Rememberance
Part Two: Depression
It was warm where he lay. Zelgadiss couldn't determine exactly where he was; his mind was far too murky for that. All he knew was that he was warm and comfortable. At least he was up until he recognized the fact. At that moment, there was a low creak that came from a spot directly above the place where Zelgadiss lay, and he felt a chilling coldness cover his legs. His senses became alert and he sat up quickly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and brushing his stiff indigo hair out of the way of his vision. He saw a pile of white covering his legs from the thigh down, and looked up to see where it had come from. A large gaping hole was letting in enough light for him to recognize that he was in a snow cave.
A snow cave...? his subconscious asked. That's right! he remembered. It was an escape from the cold so I could sleep, but my heat spell must have melted it and that’s why it fell in. Zelgadiss smiled sarcastically, annoyed with himself for being dumb enough to cast a heat spell in a snow cave. He got slowly to his feet, stretching as he did so to work any kinks that might have formed in his muscles and bones while he was sleeping. "Flare Lance!" the Chimera chanted, holding up his hands, wrists crossed. He succeeded in making an exit for himself, but the spell consequently brought down the remainder of the snow cave’s roof right on top of him. "Dammit!!" Zelgadiss grimaced as the snow seeped down his neck and back. "I'm sick of this. To hell with going on foot. Levitation!"
After having flown around for a few minutes, Zelgadiss understood why Lina always said, "Travel by air when it's safe up there." Flying was so much easier. No more walking and no snow to deal with. In addition to that, although he hardly dared to admit it even to himself, for the first time since he had acquired his Chimeric body, Zelgadiss Greywers was actually having fun. He flipped and spiraled and played in the sky until he grew bored with it. I must resume my mission he reminded himself. Zelgadiss recast his Levitation spell and headed out, using the sun for direction. He had gained a new sense of will and determination, and he would not rest until he knew the meaning of his existence.
Zelgadiss shivered, clutching his dripping wet cloak around him. It was so cold... He knew that the cloak was just making him even colder, and he cast it aside with disgust. It fell to the ground, slapping against the mud through which he slogged. Three days had passed since his frolic in the sky, and Zelgadiss was slowly falling back into deep depression. He shivered again. Why did it have to be snowing? The pessimistic Chimera cursed bitterly. Why me? he asked himself repeatedly. Why must I be so confused. Why can I never find what I'm looking for?
"Maybe you're just looking too hard..." A chiming, almost mystical voice rang out through the canyon in which Zelgadiss was walking, echoing off the walls and booming through the cracks and crevasses in the floor. Zelgadiss jumped in a quick circle, firing three Fireballs as he did so, and landed in a ready crouch, enchanted sabre already in his hand.
"Who's there? Come out and show yourself!" Zelgadiss ordered. He was worried, mostly because at the time he first heard the voice, he had started sensing an immense source of magical power near him, a source so large that it was impossible to lay a name to. There was no response, and Zelgadiss' sapphire eyes narrowed slightly. He stood a little straighter, and asked, "Why hide when I sense a great power from you? Unless," he added after a little thought, "that's and illusion."
"I am not hiding," the voice retorted, somewhat irritated. Zelgadiss crouched in his battle stance once more. "I," the mysterious being continued, "am simply pondering which form I should appear in."
"Great!" Zelgadiss mumbled. "A monster. What does this one want?"
"I'm not a monster!" the voice stated indignantly. "I am a simple shape shifter. Now, how would you like to see me?"
Preferably as a human," Zelgadiss replied calmly, sheathing his sword.
"As you wish," the voice thundered, and a bright beam of golden light appeared from the ground beside Zelgadiss, who jumped away in shock, shielding his eyes as the beam grew brighter. Then, the light disappeared, and in its place stood a beautiful woman.
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Psycho Chimera! is copyrighted 2000 by Adrian Metallium. Rememberance is copyrighted 2000 by Adrian Metallium.
