Faustian Bargain for a Halcyon Future [Part 2]

His questionnaire was more of an interrogation. He asked many questions about my origin. I was ready for each one. He also asked questions I wasn't expecting from anyone, he asked details about the land. Fortunately, I heavily researched the land. This is good, I have a good idea of what’s to come. Not just from Vapula but other Infernalior, because I’m sure we’ll be meeting many in the foreseeable future. Now it's time for me to ask some questions.

“Okay. My turn… How many names do you have and what are they?”

“Two. The one you currently know me as, and my former one, Paimon.”

“Now the questions from earlier. What is the purpose of the Infernalior? What happens when an Infernalior gets to the first ranked position?”

“The existence of the Infernalior is unknown. We have no purpose. We only have a goal… To achieve the First Position and maintain it for 66 years.”

“Then what?”

“Then you become a True Infernalior, a Ruler of the Pit… Absolute Freedom.”

There he goes again. Staring out the window, getting dramatic for no reason. All while being super cryptic, but I guess that counts as an answer.

“Freedom? From what?”

“I’ll have to explain that another time. It’s not that quite easy to answer.”

“Very well… Two more questions: Is having only Seven members part of your plan, if so, why?”

“Yes… Each member will be receptacles for the Seven Primordial Pneuma of Consciousness… And don’t worry there’ll be no death involved.”

I don’t even feel like asking what the hell that even could be! These answers aren’t doing me any good…

“Last question: I need to know when we’ll be attacked?”

“Well, I'm not entirely sure. Call it intuition, call it a vision. I just know that we’ll be attacked in the coming days.”

“What are you going to be doing…?”

“Just make sure no outsiders enter this room.”

“Alright… I’m done. I have a lot to think about. Good day.”

I quickly jogged to the massive room’s door.

“One more thing.” Vapula halted my movements.

“From the moment you entered this room: I saw no fear in those eyes of yours.” He announced, as I faced the door.

“What did you see?” I asked slowly.

“Ambition.” Saying one word, cold and ominous, lacking any explanation.

“Anything else.” I asked.

“No. You may go.” He stated as I quickly fled.

⧫⧫⧫

These dark halls felt all the more dark. The dimly lit candles barely scraped the floor. Just trying to make it back to my room was like a forced expedition to the arctic. My throat became stiff, as I placed my hand over my neck. My eyes started to swell.

“I’m not ready for this…”

It was like I was being choked again, but from overwhelming ideas. Why the hell am I here? What is happening? I couldn't fight the tears anymore. They started to escape my eyes. My hand had a mind of its own and clenched as tightly as possible. I didn’t know what to do, so I placed my clenched hand to my head. Tapping it repeatedly. My body was starting to lose its coherence. I had to focus before my mind did too.

“Damn it, crying is so… frustrating!” Yelling in silence through my teeth, as the saline taste of tears poured into my mouth.

⧫⧫⧫

The journey to my room was finally over. My steps had a slight wobble to them as I prepared my bath. Exhaustion doesn't even come close to how I feel. Idly standing, I kept placing my hand over my neck. With the creeping thought: I said I was prepared for this, that idea was clearly proven wrong. 

Nevertheless, I got some of the answers I wanted. I certainly have a lot to think about. I don’t even know where to begin. It’s already dark out. It didn’t feel like it, but I was in his office for almost five hours.

“Ahhaa…”

My breathing was still uneven. I never thought I’d be so happy to return to my room.

“That’s nice...”

The warm bath water clutching every cell on my body. It will always feel divine. The gentle steam grazed the skin on my face past my head to the ceiling.

“There’s something new on me.” I noticed another symbol or something, near the first one. “Probably because of the contract I made with Vapula…” I thought.

“No matter. What to think about first?”

I wonder if I should’ve asked if the potential attackers are the same as the ones that caused that explosion? No… That probably isn’t important to his plan or else he would have already mentioned something about it.

I will say, knowing that I was right about his lost status gives me some conviction in my deductive reasoning, but it just makes me think of more questions. What rank was he? How did he lose that rank? How do the ranks’ function? This was likely the most puzzling question. From my research, there are only speculations and hypotheses on how exactly the ranks operate. In summary, the best guess anyone has is that there is some type of omniscient judge that coordinates the ranks. That is absolutely no help at all. I guess my best bet is to just trust Vapula. After all, he does have over 250 years on me.

Speaking of which, Vapula must be even older than I expected. He was in the Top Twelve over 250 years ago. How long was he in the Top Twelve? 500? 1000 years? I don’t think I need to ask that. He’s lived a long time and he was in the Top Twelve. That is the necessary information.

His goal is puzzling too. What are the Seven Primordial Pneuma of Consciousness? How does he know they exist? Are they this world’s concept for the Seven Cardinal Sins? That’s just a guess. Seven members, Seven Sins. I don’t think that is important just yet… In fact, none of what I learned today is really important right now… Whatever, it will be needed later.

“I guess I should just continue with my own plan to prepare for the attack.” I mumbled as I rubbed my neck, once again.

“I never gasped for air before…” I soberly spoke to myself.

Hopefully it’ll be the last… I bet I have a mark on my neck… Ha-ha… Unbelievable, even though my life was slowly fading. I was still able to notice the fear in his eyes.

A string of vivacious knocks echoed throughout my room!

“Huh? Who could that be?”

In somewhat of a rush, I got out of my bath and grabbed a towel to cover myself. I had no idea who it could be, maybe Vahaemarr? So, I slowly opened the door, just enough to poke my head out.

“There you are, Ryo! Where have you been all evening?” A semi worried Quen vocalized.

“Ryo…?” I remarked with a smug smile.

“S-S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to say that!” Quen immediately turned red.

“Haha, It’s fine.” I said, also making a waving gesture to invite her into my room. Quen closed my door and walked with an embarrassed expression. While I went to sit on my bed.

“Sorry if I worried you at all, Quen. Did you need me?”

“No… You just weren’t at dinner so I was a little nervous is all.” She shyly said, pressing her index finger tips together.

She seems pretty embarrassed right now: calling me Ryo, worrying about me. I couldn’t help but smile at how embarrassed she is. Not to mention, I probably made her a little nervous too since she caught me in the middle of my bath and I was in only a towel. I almost feel like doing something a little promiscuous. Just to mess with her a bit, but I probably shouldn't get her any more flustered.

“Oh, jeez Quen! I should have told someone that I was having a meeting with Vapula.” I apologized with my pressed hands together.

“Oh, please don’t worry about it! I just want to make sure you are still eating. Hah-hah.” Quen smiled awkwardly.

“Oh no! I haven’t eaten at all today!”

“What?! We better get you something to eat!” She responded with concern.