The young general remains where she founds the two, leaning against the wall next to the door, listening in on the conversation between the Hellmaster and Lei Magnus' apprentice.
"Please, understand my words..."
"I Understand Your Words Well Enough, Phibrizo."
"Then mother, listen to me carefully. Please..."
"I Will Listen To Your Pleas, But Answering Them Is Another Story."
"But..."
"Only If The Balance Is Kept, Phibrizo. Then I Will."
"Thank you, Mother..."
Sherra stands there silently, listening to the conversation of the two, absolute horror on her face. She can't be! There's no way possible!
"If I Do As You Ask, Phibrizo. Then You Must Respond With Equal Payment."
"Yes, I understand. What do you ask of me?"
"You Will Wait Before Taking Any Actions."
"What?"
"Wait For The Second Knight To Show Up."
"I understand."
"If The Balance Is Tipped To The Ryuzoku, Then I Shall Allow You To Resurrect Shabranigdo."
"Thank you, Mother."
Resurrect Shabranigdo?! Sherra opens her eyes wide with excitement. Phibrizo can't take the honor of bringing their king back to life, though, she has to make sure that Grauscherra is the one to do it.
The princess runs alongside her servant, trying to move towards Saillune and away from where they were attacked as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, Shon Lin screams out as she falls to the ground. Xelloss turns to see her face down in the dirt, with a familiar man standing behind her, his hand on her back, holding her down.
"Hisashi!" Xelloss calls out, starting to get annoyed at this man's constant presence after them. "Leave us alone, now!"
"Oh, now he couldn't do that. He's just following orders..." Shalien speaks softly while stepping out from the shadows. He looks down at the girl he's holding hostage at this point. "Now, Xelloss... What will you and Zelas do about this?"
The priest remains silent. He has no answers, because he fears what Shalien may do. Xelloss may be powerful, but he knows that he couldn't stand up to a Lord such as Zelas or Shalien - so he does nothing. The princess, though. That's another matter. She's too precious to let them have. He cannot let her out of his sight - he fears punishment from the two people who gave him this mission. He steps forward to force Hisashi away from the princess, even if it would kill him, just to stop as Shalien is suddenly next to him, pressing his dagger against his neck.
"What do you plan to do, Xelloss...?" The Lord stands next to him quietly, keeping the dagger against the priest's neck. "Do you wish to fight me? To save your 'damsel in distress'...?" Shalien laughs and backs off from him. "What's up with you anyway? It's not like you or Zelas to keep the wellbeing of a human in mind with your plans."
"The plans are not with our purpose in mind, but that of another's." Xelloss speaks quietly, his eyes open, watching Shalien move around him.
"Who's that?"
Sherra looks around silently, while she makes her way out of the palace. She doesn't want to pull unwanted attention towards her, so she continues to make her way through while trying to keep her presence down. She turns to the next hallway, almost out when...
"Excuse me... Sherra?"
The general stands face to face with Delania - the princess of Saillune.
Sherra just blinks.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Sherra?"
"I... umm..." the general is at a complete loss for words.
"We're about to have a large dinner. I was just wondering if you were interested in joining us. My father may have thanked you, but I haven't gotten to thank you myself for returning the dagger.
"Oh... It's not necessary..."
"Are you sure? It's going to be very good."
The Dynast General looks around, then she shrugs. "Sure. Why not." She's thanking me. There could be something in that...
Xelloss suddenly cries out and collapses to the ground, with Shalien standing over him, a faint wisp of smoke coming from his outstretched hand. "Zelas was stupid in finding someone like you for her servant. I thought that she had better taste..."
The priest begins to sit up, and he stops, seeing Hisashi kneeling down next to Shon Lin. He watches as the new servant of his Lord's rival pull the princess into deep unconsciousness. Xelloss attempts to look up to see Shalien. "Let her go! I'm telling you now!"
Shalien smirks. "No way. You and Zelas have stood in my way too long. You both have killed my past priest and general. For that, I'm going to rebuild my ranks before your eyes and destroy you both with them."
"Then find someone else instead of Shon Lin!
"No."
Xelloss glares up at Shalien, but bites his tongue. He needs to be careful with his words. The Deep Sea seems to be trying to get him to say what he wants to hear - their reasons for protecting Shon Lin. That secret deals with a mission he has had for too long. Longer than he has been a Mazoku. He can't fail now.
"Hisashi. Take care of the girl for me." Shalien steps towards Xelloss, who still has yet to get up. "I'll take care of our trouble maker."
"Yes sir..." Hisashi picks Shon Lin up and drapes her over his shoulder, disappearing into the darkness around him.
"Now, Xelloss..." Shalien opens his hand again, and holds it to the other Mazoku lying before him. "You will learn what happens to those who interfere with my plans..."
Before anything can happen, though, Shalien becomes silent as he feels a hand gripping onto his wrist tightly.
"Zelas...?!"
"Shalien, leave him alone." She pulls him by the wrist and flings him to the ground at her feet. "What is all this nonsense about interference?"
Deep Sea cannot say anything as he stares at the Beastmaster. Xelloss watches the pair silently as well before he begins to stand back up, trying to recover from the attack earlier. Nothing happens between the two lords - their exchange somehow happening within the total silence of the area.
Finally Shalien fists his hand and swings a punch to hit Zelas, who just steps out of the way. He gives both Mazoku across from him a cold glare before he teleports away. "Shon Lin is now mine. You have failed in that duty of your's Xelloss!" All that can be heard afterwards is just his laughter echoing within the area.
"I'm sorry, Zelas-sama... I couldn't do anything about it..."
Zelas remains silent. She listens to her servant's apology, but says nothing. The Greater Beast watches where Shalien once was, pondering to herself. If Shon Lin is forced to choose a side... Then what will the Mother do then...?
Xelloss shakes his head and steps up next to her. "Zelas-sama... I'm sorry... I will accept any punishment you deem worthy..."
She looks down on Xelloss, a soft look on her face. Zelas then kneels down beside him, placing a hand underneath his chin, bringing his eyes up to her's.
"Xelloss-kun... I'm not going to punish you. We haven't failed the mission yet. If we do, though, I'm not the one who will deliver your punishment... We're working in the interest of the Mother. Since that is so... She will be the one to punish you... You understand?"
Without blinking, Xelloss just whispers back to her, "I understand, Zelas-sama..."