The general’s office was as impressive as you would assume. The floor was covered in plush carpeting that made me feel ashamed of my bare feet, all the furniture was made of richly colored wood of superb quality, and the shelving was filled to the brim with the man’s most prized trophies.
I couldn’t even look at most of those. Their effect was even more overwhelming than the displays in the hallway. I tried to sneak a glance at some kind of sword, but looked away quickly when my head rang with a sudden dizzy spell.
Of the few items I could look at without keeling over, the most notable was a massive, jagged crystal, featured prominently on the general’s desk. My stomach twisted. This was a huge soul crystal, bearing closer resemblance to a Christmas tree than to the orbs I was familiar with. Countless souls were trapped within it, though one face was larger than the rest, taking up the whole center of the crystal: a single soul, caught in a moment of eternal agony.
Glaustro and Graighast both jerked away from the crystal as if it would bite them, and the general smiled like a shark.
"I see you recognize the latest addition to my collection. The corrupted soul of one Reliana Tingent." He spread his arms, as if showing off a precious gem. "In all its twisted glory. Quite the unique item, I must say."
"Ah, congratulations," Graighast ventured.
His smile was strained, but the general didn’t seem to care whether the words were genuine. He simply waved his hand in a leisurely fashion, and a stunning amount of mana erupted from his skin. It all clumped together into the rough shape of five chairs. Then the whole world shimmered, like a mirage, and the mana constructs were replaced by very real, very physical, undeniably comfy-looking padded chairs.
"Sit," was the extent of his order, but we all rushed to obey.
"Now, Glaustro." The general leveled his gaze at my commander. "You were cited as the primary petitioner. Explain what you want from me, that you would insist on such a meeting."
Naturally, Glaustro complied. I was impressed at how thoroughly the demon had memorized my account of events, down to the last detail.
The general did not stop him, not even once. He asked no clarifying questions. The terrifying demon simply sat there with a thoughtful expression on his face, like he was enjoying the story.
At long last, when Glaustro wrapped up the tale, the general nodded. "I see why you came to me. Mercutio is not much of an issue, obviously, the boy is hardly competent, but Melchom is. Even so... tell me, why should I act against one of my own aides? One who now heads an entire division?"
He sounded more amused than anything, so I didn’t immediately lose all hope. Glaustro, however, looked distinctly uncomfortable at still being the center of attention.
"Sir, Mercutio has gone too far this time. He lay claim to tested and promising recruits, and reduced their numbers to shambles. Our losses are extreme. Furthermore, he personally tried to assassinate a holder of two separate higher level merits."
"Allegedly. He allegedly tried to assassinate him. And merits or not, we are still talking about a recruit." Despite his protests, the general still seemed to be in a good mood. In fact, dare I say it, he looked like he was toying with Glaustro.
Meanwhile, my commander was looking paler than I had ever seen him, but he forged ahead. "We do these recruitment drives to find people with potential. Individuals who could truly assist us with rising higher in the ranks of the Abyss. Some of those recruits had that potential. Mercutio does not."
Suddenly, the general burst out laughing. When the sound petered off, he swept his eyes over all of us. "True. It is unlikely that Mercutio will ever amount to anything. However, all he does, he does on his father’s orders. And I am telling you now: I will not punish Melchom."
Equal parts disappointment and anger swept through me. I couldn’t even bring myself to care that the demons around me could feel all of it. I always knew the idea of revenge against Mercutio was a long shot, but still... To do everything I did, to struggle so hard, only for an entitled idiot to swoop in, wreck everything, and walk out unpunished? It felt, well, like a betrayal.
To my surprise, the general laughed again.
"Oh, look at you all. Yes, I said I would not punish them. I never said I will do nothing."
The general’s eyes fixed on mine with unearthly intensity, his voice inarguably final. "They will not try to touch you again, recruit. You have my word on this. Likewise, logistics will never be allowed to meddle with soldiers again."
It wasn’t much. It wasn’t nearly enough. Still, Glaustro had gotten me exactly what he promised out of the meeting: safety.
"Thank you, sir," my commander said quietly, and with genuine feeling. He looked so relieved, I realized I must have underestimated the danger I was in.
"Think nothing of it. I do, after all, regret what has happened. It should not have come to this. The loss of such a promising mutated recruit troubles me greatly too. I did not even get a report on that rising star, before or after his death."
The general went silent as he mulled over this. I hoped it meant Mercutio and his father would get into some trouble after all.
The silence became uncomfortable as it stretched on and on. But when it was broken by the general’s attention falling on me again, I realized I preferred the unsettling quiet.
"Do you have any questions for me, recruit, about this incident or its resolution?"
I wet my lips, heart racing. The offer was extremely generous. He was basically a ruler of the legion, and I was a lowly recruit. The wise choice would be to thank him and then keep my mouth shut.
Still, there was something I desperately needed to know.
"Our world is one of the most unique and powerful out there. Other than the Cradle of Reason, perhaps the most unique and powerful. Gods like to brag about their Divine Realm, and mages will forever strive to ascend their worlds above all others, but it is our world that stands at the apex. The few species who can match us have no need for a homeworld. They are creatures of mana and of the Void, and as such, are only passing visitors on any plane."
He paused, dramatically, then finally got to the point.
"Success would allow you to bridge the typically observed gap between ascended and Abyss-born demons. You would be stronger, your abilities more potent and far more unique than what your peers might attain upon ascension. Unfortunately, to do this, you will need to prove yourself worthy of the gift."
His voice seeped into my pores like ambient mana. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his, but the jagged soul crystal on his death churned in my periphery, Reliana’s face screaming in silent anguish.
"What do you think the Abyss is?" the general went on. "It is a confluence. The centerpoint of Emotion. Throughout creation, the feelings of all creatures, sentient or not, have echoed and pooled here. We, as children of the Abyss, are creatures of Emotion. Without the ability to shed madness for reason, you would not be worthy of the true gifts of the Abyss."
I felt a spark of defiance ignite in my chest. His language was fancy, but the message was simple: most ascendant demons were not worthy.
But how can they be? When no one shares important information, when resources are scarce, and when methods to grow are guarded jealously?
It was easy for Abyss-born demons to proclaim themselves ’superior.’ Their birth gave them every advantage. They didn’t have to fight for it.
It was time for someone to prove them wrong.
"I want to do it." My voice was quiet, but hardened. "I will do it. I would choose the third option, every time."
Glaustro choked. Graighast looked grim. Bronwynn seemed to be watching my funeral unfold before his very eyes. Only Mia stared at me with a boldness that may have rivaled my own.
The general’s smile was victorious.
"I can appreciate ambition. Very well, then." He extracted several sheets of paper from his desk, then quickly started to fill them out. "In that case, I will issue you a grant of one thousand souls right now. I know you are halfway through your ascension already, but they will help. Likewise..."
He paused, briefly, to rummage through his desk. When he found what he was looking for, he made a tiny noise of satisfaction that I found surprisingly mundane coming from the leader of the legion.
"Here we are. A voucher, for three thousand souls, that can be turned in at any armory. Personally, I think you already know where you should go, and your extra souls will easily afford you the passage fee for traveling between layers."
He finished scribbling and pushed one of the papers towards me, with a voucher card on top of it. I had to blink several times to shake off my disbelief. The card looked starkly modern. When I picked it up, it even felt like plastic.
"Ahhh, that," he said, noticing my surprise. "It’s a relatively recent innovation, from one of our newer officers in acquisitions. They are quite useful for quickly handing out rewards. Do not think I forgot about you, either."
This comment was addressed to Mia, who looked startled as he slid a piece of paper to her, too.
"I did say I want to reimburse everyone affected. You didn’t quite quality for a gift voucher, but your ambition is as clear to me as his."
I peeked at the paper. Just like mine, it entitled her to redeem a thousand souls at her convenience, at any bank within the Torment layer.
Glancing up, I caught Mia’s gaze. Her eyes were shining with determination.
But the general wasn’t quite done yet.
"I will leave you with this parting advice, just so you know what you are getting into. The Abyss is our mother. Our origin. Our cradle. She loves us, and we love her in turn. However... she is a parent. And like all parents, she has aspirations and expectations for her children. What she wants for us is not always what we want for ourselves.
"She is also a jealous mother. She clings to us, even in death, so none other than she may claim us. No matter how you might try to avoid this fate, you will fail. You belong to her. Now, and for all eternity."
His solemn face broke into another smile. "It is not such a bad lot in life, however. She is a better parent than most. At the very least, she will never abuse or abandon you."
Then the general motioned us out of his office. Without a word, we stood and filed out.
I was still numb with disbelief. Whatever my thoughts going into that meeting, I had not expected to walk away with rewards. But as I stared at the general’s gifts, I resolved myself to make the most of it all.
I would rise within the Abyss.
No matter what.