This takes place about two years after TRY. Sorry if I get Amelia's age wrong, I just estimated and hypothesized from what I've read online.
Part 1
BANG!
CRACK!
BOOM!
FLASH!
Filia whimpers and curls herself into a ball on the couch, watching the rain fall and the lightning flash.
Wow, that last crash of thunder was really loud. Sounded like it was right overhead. I hope no trees were struck...
For the moment, it is silent except for the rhythmic beating of rain against the roof of Filia's pottery shop/home. The priestess loses herself in the beauty of the rain.
Rain drops make such a gorgeous pattern on windows...I love rainy days. I still enjoy sunny weather, but rain is great in its own unique--
Her thoughts are interrupted by another loud crash of thunder. Again, she whimpers and hugs herself tighter.
Except for thunder! I don't like thunder or lightning. Especially since... She trails of, not wanting to put into words the true reason she's afraid of thunderstorms.
Filia tries to calm herself by remembering the rhyme they taught her as a child:
When you hear it thunder in the night or noon,
It's a mighty good sign it's gonna clear up soon.
There's a big crybaby in the moon moon moon
Who cries cries cries...
Unfortunately, this memory has the opposite effect on the Ryuzoku and tears fall from her eyes.
"Filia-chan!" A familiar voice comes form Filia's left. She immediately recognizes it and turns red.
"Xelloss! What do you want, namagomi?"
"Nothing much, my dear Filia. Just wanted to see how you were doing. It's been a long time, ne?"
Filia restrains her anger. He hasn't done anything really terrible...yet.
"OK, Mazoku, you've seen. I'm just fine! Now leave."
"What great hosts you Ryuzoku make! An old friend stops by for a visit and you just brush him off. Don't even offer a cup of tea or a seat! Selfish dragon," Xelloss teases, knowing Filia's reaction.
Just as he suspected, she pulls out Mace-sama from under her skirt and raises it high above her head, preparing to strike.
"Nama-GO-Eeeep!"
Mid-swing and mid-shout, a particularly loud crack comes from the sky right above her house. Filia drops Mace-sama and curls up on the couch again. When the lightning flashes, Xelloss can see her face is pale and tear-streaked. Fresh tears are flowing from her eyes, too, despite her obvious efforts not to be seen crying in front of Xel.
This take the Trickster Priest by surprise. Also taking him by surprise is the sudden urge to hold the woman in front of him, stroke her soft, blonde hair, and tell her everything will be all right.
Instead, Xelloss sits on the couch, where she is tightly huddled, yet again staring out the window. Filia barely notices when he sits.
"What's wrong, Filia?" he asks.
Hm? What's that? Do I detect a hint of...concern? For me? she thinks, but doesn't move.
"Come on, Fi-chan. Tell Uncle Xelloss all about it," he orders playfully. But there is none of the usual malice or mockery in his voice. Just that concern.
Filia turns to look at him and the dam holding back her tears breaks. Again to Xel's surprise, she throws herself into his arms, crying softly.
Xelloss gets over his shock and holds her, stroking her soft, blonde hair and telling her everything will be all right.
When Filia finally regains her composure, she loosens her grip on Xel, realizing whom she had just turned to for solace.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I probably made you uncomfortable," she whispers.
"No, not at all. Well, maybe a little. But it's okay," he admits. "Now are you ready to tell me what's bothering you? It must be absolutely dreadful to reduce you to this level-crying on a Mazoku's shoulder and all."
Filia sniffs and nods. She starts her story.
"I was born and raised in the Temple of the Fire Dragon King. You already know that. But you don't know about my family-or lack thereof.
"My parents died when I was five. It was during a thunderstorm like this one." She motions to the window, indicating the clement weather outside. "We had gone to visit some family friends in a nearby village. On our way home, through the forest, it started raining. Soon it was pouring and there was thunder and lightning."
Filia pauses to take a deep breath and look up at Xelloss. He is patiently watching and listening to her. His usual smile is softer and his eyes are open, which scares Filia at first until she realizes there's no evil to be found in the amethyst pools.
She swallows and, with some trouble, continues, "We were almost out of the forest when a bolt of lightning hit a tree, which fell over. On my parents. The trunk crushed them and trapped my leg. The next morning, a scout from the temple found us, but my parents were already dead.
"Since I had no other family, I was raised by the priests and priestesses to follow in their footsteps. As you know, I have.
"So that's why I'm so scared of thunder and lightning. They remind me of that night. And of the intense loneliness I've felt ever since then," Filia concludes.
She looks up at Xel again, and this time sees sympathy in his purple eyes.
"Do you...Do you think I'm pitiful for being afraid of storms just because of that one night?" she asks tentatively.
"No. It must have been traumatic for a five-year-old to lose their parents like that. And I could never pity you, Filia. I respect you too much."
"Really? You respect me? After all the mean things I've done to you?"
In answer, Xelloss leans over and wipes Filia's tears away with his gloved thumb. Then he tenderly kisses her. After realizing what's going on, she kisses back. They break apart a moment later and smile at each other. No words are exchanged as the couple cuddle together to spend the night watching the storm.
Part 1
BANG!
CRACK!
BOOM!
FLASH!
Filia whimpers and curls herself into a ball on the couch, watching the rain fall and the lightning flash.
Wow, that last crash of thunder was really loud. Sounded like it was right overhead. I hope no trees were struck...
For the moment, it is silent except for the rhythmic beating of rain against the roof of Filia's pottery shop/home. The priestess loses herself in the beauty of the rain.
Rain drops make such a gorgeous pattern on windows...I love rainy days. I still enjoy sunny weather, but rain is great in its own unique--
Her thoughts are interrupted by another loud crash of thunder. Again, she whimpers and hugs herself tighter.
Except for thunder! I don't like thunder or lightning. Especially since... She trails of, not wanting to put into words the true reason she's afraid of thunderstorms.
Filia tries to calm herself by remembering the rhyme they taught her as a child:
When you hear it thunder in the night or noon,
It's a mighty good sign it's gonna clear up soon.
There's a big crybaby in the moon moon moon
Who cries cries cries...
Unfortunately, this memory has the opposite effect on the Ryuzoku and tears fall from her eyes.
"Filia-chan!" A familiar voice comes form Filia's left. She immediately recognizes it and turns red.
"Xelloss! What do you want, namagomi?"
"Nothing much, my dear Filia. Just wanted to see how you were doing. It's been a long time, ne?"
Filia restrains her anger. He hasn't done anything really terrible...yet.
"OK, Mazoku, you've seen. I'm just fine! Now leave."
"What great hosts you Ryuzoku make! An old friend stops by for a visit and you just brush him off. Don't even offer a cup of tea or a seat! Selfish dragon," Xelloss teases, knowing Filia's reaction.
Just as he suspected, she pulls out Mace-sama from under her skirt and raises it high above her head, preparing to strike.
"Nama-GO-Eeeep!"
Mid-swing and mid-shout, a particularly loud crack comes from the sky right above her house. Filia drops Mace-sama and curls up on the couch again. When the lightning flashes, Xelloss can see her face is pale and tear-streaked. Fresh tears are flowing from her eyes, too, despite her obvious efforts not to be seen crying in front of Xel.
This take the Trickster Priest by surprise. Also taking him by surprise is the sudden urge to hold the woman in front of him, stroke her soft, blonde hair, and tell her everything will be all right.
Instead, Xelloss sits on the couch, where she is tightly huddled, yet again staring out the window. Filia barely notices when he sits.
"What's wrong, Filia?" he asks.
Hm? What's that? Do I detect a hint of...concern? For me? she thinks, but doesn't move.
"Come on, Fi-chan. Tell Uncle Xelloss all about it," he orders playfully. But there is none of the usual malice or mockery in his voice. Just that concern.
Filia turns to look at him and the dam holding back her tears breaks. Again to Xel's surprise, she throws herself into his arms, crying softly.
Xelloss gets over his shock and holds her, stroking her soft, blonde hair and telling her everything will be all right.
When Filia finally regains her composure, she loosens her grip on Xel, realizing whom she had just turned to for solace.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I probably made you uncomfortable," she whispers.
"No, not at all. Well, maybe a little. But it's okay," he admits. "Now are you ready to tell me what's bothering you? It must be absolutely dreadful to reduce you to this level-crying on a Mazoku's shoulder and all."
Filia sniffs and nods. She starts her story.
"I was born and raised in the Temple of the Fire Dragon King. You already know that. But you don't know about my family-or lack thereof.
"My parents died when I was five. It was during a thunderstorm like this one." She motions to the window, indicating the clement weather outside. "We had gone to visit some family friends in a nearby village. On our way home, through the forest, it started raining. Soon it was pouring and there was thunder and lightning."
Filia pauses to take a deep breath and look up at Xelloss. He is patiently watching and listening to her. His usual smile is softer and his eyes are open, which scares Filia at first until she realizes there's no evil to be found in the amethyst pools.
She swallows and, with some trouble, continues, "We were almost out of the forest when a bolt of lightning hit a tree, which fell over. On my parents. The trunk crushed them and trapped my leg. The next morning, a scout from the temple found us, but my parents were already dead.
"Since I had no other family, I was raised by the priests and priestesses to follow in their footsteps. As you know, I have.
"So that's why I'm so scared of thunder and lightning. They remind me of that night. And of the intense loneliness I've felt ever since then," Filia concludes.
She looks up at Xel again, and this time sees sympathy in his purple eyes.
"Do you...Do you think I'm pitiful for being afraid of storms just because of that one night?" she asks tentatively.
"No. It must have been traumatic for a five-year-old to lose their parents like that. And I could never pity you, Filia. I respect you too much."
"Really? You respect me? After all the mean things I've done to you?"
In answer, Xelloss leans over and wipes Filia's tears away with his gloved thumb. Then he tenderly kisses her. After realizing what's going on, she kisses back. They break apart a moment later and smile at each other. No words are exchanged as the couple cuddle together to spend the night watching the storm.
