Three short columns stand in front of me, bearing three different artifacts. They form a triangle with only emptiness at their center. I take a few steps forward while looking around to ensure that no threesome of weird statues will attack.

The objects on top of the column look hazy as if they were surrounded by a veil of magic that hides their appearance. The more I stare at them, the harder it is to make out what they actually look like.

“I’m running out of gas, anyway; let's take this a pit stop,” I mutter to myself while eyeing the treasure from the corners of my eyes. I shouldn’t be so interested in something like that when I got a literal super [Archmage] in my soul—even though my dude has checked out for the duration of this Dungeon.

I could really use some Magister Mulligan's help in here.

Once I’ve made sure that nothing will attack me just for stepping there, I relax a bit.

Well, time to Indiana Jones this, I suppose.

I step forward, getting closer and closer to the columns at a snail's pace. This way, if I were to activate some trap, I could jump away. Well, I like to think that, at the very least. The reality is that this is a bit too stupid even for me.

You see treasure right in front of you? Good luck. You will need it when a massive boulder is chasing you down the whole damn Dungeon.

But again, we are Humans, I suppose. Well, some are Elves.

"Let's see how hard it goes," I say, standing at arm's length from one of the columns.

And that's when the entire world starts spinning, and a complete change of scenario happens. Only the column closest to me remains there while the rest of the world goes entirely dark.

"All good," I say, peering into the mystic, infinite darkness down below. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Just another day on the wrong side of Lady Luck."

"A Human? How… picturesque."

"Words have color now. Let's go," I say, swallowing hard as I can't see whoever is talking.

"Ugh, little Human, don't fret. I am here to bestow a great gift upon you—shall you accept it."

"So, we are not going to talk about the fact that I can see your speech?" I say, turning in all directions.

"Oh, I would love to show you how it works. But I'm afraid you'd lose your head after seeing the ones I have."

"As in... heads… plural?"

"Mh-mh. Why, have you never seen someone with more than one head?"

"I'm sure that there's some dude out there with an extra head, but no, I can't say I've had the pleasure."

That's when the darkness around me fades slightly, and a monstrous, gigantic silhouette appears in the background. I can only make out its edges, but it's terribly scary nonetheless.

It's…

"Are you a Hydra?" I wonder, seeing nine long necks extend from a huge body.

"How interesting—that child, the last, the most foolish—he did something wondrous putting Kome under a spell like that. How particular for you to end up here. But now, little Human, my offer."

I do kind of expect a drum roll. It doesn't manifest, but what does is the object on top of the column. The fuzziness drops, and there’s a… scale?

"Is that a Dragon’s scale?"

I suddenly perceive a drop in temperature and take a deep breath.

"Oops, sorry?"

"Don't apologize. Dragons are more… loud. I understand. Those abominations love to talk about themselves. No. That is not a Dragon's scale. It's one of mine. It's a Shard of Brilliance from the most brilliant Hydra ever to exist—my best merger."

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"Ok, can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead, little Human."

"Are you just one head talking, or is it all of them?"

"Just one. Communicating takes a lot of power here. Unless you accept my gift, I don’t want to pay too steep a price for talking to a little Human."

"Fair. Alright. Err, no offense, but this looks like a shady deal, especially after talking to the statue-man. I don't really feel like selling my soul. So… no?"

"You wouldn't be selling anything. You would simply have to believe."

"What does that even mean?" I ask, confused.

"You have to embrace my name, little Human, and pray to me. I'm just asking for your devotion, your spirit."

"Well, for all it sounds much less ominous than selling my soul, this whole thingamajig is getting a bit too spooky. So, no, thanks."

"But you haven't heard what the Scale of Brilliance does. You have lost your prized intellect. You can only hope for some inferior skill. Integrating the scale inside your soul would grant you all that you used to have and more. So. Much. More."

That’s when I first felt the great pull of the offer. It's not just metaphysical. I feel pulled toward the object, tempted to extend my arm and reach for the scale.

"Just accept, and I'll tell you my name, little Human."

I could do a whole awful lot with my old brain back. I almost died during the training because I couldn't reach for a better idea. And who knows, maybe I would be much less miserable if I could think more clearly…

I take a deep breath and vehemently shake my head.

"Nah. Thank you. Not for me."

"Such a pity."

That's when the object in front of me disappears, and my vision shifts: now, I'm in front of another column.

Everything has gone back to a deep-black shade of darkness.

"It is. These dealings always are," I turn and see the being who just spoke: a man with purplish skin and two horns on his head standing on the other side of the column.

"Alright, demons. That's new."

"Not new, Human. We are old," the man says without missing a beat. "Very old."

"Yeah… huh, are you here to make another offer? Man, I'm really not into this whole thing. I would like to, you know, just stop? I refuse?"

"You have met my servant," the man says. "And he has already relayed my offer to you."

That's when I swallow and almost choke on my own spit. He waits the silence out until I ask.

"My mother's soul?"

"A spell to bring her soul back and gift her a body. The second part is doable even in this era, but I would throw it in to make this a fair deal. Accept my name, pray. That is all I ask. In return, you will receive the means to call your mother back from the netherworld. That is something that no living being will ever uncover again. My people are long gone, and they were the keepers of the dead."

"A spell… to call my mother's soul back? And a body? Are you actually telling me that I could essentially resurrect her?"

"Yes," the Demon doesn't flinch. "I can't lie to you, Human. We drive a hard bargain, but the gifts are greater than the trifling tome you wield for magic. One of my spells, the first magic, is greater than anything you will ever accomplish."

I just stare at the horned Demon before looking down. Only now does the fuzziness disappear, and I can see a black book encased in red metal.

I put my hands through my hair, meeting the braid Magister Mulligan made for me.

"Fuck—what's the monkey paw here?"

"The drawback," the Demon explains, "is faith. Faith in me. It's a price you don't understand, and you might come to regret it. Most don't and never will. But you might. There's always a price."

"Hell, you actually make it sound fair," I say, blowing air out of my mouth. "But Mr. Demon… My mother wouldn't be happy at all if I prayed to another…"

I'm about to say the g-word, but something constricts my throat.

What the…?! Why can't I say ***?!

"Our magic and deeds are secretive," the Demon explains.

My mother, I think for a moment. I could get my mother back, and all it takes is a few prayers…

"No," I say sharply. "Absolutely fucking not. I only pray to my mother."

"A pity. Your qualities are interesting."

That said, the Demon vanishes, and so does the book.

Another being walks in from the darkness, and this time, I start coughing and blushing deeply.

It's a stunning woman. She’s beyond any woman I've ever seen in my life. And she's…

"Human, yes. Not all of us come from the primordial mixes," the woman speaks in suave words. "And you are such a handsome, mighty boy."

Goddamn, someone pull me away from this!

"Listen, lady," I cough multiple times, trying to get my heart rate down, "you are very, very gorgeous, but I'm not looking for a new faith. Like, I'm also pretty sure the Demon had the best offer so far. Hard to top getting my mother back."

"Demons are so… technical," the lady, a triumphant specimen of a woman just about my height and with golden hair that seems to be dripping pure platinum on the ground, actually walks to the other side of the column, standing between me and the fuzzy relic.

Oh, shit, I drag the thought and stop breathing, hoping that the lack of oxygen will make me come back to my senses.

"Hydras, like Dragons, are greedy and think that everyone shares their crazy ambition. Demons, now, are the masters of deals. They love to give people what they think they really want. But they are just not…" the lady bends forward and puts a finger so close to my chin I can almost feel the heat coming off her. I'm so smitten at this moment I'm about to faint.

"They are just not Human, and they don't know you like I do," she finishes, straightening up and looking at me with a coquettish smile. "So, would you like to hear my offer, Joey?"