Chapter five: The pen and paper

Xelloss opened his eyes and found himself in a hotel room. He sat up and looked around, then he Shifiell sitting by the dressing table and brushing her long, purple hair. Xelloss watched as she brushed her purple tresses, not a single tangle on the way. He smiled. "Shilfiell," he began. She turned around. "Oh! I’m so glad you’re awake!" she put down the brush and stood up. "You scared me to death again when you got injured!" she told him. Xelloss stood up. Then, Shilfiell brought out the paper where the poem was written. "I just wonder who wrote this nice and beautiful poem. I found it in the hole where Dolphin left you." She told him. Xelloss opened his eyes and they grew wide in surprise and panic. He searched his pockets and felt his clothes. Then, he grabbed the paper from her hands and looked at it, scanned it and blushed. Then, he hid it in his pocket.

"What’s wrong?" Shilfiell asked. He didn’t talk but turned away, still blushing. "Xelloss, were you the one who wrote that? I didn’t know that you’re such a great poet!" she told him in a cheerful and encouraging manner.

Xelloss faced her again, this time a silly grin on his face, his eyes still opened. "So what if I wrote poetry? I’ve been doing this since childhood." He explained in a cool manner.

"But you’re good! You must be thankful that you have a talent like that!" Shilfiell said, praising him.

Xelloss closed his eyes and frowned. "I’m not. I don’t care. Who needs it anyway? I don’t earn money with it! It’s just for leisure and nothing more." He answered.

Then, she recalled the title of the poem and the verses. "But, who is the priestess being mentioned there? I didn’t know that you could adore a girl! Usually, a mazoku don’t know the meaning of caring for beauty." She said. Xelloss blushed and turned away again. "None of your business." He told her.

Then, he faced her again after sighing. "Well, shall we go downstairs and have our dinner?" he asked. Shilfiell smiled. "Sure." She answered.

* * *

Xelas entered the territory of Dolphin in the Sea of Darkness. But before she could enter his sitting room, 2 half-fishes half-men blocked her way with spears. Xelas glared at them angrily. "Let me through." She ordered. "You are not our master, why should we take orders from you?" they asked.

Xelas felt a nerve forming on her head. "Aren’t you gonna let me in or do I have to kill the two of you to…"

"Let her through, boys. She is welcome here." Dolphin called from inside.

The guards let Xelas Metallium pass and she stomped her way in. Dolphin ordered the guards and his servants to go away, so they did, leaving the two of them alone. "Why the hell are you here all of a sudden?" he asked her, standing up from his seat.

Xelas frowned. "What is this I’m hearing that you’re attacking my minion!?" she asked directly.

Dolphin smiled at her. "Xelas dear," he began. "Don’t you ‘dear’ me, you sea creature! So what if I killed your shark? He’s trespassing in my territory and anyone trespassing is doomed to die. That’s my rule." She explained sternly.

"But that was my pet which you killed! He’s my minion and so to have my revenge, I’m killing yours." Dolphin answered back, trying to look sober.

"That’s a lame reason!" she argued. "Well yours is lame too! Killing my shark just because of trespassing…" he shot back.

"It’s only fair coz it’s my rule!" she screamed angrily at his face.

"Well mine is also fair coz it’s also MY rule!" he yelled at her face.

"You stink!" she said.

"Well you stink too, dearie." He answered angrily.

Xelas made a move to hit him, but he got her hand and held it to make her stop. "Whoops! Not so fast, Xelas dear." He told her.

Xelas looked at him in the eye. "Please… don’t hurt my minion…" she pleaded gently. Dolphin looked at her straight into the eye. Xelas bit her lip. "You may take my life, just spare him…" she said in almost a whisper.

Then, there was silence between the two. They just stared at each other.

Dolphin released her. "Whatever." He answered, turning away.

Xelas looked away and teleported.

* * *

When Shilfiell was already asleep, Xelloss teleported going to his room in Xelas’ domain. He went to his study table and placed the paper with the poem on top. Then, he sat down and got a clean sheet and a pencil and began to draw a woman. The whole night, he sat there, sketching.

After some hours, he stopped and stared at his work. He smiled as he adored the beautiful woman in his artwork. Then, he grabbed his coloring materials and began to color it, carefully shading the areas needed to be shaded, coloring each fine detail in the body of the woman.

Before dawn came, he looked at the work he has done. "So there…" he said aloud, satisfied at himself. He studied his work. He scanned her emerald eyes, her long purple hair and her body wrapped in a simple black silk dress. "…Shilfiell…" he whispered. Then, he stood up and left.