The new day arrived, and the grand master welcomed Anfer's students into the room next to where they were sleeping. They were finally ready to know something about demons. The youths greeted him, and so did he.
«I want to make a premise. This information is in your interest. There will be no written exam. Listen carefully:
I have studied the subject of demons for most of my life. Besides sorcery, demons have always been the greatest mystery ever solved. Today I will tell you everything you need to face them.
The tower, where demons appear twice a year, consists of 10 floors. In the first floor there will always be 300 demons. Going forward, up to and including 7, these will be stronger and more numerous. In floor 8 you will have to face a small number of them, but in the meantime, you will have to solve a puzzle. The floor 9 is variable, usually the least dangerous. The floor 10, however, will be the same as the first one, with the only difference that there will be the King with them.
Demons fall into four categories:
A] They are unarmed demons, tending to close-range attack.
B] They are demons armed, usually with spears. They tend to attack at medium range.
C] They are unarmed demons, but they can use spells. They tend to attack from long range.
D] The King is in this category. He can practice sorcery and attack with or without weapons.
Only one feature unites all these: the tendency to scratch. Very few people have survived a demon scratch, so it's vital to be able to avoid getting hit. The weaker a demon is, the more it will tend to scratch. So worry more about category A, obviously after D. Demon spells of C are not deadly, but they could cause you serious injuries, as well as the spears of B.
Demons usually do not attack on their own, except for floors 6 and 7. Also, in these two, there is a small chance that, after being killed, they will be reborn stronger than before, and have to be killed a second time.
Demons are skeletal beings, and their only weak point is the corrupt flesh contained in their chest. Once passed, they will settle down on the ground, disappearing shortly afterwards.
Killing all the demons in one floor will lead to the next, without being able to go back. In floor 8 you only have to solve the puzzle. In plan 10, just kill the King.
One last thing, if you attack one, the surrounding will do the same to you.
This is all I know about them.» The grand master finished.
The mystery that these beings represented had really intrigued all three, who began to think about their essence. In that thoughtful silence, Herega raised his hand, and was allowed to speak.
«Master Rokai, do demons have a conscience?» He asked.
The grand master smiled, touching the tips of his long white moustache. He again leaned on the staff, heading for the window.
«Conscience you say? I personally believe not. In short, their actions are repetitive, and they always perform the same acts. They also continue to be reborn. It is highly unlikely that they are conscious.» He replied.
However, he did not seem very enthusiastic. If they were unconscious, so inanimate beings, their mystery would be much less interesting.
«What if they were forced to be born again and then killed?» The red-haired youth countered, «I mean: they are the result of a spell, it's obvious. The sorcerer who built the tower, surely, decided to make the tower their dark abode. What if they were, in fact, living beings? Later turned into demons? If he wanted to punish them for some specific reason unknown to us? Leading them to an endless cycle of death? I am sure, the sorcerer who built the tower is a vengeful type, all his actions are done for justice. Those demons, or people, have done him wrong. Or he has decided to build it to punish the greedy who try to get the treasure... In one way or another, this is a revenge against someone, as it has always been for him. I want to find out what that sorcerer is up to.» He continued.
Rokai looked at him with respect and surprise. In his eyes, the boy was a disciple with his same ideals. He found Herega's theory very interesting. His only perplexity was to understand how the youth could think he knew so well the sorcerer who had built the tower. However, the excitement of his theory distracted him, leading him to think about other things.
«It's a good theory, but I don't think we'll ever get an answer. Not until the man who built the tower tells us.» He mumbled a little distracted, moving to get back seated.
«I am following a path. I will comply with the will of that sorcerer, so I will discover all the secrets about sorcery. You just have to give me some time, then I'll come back and tell you everything.» Herega added.
Rokai still looked at him with interest. He knew that the boy was special, but he was highly concerned about the weight of his words. Despite his determination, he was convinced that he would never be able to get the information from Meta.
♦️
«Herega, I appreciate your enthusiasm. I will help you to discover the truths of this world.» Eavelin told him as she approached him.
Ren put her hand on his shoulder.
«Count on me too. I decided to come with you because I like you two. I will not let you die in a brutal way.»