Chapter 4:
A little boy skipped past a candy store, a sweet smile on his cute face and an equally sweet voice from his mouth.
"Good morning, Sir!" He called out to the owner within.
The storeowner peered out from his counter. What a charming little boy! He came out into the street and ruffled the boy's midnight hair, grinning widely.
"Here go you, m'boy! A candy just for you!"
"Thank you, Sir!"
Licking his candy slowly, the boy hopped out of the store playfully and went down the street, turning sharply into a dark alley. Immediately, all traces of childish innocence vanished. Flinging the candy away in disgust, the boy released a snort of contempt. Disgusting things, candy. He could never understand why kids liked that sugary stuff. Being disgustingly sweet and smiling all the time didn't help.
The boy kicked the candy in a burst of anger. This must have been a prank! He was happy where he was…then they simply had to pull him back into this absurdly cheerful world. Cursing floridly, he kicked the candy again.
Tsk tsk…such language for a child. A familiar irritating voice stealthily entered his mind.
Before snapping a nasty retort, the boy stopped himself.
Excellent…you've finally learnt to control your temper I see. I have news and orders for you. Listen carefully.
The boy's smile this time was not a sweet one.
"Fi-li-a."
"Yes, Florin, my dear, I know."
The Golden Dragon resisted the urge to groan. She took to smashing down trees furiously with her tail instead. Xelloss who was floating in mid-air found the situation extremely amusing.
"Surely you remember your own miko, Karyuuou sama."
"Oh yes yes, of course I remember Florence."
Crash went another tree.
Lina smacked her forehead. "Geez, he's even worse than Gourry."
The blonde swordsman just blinked.
Ceipheed's Knight led a firm hand on Filia's shoulder, before looking up at the Fire Dragon.
"Would you mind, Karyuuou san, you're a tad bit too large at the moment."
Nodding in agreement, the Dragon God's form glowed. Seconds later, a young fiery-haired man in a maroon suit appeared where the dragon stood. He ran a hand through his silky hair coolly as the girls once again blushed.
"Better?"
"Better."
Lina sighed. "Why is it all the stupid people have to look good?"
The chimera flashed a cynical smile. "They have to have some talent to make up for their shortcoming."
"Zelgadiss san hidoi!" Amelia grumbled.
"Well then, Karyuuou san…give them their instructions. We're running short of time."
"Very well, Luna sama. All right, my friends, you now have to summon the next Dragon God. That would be the Wood Dragon, Mokuryuu. He has no miko or houshi. Or rather, he has no miko or houshi who is willing to serve him."
Audible snickers could be heard from the Trickster Priest. The Knight made no attempt at hushing him.
"Thus, summoning him would be simple. My miko, Filia would suit the job nicely."
The Golden Dragon's eyes lighted up, her tail twitching joyfully.
"Mokuryuu can be found at Zefilia."
Lina's eyes bugged. Zefilia?! Impossible…she never recalled a temple in Zefilia!
"Um…excuse me, Karyuuou…Sir. What if we need you again?" The gentle voice of Sylphiel rang throughout the clearing.
"You have no need to worry about that, dear…I shall be travelling with you."
Luna shook Karyuuou's hand, her purple hair spilling elegantly over her shoulders.
"Thank you, my friend."
The Fire Dragon squeezed the Knight's hand cheekily. "Luna sama, I believe you had not repaid me the last time…we did agree to a dinner date…"
Receiving a glacial glare, the Fire Dragon released Luna's hand with a regretful sigh.
Zefilia, a place of happiness, joy and peace. Tourists flocked to this realm of fantasy where celebrations were often held, where there were no worries, no qualms, no catastrophes.
At the edge of Zefilia stood a large wooden temple. So forgotten was it, that no one knew of its existence. Within this wooden temple, resided…
"Mokuryuu!"
Shouting the last bit of the incantation to the sky, Filia and company waited eagerly for the next dragon to emerge just as magnificently as the last. Let's just ignore the consequence of such a magnificent ascent through the temple, shall we?
They waited.
And they waited.
Sniggering, the Trickster Priest covered his hand over his mouth, fruitlessly trying to stifle his laughter. Even the Knight of Ceipheed couldn't resist a wry smile. The Fire Dragon stood at the side, arms folded across his chest.
Finally, after what appeared to have been several hours, a sound came from the silent temple.
"OW! Damn, who built this solid thing?! OW! Shit!" A series of thuds upon the roof of the temple and consecutive exclamations after the thuds went on for some time.
Xelloss, by now, was clutching his stomach in silent laughter. Karyuuou blinked in confusion, with Gourry mirroring the look exactly. Ceipheed's Knight sighed and flicked her wrist at the temple.
The roof exploded.
Splinters of wood and debris flew through the air, raining down upon the group. Sylphiel smoothly created a shield of protection over them, promptly receiving a gentle smile from Luna.
A sudden squeak of pain startled them all. Karyuuou's golden eyes rolled up. "Did something just hit me?"
Amelia and Sylphiel's hair stood on end as a pile of ash turned into a twig which suddenly sprouted limbs. Shrieking in terror, both girls leapt to their heroes for cover. Gourry willingly hugged the shaking girl to him. Zelgadiss, however, side-stepped with a grimace. The Princess of Seryuun crashed into a tree and slid down into an undignified heap.
Stepping forward to the piece of wood, Luna nodded.
"A pleasure to see you again, Mokuryuu san."
Everyone gawked.
The Wood Dragon's eyes suddenly popped out from the wood. They turned round a few times, before stopping on Luna. Mokuryuu leapt up onto the Knight's head and patted it.
"Yes, long time no see."
Recovering from her initial scare, Sylphiel pounced onto a terrified Wood Dragon.
"KAWAII KAWAII KAWAII!!!!"
Mokuryuu choked as Sylphiel's grip on him tightened. The normally brown wood turned into a dark violet as the Wood Dragon ran rapidly out of breath.
The great Fire Dragon pulled Mokuryuu out of Sylphiel's grasp. "Why didn't you greet me, your own comrade!"
Everyone blinked as there was a burst of flame from the Fire Dragon God's fist. Karyuuou opened his fist: empty.
Scratching his head, he looked around the area. "That's funny…I could've sworn I was holding him."
A pile of ash on the ground bellowed its indignation.
"That's the reason why I didn't greet you! Fire burns wood, idiot!"
"Mokuryuu sama…you never cease to loosen me up."
Changing forms with a "pop", the Wood Dragon's eyes bulged in anger at the speaker.
"YOU!"
"Yes, me. Am I expected to reciprocate in the same manner? Or perhaps you would prefer something more intelligent?"
"Xelloss," the Knight of Ceipheed smiled. "Be nice."
"You…you…foul creature!"
Filia silently cheered the Wood Dragon on. However, if the Golden Dragon was expecting Mokuryuu to crush the smirking mazoku, she was about to be sorely disappointed.
The Trickster Priest arched a slender eyebrow at the tiny piece of wood latched upon his finger, gnawing away like a beaver would at a log.
"Die, die, you holy terror!"
The group collapsed in exasperation at the sad sight.
Xelloss's smirk widened considerably.
"I thank you very much for considering me as holy…" He pulled his cape forth into an elaborate bow, making sure to swish his arm down swiftly. There was a wail of rage as the Wood Dragon's teeth released the trickster priest's finger from the fast movement, and it…er, he, flew into the air.
Xelloss looked up in time to see the Dragon God's descent towards the hard ground. "…Mokuryuu sama," he finished.
Even Ceipheed's Knight laughed.
