Throwing another piece of firewood on the fire, Zelgadis grumbled to himself before he took off the boot from his right foot. His original clothing he came to this world had been destroyed in his capture for the most part, but the Emperor had been so gracious as to equip him with Captain’s garb; that being a black steel version of a MagiTek Soldier’s armor plus a red cape that doubled as the National Flag of the Gestahl Empire.
“We’ve been walking around all day...” Zelgadis told the woman who sat across from him. Night was starting to fall and he just wanted to relax after a hard day’s work of fighting all the wild life he and his current partner could find. “Think three more new spells in one day is enough?”
Needless to say, finding out how HE could learn magic had been most... Disturbing.
“For the Emperor, it would be too little,” the woman said sympathetically. She knew how hard this was right now.
Zelgadis frowned. “Too little?” His frown deepened. “My dear, I have to let myself take the brunt of an attack of some creature, and just pray I’m lucky enough to not get killed, all for some slim chance I can use it back!”
Yes, Zelgadis wasn’t liking this new form of sorcery, this, ironically titled, ‘Blue Magic’.
“Please, Zelgadis. You can withstand attacks the rest of us can’t even dream of surviving,” the blonde woman said. “And this did take you out of that lab.”
“Out of the lab maybe, but I’m still on a leash,” Zelgadis snorted. “I never asked to be signed up as one of your Empire’s soldiers. But that seemed to be the only way to get out of that rust bucket you people call home.”
However, surprising Celes, the chimera did manage a small smile. “Still... It was worth frying that little freak’s ass, wasn’t it?”
Celes smiled at the memory. The expression on Kefka’s face was priceless. “I’m sure it won’t be that bad in the long run, Zelgadis. As you get more of a hang of your powers, you’ll feel more comfortable with them.” She sure knew how that felt.
“I don’t care about learning magic, Celes,” Zelgadis said before taking off his other boot. “I’m just staying around long enough for you guys to find me a way back to where I belong, or at least get me help in finding the others.”
It was no secret that Zelgadis wasn’t loyal to the Emperor. Some of the soldiers whom learned about their new Captain, before he was sent off on his mission to learn new magic, had already set a chain of rumors going with the populace.
“I understand,” Celes said tightly. She disagreed with the chimera strongly on this, since her loyalty was completely with the Empire. She was raised to be that way.
Noticing the sudden tone of her voice, Zelgadis looked up at Celes. “I apologize,” he said to her genuinely. “I understand how you must feel towards your home, but that’s just it, that kingdom, hell this whole world is your home. I’m a stranger here in more ways than one.” It was a shock for Zelgadis, learning he’d landed in a new world entirely, and it still hadn’t settled with him.
The general nodded thankfully at the chimera. “For the duration of your stay, however long it may be, we should avoid any trouble. That includes angering the Emperor by not giving him the results he expects. I’m sure you agree with me that would ruin your chances at finding a way back through the Empire.” Though Celes suspected the Emperor just wanted to find a way to that other world to do as he did with the Espers, to get more power for his conquest.
Zelgadis nodded his head. If he was going to get what he needed from this place, he realized he was at least going to have to pay it lip service. Realizing this, the chimera had to wonder back to how this all spun so out of control...
(------)
Zelgadis frowned as he looked himself over, dressed in simple cloth pantaloons, shirt, and shoes. “These aren’t my clothes...”
“I’m sorry. It’s the best I could do to find you something to wear,” Celes said apologetically.
Zelgadis sighed as he continued to followed the woman down the hallway. “At least your people were able to return my sword...” He said slowly as he looked down to the sheathed sword by his side. Of course, there were cords or ‘peace ties’ around the hilt and in the scabbards. A precaution they said he had to have if he was going to see the Emperor.
“This audience with the Emperor is very important. Please try to remain calm,” Celes said as she checked her own clothing to make sure she looked her best.
Zelgadis nodded. “Of course,” he had to agree. Maybe now he could try to see what he could do about finding his friends. Or at LEAST get himself to be treated as a human being. He blinked his eyes as the area they reached started to have red carpeting. “We’re close?”
Seeing Celes open the large double-doors, Zelgadis' eyes WIDENED as he saw two guards both sitting in those large ‘MagiTek Armors’ on the other side, each standing on either side of the red carpet. A carpet that went up a set of stairs made through a wall which obviously went up another landing.
The general didn’t hesitate and walked forward, having been here many times during her life.
Zelgadis was hesitant, but seeing the woman walk through unopposed, hell, seeing her walk through and being SALUTED... He figured it might be all right, and followed after her, walking up the steps. The next floor had two regular armored soldiers at either side of yet ANOTHER set of steps. Both of whom, held their spears up straight in salute. “General Chere!” Both spoke up in praise of a superior officer.
“Gentlemen,” Celes greeted back formally, walking past them as well.
Following Celes up yet ANOTHER set of stairs, he lowly mentioned to the woman, “Popular, aren’t you?”
The general smiled slightly. “I have lived my entire life in the Empire, and served Emperor Gestahl since I can remember.”
Zelgadis nodded his head. Finally, the reached yet ANOTHER set of double doors, and the chimera man pushed them open for the woman. These doors were unlike the ones on the bottom. Well oiled, causing no sound or resistance. They even had some polish to them.
“Ladies first,” Zelgadis said as he held the door open for the woman.
“Why thank you, kind sir,” Celes returned with a smile as she walked in.
Zelgadis managed a small smile, finally feeling something of being at ease for the first time in awhile...
...And then his eyes widened as the room was HUGE! High ceilings which was accented by polished walls. There was also a plush red carpet going straight from the door to the end of the room atop the marble-tiled floor. There was a break in the carpet, so one could see the marble steps that lead up to a higher part of the room. What was it with this Emperor and stairs?
“Only one flight of stairs more,” Celes said with a smile at seeing Zel’s reaction to the opulence the Emperor was surrounded by.
“Whoopi...” Zelgadis said, half-jokingly, half serious. When they reached the top of the steps, Zelgadis could see the end of the room was slightly more decorated. Two doors in the back, but these weren’t a set, with red flags hanging over each door from the ceiling. They were that black rising smoke which made an interesting combination of a ‘V’ shape and a reverse ‘G’, and three small marks of a rose, and two balls with pentagrams at either side; all black on red backdrop. Obviously, this design was the national flag. But more importantly was the fact that there was an ornate wrought-iron chair with cranberry cushioning...
That was vacant.
Still, there were people on the upper level. Two were high ranking soldiers in red armor, carrying a large shield in their left arms, and holding large halberds with their right hands.
The third was a man was definitely someone who wasn't just another cookie-cutter cut-out armored individual like everyone else Zelgadis had seen so far... The dimensionally displaced Chimera watched as the man turned towards them. He was a tanned individual with blonde hair done in a short mo-hawk, and silver stud earring in his left ear. He was decorated in green armor chest-plate and tasset with blue bracers and boots. Instead of a cape though, the man had a green sleeveless trench-coat over the ensemble. And hanging on his right side, was a bastard sword with decorated hilt showing from above the VERY ornate scabbard the weapon was sheathed in.
“General Leo,” Celes greeted formally as she saluted the man.
The man managed a smile and returned the salute. “General Celes...” Allowing himself to go back to ease, Leo looked past Celes slightly. “And this is Zelgadis?”
“He is indeed, General,” Celes took a step to the side to face both men. “We’re seeking an audience with the Emperor.”
Leo nodded his head. “You're in luck. The Emperor has invited us to dine with him, Celes,” the older man told them, as he looked over the blue stone-skinned individual. “His highness was most interested in meeting you.”
“I’ll... Take that as a compliment...” Zelgadis said slowly, feeling more creeped out than anything else, really.
Celes turned to Leo as the group resumed talking. “I heard you are taking care of negotiations with Doma.”
Leo lowered his head. “I wish it was negotiations...” He said, shame evident in his voice. “It’s why I hope to talk to his excellency tonight.”
“I see...” Celes said, understanding all too well what was happening.
At the tone of Celes’ voice, Zelgadis frowned. “So when do we meet this Emperor?”
“When he is ready to have us join his attendance at dinner,” Leo answered seriously, as if it were expected of them to just wait around for the Emperor. And in reality, it WAS expected of them it was. They were his servants, after all.
Zelgadis frowned, placing his hands on his hips. He obviously didn’t like the concept of having to stand around and wait on some no-show leader of an Empire.
Leo blinked his eyes and turned to Celes, wondering if she understood the actions behind their guest.
The woman knew Zelgadis’ intentions well enough, but she played the part of the ignorant woman as she didn’t want to make an issue of it right now.
Time passed, slowly... Too slowly for the impatient Chimera’s taste. He wished he had some sort of clock or something.
Celes, long used to such waits, remained impassive through the wait.
After a bit more time Zelgadis turned to look at Celes. “Can we enter now, or will there be something else to this?”
“We will enter when the Emperor deigns receive us. No sooner,” Celes said calmly.
It was a full half hour before the guards in red moved out of the way of the doors. “His excellency will see you for dining now.”
“Thank you!” Zelgadis said with obvious relief. He started walking towards one of the doors when he Guard pointedly stood in his way. “Now WHAT!?” Zelgadis growled.
Sorry, Mr. Graywords,” Leo spoke up. “That is the right door. It is reserved for people of his majesty’s court. The LEFT door is for everyone else, and that includes you.” At the look Zelgadis gave the Moore, Leo responded, “It’s all part of tradition.”
Zelgadis slowly turned to look towards Celes for confirmation.
Celes sighed and nodded. “I’m sorry to say, it’s been that way since I can remember.”
“Fine, I’ll go through the LEFT door...” Zelgadis said and headed to the left door...
...Only to have the OTHER guard block his way in.
“Excuse me, Mr. Graywords,” Leo once again spoke up as the blue-skinned stone individual started to turn red. “It’s also primary custom for those of his majesty’s court to enter first.” He then motioned to Celes. “And always, ladies first.”
“Thank you, General Leo,” Celes said graciously as she walked in. She also didn’t want to give Zel time to explode.
Leo then entered after Celes did. And THEN the Guard at the left door pointedly stepped out of the way.
The Chimera stood GLARING at the two guards for a moment. “...I hate you...” Zelgadis grumbled before straightening his clothing out, and stepped past the door and into the room.
Upon entering, Zelgadis had to blink his eyes as he stared at the room before him. If the ceiling was high in the last room this one doubled in height, flags with that same black sigil on red backdrop draped all around the room.
But more down to earth, there were Leo and Celes standing at either side of where he had entered, and before them, a large table which went across the room. In the center of the other side, facing towards them was a man that sat in an ornate wrought-iron chair which was an exact copy of the throne in the room before.
This man draped in black and dark cranberry silks, was an older bearded man, his calloused and liver-spotted hands grasping onto the chair, showing off how he wore rings of gold all set with precious gemstones of various cuts and colors. His white mustache reached down to his knees and beard to his pubic region. His head was adorned with an ornate black coned crown, a obsidian jewel in the center, and his hair coming out the top of the cone and falling back, cascading down to nearly touch the floor.
“Presenting, to his Imperial Highness,” the Guard in red spoke up. “General Celes Chere. General Leo Damascus. And Zelgadis Graywords!”
‘So this is the Emperor,’ Zelgadis thought seriously. This may have been an old man, but he had a build that was similar to Prince Phil, or even Rezo. Tall and maintaining muscle despite his age; physically fit and then some.
And the power, the MAGIC that radiated off his aged individual was unbelievable! Power that was almost up to par for when Lina had, long ago, cast the Giga Slave against Shabranigdo. What kind of person WAS this Emperor!?
Needless to say, being unprepared for such an empowered aura caught Zelgadis off guard, causing him to go to one knee...
Which was interpreted as him kneeling to his superior.
A smile trailed across the wrinkled, cracked lips of the ruler of the MagiTek Empire. “He certainly knows his place. He beat both my loyal Generals to the show of loyalty, eh?”
Blinking his eyes for a moment, Leo sweated lightly, feeling foolish. “Forgive me, my liege,” he hailed before dropping to one knee as well.
“That he did, Emperor Gestahl,” Celes said apologetically, kneeling to her ruler.
Emperor Gestahl held his right hand up. “Rise and be seated,” he told the three kneeling before him. “Oh, and please, I want our guest to sit across from me. There is much to discuss.”
Celes obeyed without question, acting in a stiff and formal way. So very different from what Zelgadis had seen of the woman so far.
Nodding his head, Zelgadis got to his feet. “Fine by me,” he stood up and pulled out the chair to the side of the Emperor. “Ladies first...” He said, half mockingly to this whole affair that he felt was a farce...
...Which, the Emperor didn’t realize for such as it was. “He catches on quickly, it seems.”
Celes gave Zelgadis a warning glance as she took the offered seat. “Thank you, kind sir.”
“You’re most certainly welcome, General Chere,” Zelgadis said formally before gently pushing her chair in and sitting down himself.
Though he wasn’t about to admit it, he did feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. He was sitting right across from the ruler of this nut-job nation inside a craptacular castle, and this old man had more magical might in him than any sorcerer he’d yet to come across. Lina would be hard pressed against THIS guy!
“We are so grateful to you, Emperor Gestahl, for receiving us tonight,” Celes said formally.
“It is quite all right,” Emperor Gestahl waved off his female General. “I feel I need to make amends to our guest for the brash behavior of our kingdom’s soldiers.” He looked Zelgadis in the eyes. “Please understand, you look very much like something that is extremely important to the Empire.”
Zelgadis frowned, but knew he’d better try and be reasonable. “It’s... All right... Better things calmed down before they got too out of hand.” Though deep down, he felt they got WAY out of hand already, but he was trying to be polite.
Celes nodded her acceptance of Zelgadis’ attempt at diplomacy. Thankfully, this would mean the Emperor would no longer seek to make him into an experiment at Kefka’s insistence.
At the Chimera’s understanding, Gestahl nodded his head. “Quite. That would have been a most unfortunate occurrence, should we have done anything to your personage...” He smiled as this gave him the opening he wanted. “Although we don’t know HOW you came to be of such a state of being. I know you are human, but HOW did you come to such a physical state?”
Zelgadis frowned. This was always such a touchy subject for him. “My grandfather, and possibly great-grandfather... Rezo the Red Priest.”
Gestahl blinked his eyes once, twice... “Who?”
“Rezo,” Zelgadis repeated. “One of the great Five Wisemen of the Age.”
“Mr. Graywords claims to be from another world, my liege. Not a difficult concept for us to believe,” Celes ventured.
“I see...” Gestahl said slowly. He slowly steepled his fingers together before him in thought. “So, your grandfather turned you into this... How did he do such?”
“Chimera arts,” Zelgadis sighed. “Basically where you take the abilities and aspects or possibly an entire creature and meld it into another,” he answered as he looked down at himself. “Still one third human, but now I’m one third golem and one third blow demon.”
Gestahl nodded his head to this. It sounded most interesting. “So your grandfather basically took these creatures... Or the aspects of these two beings, and forced them unto you?”
“Exactly...” Zelgadis sighed.
“Was the process... Painful?” Celes asked in sympathy, knowing it must’ve been agonizing.
Zelgadis frowned. “I can’t give you an honest answer, since I myself don’t remember that well...” He crossed his arms over his chest and sat back in his chair. “I remember only a little bit in dreams, and even then, it’s not the full extent of what I went through at the hands of Rezo and Eris.”
“I’m sorry to hear that," Celes said truthfully.
Gestahl nodded his head to that. “It sounds like a new form of magical science.” He slowly looked over to Cid who was at the end of the table, and obviously making mental notes.
“It is where I came from,” Zelgadis admitted. “Ever since my change, I’ve been trying to find ways to undo this, and have come across little in the way of success.”
Hearing this made Leo sigh, truly feeling sorry for the young man. “Seems like a horrible fate for someone.” And he meant it too. While he was told it would be in his best interest, time and time again Leo had taken a firm stance against and refused any sort of Magic Infusion. Unlike Celes he had joined the Empire when he was older and could make that decision for himself.
Lowering his head, Zelgadis sighed. “What’s worse is that I brought this upon myself. I trained hard every day when I was a younger, wanting to find the quickest path to greater strength. Rezo offered me great power, and I took it, without considering the consequences...”
Celes became sad at hearing that. Even if Zelgadis already told her some things about himself, it saddened her to see how much his decision pained him.
Leo nodded his head slowly, having considered what Zelgadis told him. “Often, taking short-cuts to power, can leave one with short-comings...”
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(Posted Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:41)
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