Rina and the gang approached the weathered entrance to the Temple of Cytherea. Once in front of its massive stone door, the group stopped in its track for a bit. Gourry scratched his head ditzily. "Hey Rina," he said, "Who is this Cytherea person anyway?"
"Oh, you dumb blonde!" Rina cried in exasperation. "Cytherea was a goddess worshipped by an ancient people who were wiped out thousands of years ago by the followers of the Shinryuzoku. Cytherea was the goddess of sensual love, as well as many types a magic. In fact, her worshippers were probably the best sorcerers who ever lived."
Gourry blinked. "So why are we here?" Rina answered his question with a smack to the head.
"Ms. Rina, where are Mr. Xelloss and Ms. Xelith?" Ameria asked tentatively.
"Yes, where are they? They seemed to have disappeared," added Shilfiell.
"Oh, the gods know where those to are," Rina said annoyedly.
"Personally, I think we're better off without them," said Zelgadiss.
"Zelgadiss, dear, I'm so hurt!"
"You really don't want us here?"
The group turned, and found themselves looking at Xelloss and Xelith. Xelloss shook his head. "Frankly, I'm shocked. You can be so cold and cruel!" Xelloss said.
"Look who's talking!" said Rina.
"Well, I can tell a short-tempered, brainless, flat-chested shrew is talking," said Xelith nonchalantly.
"Why you! Take a look at-" Rina stopped talking as she turned to face Xelith, and found herself staring at Xelith's nicely developed chest.
"What was that, little Rina?" Xelith said mock-sweetly. Xelloss giggled. "You know, I think I'm gonna like you, Xelith," he said.
Zelgadiss was not at all amused. "Will you stop arguing and just come on?" he asked, exasperated with their childish outbursts.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Zel," Rina said, blowing the door up with a simple fireball. Gourry jumped up in surprise. "Yeow!"
The group then entered through Rina's self-made doorway, which led into a dark, damp, stone hallway. Ameria began to whimper and shiver, clinging to Zelgadiss, which made him blush.
At Ameria's actions toward Zelgadiss, Xelith stared at her hard. "Excuse me, little girl, but what do you think you're doing?" Xelith asked.
"H-Huh? I-I was just," Ameria stammered. Xelith shoved Ameria away and clung to Zelgadiss' arm. "Hey!" Ameria shouted.
Xelith purred. "You don't want a little girl clinging to such a fine piece of rock as yourself, do you?" Zelgadiss was startled and embarrassed. Xelloss looked back at the three and giggled. "Nice work, Xelith-chan!" he said.
At this point, Ameria was furious. "Y-You filthy strumpet!" Ameria shouted at Xelith. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks.
"What did you call me?" Xelith said, glaring at Ameria. Ameria was shivering and whining. A slow smile spread across Xelith's lips. She raised her hand, about to throw a fireball, when at the same time, another fireball whammed into Ameria, sending her flying to the ground. Xelith followed with her eyes the path of the fireball to its caster, and found it was Xelloss.
Xelloss was deadly serious, his amethyst eyes open and glaring at Ameria. "My, my.....You should know better than to call such a fine woman as that a strumpet," he said. Xelith blinked, a bit surprised, then embraced Xelloss. Xelloss hugged her back. "I can't have little girls calling you strumpet, can I?" Xelith giggled.
"Hey! Let's get on with this!" Rina shouted annoyedly.
After about a half hour of winding through a stone labyrinth, they finally reached their destination: a huge chamber filled with gold, jewels, and other items of value. "Willya look at this?!" Rina said excitedly.
"I've never seen so much gold in my life," said Shilfiell.
"Amazing," commented Zelgadiss.
"These must have been offerings for the goddess," said Ameria.
Gourry just gazed at it stupidly.
And out from behind the mound of treasure, a huge, dragon-like creature appeared. Xelith and Xelloss stared at it in shock. "That couldn't be," said Xelloss.
"What?" said Rina.
Xelloss smiled. "Well, there was a legend of a dragon-like demon guarding the treasure," he said.
"Damn! What are we gonna do?" Rina shouted nervously. At that instant, the demon swung its tail at Ameria, knocking her down. Ameria shrieked. "Ms. Rina!"
In an effort to help to group, Shilfiell gathered all her strength. "Flare arrow!" she cried as she shot a tiny, carrot-like projectile at the demon, who blinked at it and laughed. The group just blinked at Shilfiell. "Well, I tried," she said quietly.
Xelloss had decided to help Rina and the gang today, and he approached the demon fearlessly. "Raguna Blade!" he shouted, hoping to foil the demon.
At the same moment Xelloss was casting the spell, Xelith quickly had joined hands with Xelloss, channeling her energy into the Raguna Blade also. Xelloss was surprised, and the Raguna Blade was much more powerful than if he had casted it alone. And, as one can guess, the demon was blasted into oblivion.
The rest of the group was as equally surprised as Xelloss had been, Rina being the most surprised of all. How did she do that? Rina wondered. She just jumped in, joined hands with him and boom! the spell's 20 times more powerful.
Rina's thoughts were interupted by Gourry's shouting. "Hey, Rina!" Gourry shouted. "Take as much as you want!"
That evening, the group went home much richer than before. Rina was gloating the whole time. "This is great!" she shouted. "This could pay for so many great meals!" Xellos had an arm around Xelith's shoulders, in a brotherly and protective fashion.
Still, the question of who she was bothered him. She jumped in and helped me out.....no one else would have done that. And she looks so sweet and innocent.....And I still feel oddly attached to her..... Xelloss shook his head. So many questions about his sister were swimming through his head. He tapped his head, trying to rid himself of the questions. I shouldn't worry about such foolish things. I will take care of Xelith, I can promise that.
Part 3 | Fanfiction