Of course this all too peaceful moment had to end soon.

Why not…right now!

With a flash of light and a clap of thunder, a women’s figure appeared in front of Lina’s table. Everyone at the table immediately sat up and backed away. The woman wore a short skirt and had blond hair. A long, thin cigarette was placed between her lips. It was none other than…(drum roll) Greater Beast, Zelas Metalium!

Lina Company (excepting Xellos) had no idea who the hell this person was. Lina figured it was either an attractive lesser demon or a 3rd rate sorceress. Until, of course they saw Xellos’ alarming expression.

“Master?! Have I done something wrong,” Xellos quickly swallowed the cheesecake in his mouth and knelt on the floor.

“Master…? Y-You mean?” Lina paused, fork in mouth.

“Yes, it would appear to be that this is Xellos’ superior, Greater Beast,” Zelgadis said.

“Greater Beast?” Gourry blinked and looked at Lina stupidly.

“Gourry, SHUT UP!” Lina punched Gourry in the face to the other side of the room.

Filia was so mad, so mad she was shaking and her eyes were red. She couldn’t believe that her worst enemy’s boss had shown up! Of all the things to happen, it had to be this!

Lina started to tiptoe away towards the Inn’s front door, and dragged Gourry with her. Amelia saw this and stood on a chair, ready to do one of her justice routines.

“Oooo! Your evil ways will be smashed with the-,” she was interrupted by a rude slap upside the head from Zelgadis.

“Idiot!”

“Ow! What’d you do that for, Mr. Zelgadis?”

“It’d be best if we got out of here as soon as possible.”

“Right.”

Amelia and Zelgadis followed Lina and Gourry out of the long since deserted inn. Tables and chairs were knocked over everywhere; all the customers had left at the first sign of Zelas. Presently, Xellos, Filia, and Zelas were the only ones left in the room.

“Lina! How could you leave me here alone with these pieces of filth!?” Filia cried out as Zelas blocked the only exit. Xellos was behind her.

Zelas’ eyebrow twitched. “Piece of filth…?” Zelas quickly gained control of herself. “Xellos.”

Xellos straightened, fearing the worst.

“ You haven’t done anything wrong. There’s just something that needs to be taken care of that I must do.”

“And what is that,” Xellos asked, clearly relieved and interested in what she had to say.

“ This.” A purplish glow came from her body and spread out towards the frightened Filia. “Weakening!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Filia cried out and sank to her knees, her whole body seemed to be drained of energy. She felt so relaxed, so weak, but there was nothing she could do to regain her strength. She crawled a few paces to her left, then stopped, exhausted. “You filthy Mazoku, what have you done to me!”

Zelas ignored Filia. “Oh dear. I seem to have cast the weakening spell on this lovely dragon. Xellos, cure her.”

“What! But I~”

“It’s an order. You’re the only person besides me who knows the cure for this particular spell, since I made it up. And I’m occupied at the time.”

“ But it will take weeks!”

“ Make her as comfortable as possible. I’ve given you your order, Xellos.” Zelas left as dramatically as she came. With a flash of light and a clap of thunder Greater Beast was gone.

“Oh my. This isn’t going to be very fun…”

“Of course it isn’t, you piece of garbage!” Filia tried to make her voice sound as menacing as possible. “I REFUSE to spend weeks with a disgusting Mazoku like you!”

“I was just thinking to my self the same thing, selfish dragon.”

Filia hmphed.

“However, it is an order that I cure you, and I always follow my masters orders.”

“No! You can’t be serious!” Filia kept on complaining, her voice getting quieter and quieter as Xellos walked over to Filia, who was still sprawled on the floor.

Xellos very carefully picked Filia up, making a face as he did so, one hand behind her knees and the other one supporting her head.

An idea came to Xellos and he quickly put Filia back down.

“ Hey! What do you think you’re doing, raw garbage?” Filia’s voice had gotten much less powerful.

“Doing myself a favor,” Xellos said as he reached up her skirt, took Filia’s mace off her thigh, and dumped it on the floor.

“Ew! What do you think you’re doing, you dirty disgusting thing! And give me back my mace!”

“Like there’s a chance of that happening. I’ll do you a favor by curing you, and then you’ll go and clobber me with your mace. Typical selfish behavior for a dragon.” Xellos picked Filia back up, leaving the mace on the floor.

“ Hmph. You would have deserved it.” Filia turned her head away from him.

“Is that so? How? By showing my hospitality?”

“Hospitality? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. You were ORDERED to take care of me.”

“ Hospitality is hospitality,” said Xellos cheerfully. And with that, he flew out the door into the crisp night sky.