Shon Lin never doubted the power of her home and kingdom until now. In fact, her parents were so sure that they could defend their land that they had refused the offers of assistance by Saillune. At this time, though, Shon Lin is believing that that was their first mistake.
With a quick glance to the courtyard through the openings in the hallway, she can see a strange commotion starting just inside the gates. Slowing to a halt, leaving Hei to continue on without her, she looks over to watch the events.
Shalien draws his daggers quickly as the guards rush to him, and easily dispatches them without too much noise, and overt use of his power. He stops, actually seeing the princess watching him.
Now that his cover is blown, he must work his way to the princess and take her into his hands silently, so that the other guards and servants that continually accompany her will have no clue until its too late.
"Princess!"
Shon Lin hears the new voice call her name and she looks over to where Hei ran. Another servant, whose face she cannot place stands next to her close friend. "Shon Lin, we must hurry. There's no time to dawdle."
The young princess nods, understanding and walks quickly over to the servant and Hei. "Let's go."
"Good." The servant runs alongside her, glancing at her. She doesn't understand how he can run through the palace so well with his eyes closed, and the smile...? Why does he smile so when there's danger such as this? He then begins to speak, telling her the current happenings. "A Mazoku has broken into the palace and killed off the guards he encountered."
"What?!" Shon Lin almost stops, but forces herself to continue, fear beginning to strike in her heart.
"Just as I said. He's making his way through the palace, and is supposedly extremely powerful. We must take you to safety as soon as possible, or he'll find you here. There's no way we can defend you, your highness."
Dammit!
Shalien slams his fist into the nearby tree, his anger starting to build again.
That damn priest! He's always getting in the way! Zelas, I swear, I will kill you when I see you next time!
Shalien closes his eyes and vanishes, heading to where he saw Shon Lin last. In the hallway, and from there, he will just begin to search.
"I'm sorry that I've never been able to introduce myself to you. My name is Xelloss. I'm going to protect you, and I will do everything in my power to do so." He continues on his way, the servants' robes flowing around him as he makes his way through the hallway.
"That's alright. I'm sorry that I never noticed you before, sir..."
"Just call me Xelloss. I have a feeling we might be together for awhile." He smiles to her.
"Okay, Xelloss." She says the name, almost unsure of it, letting it "mull" around in her mind, then quickly shoving it aside to worry about later. There are other, more important, matters at hand.
"Hold it!"
Shalien stops the three, having teleported himself in front of them. He holds his daggers in both hands, one of which is raised out to the trio. To the new servant, actually. "Xelloss, the princess is mine. You and Zelas had best get out of my business!"
Xelloss simply raises an eyebrow as he moves Shon Lin behind him. "I'm not quite sure of what you're talking about."
The Lord looks to Xelloss, glaring at him silently. "You don't understand, do you Xelloss? What exactly are you try to pull?"
With a wink, Xelloss waves a finger. "That's a secret."
"You are beginning to anger me, Priest."
"I'm so sorry about that."
"Do you take anything seriously?"
"That would just be the same answer as before."
Shalien closes his eyes, fisting his hands tightly, trying to keep his anger in check.
Xelloss remains where he stands, just seconds before picking the princess up into his arms and breaking into a run past the Lord, his speed increasing as he vanishes every other step, reappearing several of steps ahead of where he once was.
Shon Lin hangs on tightly, gripping the soft cloth of the servant's robes the man is wearing, closing her eyes tightly, afraid to see what's going on. She can only hear the voices argue as the man carrying her stops.
"She's under my protection. I'm not letting you have her!"
"YOU are trampling in my territory, priest. You and your Lord had best get out of my way!"
"Then this whole ordeal wouldn't be any fun, would it, Shalien-san?"
"Xelloss... I..."
"Wait!" Another man's voice called out. "This is a thing your kind has to deal with amongst yourselves! Leave us out of this!"
Shon Lin suddenly hears the voice of her friend and servant, Hei. She looks up, the tears still running down her face. The man stands there, his longsword drawn and held up to Shalien.
"Leave the palace now. I don't want to see you return."
"Hei...!" Shon Lin begins to try to pull herself away from Xelloss, but he is holding her tightly.
"You don't know what you're doing, fool!" The Lord turns to the servant, daggers drawn.
Xelloss looks down to the princess, then whispers to her. "We'll have to use this as an escape..."
"But...!"
The man wearing the servants' robes turns and quickly begins to run, making another quick turn into one of the winding hallways of the palace.
Shon Lin grips onto the cloth once again, burying her head into his shoulder. Trying hard not to hear the noises... Trying hard to ignore the screams of the man who had protected her all his life.
Zelas-sama... I have her now. She will be in good hands. Shon Lin has suffered a few emotional stabs, and will be in shock for a while, most likely.
"Good..." Xelloss hears in reply to his thoughts. "Take her to safety and protect her. I have other things to do at the moment, but I'll get to you as soon as I can."
Yes, my Lord.
Shon Lin awakes, finding herself lying on the ground, but a soft fabric lies between her and the grass... She crumples a handful of the fabric into her small fist, feeling the silk-like material that the article was made from.
She suddenly sits up, then looks around. She sees the mysterious servant sitting by a fire, tending to it. He wears different clothes compared to the robes of all the servants. She then looks down, seeing a black cloak with a green lining to it. She doesn't know what it is, but something makes the fabric extremely soft, so she lies back down to return to sleep.
"Shon Lin?" She hears the voice of her servant. "Are you awake?" She hears some movement, as he sits down next to her.
"Yes... I am. I have a slight headache, though..."
"Don't worry." The man says comfortingly. He places a hand on the princess' head, stroking her hair gently. "I'll be here to protect you. Alright?"
"Always?" Shon Lin feels like a little girl once again, but she doesn't care. She's terrified. More afraid than she has ever been in her entire life.
"Always." He smiles down to her. "Now, dear Princess of Buranos... Get some sleep. You'll need it."
Shon Lin smiles to herself, tightening her grip on the soft fabric before falling into her dreams once again.
Shalien sits down against the outside wall of the Buranos palace. He looks at the body of the servant near him.
This human was weak... Very weak... Though, he was important to my prey... Maybe I should make use of him...
Shalien looks up to the sky, before looking down to the servant, and beginning his work.
Over the night, Shon Lin slept peacefully.