SLAYERS TRY ( AGAIN ! )

Written by : TokyoFlame

.::.

Legend : Italic sentences = thoughts

Characters belong to the respective legal owners

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Zelas Metallium phrased out into the main hall of Deep Sea Dolphin's territory, her long legs crossed over lightly as she stood without moving forwards, waiting for some invisible instructions.

" Welcome, Zelas ! "

Deep Sea Dolphin appeared at the other end of the hall, a smile that seemed rather scheming was plastered on her cherubic face, causing the mature-looking Zelas to look at her in a rather haughty manner.

" I don't see Dynast. "

" He would be coming soon. "

" Should I be standing here until he arrives ? "

" Of course not ! Sit anywhere you want, if you wish to. "


Zelas peered around the spacious interior, her eyes spotting a particularly comfortable-looking seat some distance away from Dolphin. She cat walked over purposefully, her long curly hair lightly fluttered with her movements. Dolphin's smile wavered a little, knowing exactly how Zelas loved to show off her charm.

Just as the steaming pot of tension between the two women threatened to explode, Dynast Grauscherra phrased out in the same fashion as Zelas, this time much nearer to Dolphin.

" Dynast ! You're late. "

Dolphin mock-pouted, as Dynast politely gave a bow in greeting to the other two Mazoku Lords. He was truly handsome, with his strong features and reserved character. Dolphin observed him keenly, taking note of his attire. He was dressed in a dark grey attire, with a few black seams outlining the ends. ( Somewhat like the Chinese's traditional gown ).

" So, everyone is here. Shall we begin ? "

Filia couldn't open her eyes. She knew she was sleeping, still wandering about in her unconscious state of mind. The delicate warmness that enveloped her was too good to let go.

But she must leave.

It would be a paradox, to be conscious of her thoughts while she was sleeping. She had lots of things to do. She was late in opening her shop for business. She had to deal with a persistent Mazoku. She had to regain her life as a human once again. She wanted to hear from Valgaav.

It made her feel weary.

Karyuu-oh-sama, my emotions are always so heavy, every day. I start to lose my faith, my beliefs and I feel so lost. Can I remain like this forever ? Can I always be with you in this suspended state ? I don't want to go back.

Filia prayed, feverishly, knowing that her childish requests would be greeted with disdain.

Filia, you know that you cannot escape reality. You, as a Ryuuzoku, should know better.

I know that, Karyuu-oh-sama. I renounced my identity and status to redeem the sins of my race. I have let you down.

What matters is the present. The future. You must live on bravely, with each breath you take, to make the fullest use of your existing lifespan. You are not totally immortal. Most of the Ryuuzoku die by choice, or at the hands of someone else. No one has ever attempted to live to their maximum capacity. It is too long, too difficult, too lonely. You must not blame yourself for feeling this way, but you cannot give up as you are still very young and inexperienced.

Karyuu-oh-sama, I still feel plagued by foreign emotions. I keep having these disruptive … unknown … thoughts. They hound me every day, I cannot contain them. Yet I do not understand them.

You are still young, by worldly terms. You will understand when the time comes. Your heart will show you the unwavering answer that you seek for. Be brave, young one. You may have opened a path, a winding one that seems to have no end, but you will be a shining example to all, if you believe in yourself.

Karyuu-oh-sama …

Filia blinked as the misty flame that appeared before her slowly faded out into nothingness. She had not received definite answers from the Fire Dragon God, but she felt undoubtedly more light-hearted than she was over the past few years. Thanking the divine figure silently in her heart, she willed her mind with a newly resolved determination.

It was time to return.

Xellos clutched his forehead gently, wondering why he was suffering from a headache.

Is it really a headache ? Or merely some pounding on my head because I feel AWFUL !?

Either way, Xellos had no answer. He was flustered, pissed off, anxious and angry at the same time. His eyes flashed brilliantly, albeit for the wrong reasons, as he paced up and down the length of his lair, wondering what he should do RIGHT NOW.

What if Zelas-sama needs me all of a sudden ? I must be here, ready at her immediate summon. The mazoku is creating a huge riot, which is good, but the timing is wrong. Someone was trying to track me down, and I missed the opportunity to nail the culprit. That Ryuuzoku is probably still napping away, oblivious to all the trouble she caused.

" And … and what the hell is THIS that I'm feeling whenever I mention about her ? "

Xellos clutched his head again, not knowing what THIS meant, and where it came from, or how it struck him. It just made him feel DIFFERENT. It was a foreign concept altogether, something which was new and fresh. Something which agitated him further because he couldn't unravel this mystery, as it was apparently caused by HIMSELF, which aggravated matters greatly.

" Can I scream ? "

Xellos, at this point, had a surprising smile on his face. A small one. It was amusing to trace his line of thoughts, and it was totally unlike him. He was thoroughly confused, whenever he set his mind on Filia. It made him angry, and yet very curious too.

" Who would ever thought I could be placed in such a sticky situation ? "

As he switched to an entire black attire, decorated with a white sash, his mentality of thoughts broke as he found his spell encountering a change.

Something has happened to Filia ?

Throwing caution completely out of the window, he whizzed out, without a second thought.

Filia forced herself to pry open her eyes, which were surprisingly heavy. As she groggily stirred her human body to coordinate with her mind, she blinked a few times unsteadily, vision changing from blurry to a clearer one.

" I feel as though I've not moved for a century. "

Filia commented to herself as she carefully sat up, cradling her head as she did so. Gently stretching to loosen up any stiff bones, she took in a deep breath of the atmosphere's air and allowed the particles to awaken her human body.

" I hope Glavos and Jilas did not create a stir within the town with my disappearance. "

As Filia carefully stood up, her senses picked up the unmistakable aura of a spell in close proximity. Chiding herself almost immediately for her dull senses, she heightened her powers to realise that there was a seal created …

… around her.

" This is a protection charm ! Why is it --- "

" I'm glad that you've awaken from your slumber, Sleeping Beauty. "

Filia whipped around, just in time to see Xellos slowly forming into shape from the Astral Plane. Somehow, Xellos seemed to enjoy doing that, instead of instant teleports, which shocked the living daylights of anyone who wasn't prepared.

" X .. Xellos .. "

" Good afternoon. "

" I .. I didn't sleep long, right ? "

" No, you didn't. "

" Were you with me the whole time ? "

" No, unfortunately. "

" This seal .. barrier .. were you --- "

" I am afraid it was me. "

" Why ? "

" I wanted to coop you up. "

" X --- "

Filia noticed that Xellos had raised his hand, causing the spell to disintegrate. He remained smiling lightly, his eyes never leaving Filia. As she watched the lines disappear into beautiful sparkling droplets, she noticed a stack of cloth lying on where she had just laid down. As realisation struck her, she found that her doubts were returning to her, at full strength.

" I didn't know you enjoyed observing a discarded cloak on the ground. "

" Xellos, it's yours … isn't it ? "

" Well yes, technically. "

" You … "

Filia couldn't make herself say it. It was impossible, wasn't it ? Xellos wouldn't be so considerable enough to care for her welfare.

But the spell ! His timely appearances ! His cloak which apparently was used by you as a makeshift pillow !

" S .. stop it .. "

" Filia ? "

" Xellos, I .. err .. I am returning to Gilitran now. I … I want to .. erm .. let you know that I really appreciate everything. "

" Be on your way. "

Filia bit her lower lip, wondering why she felt disappointed with his reply.

" I will have to return now. Urgent matters require my rapt attention presently. "

" Then .. then why do you still bother about me ? I'll be all right, on my own. "

" Filia, think before you speak. Are you truthfully sure about what you said ? "

" What .. you think I can't take care of myself ? "

" No, but sometimes, a person may find it easier to handle matters with a helping hand, that's all. "

" You think I need one ? "

" Everyone needs one, if it makes you more pacified. "

" You included ? "

" Well, I am a Mazoku, not a 'person' under any definition, so --- "

" Xellos ! "

Filia felt the familiar feeling of being ticked rising up in her system. She definitely couldn't compare her rage to those days in the past, when she could lash out with unrestrained fury. It was just a dull throbbing of irate-ness right now.

She suddenly felt weighed down, by a lot of unseen chains around her.

Xellos seemed to notice the blunt edge to her retort, unlike the shrill impact she used to achieve when she screamed at him at every single matter. He looked at her more seriously, or rather, he just felt the need to treat her more cautiously, in a gentler manner.

" I just wanted to make you a little more livelier. After all, you might be a little rusty after all that sleep. "

" I definitely feel a lot livelier, no thanks to you. "

" Are you going to be on your way back now ? "

" Yes. "

" Then go. "

" What about you ? "

" Well, I did say --- "

" Will you follow me around again ? "

Xellos's wry smile came back again, making Filia a little relaxed. She didn't like his solemn expression.

" I think I might. "

" Without my permission, as usual ? "

" That's the gist. "

" Oh, go away already. "

" Will you make your way home safely ? "

" I am a Ryuuzoku. I WILL be able to at least make my way home safely. "

" Right. "

" Right. "

Filia almost felt her heart tug at the thought of the impending farewell. A strange pulling sensation.

It bothered her.

Why did it tug ?

Xellos felt as though he shouldn't leave now. The conversation was going well. The ambience was calm.

He actually liked it.

Am I actually reluctant to leave ?

Xellos, you are to make your way to Deep Sea Dolphin's … NOW.

I need you there.

With almost great difficulty, to the quiet astonishment of Xellos himself, he slipped away into the Astral Plane, thanking Zelas silently for the intervention. He really wanted to sort things out by himself.

He was also puzzled to see Filia averting her eyes sadly towards the ground, as he slowly disappeared from her view.

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10th November 2002