Forbidden Zone 3, Hazy Mountain, Fort Reverie, Castle Audience Room.
Sawyer stood in front of the grand throne of the audience chamber, bowing respectfully before his lord. He had left their guests' lodgings a few hours ago to run his errands, and just arrived to relay the information he gathered to report to his commander.
His eyes were heavy, it had been weeks since he last slept. Trying his hardest to cover for his lord's increasingly severe ailment had not been easy on the shade demon. Unlike devils, demons needed to sleep and eat regularly.
With his lord needing to hold down his affliction, while keeping the dream fissure's mist from reaching critical levels, Sawyer had taken the responsibility to manage everything else for the time being.
Hunting the spawning dream beasts in the mountains, maintaining discipline within the fort, managing the expenses for weapons and armor. All was done by him. Why? Because of three reasons.
First was the fact that Baku's illness had come from left field. Sure, he was already old, but he was still spry and rowdy just a decade ago. The illness had come suddenly overnight with no warnings. The incident had caught the fort off guard.
Secondly, Sawyer was one of the few in the fort that had talents in things outside of combat. Sadly, the people of Hazy Mountain lived in a place that required constant working, fighting, and alertness. So many that stay here, don't have the time or energy to learn to read or write at a level proficient enough to do certain jobs.
Lastly, a situation came to Sawyer's attention not too long ago. Unfortunately, he had noticed it too late to do anything about it.
Suspiciously, his team that made up the logistics and management of the mountain fortress had been disappearing. Some finding new jobs in the capital, some moving to neighboring charm or night demon villages, or some purely vanishing.
By the time Sawyer noticed a pattern, he was already down to five people. Five, managing the logistics and expenses of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of dream knights.
Sawyer could only swallow his anger at the thought, he knew it had something to do with the devils in the capital. The incidents with Baku and his team started right after a big meeting with the Acaedia clan all those years ago.
His instincts told him that was the case, but he had no proof. In fact, a few of the dream knights they recruited for their cause had come from the capital as aid. So, he shouldn't be suspecting them, they helped both financially and with manpower, but he couldn't help but draw connecting lines in his mind unconsciously.
Thinking of the recruits they acquired from the capital, his mind drifted back to the death of one of those capital conscripts earlier in the day.
He felt another headache coming on. He did not feel any heartache for Norman's death. From the reports, he was courting death calling a devil child a whore. He couldn't understand why the guy would do such a thing, ever since he arrived here, he had been nothing but obnoxious and cruel.
Some were glad about his death. Such a person had no right wearing the colors of the dream knights, most agreed. But Sawyer and his commander were helpless, they needed more competent knights and soldiers.
But with the growing fissure, the increased mist, and Baku's illness, the influx of soldiers were necessary to combat the growing threat. The dream knight reputation may fall a bit, but they needed to get through this passing storm first before they can address it.
"...and that's the report for today, Commander." Sawyer stated, straightening his posture.
"Hmmm…a Luxuria noble girl…a 6th? If I remember, the '6th' Luxuria of the Pleasure faction name is Salitha."
Sawyer nodded. "I thought so too, but that little girl introduced herself as Hannya 6th Luxuria."
"Such a lie would be easily exposed…" The old man pondered on this information.
Cough Cough Cough!
But while sitting on his throne, Baku began to cough violently. Sparkling grey liquid could be seen staining the light blue sleeve muffling his coughs.
Sawyer hurried over and handed him a handkerchief. He sighed. "My lord, wouldn't it be better to just cancel this abrupt meeting and rest for a bit more? The fissure at night will only weaken you further if you don't take some time to recover."
But Baku waved his hand. "Nonsense, there are only two possibilities why a young devil chaperoned by a guardian is here. One is they were sent by the capital to spy on my condition. Cancelling would let them know I'm not as well as I should be, possibly giving them more leverage in the dealings later this week."
Sawyer reluctantly nodded in agreement. There was a possibility of this being an advanced party, coming to scope out the situation.
Baku continued. "Cough…the second reason, the more interesting one, is that a nomadic devil has come to make a confident deal." He grinned through bloody teeth.
Sawyer could only shake his head mournfully at the sight. Baku still believed in the nomadic devil ways.
He had told Sawyer of his encounter with a devil judge, the first nomadic devil, contracted to patrol the plane of Hellnia, granting wishes and saving lives.
This devil brought a culture of nomadic devils, making deals to those in need, and helping the less fortunate.
But Sawyer had left the mountain plenty of times now to know the kind of nomads that roamed Hellnia this age.
Only malicious, evil, selfish devils roam these days.
He had told Baku of his travels, and his encounters with such devils, but Baku had simply slapped him around and told him 'Those ain't nomadic devils!'.
The old man sat back on his throne and took a deep breath. "Vice commander…do you know Hellnia's 6th theory?"
The young demon looked back at his commander, puzzled. 6th theory?
He shook his head.
"Kuhuhu, Of course you don't. Those that should know, should know. Those that don't, dont." the old man muttered.
This only made Sawyer more confused. Why was he acting like this when it was just the two of them here?
"I'll tell ya anyways, but you'll soon forget it. Maybe if you stay in the dream mist as long as I have, you'll begin to know some secrets like this old man kuhuhu!"
Sawyer rolled his eyes, this again. "Alright old man, just tell me."
The old commander stroked his old white beard, looking sagely as he spoke. "Every devil lineage has iterations. Devils formed naturally, not through those stupid unions, cherry picking traits and mutations, but by the platform's will and the accumulated desires from the beings of Hellnia."
Sawyer nodded, this was something everyone knew.
"But what the world doesn't want you to know…" As he spoke, the old man looked up at the corner ceiling of his spacious audience hall. He laughed at the sight.
"Kuhuhuhu!" There, he saw a big black eye staring daggers at him. It seemed annoyed.
He couldn't help himself, it's been a while since he'd seen his old friend.
He spoke quickly, not bothered by the warning gaze of the eye above.
"Every sixth iteration of devil receives 6 wishes, 6 Tenets, and 6 gifts! There, I said it! Kuhuhuh! Cat's outta the bag! Kuhuhu!"
The black eye in the corner just shook its head. It looked at Baku who waved excitedly at the eye. The eye ignored his antics and blinked twice.
Sawyer standing to the side looked dazed, as if none of the words registered to him, nor had he become aware of the existence of the eye.
The eye just stared at Baku. Baku then let out a sigh. He looked at the eye, his face now weary and weak.
"Kuhuhu…I can feel it, you know…my time…. it's running out…"
"...."
"I know I'm being rude. But I couldn't help it….it's just…I wanted to say goodbye…"
"...."
The eye continued to stare at Baku for a while before nodding. It then turned and began to leave.
"H-hey! Can I at least know your name..for old times sake?"
The eye stopped, it wanted to scoff, it knew what this little devil was doing. But for some reason, he felt hesitant to leave immediately. It didn't turn around, but it answered curtly.
"It is Down. Downwards Direction, the Observer's eye that blocks the vision of those that see too far."
The old devil nodded. "Of course, rules are rules, and you keep them."
The eye turned back and nodded. He always appreciated this younglings' understanding. Most dislike him for his job, but this one has always seemed to not mind and respect his responsibility. Even though he used to force his summoning every now and then, the eye had long grown used to it.
A pity an understanding devil would die in such an underhanded manner.
A pink haired youth suddenly flashed past the eye's memories.
He hesitated for a bit before saying one final thing.
"....Making the right deal this week could prove useful."
With that, the black eye turned and vanished. Leaving behind a startled Baku. This was the longest conversation he had with the eye. Typically, it would come, hide Baku's secrets then immediately leave.
But this time, it had loitered. Allowing Baku to speak his mind fully for the first time.
Not only that, instead of just remaining silent, like Baku expected, It had answered his question and given him a meaningful message.
'Is he telling me there's still a chance to get past this?'
Baku couldn't help but slap his knee and laugh once more. "Kuhuhuh! Thank you! Kuhuhu thank you, old friend!"
He laughed loudly, through the pain wracking his body. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. What devil found true peace in dying?
Standing at the side, Sawyer looked at his commander in concern. It was happening again. He would play up this part when he was around the nobles, convincing others of his senility. But every so often, his commander would act like this even around him.
Sawyer guessed there was some truth to his commander's growing madness. Sawyer grit his teeth at the thought.
'The ailment must be making it worse.'
Baku had been speaking of nomadic devils just a second ago, then, out of nowhere, began to laugh wildly. An incident that has been occuring more and more frequently in the past couple of weeks.
He wanted to believe in his commander, believe that his faculties were still intact…but…
'The meeting with the clans this week… I'll try and seek a deal to help them.'
Sawyer promised himself. The Fort needed Baku. He wouldn't stand by and watch his mentor deteriorate from the stress of the dream fissure and his illness when a devil out there surely had an ability to help him.
His commander never explained his state properly, but unease was growing greater and greater within the shade demon.
Baku stood up, more energetic than normal. He turned to Sawyer and spoke.
"Bring the little one here, I'll see what she has to say. If she's a true nomadic devil, I'll broker a deal with her…" he announced. "...if not, it seems fate will guide me past this trial through the clan's schemes. Regardless, a choice will be made this week."
Sawyer, startled by his commander's sudden decisive attitude, began to grow uneasy with his lord's manic behavior. His anxiety grew but he nodded nonetheless. No matter what would happen this week, he decided to take the initiative in finding a solution to all of this in his heart.
He turned and walked out of the audience room, a determined look on his face. He would support his lord, with whatever it took.
~~~
The observatory, high above Hellnia.
The Observer sat in his Lazy Boy, the chair leaned back, set to maximum comfort. His neck tilted down at a seemingly uncomfortable angle, staring down at the big black eye in front of him.
The Observer's eye sockets looking down at him in incredulity.
"Downwards C. Direction…you…" the Observer was speechless. His rule keeper had bent a rule. Was there some sort of mutiny on the horizon?
"I've come to accept my execution, Master." The eye spoke. His gaze lowered to the ground. He didn't know why he did such a thing. It was just…the death of the diligent devil was something he'd rather not see.
'Ah, I see. An attachment. Brother was correct. Rules seem malleable when such things exist.'
While the eye was coming to his own conclusions, the Observer rubbed his face vigorously. What was happening, this came out of nowhere.
In all the timelines he's seen. Not once has Downwards made such a choice. Though the timeline seemed unchanged currently with the shade demon, Down's words would undoubtedly affect the decisions of the old devil guarding the dream fissure.
The Observer had to figure out what gave Downwards such an outrageous idea. He spoke slowly, gauging his words carefully.
"Down, I'll let this slide just this once, but tell me… what were you doing before you visited the old devil?"
Downwards looked up at his Master curiously. He was just guarding the gates of inbetween and watching for secret spillers. But a thought crossed his mind.
"Well, before, I was monitoring the young one carefully, making sure she would only say what was necessary to her butler and servants. I do not know why, but her fate mutation is privy to more than it should allow."
Hearing that, the Observer groaned in annoyance. Is this big oaf talking about Hannya?
A guess was forming in the High gods mind. He asked. "What was she doing before you left?"
The eye shook his head. "Nothing at the time, she was practicing her entrance pose for the meeting in a mirror…" He looked a bit embarrassed explaining. " I only stayed a little longer than necessary." He hastily added.
The Observer's face went blank at the explanation. He knew it! That skill is an issue, and she has hardly any control over it.
It can't even be called magic at this point, it's more like the platform is sneakily exerting its will on others.
The Observer sighed. He remembered the words of his old friend, the Great Sage.
'The earth decided long ago to play favorites with the people of Neel, so the heavens decided to be its equalizer. Thus, the war of balance began.'
He took a stress swig from his Big Gulp. If Hannya's [Devilish Pose] can exert enough power to convince his eyes to move according to her wants and needs, it won't be long before the other entities begin to notice the abnormal actions of their subordinates around her as well.
"Tch, the platform is ruining everything!" He shouted with indignation, as he rocked back and forth violently in his Lazy Boy. All his planning and preparations, ruined by a platform obsessed with attractive and rare devils!
After a while, he calmed himself. "Ok…ok…" He began to think. He pointed to Down. "You." he began. "You are barred from monitoring her for the time being. Just use your authority as a trigger for her possible slip ups."
The big black eye nodded, glad he was given a second chance after such treason.
"You." He swiveled around and pointed at Right Direction, who was hovering in a corner peering down at another section of Hellnia.
Upon hearing the Observer call out to her, she jumped in surprise.
"Y-yes Master?" She said oddly.
The Observer squinted at her. "...What are you looking for?" Rights actions lately have been rather suspicious. Was there really a mutiny happening around him?
"I-i just-"
He waved his hand. "That doesn't matter right now. Go down to Neel's main plane and find these items for me. Using my divine power would be too obvious."
He reached into his chair cushion and pulled out a piece of paper with a list of items written on it.
The two eyes looked at their master with strange expressions. Was that action necessary? He just conjured it up, why did he reach into his Lazy Boy like it was stuck in there?
The observer ignored his unfilial children and continued. "Also, send a message to…to Forwards and tell him to bring me this law fragment." He was reluctant to bring in the eldest, but he had no choice.
Hannya was still too fragile to be exposed this early. This little devil had too many targets strapped to her back already.
He lifted his Big Gulp and retrieved a second piece of paper from his cup holder.
Right wondered what the point of all his theatrics were for, as she seamlessly transformed into a beautiful black haired young woman. Her delicate hand reached out and grabbed the note from her master and vanished from sight.
"Huuuuh" the Observer finally let out a sigh as he sank back into his comfy chair.
He shook his head as he glanced down at his still tasty beverage.
'Truly a benevolent god, If only the little devil knew the extent of my gracious efforts.'
He took another swig, basking in his altruistic aura.