Chapter 9: Seeking Knowledge
"Wait," Atasimon said, as Derzina climbed over what felt like the hundredth hill of black dirt. "I sense something."
Derzina looked around, the world looked as empty as it had since they'd set out. "I don't see anything."
"It's beneath the ground, not far from here. It's probably easier if I just show you. I assume you don't mind if I take over for a little while?"
"Go ahead." It wasn't like the goddess had worried much about her consent before, why start now?
Atasimon turned, closing her eyes, and slowly advanced a few dozen paces. "Here," she said, opening her eyes to behold a narrow crack that extended deep into the earth. A faint blue light flickered, far beneath them.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure, there's a strange magic emanating from something down there."
"Like the Demon Lord's?" Derzina asked, suddenly on guard.
"No, this is far more familiar. It's something like a mixture of magic from our old world and the demon's. There's another element mingled with the other two that I can't identify, though nothing like what the Demon Lord possessed. I couldn't sense his magic at all beyond his power as a Demon Lord."
"Is it dangerous?"
"That remains to be seen. Though judging from the amount of energy; it shouldn't be much of a threat, even if it proves to be hostile."
Without waiting for Derzina's opinion, Atasimon squeezed into the crack and began her descent. The sharp rock cut into her hands, and Atasimon brought forth her veil. Clinging to the sheer surface, the shadows trivialized what would otherwise be a difficult climb.
As they went deeper, leaving the light of the surface behind, the sound of humming rose from deep below. It was a halting, out of tune melody, which seemed to shift at the whim of whoever was down there rather than resembling an actual song.
The sound carried a long way through the crack, and it wasn't long before Derzina wanted to wring the neck of whatever was humming. Was it really so hard to hold a tune? Or to keep quiet if you couldn't? A small, petty part of her hoped that Atasimon would smite the creature living so far beneath the ground.
As the light at the bottom drew closer, Derzina wondered what manner of being would live down here. It couldn't be a human; they'd never survive out here without divine protection. Which left what, a demon? That didn't seem right either. Why would a demon be wallowing at the bottom of some hole?
Atasimon touched down, her veil fading to nothing, and bent down to examine the light that had led them here. The ball of blue light hovered above the ground in a little recess in the stone, surrounded by intricate designs so minute that Derzina couldn't make out any detail.
"What're these supposed to be?" she asked.
"They resemble the runes used by wizards."
"Wizards? Aren't they all dead?"
"You'd know more than I do, but even if they are; their knowledge may have survived the Demon King's curse."
Had Derzina been in control of her body, she would have shivered. The wizards' destruction was the only positive part of the Demon King's curse. "I hope not, someone might finish what they started and end the world."
"I wouldn't worry about that; I doubt they still have the power to achieve anything like that. Assuming any of them are left."
Seeing a passage ahead, lit by more of the same blue lights, Atasimon left the entrance behind.
"Are you sure we should be in here?"
"No, though it seems worth exploring. It's not as if we have much else to do, and we may be able to find information related to our quest. This seems as good a place to search for it as any."
Derzina found it hard to believe they'd find anything of value in a hole, though she supposed the goddess must know far more of magic than she. Hopefully that knowledge would be enough to combat the Demon Lord who destroyed her city. As things stood, he seemed untouchable.
The humming grew louder as Atasimon walked down the narrow tunnel, and Derzina felt sure they must be nearing the source. Which meant she was that much closer to making it stop, at least if she had any say in the matter.
The corridors of smooth, worked stone continued for a short distance until they reached a circular room crammed to the roof with books. A hunched man sat in the only available space amidst the stacked volumes, dressed in bright red livery adorned with the same complex symbols carved around the lights.
He was reading by the illumination of one such light, which hovered in place by his shoulder. Seemingly oblivious to the goddess' presence, they continued to assault Derzina's ears with their discordant attempts at music.
"Hello?" Atasimon called, remaining at the entrance.
"Master?" the wrinkled man replied almost immediately, climbing to his feet as the humming ceased at last. "No, no, you are not the master. Are you guests? Where are my manners? I'll prepare you something to eat immediately." He remained where he was, looking around the room in confusion.
"I don't know this master you speak of; we're certainly not his guests."
"Not guests? How can they not be guests? Why else would anyone be here? How could they have discovered the master's hideaway without his invitation? Could they have stumbled upon it by chance?"
Looking up at the ceiling, his questions didn't seem addressed to anyone in particular, and Atasimon took it upon herself to reply. "It wasn't chance exactly; I could sense the magic down here."
His head snapped down and he locked eyes with her. "Sensed it? Are you a wizard?"
"No, nothing like that. I've just gained a little magical ability over the years."
His whole body drooped, and he looked down. "If you're not guests or wizards, then please leave. This is no place for you."
"I don't mean to impose, but we're seeking information." She glanced at the books around him. "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? It seems as if you have an ample supply of knowledge at your disposal."
He shook his head. "It belongs to the master. Not for you, not for you. Only for the master." His voice grew louder as he spoke, until it echoed through the tunnels. "It all belongs to him, and him alone!"
"Okay, I understand," Atasimon said, raising her hands as the man inhaled in preparation of another tirade.
He deflated, relaxing his posture. "Then you will leave."
"Can I at least explain our circumstances before we go?"
"If it will hasten your departure, then by all means. It will make no difference, so make it quick."
"I'm trying to learn more about a Demon Lord I encountered recently, who possesses the ability to negate any magic he touches. He's already destroyed one city, and if he's not stopped, he may be the death of many more humans."
The bald man nodded sagely at the ceiling. "I have heard your circumstances, goodbye."
"What?" Atasimon demanded. "Do you care nothing for the plight of your fellow man?"
"Fellow man?" He looked at her again, tiling his head sharply to the side in confusion. "Venestamino has not counted himself among their number since times immemorial. What do I care about the fate of humanity? They have served their purpose, why not allow them to die off? If anything, their destruction would only make way for more useful creatures."
Derzina couldn't believe what she was hearing, the man before them might not be a demon, but he was certainly acting like one.
"You're not going to accept that, are you?" she asked, speaking within her own head.
Atasimon replied in kind, irritation plain in her tone. "Of course not."
"If you refuse to help us willingly," Atasimon said aloud, "despite knowing of our plight, then I shall have to insist."
Shadows shot forth, wrapping around Venestamino's body until he was held fast. He tilted his head haughtily back. "Do you now rely on petty threats? How far you have fallen. Tell me, do your pets still call you a god?"
"Do not test me; provide me with the knowledge that I seek or I shall end you and take what I require from your little library."
"I am happy to share what I know with those who deserve it, but you and your little vessel do not number among the worthy. Whatever paltry attempts at intimidation you make will do nothing to alter that, I do not fear you or your kind. Kill me if you must, I tire of conversing with a being of such exceptional ignorance."
"Is that so?" Atasimon said, her shadows forming a cloak around her. "Despite your vaunted knowledge, it seems you still have much to learn."
A dark tendril, pointed like a spear, flew toward Venestamino's head. True to his word, he didn't so much as flinch. Not until it arced past him and pierced straight through a tome, barbs extending to shred the paper within. Venestamino cried out, struggling against his bonds.
"You fool!" he shouted. "How dare you? Have you any concept of the worth of what you've destroyed? Far greater than your lives, especially once my master hears of this."
"Be that as it may, he's not here now. And if you don't want to watch me destroy every one of your precious books, then you will aid us."
When Venestamino hesitated, her veil seized another book and dangled it before him. "Well?" she asked.
"Fine," he said, glaring. "I'll help you, just don't destroy anything else."
She released him, and he muttered, "None of you barbarous creatures should ever have been allowed to survive."
"Would you rather the demons then? I doubt they'll treat you with any more kindness."
"I care not for kindness," Venestamino said, sneering, "at least they have some respect for knowledge."
"And I care not for your opinions; what do you know of the power I spoke of? One that can negate magic?"
The brightly dressed man sat back down on the only clear patch of ground. "That depends, do you mean all magic or just your tawdry brand of it?"
"I have only seen it interact with magic born from the divine, and that of the demons. It negated the former and seemed to have no effect on the latter."
"I know of nothing of that precise nature, but if it only effects your magic then it stands to reason that they spring from the same source."
"Are you implying that he possesses the power of a god in addition to that of a Demon Lord? That's ridiculous, there's no way one being could sustain such a thing. Besides, I would have noticed."
Venestamino blinked at her, long and slow. "It's possible that he may not have what you would recognise as a god's divine power, perhaps it is simply derived from the same source."
"Is there the slightest bit of precedent to what you're suggesting?" Atasimon asked, shaking her head. "Or is this simply a wild guess?"
"I can think of one, very pertinent bit of precedent." He paused, drawing out the moment as a twisted smile bloomed across his features. "One of which I can see you know nothing, for all your supposed wisdom."
"Your doubts regarding my wisdom are of no concern, so long as you trust in my wrath. Now stop wasting time and tell me of this mysterious history you alluded to."
"Oh, it is not so mysterious for those who truly seek knowledge. There is one who is like you, yet unlike you, who is known to my master and others who possess true power; Darmis the Immaculate, the only being in this world worthy of being called a god."
"Have you ever heard of this god?" Atasimon asked, speaking within her own thoughts.
"Never," Derzina said.
"Nor have I."
Refocusing on Venestamino, Atasimon asked, "And from does this Darmis, who styles himself immaculate, draw his strength?"
"Perhaps you should ask him yourself," Venestamino said, laughing. "Assuming he would deign to speak with but a shadow of a god."
"Shadow I may be, but shadows are capable of concealing much that you would be wise to leave unknown. If all you have to offer as to his origins is this stale repartee, then I suggest you say your farewells to the hoarded volumes you surround yourself with."
The threat sufficed to wipe the smile from Venestamino's face, his dour countenance reasserting itself. "Calm yourself. I do have one tidbit to offer you. Small as it may be, I believe you shall find it of great use in your search. For you see, I know, through the grace of my master, where Darmis first came to be. He was born beneath the first full moon of the new world, within the Great Rift where the blood of gods mixed with that of their foe; the Demon King."
"And where is this rift?"
The bald man chuckled. "Do you not know it? I had thought all your kind would know the location of their last, and greatest battle; where their strength was broken. Perhaps you were too busy cowering while your kin fought and died to note the location."
"You presume much. It was by the Demon King's own hand that I fell and was left as you see me now; with only a fraction of my former strength. The scenery of the accursed land in which we fought is still etched in my mind but the world has changed much since that terrible day, and what little knowledge I had of the demon's world is of little use now."
"Then allow me to direct you; travel northward until you reach a great chasm. It is there that you will find what answers are to be had regarding your Demon Lord's origins. If you have nothing further to trouble me with, then begone. I have much reading to do."
"I shall depart, though I swear if you've deceived me-"
Venestamino made a dismissive gesture. "Yes, yes you'll wreak terrible vengeance upon me. I have given you only the truth as I know it, I would never stoop so low as to offer falsehoods to fellow seekers of knowledge. However rude and ill-formed they may be."
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