Note
Yes, this story will be Xellos/Filia, even if it doesn't seem like it right away.

A Measure of Power

1

Filia walked along the dirt road, the sun getting ever lower in the sky. The wind was also starting to pick up, so Filia covered little Val with the blanket. He was really getting heavy, and she wished she could hand him to one of the beastmen she was traveling with. But though they absolutely cared for Val, she knew better than to ask them that. When tired, Jillas would lag far behind them while all too carefully carrying Val, while Gravos would sling the baby over his shoulder like mindless cargo. Even when faced with Filia's protests, Gravos would just say that his boss was tough and could handle it.

So Filia would have to continue to carry the growing boy. At least he was finally asleep, she thought. Though Val might be able to walk by himself and keep up with them, he more often wandered away from the path. Chasing him down took even more energy than just carrying him. Filia covered the young dragon with a blanket as the wind began blowing up the dust around them. In addition to that, they all kicked the dust up as they walked. Filia felt very dusty and dirty from their days of travel, and really wished they could find a place that was more civilized to stay. Though the daylight was fading, the road extended on with no sign of any kind of city or town in sight. It didn't look like they'd make it anywhere civilized before dark.

"Hey, boss. It'll be dark soon, so what do you want to do?" Jillas asked.

Filia scowled at how he referred to her, but was too tired to respond further. They were all tired, so maybe now wasn't the time to discuss something like that. She was tempted to transform into her true dragon form and carry the two beastmen and one toddler dragon up into the air to try and find somewhere safe for them all to stay. But even with the fading daylight, they were likely to be spotted, and stealth was something they had on their side at the moment. Her teleportation techniques might also give her away to anything that might be keeping an eye out for unique magic, so it wouldn't be wise for Filia to try that either. So what were they to do? Camp outside again? Filia didn't like the sound of that, both for herself and vulnerable little Val.

"Over there," Gravos pointed.

Filia looked and saw a small building. It was so worn that it must certainly have been abandoned. "Oh," she said. Though it was bound to be filthy, it was a little shelter from the elements for them. Along with the beastmen, she approached the building, and knocked on its door just in case anyone happened to be there. "Hello?" she called out.

"There's no one," Jillas decided after just a few seconds, pushing the door open.

Hearing it slam and seeing dust fly, Filia winced. "Careful! This could very well be someone's personal property."

"I don't think anyone's been here a while," Gravos said.

Looking inside, Filia had to agree. In addition to dust and spider webs, the floor had broken apart in a corner, and the remaining furniture, a chair and bed, were only broken-apart wooden frames at this point. "Alright... We'll stay here the night," she said, then handed Val to Jillas. "Go outside with him," she said to the two beastmen.

They followed directions, and Filia was left alone for the moment. She performed a low powered wind spell, trying to blow most of the dust out of the house, enough to make it slightly more acceptable for the night, anyhow. This little spell shouldn't be enough for anyone to track her, she told herself. Then Filia went into the next room, the second and only other one in the house. She could see that it must have been a kitchen from the small table and stove.

Then Filia saw something that was almost too good to be true, a small washtub. "Oh!" she said happily. After doing the same wind spell in this room, Filia picked it up and went outside. "Is there a well anywhere?" she asked the beastmen.

"Over there, we've already gotten a drink," Gravos said, pointing toward the back.

Filia was thirsty as well, and took her time to drink and then wash the interior of the tub before filling up. Taking it back inside, she used another tiny spell to heat it up. She went into the other room and picked up the still sleeping Val. "Don't you two come in," she warned. "You can have your turn washing up after me and Val."

"Right, boss," Jillas agreed, though he still peeked over curiously. Filia had to frown at his reaction, and was still wary of him. These conditions really weren't as conducive to privacy as the home they'd left had been.

Still, Filia washed herself up easily and happily. There was nothing like a bath like this, even in such a tiny place. This was the kind of luxury she hadn't had in what seemed like a long while. When she finished, Filia grabbed Val and undressed him, then began to wash him. Val woke up, letting out a whine, and almost starting to cry from the sudden sensation. "I'm sorry, Val," Filia said. She wouldn't normally have caught him by surprise like that, but he was filthy, and really had to be cleaned. So though she might have woken him up first, she hadn't thought it through beyond that. "Calm down, we need to finish washing up."

Val didn't listen, and appeared to be starting to transform into his true dragon form. "Stop!" Filia said firmly. Val did stop, but continued to whimper as she washed him. Filia sighed. It was a relief that the ancient dragons apparently had an easier time going to a more compact human form like this, especially since she and Val lived among humans. Still, it was annoying that he could transform himself back and forth so quickly, and from such a young age.

After he was washed and dried, Val sat quietly as Filia redressed him. "Alright Val, let's go. Uncle Jillas and Uncle Gravos need their turn."

Val followed her to the next room. Filia sighed again, seeing that it really wasn't the comfortable accommodations that she wanted. Even so, she found a spot on the floor to lay down. She was tired enough that she'd probably get to sleep easily. "Come over here, Val," Filia said, motioning toward her son. He did so, but sat up, awake and alert. Oh no, Filia realized, he wouldn't get to sleep so easily, since he'd only just woken up. Well, she only had to watch him until the beastmen finished washing up. Then she'd ask one of them to take a turn.

Filia closed her eyes just a moment, then opened them when she heard the loud sound of the old door opening. Val had been the one to open it, and now stared into the twilight of the outside. "No, Val," Filia said, and walked over to him. She tried to close the door properly, but it wouldn't latch. She closed it the best she could, and then, picking him up, sat down in the spot she'd decided was semi-comfortable again, Val in her lap. "It's time to go to sleep," she said. It was comforting to have Val safe in her lap, and he wasn't trying to get up, either. Filia closed her eyes just a moment.

"Hey, Filia-sama, where's Val-sama?"

As soon as Filia heard Jillas asking this, she awoke in a panic. "Help find him!" she shouted, running out of the door. She looked around for the small boy. How could she not have noticed him getting up? Oh, she hadn't closed the door all the way, so she may not have heard him open it. How far could he have gotten? Pretty far. Though he was still a toddler, he was also a dragon, and fairly fast, especially if he'd transformed. "Val!" Filia called. She looked around, calling him over and over again.

Looking up, Filia saw the shadow of him on the little remaining twilight. He was now in dragon form, and climbed up a tree. "Val!" Filia shouted. She quickly teleported, and then grabbed the small ancient dragon. "Change back! Right now!" she said angrily. The dragon Val looked at her, then went back to human form. Trembling, Filia gripped him tightly, and then teleported them both back to the ground. "Don't run off like that," she said, and then felt terrible for scolding him, as she should have been watching him in the first place.

"Val-sama is alright? I knew he would be," Gravos said.

"Right! Val-sama's ready to go at any time, isn't he?" Jillas joked.

Filia was annoyed at their lack of concern, as well as their indirect approval of Val's dangerous behavior. "Right. You two can watch him until he falls asleep," she said, though she was sure she wouldn't be able to fall asleep until Val did, especially after the fright she'd had while trying to find him. So even with her declaration, Filia held Val close as they walked back toward the building.

As they came closer, Filia stopped. She had a sudden ominous feeling. "Something wrong?" Jillas asked her.

"There's someone over there," Gravos said in a low voice.

Filia stared and finally did notice the outline. The person seemed familiar. Just by the energy, Filia thought she might know who it was. Still, she still stayed on guard as she saw the shadowy figure heading toward them, despite the familiarity. Xellos appeared in front of them. "Well, hello everyone," he said calmly. "It's good to see you. It's been a while, hasn't it? Filia-san, you've really not made yourself an easy person to find."

"Xellos," Filia said in a moment of shock. She'd almost let herself relax, as it was someone she knew, but then she recalled why she should certainly be wary, not only considering what he was but also current events. "What are you doing here, Xellos?" Filia demanded. "What could you possibly want from me or anyone else here?"

"Oh, what a greeting," Xellos commented, still irritatingly calm to Filia. "We are a bit like old friends, aren't we? Can't we treat each other as such?"

Jillas ignored what Xellos had said and turned to Filia. "What do you want us to do?" he asked her.

"Take Val and go," Filia said, handing the toddler over to them, not taking her eyes off Xellos. As they ran off, she approached him, her mace in hand. "What could the mazoku race want from me?" she asked.

"The mazoku race? Nothing as far as I know," Xellos said.

"I hope there's nothing else. You've already taken away the city I called home, as well as my peace of mind!" Filia said. "Not that I can expect you to care. You prefer me like this, don't you? Running in fear of my life?"

"It's inconsequential," Xellos said. "I don't think there's any specific focus on you for now."

"Then why are you here?" Filia demanded. She put her mace down, realizing though it had been her first impulse to pick it up, it would be useless against him.

"Oh... Well, because I was looking for you. Specifically," Xellos admitted.

Filia's face curled up in disbelief and confusion and she shook her head. She hadn't seen Xellos in quite a while. What he could want with her, if not to kill her in the same fashion others of her race had been and were being killed, she didn't know. Besides, Filia had no affiliation with any other dragons. She wanted nothing to do with them at the moment. Her highest priority was to raise little Val in a peaceful and happy place. Around other golden dragons, many of whom had possibly long ago decided as part of the group to massacre his race of ancient dragons, wasn't that place.

"I haven't come to take but to give," Xellos said. Even as he said this, Filia hardly felt comforted. "You know, I've had less and less since this current conflict began myself. There really isn't much left to fear of the mazoku race anymore, I suppose."

"A fine thing for someone who can massacre dragons at will to say," Filia said.

Xellos laughed as if she'd made a joke. "That's right, isn't it? But even if my power remains, the power of the mazoku has greatly diminished. You may or may not have heard... Only one of Ruby Eye-sama's five pillars remains."

"Well, that's good news at least," Filia muttered. "And what does that pillar want with me?" she asked louder.

"As I've said before, nothing," Xellos said. "I'm not here on any other's account. I can't take my former master's wishes into account any longer, as she's not the pillar who remains."

"You mean... She's dead?" Filia repeated. "Zelas, the terrible Beast Master?" Well, Xellos had said only one pillar remained to support their awful dark lord's goal, and perhaps that wasn't Zelas. Maybe she should be slightly more sympathetic, as Zelas was the closest thing Xellos had to family. Beast Master Zelas might be described as something like his mother.

"Correct," Xellos said calmly.

And yet, he so callously affirmed her downfall. No, there was nothing to sympathize with. Did he expect her to? Filia went back to her default reaction, suspicion and aggression as she glared at Xellos. "And so, by whose account are you here?" she said.

"Well, no one's yet... But I would say yours, Filia-san," Xellos said.

"I neither beckoned you nor want you here!" Filia said.

"Well, if you say so, I suppose that's the case. I'll ask you to listen briefly before sending me away, though. Just so I can explain something clearly."

"Fine," Filia tentatively agreed. "What is it you want to say?"

"I've already told you that Beast Master-sama has been destroyed," Xellos said. "And it's not really in my nature to exist without a master. It's contradictory. Even Ruby Eye-sama serves one higher."

"So you now serve the remaining pillar," Filia finished the explanation for him.

"Oh, well, that would be the normal procedure," Xellos said. "But it's a little different this time. My new master isn't a mazoku at all. In fact, I've submitted to you as my new master Filia-san - Or I should properly call you Filia-sama now, should I?"

Filia's eyes opened wide, then she clenched her jaw. "Xellos... Do I look like a decaying mazoku lord to you?!"

"Not at all, Filia-sama," Xellos said. "You're the same dragon I remember."

"Then don't bother me with your nonsense!" Filia said.

"But even if you are a dragon, you're also my new master. I'm here to do your bidding," Xellos said, bowing.

Filia only felt more distressed as he did so. "If I was really your master, you'd follow my orders exactly, wouldn't you? I order you to go away! Occupy yourself at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench!"

"If you wish," Xellos said, disappearing.

Filia was still trembling, even though she could no longer sense Xellos anywhere around her. He really was gone, wasn't he? There was definitely some trick he was trying on her, and she probably couldn't hide from him now, only watch it unfold. If he wasn't around, then maybe she should finally rest, if she could.

"Val-sama, where did you go?" Filia heard Jillas shouting somewhere nearby. She took a deep breath and went off to find her son.