Chapter Four

That night Amelia approached Khirah's campfire. Amelia and the others had set up camp about a hundred yards away, but Khirah refused to join them.
"Khirah, you forgot this." Amelia murmured as she held out the necklace.
"Thank you." Khirah said as she accepted her precious jewel.
"It means a lot to you doesn't it?"
"Yes, it's my, how do you say, protector. No," Khirah trailed off as she thought about the correct term. "It's my guardian. When I was a child, I became deathly ill, by all rights I should have died. But then an old fairy woman cam and she placed the jewel around my neck. She said that inside it was an enchanted drop of water from the Fountain of Life. Have you ever heard the tale of the Fountain of Life Amelia? The princess shook her head. But suddenly someone stepped out of the shadows.
"Well I have." The man with violet colored hair and equally violet eyes giggled.
"Xellos go get a life!" Khirah snarled. The violet haired Mazoku grinned and ignored her.
"You really should hear Khirah-san tell a story, she is very good at it." Khirah shot Xellos a pained look.
"Do you mind?" The Trickster Priest shook his head and sat down next to Amelia next to the fire. "Well anyway. A long time ago, there was a mystical fountain that's waters could heal any wound. Nothing was too great for this fountain. So because it's enchanted waters saved so many lives, it was called the Fountain of Life. But then inexplicably, it just vanished and it hasn't been seen again."
"Well then how did you get the pendant?" Amelia asked enthralled by the story.
"I was just getting to that. Amongst the fairy kind, they only have one mate. So once, there was the princess, and she fell in love with a commoner. But the fairy princess was already engaged to a man whom she disliked greatly. She was so distraught about her circumstances that she fell ill, and no one could heal her. So the commoner tried to seek out the legendary Fountain of Life, but the princess didn't know that, she thought that he had abandoned her. So she slowly wasted away, and the young man finally returned with the legendary Water of Life, but it was too late. The princess was so far-gone that even the water couldn't cure her. But the biggest problem was that the Water of Life was meant to cure physical injuries, and the princess' was dying from a broken heart. So as she lay dying, the princess and the young man swore that they would be together for all eternity. Shortly after the princess' funeral, the young man vanished, and he forged an indestructible crystal, and placed a drop of the Water of Life into it. Upon the dark blue crystal he wrote in the ancient writings of his tribe. "In Life and in Death, you and I will be together till the ends of time." After he created his last tribute to his love. The young man faded, and died. It was as if his one purpose in life was to create the stone for his love. So that is the story behind my gem, and why it's so important to me." Khirah looked at Amelia, and she had tears in her eyes
. "That's the saddest thing I've ever heard!" she wailed.
"How about if Zelgadis-san said he was in love with another woman?" Xellos muttered under his breath. Luckily Amelia didn't hear him. Khirah just looked at Xellos and smiled ruefully.
"I should have never let you out."
"What is she talking about?" Amelia asked. Xellos grinned and shook his fore finger in front of Amelia's face.
"Sore wa…." Khirah clouted him upside the head.
"Don't even think about it!" she threatened. "Or I'll tell Zellas-chan about the little incident you had a while back."
Xellos' face lost its cheerful expression.
"You wouldn't?" he asked with a sick expression on his face.
"You bet I would!" Khirah jumped to her feet and laughed at Xellos' suddenly suspicious face.
"And just how do you know about that? You were locked up."
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" Khirah crowed with laughter and Xellos sweated dropped. "I have always wanted to say that to you!" Amelia looked at Khirah and then at Xellos, she had never seen Xellos so flustered. "And I have another secret about you Xellos." Khirah knelt down and whispered in Xellos' ear. The Mazoku flushed and glared at Khirah.
"That's none of you concern." The Mazoku stood up, and Amelia was suddenly reminded that Xellos' had the power to wipe the floor with all of them.
"Relax Xellos-kun, I'm all for it. But you have to admit that it's very obvious. I imagine even Zellas-chan knows about it. If you don't believe me, go ask her yourself. You'll need her permission anyway." Xellos grinned and nodded.
"I think I'll do just that." And with that, Xellos disappeared. Amelia looked at Khirah with questioning blue eyes.
"What was that about?" she asked confused. Khirah grinned lopsidedly.
"If I tell you, you have to swear upon your magic and you code of justice not to tell." Amelia nodded. "Xellos is in love with Lina-san."
"What!" Amelia's shouted echoed through the forest.

Xellos stepped into Zellas Metallium's throne room and bowed to his master. Zellas took a deep drag from her cigarette.
"What is it Xellos?" the woman known as the Beastmaster asked.
"Zellas-sama, I was wondering if I could gain you permission to pursue a more intimate relationship with Lina Inverse?" Zellas grinned outright.
"Is that all?" she demanded, but inside she was elated. Xellos had finally seen what was right in front of his face! "Of course you may peruse your Mortal, but be careful, Mortals are very fragile, and I would be very displeased with you if Lina-san was hurt." Xellos bowed deeply, at his master.
"Of course Zellas-sama." He murmured. Zellas finished off her cigarette and lit another one and waved Xellos out of her chambers. The Trickster Priest grinned and disappeared. After he was gone, Zellas teleported to the restaurant where her best friend Luna Inverse worked in Zeferira.
"Zellas-chan." Luna greeted the Mazoku warmly.
"Guess, what?" Zellas grinned. "Xellos asked me for permission to court Lina-san."
"Great! One down, and one to go!"