Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers or any of its crazy characters
YAY! Reviews! I'm sorry this chapter is so late, I'm afraid I hit a bit of writer's block and then I was scared I got the characterization all wrong... Hopefully, I did alright I guess I can just blame any OOCness on the whole Alternate Universe thing :P But I just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone who reviewed! More after the chapter :)
Chapter Four
"Insanity—a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world."-----R.D. Lang
"You're a lucky girl." From Luna's cold, impersonal tone, Filia couldn't quite believe the statement, her eyes watching the older woman warily from beneath her pink comforter. Simple sneakers sidestepped an upturned box, one barely visible eyebrow arching in disapproval at the mess. "Zelas's son arrived shortly after your morning session, forcing her to cancel the afternoon's lessons. Otherwise, she would have been very displeased at your absence."
Filia snorted, only to burrow deeper under the covers at the cold, penetrating stare Luna sent her way. "You have a response, Filia? Something to enlighten me on why you would deliberately skip your first day of training?" The air seemed to grow colder with each word, a frigid breeze sneaking in-between her sheets till her skin pricked with a hundred little goose bumps.
"She's evil..." Muffled words, her head buried so far beneath the pink cotton that Luna could only spy the barest of blonde hair.
Luna tensed, her shoulders stiffening, brilliant amethyst eyes shimmering behind locks of lavender hair, "You do not trust her."
Filia shook her head, the act lost amidst the bedding, "No."
At that, Luna smiled–lips twisting upward in a terrifying, knowing grin that would have froze Filia to her very bones had she been able to see it. "Good. You shouldn't."
Surprised blue eyes peered over cotton-candy dyed sheets, "Huh?"
But Luna was already walking away, one hand gripping the door's frame, not bothering to turn around at the blonde's shocked sound. "You will be in class tomorrow."
And the door slammed shut, leaving her alone in the dark–eyes blinking confusedly at the simple wooden barrier. Why would a fellow teacher warn her not to trust Zelas? Weren't they co-workers, maybe even friends? Though... It was hard for Filia to imagine Luna having friends or Zelas for that matter... The term allies seemed more appropriate, neither appeared to waste time on simple dalliances.
At least, she had managed to escape from Zelas–if only for that day... In the morning, she would be forced to attend classes with the other students–a fact she looked forward to about as much as her afternoon sessions with the demon-woman... After the way she had acted at lunch, she'd be surprised if any of them even bothered to talk to her... And after Amelia had been so nice to her...
She sighed, rolling over till she faced the opposite wall. From the sound of the bells, she knew it had to be nearly supper time—an act her stomach looked eagerly toward. Skipping both breakfast and lunch had left her cranky and hungry, enough to make her consider a repeat of Lina and Gourry's actions at lunch...
And she still didn't have a schedule for tomorrow...
Pushing herself up off the bed, Filia frowned as she managed to entangle herself in the fallen sheets. "2. 4." She blinked, running a brush through her tangled blonde hair before approaching the door, only to come to a stop, teeth sinking into her lower lip, as she struggled to remember the door number Sylphiel had given so freely earlier. "2. 4. 5?" She shook her head, entering the hallway with an annoyed frown, "No... That doesn't seem right... 246?" Glancing at her closed door, Filia narrowed her eyes, "Well, that's definitely wrong. I seriously doubt she's hiding inside my room..."
"Down the hall..." She sighed before stiffening her shoulders, turning to face the long hallway, "Start there... There's only so many numbers, one has to sound familiarཀ" Stalking toward the end, Filia glanced back and forth at the doors lining the hall, struggling to remember the exact room number. "245... 244... 243... 242... 241...wait..." She paused, blinking owlishly at the empty hall, "Something...something... 241?" Biting her lip nervously, Filia stared at the innocent-looking white door, "Maybe..."
"If it isn't then they can just point me in the right directionཀ It's no big deal, just trying to find a fellow student... Stop overreacting, Filiaཀ" Nodding her head resolutely, Filia raised her hand, hesitating once before bringing it down against the wood with a sharp rap. For a second, she remained frozen, standing there with her hand still up, as the sounds of movement echoed from behind the door. Then the knob turned and she quickly dropped her fist, standing anxiously within the doorway, as it swung open.
Two brilliant eyes stared back at her from the darkness, seeming to glint almost inhumanly as they blinked once, then twice at her. Beneath her chest, Filia could feel her heart begin to pound rapidly, eyes widening with the realization of whose room she had managed to unknowingly come across. "I...I... I'm sorryཀ I was looking for Sylphiel..."
Running a hand through wire hair, Zelgadiss frowned slightly. "She's next door. 243." The chimera peered out at her from beneath a simple hooded gray sweatshirt, his eyes curious, but not unkind as he watched her stumble backwards, mouth fumbling for words. Trying to ignore her excuses, Zelgadiss began to close his door, but found himself still standing there–watching as she knocked timidly against Sylphiel's door. There was no response from the room and he sighed, as he saw the corners of Filia's eyes tighten, worry creasing her forehead.
"She's probably eating. You'll find her in the cafeteria." With that, he closed his door, eyes catching one last glimpse of her standing there–a confused expression on her face as she worried away at her lower lip.
"The cafeteria..." Even through wood, her faint whisper seemed to echo loudly within his hearing enhanced ears and Zelgadiss heaved a heavy sigh, as he heard her take a step in the wrong direction.
"Damn it..." Swinging the door open with enough force to cause the blonde to jump, Zelgadiss exited his room, pulling his hood further down around his face. "Come on, this way."
"Oh, thank you..." Together the two walked silently down the hall, climbing down the stairs with barely a whisper. Yet, Zelgadiss could feel her eyes watching him, those blue eyes seeking out his form beneath the gray fabric. And each quiet step, each heavy stare brought his cloud of melancholy further down around his shoulders.
"I'm sorry." So deep in his dark, depressing thoughts, Zelgadiss almost jumped at the sound of her voice. Almost.
Instead, he merely glanced at her, "For what? Not knowing your way around?"
Filia shook her head, eyes focused straight ahead, "For last week... I ran into you and then darted off with barely a word. I'm sorry."
He chuckled, a low, smooth sound that seemed to roll against her skin, and she turned toward him–strangely pleased to see that sudden cheer on his stony face. "I can't blame you for running off." Zelgadiss smirked, "I would run too if I bumped into me." And like that, the humor disappeared, replaced by a cold anger–his face suddenly shut off, wiry locks of hair hiding his features from her watchful eyes.
Filia paused, shocked by the sudden change, watching him continue forward, before jogging forward to once again stand at his side. After a moment's hesitation, Filia tilted her head, eyes distant and seeking, "I won't lie to you, Mister Zelgadiss. I wasn't expecting your appearance, but that wasn't why I ran away..." She sighed, feeling oddly at ease with the strange chimera, all her previous anxiety fading with each passing second, "It wasn't from you that I ran, but from myself... Something happened... I felt... Not fear, but a knowing..."
Turning to fully face the curious chimera, Filia realized both had stopped walking–their eyes locking, as she stared into his strange, yet beautiful face... "Like a work of art..."
"A work of madness." Zelgadiss replied, but his tone lacked its usual self-deprecation, merely stating a fact.
"Or genius, the two are usually closely related." The words were spoken without much meaning, carelessly thrown into the air between them, as she continued to peer into those terribly human eyes... Blue and wild and ancient and scarred and beautiful—and she wasn't sure if she was seeing him or her own reflection, but it didn't matter because their eyes said what their mouths refused to say:
I know you.
The cafeteria remained exactly the same as before, students bustling about, hands full of boxes or trays–mouths moving rapidly as they gossiped with friends. Staring into the melee, Filia felt unmoved and apart—as if she stood on the outside of it all, an observer instead of a player in this strange act... Beside her, Zelgadiss seemed unaffected by the chaos, his hood hiding his features from curious gazes... Neither had spoken since the strange incident in the hallway, he had merely suddenly turned away and stalked off—his back and shoulders tense and stiff, as he waited for her to follow.
She was glad he hadn't spoken... She wasn't sure what she might have said if he had commented on that strange connection that had suddenly sparked between them... In that instant, she might have told him everything—the voices, the dreams, even that terrible place...
It terrified her to realize she had been so close to revealing all her dark secrets to this stranger... And why? Because he was different, too? Because she knew he might understand what it felt to have such a horrible stain on one's soul? Or just because... Maybe there was no real reasoning behind it, just that momentary overwhelming desire to tell him, to have him know her...
All foolish fancies that had nearly overcome her common sense, her fierce promise to herself to never place such trust in another human...
A slight pressure against her arm brought her back to reality and Filia turned slightly, watching as Zelgadiss motioned toward one of the groups of students. "There's Sylphiel..."
At his motion, one of the other students noticed them and began to wave frantically, her beaming smile obvious even far away. Filia could feel her own lips quirk into a fond smile, one hand elegantly waving back at the nearly jumping Amelia. "I think she wants us to join her." She glanced up at Zelgadiss, catching the fleeting smile that drifted across his own features before he nodded once, tugging uselessly at his already down hood.
"It would seem so." He nodded once toward the leaping Amelia, who had finally calmed slightly, her sleeve caught gently between Sylphiel's fingers. The older girl smiled sweetly at the two, motioning toward the empty chairs before whispering something into Amelia's ear. Filia watched curiously as Amelia blanched before resuming her seat, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
"I wonder what she said..." Zelgadiss had already moved away, feet carrying him toward the shortest line, when he heard the quiet whisper. He glanced over his shoulder at the tall blonde, watching as she continued to stand there–seemingly fascinated by the scene being carried out yards away.
"Either move or get out of the way! Some people wanna eat before this century's over!" Lina shoved uselessly at the chimera, merely managing to jab her palm with a few well-placed stones. "Ow! See what you did!"
The chimera shrugged, attention dragged away from the silent blonde, as he peered down at the petite redhead. "You would think you would have learned by now." He glanced behind her, nodding once in greeting to the ever present swordsman, "I'm surprised you two aren't already gorging yourselves."
Gourry shrugged one shoulder, his left hand rubbing the back of his neck, "We were headed this way, but then Lina saw her sister and suddenly decided to take a shortcut." He stared down at the small sorceress, eyes glimmering with some sudden realization, "Oy, Lina, that wasn't much of a shortcut! It took us longer than ever!"
Still shuddering at the mention of her sister, Lina shot the blonde an angry glare. "It was worth it. Trust me! Now, move, Zel! A delicate lady, such as myself, should go first." Zelgadiss rolled his eyes, but obligingly allowed her to cut in—not particularly in the mood to deal with an irate and hungry Lina Inverse.
"That's not fair, Lina! You'll take all the food!"
Ruby eyes glimmered sardonically, lips twisting into a smug grin, "Deal with it, jellyfish!"
Shoulders slumping, Gourry dragged his feet to the end of the line, behind Filia who had watched the entire exchange with interest. Spotting the blonde girl, Gourry blinked, glancing down at her capris. Having watched the swordsman's progress, Zelgadiss knew he should intervene before the blonde said something incredibly stupid—and, yet, the chimera remained silent. Perhaps it was the 1/3 demon part of himself that couldn't help finding some amusement in the swordsman's thoughtless antics...
Even now the chimera could hear the cogs turning within Gourry's head—adding in his comment earlier about some tail and now staring at Filia's obviously tail-less backside—an act alone that would buy him a precisely aimed fireball, if caught. And now he only waited for the inevitable comment to slip past the other man's lips...
"Hey," Gourry's voice pulled at Filia's attention and she glanced back at him, eyebrows arched in surprise—of the tiny group of friends, this man had spoken the least to her.
"Yes?"
"Could I cut in front of you?"
Lina jumped at the sudden sound of stone meeting floor and turned around to see Zelgadiss pulling himself up, eyes wide and exasperated as he watched Filia blink once at the pleading swordsman. Then she glanced toward the moving line in front of her, then back to Gourry's hopeful eyes...
"I guess so..."
"Thanks!"
"That was a mistake." Filia met Zelgadiss's gaze, the chimera ignoring Gourry's attempts to move ahead of him. "There'll be no food left with both of them in front of you."
Filia shrugged, "I don't eat much. I'm sure there'll be something."
An incredulous look crossed the chimera's face, but he merely turned. She'd learn her mistake soon enough.
"Was there nothing you liked?" Sylphiel eyed the meager cup of fruit and water, as Filia sat down, the blonde's hair slightly tousled, her eyes wide in shock.
Zelgadiss settled beside the former Sairaag priestess, a simple bowl of soup and his ever present cup of coffee before him, "I tried to warn her." He jerked his head toward where Lina and Gourry sat, the others struggling to politely ignore the growing chaos emitting from the two. "She let both of them go before her."
"Here, Miss Filia, you can have some of mine." Amelia pushed what remained of her meal toward the dizzy blonde, concernedly watching as Filia continued to watch the savage antics of the Inverse-Gabriev duo. "Miss Filia?"
"I don't think I'll ever be able to forget... So much food... Everywhere..."
Sylphiel smiled softly, "Yes, Miss Lina and Gourry-dear both have very healthy appetites."
Filia blinked at the additional 'dear' to Gourry's name, her horrified gaze finally pulled toward the table's other occupants. She smiled gratefully at Amelia, picking up a dinner roll as delicately as possible, as she darted a glance toward the fond smile Sylphiel directed toward the oblivious blonde.
Zelgadiss snorted, "Only you would call that 'healthy', Sylphiel."
Filia quickly swallowed her bite, trying to eat as fast and politely as possible. Despite her stomach's rumbling protests, she didn't want to be compared to the gorging couple only inches away. Intensely relieved by Amelia's kind offer, Filia dipped her spoon into the raven-haired girl's soup, only half listening to the conversation around her.
"Have you heard, Mister Zelgadiss? Mister Xelloss returned this afternoon." Amelia glanced around Sylphiel, eager to catch the chimera's attention—the topic might not have been his favorite, but at least she knew she would be able to gain his interest.
As expected, Zelgadiss's lips twisted into a scowl, "Wonderful... I'm surprised he isn't down here causing trouble."
"I thought he would be here, too..." Amelia sent the room a quick survey, "Maybe his mother needed to see him for something. He was off on business for Miss Zelas, wasn't he?"
At the mention of her mentor, Filia choked, hands waving frantically, saved by a sudden hand against her back–its palm slapping her till she finally managed to breathe safely. "Down the wrong pipe?" Gourry's easy-going voice called behind her, the blonde sending her an understanding grin, "Happens all the time to me."
Filia coughed, taking a large swallow of soothing water before casting the already munching blond a grateful look, "Thank you very much, Mister Gourry." She blinked woefully at her remaining food, suddenly not nearly as starving as she'd been only seconds ago. "I must have eaten too fast..."
"Are you alright, Miss Filia?" Amelia peered into the other girl's face causing an embarrassed flush to spread across Filia's cheeks.
"I'm fine! Really!" She twisted in her chair, raising her bottle to her lips, as she pretended interest in something across the room.
Amelia didn't seem convinced, her mouth opening in concern, when a light hand gently squeezed her arm in warning. Sylphiel's gentle gaze met Amelia's, shaking her head with the barest of motions before releasing her hold. "Have you seen Mister Xelloss, Amelia?"
Hesitating, Amelia glanced between the two women, before finally forcing her lips into an easy smile. "No, have you, Sylphiel?"
The other girl nodded, "When he arrived. He seemed to be in good cheer about something."
A snort accentuated her comment, Zelgadiss's eyes narrowing in old disgust, "He's ALWAYS in good humor! It's what makes him so annoying."
Amelia shifted slightly, an uncomfortable expression flickering across her features, "Mister Xelloss does always seem to find the strangest things funny..." She quickly glanced over her shoulder, slightly ashamed for the statement and afraid that the purple-haired man had suddenly appeared at the most inopportune time, as usual. Thankfully, his presence did not grace the cafeteria, allowing her a tiny sigh of relief.
"Xelloss..." Filia remained twisted away from the others, but her voice carried to their ears. Amelia and Zelgadiss shot the girl a curious look, but Sylphiel merely raised her cup to her lips, pretending not to have heard the strange, almost wistful tone...
"Do you know Mister Xelloss, Miss Filia?" There was an evident amount of confusion in the other girl's tone, Amelia's hands closing into tiny fists–her heart pounding loudly within her chest. She could feel sweat beading on her temple, an irrational fear suddenly pulling at the former princess... For some reason, the blonde's answer was irrationally important... If she knew Xelloss... If she knew... If...
Something terrible and dark hovered over the air, as she waited for Filia to respond...
"Huh?" Filia blinked, one hand pushing a stray blonde hair behind her ear, "Xelloss? No, I'm afraid I don't... And, please," she smiled, a gesture that only a day ago seemed forbidden and forgotten, "call me Filia."
And like that, the darkness disappeared, leaving Amelia deliriously pleased, her eyes sparkling wildly. "Then you must call me Amelia!"
Filia tilted her head fondly at the younger girl, "Of course."
"Be glad you haven't met him." Zelgadiss's harsh voice cut through the girls' simple joy, his hands closing painfully tight around his cup. "Once you do, you'll wish you never had."
"Mister Zelgadiss!" Amelia scolded, one finger wagging at the unaffected chimera, "You shouldn't say such things!"
"Any ways, Xelloss has his uses." Lina pushed aside plates and trays, leaning back with a contented sigh, one hand gently patting her stomach. "Annoying prick he might be." The sorceress shifted suspicious eyes toward Gourry, the blonde having turned away from her, body hunched over something beyond her vision.
"Smiles too damn much..." Zelgadiss muttered, before falling silent, an ominous dark cloud seeming to hang over the chimera—his lips thin and stern, as he drank seemingly endless amounts of coffee. From her position, Amelia could only watch helplessly as she lost the chimera's attention, his mind obviously focused on angry past memories involving the genki priest.
"What are you hiding, Gourry?" Lina peered over her bodyguard's shoulder, eyes widening at the sight of an apple pie, nearly completely devoured. "Hey! Share!" Tiny hands reached for the pie, only to have it snatched out of her grasp–-Gourry's taller form coming in handy, as he stood, pie crumbs speckled around his chewing mouth.
"Go gepth yormph owfffn!" Continuing to shove pie into his mouth, he danced around the angry redhead–sensing the danger, but feeling the pain was worth the price.
Lina glowered, eyes narrowing with growing anger—if there was one thing she disliked, it was feeling at a disadvantage—so, with a well-placed kick in the shin, Lina sent the blonde yelping, pie falling from his hands. It landed neatly into her greedy palms, shoved into her ready mouth before Gourry could climb back to his feet.
"No fair!"
She calmly licked her fingers, sighing happily, before shooting him a glare. "That's what you get for hiding food from me."
"But, Miss Lina, you did the same thing at lunch!" Amelia's sense of justice felt that there was something not quite right with the scene—despite how idiotic the whole thing truly was...
Lina shrugged, "That was different." She grinned, "That was me." Pulling up a chair closer to the others, the sorceress shot a look all around before landing on the quiet Filia. "So, how was training?"
Filia's eyes narrowed, her body seeming to tremble as her mind replayed the morning's events—the other occupants began to back away at the sudden fire within the blonde's blue gaze. "How can any of you stand that woman! She's–she's–," the girl struggled for an appropriate term, her mind unable to conjure a word terrible enough to describe Zelas Metallium.
"A monster?"
Filia blinked at Lina's choice of words before nodding vehemently. "Exactly!"
"Yeah, well, most of the mentors aren't exactly Mary Poppins. Just be glad you don't have my sister." Lina shivered, "Now, there's a monster!"
"The monster race will never stop... This war will continue on until there's no one left to stand in their way..."
"Or until there's none of them left to stand in ours..."
A cold shudder ran up Filia's back, the other students' conversation washing over her—felt, but unheard... Her hands suddenly felt clammy and hot, furling and unfurling into tiny fists beneath the plain table. Around her, no one seemed to notice her sudden stiffening or the way her mouth fell open and close—struggling for air to fill her craving lungs.
Monsters...
Such a seemingly simple word... Something every child grew up fearing... The monster beneath their bed, the one inside their closet... Always there, lurking and hiding when the parents came in to tuck them inside their nice, safe beds... Terrible, grotesque monsters—inhuman and nightmarish...
Except not all monsters were terrible, deformed figures–all teeth and claws... Some were devastatingly handsome–all shiny and brilliant and so pretty she wanted to reach out and touch them–all dark and beautiful and shining like jewels and if she just reached out and took hold everything would be alright again. He could change everything, he could make it alright... Except he couldn't! He couldn't! Because it was his fault! He had betrayed her! He had—
"Oh, the schedule! It's in my room, but I can easily bring it to you once you're finished eating, Miss Filia." Sylphiel watched as a bead of sweat slid down the blonde's face, disappearing around the curve of her neck. She met Filia's blue gaze, but found no recognition—those eyes were lost and empty, seeking something beyond this world of class schedules and school cafeterias... Something that could not be found... Not yet...
So, Sylphiel reached over and placed a hand against Filia's arm–once again, feeling that rush of trapped magic, fire and ice lashing out at her intrusion, so physically painful that the former priestess had to fight not to cry out. But the pain and shock was worth it, the touch brought life back to Filia's blue eyes and the girl blinked at the hand clutching her arm.
"Miss Sylphiel?"
Sylphiel pulled away, that gentle, sad smile still present, no sign of the pain she had felt only seconds ago, "If you like, Miss Filia, I can give you the schedule now." She glanced down at Filia's half-eaten food, "Only if you're finished, though."
Tears threatened to overcome the blonde and Filia found herself unable to do anything, but nod–sobs choking her throat. Why? Why! The voices had been so silent! She had felt almost like her old self for the first time in months and then... that horrible... what exactly had it been? It had felt as if she'd suddenly been possessed by some entirely different being... Thoughts and emotions flooding her mind, tossing her aside till she felt like an outsider within her own body. What had happened? This was new... This had never happened before... The voices had always been terrible... Her dreams uncontrollable... But this sudden loss of self?
New and unwanted.
"Oh, you live on the same floor as Miss Sylphiel and Mister Zelgadiss, Filia?" Amelia also stood, following the girls as they made their way to the trash cans. All three dumped the remains of their dinners, moving aside to allow the others access. "Lina and I live on the third floor in room 347."
Filia carefully registered the number, not wishing to have a repeat of her earlier memory lapse. "You live together?"
"Yeah, most students don't get their own private rooms." There was a hint of envy in Lina's tone, as she joined the other girls–leaving Gourry and Zelgadiss to follow, the blonde making light conversation with the only half-listening chimera.
Filia was surprised. The school was massive and, so far, she hadn't seen that many students—especially, not enough to warrant having to room together. "Even with a sister as a teacher? I would have thought you would be allowed some privileges."
Blue eyes widened, as tiny, pale hands covered her mouth, Lina's frantic hissing tickling her ear. "Shhhh! If Luna hears you, she'll think I'm complaining!" The sorceress slowly released her hold on the other girl, shooting nervous glances around for her purple-haired sister.
"Not everyone has to share a room." Amelia explained, one hand gripping the stair's banister, her gaze carefully watching her every step—for some reason, she tended to be incredibly clumsy at the most inopportune times. "Miss Luna heard Lina complaining about the size of her room, so she decided to make her room with me."
"Well, that doesn't seem very fair to you." Filia stopped at the top of the stairs, watching as the raven-haired girl hesitated at the beginning of another set.
"I didn't really mind. I'd never had a roommate before, so I kinda liked it!" Amelia grinned, "That was nearly two years ago. I could have probably asked for a single room this year, but after all this time, there just didn't seem much point."
A faint grin tugged at Lina's own lips, her previous nervousness seeming to have faded once she realized her sister was nowhere in sight, "I just can't get rid of her." The statement was thrown out nonchalantly, but Filia could sense a fondness behind the words—there was a strong friendship between the two girls...
She envied it...
"Well, goodnight, Filia and Miss Sylphiel!" Amelia darted a glance toward the bored chimera, a dreamy smile tugging at the corner of her lips, "Good night, Mister Zelgadiss, sweet dreams!"
Zelgadiss coughed at the sudden attention, tugging slightly at the collar of his sweatshirt, the hood hiding the faint blush staining his blue features. "Uh, good night, Amelia."
With a cheerful bounce, the girl darted up the stairs, leaving a blushing chimera and a smirking Lina behind.
"Hee, I don't get a good night, huh? You only reserve those for Amelia, Zelly boy?" The sorceress laughed at the angry, embarrassed glower sent her way before the chimera stormed off, mumbling under his breath the entire way to his room–door slamming behind him. Lina grinned widely, "He's too easy. Any ways, night! Come on, Gourry, we've got math homework."
The blonde blinked anxiously at the waiting girl, "We do?"
A vein twitched over Lina's right eyebrow, but she merely grabbed the boy by the shirt, "Yes, we do, idiot! Night, Sylphiel, Filia!"
And the two were gone.
Sylphiel turned from the stairs, walking quietly to her room, waiting patiently for Filia to follow. Opening the door with barely a sound, she led the way inside. "It should only take me a second to find." Sylphiel shot the distracted Filia a reassuring smile before quickly making her way to the room's only desk, leaving Filia to glance around curiously.
The room was decorated simply in purples and blues, various pictures of friends and family adorning the walls and a large mirror. Filia lightly ran her fingers over a large, purple bunny's ear–the fake fur soft and velvety under her fingertips. Across the room, Sylphiel rummaged around the cherry-wood desk, its surface covered with organized folders, various plants (obviously doted on by their healthy, colorful appearance), and a single picture frame. Curious, Filia stepped closer, squinting slightly till she could make out the smiling form of Sylphiel—obviously a few years younger, her face tilted slightly up to stare up at the boy standing beside her, a warm, goofy grin on his handsome face. Sylphiel's smile was so sweet, so fond, and so obviously in love that Filia felt her heart break just a little staring into the picture.
"Here it is!" Sylphiel pulled the schedule free, turning only to find Filia's attention riveted to her most prized possession. For a second, pain flashed across her features–an old scar never completely healed rearing its head. "It's a good picture of Gourry dear, isn't it?" Gentle fingers wrapped around the frame's cold metal, lifting the picture into the air.
Filia watched as Sylphiel ran a finger along the picture's surface, feeling suddenly haunted by the expression on the other girl's face—a soft, vulnerable smile so like the one staring back at her from the frame's simple glass. "Sylphiel..."
Sylphiel refused to meet her gaze, instead lowering the picture, her dark hair shielding her face from Filia. "The schedule! If you like I can come to your room tomorrow morning and show you where the classes are." The simple piece of paper hung between them and Filia grasped it, wishing she could somehow comfort the woman before her—a woman so obviously in pain, but still wishing to help her–a person she barely knew.
But what did Filia know about comforting? After all the pain she had suffered, how could she offer the girl before her any kind words?
So, Filia merely took the schedule, "Thank you... I would appreciate that..."
And she walked away, leaving Sylphiel standing there alone..
Minty Fresh Shock— I really appreciate all your kind words—I'm always so worried about Filia's character—I don't want to make her too angsty, so I'm glad ya think she's IC And yikes! I hadn't even realized it'd been so long since my last update! Glad ya brought it to my attention! So this chapter is really thanks to ya—knowing my postponing butt, it'd have taken ages before I remembered otherwise '-- Thanks!
Mistress DragonFlame—Thank ya much! Filia's my fave character, too—hard to believe considering all the pain and angst I'm putting her through But hey! We all show our love in different ways:P
anon----Yes, I'm afraid Filia is very angsty—eventually she'll become a little happier, but I love writing angst so I tend to make my characters suffer a bit before finding any kind of happiness -- It's sad, but hopefully her suffering won't deter ya too much—I promise she'll eventually stop whining!
Valk—Thank you! Being my first Slayer fic, I really appreciate it! And with such kind reviews how could I not keep writing?
Nicci Rockdad—Squee! From a Xel/Fi writer like yourself, that means a lot!
Soobin—Hee... Your idea about Sylphiel makes a lot more sense then the crazy plot device I came up with And yay! I really liked writing the whole Zelas/Filia scene— gotta love mazoku-hating Filia :P And lina... Lina, lina... I had such a terrible time writing her and it hasn't gotten any better with later parts... I just can't quite grasp the redhead's character, but I bought one of the Slayer novels and I'm hoping it might help me get her a little more IC—and Thanks for the Amelia comment, she's my second favorite character in the series so I'm glad I got her down right All in all, thank ya for the comments–they've really helped!
Lady Dark Angel—I never realized I was such a good fisherman:P Thanks for the praise! And as for Xelloss... Well, as seen in the above chapter, he hasn't quite shown his face, but trust me, he is lurking about somewhere