Answers

All was silent within the tent's confines. Neither party dared to infringe or ponder upon the puzzle they'd been presented with. Witilla's story had passed the realm of impossibility into pure fiction--her words couldn't be anything but bare-faced lies. And yet, for lack of rational explanation, and borne from a desire to seek the truth, Barion and Fusala couldn't help but entertain Witilla's otherworldly origins.

"It would appear that Witilla's true identity is Lilith." Fusala concluded, "-Albeit an identity she refuses. Her words indicate that the Four Heavenly Kings are not evil by nature. It is only through indoctrination that they acquire such violent and unpredictable natures."

"But… why? I don't understand…" Barion muttered, "Luna--Black Luna is… some kind of golem? An inanimate form sculpted and given life, just like Fusala?"

"A machine." Witilla corrected, "Or… an automaton. An artificial creature of metal animated by the power of lightning--a force called electricity."

"Is that possible?"

"Yes." Fusala intervened, "Electrical impulses have been known to stimulate activity in muscles, even independent samples removed from corpses. The theory of 'neural electricity' thought to control the impulses of our brains is particularly popular among scholars in the Lunar Dominion. If electricity could be manipulated on a microscopic scale, it may be possible to create such machines which rely on electricity as a kind of fuel."

"...But nobody has ever created something like that, have they?"

"No." She answered, "This complicates Witilla's story. If we are to believe that Black Luna is indeed some kind of manmade structure, we must also assume that its origins are extra-terrestrial, or at the very least extremely ancient."

"E-Extraterre…"

"Not of this world." She simplified, "-Or, not of this planet, to be less vague."

"...You don't think-"

"Yes, I believe that Crucibles and the large steel tower in the Henklomeon Steppe most likely share a connection with Black Luna. This is the hypothesis that I have been working under all along, but until this moment, there has been little evidence to support the claim. Witilla's story, however, adds credence to the theory, and vice-versa."

"This is all a little too difficult for me to understand…" Barion grumbled, "If Black Luna isn't a moon, then what is it? And how could something so large ever be artificial?"

"We can assume that its purpose, as predicted, involves contributing to the propagation of Demonkind. Do Witilla's descriptions of metallic contraptions coincide with objects you and Manyu discovered beneath Kahrein-Du'em?"

"They do. Everything related to Black Luna seems so sterile and unfeeling…" He replied, "But how does any of it function? Demons aren't labourers--they can't follow instructions or carry out orders… unless…"

A realisation dawned upon Barion like a long-forbidden sunrise. A revelation so hopeful yet terrible that he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. His eyes met with Witilla's, who had been sitting attentively with a conflicted expression.

"...Unless Lilith tells them to."

"E-Excuse me?" The girl blinked.

"When we encountered Lilith 500 years ago, the game we were playing changed completely." He explained, "Under her command, Demonkind were suddenly united. Gria's tactic of gathering many in one place before destroying them with magical bombardments was no longer effective--Lilith could simply order them elsewhere. A Demon's greatest weakness had always been its predictability, but with Lilith's advent, we were suddenly contending with a far more organised enemy."

"...You can't possibly mean-"

"Witilla." He interrupted, "With that power of yours, we could turn Demons against one-another."

"Barion." Fusala interrupted, "Please forgive me for my curt response, but that is a ludicrous idea. We do not understand how effectively Witilla can utilise her inherent strengths as a Heavenly King--to say nothing of such a theory's moral implications."

"Why have any reservations about using what's available to us?" He argued, "If victory means breaking bread with Demons--using them as pawns, then why fight it? There won't be any time to debate morals when our corpses are being turned into slurry for whatever horrible purpose Black Luna has in store for us."

"I believe it would be best to consider Witilla's feelings on the matter beforehand." The Homunculus paused, "It has already been established that she suffers greatly when making use of her abilities."

"Right. Of course…" Barion relented, returning his attention to the girl, "I'm sorry, Witilla."

"No… please don't apologise." She shook her head, "I never would have expected… that the Hero of Legend would show mercy to someone like me?"

"Does that mean you've heard of me before?"

"As part of my… teachings, I was told everything there is to know about you… and the man known as the Demon King." She explained, "My siblings and I are destined to oppose you. We are the enforcers of a cyclical dogma--children of the stars who exist to serve the greater purposes of our masters."

"And who are these masters?"

"A grand civilisation… one more socially and technologically advanced than you could ever comprehend. My caretakers referred to its occupants as 'humans', but that couldn't possibly be the case, could it? I thought we… these people--humanity, were humans?"

"That… doesn't make sense, no…" Barion muttered, not certain if it was even the truth, but eager to place the possibility at the back of his mind.

"This marks an unprecedented breakthrough in our ongoing research." Fusala pointed out, "With Witilla's intimate knowledge of Black Luna, we may now begin to explore reasonings once thought completely out of our reach."

"A step closer to putting this cycle to an end… but one thing is still bothering me." He replied, "Witilla?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Why oppose Demonkind? Why oppose Black Luna?" He posed those questions frankly, as if to catch her off-guard, "If you were created for the sole purpose of furthering the Demon King's interests, then what allowed you to question your purpose?"

"That's…" She began, "...I suppose, it was because I was exposed to the beauty of this world."

"Beauty?"

"Yes." She nodded, "Ever since I was a girl, spending my free time staring out of the viewports, this planet had always fascinated me. Though I was taught to exert control over it, and that its inhabitants were a lowly species in need of culling, I found myself enamoured with the possibility of seeing those creatures for myself."

Witilla paused, "...When I was sent away from Black Luna, the people I met weren't so crude as to be called 'creatures' or 'beasts'. Rather, they welcomed me into their homes--fed me and clothed me. When their lives were threatened by groups of Demons--the beings I was taught to guide, I couldn't help but view them as nothing more than mindless invaders, a plague threatening to exterminate the goodness of this world…"

"-And that's why you fought." Barion crossed his arms, "I suppose that's only natural, given you look exactly like us. But Lilith was a shapechanger when we last met. Is that still true of you?"

"Yes. Alongside the power of ice and dominion over terrestrial caretakers, it was thought that I could serve as an agent of infiltration and subterfuge under the correct circumstances. This form I'm taking right now is… not who I truly am."

"Then what are you?"

"I-I was warned extensively not to present my true form to any sentient terrestrial entities…" She muttered, "According to the regulatory bodies of my creators, I'm classified as a Class 5 cognitive hazard."

"Class 5… c-cogni… what?"

"Visual acknowledgment of my true form triggers seizures and brain death in those unequipped with C.H.P--Cognitive Hazard Protection--which includes all lifeforms native to this planet." Witilla explained, "Um… it would kill you. And it would be very painful."

"Thank you for simplifying it. Let's act as if I never asked."

"Of course. But, as I was saying…" She continued, "Even if my purpose is to cull the undesirable creatures of this world… after seeing how emotional and compassionate they are, how could I ever lower myself to treating them like pests?"

"Why does Black Luna want to exterminate the intelligent races?"

"That information was always far beyond my access level…" Witilla answered, "But, with how involved I am in its plans, there was only so much that could be hidden from me. At the very least, I understand the guiding philosophy behind Black Luna's motives--that this world…"

Again, she struggled to admit the sordid truths known to her, afraid of divulging classified information to the very man she was born to oppose. While the world turned unerringly around them, and as the sun melted over the far horizon, her confessions seemed worthless--unnecessary in the grand scheme of the cosmos.

"This world… was created by Black Luna."

…

..

.

Even as the brilliant sunset faded and guardsmen took to the streets brandishing torches, the festivities surrounding the tournament continued. It would be another half-hour before Manyu and Dorma would take to the blood-soaked stage, leaving plenty of time for Barion to relay--and express the validity of--Witilla's unbelievable story.

"Bah!" A relentless voice scoffed at the tale, "You mean to tell me this monster's suddenly had a change of heart!? When I leapt from the gunwale into the black abyss, I could see a glint of familiarity within Leviathan's eyes--it hungered for me just as it did all those centuries ago! But how is it that Lilith hasn't inherited an inch of her predecessor's wicked heart?"

"Shilahi, please…" Dorma muttered.

"My patience has already been tested by involving Manyu in this terrible business. Now you wish to ally with a Heavenly King? What's the meaning of this, Barion?"

"Witilla isn't our enemy. If Dorma's to be believed, you didn't have a problem speaking with her when the two of you first met, so why throw a tantrum about it now?" Barion argued.

"To hear you speaking so fondly of a Demon…" Shilahi clenched her fist, "I never thought I'd see the day."

The castle's entrance hall had played host to just about every important development since the war had begun. Its lofty acoustics did little to hide the dissatisfaction in Shilahi's tone.

"How much did you know about this story, Manyu?" Barion redirected his attention, "Lilith was your aide for years. Surely you must have been curious about Demonkind's purpose?"

"You may be surprised to hear, but that wasn't the case at all." The former Demon King answered, "I understood my destiny--to drown the world in despair and await the Hero of Legend. Lilith's origins didn't interest me in the slightest. However, I am interested in hearing whether Miss Witilla recalls the time we spent together."

"Don't tell me you're going to allow these two to conspire against us, Barion." Shilahi complained.

"Humour me for a moment, Shilahi." He answered, "Witilla, do you remember Manyu?"

"...Yes." The girl confirmed, "Memories between generations of Guardians are transferred at birth. Information is gathered from implants within their brains and transmitted electronically to Black Luna, where it's stored and used for later models."

"What's the purpose of that?" Barion wondered.

"It allows Guardians to operate more efficiently… we learn from our predecessors and adapt to the strategies that defeated us the first time…"

"Didn't seem to do a lot of good in Leviathan's case." Shilahi commented, "It was the same old beast I faced off with all those years ago."

"Um… did anything different happen this time?" Witilla asked.

"Well, it did try to eat me." She answered, "But that was my plan all along, you see."

"It won't work next time…" She warned, "Leviathan's biology will be altered in order to immunise it against that strategy."

"-More to the point, it doesn't sound like you've inherited much at all." Shilahi redirected the conversation, "The Lilith I remember was ruthless--a being of pure malice and cunning. Masquerading as a quiet maiden like yourself is something I'd very much expect from her."

"My inherited memories are… unpleasant." She muttered, "Oceans of blood… Demonic hordes spreading across the continent… Wandering through the halls of Manyu's castle… and, my death at Barion's hands…"

"You poor thing…" Dorma sympathised.

"Dorma!" Shilahi frowned, "You're under this one's spell, too!?"

"What greater endorsement could a Demon hope to receive than Barion's?" She retaliated, "The girl is a product of war--bred for no other purpose than to kill, and you would cast her aside for rebelling against her masters?"

"It's all too good to be true." Shilahi resisted stubbornly, "Am I wrong for being just a little cautious? Give her an inch, and she could very well murder half the city before we can even react."

"I understand that." Dorma replied, "But please--allow Witilla this one chance. If she turns out to be as traitorous as you claim, then I won't reject your admonishments. If what she says is the truth, however, this may very well be exactly what we were searching for. Someone able and willing to unravel the mysteries of Demonkind."

"...Oh, damn it all…" Shilahi lowered her head, "One chance?"

"Only one."

"Then she had better make it count." Sighing, Shilahi stepped back from the table, "My mind is a shambles. If there are no objections, I would spend the remainder of this night preparing for my appearance in the arena."

Nobody raised their hand or voice to stop the Great Hermit as she left the room, crimson cape billowing angrily towards the castle's bedchambers.

"Goodness, I almost forgot there was a tournament afoot." Dorma blinked, "Perhaps it would be for the best if we kept this conversation until after the festivities are over?"

"You'll hear no complaints from me. I'm keen to have an early night after me and Barion are done competing for the amazement of the crowd." Manyu agreed.

"Certain of our victory, are we?" The sorceress asked.

"Unless you and Shilahi have grown exponentially more powerful, then yes." He replied, "Personally, I'm rather looking forward to facing you on the battlefield again, Barion."

"Hm…" The Hero folded his arms, "I suppose you would be."

"...Well, if that's all, then I must be going." He concluded, "Farewell."

Dorma turned her attention to the shrinking Witilla as Manyu departed from the room, "Do you still plan on competing, my dear? You emerged victorious against Fusala, after all."

"Yes… or, I would like to." She answered, "It's all… very exciting."

"-And I presume you will be heading straight back to the alchemy lab, Fusala?"

"Indeed." She answered, "Miss Witilla's descriptions of facilities powered by electricity have inspired me. I would like to begin theorising new hypotheses as soon as possible."

"Only promise me that you'll get some rest before the sun is upon us." Dorma smirked, "...And, Barion?"

"What is it?"

"Would you mind if the two of us… had a chat?"