THE GIFT OF THE MAZOUKU - A SLAYERS STORY
Chapter 20 - Interlude IV
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be Master - that's all." - Lewis Carroll
Zelas Metallium was not used to cringing. That was for the weaklings under her. She ran her own agenda, made her own rules, and answered oh so rarely to only one other entity, the Mother of ALL, the Lord of Nightmares. Her former Priest and General acted in her name to carry out her will at all times. Zelas rarely had need to leave her lovely island retreat that she affectionately called, Wolfpack Island, and she NEVER got her hands dirty. Never the less, Zelas was afraid now.
The death of Xelloss, as well as the countless other Mazouku, Monsters, and demons that Lina & CO had destroyed, pulsed through the Astral Plain spreading pain and fear to all the spirit forms. But that was only a small contributor to her current state of apprehension. Her dilemma was much worse.
Currently, Zelas was floating in the domain of the Lord of Nightmares. L-sama herself was filling the Void at the end of the 'room' and was continuing to question the Mazouku lord,
".So you removed his staff and returned him nearly powerless to his human associates?" Xelloss's staff rested, unharmed, alongside Filia's mace, also unharmed, against one 'wall'.
"Yes, L-sama. I had wanted to test his strength. He needs a little push now and then...and there are so many openings in the hierarchy these days.I fully intended to return his staff tomorrow." She added contritely.
"He accomplished your goal in spite of his weakness. And sacrificed his life to save the Ancient Dragon from destruction. Was it your intention to kill the last member of one of my creations? Was Xelloss working in defiance of your orders?"
"Oxceplin's orders were to capture the boy, not to kill him. He was acting on no authority of mine! "
"Oxceplin was yours. He planned to destroy the Ancient Dragon. So you are responsible for is actions as well. That he failed, was due solely to Xelloss's initiative."
"Yes, L-sama."
"So, now, without Xelloss in particular and without Oxceplin and his minions, how do you plan to handle the Knight of Shabrinigdo, a human of particular interest to me, and how are you to complete your plans to resurrect Him and return Him to power? "
"I-I don't know, L-sama."
"I see."
There was a long pause in the questioning, then She asked, "Zelas- child? If you could change one thing, what would that be?"
Without pause, Zelas replied, "I would that Xelloss survived, my Lord."
The beautiful golden light of L-sama drenched the room. In the center was a small dark cloud of swirling aural mass. "A very powerful , resourceful, and passionate young healer-woman drew this material together. This is all that remains of Xelloss. To bring him back, I'll need more."
"Yes, L-sama, I understand. Take what you need." Zelas submitted to a pain beyond nightmares as the Lord of Nightmares drained her of her power and aural material.
The aura called Xelloss grew as L-sama continued to draw upon the Astral Plain and nurtured the mists into substantial form.
Xelloss stood naked in the golden light and smiled upon the vision,
"L-sama? Who am I?"
The Lord of Nightmares clasped him in her golden aura and filled his mind with images of countless ages and memories both his and those of endless others. Then she sorted them all out of the chaos and into coherent, ordered thoughts.
"L-sama. I am Xelloss. Thank you for this life." He smiled and bowed, then noticed his staff.
He held out his arm and the staff floated into its master's open hand. He swept the staff from head to toe and dressed himself anew. Now he noticed his former boss floating nearby, "Mistress? Is this the new one? It feels exactly like the old."
Zelas bowed her head slightly, "It's the old one. I had lied. It's been safe all along."
Xelloss looked bemused, "Ah, then it was just test after all! How did I do, my Mistress? I'm really nervous about tests, you know giggle ."
"You did well. You acquired the Knight of Shabrinigdo and saved your Ancient Dragon, at last."
"And my friends?"
"F-Friends? They are all well,." answered Zelas, surprise showing by the catch in her voice.
"I see." Then to the Golden Aura he bowed, "Well, then if there is nothing else, I MUST be going.."
"There IS more, Xelloss," intoned the Lord of Nightmares. "There is the matter of punishment and reward."
"Punishment?.and reward? I'll take the reward first, L-sama," grinned Xelloss.
The Golden Aura shimmered in merriment, "Very well.You are now a powerful Mazouku Lord under Shabrinigdo, under me. I am certain that you can feel the new power. Zelas was generous enough to 'share' some of hers to return you to life. You and she are now equals under Shabrinigdo, under me. Now you must choose a purpose and a title."
Xelloss closed his violet eyes, put on his 'thinking cap' (purple of course), and floated arms-behind-head, staff upon chest for some time. When he awoke, Xelloss smiled and called out, "L-sama?"
"Have you decided, little-one?" for all her creations were children to the endlessness of the Lord of Nightmares.
"Yes, L-sama. I'd like to be called the Lord of Dreams. And use my powers to control the dreams of man to shape the world according to your perfect chaos. For you see, I believe that the time of Gods and Mazouku is waning, and that of humankind is waxing."
"Very well, Xelloss Lord of Dreams, you have chosen. Time for the punishment."
Xelloss made a face.
"The punishment is not so bad. First, Zelas is now your equal. You carried out your orders in spite of her deception and against great odds. You must choose her punishment."
Xelloss opened his eyes and gazed long at Zelas. She met his stare, then looked away. Xelloss sighed, then smiled, "Well, actually, I'm more a middle-management sort of Mazouku. All that responsibility and paperwork is SO stressful, you know. I'd prefer to remain the High Priest and General to Zelas, while retaining my new title and powers."
Zelas stared at the purple-haired Mazouku Lord in disbelief. This was no Mazouku like any other. Mercy over punishment?
"As you wish, Xelloss Lord of Dreams, but with this restriction. You report to me as well. You carry out my wishes first and foremost. My wishes take precedence over all others. Do you understand and accept this, Xelloss?"
"Yes, L-sama."
"And you, Zelas Lord Beastmaster, do you?"
"Y-Yes, L-sama."
Then the Golden Aura smiled upon Xelloss, "You are a most remarkable Mazouku with a strange generous spirit. Perhaps your close contact with humans is responsible. Perhaps the race of Mazouku must change to survive in this new era of humanity. What do you think?"
"Hmm, I think.that I'd like to go to my funeral. It's about to begin and my friends are going to say all kinds of nice and terrible things about me and, well, I AM getting a bit peckish." he grinned.
"Very well, good-bye. We will talk again later."
"Thank you, L-sama," said Xelloss, who paused and reached toward the mace. He grabbed it in his free hand, bowed to both Lords and disappeared.
SHIMMER
Chapter 20 - Interlude IV
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be Master - that's all." - Lewis Carroll
Zelas Metallium was not used to cringing. That was for the weaklings under her. She ran her own agenda, made her own rules, and answered oh so rarely to only one other entity, the Mother of ALL, the Lord of Nightmares. Her former Priest and General acted in her name to carry out her will at all times. Zelas rarely had need to leave her lovely island retreat that she affectionately called, Wolfpack Island, and she NEVER got her hands dirty. Never the less, Zelas was afraid now.
The death of Xelloss, as well as the countless other Mazouku, Monsters, and demons that Lina & CO had destroyed, pulsed through the Astral Plain spreading pain and fear to all the spirit forms. But that was only a small contributor to her current state of apprehension. Her dilemma was much worse.
Currently, Zelas was floating in the domain of the Lord of Nightmares. L-sama herself was filling the Void at the end of the 'room' and was continuing to question the Mazouku lord,
".So you removed his staff and returned him nearly powerless to his human associates?" Xelloss's staff rested, unharmed, alongside Filia's mace, also unharmed, against one 'wall'.
"Yes, L-sama. I had wanted to test his strength. He needs a little push now and then...and there are so many openings in the hierarchy these days.I fully intended to return his staff tomorrow." She added contritely.
"He accomplished your goal in spite of his weakness. And sacrificed his life to save the Ancient Dragon from destruction. Was it your intention to kill the last member of one of my creations? Was Xelloss working in defiance of your orders?"
"Oxceplin's orders were to capture the boy, not to kill him. He was acting on no authority of mine! "
"Oxceplin was yours. He planned to destroy the Ancient Dragon. So you are responsible for is actions as well. That he failed, was due solely to Xelloss's initiative."
"Yes, L-sama."
"So, now, without Xelloss in particular and without Oxceplin and his minions, how do you plan to handle the Knight of Shabrinigdo, a human of particular interest to me, and how are you to complete your plans to resurrect Him and return Him to power? "
"I-I don't know, L-sama."
"I see."
There was a long pause in the questioning, then She asked, "Zelas- child? If you could change one thing, what would that be?"
Without pause, Zelas replied, "I would that Xelloss survived, my Lord."
The beautiful golden light of L-sama drenched the room. In the center was a small dark cloud of swirling aural mass. "A very powerful , resourceful, and passionate young healer-woman drew this material together. This is all that remains of Xelloss. To bring him back, I'll need more."
"Yes, L-sama, I understand. Take what you need." Zelas submitted to a pain beyond nightmares as the Lord of Nightmares drained her of her power and aural material.
The aura called Xelloss grew as L-sama continued to draw upon the Astral Plain and nurtured the mists into substantial form.
Xelloss stood naked in the golden light and smiled upon the vision,
"L-sama? Who am I?"
The Lord of Nightmares clasped him in her golden aura and filled his mind with images of countless ages and memories both his and those of endless others. Then she sorted them all out of the chaos and into coherent, ordered thoughts.
"L-sama. I am Xelloss. Thank you for this life." He smiled and bowed, then noticed his staff.
He held out his arm and the staff floated into its master's open hand. He swept the staff from head to toe and dressed himself anew. Now he noticed his former boss floating nearby, "Mistress? Is this the new one? It feels exactly like the old."
Zelas bowed her head slightly, "It's the old one. I had lied. It's been safe all along."
Xelloss looked bemused, "Ah, then it was just test after all! How did I do, my Mistress? I'm really nervous about tests, you know giggle ."
"You did well. You acquired the Knight of Shabrinigdo and saved your Ancient Dragon, at last."
"And my friends?"
"F-Friends? They are all well,." answered Zelas, surprise showing by the catch in her voice.
"I see." Then to the Golden Aura he bowed, "Well, then if there is nothing else, I MUST be going.."
"There IS more, Xelloss," intoned the Lord of Nightmares. "There is the matter of punishment and reward."
"Punishment?.and reward? I'll take the reward first, L-sama," grinned Xelloss.
The Golden Aura shimmered in merriment, "Very well.You are now a powerful Mazouku Lord under Shabrinigdo, under me. I am certain that you can feel the new power. Zelas was generous enough to 'share' some of hers to return you to life. You and she are now equals under Shabrinigdo, under me. Now you must choose a purpose and a title."
Xelloss closed his violet eyes, put on his 'thinking cap' (purple of course), and floated arms-behind-head, staff upon chest for some time. When he awoke, Xelloss smiled and called out, "L-sama?"
"Have you decided, little-one?" for all her creations were children to the endlessness of the Lord of Nightmares.
"Yes, L-sama. I'd like to be called the Lord of Dreams. And use my powers to control the dreams of man to shape the world according to your perfect chaos. For you see, I believe that the time of Gods and Mazouku is waning, and that of humankind is waxing."
"Very well, Xelloss Lord of Dreams, you have chosen. Time for the punishment."
Xelloss made a face.
"The punishment is not so bad. First, Zelas is now your equal. You carried out your orders in spite of her deception and against great odds. You must choose her punishment."
Xelloss opened his eyes and gazed long at Zelas. She met his stare, then looked away. Xelloss sighed, then smiled, "Well, actually, I'm more a middle-management sort of Mazouku. All that responsibility and paperwork is SO stressful, you know. I'd prefer to remain the High Priest and General to Zelas, while retaining my new title and powers."
Zelas stared at the purple-haired Mazouku Lord in disbelief. This was no Mazouku like any other. Mercy over punishment?
"As you wish, Xelloss Lord of Dreams, but with this restriction. You report to me as well. You carry out my wishes first and foremost. My wishes take precedence over all others. Do you understand and accept this, Xelloss?"
"Yes, L-sama."
"And you, Zelas Lord Beastmaster, do you?"
"Y-Yes, L-sama."
Then the Golden Aura smiled upon Xelloss, "You are a most remarkable Mazouku with a strange generous spirit. Perhaps your close contact with humans is responsible. Perhaps the race of Mazouku must change to survive in this new era of humanity. What do you think?"
"Hmm, I think.that I'd like to go to my funeral. It's about to begin and my friends are going to say all kinds of nice and terrible things about me and, well, I AM getting a bit peckish." he grinned.
"Very well, good-bye. We will talk again later."
"Thank you, L-sama," said Xelloss, who paused and reached toward the mace. He grabbed it in his free hand, bowed to both Lords and disappeared.
SHIMMER
