The red-headed General studied Xelloss for a long time, resting her weight
against the side of her chair. She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened
them with a sigh, rubbing her temples with one hand, "If I ask you to
explain yourself, I have a high chance of proving myself completely right
about your answer. However, I can't help but wonder, is there anything you
want to tell me, Xel?"
"Well, there was one thing maybe." Xelloss rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "I'm sure you are aware, Lina-san, that the monster race is . . . shall we say, struggling. Our numbers have greatly decreased since your, hmmm, ingenious invention." Xelloss scowled a bit. "In other words, as much as it kills me to say this, we may be in need of some assistance. Of course, I understand if you object, which is why I came here merely to ask you for a ceasefire. However . . ." he leaned so close that their noses were practically touching. "Should you feel so inclined, a sorceress of your power could be very useful. Of course, I could just call a retreat and let you humans be killed along with my minions in one big, happy deathfest, but you see, I don't want that . . ." Suddenly the famous smile was back, in full swing. "I want to defeat you myself."
"In your dreams," Lina retorted dryly, thrusting her palms against his shoulders and shoving them away, "You might be a little more convincing if I knew what it was that was supposed to sweep away my entire army...?"
"Oww," Xelloss interrupted, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Your bracelet is giving me a headache. Keep it away from me." He sounded more irritated than usual. Lina's lighthearted smile faded a moment and her forehead creased. However, as the force of her push distanced his body from hers he seemed to grow amiable again. "Actually," he continued as if nothing had happened, "not your army. Your whole city. Your entire population. Your race." He settled himself back comfortably in his chair. Lina tried to hide her unconscious shudder. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you just what the threat is. That, of course, is . . ." he trailed off deviously, then shrugged cheerfully, ". . .a mystery to me as well!"
Lina scowled half-heartedly, and shook her head, "Very funny, Xel." She muttered, settling unceremoniously into her chair again - sideways, her legs kicking leisurely over the armrest.
Suddenly the mazoku grew serious again. His mood swings were beginning to become an uncharacteristic trait that Lina was not warming to. "But I have seen it," he said mysteriously. "Or what there is to be seen. It rather resembles a shadow . . . and it kills everything it touches. Monsters, too. It just keeps moving forward. Sometimes it slows down, but it cannot be stopped. And it never retreats. It's also painful, or so I would guess from the strangled screams of its victims. I, myself, had no desire to confirm my theory and no one has touched it and survived."
Xelloss raised himself from his seat and wandered to the food table. He chose a piece of dried fruit and put it in his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully. He began to pace around the room, examining the furniture and decorations. Lina watched him thoughtfully for a few moments as he walked, but then drifted into her own hazy thoughts. Eventually he straightened. "Oh, yes, where was I?" Lina jumped lightly, surprised out of the recesses of her mind, "So, anyway, you can imagine that we don't appreciate this . . . thing . . . doing our work for us. The Higher Ups are keeping their distance from the whole war, and anyway, I don't think they know what it is either, or that's the impression I get. No one knows anything about it. That's why I need a talented human sorceress to give me some advice. What do you say?"
"What do you think I can do against this thing?" Lina inquired curiously, still half in her own thoughts. "And you have no idea where it came from?" She stood, rubbing her hands together and mentally preparing what to tell the men and Princess Amelia. She paused a moment and sighed, brushing her bangs back and smiling softly at Xelloss, "I guess I'm just going to trust you, after all. And if this thing really is dangerous to these people or anyone else in this world, I'm sure not going to sit by and watch it. but not just for your sake, mind you." She eyed him narrowly.
"Oh, of course not! I just want you to identify it, make something of it, if you can. Then we can get rid of it and we can all get back to more important matters. It'll be like it never happened. If you want information, all I can tell you is that it comes from various separate sources, that it began popping up about a year ago around old battlefields, and that, according to farmers, it has been lurking around for years, inactive. We think it's magic, possibly hand made. In fact, most of the monster race believes you made it." Xelloss laughed. "But I don't sense any recognition or pride in your manner, so I suppose I don't believe it. That was actually another reason I came. To judge your reaction to the news. If you did make it, I'll hand it to you, it's a masterpiece. But somehow, it just doesn't fit. That's all I know . . . for now." Xelloss threw up his hands and went back to his seat. "I can show you the spots where it was recently sighted. Then you can examine it for yourself. Sounds like fun, ne, Lina-san? A nice break from the tiresome ordeals of political transactions. What do you say? I've been incredibly honest and open with you. Now it's your turn. Will you let me show you?"
"General Inverse," came the voice of Hendrick from the doorway. Lina had forgotten he was there. "I must protest. If this is truly Lesser Beastmaster, as you say, the one you've spoken of, well . . . Going off with the leader of our enemies is an extremely unwise idea. Monsters cannot be trusted!" He faltered and looked around. "I didn't mean to imply that you could not make a good decision. I'm only concerned, General . . .You know how many times he's pulled stunts and pranks on us!"
"And I also know that he'll just keep on pulling 'em later, unless the world gets destroyed, in which case he'll be too non-existent to bother any of the other dead people." Lina rubbed her temples again and stood, balling her hands and bracing them against the nearby table, "All I need is a good glance and to see things out with my own eyes. It won't be incredibly dangerous or anything. . . I trust." She flashed Xelloss a sly look and stretched her hands far above her head, her fingers entwined, hearing the satisfying crack from her sore shoulder bones shifting position.
"Of course! It's not like I'm planning to push you in, or anything!"
"Yah, and if you did, I'd drag you in with me, and you know it. And then I'd come back and haunt everybody real bad. Man, it'll be good to get out again, investigating magicks, breezing through danger . . . or something like that." Smiling brightly, she winked at Xelloss, "Just like the old days, huh, Xel, old pal?"
"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say! So, when do we leave?"
"After dinner!" Lina announced immediately, but then paused, "Eh, well I have to talk to Princess Amelia as well. So, are you planning on staying till I'm done, or what?"
"Seeing as your L-magic prevents me from teleporting or even from returning to the Astral Plane, I suppose I'll have to. It hardly seems worth it to leave and come back. And besides, I'd love to see Amelia-san again." He stood, grinning. "Pity, though. If it weren't for your charms, I could have made such a dramatic exit."
"Oh, shucks."
"Well, there was one thing maybe." Xelloss rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "I'm sure you are aware, Lina-san, that the monster race is . . . shall we say, struggling. Our numbers have greatly decreased since your, hmmm, ingenious invention." Xelloss scowled a bit. "In other words, as much as it kills me to say this, we may be in need of some assistance. Of course, I understand if you object, which is why I came here merely to ask you for a ceasefire. However . . ." he leaned so close that their noses were practically touching. "Should you feel so inclined, a sorceress of your power could be very useful. Of course, I could just call a retreat and let you humans be killed along with my minions in one big, happy deathfest, but you see, I don't want that . . ." Suddenly the famous smile was back, in full swing. "I want to defeat you myself."
"In your dreams," Lina retorted dryly, thrusting her palms against his shoulders and shoving them away, "You might be a little more convincing if I knew what it was that was supposed to sweep away my entire army...?"
"Oww," Xelloss interrupted, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Your bracelet is giving me a headache. Keep it away from me." He sounded more irritated than usual. Lina's lighthearted smile faded a moment and her forehead creased. However, as the force of her push distanced his body from hers he seemed to grow amiable again. "Actually," he continued as if nothing had happened, "not your army. Your whole city. Your entire population. Your race." He settled himself back comfortably in his chair. Lina tried to hide her unconscious shudder. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you just what the threat is. That, of course, is . . ." he trailed off deviously, then shrugged cheerfully, ". . .a mystery to me as well!"
Lina scowled half-heartedly, and shook her head, "Very funny, Xel." She muttered, settling unceremoniously into her chair again - sideways, her legs kicking leisurely over the armrest.
Suddenly the mazoku grew serious again. His mood swings were beginning to become an uncharacteristic trait that Lina was not warming to. "But I have seen it," he said mysteriously. "Or what there is to be seen. It rather resembles a shadow . . . and it kills everything it touches. Monsters, too. It just keeps moving forward. Sometimes it slows down, but it cannot be stopped. And it never retreats. It's also painful, or so I would guess from the strangled screams of its victims. I, myself, had no desire to confirm my theory and no one has touched it and survived."
Xelloss raised himself from his seat and wandered to the food table. He chose a piece of dried fruit and put it in his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully. He began to pace around the room, examining the furniture and decorations. Lina watched him thoughtfully for a few moments as he walked, but then drifted into her own hazy thoughts. Eventually he straightened. "Oh, yes, where was I?" Lina jumped lightly, surprised out of the recesses of her mind, "So, anyway, you can imagine that we don't appreciate this . . . thing . . . doing our work for us. The Higher Ups are keeping their distance from the whole war, and anyway, I don't think they know what it is either, or that's the impression I get. No one knows anything about it. That's why I need a talented human sorceress to give me some advice. What do you say?"
"What do you think I can do against this thing?" Lina inquired curiously, still half in her own thoughts. "And you have no idea where it came from?" She stood, rubbing her hands together and mentally preparing what to tell the men and Princess Amelia. She paused a moment and sighed, brushing her bangs back and smiling softly at Xelloss, "I guess I'm just going to trust you, after all. And if this thing really is dangerous to these people or anyone else in this world, I'm sure not going to sit by and watch it. but not just for your sake, mind you." She eyed him narrowly.
"Oh, of course not! I just want you to identify it, make something of it, if you can. Then we can get rid of it and we can all get back to more important matters. It'll be like it never happened. If you want information, all I can tell you is that it comes from various separate sources, that it began popping up about a year ago around old battlefields, and that, according to farmers, it has been lurking around for years, inactive. We think it's magic, possibly hand made. In fact, most of the monster race believes you made it." Xelloss laughed. "But I don't sense any recognition or pride in your manner, so I suppose I don't believe it. That was actually another reason I came. To judge your reaction to the news. If you did make it, I'll hand it to you, it's a masterpiece. But somehow, it just doesn't fit. That's all I know . . . for now." Xelloss threw up his hands and went back to his seat. "I can show you the spots where it was recently sighted. Then you can examine it for yourself. Sounds like fun, ne, Lina-san? A nice break from the tiresome ordeals of political transactions. What do you say? I've been incredibly honest and open with you. Now it's your turn. Will you let me show you?"
"General Inverse," came the voice of Hendrick from the doorway. Lina had forgotten he was there. "I must protest. If this is truly Lesser Beastmaster, as you say, the one you've spoken of, well . . . Going off with the leader of our enemies is an extremely unwise idea. Monsters cannot be trusted!" He faltered and looked around. "I didn't mean to imply that you could not make a good decision. I'm only concerned, General . . .You know how many times he's pulled stunts and pranks on us!"
"And I also know that he'll just keep on pulling 'em later, unless the world gets destroyed, in which case he'll be too non-existent to bother any of the other dead people." Lina rubbed her temples again and stood, balling her hands and bracing them against the nearby table, "All I need is a good glance and to see things out with my own eyes. It won't be incredibly dangerous or anything. . . I trust." She flashed Xelloss a sly look and stretched her hands far above her head, her fingers entwined, hearing the satisfying crack from her sore shoulder bones shifting position.
"Of course! It's not like I'm planning to push you in, or anything!"
"Yah, and if you did, I'd drag you in with me, and you know it. And then I'd come back and haunt everybody real bad. Man, it'll be good to get out again, investigating magicks, breezing through danger . . . or something like that." Smiling brightly, she winked at Xelloss, "Just like the old days, huh, Xel, old pal?"
"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say! So, when do we leave?"
"After dinner!" Lina announced immediately, but then paused, "Eh, well I have to talk to Princess Amelia as well. So, are you planning on staying till I'm done, or what?"
"Seeing as your L-magic prevents me from teleporting or even from returning to the Astral Plane, I suppose I'll have to. It hardly seems worth it to leave and come back. And besides, I'd love to see Amelia-san again." He stood, grinning. "Pity, though. If it weren't for your charms, I could have made such a dramatic exit."
"Oh, shucks."