1
Val crawled out from the cave, peering first to the sky, where the clouds that had been there the previous day were gone, blue sky all around. He then walked ahead, looking to where he and his mother would climb next. The snow line had sunk down even lower, but Val still wanted to get going. He ran back to find his mother, hurry her to get up so the two of them could be on their way as soon as possible.
Filia had already awoken. She frowned as she located her son. Val slunk back, realizing the reason for her discontent, and transformed back into a human form, the same as her, before she could even ask him to. He frowned himself in return, thinking of how they shouldn't have to be in disguise. They were finally going to meet fellow dragons, and then Val could finally live without perpetually hiding his true form.
Filia's face was peaceful again, and she motioned Val forward, handing him some meat. Val scowled as he took it from her, confirming what he'd suspected had been bothering her. "It should only be a few more days now," she promised.
"It's taking too long," Val complained. He observed Filia's face, and she had furrowed her brow, appearing to consider what he'd said. "I don't want to climb around that icy mess. Flying is quicker."
Filia put down her bag, sighing. "Alright. We may as well get this over with."
Val's face lit up with his excitement. He'd always wanted to meet a dragon other than Filia. Now he'd likely get to live with them. Filia acted like it was a chore, but if he could finally get to be with his own kind, Val couldn't imagine any kind of downside. He began to transform.
"Val, wait," Filia said.
"What is it?" Val asked, almost whining as he reverted to human form yet again.
"Don't reveal your dragon form until I say it's alright. We'll fly, but you can ride on me. Understand?" she asked.
Val wanted to complain again, but Filia's intense expression told him that she thought this was truly important. So instead he just nodded quietly, glad that their journey was near over at least. As Filia changed back to her true dragon form, he secured both of their bags. As they took off, he enjoyed the beautiful landscape. They flew farther and farther up, and Val soon saw the first dragons. They resembled Filia, though there were darker colored ones as well. He smiled widely, sure to take it all in. Being around his own kind made him feel he was home at last. Hopefully it really would be their permanent residence, no more endless traveling and having to get to know the new residents.
As they landed, many dragons flew to greet them. Though he was a bit overwhelmed, Val had wanted to meet everyone. Even so, he was unsure how to best greet them, so he remained silent as he slunk off Filia's back, holding tight to her. Filia greeted them for him with a silent nod.
"Can you identify yourself?" a deep-voiced dragon asked, unmistakably referring to Filia, who was both the obvious dragon and the adult.
"I'm Filia ul Copt."
"What's your business here?"
"Please, allow me to speak to your elders. My clan has long since perished, and I'd like to join you here," Filia asked.
"Very well." The dragon was about to turn his back, then focused on Val. "Who is the child?"
"My son," Filia said, not elaborating further.
"I suppose you had to bring him then. He can enter as well."
Again, Val had to ride on Filia, though he'd happily have gone on his own, seeing various sights along the landscape that caught his eye. A cave here, a garden there, and some kind of shrine in the distance. He could explore them in his own time, now that he finally had a home here. As they landed in front of yet another shrine, Val still followed Filia's directions, standing with proper posture as he stayed in that human form, even among his own kind. With the dragon that originally had greeted them, they walked toward the building.
"Hearing your name, I believe I'm familiar with your clan. We hadn't heard that anyone survived that incident."
"I'd prefer not to discuss it just now," Filia said, peering toward Val.
"Yes, of course."
As they reached the ornate door of the shrine, several youths had gathered, unmistakably following them, though they kept their own polite distance. The dragon accompanying them looked toward the youths, then back at Filia. "The elders may be interested in that topic, so perhaps you should leave your son here."
"Right," Filia tentatively agreed. "Just wait here," she said to Val. As she was about to go inside, she turned back to him. "Don't wander off. Stay in this spot."
As Filia entered the building, Val felt even more out of place. Even if Filia hadn't told him so, he wouldn't have thought to leave right then. He did see the young dragons observing him. He looked to others flying in the sky and considered if they might be wondering about him too. Val gripped his bag tightly, deciding to stare back at the other children just as hard.
Finally, they approached him. Two of the five even transformed to human forms. "Hey. What are you doing here?"
Val frowned, turning the other way. It wasn't that he was shy, just that he wasn't going to answer that kind of question.
"You came with that stranger dragon. Are you her servant?"
Val turned back now. "I'm her son," he said.
"A human then?"
"No," Val insisted, tightening his grip on his bag. "I'm a dragon, same as you."
The other dragons appeared perplexed. "Don't lie," one said.
"If you were, you'd have golden hair like your mother."
"I am!" Val said. He threw the bags to the side, and quickly transformed.
The young dragons backed away in surprise. "He looks strange," one commented.
"A hybrid?" another suggested.
"Well, should we play?"
Val hissed in agreement. He couldn't be more pleased, even if they still made rude comments about him. He'd broken the ice, and could get to know everyone in his own time. Just having some fun sounded fine in the meantime.
Though just as they started to fly up, an older golden dragon swooped down, painfully knocking Val to the ground. Val found his bearings quickly, and looked at the adult dragon angrily. "What is it?" he asked.
"Where did you come from?"
Before Val could even think of how to explain himself, more dragons came around, surrounding him. Val felt an urge to escape, but instead held his ground.
Filia eventually came over herself. "Please, make room. We're leaving."
Val remained quiet as the other dragons made room for him and Filia. They gathered their things. It was only when they were alone that Val asked the obvious question. "Why?"
"Don't worry about it, Val. It's various reasons, it's not only you," Filia explained.
Val gave a tiny gasp, then swallowed, not wanting the dragons that were certainly still looking at him to notice how upset he was. So it was him. There was something about him that caused not even his own kind to want him around.
"Val-" Filia began, then looked around. Even more dragons had gathered. "Let's go. We'll find a nice place to live. I won't let you suffer."
Val's face twitched only slightly before he took off into the sky. They'd find another place to live, but it would be with humans again. They'd keep moving around, staying one place for as long as they could, before the humans got tired of it and left, or got tired of them, and pressured them to leave. And so it would stay the same, continuing on like that, the two of them without any real home they belonged in.
Indefinitely.
Secluded in a valley, greenery adorned the town, both outside and in. Trees and grassy plains framed the outside, while even inside, vine and moss grew on the walls. The presence of this growth easily separated the few new buildings from the long abandoned ones. Filia was sure to arrive in her human form, walking alone on the road as she went further into the settlement, looking around for the sign to lead her to her destination as she strolled through the streets.
Filia had dressed modestly, but still professionally, or so she hoped, foregoing the outfit she did field work in for a slightly more appropriate dress to greet a possible employer. She mostly blended in with those around, but noticed that the townsfolk still whispered and pointed her way. Filia held her head high, trying to observe her surroundings, not paying mind to those that gawked at her yet refused eye contact when she raised her hand to greet them. Eventually, she saw the building she'd been seeking, and entered.
Only one person was in the room, a man who looked up at her from his paperwork laid out at the table. He gave his attention, but no noticeable interest in his stoic expression. "Good afternoon," Filia said, giving a quick bow. The other person in her presence just looked, still not responding further. "Well, I've come in a response to your response to my letter of interest," Filia explained more, holding out a small piece of parchment.
The man took it and read. "The healer job? You came all the way out here just to talk about it?"
"Well, yes," Filia said, knowing how strange it might seem. Like with many backwater jobs, they'd written they'd travel to the city the job was posted in to meet with those interested, but Filia knew from experience that her showing up in person would mean there was a better chance of getting the job. "I do hope it's not an imposition."
The man present dropped the parchment, pushing it back toward Filia until she picked it back up. "It's fine," he said. "You can wait outside until John gets here."
Filia nodded, only slightly ruffled that he would push her outside after her long journey. She had been imposing, after all, even if he were polite in his response. Filia got outside, again avoiding stares as she first stood against the wall, then began to pace back and forth. Just as she began to worry, the door clicked open. It was the man she'd originally greeted. Filia wondered if he'd say anything to her, but instead he took out a key, locking the door before wandering down the street without a word.
Filia stood speechless. She now waited in front of the empty building. Though she tried to be patient, Filia eventually grit her teeth, scowling toward the wall where no one could see her expression. She couldn't wait around all day in this ghost town - well, recently back from the dead town. Filia heard some laughing, and turned around, smiling.
A group of men approached, laughing to each other. They stopped speaking and looked Filia's way. Filia became quiet, relieved that finally her possible employers had apparently arrived. As they came closer and she noticed the man she'd originally seen, confirming her suspicions. "Good afternoon," she greeted, again bowing. "I'm-"
"So, this is the lady that showed up?" one man spoke up, turning to his companion. "She looks younger than you described. Did you run away from home for some excitement, miss?"
Filia frowned. "I am only interested in outlined duties, I can assure you. Please allow me to speak to the one in charge."
"Hey now," the man said, waving his hands as she grinned in amusement. "I didn't mean anything like you're assuming. Just understand, this isn't a place for runaways. We're fairly serious about what we're doing here. By the way, I am the one in charge."
"So you must be... I apologize for my rudeness!" Filia began bowing as soon as she realized her mistakes. "Please, be assured that I will be completely dedicated in regards to any help I can offer you!"
"It's fine, don't worry," John assured, a little sheepish in his insistence now. "I didn't mean to chase away a serious applicant. You must be dedicated to come all the way out there. What's your name?"
"Oh," Filia said, realizing she hadn't introduced herself at all since arriving. "I apologize for not saying so before. I'm Filia Ul Copt, hoping to fulfill your need for a dedicated healer."
Though the group had shown a slight interest before, they now all appeared in shock, raising their eyebrows while staring at Filia before whispering among themselves. The leader finally spoke to her directly. "And now I know you're just an imposter. Filia ul Copt had a dragon ready for us. We've been planning to build a stable for it."
"A stable?" Filia repeated irritably. "I can assure you I'd need no such thing!"
"Not if you don't have a dragon."
"There's been a misunderstanding," Filia said. "I don't 'have' a dragon for your use, I am a dragon."
John cracked a smile, looking to the men beside him who laughed along with him. "Just a little joke, miss. We understood your letter. Does someone like yourself really have nothing better to do? You can see why we'd be suspicious, a dragon of your ranking going so out of her way just to work with us on this little project. What would catch your interest so much?"
Filia paused, not knowing what her immediate response could be. Yes, she would seem suspicious to these humans, even being as upfront as she had been. No truthful, straightforward answer she had could lift that suspicion.
"You're a golden dragon, right?" John interrupted her. "If your clan wanted to get in on some of the information we've discovered, maybe we could trade secrets. Sending you to sneak them away, I don't much like that."
"Listen," Filia said, demanding the attention of all the dismissive men present. "I have no clan, no ties to any others of my kind. My clan perished around the time the barrier fell, and most of my life was lived outside that barrier, so I have no ties to any dragons here, either. I have no interest in anything going on here other than the job you'd assign to me. You're free to assign me away from anywhere I'd discover your 'secrets', since I have no interest in those."
Silently, the men nodded at Filia's declarations, exchanging glances with each other. "Then what do you want in a backwards place like here?" John asked plainly.
"Peace," Filia said, smiling as she did. She then sighed. "I wasn't even aware that you'd consider anything you were doing here to be worth hiding, keeping a secret. I can't pretend I'm not suspicious, so I'll just take my leave if you wouldn't be comfortable with having me here as help."
Again, Filia's possible employers were silent, only briefly whispering to each other. Given that reaction, Filia just bowed before turning away and heading off on her own down the road. Eventually reaching a more secluded area, she discreetly transformed, ready to fly away.
"So, you really are a golden dragon."
Filia turned and saw John. "You watched?" she asked crossly, more irked at her own immodesty than his curiosity.
"Right. So, I assume all - or most of what you said in your original inquiry is true. So, we'd like to hire you."
"You've no problem with me being a suspicious dragon, then?" Filia asked.
"No, not really. We'd be stupid not to take on anyone that would come up here for our originally offered salary, especially someone with a skill set like yours."
Filia paused a moment, then spoke up again. "Well, if I were to accept your offer, you understand I don't require a 'stable', but I would like shelter, the same as you'd provide to a human."
"Room and board were part of the original offer," John pointed out.
"Of course," Filia said, but that wasn't what she really had wanted to bring up. "My son will need to stay with me."
"Ah, so here's the real catch to your offer. Is your son kind of young and destructive?" John said with a grin. "Something that might destroy our settlement here by accident, is he?"
"Not at all!" Filia insisted. "He's still young, an adolescent, but old enough to know about discretion and self restraint. He should spend most of his time studying while he's here, and he can help with other tasks. I'll just need for you to provide his room and board along with myself. Is that acceptable?"
"Yeah, that much is fine. But what other catches are there, Miss Dragon? Are you in the middle of some kind of unrest? Is your son's father going to attack our settlement or something? Or do you have some kind of sorcerers after you?"
"As I've told you, my entire clan was eliminated. And there's no one who claims parentage of my son other than me," Filia said.
"Alright then. I'll accept if you'll accept. So how soon do you think you can start?"
"Tomorrow," Filia said. After a few more exchanges of details, she took off, flying toward where she had been camping with Val, feeling relieved. Finally, a place to stay, at least for a little while, Filia considered as she enjoyed the shadows of the sunset over the forests and rivers. Even if it wouldn't last forever, she'd been in-between homes for a while, and hoped this one would last a while. But it would be temporary, as everything in the human world was. Filia had learned that well over the years, taking Val from one human city to the other, as they turned into ghost towns with their human friends dying or simply moving onto something better and more stable.
But stability was only an illusion. Still, Filia had learned to enjoy that illusion while it lasted. She looked for Val with her spirits high. Filia swooped down nearby the cave they'd camped the previous night. "Val," Filia called. She looked around the area a while before calling again.
Eventually, she found Val a little ways away, sitting in his human form in front of a campfire. "There you are," Val said, as if he'd been the one to find her. "Well, how did it go?"
"We'll be moving there," Filia said happily.
"Oh," Val said, turning to his sticks near the fire where some fish was cooking. "Well, are you hungry, Mother?"
"Yes, thank you," Filia said, transforming to her own human form before joining him in the meal, accepting the fish as it was taken off the fire. Wouldn't it be nice to have a more formal meal at a dining table, surrounded by friends, Filia considered happily, her good mood not wavering at all as Val sat silently across from her.
"Why did you want to go there, anyway?" Val asked.
Filia paused mid-chew. She wasn't sure how to answer that question, since Val had asked it as if she'd had some sort of grand plan in mind, which wasn't the case at all. So what kind of answer she could give, she had no idea.
"Was it to be closer to him?" Val suggested.
Filia swallowed, knowing exactly who Val was referring to. "No," she said. She hadn't even considered Val's observation at all before he'd said it. "Seyruun isn't all that close to our new home," Filia said.
"It is, though. Close enough to make a day trip, easily," Val pointed out.
Filia paused a moment, then sighed. "Well, Val, you don't need to gain employment as of now, but when the time come, you'll discover it's a difficult undertaking, particularly for us as dragons in a human settlement."
"So why not just leave human settlements?" Val suggested. He scowled to himself, not having really wanted to start the conversation he'd had with his mother many times. "Forget it. I'll be sure to study hard before I decide where go. Don't worry about that, Mother."
Filia nodded, yawning before she patted Val's head. "Just rest and enjoy the area, for as long as our stay lasts. It really is peaceful," Filia said.
"Really?" Val asked.
"From what I could see. They're just doing some research, exploring some ruins. Some historians, being sure that no new war erupts as they study the errors of the past. Doesn't that sound nice?"
"Yeah," Val said quietly. He continued his meal before silently going to the fire to warm up. Everywhere was 'nice', it seemed to Val, until it suddenly wasn't.
Adjusting to the area was easy enough, both Val and Filia found. Filia helped with the cooking, gardening, and gathering other supplies, her services as a healer only needed a few times for very minor afflictions. Val went flying the earlier half of the day, doing minor tasks as he was asked before staying inside the second half studying until it was time to join everyone for the final meal of the day, which the entire small settlement ate together.
Val did find it 'nice', just being able to exchange pleasantries with the humans who otherwise left him alone. It was better than some of the other situations he'd been in, at any rate. Here, it seemed like his mother may have reached that 'peace' that she had been searching for. Just thinking about the vague hope that they'd finally reached that tranquil state, Val almost began to feel an internal calm.
"Good evening," Val greeted, nodding to the other members of the community that stood outside the building where they all ate together in the latter part of the day. The two women he'd greeted whispered to each other, looking back and forth from the entrance to each other as they conversed. Val frowned. Even these two had gotten used to him over the past few weeks, so it was disconcerting for them to snub him. "What is it?" Val asked.
"Oh, Val, sorry," one woman said, waving a hand his way.
"We weren't ignoring you, it's just, quite an interesting visitor has shown up," the other said.
"Indeed."
"Right," Val said absent-mindedly. Assured that they weren't gossiping or otherwise wary of him, Val entered the building with boredom, just hoping to eat before the meal time ended and everyone left. Val sat down and began to fill his plate. As he started to take his first bite, a voice with a sickly-sweet tone tore through his consciousness.
"Well, it's Val-san, isn't it?"
Val put his fork down. He paused a second, having been sure he'd never hear that voice again. But he had felt a foreboding feeling since he'd began to walk in, no, throughout the entire day, actually. Val turned toward the source, his expression hardening as he caught sight of the one he'd wanted stricken from his life forever. Val had been assured he'd never have to see this thing again, over and over, but there was no mistaking Xellos's unwelcomed presence. "You," Val said hatefully.
"Do you two know each other?" John asked, seriously studying their reactions.
"Oh, yes," Xellos said. "But it has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Don't just sit there with your fake pleasantries and act like we're friends!" Val said, slamming his hand on the table.
"Oh? Well, your manners haven't improved since the last time we've met, but I understand the folly of your youth." Xellos turned and smiled to the others present, who forced their own pleasant expression before looking back at Val warily. "It's good to see you again, in any rate," Xellos continued. "Considering what secluded lives you and your mother lead, I hardly expected to, much less here. Oh, that's right! Does this mean Filia-san is also in this settlement?"
"Don't ask stupid questions you already know the answer to," Val said, his hand smacking his own dinner on the floor and smashing the dish that held it. "I'm not going to stay here and listen to your shit. Just leave."
"Well, considering your actions, I think our company may feel more comfortable if you yourself left," Xellos observed.
Val looked around, seeing those around him, mostly standing and frowning, gazing warily at Val as if he were the one to beware of in this situation. "Hmph." Val clenched his jaw, then shut his eyes before turning away. "Whatever, you garbage. You know I won't share a table with you." Val walked away, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room as he made his way out. He was mostly calm, until he saw Filia by the door, the exploded again. "Did you invite him?" Val demanded.
"Xellos?" Filia said, her surprised expression nullifying Val's suspicion. He still turned away, slamming the door as he left. Filia looked back in his direction, shaking her head a moment as she frowned, then turned back to everyone else, unsure of what her response could be.
"Hello, Filia-san," Xellos said, standing up to greet her. "Seeing Val-san, I thought of how long it's been, but seeing you, it does seem longer."
Filia's cheeks tinged pink, but she soon turned away, going to face those at the table. "I apologize for my son's actions. I can assure you, I'll speak to him about this."
"It's fine, Filia," a woman assured her, though Filia knew it was just for politeness. She lowered her eyes in shame, only looking up when Xellos put his arm around her.
"Going without dinner can be enough for him for now, hm?" Xellos said.
"Right," Filia said quietly.
"Why don't you join us then?" Xellos said, moving away from her and to the table.
Filia paused in her guilt, looking toward the door. "Right, join us!" another person spoke from the table, pushing Filia to make the decision to really leave Val alone for the moment, and just enjoy the company of the moment. Filia began the small talk with her current neighbors, feeling a mix of emotions including apprehension as Xellos spoke up every once in a while.
She hadn't invited him. She'd thought about him only on occasion the past few years. In actuality, Filia had the urge to see Xellos during that time, she admitted guiltily to herself. Not that she'd known how to contact him, which was good, because inviting him into her home, and into her life again, it wasn't a good idea. There were plenty of other reasons as to why not, but the effect on Val was first and foremost in her mind.
Years ago, Filia had selfishly forgotten that. So what if she'd allowed Xellos into her thoughts, her house, even her heart. She was completely free of her previous ties, and dealt with all of the burdens that went along with that. Why shouldn't she enjoy the freedom that went along with that? There was no one left to support her, but also no one left to judge her.
Or so she'd thought. Mutters of discontent about a mazoku's presence from her adolescent son turned into shouts as he caught her and Xellos together in a less than demure situation. "Mother?" Val began, looking at them before his eyes met Filia's own. "What is this?!" he demanded.
Filia seemed to freeze at the question, but Xellos reacted with mere amusement. "Here I thought you were old enough to know about how these kinds of things went."
"Shut up, monster! Keep your hands off her, you garbage," Val said, moving forward with his fists clenched as if he'd strike Xellos.
"Val, wait," Filia begged, getting in-between the two. She realized she'd made a mistake as Val's expression fell. He almost looked as if Filia had betrayed him somehow. "Val-"
"You think you need to defend him from me?" Val said, clenching his fist. "Fine then."
"That's not it. Just listen, Val," Filia begged. As Val turned and left, his body tense with anger, Filia turned to Xellos. "It's time for you to leave," she ordered.
"Why?" Xellos asked. "He had to find out sometime. Just leave him alone a while. Stay with me a while and let him cool down."
"Don't think I'd ever choose you over my son," Filia declared sharply. "Leave, now!"
Though Xellos probably listened that time, Filia didn't wait to see if he would, instead tearing out of the door, looking for where Val had gone. She found him down the road only a small ways, his hand resting against the tree as he stood upright and tense. "Val," Filia called. She was certain she'd heard him, and he didn't retreat, but even knowing she likely had his attention, Filia wasn't sure what to say from there.
"What were you thinking," Val eventually began in a low voice. Filia still wasn't sure what to say, so stayed silent, but Val soon spoke up again. "How could you become a whore for that piece of trash!"
Filia's mouth fell open. "Val!" she said in shock. "Don't speak to me that way! I'm your mother!"
"So, you don't deny it," Val said. Maybe something he'd seen could have been misinterpreted, or Xellos could have forced himself on her, but neither was the case. Filia's reaction told him everything. "Just having that trash nearby makes me throw up. So what am I supposed to think of this, Mother? Huh?" Val shouted, turning to face her.
Filia took a closer look at Val, seeing his piercing glare as she tried to withstand the shouts that were like slaps to her. All of the hatred and discontent Val emanated, it was caused by her. Every insult Val spoke about Xellos was an echo of something she'd said in the past. She'd taught him, rightfully so to be wary of mazoku, and then behaved this way, so she hardly had a leg to stand on when it came to objecting to Val's response. "I'm sorry, Val," Filia said sincerely.
Val's expression lightened, accepting silently as Filia spoke, only further increasing her guilt as she saw how affected he was by her actions, to both extremes. He'd stopped damning her for her actions, and just waited patiently for her to continue. She wanted to be sure to reassure him as much as possible, and considering her influence on him, plenty was possible. "I can see this has upset you," Filia continued. "I've been foolish, haven't it?"
"You have," Val said.
"Alright, but I can't change that now. I can only end things from here on out. Do you want me to end it?" Filia said.
"Just how long has it gone on?" Val asked, again returning to that horrified reaction. He didn't wait to hear Filia's response to his question before continuing it. "Yes, end it! End it right now!"
So she had - ended whatever had gone on between her and Xellos, without choosing to label it. Though saying she would have to 'end it' signified both to Val and herself that this relationship had significance. Putting it to an 'end' had been more difficult than Filia had imagined it would be. Even now, simply being in the same room as Xellos, in this cafeteria with many others, Filia felt an unfocused sort of wanting, easy enough to ignore, but still very much there, much to her annoyance.
But Filia had plenty else to think about considering Xellos's presence with her new job. She was fairly certain he wasn't there for her, which meant there was something else going on here for him to be interested in. Perhaps these historians had good reason to want to keep secrets after all. Filia listened to everything in the conversations around her for what that might be, but the topic never went beyond the mundane, giving her no hints.
Filia eventually became distracted as the meal ended. She helped those around her clean up, taking her time. Eventually she sat alone in the room after everyone else had left. She did have to address Val's behavior. They were still newcomers to this settlement, and even if they weren't, his outbursts could mark him as a possible threat to those around him. She should be sure that Val understood that, perhaps have him apologize to everyone as a natural consequence.
All of this was typical of Filia's discipline of Val, and she normally would have gone and talked it out by now. It was that Val might mention Xellos that had Filia hesitating. Well, if he did, she could just say she hadn't invited him at all. She'd broken her promise to Val before, but she hadn't sought out this reunion. She wasn't going to run to Xellos's side and beg him for a reunion now, either.
"Oh, Filia-san, you're still here?"
Filia looked up at Xellos, not moving as he sat next to her. It felt better than she wanted to admit, being alone with him like this. She shifted her self away from him, only slightly, before greeting him. "Hello, Xellos."
"Yes, hello. Good to see you again. You've come out of hiding, then?"
"I was never hiding," Filia objected. "There's no one left to hide from, anyway."
"Not even me?" Xellos said with a smile.
"That would be a fruitless effort, wouldn't it?" Filia said, fidgeting before turning to face him again. "You haven't found me without us even trying to hide, so I can assume you aren't looking for me. Unless that's why you're here today?"
"No, I assure you it's as much of a surprise to me that we met here as it is to you," Xellos said. "Unless, perchance, you're the one that's been seeking me out?"
"That's not that case," Filia said, ignoring Xellos's awkward laugh. "I'd have to know why you're here first, to get here ahead of you, and I don't. So why is that?"
"Ah, that would be a secret," Xellos said, still keeping his pleasant exterior.
Filia frowned, standing up. "Then I suppose we have nothing to talk about," she said.
Before walking away, Filia's hand was grabbed, and she turned around, seeing Xellos affectionately place her hand to his face. "It was a surprise to see you, but it wasn't an unpleasant one. Why don't we take the opportunity to catch up then?"
Filia snatched her hand away, now facing away from Xellos. She glanced back at him a moment, then away again, ignoring the mazoku's hurt expression. He couldn't have expected much different, and was only trying to manipulate her by using that kind of reaction.
"I see," Xellos said calmly. "Don't worry, Filia-san, I still understand, I just hoped time would change things. It hasn't though, has it?"
"No," Filia confirmed.
"Well then, I'm sure we can both amicably avoid each other as we tend to our business here. That sounds best, doesn't it?"
Filia frowned, not wanting to just sit back for him to 'tend to business'. But that really did sound best, so she just nodded. As Xellos stepped in front of her on his way out, she decided to ask him the one thing that had been on her mind. "Xellos, wait. Can I ask just one thing?"
"You can ask," Xellos said, turning back to her.
"Have you seen Galen recently?" Filia asked.
"Oh? Is that all? Well, that I can answer. Yes, I make it a point to see him regularly when I'm nearby Seyruun."
Filia wasn't sure what answer she'd been expecting, but the given one first shocked her, then had her feeling angry. "Is that so?" she said, closing her eyes and turning away.
"What is it?" Xellos asked, blinking with some confusion. "Isn't that considered typical? What might you find objectionable about it?"
Filia tried to lighten her expression, since there really was no reason for her to react that way, after all. As she dropped her cross expression, Filia frowned instead. No, she wasn't really angry, not at Xellos, anyway. She was far more angry at herself, appearing to be worse at parenting than Xellos, even. But what would Xellos hope to gain from his actions? Filia again lifted up her head. "It's nothing to do with what I find acceptable. What's your motive in seeing Galen at all?"
"Motive? Well, do I really need much of a motive to see my precious son?" Xellos asked cheerfully.
Filia's expression now wrinkled up in disgust, and she scooted away. "That's enough. Really," she said, unable to hide how disturbing she found it.
"What?" Xellos asked innocently.
"Referring to Galen that way, it's not necessary," Filia said.
"Right, 'my precious son'... But you refer to him the same way, correct?"
"You're not being sincere in the least while doing so!" Filia shouted. She took a breath before turning away.
Xellos smirked. "I suppose so," he admitted. "It's impossible for me to be completely sincere regarding this matter, isn't it? But can't the same be said for you? I wonder how many other mothers of 'precious sons' go years without seeing their child of their own will." In response to his accusation, Filia said nothing. Xellos eventually sighed loudly. "Well, it has been fun catching up... Well, a little. Have a nice evening, then."
Filia's skin was practically crawling as Xellos left. Why had she been tempted upon seeing him, again? Filia wondered this as she kicked a bench over. "Oh no," she said as it broke. Filia picked up the pieces, trying her best to fix the object as she tried to calm herself down.
It wasn't the first time Xellos had acted all smug and superior when it came to parenting. Far from it, Filia thought, though that did nothing to help calm her nerves, instead she further splintered the thing she was trying to fix. Xellos had no reason to believe himself capable of being the nurturing caretaker that children required, yet often behaved as if he were Filia's superior in this matter.
In her state of irritation, Filia couldn't help but think of the most outrageous instance of this attitude. She'd told Xellos she was cutting him out of her life, that she had to, which had displeased him. Then he added a stipulation to his departure. "Fine then. If that's what you've decided, I can't change your mind. I'll leave you alone, but I'll just take Galen with me."
"Absolutely not!" Filia raged, noticing that it had no effect on Xellos. He'd stopped trying to change her mind, and just glared at her. Well, this had to be something else to try and persuade her. "Is this a threat? I won't respond to it! You know Galen belongs here. I'm not going to yield to something like this and allow you to stay."
"Oh no, not at all. I can see you've made your decision. I've just made my own based on that. Galen can't stay here, so I'll have to have him with me," Xellos said simply.
"And where would that be? Do you think he would do well in the astral plane? With your disgusting compatriots? It can't be... Your filthy master wants him for some purpose?" Filia fretted.
"Not especially." Xellos almost looked bored as he denied Filia's accusations. "Well, it's true that there's no place for him in my world, but the same goes for you and yours. I'll find the best place for him to grow up with no problems, and help him as I can, the same as now."
"The best place is with me! What problem would there be with him staying with his mother?" Filia asked angrily.
"You won't protect him as necessary."
In retrospect, thinking of the exchange now, Filia knew it was just something Xellos said to get to her. He didn't want to leave her. His objections to doing so had been particularly strong. So even though he eventually did, trying to make her suffer with those kinds of words was typical of his kind. His interest in Galen as a son could hardly be sincere, as he'd admitted just that very day, so his actions then were just to stir unease in Filia.
Convincing herself of this for the umpteenth time in the years since it had happened, Filia felt calmer. She took a look at the furniture she'd just fixed, hoping no one else would take that close a look at in for a while, but supposing it looked fair and would hold up alright. Xellos had also been trying to mislead her in what he'd said that very day, Filia concluded. 'Regularly when nearby Seyruun' could be never, if Xellos was never close to the city at all. That was probably how it was, since Seyruun was a city his kind really ought to avoid. Going to visit with Galen would be too much of a distraction from all the other nefarious tasks he was assigned to as well.
Except Xellos had visited, Filia realized as she touched the knob to the outside. She felt cold as the fact slapped her in the face. If Xellos had been apathetic to Galen as logic dictated he ought to be, and never seen their son at all, he couldn't have know that Filia herself hadn't gone to see Galen at all these past few years. She hadn't even dropped her own child a letter, nothing. Xellos had just taunted her about that fact, and the best way he'd know about that would be to hear it from Galen himself.
Xellos was an unfeeling monster that delighted in the suffering of others along with the rest of his kind. Still, Filia realized with an pointed guilt, this monster had proven himself to be a better parent than her at the moment. Trying to push that thought to the side, Filia went to deal with her other son.