c-chan: First of all, an apology: I don't talk much in real life, so the conversations in my fics might tend to be a little bit strange and, well, strange.
Slayers are not items in my pocket, although I wish it so (I'd be so rich that I won't have to worry about graduating from this overly expensive university with a buttful of loan -- if you're not asian, you won't understand this last comment, so forget about it). Henceforth, I can't say they're mine.
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Slayers: Balance
Chapter 2: Silence
Xelloss phased into the Astral Plane. And just what was I thinking? I was there to torment her, not to become worried about her. Xelloss silently berated himself. This is no good. His hand still clutched at his stomach. A puzzled look crossed his face. What's this feeling? Oh well, I'll deal with it later. His master was calling for him.
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Reia stood at the top of the hill surveying the grandiose landscape that stretched out beyond the reach of her eyes. "Perfect", she purred. "This world is exactly what I need to build my powers." Suddenly, she cocked her head to one side as if sensing something. A small smile played across her lips as her eyes took on a feverish spark. Her smile broadened into a grin. "Yes… A meal. I'll do this the old-fashioned way… Slow, but I'll get more of that power that I need." She turned around and started to walk toward the target of her interest.
Some distance away in the clearing of a forest, a lesser mazoku was on a feeding frenzy. It was chasing down a group of children who, unfortunately, were playing near his territory. A slight chuckle behind him stopped him short. Diverting his attention from the traumatized children, the mazoku turned around to see Reia standing nonchalantly behind him.
"Little human…" the mazoku rasped menacingly. Slime dripped from the cavity that was seemingly his excuse for a mouth. "My…my… you don't seem to be a very high level mazoku, do you? Can't even form an acceptable shape. No matter, you'll serve as an appetizer." Her grin was almost feral.
Slowly, she drew her sword. The friction caused by the blade and the sheath let out an eerie and chilling rasp. She started to emit an aura of darkness. It was as if light around her was suddenly warped and absorbed into a well of utter and dense pitch-blackness. Her aura made its way down to her hands and up the sword she was holding until it reached the tip of the sharp blade. Then Reia started to take deliberate steps towards the mazoku. The mazoku froze in place, sensing the danger that was making its way to him as unhurriedly as possible. Something clicked in him and with a mighty roar, it charged towards Reia, hoping naively to catch her unaware. Luck was not on his side, apparently, as Reia chuckled and sidestepped, slashing him at the midsection while she was at it.
It stood up straight, "Foolish human, pathetic attempt… swords don't affect me."
"Oh really? Guess again." Reia snickered. The mazoku narrowed his eyes and looked down at his wound. They had not healed! In fact, the wound seemed to be getting larger and larger. He shrieked. Reia stood near looking through cold, indifferent eyes as the mazoku found himself being sucked inside out and finally disappearing with a slight POP. She closed her eyes, a small smile tugging at one side of her mouth. "Ah… the taste of power…always so sweet." The aura around her shifted as if assimilating this new power she had acquired from the mazoku. She opened her eyes to reveal glowing orbs of crimson red. Time for some serious hunting.
She lifted her head and sent out a tracing thought. Yes, another one east from here. A slightly more powerful one. This is going to prove to be entertaining as well.
She shimmered and disappeared. Leaving the clearing behind, and no trace of the confrontation.
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Meanwhile, Filia was plagued by dreams of her vision. Scenes after scenes flashed across her mind's eye, leaving her no time to slow down and think. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, the same scene kept playing itself again and again in her dreams.
Xelloss looked up at her, a sad smile tugging at the side of his mouth. The rune dagger protruding from his chest. His eyes were open, yet unfocused. 'Filia…'
In her dream, Filia tried to reach out and help him, but some unknown force kept her to moving an inch. Xelloss! Filia screamed in frustration. Why can't I move? His life is slowly draining away! I must do something!
With a gasp, Filia sat up from her bed, drenched in cold sweat. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness in her room. Only the silvery rays of the moon provided any kind of lighting. She looked around. Where am I? Oh right, my room. Wasn't Xelloss here? I must have fallen asleep. Her lips were parched. Deciding that she needed a glass of water. She got up and inched off the edge of her bed. She gingerly placed her feet on the floor. Must be careful. Broken glass on floor. Fumbling around her nightstand, she attempted to locate her candle. After several futile attempts, she finally found it. She lit her candle and lifted it up, letting its golden flame light up her room. There was not a hint of broken glass on the floor. Oh… I thought I didn't clean this up. Hey, wait. I really didn't. Oh, maybe Xelloss did. She frowned. I need to find an explanation to this vision. What is it trying to tell me? And why am I the one who had it? She went downstairs to get herself a drink.
Outside her window, the wind carried from a distant place, a shriek of agony followed by a melodious yet strangely menacing chuckle.
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Reia sighed contentedly after she absorbed the injured mazoku before her. Her appearance not in the slightest scuffled, despite the struggle this particular mazoku had presented. This had been the 5th mazoku whose power she had absorbed and it was getting better and better. Every mazoku she had encountered was always stronger than the previous one. At this rate, I'll be stronger in no time.
Her thoughts drifted back to the last mazoku she had assimilated. Shabranigdo, eh? The creature had called out this name when I slit its throat. Just who is this Shabranigdo character? The corner of her lips lifted up as an expression of aloof arrogance marred her beautiful features. I believe this calls for some research.
Her senses picked up another mazoku roaming around. I'll get my information from this one. With that, she disappeared.
The moon hung high in the sky, coating everything with liquid silver. An ambience of calm settled down in the deep of the night, like the calm before the storm…
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c-chan: well.. there goes chapter 2. It's still a bit slow. But I don't operate well under 6 hrs of sleep. Yea, that's right. I need my NINE hours of sleep. Don't go away! Chapter 3 will soon be up~
Also, as you can see… the title of the chapter doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the chapter itself. It's just whatever word or expression pops into my head.