to see a chimera man caressing the nape, back and butt of the Seyruun’s princess in a place like that.

“…Well, it isn’t prohibited… What was forbidden were men inside the temple’s gynoecia.” Amelia thought as she caressed his chest.

At this point, she grabbed the collar of his tunic and stretched it trying to show more of his neck and collarbone; he sighed and titled his head backwards, in order to allow her to touch him easily and not scratching her with his hair. They both knew their clothes were enchanted and they wouldn’t rip easily, but if Amelia kept scratching his tunic, it would have been uncomfortable. She also was starting to caress him more brazenly and his short tunic was starting to be a problem, so Zelgadiss reached the jewelled fibula of his belt that held his tunic, unlocked it and pulled off his belt, dropping the leather piece at his side, which twiece at his side, which  belt led fibula that hold his tunic, unlock it and pulled off his belt uun'isted like a snake.

The princess pulled away from him and looked at Zelgadiss questioningly.

“Why did you pull off your belt?” Amelia asked.

“I thought it would be easier like that.” The chimera answered. “I feel more comfortable without unnecessary things.”

Amelia smiled, half sweet, half mischievous.

“Are you going to strip yourself or something?” she asked, “You’ve changed your mind a lot in the last hour.”

“Well…” he began, admitting Amelia had a point, “You were right. I cannot blame Cephied for everything, and this my last night here.”

“So… Are you going to promise me you’ll come back someday?” she asked toying with his tunic’s collar.

y last night here.  "last night Ie last hour.""  Zelgadiss questioningly.

Zelgadiss sighed, being afraid of losing the mood they were getting.

“I cannot promise you something I don’t know if I’ll be able to accomplish… But I can promise you something else.”

“Really?” asked Amelia, “And what is it?” the princess’ voice wasn’t as desperate like at the beginning of their encounter in front of the statue. In fact, it sounded like she was toying, flirting.

Catching her words, Zelgadiss smiled wolfishly, showing his pointed teeth, and grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her on the cloak’s flap, on her back. Amelia just gasped, as she was getting used (and enjoyed) his sudden demeanours with her.

“I can promise you something else.” He answered, “I can promise you this last night of us will be unforgettable.”

“Really?” Amelia asked with a purr. “And how is it?”

“You gave me a clue before.” The chimera answered lowering over her.

Before the princess could say something else, he kissed her hungrily, opening his mouth since the first move, but licking his lips in order not hurting her and supporting his weigh on his hands. Amelia would have liked to touch him on the same places than he did, but her limbs were too short for that, and she couldn’t help by burying her fingers on his nape, avoiding the sharp edges of his hair, and when his nape was cleared, she surrounded his neck with an arm as the other toyed with his now flapping tunic.

Zelgadiss smiled, reading her wishes and broke the kiss; then, he pulled away from her, and sat on his heels; then he reached the low part of his tunic and pulled it off in front of Amelia’s eyes. He had some troubles when his hair got stuck in the tunic’s collar, but eventually he could put it off his body; finally he pledge clumsily the cloth piece and dropped it next to his half gloves, belt and the priestess’ alb and garnet stole. Amelia, however, noticed several of his hairs got stuck on his clothes, like spines; but she couldn’t keep her view for longer time on his clothes, soon her eyes travelled towards his male form and looked at him shirtless.

Amelia had seen Zelgadiss almost naked several times; it happened when you travel around the world that much with closer friends, and especially in Femille incident. Back to that time, Amelia had to design a very good woman disguise for Zel, and she spent a long time trying to convert his male forms into a female’s. So she had to see him undressed and touch him to put him the disguise, combing his hair and putting make up on his stone face and hands in order to make him look like a female elf or something like that. Zelgadiss didn’t like the experience at all, in fact he had been really angry at being like that, but he had to shut his mouth for the gang’s and the objective’ sake. Eventually the disguise was burned and he finished almost naked in front of everybody when he saved Miwan from that Mazoku; it happened like that because the disguise clothes weren’t protected by a spell and when Zelgadiss cast the “Gaav’s Flame”, everything except for his shorts, was burned.

Therefore, Amelia had a good impression of his body shape, perhaps better than even Gourry, who also being male, surely had shared many things with him in their travels. Yet, even if it wasn’t the first time, the chimera never got naked like that for her.

The fact was that Amelia blushed noticeably.

“Is he like that this… for me?” she wondered.

Zelgadiss has expected some reaction from her, like the previous ones, but instead of that, Amelia had stayed quiet, sitting on the marble floor, and watching him as her checks got pink. So the chimera-man blinked first, and later he began to laugh, trying to cover his mouth his bare hand.

Seeing Zelgadiss laugh would be really surprising except for the fact than Amelia didn’t like why he was giggling.

“What?” she exclaimed.

“You’re very cute when you blush.” He answered.

“I’m not blushing!” Amelia answered, getting her usual self back.

And it was right. Amelia had realized her attitude was nonsensical; they both had been touching themselves more passionately than any previous touch they could had shared. Blushing just because he wanted more was just… silly.

Knowing that, this time was Amelia who made the first move and she thrown herself on him and began to caress his now naked chest, shoulders and limbs as she tried to kiss him again. Her desire was obvious and Zelgadiss barely could muffle his chuckles, feeling happy with her reaction.

But having a skin like his had side effects; Amelia knew the rocks imbibed on his body were rougher than the rest of his skin; she also knew his chest and armpits lacked of his characteristic silver hair, perhaps because Zelgadiss himself was quite beardless (just like Rezo was), or perhaps because he shaved his body’s hair in order to avoid more problems with his unusual body characteristics, or perhaps it was just because his organism was different; she knew he had told something about that in any occasion, but she just didn’t remember when or where. Anyway,  Amelia knew she wouldn’t end up hurt by his hair. So, confidently, she began to kiss his thorax as she caressed his abdomen, avoiding the stones; Zelgadiss enjoyed watching her doing that, but he could barely feel her touch because his skin was really insensitive there; or at least his ears, face and neck were more sensitive. Amelia noticed his lack of response and tried to press it further using her fingers like claws…

She soon regretted doing that.

“AAH!” she cried, “My nails!” and she pulled herself away from him.

Amelia shivered; the feeling of her nails scratching a rock was really unpleasant, just like the scratching sound it produced. The princess put a face of disconfirm and tried to bury her nails in her fleshy hands in order to ease the feeling; Zelgadiss saw what happened and sighed heavily: it was another of those unpleasant side effects.

“Amelia… you rather shouldn’t try anything like that with my skin.” He explained, “You cannot use your nails or your teeth, otherwise you’ll be hurt.”

“I know.” The princess answered, “But…”

“Let me take care of that.”

And saying that, Zelgadiss took her hands, and, to Amelia’ surprise, he began to kiss her hands and lick her fingertips. Amelia blinked, surprised by his healing methods, but soon she sighed, pleased by the feeling. Certainly his lips were smother than the rest of his skin, yet they still being hard; however, his tongue felt warn, wet, playful and very nice against her hands and fingers. Knowing the effect such a treatment had on her, Zelgadiss smiled confidently, let go her hands and framed her quite rounded face with his own hands, and then he kissed her lips softly.

“Better?” he asked.

“Yes.” Amelia answered, “Perhaps your skin is hard, but you always had been good with handy works.”

“I wouldn’t call this *handwork*.” Zelgadiss replied.

“You know what I mean to say.” And Amelia winked at him.

Zelgadiss smiled wolfish, hiding his tongue behind his long and sharp teeth, and began to caress her legs from the pelvis to her heels, feeling the soft touch of the flax fabric under his stony hands; finally he reached her foot and began to remove her sandals, leaving her bare foot. Amelia didn’t complain, she liked the feeling of his cloak’s flap and the marble floor under her foot, but overall, she liked something else. Amelia didn’t know what he did exactly, but she felt his fingers toying between her toes, especially the big toes, and she began to giggle.

“It tickles!” the princess exclaimed, “Stop!”

Zelgadiss did so and put a disappointment face that Amelia didn’t notice; he had learned  it could be pleasant, but tickling her wasn’t the effect he wanted to get. So he moved his hand till the leg’s curve, behind the knee, and then he caressed it softly almost without touching her. Amelia jumped, feeling a different shiver.

“Zelgadiss!” she exclaimed.

“What?”

“Don’t…”

“Don’t you like it? Does it tickle, too?” he asked, “I didn’t seem that, judging your reaction.”

“You, mischievous man!” Amelia exclaimed, trying to sound angry.

Zelgadiss smiled, pleased with he had done, and relaxed his touch; then he began to caress her towards her upper body, till the collarbone. Amelia, somehow, seemed disappointment, yet she let him doing that and once again, raised herself on her knees and faced him.

“I already told you. I’m mischievous.” He answered and kissed her noise’s tip softly.

“For Cephied’s sake!” Amelia thought, “I don’t remember seeing him so playful for that long… What a man.”

The fact was that Amelia was starting to feel the result of touching constantly his stone skin; she was starting to feel thirsty because she had to salivate too mucho for lubricating her lips; her hands also felt soar because she had been caressing his stone skin for almost for a long time and even if Zelgadiss was being very careful, her face’ skin, neck’s, arms’ and others had several scratches produced by his fangs and his wire hair.

In spite the dim light inside the temple and under the statue’s wings and legs, Zelgadiss could see that clearly thanks to his sharp sight and knew if things kept being like that, Amelia could end up worse than that.

“I will never hurt her… I don’t want to hurt a woman like that time again… But I must be careful and doing everything I know I have to do. Yet, she’s in better shape than I thought.”

With those thoughts, the chimera raised a hand and mussed the “Recovery” spell (the one used for healing common wounds) and began to touch all the wounds of her skin he found. However, something happened, the spell was just… too powerful.

“It’s the effect of the protection spell over Seyruun’s city.” Amelia explained as she let him taking care of her scratches, “Here, White Magic spells are multiplied and we’re in the right centre of that spell.”

The chimera’s eyes widened when he saw almost immediately all Amelia’s lesions were healed already, which encouraged him to be more decided; if Amelia was that strong and the healing spells were more powerful than usual, he could be more firm and doing things he just thought weren’t inexcusable. Perhaps he had a chance after all, but even if Amelia was in mood, he didn’t’ know how far she would allow him to go. Anyhow, Amelia wanted to be sure if his future intentions about them.

With that thought in mind, he hugged her and brought her full body towards him; Amelia, being on her knees yet, found her breast just over his collarbone and his pointed ears just as her mouth’s level. In such position, she kissed softly the tip of his long right ear and began to caress his shoulders, enjoying his male shape. Along the minutes passed, she felt more encouraged to feel and touch him, or letting him touch her. Amelia never had allowed a man to touch her butt or being be so close to her, yet she didn’t care he was caressing her like that.

Too bad she could barely touch him like that. His stone skin didn’t allow feeling it as she felt his hands and mouth.

…Well, perhaps it could be solved.

For Zelgadiss’ surprise, Amelia just pulled away and began to chant something in low voice; he began to wonder if Amelia was just disappointed or even embarrassed for what they were doing, but when he saw a pair of light gloves began to form on her hands, he changed his mind drastically.

“Visfarank!” Amelia cast.

Zelgadiss jumped, almost rising on his foot again, yet he felt his legs were frozen and he found he wasn’t able to move from his place.

“Visfarank!?” the chimera exclaimed, “Wait… wait, Amelia… Don’t … Why you are doing that? I sorry if I’ve intima….”

Zelgadiss’ face was scared as he waved his hands in front of him, trying to stop her. He didn’t think Amelia would become that angry and she was about to hit him with that silly –yet very powerful- version spell of his own “Astral Vine”. The sorcerer-swordsman knew “Visfarank” was powerful enough to knock him down all right and he was just too afraid of what Amelia was about to do. He had been too demanding.

But Amelia couldn’t help but looking at him with a surprised expression of her big blue eyes; she blinked at his frightened look and them she understood.

“Don’t be like that, Mr. Zelgadiss.” She began, “I’m not going to attack you.”

“…No?” He asked; the confused look of his face was almost funny.

“It is an incomplete version of my ‘Visfarank’ Spell.” Amelia answered, “Besides, here, in the very centre of Seyruun’s city, offensive spells are just very weak. This cannot hurt you.”

“Really?” he asked again, “Then, why do you cast it?”

“Because I need something else to…” Amelia walked on her knees towards him, “… To make you feel better.” And saying this, she took him by his shoulders and caressed his neck and clavicle.

Zelgadiss’ eyes widened when he felt her touch. Certainly this weak version of “Visfarank” spell let him to feel Amelia’s caress better than any of her previous; her hands feel warmer and the touch… he would swore it was almost like when he was human. The caress, the real caress of her fingers and nails over his shoulders and thorax; now, he could fell his skin moving under the pressure Amelia exercised.

As reward of her attentions, Amelia heard him purring like a cat; she couldn’t help but giggling as she massaged his upper back, just under the neck. That what enough for kissing him again and Zelgadiss received the kiss still pouring. Amelia just thought perhaps she also should try with a soft version of her spell on her lips, but she couldn’t keep more than just one shot every time; she wasn’t sure if she could cast “Visfarant” twice, one for her hands and other for her lips, so they both had to agree in how to use it.

As Amelia gave him her attention as never she did before, Zelgadiss just glanced at the glow over her hands, amazed of how his flesh moved under the pressure of her hands, but without hurting him. His skin was flexible, but just for making him able to move, not under external touches, and now he felt the touch as his skin would be normal again. Perhaps that silly spell may be useful for other things besides knocking down Mazoku. Anyway, the spell could even write the mental status of her owner when she cast it, and now two new words, one per hand, appeared on the glow; perhaps Amelia didn’t see it, but he could read it: one hand said “Love” and the other said “Desire” It was what Amelia wanted, he knew, and the chimera only could clutched.

…What Amelia wanted. He could try after all.

The princess was very pleased because now she could give him real touches and caresses, and she also felt proud of her sudden discovery. If she hadn’t tried, now she couldn’t do this, and she smiled on her kisses.

Then, she jumped on her knees. Zelgadiss’ hand travelled from her legs’ curve, caressing her like he knew on that spot that made her to jump like that; then, the hands slid on her inner thighs and finally they reached her buttocks again; at this point his hands began to roll up the short skirt of her white tunic in order to grab her flesh easily. Then, one hand travelled from her waist, back and shoulders and finally her clavicle, and then he tried to move it to her front body as he held her back body.

Amelia just pulled away from him lightly, and took that hand, kissed his fingers and deposited it between her breasts; at this point, he passed the fingers of his hand by the canal between her breasts and caressed her belly. The princess giggled, the touch on her belly tickled her and she fought the intruder hand; Zelgadiss didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know Amelia was that prone to have tickles, or perhaps he just didn’t touch her in the right spots, just like happened when he tried to pleasing her caressing the space between her big toe and the rest of her feet. Women, as far he knew, could feel every erotic touches over all their body; yet, he didn’t want to tickle Amelia, just make her feeling as never previously, but he just didn’t know what Amelia liked exactly and what… tickled her.

 Whatever it was, Amelia desired him. She had said that to him and her “Visfarank”’s gloves also told him she wanted it now.

Knowing this, he moved up the same hand and traced again the canal between her breasts; then he circled the right one with a finger and cupped it as he tightened his hold on her butt. Amelia gasped and exclaimed again.

“You… naughty.” She breathed, but she didn’t complain.

Then, he released the other hand and used it to cup the other breast as he clutched with satisfaction. Amelia sighed pleased and hold his hands over her breasts; he could feel her hands very warm, but he was more pleased by the feeling of holding her like that; he had a very thin memory of that feeling, and that one wasn’t pleasant, either, but now he was even surprised of how soft they were, more than Amelia’s lips. Encouraged by Amelia’s move, he began to rock his hands, testing his moves softly as she sighed and now caressed his whole head and ears; Amelia couldn’t do that previously, but now, the “Visfarank” gloves shielded her hands and now his wire hair couldn’t damage her. Zelgadiss was just very pleased of the caresses she was doing to him, and wished he could do that the same to her besides caressing her breasts.

Feeling more brave, he approached his face to her and kissed her full breasts, trying not getting very closer, otherwise his hair could stick on her and it would be really painful; fortunately the white flax tunic than Amelia was dressed was enough to prevent that.

“He likes to be licked… I know because I heard him saying that that time... But I didn’t know he likes bosoms. Even Gourry is more obvious than him.”  Amelia thought, “But I like what he’s doing, too.”

Feeling braver, the princess left his head, which now was a mess of silver hair, and took his left hand and placed it on the collar of her tunic and stretched it; then, she lowered till his face’s level and kissed him as the words that appeared on the glow gloves become more obvious.

Zelgadiss returned the kiss, but she could feel he also was smiling.

“I’m going to make you don’t forget this night. That’s my promise.”

Once again, he caught her and placed her body with a sudden move on the right place, Amelia seemed to get used to be moved like that for him, but she was forced to separate her legs when Zelgadiss moved his between hers. Fortunately he flexed his knees and Amelia found she could sit on his lap and use his legs as headboard, thus she ended up sitting on his nap just like he wanted.

Zelgadiss shook his head, trying his hair would get back to his original position, because Amelia’s attentions had rummaged his hair too much and now his fringed almost covered his two eyes, and them he began to kiss her hungrily. Amelia moved her hands to his front and moved his wire hair away of his front, so he could get closer his face to hers without damaging her. Certainly using the “Visfarank” had been a very good idea, even if they still had to salivate in order not chaffing her skin.

“…I’m going to accomplish my promise.” Zelgadiss exclaimed between breaths.

“I’m waiting for it.” Amelia replied, her breathing getting hard.

Then, the chimera began to stretched her tunic’s collar, trying to show more of her clavicle and flesh down to him; fortunately Amelia didn’t wear the characteristic priestess’s collar-jewel, and it made things easier, besides counting the fact that her tunic’s collar was quite wide.

“You’re going to tear apart my clothes.” Amelia warned him, trying to sound disappointment.

“Do you care for that?” he asked, teasing him.

“I wish that I didn’t.”

“Then, don’t care.” Zelgadiss replied.

Amelia sighed and tilted her head while holding his hair away from her face; like that, she could avoid his hair could get stick on her skin. Several dozens of wires scratching her neck and collarbone weren’t something pleasant at all, but she wished Zelgadiss could kiss her neck as passionately as her lips and face, but the stones on his chin and face brushed her skin like sandpaper, and she just couldn’t keep away from her all his hair. Amelia thought she would need to create a shield spell to protect her skin fairly enough of his, in order to avoid to get hurt; yet, the only temporal (and quite good) solution she had thought about, was using “Visfarank”, which was demonstrating to be quite useful.

In spite of the odds, Amelia tried to hold as much as his hair as she could, and Zelgadiss, feeling his head caressed as never, tried to take advantage of that and began to kiss and lick the base of her neck and the collarbone, just above her breasts. He would like to nuzzle on her neck, but it would had hurt her, thus Zelgadiss only could try with his lips and tongue, and perhaps his nose, but even that part of his face was really hard.

Yet, Amelia was enjoying the feeling; his kisses were very warm and his touches were really pleasant; she wondered how he could know what she liked like that. He said he had a previous experience but it seemed it hadn’t been a good one at all; perhaps it was Zelgadiss’ desire for showing her his love and best wishes what made so good touching her; he was passionate man after all. Or perhaps it was just because Zelgadiss was always learning about this and that, and he had learned what he had to do. Or perhaps it was both. Amelia wasn’t sure about how he was being so sound in his moves, but she wasn’t going to complain about that.

Whatever it was, she loved the feeling.

Zelgadiss noticed now the words on Amelia’s glows almost shined in red, just like the word “Justice” did when he saw that spell for first time. Now, her wishes were totally obvious.

He also was starting to feel funny; not feeling scared of his moves anymore, if it kept this path, he would found controlling himself hard to do. Perhaps Amelia didn’t notice, but he realized his pants and underwear were pressing him; soon, a bulge would appear just under Amelia’s legs. The idea of having Amelia sit just over his lap and her breasts just in front of his face made him feel his desire more clearly every minute it passed. Yet, this was for Amelia, not for him… or rather, he would do this for pleasing Amelia and their sake.

With this idea in mind, the chimera grabbed both sides of her tunic’s collarbone and began to pull it down, showing more of her flesh; her breasts, compressed, bowed over the tunic’s collar, and Zelgadiss pulled out his tongue to lick them softly; yet, Amelia was right, he was to tear apart her clothes if he kept doing that, but she also figured it out, so he saw the princess moved a hand to her back and did something there and his sharp hearing caught something that sounded like “click” and “zip”. Then, he understood, she was unlocking her brassier; it would make things easier. Now, clutching at her, the chimera-man pulled away his face of her, and let her doing the next move; Amelia just took his hands again and hocked the fingers on her clothes and later, she pulled them down. Zelgadiss didn’t know what she did exactly, but suddenly he found Amelia’s breasts in front of him, totally naked, and her tunic’s collarbone hocking them from bellow. Then, Amelia moved her hands again to his head, and caressing his long ears, pulled away his fringe and the rest of his hair, clearing his face of his dangerous wires. Like that, at least she wouldn’t be hurt.

“Is this what you wanted?” she asked in flirting tone, “I also want it.”

“You shall...” the chimera’s voice was filled of desire, as much Amelia’s was.

Zelgadiss licked his lips and the view of her full breasts in front of his face; they were big, firm, rounded and had a proportionate areola with small nipples on the top, both coloured in pink; she hadn’t any spot or errant hair on her breasts, either. As a man, he liked what he was seeing; the fact is he liked everything about Amelia’s body. She was full, much curved and pretty bosomy, yet very strong; he had seeing her in bath suit in their travels, even she once undressed and put her travelling tunic under his cloak. But he never had seen Amelia like that, even if he had fantasized about that; now, he could do what he wanted, Amelia had allowed him since she had told him she wanted him and she had allowed him to touch her like she never let him do previously.

As Amelia held his hair, she inclined to him and kissed his forehead, bringing her chest to his face, Zelgadiss began to move his hands from her legs, pelvis, waist, belly and finally cupped her breasts softly and raised them trying not being rough; they were surprisingly soft under his touch, and very heavy. Now he wondered how could be her walking around like that with such weigh on her torso; when he had disguise as a woman in Femille, his fake breasts never were so heavy and… uncomfortable? Women, and especially Amelia, were strong after all.

Avoiding thinking further about that matter in this moment, he began to trace a path of kisses from her chin to her neck and collarbone, and finally over her breasts and he hold them, then he nuzzle lightly.

“Stop!” Amelia cried.

“What?” Zelgadiss exclaimed raising his head to her face, “Don’t you…?”

Amelia saw his eyes were filled of desire, but she couldn’t allow him to continuant.

“Don’t do that… it hurts! Your stones are chafing me.”

“I sorry, Amelia.”

Zelgadiss sighed; she was right, her skin was lightly sore where he had touched her; he had to try something else. Again, he cast the “Recovery” spell, this time using the index finger to cure her; Amelia let him caress her scratches as he healed her; his touch was sweet and light, different from her previous move and Amelia noticed her skin had goose bumps over her neck, breasts and arms, like it never had been chafed.

Then, once it was already cured, Zelgadiss kissed her on her lips and moved his right hand to cup his left breasts again, noticing it seemed lightly bigger than the left one, caressing softly, just like he had done to cure her, and later he began to knead it. The other hand, meanwhile, caressed her back, tracing circles and holding her near to him. It was like a mirrored gesture and she seemed to enjoy it, mostly when he saw Amelia was arching her back as response of his attentions; her hands also travelled towards his lower body, but due their posture, she couldn’t reach further than his navel, yet the feeling of his muscular belly was really pleasant.

Zelgadiss sighed, almost moaning; he knew soon he would start to leak. It had been long time since he was in mood for last time, and his desire was getting obvious. Besides, his hearing caught the soft moan than surged from Amelia lips; if he was careful, he could get it.

Moved by those events, he reached her left breasts, the one he found easier to catch in such posture, and kissed it; Amelia, her back arched, caught him by his nap and obeyed him to keep doing… something. Zelgadiss clutched and then, licked the crest, and finally the areole, being always soft; Amelia giggled and he found he was afraid of tickling her again, but fortunately he saw the nipple was becoming erect.

Amelia moved her hand to his face and caressed his lips and eyelids, now being braver due the protection than her gloving gloves provided to her. Her other hand tried to caress him in other places, but she couldn’t and the princess found herself quite disappoint; she wanted to return his favours, but she couldn’t now. Besides, her desire was more obvious, every time he alternated his touches from her nape, neck, back, waist and that damn spot on his legs’ curve, with the licks and soft kisses on her breasts, the touches on her buttocks and inner thighs, she found herself getting… wet. Or at least it was the best word to define it.

“Please…” she pledged.

“Please?” he questioned, “Do you like this, then?”

“Yess…” Amelia answered with a hiss, “I already… told you.”

Zelgadiss was somehow, amazed. He knew Amelia was very open to show her feelings, but now she sounded almost demanding. Besides, it also meant he was doing it fine enough, which was a relief considering how the other girl ended after that incident. Trying to forget a collection of curses against Rezo and his implications in that memory, he made up his mind for the next move and turned his face towards the cloak’s flap and mussed something again, which opened a new magical pocket and he moved a hand inside it and began to rummage inside the pocket looking for something. Amelia, being disappointment for the sudden change on his moves, looked what he was doing and her eyes widened when she saw Zelgadiss pulled out something from inside the pocket: a little ceramic jar sealed with wax.

Amelia didn’t know what he tried to do, but she tried to encourage him rising on her knees, so now her inner thighs were fully available, as well her butt and she moved to the front, as she tried to touch his face with her breasts.

“Zelgadiss…” she breathed, her voice filled of desire and lacking of her usual polite manners.

“Wait.” He answered, his voice also sounded hoarse.

Using just one hand, she saw how he removed the wax seal and opened the jar; then, she recognize the smell of whatever was inside the jar: it was a healing oil poultice. She knew because healer priests from the temple (and Shilfild’s uncle, Mr. Gray), used it. But why should Zelgadiss have something like that? He wasn’t almost impossible to hurt and she had taught him “Recovery”, so he just didn’t need that sort of cures.

Then, he turned to her and looked at her with a mischievous look on his face; his eyes also shined with desire, but she knew this was for her. Anyway, she couldn’t see his next moves because he began to kiss her as his hand moved towards her leg, but and finally waistband; then, he hocked his thumbs on her bagging trousers and began to pull them down. Amelia knew he wanted to bare her legs, but she still didn’t know why he wanted that poultice.

But the princess barely could do something else; suddenly his tongue began to lick her nipples like they were some candy, and one his hands moved between her legs, first from her butt, and later to the front. Amelia gasped, but Zelgadiss just smiled when he felt how wet she was already.

“It isn’t enough…” he mused.

Softly, his hands began to trace circles over her panties, on the pelvic region and around her upper inner thighs; Amelia could feel his hard fingers, but his touch was really soft, like he was afraid of touching her more firmly; his fingers were as hard as stone, so it made sense he was being that careful. However, it wasn’t like that with his mouth and the other hand, which fought to hold her and caressing her in due time; then, his mouth traced a path of small kisses from her collarbone, left breast and finally right nipple, where it was closed.

“Ah!” Amelia exclaimed suddenly, “Stop!” And she tried to pull him away.

Zelgadiss opened his mouth and looked at her surprised without understanding.

“What’s wrong?” his voice sounded harsh, in part for his own desire, in part because being disappointment.

“You… you pinched me!” Amelia complained, “Your stone lips were like a… pliers!”

The chimera blinked and then he understood. His lips were damn hard, and when he closed his mouth, it pinched her nipple hardly. Amelia wasn’t used to such feeling, or perhaps she just liked it soft, and now she was hurt. He had abandoned himself to his own desire and now that was the consequence.

“I’m sorry, Amelia.” He answered, “I didn’t realize about that.”

The princess sighed, being emphatic with him; she knew every time Zelgadiss tried to touch her, he had to be really careful, and in such circumstances, it was even harder to do. They couldn’t pretend to get everything all right when they had to surpass many physical barriers and it was the first time they both found themselves in such situation with each other; besides, Zelgadiss had awakened her desire quite enough for being now like that. She couldn’t reproach him mistakes like that.

“I know…” she answered softly and buried her face on his shoulder, “But please… soft.”

In spite of the incident, Amelia wanted more. It was amazing her wonderful capacity to forgive everything. It was one of the reasons Zelgadiss loved her after all. He couldn’t help but kissing her check, and later he began the routine than previously; the chimera knew he couldn’t touch her like than when she was hurt.

Soon, Amelia's moans became more obvious; she opened her mouth breathing hard and arching her back as she separated her legs more widely. Zelgadiss was learning what to do for turning her like that; he knew Amelia had sensitive spots, but some of them only tickled her and other were really pleasing for her, and finding those studding her reactions was becoming into a very interesting game.

The chimera found Amelia liked to be touched soft at first, with light caressed, and later firmer touches; perhaps it was because she was like that, or perhaps it was because she needed to get used to his stony touches. Whatever it was, Zelgadiss had managed to pull out her bagging trousers and now she only wear her short tunic and the underwear, which didn’t mean a lot because her breasts were jiggling in front of his face and her panties didn’t stop his playing fingers. Now, Amelia was in total desire, as one of her gloves said with the word “Lust” written in red letters.

“What would you like the next, princess?” he asked with a purr, trying to give her more attentions.

For just some seconds, Amelia felt disappointment; Zelgadiss was bringing her tons of attentions, making her own wish become truth and she wasn’t returning him the favour, in spite (she knew) he desired her, too. Plus, it had been only a casual look, she had seeing a quite apparent bulge on his pants, between his legs, and it was quite visible for his shape. The chimera also wanted her, but he was stopping himself. The princess remembered he had said he was going to make their last night unforgettable and he also had talked about that previous and unpleasant experience. Perhaps he just wanted that for her, or perhaps he also was afraid about what could happen if he tried to do something else.

But Amelia’s thoughts were cut when suddenly she felt her mouth closed softly around her left nipped and areola and began to suck and playing with his tongue. The right hand also had moved to her womanhood and now his fingers played over her panties, but only caressing her. This time he had been careful enough and now Amelia was getting pleased by his actions really.

“I… I… want…” Amelia was surprised; she barely could talk in such state, “I like… suckle…”

Zelgadiss was surprised by her demand; Amelia wasn’t that sort of person who likes to be bossing around; it was closer to be a Lina’s trademark than Amelia’s. Yet, he obeyed willingly, and opened his mouth, trying to suckle as much as he could of her breasts, but preventing his long fangs wouldn’t hurt her as well not pressing his lips that much.

Amelia breathed hard, and tried to catch his right hand and moving it inside her panties, but Zelgadiss refused; she lowered her view, almost complaining, and saw that, instead answering her demand, he buried the fingers inside the little ceramic jar he had pulled out any minutes ago; now, his fingers were covered by that oleic substance used for healing open wounds. And then, in front of Amelia’s confused look, he buried her fingers inside her panties, and began to caress her softly.

“Hairy…I didn’t think about that.” Zelgadiss thought, holding an involuntary shake of his own hips. “Wait, not… she’s shaved, not totally, but shaved.”

Zelgadiss clutched, in spite he didn’t see it, and he liked knowing she was a little shaved in her intimacy. Perhaps it was because some hygienic procedure or perhaps she liked to be like that; yet, he found it quite pleasing.  The bulge of his pants was totally obvious now, Zelgadiss fought the urgency of touching himself and releasing his desire; the pre-ejaculation liquid was leaking now and whatever happened, his pants and underwear would become into a mess.

“Wonderful… Just after washing my clothes and changing them.” He thought with dismay.

Yet, Amelia was enjoying his touches or her intimacy; she rise on her foot with trembling legs, allowing him to reach her easily as she held his head in front of her breasts. Zelgadiss caressed her lower lips and felt how wet she was, as well her gap, which was quite open wide. It was totally different from last time, if he remembered well, that girl was closed and dry in spite being manipulated.

Then, he released her mouth and mussed.

“Amelia… don’t cry… please.”

But she didn’t seem to heard him, or at least understand what he wanted to say; instead of that, one of her hands moved down and caught him by his wrist, like if he was trying to stop him. Zelgadiss did so; after all she was a virgin and probably she just tried to protect herself on the interfering hand.

He groaned in disbelief; his nostrils could catch perfectly her female scent and her desire, and he wasn’t about to stop now, being so far and with his own erection trying to get released. So he moved the thumb and casually caressed her centre under her panties; Amelia gasped and released her hand, giving him carte blanche for his next move. Then, his fingers soaked in the oiled lump, tried to find her inners as he kept caressing her spot; then he buried a finger, and later a second finger. Amelia gasped and moaned, and Zelgadiss, hearing her, shook his hips involuntarily; besides, he could feel her inners, very warm, wet and tight (probably because her virginity) and how they pressed against his fingers. It was really nice.

His pants had a dark spot now; pre-ejaculation liquid still dropping, dark because the time had passed since the last time Zelgadiss found himself in such state. Amelia was near the end, he thought, her hips had begun to ride his fingers, searching for more sensations; perhaps he had to try something else.

At this point, giving the pleasure she deserved and getting his own was almost the same. So he began to suckle her breasts again and used the finger than remain for caress the last spot, and softly he teased her anus. He didn’t know if Amelia would like that, or just would tickle her (again!), yet he could try. For his own satisfaction, he was rewarded by a new gasp of hers and he felt he could bury inside her his remain fingers, too.

Amelia had opened her eyes now. For just a moment, she felt invaded when Zelgadiss began to touch her womanhood with those long and hard fingers of his, fortunately his fingers were oiled with that healing substance and it had helped to enjoy his touch. Perhaps it was the reason because he had brought that jar; he just knew the need of using it.

But she also was really pleased for such causality. In her own fantasies, Zelgadiss touched all her body, and finally the right spots. In certain one of them, he touched her back entrance, and in others he played with her breasts till she was turned on. But she never thought he could guess them like that. He was a smart man, really.

“Zel… Zelgadiss….” She moaned loudly.

Her hips rode his hands as he moved her fingers, caressing her inners and hold her; his mouth sucked her breasts vividly and she knew soon she would reach the edge. He watched her, very pleased with the view or her, rocking her hips like that, trying to get as much as his she could and her breasts jiggling on his face. Amelia’s gesture was of happiness and pleasure as she breathed hard with her  mouth open or biting her lower lip. As usual, she never hid her feelings.

However, he couldn’t contain himself any longer; his own desire was about to be released and now he doubted he could hold it, he even wished to be able to touch his own intimacy and releasing himself too, but he didn’t, this was for Amelia. Suddenly he felt how Amelia’s legs trembled, his fingers were pressed by her inner walls and he could bet her breasts become a little harder. She opened her mouth as she cried, but instead of that, only deep sight, similar to a groan, surged of her throat. At that time, Zelgadiss couldn’t stop anymore, the chimera literally soaked his own pants when he saw Amelia’s edge, her face and body twitching in pleasure. It was what he had wished for in quite a while, after all.

After some seconds like that, Amelia felt her legs weren’t able to still supporting her weight, and her knees flexed, making her to lower her body again. Zelgadiss moved his own legs, trying to hide what had happened to him as Amelia had her own orgasm, and kept holding her, almost embracing her. The princess didn’t let him go, and finally she sat down on her heels and buried her face on his shoulder, sighing heavily.

Zelgadiss brought his right hand from her inners and looked at it, almost curiously. It was wet with Amelia’s fluids and the oleic substance, a mute evidence of his whereabouts with her; certainly it had been really different of his previous time and now he found himself desiring to lick his fingers, tasting Amelia, just like in his own private desires; but maybe it wasn’t a good idea, quite anti-hygienically, and if Amelia saw him doing that, perhaps she scolded at him, calling him “pervert”, “dirty” or something worse. He rather would do something different.

Eventually, instead of that, he reached the cotton handkerchief and used it for drying his face, neck and chest, and finally cleaning up his hand; later he left it on his cape’s flap and embraced Amelia, one hand on her back head, and the other on her waist. Her breathing was soft, as she was asleep, yet he was conscious the “Visfarank” spell wasn’t working anymore, and her breasts were pressing against his ribs.

Amelia felt really dizzy as she tried to regroup herself as she was embracing Zelgadiss; her orgasms had been quite strong, perhaps because it was the first time it happened because it was produced by the man she loved, or perhaps it was because the chimera man had been quite good finding out the correct spots that turned her like that. Or perhaps both. Whatever it was, now she felt really dizzy and... invaded. Zelgadiss’ fingers were made of stone and his nails were like iron, and even if she was really strong and he had used that oleic substance and had been really tender, now she felt the consequences of having several stone pieces touching her intimacy. Certainly a common woman without any kind of initiative and without taking any precaution, would had have suffered. Now, Amelia found herself trying to press her legs in order to release that “intruding” feeling.

In spite of that, she managed to muse:

“Thank you, Zelgadiss...” her voice sounded dizzy, yet it was filled of content. “You... accomplished your promise.”

He clutched in return, feeling happy with himself. It had been the first time he really tried to satisfy a woman, and eventually it ended up quite good. Knowing what he had to do was a help, and now he was being rewarded by a sleeping woman in his arms, the woman he loved.

Still, he couldn’t help but looking at his trousers; the damn dark spot was going hard to clean, although he felt quite more relaxed than at first; if only he could do it being aware of his actions...

Amelia noticed his silence and tilted his head towards him; now he just was embracing her, toying casually with her black hair and looking at some point in the temple’s main wing. It had been good not being discovered in such place; besides, the idea of what had happened just under Cephied’ statue, made Amelia felt really happy. If only he would know why.

Anyway, her view moved out to other places as she breathed peacefully, without exchanging more words. At this point her eyes landed on the jar where the chimera kept the oleic substance and the rest of their things, including the handkerchief he just had used for tiding his face. Amelia just realized of something else: she was really thirsty; she also was wet because how much she had to salivate, and her thighs were sticky.

“I’m thirsty.” She mused, “Have you something to drink?”

“Hmmm... sure” He answered absently.

The chimera turned towards his cape’s flap and chanted the same spell again; at this point a new magical pocket was open and he could pull out a canteen filled of water.

“Here.” And he handed it to her.

Amelia caught it almost impatiently; and began to drink in big gulps till she was sated.  Finally she turned it back to Zelgadiss, who saw the canteen was quite empty now.

“Thanks! ...I was really thirsty.”

“I can tell...” he mused, almost surprised.

“I’ve salivated a lot, and... well... breathing hard doesn’t help either.” She answered blushing.

The chimera clutched, but he didn’t say a word.

“Have you a handkerchief, too?” Amelia asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah.”

At first Zelgadiss thought in giving her the same handkerchief he had used some minutes ago, but soon he realized it wasn’t a wise idea. Yes, he had used it for drying his face, but also for cleaning up his hands of the oleic substance and Amelia’s inners fluids. He rather would give her a clean one, so he did.

“Here.” He said as he pulled out another handkerchief.

“Thanks.”

Amelia used it for drying her face, neck, collarbone, and... she stopped with a blush when she realized she was about to dry her breasts of Zelgadiss’ saliva, as well her inner thighs.

“What’s wrong?” asked the chimera, surprised by her behaviour.

“I... I...” Amelia didn’t know what to say and she began to move her hand in order to cover her breasts with her tunic again. Such move would cover her intimacy, and it also would dry her breast.

But Zelgadiss’ hand stopped her.

“What?” she exclaimed.

“Don’t do that.” The swordsman answered, “I... I want to remember you like this.”

Amelia blushed madly when she realized about what Zelgadiss wanted to say; he just held her waist as he watched her, blushing and almost naked, with her breasts exposed and her shining blue eyes. Amelia would have bet he was trying not  to lick her lips.

Being like that in front of a man made her to feel uneasy, even if it was only for cleaning herself;  but later she realized it was nonsensical because was that man who had produced them. Finally Zelgadiss released her hand and shyly she began the task of tiding herself up as he turned off her view towards some spot in the temple. Fortunately for Amelia her skin was almost dry and her thighs weren’t a real mess, but she noticed the smell of the poultice mixed with her own sex smell. She recognized both, but never that strong in such mix.

Still, why did Zelgadiss use that substance with her? Actually if Zelgadiss brought it was because he knew something could happen, so he had used the oleic substance because of that. The princess found she should ask him about that.

“Zelgadiss...” she mused without using her usual polite manners.

“Hmmm?”

“I wanted... Can I ask you something?” she began after she finished to tidying herself, “What was this oleic healing thing you had used?”

The chimera didn’t expect such question; after watching her for some time, he had been trying to clear his mind and thinking about how he could clean up his pants now as Amelia tided herself. He felt more relaxed after his involuntary ejaculation, it hadn’t happened in long time and his own desire had been strong enough to be unable to hold in the current situation, thus afterwards he felt quieter. Yet, the sorcerer-swordsman knew it wouldn’t be hard to turn him out like that again, he knew when he looked at Amelia.

But Amelia’s question changed the subject of his mind.

“...I know it’s for healing open wounds.” The princess explained, “But if you are almost unable to hurt and you know “Recovery”... why you have such thing? And why did you use it?”

Zelgadiss sighed, half discontent, half relaxed.

“I have that poultice since I was Rezo’ slave.” He answered, his voice sounded a bit tired.

“What?”

The chimera tilted his head lightly and looked at her, although his demonic eyes seemed to be looking something in the background, or even from his past.

“You know I didn’t know how to cast “Recovery”, right?”

“Of course.” Amelia answered, “In fact was me who taught you the spell.”

“And you remember why I asked you so?”

Amelia nodded; it had been around two years ago, just after Atlas’ incident with Hansiford the White. Zelgadiss had explained to her he needed to learn that spell because he couldn’t depend all the time of her healing methods or Lina’s (who probably would ask him money for that, or even for teaching him the spell). He also added he didn’t know anybody who would teach him the spell because even if many people knew it, not many people would teach such thing to the “Ma-Kenshi”. Certainly Amelia had been the best chance to learn it.

“...So you used that healing poultice for your own wounds before I taught you ‘Recover’,” Amelia guessed.

Zelgadiss nodded.

“Yes, I had to use them. For me and my own companions. We couldn’t heal us using spells.”

“But...” the princess objected, feeling clearer minded, “Wasn’t Rezo with you back them? Didn’t he heal you and his men?”

“Yeah, he did.” Zelgadiss answered, “Rezo cured my wounds many times in the past... But he wasn’t always around for healing me and the others. So we had to take care of ourselves using our own resources.” At this point, Zelgadiss made a pause, and later he added, “Besides, if none of us knew ‘Recovery’, we were dependent of his healing powers and procedures, so we couldn’t take care of ourselves without his... permission.”

Amelia understood then; now it was clear: if Zelgadiss and the rest of his men would have been able to take care of themselves, they wouldn’t need Rezo’s power. Even more, Zelgadiss only knew spells used for “combat”, but not handy spells... That’s why Zelgadiss wasn’t able to cast “Aqua Creation”, for example, but he knew how to cast “Dug Haut” instead.  The fact is he had been trained in combat, but nothing else; therefore Rezo always could keep an eye on him.

The princess knew Zelgadiss didn’t like to be pitied, but seeing things like those made her to feel sorry for him. Trying to change the subject, she kept asking.

“So... you have that jar back them?” said pointed it with a light gesture of her chin.

“Yes. In fact I thought it was used up because I had to use a lot of that poultice to cure Zorlf when Lina fried him.” Zelgadiss explained, trying not sounding sad. “If we would know ‘Recovery’, or even ‘Resurrection’ back them, I wouldn’t have used it and Zorlf wouldn’t have been turned into a mummy-man.”

The “Mummy-man”.  Amelia remembered what Lina had told her about how Zelgadiss, Gourry and she met before the princess would met them; later Zelgadiss had talked with her about his life, although mostly time he eluded to be very descriptive. She knew he wasn’t proud of many things, so she rather avoided to puss the subject for longer. Still, she didn’t know the answer yet.

“If it was used for healing wounds... Why did you use it... on me?”

He turned to her; his eyes looked serious

“Because I don’t want to hurt you.” The chimera answered, “Even if I tried to be... soft, even my nails could damage you. So I rather use a poultice. If eventually I’d hurt you, it could heal you.”

Amelia gapped, as she was about to say something, and looked at him with shining eyes. She was marveled at his tenderness with her, as well his smart mind; certainly he was used to think in every details before acting, and he had done all that for her. The princess was just amazed.

Following her own impulse, Amelia throw herself over him, and embrace him again, burrowing her head on his chest.

“Thank you, thank you!” she mused, “You’re so caring with me, Mr. Zelgadiss… I… I really…”

Zelgadiss didn’t know what to do exactly, he hadn’t expected such reaction from her and Amelia was on his lap again, and her head was deeply buried on his chest, as his noise was tickled by her hair;  he couldn’t help but trying to give her back.

However, Amelia just looked down and she could see his hips clearly… as well the dark spot on his pants. Her eyes widened.

“What’s that? Why his trousers are a mess like that?” she wondered. “It wasn’t there when he pulled off his tunic.”

Then, a new idea began to acquire form in her mind. The dirty spot was just between his legs, and it seemed even to be fresh; his trousers’ legs weren’t dirty, as well the ground, which meant he hadn’t… pee on him; and the water canteen couldn’t be because he just had handed it to her any minutes ago and it was closed and filled of water when he gave it to her; it just didn’t drop any water. She also remembered the bulge  she had seen previously between his legs but it wasn’t there anymore, which it meant it only could be…

Amelia realized what could had happened, what it meant for Zelgadiss. She pushed away from him and looked at his eyes, very seriously.

“…What?” Zelgadiss exclaimed, unaware of her discovery.

“Mr. Zelgadiss... why did you tell me?” she asked, “Why were hiding it?”

“Amelia, what’re you talking about?”

“About that.” And she pointed at his lap.

Zelgadiss made a jump, surprised by her answer, and looked at his pants and Amelia back and forth with a certain ashamed look on his eyes.

“I couldn’t contain myself.” He just answered.

“Oh, Zelgadiss...”

He would had expected to be scolded or getting a lecture from Amelia, somehow. But instead, he found himself embraced by Amelia once again. Of course she took him by his shoulders, just in order to avoid being scratched by his hair, and kissed him again.

At first, he didn’t know if answering her kiss, surprised by her sudden change of behaviour. But he reasoned Amelia was like that anyway, always ready for be happy, sometimes for giving her love too easily when other people wouldn’t do it; so eventually he started to return her kiss.

But it didn’t took anymore; suddenly Amelia broken her kiss and pulled away from him as she raised her fists without saying a word.

“Amelia...” he began.

The princess didn’t listen to him. She just had started to chant something, and according with the rhythm of her words, it seemed to be the “Visfarank”, although lightly different. Zelgadiss blinked as he saw how she cast the spell and a new pair of light gloved began to form on her hands; however, she stopped and the gloves just faded away; then she tried again and now it seemed her face also was getting covered with that light, besides her hands, but it wasn’t steady and soon the light also disappeared.

“Amelia, what’re you doing?” he asked, still confused.

She kept ignoring him, as she was too concentrated in whatever she was doing. Amelia breathed deeply and started to chant that spell again; her face turned into a happy one when she got the result she wanted, apparently. For Zelgadiss surprise, now her hands and face, mostly her mouth, were covered of that lighter version of “Visfarank”. He just couldn’t blink; he knew Amelia wasn’t about to attack him or something, but he didn’t know what she pretend to do with such spell.

But as soon as an idea began to hit his mind, she began to move.

Amelia rose on her knees and, without any precaution, caught him by his ears, holding his head as she began to kiss him. Zelgadiss’ eyes widened, really surprised by the feeling; now, he could feel her lips on his very clearly; his very pressed by hers, which also were surprising warm. Her hands toyed with his hair and ears and she was trying to push it harder, and finally he would had swore he even felt her teeth.

Then, he understood. Amelia had tried to cast a new version of “Visfarank” on her hands and face, dividing the spell in several parts on her body in order to shield herself and giving her enough strength for her purposes. It made her being able to feel her touched almost like his skin was flesh again. It was the first time he felt something like that since they both started to share a relationship, and now, the chimera found he could answer her attentions better. She was a smart woman, really.

They both opened their mouths and soon a duel of kisses, light beatings and tongues started. Of course, he still being caring, because even his fangs still being pointed and not all her face was protected with such a shielded.

“I thought this spell was a nuisance when I saw it for first time, but it had turn into something really useful.”

However, none of those matter now. Amelia was attacking her face furiously with her lips as she massaged his neck, shoulders and head, not being afraid of the possible consequences; she only kept her eyes closer shut for avoiding being hurt, and, well, enjoying the feeling. Zelgadiss tried, but his view travelled on her frame, marvelled by her hungry moves and the shape of her body, so closer to his; the princess hadn’t covered herself, anyway.

Being unable to stop himself, his hands moved from her arms, towards her shoulders, ribs and waist, where he held her like if he was afraid of losing her somehow. Her touches felt better as ever; she wasn’t salivating anymore to avoid getting shored on her lips, her hands massaged his head, messing his silvery hair and his body felt wonderfully under the pressure of her hands. Why didn’t they try with that spell previously? Well, it had been a casual discovering and none of them had planned this at first.

“A... Amelia.” He managed to say between kisses. “What are...?”

She stopped and looked at him with an anxious look on her eyes.

“What I’m doing, you mean?” she answered, almost in teasing tone. “I’m accomplishing the same promise you did.”

The chimera’s eyes widened in surprise as he caught the sense of her words; it couldn’t be. It couldn’t be because Amelia was quite innocent; she just didn’t know how... well, she just didn’t think in having such desire. Or did she? Amelia was all heart towards people, and especially him; she always surprised everybody with her loving (and sometimes lacking of common sense) actions, and now it seemed the princess wanted to compensate him because his previous actions. Zelgadiss imagined what she was trying to do, and for a second he felt uneasy: Amelia was just too innocent and she lacked of any experience. How could she get it? It was a risk, mostly considering his body’s nature.

Still, Amelia had confessed she had fantasized with him; which in her personal case, it could be both: fantasized he was doing something to her, or she was doing something to him. The princess was like that, anyway. On the other hand, what Amelia was doing to him was what he had fantasized, too... Well, perhaps not the same context, but certainly he was the centre of her attentions and she wanted to give him pleasure.  So what was wrong about that?

Zelgadiss sighed, giving up at their personal desires, but being aware of Amelia’s lack of experience; if things kept that path, he should tell her what she had to do. The chimera wasn’t sure about what Amelia could do to him with the help of “Visfarank” spell, but he knew what pleased to him and how to do it; he should try to guide her at least.

Besides, he wasn’t about to ignore her attentions.

Carefully, his hands on her waist moved down and began to caress her legs, including the spot on behind her knees, and went up till they reached her buttocks, again; he held her like that for some moment, and later his hands began to run up towards her shoulders and nape.

Amelia sighed at his touch, knowing he wanted to feel her; after the experience of some minutes ago, she had realized he had learned how the chimera had to touch her in order to make her to feel better, as well he also got really pleased seeing her and touching her. In fact, the only difference she noticed was Zelgadiss allowed her to touch him.

Her hands felt his stone skin almost like human, even if it felt lightly colder than a standard human body, but what surprised her the most was the warn and tender feeling under her lips, quite different from their previous kisses. However, she didn’t know what he really liked; Amelia only knew he liked to be licked or something, but not when or where really. She had to find it out.

With this idea in mind, Amelia lowered her face and nuzzle on his neck, a forbidden move till some minutes ago; such maneuvers would had chaffed her face and scratched her with his hair, but now, she could do it without problems, only taking care of the right angle for avoiding to get stuck by the sharp edges of his hair. She tried to push it a little more, and kissed his neck and tried to bite the stone he had imbibed there, cautiously at first, and latter encouraged by a deep sight of him; this time it wasn’t like biting a limestone anymore, but like biting some sort of callus. It wasn’t the most pleasing feeling ever, but definitively better that biting a limestone. Again, she had to thank you her new version of  “Visfarank”.

Zelgadiss rested his back on the Cephied Statue ’s foot and separated his legs, allowing her to be just in front of him; at this point he moved his hands along her arms and caught her hands between his, pushing her lightly away from him. He breathed hard, still amazed for all those tactile feelings on his skin.

“Amelia... You... how much you know about...?” he began to ask, feeling a little disappoint because he had to interrupt her. Yet it was a question he had to do; she lacked of experience, and in spite of himself, they both had acquired the habit of having a small talk before doing anything risking. It was part of their relationship after all.

“It doesn’t matter, Mr. Zelgadiss.” She answered, her voice hoarse, as she also was holding her own desire. “If you’re going to leave tomorrow, really... I also want to give you something.”

“But...” he began; then he looked her in the eye, and clutched giving her acknowledge. “But... let me guide you.”

Amelia smiled and winked an eye to him. “Of course. We both always guide each other.”

He couldn’t help but smiling back to her. “God Cephied... What a woman!”

Before he could say something else, Amelia lowered on him and began to kiss him again; at this point, Zelgadiss brought her hands towards his mouth and began to kiss them and licking her fingertips, now taking more risks than in their previous moves because they were protected by the spell Amelia had casted, then he released her hands. Amelia clutched and moved them towards his chest, where she began to massage her pectoral muscles; in such position, her arms pressed together her breasts, making them to look more obvious, and Zelgadiss couldn’t stop himself any longer, so Amelia saw perfectly how he licked his lips in desire and try to move his hands to catch them.

“Let me...” he asked, his voice sounded hoarse, almost demanding.

The princess was surprised somehow; it seemed he also enjoyed the view of things besides feeling them; of course Amelia enjoyed seeing his male forms, but not a particular male part of his body, except for perhaps his face and his eyes, but Zelgadiss seemed he enjoyed seeing her and certain parts of her female shape were enough to make him get aroused. He was a man, after all; in lovemaking, view also was important.

Anyway, she allowed him to move his hands towards her breasts, and finally placed they on then, almost covering all then with his hands but not enough; they were big after all.

“Hmmmm....” he sighed in content as he began to rock his hands softly, kneading carefully. His eyes had started to shine with lust.

Amelia didn’t answer; of course the feeling was pleasing, but not as much as previously. She rather would like he would caressed her more often, as he did previously, than just letting him to touch her breasts. Still this was for him and she mirrored the gesture: as he kneeled her breasts, she tried the same with his pectoral muscles, but shortly afterwards, she began to move down her hands towards his belly and began to play with his waist. At this point, she lowered her lips on his and began to kiss him again.

Zelgadiss didn’t released his hands, the feeling of her fleshy mounds against his hands was too good and it excited him; he knew Amelia wasn’t getting the same than previously, but now he was being egoistical and he only seek for his own pleasure. He deserved a little, after all.

But Amelia’s hands were shy and cautious; he knew she was looking for the laces of his pants, although she didn’t dare to do that move; in fact, Amelia released the kiss and lowered her face towards his chest, till finally buried her face on his belly. In such position, Zelgadiss had to release his hands and moved them towards her back, waiting for her next move, yet she only breathed deeply, catching his male scent, which included the dark spot on his pants. The princess found herself losing part of her own desire and making up her mind for her next move. At this point, she kissed his muscular belly and traced some circles with her tongue; her hands moved from his waist till his thighs. Zelgadiss’ shape was quite slim, which included some long legs, but it was muscular, as consequence of his training and hard life; she was enjoying the feeling of his male shape and also knew he was enjoying her attentions because the bulge of his pants was getting obvious, but she wasn’t sure about what to do the next.

Zelgadiss saw her hesitation and caught her softly by her chin, obeying her to raise her head and looking at him.

“Nobody said this could be easy…” he mused as he was reading her mind, “But you always have been… a great woman. You’ll get it.”

“Does it mean I have to....?” she asked feeling uneasy.

“Just do what you want.”

Amelia understood. He would guide her; he knew what she wanted to get, yet he also knew Amelia wasn’t sure. A resolution flame shinned on her blue eyes and she rose herself to his face level, there she began to kiss him passionately and her right hand travelled towards his manhood; there, she caught him softly, trying to avoid the feeling of his wet clothes and her nerves and the butterflies in her stomach.

Zelgadiss gasped, and then he clutched between their kisses.  “Amelia...” he mused with a hiss.

The princess felt odd, a bit surprised about how easily Zelgadiss knew what he had to do, and how unsure she was. It was the first time she did something like that, and even if she had an idea about what to do, and she had wished for that moment, when she met the real event, she wasn’t totally sure about her moves. It made her to feel bad by both, Zelgadiss’ sake and her lack of initiative. Amelia was always filled of confidence, ready for taking a risk... and now, things wasn’t like that.

Still, she didn’t remove her hand, but breathed hard and a new decision filled her eyes. Amelia moved her left hand and embraced Zelgadiss’ neck with it as she began to kiss him, or rather, exploring his face with his lips and tongue; her right hand tried to grasp his manhood, which was getting firmer by the moment.

“Amelia...” Zelgadiss groaned again.

He couldn’t remain indifferent. He knew her hand wasn’t firm, it was shy, yet she was trying, and even if her touch was quite soft, he loved what she was doing; now, he felt he should return her the favour and began to caress her hair and nape, shoulders and back. Perhaps he also should try to give her everything back but Amelia needed help and she couldn’t enjoy herself when she’s more concentrated in her current task than anything else. That idea got strong in Zelgadiss’ mind: perhaps Amelia will be too concentrated in her new task and he couldn’t please her as she deserves; it made him to feel bad, but actually Amelia was too nervous for anything serious and she couldn’t get her desire back. Zelgadiss also had to admit he was clueless about how pleasing a woman at the same time he was being pleased; he just didn’t know how to do it and being good with it.

The chimera only could be tender with her.

At this point, Amelia encircled him totally with her hand, feeling his hardness in spite the fabric that still covering him. She remembered what she had seen back to that time in the forest, and the sayings of her courtiers, female pages and priestess from the temple. With that idea in mind, she tried to stroke him.

The chimera groaned, not as loudly as he’d like to do, but he did. His hand rushed to hold hers and tightened the grasp; Amelia knew he was asking her to be firmer, so she did getting used to the feeling of having a warn stone rod on her fist. At this point, his hand released hers and began to untie the laces than hold his trousers. Amelia broke the kiss and laid her left shoulder on his chest, looking what he was doing, quite clumsily because he was anxious and using only one hand as the other held her with her hips, enjoying her female curves. The princess couldn’t help but giggling nervously; Zelgadiss looked at her by the corner of his eyes, not being sure if feeling offended or amused, but then he noticed she was helping him to untie his pants. It encouraged him.

Amelia knew he used short and tighten underpants, which made sense, otherwise even walking around would produce a funny sound of jingling rocks scratching to each other; besides, she also had seen his underpants were very dark, almost black, although she couldn’t recognize the type of fabric (a quite strong one, considering its function), but now, for her surprise, she saw his underpants weren’t dark anymore, but almost white, like the rest of his clothes. It also made sense: he wasn’t to be travelling around the world always with the same underpants. Zelgadiss was quite tidy with his own person, which included all his clothes or even the way that he handled the belt that hold his sword from his hips.

---Totally different from Lina, who was really messy with her things, tossing  them around as soon as she got to change.

“What?” asked Zelgadiss, catching her distant view.

“Eh?... No, nothing... I just was thinking on Lina and her messy manners.” She answered.

“On Lina’s...?” That was the last thing Zelgadiss had expected. Well, it was better than seeing Amelia giggling like a greenhorn adolescent because he was striping himself in front of her.

“Yes.... But never mind.” And saying this, she tilted on him and began to kiss his lips, chin and neck, like previously, closing her eyes.

 Amelia tried to act like this, trying to get the correct mood again. She did cautiously because her breasts were pressing against his chest and they weren’t protected by the spell, so she could end up quite sore on her chest. At this point Zelgadiss had unlaced his pants and now a big part of his underwear was exposed, which included the messy spot on the top and an notorious bulge behind; Amelia glanced at it, feeling curious about she was going to meet and feel, so her hand travelled from his chest, from his ribs and belly, till Zelgadiss caught her. This time he was guiding her, teaching her and trying to make her feel secure. Amelia interweaved her fingers with his and both tried to take the upper hand playfully; the princess began to nuzzle on his collarbone, feeling more of his male scent, which encouraged her, as she tried to move her hand in the right direction, although it seemed Zelgadiss wanted to do this cautiously, taking the time they needed and not rushing.

Amelia understood his mute words and released his hands; then she rose on her knees again and kissed him on his lips, closed eyes and forehead, this time knowing his hair wouldn’t hurt her face, and both of her hands began to travel across his body and limbs till they reached his hips and toyed tracing circles around his manhood; finally, one of her hands travelled up and the other caught him firmly. This time his gasp was quite obvious.

It was amazing how the altered version of the “Visfarank” worked on him. Zelgadiss knew any common woman could please him like that, just because his tough skin made him unable to feel something tender or caressing him properly; even more, if the woman tried to press his body parts with her all straight using her hands, eventually she would ended up really tired, like she would have been kneading bread for hours or something like that, plus the inconvenience of her sore hands.

But overall he knew a common woman would ended up really wounded, covered of sores and cuts because his strength and his stony skin. Besides, he hardly would get any pleasure in return because he couldn’t fell her touches or even her female body. It only would be a real slaughtering for her.

However, now Amelia’s hands felt wonderfully on him, firm, warm and soft thanks to her own strength and the use she was doing of her original spell,. Besides, she was filled of love for him and learning fast, and he could felt she truly wished the best for him; now, she wasn’t grasping him, only, but encircling him and studding his male body, pretty much alike he did when he teased her breasts (which looked really nice under that angle). It was like one of his deepest desires would come truth, having the woman he loved right there.

“Amelia… keep doing that.” he breathed again.

The princess had started to enjoy herself, too. Her shyness was being replaced by her courage and her wish to do the best for him; step by step about what she had learned from her courtiers (not Lina, who was terribly shy about those matters), began to acquire form in her mind. Now, those comments and chat made more sense, even if she was dealing with a chimera and not a human male. She also remembered what she had learned about chimeras in later years, after discovering such creatures even existed; like they were sterile in spite of them keeping their sexual impulses, which was pretty obvious now. It could be an advantage in the time  she was ready to be penetrated, but she doubted about it right now.

Her hand grasped his testis and began to toy with them under the fabric of his underwear, as she kept dropping kisses along his collarbone, pectoral and belly; she also could heard his breath was getting harsh. Meanwhile, Zelgadiss tried to hold himself, which was being easier thanks to his previous ejaculation; if he hadn’t suffered it, he would had been quite anxious about what Amelia was doing to him, yet it was hard to do and tried to control it breathing deeply, relaxing himself and thinking in giving back to Amelia some of the same pleasure. Thus, his hands framed her face and brought her lips to him as he caressed her ears just she had done with him.

“Good… very good…” he mused with a hoarse hush.

Amelia giggled. “You like?”

“Yess…”

It was enough to encourage Amelia even more, there weren’t any butterfly in her stomach anymore. It was amazing;  he always had thought and kept thinking, how easily Amelia found the courage she needed to do what she wished. The princess pressed herself against his frame and began to play with the waistband of his underwear, trying to pull it down, which was quite hard to do because he was sit on the marble floor. He held her by the waist and one hand began to travel to her hips and buttocks again, as well the other tried to catch one of her breasts again; knowing his intentions, Amelia pulled away from him lightly and let him to caress them lightly till she kept her path towards his lower body. At this point, Zelgadiss’ eyes widened in desire, seeing that beautiful and curved woman resting between his separated legs as her breast rested on his lower hips and her lips licked and kissed everything they could reach. Amelia, of course, felt his desire getting obvious and began to pull down his underwear, just enough to show his manhood, which was almost totally erected. Finally, after some troubles, she got her objective.

“Oh!” Amelia exclaimed.

Zelgadiss blushed; not as much as what was happening than because her surprised look. Amelia never had been as closer to a man like now, and her face showed a mute evidence of that, even if she tried to show her usual always cheerful manners. For a second he wondered if he really had the rights to do all this to that woman, taking advantage of the innocence of one of the most powerful countries inside the barrier’s princess. But soon he kicked out that idiotic thought of his mind; he even had aimed with his sword to the throat of Xoana’s king and saved the  prince of Femile’s kingdom… so what was wrong with that when it happened to be a mutual agreement? He wasn’t going to regret it *now*, mostly after had killed in Rezo’s name for so long and saving the world in Cepheid’s (or whatever) name in several times.

As Amelia said, he also deserved some happiness and she knew he would get it.

Why not now?

Amelia, on the other hand, was confused. The light inside the temple at this night hour was quite dim, and she knew Zelgadiss wasn’t totally human, but now she didn’t know how to describe it under that almost blue atmosphere inside the temple. She had guessed Zelgadiss’ phallus could have stones imbibed on his leg or on his tip, pretty much alike he had on his face, or the rest of his body; and of course, she never had asked him because their relationship as couple just started two weeks ago and he never had talked about many of his intimacy things with them… well, except with Gourry, of course. The princess had just guessed if Zelgadiss hadn’t stop her it was because he knew she wouldn’t be harmed or something… Just perhaps he was guiding her, or just perhaps she took the precaution of using the “Visfarank” for their lovemaking.

Whatever it was, his length hadn’t any stone, it was smooth, just like his noise, hands and feet, which made sense; the most sensitive body parts of any creature are covered by roughness; even a dragon hasn’t horns or scales on its eyelids, for example. In fact, only the base, around the pubis, he had some stones and something than seemed to be a very short curly silvery hair. Suddenly Amelia remembered that, back the time she disguised him as female when they came to Femille Kingdom, Zelgadiss had told her he lacked of body hair because when he was transformed, he was quite young and his body functions worked slower because his chimerical condition, almost as half as slow than a common human; it also was because it seemed to be a family trademark. Rezo was quite hairless after all. It was funny she just remembered it right now.

Amelia had know that, but she hadn’t guessed that not only he lacked of barb (even Gourry had to shave time to time), but his armpits and legs hadn’t hair, either…and now, even his pubis.

Well, it would make things easier.

But it wasn’t the only thing that caught her attention. The princess didn’t know if it was “big” or “small”, just because she couldn’t compare him with any other  man; she had seen her cousin naked, but it happened when they both were children and it couldn’t be used as reference. Anyway, considering Zelgadiss’ height and slim figure, it only could be called “normal” or “proportionate”. However, it wasn’t what surprised her; she had been anatomy books and illustrations, but it wasn’t as she remembered from those books; the tip wasn’t covered, but fully exposed, making it him resemble a mushroom. Then she recognized it; Zelgadiss was circumcised, and knowing how hard was his skin, probably it was done in his younger days, before his transformation. He was lucky in some odd way because it was an advantage now for his daily life, having stone skin on that part of his body would be troublesome even for peeing.

Zelgadiss’ breath was heavy but it kept the same rhythm; his eyes were glued on Amelia’s curved form cuddled between his legs and holding him with a hand. It was a picture he had wished secretly for a long time, but now he found Amelia had stopped to do… something. Soon, he understood: Amelia was just confused because his naked form; she never had seeing him like that, and even less holding him in her fist. He had to do something.

Trying to encourage her, he reached one hand and grasped hers, helping her to hold him tightened; he also pointed to her to do it on his tip. With that mute gesture, Amelia understood and kissed his hand’s knuckles, and then, she raised her head smiling at him.

“I saw you once… I know what I have to do.” The princess announced.

Zelgadiss blinked and later he smiled back to her. In their previous talk, when Amelia had confessed to him she knew he wished for him, he had felt pretty embarrassed and bad for her, but now it almost was an advantage. At least, Amelia had more clues than whatever she had heard somewhere.

The feeling of her hand of him, soft, warn and firm, was really nice, and the princess had the feeling it was like…pulsing? Yet she decided it was normal and started to caress him and stroking him as she guessed she had to do. Soon, Zelgadiss began to breath hard as he watched her to accomplish her task; however, Amelia reasoned that, in the same way she didn’t like to be touched constantly on her breasts and womanhood in her lovemaking, surely Zelgadiss didn’t like to feel her only on his manhood… He surely would like something else.

Thus, Amelia began to move his lips and her left hand to other areas; her lips, tongue and noise began to nuzzle his lower belly and hips as her left hand played with his thighs and testis, which rested on her neckline. As she did, Amelia began to feel used to those feelings and the deep breathing of Zelgadiss, who kept his eyed fixed on her frame and caressed softly her shoulders and hair with only a hand.

At certain point, she rose her head and looked at him, looking for his approval. The chimera smiled at her wolfishly and said.

“Good… but harder. Please, do it harder.”

Amelia obeyed and tightened her grasp; she couldn’t help but following his instructions because she hasn’t a real experience about what to do.  Now her hand stroked him back and forth in a pacing motion, just like the time she had seeing him to do that. As a result, Zelgadiss moaned in a way that sounded familiar to her; the princess couldn’t help but smiling and watching him closely. Of course she felt nervous, but it was very encouraging and the idea of giving him her best was just wonderful.

Zelgadiss’ breath was quite harsh now, but suddenly he stopped her hand and obeyed her to release her grasp, but soon Amelia understood he just was indicating her something else; the chimera grasped her hand and moved it in a new motion, not only up and down, but trading a circle around his member from the base to the top and vice verse.

“Oh, I see.” She answered with a smile. And in her usual behavior, she rose and reached his lips and kissed him softly. “I’ll give you my best.”

The chimera blinked again, marveled by her behavior. None woman had wanted never pleasing him like that just because the sake of the love she had for him; besides, Amelia learned fast and almost immediately. A new groan merged of her throat. Amelia’s hand followed his instructions and traveled up and down tracing circles around him; but not only that, she also had guessed she could trace him with different rhythms and pressures on his length and testis in order to give him different grades of pleasure. In fact it was similar to what he had done with her and it also worked on him.

Zelgadiss’ breath was getting hard, although he tried to hold it, perhaps because he didn’t want to be lousy, but the moans from his throat were inevitable. At this point, Amelia noticed something wet on her fist and she stopped and watched her hand: it was wetted by some liquid. The princess removed her hand and saw what was happening with a confused look; the tip of his penis was leaking a quite transparent liquid and it had wet her hand. She also found his manhood really seemed to be pulsing or throbbing somehow, and it tend to tilt lightly to the left side; she watched him closely, wondering what was happening. Was this clear liquid his semen? Perhaps it looked like that because he was a chimera and it was like that. She knew Zelgadiss was sterile after all.

“A… Amelia…” Zelgadiss breathed, “What’s wrong?... Why did you… stop?”

The princess was startled. Judging for Zelgadiss’ speech and voice, things hadn’t finished yet, but she felt confused and disappointment. Amelia just couldn’t picture that success as he had ejaculated, yet something had happened to him.

“You… you…” she mused, not daring even to touch him.

Then, Zelgadiss understood.

“It’s ok. It’s just  my pre-ejaculation…” he answered, “…Cowper’s liquid.”

Amelia looked at his eyes, feeling uneasy because her lack of acknowledge. But, listening to him, she remembered what he had read about the matter. It tranquilized her and she couldn’t help but smiling because it meant she was doing well.

“Sorry, Zelgadiss…” she apologized, “I didn’t know.”

“I know…”

“He’s being very patient with me.”

Without waiting something else, Amelia reached for his penis again and grasped him by the base, quite tightened, like it was a staff. Feeling his touch, Zelgadiss gasped, pleased; the sudden grasp had made him to recover part of his excitement as his view traveled towards the temple’s ceiling; now he only could see the gigantic frame of the dragon Lord’ statue, just above his head, and feeling the excitement in his body. Unaware of this, Amelia caressed his hips with her remain hand and finally she brushed his tip, cleaning the liquid that dropped from it.

“Amelia… c’mon…” his voice sounded demanding.

The princess looked at him with a startled look on her eyes, remembering something about his later words, although Zelgadiss seemed to be so lost in his excitement than he didn’t remember that success. Knowing that, her face turned in a decision gesture, and hocking some of his raven locks after her ear, she lowered her head and kissed softly his glands, and later, she licked it tentatively. It was pretty softer than the rest of his skin, almost like his eyelids or his lips, although she tried to ignore the favour of the pre-ejaculation liquid that covered it.

Still, Amelia couldn’t help but smiling in triumph because the loud gasp that merged from Zelgadiss’ throat. The chimera lowered his view again and watched how Amelia’s tongue caressed his tip, almost like she was eating one of those Seyruun’s ice-cream, which could be the only real reference Amelia had. His checks flushed and his eyes shined with love and lust when he saw what she was doing. The feeling of her humid tongue, helped with the “Visfarank” spell against his glands and later his staff, too, was just really good.

“A... Amelia...” he kept breathing.

The princess glanced at him, seeing his excited face with his mouth half open and his eyes half closed, one she had seen on him only once time, and now she was sure it was because of her. Back that casual finding in the woods, she felt really ashamed, but now, Amelia was glad she could see Zelgadiss like that. It had helped their relationship a lot.

Feeling encouraged, Amelia did something that her maiden companions had told to her, although she didn’t know if he would like it or not. At first, after licked his tip, later his whole member, but now, after kissing there again, she engulfed him.

Zelgadiss’ eyes widened. He hadn’t expected such move, and the feeling was far better; not only because the caress, but the warn and wet texture inside her mouth and her tongue around him. Moved by his own desire, he reached a hand towards Amelia’s head, but suddenly, she released him and his hand stopped midair.

Amelia tried to catch her breath; it seemed Zelgadiss had enjoyed the feeling, but the princess found herself unable to breath and... suck at him in due time. Besides, his member was covered of stone and such feeling inside her mouth wasn’t any pleasant at all and her teeth felt scratched by the rock in spite she had took the precaution of saving her face and mouth with “Visfarank”; it didn’t included the cavern of her mouth really and the stone tip was hard to deal with inside her mouth. The princess didn’t know what to do exactly and watched it as it was a problem, although she didn’t stop to lick; finally she decided the best thing she could do was to curve his lips on her teeth in order to bring up some protection to them, and later, she engulfed him again trying to breath in due time.

“Hmmmmm...” the chimera moaned.

He was right, she was doing it well. At this point, Zelgadiss moved again his hand again and placed it softly on Amelia’s head, twitching her short raven locks between his fingers and then he moved his hand softly, pointing to her the right moves and rhythm as she tried to suck his member.

Amelia was surprised with herself about her behaviour; she had wished to give Zelgadiss her best, and that include what she was doing right no; she had wished to pleasing Zel orally somehow... But Amelia never had guessed that night she would end up doing it to him. His indications were firm and tender, just like he used to be with her, and even if they sounded demanding, they never were an order; she wanted to give him the best and he just was indicating to her what to do. It had been his promised tonight, and it also was hers.

Like that, Amelia’s mouth engulfed him as much as she could as she licked and sucked to him; since she couldn’t do it totally, the princess helped her task using her hand just like she had been doing previously. And apparently it worked all right.

Zelgadiss breath was really agitated, like he had been running for long time or fighting a hard enemy; because they both had lived those events previously, such sound didn’t surprised Amelia. What made her to blush, even in such circumstances, was his heavy breath, which fought hard to hold his moans, whimpers and groans; it made her happy to know she was pleasing him like that, yet it also was embarrassing. Amelia never had heard him like that... at least, not so clearly and for such long time.

Besides, she began to feel confused again. The pre-ejaculation liquid still dropping from his tip and his member seemed to be covered now by a natural lubricant or something that made it to have an odd savour but easing the task she was involved with right now. Amelia tried to ignore it and keeping doing her task as good as she could. At this point, Zelgadiss’ hips began to shake in spite of his efforts to hold them; his pelvis bucked up involuntarily but his hand remained on her head, although softer than previously, knowing it could hurt her if his hips shook so violently.

“A...Amelia...” he breathed, his voice really harsh. “More...”

Zelgadiss didn’t see it, but Amelia’s cheeks flushed lightly, feeling uneasy because his demanding tone and trying to hold his thrust inside her mouth; yet she tried and suddenly, she felt something filling her mouth. It had a light sour favour and it come along a quite high moan from Zelgadiss’ throat. Amelia just realized he had reached his organs and that liquid was his dead seed. She tried to keep sucking at him till he finished, but didn’t know what to do with his semen and some dropped from her mouth’s corners to her chin till finally he collapsed after some seconds that Amelia found quite long.

Amelia guessed everything had finished and finally she released her mouth and rose on her knees, not sure about the next. Zelgadiss was in front of her, with a fist grasping his cloak’s flap and his legs open, between them, his member was flaccid again, and overall, his chest rose as he tried to catch his breath. His eyes seemed to be half closed and his face was quite dizzy even for talking aloud, just like she had been any minutes ago. Yes, it seemed to be finished.

The princess flushed; she couldn’t talk either along her mouth was dirty and she reached the same handkerchief she used before and cleaned her mouth with it as she nulled the “Visfarank” spell. Her later actions and having kept active for such long time the spell made her to be quite tired. Shyly Amelia tied up herself and cleaned her face and mouth, and finally she covered her breasts and put her bra in the right place. In all the time, Zelgadiss didn’t say a word, he just made a nod because he seemed to be quite dizzy for saying anything and trying to regroup himself; certainly Amelia lacked of experience and technical, and they both found to be quite clumsy about pleasing each other in due time, so Amelia wasn’t rewarded this time and Zelgadiss had reached the edge for first time almost by accident. It couldn’t be  called “perfect”, but Zelgadiss was very pleased by what just happened; the Seyruun’s princess had showed him her love, overcoming the physical barrier that was his body, and it had been enough to make him feeling like this. The “Ma-Kenshi” had felt her love physically and emotionally, something that none woman had ever done, and now he felt totally content, immerse in a sleeping feeling. Thinking on that, he just closed his legs, covering himself, and watched her to tidy herself with a small smile on his lips.

Having the same smile on her lips and knowing everything was already off, Amelia put her baggy trousers back to the right place, she wasn’t about to more lovemaking as well Zelgadiss seemed to be. She was tired, it was really later and well... she doubted to dare to do something more tonight. Of course the princess would love to share a real lovemaking with him, but she didn’t feel secure about that or even how to do it and she was satisfied with what had happened tonight.

And something else, of course...

“Thank you, Lord Cephied...” she mused looking at the dragon’s lord statue above their heads.

Hearing her, Zelgadiss blinked; he had managed to recover himself quite enough, but he just didn’t understand Amelia’s words. What was that for? Amelia had an odd smile on her lips and she was looking at the statue and finally she put back her alb on her shoulders as nothing had happened. Zelgadiss frowned and managed to put back his underwear in the right place and laced his trousers again; Amelia watched him by the corner of her eye, surprised somehow about how easily he managed to move around  his male parts even if they were covered of stone. Certainly Zelgadiss was really used to his condition, but it wasn’t what made her to smile.

“Thank you Mr Zelgadiss.” She smiled at him as the chimera raised on his feet again, “I can tell you’re going to accomplish your promise.”

The chimera blinked. “Amelia, what’re you talking about?... I just told I wanted to... well, making you...”

“I know. But you have accomplished your promise.” She replied with a sweet smile.

Zelgadiss blinked again. He knew Amelia was really pleased for his lovemaking, but now she even seemed to be granted with Cephied itself. He also knew for him, pleasing a woman was really hard to do, but this was just...

“Amelia, I think you’re being exaggerated.” He exclaimed. “I am really glad of... what we have done. It’s what we both wanted. But even thanking Cephied for that is just...” but he trailed off when Amelia’s giggles interrupted him.

“Silly, I am not that.” She answered with a cute smile.

“Then, why are you thanking Cephied?” the chimera asked as he tried to reach for his short tunic.

The princess, still smiling, looked at him with a compressive smile on her lips, and then she put her hands on his bare shoulders, although this time they weren’t protected by the “Visfarank” spell; Amelia felt how different his skin was when she touched him with her bare hands and when she did with the spell on them. But she ignored the stony feeling under her palms and raised her head, looking at him directly on his non-human eyes.

“Mr. Zelgadiss... do you know what is this temple and Cephied statue?” she asked. “What are they for?”

“Huh?...” Zelgadiss was just confused; of course he knew and such question was nonsense. “ Yes; they’re Seyruun’s main temple and the centre of the protection spell than shields this city... Why do you ask that? What is that for?”

Amelia giggled again and then, she raised the index finger in front of her face as she winked at him; it was a typical gesture of hers and the chimera had become used to it as part of one of her personality trademarks. He also knew when Amelia did that was because she was pointing something with a complicity gesture.

“Yes... But it isn’t only for that.” She revealed.

Zelgadiss blinked, feeling a bit lost; it wasn’t a feeling he really liked. He just stood there, between the statue’s legs and holding his light beige tunic in one hand, not daring to put it back.

“Amelia... what are you trying to tell me? Why are asking me such thing?”

The princess just raised her head towards the statue with a soft smile on her lips and a dreamy shine on her blue eyes. Then she began to talk, although her voice sounded more serious than previously.

“This temple, this altar, is where Cephied’s holy power is more strong... But also is...” she turned her head towards him, “... The place where royal weddings are celebrated.”

Now, it was Zelgadiss’ turn for gasping.

“What?” he gapped, “Royal Weddings? And you granted me for that?”

The fact is Zelgadiss didn’t know exactly what Amelia was really implying saying him all that stuff; yet she removed her hands from his shoulders and looked at him seriously.

“I grant you because you’ve showed me your love at Cepheid’ service. You showed me your love as none other royal couple has done in this altar when they get married.” The princess smiled widely, “Now, I am sure you will accomplish to promise and you will get back here in the future... Because you’ve swore that to Cephied and he will make you get what you desire the most, which includes living here with me at your side.”

Zelgadiss’ jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe what Amelia was saying.

“Amelia…are you saying this is like... we would get married or something like that?”

“Indeed.” She answered with a wide smile.

Zelgadiss felt suddenly tired because the bizarre situation and not because his strong orgasm. There was logic in Amelia’s words; people makes big promises in Cepheid’s temples and they seeks for the Dragon Lord’s advice in its priests and altars. Making love under the most important Cepheid’s temple inside the accident barrier was, well, a very big promise.

---And he couldn’t blame Cephied, Amelia or himself for that. It was just his own desire of making Amelia happy and giving her his best what had made them both end up like that. He never planed that previously, he didn’t even thought it could be like it had been; it just had happened. He had done what secretly had wished for long time and tonight, at Cephied’ service, it had become truth. And she for him, according with her own words.

In some bizarre way, they both were tied up together, now.

Zelgadiss couldn’t help but laugh, bemused by the situation. Among all the weddings he had been (which weren’t many, really, and mostly of them before his transformation), Martina’s and Zanglus’ one had been the “Top-Ten” of the bizarre ones, but now his had been even more. Besides, considering how absurd where many of the things he had done in later years, this wasn’t anything different. The fact is he had to accept the odds.

“Zelgadiss!” exclaimed Amelia, feeling hurt by his sudden laughs.

Her words had an immediate answer and the chimera stopped; then his face turned towards hers and took her by her shoulders, pretty much alike she had done previously. Hi glanced at his tunic, and later to her, thinking it would be better to get dressed as soon as possible, but he also had to answer Amelia. It was far more important.

“Amelia.. my sweet cutie...” he began, calling her as he had wished to call her someday in the future, “You’re right. I’ve made a promise to Cephied and it had been accomplished; I cannot deny or refuse it.”

The princess blinked at him with a confused look on her big blue eyes; he never had talked to him like that, even when they accepted their mutual feelings two weeks ago or just some hours ago, when she found him in the temple. Then Zelgadiss took her right hand and kissed her knuckles softly.

“You know I cannot stay here with you while I still being ‘Rezo’s berserker’... I already told you what means for me being a chimera; I have to search for my freedom and my humanity. I even... cannot give you any children as I still being a chimera.” Amelia shivered; she hadn’t thought in such long terms for their relationship, “So I have to keep searching my cure and getting back my old and real self, you know.”

“Yes, I know. And as I told you, you’ll get it.” She answered, still unsure about his intentions.

“After what happened these days, I’ve gain confidence in I’ll get it. I’m very glad to find I have some hope. So I’ll leave... But I shall come back. I’ve made my promise and now you’re my... fiancé.”

Then, for Amelia’s surprise, he took the waistband of her chalza amulet, the one of her right hand, and began to pull it off.

“I’ll take this with me as I’m out. This will make me remember my promise.”

The princess’ hand reached for his own hand and took the big blue jewel on her waist, pulling it out and taking his hand with her left one; then she deposited the amulet on his palm and closed his fingers over it.

“You can take it. But because I want this bracelet is a present of mine for you.”Amelia announced. “My chalza amulets are part of my oracle power, just like Shylfild’ staff... They have a protection spell, but they also have another spell.”

“What is it?” the fact is the chimera swordsman didn’t think Amelia’s chalza would be something else than a priestess’ attribute. He was totally clueless about White Magic after all.

“My chalza amulets are enchanted with a ‘Vision’ spell... It had allowed me to be in touch by my daddy in all those travels I’ve done with you and the others. Now, you also will be able to be in touch with me in spite of the distance.”

Zelgadiss listened to her gravely. Among all her possessions, he just choice to take the only one than allowed him to be with Amelia like that; he was starting to think none of what was happening was a coincidence. Amelia surely thought so and she closed his stone fingers over the blue jewel with the white star inside.

“Here, it’s for you.” Amelia said, “We will be able to be next to each other in spite of the distance.”

The chimera looked at his closed fist and later to Amelia, who was already full dressed (except for her stole, which still curled on the marble ground), and smiled; then, he tilted over her and kissed her softly on softly her forehead.

“Thank you, Amelia. I owe you many things and I...” he made a pause, looking for the right words, “I am very happy you’re my... fiancé now.”

The princess smiled with that particular smile that she used and had given him so many happy moments.

“I also am very happy, Mr. Zelgadiss... You know I really love you and I’ll be waiting for you.”

Zelgadiss closed his eyes and brought his fist with the jewel inside towards his bare chest. He never had dreamed a woman, a princess indeed, would tell such beautiful words to him. There wasn’t any real reason to deny or refusing them except his own inner pains, and after such events, he just didn’t want they rule his life.

“I shall come back.”

“I know. You promised it to me and to Cephied.”

***

hortly afterwards, Zelgadiss got full dressed again, as nothing had happened, and after a little chat about tomorrow events, Amelia kissed goodnight to him and went to the gynoecia where she had her private rooms; she was a princess, but she also was a priestess and her rooms where separated of the rest. In fact, the only time she had slept in palace, was back the time of the Prince Alfred’s rebellion, so it could be told Zelgadiss never had visited her room. Which was totally prohibited for men anyway, so he only could to go with her till the entrance.

But he was happy about everything had happened. He felt something had filled him in her heart, something that made him happy and getting back his confidence and trust in life and others; till now, he always had fought to survive, for his own freedom, and now he also did for his own happiness. Not many people had managed to get closer to him and not died along because what he was obeyed to do.

Of course, a night with the woman he loved wasn’t the only reason. It would be cheap... but remembering that poor girl who was target of Rezo’s mad spells (as well he was that time and other many), he felt happy for her and how things had happened. Amelia had given to him her heart and he had answered his gesture. Now, he also had a new task on his life, a new one waiting for being cure... or perhaps sooner.

He just never thought it could happen.

---The only problem was he just couldn’t depart at the dawn because his clothes were shamelessly dirty and his canteen was empty, so he had to take care of those. Besides, even if the chalza amulet was a present, he didn’t want to carry it around showing it; it could be troubling because nobody would understand why a warrior chimera, specifically one with a very bad fame, had a Seyruun’s priestess possession. He rather would kept it in one of his cloak’s magic pockets, the same where he kept the canteen or the handkerchiefs. After all, all those things were related by the same events of that night.

Perhaps he could kept the handkerchiefs as a memory of their lovemaking, and the chalza as a heart present of her. Although he surely had to fill up the canteen with water again, as well washing his trousers and underwear.

Well, not everything could be perfect.

...But surely it was before than the day previous.

THE END

*Author’s notes: Thank you very much for reading this and enjoying the illustrations. Again, this fic has references to anime and novels, just like my usual works. Because of that, my Zelgadiss’ portraying is lightly different than anime’s, and he’s darker here. In this story I tell he isn’t virgin, which I find obvious after reading novels and manga. I just figure out how it could had happened because I find quite obvious Zel isn’t a pervert and he never took advantage of her female friends. Besides that, he lacks of that stupid teenager ugly complex he “seems” to suffer in anime, but here I’ve portrayed a little of his true self.

Finally I wanted to write a love-story, a sharing of mutual feelings and how they help to overcome the barriers (physical and moral) that they both suffer. I hope to do it fine enough.

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