Silence filled the library once again. Grand elder started to knock his fingers on the table, tick, tick, tick. Others looked at him one after another.

“There is such a possibility, but I think it is minuscule. Of course, we can’t ignore it, but if you think about it – we are actually helpless in that case.” Grand elder started in low voice, “Let’s summarize everything step by step and decide on further actions.”

He took a longer pause and then continued, “We know we managed to summon a part of Primeval demon’s soul in to a human body, it is possible but unlikely this was his own initiative. We know he is doing his research although we don’t know his true goals yet. We can speculate that a part of his research might be to experience death of a human body first handed. And we know what his hobby is. Are we good so far?”

He looked at the others, stood up and started to slowly pace around the table.

“Next!” Grand elder continued, “We are starting to deviate from our goal. The goal of the Holy Order is to take over and rule the world using external force – summoning and sealing a higher demon or several demons. Our ancestors have done research on this and we are continuing their work. Of course, in the span of this one year we have gathered more information than ever, but we all know how much of our sect’s research was lost in the Great war those years ago when the revolution took place in the Sun kingdom. Therefore, even if we fail, our main objective as part of the Holy Order is to secure and preserve our research and that of our ancestors! We don’t have to be afraid of some demon, even if it is Primeval demon, coming to the surface and taking over the world. If it was really possible, they would have done it thousands of years ago. Also, the most important thing is – Primeval demon has never come up to the surface in the history of mankind! Not only there are no records on it – in that case mankind would have seized to exist! The Primeval demons simply can’t come up in person! We don’t know the reason, but they just can’t! If they could, they would!”

“No.” Grand elder shook his head and continued his monologue, “I think he is doing research for his own interests. We just don’t know what kind of interests. Next. First thing we do tomorrow, we will start to copy data on our latest research and put it together with the earlier experience. Then we will collect two backups and send them to the secure locations on Nestri and Eastern continents. We must use our most trusted deputy elders on this. I would like to, but I just can’t spare any of you for this task. I need you all here for the next steps!”

As he spoke, Grand elder got more excited and his eyes deep in the sockets of his skeleton face burned with passion, “With the research data secured for our descendants we can calmly address the opportunity at hand. Not a problem, but opportunity! Regardless of risks and outcome we will attempt to seal the Primeval demon! We owe it to our ancestors!”

“A… are you sure, grand elder?” Elder Ernest stuttered again.

“Shut up, you moneybag!” Elder Sonor snorted, “Let him finish.”

“It’s fine.” Grand elder waved elder Sonor off, “We all have our strongest points, including elder Ernest’s earnestly.”

Or course, the old creep started to giggle to himself in amusement after the dumb pun.

‘Really? Again? And at this time? Why would he even find that funny?’ elder Ernest got upset.

“Here is how we will proceed.” Grand elder was still giggling as he continued, “First: elder Dinnar! Drop everything you were doing and start thinking how are we going to seal Primeval demon’s soul. I want to hear even the craziest ideas no matter how impossible they might seem to be. Second: elder Silvio! Apart from the time you are needed here to help us deal with the demon’s new or old contracts, you will copy all our research to be sent off to the secure locations. In the future you will gather and copy all new data we get once every ten days. Third: elder Ernest! You will organize secret secured transfers for the information elder Silvio is collecting. As always, you will provide funding for the needs of other elders. Our treasury is not dry yet and we don’t need to send out teams to ‘gather’ resources. We will do that after this project is finished. Fourth: elder Jan. Apart from providing the usual supply of alchemy products, I want you to work closely with elder Dinnar and assist him. Your experience might provide important breakthrough from an unexpected angle. Fifth: elder Agnes. You will continue to monitor Belial. You have to be even more on your toes! I know you! No fooling around until the project ends! I promise you a complete freedom for one month after that – you will be able to play around with anyone except elders and me. So concentrate for now! Sixth: elder Sonor!”

Grand elder looked at his old friend and smiled, “You haven’t lost a fight in decades, but you have been loosing for the last year every day since the demon appeared. You are one of the strongest Qi sword masters, but I want you to become the strongest in the world! Just a year ago you managed to steal the barbarian emperor’s daughter right from his castle in the Northern empire’s capital. You did it even without anyone noticing. But now your killing intent is leaking all over the place – if it was water – we would be swimming in a lake already! Take this as a great opportunity. You might never be able to increase your physical abilities, you might have even reached the limit of a human body. But, using Primeval demon Belial, one of the strongest beings in existence, as a stepping stone, you can sharpen your mentality along with your inner Qi skills. Use this time for training. Don’t only guard him and against him all day. You are falling in to routine of degradation and neglecting your own growth. Meanwhile continue teaching your apprentices as well – teaching might provide you with some kind of unique inspiration.”

“I am ashamed, grand elder.” Elder Sonor looked at his own feet as he spoke.

“Don’t be!” Grand elder interrupted him, “We all have been played! You are not special and not the only one who lost this unique wrestle we have been having for the last year. We all have been looking at the situation in the wrong light all along. We have to use this heaven sent opportunity to strengthen ourselves, our resolve and the Holy Order!”

As always, the grand elder was really the ‘grand’ elder. He managed to pull everyone up and lead them to the ‘brighter future’. Except, there was no such thing as Belial. Well, there was no such thing as Primeval demons or even any kind demons.

“Next.” Grand elder returned to today’s matters, “We will deal with the current situation as follows. I still want you all to be present when we conclude this and any possible future contracts with Belial. Look at it as group training for our elder council. Apart from that, of course, you all have a ton of work to do.”

He finally sat down again, “We will let Belial think he won again. Well, in fact, he did. Tomorrow elder Agnes will bring him here again and I will apologize, explain that raising price extremely high is a tactic many merchants use in the world and we will give him a gift. Obviously he will forgive since he was not insulted in the first place. Next we will proceed with bartering as planned. Although we might need to alter the questions because, and this is the main part, we will attempt to seal him! Using these questions we have to understand the appropriate moment for sealing and the consequences in case of a failure.”

They continued discussion though all day, but spent a night resting to have more strength to ‘fight’ against Belial the next morning. Nick also was spending his time brainstorming. Although he thought about and tried to plan many things, there was nothing he could really do – he was not a Primeval demon after all. Mentally exhausted he fell asleep in the early afternoon and slept through the night.

The next morning elder Agnes carried him back to the library. Nick was lying in her arms, smiling. When they sat down, he looked around at the faces of elders, stopping at elder Sonor who was calmly sitting with his eyes closed.

‘Why would he sleep? Did they hump the old witch again for the whole night?’ Nick thought.

Grand elder noticed the direction Nick was looking, smiled and said, “Good morning, Lord Baal. I see you are in a good mood today.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? You are going to apologize after all.” Nick smiled back. His idea was – as a child he is right to blame grownups for mistreating him. Obviously grownups have to take a step back and apologize. That was a common sense, except this time the real reasons were totally different.

Shock crossed Grand elder’s face for a split second, then he laughed “Lord Baal, as always you see right through me.”

Then he started to extensively explain his previous ‘unacceptable’ behavior. Nick found it hilarious and was giggling all the way. Then the grand elder presented an apology gift.

It was a small box that seemed to be made from dark leather material.

“My hands are too small, open it!” Nick commanded Agnes.

The box was too far and his hands were really too small, but, of course, elders used this opportunity to understand something else and probably complicated – everything was a research data. Elder Agnes opened the little box. A small dark colored ring was lying in there.

“This is an extremely rare item made from metallic material that is extracted from a unique type of meteorite. Neither blacksmiths nor jewelcrafters are able to create this, only very few accomplished rune formation masters in the history could achieve it. The material has spacial properties and is really hard to obtain as you can never plan for a meteorite to fall somewhere or even contain this particular metal. Other than that, it is said that there have been ancient beasts who had this property, but they are long extinct.” Grand elder patiently explained, “In short, only the very elites of this world have something like that – only top royalties and sect masters. Of course, our sect’s elders each have one, but these items are gathered in a span of hundreds and hundreds of years and are part of our heritage.”

Nick looked at the ring, seemed to be lost in thoughts for a while and then asked, “How does this thing work?” Yesterday he decided to think for at least one or preferably two minutes before he said anything. He realized how earlier he played with fire and almost got killed, so from now on he should be more careful.

“You infuse your Qi into the object and you will see the containing space within your consciousness.” Elder Agnes replied while playing with the ring in her fingers.

“It goes like this.” She took the small container box with the same hand. Then the box suddenly disappeared, and after a moment appeared on her palm again. “Usually a small child would not have the ability to use it, but we have cleared your Qi pathways and infused our Qi in your body for some time, therefore you should be capable of using it. Just focus on the ring and Qi will automatically flow into it. Then you will see the peculiar space and will be able to put items in there and take them out as well.”

Nick stretched his hand and took the ring, then inspected it closer, ‘There are two options. One – this is a real deal and they are giving me such a precious thing because I am a prisoner here anyway and they can take it back any time. Second – they can use this item in the sealing they planned. May be it can be used in some other way to control my mind. I have seen what can they do with Qi and rune formations and for now I have to consider that anything is possible. I should be able to check how it works, they can not be certain if I am familiar with an item like this. But under no circumstances I can wear it of keep it close to me for a longer period of time!’

He tried to ‘focus’ his attention on the ring and an area of a bit more than a cubic meter opened in front of him. It was a weird feeling – he could see the world around him, but could also see additional ‘floating’ cubic meter of space. Then he took the little box with his other hand and ‘placed it’ inside that bizarre space. The small box was neatly stored in a corner of that cubic meter. After he took it out, then put back in. He repeated this process several times … and then … he passed out.