Xelloss held the unconscious chimera in his arms. He knelt down, gently cradling Zel. He admired the changes in his companion's body as he pondered his thoughts.
When he had become a Mozuku, he had thought he had left his human heart behind. He had gone through the centuries, thinking just that. However, the last two centuries had come with the realization that part of his human heart remained. He had started to feel the ache of loneliness. He suddenly had the desire to find a mate, someone to be by his side, maybe serve at his side.
He had started to fantasize about finding that person with the strength, power, and beauty to be by his side, serving his Mistress, one of them as General, the other as Priest.
However, he had not found anyone that remotely sparked his interests in the last two centuries. The closest was Lina Inverse. She was powerful and beautiful. However, there had never been that so-called spark.
Then, there was Filia, however he only felt lust and amusement for the Dragon Maiden. Lust lasted a very short time, and he wanted something to last as long as he did.
But, then of course, by time he met Filia, he had found his perfect mate a year before.....sort of.
He had seen her in the village where men were forbidden. They were all getting ready to go into the village. Lina was getting Gourry ready and Martina was getting Xelloss ready. Then, Amelia had yelled for their attention and stepped aside to reveal the answer to his searching.
She was beautiful. Her violet hair and shining blue skin, the stones only accented her exotic features. She stood there with her beautifully shaped blue eyes cast down, the perfect image of feminine delicacy.
However, what made Gadiss (Goddess), so much more desirable was that the image of delicacy was, just that, an image or illusion. She was one of the most powerful Shaministic sorceresses that existed. Her stone skin made her strong and durable. She was the perfect mate. All he needed was to win her love and get her to join him.
All he needed was for him to be a her.
Therefore, since that time on, he had searched for a way to fulfill his aching desire. He paid extra special attention, while traveling, doing his Mistress' orders, trying to find anything that would give him what he wanted. He used his rare free time to research all rumors that he heard.
That's how he came across the information he wanted. He hadn't lied about hearing a rumor about an object that had transformation powers. He had just failed to mention, that he had already done the research and found that it was not the article that caused the transformations, but the magic traps scattered through the labyrinth. The object was only a weak magic amplifier. However, he had carefully mapped the labyrinth, analyzed each spell, till he'd found the one he wanted.
Then, it had just been the matter of dropping the information in their laps and watch them go after it like a dog after a thrown bone. Once, he got Zel to the labyrinth, he would phase in front of the chimera to keep him from walking into one trap, then torment him to get him to chase him into another hall, slowly pulling him towards the right trap.
And now he held her in his arms. She was just as beautiful and delicate in appearance as before. She was much smaller now. Her small body had to be at least a foot shorter than before. Her eyelashes were longer and her lips were fuller. Her hair cascaded down her back to mid thigh, and though it was still like wire, it was much finer than before. He allowed himself to stroke her cheek, running it down her neck and along her side, lightly brushing the side of her full breasts. His eyes followed down to her narrow waist, which flared out to round, beautiful hips.
He had to control his thoughts, thinking of the things he would like to do with her. He could easily take her and do what he wished to her, even if she was awake. However, he had his reasons not to.
One, he would be just taking her body. He wanted more than that. He wanted her heart, mind, and soul along with the beautiful package. He wanted her to come to him willingly, so she could be the mate he had searched for so long.
And the other reason, because it wouldn't be much of a challenge to force himself on her. To win her would be much more challenging and Xelloss loved a challenge.
He smiled lovingly, removed his cloak, wrapped it around her. He then gently lifted the chimera and phased out of the labyrinth with her cradled in his arms.