Lina stared at Eris and Zelgadis, shaking her head. “I… I don’t believe it.”
        “Neither do I,” Xellos admitted, “But I must. The grandchildren of Juuou… I knew that she’d had a son under the orders of L-Sama… but…” Something else occurred, and Xellos went as white as a sheet. “Your parents…?”
        Eris’ expression was grim. “Our mother was a powerful shaman, Rezo’s own daughter Masiko. Our father was a human who had made the Pact without her knowing. To protect us, she was forced to kill him.”
        Lina blinked. That means… But she didn’t get the chance to finish the thought.
        “Don’t worry, Mister Zelgadis! Even though you may be part Mazoku, you’re still our friend! And I promise not to hold it against you if…” Amelia’s voice cut off as Lina did something that she rarely ever did: clobbered Amelia upside the head in order to shut the girl up. There was a dangerous black cloud forming over Zelgadis’ head, and if he really had the power of a Mazoku…
        “Zel…” Lina started as she kneeled beside her friend who looked all too human. “I don’t care what you are… as long as you’re Zelgadis Greywords… you’re my friend. I mean, knowing this makes a lot of sense…”
        His upheld hand stopped her in her tracks. With a weary voice, he sighed. “I’ve been part Mazoku for so long in the chimera’s body… what difference does it make now, right?”
        Lina bit her lip. She wasn’t headed in that direction, but if that’s how he wanted to feel…
        Zelgadis stood and looked at Xellos. “The next time you see my grandmother, pass along my regards… and tell her to stay the hell out of my life.”
        Xellos blinked, then smirked. “Oh… I can tell her. But she doesn’t always listen to me…”
        Lina just stood there, uncertain what to do. But then Gourry opened his mouth and saved her from having to open hers. “So… Xellos’ master is Zelgadis’ grandmother? Does that make Zelgadis a Mazoku?”
        Everyone including Xellos fell over.

        After everyone had recovered and Lina had beaten the knowledge into Gourry’s head the hard way, an uncomfortable silence had fallen over the group. Finally, Lina made a decision. She'd refocus them by dragging them all immediately into another adventure. And what better way than... “Well, we can’t stay here and waste our lives worrying about what we can’t change. And now that we don’t have a cure to go chasing after, there’s a few old temples protecting some really powerful spells nearby. And I intend on reading a few of those…”
        Lina was almost out the door when Amelia shrieked. “Miss Lina! Those are holy temples of Cepheid! You couldn’t!!!”
        “Why not, Amelia? I’m just going to read them. I mean, someone ought to have the spells…”
        The door closed behind her.
        Six heartbeats passed as everyone looked at each other.
        “She won’t like it when they tell her no…” Amelia whispered.
        “She’ll likely blow the places up,” Zelgadis conceded.
        “We should go with her and make sure nothing bad happens.” Sylphiel decided.
        Zelgadis, Eris, Sylphiel, Gourry and Amelia sprinted for the door.
        Xellos grinned, and lifting his staff, opened his eyes. “Well… here we go again!”
        And then he too was gone from the room.