This fucking hurts. I thought as I winced at Sos’ every touch. I was bound to a bloody altar, with a human soul dangling above me from a web. I looked into the soul’s surface and found a name. Sabine Moreau. Short woman, shorter temper. Has, oh sorry, "had" the desire to see the world. I frowned as I took in the new information.

I thought Submer was for focusing my mental prowess, so why is a human soul here? Maybe I’m supposed to absorb it and gain its knowledge? It wouldn’t be very useful unless I could take souls on my own. An image of me piercing a centaur and pulling out its heart and soul came to mind, and I laughed.

“You think this is funny?” Sos said while making cuts on my stomach. “Hold still while I’m doing this. I am not doing this twice on your ridiculous body.”

“Mhm, yeah, it’s something, isn’t it? I did a lot of work on this puppy.” I motioned to my left arm. “And this puppy as well.” I motioned to my right arm. “Oso appreciates them very much and I appreciate the kitties as well.”

Sos’ response was an exasperated grunt accented with an eye roll.

“By the way, I’m wondering what that thing up there is for. It’s not the new decoration now, is it? Because if so, I’ll tell you right now that you have terrible fashion sense.” I asked what was on my mind.

“I have amazing fashion sense, thank you,” Sos emphasized by making another cut. “You’re the only one I have no desire to look good in. And if you desperately want to know, I’m sure Oso would be down to model for your convenience. We’re twins, through and through.”

The last statement piqued my interest, and I started looking her up. Once I’ve looked past the obvious downsides, I could see what she meant. From her long hands and even longer legs to her slender neck and tempting ass, she was a very attractive figure. I wonder if you two have the same sensitive spots. The back of the arm, near the armpits. The center of the belly, from the rib’s end all the way down. The curve of the foot, both of them.

They’d both kill me if I tried to find out though. I concluded my idle musing.

“And if you must know, the thing above us is crucial for advancing to the next step.” Sos twirled a knife in hand as she took a break. “I know you’re not a fool, appearances aside, so figure out what’s going to happen to you, if you can.” I looked around and made contact with Kinsand, one of Sos’ loyal assistant. I made overtures before with him, but he dismissed me before I could even open my mouth. He has the presence of a piece of paper in a library, which is to say he has almost none. No small talk, no jokes, no socializing even with other assistants, and I’ve checked. How do you even live with yourself? I wondered aloud, which my face seemed to convey, as Kinsand leaned his head in a questioning manner.

Alright, fun time’s over. Kook can’t help me, so I have to outsmart Sos and Angan. I looked deep inside, beyond the mind and into an old, dusty place. I imagined myself with a body and I had it. I tried to move and almost stumbled forward, confusing me for a bit. My answers came as I examined myself further, and laughed upon the discovery. I’m in my old human body. Wow, how long has it been since then? I conjured myself a mirror and gazed upon the man within. I didn’t recognize myself at all. Well, I’m not going to be in this form forever. I’m here for someone else, and I hope they’re in a good enough mood to listen. Should I’ve gotten a good bottle first?

I made my way through the now expanding labyrinth before me. You wouldn’t think the paths of one’s inner reality could change too much, but you would be wrong. It reminded me of making my way through Landry’s maze garden. It was him, me, and Ocyn escaping from one another and the world. Talk about a lifetime ago. I mused as I jumped over a crevasse. Didn’t think I could remember that far back anymore. It’s nice to know I still remember, even if I’ll never look back.

Even though time didn’t exist in a practical sense, I still felt an urgency to find who I’m looking for. I should start with a name. I joked before I realized that was exactly what I needed to do. What was his name again? Gender? Ijo? No, it was something longer, more poetic-like.

“Meregang-Lengang.” I said out loud the first name that came to my lips. The maze didn’t react at first, but then order imposed itself upon the blocks. Pieces flew here and there, arranging themselves into a familiar place. The Castle-Temple of Krisapi. Distance proved deceptive here as a single step brought me right up to the closed gates. The usual sentry posts flanking the entrance were missing. In their place were giant candles of lit emerald. The smoke made me cough. I walked through the massive stone door and found a pool covering everything. Lining the edge were gold-painted flowers, from which each sung a sweet song of harmony. They didn't start at the same time though, and the result was discordant and unpleasing.

In the farthest spot from where I stood was something. A belly as massive as a barrel, and twice as thick, with arms and legs to match. But the mountain of food on a table encircling him betrayed the true nature of that girth. His laughter could be heard even as I walked on the pool’s surface, creating waves here and there. Once I was close enough, he stopped what he was doing and looked at me.

“Hey, it’s my favorite monster. Come in, come in, we have loads of food here. They're all delicious, I can guarantee that.” He picked up the leg of something the size of a man’s torso and tossed it at me. I ignored it, making sure my eye never left him.

“Okay, so you don’t like that. No big deal. I’ve got deep-fried, honey-dipped calamari here with an excellent chili dipping. It’s sweet, sour, and crispy!” He showed me the eponymous foodstuff on a large tray, wide enough to be a proper shield. I ignored that offer as well, though my stomach thumped a bit at the sight of seafood. Now a bit closer, I could see that my refusal this time had made a small smile appear on the thing’s face.

“Meregang-Lengang.” I said with a loud voice. “I’ve come here to seek your aid. I will do anything.”

“ANYTHING?” The demon’s voice became deeper. “CAREFUL, FORMER HUMAN. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOUR WORDS WELL.”

“I have, and I will accept any price,” I said while clutching my chest in a solemn vow. “Preserve my soul against any change and you may have it when The Ending comes.”

“NOT A GOOD DEAL-MAKER, ARE YOU?” The demon laughed a most deplorable laugh. “Oh, I’ll stop using that voice now. It’s hell on my throat. Get it?”

No. I said with my face. That was so terrible I want to tear my ears out.

“I can see you disagree with my joke. It’s okay, I get it.” The demon laughed again, then coughed. “So, what’s the deal for, Carer? Last time you were here, you had a reasonable compensation for me. You don’t have much to offer me now, though. Or do you?”

“I do.” I walked closer and threw seeds of thought before him. They grew into a ripe fruit of idea, which I offered to the demon.

“You’re either the bravest person I know or the most foolish.” The demon made a gesture and the fruit flew off my hand and into his waiting mouth. He ate it with rather disgusting gusto, with juice and spit spilled in equal measure. His eyes seemed glazed as it viewed my idea. Then, it grew wide with astonishment. Finally, he squinted at me with equal parts suspicion and respect.

“This needs a lot of work to pull off.” The demon said, burping. “A lot of time and a lot of resources. Are you sure you want to offer this to someone of my good standing?” The mockery in his voice was plain, but there was also a hint of disbelief in it.

“The way I see it, Meregang-Lengang, you are the only demon I trust with this future.” I leaned in and took a big, nice rib with plenty of sauce. “We can’t be bound by the past and present. Don’t you want to get it all under your thumb? To be as a God as the powerful dream of, but actually achieve it?”

“Are you sure you’re not a demon yourself, Carer?” Meregang-Lengang scratched his head and grinned. “You’ve got the tongue of one and the look of one too.”

“We all have the potential of everything within,” I spoke with sincerity. “So, will you accept my offer?”

“You know what?” The demon suddenly stood up, towering over me. “I’ll go all-in on you. Bet every card I have on your side.” The demon pierced his own chest and took out a bloody sword piercing a human-like effigy. ”This is the sum of me. Take it into yourself, and you will have my power. Let it inside too long though, and I will consume you ‘till there’s nothing left.”

He tossed the effigy to me and I caught it, my mind racing at the unexpected development. The demon dissipated afterward followed suit by the Castle-Temple in short order. I ran and ran, taking care not to lose my grip on my prize. Eventually, I managed to outrun the devastation, which left nothing behind.

I sat down, panting with real fatigue even in this imaginary space. I thought to examine the effigy better, but my urgency caught up to me. Time’s up. I mused as I tried to figure out a way to use the effigy. Let’s hope this is worth the price.

I stuffed the effigy into me and came back to the real world.