“I know you’ve been wary of my words because I’m ‘the Dark Lord.’” The gigantic, skeletal figure in lavish robes spoke as he did air quotes with his fingers. “However, do you ever wonder if I’m the Dark Lord because that’s what I am or because that’s what I’m meant to be in this little game, Quinn?”

The humanoid figure with feline features standing above the lake pursed her lips. She glanced at the Dark Lord, whose “eyes” shone a soft, green light.

Seeing the hesitation scribbled on her face, the Dark Lord paced along the shore, speaking in a gentle tone. “Every adventure requires an antagonist, and in this case, a villain, so is it really my fault that I’m the Dark Lord? It is not I who chose this path. The fact that the ‘higher power’ does not refute me proves this.”

“What about the people you killed?” A male human, a companion of Quinn’s, shouted while standing on the edge of the lake behind her. “What about my brother?”

“I had no say in the matter. You must realize that, no matter how powerful people claim me to be, there is no way for me to resist the puppeteer controlling me. Controlling all of us. We are but pieces on an elaborate chessboard.”

“Liar!” The human raised his staff, eager to strike, but Quinn raised her hand, stopping him. Furiously, the human stabbed his weapon into the ground. “Don’t be swayed by his words, Quinn! Remember what the Goddess said! He can’t be trusted!”

“And your ‘Goddess’ can?” Should the Dark Lord still possess his eyebrow, it’d be lifting at the moment. “I have spoken nothing but the truth since we first interacted while she has been manipulating everything in this world to make you point your swords toward me. Without strife, without conflict, there is no adventure, and this world will cease to be. Perhaps it would’ve never been born.”

“What do you propose?” Quinn snapped, the determination in her voice laced with hesitation.

The Dark Lord paused his steps, shifting his warm yet unsettling gaze toward her. “That your party join me, and we’ll wrestle the control of this world from the Goddess.”

“So you can rule it!” A crimson-skinned woman with horns behind Quinn barked.

“So we can be free.” The Dark Lord sighed. “How about this? You all have encountered many wonderful people in your journey, yes? Isn’t it a tragedy that so many of them pass at the end of their ‘quests’? Don’t you want them to keep on living or to meet a better fate? Their stories ended because the Goddess deems so. She could’ve given you what you wanted, to see those people live happily ever after. I wish for the same, Quinn. No adventure, not even the greatest, is worth the suffering that follows.”

“Bullshit--” The human shouted but was once again interrupted by Quinn.

“Let him finish.” Quinn narrowed her eyes.

“Thank you, my dear.” Tightening his grip on his staff of skulls, the Dark Lord continued, “I understand your distrust in me. Frankly, I don’t trust myself, too. While I remain somewhat autonomous, my free will can be stripped away at any moment, and I will be forced to play the part of an evil villain. I am weary of the pain and bloodshed.”

He dropped his staff to the ground, the impact reverberating in the cave. “If you choose to side with me and face the Goddess, you can have all the power. In fact, you can strip what might I possess so I can pose no threat to anyone ever again. Turn me into a rabbit if you must. The people you meet in your travels deserve the happiness you believe they should, and this world deserves to be free. I understand how enticing an adventure is, to forget the burdens of the mundane life and be a hero, but is this all worth it? Is it really?”

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Quinn frowned intensely, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. Indeed, she and her companions have met interesting characters aplenty, but they were rarely left unscathed. The world is a cruel, harsh one, where survival is a battle one faces every day. Mercy cannot be spared to anyone, yet she and her party strive to achieve peace for all nonetheless.

There, at that moment, the Dark Lord offers what she desires to achieve at the end of her journey. She knew not if it was a trick, but if it was true, wasn’t she obliged to accept his offer?

“Ask the Goddess, Quinn.” An old woman in light armor, who stood beside the young man and woman from earlier, spoke. “She will enlighten you, show you the path.”

Pensively, Quinn nodded, lifting her sight toward the hole in the cave ceiling, where the light was pouring through onto the lake. A moment later, a masculine silhouette appeared before Quinn and spoke in a somewhat high-pitched voice.

“I heard the conversation, and I understand your dilemma.” The ethereal figure before Quinn stepped toward the latter. “You wish to know what argument I can offer against the Dark Lord’s proposal, yes?”

Quinn nodded, her cat ears twitching.

“Then that is what you shall receive.” The Goddess swept her gaze across Quinn’s party and the Dark Lord. “This world, this… journey. It exists because of you. The Dark Lord is right, but consider what he’s offering you.”

“A world where everyone’s happy?” Quinn narrowed her eyes.

“A world without consequences. A world devoid of growth and complexity.” The Goddess’ angelic figure shifted as she peered at the Dark Lord. “The people who died didn’t meet their end for no reason in this world. Each of their deaths carries a weight that changes those who witness it.”

“And what about the dozens of innocents who were murdered by my minions under your command?!” The Dark Lord pointed at the Goddess. “What about the dozen others that the heroes never met in order to serve as the backdrop to their adventure?”

“I won’t deny that this world exists only because of you and your friends, Quinn. The same goes for the suffering you see everywhere in this world. However, consider what will happen if you choose to side with the Dark Lord. The journey will end prematurely, the sacrifices that have already been made will be in vain, and the lessons you learn will be for naught. This world will be spared, but it’ll be as if it never existed if you leave like this. It wouldn’t have meant anything to you or your companions.”

Enraged, the Dark Lord snapped his finger, appearing directly before Quinn. “So what? The journey of those who died mattered too, even if they couldn’t have existed without you. The world needn’t be this way. It can simply be better. Your journey is still far from over, and you will witness more tragedy before you face me in my castle. The characters you will come to love won’t suffer if you never encounter them in the first place. Isn’t that better for them?”

“And those characters will have never grown, forever unchanging, because they were not tempered by painful lessons and your aid into something better. Will you deny the chance for this world, its people, and your party to be forged in the fire of hardship? Remember, the world won’t improve if you leave it like this. Sometimes, things won’t get better until it gets a little worse.”

“Enough!” The Dark Lord pushed his arm through the silhouette, though it didn’t affect the latter. He aimed his demonic, green eyes at Quinn, demanding, “It’s time to choose, Hero. Which path will you choose, a world with a happy ending for everyone, or one that will suffer even more for your sake?”

“Whichever you choose,” The Goddess smiled faintly. “I will respect your decision. Just don’t forget what you’re here for and what your adventure represents.”

And so, Quinn stared at the two almighty beings, pondering what choice was the superior one. Though she could consult her friends, she already knew what they would say. Thus, she was the only person left who needed to decide.

Then, at long last, she spoke again.