“Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice.” Lutz Albrinter waits for his guests to be seated.

  Parnidot, the new head priest, was welcomed into the Albrinter family estate. Particularly, a meeting room that Lutz had prepared. He was accompanied by his brother Sardon and sister Perschale. The three eldest of the Albrinter siblings waited while Parnidot and his newly appointed four holy generals entered.

  “Of course. How could I refuse a meeting from one noble to another.” Parnidot said happily and respectfully. “Besides, I have the plebs and peasants working while we speak. To speak cordially with a proud noble such as yourself certainly beats sitting around doing nothing.”

  “You do realize that our queen does not condone words such as ‘plebs and peasants’ in her new order.” Lutz says. “It is why she purged the nobles and took pity on very few of us. Unless, of course, you’ve forgotten about your own parents.”

  “Damn that witch, I say.” Parnidot scoffs. “That sheltered princess had sent the divine nobles to the headsman because of something as paltry as riots from the unwashed masses.”

  “Okay, I’m not here to argue about this again.” Lutz shakes his head. “As you know, the Albrinter family is charged with the protection and management of Blue Pine town. You have done a great deal of mischief and harm. I have summoned you here because I would like you to stop, and I do mean peacefully.”

  “I’m afraid that I cannot. For it is my divine charge to launch an inquisition. No. Not only an inquisition. A crusade!” Parnidot announces to the room proudly.

  “For fuck’s sake, man.” Lutz pinches his brow. “You can’t just up and start a crusade by being a local town high priest.”

  “I assure you. I can. I will. Just watch me!” Parnidot says with complete confidence and conviction in his words.

  Lutz folds his hands and lays them on the table.

  “Parnidot. Your family does not have a noble title anymore. Mine does. I have to bear the responsibility of the town that pays taxes to us and our queen. You know the deal. They pay taxes, and we provide the service of protecting them.”

  “Again with the queen’s nonsense.” Parnidot shook his head in disappointment. “We were sent to the best school in the country to learn that the plebs serve us. In fact, they are happy to be beneath us and serve our every need. To say we have some kind of deal with them is a bad joke.”

  “Stop! Stop changing the subject! Just stop this madness.” Lutz says. “We went to the academy together. We both know how serious I can get. Just stop trying to rile the people up and having them attack people. If you do not, I’ll be forced to mobilize my forces.”

  “You have forces?” Parnidot says.

  Parnidot furrows a brow and gives Lutz a sideways glance.

  “Do you have, like, an army comprised entirely of ninjas? Because I don’t see any army marching wearing the Albrinter’s colors.”

  “Look, the bottom line is, stop inciting violence in my town.”

  Parnidot gives Lutz a good long stare before responding.

  “No!”

  “Ugh! Where do I start? The pact is absolute trash.” Praisegg groans.

  After the expected visit from Mona and the surprise visit from Praisegg, Ren had asked for some chairs from the inn and brought them up to her room so that the three of them can sit in a circle. A demon, a nun and an adventurer sat around to effectively listen to the demon complain. Praisegg was still bleeding, and now looks like a mess. Mona was drenched in river water and there was a demon whispering in her ear. Somehow, Ren was the most presentable person here.

  “Long story short, this all started when a big demon named Trashan cut a deal with a vampire named Mackamer. Then they brought in 7 demons to fill out some slots which completed a ritual circle and now we have to do work for the guy. And we don’t get paid anything for taking part in this ritual.”

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  Mona gave the demon a confused look. Ren gave her usual blank one.

  “O-okay…” Mona says.

  It now occurs to Mona that she didn’t know what she was expecting or supposed to do with this new information. Ren’s head was just plain empty and the voices in her head weren’t helping in the scheming department.

  “So, you’re saying you’re unhappy, is that right?” Mona asked.

  “That’s one word to describe it, yeah.” Praisegg says.

  “Then can I ask why you approached Ren?” Mona says.

  “Oh yeah. So the pact is falling apart at the magic runes. It started when Warumasa left.” Praisegg says.

  “I assume this is one of the gathered demons.” Mona says.

  “Yeah. Yeah! Somehow Warumasa left with this gi-” Praisegg was about to say something, but Ren throat chopped her in the neck. “Ahk! Aughck!”

  “Warumasa was a demon that Lenard was bound to. Apparently, he vanished after you killed Lenard.” Ren says and clapped for Mona.

  Mona couldn’t see a hidden truth in Ren’s words, and she nodded along.

  “I see.”

  “How did you do it Mona?” Ren asked.

  “I- uh… I have no idea.” Mona says.

  “Maybe Mona is special and super powerful.” Ren says.

  “I doubt it.” Mona says.

  “So now what?” Ruen asked.

  “Well, how would you like insider information on Mackamer’s schemes?” Praisegg offered the two.

  “That could work.” Mona nodded.

  “Excellent, just sign over your soul and-” Praisegg started but was interrupted by another throat chop from Ren. “Augh!”

  “No soul trading!” Ren says.

  “Cahck! Fine! What are you offering for an insider? What?” Praisegg stops for a moment.

  “You’re still here?” Mona complained to someone unseen.

  Ren just sat there motionless as the both of them listen to someone speak.

  “Okay, two. What will you do for two insiders?” Praisegg says.

  “Was that another demon?” Ren asked.

  “Yeah. Felloice. Do you not hear her?” Praisegg asked.

  “Nope.” Ren responded.

  “What, so you’re immune to the temptations of demons whispering in your ear?” Praisegg asked.

  “Maybe.” Ren says.

  “Well, color me jealous.” Mona chuckled. “I haven’t heard the end of it from this demon since earlier today.”

  Both Praisegg and Mona nod along to an unseen speaker.

  “Incorruptible. That’s a good word for it.” Mona says.

  “Whatever.” Praisegg says. “Okay, how about you make the offer? What will you offer us for 2 insiders?”

  “How about a ritual where I sacrifice some people?” Ren says.

  At those words, Mona open hand chops Ren’s head.

  “No, Ren.” Mona scolds her.

  “We could desecrate a holy site.” Ren tries.

  Mona chops Ren’s head again.

  “How about I personalize spells for both of you?”

  This time, Mona doesn’t chop Ren in the head for proposing something so outlandish.

  “What do you mean, personalize spells for us?” Praisegg asked.

  “I make 2 new spells.” Ren says. “They’re yours. Only you and people benefitting from your power can use these spells. We can talk it over and work together to make the spell of your dreams.”

  Praisegg raises her brow.

  “You mean you’re going to invent new spells for us.”

  “Yep.” Ren says.

  “You’re like, 15! Maybe 16! And you’re level 10. How are you going to invent new spells for us?” Praisegg scoffed.

  “I’ll be interpreting your nature and magics. Once that’s done, I’ll hear what desired effects you want so that I can write runes and glyphs that align with you. There will be a testing phase, of course and other quality assurances.”

  Praisegg looks towards someone unseen. There is a nod and she speaks up.

  “I want the ability to create clones of myself to fight.” Praisegg says.

  “I can do that.” Ren says.

  “I somehow doubt a little mortal like you can.” Praisegg says.

  “I assure you, Ren does a lot of weird magic stuff.” Mona says.

  There is another brief pause before Praisegg next speaks.

  “She wants to… wait what?” Praisegg looks off into the distance with her mouth agape.

  Mona’s mouth also hangs open and she leans away from Praisegg.

  “Felloice wants the power to turn wine into a cup of… uhm… copulation…” Mona answered hesitantly.

  “What?” Ren asked in a flat tone.

  “Pick something else.” Praisegg says.

  There is another brief pause.

  “No! Gods! How degenerate can you be?” Mona says.

  Another brief silence.

  “That’s it?” Praisegg asked. “Just a stamina spell? You’re fine with a stamina recovering spell?”

  There is another pause before Mona and Praisegg moan out of frustration.

  “Okay, basically, she wants infinite stamina in whatever spell you can manage.” Praisegg says.

  “I can’t do infinite.” Ren says.

  “Can you do your best?” Praisegg says.

  “Yep.” Ren says.

  “Good enough for me. It’s a deal.”

  Praisegg extends her hand and Mona shakes it. Unholy magic swirls around the two. Then something begins to dawn on praisegg.

  “Wait, why did I do that?” Praisegg says. “I was against this and have no faith that a teenager could invent spells for us.”

  “I think you may have done that for Felloice’s sake since she was really interested in the deal.”

  “Damn it!” Praisegg cusses.

  “Well, that’s settled now. We’re looking forward to your report.” Ren says.

  “Yeah, yeah. Let’s get out of here Felloice.”

  Praisegg is engulfed in dark magic. With her work done and magic promised, a dirt caked, pale and dangerously thin woman collapses onto the floor of Ren’s room. Ren and Mona stare at this unknown woman for a moment.

  “Well… should we get dinner for her too?” Ren asked.