Silk curtains flutter under a faint wind, brushing over the lush carpet of a moderately sized bedroom. Cluttered piles of clothes and randomly discarded widgets lay splayed around a chair, sat upon by a figure in possibly the most incorrect manner one could achieve. Pale blue crystal makes up the body, pulling in light and scattering it into small rays which soak into the smooth walls around. Four limbs sprout forth from the body, narrowing into comfortingly dull points like that of a child's doll. The face holds no contour, no deviation from that of a near perfect sphere, save for two horizontal lines which appear almost painted on.

To the side of the room the wind picks up, steadily building and swirling as it forms into a revolving vortex with flames sprouting across the wall. The figure adjusts, turning its head to face the vortex as the lines pry apart to reveal a hint of red and white. Adjusting more the lines narrow again slightly, staring directly at the vibrantly coloured maelstrom of fire. Oh shit... Oh shit! The figure jolts, lines bursting into perfect circles before leaping from the chair to gracefully slam face-first into the ground before swiftly hopping up again to stand balanced on two pinpoint feet. It's happening! It's happening! It's actually happening! Ow, fuck... The figure stumbles once again, tripping over a random shirt which lands elegantly atop its head.

Right! Clothes! Which one is the clean pile? The figure peers at one large pile of clothes, somehow distinguishable as two different piles apparently. This one! Shoving an arm into the pile the blunt tip reforms to clamp around a red dress, which is hastily enveloped over its crystal body. Standing back up and shaking out the wrinkles, the figure sprints across the room to stand before the flames. Surrounding the vortex is a ring of pulsating colours, densely packed with shifting hues as it wraps around. How do I read again? Gah, stupid! Just breathe... breathe... Okay. I am calm. I can do this. Holy shit that's complicated...

Peering at the ring of colours the figure drinks in the densely packed information stored within. Okay, let's see, let's see... Rank three preference for a body guard type contract... Duration is indefinite on a regular renewal basis with payment and frequency of renewal to be determined? Isn't that bad for a first contract? I though we were supposed to get fixed payments for a while to avoid being scammed... Hmm... Oh. So it's a highly trusted contractor? Under what basis? Is that... Is that Ta's symbol?! Wait wait wait wait, this is too much for me, I can't handle this kind of bigwig! The figure panics, slumping back and writhing across the floor in abject panic.

I can't do this anymore... No! If I wasn't qualified I wouldn't be selected for this. I've got this. I've got this! Rising back to its feet, the figure once again skips over to the vortex. Okay... What else do I need to know? We have one primary contractor under the alias Aleph Null, and three secondary contractors with the true name Lyla, the true name Gol Dhee, and the alias... CoolHuman66... My responsibilities are assistance in combat, assistance in general day to day, and friendship... Was this given to me out of pity? Oh well. I seem to have a good degree of freedom in my decisions at least. And I can always back out if this is a scam... I guess there's nothing else to it. I just need to make sure I give a good first impression.

The figure holds an arm forward, allowing the flames to grip and wrap around its body. Gravity ceases, all lingering inertia discarded, and the figure floats within a tranquil sphere of vibrant flames. Patiently awaiting transport, it continues to simply bask in the vivid display until gravity gradually begins to return. A pinpoint foot touches the ground, body straightening and arms held to the side as it stands one legged with pristine control. Elegant pose? Perfected! The flames dissipate, light receding to give way to an enormous cavern filled with steam emitting pools of water and covered in inordinate quantities of moss. In front stand four figures. A golden ape who probably bench presses the entire gym, a green eyed, homeless-looking elf, an actively panicking white and blue spider, and an obsidian dragon currently pinning said spider to its head with an unnaturally dexterous tail. The dragon is my contractor, so that's the one I need to make the best impression on. Okay D... You've practised this... You got this!

D turns, allowing her arms to flow in front of her as both feet touch the ground to elegantly adjust into a bow. "Greetings dear contractors, my official name is Diavolus Mephicostus Balvinia Amozmoni Belian Andora Durus." Diavolus Mephicostus Balvinia Amozmoni Belian Andora Durus proclaims. "Though most simply call me Diala." Diala clarifies. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance." Fucking nailed it! "Oh wow! How cute! Our names were put in the array, but we may as well introduce ourselves." She talks like my aunties... Makes me think of Aunt Algar in particular. Or maybe Uncle Luca? I think he might even speak the same language...

"Do you guys want to go first?" Aleph asks her companions. The ape steps up first, the air pulsing as he thumps his chest proudly, his golden fur shimmering in the resulting winds. "I am Gol Dhee! Formerly king to my kin, now simply a warrior who seeks strength." Wow! This human is so cute! I didn't know they could come with so much fur! Right... The group turn to the elf, furiously combing his abominable beard with his fingers. "Are you going to introduce yourself?" "One moment..." "You still don't remember your name?" "Hmm... Nope. It's not coming to me. What is it you always call me? Fluffy? I'll just go with that." The faintest hint of a sensation can be felt from an infinitesimal waver of the world at his statement. Is it just me or did that actually register as a true name? Surely not...

Turning once again, the group face the spider resting atop the dragon's head. "What? If I tell you my true name I'll probably be cursed or something. Just call me the greatest divine beast." I already know it though... "Well with Lyla's introduction done," "Hey!" "that just leaves me. I forgot my true name, but I go by Aleph Null." Huh... That translates to the smallest infinity. Such a name could only be held by a grandiose yet humble being. Or she could be like Auntie Evenia who just named herself after the coolest thing she could think of. One of the two.

"Well, with that out of the way let's begin the interview!" Yes! I've spent months preparing for this! I know all the curve-balls and tricky questions they can throw at me! "What, are we hiring them for a job? What kind of demonic ritual is this?" "Yes. I believe I already told you that's how this works. We're literally hiring her to work for us." "Oh... The world of eldritch beings is more boring than I thought..." Did she just liken me to an Ahvi'salThe first one? That's a first. "Okay, first question..." Right! Do your worst! "What is your favourite colour?" I'm fucked! I didn't plan for this! Panic surges through her diminutive form, every fibre of her being required to hold back the abject chaos of untamed social anxiety.

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No, wait... It's fine, this question is easy. Just breathe... "Hm, I would have to say 56Hz. I find it quite soothing." "Oh, how nice. I'm partial to 8e14Hz myself. So-" "What the hell! Those aren't even colours! And why did I understand the demon's but not yours?!" "No need to judge someone's favourite colour. And all demons on contracts get given access to a sophisticated pan-dimensional translation system. It comes packaged in every world with access to the summoning system." "That's gotta be a joke... All the problems we could've solved with something that convenient... Unlearn Englin right now! I want my time back!" Lyla doesn't seem to know much about demons... I'm pretty sure summoning is supposed to be fairly known in this world too, so I wonder why... Or maybe she's actually just pretending as part of a good-cop bad-cop routine! She doesn't have the demon's curse so she can lie freely. I should keep an eye on her...

"So anyway. Next question. What is your life goal, if any?" Ah, a question I have an answer for! And I'm pretty sure she's disclosed on way more classified stuff than I know so I should be free to say anything. "Rank nine. I want to reach the top of the demonic hierarchy." "How ambitious! I think... Which one was nine again? I can only seem to remember up to seven clearly... Oh well, I probably shouldn't remember it then." Isn't it usually the other way around? "Next question! What are your abilities?" Hah! Yes! Another question I'm ready for! Diala puffs up her chest, now confident in her ability to sell her capabilities.

"I am from a clan with close ties to rank, so I gain new abilities at each rank. At rank one I got the standard combat package of Demonic Energy based reinforcement, healing, and sensual enhancement." Aleph nods, evidently satisfied with the first ability. "At rank two I got the ability to teleport!" The group bustles, Gol Dhee and Fluffy regarding her with renewed interest while Lyla holds back a scoff. "A distance of one metre!" Blank stares assail Diala, a mix of confusion and disappointment from all but Aleph who simply provides a satisfied nod. "And finally, at rank three I got body liquefication!" Lyla's eyes seem to widen at her words. How does that even...

"You can liquefy people's bodies?" "Ah, no sorry. I can liquefy my body. Look!" She waves her arm, the appendage wobbling like a limp water balloon. The impressive display does nothing to curb the spider's disappointment, though does seem to excite Aleph. "Those are quite versatile abilities!" Yes! She likes them! Now I just have to convince the others I'm worth hiring! "I think I'm satisfied with those answers. Do any of you have questions you want to ask?" Gol Dhee immediately steps forward, a wide grin on his face.

"Are you strong?" I think I figured out his personality... "I am considered to be at the upper-bound of rank three. If you want more detail I am happy to demonstrate." Aleph steps in before he can take her up on the offer. Oh thank fuck. I really didn't think that one through. "We can save sparring for later. For now do we have any more questions?" Oh... I guess we're fighting anyway... Fluffy leans back against a rock, shaking his head. "I have many questions, but none that are relevant to the situation." I'll take it! Now we just have... Lyla squints, her suspicion palpable as red and cyan eyes lock.

Diala's eyes strain under the unyielding gaze put forth by Lyla, but she holds strong, not allowing her mental panic to show. Based on gaze alone I'd say she has to be at least as old as the triplet cousins Pherolma, Hya, and Ililya. She squints just like them when they're angry... I've never understood how that can even be done without eyelids. "I have three questions!" Eep! Don't panic don't panic! "First! How are you planning on taking over the world?" What kind of question even is that?! "Um... I'm not. I have no plans, or desire for conquest of any kind." "Second!" Eep! "How many have you killed?" How many what?! "I've... never killed anything with an awakened soul at least. So anything that would classified as a person." "Third!" Hah! I saw this one comi- "And most important!" Eep! "How do I know you're not lying?" Um...

Aleph sighs, thunking the spider on her head with her tail. "Hey! What was that for?! It's a reasonable question..." "Demons all have a curse of truth applied to them. She physically cannot tell a direct lie. Isn't this common knowledge?" "I don't go out of my way to summon demons! The only interactions I've had with them is from the business end of their foot as they squish me, every fucking time!" I guess this world only really summons us as mercenaries then. Explains Lyla's reservations at least. "Well I think everyone is satisfied then." "I'm not." "You're outvoted. So I guess we now negotiate payment." Right! I've gotta know to put my foot down on this one! I can't let them walk all over me and pay me spare lint for my troubles. Okay, okay... Be assertive, stick to your principles, and always negotiate up.

"I believe this world measures time in quarts and eightdays, so maybe we can arrange the standing payment for every four eightdays. You can back out at any time but will only be paid after each payday. And there will be a down-payment." Standard stuff so far... Quite generous considering this is my first contract... "And the payment will be one vial of ambrosia, with a down-payment of two-" "I accept!" I have no mouth... But I must drool! Ambrosia?! That's insane! That stuff could fast track me to rank four! And I'm being offered a standing payment of this? How big of a big shot must you be to afford that! Wait... Shouldn't the chains of sealing show up now? I said yes!

Aleph locks her gaze to Diala's eyes, violet consuming red whole. The world seems to take a backseat, everything vanishing save for two pairs of eyes. Oh shit... I think... she might be older than Uncle Schara... No... Aunt Aeyea? Maybe even old man Othir or Aunt Iseli... No, even still. I think the only person I know with a gaze like this, is Father... The oldest person I know. Who is she? "I need you to be sure. This world has unbound Mana, making it quite dangerous and to my knowledge there is no ceiling on the potential for individual power. We could encounter beings who can level continents, and I may ask you to fight them. Do you still accept?"

Diala pauses. Taking a moment to break her gaze and consider her words, before looking back up, resolute. "For me this is an opportunity like no other. I accept the risk and responsibilities involved. Also I have really good medical insurance." "Works for me then!" At those words, chains spear up from the ground wrapping around all five individuals. Each chain stands out from the others in a harmonic quintet of lights, bearing a different colour, different shape, different essence catered to the souls of those they bind.

Around Diala wraps crimson chains, seeming to droop like blood yet flow with a choreographed precision. Green chains burst around Fluffy, wrapping around his arms and seeming to compete with him in a test of strength. Gol Dhee's chains appear formed of golden stone and flickering with orange fire, snaking around his body and chaining him down like a restrained beast as he stands in staunch defiance. Dozens, if not hundreds, of small cyan chains fire up like threads, giving a wide berth past the dragon's head before wrapping the panicking Lyla in a cocoon. Finally, as if there from the beginning, a single large violet chain appears around Aleph and rests comfortably in place, neither showing resistance or discomfort to the other.

"That seals the contract then. Welcome aboard."