"Yeah, I have heard of this person. She is definitely one worthy to be feared by both demons and humans. However, that is a problem," Lenora said.
"What's the issue? I've already sent one of my more trusted servants to deal with her. Before you know it, we'll have her in the palm of our hands," Godbrand answered.
"Here's the deal. If she kills your servant, more and more demons will be afraid of her and the people would rather escape from their homes instead of speaking to her. And if she dies, her name and honor will die with her," she said. The vampire suspected that there will be no peace with those who try to change things around the cities and kingdoms.
She secretly had the secret in her mind that she needed to keep Lagertha away from the Demon Wolf at all costs. It would cost all of them deeply if everyone told Mephiles what they will be forced to do if they find out the truth. The truth they embrace is that no mercy should ever be given to those who reject their laws and fight against them. Then, Lenora walks up to him, and she wants to tell him something that he must never forget.
"Godbrand, if I'm someone who truly matters to you, then you must swear an oath to me. This is an oath you must never break," she said.
"Go on. I'm listening," he said.
"There will come a day when even you must understand what is at stake in this castle. King Mephiles summoned you for a reason: to protect him at his greatest hour of need and defend the kingdom of Midland. But there is an alternative, and only I am sharing it with you," Lenora said.
"Well, can't say I don't have all the time in the world. What's this alternative you speak of?"
"You're the only one out of all of us who has traveled far and discovered the edges of the earth. You're the only one besides me who made it out from the brink of death and abandoned your humanity to become more powerful than humans. So, I need you to know one thing… my vampiric power can summon Death itself, and I have seen his work and how much loyalty he gives Mephiles. I know whatever he does and wherever he goes. His shadow will darken everything around him and anyone who fights him will have their soul taken."
"What's this advice, Lenora? And how long did you hide this information before letting me know right now?"
"Had I told you when you first came here, there would be an uproar in the war council. There would be nothing I could do to stop it, and Mephiles would already have their minds split on everything. Even for someone such as you, I'd wager the king would do something I wouldn't do."
"I don't think you answered my question. What… is your advice? Tell it to me and I swear I will keep this as the secret of all secrets."
"My advice is that you must stay awake to everything I tell you from now until this castle comes crashing down. King Mephiles brings death to all who oppose him. I bring peace to all who do my bidding. Godbrand, I may appear charming, beautiful, and attractive, but inside me and you are beasts filled with a hunger for the souls of our enemies. I hope that is something you will understand. You won't forget these words, will you?"
As she spoke to him, he could feel himself tremble, and he could feel the chill of despair from Lenora's voice. Then, he gets on his knees and starts regretting every decision he ever made with the vampire. He looks down and begins wondering what he has become before the eyes of someone far stronger than he will ever be. He still cherished the memories of when he admired Lenora and how much he wanted to be around her. But he went from being attracted to her to being afraid of her because of her mystical powers that were far stronger than his.
Then, Lenora walked to Godbrand and saw that he was slowly growing weaker with every second he stood in front of her. He was seeing her as his new master and his new mentor to cool his anger against his foes. She rests her hand on the top of his head, and she felt his disparity appear before her eyes. She was now looking at a Viking who once feared his gods and is now afraid of a female vampire. Then, Godbrand puts his hand on Lenora's arm as her hand still rests on his head; a grim reminder that he will do whatever the vampire tells him to do.
Elsewhere, as most of the demons were discussing their alternative plans, Naberius walks up the stairs to meet with his king. Mephiles was back in his library; the only place besides his bedroom where he did not have time to be bothered. Then, Naberius saw the king staring at the fireplace, and he had some words to say to the king. All Mephiles could think about was his family and wondered if he made the right choice to save himself and his people.
"May I speak to you?" Naberius asked.
"Come here, Naberius," Mephiles said. Naberius walks up to him, and his inner-self becomes afraid of what he might say to the king.
"I have a question. I thought maybe I could share it with you and nobody else," he said.
"Speak your mind. You and I have all the time we need," Mephiles said.
"If you allow the humans to come to this kingdom, what else is out there for us?"
"What?"
"It's quite simple, Mephiles. You allow the humans to live in this kingdom, but where else shall we go if we are in the mood for a bite?"
Mephiles looks away from him for a few seconds to think of a more reasonable answer to give Naberius. The demon was not the only one thinking this way because not everybody agreed with the law their king was bringing. Mephiles assumed that all the demon generals took his word to account, but it seemed unclear to them about what the king needed for the kingdom to thrive. He looks down in confusion because he allowed Naberius to do what he wished in every full moon. The moon itself decides what would happen with the war council by Mephiles's last word.
"I allow you to go on feeding raids every month on the tenth day and the twentieth day. I have wine and food stored in the bakery. There are animals in the lower levels. You won't go hungry, Naberius," Mephiles said.
"Well, not now. But maybe later. I don't want to waste my life thinking about what might happen if there's nothing left for us," he said.
"Mind what you say."
"It's not good enough. I'm sorry, but humans are growing by the thousands. Soon there will be enough humans to take down these gates and trespass against you. Not everyone will follow your laws, no matter how hard you've worked on them."
"You will be taken care of, Naberius."
"Yes, but what if you won't? What if you just want to bring all the humans here and not leave us enough in camps to feed on?"
Then, Mephiles stands up from his chair and starts letting his rage take a hold of him. He had enough of what the demon had to say and what needed to be done for the kingdom's survival. Mephiles walks close to Naberius to make him listen to everything he had to say. It was at that moment when the demon general realized that starving was not the only thing that made him tremble.
"You will not question me. I have told you how it will be. I don't desire to destroy this world. I desire to conquer it and have every living being on the earth bow to me. You will be taken care of," Mephiles said. Naberius said nothing more because he could not save himself from the king.
Then Mephiles continued speaking to him, saying, "Naberius. Little demon. Little parasite. Little prideful one who delights in making noise and pretends to think he is important and dangerous. Are you going to continue questioning me? Are you going to fight me, Naberius?"
"No," he whispered.
"I will make you know above all else that I am this world's new defender. I am its protector. I am its savior. I am the one who will lead the people of this world into a new age where suffering, struggling, and agony no longer exist. So why are you… still here, making your little noises? Get out before I feast on your flesh and gnaw on your bones!"