Another chapter is here! Sorry it took two months, but things are finally beginning to get better in my life, so hopefully that will change soon.
Milady Grinch: Quite so, Xellos is changing again, in a new way. I hope you like how the story goes!
Summicron: Thanks, I am really looking forward to writing more. I'm hoping that things work in my favor so I can!
EmmyJenny: Lol, no I've not drawn that picture. You are free to go ahead! As for the Matrix room, it's like that because it is a bubble dimension and the present "rules" for this dimension make it very free. You'll see, I hope, why soon. Mace-sama has become less important to Filia as she's grown. Also, it's not something she can use in normal society. Lol. But I'm not sure what you mean by "what are they scared of"? However, thank you so much for reviewing and giving such a long review!
Hopelessly Addicted, Lady Kaliska, Nicci Rockdad, Mwafwa, Crazy Elf Paladin, Nephilum/DaemonGirlJay: Hey there! I'm glad you liked the chapter, let me know what you think of this one!
Jadehaku: Great to see you again! Practice makes perfect when it comes to writing, so just keep writing and I know you'll do great! Lol, and yes, I loved that last part, too. I wanted to put some humor in, it's not been nearly humorous enough lately. (hugs)
Nanya, Welcome! So glad to have a new person around! The AOE (Area of Effect) for the dragonslave is a 100-ft radius spread. Xellos, however, I couldn't find an Area Effect for. Perhaps you mean damage? His damage that his "unidentifiable Mazoku power" (as they put it in the book) does is 17 D10 with a reflex save of 36 for half, vrs, the Dragon Slave's is 2D6 per caster level with a fort save for half. In Lina's hands, that means it would do 32D6 after Slayers, 34D6 after Next, and 36D6 after Try. So the average damage from Xellos is 85 damage, and the average from Lina's Dragon Slave is 108. (shrugs) I still think that's low for Xellos, but CEP (the roleplay king/expert/aficionado) is convinced it's not. :-p
And now, onto the story!!
PS: sorry for the constant changes in break styles. ffdotnet insists on not allowing certain combinations. First it was parentheses together that they trashed , and now parentheses with dashes in-between. I just don't get what their problem is . . .
Chapter 2
Wolfpack Island
June 12th, 2002
The sun shined warm against his back and upon his head, his ebony cloak and dark tresses soaking up the thermal heat. As Xellos looked out upon the field of lush grasses, a breeze crested the hillock, tossing his cape and rustling through the green shards, cutting paths through the thick verdant thatches like wind slicing the ocean.
In the near distance, he could see them, blonde and teal heads bent as they discussed their new home. The dragons had concentrated and swiftly built the surrounding paradise; warm saffron jewel placed above in a painfully blue sky awash with ivory clouds, and below a sea of emerald grass, just long enough but not yet to seed, growing robustly upon a fertile, moist ground.
It was right. . . normal . . . yet he scowled as his mind replaced green with chilled gray, the azure expanse above with liquid black, and the golden sun a sunken, ruddy moon. Blinking away the images, Xellos closed his eyes, enjoying the reprieve. Zelas and Iyzeka were wandering within the bubble dimension, enjoying themselves watching the dragons' progress. He, however, had more pressing concerns, and little chance to mull over them but now.
Frowning deeply, Xellos allowed his thoughts to stray. So . . . it seems that I have come full circle. The memories of his past, long forgotten, had awakened violently within him. Appropriately so, he mused.
Far within himself a cold, familiar ache returned, and he welcomed it bitterly. I was so close to what Mistress Zelas wanted, he lamented, and then all the darkness was returned to me. A gift from heaven, perhaps? Is it possible I was punished for the transgression of defying heaven and hell, by forcing my way into the afterlife? Somehow, he couldn't believe such a thing.
Lina. You gave me an amulet, you must have. I wish I could remember more. Did you give me an answer for this conflict as well, which I've forgotten? If so, why did you return memories to me, long lost, better off buried? How can I look upon Filia ever again, now, without remembering? The old desires, fed by the flames of his shameful loss of control that fateful night in China, had reawakened only to serve as a harsh reminder that he could never be trusted to safely care for those weaker than himself.
I must never, his forced smile became almost painful, ever let myself get close enough to Filia to hurt her again.
He almost lost his temper the last time they had been at the island. Later, in Hong Kong, he'd lost control of his mental barriers and almost – almost - did that which Zelas had attempted to prevent, that which many Mazoku relished and reveled in, to the one creature that meant more to him than his life . . .
Xellos let his bangs shield his eyes, and prayed to the Lady that Zelas was unaware of the emotions roiling within him. Never again. Am I so barbarous as to force myself upon my . . . my best friend?
No, he would not allow it to ever come that close. Clearly, Filia deserved better than him, and wasn't safe in his presence. But she desired to be near, as did Valgaav, his son in all but blood . . . Xellos knew it would be the greatest of selfish acts to punish them by vanishing from their lives. And it's too late now, anyhow. We must defeat Telgaln before I could possibly leave, never to return. And how cowardly would that be? No, I can beat this. I can overcome my own deficiencies. I have to. For my sake, for Val's sake, and especially Filia's. His eyes flickered open, glaring out across the field, and for a moment, saw a flash of long violet tresses on the wind, and sparkling blue eyes drawing him deeply, to drown beneath the waves of time . . .
He blinked again, and it was gone, just green grass and broad sky – and beyond, those he cared most about in the universe, standing before a tall, Victorian style house, painted the purest of whites with pink filigree accents.
Frowning, Xellos began to approach them, and forced a smile as Filia turned to wave her hand high above her head. "Xellos!" she called, "come on, stop lollygagging and get over here!"
The General-Priest nodded and reached deep down within himself to find some pretend cheer to display. Don't allow her close; for her own good, he schooled himself.
If I must bury my emotions, I will. Perhaps Dynast had it right, all along. Emotions make one weak. The good, the bad, and the indifferent. Yet with every feeling he shoved deeper into his psyche, he found he was left with a hollow bitterness, and a sour taste upon his tongue.
Perhaps,he considered wearily, this is the price one pays for the cold tincture of indifference. Well, I can pay that price, and more, if it will protect her. Even should I be denied all warmth save the heat of hatred.
Determination fueled a new fire burning within him, hot and dark. I will not fail. I will protect her.
After all – he'd already cast aside his status, his honor, his pride, and his soul to create a realm of safety for her to reside in. Casting out his heart wouldn't be so far of a stretch.
(-(-o-)-)
The white house stood tall and bright in the sunlight, and Valgaav smiled as he gazed up at it. "A long, long time ago, we had a house just like this," he murmured under his breath. Even if it's only for a month, it'll be nice to live here again. Like reliving parts of my childhood.
He entered the house with the rest of his family and friends, and they began building the rooms more fully with every step. But the young Ancient Dragon couldn't help but notice the vagueness of emotion when he cast his senses near his godfather. Glancing back at where Xellos stood, silent but for the occasional agreement to Filia's ideas, Val shook his head slightly. Shielding. Has to be. He's been off ever since he returned. First too much happy, now too much . . . empty?
Val chuckled at his own lack of eloquence. He'd worked hard at regulating his speech to match each decade's form of slang, in an attempt at keeping himself up to date and not appear out of place . . . and, perhaps a tiny part of him wished to play the part of the popular teenager, in direct opposition of his fears.
After all, he reminded himself grimly, look what happened with Xian. . .
He forced his thoughts to return to Xellos, and began applying the intellect that he supposedly had somewhere within his muddled brain. I need to sit and have a chat with him, he decided resolutely. Visiting the afterlife can't be a comforting experience, especially for a self-proclaimed demon.
The blank wall he'd been staring at suddenly morphed into a large gilded mirror, and Val blinked to see his own reflection with Iyzeka standing next to him, making a silly face with her tongue out and fingers stuck in her mouth. "Nlehhhh," came the incomprehensible noise, and he shook his teal head slowly.
Disappointed at his lack of reaction, the redhead flounced her hands down to her hips and glowered cutely at him. "Vallie, whatcha' doin'?"
Giving her an uncertain frown, Val asked instead, "Why are you talking like that?"
"I donno'," she grinned, muscles tensed in a manner Val feared meant she'd soon break into a song and dance routine, before her shoulders slumped and she stared flatly up at him from beneath lowered lashes. "I'm annoying you again, aren't I."
"Yes," he spoke succinctly. "I'm trying to think."
She nodded, her expression instantly solemn. "About what?"
—Xellos is acting strange,— the dragon covertly sent to Iyzeka in the hopes he'd not overhear, and before she could retort, he added, —Stranger than usual.— He began walking around the house absently, the demoness following.
Iyzeka nodded her dark head, bright maroon bangs falling into her eyes as her expression clouded over. —Yeah, I've kind of noticed. He hasn't talked to me at all, though. There hasn't been time.—
—He vanished on mom after she chased him,— Valgaav informed her with a scowl. Upstairs, he heard his mother squealing about how cute the matching bathroom patterns were going to be, and quickly vacated to the backyard. —I wasn't able to get more from her. She's more stressed by this than she thinks she is, and to be honest, I'm starting to get really sick of all the drama.—
Right beside him, the tiny girl nodded and looked around the endless backyard of lush grasses with a considerate frown. "How about a tree-house?" she exclaimed suddenly with fervor, and Val sighed and shrugged.
"Sure." They set about envisioning the tree, tall with many broad curving limbs, and it appeared before them fully formed.
—Well,— the demoness mused within his mind, —I guess I can understand that. Lady Filia has a bad habit of taking out her frustrations on her loved ones.—
—Ever hear the phrase "We always hurt the ones we love?" — Val asked her with a smirk as they started on the tree-house itself.
—Um, yeah, Mommy- er, Mistress- says that a lot. Usually when she's punishing an underling,— the girl giggled, creating a rope ladder to hang from the large wooden house set into the oak tree. —But that doesn't mean it's nice, or that it's good for you.—
Val stopped as he was about to reply, then looked around themselves. "Why are we still talking telepathically?" he asked aloud, realizing that they were alone and Xellos couldn't possibly overhear through the thick walls of the house and his mother's babbling.
She shrugged, emerald eyes wide. "I have no idea, I just kept doing it because you were!"
"But I continued it because I thought you wanted to!" he tossed his head back to stare up at the sun. "Gah, okay, anyway, I agree with you. I'm going to go postal if I don't get away from my mom. But how can I leave her if Xellos is blocking his emotions from everyone, and clearly is having some problems of some kind. I mean, mom was really upset, like distraught even, after their fight. All I could get out of her was that 'it was going so well' and then suddenly it wasn't," he stressed.
Iyzeka took a deep breath and let it out in a loud sigh. "I have no idea. And I agree that I'm not sure it'd be right to leave Lady Filia alone when she's upset too . . . but . . . c'mon, Val, you can't . . ." She glanced away from him, suddenly uncomfortable. "You've been taking care of her," she spit out before he could ask her what was wrong, "when it really is supposed to be the other way around!" Wincing, she covered her face with her hands. "Don't be mad!"
The tall boy covered his eyes with a hand. "I'm not mad. I rarely get mad. I have the fuse of Buddha. So for God's sake, or whatever deity you choose, please feel free to speak your honest opinion." Still, when he lifted his palm from his face his felt his eyes twitch with annoyance. Okay, so maybe Buddha's fuse is a little shorter today, he amended silently.
The girl nodded with a forced grin, then giggled nervously. "Um, okay, good then! So," she began climbing the rope ladder, "I say you should get to have some fun and relax before we get into training. I'll ask Mistress about it. I'm sure she'll let us have some fun, and her and the 'grown ups' can plan our training for us while we do!"
Val nodded. Still, I should talk to Xellos. I can't leave him alone like this. He's my dad now, he chuckled softly to himself, pleased, and even if he weren't, he's my best friend. I know something's off, I can just feel it. Now if I can just get him to talk to me about it . . .
"Vaaaaaa-leeeee," came a drawn out call from above him, and the Ancient Dragon gave a leery gaze up to the tree-house. "You know what would be a great addition to your tree-house and a great stress reliever?" the redhead crowed, poking her cheery countenance out from the open window of the miniature dwelling.
"What?" he sighed wearily.
"A porn room!"
"WHAT?" Val stared at her, then flushed and looked away.
"For porn!"
"Yes," he hurriedly began heading back towards the house, her gleeful cackling spurring him into a jog, "I understand what it would be for!"
She simply hooted louder behind him, until a solid thump sounded and he turned to find she'd toppled out of the tree-house from laughing so hard. Uncaring of the high fall, the girl rolled around in the grass with her hands clutching her stomach, eyes tearing up from her own hilarity.
Snorting in annoyance, Val shook his head and continued back into the house, leaving Iyzeka to her amusement. It must be genetic. If electromagnetic beings can be said to have genes. He frowned at the physics of it, shook his head, and resolved to ask Zelas about it later.
First, I have to talk to Xellos and find out what's wrong . . . if I can. If he'll even talk to me. His frown deepened as he took the stairs two at a time, and he tried to ignore the worn and frustrated part of himself that wished nothing more than to brush Xellos' issues off as not being his problem. If I can help him, I will, he reasserted to himself, stuffing the selfish wish aside. Even if I do feel exhausted.
At the top of the stairs, Valgaav closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with a heavy sigh. And boy, do I ever feel exhausted.
(-(-o-)-)
Participating in Filia's decorating adventures usually allowed Xellos to explore his feminine side, but at the moment the Greater Beastmaster wasn't feeling in the mood to be silly nor charming. Instead he let the dragoness dart from corner to corner in her excitement, and tried to simply be passively supportive.
Eventually she would have to notice his lackluster attitude, but it seemed luck was on his side, as his Mistress set about sharing Filia's "adventures" in decorating, leaving Xellos to muse with a false smile upon his lips that hid the dissatisfaction beneath. If only I could be excused in order to begin preparations for the training. That and I am starting to become concerned as to where exactly Mistress has been hiding the philosopher stone fragments. They're helping to power the shield, but surely she must have placed them someplace impossible to penetrate, or else she wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them out of her sight. The logical consideration crushed his feelings quite well, and he found it mildly amusing that, even though Mazoku were the exact opposite of mortals such as humans and dragons, he was still dealing with his problems by being childlike: a Mazoku child, of logic and order, instead of a mortal child that began in chaos only to end in the seriousness of adulthood.
Xellos' musings were brought abruptly to an end when a slightly taller figure stepped in front of him, and he blinked in surprise to find he'd not even registered Valgaav's footsteps.
Confronted with Val's serious golden gaze, Xellos beamed and spoke before the boy could begin. "Don't you find it disturbing that your mother and my mother are getting along?" he queried, gesturing towards where the two women were discussing draperies.
"Well," the teen smirked down at him, "it is considered good form to get along with your future in-laws."
Xellos rose an unimpressed brow and shook his head. "You're going to have to get over that particular notion someday, you know," he informed him, while mentally he felt his hackles rising. Believe me, Val, if you knew what had really happened – what had almost happened – you'd not be so thrilled to imagine your mother with me.
"Not likely," Val retorted, peering at him as if he knew something Xellos didn't. "Anyhow, I think we need to talk."
"Oh? About what?" Xellos asked, beaming façade in place.
"Well," the boy began, "I guess I just wanted to ask you if everything was okay." He gazed pointedly at Xellos, who turned away instead to began calmly walking down the halls, glancing into each room as he did so as if mildly curious.
"Why would there be anything wrong?" Xellos asked after a moment. Why does the boy have to be so damned perceptive?
Val raised an eyebrow himself this time. "You went to the afterlife. You went to see Lina Inverse, returned barely aware of where you were, and then, according to mom, ripped the two amulets out from your own chest and collapsed. Then you act overly cheery and now you're irritable. Something's wrong."
The demon smirked and winked. "Male P.M.S.?" he asked innocently.
Glaring at him, Valgaav shook his head sharply. "Please. Don't give me bullshit. I'm not in the mood right now."
Xellos sighed, disappointed that Val hadn't accepted his misdirection. Time to pull out the stops, he told himself with mild regret. Haven't had to manipulate him in a while, I'd hoped I'd not have to again. "Son," he spoke quietly, giving Val a caring smile, "I know you want to help everyone, and I know you feel responsible for making sure things are going smoothly, but you don't have to worry about anything anymore. Mistress Zelas and I can handle everything. I'll be fine. Things were a bit strange at first, and to be honest, I can't really remember what happened in the afterlife, but I really feel that you needn't worry yourself. You should enjoy yourself. And," he added with a grin, voice lowering to a whisper, "don't forget that Filia was intent on punishing you for your stunt of locking us out from the balcony."
Xellos watched gleefully as Val turned slightly pale, pleased to feel his surprise at the reminder. I'd almost forgotten how enjoyable this is. "Yes, so far she's forgotten about that little incident in all the hubbub and stress," Xellos mused as if saddened, "and you know how quick she is to latch onto negativity from the past when informed of that which is in the present."
Putting an honest expression on his face, Xellos continued to the disheartened boy, "You should go and relax now, and Filia will surely be occupied with creating the house and your things. Perhaps I can even get her to go to the spa again and leave you alone so that you can enjoy yourself. Go relax!" he exclaimed, slapping Val hard on the back and smirking as he winced at the sting. "You deserve it, after all, you were the one who found, well, both philosopher stone fragments, really!" Is it evil of me to enjoy manipulating someone into doing something for their own benefit? he idly wondered.
The young dragon rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly, but nodded after a moment of thought. "Okay, Xel. I just want to make sure you're alright, that's all. I mean . . ." He ducked his head, then gave Xellos a weighted look from beneath his hooded brow. "I want you to be happy."
The fierce devotion rolling off of the boy almost caused Xellos to stop in place, but he continued his leisurely stroll, harshly controlling his reactions. Oh, Val . . . my son . . . Steeling his resolve, he nodded with another false smile, while deep within himself he quelled a sudden desperate desire to tell Valgaav all that was troubling him. "Don't you worry about my happiness, son."
No, you deserve your innocence, whatever pieces you can find to treasure in this maelstrom of insanity that is your life. Remembering the last life Valgaav had endured, Xellos mentally shook his head, then added, "I can take care of myself, and if I can't," he amended with a smirk, "I'm sure Mistress Zelas will see to it."
Val looked worriedly at him as if he didn't quite believe, but then he nodded, "Okay," and after a pause, moved forward to hug him awkwardly.
Surprise escaped Xellos' control at the action, but he smiled and squeezed the boy's shoulders in the embrace, sensing a heavy relief from him. "Good. You go and have fun with Iyzeka. If she gets too rambunctious," he warned as the dragon pulled away shyly, "warn her that I still haven't punished her yet for breaking character while on the mission in China." He smirked, and the boy returned it with a nod.
"Okay. I'll see you 'round, then, Xel," Valgaav told him, and turned to go.
"Right!" Xellos called as Val practically leapt down the stairs, and he chuckled thoughtfully to at last see some energy from the boy. Finally. Maybe now he'll be a little less tense. Now to make sure Filia doesn't try to destroy Val's little vacation from reality. . . Assuming Val doesn't destroy it himself. He's never been good at letting go and just chilling out for a while. The last time he had a chance was that pool party, and I'm afraid his mother and I ruined that rather quickly.
With a little nod, the Mazoku teleported back to the wall he'd been leaning against before, and returned to waiting for Filia and Zelas to finish their decorating. I'll give them another half an hour. Then I'm going to ask to be assigned something that's actually important, he grumbled. Anything has to be better than this.
Thoughts wandering outward, his heart fell with remembrance. Val . . . you'll discover the truth soon enough. Just enjoy your life now, while you can. I hope you remember my fondness for you more strongly than the pain I put you through in your past life. I hope you can forgive your mother and I.
He closed his eyes and slowly breathed, concentrating on the sensation of his lungs expanding and releasing. Will your innocence be stripped from you in both lives? Not very fair, is it. Life isn't fair, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't strive for yours to be. Unlike you and your mother, it's not the world I fight to save from Telgaln's wrath. I have no selfless intent. No, I fight to save the ones I love, and I hold little love for the rest of the world. I'll fight for your happiness, Valgaav. Yours, your mother's, Zelas' and Iyzeka's. My little family, he chuckled to himself.
Xellos' thoughts darkened once more, and a cruel smile began to pull at his lips where he stood alone in the hall. I would gladly destroy galaxies at a time, sever millions of souls from their mortal bodies, slag the mountains into glass and boil the seas into silt to make you happy. And I sincerely hope you never find out the lengths that I would go. Because I doubt you nor Filia would be at all pleased to hear it.
(-(-o-)-)
"Oh, and sheer sea-foam green drapes!" Filia exclaimed in the bathroom, and gasped for joy when long, shimmering fabrics appeared over the windows. "This is amazing," she turned to the demoness behind her who watched with an amused smile. "Is this how you created all of those beautiful vistas throughout your kingdom, Lady Zelas?" the dragoness asked politely.
The aqua-haired woman raised a brow, her bright chartreuse eyes gazing at Filia in a way that gave her pause before she shrugged. "Similarly. Though it takes more time to create that which doesn't exist already elsewhere," her sultry voice mused as she slinked over to stand beside Filia. "A bathtub is easy; Escher's stairways are much more difficult. Not only for the forms, but the gravity involved. Rules cannot be broken, only bent," she continued, and Filia nodded, entranced. She sounds just like Val when he speaks of his classes . . . "So," the Mazoku continued, "it takes far longer to create a stable bubble dimension when the laws of gravity are in flux in such a manner."
"Do you have a dimensional bubble similar to Escher's Relativity woodcut?" Filia asked with sudden excitement. Before the worlds Zelas had created had disturbed her, but she found herself drawn more and more to what challenged her views of reality. "That would be so beautiful . . ."
"Yes," Zelas smirked, taking a drag of her cigarette. "You shall see it eventually, I promise. Still, we must continue here. And where is my troublous son," she murmured suddenly, turning to gaze out through the opened door of the bathroom still being decorated around them. "Xellos . . . why do you dally? Are you not feeling creative this day?" she chuckled.
Filia stepped back, sensing an underlying tension that had not been in the room before. Xellos was out in the hall . . . he has seemed rather distant ever since we kissed . . .
She watched as he stepped from the darkened hall into the light, eyes hidden beneath the deep shadow cast by his bangs across his features. A shiver ran up her spine as a cold smile played upon his mouth, and he raised his head to pin a glittering stare upon them both. "My apologies, Mistress. I am not in the mood for home fashion this day, no. In fact, I had hoped you might assign me to a more important duty. I have already sent Valgaav and Iyzeka off to relax before the morrow, as the boy is showing signs of stress. However," his look played across them both and Filia wondered why it made her so uncomfortable, "there certainly must be more pressing matters to attend to at present."
Why is he speaking so archaically? What am I missing?
Zelas raised a blue brow and shrugged, taking another long drag while making Xellos wait. "Fine," she breathed the smoke out at him, and he stood still without reaction. "Go and ready the Hollow Hill for guests. We will be spending some time there." Something passed silently between the two, Filia was certain, before Xellos bowed low to his mother.
"As you wish, Mistress. I gladly go to do your bidding," he addressed her, then straightened and vanished as if Filia had not even been present.
Staring at where Xellos had stood, the space vacant and rather cheerier now that he'd gone, Filia blinked twice, before cocking her head and stiffening her back to glare at Zelas. "What the hell was that about?" she demanded.
The eyebrow high on Zelas' face rose further and she looked as if she couldn't decide to laugh or glower, and seemed to chose neither. "I fear our favorite purple-haired Mazoku is having some troubles being jovial," she told her finally, and Filia sighed, shoulders slumping at the words.
"I see." Miserably, Filia gazed up at the quiet demoness, then spoke with quiet words. "It must be because he searched for Lina but couldn't find her. He said he'd had difficulties remembering what happened there. I wonder how much of his memory was effected. What if he's forgotten more than his time in the nether-realm?"
A thoughtful look crossed Zelas' tanned features before she shrugged. "I've no idea - as of yet," she smirked. "Still, he's apparently decided to ignore you completely," she idly mused, sending Filia a glance from the corner of her eye.
Frowning, Filia glared back, then turned away and crossed her arms. She's just trying to goad me into a response. "I don't care," she announced imperiously. "Let's just go back to decorating."
"As you wish," Zelas chuckled. "After all, it is your house."
For the next month. And after that, who knows? Filia blinked at the Mazoku, then ran a hand through her hair. "Oh-okay." With a sigh, she smiled uncertainly at her demonic companion. "I'm sorry, Zelas. I shouldn't speak to you so."
"Apology accepted, child," Zelas told her. "Now don't worry. I'm sure we can determine what is wrong with Xellos. Maybe he just needs some cheering up. I'm sure spending some time with you would do him good."
"Except," Filia argued wearily as she began to concentrate on designing the perfect large ceramic bathtub, "that he doesn't appear to want to be anywhere near me!"
"Well," Zelas drawled with a lazy smile, "he's probably sulking. I'm sure that you and I can discover a way to attract his attentions, especially when one such as yourself has been gifted with such ample assets to work with." Her eyes roved along the length of indigo velvet that draped her curves, and the dragoness let out an "Eep!" as she covered her chest with her hands. "Zelas!" she cried, scandalized as the demoness' gaze lingered.
"What?" Zelas blinked innocently. "You can't seriously think that there's any better way to get his attention than sex appeal? Violence certainly won't work for you. And I can assure you," she said as she took a few languid steps towards Filia, forcing her to back into the sink, "that you definitely have sex appeal. In droves."
Wincing, Filia stared in shock. "Thank you," she whimpered.
"You're quite welcome," Zelas beamed gleefully.
