Filia sat in her bed, stunned. Her two beastmen servants, sounding distant and muted as they fussed over her, trying to find out exactly what happened and if they'd arrived in time to save her. She couldn't quite bring herself to believe what had just happened.

Xelloss couldn't have just left, he hadn't just teleported out of their bed during all the time they'd been together. (Had it really been only six nights? It seemed like an eternity...) Was he just done with her, now that Jillas and Grabos had returned...?

It might be argued that Filia was being much too sensitive about things. However, the current state of her life should be considered. She has not been sleeping well for quite a while, and has become very involved with a mazoku over the course of the week. This person has just up and left suddenly after they were caught in bed together by Jillas, of all people. The only thing that could be said to have been good about all of this is that he didn't come in earlier.

Filia having a little nervous breakdown is quite understandable.

"Zelas, does your priest normally sit around with your wolves while looking like a naked human?"

"This is the first time I've seen him doing that. I guess that the subject of his current mission kicked him out of bed again," Zelas told Dynast, looking worriedly at Xelloss. "However, normally he would have reacted to our presence by now. Something more must have happened..."

Dynast nodded, knowing what that meant. "Shall I do the honors?"

Zelas smiled. "I give thee permission," she said in formal tones before returning to more normal ones. "It'd be better that you did it, anyway, since he'd be more comfortable that way than if I was the one."

One side of Dynast's mouth tipped up in a half-smile at Zelas's comment. He then administered a swift kick to Xelloss's rear. "Xelloss, get dressed!"

Xelloss righted himself slowly after having been sent sprawling by Dynast's kick. His form flickered slightly, as clothes appeared on him. He blushed. "I'm sorry, Dynast-sama, Zelas-sama."

"Apology accepted," Zelas said. "Just never do that again. Now, Xelloss, you really should make a report. Do not worry about Dynast's presence. He and I have decided that...our goals coincide to the extent that we should work together, particularly since not all of Garv's and Phibrizo's followers have yet to claim new masters and Dolphin's returned to her old dangerous hobby."

Xelloss nodded, not quite understanding what this meant for him except that he was to trust Dynast, or at least trust him more than he had before now. Still, that did provide him with a more comfortable explanation for Zelas's and Dynast's current friendliness. "As thou command, Zelas-sama," he said formally before starting his report.

Zelas looked thoughtfully at her priest after he finished. "Really, I ought to punish you for what you've done. The least of it is that you should have reported this to me much sooner. You should not have spent the rest of the day with her, but instead have reported to me as soon as politely possible.

"While that kind of slip is normally permissible, Xelloss, having left her so suddenly in that kind of situation was completely irresponsible of you. You should always remember that, unless absolutely necessary, you should not risk what might be a useful relationship.

"We need Filia to trust you. If her dreams are what they seem to be, she may be our only way to find the missing Eye. We can not afford to loose such a valuable object forever simply because you didn't like a sudden change in your situation.

"Therefore... You are to go back to her. You will apologize properly. For your punishment, you are to let her do anything she wants to you as long as it helps her accept your apology and you will survive it."

Xelloss nodded and teleported away, not saying a word.

Zelas relaxed. "Dynast, do you think I was too harsh?"

"No, I don't think you were, considering how stupid he had acted. I think letting his dragon punish him for it is a nice touch, actually."

She laughed. "Yes, isn't it? They can be so much more creative than we are, and if she's as violent as she almost always seems to be in his reports he's not going to make that mistake again!"

By the time the moon started setting, Filia had recovered enough to order Jillas and Grabos to leave the room and then buried herself under her covers. She knew that the beastmen were still worried about her, and would be guarding her door, but at least she could have some privacy.

She wasn't quite sure that privacy was what she wanted, though. Her new bed felt much too big and cold without Xelloss.

She rolled over, trying to get comfortable, and suddenly an arm was draped over her waist and she could feel a warm (but not living) body against her back. "Filia-san? I'm sorry I left so suddenly. I should have stayed. Is there anything I can do to make up for my mistake?"

A small evil grin slowly formed on Filia's face, one which would have worried Xelloss if he could have seen it. Okaasan always said, 'Never pass up an opportunity to punish a man for being rude to a lady.' Xelloss quickly found himself pinned underneath a grinning dragon lady, who seemed to be quite amused by his obvious surprise. "I can certainly think of a few things..." The only thing lacking was an evil laugh.