“This sucks!” I exclaimed loudly, my booming voice was as I just realised, very loud and echoed throughout the vast cave system.

I had just learned some very disturbing information. I could declare it all demonic lies as most right-thinking folk do. Especially those priests of Tiernon and Torean. But I was a wizard dammit, we do not just accept things, we investigate, experiment and determine truth from fact.

I sighed heavily and sank down against the wall. “At least that is what wizards are supposed to be.” It was established fact, but if I were to believe everything I have experienced and heard. Either something new has come onto the wizardly scene or we were so wrong about everything from the start.

The ideas running through my mind were staggering questions, with consequences for the wizard community if ever proven. I had to stop this and think like a wizard, no matter what I looked like or where I was, this will never change.

I rose to my feet and stood proudly. It was hard to do since I was naked, something I only recently noticed. Oddly I was fine with it, but still intellectually I wanted some clothes, although how to make them survive the abyss would be tricky.

Moving over to my makeshift lab, I decided that clothes would come later. I needed to experiment and prove or disprove this disturbing notion. Raising one clawed finger in the air, I spoke aloud my thoughts.

“Hypothesis, do conjury spells have the capacity to transform mortal souls into demonic entities bound to the abyss?” Saying out loud was ridiculous, not just because it looked stupid, but because the idea was crazy.

Regardless of the insanity, I needed to disprove it. I must do this for the sake of all wizards. I paused for a moment, what about me? It was a question I hadn’t really thought of. I was so caught up in my thoughts, that I failed to acknowledge my own circumstances.

I was a demon, damned to the Abyss and unless I can reverse it, I would be reviled and feared by mortal men. In fact, the more zealot members of select churches would kill me on sight.

“Damn it all to the Abyss, I am screwed.” I wailed helplessly, forgetting for a moment who I was.

It was a rather self-deprecating moment I will endeavour not to repeat. I slapped myself, which was a bad idea as that hurt tremendously. After coming from the concussion, I wondered what that would do to a human skull. The sight of brains splattered all over a wall was all I came up with. I shuddered at the thought and resolved to be gentle with any humans I wished not to kill. Everybody else was fair game, I grinned maliciously.

After my pity party, I descended upon the noble effort of planning and study. Examining all my recent memories, everything I knew of conjury and demons, along with all I had learned since.

“I recall the pentacles when my mistress first summoned me. The memory is vague, but they seemed typical of basic conjury.” I mused aloud. “Of course they were exquisitely crafted and elegantly efficient. Yet the design was consistent with the basic ritual for a third order demon.” Making this case I mused over the rest I had discovered.

After much internal debate, I have determined, that I have lots of theories and very little controlled and repeatable evidence to support. With this in mind, the only solution is to test the theory and summon another unbound demon.

But how can I verify them as truly being a mortal soul, transformed the same as I? That was a dilemma, that I neither had an answer nor the means to obtain.

I am not sure how long I stood there, deep in thought. I barely noticed the voice calling me and my world shifting out of phase. My cave made way for a familiar dungeon, lit by braziers. I sighed, realising what just happened.

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“Took you long enough.” I said a bit peeved at the timing.

I turned to notice the familiar trio, my mistress, the necromancer and the noble knight. They were truly an odd trinity, I was unsure how they functioned.

“You desire to be summoned?” The necromancer, I forgot his name asked in a tone that revealed he was sceptical.

“Well yes, scouring the Abyss for spell components is such a hassle. Days, at least I assume, of searching. I only managed to develop a single spell. Even then I had to shortcut parts of it with my demonic powers. Shortcuts, damn shortcuts.” I complained, scowling at my own lapses in the Wizardly method.

“New spells, abyssal components?” The necromancer muttered, I think his name was Belus. I will have to file that away, I am terrible with names.

“Yes, I am studying potential spell components that exist in the abyss. Groundbreaking stuff I might add.” I may have said too much.

“What kind of components exist in the abyss?” Ephemia, I knew her name, questioned.

“Honestly not much really, the place is pretty barren, lots of fire, earth, some air and animus. Water on the other hand, I have not seen, so I am not sure how mana gets generated there.”

“Interesting, I have always wondered what the abyss was like. So I take it your claims of wizardly skill were not just a joke?” Ephemia asked, smiling.

“Perish the thought my lady. I am an upstanding and learned wizard. My achievements speak for themselves, at least on other planes. I am not sure were this place is, but I am sure my feats will be spread wide.” I exaggerated a little theatrically before looking around, noting a lack of windows.

“Well that is very interesting, but we are short on time so. Demon I command thee!” She raised her voice before I cut her off.

“Stop, no need for all that, just tell me what you want.” I declared firmly.

The suggestion stunned the trio, each of them had a double take. The knight looked peeved that I interrupted his mistress, Belus appeared interested and Ephemia looked puzzled.

“Demon, what are you talking about? Do not interrupt your mistress!” The knight said angrily, reaching for his sword.

“It is fine Sir Felmun.” She waved her hand calming the knight. “Explain demon?” She added.

“Okay, we all know that you have bound me, impressive, congratulations.” I clapped trying to avoid skewering my hands. “You could easily compel me to obey with those compulsion spells of yours and for your information, I have an in depth knowledge of how they work. With that in mind, you could command me to obey, I will resist and you can turn to torture and threats. But here is the rub, do you have time to wrangle an uncooperative demon?” I tilted my head, gesturing to my mistress.

She paused and before she was about to speak, self-righteous chimed in. “Don’t listen to him my lady. Demons are all liars and tricksters!” He declared as if it were gospel. Which it was to me, at least before it was challenged by the current disturbing events.

“So what, humans lie all the time. How does not trusting me change the circumstance, I mean.” I directed their attention to Belus. “Do you trust the necromancer?” I asked the pair and then turned back to him. “No offence.”

“None taken.” Belus replied with a chuckle.

“I see were you are going with this.” Ephemia gestured her knight to silence. “Just because you are untrustworthy, does not change the situation, as we can trust your own self interest?”

“Exactly.” I nodded, joyful I made my point.

“But that is a situation were both parties are balanced. This situation, I am dominate so why should I work with you instead of compelling you to work for me. What is my incentive?” She made her point, a very valid one.

Luckily I had an answer ready, like a wand all charged up and waiting for the right trigger word. “Correct and to answer your question, time is your incentive.”

“Time?” She asked, puzzled.

“Yes, time, you don’t have a lot of time to go through the hassle of compelling an unruly demon.” She tilted her head, the other two were puzzled as well. The knight was scowling but that seemed his default expression.

“Explain?” Belus requested.

“Well it is pretty obvious you have limited time. You summoned a third order demon, inquired about my combat related abilities and this place looks like the dungeon of a fortified castle.” I gestured around the room. “All these points collated, I can only suspect you need demonic firepower for an upcoming war. Perhaps a siege that is imminent, maybe tomorrow or the next day?”

I am pretty sure I struck the nail on the head, their furtive glances and that knight having no control over his facial muscles. I think I have got it perfectly.

“So, here is what I am offering, listen to my deal. If it seems reasonable and mutually advantageous for both parties, we can get to the business at hand. If not, well have fun trying to torture me into compliance, I will resist, a lot.” I laid it all on the table and now it was up to them to accept or decline.

The trio looked at each other, trading glances before Ephemia spoke up. “We will discuss this.” As she said it, she gestured them to the other side of the room and fell into a huddled discussion.

I just stayed in place, not like I was going anywhere.