Chapter Text
Once again, the four of them had reunited. It happened every now and then, and they were already used to that rhythm.
What excuse did they have this time? None of them were really sure. It was just one of those occasions when they could meet up. So they traveled… traveled looking for trouble, since Lina always seemed to be a magnet for demons and world-ending situations.
But this time, everything was very peaceful… if it weren’t for the usual chaotic dynamic between Lina and Gourry, which Zelgadis and Amelia were beginning to enjoy more and more. Without realizing it, they had started gossiping about them, just casually, while watching their friends.
And this time was just like any other.
The sun was setting, and they had set up camp in the middle of the forest, near a small river. While Zelgadis and Amelia pitched the tents, Lina and Gourry argued in the distance over an undercooked fish.
“How many times do you think Lina-san has wanted to throw Gourry-san into the river?” Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow as she discreetly glanced toward them.
Zelgadis looked up at them, wearing a mildly uncomfortable expression.
“Since we left Seyruun or just counting this afternoon?”.
Amelia chuckled softly.
“This afternoon…”
Zelgadis looked up at the sky for a moment, thinking.
“At least… six times”, he said confidently.
“You counted them?” Amelia asked, surprised. Zelgadis shrugged.
“Someone has to keep track of things.”
They both chuckled quietly, and then Amelia lowered her voice even more, as if confessing a minor crime.
“You know… I actually love them. Even if they’re a mess. They yell, step on each other, ignore one another… and then Lina falls asleep on his shoulder like nothing happened.”
Zelgadis smiled faintly and nodded slowly.
“They’re compatible in their own… strange language.” He paused a second, then added: "As long as nobody dies, I can tolerate it.”
Amelia laughed again, and they sat in silence for a few seconds. The tent was almost done, but Amelia wasn’t ready to let the conversation die just yet.
She hesitated a moment, but finally dared to ask:
“And what about Xellos-san and Filia-san… What do you think about the way those two got along?”
Zelgadis blinked quickly and looked at her, startled. Instantly, his mind brought up unpleasant memories of those chaotic days when all six of them traveled together.
“W-why are you asking about them?” he said, flustered.
“Well, it just seemed like fun,” Amelia replied with a little laugh. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
Were they really gossiping about others now? Zelgadis paused for a moment, torn between staying ethically neutral or giving in to the game. But he couldn’t resist.
“She should’ve charged interest for all the brain cells he took from her every time he showed up,” he finally said in a thoughtful, serious tone.
Amelia burst out laughing.
“Zelgadis! That’s so mean.”
“I say it out of humanitarian concern. Pure compassion.”
She nudged him playfully with her shoulder.
“And I thought you weren’t into gossip…”
“I’m not!” he protested, slightly blushing. Then, returning to his usual seriousness. “You asked, and I just have working eyes.”
They both looked at the river for a while, until they heard Lina yelling in the distance: “GOURRY!!”
Zelgadis sighed.
“Seven times”.
Amelia laughed again—this time so hard that Lina stopped tugging at Gourry’s cheek and stared at them.
“What’s up with those two?” Lina asked, watching Amelia laugh uncontrollably while Zelgadis beside her laughed openly too.
“Zel can laugh like that?” Gourry asked, amazed.
“Apparently… I’m surprised too.”
Gourry crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.
“What do you think they’re laughing about?”
Lina waved her hand dismissively.
“I dunno… Probably about some idiot or something.”
“Yeah, probably,” Gourry replied.
As Amelia and Zelgadis finished laughing, an interesting idea crossed Amelia’s mind—something that could make the journey even more fun, and maybe even give it the purpose it was missing…
The next morning, Zelgadis found only Amelia when he left the tent. She was sitting on a rock by the river, holding a scroll and writing something on it, very focused. Apparently, Lina and Gourry were still asleep.
Zelgadis walked up to her and stopped a few steps away.
“Good morning, Amelia.”
“Oh, Zelgadis-san… it’s you.” Amelia smiled and gestured for him to come closer. “Look, Zelgadis… I want you to read this.”
Zelgadis shrugged and leaned in a bit to see what the scroll said. It read:
Day 9 of the journey:
Yesterday, before heading into the forest, we had lunch. As usual, Zelgadis-san and I ate moderately, but Lina-san burned her tongue from eating too fast. Gourry-san tried to help her cool it down, but instead of giving her water, he handed her Zelgadis-san’s scalding hot coffee… You can imagine how that turned out.
Later, Zelgadis-san and I talked about the incident. It was really funny.
And speaking of Zelgadis-san, he gave me an interesting fact yesterday: Lina-san wanted to throw Gourry-san out of the river exactly seven times. He kept count (apparently, he’s even more gossipy than me).
What surprised me the most, though, is how Lina-san held back that many times. Could it be progress? With how impulsive she is, I hope so.
More updates coming soon about these two. Zelgadis is helping me document their most epic moments.
—Amelia
Zelgadis read carefully, raising an eyebrow, and when he finished, he coughed slightly, blushing.
“H-Hey, Amelia… Why are you dragging me into this?”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“You say I was counting and make me sound like a gossip… You’re ruining my reputation as the serious one.”
Amelia burst out laughing.
“Oh, Zelgadis-san, please… no one else is going to read this.”
“Oh, really? Then let me contribute a bit.”
He reached for the scroll. Amelia looked surprised but let him take it.
“Pass me the quill,” Zel said.
“What are you going to write?” Amelia asked, handing it over. Zelgadis just gave a faint smile.
“You’ll see…”
A few minutes later, he handed the scroll back to her. Below Amelia’s words, it now read:
It was hard not to count how many times Lina got mad at Gourry. Honestly, even if you wanted to ignore them, their yelling is impossible to overlook.
What I find truly inexcusable is Amelia deciding to document the ridiculous things those two do on these trips. I won’t be participating in this. I’m only writing to defend myself and clarify that this was entirely Amelia’s idea.
—Zel
P.S.: Actually, it was eight times. Just before I went to sleep, I heard Lina yelling at Gourry for stepping on her stuff with muddy shoes. Those two are hopeless.
Amelia read attentively and started laughing again.
“Oh, Zelgadis… your note is full of contradictions.”
“What do you mean?”
“You say you won’t participate, but then you add a postscript giving even more information about the thing you said you weren’t going to comment on.”
Zelgadis blushed slightly.
“Well… I just didn’t want you to record it inaccurately. Since you already started this nonsense.”
“You mean we started it,” Amelia corrected. “You’ve already written in it… This is our secret and confidential diary!” she declared solemnly.
“W-What?!” Zelgadis looked at her, startled.
“Don’t you think it’s wonderful? You and me… documenting all the ridiculous and funny adventures we live through with those two.”
“‘Wonderful’ gives me a headache,” Zel replied.
Amelia giggled.
“Well, it’s already done,” she said, looking back at the scroll. “Hmm… What do you think would be a good name for our diary?”
“I don’t know, Amelia…” Zelgadis replied, trying to sound indifferent.
“I know! What about… “Field Notes by Zelgadis and Amelia”… or… “Field Diary by Z&A” — with our initials as a code.”
“Sounds pretty obvious to me. Not much of a secret code… Also, “field diary”? Feels more like you’re just recording gossip.”
“You’re right… Then how about… “Z&A’s Gossip Diary”?”
There was a pause.
Zelgadis blushed all the way to his ears.
“N-No, don’t…”
“Sorry, but… I think it’s the perfect title!” she said, quill in hand, eyes fixed on the page.
Before Zelgadis could protest, Amelia was already writing the name at the top of the scroll.
Zelgadis sighed and turned back toward the camp.
Amelia looked at the initials Z&A she had just written. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed red.