Little Chimera 10 "To Catch a Monster"

A muffled yell barely escapes the sack that is tied roughly around its victim.

"Hurry up, before we wake up Professor Lina!" a young teen hisses.

"This will teach the brat some manners when we're done with him," Gareth grunts as he and four other young men wrestle with the flailing sack.

"We could get in a lot of trouble," the youngest says nervously. "He isn't even a student here, he's a guest."

"He's no guest, he's a pest!" an older student says as they throw the kicking kid into a chair.

The teens locate his head and proceed to attempt tying him up and gagging him. They don't make a lot of progress as a rock legs roughly kicks them aside and easily breaks the ropes as if it is made of silly string.

Before they can get a good look at him, Zelgadis uses his demon speed to race from the room, screaming out for Lina and Gourry as he does so. It's a good thing the halls and rooms are dark otherwise the stupid students would be in for a surprise.

"Get him!" Gareth demands as his gang proceeds to charge after the dust of Zelgadis's fast legs.

By the time they catch up to him, Zelgadis is wrapped in a sheet standing defiantly behind Lina. The red head professor is taping her foot with her arms casually crossed, waiting for her prey patiently.

Abruptly the students skid to a stop and look in horror at Lina.

"I knew this was a bad idea," the youngest whimpers.

"Hmm, looks like someone is up after curfew," Lina smiles maliciously. "How should you be punished, let me think." She pretends to give it some serious thought, but she has already made her decision.

"For failing to successfully capture a sorcerer, failing to be quiet about it, letting him escape, and getting caught you all receive F's," Lina says as she points at them with a strong finger.

After a pause one student dares to say, "But I'm not in your class . . ."

"Well you are now and you get an F," Lina proudly declares.

Immediately all of the students get on their knees and start begging for forgiveness and another chance.

"Ha, if I give you another chance, I'll just let Zel, kick your butt instead of holding him responsible for your safety," Lina laughs.

"Wh-what?" a teens say with horror.

"We'll do it!" Gareth promises. "I won't fail!"

"All right you're on," Lina leans forward and lets her red eyes bear into the young man. "But that means you have to get through me too and you only get one chance starting tomorrow night."

A couple nights pass and nothing happens. Lina takes the time to speak with a trusted professor about Zelgadis's age problem. The professor tells her that the only way for Zelgadis to return to normal is for him to remember who he was. He warns her that if he doesn't figure it out himself though, it could damage him mentally.

The professor also warns Lina about staying any longer at the academy. The spell, or curse, that Zelgadis has created is incredibly valuable and it would be best if they didn't figure out what Zelgadis has done or who he really is.

It is around this time that the boisterous teens decide to attempt capturing the young Zelgadis.

"Gozo Vrow," Zelgadis shouts as multiple shadows shoots out from beneath him toward his foes.

With muffled screams the students freeze completely, unable to even speak. They can only move their eyes as the cloaked boy scurries around them and chases after the others. He places knives on the shadows as he passes, allowing himself to move around more freely.

He leaves one lad for last.

Breathing hard, Gareth turns a corner and waits there as Zelgadis runs by. The young teen simply grabs Zelgadis by the collar and keeps him an arms length away as the boy squirms. Lucky for Zelgadis, Gareth is not strong enough to hold up a rock child that is kicking and grabbing at him.

"Fire ball," Zelgadis says as Gareth's cloak is set on fire.

Gareth immediately let's go, cursing at the boy as Zelgadis hits the lad's head. With a heavy thud, Gareth falls to the ground completely knocked out.

"Guess you didn't need my help, not that I'm surprised," Lina smiles as she walks up to Zelgadis.

"Are you done for the day?" Zelgadis asks with false sweetness.

"Actually I just finished up my last class," Lina says as she waves a hand towards Gareth. "Congrats Zel, you just passed my course."

Zel grins proudly and gives Lina a very proud 'V' for victory sign.

The End

Edit: I complete forgot that I had more of this story written so here we are years later with the rest.