"Zelgadis!" Lina breathed in relief as the true chimera escaped the void, and the false one disappeared. "You're okay!" She quickly embraced him, ignoring the Shamanist's brilliant crimson blush.

"Lina, I... uh..." Zelgadis stammered, hugging her gingerly in return. "Thank... Thank you for believing in me."

"Zel, it's okay," she murmured, nuzzling against his smooth stone chest.

"Ne, Zel-kun, don't you want to put some clothes on?" Xellos chided, and the Shamanist snatched the Trickster's cloak to use as a kind of tunic.

"Ack! Sorry!" He whimpered, still blushing furiously.

"C'mon, Zel, let's get outta here." Lina offered a warm smile. With an embarresed nod, the chimera followed.

"Lina, wake up now." A soothing voice caused the sorceress to stir from the magic induced trance, and she irritatedly turned to the source. The rarely-fail smile of the Trickster Priest greeted her, and she let out a startled yelp.

"Ano, Lina..." Zelgadis groaned, and she realized that she had been clinging to him tightly. They both accumulated a bright scarlet blush, and turned away from the other.

Gourry sat looking blankly confused at them, and Ameria remained silent, but looked ready to burst into tears.

"Perhaps..." Xellos mused, settling in a cross legged position over the remains of the last night's fire. "Perhaps it's time for me to explain what's going on."

As if on reflex, Lina grabbed the Mazoku and had him in a headlock.

"Okay, spill already." She snarled, and was inwardly surprised when he bapped her with his staff, cleared his throat, and said:

"I was about to when you did that." She apologized, and the lavender hared Mazoku straightened his collar before continuing.

"A long time ago, I'm not too sure when, there was a child born with a Mazoku's power in him." Xellos' words wove a visual spell, illustrating the tale. "This child was able to master almost any magic, but could not heal his one affliction. He had been born without sight."

"Rezo." Lina murmured, and Xellos nodded in conformation.

"As you know, there had been a peice of Shabranigdo sealed behind the Red Priest's eyes." The Mazoku's gaze had become distant, as if he were chanelling the very essence of the final battle into the lore. "Under the unknowing guidance of the Dark Lord, Rezo did some terrible things. Zelgadis, your chimeric condition is just one of the examples of the Dark Lord's influance. When Rezo 'created' you, you were given an immense amount of power.Partly because of the fusion of your parts, but mainly, the source of your strength is that which gave Rezo his.

"Shabranigdo?" Zelgadis appeared fairly dazed by this announcement.

"Yes." In a very uncharacteristic manner, the Trickster seemed to let remorse taint his voice. "To keep you under him, he sealed your true strength three times over, and placed each of the Three Seals at a key location that made you who you are: Body, Heart, Soul. Rezo used the Seals to not only lock away your power, but your humanity as well. He knew that in order for you to achieve your human form, it would require you to sacrafice everything twice, and lose it all on the third. For you, Zelgadis, he made it a no-win situation."

"Damnit..." The chimera clenched a fist, and Ameria reassuringly touched his shoulder.

"Once the First Seal, the Seal of the Body, has been Shattered, the others will begin at any given time." Xellos went on, practically ignoring the Shamanist's outburst. "There will be no warning, and each Shattering will be more dangerous than the last. When it comes time for the Seal of the Soul to Shatter, the world will trembled, and all life will be put at risk. Shabernigdo will be released into the body of Zelgadis Greywers, given the full power of the chimera and a child of Metallium, and will face the only oposition the world can throw at him.

"Lina Inverse."