English is one of the most difficult languages anyone can learn, only a natural speaker of the language could truly say that about it... its very easy to see its perplexities and strangedies, so to all those who are trying to learn it I commend you in your efforts
What are those things in Filia's hair? I can't quite put a finger on what to call them...
The Status Quo
Chapter Seven: Deceit or Death? (formerly What Trickster's Do...)
Filia opened her eyes slowly... her muddled mind could hear birds chirping in the beautiful spring morning. She could feel the warmth of the sun through the covers she had pulled over her head the night before, Feels like a nice day today...
She slowly pulled away the covers as she sat up in her bed. Her hair fell down unburdened in a golden cascade of pale yellow. She looked around for a few moments, her eyes scanning the room unfocused. She pulled the offending strands of hair back and out of her way before noticing that Xellos was leaning against the opposite wall staring at her, a cup of tea in his hand.
"Ohayo Fi-chan, sleep well?" the sound of his voice accentuated by the chinking of fine china as his cup hit the coaster
"huh? Ah, yeah I did... umm what time is it?"
Xellos scratched his chin in contemplation, gazing out into the window. "well... not having a clock I would have to say it is sometime between sunrise and noon"
Filia fell backward onto her pillow, "thank you Xellos that helps me very much" she sighed
"It's good to be helpful" The tea here is really good...
Filia lay for a moment in her bed, sniffing the delicate fragrance of the tea that wafted toward her, hearing the gentle clink of cup hitting coaster as Xellos drank it. She was just about to scramble out of bed when her now not sleep addled mind noticed that her hair adornments were now resting on the little table next to her. Her eyes narrowed...
"Xellos..." her voice carried a deadly sweet tone
"hai, Filia"
She shot up from her bed starring at Xellos, "what are you doing there!"
Xellos put his tea cup down on the little table next to him, "why Filia I have merely been sitting here, watching you sleep, respecting you from a distance..."Drinking my tea... his closed eyed jovial tone in full force
"Then how did these get out of my hair!" she pointed fiercely at the items on the table
Xellos smile remained even as Filia advanced on him, "I woke up last night and saw you tossing and turning, I assumed that removing those ridiculous things from your head would make you more comfortable" Filia stopped a foot or two away from Xellos her fists drawn...
Her anger was having a hard time surfacing, "but you still! You violated my...umm... I'm going to..." Filia lowered her hands allowing them to unclench at her side.
"ahha..." Xellos a small sound come from her bowed head, "something wrong Filia?" he looked more closely at her...
"ah hahahahahahhahahahhahaha!" Filia's laughter rang throughout the room, Xellos backed away slightly as she continued her laughing/chuckling fit for nearly a minute before calming down, "ah ha...ha ha ha" she stopped plopping herself down on the chair next to Xellos, I can't believe I got so worked up over that...
She grabbed a cup of tea from the table staring at her reflection in it for a few moments, her hair still hung loosely around her back. She pushed those two pesky bangs back behind her shoulders, having long hair can be troublesome...
Placing the cup back down on the table she stood up and began to fiddle with the innards of her dress, apparently looking for something with some difficulty
"Need some help?" Xellos casually commented replacing his cup back on the table
"No I just abouuuuuuut...got it" she removed a hand from some hidden pocket trailing along a long azure ribbon.
Filia tied the ribbon around her hair, constricting the messy lengths into one long tight ponytail, she finished with a simple bow that held it all in place.
Filia picked up her tea again blowing on it experimentally she took a small sip, "oishi!" was the first word from her mouth as she lowered the cup, her face aglow with contentment. The aroma is delicately sweet, the temperature perfect, the flavor is wonderful! Ahhhhh I wonder...
"ne, Xellos isn't this tea the best" her voice was a euphoric childlike tone
"hai, its some of the best in the world" Xellos commented as he put his cup down on the table next to the half empty pot
Filia stared at her cup as the steam slowly rose from it, a light breeze blew through the window as the warm sunlight crawled across the floor. Somewhere the sound of a chime sounded in the wind, she took another sip of tea, Last night...
"Mazoku can love" her voice sounded so sure, so sincere... what am I to do about this?
Chinking porcelain met her ears, she turned to look as Xellos held the cup in his hands, the sunlight illuminated his features. His cloak and staff were gone leaving only that yellow shirt and black pants he seemed to favor so much, but then again it would be kinda hypocritical of me to mention that... she thought staring at her own formal attire. Her eyes wandered up to his face, staying there for a moment. She saw how the brightness of the sun illuminated his face, but did nothing to shine on the yellows of his eyes. They remained the same no matter the circumstances, as usual. But what about that time...
Her memory wandered back to the very last thing she remembered the night before, her face turned beat red at the memory of her near kiss...what the hell was I thinking?!?
A chibified version of Filia waved miniature arms fiercely,
"Something wrong Filia?" Xellos sweatdropped as he stood watching her
Filia turned swiftly, "eh? No nothing, nothing at all!" she shook her head fiercely driving the blush away. She turned away from him for a moment staring at the door, "Xellos..."
"hai?" he now stood next to her smiling like usual, she tried to prepare herself for what she was about to ask, "I was...I was wondering, what..." *Knock Knock*
A sudden soft knock rapt the door, "hai?" Xellos responded opening the door swiftly. The door opened revealing a woman about Xellos's height, her hair a deep gray with a tint of blue.
She bowed slightly her dull red eyes unreflective in the bright sunshine, "sureshimasu, Xellos-sama, Filia-sama, my master has requested you meet with her" she turned her light blue cape billowing as she moved a few feet into the hallway, "please, follow me"
Xellos and Filia followed her as they walked through the hallway, Filia fumed. How come every time I'm trying to say something important this happens or that happens agh!
Her face contorted in malevolence as her anger rose. Xellos glanced behind him as they walked through the hall, "yare yare Fi-chan temper"
They reached the outside fairly quickly, continuing down a small dirt path that led to a wondrous garden. The earthen path became an expertly cobbled one as they walked between countless beds of wildflowers. Reds, yellows, blues, oranges, violets and purples abounded in a myriad of types and styles of flowers arranged all around. The birds were singing softly in the cool air of spring, it was truly peaceful and heavenly. Filia couldn't help but smile as the various scents of flowers and trees wafted through the air.
At the center of this gargantuan floral expanse was a very large and very old oak tree. And beneath that was a small table where Lucile and Mortieri now sat. The servant woman stopped just in front of this area, she bowed respectfully, "I have brought Xellos Mettalum and Filia Ul Copt as you requested master"
Lucile and her husband stood from their seats, "thank you Lumiere, I believe you have some dishes to wash then?"
"I refuse"
"you refuse?" Lucile's voice became mock angry, "I can't stand for this insubordination"
Lumiere bowed her head, "I will except any punishment you see fit, master"
Filia and Xellos looked at each other and then back to the scene before them. Lucile walked a few paces Mortieri at her side, "very well, I sentence you to an entire afternoon of work in the garden"
"hai, my master" Lumiere curtsied as her smiling face belied her clearly mazoku eyes. She ran off like a little schoolgirl down a cobbled path. Lucile chuckled as she and Mortieri approached Xellos and Filia.
Xellos was first to speak as he watched her run down the lane, "I see Lumiere is still the gardening nut she was years ago" a cool wind blew slightly as he finished, "yes, she sure has a thing for it..." Lucile trailed off as she stared at them
"You said that you wanted to see us?" Filia held her hands clasped together in front of her, "did you find anything?" her voice was filled with hope.
Lucile's expression wilted slightly, "My husband has informed me that he has nearly completed his search, and as yet has not found any clue" the air became weighted as a silence enveloped, "oh, I see"
"but don't worry I still have one more individual to see and him out of all the others has the greatest chance of knowing something" Mortieri commented reassuringly
"hontoni!" Filia couldn't help but scream, "I should come with you, I feel like I haven't been involved in this at all..."
"That would work perfectly!" Lucile interjected clasping her hands together, "while your gone I can catch up with Xellos" she commented sweetly as she grabbed Xellos's hand practically pulling him down the road, "I'll see you all later then!" her voice trailed behind her, "wait" That was sudden... Filia held her hand out slightly, but thought it futile as they quickly disappeared some distance away,
"well shall we go then?" Filia turned to see Mortieri standing a few feet away in a elegant traveling cloak. She nodded, "hai, thank you"
"not at all" he smiled sweetly, they began to walk slowly down a cobbled path that led outward toward a large group of trees.
Lucile took a few steps forward leaning down to feel the soft petals of a wilting tulip, "I assume you didn't drag me away so forcefully to look at the flowers, pretty as they are..." Xellos leaned down next to her, she turned to face him, "you assume correctly, Xellos"
She gave the tulip a soft stroke before standing straight and walking a small way down the cobbled path, "I wanted to discuss something of importance with you"
Xellos followed her, his cloak billowed slightly behind him, and his staff tapped against the stone as he walked, "oh, and what would that be?"
"Filia came to see me last night, we had a nice walk on the beach..."
"is that so?" I thought she went to use the bathroom...
"yes, and we had a great deal to talk about..." she walked lazily down the cobbled road, Xellos had caught up with her and they walked side by side. "Anything interesting?"
Lucile chuckled slightly, "yes very, although I keep all my conversations private" especially this one... "I can tell you that some of the questions she asked involved me, some you, and some us..."
Xellos stopped walking, he stared straight ahead of him in shock, "And what did you tell her?"
She chuckled slightly again, "don't worry, don't worry, anything about you is your business, but I told her to ask you about the other things, about that past, and about me"
A silence ensued as the two walked forward once more, they were approaching a small group of birch trees. "so I wanted to tell you that anything regarding me and my life that she may ask you is fine to answer" she placed a hand against the firm wood of the birch tree as the sun became hidden behind a small cloud in the sky. Xellos nodded at this as he leaned his back against the tree, "and Xellos..."
"yes, Lady Deep Sea Dolphin Lucile-san?" he responded jovially still
"I want to know... what Fi-chan is to you"
Xellos looked at her in shock, "eh?"
The sun had been obscured for some time now as the forest became thicker and more swampy. Filia trudged along through the ever moistening earth, I wonder what Xellos is doing now?
An image of Xellos on the ground shirtless with an equally scantily clad Lucile on top flashed through her mind briefly, I seriously doubt that...
Filia turned her head to Mortieri, "where exactly are we going again?"
"A little deeper in this swamp is someone who might be able to help you find your child" his voice sounded serious, "although the information comes with a great cost..."
Filia shuddered as a cool wind blew through the trees, "what kind of cost?"
Mortieri stopped suddenly in front of a large pool of swampy muck, "don't worry about it, my wife has agreed to he sacrifice..."
"sacrifice?!" Filia was quite unnerved now
"we're here" as his words reverberated through the swampy water the pool began to bubble and writhe with activity. The water rose up revealing a small elderly man, his hands were clutching his ears that were overly large and hung down several inches from his heavily wrinkled face. Water rolled down his shriveled body as it made its way back to the pool, he spoke in a voice that seemed to further accentuate his age, "ahhh, Mortieri long time no see... I heard you discussing of me four miles away you know, a disgruntled food stealer am I?" he sneered at the young man
Mortieri fidgeted slightly, "err, no your not a food stealer or disgruntled" Yes you are...
The old man smiled, "that's all I wanted to hear... and whose this?" he turned to Filia, "ah yes must be Filia Ul Copt, I've heard much of you, of course hearing is all I do these days..."
Filia felt very uncomfortable staring at this elderly man, "umm, who are you exactly?"
The man nodded in understanding, "oh yes, oh yes, I forgot you were never told about me, I was listening to your conversation out of boredom you see... my name is Kikujin, I listen to things."
"oh, is that so?" That can't mean...
Mortieri took a step forward his features now serious and stern, "Kikujin, you kind generous philanthropic young shell of a person, I have a favor to ask you..." I think I'm going to die...
The old man turned to him, "yes, and what would that be? Or could it be that baby you have all been harping on all this time?"
Mortieri's eyes narrowed, "yes, that is exactly the assistance we need, did you hear anything regarding this baby?" his voice became pleading
"I did..." he paused scratching his chin briefly, "but it will cost you most severely"
What could he possibly want that is so terrible to be called a 'sacrifice' Filia was paying close attention to the silence that followed, "two dozen of Lucile's famous muffins!"
"that is too much and you know it you food stealing demon!" Mortieri and Kikujin clashed in anger sharing deadly glares.
Filia facefaulted, I somehow had a feeling this was going to happen, but muffins... she was now in a dark corner repeating the word 'muffins' over and over again. After a verbal slinging match the deal was arranged at 5 muffins and a scone, Mortieri did his best to hold back his tears as he accepted this deal.
"now then, what have you heard?"
Kikujin leaned back in the water contemplatively, "I heard what happened to that baby of yours..."
"you understand perfectly what I mean Xellos, I'm blind not blind" Honestly you blush like a little girl...
Xellos smiled all traces of uncomfortableness gone, "I know perfectly what you mean Lucile-san I just enjoy making you frustrated" Tee hee...
Lucile stood beneath the shade of an oak tree, Xellos sat out on the limb. "Well then answer the question"
Xellos played with a small leaf as he spoke, "I think that I want to be with her... I can never speak for the future, but for right now, I think, that is how I feel" he disappeared from the tree limb reappearing next to Lady Deep Sea Dolphin, "is that the kind of answer you wanted?"
"yes, actually that is what I was looking for... however" she walked back down the cobbled path, "hypothetically what would the future hold for you two?"
Xellos smirked as he followed her, "sore wa himitsu desu"
"what do you mean? What happened to him!?" Filia shook with apprehension,
The elderly man stroked his bald head with a free hand before answering, "hmm, it was roughly two days ago... I was listening around the kingdom of Saillune when I heard a woman screaming to my left... I recognized it as that Merri Thompson everyone has been talking about as the next Knight of Ceiphied... I usually focus in on female screams because it is either followed by a slap or... sounds that remind me of my youth" Hee hee...
Filia decided to overlook this comment, "and what happened after... the scream..." her voice faltered as she knew this was only moments before she had found her friend near dead on the ground, the memory was still fresh and painful.
"I heard her scream in pain and then yell 'TRAITORS!' then someone collapsed to the ground and all I could hear was that baby's bawling" It really hurts the ears...
Filia fell to her knees, it would seem that what she had feared the most had come to pass before her eyes. "How could they? How could they do this to me again? How dare they betray me again!" her voice choked as tears flowed down her mingling with her rage. Her tears continued to flow unchecked, Mortieri moved to comfort her, but she got to her feet and ran swiftly back into the swamp. Mortieri moved to follow, "Wait Mortieri..." he turned to Kikujin who shook his head solemnly, he simply stood staring at the ground before disappearing into the dark.
Filia ran through the swamp, she ran wildly through the brush, tripping on roots and low plants as she madly dashed, "Of course! It all makes sense now! They just can't stand me having a moment of happiness in my life that has to be it!" she tripped and fell on the moist earth, she clenched the soft forest floor as she cried into it. Why! Why did you take him from me! She quickly stood throwing the bits of dirt and leaves in her hand as hard as she could, they collided harmlessly with a nearby tree. "Why!" she fell against a slim tree sobbing fiercely into her lap.
"I bet you plan on knocking her up, marrying her, and having hundreds of kids all in the next four years"
"You would loose that bet, I assure you..." Xellos was getting slightly annoyed, for the past 15 minutes Lucile had been on the subject of guessing his future, it was getting a little out of hand...
Lucile took a long sip of a cup of water she now held, "Well then I think you will not knock her up, but you will get married because you don't want to be apart for even an instant" So romantic...
"ah ha ha ha, I have no idea" Xellos held a hand behind his head as he leaned back against a wicker chair next to the big oak. A shimmering sound was heard as Mortieri appeared from the astral plane, "hey Mortieri-san come guess how many kids I'm going to have! And then tell me how many you are going to have! And then tell me why you two haven't already had any!" It's such a fun game...
"Xellos don't yell!" a blushing slightly flinching Lucile stood from her seat as she grasped her husband's hand. "hai hai Luci-chan, by the way where's Filia?" Xellos appeared by Mortieri, but couldn't see anyone around, he even scanned the horizon briefly, but no luck.
"Xellos..." Mortieri sounded serious, "hai?" Xellos stared back with the same seriousness in question form.
"Filia was greatly disturbed by what Kikujin said, she ran off into the forest..."
"nani?!" Does that mean she knows who took Val?
"That's terrible!" Lucile put her foot down, "Xellos you march over there right now and comfort your companion or I'll Jitenha you!" her face filled with malevolence, Xellos shuddered, "hai, I'll go right away then, Deep Sea Dolphin-sama" he ran quickly in the direction of the forest...
Filia trudged through the murky swamp. Her head was bowed, a few tears fell as she walked aimlessly forward. Her front was covered in dirt and muck where she had fallen, her face and hands were no less dirty. Afternoon was coming on, the sun had sunk low enough in the sky to be seen through the trees ahead. She stumbled on a root, falling to the ground as she reached a clearing, she mumbled soundlessly as she lay on the ground, It would be so much easier if it were a Mazoku, why couldn't it have been Dynast or Zellas, then it would have been easy... then it wouldn't hurt so much, this pain...
"Filia?" she looked up with a start as the familiar voice resounded in her ears, "Xellos..." she saw the purple haired mazoku standing ahead of her in the clearing. Against the backdrop of the afternoon sun he stood, "Xellos!" not thinking she ran toward him so quickly that she knocked him to the ground.
"They took him from me! My own race betrayed me again!" she sobbed into his chest as they remained on the ground, Xellos sat up wrapping an arm around her. His smile remained, "come on Filia, you knew it could come to this... you said you could handle it if I recall..."
Filia looked up at him, "I know that! And I thought I could handle it.. but..but they betrayed me again!" she sobbed uncontrollably, "why did they do that? Why did they do that to me?"
Xellos stood pulling her to her feet as he did, "let's go back..."
"eh?" she sniffed slightly, he smiled broadly, "it would be best if you got a change of clothes and a bath..." You must have been rolling in that swamp...
"Nani?!" I'm here crying and sniveling my heart out that has just been wounded so greatly by my own race and he has the audacity to say I'm dirty!
"Xellos!" in a quick movement she bashed him on the head as hard as she could sending him straight to the soft earth. "Stupid good for nothing Mazoku!" she stalked off into the afternoon. Xellos picked himself from the ground nursing a bump on his head, his face still held a broad smile, "I'd rather you be mad at me than sad, Fi-chan" he slowly followed her back toward the waning sun.
"Good luck on your journey! Be sure to write when you find that baby!" Lucile called after the receding pair. Filia was now wearing a light blue sundress covered by a darker blue coat, truthfully it went well with her eyes.
"And Xellos be sure not to knock her up too early! Or you might have to deal with unexpected complications!" Mortieri had decided to join in the fun as well...
"I'll remember thank you for the suggestion!" he called back receiving a heavy glare from Filia who continued to walk ahead of him, she was still upset. She had been this way since they had returned to Lucile's home, she had even accused him of spying on her in the bath even though he had only half tried.
"Come on Fi-chan I was just trying to be helpful in your time of need..." he pleaded pitifully, "heh, you wouldn't know helpful if it hit you"
"at least your not sad anymore, and that's all that really matters" Filia turned, that last part had sounded serious, but when she saw him his smile had returned. She turned back to he front, sighed, and slowed down so that they again were walking side by side down a dusty road heading north. Filia's hair was still held by the ribbon, she had decided it was far easier and more comfortable this way.
"so naturally we should visit the supreme elder..." Filia commented her voice very small, "hai, and if not... the world"
"exactly..." Filia smiled sheepishly
Kusetsu watched the traveling pair from a vantage point overlooking the road. "They have been traveling for little more than an hour... no activity so far" he sighed, "why has Lord Beastmaster sent me to watch them" he sighed again before staring once more at his charges, "yo!" came a childish voice from directly behind him. He almost fell from the tree from fright, "who are you?" he stared at the little girl with white hair who floated parallel to him on the branch.
She smiled broadly, "I'm surprised you don't recognize me Kusetsu, it's me Snowy" Tee hee
He squinted his gaze at her body, her aura became visible to him and it was clear, "Snowy how did you get a human form already?" he sat bewildered on the limb
"My secret!" buri-buri
He composed himself quickly, "well, don't bother me I'm on an important assignment" he returned his gaze back toward Xellos and Filia as they continued to walk a few miles away, Snowy's hands clenched as she watched them together, "I can't stand this I have to get closer!" she disappeared, "hey don't! Agh!" Kusetsu disappeared as well following her.
Snowy reappeared behind some bushes less than 30 yards away from the two. Her eyes blazed as she saw how close they were walking together, why that little dragon bitch! I'm gonna kill her! She began chanting a spell, a red glow came to her hand, she was about cast the spell when a bap to her head broke her concentration.
"What did you do that for?!" she whisper yelled at Kusetsu who had appeared next to her, "If you catch their attention they will know we are following them and then I have to face master and inform her of that fact!" he whisper yelled at her as he shuddered from the thought of having to report to Zellas. Snowy just fumed silently as she glared at Filia through the bushes, they continued to move as Filia and Xellos did making sure to keep a good distance away.
Xellos turned suddenly very alert. Filia looked back at him, "Xellos... what's wrong?"
"shh" he put a hand to his lips. The silence of the open fields became deafening, a light wind blew through bush and grass whipping them around. Xellos grasped Filia's hand, she blushed slightly at the touch, "Xellos what's going on?"
"Get down!" Xellos suddenly pulled her to the ground as a green shot blew over just where their bodies had been moments before. A dust cloud shot forth from the newly formed crater only a few feet away. The air became filled with dust, "cough cough what cough what was that!" Filia yelled as she stared through the dust, "something unpleasant" Xellos responded low as a large man appeared before them. He was twice as tall as Filia with green hair and dark yellow eyes, he held a menacing halberd in both hands, its large curved blade gleamed in the sunlight. "sashiburi Xellos" his boisterous voice filled the wide field, "it certainly hasn't been long enough, Ingrid-san, still trying to get my job, ne?"
The huge mazoku laughed as boisterously as he was large, "yes, and your head and the head of that little dragon plaything you've got will be just the prize I need"
Xellos looked disgustingly at the man, "I assume than that you were sent by Beastmaster to finish me off?"
The man smiled as he raised his halberd, "Maybe I have and maybe I haven't, but that's not going to matter in a few moments!" he took a gargantuan swing with his halberd. The blade hit the ground with such force that it shook and a large column of air blew out from it straight at Xellos and Filia. "Move!" Xellos jumped a good 30 feet carrying Filia in his arms, the wave just missed them. It collided with a small hill completely obliterating it, Xellos looked back at the destruction assessing the damage, This isn't good, he's gotten a lot stronger since then, I can still take him, but...
He looked over at Filia who stood watching the dust settle shocked, but quickly composed herself enough to form a stance of sorts. "daijobu Fi-chan I can handle this..." he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder before turning toward Ingrid. "Xellos..." she breathed feeling the place where he had touched her, Why be comforting now? She smiled slightly regardless at the slight warmth she still felt there, before turning to watch apprehensively at the battle about to commence.
Xellos took a few slow commanding steps toward Ingrid, "Well, I guess you being here means Lord Beastmaster is aware of where we are already, so I don't have to hold back..." I hope this works...
Ingrid ran forward closing the gap in moments, "prepare to die Xellos!" he swung a ferocious swing
ding! The sound resounded through the open air as Xellos's staff held back the giant halberd. Both combatants shook at the effort, "it seems you have improved some since five hundred years ago, Ingrid-san"
"I certainly have, Xellos" with a roar he forced Xellos back with his blade, he pressed forward swinging the halberd multiple times. Xellos was forced farther back as his staff connected with the blows. Ingrid swung low sending a deadly column of air forward, Xellos disappeared to the astral plane reappearing several yards to the side. The column of air continued to press forward toward Filia who stood rooted to the spot, she tried to teleport away but found herself rooted to the spot. Shit! Xellos appeared next to her, his presence their broke a feeble binding spell that held her in place, they both disappeared just before the wave hit them.
As before a large plume of dust was created when the wave collided with another hill. When they reappeared they were caught up in this cloud, it became very hard to see or breathe. The dust cleared slowly, it revealed Xellos standing with an arm around Filia, he let go as he grasped his staff firmly, facing Ingrid.
"What's wrong Xellos? Don't have any tricks left?" he laughed loudly and annoyingly
Xellos walked back toward him, "I do happen to have one trick that you enjoyed very much, Ingrid-san" his smile broadened as he plunged his staff into the earth
His aura flared around him as it began to split and then divide again. A circle was formed around Ingrid made entirely out of glowing aura. "I hope you enjoy it again..." Xellos's sadistic voice sounded as his eyes glowed red and his face was obscured in darkness. Ingrid looked around confidently at the immense show of power, "I'm sure I will, Xellos" he held his halberd high over his head.
Xellos smirked evilly before raising a hand forward,
All around the shifting aura chain shot forth immense energy at its center, Ingrid was being pummeled by what looked like electricity and dark flame being shot forth. He was being hit from all sides screaming in pain he was nearly lifted off the ground, then his expression hardened gritting the pain. "Not this time Xellos!" he marshaled all his strength, the blade on his halberd glowed a fierce red as he swung it to the ground. The earth shook violently as an explosion of swirling dust and rock shot forth in all directions. It pierced and blew away all the aura leaving nothing but Ingrid and Xellos in the open field. The large mazoku saw his chance dashing forward quickly he smashed his full weight into Xellos knocking him to the ground, he lay there dazed by the blow. Ingrid twirled his massive halberd in the air, "it ends here!"
Xellos tried to roll away but only managed to roll to his back before the blow hit... crash the ground shook once more as the point at the bottom of the halberd drove straight through him.
Filia watched in horror as Xellos lay in agony on the ground skewered by the large weapon, "Xellos!" she screamed dashing forward,
"nigate..." she stopped in her tracks, "nigate Fi...chan...before..." his head feel limply to the ground, his body disappeared in a cloud of darkness leaving behind only his staff and cloak. Filia collapsed to the ground, "Xellos? Xellos?! XELLOS!"
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Chapter Seven: Deceit or Death end
Wow! This took quite some time to finish, during which I was stuck on one part in the beginning that held me up for countless days...
I was surprised how much in some scenes my original conception of this chapter was forced to change, but I feel that in the end it was all worth it...
Next up! Chapter Eight: Surprise! Mysterious Ancient Dragon?