Xellos stood at the base of the mountain. He had spent an entire day watching Zelgadis climb this same mountain, from base to summit, from the astral plane. His tension had only grown as Zelgadis climbed further and further into the air, gaining inches and feet towards the goal of the Temple of Sintosuru. Xellos had been sworn by the Dark Lords to never reveal the true nature of this place. Up until now, he had thought it a rather ironic sort of place and had enjoyed the torments of the people that have tried to reach its crest. Now things were different. Zelgadis was honest in desiring a cure for is condition. Then again, Xellos chided himself, so had his Great-Grandfather. Why were things becoming so complicated for him now? [Because you are falling prey to human weaknesses now. Too much time among them and not enough time with your own.] *Oh shut up inner voice. You cause nothing but trouble anyway.*
 
 
 

Shaking his head, Xellos returned to inner silence, trying to figure out a way to break the rules without breaking them himself. Manipulating Lina Inverse into doing his dirty work would be easy enough. Even though she was hundreds of miles away, the distance could be traversed in an eye-blink, if one were so inclined. He doubted, however, that giving Lina the location of the Temple would go over well with the Dark Lords. There were powers within that were far to great a danger to them if they fell into the wrong hands, her hands. Xellos smiled at the thoughts of the chaos Lina would unleash upon the Dark Lords with spells of their own creation. Mazoku were not the most trusting of individual beings ever created. The Temple of Sintosuru was created to house spells capable of destroying a dark Lord. Some of even the weakest spells made the Giga Slave pale in comparison to the destructive possibilities that this Temple held locked within. Fortunately, for all involved, they were well sealed, and the temple was well guarded.
 
 
 

Again, Xellos thoughts drifted to Zelgadis, the only creature in Xellos' long existence ever considered as friend by the mazoku. He'd tried to dissuade the stubborn creature from "...Yet another foolish quest. Honestly Zel, you go on more wild goose chases then... then... Lina!" Logic again failed in the face of the ever elusive and almighty ~ Cure ~. Zelgadis had gone on his own way. Amelia had gone off sulking after Lina and Gourrey when Zelgadis made it painfully clear that she was neither needer nor wanted. Xellos watched from atop the sign post as the so-called friends went separate paths. Xellos waited until Zelgadis had disappeared from sight before he re-appeared in front of the chimera once again, still trying to convince his friend that this was foolishness. His attempts had only angered the chimera, and had set the stubborn man more firmly on the path to his own destruction. [You fancy this one too much. You'll only hurt him you know. As he will hurt you. He is capable of it you know.] *Sigh. I thought I told you to shut up. Mazoku don't even have conscious'.* [True, true. But they do contain parts of those that have gone before them. Parts of their creators. Parts of their Masters.] *Oh go away. This is randomness and won't help Zelgadis any. Focus Xellos. Focus.*
 
 
 

Staring up at the mountain, Xellos opened his voilet eyes, slits larger than normal in the inky darkness of night. Even the stars were hiding now, Cloud covering them from this sometimes evil place. There was no threat of rain. Xellos decided on the direct route, if it became necessary. It would be most effective, even if it incurred the chimera's wrath. If it meant saving the man from oblivion, Xellos would gladly feast off of the chimera's hate until either of them died.
 
 
 

After all, to Xellos, that's what friendship was all about.