Xain and Zee finally stopped gushing about the demon's, or rather Levarick's, looks and refocused on strategizing. Now with the demon present to contribute to the planning, Zee began to explain her magic and abilities. "I'm an enhancer, though I can't be as precise with my enhancements as Larkin because I never really paid attention to my lessons," she admitted, letting out a nervous chuckle.
"Don't blame ya, lessons are about as exciting as watching paint dry," the angel remarked, his mind drifting back to the countless hours his senior had spent attempting to educate him on the intricacies of corporate paperwork. "Talk about being a lazy bum," Grace added, eyeing the angel with an unamused look on her face.
Zee continued, looking somewhat downcast, "Also... I am an elf and have all the advantages that come with being one." The demon then inquired, "You possess hereditary magic, correct?" Xain turned to it with confusion evident on his face. "I do, though I doubt it would be much help. Also, I haven't used it all that much either," Zee answered. Xain turned to her, still puzzled. *What the heck are they talking about?* he thought before raising his hand. "Can someone explain what that is to an idiot like me?" he asked. Ercale had explained magic a tiny bit to him, but he didn't really go into it, as, by his words, it would all be wasted on Xain.
"Oh yeah, you're from Ironhelm, where magic's completely banned, right?" Grace asked, turning to Xain, who nodded. The demon then turned its attention to Xain, asking, "You're familiar with the different types of magic users and affinities, I assume?" Xain rubbed the back of his head and replied, "Sort of? I've got a basic understanding, I guess." The demon nodded before delving into an additional aspect, saying, "Apart from the magic user types and affinities, there's hereditary magic, something passed down through family lines." Xain mentally noted this information.
"Is it like genes or something?" he asked, seeking a comparison. The demon nodded in agreement. "Exactly like genes. It's a unique ability tied to a particular family, usually inaccessible to others, with a few exceptions," it explained. Xain asked further, "And what are those exceptions?" Grace chimed in with, "Ritual mages. They can pretty much use whatever magic they want, given enough time, of course," This was the second time Xain had heard about ritual magic and ritual mages. *I seriously have to pester Erkie once he gets back to learn more about magic,* he thought to himself.
Turning to Zee, Xain asked, "So, what's your hereditary magic?" Zee paused, putting a finger to her lips as she pondered. "It's a bit hard to explain, but let's just say I can get really close to animals. Yup, that's the best way I can put it," she said, which clarified basically nothing, but at least Xain now had a bit more understanding of magic.
"Is that all? I mean, you're probably good with a dagger, judging by our fight where you nearly stabbed me in the eye," the angel remarked. Zee, in response, took out her dagger. "I am, but I don't know how much that will help against demons. Speaking of which, are all demons similar in powers or not?" she asked, directing her question to both the angel and the demon. It was a crucial question, the kind you'd want answers to before heading into battle.
"No," both the angel and demon replied simultaneously. "The strength of demons varies, and it varies drastically," the demon explained, while the angel added, "Yeah, some are so weak that they're basically non-entities, while others could be a threat to the entire world."
"And if we come across the latter?" Xain asked, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "Well, we just gotta hit 'em till they die, not much else to it," the angel responded casually, causing Xain to gulp. *Why aren't you here, Erkie?* he pondered, a sense of unease settling in. But then, a concerning thought crossed his mind. "What are the chances of a Demon Lord being there?" he asked, prompting the angel to raise an eyebrow. Everyone, except the demon, looked visibly concerned.
"Demon Lord? Like from the stories? They aren't real... right?" Grace asked with genuine worry and a hint of fear in her voice. "Yeah, they're just tales to scare kids. Stories about Winter and Ercale are nothing more than fairy tales, aren't they?" Zee added nervously, her voice betraying genuine worry. Xain knew the stories were real, with Ercale living inside his head, but with a demonic invasion looming, the possibility of another Demon Lord emerging was unsettling.
"There is a chance, a very small one, but there is one," the angel said, putting a hand to his chin. His words sent a shock through both Zee and Grace. "Demon Lords are real?" Zee asked, a bead of sweat forming on her face. "Yes, they are, and they are exceptionally powerful. Unless monarchy is involved, they stand as the strongest in a demonic army," the demon answered, its voice holding a certain edge they hadn't heard before.
"Then, are the stories about Winter and Ercale true?" Grace questioned. The angel glanced at her for a second, and suddenly, much like before when Larkin had asked him about what he meant by again, Grace couldn't read any of the angel's thoughts. *They're blank again,* she noted to herself. The angel casually replied, "Nah, those are just fairy tales, pure fiction, nothing more."
Xain looked at him, confused and about to speak, as he knew that wasn't the truth. But then, *Do not say anything about Lord Ercale,* came the demon's voice in his head. Xain turned to the demon, and just by looking into its eyes, he could tell that the demon was very serious. This only caused Xain more confusion, leaving him to wonder, *Just what's going on?*