“Hero Dingo is authorized to ask research related questions.” Aulysse said to Kurzeth.
Kurzeth nodded and turned to Marke. “I can say for certain that it is possible that you are touched by a demonic presence. What you just felt was my gaze upon your soul.” He said.
“My soul?” Marke asked. “What did you see? No, don’t answer that.” Marke tried to center himself. “What is the significance of looking at my soul and what is normal to see?”
Good save. Soul appearance sounds like it could be pretty personal. Kente said.
Kurzeth shrugged. “Each soul is different, there are trends among species and in different realms. I gazed on your soul because there are often quite obvious signs of demonic possession or influence. I did not see obvious signs as such, but I did see abnormalities that could occur from a particularly skilled demon or through certain natural processes.” The goat man looked around the room. “Can we get some snacks?” He asked.
“Kara, please go get snacks.” Aulysse said. “Kurzeth, what natural processes could cause those abnormalities?”
“There are fifty eight natural processes of which I am aware.” Kurzeth said. “The first one is…”
—————
Sheesh, that was thorough. Kente said.
You said it. Marke agreed. He munched on something like a cookie and sipped something like tea.
Kurzeth, the demon goat man, had listed fifty eight bizarre situations and actions. Aulysse noted a simplified description of each one in her notebook and asked Marke to confirm or deny if each one might have happened to him. There were only two that Marke thought might have happened.
“So, we have ‘coerced to consume cursed blood’ and ‘burned by starfire’.” Aulysse summarized. “Are you sure about the starfire? That just seems so impossible.” She said.
“It depends on how much burning is required for it to count as ‘burned’.” Marke said. The memory of being frozen immobile until the sun exploded briefly distracted him. “The blood one definitely happened, I just don’t know for sure that it was cursed.” He explained.
“Those two events could explain the abnormalities I saw, but that does not?
“If there is a demon…” Marke hesitated. “How could we be sure? Would a demon always know it was a demon?” He asked.
Kurzeth gave Marke a confused look, but considered the question for a while. “I suppose a newly formed demon might not know it was a demon, but that possibility is so remote as to be unthinkable. It would have to have been created outside of the demon realms, but if it forms outside the demon realms, it can hardly be called a demon.” Kurzeth stroked his goat beard. “You have not explained the research situation to me, administrator Aulysse, which is a minor violation.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Aulysse winced. “I pay the violation price within three days.” She sighed and flipped to an earlier page in her notebook. “Hero Dingo seeks to provide a body to an entity, primarily composed of shadow, who is a companion to him and bound in some manor to him. The shadow entity can perceive the world around Hero Dingo independent of the hero’s senses, but we have not found any material with which it can interact physically or any means of communication or detection external to Hero Dingo.” Aulysse took a breath and wrote another line in her notes. “The entity does not have a level or any access to the System of its own.”
Kurzeth continued to stroke his beard. “How did you meet this entity?” He asked.
Marke sighed. “I cannot tell you the details.”
“Because of some enforced restriction?” The demon asked.
“No.” Marke said. “That information is sensitive and may be dangerous to share. Dangerous to others and myself.”
“How old is the entity?” The demon asked.
Marke shrugged. “A handful of years?” He said. I’m old for my age. Kente commented.
“You were there when it formed.” Kurzeth said. The demon sounded certain of it, so Marke didn’t reply.
The demon considered the information for several minutes before speaking again. “You have a demonic token in your bag. If you give it to me, I will produce a few materials that are likely to be malleable by the entity. If none of them are affected, I will conclude that this entity is not real and exists only in your mind.” The demon stopped stroking his beard and stared at Marke.
Marke looked at Aulysse. She looked conflicted. Marke looked at Zily. She looked suspicious. Marke turned back to the demon. “These materials, they are not something Aulysse could not command you to produce?” Kurzeth shook his head but didn’t comment. Marke pulled his collection of demonic keychains out of his bag. “I have several.” He said.
“Give me the best one.” Kurzeth said.
Internally, Marke rolled his eyes. Oops. Guess I could have played that better. He sent to Kente. He picked out the rare keychain and identified it just to be sure.
Identify
----
Demonic keychain (Rare, 0 Gold)
- This keychain depicts a high lord of gluttony eating tea sandwiches in a frilly dress
- This keychain increases your hunger and improves the taste of your food
Marke handed over the keychain. Kurzeth picked up the keychain and smiled. “Neat.” He said, again in english. Aulysse and Zily looked at the keychain with confusion.
Did he… did he just want it for his own collection? Kente asked.
Kurzeth held out his hand and a solid red flame appeared above it. “Shadow entity, attempt to take the flame from my hand.” Kurzeth said in a booming voice that echoed endlessly around the room.
Do you really think I should? Kente asked Marke.
Uh… Marke narrowed his eyes at the flame. Probably. I’m guessing that he’s adjusting the ‘frequency’ of the flame to find one that matches you.
Ok, here goes. Kente said.
The flame was yanked away from Kurzeth’s hand and flew across the room to hit the wall. The flame either passed through the wall or went out.
Oops. Kente said. Don’t know my own strength.
Kurzeth sputtered for a moment, then summoned an orange flame. “Shadow entity, attempt to take the flame from my hand.” He said again.
In the end, Kente was able to take every color of flame except green, black, and “invisible”. Neither Marke nor Kente could perceive the invisible flame, and Kente was sure it was just a demon prank and not part of the actual tests.
“He’s definitely real.” Kurzeth said. “Not exactly a demon, however.”
“What is he?” Marke asked.
Kurzeth shrugged.
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