In the grand scheme of things, the elven contingent wasn’t staying that long. After all, it had taken them significantly longer than a month of travel. Leaving after a few months was actually somewhat speedy by that standard. However, they had accomplished their goal, and were expected to return to their people. They might have liked to stay a full year to gather every sort of seeds they desired, but some of them would take searching. Instead, they left behind detailed descriptions and drawings.

Just as they were packing up to leave, Galen Eanlar came to William and requested a personal audience.

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William couldn’t think of a good reason to reject the personal audience. If- no, when- the Demon King decided to cause trouble, he had pretty much decided to destroy him then and there. If that triggered a war? He could deal with that then. However, to put a complete end to the one who had destroyed countless souls, he needed to do it. Normal deaths would be a very unfortunate side effect, but if it was necessary… Well, maybe it wouldn’t work out like that.

William thought about how he would do it. It would need to be sudden and quick. He couldn’t just kill him normally either. There was always a chance his soul had grown used to reincarnating with memories, and its relative weakness wouldn’t matter. He had to make it convincing he was attacked first, however. That might not smooth things over entirely, but it would at least help.

He sat quietly on his throne. Its height made it useful for appearing imposing, and it worked even better when the slight elves were brought into the picture.

Galen- the Demon King- spoke slowly, in dwarven. “We have… met in the past, correct?” He spoke with uncertainty- no, caution. He didn’t want to give away his hand right away. Then William realized. He knew the elf was a fragment of the Demon King, but he didn’t necessarily know that William wasn’t. Sure, he’d destroyed the dwarven fragment… but he could have absorbed most of that soul, if he had been so inclined. It could be seen as a desire to return to being a complete whole. William actually had a little bit of the Demon King inside of him. Maybe Galen didn’t know… and he could use that. Then Galen continued, “We met before… once. On the battlefield.” He gestured with his hand, “That staff was there as well. I helped make it but it was never mine.” Galen paused switching to Gevai, “Well? Are you not the one who destroyed me?”

William sighed. So much for that plan. “Correct, Demon King. I intend to finish the job.” William was gathering his ki, slowly and subtly. He was prepared to move at any moment. He just had to find the best moment.

“I don’t blame you.” Galen shook his head, “I am- I was- a terrible person. An evil person. In deed, if not in intent.”

“Did you not consider that trying to destroy an entire people group- all people other than your own- was absolutely evil? Or even just destroying souls.” William asked.

“I did not.” Galen stated flatly, “For that, I would have needed to consider they might be people… but I did not do that either. As for souls… death was a natural occurrence. Why would souls be any different? Now, I do not share those same beliefs.”

“What, then, of your own people? The gevai? You destroyed some of their souls, as well.” William continued to gather ki, keeping it hidden beneath the surface. His self created technique was extremely suited for that.

“Have you ever been obsessed with anything?” Galen turned, pacing back and forth in front of the dais, “I mean, truly obsessed? You only think about the object of your obsession. If it’s a task, you only think about how it can be accomplished, and not whether it should be- or the consequences. Once you think something is right, you never really stop to reconsider, unless something tremendous happens.” He looked down at his hands, “Then, here I am. An elf. A different man.”

“Are you? You taught the dwarf Lundroic how to cure his soul necrosis, allowing him to try to continue your obsession.”

Galen sighed, “I know. I thought, like me… that he might change. He did not. There was little I could do about it. I couldn’t exactly declare he was a piece of the Demon King, nor could I destroy him myself. Not without risking my own self. I didn’t think his rhetoric would be a problem. He would grow old and die, and it would pass. I never thought the dwarves had learned to navigate the deep seas.”

“So that’s what this is.” William nodded, “You’re afraid. You heard of his destruction, and came here to beg for forgiveness, hoping to avoid being destroyed.” William was ready to act at any time.

“Afraid? Of course. Most men are afraid of death. I, personally, had died so many times that it was a mere inconvenience. Feeling close to a true death… I was afraid. Who wouldn’t be?” Galen turned toward William, “Yes, I did come here to ask beg for forgiveness. I wanted to explain. I thought you might understand… but its clear your decision has already been made from the moment I stepped in here. Honestly, I didn’t really expect any differently.”

William stood up, approaching slowly… but ready to move at full speed if necessary. “Of course. Do you think you could just come in here, say ‘sorry I tried to commit genocide all those times’ and walk away? There is no way I will believe your words after all that you have done.”

William reached out and caught Galen by the arm, and let his ki flow inside him, into his very soul. His meagre defenses could provide no resistance.