It had been a good dinner, even if his roommate hadn't shared, but Xelloss was starting to face the idea that no matter how long he waited, Hellmaster wasn't coming back.

He could ask, but they'd gone to such trouble not to be generally connected here, particularly useful for him since Lord Hellmaster had always wanted a bit in the realm of subtlety. Not that he'd criticize the higher-ranked Mazoku, it was just a difference in style. There was a reason they'd avoided speaking even in Lina's company, after all.

But what would he do with his present? And was Zelgadis still here? If so, it would be convenient in dealing with him to have Phibrizzo abruptly vanish; if not, it wouldn't really benefit Xelloss at all. Leaning against the wall and frowning into the darkness, he wondered how long a wait would qualify as polite for his purposes. He didn't think it was particularly anonymous, considering the ways these things could be tracked, but he would try to find a way to ask 'quietly' on the board. If there was no response, he'd move on as though alone.

Had Hellmaster's second chance been taken away by the whim of the Lord of Nightmares, or was this simply more of the Institute's oddness?