"Freak!" A villager's shout caused the small traveling group to pause. One in particular pulled his cloak tighter around him, as if he wished he could be invisible. "Monster! In-human!"

"Why you-" The red haired sorceress started to power up a fireball, but was stopped by the cloaked one. 

"Let it go." Zelgadiss said softly. "It's not worth it." Lina glared at him, but let the spell dissipate. The priest with them hid a snicker.

"WHAT?!" Amelia startled everyone by suddenly jumping and freaking out. "You mean we've been traveling together for months now Zelgadiss-san and YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU WEREN'T HUMAN?!" 

Even the villagers couldn't help but to sweat drop as she proceeded to run in circles, arms waving as she ranted. 

"Ano..." Zelgadiss mumbled, looking like he'd wish the ground to swallow him up. "Amelia... You know I'm human." 

As if hitting his words were the preverbal 'off' switch, Amelia suddenly stopped. "I never said you weren't." She said sweetly, patting his shoulder. "I merely said that you had never told that you were human." 

Zelgadiss face faulted. 

"Bravo!" Xelloss applauded, tossing the princess a small bag. "Here you go, Amelia-san! Well done." 

Amelia accepted the bag with a small bow, then turned to Lina. "You too, Lina-san. Pay up." 

"Yare, yare." The flame haired sorceress reluctantly pulled out her change purse and flipped Amelia a few coins. "A bets a bet, I guess." 

"Thank you!" Amelia chirped, skipping on ahead, clutching the coins in a hand.

Zelgadiss pulled himself off the ground. "You mean... you bet on whether I would say if I was human or not?!" 

Xelloss wiggled a finger at him. "Be grateful Amelia-san won. Lina-san and I were betting you'd call yourself a 'cold heartless monster' before the day was out." 

The chimera glanced at Lina for confirmation. She shrugged un-apologetically and nodded. Behind her, Gourry merely scratched his head looking slightly confused. 

Zelgadiss sighed, pulling his hood over his eyes as he followed the bouncing princess while the crowd around them dissipated. "I take it back" He muttered. "I'm just a distant unfeeling swordsman. You're not human." 

Fin.